EPA Administrator Regan and National Tribal Caucus Chair Wagner Co-Chair 2023 National Tribal Operations Committee Meeting

October 18, 2023

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hosted the annual National Tribal Operations Committee (NTOC) meeting. National Tribal Caucus (NTC) Chair Gerald Wagner of the Blackfeet Tribe co-chaired the meeting with EPA Administrator Michael Regan. Members of the NTOC include the EPA Administrator, senior leaders across EPA, and Tribal representatives from across Indian country. 

The Administrator Regan highlighted the Agency’s commitment to supporting Tribes as they access and implement funding – including funding available under the Inflation Reduction Act – addressing emerging contaminants such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and 6PPD, minimizing the environmental impacts of critical minerals mining, and strengthening Tribal and EPA partnerships.

“EPA is proud to collaborate with Tribal Nations to protect human health and the environment in Indian Country,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Ensuring that investments from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda reach Tribal communities, which are often at the front lines of the effects of climate change, remains one of our top priorities.”

The Administrator also shared some of the current and future funding opportunities that are available to EPA’s Tribal partners through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, including in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act. Some highlights of funding that is available to Tribal communities include:

• EPA announced the availability of at least $500 million in funding from the Clean School Bus rebate competition that is transforming school bus fleets across America and protecting children from air pollution. This second round of funding will build on the previous nearly $1 billion investment to further improve air quality in and around schools, reduce greenhouse gas pollution fueling the climate crisis, and help accelerate America’s leadership in developing the clean vehicles of the future. EPA is accepting rebate applications from September 28, 2023, until January 31, 2024.

• EPA’s Advancing Water Equity and Access for All Commitment will invest $500 million, including funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, for technical assistance to help communities invest in water infrastructure to close America’s water equity gap. This commitment builds on EPA’s ongoing efforts to strengthen community water infrastructure. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law presented an unprecedented opportunity to address water infrastructure needs with $50 billion in new funding – the largest ever federal investment in water. The announcement leverages EPA’s new water technical assistance (WaterTA) pilot programs and over $150 million in awards through its Environmental Finance Centers program to scale technical assistance and reach hundreds of communities, including Tribal communities.

• EPA’s $ 5 billion Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) program will enable states, municipalities, Tribes, and territories to develop community-driven solutions to dramatically cut climate pollution, transition key sectors, and position communities to be more resilient and sustainable. EPA has already made $250 million available to fund the development of climate action plans, and nearly all states, plus major cities opted in to receive these flexible planning resources. In September, EPA launched two competitions totaling $4.6 billion to fund initiatives developed under the first phase of the program. The general deadline for implementation grant applications is April 1, 2024, and the deadline for Tribes and territories to apply for funding is May 1, 2024.

• EPA launched a $7 billion grant competition through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to increase access to affordable, resilient, and clean solar energy for millions of low-income households. The Solar for All competition, which was created by the Inflation Reduction Act’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF), will expand the number of low-income and disadvantaged communities primed for residential solar investment by awarding up to 60 grants to states, territories, Tribal governments, municipalities, and eligible nonprofits to create and expand low-income solar programs that provide financing and technical assistance, such as workforce development, to enable low-income and disadvantaged communities to deploy and benefit from residential solar. The application period for this funding opportunity closed on October 12, 2023.

• In the spring of 2023, EPA announced the selection of 16 Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers (EJ TCTACs) in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy that will receive $177 million to help underserved and overburdened communities, including Tribal communities, across the country access funds from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, including historic investments to advance environmental justice. The National Indian Health Board, one of the selected TCTACs, is focused on efforts to aid Tribal communities.

For more information about the EPA’s programs in Indian country, visit: https://www.epa.gov/tribal.