This agreement provides funding under the inflation reduction act (IRA) to the university of virginia

The University of Virginia received a $20 million Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program (CFDA 66.616) award from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 10, effective May 1, 2025, to improve climate resilience and environmental conditions in Utqiagvik, Alaska. The project addresses critical infrastructure challenges exacerbated by climate change and permafrost degradation through four primary service delivery areas: (1) comprehensive drainage and water management infrastructure improvements, including conducting a citywide drainage study and implementing upgrades to respond to increased precipitation and flooding; (2) protection of cultural heritage and traditional practices, including installation of thermosiphons in traditional ice cellars and restoration of cemetery drainage and tundra vegetation; (3) workforce development and utility operational capacity enhancement, including acquisition of Arctic-capable heavy-duty maintenance vehicles and creation of training programs in sustainable water, snow, and permafrost management; and (4) public health improvements through connecting unserviced homes to modern water and sewer systems to eliminate reliance on honey buckets and reduce human health risks.

The project includes a subaward to Barrow Utilities and Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BUECI) for water and sewer connections to unserviced residential properties, as well as comprehensive feasibility studies addressing per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) substance remediation and algae bloom mitigation to protect the community's drinking water lagoon. These integrated activities support the program's objectives of advancing climate adaptation, reducing pollution, strengthening disadvantaged communities, and developing local workforce capacity in the Arctic region.

Specifically, the project will allow the university of virginia, working in utqiagvik, AK, to improve storm- and MELT-water infrastructure and management; preserve inupiat traditions and cultural sites; enhance barrow local utilities' readiness and preparedness, and strengthen local capacity; improve residential sanitation by connecting unserviced homes to modern water/sewer systems; and protect the community's drinking water lagoon. Activities:the activities include a comprehensive drainage study of the city to inform infrastructure upgrades and sustainable water, snow and permafrost management, and implementing identified upgrades to better respond to increased precipitation, flooding and associated permafrost degradation; installing thermosiphons in traditional ICE cellars with upgraded drilling equipment, and installing and improving drainage and restoring disturbed tundra vegetation to reduce flooding at the community's cemetery; upgrading or expanding critical heavy-duty maintenance vehicles that are better equipped for the arctic conditions to enhance the local utility's readiness and preparedness, and strengthening local workforce capacity while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and occupational hazards, and creating and expanding programs that build knowledge and jobs in sustainable water, snow and permafrost management; connecting unserviced homes to modern water/sewer systems, eliminating or reducing the use of honey buckets, human waste spillage, and associated environmental and human health risks; and protecting the community's drinking water lagoon by conducting comprehensive feasibility studies for per-and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) substances remediation/removal and algae bloom mitigation. Subrecipient:the subaward with barrow utilities and electric cooperative, INC. (BUECI) will cover water and sewer connections for unserviced homes, upgrade of heavy-duty vehicles to improve readiness and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and occupational hazards, feasibility studies for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and algal growth mitigation in the community drinking water lagoon, material costs to stabilize subsiding BUECI structures due to permafrost degradation, and continuing education for BUECI leadership and members. The subaward with north slope borough (NSB) will cover improvements to drainage infrastructure and cover materials, and civil works to stabilize permafrost and reduce meltwater flooding, improve pumping operation of newly added sewer tanks, conduct a community-wide drainage assessment and produce an action plan for stormwater/meltwater management, continuing education for NSB leadership and public works operators, and internships / apprenticeships between department of public works and I#7735; ISA#289; VIK college's workforce development program. The subaward with the city of utqia#289; IVK (COU) will allow for improvements to the cultural site of imaiqsaun cemetery and cover drainage design, drainage installation and expansion, improved snow and meltwater management, gravesite revegetation, and repatriation of gravesites including new coffins and cultural RE-burial ceremony. The subaward with the inupiat community of arctic slope (ICAS) will cover the purchase and shipping of thermosiphons and an auger drill to be used for their ICE cellar preservation project. The subaward with the arctic infrastructure development center at the university of alaska fairbanks will allow the aidc to provide on-site assessments, and review and consultation on feasibility studies and ICE cellar preservation. Outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include include a storm(MELT)water infrastructure and management study/action plan, and implementation of the recommendations identified in the plan; acquisition of thermosiphon installation equipment and installation of thermosip