UPCOMING CALLS/EVENTS/NOTICES

Ambient Air Quality/EPA/NTAA/Tribes

NEW!  Please join the American Lung Association on Wednesday, June 8 from 3-4 PM ET/noon-1 PM PT to learn about a new report that the Lung Association will announce on June 8, titled “Can Prescribed Fires Mitigate Health Harm? A Review of Air Quality and Public Health Implications of Wildfire and Prescribed Fire.”

This report, prepared for the American Lung Association by PSE Healthy Energy, makes clear that wildfire activity is predicted to increase in the decades ahead, historical fire suppression policies are insufficient for longer-term fire management, and prescribed fire can be used to mitigate the negative air quality, health, and safety impacts of large-scale wildfires. You will hear from Lung Association staff and a lead author of the report PSE Healthy Energy on the broader context for the report and key report findings. This briefing will be closed to the press. Register here to attend. 

NEW! EPA: Workshop to Obtain Input on Preliminary Draft Materials for the Lead (Pb) Integrated Science Assessment (ISA) (May and June 2022)

EPA is currently updating its Lead (Pb) Integrated Science Assessment (ISA) as part of the review of the primary (health) and secondary (welfare) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for Pb. The ISA will be completed by EPA’s Office of Research and Development’s (ORD) Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment (CPHEA). As part of the Pb review, EPA is announcing a series of webinar teleconference workshops to obtain input on preliminary draft materials of the Pb ISA from expert reviewers. The workshop will be open to attendance by interested public observers by webinar and teleconference only.

Dates/Registration

The workshop will be held in 4 webinar and teleconference sessions on May 26, June 7, June 22, and June 29, 2022.

REGISTRATION: Members of the public may attend as observers, but you must register in advance by visiting the session links above to attend.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Please direct questions regarding workshop registration or logistics to EPA’s contractor, ICF, by e-mail at EPA-Workshops@icf.com. For technical issues, please use the contact us form with the subject line “Lead ISA Peer Review Workshops.”

NEW! Justice 40: Climate and Economic Screening Tool Public Comment Recorded Webinar Now Available! Comment Period Ends TODAY May 25th!

(Editor’s note: NTAA HAS REQUESTED A COMMENT PERIOD EXTENSION)

If you missed the webinar or want to recap on what Justice 40 and the Climate and Economic Screening tool are, here is the link to the recording:

Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool

During the webinar we guided folks through the beta version of the Climate and Economic Screening Tool. Here is where you can access the tool and find out whether or not your Tribe or Indigenous community is included:

Comment Template

If you are a Tribe, please use this template to submit a comment. If you are not a Tribe, you can review this template and use it to support in drafting your own public comment:

NEW! The White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council (WHEJAC) has released their Interim Final Recommendations on the Justice40 Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool & Executive Order 12898 Revisions. These draft recommendations were first discussed during the May 6, 2021 WHEJAC Meeting.

Comments must be received by May 25, 2022.

(Editor’s note: NTAA HAS REQUESTED A COMMENT PERIOD EXTENSION)

You may submit comments, identified by docket number CEQ-2022-0002, by any of the following methods:

  • Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
  • Fax: 202-456-6546.
  • Mail: Council on Environmental Quality, 730 Jackson Place NW, Washington, DC 20503.

NEW! The Earth to Sky Interagency Partnership, in collaboration with the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals and Grand Canyon National Park, is excited to announce an upcoming course for interpreters, informal educators, and Tribal professionals on the Colorado Plateau.

September 6 – 9, 2022 | Click Here for Application | Click Here to Learn More

This course is offered by the Earth to Sky Interagency Partnership in collaboration with the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals and Grand Canyon National Park. Together we will provide participants a foundation in climate science and effective climate communication and interpretation; an understanding of the connections between global and local processes; and perspectives on the interdependence of culture and climate on the Colorado Plateau. The course emphasizes a supportive, collegial learning environment. You will:

  • Meet with NASA and regional scientists to learn about the latest global and regional climate research and discuss their insights on understanding and responding to changing climate
  • Observe, practice, and discuss techniques for successful climate change interpretation and communication
  • Hear Native perspectives on climate change and learn about Tribal resilience and adaptation strategies
  • Experience first-hand evidence of and responses to local climate change impacts on a field trip
  • Meet colleagues from around the region and join a community of interpreters, informal educators, and Tribal professionals committed to communicating regional climate issues and solutions
  • Depart with cutting-edge knowledge about climate change, and a plan for bringing the climate story to your visitors in relevant, engaging, inspiring, and hopeful ways
  • Learn how you can stay connected with these scientists, fellow climate communicators, and the national Earth to Sky community of practice over the long term. You’re not alone in your efforts! 

