EPA awards tribes $2+ million for water quality protection & restoration

Seattle – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $1,039,686 to support 32 tribes with their nonpoint source pollution programs, and an additional $975,548 under the competitive grant program to 10 of the tribes for specific restoration and protection projects, boosting tribal water quality programs across three Northwest states to help protect people’s health and the environment.

“Providing funds directly to tribes is an excellent example of how EPA offers a helping hand to our partners to address their unique and critical environmental challenges,” said EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. “EPA is making these investments to empower tribes who know best how to protect resources, and grow their local economy and strengthen communities.”

These grant funds are distributed to tribes through the Section 319 Nonpoint Source Program of the Clean Water Act, aimed at fostering environmental programs that address nonpoint source pollution in surface and groundwater so tribes can restore and protect their waters in Indian country. Under the competitive program, EPA selected ten Pacific Northwest proposals from the following tribes: Coeur d’Alene, Colville, Lummi, Nez Perce, Quinault, Siletz, Spokane, Umatilla, Upper Skagit, and Makah. Some of the projects to be implemented will include: reducing sediment from forest roads; controlling […]

Full article: EPA awards Pacific Northwest tribes just over $2 million for water quality protection & restoration

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