The northwest indian fisheries commission will use GAP funding to address priority environmental concerns of its 20 member tribes

The Environmental Protection Agency Region 10 awarded the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission $1.05 million under the Indian Environmental General Assistance Program (GAP, CFDA 66.926) on October 1, 2025, to address environmental concerns of its 20 member tribes in Western Washington.

The Commission will facilitate inter-tribal communication and communication between tribes, EPA, and other state and federal agencies on environmental issues; provide support to individual tribal programs in furthering EPA-related initiatives through strategy and policy development; enhance technical expertise in tribal understanding of toxic chemical contamination of aquatic ecosystems supporting treaty-reserved resources; and organize and facilitate workshops and trainings for member tribes. Activities address public participation and communication, tribal water quality program development, legal matters, technical and analytical capabilities, and information management.

Deliverables include reports, workshops, and trainings. Expected outcomes encompass rapid information transfer, an accessible archive of materials and decision processes, protection of treaty-reserved resources and homelands, improved connectivity between tribal leadership and decision makers, enhanced communication between tribal programs in Washington State, and increased tribal effectiveness in addressing environmental issues. Performance occurs in Olympia, Washington, with a period of performance from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2028. No subawards are included in this assistance agreement. The intended beneficiaries are tribal members of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission.

Key areas of focus will include supporting their needs for assistance in public participation and communication; tribal water quality program development; legal matters; technical and analytical activities, and information management. Activities:the northwest indian fisheries commission will use these funds to 1) facilitate a forum for inter-tribal communication, and communication between tribes, EPA and other state and federal agencies on issues of mutual interest, concern, and opportunity; 2) provide support to individual tribal programs in furthering their EPA-related programs, issues, and processes by facilitating communication and supporting strategy and policy development; 3) accommodate the specific technical needs of individual tribes, including enhancing technical expertise and understanding of toxic chemical contamination of aquatic ecosystems supporting treaty reserved resources; and 4) organize and facilitate workshops and trainings for member tribes.subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:deliverables will include reports, workshops, and trainings. Expected outcomes include rapid transfer of information, an accessible archive of materials, references and decision processes, protection of treaty-reserved resources and homelands, improved connectivity between tribal leadership and decision makers, enhanced communication between tribal programs in washington state, and increased effectiveness of these tribes in addressing the environmental issues they are facing. The intended beneficiaries of this grant are the tribal members of the northwest indian fisheries commission.