UPCOMING CALLS/EVENTS/ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES/NOTICES!
NTAA Upcoming Calls
Contact [email protected] if you have any questions about any call! NTAA will be transitioning to Zoom. A Zoom link will be sent with calendar invites for future NTAA work group calls.
| Woodsmoke Work Group: This work group meets Bi-Monthly and includes Tribal and EPA professionals with an interest in woodsmoke issues in Tribal communities. Contact [email protected] to join the call! | Thursday,
March 16, 10 am AK or 2 pm ET |
| Mobile Sources Work Group: This work group meets Bi-Monthly and includes Tribal and EPA professionals with an interest in mobile source issues in Tribal communities. Contact [email protected] to join the call! | Thursday, April 6, 10 am AK or 2 pm ET |
| Alaska Air Work Group: Join this work group to hear updates from EPA and Alaskans working on air quality. Contact [email protected] to join the call! | March 29,
10 am AK or 2 pm ET |
| NTAA / EPA Air Policy Update Call: Join this monthly meeting to hear updates from EPA on important air quality and climate policy updates as well as updates around the country related to Tribal Air Programs. Calls are usually on the last Thursday of every month unless it falls on a national holiday. Contact [email protected] to join the call! | Thursday, February 23, 10 am AK or 2 pm ET |
| Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Work Group: This work group meets Bi-Monthly and includes Tribal and EPA professionals with an interest in indoor air quality in Tribal homes and other buildings. [email protected] to join the call! | TBD, 10 am AK or 2 pm ET |
The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (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.
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
Ambient Air Quality/EPA/NTAA/Tribes
NEW! You are invited to participate in EPA Region 10’s 2023 Smoke Management in the Northwest Conference.
- When: April 18-20, 2023
- Tuesday April 18, 1:30 – 5:00 pm PT, Wednesday April 19, 8:30 am – 5:00 pm PT, Thursday April 20, 8:30 am – 12:00 pm PT
- Where: Seattle, Washington in the EPA Region 10 Office and virtual via Microsoft Teams. Hotel room block information to follow.
- Who: All who are interested in issues related to wildfire smoke, forest management, air quality, and public health
- Cost: Free
- How to register: Register via Ticketleap today!
- Additional background:
- EPA Region 10, along with help from private and public partners, has grown this thriving meeting for many years to address evolving needs.
- Last year, the meeting was 100% virtual with over 300 people participating. Materials and recordings of last year’s sessions are available here.
- The meeting is an opportunity to meet and learn from professionals on air quality, land management, community engagement, public health, academic, and a range of other wildfire smoke related issues.
- There will be a mix of session formats including presentations, panel discussions, break-out sessions, and interactive exercises.
- We are planning opportunities to gather in person for food, drink, and socializing Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.
REMINDER! The Particulate Matter (PM) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) reconsideration proposal has published in the Federal Register. The public comment period is open from January 27 to March 28.
REMINDER! The Tribal Healthy Homes Network is seeking Tribal insights on the ways you are working to protect Elders when climate events impact them inside their homes (e.g., wildfire smoke, high heat, and Ozone events). Your information will help other Tribes to create solutions, and will help inform their Spring, 2023 seminar: “Climate-Ready Housing for Tribal Elders.”
Please, take 3 minutes to fill out the survey. All participants receive a $5 Amazon Gift Card, courtesy of Partnership for Air Matters. Click here to take the survey:
https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/7084851/Tribal-Elders-Climate-Response-Survey
REMINDER! Nominations for candidates to participate on the Clean Air Act Advisory Committee are open!
Currently there are 2 Tribal Representatives on the Committee, Jeremy Fincher – Sac and Fox Nation, and Elizabeth Jacobs – Akwesasne Housing Authority. Natalene Cummings – Forest County Potawatomi Community, will complete the 3rd, 2-year term that is permitted at the Spring meeting of this year.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites nominations from a diverse range of qualified candidates to be considered for appointment to its Clean Air Act Advisory Committee (CAAAC). Vacancies are anticipated to be filled by August 2023. Sources in addition to this Federal Register Notice may also be utilized in the solicitation of nominees. ADDRESSES: Submit nominations in writing to: Lorraine Reddick, Designated Federal Officer, Office of Air and Radiation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460. The nomination period closes on March 30th. Electronic and mailed applications must be received by that date.
For further information or to email nominations, include in the subject line CAAAC Membership 2023 and send to [email protected].
To talk with Natalene more about what being a member of CAAAC involves, you can reach her at 715-478-7211.
REMINDER! Hold the Date! Call for Speakers!
