UPCOMING CALLS/EVENTS/NOTICES

Ambient Air Quality/EPA/NTAA/Tribes

NEW! On the Front Lines: Tribal Nations Take on COVID-19

Tuesday, May 26, 2020; 1-2pm

Virtual Event, Information Here

Like governments around the world, America’s 574 federally recognized tribal nations are racing to protect their citizens from the coronavirus. Impacting tribes at a rate four times higher than for the US population, the pandemic is testing the limits of tribal public health infrastructures. Simultaneously, shuttered casinos and other business enterprises are crippling tribal economies. Coupled with an inefficient federal response, resources to provide critical governmental services are being rapidly depleted, intensifying the crisis.

 

To learn more about how tribal nations are taking on COVID-19, please join the Harvard Kennedy School’s Ash Center for an insightful conversation.

 

Public Hearings on the Proposed Rule: Review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter

EPA has published this proposal in the Federal Register, and the NTAA is developing a full Policy Resource Kit. The proposal states that no changes to the NAAQS for particulate matter will be taken at this time. The deadline to comment is June 29, 2020, and two virtual public hearings will be held on May 20 and May 21.

 

NEW! NCAI COVID-19 Forum: “Tribal Governments in Action: Leveraging the CARES Act for Response and Recovery”

Wednesday, May 27th, 2020; 1-2:15pm EDT

Register Here

This forum, hosted by NCAI’s Partnership for Tribal Governance, shares the stories of how four tribal governments are using CARES Act funding to protect their communities and help them recover in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

EPA Tools & Resources Webinar: EPA Expands Research on COVID-19 in the Environment

Wednesday, May 27, 2020; 2-3pm ET

Register Here

EPA scientists are building on a foundation of world-class research by applying their knowledge to reduce the risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. This research will help states & territories, tribes, and local governments, including public health agencies guide homeowners, business owners, and others reduce the risk of exposure. This webinar will highlight research EPA is working on with CDC, including the following:

  • Environmental Cleanup and Disinfection
  • Wastewater Virus Detection
  • Salivary Antibody Assay Development

NEW! SEER Native American Resources Committee virtual networking event

Thursday, May 28th, 2020; 12-1pm ET

This event will discuss how COVID-19 is disproportionately impacting Indian Country, both in terms of public health and the economy. Both are inextricably linked to environment and environmental resources. Four examples are access to water, indoor air quality, climate change, and dependence on oil and gas for revenue. Join us for this event to learn about ways Tribes and organizations are working to mobilize and take action to protect the health of Tribal members and their communities.

To register for this event, please complete and submit this form. Please address any questions to Kevin Gordon, Membership Associate, at Kevin.Gordon@americanbar.org or (312) 988-6256

 

NEW! Defending Treaty Rights in the time of COVID-19

Friday May 29th, 2020; 9-10:30am PST

Register Here

This webinar will share Indigenous Peoples’ initiatives to defend the inherent and sovereign rights affirmed in Nation-to-Nation Treaties during the time of COVID-19. Hosted by the International Indian Treaty Council.

 

Tribal Grants Education and Technical Assistance Webinar Series Second Wednesday of Every Month at 1pm ET

For more information, click here!

 

NTAA Upcoming Calls. The toll-free number is 1-800-309-2350. If you do not need to call toll free, or would like to help conserve NTAA funding, you can call 1-805-309-2350. Both numbers use code 928-523-0526#. 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.

 

EPA Policy Call: Call in to hear updates from EPA on policies, actions, and tools relevant to Indian Country and Air Quality. Thursday, May 28, 2pm ET
Mobile Sources Work Group: This monthly work group addresses all mobile source pollution issues. Thursday, June 4, 2pm ET

 

Indoor Air Quality Work Group: Join this work group every other month to help support IAQ work throughout Indian Country. Thursday, June 18, 2pm ET

 

The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professional’s (ITEP’sTribes and Climate Change Calendar includes conferences, trainings, webinars and other events related to tribes and climate change.

Click here for ITEP’s other trainings and events.

