PHOTOS FROM THE FIELD: Week of May 9 -13, 2022

PHOTOS FROM THE FIELD: Week of May 9 -13, 2022

PHOTOS FROM THE FIELD

Thanks to all who helped make the 2022 National Tribal Forum on Air Quality a complete success! You can view an amazing video and photos that captures the full NTFAQ that can be viewed here!

2022 National Tribal Forum on Air Quality’s (NTFAQ’s) Breath of Fresh Air 5k Runners/Walkers raised $1145 for Mvskokey Nation Youth Services! NTFAQ’s host, the Muscogee Nation partnered with the Mvskokey Nation Youth Services to create beautiful t-shirts for the run that were scooped up by over 40 runners! Be sure to check back on the NTFAQ website for recordings from all the sessions and if you and your Tribe would like to host the 2023 NTFAQ, you can submit a response to this Request for Proposal from ITEP!

Left to Right: Muscogee Nation’s Jasmyne Jack, Jennifer Reyer and Karen McGirt-Rodriguez display the check provided to Mvskoke Nation Youth Services. The funds were donated by the NTFAQ Runners/Walkers shown below at the starting line. A delegation from Mvskokey is shown above that also presented during the awards dinner for 2022 NTFAQ Award Winners, left to right: Emma Ruppell of the Bishop Paiute Tribe, April Hathcoat from the Cherokee Nation and Kris Ray from the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation.

PHOTOS FROM THE FIELD|

NTAA News

NTAA – U.S. Tribal Nations Combat Air Pollution and Climate Change Without the Needed Federal Funding to Sustain and Build Tribal Air Quality Programs

The NTAA EC (shown below) presented the key findings from NTAA’s first national baseline needs assessment (BNA) for Tribal Air Programs. You can read the full report here, and the key findings here.

To help readers navigate the 110-page report, NTAA will be hosting a national webinar on Wednesday, June 15th at 2 ET. All members of the public are welcome to join the webinar. Follow this link to register to the event.

At NTAA’s Annual Meeting, the new one-hour NTAA film, “NTAA’s 20^th year anniversary” was screened. You can view the full film on NTAA’s “About Us” page here.

Last week, NTAA also published new Policy Resource Kits for Tribes to use that includes fact sheets and template letters you and/or your Tribe can use to comment on:

This was the first in-person meeting of the NTAA Executive Committee, staff, partners, airheads and other and NTFAQ attendees in over 3 years and it was great to reconnect with all of you! Thanks to the NTAA Executive Committee and ITEP staff for their hard work and dedication and to everybody in the NTAA family who helped make a successful NTFAQ for 2022!

UPCOMING CALLS/EVENTS/NOTICES

Ambient Air Quality/EPA/NTAA/Tribes

NEW! Preparing for Wildland Fire Smoke

May 18, 2022, | 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm ET | Register Here

Environmental and public health officials can help their communities prepare for smoke events. This webinar highlights the ASHRAE Planning Framework for Protecting Commercial Building Occupants from Smoke During Wildfires

Planning Framework is a publicly available resource developed by government and industry experts that provides building managers for public and commercial buildings, including schools, with advice on steps to reduce smoke exposures that can occur indoors during wildfires and prescribed burning. In addition, EPA researchers will share examples from field studies in Missoula, MT and the Hoopa Valley Tribe in Hoopa, CA to better understand indoor air quality in public and commercial buildings under typical ambient conditions and when smoke events occur. These examples include the impact of building characteristics and ventilation systems on indoor air quality during smoke episodes.

NEW! Tribal Lands & Environmental Forum Call for Proposals Closing Soon

The deadline for submitting your session proposal for the 2022 Tribal Lands and Environment Forum is fast approaching. This year’s TLEF will be hybrid in format, with in-person activities taking place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin but also having lots of opportunities for virtual attendees as well. And this means you can submit a proposal for a session that is live in-person, live virtual, or pre-recorded. We want you to share your stories, lessons you’ve learned, innovative ideas that have helped you in your work protecting our lands and all our relations. But we’ll only e accepting your proposal until May 16.

Hop on over to http://www.nau.edu/tlef2022 and click on the Call for Proposals tab for more information and the online submission form.

