Top Stories
NTAA News!
The NTAA is currently seeking story submissions for the 2022 Status of Tribal Air Report!
We are asking that you draft the short story or nominate someone who you may think has a great idea! Please list or write a short paragraph below for one (or two) of the topics given in the Google Form. You may also submit another form response. DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION: Friday, February 25th, 2022
Background:
The NTAA STAR is an annual publication intended to provide an understanding of the importance and impact of Tribal air programs. As such, one of the biggest components to the STAR is the unique perspectives of air programs within Tribal communities. In last year’s STAR, there was mention of needs not being met when it comes to implementing programs or projects due to the lack of funding and infrastructure. Our hope for this STAR is to emphasize funding, and not just the need for more funding for Tribes, but more emphasis on how Tribes are utilizing funds to implement projects and programs. So please provide your success and challenge stories, we’d love to hear from you! Reach out to Mariah.Ashely@nau.edu, NTAA Community Program Coordinator, for any questions.
NTAA is working on a Policy Resource Kit to help Tribes respond to EPA’s Proposed revisions for National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Primary Copper Smelters. Comments to EPA are due on February 25, 2022. You can find NTAA’s fact sheet here and stand by for template letter your Tribe can use to submit comments. to learn more, visit EPA’s website here.
NEW! FOR REGION 10 TRIBES!
NTAA has a Region 10 alternate executive committee seat open. As of January 28th, 2022, Carol Kriebs (Kootenai Tribe of Idaho) has stepped down from the primary representative role and Executive Committee Chair. As the alternate R10 representative, Lucas Bair will step into the primary representative role for the remainder of the term, which will end on June 30, 2023. Thank you to Carol for her significant contributions to tribal air quality work in the region and nationally.
On behalf of NTAA and in accordance with the NTAA Executive Committee’s Bylaws, EPA staff in Region10 (R10) are facilitating a call for nominations for the alternative R10 representative for the remainder of this term. Tribal staff can nominate themselves or another person.
How to Nominate:
To submit a nomination, please send the following information to Sandra Brozusky at brozusky.sandra@epa.gov by close of business February 11, 2022.
- Nominee’s name, Tribe, and contact info
- Why this person is a good candidate, or why you are interested in the position (300 words or less)
- Please feel free to contact Andy Bessler at andy.bessler@nau.edu or NTAA EC member Lucas Bair at lucas.bair@SpokaneTribe.com if you have any questions about NTAA or the Executive Committee. For more information on NTAA can be found at https://www.ntaatribalair.org/.
Ambient Air Quality/EPA/NTAA/Tribes News
The Guardian – ‘Carbon footprint gap’ between rich and poor expanding, study finds
E&E News – EPA clashes with Fla. over use of Trump WOTUS rule
The Hill – Biden administration sides with tribes over North Dakota in mineral dispute
E&E News – How states could topple Biden’s Justice40 goals
The Washington Post – Urban air pollution affects 2.5 billion people worldwide, study says
Science – Global assessment of oil and gas methane ultra-emitters
The Hill – EPA science advisers recommend tighter soot air quality standards in draft document
CNN – EPA to bring back mercury pollution rules that were nixed under Trump administration
Indian Country Today – Nooksack Tribe demands retraction from United Nations
Here’s your link to this week’s NACAA Washington Update
Climate Change/Energy
AP News – Biden extends Trump-era solar tariffs, but loosens some
Bloomberg – Landmark Study Validates Satellite Tracking of Giant Methane Leaks
CNN – All the Beijing snow is human-made — a resource-intensive, ‘dangerous’ trend as planet warms
E&E News – House OKs China bill packed with energy, enviro spending
Yale Climate Connections – 12 reports identify small but steady steps forward in 2022
The Guardian – A third of Americans are already facing above-average warming
Canary Media – Chart: How 11 states are building the US offshore wind industry from scratch
Fast Company – Climate change means Alaska will be able to grow more food—now is the time to start planning
ITEP Tribes and Climate Change Monthly Newsletter
Toxics/Mobile Sources
WBUR – Communities of color get more gas leaks, slower repairs, says study
Washington Examiner – White House looking at options to lower gas prices amid surge
Fortune – Ford’s CEO just made a convincing case to break his company up and go full EV
Wall Street Journal – Where Is There More Lithium to Power Cars and Phones? Beneath a California Lake.
Axios – Electric vehicles will shake up gas stations
Indoor Air Quality
Air Quality News – Half of PM2.5 from domestic burning comes from outdoor sources, says stove industry
News Direct – The Importance of Indoor Air Quality
Ris Media – HUD Announces $4 Million Radon Testing Notice of Funding Opportunity
News Wires – IAQ Distribution Encourages SoFi Stadium to Prioritize Indoor Air Quality in Advance of Super Bowl
Medical News Today – Improvements in air quality may slow down the rate of age-related cognitive decline