What: Residential Wood Smoke Training Workshop (Workshop)
When: April 11 – 13, 2023
Where: Denver, CO
Who: State, local, tribal, and federal officials, non-profit organizations, and educational institutions
Workshop topics will be wide-ranging, e.g.:
- Regulatory Programs (e.g., curtailment programs, Wood Heater New Source Performance Standard, test methods, enforcement)
- Voluntary Programs (e.g., proper operation education campaigns, recreational fires/firepits, identifying and understanding the best devices for appliance incentive programs – emphasis on heat pumps)
- Residential wood smoke and PM NAAQS
- Residential health effects, indoor air quality
- New and existing funding opportunities (e.g., Environment and Climate Justice Block Grants, tax credits, heat pump direct rebates)
- Understanding heating appliances (wood stoves, electric heat pumps) & recreational devices (fireplaces, firepits)- including field trip to a retail store
A major focus of the Workshop will include how to leverage funding from the Inflation Reduction Act (e.g., Environment and Climate Justice Block Grants, direct rebates, tax credits) and overcome barriers to encourage and incentivize the installation of heat pumps in homes currently using wood as their primary or secondary source of heat.
Unlike past years, the workshop will not be held in conjunction with the Hearth, Patio and Barbeque Association Trade Show/Expo, but we do plan to have speakers from the hearth industry and learn about various recreational and heating appliances. We are planning a 3 hour field trip to a large retail store for an opportunity to see and learn about several different types of heating appliances (EPA-certified wood stoves, pellets stoves, gas appliance and electric heat pumps) and recreational devices (fireplaces and firepits/chimeneas).
Hotel and Registration: The Workshop is planned to run from the Tuesday afternoon, (April 11) until 4:30 pm, Thursday (April 13). We intend on reserving a block of rooms at the government rate at a hotel in downtown Denver. There will be no registration cost for the Workshop.
Call for topics and speakers: EPA, with the support of the Western States Air Resources Council (WESTAR) is coordinating the Workshop. As we formulate the agenda over the next 3-4 weeks, we are requesting suggestions on specific discussion topics and critical issues you face in tackling residential wood smoke and would find valuable to discuss with your counterparts across the nation. If you have any recommendation on speakers or have an issue or program that you would be interested in presenting, please contact Larry Brockman, [email protected] or 919-824-1579. Feel free to share this email with others who may have an interest and they can email me to be added to the distribution list.
REMINDER! The White House: FACT SHEET: How the Inflation Reduction Act Helps Tribal Communities
By signing the Inflation Reduction Act, President Biden is delivering on his promise to meet the climate crisis and build an economy that works for working families, including Tribal nations and American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian families. The Inflation Reduction Act lowers prescription drug costs, health care costs, and energy costs. It’s the most aggressive action we have taken to confront the climate crisis. It’ll lower the deficit and ask the super wealthy and corporations to pay their fair share. And no one making under $400,000 per year will pay a penny more in taxes. Click Here for FACT SHEET.
Climate Change / Energy
The U.S. EPA Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP) has published an enhanced National Map of Landfill Gas (LFG) Energy Projects and Municipal Solid Waste Landfills. The newly published version incorporates layers for Tribal lands and environmental justice demographic data so that users can identify areas where LFG energy projects may warrant additional consideration, analysis, or outreach to surrounding communities.
Link: https://www.epa.gov/lmop/lmop-national-map
Regional Tribal Environmental Health Summits
The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) is partnering with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to host a series of regional summits on the topic of environmental health in Indian Country. Each summit will feature Tribal leaders, environmental health practitioners, subject matter experts, and federal partners engaging on topics relevant to each region. A total of eight summits will be held between 2022 and 2024. The goal of each summit is to connect people from different backgrounds and Tribes, communities, federal agencies, Tribal organizations and state and local entities to address various environmental health and environmental justice issues of mutual concern across all regions as well as issues specific to individual regions. The first confirmed summit is May 1 – May 2, 2023, in Anchorage, Alaska.
Toxics/Mobile Sources
REMINDER! The National Transportation in Indian Country Conference (NTICC) will be held in Anchorage, Alaska, Sept. 24-28, 2023
The National Transportation in Indian Country Conference is the one-stop-shop transportation conference FOR TRIBES, BY TRIBES. NTICC offers access to relevant training and an opportunity for Tribal transportation professionals to engage with federal officials and their Tribal transportation peers regarding Tribal transportation issues and challenges.
NTICC provides information and resources for all who are committed to improving the transportation infrastructure of Indian Country and the safety of those who live, work, and travel the roadways of Alaska Native and Native American lands.
For more information and to register, visit: https://www.nticc.org/
REMINDER! EPA’s Office of Emergency Management is offering training that would be of interest to people working on air quality issues as related to emergency situations.
Overview of Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure and Computer-Aided Management of Emergency Operations (CAMEO) Software Suite Webinar for Tribal Partners
Participants should only register for one of the five offerings below, as all sessions will cover the same material. Please note whether times are listed in Eastern Standard Time (EST) or Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).
| Date | Time | Registration |
| March 2, 2023 | 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. EST | Register here |
| April 6, 2023 | 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. EDT | Register here |
| August 24, 2023 | 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. EDT | Register here |
| September 7, 2023 | 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. EDT | Register here |
| September 22, 2023 | 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EDT | Register here |
This hour and a half, EPA-hosted session will provide a basic overview of the Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure oil spill prevention program and how the Computer-Aided Management of Emergency Operations (CAMEO) software suite can be used to help communities prepare for and respond to chemical and oil spills. The session will also include a question-and-answer segment where participants can interact with the Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure national program manager and the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act program coordinator that oversees the CAMEO software suite.
