E.P.A. Declares in excess of $4 Million for Environmental Enhancements on Tribal Lands in Nevada

SAN FRANCISCO - The E.P.A. announced over $4 million in backing to invest in Nevada tribes for environmental programs, community education and capacity building. The announcement was made at the 23rd Yearly Regional Tribal Conference in Reno, Nev.

"Tribes have made great progress in protecting the environment and improving public health in Indian Country," said Jared Blumenfeld, regional administrator for EPA's Pacific Southwest office. "These grants will help support the significant accomplishments that have been achieved through the collaborative efforts of the Nevada tribes and the federal government."

This year, Nevada tribes will use about $1.7 million to continue tribal environmental programs, cleanup open dumps, targeted community outreach, and community education-the cornerstone of tribal environmental programs. For example, E.P.A. backing will help the Elko Band Tribe implement its Integrated Solid Waste Management Project by supporting a community outreach plan that will engage summer youth workers to promote best practices and provide reuse and recycling bins.

In addition, over $1.6 million have been awarded to 16 tribes for a wide variety of water quality plans including watershed protection and restoration, and water and energy efficiency. For example, the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe was awarded $35,000 to reduce nitrogen loading on the Truckee River through a constructed wetlands project.

E.P.A. also provided approximately $700,000 to support other environmental efforts at tribes in the state, including development of programs to monitor, protect, and enhance air quality, clean up contaminated lands, and share and analyze environmental data to support decision-making.

These funds are critical in building the capacity of tribes to carry out environmental work. Because most tribes in the Pacific Southwest have small governments, one goal of the backing is to assist tribes in developing their ability to establish environmental protection programs and make informed decisions about issues that impact the health of their people and the quality of their environment. The funds are used to develop environmental and public health ordinances, and coordinate with adjacent jurisdictions.

The EPA's Pacific Southwest Region is home to 148 tribal nations with half of Indian Country nationwide concentrated in 3 states; Indian Country in California, Arizona and Nevada is about equal to area of the 6 New England states combined.

For more information please visit: http://www.epa.gov/region9/tribal

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