UPCOMING CALLS/EVENTS/NOTICES

Ambient Air Quality/EPA/NTAA/Tribes

NEW! Smoke, Air, Fire, Energy (SAFE) Symposium – Rural and Tribal Community Resilience Strategies for Action Day-long symposium on March 1st, 2023 that will bring together Tribal leaders, researchers, and practitioners who are working on the interrelated topics of wildfire smoke, air quality, fire risk, and clean energy solutions. The goal is enhancing climate resilience of rural and Tribal communities. There is no cost to attend this event. Click HERE for more information and RSVP HERE.

EPA Seeks Feedback on Inflation Reduction Act Programs

Comments are due by January 18, 2023. In addition, the agency will conduct extensive public engagement as it works to implement the law.

EPA has announced initial public engagement and input opportunities for a subset of new and existing programs funded by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act. These programs, which include funding for air quality and climate projects addressing clean energy, transportation, methane emissions, and climate super-pollutants, will advance the President’s bold agenda to combat the climate crisis, protect public health and advance environmental justice. 

EPA’s engagement strategy for these programs includes:

• Request for Information (RFI): Issuing a request for public input to inform program design;
• Expert Input: Soliciting expert input on key program design questions from EPA’s Federal Advisory Committees including the Local Government Advisory Committee, Clean Air Act Advisory Committee, and the National Environmental Justice Advisory Committee;
• Listening Sessions: Launching a stakeholder listening session series to enable key stakeholders including environmental justice communities, state and local governments, clean energy advocates, labor, and others to provide input directly to EPA staff; and
• New Webpage: Creating a one-stop shop for information on the implementation of Inflation Reduction Act programs managed by EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation.

EPA has published a Request for Information (RFI) seeking public comment on six public dockets that correspond to Inflation Reduction Act provisions in the law.

Public Encouraged to Review and Comment in Six Public Dockets

• Docket 1: Climate Pollution Reduction Grants
• Docket 2: Transportation Programs
• Docket 3: Methane Emissions Reduction Program
• Docket 4: Funding to Address Air Pollution
• Docket 5: Funding for Implementation of American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act
• Docket 6: Low Emissions Electricity Program & GHG Corporate Reporting
• The RFI and more information on how to comment is available at this website.

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.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) FY2022 Appropriations

To View Report, Click Here.

This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress. Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role.

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 Loren Fox ([email protected]) with any feedback.

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 [email protected] if you have any questions about any call! *Registration instructions for NTAA webinars* When you register for 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 time. For other NTAA calls, NTAA will be transitioning to Zoom. A Zoom link will be sent with calendar invites for future NTAA work group calls.

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 

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

The first in-person National Tribal and Indigenous Climate Conference (NTICC) was an absolute success! We are excited to announce that the session recordings, the highlight reel, and the slide deck overview are now available. A special thanks to all who attended and made NTICC 2022 possible. For more information, check out the NTICC website.

RFI EPA Climate Pollution Reduction Grants – $5 billion

Deadline: January 18, 2023

This RFI is for a program to help eligible entities to help plan and implement climate pollution reduction strategies. Click here for more information.

REMINDER!

USDA Seeks Input from Tribal Leaders on Advancing Clean Energy for Tribal Communities Through the Inflation Reduction Act

WASHINGTON, Nov. 23, 2022 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Under Secretary Xochitl Torres Small today announced that USDA will host a Tribal consultation on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET.

Tribal leaders and their proxies are invited to give input on new funding authorities under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) that will help advance clean energy for people living in Tribal communities. Tribes, Tribal enterprises, Tribal utilities and other non-Tribal applicants may be eligible for funding under the IRA programs offered by USDA.

To attend the consultation, visit the Tribal Consultation on the IRA webinar registration page [lnks.gd]. To learn more, read the full Tribal Consultation Notification [lnks.gd].

Toxics/Mobile Sources

NEW! 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

New! 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!

UPCOMING CALLS/EVENTS/NOTICES

Ambient Air Quality/EPA/NTAA/Tribes

REMINDER! EPA Seeks Feedback on Inflation Reduction Act Programs

Comments are due by January 18, 2023. In addition, the agency will conduct extensive public engagement as it works to implement the law.

EPA has announced initial public engagement and input opportunities for a subset of new and existing programs funded by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act. These programs, which include funding for air quality and climate projects addressing clean energy, transportation, methane emissions, and climate super-pollutants, will advance the President’s bold agenda to combat the climate crisis, protect public health and advance environmental justice. 

EPA’s engagement strategy for these programs includes:

• Request for Information (RFI): Issuing a request for public input to inform program design;
• Expert Input: Soliciting expert input on key program design questions from EPA’s Federal Advisory Committees including the Local Government Advisory Committee, Clean Air Act Advisory Committee, and the National Environmental Justice Advisory Committee;
• Listening Sessions: Launching a stakeholder listening session series to enable key stakeholders including environmental justice communities, state and local governments, clean energy advocates, labor, and others to provide input directly to EPA staff; and
• New Webpage: Creating a one-stop shop for information on the implementation of Inflation Reduction Act programs managed by EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation.

EPA has published a Request for Information (RFI) seeking public comment on six public dockets that correspond to Inflation Reduction Act provisions in the law.

Public Encouraged to Review and Comment in Six Public Dockets

• Docket 1: Climate Pollution Reduction Grants
• Docket 2: Transportation Programs
• Docket 3: Methane Emissions Reduction Program
• Docket 4: Funding to Address Air Pollution
• Docket 5: Funding for Implementation of American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act
• Docket 6: Low Emissions Electricity Program & GHG Corporate Reporting
• The RFI and more information on how to comment is available at this website.

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.

EPA Webinar: Sensor Pods for Volatile Organic Compound Fenceline Monitoring and Data Analysis

Thursday, December 1, 2022, | 3:00 – 4:00 PM ET | Register Here

This webinar will review progress from EPA SPod prototypes to commercially available versions with example field applications. We will describe the best use practices for the SPod, as well as EPA’s SPod set up and operation procedures. We will discuss development of an EPA software system called the Sensor Network Intelligent Emissions Locator (SENTINEL). This open-source analysis tool will help users transform SPod fence line sensor data into quality assured and easily visualized emission source information. Lastly, we outline emerging partnerships with EPA Region 4 (Southeast) and others that will help make these NGEM systems available to various groups.

• For registration questions: [email protected]
• Webinar Series Coordinator: Lisa Matthews, Senior Advisor and State Liaison [email protected]

University of Oregon Webinar Series: Addressing Equity and Environmental Justice in the Forest Service’s Wildfire Crisis Strategy

1. Considering Equity in Wildfire Risk and Protection Thurs. Dec. 1, 10am PDT —– REGISTER: https://bit.ly/3dWM1Lw

• Webinar #4 in the Equity in Environmental Justice Series This webinar will summarize recent research examining the equity implications of rising wildfire risk and associated costs, including insurance coverage and the comparative costs for risk management activities in populations with different incomes.
• Presented by: Matthew R. Auer; The University of Georgia School of Public and International Affairs

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) FY2022 Appropriations

To View Report, Click Here.

This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress. Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role.

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 Loren Fox ([email protected]) 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 [email protected] if you have any questions about any call! *Registration instructions for NTAA webinars* When you register for 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 time. For other NTAA calls, NTAA will be transitioning to Zoom. A Zoom link will be sent with calendar invites for future NTAA work group calls.

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

The first in-person National Tribal and Indigenous Climate Conference (NTICC) was an absolute success! We are excited to announce that the session recordings, the highlight reel, and the slide deck overview are now available.

A special thanks to all who attended and made NTICC 2022 possible. For more information, check out the NTICC website.

RFI EPA Climate Pollution Reduction Grants – $5 billion

Deadline: January 18, 2023

This RFI is for a program to help eligible entities to help plan and implement climate pollution reduction strategies. Click here for more information.

NEW! The U.S. IRS seeks comments on upcoming energy guidance. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued three notices asking for comments on different aspects of extensions and enhancements of energy tax benefits in the Inflation Reduction Act.

•  Notice 2022-56 requests comments related to the qualified commercial clean vehicles provisions and the alternative fuel vehicle refueling property.
• Notice 2022-57 requests comments related to the credit for carbon capture.
• Notice 2022-58 requests comments related to the credit for the production of clean hydrogen and the clean fuel production credit.

The IRS is requesting that those interested in providing feedback to the questions in the notices follow the instructions in the notices to reply by December 3, 2022. The latest information on energy guidance and other issues related to the Inflation Reduction Act is available on a special page on www.IRS.gov.

REMINDER! U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Webinar: 2022 Tribal Energy Webinar Series: Tribes Leading the Way to a More Sustainable Energy Future

December 7, 2022, | 11:00 AM – 1:00 Pm MST | Register Here

Hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Indian Energy, the 2022 Tribal Energy Webinar Series will focus on how Tribes can position themselves to participate in the energy transition to the benefit of their communities and future generations. Tribes have been working toward a more sustainable future for many years. This webinar will highlight projects across Indian Country and rural Alaska that demonstrate successful steps toward a cleaner energy future.

USDA Seeks Input from Tribal Leaders on Advancing Clean Energy for Tribal Communities Through the Inflation Reduction Act

WASHINGTON, Nov. 23, 2022 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Under Secretary Xochitl Torres Small today announced that USDA will host a Tribal consultation on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET.

