UPCOMING CALLS/EVENTS/NOTICES

Ambient Air Quality/EPA/NTAA/Tribes

Environmental Justice and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

Thursday, August 26, 2021, 11:30am – 1:30pm PT, 2:30pm – 4:00pm ET

Register Here

This webinar will discuss effective methods for considering environmental justice (EJ) in National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews. The webinar will highlight content from the Promising Practices for EJ Methodologies in NEPA Reviews report of the Federal Interagency Working Group on Environmental Justice (now the EJ Interagency Council). This webinar builds upon the NEPA and Tribes as Cooperating Agencies webinar held on July 21, 2021. This webinar is part of the U.S. EPA Environmental Justice Webinar Series for Tribes and Indigenous Peoples – to build the capacity of tribal governments, indigenous peoples and other environmental justice practitioners, and discuss priority environmental justice issues of interest to tribes and indigenous peoples.

NEW! Call For Tribal Participants to Help Revise EPA QAPP and QMP Requirements/Guidance Documents

EPA is seeking Tribal participation (particularly tribal scientists and environmental staff with experience in writing or updating QMPs and/or QAPPs for their EPA grants) in revising three of the Agency’s most used and downloaded Quality Assurance (QA) documents:

• EPA QA/R-2, EPA Requirements for Quality Management Plans (March 2001)
• EPA QA/R-5, EPA Requirements for Quality Assurance Project Plans (March 2001)
• EPA QA/G-5, Guidance for Quality Assurance Project Plans (December 2002)

There are a variety of ways tribes can participate:

• Take part in listening sessions
• Attend document revision webinars on QA topics of interest
• Review and Comment on the draft QMP and QAPP Standards during pre-clearance review
• Contact their Regional QA Manager here
• Provide feedback in implementing revised QA documents.

Please see the Project Notice for more details. For more information, please feel free to contact Linda Himmelbauer, Directives Project Lead, or Katherine Chalfant, Acting, Enterprise Quality Management Division (EQMD) Director.

Fourth National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy Workshop, Virtual Event

October 4 – 8, 2021 | Register Here

The 4^th National Cohesive Strategy Workshop will center on this theme and focus sharply on understanding, co-managing, transferring, and accepting risk at federal, state, Tribal and local stakeholder levels to prioritize and invest in decisions, projects and other efforts that result in widespread reduction in risk across landscapes, and communities, the public and firefighters collectively.

Since the inception of The National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy, we have learned that there are multiple “hard truths” of living with fire that must be accepted in order to make meaningful progress towards the three national goals of Resilient Landscapes, Fire Adapted Communities and a Safe, Effective, Risk-Based Wildfire Response.

EPA’s air quality training program is released three new training materials! These materials are foundational in level, and are being offered to tribal, state, and local air agencies in an e-learning format through our learning management system (LMS).

The materials include:

• A course that explains the purpose of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) within the air quality management process.
• A module that explains each of the six criteria pollutants under the Clean Air Act. This module represents “micro-learning”— a short, focused bit of training on a particular topic.

• A module that explains what air toxics are. Similar to the criteria pollutants module, this module represents “micro-learning.”

To access the course and modules on the LMS (https://epaapti.csod.com), please register (if you haven’t already!), then log in and refer to the “What’s New” section on the home page.

NTAA Upcoming Calls

Contact [email protected] 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.

The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professional (ITEP)

Click here for ITEP’s new Tribal Environmental Management and Planning Online Courses. Sign up for a self-paced course hosted by ITEP’s Waste and Response and Tribal Air Quality programs.  New courses have been added, so check it out!

ITEP’s American Indian Air Quality Training Program (AIAQTP) hosts the Building Performance: Improving IAQ in Cold Climates, Residential Building Science Review, Radon Fundamentals, Quality Assurance Fundamental, Writing a Quality Assurance Project Plan, Emissions Inventory Fundamentals, and Emissions Inventory Advanced.

