Formula Grant 97T13901

This $125,650 federal Formula Grant award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the CFDA 66.038 "Training, Investigations, and Special Purpose Activities of Federally-Recognized Indian Tribes Consistent With the Clean Air Act (CAA), Tribal Sovereignty and the Protection and Management of Air Quality" program is intended to build the Fort Independence Indian Community's capacity to assess air quality conditions and develop strategies to address air quality issues on their tribal lands.

The key activities to be funded under this one-year award include training and program development, community education and outreach, air quality monitoring utilizing equipment, developing a plan for eligibility under the Tribal Authority Rule (TAR), and participating in regional and national initiatives to improve air quality. The expected deliverables include collecting air quality data and submitting the results to the EPA's National Air Quality Database. These efforts aim to broaden awareness of air quality issues and establish programs to address attainment and maintenance of National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) as well as immediate and emerging threats to public health and welfare from air pollution, ultimately decreasing exposure for Fort Independence Tribe area residents.