Tribal leaders and their proxies are invited to give input on new funding authorities under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) that will help advance clean energy for people living in Tribal communities. Tribes, Tribal enterprises, Tribal utilities and other non-Tribal applicants may be eligible for funding under the IRA programs offered by USDA.

To attend the consultation, visit the Tribal Consultation on the IRA webinar registration page [lnks.gd]. To learn more, read the full Tribal Consultation Notification [lnks.gd].

Toxics/Mobile Sources

REMINDER! EPA Announcing IRA Clean Ports Funding Listening Sessions

IRA Clean Ports Funding Listening Session #1 | December 6, 2022, | 1:00 – 3:00 PM ET | Register Here

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) provides EPA with $3 billion to fund zero-emission port equipment and technology and to help ports develop climate action plans to reduce air pollutants at U.S. ports. This new funding program will build on EPA’s Ports Initiative that the Agency established to ensure that our nation’s ports, a critical part of our infrastructure and supply chain, help address public health and environmental impacts on surrounding communities. See below for legislative text enabling this historic funding program:

This session will begin with a brief overview of the legislation and conclude with an interactive listening session. We encourage all to attend, whether you work at a port, work with near-port communities, or simply are interested in helping ports transition to zero-emissions. Please come prepared to share your feedback on the program, including:

1. What types of zero-emission port technologies or related planning support do you see as most critical for delivering emissions reductions?
2. What do you see as the biggest hurdles to transitioning to zero-emission port equipment?
3. How do you see this program complementing other available funding programs (e.g., at EPA, other federal or state programs) that can support efforts to reduce emissions at ports?
4. How would you like to see funding for zero-emission port technology, related planning and permitting, and development of climate action plans work together? Should the funding opportunities be sequenced or combined?
5. How can we help ensure this program addresses concerns of near-port communities and advances environmental justice?

For more information, please visit our website: https://www.epa.gov/ports-initiative

If you have any questions or feedback, please email: [email protected]

Indoor Air Quality

New! Notice of Intent – DOE Grants for Energy Improvements at Public School Facilities – $80 million

Deadline: To be determined 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.

REMINDER! EPA Seeks Information to Support Indoor Air Quality Management Improvements to Reduce Disease Transmission and Improve Public Health

Comments must be submitted by December 5, 2022.

Building upon the Biden-Harris Administration’s Clean Air in Buildings Challenge, a key component of the President’s National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking public comment to inform efforts by EPA and others to support the widespread adoption of actions that lead to improvements in indoor air quality in the nation’s building stock, with a particular emphasis on schools and commercial buildings, to help reduce disease transmission indoors and improve public health. For more information, see FR Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2022-0794

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!

UPCOMING CALLS/EVENTS/NOTICES

Ambient Air Quality/EPA/NTAA/Tribes

REMINDER! 2022 WHITE HOUSE TRIBAL NATIONS SUMMIT ANNOUNCEMENT

The President will host the next White House Tribal Nations Summit on November 30 and December 1 at the Department of the Interior in Washington, D.C. Since taking office, the President has prioritized strengthening Nation-to-Nation relationships, honoring trust and treaty obligations with federally recognized Tribes and advancing Tribal sovereignty and self-determination. Through the American Rescue Plan, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the Inflation Reduction Act, the Administration is also making historic investments in Tribal communities. Building on the 2021 White House Tribal Nations Summit, this year’s Summit will be an opportunity for Tribal leaders to engage directly with senior administration officials on implementation of these key priorities, new policies, and other important issues facing Tribal communities. Read the statement here.

• If you have any questions, please reach out to [email protected].
• View the Dear Tribal Leader Letter here.

REMINDER! Limited Stipends Available for the 2022 WHITE HOUSE TRIBAL NATIONS SUMMIT

Greetings Fellow Sovereignty Protectors and Justice Advocates,

In partnership with Native Americans in Philanthropy (NAP) as our funder, we are pleased to announce that the USET SPF is leading the coordination and management of providing a limited number of stipend payments to support Tribal Leaders from across Indian Country who want to attend the White House Tribal Nations Summit (WHTNS). To qualify, individuals must (1) self-attest a financial need, (2) be a representative of a federally recognized Tribal Nation, and (3) have been accepted by the White House as the Designated Attendee for their federally recognized Tribal Nation.

Stipends in the amount of $2,500 will be made available on a first come, first served basis, until funds are exhausted. Stipends will be paid directly to the federally recognized Tribal Nation. Please see the link below to complete the stipend request form. Click Here for Stipend Request Form

REMINDER! EPA Seeks Feedback on Inflation Reduction Act Programs

Comments are due by January 18, 2023. In addition, the agency will conduct extensive public engagement as it works to implement the law.

EPA has announced initial public engagement and input opportunities for a subset of new and existing programs funded by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act. These programs, which include funding for air quality and climate projects addressing clean energy, transportation, methane emissions, and climate super-pollutants, will advance the President’s bold agenda to combat the climate crisis, protect public health and advance environmental justice. 

EPA’s engagement strategy for these programs includes:

• Request for Information (RFI): Issuing a request for public input to inform program design;
• Expert Input: Soliciting expert input on key program design questions from EPA’s Federal Advisory Committees including the Local Government Advisory Committee, Clean Air Act Advisory Committee, and the National Environmental Justice Advisory Committee;
• Listening Sessions: Launching a stakeholder listening session series to enable key stakeholders including environmental justice communities, state and local governments, clean energy advocates, labor, and others to provide input directly to EPA staff; and
• New Webpage: Creating a one-stop shop for information on the implementation of Inflation Reduction Act programs managed by EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation.

EPA has published a Request for Information (RFI) seeking public comment on six public dockets that correspond to Inflation Reduction Act provisions in the law.

Public Encouraged to Review and Comment in Six Public Dockets

• Docket 1: Climate Pollution Reduction Grants
• Docket 2: Transportation Programs
• Docket 3: Methane Emissions Reduction Program
• Docket 4: Funding to Address Air Pollution
• Docket 5: Funding for Implementation of American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act
• Docket 6: Low Emissions Electricity Program & GHG Corporate Reporting
• The RFI and more information on how to comment is available at this website.

NEW! EPA Webinar: Sensor Pods for Volatile Organic Compound Fenceline Monitoring and Data Analysis

Thursday, December 1, 2022, | 3:00 – 4:00 PM ET | Register Here

            This webinar will review progress from EPA SPod prototypes to commercially available versions with example field applications. We will describe the best use practices for the SPod, as well as EPA’s SPod set up and operation procedures. We will discuss development of an EPA software system called the Sensor Network Intelligent Emissions Locator (SENTINEL). This open-source analysis tool will help users transform SPod fence line sensor data into quality assured and easily visualized emission source information. Lastly, we outline emerging partnerships with EPA Region 4 (Southeast) and others that will help make these NGEM systems available to various groups.

• For registration questions: [email protected]
• Webinar Series Coordinator: Lisa Matthews, Senior Advisor and State Liaison [email protected]

University of Oregon Webinar Series: Addressing Equity and Environmental Justice in the Forest Service’s Wildfire Crisis Strategy

1. Considering Equity in Wildfire Risk and Protection Thurs. Dec. 1, 10am PDT —– REGISTER: https://bit.ly/3dWM1Lw

• Webinar #4 in the Equity in Environmental Justice Series This webinar will summarize recent research examining the equity implications of rising wildfire risk and associated costs, including insurance coverage and the comparative costs for risk management activities in populations with different incomes.
• Presented by: Matthew R. Auer; The University of Georgia School of Public and International Affairs

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) FY2022 Appropriations

To View Report, Click Here.

This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress. Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role.

NC Radon Program Social Media Toolkit

The NC Radon Program has created a free Radon Social Media Toolkit for your use. The materials are in both English and Spanish. All the materials are in a Google Docs folder. To access this social media toolkit folder

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 Loren Fox ([email protected]) 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 [email protected] if you have any questions about any call! *Registration instructions for NTAA webinars* When you register for 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 time. For other NTAA calls, NTAA will be transitioning to Zoom. A Zoom link will be sent with calendar invites for future NTAA work group calls.

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

RFI EPA Climate Pollution Reduction Grants – $5 billion

Deadline: January 18, 2023

This RFI is for a program to help eligible entities to help plan and implement climate pollution reduction strategies. Click here for more information.

REMINDER! U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Webinar: 2022 Tribal Energy Webinar Series: Tribes Leading the Way to a More Sustainable Energy Future

December 7, 2022, | 11:00 AM – 1:00 Pm MST | Register Here

Hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Indian Energy, the 2022 Tribal Energy Webinar Series will focus on how Tribes can position themselves to participate in the energy transition to the benefit of their communities and future generations. Tribes have been working toward a more sustainable future for many years. This webinar will highlight projects across Indian Country and rural Alaska that demonstrate successful steps toward a cleaner energy future.

