VOLUME 7, ISSUE 1
JANUARY 23, 2009
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Tribal Air News
THE
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
NEW PRESIDENT AND 2
TRIBES
REGIONAL DIESEL 3
COLLABORATIVES
REGION V TRIBAL 4
CLIMATE SYMPOSIUM
EPA CLIMATE 8
RESOURCES
TULALIP ASTHMA 10
INTIATIVE
CALENDAR
12
The Presidential Transition
Project is the effort since election day of
hundreds of people coming together to
lay out the agenda and priorities for the
new Administration. Led by President
Barack Obama, Vice-President Joe
Biden, a transition advisory board, and
leaders from both the public and private
sector, the Project responsible for
ensuring that the transfer of power from
the Bush administration to the Obama
Administration is smooth and preparing
for the management of the Executive
Branch of the federal government.
The Transition Project was
tasked with reviewing hundreds of
programs in the federal government and
providing information on those to the
incoming Administration. New
personnel are being selected, including
Cabinet members, national security and
federal law enforcement officials, non-
career appointments, and other heads of
agencies across the Executive Branch.
For EPA, appointments include
the Administrator, the Deputy
Administrator and all of the Assistant
Administrators (AAs), including one for
the Office of Air and Radiation, all of
which are subject to Senate confirmation.
Review teams also provide the
new administration with information
needed to make strategic policy,
budgetary, and personnel decisions.
Teams ensure that senior appointees
have the information necessary to
complete the confirmation process, lead
their departments, and begin
implementing signature policy initiatives
immediately after they are sworn in.
Lisa Jackson has been nominated
by the President to lead EPA and the
Senate confirmed her today, January 23
Ms. Jackson is a former EPA Region 2
employee. She spent 15 years working
on hazardous waste cleanup and
enforcement.
Ms. Jackson is a professional
engineer, having graduated from
Princeton with a Masters Degree in
chemical engineering. In 2006, she
became the Commissioner of the New
Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection. While leading the state
agency, Ms. Jackson was a key player in
passage of the NJ global warming law;
served as Vice President of the Executive
Board of the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic
states' Regional Greenhouse Gas
Initiative; and successfully fought for
renewable energy to be a bigger part of
the state's energy plan. Under her
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TRIBAL AIR NEWS
PAGE 2
THE TRANSITION AND EPA (CONT)
leadership, New Jersey placed a moratorium on
building new coal-fired power plants. Ms. Jackson
most recently served as Chief of Staff for NJ
Governor Corzine.
In related appointments, Carol Browner -
President Clinton's EPA administrator - has been
tapped to serve in the White House as the Energy,
Climate and Environment "czarina." Nancy Sutley
is the President's choice for the head of the
Council on Environmental Quality and Dr. Steven
Chu is nominated for Secretary of Energy. In
addition, Colorado Senator Ken Salazar is
Obama's choice for Secretary of the
Interior and Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack
is slated to be Secretary of Agriculture.
While the President has already
announced most of his Cabinet selections,
and some, like the EPA Administrator,
have been confirmed, AA selections, such
as for the Office of Air and Radiation,
will take longer.
THE NEW
What do President Obama's priorities,
approaches and promises mean for tribes? One
clue is a video discussion he presented for tribes.
He noted that few have been ignored by
Washington for as long as American Indians, and
he pledged a White House-level policy advisor for
tribes, as well as an annual summit. He recognized
that the bond between the administration and the
tribes needs to be as nation-to-nation, and that a
one-size-fit-all approach won't work. His policy
papers provide some insight.
Thus far, official transition information
about the environment is primarily about climate
and energy. However, during the campaign Obama
pledged to "restore the force of the Clean Air Act,
fight for continued reductions in smog, soot and air
toxics, and listen to scientific advisors on air
quality standards." These promises, combined with
his statements about Tribal attention, should help to
advance tribal air quality management efforts.
As the article on page 4 about the Region
V Tribal Climate Change Conference emphasizes,
greenhouse gas and climate change mitigation
issues are quite important for Tribes. As such, the
priorities listed for climate and energy by
the transition team hold significant promise
for Tribes. Obama has proposed the target
for greenhouse gas reductions to be 80%
below 1990 levels, just as the National
Congress for American Indians has.
