Indianz – Northwest tribes conclude winter meeting with call to protect environment
The Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians held their winter conference in Portland, Oregon, from January 27-30, 2020. Photo courtesy ATNI.
The NTAA Executive Committee is Meeting This Week in Washington, D.C.
The NTAA EC is meeting this week with top EPA administration officials in Washington, D.C., to ensure the NTAA’s mission to advance air quality management policies and programs, consistent with the needs, interests, and unique legal status of Indian Tribes, remains at the forefront of EPA’s practices.
The NTAA Executive Committee met with Miles Keogh and Karen Mongoven from the National Association of Clean Air Agencies during the first day of meetings in Washington, D.C. More meetings with EPA leadership are planned for today and the rest of the week.
NTAA has released a Policy Resource Kit to help Tribes respond to EPA’s Proposed Cleaner Trucks Initiative
EPA is developing a new rulemaking, the Cleaner Trucks Initiative (CTI), to address NOx emissions from new heavy-duty trucks and engines. On January 6, Administrator Wheeler signed an Advance Notice of Proposed Rule (ANPR). EPA is targeting a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in late spring 2020, followed by a Final Rulemaking approximately a year later. Comments are due on February 20, 2020, but NTAA has requested an extension of the comment period by an additional 60 days. More information can be found on EPA’s Cleaner Trucks Initiative web page here.
Phys.org – Air pollution costs $2.9 trillion a year: NGO
EPA – 2019 Year in Review Highlighting EPA Accomplishments and Environmental Progress
Axios – Global CO2 emissions were flat in 2019
Los Angeles Times – Former PG&E lawyer named new regional EPA chief in California
The Hill – Trump budget slashes EPA funding, environmental programs
The Guardian – Big polluters again allowed to lift emissions without penalty
Time – ‘It’s Insidious’: How Juul Pitched E-Cigs to Native American Tribes
Native News Online – The Rise of E-Cigarettes: How the Vaping Epidemic Impacts Indigenous Health & Culture
The Hill – Report finds 10 oil refineries with benzene above EPA’s ‘action level’
Indian Country Today – Tribal leaders call Bears Ears opening an ‘unlawful action’
Ensia – Can We Protect Nature By Giving It Legal Rights?
Native Sun News – Native lawmakers weigh pipeline shield bills
National Association of Clean Air Agencies – Washington Update
Native Sun News – South Dakota PUC issues first permit for construction of a large-scale solar facility in Oglala Lakota County
Science Friday – How Native American Communities Are Addressing Climate Change
NY Times – Climate FWD: One thing that’s getting done: Solar power for Navajo homes
NPR – Canadian Court Clears the Way for Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion
NPR – Bumblebees Are Disappearing Because Of Extreme Heat
NPR – It Was 65 Degrees in Antarctica This Week
E&E News – Report: Onshore wind faces slowdown without a ‘game changer’
E&E News – NWS expects major flooding this spring for U.S. heartland
E&E News – Trump to propose deep cuts to energy, environment programs
CarbonBrief – Explainer: Nine ‘tipping points’ that could be triggered by climate change
Cronkite News – Four Corners drought in 2018 was worsened by human-caused climate change, researchers say
NPR – Pesticide Police, Overwhelmed By Dicamba Complaints, Ask EPA for Help
NPR – From Delivery Trucks to Scooter-Moving Vans, Fleets Are Going Electric
NY Times – ‘All Electric’ Movement Picks Up Speed, Catching Some off Guard
NY Times – Justice Department Drops Antitrust Probe against Automakers That Sided With California on Emissions
Juneau Empire – EPA: Alaska led nation in toxic chemical release
Top Wire News – How to reduce VOCs and increase indoor air quality
Salt Lake Tribune – Camryn Ernst: What about our indoor air quality?
