(L) Yes Magazine – Environmental Activists of Color Makaśa Looking Horse
(R) Harvard University – First-ever compendium of indigenous technologies provides a powerful toolkit for climate-resilient design
Don’t forget about today’s NTAA Informational Webinar at 4 pm ET to help you comment on the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register to update its regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
The White House claims these updates would modernize and clarify the regulations to facilitate more efficient, effective, and timely NEPA reviews by Federal agencies in connection with proposals for agency action and would also reduce paperwork and delays and promote better decisions in accordance with section 101 of NEPA.
Comments are due March 10, 2020. You can register for the webinar here. NTAA has a Policy Resource Kit you can use to comment that includes this NTAA Tribal Template Letter. For additional information, including information on upcoming public hearings in Denver, CO and Washington, DC, visit https://www.whitehouse.gov/ceq/nepa-modernization/
Atlantic – Voters Really Care About Climate Change
AZ Central – ‘Everybody used coal’: After mine closures, Native families look for ways to stay warm
The Conversation – Air pollution kills thousands of Americans every year – here’s a low-cost strategy to reduce the toll
New York Post – North Dakota approves extension to controversial Dakota Access Pipeline
EPA – EPA Proposes Additional Amendments to the Regulations for Coal Combustion Residuals
EPA – EPA’s 2019 Power Plant Emissions Data Demonstrate Significant Progress
Colorlines – Sacred Indigenous Burial Sites Destroyed to Make Room for Border Wall
Native Sun News – Rollback of environmental law lambasted
Native Sun News – Oglala officials demand probe into $50K ‘propane donation’ from KXL
Cronkite News – Tribal officials press for more, and more predictable, federal funding
MSU Today – Neighborhood Air Pollution Linked to Adverse Health Effects among Elderly Asthma Patients
National Association of Clean Air Agencies – Washington Update
Inside Climate News – Solar Power Just Miles from the Arctic Circle? In Icy Nordic Climes, It’s become the Norm
CNN – Oil and gas production is contributing even more to global warming than was thought, study finds
Allegheny Front – Amid Climate Debate and Coal’s Decline, West Virginia considers a ‘Just Transition’
NPR – How Warming Winters Are Affecting Everything
NPR – ‘Antarctica Melts,’ NASA Says, Showing Effects of A Record Warm Spell
Ensia – Opinion: Climate Change is the New Disease of Despair. Psychologists Need to Step Up to Help.
E&E News – Northeast keeps largest coal plant online
Arizona Republic – Rising temperatures are taking a worsening toll on the Colorado River, study finds
Yes Magazine – What U.S. Farming Can Do to Stop Climate Change
New York Times – One Side of a Nuclear Waste Fight: Trump. The Other: His Administration
KNAU – Navajo and Federal Officials Agree To Clean Up 24 Priority Abandoned Uranium Mines
Inside Climate News – Uber and Lyft Are Convenient, Competitive and Highly Carbon Intensive
Gizmodo – Airing out Your Home Doesn’t Reduce Indoor Air Pollution, Study Finds
Medical Xpress – Report highlights impact of poor indoor air quality on children’s health
Be sure to subscribe to EPA’s IAQ Bulletins
Virgil Masayesva Excellence Award and TAMS Steering Committee
The TAMS Center is announcing a call for nominations for the Virgil Masayesva Tribal Air Programs Excellence Award and three (3) positions on the TAMS Steering Committee. Further information and the nomination forms are online and can be accessed at: Virgil Masayesva Excellence Award Nomination Form and TAMS Steering Committee Nomination Form. The deadline to submit the nominations is February 28, 2020. We sincerely appreciate your time to consider submitting a nomination. For further information, please contact either Farshid Farsi, TAMS-EPA Codirector (Farsi.Farshid@epa.gov or 702-784-8263), or Christopher Lee, TAMS-ITEP Codirector (christopher.lee@nau.edu).
The National Tribal Forum on Air Quality (NTFAQ) has issued a Call for Proposals for Presentations, Workshops, and Sessions
The NTFAQ will be held May 27-29, 2020, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and will be hosted by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. Click HERE for details on the Call for Proposals; the deadline for proposals is Monday, March 2, 2020. We are also actively seeking Sponsors and Exhibitors for the event – show your support and engage with attendees! More information is available at www.nau.edu/ntfaq.
Request for Applications for EPA’s American Indian Air Quality Training Program, RFA#: EPA-OAR-IO-20-03, Closing Date: March 13, 2020
EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation (OAR) is soliciting applications from eligible entities to provide comprehensive air quality policy and regulatory analysis including support and national coordination activities to assist tribes in understanding, participating in, and responding to OAR’s policy and regulatory activities. The total estimated funding for this competitive opportunity is approximately $8,000,000 over five years. EPA anticipates awarding one cooperative agreement from this announcement, subject to availability of funds, the quality of applications received, and other applicable considerations.
Interested in Strategic Planning? Community Outreach? Enroll in ITEP’s online courses!
The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) is pleased to offer professional development training to new and seasoned tribal professionals through interactive online courses. The Tribal Strategic Planning/ETEP and Partnerships & Community Outreach courses will be available February 13 – March 20, 2020. The two online courses listed here are fee-based and have instructors to ensure your individual questions are answered in a timely manner during the course period.
Instructors:
These online courses contain assignments, quizzes, videos, examples, and other resources. You will continue to have access to course materials after the course end date. Learn more and register for the two courses using the following links:
DRAFT Guidance for Ozone and Fine Particulate Matter Permit Modeling: Comment by March 27, 2020
EPA is providing an opportunity for interested stakeholders to review and comment on DRAFT Guidance for Ozone and Fine Particulate Matter Permit Modeling. This guidance provides EPA’s recommendations for how a stationary source of air pollution seeking a Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permit may demonstrate that it will not cause or contribute to a violation of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ozone (O3) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and PSD increments for PM2.5, as required under Section 165(a)(3) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) and 40 CFR sections 51.166(k) and 52.21(k). This draft guidance updates EPA’s Guidance for PM2.5 Permit Modeling to reflect the 2017 revisions to the Guideline on Air Quality Models and incorporates appropriate sections for O3. EPA requests comments on the draft guidance by Friday, March 27, 2020. This allows at least 45 days for consideration, review, and comment. The draft guidance is available on EPA’s SCRAM website.
Save the Date: Tribal Lands and Environment Forum on August 17-20, 2020
This year’s Tribal Lands and Environment Forum: A National Conversation on Waste and Response Strategies, will take place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, August 17-20, 2020. Registration, session proposal forms, travel information, and field trip announcements will all be coming soon. Stay tuned! www.nau.edu/TLEF
Tribal Grants Education and Technical Assistance Webinar Series Second Wednesday of Every Month at 1pm ET
For more information, click here!
