Where:
EPA Region 10: Alaska, Washington, Oregon and Idaho
Problem:
Public infrastructure projects need innovative funding options
Solution:
Environmental Finance Center (EFC) for EPA Region 10
During the next 20 years, $600 billion in infrastructure projects need to be completed to protect public health, yet budget constraints are an increasing reality. One solution is EFC. EFC is a think tank with implementation—one that creates models and tools and collects and shares resources to help small rural communities and Tribes move forward with innovative solutions to this great need.
In a competitive application process RCAC was selected as the Environmental Finance Center (EFC) for EPA Region 10. RCAC is the only non-university to be selected as an EFC. The EFC, RCAC and our sub-contractor Eastern Washington University, will develop solutions to infrastructure affordability for water, wastewater and other disciplines.
Through EFC, Tribes and local communities will have practical, real-world training, technical assistance and information that allows them to increase the sustainability of their environmental financing systems that support all their environmental and public health media. Strengthening the sustainably of environmental financing systems supports the systems’ ability to achieve and remain in compliance in the long-term by having and planning for the financial resources needed to address financial, technical and institutional issues.
The EFC implements a variety of projects in cooperation with EPA Region 10 including: source water protection workshops, technical assistance and regulatory compliance support for small drinking water systems located on Tribal lands; training for operators at Tribally owned water systems; and GIS mapping support for asset management at very small systems. The EFC developed tools such as a Tribal Source Water Protection Plan Template and the Decision Tree with Financial Modules used to evaluate options for proactively addressing impacts of adverse environmental conditions, which are available online.
EFCs are active and proactive in policy, science and research on climate adaptation and resiliency and they bring in funding to the climate discussion.
