UPCOMING CALLS/EVENTS/NOTICES

Ambient Air Quality/EPA/NTAA/Tribes

EPA is now accepting applications for the 2020 Clean Air Excellence Awards. The application guidelines and entry form can be found at https://www.epa.gov/caaac/clean-air-excellence-awards. EPA senior officials will present the awards at a celebration in late 2020 in Washington, DC (date to be determined).

Please help us spread the word by forwarding this information to other organizations and individuals who may be interested and encouraging good candidates to apply for these prestigious awards. Applications are due by July 31, 2020.

 

On June 03, 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will host an informational webinar on EPA’s periodic review of Other Solid Waste Incineration (OSWI) units.
The EPA promulgated emissions standards for OSWI units on December 16, 2005. Units covered under this rule include certain very small municipal waste combustion and institutional waste incineration units. On September 14, 2018, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ordered the EPA to “review and revise” the OSWI standards and guidelines and publish a notice of proposed rulemaking by August 31, 2020 and promulgate a final rule by May 31, 2021. In accordance with requirements under the Clean Air Act, EPA is in the process of performing a periodic review of the emissions standards and other requirements for OSWI units.

The purpose of the webinar is to provide a high-level overview of the source category, the current rule and rulemaking process, and to offer tribes an opportunity to provide input prior to rule proposal.

Date:               6/3/2020 at 1:00 – 2:00 PM EDT

Audience:       Tribal Air Agencies

You may join in one of two ways, either by computer or by phone (not both).

          OR

  • By Phone – call the number below and enter the conference ID
    Use the call-in number if you want to attend the meeting in “audio only” mode. Your phone will automatically be muted when you are connected. During Q&A, use your phone mute/unmute button or select *6 to mute/unmute. Otherwise, please participate via the computer for full audio and visual. 

+1 984-444-7480   United States, Raleigh (Toll) Conference ID: 346 940 156#
The number in the announcement may not be local to you.  Select Local numbers to find one that is. For more information on OSWI, click here.

 

On June 5, 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed an Information Collection Request (ICR) for ethylene oxide commercial sterilization facilities and is requesting public comment on the action. The data collected through the ICR, in combination with the December 2019 questionnaire that was sent to nine ethylene oxide sterilization companies, will enable EPA to have a better understanding of emissions, emissions sources, processes and control technologies in use at ethylene oxide sterilization facilities nationwide. EPA’s analysis of the ICR data will support the agency’s ongoing review of the Ethylene Oxide Commercial Sterilization and Fumigation Operations National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants. EPA will accept comment on the proposed ICR for 60 days after publication in the Federal Register. A pre-publication version of the proposed ICR is available here.

 

EPA finalized minor amendments to the 2004 National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for the Plywood and Composite Wood Products (PCWP) source category. The PCWP source category includes 230 facilities: 93 PCWP facilities, 121 lumber mills and 16 facilities that produce both PCWP and lumber. EPA identified acetaldehyde, acrolein, formaldehyde, methanol, phenol and propionaldehyde as the main pollutants emitted from this sector. Based on the results of required residual risk review, EPA determined that risks from the source category are acceptable. In addition, based on the results of the technology review, the agency identified no developments in practices, processes or control technologies that would further reduce emissions of air toxics from the emission units regulated under the PCWP NESHAP. EPA is finalizing no significant changes to the original NESHAP for this source category and concludes that the standards continue to provide an ample margin of safety to protect public health and the environment. A fact sheet and pre-publication version of the final rule are available here.

 

Tribal Grants Education and Technical Assistance Webinar Series Second Wednesday of Every Month at 1pm ET

For more information, click here!