Obama has also proposed
significant targets for generation of
renewable energy, 10% by 2012 and 25%
by 2025. This target dovetails with strong
tribal interest in sustainable energy, the
Obama administration's priority of green
jobs creation and training and tribal
priorities for job training to compete in the
global economy. In addition, energy
efficiency and conservation, another
Obama priority, is also very important for
tribal homes, buildings and facilities as a
means to more effectively use limited
resources.
We will continue to keep you
posted with subsequent articles as the new
administration begins to implement its
priorities. STAY TUNED!
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VOLUME 7, ISSUE 1
PAGES
REGIONAL DIESEL COLLABORATIVES CREATE OPPORTUNITIES
-Reducing toxic emissions from diesel engines is
one of the most important air quality challenges facing
the country. EPA set stringent heavy-duty highway and
nonroad engine standards to clean up new engines over
the next decade. However, millions of diesel engines
already in use can continue to emit large amounts of
nitrogen oxides, particulate matter and air toxics which
contribute to serious public health problems. These
emissions are linked to thousands of premature deaths,
hundreds of thousands of asthma attacks, millions of lost
work days, and numerous other health impacts every
year.
EPA's National Clean Diesel
Program (see the June 2008 newsletter)
provides a national resource for
addressing the issue of existing
engines, but EPA also has regional
diesel programs that are tailored
to meet the specific issues of
different geographic areas. The
ability to tap into geographically
and source-relevant programs
makes such coalitions a valuable
option for tribes to consider.
Regional Diesel
Collaboratives are public-private
partnerships working to improve air
quality by reducing diesel emissions
from school buses, transit buses, construction
equipment, locomotives and other older diesel fleets.
These coalitions enable innovative projects for diesel
engines and technologies, alternative fuels and fuel-
saving technologies. Working together allows members
to leverage funding and to share technology and
expertise, along with their goals.
Spotlight - Midwest Clean Diesel Initiative
The Midwest Clean Diesel Initiative (MCDI)
members include federal, state and local
governments, private companies, and non-profits.
MCDI partners work to create coalitions and
programs in each state and support these coalitions with
staff, technical assistance, guidance, and funding.
The States' coalitions' efforts cover a continuum of
needs for addressing diesel fleet emissions, including:
• Creating networks of convenient
governmental and non-governmental partners
to educate each other, share information and
expertise, communicate opportunities and
provide practical assistance
Identifying interested diesel fleet mangers
and possible innovative projects
Identifying or creating funding sources and
mechanisms, and matchmaking funding
opportunities
Implementing innovative and scaled-up clean
diesel projects
Tracking and reporting results to the MCDI
Leadership Group
Integrating clean diesel actions into
particulate matter and ozone planning and
mitigation activities, as well as state and
local climate change plans
Working across programs,
agencies and countries to partner
on new areas of concern or
emerging areas of common interest
Communicating success stories
that stir the imagination
If tribes have an interest in pursuing
clean diesel actions, involvement in the
coalitions is a good way to accomplish
more with less. We encourage you to
utilize these resources to improve your air
quality. Not only can you gain practical
assistance for diesel pollution control, but you
can also gain valuable networks and skills that will be
useful in other circumstances.
Contact: Steve Markwardt, EPA Region V at
markwardt.steve@epa.gov.
Other Resources:
More information on the Midwest Diesel Collaborative
Initiative can be found at http: //www. epa. gov/
midwestcleandiesel/index.html.
Links to the MDCI individual state program webpages
can be found at http://www.epa.gov/midwestcleandiesel/
leadershipgroup/index.html#states
Information on other regional coalitions can be found at:
EPA Regions 1,2: http://www.northeastdiesel.org/
EPA Region 4: http://www.southeastdiesel.org/
EPA Regions 6, 7: http://www.blueskywavs.org/
EPA Region 8: http://www.epa.gov/region8/air/
rmcdc.html
EPA Regions 9, 10: http://www.westcoastdiesel.org/
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TRIBAL AIR NEWS
PAGE 4
Tribal Climate Change Symposium Held at Potawatomi Milwaukee Casino
By Natalene Cummings, Air Resources Program
Director, Forest County Potawatomi Community
1 ribal environmental, legal and health
professionals from Minnesota, Michigan, and Wiscon-
sin weathered the area's first winter storm to attend a
Tribal Climate Change Symposium at the Potawatomi
Casino's Northern Lights Theater in Milwaukee,
Wisconsin. The conference, held December 1st - 4th,
was hosted by EPA Region V.
