PHOTOS FROM THE FIELD: Week of September 26 – 30, 2022
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan announces a new federal office of environmental justice at a ceremony in Warrenton, N.C., on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022. (Hannah Schoenbaum/AP)
PHOTOS FROM THE FIELD
EPA – EPA Launches New National Office Dedicated to Advancing Environmental Justice and Civil Rights
TOP STORIES/HEADLINES: Week of September 26 – 30, 2022
NTAA News!
REMINDER! The Tribes and Climate Change Program (TCCP) would like to invite you to attend today’s webinar on the implications of the recent Supreme Court ruling for EPA greenhouse gas emissions regulations and a discussion of the Biden Administration’s climate Executive Orders. See details and flier below and attached and share with any interested networks!
September 28, 2022| 10am Pacific |1pm Eastern | Click Here to Register
“On June 30, the U.S. Supreme Court delivered its ruling on West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), limiting the EPA’s authority under a provision of the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector” (University of Colorado Boulder Today, 2022).
NTAA is preparing a Policy Resource Kit for Tribes to respond to EPA’s three upcoming power sector rules, with intended proposal dates for Spring 2023. If Tribes are interested in requesting government-to-government consultation with the EPA during the pre-proposal period, please contact Regina Chappell at (919) 541-3650 or email at chappell.regina@epa.gov by September 30, 2022.
The EPA is addressing the following three upcoming power sector rules, with intended proposal dates for Spring 2023:
- GHG Emission Guidelines for existing EGUs under Clean Air Act (CAA) section 111(d);
- GHG New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for new, modified, and reconstructed EGUs under CAA section 111(b); and
- Review of the Residual Risk and Technology Review (RTR) for the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS)
NTAA’s PRK will include a template letter that Tribes can use to respond to EPA’s specific questions for consideration. More information on the rules can be found here https://www.epa.gov/stationary-sources-air-pollution/nsps-ghg-emissions-newmodified-and-reconstructed-electric-utility for 111(b), and https://www.epa.gov/stationarysources-air-pollution/mercury-and-air-toxics-standards for MATS RTR. This consultation will be conducted in accordance with the EPA Policy on Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribes (https://www.epa.gov/tribal/forms/consultation-andcoordination-tribes). The Agency invites you and your designated consultation representative(s) to participate in this process. The EPA’s anticipated timeline for the consultation period is expected to extend from September 1, 2022, to October 17, 2022.
Top Stories
E&E News – Hurricane Ian intensifies into a monster with climate markings
AP News – Biden administration launches environmental justice office
CNBC – Inflation Reduction Act’s expanded biofuel incentives raise concerns about fraud
Native News Online – Native News Weekly (September 25, 2022): D.C. Briefs
NBC News – Inflation Reduction Act: Who qualifies for tax credits and rebates
Ambient Air Quality/EPA/Tribes News
The Hill – Biden declares major disaster in Alaska after severe storm
Huff Post – Wildly Popular And Under Attack: The Political Battle Over America’s Public Lands
High Country News – Trump tried to open Alaska lands to resource development — what will Biden do?
High Country News – Yak Titʸu Titʸu Yak Tiłhini say it’s time to return Diablo Canyon lands to Indigenous hands
The Guardian – ‘Dramatic’ rise in wildfire smoke triggers decline in US air quality for millions
E&E News – Special hiring power boosts EPA infrastructure, regional teams
Indian Country Today – Deb Haaland celebrates decades of Indigenous education
Climate Change/Energy
E&E News – Manchin backs off permitting reform in spending bill
E&E News – Manchin’s permitting overhaul: Not dead yet
Seattle Times Op-Ed – Stop sacrificing Indigenous sacred sites in the name of climate change
Business Insider – The climate crisis and the energy transition are exacerbating inequality, putting those least responsible in the worst position
Inside Climate News – Senate Votes to Ratify the Kigali Amendment, Joining 137 Nations in an Effort to Curb Global Warming
Utility Dive – DOE opens $7B hydrogen hub funding opportunity, issues draft production standard
Inside Climate News – The Pathway to 90% Clean Electricity Is Mostly Clear. The Last 10%, Not So Much
USA Today – Humanity healed the ozone hole. Can we do the same for climate change?
