The nome eskimo community will use GAP funding to address priority environmental concerns in the community

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 10 awarded $134,000 to Nome Eskimo Community under the Indian Environmental General Assistance Program (GAP) (CFDA 66.926) effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2027. This project grant funds capacity-building and technical training initiatives to advance the tribe's environmental management capabilities and meaningful participation in EPA programs. Primary activities include developing phytoplankton and harmful algal bloom toxin monitoring protocols, conducting baseline water sampling and toxin analysis for marine environments, establishing tribal environmental protection priorities, and enhancing administrative and environmental technical skills through targeted training and conferences.

Deliverables under this agreement include quarterly progress reports to EPA documenting environmental results in priority areas, trip reports detailing technical competencies gained from training attendance, a Quality Assurance Project Plan for marine water sampling, and documented community and tribal council environmental priorities. No subawards are included in this assistance agreement. Direct beneficiaries are members of the Nome Eskimo Community tribe, with environmental staff serving as primary implementation personnel. These outputs align with the GAP program's goal of building tribal capacity to independently manage environmental protection programs while supporting subsistence resource protection in the Nome, Alaska region.

Environmental staff will focus on technical training and building management capacity, with the goal of achieving programmatic growth to maintain meaningful participation in EPA programs. Key areas of focus include development of phytoplankton and harmful algal bloom toxin monitoring, and development of tribal environmental protection priorities.activities:activities performed under the grant will focus on technical training to build administrative and environmental skills relevant to the tribe's priorities. A key element of this program involves building a path towards increased collaboration with multiple tribal environmental programs and agencies, ultimately enhancing meaningful participation in EPA programs. Finally, performing baseline water sampling and harmful algal bloom toxin analysis will be instrumental to achieving environmental and subsistence resource protection, including connecting with research teams and training capacity of local tribal organizations.subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:anticipated deliverables from nome eskimo community will include quarterly progress reports to EPA, outlining progress towards environmental results in priority areas. In addition, trip reports will outline technical capacities gained from attending relevant trainings and conferences. Finally, submission and completion of a quality assurance project plan for marine water sampling, and documentation of community and tribal council environmental priorities will result from these work plan commitments. Direct beneficiaries of this grant are members of the tribe.