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.

EPA Policy Call: Call in to hear updates from EPA on policies, actions, and tools relevant to Indian Country and Air Quality. Attend by clicking here.	Thursday, May 19, 2 pm ET
Mobile Sources Work Group: This monthly work group addresses all mobile source pollution issues. Attend by clicking here.	Thursday, May 12, 2 pm ET
IAQ Work Group: Join the bi-monthly calls of the NTAA IAQ work group. Attend by clicking here. The call this week has been cancelled, so next call will take place on June 16^th at 2pm ET.	Thursday, June 16, 2 pm ET
Wood Smoke Work Group: Join this work group every other month to address wood smoke issues in Indian Country. Attend by clicking here.	Thursday, May 19, 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, May 25, 10 am AK or 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

NEW! ICCT COMMENTS ON EPA’S PROPOSED HEAVY-DUTY ENGINE AND VEHICLE STANDARDS

May 10, 2022, | 10 am PT/1 pm ET | Register Here

In March, the EPA released its proposal for new heavy-duty engine and vehicle standards with the aim of controlling air pollution from future sales of trucks and buses. The EPA is currently accepting public comments, and the ICCT, among others, has been working to evaluate the rule and advise on how it can be improved. The comments we have produced reflect decades of experience in vehicle regulation from around the world, are grounded in both the technical and economic realities, and are driven by the near-term goal of improving human health and the long-term goal of keeping global warming under 1.5 degrees. This webinar will provide an overview of ICCT’s views on the proposed rule and our public comments. Our experts will walk through the risks posed by ZEV crediting, the health impacts of NOx emissions, and the importance of accelerating ZEV uptake through more stringent GHG standards.

Save the Date: 2022 Southwestern Tribal Climate Change Summit

May 16 – 18, 2022 @ the Pala, CA | Register Here

In partnership with the La Jolla Band of Luiseño Indians, the Pala Band of Mission Indians, and the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals, the Climate Science Alliance is excited to co-host the 2022 Southwestern Tribal Climate Change Summit (SWTCCS).

EPA has updated the Tribal Greenhouse Gas Inventory Tool

EPA’s free, spreadsheet-based Tribal Greenhouse Gas Inventory Tool, first launched in 2013 and updated annually, is based on nationally and internationally recognized GHG accounting and reporting principles.

This year’s updates include:

An optional market-based method to calculate Scope 2 emissions from electricity purchased through contractual instruments, such as Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs).
Revised Emissions & Generation Resource Integrated Database (eGRID) factors from 1990 through 2019, as available.
Updated default stationary energy emission factors and heat contents.
Kerosene and distillate fuel oil as additional stationary energy fuel types.

Find the updated Tribal community and government operations modules and users’ guides here. Are you a long-time inventory tool user with questions about the new updates? Or is this your first GHG inventory? Join this webinar or upcoming offices hours to learn more and ask questions:

ITEP’s Climate Change Adaptation Training Courses registration is online!

Learn more about the courses and register here.

Toxics/Mobile Sources

NEW! Applying the Pre-Incident All-Hazards Waste Management Plan Guidelines

The ITEP Waste & Response Program partnered with the U.S. EPA’s ORD to create a series of webinars and virtual trainings. Using the Four-Step Waste Management Planning Process to address natural disasters. This particular webinar will be using flooding as the scenario. You can look over the attached document to learn a bit more about these guidelines.

The first webinar will take place on Wednesday, May 25, 10 am (Alaska); 11 am (Pacific); 12 pm (Mountain); 1 pm (Central); 2 pm (Eastern). The webinar will be held on Zoom, which you can access here:

Zoom Link
Password – 979363
Toll-free number – 877 853 5247

The World Resources Institute (WRI) presents the Getting on Board Electric School Bush (ESB) webinar series. The second webinar is on May 10^th at 1pm ET and will provide timely details on the EPA’s $5 billion Clean School Bus Program. You can register here.

