The primary objectives of EPA's cercla section 128(a) state and tribal response program grants are to provide financial support to states, US territories, and tribal nations to (1) establish or…

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region 10, awarded the Yakutat Tlingit Tribe (YTT) a Formula Grant of $554,107 under the State and Tribal Response Program Grants (CFDA 66.817) effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026. This noncompetitive award funds YTT's brownfield response program to enhance capacity across the four statutory elements required under Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) Section 128(a). YTT will conduct timely survey and inventory of brownfield sites throughout the tribe's traditional lands in Yakutat, Alaska, establish oversight and enforcement authorities to protect human health and the environment, develop mechanisms for public participation and cleanup plan approval, and maintain an annual public record documenting completed and planned response actions.

Under this award, YTT will perform planning, assessment, and cleanup activities on brownfield properties to facilitate site remediation and reuse. The tribe will investigate reported sites, update site inventory and public records, provide resources for meaningful community involvement, and oversee verification of completed response actions. No subawards are included in this assistance agreement. These activities directly support the EPA Brownfields Program's goal of empowering tribes to assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse contaminated properties within their jurisdictions.

The primary objectives of EPA's cercla section 128(a) state and tribal response program grants are to provide financial support to states, US territories, and tribal nations to (1) establish or enhance the four statutory elements of an effective state or tribal response program, as specified in cercla section 128(a)(2), (2) maintain and update, at least annually, a public record of sites, pursuant to cercla 128(b), that includes the name and location of sites at which response actions have been completed during the previous year and the name and location of sites at which response actions are planned to be addressed in the next year, and (3) conduct a limited number of brownfield site assessments or cleanups that will help establish or enhance the state or tribal nation's response program. The infrastructure investment and jobs act ('IIJA') provided additional funding to carry out the section 128(a) grant program. The purpose of this award is to enhance the capacity of yakutat tlingit tribe's (YTT) brownfields response program to meet the section 128(a) elements. YTT will oversee and perform planning, assessment, and cleanup of brownfields sites throughout the tribe's traditional lands. Activities:YTT will perform the following activities: timely survey and inventory of brownfield sites, which are properties whose expansion, redevelopment, or reuse may be complicated by the presence of hazardous substances. IT also includes oversight and enforcement authorities to ensure that response actions protect human health and the environment; resources to provide meaningful public involvement; mechanisms for approval of cleanup plans, and verification of complete responses. The objective of this project is to assist in remediating and reusing brownfields sites throughout the tribe's traditional lands. Subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:YTT will continue to investigate reported sites and update the site inventory, public record, and prioritized sites list; coordinate with partner agencies and organizations to continue to progress on addressing brownfield sites; meet with community members and provide outreach materials to inform tribal members about the program as well as present information at tribal council meetings; review site closure recommendations to ensure public and environmental safety.