AIAQTP Schedule and Registration 

Recorded Webinars

Looking for more information check out the Tribal Air Quality Media Space Channel. Recent webinars include an Introduction to Air Quality Programs, Emissions Inventories, Remote Professional Assistance, and Woodstoves in Indian Country. Older classics include a series on Air Quality Planning for Wildland Smoke, Tribal Air Program and Grants, Data Management, and the Clean Air Act.

ITEP’s Tribes and Climate Change Calendar includes conferences, trainings, webinars, and other events related to tribes and climate change.

Climate Change / Energy

EPA is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the launch of its first climate partnership program, Green Lights. Learn more about the legacy and impacts of climate partnership programs at EPA by clicking here.

US EPA Announces Upcoming Climate and Energy Webinars for State, Local, and Tribal Governments

The US EPA announces there will be 25 upcoming webinars on climate and energy topics offered by federal agencies and others. All webinars are free of charge, but space may be limited or require registration in advance. The webinars begin August 2^nd – 26^th. For more information subscribe to the US EPA’s State and Local Energy Newsletter.

ITEP’s Climate Change Adaptation Training Courses registration is online! Learn more about the courses and register here.

Toxics/Mobile Sources

NEW! EPA Methane Detection Technology Workshop

August 23 and 24, 2021

EPA will hold a virtual public workshop to hear perspectives on innovative technologies that could be used to detect methane emissions from the oil and natural gas industry. The workshop will focus on methane-sensing technologies that are not currently approved for use in EPA’s New Source Performance Standards for the oil and natural gas industry and how those technologies could be applied in the oil and gas sector. EPA’s state, local, and tribal regulatory partners, along with members of the public, are encouraged to attend the workshop. Attendees will have an opportunity to submit questions for the panelists.

In addition, attendees will be able to visit a virtual “virtual exhibit hall” to see presentations from technology vendors on their innovative technologies, with a focus on technology capability, applicability and data quality. Workshop Agenda

Didn’t register to attend the workshop? You may watch it here:

• Day 1: https://youtu.be/KfY50npQ0sM
• Day 2: https://youtu.be/lQcUhMG24X0

EPA is in the process of conducting a residual risk and technology review of the 2002 National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Major Source Primary Copper Smelting and a technology review of the 2007 Primary Copper Smelting Area Sources NESHAP

After EPA publishes the rules in the Federal Register, EPA plans to accept comment on these proposals for at least 45 days after publication in the Federal Register. Interested parties can download additional information and a copy of the proposed rules (when they are officially issued by EPA) from EPA’s website and this website. The proposed rules and other background information will also be available either electronically here, EPA’s electronic public docket and comment system. Materials for the proposed actions can be accessed using Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2020-0430. For further technical information about the rule, contact Tonisha Dawson, EPA’s Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, at (919) 541-1454 or [email protected].

The recent additions to OTAQ’s website in August 2021. You can access these additions as well as new press releases and Federal Register notices related to OTAQ on our website.

• August 5, 2021: EPA proposes to revise the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards for light-duty vehicles for 2023 and later model years to make the standards more stringent.
• August 5, 2021: EPA announces plans to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and other harmful air pollutants from heavy-duty trucks through a series of rulemakings over the next three years.

The recent additions to OTAQ’s website are listed here. You can access these additions as well as new press releases and Federal Register notices related to OTAQ on our website.

Indoor Air Quality

Schools as Community Cleaner Air and Cooling Centers: An American Rescue Plan Supplemental Funding Project by the U.S EPA
Request for Letters of Interest

U.S. EPA’s Office of Community Revitalization received American Rescue Plan funding to develop and implement local strategies for using available COVID-recovery dollars to also create cleaner air and neighborhood cooling refuges for vulnerable communities. Funding will support direct technical assistance that pulls together state school facilities agencies, state emergency response agencies, school districts and community-based organizations to analyze gaps where populations that are more vulnerable to poor air quality and heat events lack access to community shelters.