NTAA Upcoming Calls. The toll-free number is 1-800-309-2350. If you do not need to call toll free, or would like to help conserve NTAA funding, you can call 1-805-309-2350. Both numbers use code 928-523-0526#. Contact Andy.Bessler@nau.edu if you have any questions about any call! *Registration instructions* When you register for the GoToWebinar, please remember to include your Tribe, Region, or Organization in parenthesis after your last name. This allows you to see everyone on the call and prevents us from conducting a roll-call, ultimately saving everyone’s time.
| EPA Policy Call: Call in to hear updates from EPA on policies, actions, and tools relevant to Indian Country and Air Quality. | Thursday, February 27, 2pm ET |
| Mobile Sources Work Group: This monthly work group addresses all mobile source pollution issues. | Thursday, March 5, 2pm ET
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| STAR Planning Call: The NTAA Status of Tribal Air Report (STAR) helps tell the story of Tribal Air Programs, why additional funding for Tribes is critical to advance air quality, and is a great resource for Tribes. | Wednesday, March 4, 2 pm ET |
| Wood Smoke Work Group: Join this work group every other month to address wood smoke issues in Indian Country. | Thursday, March 19, 2pm ET |
| Indoor Air Quality Work Group: Join this work group every other month to help support IAQ work throughout Indian Country. | Thursday, April 16, 2pm ET |
The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professional’s (ITEP’s) Tribes and Climate Change Calendar includes conferences, trainings, webinars and other events related to tribes and climate change.
Click here for ITEP’s other trainings and events.
Click here for ITEP’s new Tribal Environmental Management and Planning Online Courses. New courses have been added, so check it out!
ITEP’s FY20 AIAQTP Course Schedule
| Course Title | Dates | Location | Course Level |
| 2020 | |||
| Indoor Air Quality Diagnostic Tools in Alaska | March 3-6 | AK – TBD | 2 |
| Meteorological Monitoring | April 14-16 | TAMS Center, Las Vegas, NV | 3 |
| National Tribal Forum on Air Quality (NTFAQ) | May 27-29 | Tulsa, OK | n/a |
| Air Pollution Technology | Postponed: June 2020 | Flagstaff, AZ | 2 |
| Air Pollution Modeling | Fall 2020 | TAMS Center, Las Vegas, NV | 3 |
| Air Quality Outreach | TBD | TBD | 1 |
| Air Quality Planning for Wildland Smoke | Anytime | Series of 6 recorded webinars | n/a |
| Indoor Air Quality – Independent Study | Anytime | Independent Study | 1 |
| Building Performance: Improving IAQ in Cold Climates | Open | Online | 1 |
| Building Performance: Improving IAQ in Warm Climates | In development | Online | 1 |
| Residential Building Science Review | Open | Online | 1 |
| Radon Fundamentals | Open | Online | 1 |
| Quality Assurance Fundamentals (QA 101) | Open | Online | 1 |
| Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) (QA 201-209) | Open | Online | 2 |
| Emissions Inventory Fundamentals | Open | Online | 2 |
| Emissions Inventory Advanced | Open | Online | 3 |
| Note: This schedule is subject to change. For up-to-date information, course descriptions, and applications please visit http://www7.nau.edu/itep/main/Training/training_air/ | |||
February 26, 2 PM (ET) – Portfolio Manager 301
With a good background on the basic functionality of EPA’s ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool, learn about some advanced features including: using spreadsheet upload templates to update property data; setting goals and targets to plan energy improvements for properties; creating custom reports; and using the Sustainable Buildings Checklist.
February 26, 11 AM (MT) – Energy Efficiency Basics
When trying to lower energy bills or reduce environmental impact from energy generation, the first step is to look for opportunities to increase energy efficiency. This webinar will define what energy efficiency is and explore how to identify potential measures to reduce Tribal energy use.
South Central Climate Adaptation Science Center: Earth to Sky Workshop
Earth to Sky is a partnership between NASA, NPS, and USFWS that enables and encourages informal educators to access and use relevant NASA science, data, and educational and outreach products in their work. The partnership’s focus is on climate change science and communication. Join us for three days of training with native informal educators from across the South Central region who recognize the importance of teaching climate change. The workshop will take place July 15-17 in Sulphur, OK. Learn more here.
Call for Proposals now open: National Tribal & Indigenous Climate Conference August 31-September 4, 2020
Proposals due: April 3, 2020
The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) is honored to host the United States’ First Biennial National Tribal and Indigenous Climate Conference (NTICC) along with support from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Tribal Resilience Program. The NTICC is open to all US tribal nations and Indigenous Peoples from throughout the world, with an emphasis on including our Elders and
Youth. The NTICC will convene experts on climate change and will include a balance of Traditional Indigenous Knowledges and Western Science. We invite people to submit proposals discussing climate-related impacts, assessments, tools, adaptation planning, mitigation and actions in one or more of the following tracks:
ITEP’s Climate Change Adaptation Training Courses registration is online! Learn more about the courses and register here.
NEW! Mobility Mindsets: Shared Mobility and Personal Micromobility
Thursday, March 12, 3:00-4:30 PM (ET)
Electric vehicles are only part of what many believe is a changing transportation landscape. Other emerging trends that are sparking innovation and investment include shared mobility and personal micromobility services. Researchers are still learning under which conditions these changes can be good for the environment. This webinar will highlight potential approaches to reducing emissions via mobility options.
Draft EPA Port-Related Emission Inventory Methodologies Document Available
The public draft of the “Methodologies for Estimating Port-Related and Goods Movement Mobile Source Emission Inventories” is now available. This document describes the latest, state-of-the-science methodologies for preparing a port-related emissions inventory for six mobile source sectors: ocean-going vessels, harbor craft, recreational marine, cargo handling equipment, onroad vehicles, and rail. This draft document reflects new data sources and model availability, and integrates the lessons learned from practical experience with EPA-Port Everglades Partnership and National Port Strategy Assessment. This document supersedes EPA’s 2009 “Current Methodologies in Preparing Mobile Source Port-Related Emission Inventories.” Interested stakeholders can send any feedback on this draft to talkaboutports@epa.gov by March 31, 2020. In addition, EPA encourages stakeholders to use this document when developing inventories. EPA will consider any feedback received on the public draft in a future revision to this document. For more information, please visit this link.
Green Transportation Summit & Expo and the West Coast Collaborative Partners Meeting April 13-15, 2020
The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) and the Green Transportation Summit & Expo (GTSE) have partnered to provide 25 complimentary full-conference passes to the Green Transportation Summit & Expo in Tacoma this April 13-15. The GTSE is the Pacific Northwest’s premier clean fleet and transportation event, focusing on fleets, fuels, technologies, policy & practice, with a regional focus and a national scope. We will provide you the opportunity to see, touch, drive, and learn about new transportation technologies firsthand, such as electric, hydrogen, natural gas and propane-powered heavy-duty vehicles, off-road utility vehicles, generators, and others. Workshops on DERA, VW funding, other federal funding opportunities, and alternative fuels will be presented. Please join us at the Greater Tacoma Convention Center for the 10th annual GTSE to learn about clean transportation, how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, pollutants, and costs in your fleet operations. To learn more about the conference, check out our website. To receive the code for the complimentary passes, please contact ITEP’s Dara Marks Marino at Dara.Marks-Marino@nau.edu.
