Western Tribal Environmental Issues Highlighted at 15th Annual Tribal/EPA Conference in Nevada

SAN FRANCISCO – This week, over 500 tribal environmental leaders representing more than 100 tribal governments from Arizona, California and Nevada will meet with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency officials to share environmental solutions and discuss common issues during the 15th Annual Tribal/EPA Conference in Elko, Nev.

Conference topics include solid waste management, air quality, climate change, mining impacts, and water quality. Nearly 120 tribes are building environmental programs in Arizona, California, and Nevada. As a result of these efforts during the last year, 1,000 tribal homes have safer drinking water, 22 tribes are monitoring air quality, and 5,718 tribal homes have better sewer service.

“In the last decade, tribes have made tremendous progress in protecting public health and the environment”, said Wayne Nastri, EPA administrator for the Pacific Southwest region. “This conference allows us to reflect on the significant accomplishments that have been achieved through the collaborative efforts of tribes and federal, state, and local governments in the Region.”

This year, the EPA awarded more than $38 million in grants for environmental protection projects to tribes in California, Arizona and Nevada. Funding from the EPA will be used to develop tribal environmental programs, build water and sewage treatment systems, and implement air pollution control, solid waste management, watershed monitoring and restoration projects.

Tribes in California, Arizona and Nevada will receive, respectively, grants of $19 million, $13 million, and $6 million to fund environmental projects in the upcoming fiscal year.

This year the conference is co-hosted by the EPA and the Elko Band of the Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone Indians.