Be sure to subscribe to EPA’s IAQ Bulletins
ITEP Course: Composting Strategies and Tribal Food Security (apply by February 12)
The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals will be offering a new course, “Compost Programs and Tribal Food Security,” in the Bay Area, California, March 31-April 2, 2020. This course is for employees of federally-recognized tribes and is intended to focus on creating compost to build healthy soils to grow traditional foods. This course will be taught by presenters from two different tribes that have been successful in starting their own composting programs and using that compost to help them grow food on their reservation. They will share their experiences, expertise, and tips for success on a variety of composting and growing operations. During this course, we will have the opportunity to visit two different sites: a larger scale composting project in the Bay Area that is incredibly efficient at turning inputs into sellable compost as well as a teaching garden focused on cross-tribal, cross-generational growing that incorporates traditional and culturally-significant foods. These field trips will allow participants to better determine the right size composting program for their Tribe as well as get information on how to get started. We will also have guest speakers to talk about the importance of culturally significant foods. Attendees will participate in small group activities, allowing them to work directly with fellow tribal professionals, putting into practice what they learn during the lectures. This course will be limited to twenty participants. We anticipate a high degree of interest in this course, so a maximum of two applications from any one tribe will be considered. The individuals selected will have their lodging covered by ITEP. All participants are responsible for their own travel and per diem. If you are interested in applying for this course please submit an application to Julie.Jurkowski@nau.edu by Wednesday, February 12. The application can be found on our training page.
NEW! Proposed Revisions to Appendix P to 40 CFR Part 51, Concerning Minimum Emission Reporting Requirements
EPA proposed revisions to its regulations guiding the preparation of state implementation plans (SIPs). These regulations are found in 40 CFR Part 51. The proposed action would revise the minimum reporting frequency requirement for SIPs applicable to source categories listed in Appendix P to 40 CFR Part 51 from quarterly to semiannual. This revision would be generally consistent with the current reporting frequency requirements to which these sources are subject under other programs (e.g., New Source Performance Standards). Each state could—but would not be required to—revise its SIP to allow semiannual reporting for four source categories:
The Clean Air Act requires each state to develop a plan to attain and maintain clean air known as a state implementation plan, or SIP. In general, SIPs must demonstrate how national air quality standards will be achieved, maintained, and enforced. EPA will accept comment on this proposed rule for 30 days after it publishes in the Federal Register. A pre-publication version of the proposal and a summary fact sheet are available on the web.
Seeking nominations for Alaska’s Alternate Representative on the National Tribal Air Association Executive Committee!
The nomination deadline has been extended to February 14, 2020. For more information on this opportunity, please contact Kayla Krauss at krauss.kayla@epa.gov, Ann Wyatt (NTAA’s current Alaska representative) at 907-755-2265 or annwyatt@klawocktribe.org, or Andy Bessler at 928-523-0526 or andy.bessler@nau.edu.
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:
NEW! 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: 21st Annual National Tribal Forum on Air Quality (NTFAQ) on May 27-29, 2020, hosted by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation in Tulsa, Oklahoma
The NTFAQ provides environmental professionals from tribes, EPA, and other organizations an opportunity to meet and discuss current policies, regulatory initiatives, and technical topics in air quality. The NTFAQ is a cooperative endeavor co-sponsored by The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) and the National Tribal Air Association (NTAA), made possible by funding from US EPA and our generous sponsors. We are soliciting tribal co-hosts for the 2020 NTFAQ! Stay tuned to the ITEP website for information on registration, scholarships, and more.
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 12, 1 PM (ET) – ENERGY STAR and Green Building Rating Systems
Learn how to use EPA tools and resources to help meet requirements for green building rating systems such as the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), the Green Globes system, and others.
February 13th, 3 PM (ET) – Groundwork Climate Safe Neighborhoods Program Webinar
What does race have to do with urban heat islands, flooding and other climate-related impacts? Join this webinar to learn about the Groundwork Climate Safe Neighborhoods program and how Groundwork communities are documenting the relationship between historical race-based housing segregation and the current and predicted impacts of climate change. Hear from Groundwork Richmond, California and Groundwork Elizabeth, New Jersey about methods for collecting and sharing data in their communities.
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.
NEW! 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!
The National Tribal Air Association is hiring a Program Coordinator!
