View in Browser: http://list.ciea-health.org/scripts/wa-CIEAH.exe?A2=CIEA_LIST_TRIBAL;604b028b.2305p ######### ######### ######### ######### ######### ######### ######### CIEA Environmental Chronicle - Vol. 50, Issue 1, May 2023 Monthly news of environmental issues affecting Indigenous Peoples ######### ######### ######### ######### ######### ######### ######### 1. Opening Remarks- AAPI Heritage Month The CIEA staff would like to take the opportunity to wish our Asian, Pacific Islander, and Kanaka Maoli relatives a Happy AAPI Heritage Month! The CIEA office is still physically closed until further noticed. Staff is still available via email and through out telephones. Again, we are so happy to be able to provide you with monthly announcements about training, capacity building, Tribal Self-Advocacy and funding opportunities, as well as water related news. Readers are more than welcome to send information about upcoming events, training, or news that you think would be beneficial for other Tribal members in other regions to know to our Communications and Public Relations Coordinator, Joel Sedano at [log in to unmask] 2. Funding Opportunity- Cleanup in Vulnerable Communities Initiative (ECRG) The Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) Office of Brownfields is pleased to announce that Round 2 of the Equitable Community Revitalization Grant (ECRG) will open this summer. An estimated $85 million will be available to fund the assessment, investigation, and cleanup of contaminated sites in California communities for beneficial reuse. Government entities, nonprofits, and Tribes are eligible to apply for funds to incentivize cleanup and investment in California’s most disadvantaged areas. Learn more about the Equitable Community Revitalization Grant, tools and resources. Over the past few months, DTSC’s Office of Brownfields has been coordinating and collaborating with stakeholders to enhance ECRG in an effort to provide the highest and best service to the vulnerable communities that we serve. DTSC will host four meetings in May to better understand your concerns and aspirations, and then consider how we can reflect them in the ECRG. Join us at an “ECRGathering” to learn more. In the ECRGatherings, you will: · Learn how to apply for this transformative funding · Ask us questions about how you can use this funding for environmental activities in your community · Give us feedback on how we can expand the positive impact of our investment in your community You are welcome to attend any or all ECRGatherings; however, to help us plan, please RSVP for the meeting(s) you plan on attending. RSVP through the read more below button. Spanish translation will be available at all of the meetings. VIRTUAL MEETINGS: Tuesday, May 2 10:00am-12:00pm: Virtual Meeting with focus on Applicants Tuesday, May 9 5:30-7:30pm: Virtual meeting with focus on Environmental Justice Groups IN-PERSON MEETINGS: Thursday, May 11 6:00-8:00 PM Inland Empire In-Person Meeting Fontana Community Senior Center 16710 Ceres Ave, Fontana Tuesday, May 16 6:00-8:00 PM Central Valley In-Person Meeting Regional Water Quality Control Board 1685 E. Street, Fresno READ MORE: https://mailchi.mp/cclr.org/ecrg-gatherings-sessions?mc_cid=6a10c28db6&mc_eid=UNIQID 3. Board Meeting- State Water Resources Control Board Meeting Session- Division of Water Rights The State Water Board will also hold a Board Workshop scheduled for May 3, 2023, to receive oral comments. The workshop time will be provided with release of Board Agenda and will include both in person and remote participation options. READ MORE: https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/board_info/agendas/2023/may/050323_9.pdf 4. Webinar Opportunity- USGS Spring Webinar Series: May 4th, May 18th, and June 1st The National CASC is hosting a webinar series on how to integrate Indigenous Knowledges (IK) into Federal research and resource management programs. Running bi-weekly from April 6 to June 1, 2023 (3 PM ET), this series centers Indigenous voices to explore ethical, legal, and scientific considerations for working within different knowledge systems and provides guidance reflecting best practices. For more information, please hit the read more button below. READ MORE: https://www.usgs.gov/programs/climate-adaptation-science-centers/webinar-series-incorporating-indigenous-knowledges 5. Funding Opportunity- California Financing Coordinating Committee 2023 Spring Funding Fair The California Financing Coordinating Committee (CFCC) is pleased to invite you to attend the free 2023 spring virtual funding fair on May 4, 16, and/or 25, 2023. To register, please hit the read more button below. The funding fair will provide the opportunity to learn more about available grant, loan, and bond financing options for infrastructure projects from federal, state, and local agencies. Representatives from water industry professionals, public works, local governments, and California Native American Tribes should attend. This includes city managers and planners, economic development and engineering professionals, officials from privately owned facilities, water and irrigation district managers, financial advisors, and project consultants. READ MORE: https://www.events.rcac.org/rcac/CFCC_Funding_Fair_(California)1.asp 6. Conference Opportunity- ATNI Midyear Convention: May 7-11 Join us for the ATNI Midyear Convention 2023 at the Coeur d'Alene Casino. Date: May 7-11, 2023 Location: Coeur d'Alene Casino Address: 37914 S Nukwalqw St, Worley, ID 83876 ATNI Conventions are where members convene for discussion, presentations and the work of the committees