Fact Sheet about DWSRF Tribal Set-Aside Program
What is the DWIG TSA Grant Program?
The
Drinking Water Infrastructure Grants Tribal Set-Aside (DWIG TSA)
Program provides grant funds to improve the infrastructure of drinking
water systems that serve Indian Tribes. It is a component of the
Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. [see the Safe Drinking Water
Act (SDWA) §1452(i) and §1452(a)(2)]
Top of page
Who is eligible to receive grant from the
program?
Any federally recognized Indian Tribe is eligible to receive
a grant. The State of Alaska is also eligible to receive funds
for projects for Alaska Tribes. Tribes may also request that project
funds be directed to the Indian Health Service, if the Tribe would
like the IHS to administer the project and IHS agrees to do so.
Top of page
What type of projects are eligible for
funding?
Most projects that improve a Tribal community, or non-profit
non-community, drinking water system are eligible to be funded
with DWIG TSA grants. Some examples are projects to: rehabilitate
or develop sources of drinking water; install or upgrade treatment
facilities; install or upgrade storage facilities; install or replace
transmission or distribution pipes; and replace aging water system
infrastructure. Funds can also be used to conduct project feasibility
studies, engineering design work, and project administration.
Top of page
How is the Grant Program
administered?
All available DWIG TSA funds are
allotted, by formula, among EPA's Regional offices. The Regional
offices then identify, rank, select, and make awards for the projects
based on the available funding.
Top of page
How are funds allotted
among the EPA Regional offices?
The
funds are allotted, by formula, among nine of the ten EPA Regional
offices (Region 3 does not have any federally recognized Tribes
within its area of coverage). The formula provides, to each Regional
office, a "base" amount that
is 2% of the total annual DWIG TSA set-aside. The remaining funds
are allotted to the Regions based on their percentage share of the
Tribal drinking water system "needs" that are identified in two
different "needs" surveys. The first is EPA's "Drinking Water Infrastructure
Needs Survey" (DWINS) which is conducted every four years - the
second is the Indian Health Service's (IHS) "Sanitation Deficiency
System" which IHS updates annually.
Top of page
What is the difference between Tentative and Final allotments?
EPA calculates the allotments twice for each fiscal year. Tentatie allotments are based on the amount of funding that is requested in the federal budget for the upcoming federal fiscal year. The budget is normally released in February of each year and the Tentative allotments are calculated a month or two later. Once EPA receives an appropriation from Congress for the new fiscal year, we recalculate the allotments based on the funds that are actually available. These are the final allotments. This step normally occurs within a few months after the start of the new federal fiscal year. When the amount of funds appropriated is the same as the budget, the Tentative and Final allotments are identical.
Top of page
|