Seattle Times – Stop sacrificing Indigenous sacred sites in the name of climate change
Toxics/Mobile Sources
Utility Dive – How the Inflation Reduction Act is heating up an already active market for critical metals in EV batteries
NPR – Federal money is now headed to states for building up fast EV chargers on highways
Thomson Reuters Foundation – Cost of crypto: Report says U.S. bitcoin as dirty as 6 million cars
AP News – US Sen. Warnock: Electric car tax credit needs ‘flexibility’
CNBC – EV sales to hit all-time high in 2022, IEA says, but more work needed to put world on net-zero path
Grist – To ensure access to electric cars, some activists are calling attention to ‘charging deserts’
Indoor Air Quality
ACHR News – Indoor Air Quality and Decarbonization: A Healthy Balance
Phys. Org – Indoor air quality experiments show exposure risks while cooking, cleaning
UPCOMING CALLS/EVENTS/NOTICES: Week of September 26 – 30, 2022
UPCOMING CALLS/EVENTS/NOTICES
Ambient Air Quality/EPA/NTAA/Tribes
NEW! U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) FY2022 Appropriations
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.
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.
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 (colon.toni@epa.gov) and/or Loren Fox (fox.loren@epa.gov) 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 Andy.Bessler@nau.edu if you have any questions about any call! *Registration instructions* When you register for the GoToWebinar, please remember to include your Tribe, Region, or Organization in parenthesis after your last name. This allows you to see everyone on the call and prevents us from conducting a rollcall, ultimately saving everyone’s time.
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 andy.bessler@nau.edu to join the call! | TBA, 2:00 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 andy.bessler@nau.edu to join the call! | Thursday, October 6, 10 am AK or 2 pm ET |
Alaska Air Work Group: Join this work group to hear updates from EPA and Alaskans working on air quality. Contact andy.bessler@nau.edu to join the call! | Wednesday, September 28, 10 am AK or 2 pm ET |
NTAA / EPA Air Policy Update Call: Join this monthly meeting to hear updates from EPA on important air quality and climate policy updates as well as updates around the country related to Tribal Air Programs. Calls are usually on the last Thursday of every month unless it falls on a national holiday. Contact Carolyn.Kelly@nau.edu to join the call! | Thursday, September 29, 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. Contact andy.bessler@nau.edu to join the call! | Thursday, October 20, 2 pm ET. |
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! The Climate Adaptation Forum will host an event on the negative impacts of climate change on the U.S. housing market, potential opportunities, and the need for affordable, climate-resilient housing. September 30, at 9:00 am ET.
NEW! 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:
- 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/cleanschoolbusIf you have any feedback, please email: cleanschoolbus@epa.gov
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!
RESOURCES AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES: Week of September 26 – 30, 2022
RESOURCES & FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
NOW HIRING!
NEW! The Department of Religious Studies is hiring an 1855 professorship in the position of Great Lakes Anishinaabe Knowledge, Spiritualities, and Cultural Practices.
Applications close: July 8, 2024 | Click Here for Full Job Description
The Department of Religious Studies is hiring an 1855 professorship in the position of Great Lakes Anishinaabe Knowledge, Spiritualities, and Cultural Practices. We seek a scholar with a focus on Anishinaabe communities, and more broadly, Great Lakes Native American cultures. The scholar’s areas of interest should include Anishinaabe worldviews, ceremony, knowledge systems, and communal cultural practices in the context of colonialisms, resistance, resiliency, and sovereignty. The specific area of focus is open with preference to knowledge of traditions of Anishinaabe communities, and more broadly, Native American communities. We are particularly interested in scholars whose work and teaching complement cross-university strengths in environmental practices, North American Indigenous Law, communal health and wellness, and social justice. In keeping with our land-grant mission, we seek a scholar engaged in public-facing conversations about how contemporary Native American knowledge, language, spiritualities, and culture can inform larger discussions around law, public policy, land stewardship, resource management, community health and wellbeing, tribal governance, museum collections and archives, and environmental justice movements.
The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals’ (ITEP) Tribes and Climate Change Program (TCCP) and Environmental Education and Outreach Program (EEOP) are hiring for a Community Program Coordinator, Sr.
The Community Program Coordinator, Senior will lead the work of managing the internship program for the TCCP and EEOP by overseeing the recruitment of internship host sites and recruitment, on boarding, mentoring, and management of the interns hired for the summer and academic year. The EEOP and TCCP supports approximately 30 internships annually, with potential for growth over time.
This position reports to the managers of ITEP’s Tribes and Climate Change Program (TCCP) and the Environmental Education Outreach Program (EEOP). It is preferred the position will be located in Flagstaff, AZ with a remote or hybrid work option available as needed. Click here to learn more!
