View in Browser: http://list.ciea-health.org/scripts/wa-CIEAH.exe?A2=CIEA_LIST_TRIBAL;e4f22f94.2307p ######### ######### ######### ######### ######### ######### ######### CIEA Environmental Chronicle - Vol. 53, Issue 1, July 2023 Monthly news of environmental issues affecting Indigenous Peoples ######### ######### ######### ######### ######### ######### ######### 1. Opening Remarks- Honoring Our Indigenous Relatives from "Canada On July 1, 2023, the settler colonial nation known today as "Canada" celebrated the construction of their anti-Indigenous nation that dispossessed and made their livings off the backs of our Indigenous relatives across Canada. CIEA stands in solidarity with our Indigenous relatives in Canada. Indigenous communities have suffered under the colonial structures built that serve as a tool to reinforce systems of racial and cultural inequality within settler colonial societies. We must do our part within the larger conversation and demand accountability and reparations such as land back and other acts of Indigenous resistance. CIEA would like to take the time to offer space and a moment of silence for those children who were taken so soon from us. We stand in true solidarity with our Indigenous relatives and communities in Canada and commit to anti-racist work. CIEA would like to use our platform to denounce anti-Indigeneity perpetrated by settler colonial societies like the U.S., Canada, Australia, and across the globe. The CIEA office is physically closed to the public unless you have an appointment or meeting with us. We will continue to work remotely and are available via email and through our phone, our messages are checked daily. 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- Living Cultures Grant: Deadline July 3rd at 11:59 PM The Living Cultures Grant seeks to sustain and strengthen traditional arts in the state of California with $5,000 grants to individual artists/culture bearers and $12,500 grants to California-based nonprofits and Tribal Nations, as well as other organizations and community groups who work with fiscal sponsors. Through this grant program, ACTA supports nurturing cultural continuity, sustaining cultural practices, and engaging our own communities and others through public programs. Projects involving any genre of traditional art—including but not limited to dance, music, foodways, material arts, and oral traditions—are welcome. For more information, please hit the read more button below. READ MORE: https://actaonline.org/program/living-cultures-grant/ 3. Tribal Discussion Opportunities- California Water Commission Drought Discussions: July 3rd, 5th, and 6th The California Water Commission respectfully invites you to participate in a discussion about drought strategies to protect communities and fish and wildlife from the impacts of drought. These drought discussions are a continuation of the Tribal small-group discussions on drought impacts that the Commission hosted last November. The Commission has been tasked with supporting the Governor's Water Resilience Portfolio Initiative on policy options for managing drought. The focus of the Commission's investigation is on small, at-risk communities and water dependent ecosystems. This is a forward-looking effort, in anticipation of future droughts. The Commission is bringing in different viewpoints to better understand the issue and will ultimately produce a white paper that will be delivered to State decision-makers for their use when setting policies and making investments related to drought. Since November, the Commission has developed a suite of preliminary drought strategies nested under the following, overarching concepts: Improve Coordination and Communication During Drought and Non-Drought Years Scale Up Groundwater Recharge Reduce Ecosystem Impacts of Drought Better Position Communities to Respond to Drought Emergencies These concepts were presented to the Commission at its April meeting. You can view the PowerPoint here: https://cwc.ca.gov/-/media/CWC-Website/Files/Documents/2023/04_April/April2023_Item_9_Attach_1_PowerPoint_Final.pdf. The Commission is now looking to get feedback on these strategies and to delve into areas that are missing. Water Commission staff would like to hear from Tribal representatives from around the state. We would be honored to have your participation in this effort. We invite you to attend one or more of the following discussions (the agenda will be the same for all of them). You can register at any time, including the day of the event. Monday July 3, 12 pm - Registration: https://stantec.zoom.us/meeting/register/ tJMpcu6hrjspHNbRgtsdQjjG0OpcrqDoI0Hz#/registration Wednesday July 5, 11 am - Registration: https://stantec.zoom.us/meeting/register/ tJ0lceitqj4iGNy4t2ePzZ5Hls141Q0e6swT#/registration Thursday July 6, 1 pm - Registration: