EPA Offers Tribal Engagement Opportunity on EPA Tribal Partnership Network Review

Comment Period Closes: TOMORROW

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's American Indian Environmental Office (AIEO) is conducting a review of the EPA Tribal Partnership Network and is seeking input from Tribal partners to identify opportunities to strengthen collaboration, communication, and coordination across the Network.

The EPA Tribal Partnership Network is comprised of Tribal Leaders and Tribal environmental professionals participating in the:

• National Tribal Caucus (NTC)
• Ten Regional Tribal Operations Committees (RTOCs)
• Seven Tribal Partnership Groups (TPGs)

The Network plays an important role in supporting collaboration between Tribes and EPA to improve environmental protection and human health throughout Tribal communities. As part of this review, EPA is gathering feedback on current successes, best practices, challenges, and opportunities to strengthen coordination among Network groups and with EPA.

EPA is requesting feedback on topics including:

• Clarity of roles and coordination among Network groups
• Communication and collaboration with EPA Regions and National Program

Offices

• Opportunities to maximize Tribal engagement and participation
• Current and future approaches to cross-representation among the NTC, RTOCs, and TPGs
• Potential structural or operational improvements that could strengthen the Network while enhancing EPA-Tribal collaboration.

Timeline

• June–September 2026: Outreach and Tribal comment period; EPA meets with Tribal stakeholders.
• September 1, 2026: Second Tribal Virtual Listening Session.
• September 29, 2026: Public comment period closes.
• September–October 2026: EPA will compile and analyze feedback and assess next steps.

This review is intended to identify ways to strengthen EPA's collaboration with Tribal partners and improve how the Tribal Partnership Network functions to support environmental protection and public health in Tribal communities.

Feedback and questions may be submitted through September 29, 2026, to:

Daniel Vaught |American Indian Environmental Office (AIEO), U.S. EPA

vaught.daniel@epa.gov| (202) 564-6038

EPA Advances Cleanup at Cosmo Specialty Fibers Site in Washington

EPA Region 10 has reached several milestones in its time-critical removal action at the Cosmo Specialty Fibers site in Cosmopolis, Washington, where work is underway to remove more than 1 million gallons of waste from the former industrial facility.

A new onsite chemical treatment system is now operational and is being used to neutralize corrosive waste before it is transported offsite for disposal. As of September 21, EPA reported that more than 222,000 gallons of acidic waste had been treated and more than 180,000 gallons had been shipped offsite.

EPA began mobilizing at the site in August following two years of assessment work with the Washington State Department of Ecology. In April 2026, Ecology requested EPA assistance with removing chemicals remaining in tanks and containers at the non-operational facility.

The time-critical removal action is intended to eliminate potential environmental hazards and reduce future risks to the surrounding community. EPA expects the removal work to be completed by the end of 2026.

Learn More: Cosmo Specialty Fibers Time-Critical Removal Action

EPA Begins Second Time-Critical Removal Action at J.H. Baxter Superfund Site in Oregon

EPA Region 10 has begun a second Time-Critical Removal Action at the J.H. Baxter Superfund Site in Eugene, Oregon, to address underground contamination identified during previous cleanup work.

EPA mobilized to the site on September 14, 2026, and expects the removal action to continue into spring 2027. Sampling identified additional contamination in subsurface soils, including pentachlorophenol, petroleum-based carrier oils, creosote-related contaminants, and metals. EPA also identified an ongoing release of contamination from soil to stormwater.

The new removal action will address known sources of contamination while EPA continues the broader Superfund investigation and long-term cleanup process. EPA states that known sources were temporarily lined, backfilled, and covered following the previous removal action and that there is currently no present threat to the community.

Oregon DEQ is supporting EPA's continued cleanup efforts at the site.

Oregon Applications

Read Oregon DEQ's StatementRead EPA's September 17 Announcement

J.H. Baxter Superfund Site Information and Updates

EPA Issues First-Ever Good Samaritan Mine Cleanup Permit for Washington Site

EPA has issued the first Good Samaritan remediation permit in the nation to Trout Unlimited for cleanup work at the abandoned Bodie Mine in Okanogan County, Washington.

The project will address contaminated mine tailings along Toroda Creek, where erosion from the former mine site has contributed mine-related contaminants to the watershed. Planned work includes removing contaminated tailings and streambed sediment, rebuilding and stabilizing the streambank, and restoring the area with native vegetation. EPA estimates the project will prevent approximately 104 tons of mine tailings from eroding into Toroda Creek each year.