Click here for ITEP’s new Tribal Environmental Management and Planning Online Courses. New courses have been added, so check it out!

 

 ITEP’s FY20 AIAQTP Course Schedule 

 

Course Title Dates Location Course Level
  2020    
Air Pollution Technology (Postponed!) TBD Flagstaff, AZ 2
Meteorological Monitoring (Postponed!) Fall 2020 TAMS Center, Las Vegas, NV 3
Air Pollution Modeling Fall 2020 TAMS Center, Las Vegas, NV 3
Air Quality Outreach TBD TBD 1
National Tribal Forum on Air Quality (NTFAQ) (Postponed!) May 2021 Tulsa, OK n/a
 
Air Quality Planning for Wildland Smoke Anytime Series of 6 recorded webinars n/a
Indoor Air Quality – Independent Study Anytime Independent Study 1
Building Performance: Improving IAQ in Cold Climates Open Online 1
Building Performance: Improving IAQ in Warm Climates In development Online 1
Residential Building Science Review Open Online 1
Radon Fundamentals Open Online 1
Quality Assurance Fundamentals (QA 101) Open Online 1
Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) (QA 201-209) Open Online 2
Emissions Inventory Fundamentals Open Online 2
Emissions Inventory Advanced Open Online 3
Note: This schedule is subject to change.  For up-to-date information, course descriptions, and applications please visit http://www7.nau.edu/itep/main/Training/training_air/

 

Climate Change / Energy

May 27, Noon (ET) – Ask the Expert

Every Wednesday ENERGY STAR holds a Portfolio Manager “Ask the Expert” session. It’s a live webinar that gives all users an opportunity to ask their questions directly to EPA experts in an open forum. Want to talk to a “real” person? Have a question about how Portfolio Manager calculates your score? Want to learn more about entering Green Power? Join ENERGY STAR, and they’ll answer all your questions about ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager in this public forum.

Register

 

May 27, 1 PM (ET) – Tribal Energy Project Technology Options

The energy landscape continues to evolve rapidly. In many areas, costs continue to drop as technology improvements and other market drivers create greater opportunity for distributed generation. This webinar will provide an overview of several common energy technology options. Hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Indian Energy, the 2020 Tribal Energy Webinar Series will focus on how to accomplish specific tasks related to energy development on tribal lands. Presenters will provide instruction and sharing tools and resources.

Register

 

May 28, 2 PM (ET) – Strategies for Setting Effective Energy Performance Goals

Are you aiming to set meaningful energy performance goals for your buildings? Join this webinar to hear from three ENERGY STAR partners how to use a technical approach to estimate the energy efficiency improvement potential of a building and set effective goals. Boston Properties will share how they used a scientific method for setting performance goals for targets to make them realistic and achievable. In addition, CommonWealth Partners will talk about how they provide guidance on tracking emissions through ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager to all their properties and established science-based emissions targets. Finally, Hudson Pacific Properties will discuss how they setting performance goals and updating targets for their buildings, and how to incorporate carbon reduction goals into a program.

Speakers:

  • Ben Myers, Director, Sustainability, Boston Properties
  • Jessica Loeper, Director of Sustainability, CommonWealth Partners
  • James Soutter, Vice President, Engineering, Hudson Pacific Properties

Register

 

NEW! National Adaptation Forum Webinar: Meeting the Rural Resilience Imperative: Integrating Resilience into Rural Planning & Action

May 28, 2020, 2pm ET

Register

Learn about the Resilient Rural America Project’s approach to integrate extreme weather resilience into local comprehensive planning through risk assessment and implementation of practical resilience strategies. The training mainstreams the Steps to Resilience into rural planning using selected resources from the U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit, EcoAdapt, Geos Institute, and the Model Forest Policy Program. Webinar participants will gain greater understanding of the importance of rural resilience, the barriers rural communities face, and new ways to advance rural resilience strategies.