The Tribe's Chairman, Phil Shopodock,
welcomed conference attendees while Tribal Elder Jim
Thunder provided the invocation. Climate change
experts from around the nation were on hand to share a
wealth of information on what can seem like a very
frightening and overwhelming topic - climate change.
Forest County Potawatomi Attorney General Jeff
Crawford was also there to participate in a panel
discussion on Tribal opportunities created by State and
Federal Climate Change Programs and initiatives,
including strategies for marketing sustainable Tribal
enterprises.
While
"Global Warming" |
is the term most
commonly used to
describe the
general trends
observed in the air and water bodies around the world,
"Climate Change" best describes the condition. Science
tells us that although some areas are experiencing warmer
temperatures year round, other locations are seeing colder
seasonal temperatures. Similarly, dry areas are getting
drier, while wet areas are getting wetter, and storms,
globally and locally, are becoming more frequent and
more intense than in the past.
Those regions of the world experiencing the
greatest effects are those traditionally at the extremes ~
the arctic and the tropics. And the people most affected
by the changes are the ones who are least responsible for
the increase in GHG, specifically because they are
typically living in the least industrialized regions.
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VOLUME 7, ISSUE 1
PAGES
Jeff Crawford summarized what many
scientists are saying, that climate change is here now,
it is caused by human activity and even if we stop
doing everything we are doing to cause global
warming now, it would take years before
improvements would be observed. However, there is
no other choice than to act, NOW. Crawford noted
that "there is no one cure" ~ it will require changes
in all the sectors responsible for GHG emissions.
He went on to say that, while corporations usually
look only far enough ahead to resolve current issues,
Indian people look ahead to seven generations to
make long term plans and find longer term
resolutions.
WHAT REGIONAL STUDIES ARE REVEALING.
The four-day conference provided
information on the many studies being conducted
right here in the Great Lakes region and included
data collected on changes in lake levels, fish
populations, the duration and
thickness of winter ice cover, water
temperatures, oxygen levels and the
dynamic cycles of these aquatic
systems.
A few regional scientists
discussed impacts they are
observing. Biologist Mike Schrage,
for the Fond du Lac Reservation in
Northeastern Minnesota, described
increased mortality rates in moose
populations. USDA Researcher Don
Ortin described indirect impacts on
agricultural crops within the Nation's bread basket
region, stating that, while crops may do better with
higher carbon dioxide levels, pest insects also do
better by feeding on the higher carbohydrate levels in
the plant leaves. Ortin stated that, to meet the
demands on agriculture in the future, productivity
would need to double on a land area basis. Other
scientists discussed changes in pest species, including
invasives and those that cause diseases and illness in
plants, animals and humans.
pointed out that, unlike folks living in cities, tribal
communities are exceptionally vulnerable to climate
change because they are: 1) typically economically chal-
lenged; 2) immobile; 3) spiritually and culturally invested
in specific areas; and, 4) have a higher dependence on
subsistence living.
The effects
of climate change
on human health,
especially for
indigenous
populations, was
the subject of
Annabelle Allison's
presentation. Working for the Center for Disease
Control's Office of Tribal Affairs, Allison stated that the
number one weather-related cause of mortality in the U.S.
is heat waves, primarily affecting children, the elderly and
agricultural workers. Warmer temperatures are also closely
linked to an increase in infectious diseases and pathogens -
human and otherwise.
Allison pointed out that impacts on human health
extend beyond biological illness to include mental
wellbeing, particularly for indigenous peoples. Allison
described how animal species taken for subsistence
living are declining in numbers or moving to new
territories in response to warming temperatures,
making it difficult, if not impossible at times, for
Tribal men to provide for their families. As a result,
studies among Alaskan Tribes have found increased
suicide rates in male members of these communities.
Gregg Bruff, Chief of Heritage Education with the
National Park Service at Pictured Rocks National
Lakeshore on Michigan's Upper Peninsula, described shifts
in plant and animal species ranges - such as those of
opossums and deer ticks. On average there has been a
northward shift of 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) every decade,
while the arrival of spring migrants and the blooming of
spring flowers is two days earlier every decade. Sadly,
many plant, animal and insect populations are falling
drastically with the rising occurrence of "temporal
mismatches," such as when birds arrive and nest before
their insect food source emerges.
