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.

NEW! Call For Proposals for the National Tribal Forum on Air Quality (NTFAQ)

May 2–5, 2022

The NTFAQ planning committee is actively seeking proposals for presentations until January 28th. Click here to submit a proposal. The NTFAQ will have a range of sessions and topics including, but not limited to:

  • Case studies of tribal Air Programs
  • Air Monitoring Technology
  • Indoor Air Quality Studies
  • Community Outreach and Engagement
  • Emission Inventories
  • Innovative Community Projects
  • Climate Change & Air Quality etc.

For more information Contact: Andy Bessler (andy.bessler@nau.edu), Mehrdad Khatibi (mehrdad.khatibi@nau.edu), or Christopher Lee (Christopher.lee@nau.edu)

NEW! EPA has made available modeling data including projected ozone design values for 2023, 2026, and 2032 and ozone contributions in 2023 and 2026 at individual monitoring sites, nationwide. These data are based on the 2016v2 emissions platform (https://www.epa.gov/air-emissions-modeling/2016v2-platform)

While these data do not reflect any policy or regulatory decisions, EPA expects to use this information in upcoming rulemaking actions, including ozone transport actions.  States could also use this information to the extent they wish to review their implementation plans with respect to interstate transport for the 2015 ozone standards. The data are available at:  https://www.epa.gov/air-emissions-modeling/2016v2-platform. Interested parties can obtain the full set of modeling inputs and outputs when these data are used to support regulatory actions.

NEW! Introduction to Meteorological Monitoring | Webinar Hosted by Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP)

February 8&10, 2022 | 9am (AK), 10am (PT), 11am (MT), 12pm (Central), and 1pm (ET)

This webinar series will provide Tribal professionals basic information on meteorology and meteorological monitoring guidance for in-situ primary meteorological monitoring variables (wind speed, wind direction, temperature, humidity, precipitation, pressure, and solar radiation). The webinars will provide general information on the sensors used for in-situ measurements: measurement quality objectives, verification/calibration, and accuracy criteria, as well as guidance on siting and exposure of meteorological towers.

Webinar Topics:

Webinar 1

  • Introduction to meteorology
  • Interpreting wind rose from met data

Webinar 2

  • Meteorological tower siting criteria and installation
  • Verification/calibration of meteorological sensors
  • Maintenance of meteorological sensors, towers, and supporting equipment
  • Identifying appropriate uses of meteorological data

Register Now:
https://nau.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEvcOGgqDIiEtftsyo6HrD30UtNPgfq7YzC

NEW! Addressing Air Quality in Tribal Communities (for Beginners)

January 25-27, 2022 | 9am-2pm PDT; 10am-3pm MDT; 12pm-5pm EDT

(2-hour session, 1-hour break, 2-hour session, Daily)

Apply Now: https://forms.gle/1S3amRpocRphTMuX7

Course capped at 12 participants

Topics:

  • Identifying air quality sources and concerns in a community
  • Tribal Air Program Case Studies
  • Resources for tribal air quality professionals

The application is due on Wednesday, January 12, 2022. Applicants will be notified of their acceptance to the workshop via email by Tuesday, January 18. Those accepted to participate in the workshop will receive the Zoom link and password to join the workshop. The link and password are unique and should not be shared with others.

A Sense of Place: Indigenous Perspectives on Earth, Water and Sky featuring Larry Campbell, Swinomish Elder

Registration is open for our next webinar! Register now for our 9th webinar “A Sense of Place: Indigenous Perspectives of Earth, Water and Sky,” featuring Larry Campbell, Swinomish Elder, Thursday January 20, 2022 at 11:00 AM, Pacific Time. Space is limited so please register now.

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.

Mobile Sources Work Group: This monthly work group addresses all mobile source pollution issues. Attend by clicking here. Thursday, February 3,

2pm  ET
STAR Work Group: Join the Status of Tribal Air work group to provide input on the report.

Attend by clicking here.