The permit is the first issued through EPA's new Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Program, which allows qualified organizations to voluntarily undertake eligible abandoned mine cleanup projects while receiving certain liability protections. The pilot program authorizes EPA to issue up to 15 Good Samaritan permits nationwide.

The program may also be of interest to Tribes and Tribal environmental programs dealing with abandoned hardrock mine impacts. EPA's program materials identify Tribes among the public entities that have participated in program outreach, although applicants must meet specific statutory eligibility requirements to qualify as a Good Samaritan.

Read EPA's Bodie Mine Announcement

Learn more about EPA's Good Samaritan Mine Clean Up Program

EPA Launches Study of Emerging Contaminants in Drinking Water

EPA has launched a new national scientific study to better understand emerging and potentially unidentified contaminants in drinking water, including pharmaceuticals, PFAS, pesticides, personal care products, and other chemicals.

The study will use non-targeted analysis (NTA), a method that allows researchers to screen drinking water samples for a much broader range of substances than conventional testing methods that look for a predetermined list of contaminants. EPA's current screening library contains profiles for more than 1,400 chemicals.

EPA says the research is intended to help identify contaminants that may warrant additional study and inform future drinking-water research and priorities. The work complements EPA's existing Safe Drinking Water Act programs, including the draft Sixth Contaminant Candidate List (CCL 6) and proposed Sixth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 6).

The research may be of interest to Tribal drinking water, environmental health, water quality, and environmental programs following emerging contaminants and PFAS.

Learn more about EPA's Emerging Contaminants Drinking Water Study

EPA Closes Registration Review Cases for 19 Pesticides

EPA has announced the closure of 19 pesticide registration review cases, concluding the federal registration review process for pesticides that are being or have been removed from the U.S. marketplace.

Under federal law, EPA reviews registered pesticides every 15 years to determine whether they continue to meet applicable safety standards for human health and the environment. According to EPA, manufacturers associated with these 19 pesticides either voluntarily cancelled their registrations or chose not to provide data EPA identified as necessary to support continued registration.

EPA has confirmed that no additional products containing these pesticide ingredients will be produced for sale or use in the United States.

The action includes pesticides such as methiocarb, methyl-parathion, fenitrothion, ferbam, dicloran (DCNA), and several biological and pheromone-based pesticide ingredients.

Learn more and view a prepublication version of the Federal Register notice related to this action.

EPA State and Tribal Wetlands Workshop Resources Now Available

Missed the EPA State & Tribal Wetlands Workshop?

Resources are now available from EPA's recent Enhancing State and Tribal Programs (ESTP) National Workshop, which brought together 205 participants from across the country to share information and resources for strengthening state and Tribal wetland programs.

Presentation slides and additional wetland program resources from the workshop have been posted online. Recordings from all three days are also available for 90 days for registered participants.

Those who did not originally register for the workshop but would like access to the recordings may contact Portia Osborne, Executive Director of the National Association of Wetland Managers (NAWM), at portia@nawm.org.

The workshop materials may be particularly useful for Tribal environmental and natural resource programs working on wetland protection, restoration, monitoring, program development, and collaboration.

View Workshop Resources & Recordings

New Tribal Brownfields Forum

We’re excited to help announce the launch of the new Tribal Brownfields Forum — a virtual gathering space connecting Tribal environmental professionals working in the Tribal Brownfields sphere. Whether you’re overseeing TRP programs, managing grants, addressing cleanup challenges, or celebrating successes, this space is here to support you. The Forum is organized into topic-based groups.

You choose which conversations to join by requesting membership in individual groups. All group membership requests are reviewed before access is granted to help ensure a safe, relevant, and respectful space. Please allow up to one business day for approval. Once approved, you’ll have access to: Community-driven, topic-specific conversations, ongoing discussions, shared resources, peer-to-peer learning and support.

Alaska Fish and Wildlife Fund - 2027 Request for Proposals

Deadline: October 28, 2026 | 7:59 PM AK

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is accepting proposals for the 2027 Alaska Fish and Wildlife Fund, supporting projects that achieve measurable conservation outcomes for Alaska's fish, wildlife, and habitats.

Funding: Grants generally range from $50,000–$200,000, with larger awards considered on a case-by-case basis. Projects may run for one to two years and require a 1:1 non-federal cash or in-kind match.

Eligible applicants include Tribal governments and Alaska Native Tribal organizations/corporations, along with nonprofit organizations, federal, state and local government agencies, municipalities, and educational institutions.

Projects must fall within one of the program's geographic focus areas: Alaska North Slope; Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta; Cook Inlet/Matanuska-Susitna Basin/Kodiak Archipelago; or the Chugach and Tongass National Forests. Priorities include salmon and habitat conservation, fish and wildlife monitoring and management, hydrologic and water-quality information, terrestrial habitat restoration, coastal wetlands, and other conservation needs.