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Several speakers referred to Native
populations as being the "canary in the mine"
because of how Native Americans live with Nature
and at Nature's will. Steve Crawford, Environmental
Planner with the Passamaquoddy Tribe in Maine
Bruff went on to list impacts on the North woods,
including loss of spruce due to an increase in disease, and
loss of hemlock and fir forests as oak/hickory and oak/pine
forests push further north. Birch and cedar trees are
decreasing in northern regions along with the thimbleberry,
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TRIBAL AIR NEWS
PAGE 6
CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE (CONT.)
and ephemeral wetlands are
drying up. Intensified spring
rains are predicted to cause
germination failure for wild
rice, while lower water levels
will cause the young tips of the
plant to break off and invading
exotic plants will push rice
stands out. And any local
syruper will testify that the sap
run in maples is up to two
weeks earlier these days.
ELDERS SHARE PERSPECTIVES AND WISDOM
Potawatomi Tribal Elders Billy Daniels Jr. and
Jim Thunder concluded the symposium with a talking
circle hosted by Steve Dodge, a Menomonee Tribal
member and Tribal Liaison for the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency.
Tribal Elder Daniels began by talking about
how, when he was a child, everything was pure.
He described how the medicines of the Potawatomi are
weaker today and that the animals, that eat the plants
and are also considered medicine, are also weaker.
"Our people today fall and they break a bone. They are
weak today from what is going on around us," Daniels
said. He went on to describe how he doesn't hear his
forecasters anymore, the tree toad and the birds. "If I
hear them," he said, "I know what is going to happen
that day."
Elder Jim Thunder took hold of the eagle
feather and spoke of how "lakes are drying up, river
levels are way down, some of our springs are non-
existent." He went on to ask where the small animals
are and described how woodchucks, rabbits and
squirrels aren't as plentiful as they once were.
Thunder spoke also about how he no longer hears many
of the forest birds, particularly the
whippoorwills, probably a very sad memory
for anyone who has ever heard its song. "I
haven't heard them in a really long
time - probably 10 years," he said,
"The earth is trying to tell us something. You learn by
watching what's going on around you."
YOU CAN HELP SAVE THE PLANET AND SAVE
MONEY!!!
Hope was provided by the speakers, including
Attorney General Crawford, in the form of a wide range
of actions, programs, funds, and projects available for
communities and individuals. Suggestions ranged from
large scale efforts such as constructing "green"
buildings, to very small scale efforts such as replacing
high energy-consuming light bulbs with energy efficient
florescent bulbs. Upgrading to energy efficient
appliances, turning off lights when leaving a room, and
consciously choosing products made from recycled
materials, are simple ways that individuals can minimize
their contribution to greenhouse gases and climate
change.
Never underestimate the impact
that one person's actions can have.
For example, if every household in the US were
to change out one incandescent light bulb for a
fluorescent bulb, it would be the same as removing the
greenhouse gases emitted from 800,000 cars!!! (Proper
disposal is necessary for fluorescent bulbs due to mercury
content - contact the your local solid waste department
for information.)
Tribal Elder Daniels explained that "Everything
is connected, with us Indians - Mother Earth and Sky.
"What helps us and other Indians is our culture and relig-
ion. It helps us out, makes us strong.... Our fathers and
grandfathers and uncles told us to be careful whatever is
around you. Take care of it and it will take care of you."
Acknowledging the many years that Elder
Daniels has been talking with Spirits, a conference
participant asked if the Spirits are talking with the same
clarity today or if they are being affected by what we're
doing to the planet. Daniels replied, "The spirits are
very strong, because they are spirits. And we have to ask
for that help. We Indians have to work together and ask
for that help." Daniels added, "I think that is why the
climates are changing. The spirits are testing us to take
care of things. We should work together to find out what
is going on."
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VOLUME 7, ISSUE 1
PAGE 7
Making a few small changes in your home and yard can lead to big reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and
save money. EPA's Climate Change website www.epa.gov/climatechange includes a "What you can do" page, and a
"Personal Greenhouse Gas Emissions Calculator". Explore our list of nine simple steps you can take around the house
and yard to reduce greenhouse gas emissions:
Change 5 lights
Change a light, and you help change the world.
;•— __ Replace the conventional bulbs in your 5 most
frequently used light fixtures with bulbs that
W^~ £^~ have the ENERGY STAR. If every
"fe^" •' household in the U.S. took this one simple
\f~ E action we would prevent greenhouse
gases equivalent to the emissions from
"*" nearly 4 million cars.
