Tribal ecoAmbassadors

EPA's Tribal ecoAmbassadors Program partners EPA scientists with Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCU) professors to address environmental problems. Specific problems that may be addressed include, but are not limited to: climate change mitigation, climate change adaptation, air quality, water quality, and waste management. The primary goal of the program is to provide TCU students the opportunity to gain knowledge, experience, and training in science, technology, engineering, and/or math Science Technology Engineering and or Math (STEM) study projects with their professors and EPA scientists, all while solving environmental problems in their communities and campuses. The Agency is committed to strengthening relationships with our tribal partners and to expanding the conversation on environmentalism. This program helps fulfill both priorities. TCU professors serve as the principal investigators and work with a group of their TCU students. Funding Priority for FY16/17 : This continuing environmental program grant and cooperative agreement (FY14 -18 grant period) supports and is consistent with EPA Strategic Goals 2 (Clean and Safe Water) and the Objectives 2.2 (Protect Water Quality) with Subojective 2.2.1 (Improve Water Quality on a Watershed Basis); and Objective 2.1 (Protect Human Health) with Subobjective 2.1.1 (Water Safe To Drink). The EPA strategic goals, objectives, and subobjective are for consolidated environmental management and protection programs for the US Pacific Territories, and continue to be intended to meet Insular area priorities by further establishing fishable, swimmable waters through surveillance, monitoring, and enforcement of water quality standards and regulations, and towards the goal of zero beach closure postings; and compliance and enforcement of safe drinking water regulations towards the goal of having potable water for 100 percent of the population. Furthermore, watershed management is the overarching mission for all environmental protection activities to help improve water quality, this program goal is establish special management areas to prevent groundwater contamination, and mitigate or eliminate nonpoint discharges of pollution. Regarding EPA Goal 4 (Healthy Communities and Ecosystems) and Objective 4.2 (Communities) and Subobjective 4.2.3 (Assess and Clean-Up Brownfields), the Insular areas have the goal of completing an Territory wide inventory of all potential Brownfield sites and a clean-up of at least (1) site. This grant supports Goal 1 (Clean Air and Global Climate Change), Objective 1.1 (Healthier Outdoor Air), Sub-objective 1.1.1 (More People Breathing Clean Air). Specifically, the Insular area will assist USEPA as necessary to study and monitor data to determine the severity of PM 2.5 pollution and its effect on the quality of outdoor air and risks to human health. Furthermore, the USEPA Pacific Islands Office assures (1) PIO has reviewed the assistance agreement and work plan and that (2) the consolidated environmental program work plan meets the requirements of EPA Order 5700.7 (a). The PRCs assigned to the funding for the project are consistent with these strategic goals and objectives. They include cleaning up communities and advancing sustainable development; land preservation and restoration. However, topics of climate change, sustainable development, zero waste, and ocean acidification are all active in program areas that are not directly funded by EPA. Specifically, the environmental priorities are climate change, disaster preparedness and response, zero waste (P2, recycling, reducing and better managing waste going to landfills, smart growth/natural resource protection due to recent resort and military development, safe drinking water, adequately treated sewage, keeping nearshore water fishable and swimmable, coral reef and watershed protection, beach monitoring, pesticide management, military and WW2 legacy wastes, including unexploded ordnance.