EPA’s Residential Wood Smoke Workshop in New Orleans, March 10-12, 2020
Workshop Background Information: Workshop participants will include state, local, tribal, federal and non-profit organization personnel. Workshop participants will discuss residential wood heating/combustion program issues, opportunities, challenges, lessons learned, and partnerships as outlined in the draft agenda. This Workshop will be held in conjunction with the Hearth, Patio and Barbeque Association (HPBA) Trade Show/Expo, which offers Workshop participants a valuable opportunity to tour the Trade Show floor and meet with industry representatives. At the Expo a wide variety of hearth technologies are on display including cordwood, wood pellet, coal and gas stoves, wood-fired central heating system. You do not need to register for the HBPA Expo – by registering for the Wood Smoke Workshop you will receive a name tag-pass for the Expo. The Workshop is being coordinated and supported by EPA, the Western States Air Resources Council, the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management and National Tribal Air Association. More information can be found here, or contact Larry Brockman, brockman.larry@epa.gov, 919-541-5398.
NEW! Federal Interagency Committee on Indoor Air Quality (CIAQ)
The Federal Interagency Committee on Indoor Air Quality (CIAQ) will hold its next public webinar on Wednesday, March 11, 2020, beginning at 1:00 p.m. EST.
At the meeting, CIAQ member agencies will provide updates on indoor environmental quality–related activities at their agencies, with the goal of enhancing opportunities for collaboration and coordination. Following these updates, invited presentations on topics of interest to the IAQ community include—
The agenda for the March meeting will be provided on the CIAQ website shortly.
For more information on the CIAQ and its activities, click here. If you have a presentation topic or other suggestions that you would like considered for future meetings, please send it to burton.laureen@epa.gov.
Be sure to subscribe to CodeTalk, HUD’s Office of Native American Programs newsletter, for webinars and opportunities!
Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC) Climate Change Internships
Deadline to apply: March 6, 2020, 4:30pm CST
The Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC) has two paid climate change internships available this summer. Both internships are hosted at the GLIFWC Main Office on the Bad River Reservation, WI, from June 1 – August 7, 2020. Applicant may be an incoming or continuing student that is accepted and/or enrolled full time at a college/university for Fall 2020 semester.
Phenology Climate Change Internship info here
Traditional Ecological Knowledge Climate Change Internship info here
ITEP VW Technical Assistance Program is hiring a Research Assistant
The ITEP VW Technical Assistance Program is looking to hire a Research Assistant to help with various research projects related to the VW Tribal Trust and associated diesel emissions reduction or clean energy programs and technologies, along with general support of the program as needed. The position is part-time, with an expected workload of approximately 15-20 hours per week and funding available for the next two to (possibly) three years. We would prefer to fill the position with someone who can work on site in the ITEP offices at NAU. The job announcement is on NAU’s job page under the “Staff Openings” page, position #604774. Call or email Mark Daniels (mark.daniels@nau.edu or 928-523-8897) with questions about the position.
Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals is offering 2020 Student Summer Internships.
Apply now for a paid 8-week summer internship. Spend your summer working with tribal organizations to address tribal environmental issues. The internships have a technical, educational or policy focus. We are offering eight positions in air quality. The internship program provides each student intern with a $4,000 stipend, and limited housing and travel allowances. Host sites are selected from tribal environmental organizations, government offices, the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and others. Please register at nau.edu/itepinterns for more information and details about how to apply. You can view host site descriptions and submit your preferences for the host sites you find interesting after January 24, 2020. The deadline for applications is February 28, 2020. Questions? Contact EEOP-INTERN@nau.edu
The Tribal Exchange Network’s Tribal Environmental Data Management Capacity and Needs Assessment Report
The 2018 Tribal Environmental Data Management Capacity and Needs Assessment, prepared by the Exchange Network Tribal Governance Group (TGG), was conducted to better understand current tribal capacity, needs, and challenges related to environmental data management, collection, and use. Both the Executive Summary and Full Report can be found on the Tribal Exchange Network website.
NEW! EPA OMS National Environmental Information Exchange Network Grant Program – $8 million
Applications Due: March 25, 2020
Eligible Entities: territories, tribes, and inter-tribal consortia, states, U.S. territories, federally recognized tribes
The EPA Exchange Network Grant Program is soliciting project applications using the Environmental Information Exchange Network (EN) to:
For more information, visit the funding opportunity description.
NOAA Environmental Literacy Grants: Supporting the education of K-12 students and the public for community resilience – $3 million
Applications Due: March 26, 2020 for Priority 1 full applications
Eligible Entities: K-12 public and independent schools and school systems, state and local government agencies, Indian tribal governments
The goal of this funding opportunity is to build environmental literacy of K-12 students and the public so they are knowledgeable of the ways in which their community can become more resilient to extreme weather and/or other environmental hazards, and become involved in achieving that resilience. For more information, visit the funding opportunity description.
NEW! DOI BLM Alaska Fuels Management and Community Fire Assistance Program Activities – $200 thousand
Applications Due: March 30, 2020
Eligible Entities: special district governments, city or township governments, state governments, county governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has an opportunity to work with partner organizations to assist with fuels management and community fire assistance program activities to reduce the risk and impact of catastrophic wildfires to local communities through coordination, reducing the amount of hazardous fuels, and furthering the education of landowners about wildfire prevention and mitigation. For more information, visit the funding opportunity description.
NEW! DOI BOR Native American Affairs: Technical Assistance to Tribes for FY20 and FY21 – $1 million
Applications Due: October 28, 2020 for FY21
Eligible Entities: federally recognized tribes or tribal organizations of the 17 Western States identified in the Reclamation Act of June 17, 1902
The objective of this opportunity is to invite federally recognized Indian tribes and tribal organizations to submit proposals for financial assistance for projects and activities that develop, manage, and protect tribal water and related resources. Through this opportunity, Reclamation provides funding for projects that increase water reliability consistent with sections 3 and 4 of the October 19, 2018, Presidential Memorandum on Promoting the Reliable Supply and Delivery of Water in the West. For more information, visit the funding opportunity description.
To view and/or receive ITEP’s American Indian Air Quality Training Program newsletter, Native Voices, click here!