 

ITEP 4-Part Webinar Series: Managing Road Dust

Road dust from unpaved roads is a major air quality concern in many tribal communities. Dust (also called Particulate Matter (PM)) has negative impacts on health, road safety and quality of life. This webinar is the second of a series of four webinars to help tribal environmental and transportation staff to manage road dust, resulting in improved air quality. Presenters from US Environmental Protection Agency, University of Alaska, Alaska Department Environmental Conservation, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium and the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals will provide information to help tribal environmental and transportation staff create community partnerships. If you have any questions, contact [email protected]

Thursday, June 18; 10am AKDT

  • Webinar #3: Engaging Community Leaders in Road Dust Management

Upcoming TBD

  • Webinar #4: Case Studies on Road Dust Management

Upcoming TBD

 

Updated APTI 423, Air Pollution Dispersion Models:​ AERMOD

3-Day Lecture Course: June 2020 thru May 2021

Register Here

APTI 423 is a three-day course intended for air quality scientists to give a better understanding of the AERMOD modeling system and how to appropriately set up and run the various components of the modeling system (e.g. AERMAP, AERMET, and AERMOD). The course will cover inputs, execution, analysis of outputs, and QA of inputs/outputs of the various system components. The course will focus on the EPA issued version of the AERMOD modeling system used by consultants, federal, state, and local air quality agencies.  In addition to the instructor presentation and lecture, participants will have opportunities to apply their knowledge through modeling scenarios provided in the course materials. More information about APTI 423, as well as the direct link to the course materials, can be found here.

 

Updated APTI 474, Continuous Monitoring Systems (CMS)

3.5-Day Lecture Course: June 2020 thru May 2021

Register Here

APTI 474 (a 3-and-a-half-day course) has been updated to provide a deeper dive into many of the key concepts covered under NACT 221 (a one-day classroom course). Brand new to APTI 474 is a day-long session covering performance specifications, quality assurance, and commonly used technologies for CMS. In addition to the instructor presentation and lecture, participants have opportunities to apply their knowledge through practical exercises, facilitated discussions, and knowledge check games. More information about APTI 474, as well as the direct link to the course materials, can be found here.

 

NTAA Upcoming Calls. The toll-free number is 1-800-309-2350. If you do not need to call toll free, or would like to help conserve NTAA funding, you can call 1-805-309-2350. Both numbers use code 928-523-0526#. Contact [email protected] 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.

 

Mobile Sources Work Group: This monthly work group addresses all mobile source pollution issues. Thursday, June 4, 2pm ET

 
Indoor Air Quality Work Group: Join this work group every other month to help support IAQ work throughout Indian Country. Thursday, June 18, 2pm ET
EPA Policy Call: Call in to hear updates from EPA on policies, actions, and tools relevant to Indian Country and Air Quality. Thursday, June 25, 2pm ET
Wood Smoke Work Group: Join this work group every other month to address wood smoke issues in Indian Country. Thursday, July 16, 2pm ET

 

The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professional’s (ITEP’s) Tribes and Climate Change Calendar includes conferences, trainings, webinars and other events related to tribes and climate change.

Click here for ITEP’s other trainings and events.

Click here for ITEP’s new Tribal Environmental Management and Planning Online Courses. New courses have been added, so check it out!

 

 ITEP’s FY20 AIAQTP Course Schedule 

 

Course Title Dates Location Course Level
  2020    
Air Pollution Technology (Postponed!) TBD Flagstaff, AZ 2
Meteorological Monitoring (Postponed!) Fall 2020 TAMS Center, Las Vegas, NV 3
Air Pollution Modeling Fall 2020 TAMS Center, Las Vegas, NV 3
Air Quality Outreach TBD TBD 1
National Tribal Forum on Air Quality (NTFAQ) (Postponed!) May 2021 Tulsa, OK n/a
 
Air Quality Planning for Wildland Smoke Anytime Series of 6 recorded webinars n/a
Indoor Air Quality – Independent Study Anytime Independent Study 1
Building Performance: Improving IAQ in Cold Climates Open Online 1
Building Performance: Improving IAQ in Warm Climates In development Online 1
Residential Building Science Review Open Online 1
Radon Fundamentals Open Online 1
Quality Assurance Fundamentals (QA 101) Open Online 1
Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) (QA 201-209) Open Online 2
Emissions Inventory Fundamentals Open Online 2
Emissions Inventory Advanced Open Online 3
Note: This schedule is subject to change.  For up-to-date information, course descriptions, and applications please visit http://www7.nau.edu/itep/main/Training/training_air/

