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RCAC awarded EPA ‘Circuit Rider’ contract

October 11, 2007

West Sacramento, Calif. — Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) recently was awarded a large multi-state contract from Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 9 to provide “circuit rider” services to California and Arizona Native American tribes.   

The Tribal Circuit Rider Program is the largest tribal-specific program of its kind. RCAC has provided tribal circuit rider services for the past 15 years. The program’s principle goal is to provide public health protection through capacity development and direct hands-on assistance of public water and wastewater systems located in Indian Country.

Circuit riders literally ride a designated circuit from tribe to tribe providing water and wastewater expertise that assists and instructs Native American water operators and decision makers on how best to operate and manage these small systems. Often times this effort will result in protecting public health and maintaining compliance with EPA regulations.

“RCAC fully supports tribal self-determination and self-reliance. Our circuit riders work long hours to help both small and large tribes achieve these goals through training and technical assistance with both the Safe Drinking Water and Clean Water Acts,” said Dave Harvey, rural environmental manager for RCAC. “We’ve developed a strong rapport with tribal members and feel we are providing a true public health service to the more than 50 Native American tribes we serve.”

RCAC’s new contract with EPA began October, and will continue through 2012. The new contract includes new work for the RCAC’s Conference, Training and Events (CTE) unit. CTE will create and manage the EPA’s biannual Tribal Drinking Water Conference. Other new activities will include comprehensive assessments of tribal capacity and, in future years, will provide a circuit rider for the Eastern Sierra/Nevada Tribes.

"This program has been instrumental in assisting tribes with direct implementation of the Safe Drinking Water Act,” said Helen Mckinley, EPA project lead. “From a cost/benefit perspective it has made good business sense for EPA to continue this well-developed technical assistance program.”  

Headquartered in West Sacramento, California, and serving 13 western states, RCAC is a nonprofit agency providing technical assistance and training to rural communities seeking to develop a wide range of local services including community facilities, affordable housing and water treatment facilities. The organization operates a loan fund with $65 million in lending capital that provides low-interest loans and grants to further rural communities’ goals.

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