TAMS Tribal Air Monitoring Technology Specialist Being Age 55 or Older is Good for The Environment! The Senior Environmental Employment (SEE) Program offers unique opportunities in Scientific, Technical, and Administrative / Office support for individuals aged 55 and over to support the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through a grant administered program through National Older Worker Career Center (NOWCC). This is a unique program where your talents, expertise and experience will truly be valued. The EPA provides a wonderful work atmosphere, and you’ll be working side-by-side with EPA staff that are doing important work every day.
Pay & Benefits: Pay rate: $18.01 /hr.
Benefits: Paid Health Insurance Premium if working 30+ hours per week, Paid Vacation, Paid Sick Time, Paid Federal Holidays plus one Individual Holiday, and optional Vision and Dental Insurance available. Must be U.S Citizen and age 55 or older to apply. The duties of this position must be performed onsite at the EPA office location in Las Vegas, NV. For Full Description and to Apply Click Here
The Clean Energy Corps is hiring. We need talented, diverse, kind, and hardworking people like you to join this team.
With the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Clean Energy Corps is charged with investing more than $62 billion to deliver a more equitable clean energy future for the American people by:
- Investing in American manufacturing
- Creating good paying jobs
- Expanding access to energy efficiency and clean energy for families, communities, and businesses
- Delivering reliable, clean, and affordable power to more Americans
- And building the technologies of tomorrow through clean energy research, development, and demonstrations
You can find a great listing of Indian Country jobs on NCAI’s website here.
Ambient Air Quality/EPA/NTAA/Tribes
REMINDER! DOC Coastal Habitat Restoration and Resilience Grants for Underserved Communities, Under the IIJA – $10 million
Applications Due: September 30, 2022
Eligible Entities: County governments, state governments, city or township governments, small businesses, nonprofits, for profit organizations, Native American tribal governments (federally recognized), private institutions of higher education, public and state controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments)
The principal objective of this solicitation is to support opportunities for underserved communities, tribes, and/or tribal entities to meaningfully engage in coastal habitat restoration activities. Through this funding opportunity, NOAA intends to support capacity building and restoration project activities that have the greatest potential to lead to habitat restoration that enhances resilience of underserved communities in marine, estuarine, coastal, and Great Lakes areas. Meaningful engagement of underserved communities is intended to ensure that communities are integral to the visioning, decision-making, and leadership for coastal habitat restoration projects; to ensure that the scope of such projects are inclusive of the priorities and needs of communities; and/or to ensure that the benefits of such projects flow back to underserved communities.
For more information, visit the funding opportunity description.
REMINDER! DOE Federal Loan Guarantees for Tribal Energy Development Projects – $13 million
Applications Due: September 30, 2022
Eligible Entities: any Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community, including any Alaska Native village or regional or village corporation as defined in or established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act
On July 29, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Loan Programs Office (LPO) issued an updated solicitation for the Tribal Energy Loan Guarantee Program (TELGP) to implement direct lending authority. The update enables eligible tribes to apply for direct loans for eligible energy projects through the U.S. Treasury’s Federal Financing Bank, as authorized under The Consolidated Appropriations Act. For more information, visit the funding opportunity description.
NEW! EPA, Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) announce $2 Million EJ4Climate Grant Program
Proposals Due November 11, 2022 5:00 PM ET | Click Here For Application
The CEC established this grant program in 2021 to fund projects that target underserved and vulnerable communities, and Indigenous communities, in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, to prepare them for climate-related impacts. The EJ4Climate Grant Program provides funding directly to community-based organizations and seeks to support environmental justice by facilitating the involvement and empowerment of communities searching for solutions and the development of partnerships to address their environmental and human health vulnerabilities, including those due to climate change impacts.
Any Questions Please Contact: Angela Hackel (hackle.angela@epa.gov )
Senior Advisor to the Assistant Administrator
Office of International and Tribal Affairs (OITA)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
202.566.2977 (office)
202.763.3945 (cell)
EPA Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers Program – $50 million
Applications Due: October 4, 2022
Eligible Entities: Intertribal consortia, public and private universities and colleges, non-profits
The Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers (EJ TCTAC) Program provides grant funding to eligible applicants to establish technical assistance centers across the nation providing technical assistance, training, and related support to communities with environmental justice concerns and their partners. The new technical assistance centers will provide training, assistance, and capacity building on writing grant proposals, navigating federal systems such as Grants.gov and SAM.gov, and effectively managing grant funding. These centers will also provide guidance on community engagement, meeting facilitation, and translation and interpretation services for limited English-speaking participants. For more information, visit the funding opportunity description.
