National Tribal Air Association

Brandy Toft-Air Quality Specialist
Charles Woods-Air Quality Technician

Program in Existence since - 2001
Program Projects - Hg, IAQ, Met, PM 2.5, Radon, Diesel, more...
Location - Leech Lake Reservation, HQ located in Cass Lake, MN

The Leech Lake Air Program (LLAP) has taken the lead in air monitoring for north central Minnesota as neither federal nor state agencies have done any type of long-term air monitoring projects in the area. The LLAP is filling data gaps for our area with PM 2.5, Mercury, and Meteorological data. In the past we have done PUF sampling for dioxins and PM 2.5 sampling with minivols. The dioxin monitoring has been a disappointment for Leech Lake. Funding for the project was not granted at a critical juncture of data collection to potentially show trends and suspect dangerous levels of airborne dioxin around a superfund site located on the Reservation.

 

It is critical for Leech Lake to continue to build capacity, develop and enhance its Air Quality Program to protect human health and trust resources of the LLBO and its neighbors by properly monitoring emissions, implementing volunteer programs, and commenting on permits. This has recently been brought to the forefront in regards to Environmental Impact Statements regarding industries constructing on, near, or traversing across the Reservation. Without the LLAP's knowledge base and monitoring data the members of the Leech Lake Reservation and their neighbors would not be or minimally represented. The above concerns, policy, and issues can only be addressed with a long-term air program operated by the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. An Air Program that is engaged on local, regional, and national venues and in turn shares that information in the form of data, education, and outreach to the communities and related agencies. The LLAP has an active representation on CENRAP, NTAA, national policy workgroup, and state agency meetings, such as the Tribal/MPCA/DNR meetings.

The LLAP has reason to be concerned and protective as the Leech Lake Reservation it is surrounded by 14 Title V facilities of varying industry (both on and around) with 25 more existing or proposed mining facilities clustered to our east within a 100 mile radius. The above Title V facilities range from coal fired EGUs, to wood/paper facilities, waste incinerators, natural gas compressor stations, mining/steel facilities, and ethanol plants. The Leech Lake Reservation also has a multitude of minor sources, such as over 250 gas stations, that exist within the boundaries of the Leech Lake Reservation that we will soon inventory with the implementation of the minor NSR rule. Leech Lake also has a growing indoor air quality problem (IAQ) that directly affects community member health on a daily basis. See our website www.lldrm.org.

 The LLAP has set into motion several voluntary programs on and around the Leech Lake Reservation: diesel retrofitting (62 buses and working with on/off road), burn barrel removal (50 barrels), radon testing and IAQ assessments, wind energy and passive solar heating, and the Green Team are just stepping stones to bigger and better projects for the future.

 Currently, the LLAP is funded by a Region 5 105 air grant, Region 5 Tribal Radon grant, and a 7th Generation Initiative Sustainability grant. The Leech Lake Band received Treatment as an Affected Sovereign in October 2007. The LLAP looks forward to minor new source delegation, expanding capacity to better serve, and working with partners to expand resources.