Indigenous Women and Climate Change Publication
Against all the odds, and despite the challenges that climate change represents for Latin America, women are demonstrating day in, day out that they have the ideas and the unique and essential skills to propose a radical change in the matrix of civilisation at this crucial point in humankind’s history. This book, now being published in English, explores those challenges and this first edition differs slightly from the Spanish version published in January 2019. It seeks to go beyond simple public policy aspirations in order to reconsider the impacts of climate change on women on the basis of their actions of resistance, their daily practices, the links between these practices and the need to re-think their contributions from the centres of power. More information and download can be found here.
NEW! DOI BIA Tribal Adaptation and Ocean and Coastal Management Planning – $1 million
Applications Due: March 2, 2020
Eligible Entities: federally recognized tribal governments
The Tribal Resilience Program will provide funding for tribal activities that support tribal adaptation and resilience planning, ocean and coastal management planning, and relocation, managed retreat, or protect-in-place planning and design activities for coastal and riverine communities. This program aims to support Tribal Nations that need adaptation planning support and decision-making information to prepare for extreme events and harmful environmental trends that impact tribal treaty and trust resources, economies, infrastructure, and human health and welfare. For more information, visit the funding opportunity description.
DOI BIA Tribal Resilience Program – $1 million
Applications Due: March 2, 2020
Eligible Entities: federally recognized tribal governments
The Tribal Resilience Program will provide funding for tribal activities that support tribal adaptation and resilience planning, ocean and coastal management planning, and relocation, managed retreat, or protect-in-place planning and design activities for coastal and riverine communities. This program aims to support Tribal Nations that need adaptation planning support and decision-making information to prepare for extreme events and harmful environmental trends that impact tribal treaty and trust resources, economies, infrastructure, and human health and welfare. An informational webinar will be held by the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals describing the opportunity on January 9th, 2020. Register for the webinar here. For more information, visit the funding opportunity description.
NEW! DOE GFO Solar Energy Technologies Office Fiscal Year 2020 Funding Program Department of Energy – $125.5 million
Applications Due: March 30, 2020
Eligible Entities: unrestricted
This funding opportunity is being issued by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO). SETO supports solar energy research and development (R&D) in three technology areas—photovoltaics (PV), concentrating solar-thermal power (CSP), and systems integration—with the goal of improving the affordability, reliability, and performance of solar technologies on the grid. This section describes the overall goals of the Solar Energy Technologies Office Fiscal Year 2020 (SETO 2020) funding program and the types of projects being solicited for funding support through this FOA.
The SETO 2020 funding program seeks to advance R&D of solar technologies that reduce the cost of solar, increase the competitiveness of American manufacturing and businesses, and improve the reliability of the grid. These projects will advance R&D in PV, CSP, and energy management technologies, while also working to improve cyber security, expand solar to new applications like agricultural solar, integrate solar and storage, and utilize artificial intelligence to address research challenges. For more information, visit the funding opportunity description.
Join NCAI’s Climate Action email listserv here!
Sign up for the Alliance for Green Heat’s newsletter!
To view and/or receive ITEP’s Climate Change newsletter, click here!
EPA Announces Community-Scale Air Toxics Monitoring Grant Competition
Deadline to apply: March 30, 2020
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is accepting applications for funding for air toxics monitoring projects under the Community-Scale Air Toxics Ambient Monitoring grants competition. As part of the Agency’s mission to protect human and environmental health, EPA periodically awards these grants to help state, local and tribal air agencies conduct air quality monitoring projects to address localized air toxics issues. EPA anticipates awarding up to $5 million from this competition to fund projects that fall into four categories:
Air toxics, also known as hazardous air pollutants, are linked to cancer or other serious health effects. Under the Clean Air Act, EPA regulates 187 listed air toxic pollutants. While grant applications may address any air toxic pollutant, air toxics of particular interest to EPA in this competition include ethylene oxide, chloroprene, benzene, 1,3-butadiene, and metals such as hexavalent chromium, nickel and arsenic.
To receive the grants, applicants must be air pollution control agencies as defined by Section 302(b) of the Clean Air Act that also are eligible to receive grants under Section 105 of the Clean Air Act. Funding for the grants comes from State and Tribal Assistance (STAG) funding. Congress appropriates STAG funds for state, local and tribal air agencies to use in implementing and maintaining environmental programs.
Agencies applying for the air toxics monitoring grants may partner with or provide “subgrants” to other organizations for their monitoring projects. The Agency expects to award grants for 10 to 20 projects, depending on funding availability and the quality of applications received. The amount for each grant may vary; however, no grant may be for more than $750,000. Click here for additional information, and to download the Request for Application.
Resource for Electric Vehicle Users
In December 2019, the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners released an issue brief titled Electric Vehicles: Key Trends, Issues, and Considerations for State Regulators. The brief profiles examples of regulatory approaches and decisions that states and commissions have taken.
Considering an Electric Vehicle?
Watch this EPA video to learn how electric vehicles and different types of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles work. And visit our Beyond the Tailpipe Emissions Calculator to estimate the total GHG emissions associated with driving an EV or PHEV in your area, as compared to a gasoline vehicle.
February Is National Cancer Prevention Month
During National Cancer Prevention Month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) are working to inform Americans about how lifestyle can help reduce cancer risk and keep you healthy.
Exposure to secondhand smoke commonly occurs indoors, particularly in homes and cars. Eliminating secondhand smoke in your indoor environment can reduce the risk of harmful health effects, such as respiratory issues, heart disease and lung cancer. Nonsmokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke increase their risk of developing lung cancer by 20 to 30 percent.
A few simple changes can help reduce your risk:
HUD’s Secretary’s Awards for Healthy Homes
This year’s HUD Secretary’s Awards for Healthy Homes has just opened for nominations. As in past years these awards recognize various HUD partners who actively promote policies or programs that benefit the health of the families they serve. The Announcement Package for this year’s Award has all the information for our stakeholders about the Awards. The deadline for nominating projects and activities this year is March 10th. This year’s award will consider nominees from the following categories:
The Announcement Package describes the goals, key dates, award categories, eligible applicants, criteria for reviewing and rating nominations, and submission guidelines. Page 9 of the Announcement notes that all entries must be completed by utilizing the online nomination form here. For complete details about the Awards, visit this link and read the “Application Package.” If you have any questions about the Awards, please contact Clyde.K.Rodkey@hud.gov.
Be sure to sign up for EPA’s Healthy Indoor Air newsletter.
The Tribal Healthy Homes Network (THHN) has a webpage dedicated to Funding Opportunities! Additionally, THHN has developed a Funding Guide for American Indian and Alaska Native Communities.
NY Times – Calculating Air Pollution’s Death Toll, Across State Lines
A coal-fired plant in Utah. In most states, about half of premature deaths caused by poor air quality are linked to pollutants that blow in from other states, a new study found. Photo credit: Brandon Thibodeaux for The New York Times
The National Tribal Forum on Air Quality (NTFAQ) has issued a Call for Proposals for Presentations, Workshops, and Sessions
The NTFAQ will be held May 27-29, 2020, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and will be hosted by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. Click HERE for details on the Call for Proposals; the deadline for proposals is Monday, March 2, 2020. We are also actively seeking Sponsors and Exhibitors for the event – show your support and engage with attendees! More information is available at www.nau.edu/ntfaq.