Toxics/Mobile Sources

REMINDER! EPA Announcing IRA Clean Ports Funding Listening Sessions

IRA Clean Ports Funding Listening Session #1 | December 6, 2022, | 1:00 – 3:00 PM ET | Register Here

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) provides EPA with $3 billion to fund zero-emission port equipment and technology and to help ports develop climate action plans to reduce air pollutants at U.S. ports. This new funding program will build on EPA’s Ports Initiative that the Agency established to ensure that our nation’s ports, a critical part of our infrastructure and supply chain, help address public health and environmental impacts on surrounding communities. See below for legislative text enabling this historic funding program:

This session will begin with a brief overview of the legislation and conclude with an interactive listening session. We encourage all to attend, whether you work at a port, work with near-port communities, or simply are interested in helping ports transition to zero-emissions. Please come prepared to share your feedback on the program, including:

1. What types of zero-emission port technologies or related planning support do you see as most critical for delivering emissions reductions?
2. What do you see as the biggest hurdles to transitioning to zero-emission port equipment?
3. How do you see this program complementing other available funding programs (e.g., at EPA, other federal or state programs) that can support efforts to reduce emissions at ports?
4. How would you like to see funding for zero-emission port technology, related planning and permitting, and development of climate action plans work together? Should the funding opportunities be sequenced or combined?
5. How can we help ensure this program addresses concerns of near-port communities and advances environmental justice?

For more information, please visit our website: https://www.epa.gov/ports-initiative

If you have any questions or feedback, please email: [email protected]

Indoor Air Quality

New! Notice of Intent – DOE Grants for Energy Improvements at Public School Facilities – $80 million

Deadline: To be determined 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.

REMINDER! EPA Seeks Information to Support Indoor Air Quality Management Improvements to Reduce Disease Transmission and Improve Public Health

Comments must be submitted by December 5, 2022.

Building upon the Biden-Harris Administration’s Clean Air in Buildings Challenge, a key component of the President’s National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking public comment to inform efforts by EPA and others to support the widespread adoption of actions that lead to improvements in indoor air quality in the nation’s building stock, with a particular emphasis on schools and commercial buildings, to help reduce disease transmission indoors and improve public health. For more information, see FR Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2022-0794

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!

UPCOMING CALLS/EVENTS/NOTICES

Ambient Air Quality/EPA/NTAA/Tribes

REMINDER! 2022 WHITE HOUSE TRIBAL NATIONS SUMMIT ANNOUNCEMENT

The President will host the next White House Tribal Nations Summit on November 30 and December 1 at the Department of the Interior in Washington, D.C. Since taking office, the President has prioritized strengthening Nation-to-Nation relationships, honoring trust and treaty obligations with federally recognized Tribes and advancing Tribal sovereignty and self-determination. Through the American Rescue Plan, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the Inflation Reduction Act, the Administration is also making historic investments in Tribal communities. Building on the 2021 White House Tribal Nations Summit, this year’s Summit will be an opportunity for Tribal leaders to engage directly with senior administration officials on implementation of these key priorities, new policies, and other important issues facing Tribal communities. Read the statement here.

• If you have any questions, please reach out to [email protected].
• View the Dear Tribal Leader Letter here.

REMINDER! Limited Stipends Available for the 2022 WHITE HOUSE TRIBAL NATIONS SUMMIT

Greetings Fellow Sovereignty Protectors and Justice Advocates, In partnership with Native Americans in Philanthropy (NAP) as our funder, we are pleased to announce that the USET SPF is leading the coordination and management of providing a limited number of stipend payments to support Tribal Leaders from across Indian Country who want to attend the White House Tribal Nations Summit (WHTNS). To qualify, individuals must (1) self-attest a financial need, (2) be a representative of a federally recognized Tribal Nation, and (3) have been accepted by the White House as the Designated Attendee for their federally recognized Tribal Nation.

Stipends in the amount of $2,500 will be made available on a first come, first served basis, until funds are exhausted. Stipends will be paid directly to the federally recognized Tribal Nation. Please see the link below to complete the stipend request form. Click Here for Stipend Request Form

REMINDER! EPA Seeks Feedback on Inflation Reduction Act Programs

Comments are due by January 18, 2023. In addition, the agency will conduct extensive public engagement as it works to implement the law.

EPA has announced initial public engagement and input opportunities for a subset of new and existing programs funded by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act. These programs, which include funding for air quality and climate projects addressing clean energy, transportation, methane emissions, and climate super-pollutants, will advance the President’s bold agenda to combat the climate crisis, protect public health and advance environmental justice. 

EPA’s engagement strategy for these programs includes:

• Request for Information (RFI): Issuing a request for public input to inform program design;
• Expert Input: Soliciting expert input on key program design questions from EPA’s Federal Advisory Committees including the Local Government Advisory Committee, Clean Air Act Advisory Committee, and the National Environmental Justice Advisory Committee;
• Listening Sessions: Launching a stakeholder listening session series to enable key stakeholders including environmental justice communities, state and local governments, clean energy advocates, labor, and others to provide input directly to EPA staff; and
• New Webpage: Creating a one-stop shop for information on the implementation of Inflation Reduction Act programs managed by EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation.

EPA has published a Request for Information (RFI) seeking public comment on six public dockets that correspond to Inflation Reduction Act provisions in the law.

Public Encouraged to Review and Comment in Six Public Dockets

• Docket 1: Climate Pollution Reduction Grants
• Docket 2: Transportation Programs
• Docket 3: Methane Emissions Reduction Program
• Docket 4: Funding to Address Air Pollution
• Docket 5: Funding for Implementation of American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act
• Docket 6: Low Emissions Electricity Program & GHG Corporate Reporting
• The RFI and more information on how to comment is available at this website.

NEW! Lawrence Berkeley National Lab (LBNL) Webinar: Residential Solar-Adopter Income and Demographic Trends: Data Through 2021

November 17, 2022, | 10:00 AM PT | Register Here

Please join us for a free webinar summarizing key findings from Berkeley Lab’s recently published report, “Residential Solar-Adopter Income and Demographic Trends: November 2022 Update.” The report, the latest in an annual series, describes income, demographic, presence in “disadvantaged communities”, and other socio-economic trends among U.S. residential rooftop solar adopters. This latest edition is based on household level data for more than 2.8 million residential solar adopters across the country, with systems installed through 2021. With its unique size, geographic scope, and level of detail, this report is intended to serve as a foundational reference document for policy-makers, industry stakeholders, and researchers. We appreciate the funding support of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Energy Technologies Office.

 NEW! EPA Webinar: Sensor Pods for Volatile Organic Compound Fenceline Monitoring and Data Analysis

Thursday, December 1, 2022, | 3:00 – 4:00 PM ET | Register Here

            This webinar will review progress from EPA SPod prototypes to commercially available versions with example field applications. We will describe the best use practices for the SPod, as well as EPA’s SPod set up and operation procedures. We will discuss development of an EPA software system called the Sensor Network Intelligent Emissions Locator (SENTINEL). This open-source analysis tool will help users transform SPod fence line sensor data into quality assured and easily visualized emission source information. Lastly, we outline emerging partnerships with EPA Region 4 (Southeast) and others that will help make these NGEM systems available to various groups.

• For registration questions: [email protected]
• Webinar Series Coordinator: Lisa Matthews, Senior Advisor and State Liaison [email protected]

 University of Oregon Webinar Series: Addressing Equity and Environmental Justice in the Forest Service’s Wildfire Crisis Strategy

1. Considering Equity in Wildfire Risk and Protection Thurs. Dec. 1, 10am PDT —– REGISTER: https://bit.ly/3dWM1Lw

• Webinar #4 in the Equity in Environmental Justice Series This webinar will summarize recent research examining the equity implications of rising wildfire risk and associated costs, including insurance coverage and the comparative costs for risk management activities in populations with different incomes.
• Presented by: Matthew R. Auer; The University of Georgia School of Public and International Affairs

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) FY2022 Appropriations

To View Report, Click Here.

This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress. Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role.

NC Radon Program Social Media Toolkit

The NC Radon Program has created a free Radon Social Media Toolkit for your use. The materials are in both English and Spanish. All the materials are in a Google Docs folder. To access this social media toolkit folder

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 Loren Fox ([email protected]) 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 [email protected] if you have any questions about any call! *Registration instructions for NTAA webinars* 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. For other NTAA calls, NTAA will be transitioning to Zoom. A Zoom link will be sent with calendar invites for future NTAA work group calls.

 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

REMINDER! U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Webinar: 2022 Tribal Energy Webinar Series: Tribes Leading the Way to a More Sustainable Energy Future

December 7, 2022, | 11:00 AM – 1:00 Pm MST | Register Here

Hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Indian Energy, the 2022 Tribal Energy Webinar Series will focus on how Tribes can position themselves to participate in the energy transition to the benefit of their communities and future generations. Tribes have been working toward a more sustainable future for many years. This webinar will highlight projects across Indian Country and rural Alaska that demonstrate successful steps toward a cleaner energy future.

Toxics/Mobile Sources

REMINDER! Next SmartWay Webinar: Everything you want to know about the Partner Portal – So much more for you than the tool alone!

Wednesday, November 16, 2022, | 2:00 PM ET | Register Here

Join the SmartWay team as we walk through the features of the SmartWay Partner Portal you may not have discovered. While the Portal is the primary way partners access their SmartWay tools, Registration document, and the SmartWay Logo Files, it is also full of other resources, reports and information that can let you take full advantage of your SmartWay partnership. During this webinar, we will provide a brief introduction to the range of resources at your fingertips, including the Emissions Results Report, LTL Carbon Calculator, SmartWay Logo Resources, A Goal Setting Guide for SmartWay Shippers, sample press releases… and more. This webinar is targeted to all Partners. 

