Cooperative Agreement 84077501

DESCRIPTION:EPA'S SOLID WASTE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR RECYCLING (SWIFR) GRANTS FOR TRIBES AND INTERTRIBAL CONSORTIA WILL FUND PROJECTS THAT FOCUS ON ENCOURAGING ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND POST-CONSUMER MATERIALS MANAGEMENT, FUND PROJECTS THAT WILL RESULT IN A DECREASE IN THE GENERATION OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE AND/OR AN INCREASE IN THE DIVERSION OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE FROM LANDFILLS AND INCINERATION; AND/OR FUND PROJECTS THAT PROVIDE OR EXPAND ACCESS TO SOURCE REDUCTION, REUSE, RECYCLING, BACKHAUL, ANAEROBIC DIGESTION, AND COMPOSTING FOR TRIBES AND TRIBAL MEMBERS OF INTERTRIBAL CONSORTIA. THE PURPOSE OF THIS AWARD IS TO ENHANCE THE MUSCOGEE (CREEK) NATION'S EFFORTS TO MEET THE SWIFR GRANTS ELEMENTS. MUSCOGEE (CREEK) NATION WILL EXPAND THEIR SOLID WASTE POST-CONSUMER MATERIALS MANAGEMENT PROGRAM. THIS WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED BY INCREASING BOTH THE REACH AND CAPACITY OF THE TRIBE'S CURRENT RECYCLING PROGRAMS THROUGH NEW EQUIPMENT ACQUISITION, MANPOWER, AND INFRASTRUCTURE. ACTIVITIES:THE ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED ARE: 1) HIRE FULL-TIME ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST; 2) ACQUIRE NEW EQUIPMENT; 3) INSTILL GOOD RECYCLING PRACTICES THROUGH CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE COMMUNITY EVENTS AND EDUCATION MATERIALS; 4) EXPAND ROUTES TO RURAL, REMOTE UNSERVED AREAS; 5) MEASURE AND TRACK ALL SOLID WASTE/RECYCLABLES RECEIVED AND WORK WITH MUSCOGEE (CREEK) NATION GEOSPATIAL/GIS DEPARTMENT TO INCORPORATE DATA INTO A DATABASE/DASHBOARD APPLICATION; AND 6) PERFORM A COMPREHENSIVE STRENGTH, WEAKNESSES, OPPORTUNITIES, AND THREATS ANALYSIS OF THE TRIBE'S RECYCLING PROGRAM.SUBRECIPIENT:NO SUBAWARDS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT.OUTCOMES:THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE AN INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF SOLID WASTE MATERIAL COLLECTED BY APPROXIMATELY 30% (30 TONS ANNUALLY), TO BE DETAILED IN GRANT REPORTING DUE TO THE PURCHASE OF NEW EQUIPMENT; AN INCREASE IN THE TOTAL TONNAGE OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE AND CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION WASTE GENERATED; AND ONE FULL-TIME JOB. THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE ALL OF THE COMMUNITIES OF THE TRIBAL RESERVATION. HOWEVER, PARTICULAR EMPHASIS OF THIS GRANT FUNDING WILL BE PLACED ON UNSERVED/UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS IN RURAL AND REMOTE COMMUNITIES; AND THE TRIBE ESTIMATES THAT MORE THAN 20 DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES WILL BE SERVED.