Have your voice heard and be sure to use NTAA’s Policy Resource Kits!
NTAA’s Policy Resource Kits are available for Tribes to use to submit comments on both EPA’s Cleaner Trucks Initiative by tomorrow, February 20th and for the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) that issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register to update its regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). A letter for tribes to use will be available tomorrow and comments are due by March 10. NTAA will also be hosting an informational webinar on Wednesday, February 26 at 4 pm ET. You can register for the webinar here.
Washington Post – The EPA is about to change a rule cutting mercury pollution. The industry doesn’t want it.
NPR – Canadian Pipeline Protest Forces Closure of Major Rail Link
KNAU – Trump Administration Proposes Eliminating Tribal Scholarships for Third Year in a Row
E&E News – Trump adviser to return to EPA as chief of staff
Native Sun News – Oglala tribal staff caps water well with uranium in it
Cronkite News – Blasting for border wall is typical of feds’ neglect of tribes, leaders say
Science Magazine – Deadly air pollution is blowing into your state from a surprisingly large source
National Association of Clean Air Agencies – Washington Update
Native Sun News – Bringing jobs to Pine Ridge by way of solar energy
Yale Environment 360 – How Native Tribes Are Taking the Lead on Planning for Climate Change
KNAU – Navajo Nation Files to Intervene In Arizona Utility Rate Case
E&E News – ‘Breakthrough’ membrane turns CO2 into fuel
E&E News – Many Americans wary of climate-friendly diet – survey
Indian Country Today – Navajo-owned coal company wins liability waiver from Wyoming
Indian Country Today – Trump administration seeks $1.5 billion to revive uranium mining
NY Times – A Crisis Right Now: San Francisco and Manila Face Rising Seas
CarbonBrief – How close is the West Antarctic ice sheet to a ‘tipping point’?
E&E News – Work begins on key climate report under Trump
The Hill – With polar bear study open for comments, critics see effort to push drilling in ANWR
The Atlantic – ‘We Knew They Had Cooked the Books’
NPR – Amid Climate and Housing Crises, Cities Struggle to Place Housing Near Transit
NY Times – Trump’s Path to Weaker Fuel Efficiency Rules May Lead to a Dead End
ENN – University of Notre Dame-Developed Home Lead Screening Kits Shown to Be Highly Accurate
Washington Post – What you need to know about air purifiers, including little evidence of health benefits
Be sure to subscribe to EPA’s IAQ Bulletins
NEW! National Environmental Justice Advisory Council Public Meeting with Teleconference Option, February 25 – 27, 2020 in Jacksonville, Florida
Register by today, February 19!
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC) will convene a public meeting with a teleconference option. The public meeting begins with a public comment period on Tuesday, February 25, 2020, starting at 6:00 p.m., Eastern Time. The meeting continues on February 26 and 27 from 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Eastern Time. Members of the public are encouraged to provide comments in writing or verbally during the public comment period on Tuesday evening.
The meeting on Wednesday and Thursday will focus on topics that include environmental justice issues of communities in Florida and the southeastern United States; discussion and deliberation of a charge related to the reuse and revitalization of Superfund and other contaminated sites; and the resiliency of communities following natural disasters, particularly communities in the southeastern United States and the Caribbean.
The Federal Environmental Justice Interagency Working Group (EJIWG) will host the EJ and Natural Disasters Focus Group Meeting on Tuesday, February 25, from 3:00 p.m. -5:30 p.m., Eastern Time. The meeting is open to the public and there is no cost to attend.
Registration:
Registration will close on February 19, 2020, at 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time.
Meeting Location: The meeting will be held at the Omni Jacksonville Hotel, 245 Water Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202.
Questions: Please contact Karen Martin at nejac@epa.gov or 202-564-0203.
Click here for more information on the NEJAC.
To learn about the Public Comment Guidelines, visit the link.
Virgil Masayesva Excellence Award and TAMS Steering Committee
The TAMS Center is announcing a call for nominations for the Virgil Masayesva Tribal Air Programs Excellence Award and three (3) positions on the TAMS Steering Committee. Further information and the nomination forms are online and can be accessed at: Virgil Masayesva Excellence Award Nomination Form and TAMS Steering Committee Nomination Form. The deadline to submit the nominations is February 28, 2020. We sincerely appreciate your time to consider submitting a nomination. For further information, please contact either Farshid Farsi, TAMS-EPA Codirector (Farsi.Farshid@epa.gov or 702-784-8263), or Christopher Lee, TAMS-ITEP Codirector (christopher.lee@nau.edu).
Request for Applications for EPA’s American Indian Air Quality Training Program, RFA#: EPA-OAR-IO-20-03, Closing Date: March 13, 2020
EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation (OAR) is soliciting applications from eligible entities to provide comprehensive air quality policy and regulatory analysis including support and national coordination activities to assist tribes in understanding, participating in, and responding to OAR’s policy and regulatory activities. The total estimated funding for this competitive opportunity is approximately $8,000,000 over five years. EPA anticipates awarding one cooperative agreement from this announcement, subject to availability of funds, the quality of applications received, and other applicable considerations.
Interested in Strategic Planning? Community Outreach? Enroll in ITEP’s online courses!
The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) is pleased to offer professional development training to new and seasoned tribal professionals through interactive online courses. The Tribal Strategic Planning/ETEP and Partnerships & Community Outreach courses will be available February 13 – March 20, 2020. The two online courses listed here are fee-based and have instructors to ensure your individual questions are answered in a timely manner during the course period.
Instructors:
These online courses contain assignments, quizzes, videos, examples, and other resources. You will continue to have access to course materials after the course end date. Learn more and register for the two courses using the following links:
DRAFT Guidance for Ozone and Fine Particulate Matter Permit Modeling: Comment by March 27, 2020
EPA is providing an opportunity for interested stakeholders to review and comment on DRAFT Guidance for Ozone and Fine Particulate Matter Permit Modeling. This guidance provides EPA’s recommendations for how a stationary source of air pollution seeking a Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permit may demonstrate that it will not cause or contribute to a violation of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ozone (O3) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and PSD increments for PM2.5, as required under Section 165(a)(3) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) and 40 CFR sections 51.166(k) and 52.21(k). This draft guidance updates EPA’s Guidance for PM2.5 Permit Modeling to reflect the 2017 revisions to the Guideline on Air Quality Models and incorporates appropriate sections for O3. EPA requests comments on the draft guidance by Friday, March 27, 2020. This allows at least 45 days for consideration, review, and comment. The draft guidance is available on EPA’s SCRAM website.