Look for ENERGY STAR qualified products
Buy appliances with the
ENERGY STAR label.
Heat and cool smartly
Cleaning air filters
regularly and tune your
heating and cooling equipment
Seal and insulate your home
Seal air leaks and add more insulation. The
biggest leaks are usually found in the attic
and basement. Replace windows with
ENERGY STAR qualified windows. Seal
and insulate any ducts in attics and
crawlspaces to improve the efficiency of
your home. A home energy auditor can
also help evaluate the overall energy
efficiency of your home.
Use green power
Green power is environmentally-
friendly electricity that is
generated from renewable energy
sources such as wind and the sun.
Buy green power or
modify your
house to
generate your
own green
power.
Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
Recycle paper, glass,
plastic and other goods.
Buy products made from
recycled materials to
"Close the Loop."
Be green in your yard
Use a push mower. It consumes no
fossil fuels and emits no greenhouse
gases. Or replace grass with ground
covers. If you do use a power mower,
use a mulching mower to reduce grass
clippings. Compost food and yard waste.
Use water efficiently
Municipal water systems
require a lot of energy to
purify and distribute
water to households.
Reducing water use,
especially hot water, can
lower greenhouse gas
emissions. Repair all toilet and faucet leaks
right away. Purchase products with EPA's
WaaterSense label. Water lawns only when
needed and in the morning when less will be
lost to evaporation.
Spread the Word
Tell family and
friends that energy
efficiency is good
for their homes
and good for the
environment
because it lowers
greenhouse gas
emissions and air
pollution.
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TRIBAL AIR NEWS
PAGES
TOOLS FOR TRIBES:
US EPA CLEAN ENERGY AND CLIMATE RESOURCES
energy offers a cost-
effective way to meet growing
energy demand in a clean, low-
cost and reliable manner.
Unfortunately, people often do not
know how much they can save or
what they can do. Across the
country, state, tribal and local
governments are developing initiatives aimed at:
providing an increasingly clean, renewable , and
efficient supply of energy; supporting the development
and deployment of emerging energy technologies; and
achieving energy cost savings through greater end-use
efficiency in residential and commercial buildings,
government facilities and transportation.
Clean energy actions harmonize with other
community objectives, including:
• Improving air quality and public health
• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions
• Enhancing economic development and job growth
• Developing and applying new technologies
• Ensuring a reliable and secure energy supply.
implementation, barriers and strategies to overcome
them, costs and funding opportunities, and additional
resources. For more information about the Best
Practices Guidebook, please contact Neelam Patel at
patel.neelam-r@epa.gov.
Clean Energy Webcasts
EPA has launched a free, clean energy webcast series.
In 2008, EPA offered three webcasts. For 2009,
webcasts will be offered monthly beginning in January.
Each webcast will focus on a clean energy strategy and
will feature federal experts and local staff who have
implemented the strategy. To view recordings of past
webcasts, or get information about future webcasts,
please visit: http://epa.gov/cleanenergv/energy-
programs/state-and-local/webcast.html or click on the
"Webcast Series" link in the right-hand navigation box
of the Local Programs page.
Clean Energy Resources Database
This searchable database provides
information about resources that
can assist in implementing clean
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EPA currently offers many clean energy
programs, resources, and tools that can assist tribal
governments interested in developing clean energy
initiatives. To access EPA's Clean Energy Website,
visit http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy. The sections of
the site that may be of particular interest to tribes are
described below:
Best Practice Guidance
EPA operates programs and resources that can
help governments implement best practices in the areas
of energy efficiency, energy supply, transportation,
land-use planning, waste management, and cross-cutting
programs. To view a list of these resources, go to: http://
epa.gov/cleanenergv/energv-programs/state-and-local/
local-best-practices.html.
EPA is also completing a compendium of Best
Practice Strategies. Draft chapters will be added to the
Local Clean Energy Website. Each chapter will discuss
a strategy in detail - explaining the benefits of taking
action, key participants to consider, mechanisms for
energy and climate programs. The
database can be searched by
location, policy area, resource category, and keyword.