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 Air Knowledge E–Learning Content

The Air Knowledge training team is pleased to announce the availability of new air quality training materials!

These e-learning courses and modules are at the foundational learning level and are available to tribal, state, and local air agencies through our learning management system (LMS) and to the public here. The website was recently enhanced to provide additional self-instructional and instructor-led training materials.

The new materials include:

  • A course that explains the key historic events that led to air pollution control legislation and describes progress made with air pollution control since the passage of the Clean Air Act,
  • A course that explains the basic components of state and tribal implementation plans,
  • A module that generally defines the transport and fate of air pollutants and how transport and fate are influenced by meteorology and topography,
  • A module that explains the basic aspects of an air emissions inventory, and
  • A module that explains the purposes and types of air emissions inventories, including the inventories that the EPA develops.

More detailed information about the contents of these new materials can be found in the attached document.

To access the courses and modules on the LMS (https://epaapti.csod.com), tribal air agencies and organizations can register, log in, and refer to the “What’s New” section on the home page. All other users (the public, international community, academia, industry, EPA staff, etc.) can access the courses and modules on the Air Knowledge interim website.

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 rollcall, ultimately saving everyone’s time.

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,

June 30,

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

June 2,

2 pm ET
IAQ Work Group: Join the bi-monthly calls of the NTAA IAQ work group. Attend by clicking here.

The call this week has been cancelled, so next call will take place on June 16th at 2pm ET.

 Thursday, June 16, 2 pm 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, May 26,

2 pm ET

 
Alaska Air Work Group: Join this work group to hear updates from EPA and Alaskans working on air quality. Contact andy.bessler@nau.edu to join the call! Wednesday, May 25,

10 am AK or 2 pm 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

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. 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:

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

Learn more about the courses and register here.

Toxics/Mobile Sources

NEW! Natural Resources and Infrastructure Committee 2022 Spring Webinar Series: School Bus Electrification: State Policy Options

June 2, 2022 | 3:00 PM ET | Must Create Account to Register  

The United States’ 480,000 school buses account for 80% of all buses nationwide. Only 1% of school buses are electrified. According to the World Resources Institute, electrifying the entire fleet of U.S. school buses would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 8 megatons per year and reduce emissions from all U.S. buses by 35% per year. The IIJA provided $2.5 billion in funding specifically for zero-emission electric school buses and an additional $2.5 billion for all types of low-emission buses. This webinar for state legislators and legislative staff will focus on policy options and funding opportunities for school bus electrification. ​

Applying the Pre-Incident All-Hazards Waste Management Plan Guidelines

The ITEP Waste & Response Program partnered with the U.S. EPA’s ORD to create a series of webinars and virtual trainings. Using the Four-Step Waste Management Planning Process to address natural disasters. This particular webinar will be using flooding as the scenario. You can look over the attached document to learn a bit more about these guidelines.

The first webinar will take place on Wednesday, May 25, 10 am (Alaska); 11 am (Pacific); 12 pm (Mountain); 1 pm (Central); 2 pm (Eastern). The webinar will be held on Zoom, which you can access here:

  • Zoom Link
  • Password – 979363
  • Toll-free number – 877 853 5247

EPA is seeking nominations from representatives of nonfederal interests to serve on the Mobile Sources Technical Review Subcommittee (MSTRS).

EPA values and welcomes opportunities to increase diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility on its Federal Advisory Committees. In an effort to obtain nominations of diverse candidates, EPA encourages nominations of people from all racial and ethnic groups. MSTRS members are appointed by the EPA Administrator for three-year terms with the possibility of reappointment to a second term.

The MSTRS, a federal advisory committee chartered under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, provides the Clean Air Act Advisory Committee with independent advice, counsel, and recommendations on the scientific and technical aspects of programs related to mobile source air pollution and its control. The subcommittee’s website is at https://www.epa.gov/caaac/mobile-sources-technical-review-subcommittee-mstrs-caaac.

For more information on how to submit a nomination, please see the Federal Register Notice announcing the request for nominations. Nominations must be received by July 11, 2022. If you have any questions, please contact: Julia Burch, Designated Federal Officer; email: burch.julia@epa.gov. 