The letter must be signed by an elected official or other representative of the tribe, state, county, or city, which might include one or more elected officials, an agency decision maker, or a nonprofit leader. This signature represents support and commitment to this program and assistance. The letter of interest must be submitted in an attachment (Microsoft Word or PDF file) by email to Abby Hall ([email protected]) no later than September 30, 2021, at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time. If you have questions about this request for letters of interest, please contact Abby Hall at [email protected] or 202-631-5915.

NEW! U.S. Department of Education Encourages Use of American Rescue Plan Funds to Improve Ventilation and IAQ in Schools

Indoor air quality is critical to reopening schools safely and keeping them open. The U.S. Department of Education has released new guidance encouraging the use of American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds to improve ventilation systems and make other indoor air quality improvements in schools to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and tackle longstanding school ventilation improvement needs. The new Department of Education guidance highlights EPA resources to support investments in improved ventilation and indoor air quality. Use the following resources from EPA to supplement the information in the guidance:

• Indoor Air and Coronavirus (COVID-19): Visit this page for the latest guidance on best indoor air practices to limit the spread of COVID-19.
• Ventilation and Coronavirus (COVID-19): Ventilation is an important approach to lowering concentrations of indoor air pollutants, including viruses. Increase the ventilation in your school with outdoor air when possible.
• Air Cleaners, HVAC filters, and Coronavirus (COVID-19): Air cleaners and HVAC filters can help to reduce viruses and pollutants in the air. Consider upgrading the HVAC filters in your system and using safe, effective portable air cleaners to supplement HVAC filtration. Note: Do not use air cleaners that intentionally generate ozone in occupied spaces.
• Implementing a Layered Approach to Address COVID-19 in Public Indoor Spaces: A layered risk reduction approach is best to limit airborne transmission of COVID-19 – learn how to combine increased ventilation and filtration with other CDC recommendations, such as wearing masks and social distancing.

Wildfire Smoke and Indoor Air Quality

This summer, wildfires have spread across the U.S. creating devastation and dangerous smoke events affecting millions of American lives. If you are in need of immediate wildfire guidance, see EPA’s wildfire webpage for more resources. Smoke from wildfires can adversely affect indoor air quality and put people’s health at risk from exposure to particulate matter and other pollutants. Read on to learn more about:

• How Indoor airPLUS Homes Protect Against the Harmful Effects of Wildfire Smoke
• Reduce Exposure to Wildfire Smoke Inside the Home
• Additional Resources

How Indoor airPLUS Homes Help Reduce the Occurrence of Asthma Triggers in the Home

Here are ways an Indoor airPLUS home can help reduce asthma triggers in the home.

Be sure to subscribe to CodeTalk, HUD’s Office of Native American Programs newsletter, for webinars and opportunities!

UPCOMING CALLS/EVENTS/NOTICES

Ambient Air Quality/EPA/NTAA/Tribes

 Environmental Justice and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

Thursday, August 26, 2021, 11:30am – 1:30pm PT, 2:30pm – 4:00pm ET

Register Here

This webinar will discuss effective methods for considering environmental justice (EJ) in National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews. The webinar will highlight content from the Promising Practices for EJ Methodologies in NEPA Reviews report of the Federal Interagency Working Group on Environmental Justice (now the EJ Interagency Council). This webinar builds upon the NEPA and Tribes as Cooperating Agencies webinar held on July 21, 2021. This webinar is part of the U.S. EPA Environmental Justice Webinar Series for Tribes and Indigenous Peoples – to build the capacity of tribal governments, indigenous peoples and other environmental justice practitioners, and discuss priority environmental justice issues of interest to tribes and indigenous peoples.

NEW! Fourth National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy Workshop, Virtual Event

October 4 – 8, 2021 | Register Here

The 4^th National Cohesive Strategy Workshop will center on this theme and focus sharply on understanding, co-managing, transferring, and accepting risk at federal, state, Tribal and local stakeholder levels to prioritize and invest in decisions, projects and other efforts that result in widespread reduction in risk across landscapes, and communities, the public and firefighters collectively.