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

NEW! EPA Announcing IRA Clean Ports Funding Listening Sessions

IRA Clean Ports Funding Listening Session #1 | December 6, 2022, | 1:00 – 3:00 PM ET | Register Here

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) provides EPA with $3 billion to fund zero-emission port equipment and technology and to help ports develop climate action plans to reduce air pollutants at U.S. ports. This new funding program will build on EPA’s Ports Initiative that the Agency established to ensure that our nation’s ports, a critical part of our infrastructure and supply chain, help address public health and environmental impacts on surrounding communities. See below for legislative text enabling this historic funding program:

This session will begin with a brief overview of the legislation and conclude with an interactive listening session. We encourage all to attend, whether you work at a port, work with near-port communities, or simply are interested in helping ports transition to zero-emissions. Please come prepared to share your feedback on the program, including:

1. What types of zero-emission port technologies or related planning support do you see as most critical for delivering emissions reductions?
2. What do you see as the biggest hurdles to transitioning to zero-emission port equipment?
3. How do you see this program complementing other available funding programs (e.g., at EPA, other federal or state programs) that can support efforts to reduce emissions at ports?
4. How would you like to see funding for zero-emission port technology, related planning and permitting, and development of climate action plans work together? Should the funding opportunities be sequenced or combined?
5. How can we help ensure this program addresses concerns of near-port communities and advances environmental justice?

For more information, please visit our website: https://www.epa.gov/ports-initiative
If you have any questions or feedback, please email: [email protected]

Indoor Air Quality

REMINDER! EPA Webinar: The Federal Interagency Committee on Indoor Air Quality (CIAQ) will hold its next public webinar

November 17, 2022, | 1:00 p.m. ET. | Register Here

Dr. Chandra Sekhar, Professor, Department of the Built Environment, College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore and Dr. Iain Walker, Staff Scientist, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory will be giving a presentation titled “ASHRAE’s IAQ and COVID Guidance for Multifamily Buildings” This presentation will provide the background for ASHRAE’s COVID guidance for multifamily buildings together with an overview of detailed recommendations for building owners and managers.

Following Dr. Sekhar and Dr. Walker’s presentation, CIAQ member agencies will provide updates on indoor environmental quality–related activities at their agencies.

A draft agenda for the November meeting is provided on the CIAQ website.

REMINDER! EPA Seeks Information to Support Indoor Air Quality Management Improvements to Reduce Disease Transmission and Improve Public Health

Comments must be submitted by December 5, 2022.

Building upon the Biden-Harris Administration’s Clean Air in Buildings Challenge, a key component of the President’s National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking public comment to inform efforts by EPA and others to support the widespread adoption of actions that lead to improvements in indoor air quality in the nation’s building stock, with a particular emphasis on schools and commercial buildings, to help reduce disease transmission indoors and improve public health. For more information, see FR Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2022-0794

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!

UPCOMING CALLS/EVENTS/NOTICES

Ambient Air Quality/EPA/NTAA/Tribes

NEW! EPA Seeks Feedback on Inflation Reduction Act Programs

EPA has announced initial public engagement and input opportunities for a subset of new and existing programs funded by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act. These programs, which include funding for air quality and climate projects addressing clean energy, transportation, methane emissions, and climate super-pollutants, will advance the President’s bold agenda to combat the climate crisis, protect public health and advance environmental justice. 

EPA’s engagement strategy for these programs includes:

• Request for Information (RFI): Issuing a request for public input to inform program design;
• Expert Input: Soliciting expert input on key program design questions from EPA’s Federal Advisory Committees including the Local Government Advisory Committee, Clean Air Act Advisory Committee, and the National Environmental Justice Advisory Committee;
• Listening Sessions: Launching a stakeholder listening session series to enable key stakeholders including environmental justice communities, state and local governments, clean energy advocates, labor, and others to provide input directly to EPA staff; and
• New Webpage: Creating a one-stop shop for information on the implementation of Inflation Reduction Act programs managed by EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation.

EPA has published a Request for Information (RFI) seeking public comment on six public dockets that correspond to Inflation Reduction Act provisions in the law. Comments are due by January 18, 2023. In addition, the agency will conduct extensive public engagement as it works to implement the law.

Public Encouraged to Review and Comment in Six Public Dockets

• Docket 1: Climate Pollution Reduction Grants
• Docket 2: Transportation Programs
• Docket 3: Methane Emissions Reduction Program
• Docket 4: Funding to Address Air Pollution
• Docket 5: Funding for Implementation of American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act
• Docket 6: Low Emissions Electricity Program & GHG Corporate Reporting
• The RFI and more information on how to comment is available at this website.

University of Oregon Webinar Series: Addressing Equity and Environmental Justice in the Forest Service’s Wildfire Crisis Strategy

1. Considering Equity in Wildfire Risk and Protection Thurs. Dec. 1, 10am PDT —– REGISTER: https://bit.ly/3dWM1Lw

• Webinar #4 in the Equity in Environmental Justice Series This webinar will summarize recent research examining the equity implications of rising wildfire risk and associated costs, including insurance coverage and the comparative costs for risk management activities in populations with different incomes.
• Presented by: Matthew R. Auer; The University of Georgia School of Public and International Affairs

EPA Webinar: One Health

November 16, 2022, | 3:00 PM ET | Register Here

One Health is a collaborative, multisectoral, and transdisciplinary approach—working at the local, regional, national, and global levels—with the goal of achieving optimal health outcomes recognizing the interconnection between people, animals, plants, and their shared environment. EPA’s Office of Research and Development (ORD) has been partnering with the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA), the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), and the Environmental Council of the States (ECOS) to raise awareness of One Health. In 2021, EPA and our state partners hosted a 2-part public webinar series on One Health and a virtual workshop where state environmental, health, and fish & wildlife agencies discussed the importance of the One Health approach and the role of different health professionals within the One Health framework, as well as brainstormed potential projects to collaborate on at both the state and national levels.

In honor of One Health Day on November 3rd, this webinar will provide a brief overview of One Health and more information on how EPA is collaborating with our state partners to educate, inform and share best practices on One Health, including examples of EPA One Health research and how the One Health approach being applied in Alaska and Missouri.

2022 WHITE HOUSE TRIBAL NATIONS SUMMIT ANNOUNCEMENT

The President will host the next White House Tribal Nations Summit on November 30 and December 1 at the Department of the Interior in Washington, D.C. Since taking office, the President has prioritized strengthening Nation-to-Nation relationships, honoring trust and treaty obligations with federally recognized Tribes and advancing Tribal sovereignty and self-determination. Through the American Rescue Plan, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the Inflation Reduction Act, the Administration is also making historic investments in Tribal communities. Building on the 2021 White House Tribal Nations Summit, this year’s Summit will be an opportunity for Tribal leaders to engage directly with senior administration officials on implementation of these key priorities, new policies, and other important issues facing Tribal communities. Read the statement here.

Limited Stipends Available for the 2022 WHITE HOUSE TRIBAL NATIONS SUMMIT

            Greetings Fellow Sovereignty Protectors and Justice Advocates,

In partnership with Native Americans in Philanthropy (NAP) as our funder, we are pleased to announce that the USET SPF is leading the coordination and management of providing a limited number of stipend payments to support Tribal Leaders from across Indian Country who want to attend the White House Tribal Nations Summit (WHTNS). To qualify, individuals must (1) self-attest a financial need, (2) be a representative of a federally recognized Tribal Nation, and (3) have been accepted by the White House as the Designated Attendee for their federally recognized Tribal Nation.

Stipends in the amount of $2,500 will be made available on a first come, first served basis, until funds are exhausted. Stipends will be paid directly to the federally recognized Tribal Nation. Please see the link below to complete the stipend request form. Click Here for Stipend Request Form

REMINDER! Please join us for a virtual round table discussion hosted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Midwest Tribal Energy Resources Association on either November 8 (3PM MT) or November 9 (9AM MT). 

Indian Country represents approximately 2% of the U.S. landmass, but more than 5% of solar photovoltaic (PV) potential in the United States. Despite the significant potential of solar PV development on Tribal lands, only a handful of large-scale projects have been installed. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and MTERA have partnered to form the Tribal Solar Initiative to address regulatory barriers to Tribal solar adoption, supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s  Solar Energy Technologies Office. The goal of the project is to articulate key barriers to Tribal solar and Tribal solar-plus-storage adoption at all scales and to ready stakeholders to implement options to address these challenges.

These discussions will focus on the findings of the Tribal Solar Initiative. In March 2022, NREL and MTERA published the draft guidebook “Addressing Regulatory Challenges to Tribal Solar Deployment” and is seeking feedback from interested stakeholders regarding key findings. Final+Guidebooks+Draft.pdf (squarespace.com). We hope that you will join us so that we may improve the guidebook and better enable Tribal solar deployment.

Register here for November 8th

Register here for November 9th

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) FY2022 Appropriations

To View Report, Click Here.

This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress. Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role.

NC Radon Program Social Media Toolkit

The NC Radon Program has created a free Radon Social Media Toolkit for your use. The materials are in both English and Spanish. All the materials are in a Google Docs folder. To access this social media toolkit folder

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 Loren Fox ([email protected]) 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 [email protected] if you have any questions about any call! *Registration instructions for NTAA webinars* 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. For other NTAA calls, NTAA will be transitioning to Zoom. A Zoom link will be sent with calendar invites for future NTAA work group calls.

