National Program Managers (NPM) Guidance – FY 2014-2015
FY14-15 Program priorities
 EPA acts in a manner consistent with the one-to-one, government-togovernment relationship with federally recognized Indian tribes;
 EPA and tribal governments work together to identify, design and
implement effective environmental programs on tribal lands that are
protective of human health and the environment; and,
 EPA collaborates in a meaningful, open and interactive manner with
tribal governments in areas of mutual concern regarding environmental
and human health protection in Indian country.
Tribal National Areas of focus
 Implementation of Federal Environmental Programs
- Direct Implementation of Federal Environmental Laws
- Tribal Program Implementation
 Implementation of the Indian Environmental General Assistance
Program
- OITA will provide training to GAP Project Officers and GAP recipients on the new
GAP Guidance.
- Consistent with the new GAP Guidance, regions will develop ETEPs with each
federally recognized tribe requesting GAP funds.
 Implementation of EPA’s Policy on Consultation and Coordination with
Indian Tribes
- Consultation opportunities will be publicly available on the Tribal Consultation
Opportunities Tracking System (TCOTS). OITA will provide regular updates to EPA
Senior management and OMB on TCOTS statistics.
- EPA Assistant Administrators and Regional Administrators will implement tribal
consultation under the Executive Order and EPA Consultation Policy, and ensure
that all four phases described in Consultation Policy are appropriately
implemented
- EPA Leadership will also ensure timely entry of tribal consultation opportunities
into TCOTS to ensure opportunities for early and meaningful involvement
- Tribal Consultation Advisors will deliver two trainings to staff and managers in
their respective offices during FY 2014-2015.
From: Nishida, Jane
Sent: Friday, July 25, 2014 8:05 PM
To: AA Administrators; Regional Administrators
Cc: DAA-Career; DRA; Shenkman, Ethan; Chase, JoAnn; Koslow, Karin
Subject: Tribal Program Priorities in FY2014-FY 2015 OITA NPM
Guidance
In June 2013 the Office of International and Tribal Affairs (OITA) published
its first ever National Program Manager (NPM) Guidance, highlighting
longstanding programmatic priorities for EPA’s tribal program. This NPM
Guidance, applying to both FY 2014 and FY 2015, provides direction to the
entire Agency and furthers EPA’s commitment to strengthen public health
and environmental protection in Indian country. On July 24, 2014, during
the National Tribal Operations Committee meeting in Washington, DC,
Administrator McCarthy spoke about the important role the NPM Guidance
plays in helping the Agency prioritize its work. We encourage you to
continue to champion work that supports the tribal national areas of focus as
described in the NPM Guidance.
OITA’s NPM Guidance reinforces existing program priorities and national
areas of focus that continue to be critically important work with federally
recognized tribes. The program priorities are: (1) EPA acts consistently with
the government-to-government relationship with federally recognized tribes;
(2) EPA and tribal governments work together to identify, design and
implement effective environmental programs on tribal lands; and (3) EPA
collaborates in a meaningful, open and interactive manner with tribal
governments.
The national areas of focus listed are specific programs originally
established in the 1984 EPA Indian Policy that further our work with
federally recognized tribes. The first focus area is Implementation of Federal
Environmental Programs in Indian country. EPA will work directly with
tribes to achieve implementation of federal environmental programs. This is
done primarily through EPA direct implementation activities, or by program
delegations, approvals, or authorizations from EPA to tribes. The second
focus area is Implementation of the Indian Environmental General
Assistance Program (GAP). As described in the GAP Guidance, OITA will
support regions as they develop EPA-Tribal Environmental Plans with each
federally recognized tribe requesting GAP funds. The third focus area is
Implementation of EPA-Tribal Consultation Under Executive Order 13175
and the EPA Consultation Policy. OITA will make consultation
opportunities publicly available in the Tribal Consultation Opportunities
Tracking System (TCOTS), ensuring early entry of consultation
opportunities to allow for early and meaningful tribal involvement.
These priorities and focus areas are centered on our collaborative efforts
with tribes to strengthen public health and environmental protection in
Indian country. The implementation of federal environmental programs in
Indian country, the GAP program and EPA’s government-to-government
consultation with tribes remain the foundational elements to the success of
the majority of EPA’s work with tribes. In addition, as outlined in the June
12, 2014 memo New Early Engagement Approach for States and Tribes to
Inform Development of EPA’s 2016-2017 National Program Manager
(NPM) Guidance, we thank you for your continuing support with early
engagement from tribes about EPA’s NPM Guidances for FY 2016 – FY
2017. We look forward to continuing to work with you and your staff.
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OITA’s NPMG is available on EPA’s website, at the following link:
http://www2.epa.gov/planandbudget/fy-2014-oita-npm-guidance