NTAA is seeking a Program Coordinator to help NTAA’s Staff and Executive Committee achieve NTAA’s mission. NTAA was founded in 2002 with a mission to advance air quality management policies and programs, consistent with the needs, interests, and unique legal status of American Indian Tribes and Alaska Natives. NTAA is administered by the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) at Northern Arizona University and is the recipient of a three-year cooperative agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agreement.
Click here to visit NAU’s careers website to complete your application. The job is posted until 11:59 pm on February 13, 2020, so be sure to get your application in by then! Contact Andy Bessler at andy.bessler@nau.edu with any questions
DIRECTIONS:
NEW! 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
NEW! 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
Graduate Study Opportunity: Integrating Indigenous and Scientific Knowledges for Environmental Sustainability
The Center for Native Peoples and the Environment at the State University of New York‘s College of Environmental Science & Forestry is recruiting students for graduate study in diverse environmental sciences from ecology, sustainability, conservation biology to restoration and environmental engineering. As a member of the Sloan Indigenous Graduate Partnership, the program provides funding for full tuition and stipends for Native American students pursuing MS and PhD degrees. Applications are open so please join us in this exciting initiative.
Additional information can be found online or contact Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer at rkimmer@esf.edu.
NEW! 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
NEW! 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.
Regulation Navigation Tool for Air Quality Regulations: Emission Guidelines and Compliance Times for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills
These online, interactive software programs are designed to help owners and operators of selected air quality regulations determine their personalized requirements by answering successive questions about their equipment/facilities. Note that the tool is not capable of storing or saving the information used. Owners/operators will need to print the results for their records. All of the tools can be found here.
EPA 2019 Targeted Airshed Grant Program – $50.3 million
Applications Due: February 14, 2020
Eligible Entities: local, state, and/or tribal air pollution control agencies, or other air pollution control agencies as defined by Section 302(b) of the Clean Air Act
The Targeted Airshed Grant Program will assist local, state, and/or tribal air pollution control agencies to develop plans and conduct projects to reduce air pollution in non attainment areas that EPA determines are the top five most polluted areas relative to ozone (O3), annual average fine particulate matter (PM2.5), or 24-hour PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standards. The overall goal of the Targeted Airshed Grant Program is to reduce air pollution in the nation’s areas with the highest levels of ozone and PM2.5 ambient air concentrations. 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.
To view and/or receive ITEP’s American Indian Air Quality Training Program newsletter, Native Voices, click 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! 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.
EPA’s Online Order Form for Burn Wise Educational Materials
The materials listed here can be ordered free. The PDF files can also be printed directly from this page. Materials include brochures and poster for schools and public use.
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.
You have received this email as a subscriber to the NTAA Weekly Update. To unsubscribe or modify your subscriptions, click the appropriate link below:
Indian Country Today – The trend is clear: Climate change is impacting Alaska now
Charles Enoch, Yup’ik, of Bethel and Tuntutuliak, points to a spot in a snowmachine trail that looked safe to cross, but turned out to be a hole about four feet deep. (Photo by Joaqlin Estus, 2015)
The National Tribal Air Association is hiring a Program Coordinator!
NTAA is seeking a Program Coordinator to help NTAA’s Staff and Executive Committee achieve NTAA’s mission. NTAA was founded in 2002 with a mission to advance air quality management policies and programs, consistent with the needs, interests, and unique legal status of American Indian Tribes and Alaska Natives. NTAA is administered by the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) at Northern Arizona University and is the recipient of a three-year cooperative agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agreement.
Click here to visit NAU’s careers website to complete your application. The job is posted until 11:59 pm on February 13, 2020, so be sure to get your application in by then! Contact Andy Bessler at andy.bessler@nau.edu with any questions
DIRECTIONS:
NTAA Publishes a Fact Sheet on the Cleaner Trucks Initiative
The EPA’s Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking titled “Control of Air Pollution from New Motor Vehicles: Heavy-Duty Engine Standards” (also known as the Cleaner Trucks Initiative, or CTI) was published in the Federal Register with a comment deadline of February 20, 2020. The NTAA has published a Fact Sheet to help Tribes understand this issue and develop comments. The NTAA will also publish a Tribal template letter prior to the comment deadline.