https://stantec.zoom.us/meeting/register/ tJYucu2rrTwqEtSYtNHhDOWzkXcOjyKZrgak#/registration If you have any questions, please email Laura Jensen: [log in to unmask] READ MORE: https://cwc.ca.gov/Water-Resilience-Portfolio 4. Update- Supreme Court slashes Clean Water Act protections The Supreme Court’s delivered another ruthless blow to the environment in Sackett v. EPA. In a 5-4 decision, the Court eliminated longstanding Clean Water Act protections for wetlands that lack a "continuous surface connection" to larger bodies of water. Over 118 million acres of formerly protected wetlands now face an existential threat from polluters and developers. In Sackett v. EPA, Earthjustice submitted an amicus brief on behalf of their clients — 18 tribes who depend on clean water for food, economy, and culture. But the Court rejected their concerns in favor of a deregulatory approach that serves industry at the expense of people downstream who rely on clean water for their health, livelihoods, and way of life. The conservative justices went out of their way to rewrite the Clean Water Act, ignore the text of the statute, and gut protections for wetlands. Even conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh found this ruling extreme, pointing out that the majority has replaced "adjacent" waters with "adjoining" waters — directly contradicting the plain text of the Clean Water Act: "Put simply, the Court's atextual test - rewriting ‘adjacent’ to mean ‘adjoining’ - will produce real-world consequences for the waters of the United States and will generate regulatory uncertainty. I would stick to the text. There can be no debate, in my respectful view, that the key statutory term is ‘adjacent’ and that adjacent wetlands is a broader category than adjoining wetlands. To be faithful to the statutory text, we cannot interpret ‘adjacent’ wetlands to be the same thing as ‘adjoining’ wetlands." The Court ignored both science and the text of the law in this case. Wetlands are often connected to larger bodies of water through underground connections, temporary surface connections, and other types of flow. “The Court’s decision to deregulate wetlands will hurt everyone living in the United States. Earthjustice will continue to fight to protect our waters to ensure the health of communities and ecosystems for decades to come.” This Supreme Court represents a major challenge for the environmental movement, but we are not deterred. Over two-thirds of Americans want stronger environmental regulations, and your contributions allow us to bring hundreds of cases to court across the country. In the 50 years since the Clean Water Act was passed, tremendous progress cleaning up our nation’s waterways. Do not stop working to strengthen water protections at the EPA, engage in lawsuits to protect communities from water pollution, and restore Clean Water Act protections through the legislative process. 5. 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 6. 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 7. Technical Assistance Opportunity- Free leak detection technical assistance available 8. 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. 9. Updates- The City of Palo Alto's Sea Level Rise Adaptation Plan Development Completion of the recent Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment in 2022 was the first step in developing a Sea Level Rise Adaptation Plan, which is a priority of the City of Palo Alto’s Sustainability and Climate Action Plan. The Assessment identifies potential hazards from sea level rise that are anticipated later this century. The development of the Adaptation Plan will include strategies and a timeline for adapting and protecting the City, community, and natural assets in the decades ahead. For more information or to read the assessment in its entirety, please hit the read more button below. READ MORE: https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/Departments/Public-Works/Watershed-Protection/Sea-Level-Rise 10. Consultation Opportunity- Notification of Consultation and Coordination on Proposed Rule to Establish Federal Baseline Water Quality Standards for Indian Reservation Waters The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) is continuing consultation and coordination with federally recognized Indian tribes on a proposed rulemaking that would establish federal baseline water quality standards (WQS) under the Clean Water Act (CWA) for waters on Indian reservations that currently do not have CWA WQS in place. EPA conducted tribal engagement and consultation on the concepts reflected in this proposed rule on two separate occasions – the first in 2016 to inform the Agency’s 2016 Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) for Federal Baseline Water Quality Standards for Indian Reservations and the second between June