 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! U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Webinar: 2022 Tribal Energy Webinar Series: Tribes Leading the Way to a More Sustainable Energy Future

December 7, 2022, | 11:00 AM – 1:00 Pm MST | Register Here

Hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Indian Energy, the 2022 Tribal Energy Webinar Series will focus on how Tribes can position themselves to participate in the energy transition to benefit their communities and future generations. Tribes have been working toward a more sustainable future for many years. This webinar will highlight projects across Indian Country and rural Alaska that demonstrate successful steps toward a cleaner energy future.

Toxics/Mobile Sources

REMINDER! U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) EV Grid Assist: Accelerating the Transition initiative Webinar Series

November 10, 2022, | 3:00 – 4:30 PM ET | Register Here

            This webinar series is part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) EV Grid Assist: Accelerating the Transition initiative. It aims to support decision makers by providing timely information on a wide range of topics important to the integration of electric vehicles and the grid.  To learn more about the EVGrid Assist initiative or to download a recording of past webinars, visit  www.energy.gov/evgridassist.

• Planning for the future, November 10, 2022, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM EDT

NEW! EPA Announcing IRA Clean Ports Funding Listening Sessions

IRA Clean Ports Funding Listening Session #1 | November 9, 2022, | 1:00 – 3:00 PM ET | Register Here

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) provides EPA with $3 billion to fund zero-emission port equipment and technology and to help ports develop climate action plans to reduce air pollutants at U.S. ports. This new funding program will build on EPA’s Ports Initiative that the Agency established to ensure that our nation’s ports, a critical part of our infrastructure and supply chain, help address public health and environmental impacts on surrounding communities. See below for legislative text enabling this historic funding program.

EPA wants to hear from you on how to build the Clean Ports funding program in the IRA! EPA is hosting two listening sessions on:

November 9, 2022, 1:00-3:00 PM ET

December 6, 2022, 1:00-3:00 PM ET | Register Here

The format of these sessions will be the same. Please attend one or both. These sessions will begin with a brief overview of the legislation and conclude with an interactive listening session. We encourage all to attend, whether you work at a port, work with near-port communities, or simply are interested in helping ports transition to zero-emissions. Please come prepared to share your feedback on the program, including:

1. What types of zero-emission port technologies or related planning support do you see as most critical for delivering emissions reductions?
2. What do you see as the biggest hurdles to transitioning to zero-emission port equipment?
3. How do you see this program complementing other available funding programs (e.g., at EPA, other federal or state programs) that can support efforts to reduce emissions at ports?
4. How would you like to see funding for zero-emission port technology, related planning and permitting, and development of climate action plans work together? Should the funding opportunities be sequenced or combined?
5. How can we help ensure this program addresses concerns of near-port communities and advances environmental justice?

For more information, please visit our website: https://www.epa.gov/ports-initiative
If you have any questions or feedback, please email: [email protected]

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 

REMINDER! EPA Spanish Webinar: Indoor Air Quality: Healthy Homes and Asthma 

November 10, 2022, | 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET | Register Here

EPA’s Office of Indoor Environments ─ whose primary goal is to improve indoor air quality where people live, learn and work ─ will host this Spanish-language webinar on the importance and relationship of indoor air quality, healthy homes, and asthma. EPA will be joined by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rico Department of Health.

This webinar will provide you with valuable information on:

• Indoor air quality
• Principles of healthy homes
• Asthma in Puerto Rico and the VIAS Home Visiting Project
• Resources available in Spanish

We encourage you to register for this webinar aimed at Spanish speakers in general. Spread the word and forward information about the event to a colleague who may be interested in the topic.

For more information about the webinar, please contact Carmen Torrent at [email protected]

NEW! EPA Webinar: The Federal Interagency Committee on Indoor Air Quality (CIAQ) will hold its next public webinar

November 17, 2022, | 1:00 p.m. ET. | Register Here

Dr. Chandra Sekhar, Professor, Department of the Built Environment, College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore and Dr. Iain Walker, Staff Scientist, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory will be giving a presentation titled “ASHRAE’s IAQ and COVID Guidance for Multifamily Buildings” This presentation will provide the background for ASHRAE’s COVID guidance for multifamily buildings together with an overview of detailed recommendations for building owners and managers.

Following Dr. Sekhar and Dr. Walker’s presentation, CIAQ member agencies will provide updates on indoor environmental quality–related activities at their agencies.

 A draft agenda for the November meeting is provided on the CIAQ website.

EPA Seeks Information to Support Indoor Air Quality Management Improvements to Reduce Disease Transmission and Improve Public Health

            Building upon the Biden-Harris Administration’s Clean Air in Buildings Challenge, a key component of the President’s National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking public comment to inform efforts by EPA and others to support the widespread adoption of actions that lead to improvements in indoor air quality in the nation’s building stock, with a particular emphasis on schools and commercial buildings, to help reduce disease transmission indoors and improve public health.

Comments must be submitted by December 5, 2022. For more information, see FR Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2022-0794

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!

UPCOMING CALLS/EVENTS/NOTICES

Ambient Air Quality/EPA/NTAA/Tribes

NEW! University of Oregon Webinar Series: Addressing Equity and Environmental Justice in the Forest Service’s Wildfire Crisis Strategy

November 2, 2022, | 10:00 Am AZ | Register Here

Webinar #2 in the Equity and Environmental Justice Webinar Series

The U.S. Forest Service’s Wildfire Crisis Strategy, and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that is funding the agency’s initial investments to reduce wildfire risk under the Strategy, both call for considering equity and environmental justice when implementing projects. We present practical applications of our research on the environmental justice implications of hazardous fuels reduction, including new tools, that help address this need.

Presented by: Susan Charnley & Mark Adams; US Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station

1. Wildfires, Communities, and Environmental Justice Tues. Nov. 8, 10am PDT —– REGISTER: https://bit.ly/3SprpKI

• Webinar #3 in the Equity and Environmental Justice in Wildfire Series. This webinar will go over results of a recent literature review of studies that focus on the environmental justice aspects of wildfire, as well as present preliminary findings on how different socio-demographic groups have been affected by wildfires across California in the last decade.
• Presented by: Francisco Escobedo; US Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research Station

1. Considering Equity in Wildfire Risk and Protection Thurs. Dec. 1, 10am PDT —– REGISTER: https://bit.ly/3dWM1Lw

• Webinar #4 in the Equity in Environmental Justice Series This webinar will summarize recent research examining the equity implications of rising wildfire risk and associated costs, including insurance coverage and the comparative costs for risk management activities in populations with different incomes.
• Presented by: Matthew R. Auer; The University of Georgia School of Public and International Affairs

NEW! EPA Webinar: One Health

November 16, 2022, | 3:00 PM ET | Register Here

One Health is a collaborative, multisectoral, and transdisciplinary approach—working at the local, regional, national, and global levels—with the goal of achieving optimal health outcomes recognizing the interconnection between people, animals, plants, and their shared environment. EPA’s Office of Research and Development (ORD) has been partnering with the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA), the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), and the Environmental Council of the States (ECOS) to raise awareness of One Health. In 2021, EPA and our state partners hosted a 2-part public webinar series on One Health and a virtual workshop where state environmental, health, and fish & wildlife agencies discussed the importance of the One Health approach and the role of different health professionals within the One Health framework, as well as brainstormed potential projects to collaborate on at both the state and national levels.

In honor of One Health Day on November 3rd, this webinar will provide a brief overview of One Health and more information on how EPA is collaborating with our state partners to educate, inform and share best practices on One Health, including examples of EPA One Health research and how the One Health approach being applied in Alaska and Missouri. 

2022 WHITE HOUSE TRIBAL NATIONS SUMMIT ANNOUNCEMENT

The President will host the next White House Tribal Nations Summit on November 30 and December 1 at the Department of the Interior in Washington, D.C. Since taking office, the President has prioritized strengthening Nation-to-Nation relationships, honoring trust and treaty obligations with federally recognized Tribes and advancing Tribal sovereignty and self-determination. Through the American Rescue Plan, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the Inflation Reduction Act, the Administration is also making historic investments in Tribal communities. Building on the 2021 White House Tribal Nations Summit, this year’s Summit will be an opportunity for Tribal leaders to engage directly with senior administration officials on implementation of these key priorities, new policies, and other important issues facing Tribal communities. Read the statement here.

Limited Stipends Available for the 2022 WHITE HOUSE TRIBAL NATIONS SUMMIT

            Greetings Fellow Sovereignty Protectors and Justice Advocates,

In partnership with Native Americans in Philanthropy (NAP) as our funder, we are pleased to announce that the USET SPF is leading the coordination and management of providing a limited number of stipend payments to support Tribal Leaders from across Indian Country who want to attend the White House Tribal Nations Summit (WHTNS). To qualify, individuals must (1) self-attest a financial need, (2) be a representative of a federally recognized Tribal Nation, and (3) have been accepted by the White House as the Designated Attendee for their federally recognized Tribal Nation.

Stipends in the amount of $2,500 will be made available on a first come, first served basis, until funds are exhausted. Stipends will be paid directly to the federally recognized Tribal Nation. Please see the link below to complete the stipend request form. Click Here for Stipend Request Form  

Please join us for a virtual round table discussion hosted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Midwest Tribal Energy Resources Association on either November 8 (3PM MT) or November 9 (9AM MT). 