CNN – Even short-term exposure to low levels of air pollution can increase risk of cardiac arrest
Ensia – As Tensions Rise along the U.S.-Mexico Border, Cross-Border Ecosystems Suffer
Indian Country Today – Trump pushes for uranium production near Grand Canyon
Indianz – The Revelator: Residents of small town derail fracking operation
High Country News – The Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians celebrates federal recognition
ENN – Bats Inspire Detectors to Help Prevent Oil and Gas Pipe Leaks
National Association of Clean Air Agencies – Washington Update
Vox – Tree planting is Trump’s politically safe new climate plan
High Country News – Tom Udall: It’s past time we confront the climate and nature crises
NY Times – Temperatures at a Florida-Size Glacier in Antarctica Alarm Scientists
NY Times – 3 Easy Ways to Save Energy without Extra Effort
CarbonBrief – Tropical forests losing ability to absorb CO2, study says
ENN – Immune Systems Not Prepared for Climate Change
Quartz – Get ready for a year of climate emergency declarations
Arizona Daily Sun – Petition pushes Flagstaff City Council to pass climate emergency resolution
EPA – EPA Advances New Initiative to Reduce Polluting Emissions from Trucks in Arizona
Utility Dive – At a crossroads: The connected future of EVs, solar, energy storage and software
The Guardian – Give council’s powers to tackle indoor air pollution, experts urge
Be sure to subscribe to EPA’s IAQ Bulletins
NEW! Department of Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs Updates List of Federally Recognized Tribes
On January 30, 2020, the Department of Interior published the current list of 574 Tribal entities recognized by and eligible for funding and services from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) by virtue of their status as Indian Tribes. The list is updated from the notice published on February 1, 2019 (84 FR 1200).
NEW! Final rule: Air Toxics Standards for Asphalt Processing and Asphalt Roofing Manufacturing RTR
On January 30, 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued minor amendments to the 2003 National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Asphalt Processing and Asphalt Roofing Manufacturing facilities and determined that risks from these source categories are acceptable. In addition, the agency identified no developments in practices, processes or control technologies that would further reduce emissions of hazardous air pollutants. EPA is finalizing no significant changes to the original NESHAP for this source category and has determined the standards continue to provide an ample margin of safety to protect public health and the environment. EPA is finalizing minor amendments to the existing regulation. These amendments clarify that the standards are applicable during periods of startup, shutdown and malfunction and require electronic reporting of performance test results, notifications of compliance status and semi-annual reports. The amendments also provide more flexibility for the monitoring requirements and require compliance testing at least once every 5 years. For more information, including a pre-publication version of the final rule and a summary fact sheet, click here.
NEW! Final rule: Air Toxics Standards for Stationary Combustion Turbines RTR
On January 31, 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued minor amendments to the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Stationary Combustion Turbines. EPA evaluated the risks remaining after fully implementing the 2004 NESHAP for Stationary Combustion Turbines and determined that risks from this source category are acceptable. In addition, the agency identified no developments in practices, processes or control technologies that would further reduce emissions of air toxics. EPA is not making significant changes to the original NESHAP for this source category and has determined the standards continue to provide an ample margin of safety to protect public health and the environment. EPA is finalizing only minor amendments to the existing regulation. These amendments clarify that the standards are applicable during periods of startup, shutdown and malfunction and require electronic reporting of performance test results. For more information, including a pre-publication version of the final amendments and a summary fact sheet, visit this link.