Save the Date: Tribal Lands and Environment Forum on August 17-20, 2020
This year’s Tribal Lands and Environment Forum: A National Conversation on Waste and Response Strategies, will take place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, August 17-20, 2020. Registration, session proposal forms, travel information, and field trip announcements will all be coming soon. Stay tuned! www.nau.edu/TLEF
Tribal Grants Education and Technical Assistance Webinar Series Second Wednesday of Every Month at 1pm ET
For more information, click here!
NTAA Upcoming Calls. The toll-free number is 1-800-309-2350. If you do not need to call toll free, or would like to help conserve NTAA funding, you can call 1-805-309-2350. Both numbers use code 928-523-0526#. Contact Andy.Bessler@nau.edu if you have any questions about any call! *Registration instructions* When you register for the GoToWebinar, please remember to include your Tribe, Region, or Organization in parenthesis after your last name. This allows you to see everyone on the call and prevents us from conducting a roll-call, ultimately saving everyone’s time.
| STAR Planning Call: The NTAA Status of Tribal Air Report (STAR) helps tell the story of Tribal Air Programs, why additional funding for Tribes is critical to advance air quality, and is a great resource for Tribes. | Wednesday, February 19, 2 pm ET |
| Indoor Air Quality Work Group: Join this work group every other month to help support IAQ work throughout Indian Country. | Thursday, February 20, 2pm ET |
| EPA Policy Call: Call in to hear updates from EPA on policies, actions, and tools relevant to Indian Country and Air Quality. | Thursday, February 27, 2pm ET |
| Mobile Sources Work Group: This monthly work group addresses all mobile source pollution issues. | Thursday, March 5, 2pm ET
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| Wood Smoke Work Group: Join this work group every other month to address wood smoke issues in Indian Country. | Thursday, March 19, 2pm ET |
The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professional’s (ITEP’s) Tribes and Climate Change Calendar includes conferences, trainings, webinars and other events related to tribes and climate change.
Click here for ITEP’s other trainings and events.
Click here for ITEP’s new Tribal Environmental Management and Planning Online Courses. New courses have been added, so check it out!
ITEP’s FY20 AIAQTP Course Schedule
| Course Title | Dates | Location | Course Level |
| 2020 | |||
| Fundamentals of Air Monitoring | February 25-27 | TAMS Center, Las Vegas, NV | 2 |
| Indoor Air Quality Diagnostic Tools in Alaska | March 3-6 | AK – TBD | 2 |
| Air Pollution Technology | March 10-13 | Flagstaff, AZ | 2 |
| Meteorological Monitoring | April 14-16 | TAMS Center, Las Vegas, NV | 3 |
| National Tribal Forum on Air Quality (NTFAQ) | May | TBD | |
| Air Pollution Modeling | Fall 2020 | TAMS Center, Las Vegas, NV | 3 |
| Air Quality Outreach | TBD | TBD | 1 |
| Air Quality Planning for Wildland Smoke | Anytime | Series of 6 recorded webinars | n/a |
| Indoor Air Quality – Independent Study | Anytime | Independent Study | 1 |
| Building Performance: Improving IAQ in Cold Climates | Open | Online | 1 |
| Building Performance: Improving IAQ in Warm Climates | In development | Online | 1 |
| Residential Building Science Review | Open | Online | 1 |
| Radon Fundamentals | Open | Online | 1 |
| Quality Assurance Fundamentals (QA 101) | Open | Online | 1 |
| Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) (QA 201-209) | Open | Online | 2 |
| Emissions Inventory Fundamentals | Open | Online | 2 |
| Emissions Inventory Advanced | Open | Online | 3 |
| Note: This schedule is subject to change. For up-to-date information, course descriptions, and applications please visit http://www7.nau.edu/itep/main/Training/training_air/ | |||
February 19, Noon (ET) – Ask the Expert
Every other Wednesday ENERGY STAR holds a Portfolio Manager “Ask the Expert” session. It’s a live webinar that gives all users an opportunity to ask their questions directly to EPA experts in an open forum. Want to talk to a “real” person? Have a question about how Portfolio Manager calculates your score? Want to learn more about entering Green Power? Join ENERGY STAR, and they’ll answer all your questions about ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager in this public forum.
February 26, 2 PM (ET) – Portfolio Manager 301
With a good background on the basic functionality of EPA’s ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool, learn about some advanced features including: using spreadsheet upload templates to update property data; setting goals and targets to plan energy improvements for properties; creating custom reports; and using the Sustainable Buildings Checklist.
February 26, 11 AM (MT) – Energy Efficiency Basics
When trying to lower energy bills or reduce environmental impact from energy generation, the first step is to look for opportunities to increase energy efficiency. This webinar will define what energy efficiency is and explore how to identify potential measures to reduce Tribal energy use.
South Central Climate Adaptation Science Center: Earth to Sky Workshop
Earth to Sky is a partnership between NASA, NPS, and USFWS that enables and encourages informal educators to access and use relevant NASA science, data, and educational and outreach products in their work. The partnership’s focus is on climate change science and communication. Join us for three days of training with native informal educators from across the South Central region who recognize the importance of teaching climate change. The workshop will take place July 15-17 in Sulphur, OK. Learn more here.
Call for Proposals now open: National Tribal & Indigenous Climate Conference August 31-September 4, 2020
Proposals due: April 3, 2020
The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) is honored to host the United States’ First Biennial National Tribal and Indigenous Climate Conference (NTICC) along with support from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Tribal Resilience Program. The NTICC is open to all US tribal nations and Indigenous Peoples from throughout the world, with an emphasis on including our Elders and
Youth. The NTICC will convene experts on climate change and will include a balance of Traditional Indigenous Knowledges and Western Science. We invite people to submit proposals discussing climate-related impacts, assessments, tools, adaptation planning, mitigation and actions in one or more of the following tracks:
ITEP’s Climate Change Adaptation Training Courses registration is online! Learn more about the courses and register here.
Draft EPA Port-Related Emission Inventory Methodologies Document Available
The public draft of the “Methodologies for Estimating Port-Related and Goods Movement Mobile Source Emission Inventories” is now available. This document describes the latest, state-of-the-science methodologies for preparing a port-related emissions inventory for six mobile source sectors: ocean-going vessels, harbor craft, recreational marine, cargo handling equipment, onroad vehicles, and rail. This draft document reflects new data sources and model availability, and integrates the lessons learned from practical experience with EPA-Port Everglades Partnership and National Port Strategy Assessment. This document supersedes EPA’s 2009 “Current Methodologies in Preparing Mobile Source Port-Related Emission Inventories.” Interested stakeholders can send any feedback on this draft to talkaboutports@epa.gov by March 31, 2020. In addition, EPA encourages stakeholders to use this document when developing inventories. EPA will consider any feedback received on the public draft in a future revision to this document. EPA will be hosting a public webinar on February 25th, 2020 at 2pm Eastern (webinar calendar invite attached) to provide a background of the work leading to this update, approach and scope of the update, and updated methodologies by mobile source sector. For more information, please visit this link.