Indian Country represents approximately 2% of the U.S. landmass, but more than 5% of solar photovoltaic (PV) potential in the United States. Despite the significant potential of solar PV development on tribal lands, only a handful of large-scale projects have been installed. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and MTERA have partnered to form the Tribal Solar Initiative in order to address regulatory barriers to tribal solar adoption, supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s  Solar Energy Technologies Office. The goal of the project is to articulate key barriers to tribal solar and tribal solar-plus-storage adoption at all scales and to ready stakeholders to implement options to address these challenges.

These discussions will focus on the findings of the Tribal Solar Initiative. In March 2022, NREL and MTERA published the draft guidebook “Addressing Regulatory Challenges to Tribal Solar Deployment” and is seeking feedback from interested stakeholders regarding key findings. Final+Guidebooks+Draft.pdf (squarespace.com). We hope that you will join us so that we may improve the guidebook and better enable tribal solar deployment.

Register here for November 8th

Register here for November 9th

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) FY2022 Appropriations

To View Report, Click Here.

This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress. Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role.

NC Radon Program Social Media Toolkit

The NC Radon Program has created a free Radon Social Media Toolkit for your use. The materials are in both English and Spanish. All of the materials are in a Google Docs folder. To access this social media toolkit folder

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 Loren Fox ([email protected]) 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 [email protected] if you have any questions about any call! *Registration instructions for NTAA webinars* 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. For other NTAA calls, NTAA will be transitioning to Zoom. A Zoom link will be sent with calendar invites for future NTAA work group calls.

 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! U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Webinar: 2022 Tribal Energy Webinar Series: Tribes Leading the Way to a More Sustainable Energy Future

December 7, 2022, | 11:00 AM – 1:00 Pm MST | Register Here

Hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Indian Energy, the 2022 Tribal Energy Webinar Series will focus on how tribes can position themselves to participate in the energy transition to the benefit of their communities and future generations. Tribes have been working toward a more sustainable future for many years. This webinar will highlight projects across Indian Country and rural Alaska that demonstrate successful steps toward a cleaner energy future.

Toxics/Mobile Sources

REMINDER! U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) EV Grid Assist: Accelerating the Transition initiative Webinar Series

September 8 – November 10, 2022

            This webinar series is part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) EV Grid Assist: Accelerating the Transition initiative. It aims to support decision makers by providing timely information on a wide range of topics important to the integration of electric vehicles and the grid.  To learn more about the EVGrid Assist initiative or to download a recording of past webinars, visit  www.energy.gov/evgridassist.

• Charging Station Design – Part 1, September 27, 2022, 3:00 PM – 4:30 EDT, Register Here
• Load Forecasting, October 3, 2022, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM EDT, Register Here
• Rates and Incentives, October 25, 2022, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM EDT, Register Here
• Planning for the future, November 10, 2022, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM EDT, Register Here

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

EPA Seeks Information to Support Indoor Air Quality Management Improvements to Reduce Disease Transmission and Improve Public Health

            Building upon the Biden-Harris Administration’s Clean Air in Buildings Challenge, a key component of the President’s National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking public comment to inform efforts by EPA and others to support the widespread adoption of actions that lead to improvements in indoor air quality in the nation’s building stock, with a particular emphasis on schools and commercial buildings, to help reduce disease transmission indoors and improve public health.

EPA Spanish Webinar: Indoor Air Quality: Healthy Homes and Asthma 

November 10, 2022, | 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET | Register Here

EPA’s Office of Indoor Environments ─ whose primary goal is to improve indoor air quality where people live, learn and work ─ will host this Spanish-language webinar on the importance and relationship of indoor air quality, healthy homes and asthma. EPA will be joined by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rico Department of Health.

This webinar will provide you with valuable information on:

• Indoor air quality
• Principles of healthy homes
• Asthma in Puerto Rico and the VIAS Home Visiting Project
• Resources available in Spanish

We encourage you to register for this webinar aimed at Spanish speakers in general. Spread the word and forward information about the event to a colleague who may be interested in the topic.

For more information about the webinar, please contact Carmen Torrent at [email protected]

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!

UPCOMING CALLS/EVENTS/NOTICES

Ambient Air Quality/EPA/NTAA/Tribes

NEW! 2022 WHITE HOUSE TRIBAL NATIONS SUMMIT ANNOUNCEMENT

The President will host the next White House Tribal Nations Summit on November 30 and December 1 at the Department of the Interior in Washington, D.C. Since taking office, the President has prioritized strengthening Nation-to-Nation relationships, honoring trust and treaty obligations with federally recognized Tribes and advancing Tribal sovereignty and self-determination. Through the American Rescue Plan, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the Inflation Reduction Act, the Administration is also making historic investments in Tribal communities. Building on the 2021 White House Tribal Nations Summit, this year’s Summit will be an opportunity for Tribal leaders to engage directly with senior administration officials on the implementation of these key priorities, new policies, and other important issues facing Tribal communities. Read the statement here.

NEW! Limited Stipends Available for the 2022 WHITE HOUSE TRIBAL NATIONS SUMMIT

Greetings Fellow Sovereignty Protectors and Justice Advocates, In partnership with Native Americans in Philanthropy (NAP) as our funder, we are pleased to announce that the USET SPF is leading the coordination and management of providing a limited number of stipend payments to support Tribal Leaders from across Indian Country who want to attend the White House Tribal Nations Summit (WHTNS). To qualify, individuals must (1) self-attest a financial need, (2) be a representative of a federally recognized Tribal Nation, and (3) have been accepted by the White House as the Designated Attendee for their federally recognized Tribal Nation.

Stipends in the amount of $2,500 will be made available on a first come, first served basis, until funds are exhausted. Stipends will be paid directly to the federally recognized Tribal Nation. Please see the link below to complete the stipend request form. Click Here for Stipend Request Form

Please join us for a virtual round table discussion hosted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Midwest Tribal Energy Resources Association on either November 8 (3PM MT) or November 9 (9AM MT). 

Indian Country represents approximately 2% of the U.S. landmass, but more than 5% of the United States solar photovoltaic (PV) potential. Despite the significant potential of solar PV development on tribal lands, only a handful of large-scale projects have been installed.The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and MTERA have partnered to form the Tribal Solar Initiative in order to address regulatory barriers to tribal solar adoption, supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s  Solar Energy Technologies Office. The goal of the project is to articulate key barriers to tribal solar and tribal solar-plus-storage adoption at all scales and to ready stakeholders to implement options to address these challenges.

These discussions will focus on the findings of the Tribal Solar Initiative. In March 2022, NREL and MTERA published the draft guidebook “Addressing Regulatory Challenges to Tribal Solar Deployment” and is seeking feedback from interested stakeholders regarding key findings. Final+Guidebooks+Draft.pdf (squarespace.com). We hope that you will join us so that we may improve the guidebook and better enable tribal solar deployment.

Register here for November 8th

Register here for November 9th

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) FY2022 Appropriations

To View Report Click Here.

This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress. Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role.

NC Radon Program Social Media Toolkit

The NC Radon Program has created a free Radon Social Media Toolkit for your use. The materials are in both English and Spanish. All of the materials are in a Google Docs folder. To access this social media toolkit folder

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 Loren Fox ([email protected]) 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 [email protected] 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.

 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

REMINDER! Clean Energy Group webinars: Introduction State Leadership in Decarbonizing the Building Sector, Featuring California and New York

October 26, 2022, | 1 PM ET | Register Here

The building sector is a substantial contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. This webinar will highlight two state initiatives that are making a big impact in decarbonizing this sector. The California Energy Commission’s 2022 Building Energy Efficiency Standards for newly constructed buildings and renovated buildings blazes a trail for states seeking to decarbonize aggressively and cost-effectively. The New York Clean Energy Initiative, a joint effort of NYSERDA and New York State Homes and Community Renewal, provides incentives and technical assistance for electrification and high-performance envelope improvements in new and existing multifamily affordable housing developments. In this webinar, representatives from the California Energy Commission and NYSERDA will present their programs and answer questions from the audience. CESA’s Warren Leon will moderate. These programs were recipients of the 2022 State Leadership in Clean Energy Awards. Learn more at https://www.cesa.org/projects/state-leadership-in-clean-energy/2022-awards/.

Toxics/Mobile Sources  

REMINDER! U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) EV Grid Assist: Accelerating the Transition initiative Webinar Series

September 8 – November 10, 2022

            This webinar series is part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) EV Grid Assist: Accelerating the Transition initiative. It aims to support decision makers by providing timely information on a wide range of topics important to the integration of electric vehicles and the grid.  To learn more about the EVGrid Assist initiative or to download a recording of past webinars, visit  www.energy.gov/evgridassist.

• Charging Station Design – Part 1, September 27, 2022, 3:00 PM – 4:30 EDT, Register Here
• Load Forecasting, October 3, 2022, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM EDT, Register Here
• Rates and Incentives, October 25, 2022, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM EDT, Register Here
• Planning for the future, November 10, 2022, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM EDT, Register Here

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! EPA Seeks Information to Support Indoor Air Quality Management Improvements to Reduce Disease Transmission and Improve Public Health

            Building upon the Biden-Harris Administration’s Clean Air in Buildings Challenge, a key component of the President’s National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking public comment to inform efforts by EPA and others to support the widespread adoption of actions that lead to improvements in indoor air quality in the nation’s building stock, with a particular emphasis on schools and commercial buildings, to help reduce disease transmission indoors and improve public health.  EPA will review information received during this public comment period to support the potential development, improvement, and implementation of technical assistance efforts, including tools, training, guidance, and other strategies to support sustained ventilation, filtration, air cleaning, and other indoor air quality improvements in buildings. The Agency is inviting comments from a broad array of individuals and organizations with knowledge and expertise relating to the built environment and health, indoor air quality, epidemiology, disease transmission, social sciences, and other disciplines, and from the general public.