 Wednesday,

January 25,

3pm 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, January 20,

2pm ET

 
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, January 27, 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
Alaska Air Work Group: Join this work group to hear updates from EPA and Alaskans working on air quality. Attend by clicking here. Wednesday, January 26, 11 am AK

 

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! Applications open for the Arctic Rivers Summit, March 2022

Scheduled to take place at the Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage, Alaska, March 29-31, 2022. The Summit is part of the Arctic Rivers Project funded by the National Science Foundation’s Navigating the New Arctic Program. The Summit will be an in-person workshop to discuss the current and potential future states of Alaskan and Yukon rivers and fish and how we can adapt. It will bring together up to 150 Tribal and First Nation leaders, community members, managers, and knowledge holders, academic, Indigenous, federal, state, and provincial researchers, non-governmental organizations, and others.  

Applications are due by January 23, 2022. For more information, please visit the Arctic Rivers Summit website.

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

NEW! The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is initiating consultation and coordination with federally recognized Indian tribes on Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Steam Electric Power Generating Point Source Category (the Steam Electric ELG). The Steam Electric ELG regulations cover wastewater discharges from power plants. The current rulemaking specifically focusses on wastewaters generated by coal-fired power plants. These limitations on the discharge of pollutants will subsequently be incorporated into National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits, potentially reducing pollutant discharges into waters of the United States.

On July 26, 2021, EPA announced its decision to undertake a rulemaking in which the Agency will determine whether more stringent limitations and standards for coal-fired power plants are appropriate and consistent with the technology-forcing statutory scheme and the goals of the Clean Water Act.

The tribal consultation letter and consultation and coordination plan for this action are attached. These consultation materials are also available on EPA’s Tribal Consultation Opportunities Tracking System (TCOTS) website located at:https://tcots.epa.gov. Additional information on the Steam Electric ELG can be found athttps://www.epa.gov/eg/steam-electric-power-generating-effluent-guidelines.

EPA plans to hold two identical Tribal Webinars and Listening Sessions on February 1 and 9, 2022 from 1:00 – 2:30 PM Eastern Time. These webinars will be an opportunity for EPA to provide an overview of this forthcoming rulemaking and to receive input from tribal representatives about this action. To register:

The EPA ‘s anticipated timeline for the consultation and coordination period on this action is expected to extend from January 18, 2022 to March 29, 2022.

For any questions, please contact Richard Benware with EPA’s Office of Science and Technology by email at benware.richard@epa.gov or by phone at (202) 566-1369.

NRC invites comment on Draft Programmatic Agreement on protection of archaeological sites affected by proposed placement of mine waste repository on top of reclaimed Church Rock uranium mill tailings deposit: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is requesting comment on a draft Programmatic Agreement (PA) between the NRC, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), Navajo Nation Tribal Historic Preservation Office (NNTHPO), New Mexico State Historic Preservation Office (NMSHPO), Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), and United Nuclear Corporation (UNC). The purpose of this draft PA is to resolve any adverse effects to historic properties identified during consultation for a proposed license amendment application for the UNC Mill Site.
Submit comments by January 21, 2022.
> Federal Register (TBA)
> Download: Draft Programmatic Agreement  , Nov. 30, 2021 (PDF)
> Access Docket ID NRC-2019-0026 

Indoor Air Quality


Learn more here about the online application process, which allows you to highlight how your program emphasizes environmental management as a standard component of care. You can also access the downloadable checklist to help you through the application process. New! EPA is looking for comprehensive programs that demonstrate improved asthma outcomes, compelling financial outcomes and progress toward financial sustainability. Check out examples of successful asthma programs and previous winners in the Hall of Fame – Applications Due February 1, 2022

Have questions about your application?

Visit AsthmaCommunityNetwork.org/awards for more information, or contact us at EPALeadershipAwards@AsthmaCommunityNetwork.org

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.

Improving Environmental Health in Schools White Paper

The authors of this white paper are environmental health academics who recognize the importance of in-school education. However, we also understand that infectious disease transmission in schools is an existential challenge affecting the health of local communities and ultimately, society at large. We have extensive experience implementing environmental improvements both before and during the current pandemic. We wish to persuade the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as the lead Agency for protecting human health and the environment, that now is the time to revive and expand their School Integrated Pest Management (SIPM) initiative to improve environmental health in schools and document the tangible benefits that follow.

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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