UPCOMING CALLS/EVENTS/NOTICES

Ambient Air Quality/EPA/NTAA/Tribes

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! U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) leaders spoke on a Tribal consultation session on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) on Tuesday, March 29, 2022 from 2-5 p.m. ET. DOE is developing more than 60 new programs, with $62.5 billion in BIL funding, implementing the largest investment in generations in our nation’s infrastructure. Related resources can be found on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Program webpage and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Guidebook.

NEW! Alliance for Electric School Buses, WRI’s Electric School Bus Initiative Webinar

March 30, 2022 | 1:00 pm ET | Click Here To Register

About the “Electric School Buses: Getting on Board” series:
Diesel school buses make up the vast majority of the U.S. school bus fleet, emitting harmful pollutants at rates up to 12x higher than ambient levels. Electric school buses offer a clean alternative, with no tailpipe emissions and air quality benefits that support students’ health and cognitive development.

As the EPA launches its Clean School Bus Program, providing up to $5 billion in funding for electric school buses, this is the moment to bring the benefits of electric school buses to the communities most harmed by air pollution. Join us for “Electric School Buses: Getting on Board,” a webinar series in which we’ll explore the electric school bus adoption process and how you can help bring electric school buses to your community.

NEW! EPA: Informational Call & Webinar for Tribes and Indigenous Peoples: EJ Small Grants & Other Financial Assistance Programs

April 7, 2022 | 2:30 am – 3:30 pm PT | Click Here To Register and For More Information

EPA is hosting two separate events to discuss the availability of $1.6 million to fund tribal government efforts to establish or modify public participation programs where fair treatment and meaningful participation priorities have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding is provided by American Rescue Plan (ARP) resources, through the EPA’s Environmental Justice Small Grants (EJSG) program.

The informational call and separate webinar will provide information on this new EJSG opportunity for federally-recognized tribal governments for projects that help residents of tribal communities understand, address and participate in local environmental and public health issues.  The webinar will also include a tribe’s experience with applying for and managing an EJSG, information on additional EPA EJ financial assistance programs available to tribes and indigenous peoples, and a short demonstration on the use of EJScreen.

NEW! American Lung Association: Can Prescribed Fires Mitigate Health Harm? A Review of Air Quality and Public Health Implications of Wildfire and Prescribed Fire

The final prescribed fire report commissioned by the American Lung Association and created by PSE Healthy Energy. The report is titled “Can Prescribed Fires Mitigate Health Harm? A Review of Air Quality and Public Health Implications of Wildfire and Prescribed Fire” and is posted on ALA’s website here. Please feel free to share this with anyone who might be interested.

NEW! The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) invite you to a Tribal consultation to discuss the development of Guidance for Federal Agencies on Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge (ITEK).

The consultations will take place at the following times:
Tribal Consultation 1:Tuesday, April 5, 2022. 3:30-5:30 pm EDT
Register in advance for the meeting here: https://pitc.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_KMwXKWx2QFypxyaOgxV2UQ

Tribal Consultation 2: Friday, April 29, 2022. 3:00 – 5:00 pm EDT Register in advance for the meeting here:

https://pitc.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_NOcHbTPzTZSgmhHr9eUcFA
Please view the Dear Tribal Letter Here  . If you have any questions regarding this effort, please contact ITEK@ostp.eop.gov.

 

NEW! EPA to Hold Public Listening Session on Draft Lead Strategy For All Regions

February – March 2022 | Register Here For Your Regions Listening Session

EPA is hosting Zoom virtual public comment sessions in each of its ten geographic regional office areas from early February to early March 2022. The sessions will be an opportunity for the public to provide verbal input on the draft Lead Strategy to EPA. We encourage the public to share with the Agency thoughts on how to address lead issues in their communities during these regional sessions (e.g., Northeast, Southwest, Mid-Atlantic, etc.).

EPA will use the feedback received during this public comment period to determine if additional revisions need to be incorporated into the Lead Strategy before it is finalized.

• EPA will accept public comments until March 16, 2022.
• Comments can be submitted in writing to docket EPA-HQ-OLEM-2021-0762 at Regulations.gov.

NEW! EPA to Hold Tribal Fleet and Vehicle Operator Workshop on Proposed Control of Air Pollution from New Motor Vehicles: Heavy-Duty Engine and Vehicle Standards

April 7, 1-2pm EST | Register Here To Attend

Given the potential interest by Tribal governments, the EPA Office of Transportation and Air Quality (OTAQ) will hold a Zoom webinar for Tribal stakeholders on April 7, 2022, from 1-2 PM Eastern Time. Through the webinar, EPA hopes to get feedback from tribal fleet and vehicle operators and servicers on these serviceability-related provisions in the proposed Control of Air Pollution from New Motor Vehicles: Heavy-Duty Engine and Vehicle Standards rule.

In response to EPA’s January 2020 Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR), we received comments from Tribal stakeholders indicating that service information and tools should be made easily available and affordable for individual owners to diagnose and fix their own vehicles, which can be especially important for small businesses, Tribes, and those in rural areas with less ready access to original equipment manufacturer dealer networks. We also received comments from Tribal stakeholders indicating a potential interest in information on our proposal that may address concerns about engine derating in response to emission aftertreatment system faults.

