UPCOMING CALLS/EVENTS/NOTICES

Ambient Air Quality/EPA/NTAA/Tribes

NEW! Alaskan Tribes are invited to NTAA’s Informational Webinar:

For Alaskan Tribes on Wednesday, October 26, 2022, from 10 am – 11 am AK Time:

Tribal Consultation 101: An Introduction to the Federal Government’s Tribal Consultation with Alaskan Tribes
The agenda includes the following:

  1. Welcome and Introductions: Rose Kalistook and Andy Bessler, NTAA
  1. What is Tribal Consultation and why is it Important: Pilar Thomas, NTAA Policy Advisor
  1. How the U.S. EPA conducts Tribal Consultation: Pat Childers, Senior Tribal Coordinator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Air and Radiation
  1. Case Study: Alaska Regional Haze Rule: Pat Childers, Senior Tribal Coordinator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Air and Radiation
  1. Questions and Discussion: Andy Bessler, NTAA

This informational webinar will be held via Zoom on this link:

https://nau.zoom.us/j/2828649061?pwd=akxUb08vT05UaDNuY0dmRElDRm9MZz09
Meeting ID: 282 864 9061
Password: NTAA
You can also dial into the webinar via phone using one of these phone numbers:
1-646-931-3860 US or dial toll-free to 1-888-788-0099.

REMINDER! Searching and Effectively Applying for Federal Jobs & the Experience of a Tribal Member 

October 25, 2022, | 2:30 PM ET | Register Here

This webinar will discuss how to effectively search and apply for public service positions in the Federal Government. Learn about job openings, understand how to use USA Jobs, the official tool for applying for most federal positions, creating a profile, as well as developing a resume that addresses the required information found in job announcements. Presenters will also discuss the application review and the selection processes. Furthermore, a recent hire of the EPA will speak of her experience with the application and on-boarding processes.

EPA plans to announce many job opportunities, including those for individuals interested in working in the Agency to advance environmental justice.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) FY2022 Appropriations

To View Report Click Here.

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.

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 Loren Fox ([email protected]) 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 [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 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 [email protected] to join the call! Thursday, November 17, 10 am AK or 2 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 [email protected] to join the call! Thursday, November 3, 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 [email protected] to join the call! Wednesday, November 16, 10 am AK or 2 pm ET (tentative)
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 [email protected] to join the call! Thursday, October 27, 10 am AK or 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. [email protected] to join the call! Thursday, October 20, 10 am AK or 2 pm ET

 The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (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! Forth: Financing Tools to Increase Electric Vehicle Access

October 18, 2022, | 10:00 AM PT | Register Here

This panel will discuss tangible ways to address financial barriers to EV adoption, the various electric transportation options and alternative programmatic approaches to help individuals find their way into an electric vehicle. For gig driving work or for families, we will consider current options and incentives with key partners to help make real steps towards EVs for all.

REMINDER! Clean Energy Group webinars: Introduction State Leadership in Decarbonizing the Building Sector, Featuring California and New York

October 26, 2022, | 1 PM ET | Register Here

The building sector is a substantial contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. This webinar will highlight two state initiatives that are making a big impact in decarbonizing this sector. The California Energy Commission’s 2022 Building Energy Efficiency Standards for newly constructed buildings and renovated buildings blazes a trail for states seeking to decarbonize aggressively and cost-effectively. The New York Clean Energy Initiative, a joint effort of NYSERDA and New York State Homes and Community Renewal, provides incentives and technical assistance for electrification and high-performance envelope improvements in new and existing multifamily affordable housing developments. In this webinar, representatives from the California Energy Commission and NYSERDA will present their programs and answer questions from the audience. CESA’s Warren Leon will moderate. These programs were recipients of the 2022 State Leadership in Clean Energy Awards. Learn more at https://www.cesa.org/projects/state-leadership-in-clean-energy/2022-awards/.

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

REMINDER! 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!

NEW! National Indian Health Board: COVID-19 Essential: Care Kits

October 19, 2022, | 4:00 PM ET | Register Here

As the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic spreads, the National Indian Health Board (NIHB) urges Tribal Nations to stay prepared for COVID-19 like any other disaster. NIHB encourages all Tribal businesses and communities to prepare a preparedness kit throughout the year. Join us as Desirae Mack provides information on preparing for response and recovery to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. She will include details on what the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium includes in a COVID-19 Care Kit and their outreach activities to mitigate COVID-19 in Alaska.

Objectives:

  • Explain how Tribes can customize COVID-19 kits to meet individual and family needs.
  • Discuss free or low-cost resources to use during the COVID-19 outbreak. 

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!