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

 

On This Page:

• Background: Goals, Purpose and Current Membership             
• ITF Products
• Workgroup Documents & Reports
• Partner Agency Infrastructure Programs
• Historical ITF Documents
• Federal Partner Representatives

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 (ITF) was created to develop and coordinate federal activities in delivering water infrastructure, wastewater infrastructure and solid waste management services to tribal communities.  In 2013 the Task Force partners renewed their commitment by renegotiating the multi-party Memorandum of Understanding to include provision of solid waste services. In 2022, the MOU was renewed and expanded to include the Bureau of Reclamation and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as new members.

The federal partners include:

• Department of Agriculture
• Environmental Protection Agency
• Department of Health and Human Services – Indian Health Service and Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Department of Housing and Urban Development
• Department of the Interior – Bureau of Reclamation and Indian Affairs

2022 Approved ITF MOU (pdf) (519.71 KB, Feb, 2022)

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II. ITF Products

1. Federal Water and Wastewater Resources for Tribes
2. Preliminary Engineering Report
3. Homeowner's Guide to Septic Systems for Tribal Communities
4. Tribal Resource Directory Matrix of Federal Assistance for Water and Wastewater Treatment Services

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III. Workgroup Documents & Reports

1. Summary of Commonalities and Best Practices from Tribal Utilities
2. Application Processes and Recommended Paperwork Streamlining Opportunities
   1. Progress in Addressing Recommendations
3. Tribal Solid Waste Management 
4. Tribal Workforce Workgroup Findings

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IV. Partner Agency Infrastructure Programs

A goal of the Tribal ITF is to ensure communications across ITF member agency programs at both the headquarters and local office levels. To encourage coordination, Tribal ITF agencies have released the following memorandum directing additional coordination between our agencies:  Tribal ITF Collaboration Letter Feb 27, 2020 (3 pp. 338 K)

1. US Environmental Protection Agency
   1. EPA Drinking Water Infrastructure Grant Tribal Set Aside Program
      1. Guidance
      2. Contacts
   2. EPA Clean Water Indian Set Aside Program
      1. Guidance
      2. Contacts
2. Indian Health Service (IHS)
   1. Sanitation Deficiency System Guide for Reporting Sanitation Deficiencies for Indian Homes and Communities
   2. Criteria for the Sanitation Facilities Construction Program
   3. IHS Program Contacts
3. US Department of Agriculture
   1. USDA Rural Development (RD) Native American Tribes
   2. USDA RD Program Contacts
4. US Department of Housing and Urban Development
   1. HUD Office of Native American Programs (ONAP) 
   2. HUD ONAP Contacts
5. US Department of Interior
   1. Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) 
   2. BIA Contacts 

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V. Historical ITF Documents

1. Meeting Summaries
2. Select Accomplishments
3. National Environmental Policy Act Requirements
4. Map of Water Infrastructure and Homes Without Access to Safe Drinking Water and Basic Sanitation on the Navajo Nation
5. Strategies for Improving Technical Assistance Delivery in American Indian and Alaska Native Village Communities

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Federal Partner Contacts:

• US Department of Agriculture (USDA)
  Rural Utilities Service Water, Water and Environmental Program
  Charles Stephens, Assistant Administrator, (202) 619-8500
• US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
  Office of Native American Programs, Office of Grant Evaluation
  Gary A. Nemec, Director, (202) 402-2988
• US Department of Health and Human Services
  Indian Health Service (IHS), Sanitation Facilities Construction Program
  Mark Calkins, Director, (301) 443-1046
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Water, Food, and Environmental Health Services Branch
  John Sarisky, Chief, (770) 488-4131
• US Department of the Interior (DOI)
  Indian Affairs, Office of Facilities, Property and Safety Management
  Judy Wilson, Director, (703) 390-6314
  Bureau of Reclamation, Native American and International Affairs Office
  Jeffrey Morris, Program Manager, (303) 445-3373
• US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
  Office of Water, Co-Chairs: 
  Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water :
  Yu-Ting Guilaran, Deputy Office Director, (202) 564-6591;  and
  Office of Wastewater Management:
  Wynne Miller, Deputy Office Director, (202) 564-6296

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