 

June 3, 2PM (ET) – Equity in Action: Heat Planning in Greater Phoenix

This 90 minute webcast will cover how The Nature Conservancy Arizona, Arizona State University, the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, and other partners developed the Heat Action Planning Guide for Neighborhoods of Greater Phoenix. This team worked directly with community members using a participatory process to identify challenges and create community driven solutions to mitigate and adapt to future heat. Specific cooling solutions include revitalizing vacant lots with trees and vegetation, and increasing shade along transit routes and at bus stops. The process was designed to develop awareness, agency, and social cohesion in underserved communities.

Speakers:

  • Victoria Ludwig, U.S. EPA Heat Island Reduction Program
  • Melissa Guardaro, Arizona State University
  • David Crummey, Retail, Arts, Innovation & Livability Mesa

Register

 

Indigenous Peoples Climate Change Working Group Webinar Series

The Indigenous Peoples Climate Change Working Group (IPCCWG) would like to invite you to join us for a 4-part webinar series that will discuss the future generations of American Indian and Alaskan Native geoscience professionals, educators, and workforce. An in-person IPCCWG meeting will take place at the National Tribal & Indigenous Climate Conference. To register for the May 14 webinar, please click HERE. We also greatly appreciate you sharing within your networks. The webinar schedule is as follows:

  • June 11 1pm PT/3pm CT/4pm ET
  • July 16 1pm PT/3pm CT/4pm ET
  • August 13 1pm PT/3pm CT/4pm ET

If you have any questions regarding registration or anything else, please do not hesitate to reach out to Althea Walker at awalker@aihec.org or 480-258-3963.

 

Registration Is Now Open: National Tribal & Indigenous Climate Conference

August 31-September 3, 2020, St. Paul, Minnesota

The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) is honored to host the United States’ first Biennial National Tribal and Indigenous Climate Conference (NTICC) along with support from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Tribal Resilience Program. The NTICC is open to all US tribal nations and Indigenous Peoples from throughout the world, with an emphasis on including our Elders and

Youth. The NTICC will convene experts on climate change and will include a balance of Traditional Indigenous Knowledges and Western Science. We invite people to submit proposals before May 29, 2020, discussing climate-related impacts, assessments, tools, adaptation planning, mitigation and actions in one or more of the following tracks:

 

  • Indigenous Knowledges
  • Air, Health & Well-Being
  • Land
  • Water
  • Relocation
  • Infrastructure
  • Energy Systems
  • Food Sovereignty
  • Ecosystems and Biodiversity

 

 

 

South Central Climate Adaptation Science Center: Earth to Sky Workshop

Earth to Sky is a partnership between NASA, NPS, and USFWS that enables and encourages informal educators to access and use relevant NASA science, data, and educational and outreach products in their work. The partnership’s focus is on climate change science and communication. Join us for three days of training with native informal educators from across the South Central region who recognize the importance of teaching climate change. The workshop will take place July 15-17 in Sulphur, OK. Learn more here.

 

Save the Date: Southwest Tribal Climate Resilience Camp

Date: July 26-31, 2020

Location: Navajo Technical University – Crownpoint, NM

The Tribal Climate Resilience Camp will support teams of Tribal Leaders, climate change coordinators, planners, and program managers to build skills, gather information, and develop Tribal policies and plans needed for Tribal Nations to address climate change impacts. Information about travel, lodging, and registration will be available soon. You may contact Althea Walker, Tribal Climate                                                   Science Liaison, at AWalker@aihec.org or (480) 258-3963 with questions.

SEEKING TRIBAL DELEGATES

We are currently recruiting 10 Southwest Tribes to participate in the 2020 Camp. Each Tribe should identify three delegates per Tribe. The delegates must participate for the entire week curriculum. Delegates may include climate change staff, tribal policy leaders, Tribal Council, natural resource and environmental managers and staff, administrators, department staff from health, public works, education, housing, and other relevant departments that should engage in climate change planning. FOR APPLICATIONS Visit this link.

