TOP STORIES/HEADLINES: Week of October 24 – 28, 2022

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:

Welcome and Introductions: Rose Kalistook and Andy Bessler, NTAA

What is Tribal Consultation and why is it Important: Pilar Thomas, NTAA Policy Advisor

How the U.S. EPA conduct Tribal Consultation: Pat Childers, Senior Tribal Coordinator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Air and Radiation
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:

Greenhouse Gas (GHG) New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for New, Modified, and Reconstructed Fossil Fuel-Fired EGUs under CAA section 111(b);
Developing Proposed GHG Emission Guidelines Under CAA Section 111(d); and
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).