Federal Register Publication Notice: EPA’s Cleaner Trucks Initiative — Advance Notice of Proposed Rule
The EPA’s Advance Notice of Proposed Rule (ANPR) titled “Control of Air Pollution from New Motor Vehicles: Heavy-Duty Engine Standards” has been published in the Federal Register. Please note that the 30-day comment period for this ANPR began Monday, January 21, 2020, and all comments must be submitted on or before February 20, 2020. The EPA websites, ANPR: Control of Air Pollution from New Motor Vehicles: Heavy-Duty Engine Standards
and Cleaner Trucks Initiative will be updated, replacing the earlier “pre-publication” version of the ANPR with the official version in the link above. The NTAA will be submitting a request for comment extension as well as developing a Policy Resource Kit.
Green Transportation Summit & Expo and the West Coast Collaborative Partners Meeting April 13-15, 2020
The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) and the Green Transportation Summit & Expo (GTSE) have partnered to provide 25 complimentary full-conference passes to the Green Transportation Summit & Expo in Tacoma this April 13-15. The GTSE is the Pacific Northwest’s premier clean fleet and transportation event, focusing on fleets, fuels, technologies, policy & practice, with a regional focus and a national scope. We will provide you the opportunity to see, touch, drive, and learn about new transportation technologies firsthand, such as electric, hydrogen, natural gas and propane-powered heavy-duty vehicles, off-road utility vehicles, generators, and others. Workshops on DERA, VW funding, other federal funding opportunities, and alternative fuels will be presented. Please join us at the Greater Tacoma Convention Center for the 10th annual GTSE to learn about clean transportation, how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, pollutants, and costs in your fleet operations. To learn more about the conference, check out our website. To receive the code for the complimentary passes, please contact ITEP’s Dara Marks Marino at Dara.Marks-Marino@nau.edu.
EPA’s Residential Wood Smoke Workshop in New Orleans, March 10-12, 2020
Workshop Background Information: Workshop participants will include state, local, tribal, federal and non-profit organization personnel. Workshop participants will discuss residential wood heating/combustion program issues, opportunities, challenges, lessons learned, and partnerships as outlined in the draft agenda. This Workshop will be held in conjunction with the Hearth, Patio and Barbeque Association (HPBA) Trade Show/Expo, which offers Workshop participants a valuable opportunity to tour the Trade Show floor and meet with industry representatives. At the Expo a wide variety of hearth technologies are on display including cordwood, wood pellet, coal and gas stoves, wood-fired central heating system. You do not need to register for the HBPA Expo – by registering for the Wood Smoke Workshop you will receive a name tag-pass for the Expo. The Workshop is being coordinated and supported by EPA, the Western States Air Resources Council, the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management and National Tribal Air Association. More information can be found here, or contact Larry Brockman, brockman.larry@epa.gov, 919-541-5398.
Be sure to subscribe to CodeTalk, HUD’s Office of Native American Programs newsletter, for webinars and opportunities!
Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC) Climate Change Internships
Deadline to apply: March 6, 2020, 4:30pm CST
The Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC) has two paid climate change internships available this summer. Both internships are hosted at the GLIFWC Main Office on the Bad River Reservation, WI, from June 1 – August 7, 2020. Applicant may be an incoming or continuing student that is accepted and/or enrolled full time at a college/university for Fall 2020 semester.
Phenology Climate Change Internship info here
Traditional Ecological Knowledge Climate Change Internship info here
U.S. State Department Air Quality Fellows Program
The Air Quality Capacity Building Fellows Program is seeking air quality management experts from the U.S. to provide assistance and capacity building to developing countries facing air quality challenges. These countries apply through the program and are matched with Air Quality Fellows having the relevant expertise. By building on the existing capacity of these interested governments, Fellows assist the countries (and other international partners working with them) to achieve sustainable improvements in local and transboundary air quality and a reduction in associated health, economic, and environmental impacts. Fellowships span 12 to 18 months, and Fellows will provide ongoing technical support, training, and guidance remotely at an estimated level of 12-20 hours per month. Fellows will also travel to work with the host country in-person for up to 4 weeks, i.e., two separate 2-weeks trips over the 12-18 months. The program arranges and pays for all travel, but Fellows are not compensated for their time. Potential Fellows need to be U.S. citizens and if currently employed, need to have the support of their management to participate.
ITEP VW Technical Assistance Program is hiring a Research Assistant
The ITEP VW Technical Assistance Program is looking to hire a Research Assistant to help with various research projects related to the VW Tribal Trust and associated diesel emissions reduction or clean energy programs and technologies, along with general support of the program as needed. The position is part-time, with an expected workload of approximately 15-20 hours per week and funding available for the next two to (possibly) three years. We would prefer to fill the position with someone who can work on site in the ITEP offices at NAU. The job announcement is on NAU’s job page under the “Staff Openings” page, position #604774. Call or email Mark Daniels (mark.daniels@nau.edu or 928-523-8897) with questions about the position.
Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals is offering 2020 Student Summer Internships.
Apply now for a paid 8-week summer internship. Spend your summer working with tribal organizations to address tribal environmental issues. The internships have a technical, educational or policy focus. We are offering eight positions in air quality. The internship program provides each student intern with a $4,000 stipend, and limited housing and travel allowances. Host sites are selected from tribal environmental organizations, government offices, the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and others. Please register at nau.edu/itepinterns for more information and details about how to apply. You can view host site descriptions and submit your preferences for the host sites you find interesting after January 24, 2020. The deadline for applications is February 28, 2020. Questions? Contact EEOP-INTERN@nau.edu
NEW! The Tribal Exchange Network’s Tribal Environmental Data Management Capacity and Needs Assessment Report
The 2018 Tribal Environmental Data Management Capacity and Needs Assessment, prepared by the Exchange Network Tribal Governance Group (TGG), was conducted to better understand current tribal capacity, needs, and challenges related to environmental data management, collection, and use. Both the Executive Summary and Full Report can be found on the Tribal Exchange Network website.
