TOP STORIES
NTAA Releases Tribal Template Letter for Commenting on EPA’s Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (SNPRM) for Strengthening Transparency in Regulatory Science
The NTAA has released this Tribal Template Comment Letter, to help your Tribe in developing a response to EPA. Comments are due by April 17, 2020. The NTAA is also holding an informational webinar for Tribes to better understand this proposal and ask questions on Tuesday, April 7, 2020 at 2pm ET. Register, view documents, and hear the audio for the informational webinar here. Visit NTAA’s website for the complete PRK!
Tribal Consultation Announced on $8B Coronavirus Relief Fund for Tribes
The U.S. Department of the Interior and U.S. The Department of Treasury announced today through a Dear Tribal Leader Letter from the Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs that they will be holding at least two Tribal Leader Consultations to determine how to distribute $8 billion in funds set aside for tribal governments and tribal entities in the Coronavirus Relief Fund within The CARES Act. In addition to attending these Consultations, Tribal Leaders are encouraged to provide their input in writing no later than April 13 by emailing consultation@bia.gov and tribal.consult@treasury.gov.
Explore the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s newly designed and updated online Air Sensor Toolbox. The toolbox offers easier navigation and more information on what EPA is doing to advance and support the development of air sensors for measuring local air quality.
- Learn about air sensor performance, evaluation and use
- Understand your air sensor readings
- Explore EPA’s air sensor research projects and activities
- Find resources for your air sensor project
Sign up for alerts about newly released publications, events and other air sensor announcements.
HEADLINES
Ambient Air Quality/EPA/NTAA/Tribes
Time – Federal Government Revoking Reservation Status for Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe’s 300 Acres
EPA – EPA Announces Enforcement Discretion Policy for COVID-19 Pandemic
Mother Jones – “An Open License to Pollute”: The EPA Has Halted Enforcement Due to COVID-19
NY Times – Coronavirus Doesn’t Slow Trump’s Regulatory Rollbacks
NY Times – Trump’s Environmental Rollbacks Find Opposition Within: Staff Scientists
Los Angeles Times – No running water. No electricity. On Navajo Nation, coronavirus creates worry and confusion as cases surge
Indian Country Today – Youth and Elders test positive for COVID-19 amid calls for donations
E&E News – Lax pollution enforcement can stress hospitals during virus
Al Jazeera – Indigenous race into Ecuador’s Amazon to escape coronavirus
Huffpost – States Quietly Pass Laws Criminalizing Fossil Fuel Protests amid Coronavirus Chaos
ENN – The Shutdown Is Clearing New York’s Air. Don’t Cheer Too Hard.
NPR – Plastic Wars: Industry Spent Millions Selling Recycling – To Sell More Plastic
National Association of Clean Air Agencies – Washington Update
Climate Change/Energy
Energy.gov – Department of Energy announces Up To $15 Million for Tribes to Deploy Energy Technology
AP – Earth Day video challenge encourages doing 1 good thing
The Hill – Court Oks Trump repeal of Obama public lands fracking rule
Vox – The missing puzzle piece for getting to 100% clean power
Bloomberg – Professor Sees Climate Mayhem Lurking Behind Covid-19 Outbreak
BBC – Will Covid-19 have a lasting impact on the environment?
Yes! – Lessons from the Coronavirus Can Help Us Overcome the Climate Crisis
Gizmodo – This Is What Climate Change Looks Like in an Era of Covid-19
Fortune – The oil sector is quickly running out of storage for its unprecedented surplus
NPR – Climate Change Push Fuels Split On Coronavirus Stimulus
Ensia – Opinion: Put Clean Energy at the Heart of Stimulus Plans to Counter the Coronavirus Crisis
NPR – Pandemic Delays Return of Arctic Researchers
E&E News – ‘We have never done this before.’ Inside N.Y.’s grid lockdown
NY Times – Australia’s Record Heat Means another Blow to Great Barrier Reef
CarbonBrief – Fossil fuel use not closely linked to longer life expectancy, study suggests
Utility Dive – How COVID-19 is impacting 5 state energy legislation efforts
ENN – Global Supply Chains as a Way to Curb Carbon Emissions
ENN – What Can We Learn From Covid-19 to Help With Climate Change?
Toxics/Mobile Sources
NPR – Trump Administration Weakens Auto Emissions Standards
NY Times – U.S. to Announce Rollback of Auto Pollution Rules, a Key Effort to Fight Climate Change
E&E News – Leaked draft: Trump emissions plan fails agency price test
E&E News – EPA eases gasoline blending requirements
NPR/ProPubilca – Plastic Wars: Industry Spent Millions Selling Recycling — To Sell More Plastic
NY Times – In Coronavirus, Industry Sees Chance to Undo Plastic Bag Bans
NPR – Builder of Controversial Keystone XL Pipeline Says It’s Moving Forward
NPR – Judge Orders Environmental Review of Controversial Dakota Access Pipeline
Indianz – Tribes score victory in long-running battle against Dakota Access Pipeline
Indoor Air Quality
Electrek – Pollution may make the coronavirus even worse – here’s how to protect yourself
Be sure to subscribe to EPA’s IAQ Bulletins
