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.
TOP STORIES
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.
HEADLINES
Ambient Air Quality/EPA/NTAA/Tribes
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
Climate Change/Energy
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
Toxics/Mobile Sources
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
Indoor Air Quality
Top Wire News – How to reduce VOCs and increase indoor air quality
Salt Lake Tribune – Camryn Ernst: What about our indoor air quality?
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