Clean Water Indian Set-Aside Emerging Contaminant Program
- Purpose
- Examples of Eligible Activities
- Eligibility Requirements
- Funding
- How to Apply for Funding
- Project Award Timeline
- Questions?
- Documents
Purpose
To assist federally recognized Tribes within EPA Region 9 (CA, NV, AZ) improve wastewater infrastructure to address emerging contaminants (ECs).
Examples of Eligible Activities
Project types that are eligible under section 603(c) of the Clean Water Act and address emerging contaminants are eligible under this appropriation. Note that Clean Water Indian Set-Aside (CWISA) EC funds do not apply to the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, per Clean Water Act Section 518. This is particularly relevant for monitoring, planning, and design as described in the project types below.
- Project assessment monitoring: monitoring ECs for the purpose of field testing an innovative or alternative technology.
- Planning and design: identification of ECs and supporting preliminary engineering activities that may lead to well-scoped and ready-to-fund projects (e.g., Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) development)
- Potable and non-potable water reuse: water reuse/reclamation projects that might use advanced treatment (e.g., reverse osmosis, granulated activated carbon, or ion exchange) to remove PFAS or other ECs.
- Wastewater treatment facilities: pilot/demonstration projects to evaluate the efficacy of a particular wastewater treatment technology for ECs.
- Biosolids: sampling of biosolids with ECs to assess type of treatment needed, or the design and construction of facilities for biosolids handling and disposal.
- Stormwater, surface water protection, and landfill projects that address ECs.
EPA recognizes that information about the presence and extent of ECs might be limited for Tribal wastewater utilities and the Indian Health Service (IHS) Sanitation Deficiency System (SDS) prioritization system has not previously focused on ECs in wastewater. Therefore, proposed projects are not required to be identified in the IHS SDS database.
Eligibility Requirements
Only federally recognized Tribes within EPA Region 9 may submit project proposals for Region 9’s CWISA EC Program funding.
Proposed projects must address an emerging contaminant. Emerging contaminants refer to substances and microorganisms, including manufactured or naturally occurring physical, chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear materials, which are known or anticipated in the environment, that may pose newly identified or re-emerging risks to human health, aquatic life, or the environment. These substances, microorganisms, or materials can include many different types of natural or manufactured chemicals and substances – such as those in some compounds of personal care products, pharmaceuticals, industrial chemicals, pesticides, and microplastics. A description of ECs for the purposes of CWISA financing can be found in Appendix B of EPA’s March 2022 Memorandum Implementation of the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Provisions of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Contaminants with national recommended water quality criteria established by the EPA under CWA section 304(a), except for PFAS, are not considered ECs. Therefore, nutrients (e.g., ammonia, nitrogen, and phosphorus), certain organics, and certain metals are not considered emerging contaminants.
Funding
Approximately $3.8 million in funds are currently available to support eligible projects in EPA Region 9 that address emerging contaminants in wastewater. Region 9 anticipates receiving up to $3.1 million in additional funding through FY26. Therefore, Region 9 expects that there will be sufficient funding for eligible projects to investigate and plan for addressing CWISA EC. Region 9 plans to later fund construction projects through the base CWISA Program. However, if a CWISA EC project is fully scoped, planned, and ready for construction, Region 9 will consider that project for funding. Matching funds are not required.
Funds will be awarded through the following mechanisms:
- Direct grant to the Tribe or a Tribal consortium.
- Interagency Agreement (IA) with IHS.
- EPA-directed in-kind assistance (i.e., contractors) to Tribes.
Funding Methodology Flowchart
How to Apply for Funding
Project proposals must be received by June 14, 2024. After this initial deadline, project proposals will be accepted throughout the year on a rolling basis and will be evaluated as they are received.
All project proposals must include the following:
- Emerging Contaminant Project Proposal Form (pdf)
- Tribal government endorsement; and
- Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) and/or supporting documentation.
E-mail one electronic copy of the proposal and any documentation to: Nancy Sockabasin (sockabasin.nancy@epa.gov).
Electronic files exceeding 8MB must be separated into emails not exceeding 8MB each. If you have difficulty submitting electronic documentation, contact Nancy Sockabasin.
Project Award Timeline
Below is an outline of EPA’s anticipated funding timeline from receipt of project proposal to award date.
June 14, 2024
EPA must receive proposals by this date.
August 2024
EPA will notify each Tribe of the draft proposal priority and whether the project is selected to continue with the CWISA EC funding process.
September 2024
Tribes can submit comments on their draft project prioritization. For projects selected to continue with the CWISA EC funding process, Tribes must submit responses to any EPA comments, and submit any additional documentation or endorsements that EPA requests.
October 2024
EPA notifies Tribes of the final ranking and funding decision, along with guidance letters for projects to be funded by grant.
November 2024
Tribe submits grant application, or Indian Health Service submits signed Project Summary (exact dates will be included in funding decision notification letters).
February 2025
EPA awards funds for selected projects.