We are improving our website to help you find what you're looking for. During this transition some URLs may change. Learn more...

Federal Infrastructure Task Force to Improve Access to Safe Drinking Water and Basic Sanitation to Tribal Communities

Ribbon cutting ceremony for an ARRA funded wastewater treatment plant expansion project for the Poarch Band of Creek Indians , December 2009. Click to view larger version

Construction of a wastewater lift station, sewer line and & force main for the Alaskan Native Village of Buckland , September 2009. Click to view larger version

New drinking water storage tank to address water quality and quantity issues for the Hopi Tribe, 2009. Click to view larger version  
On this page:

I. Background: Goals, Purpose and Current Membership

At the 2000 World Summit on Sustainable Development the United States agreed to support the United Nations Millennium Development Goals including improving access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation.

In 2007 a multi-agency tribal Infrastructure Task Force (“Task Force”) was created to develop and coordinate federal activites in delivering water infrastructure, wastewater infrastructure and solid waste management services to tribal communities.

The federal partners:

  • Department of Agriculture
  • Environmental Protection Agency
  • Department of Health and Human Services
  • Department of Housing and Urban Development
  • Department of the Interior

Documents:

Top of Page

II. Fact Sheets & Final Reports

  1. Accomplishments and Current Activities (March 2013)
  2. Preliminary Engineering Report (January 2013)
  3. Sustainable Infrastructure Goals and Concepts Document (November 2011)
  4. Progress to Date: Meeting the Access Goal (December 2010)
  5. Response to Access Subgroup Report (October 2009)
  6. Meeting the Access Goal: Strategies for Increasing Access to Safe Drinking Water and Wastewater Treatment to American Indian and Alaska Native Villages (March 2008)
  7. Tribal Water Resource Directory
    This is a catalog of over thirty federal and non-federal programs that offer funding and technical support for tribal drinking water and wastewater systems.
  8. Homeowner's Guide to Septic Systems for Tribal Communities

Top of Page

III. Workgroup Documents & Reports

  1. Summary of Commonalities and Best Practices from Tribal Utilities (January 2012)
  2. Application Processes and Recommended Paperwork Streamlining Opportunities (February 2011)
  3. National Environmental Policy Act Requirements (February 2011)
  4. Map of Water Infrastructure and Homes Without Access to Safe Drinking Water and Basic Sanitation on the Navajo Nation (October 2010)
  5. Strategies for Improving Technical Assistance Delivery in American Indian and Alaska Native Village Communities (March 2010)
  6. Tribal Solid Waste Management Opportunity (September 2014)

Top of Page

IV. Partner Agency Infrastructure Program Guidelines

  1. US Environmental Protection Agency
    1. Drinking Water Infrastructure Grant Tribal Set Aside Program (December 2013)
    2. EPA Clean Water Indian Set Aside Program (Sept 2013)
      (Document is pending final review and approval. The current version is available at the CWISA Program website.)
  2. Indian Health Service
    1. Sanitation Deficiency System Guide for Reporting Sanitation Deficiencies for Indian Homes and Communities (May 2003).
    2. Criteria for the Sanitation Facilities Construction Program (June 1999).
  3. US Department of Agriculture
    1. USDA Rural Development Native American Tribes.
  4. US Department of Housing and Urban Development
    1. HUD Office of Native American Programs (ONAP) Exit.
  5. US Department of Interior
    1. Bureau of Indian Affairs Exit.

Top of Page

V. Meeting Summaries

Top of Page

Federal partner Contacts:

  • US Department of Agriculture (USDA)
    Water and Environmental Program
    Jacki Ponti-Lazaruk (jacki.ponti@wdc.usda.gov)
    Assistant Administrator
    Phone: 202-690-2670
  • US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
    Office of Native American Programs, Office of Grant Evaluation
    Jennifer Bullough (Jennifer.A.Bullough@hud.gov)
    Director
    Phone (202) 402-4274
  • US Department of Health and Human Services
    Indian Health Service (IHS), Sanitation Facilities Construction Program
    Mark Calkins (Mark.Calkins@ihs.gov)
    Director
    Phone: (301) 443-1046
  • US Department of the Interior (DOI)
    Indian Affairs, Bureau of Indian Affairs
    Mike Black (mike.black@bia.gov)
    Director 
    Phone: (202) 208-5116
  • US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
    Office of Water, Office of Wastewater Management 
    Sheila Frace (Frace.Sheila@epa.gov)
    Deputy Office Director 
    Phone: (202) 564-0749

Top of Page