Amata Announces $2.7 Million in Grant Funding from EPA to American Samoa Environmental Protection Agency

Washington, D.C. – Thursday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata, announced today that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded a grant in the amount of $2.7 Million in discretionary funding to the American Samoa Environmental ProtectionAgency (AESPA) for environmental protection programs.

“This funding will go a long way in keeping the islands of American Samoa clean and protecting our natural resources,” said Amata. “I look forward to continuing to work with the EPA to ensure that the American Samoa Environmental Protection Agency has the funding available to keep American Samoa clean and safer for everyone,” continued the Congresswoman.

Specifically, the grant funds will be used to support air, water, and land inspections. The funds will also be used to clean up sites contaminated by waste as well as monitor the safety of our beaches and drinking water, protect coral reefs and respond to emergencies. Funding will also go directly to keeping our islands beautiful by the many programs that will be created which include a comprehensive ridge-to-ridge assessment program; ASEPA’s Piggery Compliance Program protecting human health by reducing leptospirosis; and outreach programs such as Keep American Samoa Beautiful (KASB) Campaign and American Samoa’s Anti-Litter Program

“I want to thank all the EPA officials involved and I want to especially thank American Samoa EPA Director Ameko Pato and Alexis Strauss, acting EPA Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest, who recognized the need for these funds,” concluded Amata.

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