Marama Webinar Series: Air Pollution Meteorology & Modeling
PART 1 – WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2020, 1:30 – 3:00 PM ET
PART 2 – WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2020, 1:30 – 3:00 PM ET
This two-part webinar series provides an introduction to the basics of air-pollution meteorology and dispersion modeling using the USEPA reference model, AERMOD. Students will learn meteorological concepts as well as the mechanics of running AERMOD and the screening model AERSCREEN. A practical example will be included. Each webinar session will last approximately 1.5 hours. Please CLICK HERE to register for BOTH webinars in this series by Friday, January 31, 2020. After you register, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
NEW! ITEP Course: Composting Strategies and Tribal Food Security (apply by February 12)
The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals will be offering a new course, “Compost Programs and Tribal Food Security,” in the Bay Area, California, March 31-April 2, 2020. This course is for employees of federally-recognized tribes and is intended to focus on creating compost to build healthy soils to grow traditional foods. This course will be taught by presenters from two different tribes that have been successful in starting their own composting programs and using that compost to help them grow food on their reservation. They will share their experiences, expertise, and tips for success on a variety of composting and growing operations. During this course, we will have the opportunity to visit two different sites: a larger scale composting project in the Bay Area that is incredibly efficient at turning inputs into sellable compost as well as a teaching garden focused on cross-tribal, cross-generational growing that incorporates traditional and culturally-significant foods. These field trips will allow participants to better determine the right size composting program for their Tribe as well as get information on how to get started. We will also have guest speakers to talk about the importance of culturally significant foods. Attendees will participate in small group activities, allowing them to work directly with fellow tribal professionals, putting into practice what they learn during the lectures. This course will be limited to twenty participants. We anticipate a high degree of interest in this course, so a maximum of two applications from any one tribe will be considered. The individuals selected will have their lodging covered by ITEP. All participants are responsible for their own travel and per diem. If you are interested in applying for this course please submit an application to Julie.Jurkowski@nau.edu by Wednesday, February 12. The application can be found on our training page.
Seeking nominations for Alaska’s Alternate Representative on the National Tribal Air Association Executive Committee!
The nomination deadline has been extended to February 14, 2020. For more information on this opportunity, please contact Kayla Krauss at krauss.kayla@epa.gov, Ann Wyatt (NTAA’s current Alaska representative) at 907-755-2265 or annwyatt@klawocktribe.org, or Andy Bessler at 928-523-0526 or andy.bessler@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:
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).
Ogden, Murphy, Wallace 21st Annual Tribal Environmental Seminar
Our 21st Annual OMW Tribal Environmental Seminar program will take place in Seattle, over a one and one-half day period, on Wednesday, March 25 and Thursday, March 26, 2020. Tribal leaders, Tribal environmental program managers, and Tribal in-house counsel are invited to attend the OMW Tribal Environmental Seminar as our guests at no charge. The theme for the 2020 Seminar is “Using Federal, Tribal and State Law to Protect the Tribal Homeland and Preserve Tribal Rights and Resources.” For more information and to reserve your place at the table please give Jennifer Sanscrainte or Melody Wasley a call at 206.447.7000.
Air Quality Awareness Week: May 4-8, 2020
On behalf of our AirNow partners – NOAA National Weather Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Forest Service, and U.S. Department of State – EPA is pleased to announce that Air Quality Awareness Week 2020 will be celebrated May 4 – 8. Our theme this year is Better Air, Better Health! Our goal is to promote events that increase air quality awareness and the effects of air quality on health, as well as encourage people to check the AQI daily. We plan to focus on the following daily topics this year, featuring one each day on the AQAW website:
We will release the website on Monday May 4, the first day of AQAW (see www.airnow.gov/airaware). We would love to help spread the word about your Air Quality Awareness Week programs and events. Please send information about your events to lee.debra@epa.gov as soon as you have it available, and we will post it on our events page. (For examples from 2019, visit this link.) Don’t forget to tag @airnow in your social media posts! We’ll be using the hashtag #AQAW2020 this year. You are welcome to post comments to the AirNow Facebook page to let everyone know how your events are going.
Save the Date: 21st Annual National Tribal Forum on Air Quality (NTFAQ) on May 27-29, 2020, hosted by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation in Tulsa, Oklahoma
The NTFAQ provides environmental professionals from tribes, EPA, and other organizations an opportunity to meet and discuss current policies, regulatory initiatives, and technical topics in air quality. The NTFAQ is a cooperative endeavor co-sponsored by The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) and the National Tribal Air Association (NTAA), made possible by funding from US EPA and our generous sponsors. We are soliciting tribal co-hosts for the 2020 NTFAQ! Stay tuned to the ITEP website for information on registration, scholarships, and more.
