Provide funding under the inflation reduction act (IRA) to snoqualmie indian tribe

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded a $2,961,556 Cooperative Agreement to the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe under the federal Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program (CFDA 66.046). The purpose of this award is to fund the implementation of greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction programs, policies, projects, and measures identified in the tribe's priority climate action plan.

Key activities under this award include the implementation of reforestation projects, forestry measures, and wildfire fuel reduction on approximately 1,800 acres of the Snoqualmie Tribe's ancestral forest. This will involve hiring two new positions of Forest Restoration Manager and Apprentice, as well as supporting necessary travel and purchasing equipment for the forest restoration team. The tribe will also hire seasonal contract crews to carry out reforestation work across 450 acres per year. The anticipated outcomes include improved forest health management and wildfire fuel reduction within the Snoqualmie Reservation. The award period is from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2029.

Description

The purpose of this award is to provide funding under the inflation reduction act (IRA) to snoqualmie indian tribe. The recipient will implement greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction programs, policies, projects, and measures identified in a priority climate action plan (pcap) developed under a climate pollution reduction grants (cprg) planning grant. Activities conducted through this grant will benefit all residents and visitors to snoqualmie, washington through four main objectives: implementation of ambitious measures that will achieve significant cumulative GHG reductions by 2030 and beyond; pursuit of measures that will achieve substantial community benefits, particularly in low-income and disadvantaged communities; complementing other funding sources to maximize these GHG reductions and community benefits; and, pursuit of innovative policies and programs that are replicable and can be 'scaled up' across multiple jurisdictions.activities:the activities include implementation of reforestation projects forestry measures and wildfire fuel reduction to 1,800 acres of the 12,000 snoqualmie tribe ancestral forest. Hiring two new positions of forest restoration manager and forest restoration apprentice, and tribal staff to administer reforestation treatment, grant, and contract management. Support necessary travel for safety and field training to the intertribal timber council annual meeting for existing staff. Purchase a rugged electric/hybrid vehicle for access to the forest location. Purchase supplies to equip forest restoration team with field gear, PPE safety gear, and electronics. Hire seasonal contract crew to carry out forest reforestation work across 450 acres/year (e.g., slashing, thinning, reforestation planting, seedlings purchasing).subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include forest health management and wildfire fuel reduction activities on the approximate 1,800 acres of the tribe's ancestral forest to reduce risk of hazardous wildfire emissions and capture carbon in the restored forest. The expected outcomes include a reduction of GHG by 46,800 MT CO2 by implementing the reforestation treatments and replanting seedlings to the 1,800 acres that contributes to the tribe's commitment to reforestation and stewardship, replicating this model for future work in the 12,000-acre ancestral forest. The outcomes will achieve substantial reduction in air pollutants that would benefit healthy ecosystems, reducing health care costs, protecting human-built structures, fish, and wildlife habitats, and creating jobs. The intended beneficiaries include the snoqualmie indian tribe and its members as well as local communities, and sensitive populations with health disparities based on the washington environmental disparities.