Funding and Measures from a Region 8 Perspective

Western Regions Pesticide Meeting

Linda Himmelbauer, USEPA R8May 16, 2006

USEPA Region 8 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.

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Topics to be Covered…

• Background• Current Funding Situation• Measures: how they’ve changed

business• Need for New Thinking

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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

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Background…R8 Pesticides ProgramPesticide 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*

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OPP/OECA Funding comparison…..

$ 427.8 K $ 393.5 K

Mississippi

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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.

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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.

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Measures….

• Have the OMB PART reviews and new measures affected the way Region 8 runs its pesticides program…?

You bet.

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Measures…how they’ve changed business in R8R8 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.

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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).

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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…??

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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.

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The right things to fund ….

Ensuring pesticides are used safely to protect public health and the environment.

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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.

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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

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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)

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Questions or Comments?