 

Climate Change / Energy

June 10 and 24, Noon (ET) – Ask the Expert

Every Wednesday ENERGY STAR holds a Portfolio Manager “Ask the Expert” session. It’s a live webinar that gives all users an opportunity to ask their questions directly to EPA experts in an open forum. Want to talk to a “real” person? Have a question about how Portfolio Manager calculates your score? Want to learn more about entering Green Power? Join ENERGY STAR, and they’ll answer all your questions about ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager in this public forum.

Register

 

June 16, 3 PM (ET) – The 2035 Report: How Low Costs Can Accelerate Our Clean Energy Future

According to a report to be released in early June from the University of California, Berkeley and GridLab, the United States can reliably deliver 90% clean, carbon-free electricity nationwide by 2035 using existing technology, without increasing consumer bills, and without the need for new fossil fuel plants. The 2035 Report: How Low Costs Can Accelerate Our Clean Energy Future demonstrates how recent dramatic cost declines for solar, wind, and battery storage allow for near-term decarbonization of the electricity grid. In this Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA) webinar, two of the report’s authors, Ric O’Connell (Executive Director, GridLab) and Dr. Amol Phadke (Senior Scientist and Affiliate, Goldman School of Public Policy, UC Berkeley) will present the main findings and discuss their implications.

Register

 

June 17, 1 PM (ET) – Portfolio Manager 201 

Continue to learn about EPA’s ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool with a deeper dive into more advanced functionalities such as: editing property data; correcting and updating property use details; using the data quality checker; and sharing property data.

Register 

 

June 24, 1 PM (ET) – 2020 Tribal Energy Webinar Series: How to Select Energy Projects

After a tribal energy vision has been developed, the next step is to identify specific energy projects to pursue and how best to use your energy resources. Tribes often have many options to consider. This webinar will provide guidance on how to select energy projects that meet your energy vision.

Register

 

June 25, 1 PM (ET) – Portfolio Manager 301

With a good background on the basic functionality of EPA’s ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool, learn about some advanced features including: using spreadsheet upload templates to update property data; setting goals and targets to plan energy improvements for properties; creating custom reports; and using the Sustainable Buildings Checklist.

Register

 

Indigenous Peoples Climate Change Working Group Webinar Series

The Indigenous Peoples Climate Change Working Group (IPCCWG) would like to invite you to join us for a 4-part webinar series that will discuss the future generations of American Indian and Alaskan Native geoscience professionals, educators, and workforce. An in-person IPCCWG meeting will take place at the National Tribal & Indigenous Climate Conference. We also greatly appreciate you sharing within your networks. The webinar schedule is as follows:

  • June 11 1pm PT/3pm CT/4pm ET
  • July 16 1pm PT/3pm CT/4pm ET
  • August 13 1pm PT/3pm CT/4pm ET

If you have any questions regarding registration or anything else, please do not hesitate to reach out to Althea Walker at [email protected] or 480-258-3963.

 

South Central Climate Adaptation Science Center: Earth to Sky Workshop

Earth to Sky is a partnership between NASA, NPS, and USFWS that enables and encourages informal educators to access and use relevant NASA science, data, and educational and outreach products in their work. The partnership’s focus is on climate change science and communication. Join us for three days of training with native informal educators from across the South Central region who recognize the importance of teaching climate change. The workshop will take place July 15-17 in Sulphur, OK. Learn more here.

 

Save the Date: Southwest Tribal Climate Resilience Camp

Date: July 26-31, 2020

Location: Navajo Technical University – Crownpoint, NM

The Tribal Climate Resilience Camp will support teams of Tribal Leaders, climate change coordinators, planners, and program managers to build skills, gather information, and develop Tribal policies and plans needed for Tribal Nations to address climate change impacts. Information about travel, lodging, and registration will be available soon. You may contact Althea Walker, Tribal Climate                                                   Science Liaison, at [email protected] or (480) 258-3963 with questions.

