This project provides funding under the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) (PL 117-58) for tribal solid waste advisory (tswan) to conduct eligible technical assistance-related activities as…

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 10 awarded a $500,000 Cooperative Agreement to Tribal Solid Waste Advisory Network, Inc. (TSWAN) under the Brownfields Job Training Cooperative Agreements program (CFDA 66.815), effective July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2030. This award funds TSWAN to recruit, train, and place unemployed and underemployed tribal residents from five tribal partners—Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Coeur d'Alene Tribe, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Snoqualmie Tribe, and Yakama Nation—in environmental careers across Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.

TSWAN will deliver comprehensive environmental training and industry-recognized certifications, including 40-hour Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER), asbestos worker certification, disaster site and spill response training, chemical safety awareness, Department of Transportation hazardous materials shipping, and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) hazardous waste management instruction. The program emphasizes green remediation technologies and stormwater management to equip participants with skills necessary for employment in hazardous waste site remediation and environmental cleanup operations. TSWAN will report progress through EPA's Assessment, Cleanup and Redevelopment Exchange System (ACRES), with objectives focused on economic empowerment of tribal members, environmental quality improvement, and sustainable long-term employment opportunities within tribal communities.

This project provides funding under the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) (PL 117-58) for tribal solid waste advisory (tswan) to conduct eligible technical assistance-related activities as authorized by comprehensive environmental response, compensation, and liability act (cercla) 104(k)(7). The recipient will recruit, train, and place unemployed and underemployed residents of at least five different tribal partners (confederated tribes of warm springs, coeur d'alene tribe, confederated tribes of the colville reservation, snoqualmie tribe, and yakama nation) in washington, oregon, and idaho in environmental careers with skills needed to safely conduct remediation work at solid and hazardous waste-contaminated sites, as well as appropriate training in green remediation technologies, storm water management, emergency planning and chemical safety. Tswan brownfields job training program objectives are to empower tribal members, improve environmental quality, and create sustainable employment opportunities within their communities, fostering resilience and long-term economic growth by providing targeted training. Activities:this project will train graduates to earn skills and certifications necessary to enter into environmental careers. Activities to be performed during under this project are hazwoper 40 HR, asbestos worker certification and safety course, employee safety course, disaster site and spill response worker, site worker safety and training, chemical safety awareness, DOT hazardous materials shipping and rcra hazardous waste management. Also, the recipient will report on interim progress and final accomplishments by completing and submitting relevant portions of the property profile form using EPA's assessment, cleanup and redevelopment exchange system (acres). This project will provide training to residents of confederated tribes of warm springs, coeur d'alene tribe, confederated tribes of the colville reservation, snoqualmie tribe, and yakama nation in washington, oregon, and idaho. Subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:this project will provide training to residents of confederated tribes of warm springs, coeur d'alene tribe, confederated tribes of the colville reservation, snoqualmie tribe, and yakama nation in washington, oregon, and idaho. The anticipated deliverables are: 40 (minimum of 10 participants annually for 4 years from at least 5 different tribal partners) individuals recruited, trained, certified, and placed in environmental careers in communities impacted by solid and hazardous waste sites and facilities; 7 classroom style trainings, practical trainings, and curricula modules; 4 brownfields job training appropriate certifications in environmental sampling and site cleanup methods; at least 40 nationally recognized OSHA certifications and 40 brownfields worker certificates; and at least 25 job placements within tribal environmental programs or related industries; at least 60% of graduates for high-demand roles in environmental cleanup, hazardous materials handling, and site remediation. Expected outcomes from this project include: help residents of communities take advantage of jobs created by the assessment and cleanup of brownfields and the assessment, cleanup, and management of solid and hazardous waste sites and facilities while addressing sustainable community revitalization concerns; provide training that leads to sustainable employment in the environmental field; improve community involvement and stimulate the development of constructive partnerships, reduce exposures to hazardous substances and other contaminants and improve the health of workers, occupants, and residents; foster self-sufficiency and enhance the skills and availability of labor for environmental remediation in particularly impacted communities, including those that are impacted by a variety of waste facilities, blighted proper