This agreement provides funding under the inflation reduction act (IRA) to native village of kipnuk

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 10 awarded $19.998 million to the Native Village of Kipnuk under the Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program (CFDA 66.616) on March 1, 2025, to implement the Kipnuk Riprap Riverbank Stabilization Project. The project will construct a riprap revetment along Reach 3 of the Kugkaktlik River to prevent erosion and protect critical community infrastructure from falling into the river. Additionally, the project will remove hazardous waste, deteriorated materials, and fuel tanks that pose environmental risks, with all activities scheduled for completion by May 2, 2025.

The award encompasses workforce development and community engagement components, including training programs in bulldozer operation, project management, and bookkeeping for tribal employees and community members, as well as seven community meetings to ensure stakeholder engagement and feedback. Sub-awardees include the Alaska Institute for Justice (AIJ), which will coordinate logistics, provide capacity building training, offer project management oversight, and serve as a liaison between the Native Village of Kipnuk and contractors/agencies; and Zender Environmental, which will provide comprehensive grant management services including requests for proposals, contractor selection assistance, subaward monitoring, and training in grant management and bookkeeping.

Specifically, the kipnuk riprap riverbank stabilization project will add riprap to build a revetment along a segment of the kugkaktlik river referred to as reach 3. Bank stabilization accomplished through the project will provide erosion protection and will prevent critical community infrastructure along the embankment from falling into the river. The project also includes removal of hazardous waste at risk of falling into the river, workforce development through training, and community engagement at meetings. Activities:the activities to be performed include building a revetment to stabilize the riverbank and removal of hazardous waste, deteriorated construction materials, and fuel tanks that are at risk of falling into the kugkaktlik river. Other activities include bulldozer training, project manager training, bookkeeper training, and other trainings/capacity building for tribal employees and community members, as well as hosting seven community meetings to ensure that the community is informed of important issues and activities, and to receive community input, guidance, and feedback. Subrecipient:subaward activities implemented through alaska institute for justice (AIJ) include coordination of logistics, assistance, support, guidance, capacity building training, project management oversight, and serving as a liaison between native village of kipnuk, contractors, agencies, and vendors. Additionally, AIJ will travel to kipnuk for meetings (including community meetings) and trainings. Subaward activities implemented through zender environmental for full suite of grant management services include preparation of requests for proposals, guidance and assistance in selection and contracting of project contractors, subaward agreements and monitoring, capacity building grant management and bookkeeping training, guidance and assistance for tribal employees, and grant closeout. Outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include 1,424 feet of protected riverbank and approximately 1,900 feet of protected boardwalk. The project will also remove hazardous waste and deteriorated materials, remove fuel tanks at risk of falling into the kugkaktlik river, reduce permafrost thaw, prevent relocation, reduce response time to emergencies, and reduce soaking of insulation, framing, flooring, and walls in homes and other structures caused by frequent flooding, reducing conditions that promote the growth of mold. The expected outcomes include improved resilience of native grasses and tundra ecosystem from natural and climate change-accelerated erosion, extreme weather, and environmental degradation thereby increasing protection from flooding, storm surges, natural scouring, permafrost thaw, and watershed sedimentation. Expected outcomes also include increased community mobility and access, maintaining barge access to the community, eliminating potential contamination in kugkaktlik river, workforce development stimulating the local economy, and reducing costs associated with maintenance. This project enables community to continue to live in the land they have inhabited since time immemorial, increases the protection of community and critical infrastructure during and after extreme weather events, reduces conditions that promote mold growth which reduces health risks from indoor air quality, and enables the community to carry out their subsistence activities while avoiding or preventing new pollution. The intended beneficiaries are disadvantaged communities.