Support to the National Tribal Water Council

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Water (OW) is soliciting applications from eligible applicants to conduct, coordinate, and promote the acceleration of research, studies, training, and demonstration projects that will support the participation of the National Tribal Water Council (NTWC or “Council”) and tribes to prevent, reduce, and eliminate pollution to waters, and protect drinking water in Indian country. The successful applicant will support the NTWC, comprised of representatives of federally-recognized tribes with technical expertise on water quality and drinking water programs, to increase national tribal awareness and expertise, and address tribal issues consistent with the Clean Water Act (CWA) and Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). The successful applicant will maintain, support, and facilitate the operations of the NTWC, and assist in developing and completing products in coordination with the NTWC on the quality of tribal water resources, watersheds, drinking water, and wastewater sanitation from tribal perspectives. The scope of this work includes: 1) support the operation of the Council as a national forum for tribal water managers, and provide logistical support for the Council’s actions so that the Council may interact with each other, with tribes, and with EPA; 2) assisting the NTWC to promote technical information exchange and sharing of best management practices for addressing water quality and drinking water concerns to tribes and EPA; 3) assisting the NTWC to conduct outreach activities to benefit tribes on water resource protection and restoration topics; and 4) conducting studies in coordination with the NTWC that identify and analyze high priority, water-related issues and actions from tribal perspectives related to the SDWA and the CWA. These actions are intended to support and reflect individual tribal perspectives from across the nation, and to be conducted and coordinated through the NTWC. Funds awarded under this announcement will also be used by the recipient to support NTWC member travel expenses for participation at meetings as identified in the cooperative agreement (i.e., funding of travel expenses of NTWC members).

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