Funding and Measures from a Region 8 Perspective

1. Funding and Measures from a Region 8 Perspective Western Regions Pesticide Meeting Linda Himmelbauer, USEPA R8 May 16, 2006

2. Acknowledgments… • Tim Osag, Technical Enforcement Program, USEPA Region 8 • Judy Bloom, Pesticides program, USEPA Region 8 • Ron Kendall, OPP FEAD USEPA Region 8

3. CHALLENGE #1… Funding How to provide the best FIFRA coverage in Indian country with the current available resources. USEPA Region 8

4. CHALLENGE #2… Measures How to stay afloat amidst the sea of new measures. USEPA Region 8

5. Topics to be Covered… • Background • Current Funding Situation • Measures: how they’ve changed business • Need for New Thinking USEPA Region 8

6. Background R8 Tribal Program... • 27 Tribal Nations on 26 reservations. • Population 208,000. • Combined 46,490 square miles, about size of Mississippi. • Approx 40% of all lands that constitute Indian country in the US are contained within Region 8. Mississippi USEPA Region 8

7. Background…R8 Pesticides Program Pesticide duties are housed in four R8 Offices: Pollution Prevention, Pesticides & Toxics Program (P3T) • Pesticides core field programs: WPS, Endangered Species, C & T, SAI, Imports, Water Quality as well as IPM in Schools, POs for State PPGs /Continuous grants, program oversight, direct implementation. Technical Enforcement Program (TEP) • Inspectors • Compliance Assistance Tribal Assistance Program (TAP) • Tribal POs for PPGs / Continuous grants Policy, Information Mgmt. & Env. Justice Program (PJ) • FTTS/NCDB Database management USEPA Region 8

8. In addition to National priorities every Region also has priorities….Region 8 Priorities: • Agriculture • Direct Implementation • Energy • Homeland Security • Revitalization USEPA Region 8

9. Current Funding Situation…..R8 Tribal Pesticides Program • From 3 sources: • OPP: $ 55.2 K • OECA: $ 372.6 K • AIEO: $ 100 K over 3 years *3 Pots of Money=3 Sets of Measures* USEPA Region 8

10. OPP/OECA Funding comparison….. Mississippi $ 427.8 K$ 393.5 K USEPA Region 8

11. What’s being funded in R8… • Five Tribal Pesticide programs: Cheyenne River Sioux, Fort Peck, Oglala, Standing Rock, Three Affiliated. • One Pesticide Tribal Circuit Rider (for SD reservations, currently Lower Brule and Crow Creek). • Special project from the National OPP RFP: Sisseton Wahpeton Water Quality. USEPA Region 8

12. Additional Funding available via the OPP Special Project RFP…. • This RFP will be released soon. • A total of approx $400K available for tribal pesticide related special projects. Contact : Ron Kendall, OPP 703-305-5561 kendall.ronald@epa.gov USEPA Region 8

13. An additional funding challenge for FY07...Indirect Cost (IDC) Rates This is a national push - includes all Regions. • Not a new requirement. • OMB is holding EPA accountable for implementing the requirement. • The IDC rate must be approved by IHS for every tribe (every year or some may have multi-year approvals). • Before the IDC is approved, the financial papers of the tribe must be audited by a single independent auditor that the tribe hires. USEPA Region 8

14. An additional funding challenge for FY07...Indirect Cost (IDC) Rates • Rates vary between 9-50% and are not determined by EPA AT ALL. • All indirect costs in new grants, and new money added to existing grants, are affected. • Getting approval is entirely directed by the tribe. • As Tribal Pesticide Program contacts… it may be a good idea to check with your financial office to see where they are in getting the rate approved. USEPA Region 8

15. Measures…. • Have the OMB PART reviews and new measures affected the way Region 8 runs its pesticides program…? You bet. USEPA Region 8

16. Measures…how they’ve changed business in R8 R8 moved to a “base program” funding approach • For OPP money…. • Base tribal program approx $9-14K per year • Work plan activities support the national (or regional) program measures. • For OECA money…. • Base tribal program approx $65K • Work plan activities support the national measures: inspection-based, obtaining federal credentials, etc. USEPA Region 8

17. Measures…continued how they’ve changed business in R8 • GAP money used for pesticide code development. • Funding decisions are based on need and performance (including progress in meeting measures). USEPA Region 8

18. Need for New Thinking…. Resources are flat…..so… Are we funding the right things…?? Are we putting our money in the best places to maximize FIFRA coverage in Indian country…?? USEPA Region 8

19. FIFRA Coverage in Indian country… • What’s currently in the toolbox…. • Cooperative Agreements with Tribes • Grants with Tribes (Special Projects) • Direct Implementation (EPA) • Circuit Riders • ? • ? We need more tools in the toolbox. USEPA Region 8

20. The right things to fund …. Ensuring pesticides are used safely to protect public health and the environment. USEPA Region 8

21. Improving FIFRA coverage in Indian Country… In 2005, R8 assessed FIFRA coverage needs in Indian country focusing on collecting data for agriculture: acreage, number of farms & ranches, population, etc., all indicators of possible pesticide use. • Purpose of the assessment: to help EPA best target its resources. USEPA Region 8

22. Assessment Methodology • Looked at the factors used in HQ formula funding for States. Specifically, state grant allocation factors from the CFR (40 Part 35 Part A Section 35.115 (j) & (k). • population • private applicators • commercial applicators • # farms • farm acreage • production establishments • Not all factors applicable or readily available • Information provided to R8 tribes for comment • Information presented at ROC mtg USEPA Region 8

23. Assessment Conclusions • The five tribes receiving continuous cooperative agreement grants ranked high in population, # farms/ranches, agricultural acreage. • Greater FIFRA coverage needed in SD (initiated the circuit rider program) • Greater FIFRA coverage needed in MT (Montana EPA Office) USEPA Region 8

24. Questions or Comments? USEPA Region 8