Contaminated Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act Lands Assistance Program

The Contaminated ANCSA Lands Assistance Program is a federally administered initiative led by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region 10, under the authority of the FY2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act. The program responds to long-standing environmental injustices experienced by Alaska Native entities due to the conveyance of contaminated lands under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) of 1971. These lands, conveyed to Alaska Native regional and village corporations as part of a broader effort to settle aboriginal land claims, were discovered to have significant environmental contamination including hazardous substances such as lead, mercury, arsenic, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and petroleum products. Many of these contaminants exceed safe state and federal levels and continue to pose health and environmental risks, impacting subsistence resources and community well-being. The program's central objective is to support the assessment and cleanup of lands that were contaminated at the time of conveyance under ANCSA. Funding from EPA Region 10 aims to assist eligible Alaska Native entities in characterizing and cleaning up these sites through cooperative agreements. In addition to cleanup, the program supports related activities such as environmental assessments (including Phase I and Phase II site assessments), community engagement and planning, the development of Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPPs), and compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Program management and oversight activities are also covered, including the documentation of deliverables, financial monitoring, and coordination with EPA project officers. Eligibility for the program is limited to specific Alaska-based tribal entities, including federally recognized tribes, Alaska Native regional and village corporations, Alaska Native nonprofit organizations and associations, and intertribal consortia comprised of Alaskan tribal entities. Applicants must demonstrate that the site in question was conveyed under ANCSA, was contaminated at the time of conveyance, and is listed on the EPA’s Contaminated ANCSA Sites Inventory. Sites not currently listed may be proposed and undergo a verification process in partnership with EPA and the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC). Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with no fixed deadline, and are reviewed and awarded continuously until available funds are exhausted. Applicants are required to submit a funding request via email, including a narrative description, detailed workplan with components and tasks, and a comprehensive budget. Prior to submission through Grants.gov, applicants are strongly encouraged to discuss their proposals with EPA Region 10 project officers to ensure alignment with program goals and regulatory compliance. The maximum award per cooperative agreement is $3 million, and performance periods may last up to five years. No cost share or matching funds are required, making this opportunity more accessible to resource-constrained communities. Program priorities include addressing high-risk contaminants, supporting projects where the federal government caused or had jurisdiction over the contamination, and ensuring equitable geographic distribution of funds across Alaska. Projects that address imminent threats to health and the environment or are impacted by near-term climate change may receive prioritization. The EPA also emphasizes the importance of community engagement, including the development of culturally sensitive protocols and inclusion of local voices in the project planning and cleanup process. Substantial federal involvement is expected throughout the performance of funded projects, and recipients must comply with applicable laws and regulations, including submission of a QAPP when environmental data collection is involved. Final applications are submitted via Grants.gov only after initial review and approval by EPA project officers. Additional program guidance, including eligibility verification tools and documentation templates, is available on the EPA Region 10 website.

Engage early with EPA Region 10 project officers; ensure site eligibility via ANCSA Inventory; include community engagement plans.