Thursday, November 21, 2024
11/21/2024
<p>Established in 1969, the United South and Eastern Tribes, Inc. (USET) is a non-profit, inter-Tribal organization representing 30 federally recognized Tribal Nations from the Northeastern Woodlands to the Everglades and across the Gulf of Mexico. Twenty-five of those Tribal Nations meet poverty guidelines and 33% of those are considered in persistent poverty. USET is dedicated to enhancing the development of Tribal Nations, improving the capabilities of Tribal governments, and improving the quality of life for Tribal Nation citizens. USET’s member Tribal Nations suffer from chronic issues in water and wastewater management that have persisted for decades, and which are exacerbated by poverty, rural location, generally low educational attainment, and wider workforce issues. These critical water issues are widely felt, and induced USET to create an Office of Environmental Resource Management (OERM[1]), which has close relationships with the Environmental Protection Agency Regional offices and Indian Health Services Nashville Area Office – all of these organizations have for years worked collaboratively to meet Tribal Nations’ capacity building and regulatory compliance needs. USET Tribal representatives serving on the National Tribal Water Council in conjunction with USET Tribal Nation Utilities have identified several essential issues in water access and wastewater handling that deal with the procedures, infrastructure, and workforce training across these utilities. To address these issues, we propose a bold multi-faceted program: assistance in building Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plans and associated funding mechanisms including Engineering Reports to justify funding; updating or developing Tribal Nation Utilities Emergency Response Plans; coordinating the Tribal-WARN network for USET utilities; advancing and continuing the USET Certification Program for Operators and Lab Analysts; assistance to meet current and upcoming regulatory requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Clean Water Act; providing a diverse comprehensive training program consisting of operator certification training, math and employability skills, STEM skills for operators, higher level operator math competency, and management training school; Tribal Nation to Tribal Nation peer assistance, and building community support on the local level for the utilities. In addition, USET’s full-time existing staff will use their expertise to assist Tribal Nation utilities in building technical, managerial, and financial capacities through on-site training and technical assistance. The activities in this proposal will transform USET member Tribal Nations’ capacity to develop and operate efficient, sustainable, and safe water and wastewater systems and will establish and maintain compliance with regulations. The result will be not only better public health but will also provide the infrastructure needed for economic progress of the Tribal Nations and contribute to the connection of its peoples to a now more pristine environment</p>
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