Examples of policy areas include: biofuels, building
codes, energy efficiency, heat islands, renewables,
transportation, and waste. Types of resources include
guidebooks, tools, funding opportunities, case studies,
sample ordinances, trainings, and more. The database
currently lists nearly 150 resources, and EPA will be
adding more throughout the coming months. To access
the database, visit: http://cfpub.epa.gov/ceird/index.cfm?
fuseaction=local.searchjs
Clean Energy-Environment Listserv
To keep up to date on training, funding, conferences and
other news, sign up for the Clean Energy-Environment
Listserv at:
http://epa.gov/cleanenergv/energv-programs/state-and-
local/listserv.html or by clicking "Listserv" in the left
hand menu of the Local Programs page.
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VOLUME 7, ISSUE 1
PAGE 9
Understanding Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Quantifying greenhouse gases (the gases that cause climate change) can be a challenging and time-consuming
undertaking. Here are some approaches and tools that can help communities and individuals understand their emissions.
Greenhouse Gas Inventories
An inventory is a profile of total emissions from all
activities within a community, government, school, or
business. Inventories can be helpful for tracking
emission trends, setting goals, developing strategies
and policies, and assessing progress—however they
should not become an impediment to taking action. In
most communities, the primary sources of greenhouse
gas (GHG) emissions are
building energy use and
transportation. Actions to
reduce emissions from these
sectors can be taken before or
during completion of an
inventory.
EPA and other
organizations have developed
guidelines and protocols that
have been used successfully by
schools, and local and tribal
governments to create GHG
inventories. EPA also offers
training opportunities to help
governments understand, create
and use GHG inventories. For
descriptions of inventory tools
and trainings, visit: http://
epa.gov/climatechange/
emissions/state guidance .html
Building Energy Use
Residential and commercial building operations
contribute to greenhouse gas emissions significantly.
Portfolio Manager is an interactive energy
management tool that allows users to track and assess
energy and water consumption across their entire
building portfolio in a secure online environment.
Tribal governments can use the tool to calculate GHG
emissions from government buildings, set efficiency
investment priorities, identify under-performing
buildings, verify efficiency improvements, and receive
EPA recognition for superior enegy performance.
Online trainings are available. Portfolio Manager is
available at:
http://www.energvstar.gov/index.cfm?
c=evaluate performance .bus portfoliomanagertfmanag
Individual Emissions
EPA has developed tools to help individuals and
households reduce greenhouse gas emissions and take
action. These calculators provide an estimate of
household greenhouse gas emissions and identify ways to
reduce personal greenhouse gas emissions. EPA offers a
Personal Emissions Calculator (http://www.epa. gov/
climatechange/emissions/ind calculator.html) as well as
a calculator designed for kids
(http ://www .epa. gov/
climatechange/kids/calc/
index.html).
Communicating about
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Communicating about a
phenomenon as complex,
global and personal as climate
change is no easy task.
EPA's Greenhouse Gas
Equivalency Calculator can
help. This tool can translate
information about emissions
or emissions reductions into
everyday terms. This
information can be useful in
communicating your
GHG reduction strategy,
reduction targets, or other
initiatives aimed at reducing
GHG emissions. For example,
it can be difficult to visualize what a "metric ton of
carbon dioxide" really is. This calculator will translate
rather difficult to understand statements into more
commonplace terms, such as "is equivalent to the
carbon dioxide emissions of X gallons of gasoline or
Y propane BBQ cylinders." Access the calculator at:
http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergv/energy-resources/
calculator.html
We hope these resources will be helpful to tribes
interested in assessing and mitigating personal and
community greenhouse gases. Keep abreast of new tools
and resources at http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy.
Contact: Andrea Denny at denny.andrea@epa.gov.
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TRIBAL AIR NEWS
PAGE 10
A New EPA Coatings Rule
and An Early Compliance Program that Saves
January 9, 2008,
the US EPA
finalized a new
rule that impacts
surface coating
operations across
the U.S. and
could affect
tribes. The rule,
entitled "National
Emission
Standard for
Hazardous Air
Pollutants: Paint Stripping and Miscellaneous Surface
Coating Operations at Area Sources," regulates three
separate "area source" activities: paint stripping using
methylene chloride; surface coating of motor vehicles
and mobile equipment; and surface coating of
miscellaneous metal and/or plastic parts.
The Clean Air Act (CAA) requires EPA to
identify and regulate hazardous air pollutants (HAP)
from area sources that pose the greatest potential health
threat in urban areas. Area sources are typically small
emitters which, individually, may not significantly affect
the environment, but, combined with other sources, can
have a significant impact.
