NEWS
The Tribal Newsletter
is published free monthly,
To receive a copy, call:
AK, Robb .907-271-6323
ID, Arlene . 208-378-5749
OR, Don . .503-326-5015
WA, Alison .360-753-8185
LETTER
Region 10 Tribal
Newsletter
http://yosemite.epa.gov/R10/TRIBAL.NSF/Newsletter/Issues Vol. 16, No. 2 February 2007
<> CONFERENCES & WORKSHOPS <>
February
5-7
6-7
6-8
March
2
19-22
April
26-28
June
3-6
11-15
EPA Tribal 106 Guidance Training, Seattle, WA (See page 2, bottom)
DCI America Better Governance: Strengthening Your Organization from Within, Anchorage, AK
AIAQTP: Advanced Air Program Management Course, Seattle, WA. For information: Darrel
Harmon, 202-564-7416
Educational Outreach for Air Quality Professionals, Albuquerque, NM. For information:
Darrel Harmon 202-564-7416
Tribal Indoor Air Training, San Carlos, AZ. For information: Louise Hill 415-947-4192,
hill.louise@epa.gov
24th Annual Gathering of Nations Powwow, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. For
information: http://www.gatheringofnations.com/powwow/index.htm
Western State Wetlands Workshop: Stregnthening the Roles of Land Trusts & Local Govern-
ments, Park City, UT (See page 3)
Sharing Indigenous Wisdom: An International Dialogue on Sustainable Development Conf.
Green Bay, Wl. For information: http://www.sharingindigenouswisdom.org/
<> FUNDING and OPPORTUNITIES <>
Capacity Building
All federally recognized Tribes,
including Tribes in Alaska, are
eligible to request funding under
the Brownfields State and Tribal
Response Program. EPA Regions
will be accepting requests until
February 15,2007.
The goal of this funding is to
ensure that tribal response
programs include certain elements
that help build program capacity to
address and manage contaminated
lands. About $50 million will be
available nationally. Individual
requests may be made for up to
$1.5 million to cover a one-year
project period. In Region 10,
tribal requests have ranged from
$27,000 to $400,00. To learn
more, read the guidance available
at: http://www.epa.gov/
brownfields and then talk with
your regional Brownfields Coordi-
nator for details on how to apply.
Contact: Susan Morales,
Region 10 Brownfields Coordi-
nator:206-553-7299 or
morales.susan @ ef3a.gov
Student Internships
The Department of Energy is
offering summer internships to
Native Americans who are currently
college upper-class or graduate
students. To be considered for the
2007 summer program, applica-
tions must be received by
February 24, 2007.
For more on the program, the
eligibility requirements and an
application see: http://
www.eere.energy/gov/
tribalenergy/internprogram.html
or phone Sandra K. Begay-
Campbell: 505-844-5418.
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February 2007
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$10 Million for Nation's Beaches
Thirty states and five territories will share $10
million in grants for beach water quality
monitoring and public notification programs,
EPA announced on January 9th Beach water
quality monitoring helps local authorities
identify what steps to take to reduce pollution.
It can lead to advisories or closures when
bacteria concentrations reach unhealthy
levels.
The grant amount is based on the length of
the beach season, miles of beaches and
number of beachgoers. EPA is also focusing
on developing new technologies to rapidly
analyze beaches for bacteria contamination. Studies
involving state-of-the-art detection methods, coupled
with population and illness surveys, are under way at
various beaches to evaluate the new analytical
approach.
If all 35 eligible states and territories apply and meet
the performance criteria, the distribution of the funds
for 2007 in Region 10 is expected to be: Alaska
$150,000, Oregon $229,570 and Washington $225,960.
For information: http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/
beaches/grants
Earth Science/Public Health
The U.S. Geological Survey is hosting the 2nd
Earth Science and Public Health Meeting
February 27th March 1st at the National
Center in Reston, VA. This will be a forum to
foster collaboration between the public health
and earth science communities, which can
lead to solutions for environmental health
problems. It is aimed at organizations and
individuals interested in environmental and
earth science factors affecting human health.