and September 2021, prior to drafting the proposed rule. We are resuming consultation and coordination because EPA has just signed the proposed rule and will soon be initiating public comment. This proposed rule reflects input received during the pre-ANPRM and pre-proposal consultation periods. This invitation for consultation and coordination provides tribes an opportunity to share input and comments with EPA on the proposed rule now that it has been released for public review. The proposed rule was signed by the EPA Administrator on April 27, 2023 and will soon be published in the Federal Register for a 90-day public comment period. The invitation also provides an opportunity for tribes whose waters may be covered by the baseline WQS to engage in dialogue with EPA in circumstances where the tribe seeks to be excluded from coverage by the baseline WQS rule. The timeframe for a tribe seeking to be excluded from the rule to communicate to EPA begins upon publication of this proposed rule in the Federal Register and ends 90 days after the final rule is published in the Federal Register. To download a copy of the pre-publication version of the proposed rule, please visit the following website: https://www.epa.gov/wqs-tech/promulgation-tribal-baseline-water-quality-standards-under-clean-water-act. The tribal consultation letter and consultation and coordination plan and an accompanying Questions & Answers document are attached. These consultation materials are also available on EPA’s Tribal Consultation Opportunities Tracking System (TCOTS) website located at: https://tcots.epa.gov. EPA will hold a listening session via webinar for Rribal leaders and staff on Thursday, July 6, 2023, from 2:00 – 4:00 pm (ET). To register, please visit EPA’s website for this rulemaking by hitting the read more button below. The 90-day consultation and coordination period for this action is from May 3, 2023 – August 1, 2023. For any questions, please contact James Ray by email at [log in to unmask] or by phone at (202) 566-1433. READ MORE: https://www.epa.gov/wqs-tech/promulgation-tribal-baseline-water-quality-standards-under-clean-water-act. 11. Workshop Opportunities- California Water Commission Drought Strategies Workshops: Preparing for Drought in a Non-Drought Year You are invited to a California Water Commission workshop to explore ways that the State can adapt to changing hydrology and ongoing weather extremes. Following three years of severe drought, California experienced a winter of extreme wet weather this year. Being able to endure the next severe drought is dependent upon making smart, preemptive water management decisions during non-drought years. In support of Action 26.3 in California’s Water Resilience Portfolio, the Commission is developing proposed strategies to protect communities and fish and wildlife during drought. At the workshops, the Commission will gather information regarding the impacts of drought on communities and species and will discuss drought strategies. The public is encouraged to share their ideas and opinions. The Commission hopes to hear from a diverse set of participants. Please feel free to forward the invitation to anyone you think may be interested. Time: Noon to 3 p.m. Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2023 Register here https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ tZYqdu2gqzwrGtGiQsveOAfH6P35DB8yf-Og Time: 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2023 Register here https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ tZArcOmgqjoqE9aWVCa60NhqbSCAUN3nZHOP Time: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Date: Thursday, July 27, 2023 Register here https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register /tZMvduiupjsvGdZ3y5yUKVRUYn4-YNU0AoDM 12. Pilot Opportunity- Wildfire Smoke Air Monitoring Response Technology (WSMART) Pilot The EPA Office of Research and Development is making available air monitoring technology to support supplemental air monitoring in areas affected by wildfire smoke and with observational data coverage gaps. The primary measurement of the supplemental technologies is fine particulate matter (PM2.5), with carbon monoxide (CO), total volatile organic compounds (tVOCs), and black carbon also measured in some systems. The current systems that are available upon request are two stationary sampling systems – a PM2.5 sensor and multipollutant sensor (PM2.5, CO, tVOC) system – and a portable system called the Vehicle Add-on Mobile Monitoring System (VAMMS). If you are representing a state, local, or tribal air agency and wish to request one or multiple air monitors, please fill out the online form available by hitting the read more button below. READ MORE: https://www.epa.gov/air-sensor-toolbox/wildfire-smoke-air-monitoring-response-technology-wsmart-pilot. 