Comments must be submitted by December 5, 2022.  For more information, see FR Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2022-0794.

EPA Spanish Webinar: Indoor Air Quality: Healthy Homes and Asthma 

November 10, 2022, | 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET | Register Here

EPA’s Office of Indoor Environments ─ whose primary goal is to improve indoor air quality where people live, learn and work ─ will host this Spanish-language webinar on the importance and relationship of indoor air quality, healthy homes, and asthma. EPA will be joined by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rico Department of Health.

This webinar will provide you with valuable information on:

• Indoor air quality
• Principles of healthy homes
• Asthma in Puerto Rico and the VIAS Home Visiting Project
• Resources available in Spanish

We encourage you to register for this webinar aimed at Spanish speakers in general. Spread the word and forward information about the event to a colleague who may be interested in the topic.

For more information about the webinar, please contact Carmen Torrent at [email protected]

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!

UPCOMING CALLS/EVENTS/NOTICES

Ambient Air Quality/EPA/NTAA/Tribes

NEW! Alaskan Tribes are invited to NTAA’s Informational Webinar:

For Alaskan Tribes on Wednesday, October 26, 2022, from 10 am – 11 am AK Time:

Tribal Consultation 101: An Introduction to the Federal Government’s Tribal Consultation with Alaskan Tribes
The agenda includes the following:

1. Welcome and Introductions: Rose Kalistook and Andy Bessler, NTAA

1. What is Tribal Consultation and why is it Important: Pilar Thomas, NTAA Policy Advisor

1. How the U.S. EPA conducts Tribal Consultation: Pat Childers, Senior Tribal Coordinator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Air and Radiation

1. Case Study: Alaska Regional Haze Rule: Pat Childers, Senior Tribal Coordinator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Air and Radiation

1. Questions and Discussion: Andy Bessler, NTAA

This informational webinar will be held via Zoom on this link:

https://nau.zoom.us/j/2828649061?pwd=akxUb08vT05UaDNuY0dmRElDRm9MZz09
Meeting ID: 282 864 9061
Password: NTAA
You can also dial into the webinar via phone using one of these phone numbers:
1-646-931-3860 US or dial toll-free to 1-888-788-0099.

REMINDER! Searching and Effectively Applying for Federal Jobs & the Experience of a Tribal Member 

October 25, 2022, | 2:30 PM ET | Register Here

This webinar will discuss how to effectively search and apply for public service positions in the Federal Government. Learn about job openings, understand how to use USA Jobs, the official tool for applying for most federal positions, creating a profile, as well as developing a resume that addresses the required information found in job announcements. Presenters will also discuss the application review and the selection processes. Furthermore, a recent hire of the EPA will speak of her experience with the application and on-boarding processes.

EPA plans to announce many job opportunities, including those for individuals interested in working in the Agency to advance environmental justice.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) FY2022 Appropriations

To View Report Click Here.

This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress. Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role.

NC Radon Program Social Media Toolkit

The NC Radon Program has created a free Radon Social Media Toolkit for your use. The materials are in both English and Spanish. All of the materials are in a Google Docs folder. To access this social media toolkit folder      

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 Loren Fox ([email protected]) 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 [email protected] 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.

 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.  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

REMINDER! Forth: Financing Tools to Increase Electric Vehicle Access

October 18, 2022, | 10:00 AM PT | Register Here

This panel will discuss tangible ways to address financial barriers to EV adoption, the various electric transportation options and alternative programmatic approaches to help individuals find their way into an electric vehicle. For gig driving work or for families, we will consider current options and incentives with key partners to help make real steps towards EVs for all.

REMINDER! Clean Energy Group webinars: Introduction State Leadership in Decarbonizing the Building Sector, Featuring California and New York

October 26, 2022, | 1 PM ET | Register Here

The building sector is a substantial contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. This webinar will highlight two state initiatives that are making a big impact in decarbonizing this sector. The California Energy Commission’s 2022 Building Energy Efficiency Standards for newly constructed buildings and renovated buildings blazes a trail for states seeking to decarbonize aggressively and cost-effectively. The New York Clean Energy Initiative, a joint effort of NYSERDA and New York State Homes and Community Renewal, provides incentives and technical assistance for electrification and high-performance envelope improvements in new and existing multifamily affordable housing developments. In this webinar, representatives from the California Energy Commission and NYSERDA will present their programs and answer questions from the audience. CESA’s Warren Leon will moderate. These programs were recipients of the 2022 State Leadership in Clean Energy Awards. Learn more at https://www.cesa.org/projects/state-leadership-in-clean-energy/2022-awards/.

Toxics/Mobile Sources  

REMINDER! U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) EV Grid Assist: Accelerating the Transition initiative Webinar Series

September 8 – November 10, 2022

            This webinar series is part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) EV Grid Assist: Accelerating the Transition initiative. It aims to support decision makers by providing timely information on a wide range of topics important to the integration of electric vehicles and the grid.  To learn more about the EVGrid Assist initiative or to download a recording of past webinars, visit  www.energy.gov/evgridassist.

• Charging Station Design – Part 1, September 27, 2022, 3:00 PM – 4:30 EDT, Register Here
• Load Forecasting, October 3, 2022, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM EDT, Register Here
• Rates and Incentives, October 25, 2022, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM EDT, Register Here
• Planning for the future, November 10, 2022, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM EDT, Register Here

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

REMINDER! National Radon Training Event in Seattle, Washington

October 24 – 26, 2022, | Register Here

The Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors invites you to join us for our National Radon Training Event in Seattle, Washington October 24 – 26, 2022. It’s an exciting time as we get to meet again in person!

NEW! National Indian Health Board: COVID-19 Essential: Care Kits

October 19, 2022, | 4:00 PM ET | Register Here

As the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic spreads, the National Indian Health Board (NIHB) urges Tribal Nations to stay prepared for COVID-19 like any other disaster. NIHB encourages all Tribal businesses and communities to prepare a preparedness kit throughout the year. Join us as Desirae Mack provides information on preparing for response and recovery to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. She will include details on what the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium includes in a COVID-19 Care Kit and their outreach activities to mitigate COVID-19 in Alaska.

Objectives:

• Explain how Tribes can customize COVID-19 kits to meet individual and family needs.
• Discuss free or low-cost resources to use during the COVID-19 outbreak. 

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!

UPCOMING CALLS/EVENTS/NOTICES

Ambient Air Quality/EPA/NTAA/Tribes

NEW! Searching and Effectively Applying for Federal Jobs & the Experience of a Tribal Member 

October 25, 2022, | 2:30 PM ET | Register Here

This webinar will discuss how to effectively search and apply for public service positions in the Federal Government. Learn about job openings, understand how to use USA Jobs, the official tool for applying for most federal positions, creating a profile, as well as developing a resume that addresses the required information found in job announcements. Presenters will also discuss the application review and the selection processes. Furthermore, a recent hire of the EPA will speak of her experience with the application and on-boarding processes.

EPA is planning to announce many job opportunities, including those for individuals interested in working in the Agency to advance environmental justice.  

REMINDER! Tribal Forestry Student Summit: Investing in the Future of Tribal Forest Resources Management and Wildland Fire

October 12–14, 2022 | Click Here for More Details

Mark your calendars for this hybrid event, featuring in-person and virtual participation options, to address tribal workforce development. This summit is designed for students in forestry or related resource management programs across the country. For more info, including agenda and summit details, please visit eri.nau.edu/tribal-forestry-student-summit.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) FY2022 Appropriations

To View Report Click Here.

This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress. Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role.

NC Radon Program Social Media Toolkit

The NC Radon Program has created a free Radon Social Media Toolkit for your use. The materials are in both English and Spanish. All of the materials are in a Google Docs folder. To access this social media toolkit folder      

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 Loren Fox ([email protected]) 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 [email protected] 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.

 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! U.S. Department of Energy Office of Indian Energy webinars: Developing the Workforce for the Energy Future

October 12, 2022, | 1 PM ET | Register Here

During this U.S. Census Bureau training you will learn how to access demographic, socioeconomic, and housing data about American Indian and Alaska Native populations, reservations, and trust lands. The workshop will teach novice data users, grant writers, and planners to navigate and use Census Bureau data products from the Decennial Census and the American Community Survey to benefit tribal communities.

NEW! Clean Energy Group webinars: Introduction to Floating Wind Technology and Markets

October 13, 2022, | 1 PM ET | Register Here

In this webinar, hosted by the from Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA) and World Forum Offshore Wind (WFO) (https://wfo-global.org/), Adrienne Downey with offshore wind project developer Hexicon Group (https://www.hexicongroup.com/) will present the current state of floating offshore wind technology around the world and will chat with California Energy Commissioner Kourtney Vaccaro about the potential of floating offshore wind in the US and the obstacles to its adoption.

