UPCOMING CALLS/EVENTS/NOTICES

Ambient Air Quality/EPA/NTAA/Tribes

EPA’s Community and Tribal Programs Group has a publicly facing Tribal Actions and Events calendar for all to use!

This calendar is also linked under the “Tribal Air and Climate Resources” webpage under the “Policy and Planning” heading available at https://www.epa.gov/tribal-air.

The purpose of the calendar is to ensure that our Tribal partners are kept apprised of EPA activities that are relevant to them. If you have any questions about the calendars or any recommendations on how EPA can improve upon the calendars please do not hesitate to reach out to Toni Colon (colon.toni@epa.gov) and/or Loren Fox (fox.loren@epa.gov) with any feedback.

EPA Office of Air Quality Planning & Standards (OAQPS) Seeking Input

February 17th, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM ET

EPA would like to seek early input from tribal ambient air monitoring programs on potential options to improve the monitoring and data calculations as part of the notice of proposed rulemaking for the PM NAAQS Reconsideration.  We will cover several technical areas such as: data calculations, efficiencies to the PM2.5 FRM, approval of reference and equivalent methods, quality assurance, ambient monitoring, network design and relationship to EJ, comparability of PM2.5 FEMs, and probe and siting criteria.

If you would like to participate on this Microsoft Teams meeting scheduled for February 17th from 2:00 – 3:00 Eastern, please contact James Payne with the EPA Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards at payne.jamesj@epa.gov. This meeting will be recorded and available after; a call-in number will also be available.

NEW! EPA and Partners Establish a Plan to Eliminate Preventable Lung Cancer Deaths from Radon

Fourteen organizations representing the Federal government, states, Tribes, industry and non-profit sectors have announced a new plan to protect public health and reduce the risks of radon, “The National Radon Action Plan (NRAP) 2021–2025.” The NRAP is a public-private partnership spearheaded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the American Lung Association with a shared goal of preventing 3,500 deaths annually from radon-induced lung cancer.

EPA to Hold Public Listening Session on Draft Lead Strategy For All Regions

February – March 2022 | Register Here For Your Regions Listening Session

EPA is hosting Zoom virtual public comment sessions in each of its ten geographic regional office areas from early February to early March 2022. The sessions will be an opportunity for the public to provide verbal input on the draft Lead Strategy to EPA. We encourage the public to share with the Agency thoughts on how to address lead issues in their communities during these regional sessions (e.g., Northeast, Southwest, Mid-Atlantic, etc.).

EPA will use the feedback received during this public comment period to determine if additional revisions need to be incorporated into the Lead Strategy before it is finalized.

The White House is hosting a special interagency Tribal broadband briefing on Friday, February 18 from 2:30 PM-4:30 PM Eastern Time. This session will highlight existing and upcoming opportunities across the Biden-Harris Administration to support Tribal broadband development through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the American Rescue Plan, and other agency programs. Here is a registration link.

President Biden has set a clear goal of ensuring all Americans have access to reliable, affordable, and high-speed internet to learn, work, and participate in the 21st century economy. This includes Native Americans, many of whom lack sufficient access to the internet and the educational and economic opportunities that the internet provides.

The Administration has taken a number of recent actions to provide broadband resources to Indian Country. In December 2021, the White House announced nearly $10 million in funding awards from the Departments of Commerce, Treasury, and Agriculture that will be leveraged to expand access to affordable, reliable, and high-speed internet services to Tribal Nations. These resources will help facilitate connections between Tribal communities, deliver laptops and tablets to Tribal members, support capital broadband projects, foster economic growth, and more. Click HERE to learn more.

EPA 2021 Annual State Indoor Radon Grant Activities Report is Now Available

State and Tribal radon programs are critical to the Agency’s national goal of minimizing and preventing radon-related lung cancer. States and tribes are eligible to receive grant funds from EPA through the State Indoor Radon Grant (SIRG) Program which can be used to help finance risk reduction and outreach activities.

EPA’s Indoor Environments Division is pleased to share the final 2021 State Indoor Radon Grant Program Activities Report. This report highlights the important work states, territories, and tribes are undertaking across the country to advance radon risk reduction.