13. Funding Opportunity- ECRG Round 2 Application and Webinar Dates Announced! 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 on August 14th, 2023. An estimated $85 million will be available to fund the assessment, investigation, and cleanup of sites in California communities for beneficial reuse. To help you prepare for success, DTSC office of Brownfields and its Brownfield Technical Assistance Provider, the Center for Creative Land Recycling, will host several webinars in July and August designed to provide you with the information you need to apply with confidence. Additionally, you can schedule a one-on-one meeting with CCLR to discuss eligibility and any questions you may have about the grant by hitting the read more button below. ECRG Round 2 Timeline/ Webinar Series Tuesday, July 25, 2023 10:00 AM ECRGenius Webinar 1: Round 2 Overview Tuesday, August 1, 2023 10:00 AM ECRGenius Webinar 2: Eligibility, Ownership and Access Tuesday, August 8, 2023 10:00 AM ECRGenius Webinar 3: Engagement and Reuse Tuesday, August 15, 2023 10:00 AM ECRGenius Webinar 4: FLUXX and Application Walkthrough Application Opens Monday, August 14, 2023! READ MORE: https://urlisolation.com/browser?clickId=DFC7AFF4-CDA1-4389-B327-F43F65ED63C4&traceToken=1688357133%3Bscdtsc_2_hosted%3Bhttps%3A%2Fcclr.us12.list-manage.com&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalendly.com%2Fd%2Fdyj-qxk-z7v%3Fmc_cid%3D6a10c28db6%26mc_eid%3D4e59ab8fa2%26mc_cid%3D3d023b59b5%26mc_eid%3D4e59ab8fa2 14. Update- 'Be Well Prepared' Program and Website Ahead of Summer On May 17, 2023, DWR released the Be Well Prepared program. DWR is providing tools and resources to help communities that are dependent on groundwater and experiencing climate-driven weather extremes, to prepare for potential impacts to household water supplies. The Be Well Prepared program focuses on domestic well owners and residents that use and maintain their well. Through the Be Well Prepared program, DWR is empowering domestic drinking water well users by providing the information and resources they need to maintain a safe and reliable household water supply. The Be Well Prepared website resources aim to help well owners, users, and communities dependent on groundwater Be Well Prepared. These resources include information that every well owner should know and understand about: Groundwater Conditions - local groundwater conditions, including groundwater levels and water quality Well Maintenance - potential risks to the well’s water supply; well construction details, such as age, depth, condition, and pump details; how to maintain a drinking water well, and how to test and treat well water Assistance - where to get help if a well goes dry Articles, Videos, and Additional Resources For questions about this initiative or for assistance with any of the online resources, email [log in to unmask] The website can be accessed by hitting the read more button below. READ MORE: https://water.ca.gov/Programs/Groundwater-Management/Drinking-Water-Well/Be-Well-Prepared?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery 15. Tribal Consultation Opportunity- Delta Research Proposal Solicitation Notice: Deadline July 21st The Delta Science Program is seeking consultation with interested Tribes on the just-released draft Delta Research Proposal Solicitation Notice. In particular, the Delta Science Program is looking to hear from Tribes and Tribal Organizations about how to make the Delta Research Proposal Solicitation most accessible and of interest to Tribes before its release, expected in fall 2023. For reference, you can review the previous Notices at https://bit.ly/42vQpEp. Once finalized, the Delta Research Proposal Solicitation will make available approximately $6 million for high-quality research projects that promote understanding and management of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and Suisun Marsh. Proposals must advance one or more of the Science Actions in the 2022-2026 Science Action Agenda (https://bit.ly/3qqxCgh) and must demonstrate a strong connection with natural resource management and/or Delta community groups. Request for Consultation: While all guidance on the draft Delta Research Proposal Solicitation Notice is appreciated, we respectfully request the opportunity to consult on the following non-exclusive items: • Is the draft Notice clear on what types of research (including any potential Tribal-led or Tribal-partnered research projects) are eligible for funding? • Do the priorities and scoring criteria in the draft Notice reflect the priorities your Tribe would like prioritized for research? • Are there any concerns with the priorities and scoring criteria/process regarding your or other Tribe’s potential submission of research proposals under the Notice? • Is there anything that can be added or changed to the draft Notice