This rule applies to six of the 187
HAP listed in the CAA - the solvent
methylene chloride (MeCl) and the metals:
chromium (Cr); lead (Pb); manganese
(Mn); nickel (N;) and, cadmium (Cd).
All paint strippers containing
MeCl are covered by the rule, along with
miscellaneous parts spray-coating
processes using products that contain one
or more target HAPs in concentrations of
0.1% or more (by mass). All motor vehicle available online at http://
and mobile equipment refmishing activities www.epa. gov/ttn/atw/area/
(auto body shops and the like) are covered arearules.html.
by the rule unless they obtain an exemption
using the petition provisions in the rule.
There are several exemptions
provided under the rule. For example, the
rule exempts touch up and spot repairs
done with small-cup "air brushes;" paint
stripping or surface coating performed by
individuals, such as hobbyists, on their
personal vehicles or property; and individuals who
spray apply surface coatings for others without
compensation. However, there are stringent
specifications for these exemptions, and one should
check these before proceeding without a permit.
Compliance dates for the rule depend on
whether an operation is an existing source (operating
as of January 7, 2007) or a
new source (coming on line
after January 9, 2008).
Compliance dates are January
10, 2011 for existing sources,
and the date of start up for
new or reconstructed sources.
Only highlights from
the rule have been presented
here. A more detailed
To help affected businesses work towards
early compliance with the auto body component of the
rule, EPA has developed the "Collision Repair
Campaign" or CRC. The CRC is a two-year,
voluntary effort between EPA Regional Offices and
their respective partners (e.g. community, industry,
small businesses, etc.).
The Campaign features workshops to educate
auto body workers about the latest environmental
regulations affecting their businesses, as well as best
management practices and other voluntary pollution
prevention techniques that are cost-efficient and
reduce waste.
Shop owners can achieve early
compliance with the rule and financial
savings by implementing such voluntary
measures. The recommended best
description of the affected area practices, which include installing and
sources including technology
requirements, management
practices, compliance dates,
and exemptions can be
obtained by reading the rule,
maintaining control equipment and using
safer paints and solvents, should reduce
paint and solvent costs, and related
hazardous waste disposal costs. The best
practices will also protect the health of
workers and the environment, as they
reduce exposures to toxic pollutants by
90% ~ toxics that can cause such adverse
effects as respiratory illnesses, lung
sensitization and lung cancer, skin
irritation, nausea, and liver, kidney and
nervous system damage.
For additional
technical information and/or
clarification, contact Ms. Kim
Teal, Office of Air Quality
Planning and Standards, Sector For further information on the CRC,
Policies and Programs contact: Holly Wilson at
Division, at teal .kim@epa. gov . wilson.holly@epa.gov.
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VOLUME 7, ISSUE 1
PAGE 11
TRIBE TO TRIBE
The Tulalip Tribes of Washington: An Indoor Air & Asthma Initiative
On a recent rainy November afternoon,
hundreds of Tulalip men, from teens to elders, stayed
dry inside the lofty, bright foyer of the Tulalip Health
Clinic, where they had gathered for the 2008 Men's
Health Fair. The room was lined with colorful tables,
posters, and exhibits, along with a sea of tribal health
staff, from nurses to dentists to physicians.
Conversations, greetings and laughter came from all
corners throughout the day.
Along a far wall, a representative for Tulalip's
air quality program sat at a table next to a black and
white poster illustrating lung anatomy. Traffic at the
table was constant, as men with asthma sat down in
front of a large, colorful computer screen and took an
interactive quiz about environmental triggers, indoor
air and asthma control. Like at other health fairs
targeting various segments of the community, there was
a steady stream of tribal members responding that, yes,
they or someone in their household had asthma or lung
disease.
At Tulalip, there are just the beginnings of a
formal asthma registry. Even nationally, statistical
estimates of the tribal community's asthma rates are
still elusive. So for now, determining the extent of
asthma at Tulalip calls for extrapolating from the
anecdotal data collected at the health fairs, using the
handful of tribal asthma surveys conducted in various
regions throughout the country. So far, the numbers
and observations confirm what has been observed -
that asthma is epidemic in tribal communities, affecting
nearly one in five tribal children, and, with Chronic
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, is one of the leading
chronic conditions and causes of death in tribal
populations.