NEW! Clean Energy Group webinars: Introduction State Leadership in Decarbonizing the Building Sector, Featuring California and New York

October 26, 2022, | 1 PM ET | Register Here

The building sector is a substantial contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. This webinar will highlight two state initiatives that are making a big impact in decarbonizing this sector. The California Energy Commission’s 2022 Building Energy Efficiency Standards for newly constructed buildings and renovated buildings blazes a trail for states seeking to decarbonize aggressively and cost-effectively. The New York Clean Energy Initiative, a joint effort of NYSERDA and New York State Homes and Community Renewal, provides incentives and technical assistance for electrification and high-performance envelope improvements in new and existing multifamily affordable housing developments. In this webinar, representatives from the California Energy Commission and NYSERDA will present their programs and answer questions from the audience. CESA’s Warren Leon will moderate. These programs were recipients of the 2022 State Leadership in Clean Energy Awards. Learn more at https://www.cesa.org/projects/state-leadership-in-clean-energy/2022-awards/.

Toxics/Mobile Sources

REMINDER! U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) EV Grid Assist: Accelerating the Transition initiative Webinar Series

September 8 – November 10, 2022

            This webinar series is part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) EV Grid Assist: Accelerating the Transition initiative. It aims to support decision makers by providing timely information on a wide range of topics important to the integration of electric vehicles and the grid.  To learn more about the EVGrid Assist initiative or to download a recording of past webinars, visit  www.energy.gov/evgridassist.

• Charging Station Design – Part 1, September 27, 2022, 3:00 PM – 4:30 EDT, Register Here
• Load Forecasting, October 3, 2022, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM EDT, Register Here
• Rates and Incentives, October 25, 2022, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM EDT, Register Here
• Planning for the future, November 10, 2022, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM EDT, Register Here

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! Listening Session on Grants for Wildfire Smoke Preparedness in Community Buildings Last Chance to Register!

Register HERE Now!

EPA is hosting a webinar on Thursday, October 13, 2022 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM PDT,

to obtain input on implementation of a new $4 million grant program for wildfire smoke preparedness in community buildings and related activities. At this listening session, EPA is seeking input on the design of the program to inform the types of projects and grant recipients that may be eligible for the program. Stakeholder feedback may also inform funding priorities and the number and size of individual awards.

EPA is especially interested in hearing:

• What types of buildings are in need of assistance and how could they be better prepared for wildfire smoke events over the long term?
• What lessons from these projects could be applied to future projects with similar goals?
• What kind of support would be helpful to potential applicants, especially those in economically distressed communities?

If you are unable to attend this webinar, EPA is also collecting feedback during a brief session at the National Environmental Justice Community Engagement Call on October 18 from 2:00 – 4:00pm. Registration is now open. You can also send your feedback to [email protected]. EPA is accepting input through November 2.  Learn more about the Wildfire Smoke Preparedness in Community Buildings Grant Program.

National Radon Training Event in Seattle, Washington

October 24 – 26, 2022, | Register Here

The Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors invites you to join us for our National Radon Training Event in Seattle, Washington October 24 – 26, 2022. It’s an exciting time as we get to meet again in person!

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!

UPCOMING CALLS/EVENTS/NOTICES

Ambient Air Quality/EPA/NTAA/Tribes 

NEW! EPA is Seeking Input on Grants for Wildfire Smoke Preparedness in Community Buildings

October 13, 2022, | 3:00 – 4:30 PM ET | Register Here

EPA is seeking input on the implementation of a new $4 million grant program for wildfire smoke preparedness in community buildings and related activities. EPA is seeking input on the design of the program to inform the types of projects and grant recipients that may be eligible for the program. Stakeholder feedback may also inform funding priorities and the number and size of individual awards. Learn more about the Wildfire Smoke Preparedness in Community Buildings Grant Program here: https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/wildfire-smoke-preparedness-community-buildings-grant-program

NEW! Searching and Effectively Applying for Federal Jobs & the Experience of a Tribal Member 

October 25, 2022, | 2:30 PM ET | Register Here

This webinar will discuss how to effectively search and apply for public service positions in the Federal Government. Learn about job openings, understand how to use USA Jobs, the official tool for applying for most federal positions, creating a profile, as well as developing a resume that addresses the required information found in job announcements. Presenters will also discuss the application review and the selection processes. Furthermore, a recent hire of the EPA will speak of her experience with the application and on-boarding processes.

EPA is planning to announce many job opportunities, including those for individuals interested in working in the Agency to advance environmental justice.

REMINDER! Tribal Forestry Student Summit: Investing in the Future of Tribal Forest Resources Management and Wildland Fire

October 12–14, 2022 | Click Here for More Details

Mark your calendars for this hybrid event, featuring in-person and virtual participation options, to address tribal workforce development. This summit is designed for students in forestry or related resource management programs across the country. For more info, including agenda and summit details, please visit eri.nau.edu/tribal-forestry-student-summit.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) FY2022 Appropriations

To View Report Click Here.

This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress. Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role.

NC Radon Program Social Media Toolkit

The NC Radon Program has created a free Radon Social Media Toolkit for your use. The materials are in both English and Spanish. All of the materials are in a Google Docs folder. To access this social media toolkit folder      

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 ([email protected]) and/or Loren Fox ([email protected]) 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 [email protected] 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.

 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

REMINDER! EPA Clean School Bus Grants: Virtual Listening Session

October 5, 2022| 1:00 – 3:00 PM ET | Register Here

Authorized by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA’s Clean School Bus Program provides $5 billion over five years to replace school buses with low- and zero-emission school buses. The second funding opportunity under this program will be the FY 2023 Clean School Bus Grants.
EPA wants to hear from you on how to build its Clean School Bus Grants Program. Please come prepared to share your feedback on the program, including:

1. What type of support do you need to plan for, apply for, and implement a CSB grant?
   2. How can the CSB Grant Program address gaps in the 2022 CSB Rebate Program?
   3. What is the minimum or maximum number of buses school districts want to fund under a single grant award?
   4. The legislation allows EPA to give priority to applicants that leverage outside resources. Are school districts able contribute financial resources to grant projects?
   5. Are there eligible applicants, such as nonprofit associations or eligible contractors (i.e., bus dealers) with the resources to implement grant projects that will server multiple school districts and/or private bus fleets?

For more information, please visit our website: epa.gov/cleanschoolbus
If you have any feedback, please email: [email protected]

NEW! Hydrogen 101: The Basics of Hydrogen and Fuel Cells for Buildings and Plants

October 11, 2022, | 11 AM ET | Register Here

In honor of National Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Day on 10/08, DOE’s Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office will join Better Buildings for a featured hydrogen 101 webinar. Join us to hear examples of how hydrogen and fuel cells can be used in buildings and plants to help reduce carbon and criteria pollutant emissions.

NEW! U.S. Department of Energy Office of Indian Energy webinars: Developing the Workforce for the Energy Future

October 12, 2022, | 1 PM ET | Register Here

During this U.S. Census Bureau training you will learn how to access demographic, socioeconomic, and housing data about American Indian and Alaska Native populations, reservations, and trust lands. The workshop will teach novice data users, grant writers, and planners to navigate and use Census Bureau data products from the Decennial Census and the American Community Survey to benefit tribal communities.

NEW! Clean Energy Group webinars: Introduction to Floating Wind Technology and Markets

October 13, 2022, | 1 PM ET | Register Here

In this webinar, hosted by the from Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA) and World Forum Offshore Wind (WFO) (https://wfo-global.org/), Adrienne Downey with offshore wind project developer Hexicon Group (https://www.hexicongroup.com/) will present the current state of floating offshore wind technology around the world and will chat with California Energy Commissioner Kourtney Vaccaro about the potential of floating offshore wind in the US and the obstacles to its adoption.

NEW! Clean Energy Group webinars: Introduction State Leadership in Decarbonizing the Building Sector, Featuring California and New York

October 26, 2022, | 1 PM ET | Register Here

The building sector is a substantial contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. This webinar will highlight two state initiatives that are making a big impact in decarbonizing this sector. The California Energy Commission’s 2022 Building Energy Efficiency Standards for newly constructed buildings and renovated buildings blazes a trail for states seeking to decarbonize aggressively and cost-effectively. The New York Clean Energy Initiative, a joint effort of NYSERDA and New York State Homes and Community Renewal, provides incentives and technical assistance for electrification and high-performance envelope improvements in new and existing multifamily affordable housing developments. In this webinar, representatives from the California Energy Commission and NYSERDA will present their programs and answer questions from the audience. CESA’s Warren Leon will moderate. These programs were recipients of the 2022 State Leadership in Clean Energy Awards. Learn more at https://www.cesa.org/projects/state-leadership-in-clean-energy/2022-awards/.

Toxics/Mobile Sources

REMINDER! U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) EV Grid Assist: Accelerating the Transition initiative Webinar Series

September 8 – November 10, 2022

            This webinar series is part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) EV Grid Assist: Accelerating the Transition initiative. It aims to support decision makers by providing timely information on a wide range of topics important to the integration of electric vehicles and the grid.  To learn more about the EVGrid Assist initiative or to download a recording of past webinars, visit  www.energy.gov/evgridassist.

• Charging Station Design – Part 1, September 27, 2022, 3:00 PM – 4:30 EDT, Register Here
• Load Forecasting, October 3, 2022, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM EDT, Register Here
• Rates and Incentives, October 25, 2022, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM EDT, Register Here
• Planning for the future, November 10, 2022, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM EDT, Register Here

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

National Radon Training Event in Seattle, Washington

October 24 – 26, 2022, | Register Here

The Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors invites you to join us for our National Radon Training Event in Seattle, Washington October 24 – 26, 2022. It’s an exciting time as we get to meet again in person!

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!