to make the research-funding opportunity more attractive to Tribes? • How can the draft Notice best support your Tribes’ interest in collaborating with non-Tribal entities that may submit research proposals under the notice? • What additional information, training, or other capacity-building resources would be helpful to your Tribe concerning the Delta Research Proposal Solicitation? They respectfully request consultations and/or written comments be held and sent by July 21, 2023. Requests for consultations and written comments can be sent via email to [log in to unmask] with the subject line “Draft Delta Research Proposal Solicitation Notice: [Tribe Name] Tribal Consultation Response.” Please contact that email as well if your Tribe needs an extension to this deadline. Given delayed mailing times, email submission is preferred for written comments, but you may also submit consultation responses via mail to: Delta Stewardship Council ATTN: Brandon Chapin, Tribal Liaison 715 P Street, 15-300 Sacramento, CA 95814 Thank you for your consideration of our request for consultation and please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns. For more information or to find the draft solicitation, please hit the read more button below. READ MORE: https://deltacouncil.ca.gov/delta-science-program/delta-science-proposal-solicitations 16. Pilot Opportunity- Request for Information for the Tribal Capacity Building Pilot Program The California Strategic Growth Council (SGC) released a Request for Information (RFI) on Monday, May 22 to inform the development of the Tribal Capacity Building Pilot Program. As part of SGC’s Community Assistance for Climate Equity suite of programs, this new capacity building pilot program will provide funding and tailored technical assistance to California Native American Tribes. The goal of the pilot program is to assist tribes in developing long-term capacity to secure funding and implement tribal-led climate solutions. SGC is seeking input from tribes and tribal-serving organizations to inform the development of this pilot program. The Request for Information includes: (1) a call for public comments on the Tribal Capacity Building Pilot Program Draft Grant Guidelines and (2) a series of questions to inform the development of a solicitation to select a technical assistance provider. The Draft Grant Guidelines outline the goals, processes, and requirements for tribes who apply to participate in the program.The series of questions included in the Request for Information are meant to inform the development of the technical assistance provider solicitation, including the solicitation’s scope of work, deliverables, and proposal requirements. The technical assistance provider will support participating tribes throughout the grant term. SGC respectfully requests tribal consultation and written public comments on the Request for Information and Draft Grant Guidelines by August 22, 2023. To request a consultation, please contact Ena Lupine, Community Assistance for Climate Equity Program Manager at [log in to unmask] Written public comments should be submitted directly via email to [log in to unmask] 17. Training Opportunity- California Prescribed-Fire Burn Boss Training: November 6th-10th: Registration Deadline- September 5th This course provides information about and develops the skills required for planning and managing prescribed fire on State or private lands. The curriculum includes portions of the National Wildland Fire Training (NWCG) courses RX301 Prescribed Fire Implementation, RX341 Prescribed Fire Plan Preparation, and RX410 Smoke Management Techniques, but should not be considered a substitute for any of these RX classes. This course contains instructor-led training, including simulation exercises and a task book. Students are required to complete the prerequisites (coursework, firing, and leadership requirements) prior to taking the instructor-led training and completing the task book. As detailed in the course plan, this course was developed and formatted into the SFT curriculum development model. Stakeholders are encouraged to study this information carefully and seek clarification from SFT if questions arise. Certified persons may act as contractors within land designated as State Responsibility Area (SRA) by the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. For more information or to register, please hit the read more button below. READ MORE: https://spranch.calpoly.edu/california-prescribed-fire-burn-boss-training ######### ######### ######### ######### ######### ######### ######### Land Back- Air Back- Water Back ######### ######### ######### ######### ######### ######### ######### Unsubscribe: http://LIST.CIEA-HEALTH.ORG/scripts/wa-CIEAH.exe?SUBED1=CIEA_LIST_TRIBAL&A=1 P.O. 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