The sparse data points are somewhat secondary
because tribes see their tribal members afflicted by the
symptoms of chronic cough, wheeze and chest
tightness, and hear stories about their
challenges to create asthma-friendly
environments at home. Also, families find
that it is costly to create a healthy indoor
environment and difficult to educate family
members with asthma about environmental
triggers.
Five years of doing asthma and
indoor air education at Tulalip
demonstrated that outreach efforts were
just skimming the surface, and that
reducing asthma's health risks would
require more innovative programs and
across-the-board policy shifts. So, in 2007,
the Tulalip developed a more broad-based
program, called the Tulalip Indoor Air & Wellness
Initiative. Support was immediate from Tulalip's
Environmental Department, Tulalip Housing, the
Community Health Clinic, and the clinic's physicians
and nurse practitioners.
Three health outcomes were established as
goals for the initiative: One, to reduce triggers and
control asthma incidence in the existing asthmatic
population; two, to reduce exposure risks among the
susceptible and health-compromised population;
and three, to prevent the onset of new asthma cases
by preventing pollutant exposure and sensitization
in early childhood.
Tulalip realized that they needed significant
resources and coordination to achieve these
outcomes, and that few model programs existed.
However, with a small pot of funding from EPA
Region X and technical assistance from some
experienced tribal asthma programs around the
country, some core initiative elements were
developed.
The first project called for improving
outreach using culturally-relevant materials on
asthma and indoor air. Tulalip community members,
the Health Clinic, and epidemiologists helped to
develop posters and a handbook. The youth-targeted
posters combine messages about common indoor
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£ Tribal Air News
^
Tribal Air News is produced by the Environmental Protection Agency's Office
of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Outreach and Information Division,
Community and Tribal Programs Group.
The newsletter is produced quarterly and is distributed electronically.
For more information about the newsletter, or to contribute stories and pictures
contact: Laura McKelvey (mckelvey.laura@epa.gov) Or
Melissa McCullough (mccullough.melissa@epa.gov)
We're on the Web! www.epa.gov/oar/tnbal
ITEP (Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals) Classes that still have openings:
Mar 2-6 Air Quality Computations (5 days)
Mar 17-20 Management of Tribal Air Programs and Grants
Mar 23-25 Air Quality in Alaska Native Villages
Mar 24-26 CIS for Air Quality (Mini-Course)
Mar 31-Apr 2 Indoor Air Quality in Tribal Communities (3 days)
Apr27-May1 Air Pollution Technology (5 days)
May 19-21 Indoor Air Quality in Tribal Communities (3 days)
Flagstaff, AZ
Kansas City, MO
Bethel, AK
Las Vegas, NV
Seattle, WA
Las Vegas, NV
Las Vegas, NV
See the ITEP website: http://www4.nau.edu/itep/traininqs/aiaqtp.asp for more
information or to register for classes.
TULALIP ASTHMA INITIATIVE (CONT.)
triggers with images of strong, active tribal youth.
Posters used artwork by Tulalip elementary students
and several terms in Lushootseed, the Tulalip's
native language. The materials are intended for
distribution at health fairs and community events, as
well as through first-line medical providers, such as
health clinics and school nurses. All materials are
available for use and replication by American
Indian and Alaska Native communities and
affiliated organizations.
Future project elements include
targeting housing interventions for those
with the highest health risk rather than the
current method of performing inspections
and healthy-home assessments on request.
In 2008, Tulalip conducted its first
training for Tulalip Housing staff on
indoor air quality building science
principles and mold remediation, and plans
to continue more intensive, on-site training.
Finally, with supportive tribal staff, Tulalip
will continue to get the message out about indoor air
and asthma, using articles, slides and informal
conversations to convey the implications for long-
term health and enormous health-care costs
associated with exposure to indoor contaminants.
In the short-term, just sitting at the health fairs
and talking to the tribal community one-by-
one is a good start.
For more information, or to obtain
copies of the outreach materials, please
contact Gillian Mittlestaedt at (425)677-
8103, or by email Gillian-
mittigjcomcast.net. You can also learn
more about the Tulalip initiative and visit
their air quality website at: http://
www .tulaliptribe s-nsn. gov/air quality/
index.htm.
For information on Tulalip's
ambient air quality program, contact Kelly
Finley at kfinley@tulaliptribe s-nsn. gov.
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