WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall a nd Martin Heinrich and U.S. Representative Ben Ray Luján announced $2.1 million in grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to New Mexico Pueblos to protect clean water and support environmental cleanup projects.
"These grants will benefit New Mexico Pueblos by supporting efforts to address environmental hazards, reduce exposure to dangerous chemicals and prevent pollution," said Udall. "Everyone deserves access to a healthy environment, especially those in Native communities who have fought long and hard to win land and water rights. As the lead Democrat on the committee overseeing funding of Interior and the EPA, I'll continue to secure resources that will help ensure the air we breathe and water we drink are clean, safe and accessible to all."
"I'm proud to welcome this critical funding for Indian Country," said Heinrich. "In New Mexico, we know that water is life. Clean water is essential for public health, agriculture, and our way of life. I will continue to fight for resources that support long-term, sustainable use of New Mexico's precious land and water resources."
"Everyone deserves access to clean air and clean water," said Luján. "These grants will help ensure New Mexico Pueblos have the resources they need for environmental protection efforts that will improve public health."
Projects Awarded Funding:
Pueblo of San Ildefonso
$115,000: Indian Environmental General Assistance Program Grant to address environmental issues
Pueblo of San Felipe
$145,000: Indian Environmental General Assistance Program Grant to address environmental issues
Santo Domingo Pueblo
$115,000: Indian Environmental General Assistance Program Grant to address environmental issues
Pueblo of Tesuque
$228,341: Performance Partnership Grant to manage continuing environmental programs and maintain water, land, and data quality
Pueblo of Taos
$265,000: Performance Partnership Grant to manage continuing environmental programs and maintain water, land, and data quality
Pueblo of Picuris
$115,000: Indian Environmental General Assistance Program Grant to address environmental issues
Pueblo of Santa Clara
$57,226: Clean Water Act Sec. 106 Grant to monitor the health of the Santa Clara Creek, Rio Grande, Rio Santa Cruz, and the Santa Clara Wetlands and conduct outreach to the community to promote changes in behavior to positively affect the environment
$115,000: Indian Environmental General Assistance Program Grant to address environmental issues
$1,500: Superfund State Political Subdivision and Indian Tribe Site Specific Cooperative Agreements for the North Railroad Avenue Plume Superfund site
$100,000: Clear Water Act Sec. 201 Grant (Nonpoint Source Implementation) to implement its nonpoint source management program, focusing on the Santa Clara Creek watershed which has water quality impairments caused by run-off from nonpoint sources, specifically sources resulting from several catastrophic fires and subsequent flooding that caused high levels of sedimentation and erosion
Pueblo of Pojoaque
$78,000: Clean Water Act Sec. 106 Grant to maintain, protect, and improve water quality
$135,000: Indian Environmental General Assistance Program Grant to address environmental issues
Pueblo de Cochiti
$70,391: Clean Water Act Sec. 106 Grant to maintain, protect, and improve water quality
Ohkay Owingeh
$74,162: Clean Water Act Sec. 106 Grant to maintain, protect, and improve water quality
$115,000: Indian Environmental General Assistance Program Grant to address environmental issues
The Eight Northern Indian Pueblos Council
$170,000: Indian Environmental General Assistance Program Grant to address environmental issues
$140,000: for State and Tribal Response Program Grant to assist in remediating and redeveloping brownfields sites
$40,793: Surveys-Studies-Investigations-Demonstrations-Educational Outreach and Special Projects Grant to reduce pesticide exposure for agricultural workers and handlers, protect water resources from pesticides, and protect endangered species
Pueblo of Santa Ana
$30,000: Clean Water Act Section 201 Grant (Nonpoint Source Implementation) to implement its nonpoint source management program, focusing on watersheds with water quality impairments caused by polluted run-off from nonpoint sources
