Top Stories
Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) – Federal program offers Tribes chance to turn “orphan” oil and gas wells into environmental and economic opportunity
NPR – For the first time, researchers find microplastics deep in the lungs of living people
NTAA News!
NTAA has published a white paper for your consideration: The Utilization of Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) Additional Impacts Analysis to Better Incorporate Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Address Environmental Justice in Air Quality Permitting Decisions.
The purpose of this white paper is to explore where discretion in the Clean Air Act sections 165(a)(2) and section 165(a)(6) could be used in combinations with direction of EO 13175, the Agency’s Indian policy, and the Agency’s Indian Policy and Policy on Treaty Rights and EO 12898 on environmental justice, can provide for consideration of Tribal concerns, Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Environmental Justice, in decisions on issuing permits. You can find the white paper on NTAA’s website policy resource kit tab.
Registration for the 2022 National Tribal Forum on Air Quality is now open! Click here to register to attend in-person or virtually. NTFAQ’s Planning Committees have been busy planning this year’s forum hosted by the Miscogee Nation in Tulsa, Oklahoma, May 2-5, 2022. You can learn more about the NTFAQ and NTAA’s Annual Meeting that will take place during NTFAQ on NTAA’s website here. Be sure to contact [email protected] if you have any questions!
2 Weeks Left for Call For Proposals for The National Tribal & Indigenous Climate Conference!
The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) Tribes and Climate Change Program announced the opening for the call for proposals for the upcoming 2022 National Tribal & Indigenous Climate Conference (NTICC) in St. Paul, MN and online August 29 – September 1, 2022.
We welcome proposals that discuss climate-related impacts, assessments, tools, adaptation, mitigation, actions, and the intersection of Traditional/Indigenous Knowledges with western science and adaptation strategies and are accepting both in-person and virtual proposals. Proposal submissions include: Presentations, Trainings, Working Groups, & Climate Conversations
We are particularly excited about our new Climate Conversation proposal category which is seeking submissions for art, games, posters, demonstrations, films, and more to further engage NTICC attendees in Tribal climate work.
Application deadline: Friday, April 22nd by close of business
Letter of notification: Monday, June 6th
Materials deadline: Friday, August 5th
For more information and to apply, please visit our website.
Ambient Air Quality/EPA/NTAA/Tribes News
Alamogordo Daily News – Mescalero Apache students study air quality on Mescalero Reservation
Gizmodo – ‘Cancer Alley’ Residents Accuse Louisiana of Racial Discrimination in EPA Pollution Complaints
Bloomberg – ‘Barrage’ of Air Emission Rules to Bring Challenges for Industry
HuffPost – White House Launches $1 Billion Program To Boost Conservation Goal
The Hill – Poorer countries fall further behind on green COVID recovery spending
AP News – EPA probes environmental justice in Louisiana projects
Energy Monitor – Here is Joe Biden’s plan to build a 21st-century power grid
Canary Media – Carbon storage gets dirty: The movement to sequester CO2 in soils
CNN – Mattel releases its first carbon neutral toys, including a Matchbox Tesla
Here’s your link to this week’s NACAA Washington Update
Climate Change/Energy
Seattle Times – Study: Keeping climate pledges limits warming to 2 degrees
Anchorage Daily News – Into the ice: Snow crab decline hits Bering Sea island community of St. Paul
The Guardian – Teen climate activist subjected to sexist and racist abuse amid federal court climate case
The Hill – Majorities in US back climate change proposals: Gallup
Canary Media – Home water heaters: A new ally in making grids cleaner
JD Supra – US Supreme Court Case Questions Extent of EPA’s Authority to Regulate Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Ultity Dive – Rapid development could push cost of hydrogen below $2/kg in the next 10-20 years, analysts say
Green Biz – How the White House plans to tackle climate change in disadvantaged communities
Utility Dive – House climate committee hearing on efficiency delves into pipeline policy, gas bans, China and Putin
E&E News – Democrats search for sweet spot on gas prices, climate goals
Utility Dive – Clean energy sector eyes window for passing federal tax breaks amid challenge of high energy prices
ITEP Tribes and Climate Change Monthly Newsletter
Toxics/Mobile Sources
EPA – EPA Announces Plan to Protect Endangered Species and Support Sustainable Agriculture
Axios – Here come the EVs
NPR – In an exception to the Clean Air Act, Biden will allow E15 gas to be sold this summer
NPR – Will electric pickup trucks get rural America to switch from gas to electric?
Reuters – Mercedes-Benz to halve CO2 emissions by 2030
The Guardian – Methane in Earth’s atmosphere rose by record amount last year, US government data shows
CNBC – Elon Musk says Tesla may have to get into the lithium business because costs are so ‘insane’
E&E News – Federal study suggests Calif. EVs are bending gasoline curve
Now This – GM and Honda Are Working Together To Create Cheaper Electric Vehicles
Popular Science – Hertz wants to accelerate its efforts to rent electric vehicles
Indoor Air Quality
Yahoo Finance – Little Rock School District Reports Positive Impact On In-Person Learning After Installation of Air Purifiers in Schools
Clevland Scene – Improving Indoor Air Quality is One Way We Can Do Better Than Pre-Pandemic ‘Normal’