in regard to policy, legislation, and the future of Indian Country in the Northwest. Please find the link at the bottom of the page to register for the upcoming Midyear 2023 Convention. After you register, you will receive a link to book accommodations at the venue in your confirmation email. Sponsorship Opportunities: Please click on the link below for our sponsorship Opportunities packet. If you have any questions about Sponsorship Opportunities or membership, please reach out to Tyrel Ott at [log in to unmask] We look forward to seeing you! READ MORE: https://www.classy.org/event/2023-atni-midyear-convention/e470574/register/new/select-tickets 7. Comments Due- Notice of Availability of and a Board Workshop to Provide Public Comments on the Second Revised Draft Initial Biological Goals for Lower San Joaquin River Flow Objectives: May 12th On April 10, 2023, the State Water Board issued a Notice of Availability (NOA) of Second Revised Draft Initial Biological Goals for Lower San Joaquin River Flow Objectives for review and comment. Written comment letters on the Second Revised Draft Initial Biological Goals report must be received by 12:00 pm (noon) on Friday, May 12, 2023. For more information, please hit the read more button below to be redirected to the NOA. READ MORE: https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/waterrights/water_issues/programs/bay_delta/docs/2023/2023.04.10_bio-goals-noa.pdf 8. Funding Opportunity- Cultural and Community Resilience: May 16th The Cultural and Community Resilience program supports community-based efforts to mitigate climate change and COVID-19 pandemic impacts, safeguard cultural resources, and foster cultural resilience through identifying, documenting, and/or collecting cultural heritage and community experience. The program prioritizes projects from disadvantaged communities in the United States or its jurisdictions, and NEH encourages applications that employ inclusive methodologies. This NOFO covers the January and May 2023 deadlines. Please note, you should budget funds for two members of the project team to attend a two-day meeting in Washington D.C., in May 2025. See D2 in the Notice of Funding Opportunity for more information. An instructional webinar with Q&A was held on March 7, 2023. A recording of the webinar is available below. READ MORE: https://www.neh.gov/program/cultural-and-community-resilience 9. Funding Opportunity- USDA Has Funding Available to Help Rural Communities Improve Water and Wastewater Infrastructure What does this program do? This program provides funding for clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal, and storm water drainage to households and businesses in eligible rural areas. Who may apply? This program assists qualified applicants who are not otherwise able to obtain commercial credit on reasonable terms. Eligible applicants include: Most state and local governmental entities Private nonprofits Federally-recognized tribes What is an eligible area? Areas that may be served include: Rural areas and towns with populations of 10,000 or less -- check eligible addresses Tribal lands in rural areas Colonias What kinds of funding are available? Long-term, low-interest loans If funds are available, a grant may be combined with a loan if necessary to keep user costs reasonable. How may the funds be used? Funds may be used to finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of: Drinking water sourcing, treatment, storage and distribution Sewer collection, transmission, treatment and disposal Solid waste collection, disposal and closure Storm water collection, transmission and disposal In some cases, funding may also be available for related activities such as: Legal and engineering fees Land acquisition, water and land rights, permits and equipment Start-up operations and maintenance Interest incurred during construction Purchase of facilities to improve service or prevent loss of service Other costs determined to be necessary for completion of the project See 7 CFR Part 1780.7 and 1780.9 for a complete list What is the loan term and rate? Up to 40-year payback period, based on the useful life of the facilities financed Fixed interest rates, based on the need for the project and the median household income of the area to be served Contact us for details and current interest rates applicable for your project Are there additional requirements? Borrowers must have the legal authority to construct, operate and maintain the proposed services or facilities. All facilities receiving federal financing must be used for a public purpose. Partnerships with other federal, state, local, private and nonprofit entities that offer financial assistance are encouraged. Projects must be financially sustainable. How do we get started? Visit RD Apply Applications are accepted year round and may be filed electronically using RD Apply. The RD Apply Customer Help Guide is provided to help you get started and work through the application process Applications are also accepted through your local RD office. Program resources are available online (i.e., forms, guidance, certifications, etc.). Who can answer questions? Contact the local representative who serves your area Participating nonprofits in your area may also offer assistance and training What governs this program? Basic Program – 7 CFR, Part 1780 Loan Servicing – 7 CFR, Part 1782 Section 306 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act Why does USDA Rural Development do this? This program helps very small, financially distressed rural communities extend and improve water and waste treatment facilities