This April, the U.S. EPA is expected to officially launch its new Clean School Bus Program, which will provide billions of dollars to help school districts invest in electric school buses over the next five years. Join the webinar to learn more about this unprecedented funding opportunity and how you can leverage it for your school district and community. Drawing on years of federal and local experience, panelists will offer unique and helpful insights into applying for, receiving and deploying clean school bus funding. WRI is a global research organization that turns big ideas into action at the nexus of environment, economic opportunity and human well-being.

Transportation, Climate Change and Health Resources for U.S. Tribes

The Pala Band of Mission Indians and the Jamul Indian Village of California (JIVoC) were funded by Caltrans’s 2019 Adaption Planning Grant (per Senate Bill 1) to complete the Tribal Transportation Climate Adaptation Project. By Feb 2022, this project produced analysis and reports outlining current and anticipated transportation-related impacts of more extreme wildfires, storms, flooding, and heat on Pala and Jamul’s valued social, cultural, economic, natural, and built assets, with a strong focus on protecting the health and safety of members, residents, employees, and visitors.

Click Here to Learn More

EPA Proposes Stronger Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles to Promote Clean Air, Protect Communities, and Support Transition to Zero-Emissions Future

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing new, stronger standards to promote clean air and reduce pollution from heavy-duty vehicles and engines starting in model year (MY) 2027. The proposed standards would reduce emissions of smog- and soot-forming nitrogen oxides (NOx) from heavy-duty gasoline and diesel engines and set updated greenhouse gas (GHG) standards for certain commercial vehicle categories. This proposed rule would ensure the heavy-duty vehicles and engines that drive American commerce and connect people across the country are as clean as possible while charting a path to advance zero-emission vehicles in the heavy-duty fleet. Click Here for Full Press Release.

U.S. Department of Energy: The Information Source for Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles

The Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC) provides information, data, and tools to help fleets and other transportation decision makers find ways to reach their energy and economic goals through the use of alternative and renewable fuels, advanced vehicles, and other fuel-saving measures. Click Here for more information about the resources available.

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 Webinar: You Can’t Manage What You Don’t Measure:
Monitoring IAQ in Schools for Improved Health

May 19, 2022 | 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm ET | Register Here

Register for this webinar to learn how to implement cost-effective and comprehensive IAQ monitoring to improve respiratory health of students and staff by reducing air pollutants and asthma triggers, such as viruses, allergens, mold, dust, and others. This webinar will feature best practices used by Boston Public Schools to monitor IAQ and assess ventilation and HVAC systems to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in schools and provide healthy indoor air.

NEW! EPA’s 2022 Award Winner Webinar: Innovative Strategies and Partnerships to Improve Asthma Outcomes Through a Comprehensive Approach

May 24, 2022 | 2:00pm – 3:00pm ET | Register Here

Learn how the Utah Department of Health Asthma Program

Expanded the reach, effectiveness and sustainability of comprehensive asthma control services in Utah.
Developed partnerships and a screening protocol to address high-risk clients’ social, mental, physical and emotional needs to help control their asthma.
Established a home-visiting program shown to improve asthma outcomes, including a 75 percent reduction in asthma-related emergency department visits.
Worked with payers to seek sustainable financing for the Utah Asthma Home Visiting Program, which included conducting a return-on-investment analysis. That secured additional funding to expand the program to Medicaid members in rural fee-for-service areas.

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) Released Allergy Capitals 2022.

This report ranks the top 100 cities in the continental United States where it is most challenging to live with seasonal pollen allergies, which may worsen chronic respiratory diseases, including asthma. AAFA’s report is an annual research and educational project designed to help people recognize, prevent and manage allergy symptoms. It also helps communities see where the needs of people with allergic diseases, like seasonal allergies, can be better met.

Scranton, Pennsylvania, ranks #1 overall again this year. City rankings are based on higher-than-average spring and fall pollen scores, higher-than-average medication usage, and availability of board-certified allergists/immunologists in the area. Visit AsthmaCommunityNetwork.org to see if your city made the list and see what actions you can take to reduce your contact with pollen.

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.