View the 2027 Alaska Fish and Wildlife Fund RFP & Apply

Come See Us at the 2026 IACC Conference!

Wenatchee Convention Center | Wenatchee, Washington

October 20–22, 2026

The W.O.I.A. Tribal Leadership Program and Tribal Specialist Peer-to-Peer Program are heading to Wenatchee, Washington, for the 2026 Infrastructure Assistance Coordinating Council (IACC) Conference, October 20–22!

We'll have a booth at the conference where attendees can learn more about the new Tribal Specialist Peer-to-Peer Program, which was piloted in Alaska. The program is focused on connecting Tribal environmental professionals with peers who can share experience, knowledge, and technical assistance.

This year's IACC Conference brings together communities, funding programs, technical assistance providers, and other infrastructure partners for three days of sessions, exhibits, networking, and technical assistance.

The conference schedule also includes several Tribal-focused and Tribal-relevant sessions, including the Tribal Funding Panel, Tribal/Local Partnerships, Tribal Funding Matchmaking, Funding Water, Wastewater & Solid Waste Projects with the Indian Health Service, and the WaterSMART Grant Program and Native American Affairs Technical Assistance Program. There's also a Tribal Reception on Wednesday afternoon.

If you're attending IACC, stop by our booth and come see us!

Learn more & Register for the Infrastructure Assistance Coordinating Council Conference

View the 2026 IACC Conference Schedule

DOE Highlights Hanford and Idaho Nuclear Cleanup Progress

The U.S. Department of Energy highlighted recent progress at environmental cleanup sites across the country during the National Cleanup Workshop, including significant work underway at the Hanford Site in Washington and Idaho Cleanup Project.

At Hanford, DOE reported that 2025 marked the first time since the 1940s that the amount of radioactive tank waste stored at the site decreased. Waste is being processed through a tank-side system before being sent to the Waste Treatment Plant, where it is solidified in glass. DOE is also evaluating a dual glass-and-grout treatment strategy that the agency says could reduce cleanup costs and timelines.

At the Idaho Cleanup Project, DOE reported continued demolition work and said crews have completed more than 40% of the site's tank-waste treatment mission.

Cleanup at Hanford is particularly relevant to Region 10 Tribal Nations. DOE identifies the Yakama Nation, Nez Perce Tribe, and Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation as having treaty rights and interests at the site, with Tribal programs participating in cleanup activities and review of potential impacts to natural and cultural resources.

Read DOE's National Cleanup Workshop Update

Idaho Waste Treatment Facility Reduces Disposal Costs During Radioactive Waste Cleanup

The U.S. Department of Energy's Idaho Cleanup Project is using new equipment at the Integrated Waste Treatment Unit (IWTU) at the Idaho National Laboratory Site to reduce waste and disposal costs associated with radioactive liquid waste treatment.

A new condensate evaporator is being used to manage condensate generated by the facility's onsite nitrogen gas plant. Previously, the condensate was collected in 250-gallon totes and shipped offsite for disposal, with nearly 200 shipments costing the project just under $1 million.

The evaporator has now processed more than 6,000 gallons of condensate, resulting in an estimated $100,000 in savings while reducing the need for offsite disposal.

The IWTU was constructed to process approximately 900,000 gallons of radioactive liquid waste stored in underground tanks at the Idaho National Laboratory Site, converting the liquid into a more stable granular solid. Treatment is expected to continue for three to seven years, including planned facility maintenance.

NAAEE 2026 Annual Conference Coming to Portland, Oregon

October 6–9, 2026 | Portland, Oregon

Annual Conference: October 6–9, 2026

Research Symposium: October 6–7, 2026

The North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) is bringing its 2026 Annual Conference to Portland, Oregon, this October, bringing together more than 1,000 educators, researchers, students, nonprofit organizations, and other professionals working to create healthier and more sustainable communities.

The NAAEE Annual Conference will take place October 6–9, with the Research Symposium held October 6–7. The gathering provides opportunities to learn, exchange ideas, build partnerships, and connect with others working in environmental education and related fields across the United States and internationally.

With this year's conference taking place within EPA Region 10, the event may be of particular interest to Tribal environmental programs, environmental educators, youth and education programs, natural resource staff, and others working to strengthen environmental education within Tribal communities.

Organizations can also explore opportunities to participate as exhibitors or sponsors.

Learn more about the NAAEE 2026 Annual Conference & Research Symposium