that serve local households and businesses. Good practices can save tax dollars, improve the natural environment, and help manufacturers and businesses to locate or expand operations. NOTE: Program details may change over time. Before you begin an application, please confirm you have the most current information by contacting a program specialist in your local RD office for assistance or consult the program instructions listed in the section above titled "What Governs this Program?" READ MORE: https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/water-environmental-programs/water-waste-disposal-loan-grant-program 10. Funding Opportunity- Deployment of Clean Energy Technology on Indian Lands; This Department of Energy grant will support Tribes to install clean energy generating system(s) and energy efficiency measure(s) for Tribal buildings; deploy community-scale clean energy generating system(s) or energy storage on Tribal lands; or install integrated energy system(s) for autonomous operation to power essential Tribal facilities during emergency situations or for Tribal community resilience. Awards range from $100,000 to $5,000,000. For more information, please hit the read more button below. READ MORE: https://ie-exchange.energy.gov/Default.aspx#FoaId05e909d6-28a2-4a5a-ae35-676b7de91763 11. Comments Due- Notice of Preparation of Environmental Documentation and Scoping Meeting: May 25th On April 11, 2023, the State Water Board released a Notice of Preparation (NOP) of Environmental Documentation and Scoping Meeting for a possible amendment of the water quality control plan for the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Estuary to Incorporate a Tuolumne River voluntary agreement for review and comment. Written comment letters on the NOP must be received by 12:00 p.m. PDT (noon) on Thursday May 25, 2025. The State Water Board will also hold a scoping meeting scheduled for May 18, 2023, starting at 10:00 a.m. PDT (remote only) to receive oral comments. 12. Funding Opportunity- Tribal Facility and Residential Grant: Open Period: March 31st- May 31st The Tribal Facility and Residential Grant Program is part of TSAF’s broader efforts to promote clean energy development and economic growth in Indian Country. Through this program, TSAF will provide up to $200,000 per eligible project application for the purchase and installation of solar energy systems. To be eligible for the Tribal Facility and Residential Grant Program, applicants must be a federally recognized tribe or a Tribally-led 501(c)3 organization in support of federally recognized tribes. The Tribal Facility and Residential Grant Program will open on March 31st and close on May 31st. The application link will be available on the TSAF Grant page, which can be reached through the read more button below. TSAF will offer an informational webinar on Thursday April 6, 2023 at 1:00pm. EST (10am PST, 11am MST, 12pm CST). Please register at: https://register.gotowebinar.com/#register/4799581990099212375 READ MORE: https://tribalsolar.org/grants/facility-residential-grant/ 13. Technical Assistance Opportunity- Free leak detection technical assistance available 14. Funding Opportunity- Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants Program: Extended Deadline till May 31st The amendment extends the application deadline to May 31, 2023, and amends application requirements to include a mail-in option. Today, the Department of Energy (DOE) issued an amendment to the Administrative and Legal Requirements Document (ALRD) for the Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants Program to address feedback received from stakeholders. The amendment extends the deadline for States, Indian Tribes, and Territories to apply for funding to May 31, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. ET. The ALRD also amends application requirements to include a mail-in option to ensure that applicants without internet access can apply for the grants. Mail-in applications must be postmarked by May 31, 2023. The $2.3 billion Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants Program, authorized by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and administered through the Grid Deployment Office, focuses on strengthening and modernizing America’s power grid against wildfires, extreme weather, and other natural disasters that are exacerbated by climate change. The program will distribute funding to States, Territories, and federally recognized Indian Tribes, including Alaska Native Regional Corporations and Alaska Native Village Corporations, over five years based on a formula that includes factors such as population size, land area, probability and severity of disruptive events, and a locality’s historical expenditures on mitigation efforts. Priority will be given to projects that generate the greatest community benefit providing clean, affordable, and reliable energy. The deadline extension responds to stakeholder feedback and provides additional time for States, Indian Tribes, and Territories to prepare applications. As part of continued outreach from DOE to Tribes, Tribes identified numerous unique challenges. In particular, remote Tribal communities indicated that lack of reliable internet access presents a barrier to applying for this program. As such, DOE is now offering a mail-in option for all applicants. In addition, the new deadline also reflects a similar deadline extension made by the U.S. Treasury Department to the Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund (LATCF). In February 2023, the Treasury announced that the deadline for applications to the LATCF would be extended to April 28, 2023 for eligible Tribal governments. Recognizing that applicants to DOE’s Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants Program may use LATCF funds to meet cost-match requirements, the DOE extension provides more time for both programs to be pursued. Applications for allocated funding for the Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants Program must be submitted prior to the May 31, 2023 deadline and will be processed on a rolling basis as they are received. Accordingly, applicants may submit their applications as soon as they are ready and grants may be awarded prior to May 31, 2023. 