Some successful approaches states and tribes are utilizing for reducing radon risk include:

  • Education and outreach to the medical community,
  • Inclusion of radon in state cancer control plans,
  • Testing and remediation of schools in high-risk radon areas,
  • Addressing radon in homes and real-estate transactions,
  • Continuing education and technical support for industry professionals,
  • Building support for adoption of radon-reduction strategies in building codes or state/tribal policy

Biden order requires net-zero federal government emissions by 2050

There will be many opportunities to heat the more rural, northern federal buildings with wood, pellets, and wood chips! The US Forest Service itself has many such buildings and understands the technology and benefits.

EPA releases new report on Climate Change and Social Vulnerability in the United States: A Focus on Six Impacts

EPA’s new report quantifies the degree to which four socially vulnerable populations— defined based on income, educational attainment, race and ethnicity, and age—may be more exposed to the highest impacts of climate change. The report quantifies six types of impacts: air quality and health, extreme temperature and health, extreme temperature and labor, coastal flooding and traffic, coastal flooding and property, and inland flooding and property. Access the report. To download the report’s findings related to the disproportionate risks of climate change to American Indian and Alaska Natives. To find more information about climate change: https://www.epa.gov/climate-change

NTAA Upcoming Calls

Contact Andy.Bessler@nau.edu if you have any questions about any call! *Registration instructions* When you register for the GoToWebinar, please remember to include your Tribe, Region, or Organization in parenthesis after your last name. This allows you to see everyone on the call and prevents us from conducting a roll-call, ultimately saving everyone’s time.

 

STAR Work Group: Join the bi-weekly Status of Tribal Air work group to provide input on the report.

Attend by clicking here.

 Tuesday, February 22,

1pm ET
IAQ Work Group: Join the bi-monthly calls of the NTAA IAQ work group. Attend by clicking here. Thursday, February 17, 2pm ET
Alaska Air Work Group: Join this work group to hear updates from EPA and Alaskans working on air quality. Attend by clicking here. Wednesday, March 30,

10 am AK
EPA Policy Call: Call in to hear updates from EPA on policies, actions, and tools relevant to Indian Country and Air Quality. Attend by clicking here. Thursday, February 24, 2pm ET
Mobile Sources Work Group: This monthly work group addresses all mobile source pollution issues. Attend by clicking here. Thursday, March 3,

2pm  ET
Indoor Air Quality Work Group: Join this work group every other month to help support IAQ work throughout Indian Country. Attend by clicking here. Thursday, February 17, 2pm ET
Wood Smoke Work Group: Join this work group every other month to address wood smoke issues in Indian Country. Attend by clicking here. Thursday, March 24,

2pm ET

 

The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professional (ITEP)

Click here for ITEP’s new Tribal Environmental Management and Planning Online Courses. Sign up for a self-paced course hosted by ITEP’s Waste and Response and Tribal Air Quality programs.  New courses have been added, so check it out!

ITEP’s American Indian Air Quality Training Program (AIAQTP) hosts the Building Performance: Improving IAQ in Cold Climates, Residential Building Science Review, Radon Fundamentals, Quality Assurance Fundamental, Writing a Quality Assurance Project Plan, Emissions Inventory Fundamentals, and Emissions Inventory Advanced.

AIAQTP Schedule and Registration 

Recorded Webinars

Looking for more information check out the Tribal Air Quality Media Space Channel. Recent webinars include an Introduction to Air Quality Programs, Emissions Inventories, Remote Professional Assistance, and Woodstoves in Indian Country. Older classics include a series on Air Quality Planning for Wildland Smoke, Tribal Air Program and Grants, Data Management, and the Clean Air Act.

ITEP’s Tribes and Climate Change Calendar includes conferences, trainings, webinars, and other events related to tribes and climate change.

EPA Tools and Resources Webinar Series

Click here to see all past and upcoming webinars hosted by the EPA.

Climate Change / Energy

NEW! EPA has updated the Tribal Greenhouse Gas Inventory Tool

EPA’s free, spreadsheet-based Tribal Greenhouse Gas Inventory Tool, first launched in 2013 and updated annually, is based on nationally and internationally recognized GHG accounting and reporting principles.

