Tribal Solid Waste Program Sustainability: Updates, Resources and Ideas

Transcription

1 Tribal Solid Waste Program Sustainability: Updates, Resources and Ideas

2 New GAP Guidance GAP Guidance (May 2013): Beginning in FY18, operations and maintenance activities such as sorting, processing, staging, collecting, and transporting solid waste/recyclables will no longer be funded under the IGAP program unless a tribe has been granted an exception by EPA headquarters. The Guidance states that exceptions will be granted in limited circumstances (Appendix I p. 30 of 42). 81 tribes submitted exception requests in FY14 for FY15 FY16. EPA headquarters decided to grant all IGAP recipients a two year transition period (FY15-16, which has been extended through FY17) to continue to use IGAP funding for operations and maintenance, collection, and backhaul activities while researching and implementing strategies to develop sustainable solid waste programs.

3 EPA Indian Environmental General Assistance Program (GAP) Allowable Activities EPA Indian Environmental General Assistance Program (IGAP) still includes allowable solid waste implementation activities: Performing a test drive of the program to see if the tribe is ready to move into the program implementation phase Initial purchases of equipment necessary to administer tribal environmental protection programs (vehicles for environmental program operations; sampling & measurement equipment; source separation, waste minimization, and waste management equipment) Construction of facilities that are part of a tribe s source separation project: (transfer stations, recycling centers, compost facilities, used oil collection stations)

4 EPA Indian Environmental General Assistance Program allowable activities--continued: Program administration and oversight Heavy equipment purchase (dump trucks, graders, excavators, etc.) may be allowable if used for source separation, resource recovery, & resource conservation The purchase, repair, upgrade, and replacement of resource recovery, resource conservation, and source separation supplies and equipment (e.g., vehicles, scales, containers, crushers, shredders, sheds, fencing, and signage) Construction, repair, upgrade, and replacement of source separation facilities (e.g., transfer stations, recycling centers, compost facilities, household hazardous waste collection facilities, construction and demolition debris facilities, used oil collection stations, etc.)

5 EPA Indian Environmental General Assistance Program: Supplemental Solid Waste Funding Opportunity in FY17 Funding Announcement EPA Region 10 will accept supplemental funding requests from tribes and consortia to support solid waste implementation activities in FY17 that will become unallowable for GAP funding in FY18 Supplemental solid waste funding requests are limited to materials collection, transportation/backhaul, and disposal/o&m activities To qualify for this solid waste funding, tribes and/or consortia must: Have an Integrated Waste Management Plan in place; Identify materials collection, transportation, backhaul, and disposal services as a priority; Include these activities in their FY17 work plans; and, Submit a request for additional funds to enhance this work.

6 EPA Indian Environmental General Assistance Program: Supplemental Solid Waste Funding Opportunity in FY17 Funding Announcement (continued) Supplemental solid waste funding requests from tribes/consortia may be up to $30,000 To apply for FY17 supplemental solid waste funding, include and identify extra work plan component(s) and budget category item(s) with your base funding request Supplemental solid waste requests that meet the above criteria will be supported if funds are available after base requests are funded

7 Developing Sustainable, Locally-Financed Solid Waste Management Programs Tools and resources identified or established to support tribal development of sustainable solid waste management programs: Solid Waste Exception Request Database - database compiled to support evaluation of the information contained in the 81 solid waste exception requests submitted to EPA headquarters by Alaska tribes in FY14 Alaska Interagency Coordination Meetings - multi-agency effort led by EPA Region 10 Office of Air, Waste and Toxics Infrastructure Task Force Waste Program Sub-Workgroup consists of 3 work teams that are evaluating tribal solid waste barriers & resources and the strategies to address them Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium GAP-funded Solid Waste Sustainability Special Project will document best-practices EPA Region 10 Technical Assistance individual input and/or support regarding site-specific issues Other Resources a variety of existing programs and new ideas and strategies

8 Solid Waste Exception Request Database: How can we use this information to help build sustainable tribal solid waste management programs? From 81 exception requests, two interns in the State Department s Virtual Student Foreign Service eintern pilot program compiled an Excel spreadsheet summarizing the data. Data may provide focus points for solid waste administrative and infrastructure capacity building as well as ideas for developing internal solid waste program sustainability.

9 Alaska Interagency Coordination Meetings EPA Region 10 Office of Air, Waste and Toxics convenes meetings with federal and state agencies with waste related responsibilities in Alaska. The goal is to better understand one another s legal authorities and programs, build partnerships and develop tools to relieve solid waste pressures in rural Alaska.

10 Alaska Interagency Coordination Meetings (continued) The group is currently working on three tools to assist rural communities: A Managers Roadmap for Funding Sustainable Solid Waste Management Programs This document outlines the key steps in a sustainable solid waste program and where to find funding for each step. It also notes where no funding is available. Alaska Tribal Solid Waste Costing Document This tool assesses the estimated cost to first establish, and then maintain, a sustainable waste collection and disposal program in rural Alaska. Case Studies The case studies will highlight successful solid waste projects that were funded by the Indian Health Service, USDA-RD or EPA. The case studies will be shared externally.