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 5, 2 pm ET |
| Mobile Sources Work Group: This monthly work group addresses all mobile source pollution issues. | Thursday, February 6, 2pm 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 |
| 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 | |||
| Air Quality Computations | February 11-14 | Phoenix, AZ | 1 |
| 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/ | |||
NEW! February 5 and 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.
NEW! February 11, 1 PM (ET) – Portfolio Manager 201
Continue to learn about EPA’s ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool with a deeper dive into more advanced functionalities such as: editing property data; correcting and updating property use details; using the data quality checker; and sharing property data.
NEW! February 12, 1 PM (ET) – ENERGY STAR and Green Building Rating Systems
Learn how to use EPA tools and resources to help meet requirements for green building rating systems such as the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), the Green Globes system, and others.
NEW! February 13th, 3 PM (ET) – Groundwork Climate Safe Neighborhoods Program Webinar
What does race have to do with urban heat islands, flooding and other climate-related impacts? Join this webinar to learn about the Groundwork Climate Safe Neighborhoods program and how Groundwork communities are documenting the relationship between historical race-based housing segregation and the current and predicted impacts of climate change. Hear from Groundwork Richmond, California and Groundwork Elizabeth, New Jersey about methods for collecting and sharing data in their communities.
NEW! 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.
NEW! 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.
NEW! 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.
Save the Date! National Tribal & Indigenous Climate Conference August 31-September 4, 2020
The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) is honored to host the
United States’ First annual 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, which will include a balance of Western Science and Traditional Indigenous Knowledges. Topic areas will address: impacts, assessments, adaptation, mitigation, implementation, and solutions. This conference will allow an opportunity to share information and support one another. We welcome all to join us in 2020!
ITEP’s Climate Change Adaptation Training Courses registration is online! Learn more about the courses and register here.
Experts to Gather to Discuss the Public Health Threat from Gasoline Aromatics
Thursday, February 6, 2020, 8am-5pm EST
A live webcast will be streamed at www.eesi.org/livecast
The discussion will highlight alternatives to gasoline aromatics that benefit public health, the environment/climate change, national security, and the economy. These solutions could be implemented in the upcoming Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicles Rule. Panel highlights include discussions on gasoline aromatics and EPA’s duty to control them, how gasoline aromatics are the new lead, new science emphasizing corn ethanol’s low carbon intensity factors and more.
NEW! 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.
The Human Forest: Volatile Chemical Products Contribute to Urban Air Pollution
Wednesday, February 5, 2020, 1:00-2:00pm EST
Recent work in Los Angeles has shown that emissions from consumer product and industrial solvent use – collectively, volatile chemical products (VCPs) – contribute as much to the abundance of urban volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as the emissions from motor vehicles. VCP emissions are predominantly emitted to the indoor environment, but are then transported to the outdoors via building exhaust. In this presentation, we will show that VCP emissions are ubiquitous in U.S. cities and correlate with urban population density.
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!
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
University of New Hampshire Sustainability Fellowships for Students
UNH Sustainability Fellowships pair exceptional students from colleges and universities across the U.S. with host organizations in New England to work on transformative sustainability initiatives. Sustainability Fellows, mentored by the UNH team and dedicated individuals from our partner organizations, undertake challenging site-specific summer projects, achieve high-impact results, and receive a competitive stipend for their contributions.
Interested?
Check out the 2020 Sustainability Fellowship projects.
Review program expectations and eligibility.
Apply by February 10.
Questions?
See our website.
Contact us.
NEW! (again!) Graduate Study Opportunity: Integrating Indigenous and Scientific Knowledges for Environmental Sustainability
The Center for Native Peoples and the Environment at the State University of New York‘s College of Environmental Science & Forestry is recruiting students for graduate study in diverse environmental sciences from ecology, sustainability, conservation biology to restoration and environmental engineering. As a member of the Sloan Indigenous Graduate Partnership, the program provides funding for full tuition and stipends for Native American students pursuing MS and PhD degrees. Applications are open so please join us in this exciting initiative.