Since the inception of The National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy, we have learned that there are multiple “hard truths” of living with fire that must be accepted in order to make meaningful progress towards the three national goals of Resilient Landscapes, Fire Adapted Communities and a Safe, Effective, Risk-Based Wildfire Response.

EPA’s air quality training program is released three new training materials! These materials are foundational in level, and are being offered to tribal, state, and local air agencies in an e-learning format through our learning management system (LMS).

The materials include:

• A course that explains the purpose of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) within the air quality management process.
• A module that explains each of the six criteria pollutants under the Clean Air Act. This module represents “micro-learning”— a short, focused bit of training on a particular topic.

• A module that explains what air toxics are. Similar to the criteria pollutants module, this module represents “micro-learning.”

To access the course and modules on the LMS (https://epaapti.csod.com), please register (if you haven’t already!), then log in and refer to the “What’s New” section on the home page.

NTAA Upcoming Calls

Contact [email protected] 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.

 The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professional (ITEP)

Click here for ITEP’s new Tribal Environmental Management and Planning Online Courses. Sign up for a self-paced course hosted by ITEP’s Waste and Response and Tribal Air Quality programs.  New courses have been added, so check it out!

ITEP’s American Indian Air Quality Training Program (AIAQTP) hosts the Building Performance: Improving IAQ in Cold Climates, Residential Building Science Review, Radon Fundamentals, Quality Assurance Fundamental, Writing a Quality Assurance Project Plan, Emissions Inventory Fundamentals, and Emissions Inventory Advanced.

AIAQTP Schedule and Registration 

Recorded Webinars

Looking for more information check out the Tribal Air Quality Media Space Channel. Recent webinars include an Introduction to Air Quality Programs, Emissions Inventories, Remote Professional Assistance, and Woodstoves in Indian Country. Older classics include a series on Air Quality Planning for Wildland Smoke, Tribal Air Program and Grants, Data Management, and the Clean Air Act.

ITEP’s Tribes and Climate Change Calendar includes conferences, trainings, webinars, and other events related to tribes and climate change.

Climate Change / Energy

NEW! EPA is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the launch of its first climate partnership program, Green Lights. Learn more about the legacy and impacts of climate partnership programs at EPA by clicking here.

US EPA Announces Upcoming Climate and Energy Webinars for State, Local, and Tribal Governments

The US EPA announces there will be 25 upcoming webinars on climate and energy topics offered by federal agencies and others. All webinars are free of charge, but space may be limited or require registration in advance. The webinars begin August 2^nd – 26^th. For more information subscribe to the US EPA’s State and Local Energy Newsletter.

ITEP’s Climate Change Adaptation Training Courses registration is online! Learn more about the courses and register here.

Toxics/Mobile Sources

 Proposal to strengthen federal greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards for passenger cars and light trucks by setting stringent requirements for reductions through Model Year (MY) 2026

Wednesday, August 18; 2-3pm EST | Register Here

The proposed 2023-2026 MY standards would achieve significant GHG emissions reductions along with reductions in other pollutants. The proposal would result in substantial public health and welfare benefits, while providing consumers with savings from lower fuel costs. The proposal would incentivize technology available today to make vehicles cleaner and to encourage more hybrid and electric vehicle technology. For more information, please contact Jessie Mroz ([email protected]).

The U.S. EPA is in the process of conducting a residual risk and technology review of the 2002 National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Major Source Primary Copper Smelting and a technology review of the 2007 Primary Copper Smelting Area Sources NESHAP.

After EPA publishes the rules in the Federal Register, EPA plans to accept comment on these proposals for at least 45 days after publication in the Federal Register. Interested parties can download additional information and a copy of the proposed rules (when they are officially issued by EPA) from EPA’s website and this website. The proposed rules and other background information will also be available either electronically here, EPA’s electronic public docket and comment system. Materials for the proposed actions can be accessed using Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2020-0430. For further technical information about the rule, contact Tonisha Dawson, EPA’s Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, at (919) 541-1454 or [email protected].

