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Innovation

2020 Regional-State-Tribal Innovation Projects

2020 Regional-State-Tribal Innovation Projects

EPA’s Office of Research and Development (ORD) provided an opportunity for the EPA Regions to submit proposals for innovative projects to address state and tribal science priorities.  This year, we are excited to fund 12 projects that use innovative approaches to address high priority issues while partnering with states and tribes. These projects will engage 19 state partners and 20 tribal partners. The work will address a wide range of environmental challenges from how to create cleaner residential recycling streams to better monitoring approaches for air and water pollution. Find out more information about the projects below. 

Map showing state locations of 2020 Regional State and Tribal Innovation ProjectsMap showing state locations of 2020 Regional/State/Tribal Innovation Projects. Click on image to view a larger version.

Regions Partners Project
List of 2020 Innovation Project Partners

Region 1

  • Maine Department of Environmental Protection

  • Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection

Satellite Mapping of Eelgrass Distribution and Abundance

Region 1 and Region 2                                 

  • Passamaquoddy Tribe of Maine
  • Maine Penobscot Indian Nation
  • Maine Band of Maliseet Indians
  • New York Seneca Nation of Indians
  • Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
  • New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services
  • Maine Department of Environmental Protection
  • New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
Enhancing Tribal and State Cyanobacteria Monitoring using Citizen Science
Region 2 
  • New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection

Evaluating Air Pollution Sensors for Hot Spot Monitoring by Citizen Scientists

Region 3 and Region 8 
  • Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
  • Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Using Social Science to Create Cleaner Residential Recycling Streams
Region 3 
  • Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Online Data Platform for Submerged Aquatic Vegetation in the Chesapeake Bay
Region 4 and Region 6
  • Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma (R6) and other state, local, and tribal agency partners to be selected in R4, R6, or other regions;

  • North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality

  • Catawba Indian Nation

  • Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians

  • Seminole Tribe of Florida

  • Mecklenburg County, NC

  • Broward County, FL

  • City of Louisville, KY

  • City of Jacksonville, FL

  • Orange County, FL

Collocated Air Sensor Shelters for Tribes and Citizen Science
Region 5 
  • State, tribal and local government partners to be determined

Demonstration of Air Sensor Loan Programs for Rural Communities and Living/Nature Museums

Region 7 
  • Kansas Department of Health and Environment

Evaluating Passive Sampling Techniques for Conducting Probabilistic Stream Monitoring

Region 8 
  • Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment
High Resolution Thermal Monitoring of Mine Impacted Groundwater and Surface Water  
Region 9 
  • Navajo Nation
Investigation of Health Concerns with Traditional Use of Native Plants at Abandoned Uranium Mine Sites on Tribal Lands
Region 10
  • Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation
  • Okanogan River Airshed Partnership
  • The Methow Valley Citizens Council
  • The Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation
  • Heritage University
  • Yakima Valley Air Quality Partnership
  • The Klamath Tribes
  • The Burns Paiute Tribe
  • The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation
  • Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
  •  Oregon Tribal Health Services
  • The Coeur d'Alene Tribe and the Saint Maries PM Advance Partnership 

Demonstration of a Tribal Air Sensor Loan Program

Region 10 
  • Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation
  • Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
  • Kawerak, Inc.
  • Zender Environmental Health and Research Group
Human-centered Design to Improve Management of Household Hazardous Waste Programs in Alaskan Tribal Communities