A Review of the IHS Funding Process

1. A Review of the IHS Funding Process Presented by CDR Ross Schroeder, P.E. for the 17rd Annual Region 9 Tribal EPA Conference October 21-23, 2009 Tucson, Arizona

2. Outline of Today’s Presentation 1. Regular Funds • SDS Basics 2. Housing Funds 3. Special/Emergency Funds 4. ARRA Funds

3. IHS Mission The mission of the IHS is to raise the health status of the American Indian and Alaska Native people to the highest possible level. SFC Mission To support the IHS mission, the Sanitation Facilities Construction Program provides technical and financial assistance to American Indian tribes and Alaska Native villages for cooperative development and continued operation of safe water, wastewater, and solid waste systems and related support facilities.

4. 1. Regular Funds

5. SDS - The Sanitation Deficiency System • SDS is a prioritized database of proposed projects to address the unmet needs of all known water, wastewater, or solid waste deficiencies affecting existingIndian homes. • Only deficiencies which have direct impacts on eligibleIndian homes can be funded with IHS appropriated funds. • Projects for non-Indian homes, commercial developments, etc. may be listed in SDS to document the need or to solicit funding from other sources, but they cannot be funded with IHS funds. • SDS is the primary tool to fund community projects for IHS Regular funds and for EPA Clean Water Act funds.

6. Eligible Indian Homes • Any home in which a member of a federally-recognized AI/AN Tribe, Band, or Community permanently resides, with the following exceptions: • Rental units, unless the Indian occupant has entered into a long-term lease (typically 5 years or more). • Planned homes or homes under construction are not counted in SDS. Only existing homes are represented in SDS. (More on this later – Housing Funds) • Projects serving HUD- or TDHE-owned homes may be entered into SDS, but are not typically eligible for IHS funding.

7. Breakdown of Total Score • The Total SDS Score is the sum of eight different rating scores. • Rating Factors: • Health Impact • Deficiency • Previous Service • Capital Cost • O&M Capability • Contribution • Tribal • Other Considerations

8. Why is SDS Updated Annually? • The annual funding cycle allows IHS to add new projects, update existing projects, and remove funded or no longer needed projects from the SDS database. • Each year’s complete SDS listing is reported to Congress to officially document all of the known sanitation deficiencies in Indian Country.

9. Timing • Example • FY 2009 SDS List submitted to HQ August 1. • FY 2010 Projects to be funded from list by September 30, 2010. • Projects typically won’t start until FY 2011. • Project durations estimated at 4 years on average.

10. SDS National Data

11. SDS Funding Summary - 2009 • National Funding = $47 Million • National Need = $1.2 Billion • Only About 4% of Need Funded.

12. The Big Picture • IHS funds projects according to a structured scoring system. • Only a small fraction of the total number of projects listed in SDS are funded each year. • However, don’t feel like a project is too insignificant to include. • It takes time to get projects funded and completed.

13. Hauling Water

14. First Water in Home

15. Modern Piping Project

16. Modern Storage Project

17. 2. IHS Housing Funds • Housing funds are for new or renovated (like-new) homes for water and sewer/septic facilities (not funded through or related to SDS) • Projects serving new HUD/TDHE homes are not eligible for IHS funding. By congressional mandate – HUD must provide the water and sewer for these homes.

18. Let’s be Clear Housing Money is NOT to build houses.

19. How Does it Work? • “Scattered site” projects can be used to meet individual home needs as sites are identified (i.e., as people apply for service) • Specific water or sewer needs for planned new or renovated homes must be identified as early as possible. • Annual fund requests (IHS Area to IHS HQ) based on planned specific needs and scattered historical trends.

20. What’s the Priority? • If the HQ allocation to the Area is less than the identified need: • Priority designation • BIA HIP projects (new or renovated homes) • New homes completed in prior FY • New homes to be completed in this FY • Other (non-BIA HIP) existing renovated homes

21. And if They are All...? • Areas can establish “Area-Specific” Criteria based on issues such as: • Documented health issues • Date of application • Timing of construction • O&M history • Home funding source • Unit cost • Contributions

22. 3. Special/Emergency Funds • A small percentage of funding is retained at the IHS HQ level for special/emergency needs. • Requests must be made in writing to the local IHS Area for review and submittal to HQ for consideration. • Typically associated with catastrophic events. • Need should not be correctable by routine O&M.

23. 4. ARRA – American Recovery and Reinvestment Act • Typically referred to as Stimulus Funds • One time appropriation (for now) in FY 09 (IHS - $68M Nationally) • Funded from SDS list with special scoring based on ability to quickly start/complete construction. • Completed Project Development Plan • Completed Engineering Report • Under Construction in 9 months from funding • Completed within 24 months • Local discretionary points (project size, workload demand, risk, etc...)

24. California Area IHS

25. Phoenix Area IHS

26. Navajo Area IHS

27. Tucson Area IHS

32. Contacts for Questions • Your Presenter • Ross Schroeder – (520) 295-5633 • Ross.Schroeder@ihs.gov • California Area • Don Brafford – (916) 930-3927, ext. 339 • Donald.Brafford@ihs.gov • Navajo Area • Roger Slape – (928) 871-5857 • Roger.Slape@ihs.gov • Phoenix Area • John Riegel – (602) 364-5068 • John.Riegel@ihs.gov • Tucson Area • Randy Willard – (520) 295-5631 • Randy.Willard@ihs.gov