Additional information can be found online or contact Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer at rkimmer@esf.edu.
The Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving Cooperate Agreement Program Request for Applications is open until February 7, 2020
Ten awards will be made (one award per region) in amounts of up to $120,000 per award for a two-year project period. Cooperative agreements will be awarded to local community-based organizations, tribes, and tribal organizations seeking to address environmental and public health concerns in local underserved communities through collaboration with other stakeholders, such as local businesses and industry, local government, medical service providers, and academia. Learn more here.
NEW! Regulation Navigation Tool for Air Quality Regulations: Emission Guidelines and Compliance Times for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills
These online, interactive software programs are designed to help owners and operators of selected air quality regulations determine their personalized requirements by answering successive questions about their equipment/facilities. Note that the tool is not capable of storing or saving the information used. Owners/operators will need to print the results for their records. All of the tools can be found here.
EPA 2019 Targeted Airshed Grant Program – $50.3 million
Applications Due: February 14, 2020
Eligible Entities: local, state, and/or tribal air pollution control agencies, or other air pollution control agencies as defined by Section 302(b) of the Clean Air Act
The Targeted Airshed Grant Program will assist local, state, and/or tribal air pollution control agencies to develop plans and conduct projects to reduce air pollution in non attainment areas that EPA determines are the top five most polluted areas relative to ozone (O3), annual average fine particulate matter (PM2.5), or 24-hour PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standards. The overall goal of the Targeted Airshed Grant Program is to reduce air pollution in the nation’s areas with the highest levels of ozone and PM2.5 ambient air concentrations. 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.
To view and/or receive ITEP’s American Indian Air Quality Training Program newsletter, Native Voices, click here!
DOE Energy Infrastructure Deployment on Tribal Lands – $15 million
Applications Due: February 6, 2020
Eligible Entities: Native American tribal governments and organizations
DOE’s Office of Indian Energy is soliciting applications from Indian Tribes to:
For more information, visit the funding opportunity description.
NEW! Environmental Justice Grants Opportunity is Now Open!
Full Application Due Date: Friday, February 7, 2020, by 11:59 PM ET
The Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving (EJCPS) Cooperative Agreement Program provides funding to support community-based organizations in their efforts to collaborate and partner with local stakeholder groups (e.g., local businesses and industry, local government, medical service providers, and academia) as they develop and implement community-driven solutions that address environmental and/or public health issues for underserved communities. The EJCPS program will award approximately $1.2 million nationwide for this competitive opportunity. EPA anticipates issuing 10 awards (1 per EPA region) of up to $120,000 each. These awards are for two-year projects.
See additional details at: FY20 EJCPS RFA webpage
Informational Pre-Application Assistance Calls: (Recordings Available) Potential applicants are invited to participate in conference calls with EPA to address questions about the EJCPS Program and this solicitation. For dial-in information and a list of the conference call dates and times, please visit the FY20 EJCPS RFA webpage.
Is my organization eligible? Eligible entities for this opportunity are as follows:
If your organization is NOT eligible, we encourage partnering with eligible entities on an EJSG project. See the RFP for more information.
How can I apply? Click the link below to go directly to the EJCPS program website to access the full RFA, including instructions on applying through Grants.gov: FY20 EJCPS RFA webpage
FEEDBACK REQUESTED – The number of required forms for EPA grant applicants has increased. The EJ program is working to reduce the number of forms to reduce the burden on EJ applicants. If you’re interested in applying and support decreasing the number of forms, please send a short email to Sheila Lewis at Lewis.Sheila@epa.gov briefly stating how additional requirements and forms could impact your organization.
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! 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.
EPA’s Online Order Form for Burn Wise Educational Materials
The materials listed here can be ordered free. The PDF files can also be printed directly from this page. Materials include brochures and poster for schools and public use.
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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