Department of Energy (DOE) Announces $32 Million to Reduce Methane Emissions from Oil and Gas Sector
Applications Due October 4, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. ET. | For full details and areas of interest, read the FOA here.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced up to $32 million in funding toward the research and development of new monitoring, measurement, and mitigation technologies to help detect, quantify, and reduce methane emissions across oil and natural gas producing regions of the United States. After carbon dioxide, methane is the most abundant greenhouse gas (GHG) warming our planet, and methane emissions contribute significantly to the GHG intensity of natural gas. The projects awarded through this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) will help ensure an efficient, resilient, and leak-tight U.S. natural gas infrastructure, while supporting President Biden’s national goal to cut global methane emissions by 30% from 2020 levels by 2030.
All interested applicants must register and submit application materials through FedConnect; register here for an account. All questions about the FOA must also be submitted through FedConnect.
U.S. Forest Service Community Wildfire Defense Grant
Application Due: October 7, 2022 | 11:50 PM ET
A Community Wildfire Defense Grant is announced which, according to the website (https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/fire/grants), “are intended to help at-risk local communities and Tribes plan and reduce the risk against wildfire. The Act prioritizes at-risk communities in an area identified as having high or very high wildfire hazard potential, are low-income, and/or have been impacted by a severe disaster.” The webinar on the 9th is specifically for tribes.
Save the Date: The upcoming dates are available to attend the Community Wildfire Defense Grant Webinars for Applicants. Registration is now Open. To attend a webinar, follow the Registration Instructions available in the Wildland Fire Learning Portal to set-up an account.
- Applications now available. For questions regarding applications, please contact Melissa Aulisio, accessga@usda.gov
EPA: Tribal and Insular Area Grants: Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) Request for Applications OPEN! – $8 million
Applications Due: October 26, 2022
Eligible Entities: Tribal governments (or intertribal consortiums), Alaska Native Villages, or insular area government agencies which have jurisdiction over transportation or air quality
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced the availability of grant funding for tribal and certain insular area governments to implement projects which reduce emissions from the nation’s existing fleet of older diesel engines. A total of $7 million will be made available to tribal governments, or intertribal consortia, and Alaska Native villages; and $1 million will be made available to insular area governments including the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Funds may be used to upgrade and replace older, dirtier diesel-powered vehicles and equipment with newer, cleaner vehicles and technologies.
Anticipated Timeline and Dates
Description | Date |
2022 Request for Applications (RFA) Opened | Thursday, August 04, 2022
|
Information Session Webinars
|
Tuesday, August 16, 2022 – 1:00 PM ET Thursday, August 25, 2022 – 3:00 PM ET Wednesday, August 31, 2022 – 7:00 PM ET
|
Deadline for Submission of Questions
|
Friday, October 14, 2022 – 11:59 PM ET
|
Deadline for Applications
|
Wednesday, October 26, 2021—11:59 PM ET
|
Anticipated Notification of Selected Applicants
|
January 2023
|
Anticipated Funding of Awards
|
February 2023
|
For more information and to view the full RFA, please visit https://www.epa.gov/dera/tribal-insulararea
For further Tribal applicant information, contact:
Lucita Valiere DERA Tribal Grants Lead Phone: 206-553-8087 Email: valiere.lucita@epa.gov
|
For further insular area applicant information, contact:
Stephanie Watson DERA Insular Area Grants Lead Phone: 202-564-1409 Email: watson.stephanie@epa.gov
|
NOAA RESTORE Science Program 2023 – $15 million
Applications Due: November 15, 2022
Eligible Entities: Institutions of higher education; not-for-profit institutions; for-profit organizations; local governments, state governments, tribal governments; and U.S. territories
NOAA RESTORE Science Program is open for proposals for projects up to five years in duration. This announcement invites proposals that request funding from researcher, resource manager, and stakeholder partnerships to execute a previously planned, collaborative research project, develop its findings and products, transfer them to an identified resource manager or management body, and apply them to a specific Gulf of Mexico natural resource management decision. A letter of intent for this proposal is due by August 16, 2022.
For more information, visit the funding opportunity description.