REMINDER! Announcing the 2023 National Air Toxics Conference April 18-20, 2023 for your consideration for attending and/or presenting!
More details are available at the website: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/save-the-date-2023-national-air-toxics-conference-tickets-473488295237.
Opportunity to provide input: the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is developing a proposed rulemaking to review the Clean Air Act (CAA) New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) and Emission Guidelines (EG) for the Large Municipal Waste Combustors (LMWCs) source category (40 CFR part 60 subpart Eb, and 40 CFR part 60, subpart Cb, respectively). Pursuant to the EPA’s Policy on Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribes, the Agency is initiating pre-proposal consultation with federally recognized Indian tribes to obtain input on the upcoming action to update regulatory requirements for the Large Municipal Waste Combustors (LMWCs). If you are interested in requesting government-to-government consultation with EPA during the pre-proposal period, please contact Regina Chappell at (919) 541-3650 or email at [email protected]. Please contact us before February 3, 2023, to request the consultation. EPA will strive to accommodate the requests as time and resources permit. Tribes may also submit OFFICE OF AIR QUALITY PLANNING AND STANDARDS written comments at https://www.regulations.gov/
Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2022-0920, any time during the pre-proposal tribal consultation process and until June 6, 2023. If there are any questions, please email Charlene Spells at [email protected] Additional background information about the air regulations for LMWCs can be found at: https://www.epa.gov/stationary-sources-air-pollution/large-municipal-waste-combustors-lmwc-new-source-performance
Indoor Air Quality
Notice of Intent – DOE Grants for Energy Improvements at Public School Facilities – $80 million
Deadline: Available until expended. Eligible Entities: Consortium of One Local Education Agency and one or more Schools, Non-Profits, For-Profits, and Community Partners
This funding is the first tranche of funding in a $500 million investment, to make clean energy improvements in K-12 public schools. Funds will empower school districts to make upgrades that will lower facilities’ energy costs and improve student learning environments. Visit HERE for more information.
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!
Environmental Justice
EPA Environmental Justice recordings and meeting materials for all calls are posted here:
https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/national-environmental-justice-community-engagement-calls.
NOW HIRING!
NEW! Cultural Landscape Specialist
Come join the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community as a Cultural Landscape Specialist. In this role, you will be responsible for managing landscapes of cultural significance and directly oversees management of edible and medicinal landscaping, prairies, and maintained landscape around Hocokata Ti. Enjoy weekly pay, career growth opportunities, and health benefits.
REMINDER! JOB VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT Engineering Technician – DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Indian Health Service Office of Environmental Health & Engineering
Closing date: March 3, 2023
Summary: This position is located in the Office of Environmental Health at the District or one of its Field Offices. The primary function of the incumbent is to assist the engineering staff to perform technical duties related to the construction of water and waste facilities. Position may require infrequent travel. Works under the supervision of the District Engineer or Field Engineer, depending upon work location. To view this announcement, please visit the websites listed below: ESEP/MP: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/693089700
DE: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/693089500
For further information on the position located in Polacca, AZ, please contact: David Bates, Engineer (228) 364-2500 OEH&E – Hopi Field Office [email protected] [email protected]
or Andrew Larson, Engineer OEH&E – Hopi Field Office (928) 737-6283 [email protected]
We are seeking to fill the vacant position located on the Hopi reservation in Polacca, AZ
REMINDER! The following positions are open for the Prairie Island Indian Community
Applications can be found on their website under Employment & Opportunities http://www.prairieisland.org
Food Systems Specialist
Invasive Species Coordinator
Water Resources Specialist
REMINDER! The Department of Religious Studies is hiring an 1855 professorship in the position of Great Lakes Anishinaabe Knowledge, Spiritualities, and Cultural Practices.
Applications closes: July 8, 2024, | Click Here for Full Job Description
The Department of Religious Studies is hiring an 1855 professorship in the position of Great Lakes Anishinaabe Knowledge, Spiritualities, and Cultural Practices. We seek a scholar with a focus on Anishinaabe communities, and more broadly, Great Lakes Native American cultures. The scholar’s areas of interest should include Anishinaabe worldviews, ceremony, knowledge systems, and communal cultural practices in the context of colonialisms, resistance, resiliency, and sovereignty. The specific area of focus is open with preference to knowledge of traditions of Anishinaabe communities, and more broadly, Native American communities. We are particularly interested in scholars whose work and teaching complement cross-university strengths in environmental practices, North American Indigenous Law, communal health and wellness, and social justice. In keeping with our land-grant mission, we seek a scholar engaged in public-facing conversations about how contemporary Native American knowledge, language, spiritualities, and culture can inform larger discussions around law, public policy, land stewardship, resource management, community health and wellbeing, Tribal governance, museum collections and archives, and environmental justice movements.