This action approves funding in the amount of $2,118,000 to the united south and eastern tribes (uset) to implement a program of voluntary testing for lead in drinking water at local schools and…

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4 awarded $2.118 million to United South & Eastern Tribes Inc. (USET) under the Voluntary School and Child Care Lead Testing and Reduction Grant Program (CFDA 66.444), effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2029. USET will implement a comprehensive lead remediation program designed to reduce children's exposure to lead in drinking water at schools and childcare centers within tribal communities. The organization will deliver training services to educators and caregivers, conduct water sampling and analysis at consumption outlets, and develop evidence-based remediation plans for identified lead contamination sources. All activities align with EPA's 3Ts model framework (Communicate, Train, Test, Take Action) and applicable state regulations, with emphasis on prioritizing facilities serving low-income areas and children under age six.

USET will distribute subawards totaling $100,000 to tribal partners to support lead testing activities at schools and childcare facilities. Expected deliverables include reliable lead data to inform response strategies, implementation of environmentally responsible remediation actions, and expanded public awareness initiatives promoting clean drinking water policies. The program will directly benefit children in school and childcare settings as well as broader tribal populations across the USET service area, while advancing EPA's public health protection objectives through systematic identification and elimination of lead contamination sources in drinking water systems.

This action approves funding in the amount of $2,118,000 to the united south and eastern tribes (uset) to implement a program of voluntary testing for lead in drinking water at local schools and childcare centers. Specifically, the recipient will reduce children's exposure to lead in drinking water by identifying, prioritizing, and eliminating lead contamination and exposure. Activities:the activities align with EPA's 3TS model (communication, training, testing, taking action). The uset tribe will train educators and caregivers, sample and analyze drinking water, and gather data to formulate remediation plans for lead sources. Subrecipient:subawards totaling $100,000 to be determined with tribal partners for activities related to lead testing in schools and child care centers.outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include alignment with EPA program objectives to protect human health and water and enhanced support for health of tribal children. The expected outcomes include reliable lead data to inform response plans, environmentally responsible actions, effective strategies for addressing elevated lead levels in drinking water; and expanded public awareness and advocacy for clean drinking water policies. The intended beneficiaries include children in schools and childcare facilities as well as adults within the uset area.