DOC Climate Program Office FY 2023 – $11.1 million
Applications Due: November 21, 2022
Eligible Entities: State governments, local governments, tribal governments, institutions of higher education, nonprofits, international organizations
As part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) climate portfolio within the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), the Climate Program Office (CPO) addresses climate challenges by managing competitive research programs through which high-priority climate science, assessments, decision-support research, outreach, education, and capacity-building activities are funded to advance our understanding of the Earth’s climate system, and to foster the application and use of this knowledge to improve the resilience of our Nation and its partners.
For more information, visit the funding opportunity description.
Air Monitoring Equipment Available for Loan to State, Local, and Tribal Agencies
In 2021, EPA’s Office of Research and Development initiated the Wildfire Smoke Air Monitoring Response Technology (WSMART) Pilot, loaning air monitoring technologies to state, local, and tribal air organizations to support supplemental air monitoring in areas affected by wildfire smoke and with observational data coverage gaps. During 2022, this pilot technology loan program will continue to provide several technology types – including stationary air sensor systems and a compact mobile monitoring system – to state and local air agency monitoring staff and professional tribal air quality staff members upon request. The equipment is not available for general public use. For more information and access to the loan request webform, please visit the WSMART website:https://www.epa.gov/air-sensor-toolbox/wildfire-smoke-air-monitoring-response-technology-wsmart-pilot
For technical questions, please contact smoketech@epa.gov.
Communication Channels for NASA Funding Opportunities
Please consider signing up for the following communication channels. These channels will ensure that you are informed of student engagement and other funding opportunities:
- Register for an account with NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System (NSPIRES). You’ll need to create an account if you don’t already have one. Once you have an account you’ll be able to sign up for notifications to be alerted when new funding opportunities are released. There are sometimes opportunities released specifically for Minority Serving Institutions (including TCUs and other indigenous serving higher education institutions) so it’s good to receive the notifications to stay on top of new opportunities.
- Sign up for our MUREP Newsletterwhich goes out every 2 weeks on Fridays.
- Check our MUREP websitefor announcements regarding MUREP specific funding opportunities.
EPA recently shared documents from the May 2021 Workshop on Wildfire Smoke and Children’s Health.
The workshop summary recaps expert presentation and topics discussed during the May event. The recommendations were drafted by multistakeholder workgroups and contain a collection of evidence-based information for decision making and for developing educational materials.
You can find the documents attached and posted on the AirNow website: https://www.airnow.gov/wildfire-guide-post-publication-updates/. At this site you will also see a link to A Story of Health, a multimedia eBook from the Western States Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit that explores how our environments interact with our genes to influence health across the lifespan. The latest chapter, Sofia’s Story, explores the health effects of wildfires. Go directly to Story of Health here: https://wspehsu.ucsf.edu/main-resources/for-clinical-professionals/training/a-story-of-health-a-multi-media-ebook/. For more information, contact EPA’s Martha Berger at Berger.Martha@epa.gov.
Office of Research and Development recently conducted planning discussions regarding the WSMART program. One decision we are activating now is a testing partner loan option during periods of lower wildfire activity (winter through early spring), with loans for up to 3 months. The website FAQs were updated today to outline that option (refer to: “Can I request this equipment to try out before the next wildfire season?”): https://www.epa.gov/air-sensor-toolbox/wildfire-smoke-air-monitoring-response-technology-wsmart-pilot
To view and/or receive ITEP’s American Indian Air Quality Training Program newsletter, Native Voices, click here!
Climate Change/Energy
DOE Community Geothermal Heating and Cooling Design and Deployment – $13 million Applications Due: October 11, 2022
Eligible Entities: Unrestricted
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the Community Geothermal Heating and Cooling Design and Deployment Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), which will award $300,000–$13 million for projects that help communities design and deploy geothermal district heating and cooling systems, create related workforce training, and identify and address environmental justice concerns. The FOA will support the formation of U.S.-based community coalitions that will develop, design, and install community geothermal heating and cooling systems that supply at least 25% of the heating and cooling load in communities.
- For more information, visit the funding opportunity description.
EPA’s State and Local Climate and Energy Program will use this newsletter to share updates and opportunities as they become available and to let you know how the EPA’s IRA programs can help your jurisdiction. Our monthly funding newsletter will also continue to provide information on climate and clean energy grant and technical assistance opportunities and deadlines for state, local, and tribal governments.
You can also visit the White House’s website about clean energy and climate action in the IRA. Use it to learn how you can save on utility bills, get support to purchase electric vehicles, energy-efficient appliances, and more.
Share the news: Tax Credits for Energy-Efficient Home Upgrades have been Extended!