 

Save the Date: Shifting Seasons Summit 3, October 6-8, 2020, Keshena, WI

Contingency dates: March 2021

The Shifting Seasons Summit is a gathering that focuses on climate resilience planning and implementation within Tribes and across Tribal ceded territories in the Northeast Region. This summit will also include network-building opportunities and initiatives developed outside of the Northeast by capacity building organizations, academic institutions and Tribes. Visit www.NICRN.org for more details.

 

ITEP’s Climate Change Adaptation Training Courses registration is online! Learn more about the courses and register here.

 

Toxics/Mobile Sources

Managing Road Dust webinar series

Webinar #1: Introduction to Managing Road Dust, May 28, 2020 at 10am (AKDT)

Register here!

Road dust from unpaved roads is a major air quality concern in many tribal communities. Dust (also called Particulate Matter (PM)) has negative impacts on health, road safety and quality of life. This webinar is the first of a series of four webinars to help tribal environmental and transportation staff to manage road dust, resulting in improved air quality. Presenters from US Environmental Protection Agency, University of Alaska, Alaska Department Environmental Conservation, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium and the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals will provide information to help tribal environmental and transportation staff create community partnerships to:

  1. Assess current roads.
  2. Develop community education messages leading to behavioral changes.
  3. Develop plans to improve road design.
  4. Consider appropriate use of dust suppressants
  5. Continue with air quality assessments.
  6. Create a dust management plan.
  7. Identify potential funding sources.

Participants will also be introduced to a variety of online resources to help with planning for road dust management. Training Certificates will be available for everyone who completes all 4 webinars. Webinar recordings will be available to anyone registered for the webinars.

  1. Webinar #1 – Introduction to Managing Road Dust
  2. Webinar #2 – Introduction to Dust Suppressants (palliatives)
  3. Webinar #3 – Engaging Community Leaders in Road Dust Management
  4. Webinar #4 – Case Studies on Road Dust Management

Contact Mansel.Nelson@nau.edu with questions.

 

Tribal Consultation Period Extended for EPA’s Draft Plan for the Federal Certification of Applicators of Restricted Use Pesticides within Indian Country

Extended through August 3, 2020

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP) – Office of Pesticide Programs is provide notice to federally-recognized tribes that EPA’s Tribal Consultation on the Draft EPA Plan for the Federal Certification of Applicators of Restricted Use Pesticides within Indian Country is extended through August 3, 2020 to accommodate a recent tribal request. The timeline for the consultation and consultation period will extend from February 10–August 3, 2020. During this period, a third consultation session will be conducted. To participate, the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP) invites you and/or your designee to join us during the following consultation session:

  • Session 3: Wednesday, July 15th from 12:00pm-2:00pm ET

Conference Line: 866-299-3188; Code: 202-566-0603

Adobe Connect: https://epawebconferencing.acms.com/draftepaplan3

 

Postponed: Green Transportation Summit & Expo and the West Coast Collaborative Partners Meeting has been postponed until August 24-26, 2020

After careful consideration of the growing public health concerns associated with the coronavirus (COVID-19), the Green Transportation Summit & Expo and the US EPA West Coast Collaborative is postponing our GTSE | WCCPM event until

August 24 – 26, 2020, at the Greater Tacoma Convention Center in Tacoma, WA.

The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) and the Green Transportation Summit & Expo (GTSE) have partnered to provide 25 complimentary full-conference passes to the Green Transportation Summit & Expo. The GTSE is the Pacific Northwest’s premier clean fleet and transportation event, focusing on fleets, fuels, technologies, policy & practice, with a regional focus and a national scope. We will provide you the opportunity to see, touch, drive, and learn about new transportation technologies firsthand, such as electric, hydrogen, natural gas and propane-powered heavy-duty vehicles, off-road utility vehicles, generators, and others. Workshops on DERA, VW funding, other federal funding opportunities, and alternative fuels will be presented. Please join us at the Greater Tacoma Convention Center for the 10th annual GTSE to learn about clean transportation, how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, pollutants, and costs in your fleet operations. To learn more about the conference, check out our website. To receive the code for the complimentary passes, please contact ITEP’s Dara Marks Marino at Dara.Marks-Marino@nau.edu.

 

Indoor Air Quality

 

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