Green Transportation Summit & Expo

August 16-18, 2021 Tacoma, Washington | Registration

The 10th annual Green Transportation Summit & Expo (GTSE) is the region’s premier clean transportation convening event. There has not been a time when clean transportation has had as much potential. With this year’s theme of Reflecting + Refocusing on a Resilient Future, we are giving particular attention to recent events affecting our communities and livelihood. We will be creating space to ensure these critical topics are addressed. All Tribes can get a 20% discount, contact [email protected] for the code!

The recent additions to OTAQ’s website in August 2021. You can access these additions as well as new press releases and Federal Register notices related to OTAQ on our website.

• August 5, 2021: EPA proposes to revise the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards for light-duty vehicles for 2023 and later model years to make the standards more stringent.
• August 5, 2021: EPA announces plans to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and other harmful air pollutants from heavy-duty trucks through a series of rulemakings over the next three years.

The recent additions to OTAQ’s website are listed here. You can access these additions as well as new press releases and Federal Register notices related to OTAQ on our website.

Indoor Air Quality

NEW! Schools as Community Cleaner Air and Cooling Centers: An American Rescue Plan Supplemental Funding Project by the U.S EPA
Request for Letters of Interest

U.S. EPA’s Office of Community Revitalization received American Rescue Plan funding to develop and implement local strategies for using available COVID-recovery dollars to also create cleaner air and neighborhood cooling refuges for vulnerable communities.

Funding will support direct technical assistance that pulls together state school facilities agencies, state emergency response agencies, school districts and community-based organizations to analyze gaps where populations that are more vulnerable to poor air quality and heat events lack access to community shelters. The result of the analysis and technical assistance workshops will enable targeting of school air circulation upgrades for reopening that also support community cleaner air and/or cooling shelters. This funding would support work with up to four tribes, states, counties and/or cities and their partners.

The letter must be signed by an elected official or other representative of the tribe, state, county, or city, which might include one or more elected officials, an agency decision maker, or a nonprofit leader. This signature represents support and commitment to this program and assistance.

The letter of interest must be submitted in an attachment (Microsoft Word or PDF file) by email to Abby Hall ([email protected]) no later than September 30, 2021, at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time. If you have questions about this request for letters of interest, please contact Abby Hall at [email protected] or 202-631-5915.

NEW! Radon Webinar Series – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Environmental Public Health Tracking Network: A Focus on Radon and Related Projects

Thursday, August 19; 2-3:30pm ET | Register Here

Reducing exposure to radon is an important component in preventing lung cancer. Radon, a radioactive gas, is one of the most hazardous indoor pollutants. This naturally occurring gas is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, responsible for more than 21,000 annual deaths. According to the US EPA, radon concentrations above its action level are present in 1 of 15 buildings in the United States. During this webinar, subject matter experts from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), New York State Department of Health, Minnesota Department of Health, and Wisconsin Department of Health Services will share guidance, lessons learned, and best practices for increasing radon education and outreach through CDC’s Environmental Public Health Tracking Network. Register today to reserve your seat!

Wildfire Smoke and Indoor Air Quality

This summer, wildfires have spread across the U.S. creating devastation and dangerous smoke events affecting millions of American lives. If you are in need of immediate wildfire guidance, see EPA’s wildfire webpage for more resources. Smoke from wildfires can adversely affect indoor air quality and put people’s health at risk from exposure to particulate matter and other pollutants. Read on to learn more about:

• How Indoor airPLUS Homes Protect Against the Harmful Effects of Wildfire Smoke
• Reduce Exposure to Wildfire Smoke Inside the Home
• Additional Resources

 How Indoor airPLUS Homes Help Reduce the Occurrence of Asthma Triggers in the Home

Here are ways an Indoor airPLUS home can help reduce asthma triggers in the home.

 Be sure to subscribe to CodeTalk, HUD’s Office of Native American Programs newsletter, for webinars and opportunities!