U.S. Department of Education Encourages Use of American Rescue Plan Funds to Improve Ventilation and IAQ in Schools

Indoor air quality is critical to reopening schools safely and keeping them open. The U.S. Department of Education has released new guidance encouraging the use of American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds to improve ventilation systems and make other indoor air quality improvements in schools to prevent the spread of COVID- 19 and tackle longstanding school ventilation improvement needs. The new Department of Education guidance highlights EPA resources to support investments in improved ventilation and indoor air quality. Use the following resources from EPA to supplement the information in the guidance:

Indoor Air and Coronavirus (COVID-19): Visit this page for the latest guidance on best indoor air practices to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Ventilation and Coronavirus (COVID-19): Ventilation is an important approach to lowering concentrations of indoor air pollutants, including viruses. Increase the ventilation in your school with outdoor air when possible.
Air Cleaners, HVAC filters, and Coronavirus (COVID-19): Air cleaners and HVAC filters can help to reduce viruses and pollutants in the air. Consider upgrading the HVAC filters in your system and using safe, effective portable air cleaners to supplement HVAC filtration. Note: Do

not use air cleaners that intentionally generate ozone in occupied spaces.

Implementing a Layered Approach to Address COVID-19 in Public Indoor Spaces: A layered risk reduction approach is best to limit airborne transmission of COVID-19 – learn how to combine increased ventilation and filtration with other CDC recommendations, such as wearing masks and social distancing.

Be sure to subscribe to CodeTalk, HUD’s Office of Native American Programs newsletter, for webinars and opportunities!

CALLS/WEBINARS/EVENTS|

RESOURCES AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES: Week of May 9 – 13, 2022

RESOURCES & FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Now Hiring!

NEW! Environmental Specialist for the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indian’s Governmental Operations

Responsible for the Environmental Program to include natural sciences related grant management and implementation, lead fieldwork activities, data management, data analysis, technical report writing, and creating management recommendations. Click Here for full listing of the position

U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission: Job announcement for an Intergovernmental Specialist-Tribal position within FERC’s Office of External Affairs.

This position will work within the State, International, and Public Affairs Division (with Keith and myself) and help us build up our Tribal engagement work. This position works across the Commission in collaboration with numerous program offices such as the newly established Office of Public Participation, the Office of Energy Projects, and the Office of General Counsel’s Environmental Justice & Equity Team. The listing is here on USA Jobs.

Gila River Indian Community: Director, Department of Environmental Quality

Click Here For Full Job Listing and Click Here To Apply

The Director is responsible for the overall direction, management, and operations of the Gila River Indian Community’s Department of Environmental Quality, whose overall mission is to protect human health by maintaining and improving the quality of the environment in the area of air quality, pesticides, waste management, water quality, and wildlife. This position exercises considerable initiative and independent judgement in representing the Community within its assigned area of responsibilities, including frequent interaction with local and federal agencies. This position is responsible for protecting the Community’s sovereign authority, ensuring compliance with the Community’s environmental ordinances and federal regulations; establishes departmental policies, goals, and standards of work; financial management, including budget planning, development, monitoring, and record keeping; grants management, including grant writing, review, performance monitoring, and compliance; review and evaluation of departmental systems and programs.

Puget Sound Clean Air Agency: Executive Director

The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency (PSCAA) is a special-purpose, regional government agency chartered by state law in 1967. The Agency’s jurisdiction covers King, Kitsap, Pierce, and Snohomish counties. These four counties are home to more than 4.1 million people, over half the state’s population.

The Executive Director is responsible for strategic and inspirational leadership as well as overall operational management of the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency. The Executive Director serves as a key external face of the Agency, responsible for productive relationships between the Agency and the State Legislature, the State Department of Ecology, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Association of Clean Agencies, and other local air agencies. In addition, the Executive Director ensures that staff members are aligned with the organization’s mission and vision and are working together to successfully achieve strategic objectives.

To Apply or For More Information About the Position. Click Here.

A New fund is asking for donations to help Alaska Native communities facing environmental disasters A new fund is calling for private donations to help Alaska Native communities facing climate change-related disasters. That source of funding will almost certainly not be enough money to fully respond to the environmental disasters that Alaska communities face, but it has at least one advantage over traditional grants. Click Here For More Information.

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

ETR (Education, Training, and Research) is seeking a Project Coordinator.

