UPCOMING CALLS/EVENTS/NOTICES

Ambient Air Quality/EPA/NTAA/Tribes

NEW! The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH) is hosting a virtual tribal listening session to collect input and inform the Health and Human Services (HHS) Initiative to Strengthen Primary Health Care.

Title: OASH Primary Health Care Listening Session with Tribal Leaders

When: Tuesday, January 31, 2023

Time: 01:00 PM Eastern Time to 02:30 PM Eastern Time (U.S. and Canada)

You must register in advance for this meeting. Register at:

https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJItfuyvqjkiEntK-h5P9Z1EVOQYSmXWSHU

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

The OASH is accepting written comments, as well, and appreciates your consideration. Submit written comments to OASHPrimaryHealthCare@hhs.gov. Please use the following subject line: Tribal Leader Listening Session. The deadline to provide written comments is Friday, March 3, 2023. If you have questions or concerns, please contact the OASH Primary Health Care Team at OASHPrimaryHealthCare@hhs.gov.

 

NEW! Biden-⁠Harris Administration Releases Inflation Reduction Act Guidebook for Clean Energy and Climate Programs

The White House released the first edition of a new resource titled Building a Clean Energy Economy: A Guidebook to the Inflation Reduction Act’s Investments in Clean Energy and Climate Action, which provides clear descriptions of the law’s tax incentives and funding programs to build a clean energy economy, lower energy costs, tackle climate change, and reduce harmful pollution. The Guidebook will help state, local, territorial, and Tribal leaders, the private sector, non-profit organizations, homeowners, and communities better understand how they can benefit from these investments and unlock the full potential of the law. The Guidebook walks through the law program-by-program and provides background on each program’s purpose, eligibility requirements, period of availability, and other key details.

The Inflation Reduction Act Guidebook follows the successful model of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Guidebook and creates a roadmap for the clean energy and climate funding available under the law at the program level.

Since President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act four months ago, his administration has been working quickly to design, develop, and implement its programs. This Guidebook provides information on current and prospective clean energy and climate programs. In the coming weeks and months, new developments will be published on www.CleanEnergy.gov to keep stakeholders and potential beneficiaries up to date on the latest deadlines and details.

The Inflation Reduction Act builds on the foundational climate and clean energy investments in President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Through his historic legislative accomplishments, along with key executive actions and international leadership, the Administration is delivering on the President’s ambitious climate agenda centered on workers, families, and communities. President Biden has made transparent communication and open engagement top priorities as a means to ensure successful implementation and to fully unlock the unprecedented benefits of the law. This Guidebook is critical step toward delivering on that vision.

To view the Guidebook in full, click here.

 

NEW! The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed amendments to the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Lime Manufacturing Plants

This action addresses previously unregulated pollutants emitted by the source category and will protect air quality and public health by reducing emissions of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), including hydrogen chloride, mercury, total hydrocarbon, and dioxin/furans. A tribal proximity analysis was conducted on 35 facilities. There are 14 individual tribes located within 50 miles of 11 facilities.

For more information about this proposed rulemaking, including a fact sheet and prepublication version of the Federal Register notice, please visit https://www.epa.gov/stationary-sources-air-pollution/lime-manufacturing-plants-national-emission-standards-hazardous

 

NEW! Announcing the 2023 National Air Toxics Conference April 18-20, 2023 for your consideration for attending and/or presenting!

Registration is still forthcoming, however the call for presentations is requested by January 15^th. The conference is free to attend and will provide a great forum for engaging with other professionals on a multitude of topics centering around air toxics.

More details are available at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/save-the-date-2023-national-air-toxics-conference-tickets-473488295237

 

NEW! Request for Nominations to the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council Now Available!