11 Infrastructure Task Force: Waste Program Sub-Workgroup Teams (National Focus) Work Team #1: Waste Program Development and Implementation: Assessing Barriers to Sustainability and Resources Available to Support Tribal Needs Identify barriers to development and implementation of sustainable waste management programs and strategies to address them, including financial, technical assistance, and other resources available to support tribal waste program development and implementation. Work Team #2: Pilot Study Proposal: Community Engagement Strategies Develop strategies for engaging with American Indian/Alaska Native tribes and villages to promote sustainable solid waste management programs to address solid waste issues, including open dumps. Work Team #3: Open Dump Inventory, Health Assessment Methodology & Sanitation Deficiency System (SDS) Needs Data Assess the completeness of the Indian Health Service (IHS) SDS data to determine if projects exist to close, clean-up or upgrade all open dumps in the current inventory.

12 ANTHC GAP Solid Waste Sustainability Special Project This project is designed to support tribal solid/hazardous waste management programs through program analysis, outreach/education, and technical assistance. Objectives Conduct analysis of existing tribal programs in AK that have fee structures or other models Bring together experts to document current statewide efforts Conduct detailed solid/hazardous waste assessments Report summary Outreach and technical assistance to statewide tribes

13 Other Resources: EPA Region 10 Technical Assistance - Solid Waste Liaison RuralCap and EPA host an expert solid waste liaison, Ted Jacobson, in Anchorage, AK. He provides solid waste management technical assistance to rural communities through training, site visits, hands-on demonstrations, and remote contact. Ted can help you assess your solid waste program, including landfill operations and other topics, such as recycling and backhaul. Ted s contact information: tjacobson@ruralcap.com Phone:

14 Other Resources: Develop Basic Infrastructure and Capacity Learn how to access various resources for establishing basic infrastructure. Leveraging of funds and technical assistance will be needed no one source will provide everything. Sanitation Deficiency System (SDS): Tribes can get needs listed in the Indian Health Service (IHS) system, which in Alaska is managed by the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC). Regular IHS funds: Solid waste projects must compete with water/waste water projects, which have higher priority. Contact: the lead for your community either Village Safe Water (DEC) or ANTHC. Rural Alaska Village Grants (RAVG): Special program relating to water, waste water, and solid waste to eliminate the gap in level of services between Alaska Native Villages and tribes in the Lower 48. To receive funding, it must be demonstrated that there is a dire sanitation condition. Contact: the lead for your community either Village Safe Water (DEC) or ANTHC.

15 Other Resources: Solid Waste Training Alaska Forum on the Environment (AFE) - Rural Alaska Landfill Operator (RALO) training Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC) Indian Health Service (IHS) Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC) Yukon River Intertribal Watershed Council (YRITWC) Zender Environmental

16 Idea: Manage Solid Waste Program as a Business It helps to have a solid waste champion on the Tribal Council In addition to conducting a waste assessment and developing an Integrated Waste Management Plan, create a solid waste business plan Determine a budget to meet current and future needs Develop solid waste ordinances (user fees; where/how waste collected, stored & disposed; penalties for violations) Develop a fee structure: What will households, elders, businesses, schools and other institutions, visiting contractors, etc. be charged? This is just the first step in coordinating the combination of resources, partnerships, and technical assistance that will be needed for a locally financed solid waste program.

17 Idea: Partnering/Collaboration Partner with a variety of organizations to find ways to develop self-sustaining solid waste programs (including collection, backhaul, and landfill O&M activities): Develop MOUs, MOAs, or informal agreements between the tribe and the city or borough government Partner with other tribes/consortia in a region to cut costs economies of scale Get technical assistance and training from federal, state, and local agencies, nonprofits, and other organizations Collaborate with for-profit businesses such as barge companies and air carriers to facilitate backhaul programs (at low or no cost to the tribe)

18 Idea: Support Locally Financed O&M, Collection, and Backhaul Develop fee for service structure (for collection program and/or landfill use) Tribal government contributes funds to solid waste program Tribe collaborates with city or borough government Tribe offers members an in-kind work option in lieu of paying a fee Offer local community members and businesses the opportunity to collect and transport materials to a recycling center and receive any profit or to reuse materials

19 Idea: Support Locally Financed O&M, Collection, and Backhaul Workers receiving General Assistance (GA) perform solid waste implementation activities (e.g. collecting, sorting, staging, and loading items for backhaul). Tribe makes arrangements with construction companies working in the community to remove/recycle construction waste upon project completion, along with community recyclables. When solid waste program has sufficient revenue, invest in a profit-returning venture (example: rental property). Rent or lease solid waste program heavy equipment to visiting contractors or to local organizations (i.e. school).

20 As each tribe reviews its solid waste capacity, resources, and strategies for developing a locally financed, sustainable tribal solid waste program, there will be many potential pieces to the puzzle to consider. It will be up to tribes to determine what combination of resources and methods works best. Questions?