This meeting is designed to provide a broad
forum for discussion bringing together a variety
of interested parties, including policy makers
scientists, resource managers, congressional
staffers, federal and state government, and
non-governmental organizations.
The meeting will be set up along six thematic areas:
1) potential contaminants and pathogens in air, dusts,
and soils; 2) drinking water exposure to chemical and
pathogenic contaminants; 3) human consumption of
bioaccumulative contaminants; 4) pathogen exposure
through recreational waters; 5) vector-borne and
zoonotic (animal to human) diseases; and 6) animals
as sentinels of human health.
The first day of the meeting Tuesday, February
27 is an overview day. The following two days
will consist of talks, posters, and breakout sessions
organized around the six topical sessions.
Registration is free. Information and registration
can be found at: http://health.usgs.gov
Training on Clean Water Act 106
EPA 106 Guidance training is being held in
Seattle, Washington, February 5 to 7. The
training covers new guidelines, monitoring
requirements, monitoring strategy, water
quality standards and more. For last-
minute information, contact Arlene Boss
at 208-378-5749.
If you cannot attend, see the article on 106
grants in the January newsletter. You can
also contact Lena Ferris: 202-564-8831, or
visit: http://www.epa.gov/owm/cwfinance/
Educator Fellowships
The Earthwatch Institute requests proposals from
elementary, middle and high school educators and
administrators for Educator Fellowships. Earthwatch
seeks adventurous, innovative science educators who
have an interest in conservation, sustainability, and life-
long learning. Participants work alongside a leading field
scientist on some of the most important environmental
issues facing the planet today, like climate change and
biodiversity. Fellowships cover on-site expedition costs.
Due dates vary by location. For more: http://
www.earthwatch.org/site/
pp.asp?c=dsJSK6PFJnH7b=393763
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Region 10 Tribal Newsletter
February 2007
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Western State Wetlands Workshop
The Association of State Wetland Managers, with sponsorship from EPA, is hosting a Western State
Workshop: Stregnthening the Roles of Land Trusts and Local Governments in Protecting and Restoring
Wetlands and riparian Areas. The workshop will be held June 3 to 6, 2007 in Park City, UT. It is designed
for technical and semi-technical staff of land trusts, local governments, state agencies, and federal
agencies. It will present "how to" information concerning the protection and restoration of wetlands and
riparian areas. For more information: http://www.aswm.org/calendar/lt&lg/lt&lg2.htm or contact Laura
Burchill at laura@aswm.org
Tribal Schools Notebook
EPAs Tribal Schools Compliance Assistance
Notebook provides quick access to many pro-
grams and resources available to help tribal
school districts and tribal schools prevent and
resolve environmental issues in schools. The
Notebook presents information on complying with
federal laws and regulations and maintaining
school facilities that are safe and healthy for
students and staff. Topics include asbestos,
chemical use and management, drinking water,
pesticides, PCBs, lead-based paint, and more. The
Notebook is available at http://yosemite.epa.gov/
r10/tribal.nsf/programs/tribal+schools
If you have questions, please contact Don Dossett
at 206-553-1783.
Tribal Air Grants Information
The Tribal Air Grants Framework: A Menu of
Options is a guidance document that has been
developed nationally to assist tribes interested in
understanding and assessing both ambient and
indoor air quality problems in Indian country. The
entire menu of options, as well as individual
menus, is available on the Region 10 website:
http://yosemite.epa.gov/R10/AIRPAGE.NSF/
webpage/Tribal+Air+Program+Main+Page
EPA's National Website for Indoor Air Quality has
a lot of information and links to resources: http://
www.epa.gov/iaq . These include Asthma,
Smoke Free Homes, and Tools for Schools
programs.
Public Service Announcements for Tribes: There
are several excellent radio PSAs that can be
used by tribes to reach out and inform their
communities about the health impacts of second
hand smoke on children and other sensitive
individuals. You can find more information at:
http://www.aatchb.org . This is an excellent
example of tribes pursuing indoor air programs.