Application Deadline January 17, 2023

The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) within the White House invites the public to submit expressions of interest in serving as members of the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council (WHEJAC). The WHEJAC is charged with providing advice to the White House Environmental Justice Interagency Council (IAC) and the Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) on a whole-of-government approach to address issues related, but not limited, to environmental justice. This notice solicits expressions of interest to fill approximately fifteen (15) new vacancies for a two-year term. To maintain the representation outlined by the charter, nominees will be selected to represent the following stakeholder groups: academia; community-based organizations; non-governmental organizations; industry/business; state/local government; tribal government/indigenous organizations; faith-based organizations; public health; and youth-led or youth focused environmental organizations.

Specific information about how to apply and the criteria for appointment can be found at: https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/white-house-environmental-justice-advisory-council

Submit expression of interest questionnaire and resumes for nomination electronically with the subject line WHEJAC Membership 2023 to whejac@epa.gov.

For more information, contact: Karen Martin, U.S. EPA, by telephone at (202) 564-0203, or email at whejac@epa.gov.

 

Latest Version of Motor Vehicle Emission Simulator (MOVES) Released!

EPA has posted MOVES3.1, a minor revision to MOVES3. MOVES3.1 adds an inspection/maintenance (I/M) program benefit for Class 2b and 3 gasoline trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating of between 8,500 and 14,000 pounds (Regulatory Class 41).  With this minor revision, these trucks will now receive the same proportional I/M benefit for exhaust emissions as lower classification gasoline trucks.  This benefit was missing in previous versions of MOVES.

MOVES3.1 is available for download at www.epa.gov/moves/latest-version-motor-vehicle-emission-simulator-moves.  Please download and use this new version if you:

• have not yet used MOVES3,
• are conducting regulatory analyses involving an I/M program that includes gasoline passenger and light commercial trucks (of any regulatory class), such as performance standard modeling for an I/M state implementation plan (SIP) to demonstrate that an I/M program meets the applicable performance standard (refer to the Performance Standard Modeling guidance), or
• are conducting modeling for other SIP or transportation conformity analyses for an area where the I/M program includes gasoline passenger and light commercial trucks (of any regulatory class).

Otherwise, MOVES3 users can continue to use previous versions of MOVES3.  For more information about regulatory uses of MOVES, see the MOVES3 Policy Guidance which applies to all versions of MOVES3.

This update is considered a minor revision, rather than a patch, because it may decrease on-road emissions of NOx, VOCs, and CO in some areas.  However, it will not substantially change on-road criteria emissions rates at the County Scale and it is not considered a new model for SIP or transportation conformity purposes.  As noted in the MOVES3 Technical Guidance, modelers should continue to review and update the relevant I/M coverage inputs to reflect the latest I/M assumptions in regulatory analyses.

 

Updated Version of EPA’s Air Sensor Guidebook Released!

Recognizing the ever-increasing availability of air sensors, expanding user base, and growing scientific knowledge, the U.S. EPA updated the popular Air Sensor Guidebook, originally published in 2014. The refreshed version, called “The Enhanced Air Sensor Guidebook”, includes updated content and new topics that incorporate best practices, current knowledge, and recommendations to guide the use of air sensors.

The Enhanced Guidebook supports users in planning and collecting air quality measurements using air sensors. The Guidebook can help sensor users:

• Learn the basics of air quality, air pollution monitoring, and air sensors
• Plan and conduct an air quality monitoring study
• Select, setup, and use air sensors
• Analyze, interpret, communicate, and act on results
• Understand the basics of air sensor performance

Find out more and access the Enhanced Air Sensor Guidebook.

Visit EPA’s Air Sensor Toolbox.

Find out more about EPA’s Air Research.

 

Applications are being accepted now for the nation’s highest award in asthma management!

The Environmental Leadership Award in Asthma Management is the nation’s highest honor for programs helping people bring asthma under control. Winners will be recognized in May during Asthma Awareness Month. Winning this award is a sign of excellence and confirmation of success in helping people with asthma lead healthy, active lives.