SEEKING TRIBAL DELEGATES

We are currently recruiting 10 Southwest Tribes to participate in the 2020 Camp. Each Tribe should identify three delegates per Tribe. The delegates must participate for the entire week curriculum. Delegates may include climate change staff, tribal policy leaders, Tribal Council, natural resource and environmental managers and staff, administrators, department staff from health, public works, education, housing, and other relevant departments that should engage in climate change planning. FOR APPLICATIONS Visit this link.

 

Save the Date: Shifting Seasons Summit 3, October 6-8, 2020, Keshena, WI

Contingency dates: March 2021

The Shifting Seasons Summit is a gathering that focuses on climate resilience planning and implementation within Tribes and across Tribal ceded territories in the Northeast Region. This summit will also include network-building opportunities and initiatives developed outside of the Northeast by capacity building organizations, academic institutions and Tribes. Visit www.NICRN.org for more details.

 

ITEP’s Climate Change Adaptation Training Courses registration is online! Learn more about the courses and register here.

 

Toxics/Mobile Sources

Tribal Consultation Period Extended for EPA’s Draft Plan for the Federal Certification of Applicators of Restricted Use Pesticides within Indian Country

Extended through August 3, 2020

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP) – Office of Pesticide Programs is provide notice to federally-recognized tribes that EPA’s Tribal Consultation on the Draft EPA Plan for the Federal Certification of Applicators of Restricted Use Pesticides within Indian Country is extended through August 3, 2020 to accommodate a recent tribal request. The timeline for the consultation and consultation period will extend from February 10–August 3, 2020. During this period, a third consultation session will be conducted. To participate, the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP) invites you and/or your designee to join us during the following consultation session:

  • Session 3: Wednesday, July 15th from 12:00pm-2:00pm ET

Conference Line: 866-299-3188; Code: 202-566-0603

Adobe Connect: https://epawebconferencing.acms.com/draftepaplan3

 

Postponed: Green Transportation Summit & Expo and the West Coast Collaborative Partners Meeting has been postponed until August 24-26, 2020

After careful consideration of the growing public health concerns associated with the coronavirus (COVID-19), the Green Transportation Summit & Expo and the US EPA West Coast Collaborative is postponing our GTSE | WCCPM event until

August 24 – 26, 2020, at the Greater Tacoma Convention Center in Tacoma, WA.

The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) and the Green Transportation Summit & Expo (GTSE) have partnered to provide 25 complimentary full-conference passes to the Green Transportation Summit & Expo. The GTSE is the Pacific Northwest’s premier clean fleet and transportation event, focusing on fleets, fuels, technologies, policy & practice, with a regional focus and a national scope. We will provide you the opportunity to see, touch, drive, and learn about new transportation technologies firsthand, such as electric, hydrogen, natural gas and propane-powered heavy-duty vehicles, off-road utility vehicles, generators, and others. Workshops on DERA, VW funding, other federal funding opportunities, and alternative fuels will be presented. Please join us at the Greater Tacoma Convention Center for the 10th annual GTSE to learn about clean transportation, how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, pollutants, and costs in your fleet operations. To learn more about the conference, check out our website. To receive the code for the complimentary passes, please contact ITEP’s Dara Marks Marino at [email protected].

 

Indoor Air Quality

Webinar Program for National Healthy Homes Month

National Healthy Homes Month (NHHM) is an annual outreach effort sponsored by HUD’s Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes (HUD/OLHCHH).  Throughout June, OLHCHH, along with our partners, heighten awareness of health-related hazards in residences and other housing types, with recommended actions to address them. This year, our theme of Healthy Housing for All underlines how the healthy homes model impacts such a wide range of residents. The continuing impact of the COVID-19 virus greatly increases the need for awareness of, and actions around, many indoor environmental health concerns. You must register for each webinar you plan to attend. Registration is limited to the first 500 registrants, so please plan on registering early. The remaining webinars are:

 

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