Alaskan Native Villages could possibly make use of
these if they have access to radio stations or other
ways to disseminate information.
OAR's Tribal Air Web Page has a lot of useful links
and examples of what tribes are doing: http://
www.epa.gov/air/tribal
The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals
(ITEP) at Northern Arizona University has some very
good training, as well as outreach materials and
ideas on indoor air quality and other air issues.
Region 10 has funded them to provide training on
Indoor Air Quality for Alaskan tribes, as well as Rural
CAP and the Alaska Building Science Network. The
link to the ITEP Indoor Air Resource page can be
found at: http://www4.nau.edu/itep/resources/
iaq.asp
EPAs Alaska Operations Office website for Indoor
Air Quality has some other good links: http://
www.epa.gov/iaq/states/
alaska.html#indoor%20Air%20Quality
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Region 10 Tribal Newsletter
February 2007
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Free Online Water-Treatment Training
The American Water Works Association
(AWWA) is pleased to offer a free online
educational opportunity for tribal utilities. It is
the online course: Water 101 for Tribal Nations.
The Water 101 course introduces students to
the principles of water treatment and distribution,
as well as plant operations and management.
The course also provides information on
drinking water regulations and security. The
online course is available at any time, and
students can progress at their own speed.
Water 101 was made possible by a grant from EPA.
Anyone employed by a tribal utility in the United
States can take this course.
You can access the course at AWWA's website:
http://www.awwa.org/learnonline/listing.cfm .
Just follow the onscreen instructions.
If you have questions about the course, contact
Joshua L. Hicks, Grants Program Specialist at 303-
347-6146.
Water Contaminant Information Tool
EPA has expanded the Water Contaminant
Information Tool (WCIT) to assist water
utilities, public health officials and federal,
state, tribes and local agencies to better plan
for and respond to intentional or accidental
contamination events. Launched in November
2005, WCIT is a secure, on-line database
profiling chemical, biological, and radiological
contaminants of concern for drinking water and
wastewater utilities.
WCIT includes both regulated and non-regu-
lated contaminants and provides current,
reliable data from peer-reviewed reports and
research. The system includes general
information for 93 contaminants and now includes
additional information in four new data categories:
drinking water treatment; wastewater treatment;
environmental impacts; and infrastructure decon-
tamination.
Access to WCIT data is password protected.
Qualified individuals must apply to EPA and
undergo screening before being granted access.
Currently drinking water and wastewater utilities,
State drinking water primacy agencies and laborato-
ries, drinking water and wastewater associations
partnering with EPA, state and local public health
officials, and federal officials are eligible for access.
For information, visit: http://www.epa.gov/wcit
Radon and Lung Cancer
Each year, nearly 20,000 people die from lung
cancer caused by exposure to radon. A
common source of exposure to radon that can
be avoided is in the home, yet only one in five
homeowners has actually tested for radon.
January was National Radon Action Month, and
EPA is still urging people to test their homes.
Radon is an invisible radioactive gas that can
seep into your home from underground and can
reach harmful levels if trapped indoors. The
only way to know if your home contains high
radon levels is to test for it. Nearly 80 percent
of American homes have not been tested for
radon, even though a simple test costing as
little as $25 can help detect a possible radon
problem. If radon is found, homeowners should
consult with qualified professionals who can
reduce radon exposure for a cost similar to
many common home improvement repairs. State
radon offices can help the public find qualified
radon professionals.
EPA is working with organizations across the
country to educate people on how to protect
themselves from radon exposure in their homes.
Local government agencies, non-profit organiza-
tions, schools, health care providers, radon
professionals, and other community groups will
work together to host activities to increase radon
awareness, promote testing and mitigation, and
advance the use of radon-resistant new construction.