• For more information on the proposed rule, visit: https://www.epa.gov/regulations-emissions-vehicles-and-engines/proposed-rule-and-related-materials-control-air-1
• Register to attend prior the workshop here: https://usepa.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_-U6eipKsQwCzxqT8QV3MNw

NEW! Air Quality Flag Program Earth Day 2022 Lesson Plans

As you plan your Earth Day celebrations, consider some options from the Flag Program. Do fun activities (otherwise known as lesson plans but we won’t tell), read or watch the Why is Coco Orange?, fill out a crossword on air quality, or choose something from our Things to Do list. We’ve got something for everyone! Whatever you do, have fun and thank you for helping make the Earth a better place! https://www.airnow.gov/earth-daycrossword-puzzle-and-activities/

This year’s theme is Be Air Aware & Prepared! During the week, organizations nationwide plan events that increase air quality awareness and encourage people to check the Air Quality Index (AQI) daily. Flag Program participants already do that! This year’s daily topics include:

Monday – Wildfires & Smoke

Tuesday – Asthma and Your Health

Wednesday – Citizen Science & Sensors

Thursday – Environmental Justice & Air Quality

Friday – Air Quality Around the World

Find all our classroom curriculum at https://www.airnow.gov/air-quality-flagprogram-classroom-curriculum-publications/.

NEW! EPA Announces the “Clean Air in Buildings Challenge” to Help Building Owners and Operators Improve Indoor Air Quality and Protect Public Health

On March 17^th, as part of President Biden’s National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan released March 3^rd, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is releasing the “Clean Air in Buildings Challenge,” a call to action and a concise set of guiding principles and actions to assist building owners and operators with reducing risks from airborne viruses and other contaminants indoors. The Clean Air in Buildings Challenge highlights a range of recommendations and resources available to assist with improving ventilation and indoor air quality, which can help to better protect the health of building occupants and reduce the risk of COVID-19 spread.

Click Here For Full Press Release.

NEW! New AirKnowledge E–Learning Content

The AirKnowledge 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 at https://www3.epa.gov/ttn/apti/index.html. 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 AirKnowledge interim website at https://www3.epa.gov/ttn/apti/index.html.

EPA Awards $1.5 Million for Cleaner School Buses in the Pacific Southwest: American Rescue Plan Funds Help Buy Electric School Buses

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the winners of two national competitive efforts to support transitions to cleaner school buses: the 2021 American Rescue Plan (ARP) Electric School Bus Rebates, and the 2021 Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) School Bus Rebates. The two rebate efforts total approximately $17 million in combined funding nationwide for schools and bus fleet owners to replace older, high-polluting diesel school buses. In the Pacific Southwest, EPA is awarding a total of $1.5 million towards new school buses in Arizona, California, and Hawaii. Replacing these buses will improve air quality in and around schools and communities, reduce greenhouse gas pollution, and better protect children’s health overall.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides an unprecedented $5 billion over five years for the Clean School Bus Program to replace existing school buses with cleaner models. In Spring 2022, EPA plans to announce a new Clean School Bus rebate program for applicants to replace existing school buses with low- or zero-emission school buses. EPA may prioritize applications that replace school buses in high need local educational agencies, low-income and rural areas, Tribal schools, and applications that provide cost share. To learn more about the upcoming Clean School Bus Program, please visit http://www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus.

To learn more about the rebate programs, applicant eligibility, and selection process, visit https://www.epa.gov/dera/rebates and https://www.epa.gov/dera/2021-american-rescue-plan-arp-electric-school-bus-rebates.

Learn more about EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region. Connect with us on Facebook and on Twitter.

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 roll-call, ultimately saving everyone’s time.

 

Alaska Air Work Group: Join this work group to hear updates from EPA and Alaskans working on air quality. Attend by clicking here.	Wednesday, March 30, 10 am AK
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, March 31, 2pm ET
Mobile Sources Work Group: This monthly work group addresses all mobile source pollution issues. Attend by clicking here.	Thursday, April 7, 2 pm ET
IAQ Work Group: Join the bi-monthly calls of the NTAA IAQ work group. Attend by clicking here.	Thursday, April 21, 2pm 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, April 28, 2pm 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! 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).

NEW! 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: https://www.epa.gov/statelocalenergy/tribal-greenhouse-gas-inventory-tool

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! MULTI-STATE MEDIUM- AND HEAVY-DUTY ZERO-EMISSION VEHICLE ACTION PLAN: A Policy Framework to Eliminate Harmful Truck and Bus Emissions

On behalf of the signatories of the Multi-State Medium- and Heavy-Duty (MHD) Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management (NESCAUM) has released a draft Multi-State MHD ZEV Action Plan for a 45- day public comment period. Comments should be submitted through NESCAUM’s Public Input Portal by April 25, 2022.

NEW! 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

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.

Choose the Right Portable Air Cleaner for the Home

Whether you are in the market for a portable air cleaner for your home or you were thinking about gifting one this holiday season, EPA’s Guide to Air Cleaners in the Home can help you make a well-informed decision.

Tips for selecting and using a portable air cleaner:

• Never buy or use an air cleaner that generates ozone, a lung irritant.
• Choose an air cleaner with a clean air delivery rate (CADR) that is large enough for the size of the room. The higher the CADR the more particles an air cleaner can capture and remove from the air and the larger the room it can be used in.
• Running your air cleaner at a higher speed and for a longer time will help improve the air cleaner’s effectiveness.
• Place your air cleaner in the rooms where you spend more of your time such as your living room or bedroom.
• Replace filters regularly and follow all air cleaner manufacturing maintenance instructions.

Read EPA’s Guide to Air Cleaners in the Home for more details and tips.

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.

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