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2020 Tribal DERA RFA is open!

EPA’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality is now soliciting applications nationwide for the 2020 Tribal Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) funded projects that achieve significant reductions in diesel emissions and diesel emissions exposure, particularly from fleets located in areas designated as having poor air quality. EPA anticipates $2 million will be awarded to eligible Tribal applicants for two to eight grants. The deadline for submission of applications is Thursday, July 9, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. (ET). More information can be found in the Mobile Sources Resources & Funding section below.

 

The Tribal Healthy Homes Network, ITEP and NTAA participated in a webinar last week on COVID-19 Cleaning and Disinfecting Tribal homes. Click here to view the recorded webinar.

 

ITEP’s American Indian Air Quality Training Program would like your feedback!

While ITEP is not currently able to provide in-person trainings for Tribes on air quality issues due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we can make ourselves available to provide tribes with webinars and on-line learning opportunities.  Answering the questions at this link will greatly aid us in understanding how best we can meet your current training needs. If you have any questions, contact mansel.nelson@nau.edu

 

HEADLINES

Ambient Air Quality/EPA/NTAA/Tribes

EPA – EPA Proposes to Retain NAAQS for Particulate Matter

 

Axios – EPA declines to change air quality standards despite health risks

 

Salon – Higher rates of air pollution linked to more COVID-19 deaths, study shows

 

NPR – A Treacherous Choice and a Treaty Right

 

NPR – With Coronavirus Lockdown, India’s Cities See Clear Blue Skies as Air Pollution Drops

 

High Country News – Casino closures in Indian Country hit core tribal services

 

Grist – Coronavirus could cause the first big emissions drop in a decade

 

EPA – EPA Takes Corrective Action on Standards for Coal-Refuse Power Plants

 

EPA – EPA Requests Comments on Designations and Recommendations for Recycled-Content Products

 

Emory – Emory scientists working with NASA to map air pollution and its impact on health

 

NASA – NASA Satellite Data Show 30 Percent Drop In Air Pollution Over Northeast U.S.

 

National Association of Clean Air Agencies – Washington Update

 

Climate Change/Energy

U.S EPA – Latest Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks Shows Long-Term Reductions, with Annual Variation

 

E&E News – Want to cut CO2? Here’s a technology playbook

 

Green Tech Media – 7 Transmission Projects That Could Unlock a Renewable Energy Bounty

 

LA Times – Should we spend billions on clean energy? It worked during the last crisis

 

The Hill – Democrat questions WH transparency in rollback of bedrock environmental law

 

Vanity Fair – “Climate Change Is Exacerbating…Risks”: Stressed by Coronavirus, First Responders Prep for a Dangerous Summer

 

E&E News – Exxon moves to slash methane emissions at 1,000 sites

 

E&E News – How ending the price war on oil could affect emissions

 

Yes! Magazine – How the Climate Change Generation Is Redefining Community

 

High Country News – Tribal nations demand response to climate relocation

 

CarbonBrief – Deep emissions cuts this decade could prevent ‘abrupt ecological collapse’

 

CarbonBrief – Analysis: Coronavirus set to cause largest ever annual fall in CO2 emissions

 

Utility Dive – Clearer picture of coronavirus-driven grid load declines emerges in US after weeks of lockdowns

 

SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry – Don’t Look to Mature Forests to Soak up Carbon Dioxide Emissions

 

NPR – Carbon Emissions Are Falling, But Still Not Enough, Scientist Say

 

Toxics/Mobile Sources

EPA – EPA Proposes Money-Saving Updates to Existing Gasoline, Diesel, Other Fuels Regulations

 

Grist – Green transportation, from electric cars to walkable cities

 

Utility Dive – Global EV sales will drop 43% in 2020 due to COVID-19, lower oil prices: WoodMac

 

Bloomberg News – Makers of Covid-19 Disinfectants Given More Flexibility by EPA

 

Indoor Air Quality

Discover – Spending Lots of Time Indoors? Here’s How to Improve Air Quality in Your Home

 

Curbed – Breathe cleaner air everywhere

 

EWG – Cooped Up Because Of Coronavirus? Keep the Air Fresh

 

Be sure to subscribe to EPA’s IAQ Bulletins