For information, visit: http://www.epa.gov/radon/
rnactionmonth.hml. To get your home tested:
http://www.epa.gov/radon/radontest.html
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February 2007
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Reduce Water Consumption
Here are some tips for conserving fresh water:
Don't let the water run while shaving or
brushing teeth. Take short showers instead of
tub baths. Keep drinking water in the refrigera-
tor instead of letting the faucet run until the
water is cool. Scrape, rather than rinse, dishes
before loading the dishwasher; wash only full
loads.* Wash only full loads of laundry or use
the appropriate water level or use load-size
selection on the washing machine. Buy higher
efficiency plumbing fixtures and appliances.
Repair all leaks (a leaky toilet can waste 200
gallons a day). Water the lawn or garden
during the coolest part of the day (early morning is
best). Water plants differently according to what
they need. Check with your local extension service or
nursery. Set sprinklers to water the lawn or garden
only, not the street or sidewalk. Use soaker hoses
or trickle irrigation systems for trees and shrubs.
Keep your yard healthy: dethatch, use mulch, etc.
Sweep outside instead of using a hose. Learn how
to plant trees, build a pond, compost, and more from
the Department of Agriculture's Resources Conserva-
tion Service: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/
backyard/
Wood Preservative ACC
EPA is taking legal action to deny the registration for acid copper chromate, commonly known as ACC,
for residential use. EPA's scientific review process concluded that the risks associated with residential
uses of ACC outweigh the minimal benefits. The proposed residential uses of ACC would pose a
cancer risk for treatment and manufacturing workers, as well as non-cancer risks for homeowners,
children and contractors.
ACC contains hexavalent chromium, a known human carcinogen when inhaled and a dermal irritant and
sensitizer. Because ACC-treated wood may contain high levels of chromium, disposal could require that
it be handled and disposed of as a hazardous waste. EPA is following the administrative process, under
the federal pesticide law, to finalize this decision. For more information: http://www.epa.gov/pesti-
cides/factsheets/chemicals/acid_copper_chromate.htm
Nationwide Permit Revisions Coming: Tribal Input Sought
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers proposed
reissuing and modifying the Nationwide Permits
(NWP) for Section 404 of the Clean Water Act
in September 2006. These general permits
authorize minor activities having minimal
impact on the environment for work performed
within rivers, streams, lakes and wetlands.
Nationally, the Corps was scheduled to have
issued the Nationwide Permits in late January,
2007. They will take effect 60 days after their
publication date. Locally, each Corps District
has published proposed regional conditions
which affect how the permits are handled in
each state. Those conditions are due to be
finalized sometime in January or February,
2007.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) is reviewing the Nationwide Permits and
regional conditions to ensure that they meet Clean
Water Act water quality standards on tribal lands.
EPA Region 10 is seeking input from tribal govern-
ments on the Nationwide Permits and the regional
conditions regarding how they may directly or
indirectly affect aquatic resources within Indian
Country.
http://www.usace.army.mil/cw/cecwo/reg/
citizen.htm
For more information or to comment, contact the
EPA representative in the state closest to your
reservation or village.
Alaska: Phil North, 907-260-4882 x226
Idaho: John Olsen, 208-378-5756
Oregon: Yvonne Vallette, 503-326-2716
Washington: Krista Rave-Perkins 206-553-6686
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Region 10 Tribal Newsletter
February 2007
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Tribal Self-Determination
The spring 2006 issue of the American Bar Association's Human Rights Magazine focuses on
tribal issues. Articles include: "The Rise of Tribal Self-Determination and Economic Develop-
ment," "Tribes and Self-Determination in Alaska" and others, http://www.abanet.org/irr/hr/
springOe/home.html
Check out EPA's page of links for Web-savvy kids:
http://www.epa.gov/indian/kidlinks.htm
To Report Spills and Accidents
Note these emergency numbers to call in the event of
hazardous material spills or accidents.
Alaska
Idaho
Oregon
800-478-9300
800-632-8000
800-452-0311
Washington
National (EPA)
800-258-5990
800-424-8802
&EFR
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Region 10 Tribal Program
1200 Sixth Avenue, ETPA-085
Seattle, Washington 98101 -1128
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