Winners will receive:

• A place in the National Environmental Leadership Award in Asthma Management Hall of Fame.
• An engraved, crystal award.
• Recognition in May during Asthma Awareness Month.
• Recognition on national websites, including AsthmaCommunityNetwork.org.
• Customized press kits, a descriptive snapshot of your program and support generating media attention.
• An opportunity to serve as mentors to help other programs achieve impactful results.

For more information, visit the Asthma Community Network HERE

 

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;
• 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 (fox.loren@epa.gov) 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 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.

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 Carolyn.Kelly@nau.edu 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.

 

Woodsmoke Work Group: This work group meets Bi-Monthly and includes Tribal and EPA professionals with an interest in woodsmoke issues in Tribal communities. Contact Carolyn.Kelly@nau.edu to join the call!	Thursday, January 19, 10 am AK or 2 pm ET
Mobile Sources Work Group: This work group meets Bi-Monthly and includes Tribal and EPA professionals with an interest in mobile source issues in Tribal communities. Contact Carolyn.Kelly@nau.edu to join the call!	Thursday, February 2, 10 am AK or 2 pm ET
Alaska Air Work Group: Join this work group to hear updates from EPA and Alaskans working on air quality. Contact Carolyn.Kelly@nau.edu to join the call!	January 25, 10 am AK 2 pm ET (tentative)
NTAA / EPA Air Policy Update Call: Join this monthly meeting to hear updates from EPA on important air quality and climate policy updates as well as updates around the country related to Tribal Air Programs. Calls are usually on the last Thursday of every month unless it falls on a national holiday. Contact Carolyn.Kelly@nau.edu to join the call!	Thursday, January 26, 10 am AK or 2 pm ET
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Work Group: This work group meets Bi-Monthly and includes Tribal and EPA professionals with an interest in indoor air quality in Tribal homes and other buildings. Carolyn.Kelly@nau.edu to join the call!	Thursday, February 16, 10 am AK or 2 pm ET

 

The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP)

Click Here for ITEP’s new Tribal Environmental Management and Planning Online Courses. Sign up for a self-paced course hosted by ITEP’s Waste and Response and Tribal Air Quality programs.

 

Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals – 2023 Air Quality Internship

Apply for a paid 8-week summer internship

Spend your summer working with tribal organizations to address tribal environmental issues. The internships have a research, technical, educational, or policy focus. We are offering at least 8 positions in air quality. You can apply for up to 8 positions with one application.  The internship program provides each student intern with a $5,120 stipend.  We also have travel and housing stipends for those that relocate for the internship.  Host sites are selected from tribal environmental organizations, government offices, the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and others.

Eligible students must meet the following:

• US Citizen
• Identify as Native American/Alaska Native
• Full-time undergraduate or graduate college student during Spring 2022 (12 hours undergrad, 9 hours grad) at any tribal college, college or university
• Have at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA
• Majoring in an environmental or related field like science, engineering, planning, policy, law, management, political science, anthropology, or health
• Interested in pursuing an environmental career after graduating
• Proficient verbal and written communication skills
• Strong interest in working with Native American tribes

If you need an exception for any of the above requirements, contact EEOPINTERN@nau.edu

Please register at the following website for more information: http://www7.nau.edu/itep/main/eeop/Internships/ssi_internship

For details about how to apply, see the ITEP internship website.  Potential host site descriptions are available.  You will be able to apply for multiple host sites with one application. Deadline:  February 8, 2023

 

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

Regional Tribal Environmental Health Summits

The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) is partnering with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to host a series of regional summits on the topic of environmental health in Indian Country. Each summit will feature Tribal leaders, environmental health practitioners, subject matter experts, and federal partners engaging on topics relevant to each region. A total of eight summits will be held between 2022 and 2024. The goal of each summit is to connect people from different backgrounds and Tribes, communities, federal agencies, Tribal organizations and state and local entities to address various environmental health and environmental justice issues of mutual concern across all regions as well as issues specific to individual regions. The first confirmed summit is May 1 – May 2, 2023, in Anchorage, Alaska.

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 chappell.regina@epa.gov. 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 Spells.Charlene@epa.gov. 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!