NTAA News!

Reminder! Alaskan Tribes are invited to NTAA’s Informational Webinar for Alaskan Tribes: Tribal Consultation 101: An Introduction to the Federal Government’s Tribal Consultation with Alaskan Tribes

TODAY October 26, 2022, | 10 am – 11 am AK Time
The agenda includes:

  1. Welcome and Introductions: Rose Kalistook and Andy Bessler, NTAA
  1. What is Tribal Consultation and why is it Important: Pilar Thomas, NTAA Policy Advisor
  1. How the U.S. EPA conduct Tribal Consultation: Pat Childers, Senior Tribal Coordinator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Air and Radiation
  2. Questions and Discussion: Andy Bessler, NTAA

This informational webinar will be held via Zoom on this link:

https://nau.zoom.us/j/2828649061?pwd=akxUb08vT05UaDNuY0dmRElDRm9MZz09
Meeting ID: 282 864 9061
Password: NTAA

You can also dial into the webinar via phone using one of these phone numbers:
1-646-931-3860 US or dial toll free to 1-888-788-0099.

REMINDER! EPA: Tribal and Insular Area Grants: Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) Request for Applications OPEN! – $8 million

Applications Due TODAY: October 26, 2022

Eligible Entities: Tribal governments (or intertribal consortiums), Alaska Native Villages, or insular area government agencies which have jurisdiction over transportation or air quality

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced the availability of grant funding for tribal and certain insular area governments to implement projects which reduce emissions from the nation’s existing fleet of older diesel engines. A total of $7 million will be made available to tribal governments, or intertribal consortia, and Alaska Native villages; and $1 million will be made available to insular area governments including the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Funds may be used to upgrade and replace older, dirtier diesel-powered vehicles and equipment with newer, cleaner vehicles and technologies.

For more information and to view the full RFA, please visit https://www.epa.gov/dera/tribal-insulararea or contact Lucita Valiere, DERA Tribal Grants Lead at 206-553-8087 or via email at valiere.lucita@epa.gov.

NTAA has a new Policy Resource Kit (PRK) for Tribes to help them respond to EPA’s Pre-Proposal to Regulate Greenhouse Gases from the Power Sector by March 23, 2023!

Recently, EPA requested comments regarding their intent to address power sector rules related to:

  1. Greenhouse Gas (GHG) New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for New, Modified, and Reconstructed Fossil Fuel-Fired EGUs under CAA section 111(b);
  2. Developing Proposed GHG Emission Guidelines Under CAA Section 111(d); and
  3. Review of the Residual Risk and Technology Review (RTR) for the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS)

            EPA is asking five questions related to their pre-proposal that can be read here.

You can learn more from EPA here and at this link: Docket ID: EPA-HQ-OAR-2022-0723. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the opening of a non-rulemaking docket for public input. The purpose of this docket is to solicit public input on the Agency’s efforts to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases from new and existing fossil fuel-fired electric generating units (EGUs). The goal of this non-rulemaking docket is to gather perspectives from a broad group of stakeholders. This docket will be open for public comment until March 27, 2023. The EPA will provide a separate opportunity for public comment on any future proposed rulemaking(s) for EGUs through a formal comment period. A formal comment period will be announced in the Federal Register notice of any future proposed rulemaking(s).

You can submit your comments to EPA via this link by March 27, 2023. Learn more how to submit comments to EPA here. 

NTAA’s PRK for Tribes to use to submit their comments to EPA by the comment deadline of March 27, 2022. This is a pre-proposal opportunity for public comment. EPA will be seeking another round of public comment and Tribal Consultation when a draft rule is released by EPA later in 2023. NTAA has long advocated for strong emission controls on GHG emissions that impact climate change. Tribes and Tribal Air Quality will only benefit the faster we can collectively reduce GHG emissions from existing and new stationary stories.

NTAA’s PRK includes a Tribal Template Letter  to use this template that includes NTAA’s comments that will be submitted by the comment period deadline of March 27, 2023).

Top Stories

The Journal – Western tribes march against uranium mill in southeast Utah

NPR – California tribes reclaim 200 miles of coastline and will manage it using tradition

EPA – Biden-Harris Administration Announces Nearly $1 Billion from EPA’s Clean School Bus Program for 389 School Districts

EPA – EPA proposes revisions to Federal Air Rules for Reservations, seeks public comment

EPA – Biden-Harris Administration Seeks Public Input on Inflation Reduction Act’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund

AP – Most in US want more action on climate change: AP-NORC poll

Ambient Air Quality/EPA/Tribes News

Ethanol – EPA approves expanded E30 demonstration project in Nebraska

PHYS.Org – Real-time air quality data can be ‘life saving’

EPA – EPA Region 7 and Haskell Indian Nations University Partner to Promote Student Career Opportunities and Environmental Outreach on Campus

Canary Media – Charts: Utilities sticking with fossil fuels despite climate pledges

Washington.Edu – A new approach, not currently described by the Clean Air Act, could eliminate air pollution disparities

Native News Online – Wisconsin U.S. Senate Challenger Speaks on Relationship with Tribes, farm Bill, Environment at Oneida Forum

The Hill – EPA takes additional step toward phasing out planet-warming gas used in refrigeration

NACAA – Washington Update

Climate Change/Energy

NBC News – Doctors decry ‘record profits’ for fossil fuel companies as climate change weighs on global health

NBC News – ‘Our horses are ready’: Native Americans and white farmers form an unlikely alliance to oppose a pipeline in the Dakotas

Fast Company – States are starting to sue the fossil fuel industry over climate change

The Hill – Biden fends off challenge to climate accounting metric

Dallas Morning News – Study: Solar and wind energy saved Texas customers more than $7 billion in 2022 so far

Utility Dive – Duke Energy to pass first $56 million wave of Inflation Reduction Act tax credits to customers

TIME – Donating to Climate Charities Might Be Better Than Buying Carbon Offsets

The Verge – Climeworks closes a chapter in early carbon removal tech

E&E News – Inside EPA’s climate strategy for power plants

BBC News – Can floating turbines harvest the world’s wind?

Air Quality News – Wood burning is not a renewable energy source, campaigners say

Toxics/Mobile Sources

State of North Carolina – Executive Order # 271: Growing North Carolina’s Zero Emission Vehicle Market

NPR – Recycling plastic is practically impossible — and the problem is getting worse

Ethanol Producers – EPA approves expanded E30 demonstration project in Nebraska

Canary Media – Meet the leader in charge of doling out DOE’s $25B for novel cleantech

Utility Dive – Battery capacity in the US more than tripled since the start of 2021: report

Yale Climate Connection – Indianapolis adds more than 80 electric and electric-hybrid buses to public transit fleet

Vox – Under the hood of the electric vehicle revolution

The Hill – Federal government needs 30,000 new electric vehicles per year to meet emission goals: report

ENN – NASA Study Finds Evidence That Fuel Regulation Reduced Air Pollution from Shipping

Indoor Air Quality

Yale Environment 360 – Cancer-Causing Benzene Leaking From California Stoves, Study Finds

The Hill – Natural gas ban threats spark fear for restaurants

Inside Climate News – A New Report Suggests 6 ‘Magic’ Measures to Curb Emissions of Super-Polluting Refrigerants

Vox – Our buildings are making us sick