Under the IRA, federal tax credits for energy-efficient home upgrades have been extended. This means that if you made any qualifying home improvements to your primary residence after December 31, 2021, you may be eligible to claim credit on your federal taxes when you file for 2022. Qualifying upgrades include ENERGY STAR-certified products, as well as improvements to your home’s envelope or exterior – such as windows, doors, and insulation. To learn more, read through ENERGY STAR’s property tax credit guidance.
Renewable Energy tax credits have also been extended and will be available through the end of 2023. These include incentives for Geothermal Heat Pumps, Residential Wind Turbines, Solar Energy Systems, and Fuel Cells.
What’s New for Federal Tax Credits in 2023? There will be new efficiency tax credits in place starting January 1, 2023, lasting 10 years – through 2032. The tax credit amount is generally limited to 30% of the project cost. The previous lifetime cap of $500 has been changed to an annual cap of either $1,200 to $2,000 depending on the efficiency improvements you make. This means you will be able to claim credit for more projects, especially if they are spread out over multiple years.
For more information and to stay up to date on available tax credits, make sure to bookmark ENERGY STAR’s page on Federal Tax Credits so you can maximize savings on your home energy efficiency projects.
Join NCAI’s Climate Action email listserv here!
Sign up for the Alliance for Green Heat’s newsletter!
To view and/or receive ITEP’s Climate Change newsletter, click here!
Toxics/Mobile Sources
Performance Reports on Electric Trucks Operating in Four Key Freight Markets Now Available!
A new series of five reports documenting the performance of 13 electric trucks is now available from the North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE), a SmartWay Affiliate. NACFE’s Electric Trucks Have Arrived report series provides key metrics, consistent data sets, and presents important findings and insight into how these electric trucks operate to meet the operational demands of four critical freight markets. The report series is based on a comprehensive range of real-world data collected by NACFE during its Run on Less – Electric (ROL-E) truck demonstration conducted last fall. The series of reports also draw on extensive field research, studies, interviews, and related documents published by NACFE on the development and emergence of electric trucks in recent years.
For the Electric Trucks Have Arrived series, thirteen fleets and truck manufacturers paired up and collaborated with NACFE for its ROL-E demonstration. They agreed to equip their electric trucks with instruments and to continuously track, collect and provide NACFE with key data points, driver experience and other information on the performance of the trucks over the course of three weeks last fall. Each of the Electric Trucks Have Arrived reports covers specific market segments served by the participating fleets, as follows:
- Three electric terminal tractors
- Three electric delivery vans/step vans
- Three electric medium-duty box trucks, and
- Four electric heavy duty regional haul tractors
A fifth report, Electric Trucks Have Arrived: Documenting a Real-World Electric Trucking Demonstration provides an overview of the demonstration project, including details on the methods used to select the fleets that participated in the project, routes, and equipment, and the metrics that measured the 13 participating pairs of fleets and truck manufacturers.
Among its key findings, NACFE concludes that ROL-E demonstrates that for the market segments covered, the technology supporting electric trucks is mature enough for fleets to be making investments in production commercial battery electric vehicles. It expects continuous improvements will be rapid as these technologies gain market share, and that the environmental benefits of reducing emissions is significant for replacing traditional diesel and gasoline-based vehicles.
To access one or more of the reports available as part of the NACFE Electric Trucks Have Arrived series, click on the respective links above. For more information on NACFE visit www.nacfe.org.
Indoor Air Quality
The Indoor Air Quality Association’s Emerging Professional Scholarship Fund was created to offer early career professionals the opportunity to further develop their understanding and expertise within the IAQ field. For the 2023 program, they are pleased to offer the following:
IAQA 2023 Annual Meeting & Expo Travel Award & IAQA University Award
One candidate will receive a $2,000 travel stipend award for hotel, airfare, miscellaneous expenses as well as a complimentary registration for the IAQA 2023 Annual Meeting & Expo and the 50- course bundle. Two candidates will receive the 50- course bundle for IAQA University featuring all four S.M.A.R.T. Education Courses/Badges –value up to $3250 (access for a period of 18 months). Click here to apply!
Resource for Healthy Indoor Air Quality
Check out the website https://forhealth.org/ for many resources related to healthy homes and indoor air quality!
The Tribal Healthy Homes Network (THHN) has a webpage dedicated to Funding Opportunities! Additionally, THHN has developed a Funding Guide for American Indian and Alaska Native Communities.
Most Recent Listing: EPA Rules from the Federal Register can be found here.
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