The Project Coordinator will report to the Director of Tribal Projects, this position will be responsible for coordinating, developing, and executing the California Clean Air Project (CCAP) scope of work (SOW) components of the project. These include but not limited to, facilitating and training Tribal representatives, coordinating other capacity building assistance and related activities, coordinating and ensuring delivery of day-to-day deliverables, planning and designing specific project deliverables, contributing to ideas to project/department strategic planning and resource development, and assisting in writing reports, proposals, re-applications and progress reports, all with general oversight of supervisor.

For More Information and to Apply for this Position click here

ETR (Education, Training, and Research) is seeking a Project Coordinator II Tribal Community Coordinating Center (TCCC). The Project Coordinator II (TCCC) will report to the Director of Tribal Projects, the Project Coordinator manages the day-to-day operations of one large project or multiple small projects (600K or less). Plans, coordinates, designs, and delivers project activities in the ATOD content area, specifically Tribal Community Coordinating Center (TCCC) Project. Writes reports, supervises staff, assists in resource development, and contributes to business unit strategic planning. California-based position.

For More Information and to Apply for this Position 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

Apply Now!

The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community is hiring a Sustainability Specialist and want to reach as wide an audience as possible. You can also get there through this link.

You can find a great listing of Indian Country jobs on NCAI’s website here.

Ambient Air Quality/EPA/NTAA/Tribes

NEW! EPA Announces Availability of up to $1.6 Million in Environmental Justice Grants for Tribal Public Participation Project

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the availability of up to $1.6 million in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding to support Tribal government efforts to establish or modify programs on environmental justice water and air quality issues. Earlier this year, EPA announced spending plans for the $100 million in ARP funding appropriated by Congress in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and health outcome disparities, with $50 million being designated to improve ambient air quality monitoring, and $50 million designated to address disproportionate environmental or public health harms and risks in underserved communities. Congress made up to $1.6 million in ARP funding available to Tribes, recognizing the importance of supporting Tribal public engagement programs and related priorities that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. EPA anticipates awarding 16 to 20 grants nationwide in amounts of up to $100,000 per award.

Applicants interested in this funding opportunity must submit grant proposal packages by May 19, 2022. Applicants should plan for projects to begin on October 1, 2022. To learn more about the pre-application assistance calls and how to apply for funding, visit: Environmental Justice Small Grants Program.

For more information about EPA’s programs in Indian Country, visit: Environmental Protection in Indian Country

For more information on EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice, visit: Environmental Justice.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Department of Energy – Bioenergy Technologies Office

The Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) supports groundbreaking technologies to produce fuels, products, and power from biomass and waste resources. BETO is interested in broadening its pool of participants and seeks to fund non-traditional, emerging, and historically underfunded investigators from Minority Serving Institutions. Focus areas of research include Advanced Algal Systems, Advanced Terrestrial waste feedstock technologies, Accelerating catalyst development for biofuel production.

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

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

Recent additions to OTAQ’s website in August 2022

You can access these additions as well as new press releases and Federal Register notices related to OTAQ on our website.

Indoor Air Quality

Community Health Worker Training Program (CHWTP)

Department of Health and Human Services

Health Resources and Services Administration

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=336498

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is accepting applications for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Community Health Worker and Health Support Worker Training Program (CHWTP). The purpose of this program is to expand the public health workforce through the training of new Community Health Workers (CHWs) and health support workers and to extend the knowledge and skills of current CHWs and other health support workers. Through this program, HRSA plans to train 13,000 new and current CHWs and other health support workers to support essential public health services and to focus on experiential training and employment through registered apprenticeships and job placements. The CHWTP aims to increase access to care, improve public health emergency response, and address the public health needs of underserved communities.

Individuals trained through the program will acquire knowledge, skills, and expertise to respond to public health needs and public health emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, in underserved communities through a network of partnerships.

Eligibility

State governments
Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
County governments
Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
Private institutions of higher education
Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
In addition to the 50 states, eligible applicants include the District of Columbia, Guam, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau. Tribes and Tribal organizations may apply for these funds, if otherwise eligible. Foreign entities and individuals are not eligible for this HRSA award.

More information is available at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=336498

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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