15. Program Opportunity- The Environmental Justice Government-to-Government Program The Environmental Justice Government-to-Government (EJG2G) program provides funding at the state, local, territorial, and tribal level to support government activities that lead to measurable environmental or public health impacts in communities disproportionately burdened by environmental harms. Model EJG2G programs should leverage existing resources to develop processes or tools that integrate environmental justice considerations into governmental decision-making at all levels. Formerly known as EPA's State Environmental Justice Cooperative Agreement Program (SEJCA), this program has been renamed to better reflect the spectrum of entities eligible for this funding. For more information, please hit the read more button. READ MORE: https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/environmental-justice-government-government-program 16. Reading Opportunity- Water Commission explores drought impacts and responses in latest issue of Water Resources IMPACT magazine The California Water Commission staff has acted as guest editor for two issues of Water Resources IMPACT magazine, featuring articles on the topic of prolonged drought in California. Articles delve into how drought impacts people and the environment and how we can respond to droughts, better preparing for the inevitable. The first issue, published in February 2023, focused on water scarcity issues confronting California and the ways these issues impact different sectors. The second issue, published on April 20, 2023, focuses on drought response, considering the options for adaptation. This two-part series complements the Commission’s work on strategies to protect communities and fish and wildlife in the event of a long-term drought. The authors who contributed to the double issue are a diverse array of Tribal leaders, academics, NGO thought-leaders, water managers, and water policy influencers, each of whom brings their own perspective on the topic of drought. Their expertise and perspectives in climate science, water policy, and water management will help inform drought-related decision-making and support policies that better prepare the state to thrive during prolonged drought events. The second issue includes contributions from: Atley Keller, Stantec, and Laura Jensen, California Water Commission Nícola Ulibarrí, University of California, Irvine Laura Ramos, California State University, Fresno Kristin Babson Dobbin, University of California, Berkeley Tara Moran, California Water Data Consortium Sarah Naumes and Dr. Leigh Bernacchi, University of California, Merced Sarah Heard and Jeannie Brantigan, The Nature Conservancy Roger Bales, University of California, Merced, Dr. Martha Conklin, University of California, Merced, and Dr. Michael Goulden, University of California, Irvine Heather Cooley, Pacific Institute Michael McNutt, Riki Clark, and Dave Pedersen, Las Virgenes Municipal Water District Deniene Rivenburg, Irvine Ranch Water District Martha Davis, former Assistant General Manager for Policy, Inland Empire Utilities Agency The March/April edition of Water Resources IMPACT magazine can be accessed, free of charge, on the American Water Resources Association website, using this promotional code: 23MarAprWC. The code will expire in three months. READ MORE: https://awra.org/ItemDetail?iProductCode=IMPACT_03_2023&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery 17. Comments Due- Request for Information (RFI) on California's Fifth Climate Change Assessment's Regional Synthesis Reports The Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) has released a Request for Information (RFI) seeking input to inform California’s Fifth Climate Change Assessment’s (Fifth Assessment) Regional Synthesis Reports (regional reports). The regional reports will strengthen the understanding of climate impacts and risks at the local level and inform the development of resilience actions across the state. The Fifth Assessment team will be hosting virtual listening sessions on the RFI during May 2023. The listening sessions are open to the public as an additional opportunity to ask questions and provide input on the scope of the regional reports. Please share the announcement with your networks. The RFI is for public comment only. Written responses are required to be submitted via this form by Wednesday, May 31, 2023 by 5:00 p.m. PST to be considered. If you are unable to access the submission form, responses and/or supplemental attachments can be submitted via email to [log in to unmask] For emailed responses, please include in the email subject line, “Fifth Assessment Regional Report RFI”. ######### ######### ######### ######### ######### ######### ######### ######### ######### ######### ######### ######### ######### ######### Unsubscribe: http://LIST.CIEA-HEALTH.ORG/scripts/wa-CIEAH.exe?SUBED1=CIEA_LIST_TRIBAL&A=1 P.O. 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