EPA Proposes Stronger Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles to Promote Clean Air, Protect Communities, and Support Transition to Zero-Emissions Future

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing new, stronger standards to promote clean air and reduce pollution from heavy-duty vehicles and engines starting in model year (MY) 2027. The proposed standards would reduce emissions of smog- and soot-forming nitrogen oxides (NOx) from heavy-duty gasoline and diesel engines and set updated greenhouse gas (GHG) standards for certain commercial vehicle categories.  This proposed rule would ensure the heavy-duty vehicles and engines that drive American commerce and connect people across the country are as clean as possible while charting a path to advance zero-emission vehicles in the heavy-duty fleet. Click Here for Full Press Release.

U.S. Department of Energy: The Information Source for Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles

The Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC) provides information, data, and tools to help fleets and other transportation decision makers find ways to reach their energy and economic goals through the use of alternative and renewable fuels, advanced vehicles, and other fuel-saving measures. Click Here for more information about the resources available.

EPA Past SmartWay Webinars and Events

To address these trends and challenges, EPA developed the SmartWay program.

Launched in 2004, this voluntary public-private program:

  • provides a comprehensive and well-recognized system for tracking, documenting and sharing information about fuel use and freight emissions across supply chains
  • helps companies identify and select more efficient freight carriers, transport modes, equipment, and operational strategies to improve supply chain sustainability and lower costs from goods movement
  • supports global energy security and offsets environmental risk for companies and countries
  • reduces freight transportation-related emissions by accelerating the use of advanced fuel-saving technologies
  • is supported by major transportation industry associations, environmental groups, state and local governments, international agencies, and the corporate community

View the SmartWay timeline and learn about the program’s achievements and key milestones reached since SmartWay’s launch in 2002. Our progress to making freight in the supply chain more sustainable and efficient is due to the vision, commitment and hard work of SmartWay Partners and Affiliates! Two Decades of Progress: SmartWay Partnership Milestones (PDF)(1 pg, 345 K, June 2021, EPA-420-H-21-001). Click Here to view past webinars and upcoming webinars 

Indoor Air Quality

NEW! 2022 Indoor airPLUS Leader Award Applications Now Available!

Apply by June 3rd, 2022 by 8:00 PM ET | Click Here For Application

The Indoor airPLUS Leader Awards were created to recognize Indoor airPLUS Program partners who construct and verify Indoor airPLUS homes, designed and built for improved indoor air quality. This annual award recognizes market leading organizations who promote safer, healthier, and more comfortable indoor environments by participating with Indoor airPLUS and offering enhanced indoor air quality protections for their new homebuyers.

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) Released Allergy Capitals 2022.

This report ranks the top 100 cities in the continental United States where it is most challenging to live with seasonal pollen allergies, which may worsen chronic respiratory diseases, including asthma. AAFA’s report is an annual research and educational project designed to help people recognize, prevent and manage allergy symptoms. It also helps communities see where the needs of people with allergic diseases, like seasonal allergies, can be better met.

Scranton, Pennsylvania, ranks #1 overall again this year. City rankings are based on higher-than-average spring and fall pollen scores, higher-than-average medication usage, and availability of board-certified allergists/immunologists in the area. Visit AsthmaCommunityNetwork.org to see if your city made the list and see what actions you can take to reduce your contact with pollen. 

Available Now: An Introduction to Radon Gas in Homes Webinar Recording

EPA’s Indoor Environments Division recently hosted a webinar to provide an overview of the key basic facts of radon – what it is, what it does to us, how we measure it, how we reduce our exposure, and where to find resources and additional information. A recording of An Introduction to Radon Gas in Homes is now available online. The recorded webinar features a presentation by Bruce Snead, Director of Engineering Extension at Kansas State University and director of the National Radon Program Services effort for EPA since 2009.

EPA: A Fact Sheet for Tribes on State and Tribal Indoor Radon Grants

EPA’s Indoor Environments Division is pleased to announce the State and Tribal Indoor Radon Grants (SIRG) Program Fact Sheet. This fact sheet has information on SIRG eligibility, matching requirements, allowable activities, EPA contacts, and more. EPA works collaboratively and values our tribal partnership to support healthy indoor air quality (IAQ) in tribal communities. We work together to develop tools and resources that address the health and the safety of tribal members when it comes to indoor air quality.

Please visit the Indoor Air Quality in Tribal Communities or State Indoor Radon Grants (SIRG) Program and Resources pages to learn more and download the fact sheet.   

Be sure to subscribe to CodeTalk, HUD’s Office of Native American Programs newsletter, for webinars and opportunities!