         This year’s updates include:

  • An optional market-based method to calculate Scope 2 emissions from electricity purchased through contractual instruments, such as Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs).
  • Revised Emissions & Generation Resource Integrated Database (eGRID) factors from 1990 through 2019, as available.
  • Updated default stationary energy emission factors and heat contents.
  • Kerosene and distillate fuel oil as additional stationary energy fuel types.

Find the updated Tribal community and government operations modules and users’ guides here: https://www.epa.gov/statelocalenergy/tribal-greenhouse-gas-inventory-tool

Are you a long-time inventory tool user with questions about the new updates? Or is this your first GHG inventory? Join this webinar or upcoming offices hours to learn more and ask questions:

February 22, 2 PM (ET) – Local and Tribal GHG Inventory Tool Office Hours. EPA is hosting online drop-in office hours for the Local and Tribal GHG Inventory tools on February 22. During this session, EPA staff will offer technical assistance on the tools, provide guidance on data collection, and answer questions about local and tribal GHG inventories. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/us-epa-local-and-tribal-greenhouse-gas-inventory-tool-office-hours-tickets-247279388307

Save the Date: 2022 Southwestern Tribal Climate Change Summit

May 16 – 18, 2022 @ the Pala, CA | Register Here

In partnership with the La Jolla Band of Luiseño Indians, the Pala Band of Mission Indians, and the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals, the Climate Science Alliance is excited to co-host the 2022 Southwestern Tribal Climate Change Summit (SWTCCS).

ITEP’s Climate Change Adaptation Training Courses registration is online!

Learn more about the courses and register here.

Toxics/Mobile Sources

‘Control of Air Pollution from Aircraft Engines: Emission Standards and Test Procedures Rule’ is in the comment period. Here is the relevant information (https://www.regulations.gov/document/EPA-HQ-OAR-2019-0660-0130).

EPA is rescheduling the virtual public hearing for its proposed rule to February 17, 2022. This hearing is being rescheduled from the previous date of January 20, 2022. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this hearing will be held virtually only using Zoom (i.e., there will be no in-person hearing). In order to attend the February 17, 2022, virtual public hearing, all attendees (including those who will not be presenting verbal testimony) must register. The EPA is requesting that you pre-register by February 14, 2022 to allow for the orderly scheduling of testimony. To register, visit Aircraft Engine Particulate Matter Public Hearing Webinar Registration EPA WEBSITE.

Indoor Air Quality

         On behalf of the Conference of Radiation Control Program Director’s Committee on Radon (CRCPD E-25), we are pleased to announce the winners of the 2022 National Radon Poster and Video Contest.  Details regarding the contest and the winners are in the attached press release going out today from the American Lung Association (ALA).   A big thanks goes out to ALA for coordinating the contest.  Congratulations to all how participated, especially the top three posters and the winning video.NEW! Good morning, State and Tribal Radon Partners!

Choose the Right Portable Air Cleaner for the Home

Whether you are in the market for a portable air cleaner for your home or you were thinking about gifting one this holiday season, EPA’s Guide to Air Cleaners in the Home can help you make a well-informed decision.

Tips for selecting and using a portable air cleaner:

  • Never buy or use an air cleaner that generates ozone, a lung irritant.
  • Choose an air cleaner with a clean air delivery rate (CADR) that is large enough for the size of the room. The higher the CADR the more particles an air cleaner can capture and remove from the air and the larger the room it can be used in.
  • Running your air cleaner at a higher speed and for a longer time will help improve the air cleaner’s effectiveness.
  • Place your air cleaner in the rooms where you spend more of your time such as your living room or bedroom.
  • Replace filters regularly and follow all air cleaner manufacturing maintenance instructions.

Read EPA’s Guide to Air Cleaners in the Home for more details and tips.

U.S. Department of Education Encourages Use of American Rescue Plan Funds to Improve Ventilation and IAQ in Schools

Indoor air quality is critical to reopening schools safely and keeping them open. The U.S. Department of Education has released new guidance encouraging the use of American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds to improve ventilation systems and make other indoor air quality improvements in schools to prevent the spread of COVID- 19 and tackle longstanding school ventilation improvement needs. The new Department of Education guidance highlights EPA resources to support investments in improved ventilation and indoor air quality. Use the following resources from EPA to supplement the information in the guidance:

not use air cleaners that intentionally generate ozone in occupied spaces.

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