Alaska | YPGG - Why Green?

WASHINGTON - On 10/04/2018, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a total of $1.2 million in cooperative agreements awarded to 10 organizations across the U.S. – including Zender Environmental Health & Research Group, a nonprofit organization in Alaska -- working to address environmental justice (EJ) issues in their communities.

The funding is provided through EPA's Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving (EJCPS) program, which supports local organizations in their efforts to develop and implement community-driven solutions that address environmental and public health disparities in minority, low-income, tribal and indigenous populations. Projects selected this year reflect an emphasis on support for rural communities and watershed protection.

“These awards will go directly to locally based organizations working to improve health and quality of life in historically underserved areas,” said EPA Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “We are proud to be supporting local partnerships in rural communities and excited about the additional support made possible this year through EPA’s Urban Waters program.”

The 2018 awards provide up to $120,000 per project for a two-year project period. Special consideration this year was given to projects located in rural areas, with the goal of increasing outreach and community capacity building in areas where such resources can be particularly scarce. Eight of the ten total projects awarded are in rural areas.

Zender Environmental Health & Research Group and partners in Alaska will pilot a backhauling program to address waste issues in 30 rural Alaska Native Villages located off the road system and only accessible by summer barge/boat or small plane. The project builds community capacity and leadership for villages to carry out a state-wide backhauling program where 160 villages use barges and small planes to transport their waste from tribal lands to proper landfills and other disposal facilities.

For the first time, EPA’s Urban Waters program provided funding for projects, sponsoring work in two communities. By adopting a watershed approach, these projects will help improve the quality of local waterways and strengthen community connections to them.

The 10 community projects were selected from 72 applications

For more information on the EJ Collaborative Problem-Solving, including descriptions of previously funded grants: https://www.epa.gov/environmental-justice/environmental-justice-collaborative-problem-solving-cooperative-agreement-0

ALASKA - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $1.6 million to three Northwest and Alaska tribal entities to reduce harmful diesel air emissions by replacing older diesel engines and generators. In Washington, the Lummi and Tulalip Tribes will receive funds, and in Alaska, the Tanana Chiefs Conference will receive funds.

"Clean diesel technologies not only improve air quality in Indian Country, but advance innovation and support jobs,” said Chris Hladick, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. "These projects will significantly reduce harmful emissions and protect public health in tribal communities.”

Project information and local contacts:

Tanana Chiefs Conference – EPA award of $497,354, with total project cost of $748,812 - Replacement of seven stationary diesel generators in two Alaskan Villages; three generators in Beaver Village and four generators in Stevens Village. Contact: Dave Messier, Project Manager 907-452-8251 x- 3479

Lummi Tribe – EPA award of $781,909, with total project cost of $1,064,030 - Marine Engine Replacement Project – Marine Engine Replacement Project on 11 diesel engines, on 11 marine fishing vessels used for salmon, halibut, crab, and shrimp fishing throughout the year. Contact: Sean Lawrence, Project Manager - 360-312-2158

Tulalip Tribe – EPA award of $392,100, with total project cost of $537,945 - Marine Engine Replacement Project of eight diesel engines on eight marine fishing vessels used for gillnet and shellfish fisheries throughout the year. Contact: Jason Gobin, Project Manager 360-716-4596.

EPA's Diesel Emissions Reduction Act helps reduce harmful emissions by funding engine replacements and promoting idle reduction and retrofit technologies to clean up a variety of older diesel engines. DERA projects reduce emissions and lower exposure risk to diesel combustion byproducts such as unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter.

DERA grants are administered by EPA's West Coast Collaborative, a clean air public-private partnership comprised of EPA’s Pacific Northwest and Pacific Southwest Regions. Nationwide since 2008, the DERA program has awarded funds to over 690, including 26 tribal projects. Many of these projects fund cleaner diesel engines that operate in economically disadvantaged communities where residents suffer from higher-than-average instances of asthma, heart and lung disease.

For more about EPA’s Tribal DERA program: https://www.epa.gov/cleandiesel/clean-diesel-tribal-grants

Tag: Alaska

$120,000 in EPA Funds to Target Environmental, Public Health Challenges of Waste in AK Rural Villages

EPA Grants $1.6 Million to Northwest and Alaska Tribal Groups to Reduce Harmful Diesel Emissions

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