This agreement will provide financial assistance to the recipient for the implementation of its program to ensure that underground sources of drinking water are protected from endangering injection…

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 9 awarded the Navajo Nation Tribal Government a $182,171 Formula Grant effective October 1, 2025, under the State Underground Water Source Protection program (CFDA 66.433) to support the Navajo Nation's Underground Injection Control (UIC) program. The grant provides full federal funding for the oversight of Class II injection wells used in oil and natural gas production operations. Key deliverables include development and maintenance of underground injection system inventories, creation and maintenance of compliance databases for injection well activities, implementation of permitting activities, and execution of enforcement programs to protect underground sources of drinking water from contamination. No subawards are included in this assistance agreement.

The anticipated outcomes focus on protecting the Navajo Nation's groundwater resources, which serve as the primary drinking water source for the tribe. Public benefits include safeguarding drinking water wells from UIC activities, improving data management for public UIC information, and enhancing public understanding of UIC operations to facilitate greater community engagement with the program. The award period extends through September 30, 2026, and will be performed in Window Rock, Arizona.

This agreement will provide financial assistance to the recipient for the implementation of its program to ensure that underground sources of drinking water are protected from endangering injection activities, in which treated wastewater is injected into the ground between impermeable layers of rock formation. The purpose of this grant is to support the navajo UIC program's oversight of class II wells that are used to inject fluids associated with oil and natural gas production. This agreement provides full federal funding in the amount of $136,628. Preaward costs are approved back to 10/1/2025. Refer to terms and conditions. Activities:the activities to be performed include the development and maintenance of inventories of injection systems; the maintenance of databases housing compliance information on underground injection well activities; the implementation of permitting activities; the implementation of enforcement programs; and implementation of environmental education and training opportunities. Subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:the anticipated outcome is that underground sources of drinking water are protected from underground injection activities. The navajo nation relies on groundwater sources as the main drinking water source. This grant assists the navajo UIC program in protecting these sources. The public will benefit from the following: protecting drinking water wells from the UIC activities; improving the data management of public UIC data; and improving the public's understanding of UIC activities so they can better engage with the program.