Air Quality Podcasts
The following list and links are to podcasts related to climate change, air quality, emissions, and the Volkswagen Settlement:
Parts Per Billion | By Bloomberg Environment
American Scandal | By Wondery
Volkswagen Diesel Scandal – Whatever It Takes 1 | By Wondery: American Scandal
Volkswagen Diesel Scandal – The Defeat Device 2 | By Wondery: American Scandal
Exxon Valdez: Oil Meets Water 1 | By Wondery: American Scandal
Exxon Valdez: The Mosquito Fleet 2 | By Wondery: American Scandal
Exxon Valdez: The Spin Cycle 3 | By Wondery: American Scandal
Exxon Valdez: Winner Take Nothing 4 | By Wondery: American Scandal
Exxon Valdez: 30 Years Later 5 | By Wondery: American Scandal
Sensor Videos Available for Preview
EPA has developed three short (~3 minute) videos to help people understand the nature of low cost sensors and how air quality measurements relate to public health, as well as a PSA to introduce the videos. The videos cover how EPA collects and uses regulatory data, how EPA communicates health messaging, and questions that the public can ask themselves as they consider how to uses sensors. We are sharing these links with you early, as you are one of our key stakeholders. You can preview these videos – in both Spanish and English – now at:
Calidad de los Datos Regulatorios y de los Datos del Sensor
Fuentes de Información sobre la Calidad del Aire
On February 18, 2020, we plan to post links to these videos on the Air Sensor Toolbox web page. And we plan to promote them during Air Quality Awareness week – May 4-8, 2020.
NOAA Environmental Literacy Grants: Supporting the education of K-12 students and the public for community resilience – $3 million
Applications Due: March 26, 2020 for Priority 1 full applications
Eligible Entities: K-12 public and independent schools and school systems, state and local government agencies, Indian tribal governments
The goal of this funding opportunity is to build environmental literacy of K-12 students and the public so they are knowledgeable of the ways in which their community can become more resilient to extreme weather and/or other environmental hazards, and become involved in achieving that resilience. For more information, visit the funding opportunity description.
To view and/or receive ITEP’s American Indian Air Quality Training Program newsletter, Native Voices, click here!
NEW! Indigenous Women and Climate Change Publication
Against all the odds, and despite the challenges that climate change represents for Latin America, women are demonstrating day in, day out that they have the ideas and the unique and essential skills to propose a radical change in the matrix of civilisation at this crucial point in humankind’s history. This book, now being published in English, explores those challenges and this first edition differs slightly from the Spanish version published in January 2019. It seeks to go beyond simple public policy aspirations in order to reconsider the impacts of climate change on women on the basis of their actions of resistance, their daily practices, the links between these practices and the need to re-think their contributions from the centres of power. More information and download can be found here.
DOI BIA Tribal Resilience Program – $1 million
Applications Due: March 2, 2020
Eligible Entities: federally recognized tribal governments
The Tribal Resilience Program will provide funding for tribal activities that support tribal adaptation and resilience planning, ocean and coastal management planning, and relocation, managed retreat, or protect-in-place planning and design activities for coastal and riverine communities. This program aims to support Tribal Nations that need adaptation planning support and decision-making information to prepare for extreme events and harmful environmental trends that impact tribal treaty and trust resources, economies, infrastructure, and human health and welfare. An informational webinar will be held by the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals describing the opportunity on January 9th, 2020. Register for the webinar here. For more information, visit the funding opportunity description.
Join NCAI’s Climate Action email listserv here!
Sign up for the Alliance for Green Heat’s newsletter!
To view and/or receive ITEP’s Climate Change newsletter, click here!
NEW! EPA Announces Community-Scale Air Toxics Monitoring Grant Competition
Deadline to apply: March 30, 2020
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is accepting applications for funding for air toxics monitoring projects under the Community-Scale Air Toxics Ambient Monitoring grants competition. As part of the Agency’s mission to protect human and environmental health, EPA periodically awards these grants to help state, local and tribal air agencies conduct air quality monitoring projects to address localized air toxics issues. EPA anticipates awarding up to $5 million from this competition to fund projects that fall into four categories:
Air toxics, also known as hazardous air pollutants, are linked to cancer or other serious health effects. Under the Clean Air Act, EPA regulates 187 listed air toxic pollutants. While grant applications may address any air toxic pollutant, air toxics of particular interest to EPA in this competition include ethylene oxide, chloroprene, benzene, 1,3-butadiene, and metals such as hexavalent chromium, nickel and arsenic.
To receive the grants, applicants must be air pollution control agencies as defined by Section 302(b) of the Clean Air Act that also are eligible to receive grants under Section 105 of the Clean Air Act. Funding for the grants comes from State and Tribal Assistance (STAG) funding. Congress appropriates STAG funds for state, local and tribal air agencies to use in implementing and maintaining environmental programs.
Agencies applying for the air toxics monitoring grants may partner with or provide “subgrants” to other organizations for their monitoring projects. The Agency expects to award grants for 10 to 20 projects, depending on funding availability and the quality of applications received. The amount for each grant may vary; however, no grant may be for more than $750,000. Click here for additional information, and to download the Request for Application.
NEW! Resource for Electric Vehicle Users
In December 2019, the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners released an issue brief titled Electric Vehicles: Key Trends, Issues, and Considerations for State Regulators. The brief profiles examples of regulatory approaches and decisions that states and commissions have taken.
NEW! Considering an Electric Vehicle?
Watch this EPA video to learn how electric vehicles and different types of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles work. And visit our Beyond the Tailpipe Emissions Calculator to estimate the total GHG emissions associated with driving an EV or PHEV in your area, as compared to a gasoline vehicle.
February Is National Cancer Prevention Month
During National Cancer Prevention Month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) are working to inform Americans about how lifestyle can help reduce cancer risk and keep you healthy.
Exposure to secondhand smoke commonly occurs indoors, particularly in homes and cars. Eliminating secondhand smoke in your indoor environment can reduce the risk of harmful health effects, such as respiratory issues, heart disease and lung cancer. Nonsmokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke increase their risk of developing lung cancer by 20 to 30 percent.
A few simple changes can help reduce your risk:
HUD’s Secretary’s Awards for Healthy Homes
This year’s HUD Secretary’s Awards for Healthy Homes has just opened for nominations. As in past years these awards recognize various HUD partners who actively promote policies or programs that benefit the health of the families they serve. The Announcement Package for this year’s Award has all the information for our stakeholders about the Awards. The deadline for nominating projects and activities this year is March 10th. This year’s award will consider nominees from the following categories:
The Announcement Package describes the goals, key dates, award categories, eligible applicants, criteria for reviewing and rating nominations, and submission guidelines. Page 9 of the Announcement notes that all entries must be completed by utilizing the online nomination form here. For complete details about the Awards, visit this link and read the “Application Package.” If you have any questions about the Awards, please contact Clyde.K.Rodkey@hud.gov.
Be sure to sign up for EPA’s Healthy Indoor Air newsletter.
The Tribal Healthy Homes Network (THHN) has a webpage dedicated to Funding Opportunities! Additionally, THHN has developed a Funding Guide for American Indian and Alaska Native Communities.
NATIONAL TRIBAL AIR ASSOCIATION
Our mission is to advance air quality management policies and programs, consistent with the needs, interests, and unique legal status of American Indian Tribes and Alaska Natives.
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