$28 million earmarked for California tribal environmental projects

The Environmental Protection Agency announced funding for tribal environmental efforts throughout the country, including $28 million for tribes in California that will go toward environmental programs, water infrastructure improvements and community education initiatives.

“Tribes continue to make great strides in environmental protection and improving public health,” Alexis Strauss, EPA’s acting regional administrator for the Pacific Southwest, said. “This year, EPA is supporting water quality projects and water infrastructure for California tribes with over $14 million in funding.”

The $14 million in funding for water quality and water infrastructure improvements includes $9 million being awarded directly to tribes in California and $5.1 million for the Indian Health Service. The tribes will use their funding for projects like watershed monitoring, protecting and restoration and wastewater reclamation, while the Indian Health Service will use that $5.1 million to support the tribes’ drinking water and wastewater infrastructure improvements. The Indian Health Service will also work to train and provide technical assistance for drinking water and wastewater plant operators.

The tribes will use the remaining $13.8 million to finance their environmental programs, ranging from projects to cleanup contaminated sites and improve air quality to community outreach efforts.