tesaj 4' PR O*^ United States Environmental Protection Agency March 2010 Region 9, San Francisco, California Tribal Program Meetings, Conferences and Webinars Sponsor: Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, Arizona State University Mar 25-26 Tribal Energy Economies: Investing in a sustainable future Tempe, AZ www.regionline.com/TribalEnergy Darlene Lester@asu.edu or 480-965-7715 Sponsor: The JC Press, Inc. Apr 12-15 Biocycle West Coast San Diego, www.biocycle.net or call 610-967-4135 Conference CA http://www.biocycle.net/bcwc25/callfor papers.html Sponsor: Environmental Protection Agency New date: Apr 13-15 Regional Tribal Operations Committee San Francisco, CA Wllard Chin, chin.willard@epa.gov or 415-972-3797 May 24-27 4tn Biennial Tribal Drinking Water Conference: Protection Drinking Water in Indian Country Tempe, AZ Roger Yates, 415-972-3549 or http://www.rcac.org/events.aspx7359 (registration is not yet live online) Jun 6-10 2010 National Tribal Science Forum Traverse City, Ml Monica L. Rodia, 202-564-8322 http://www.epa.gov/osp/tribes.htm Sponsor: Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency Public Water Systems Jul 12-15 6tn Annual Navajo Nation Drinking Water Conference Scottsdale, AZ www.navajopublicwater.org/Conference2.ht ml or call Michelle Silver, 928-871-7759 Trainings and Workshops vf, Sponsor: US EPA Region 9, USBR Mid-Pacific Region, USFWS Region 8, BIA Pacific Region Mar 16- Free Tribal Environmental Sacramento, CA isimmons(3santavnezchu mash.org 18 Grant Writing Workshop or 805-245-9922. A/N Sponsor: Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc. (ITCA) Mar 4-5 Mobile GIS/GPS Workshop Scottsdale, AZ Maureen King, 602-258-4822 or Maureen.king@itcaonline.com. Tribal Program Newsletter, March 2010 1 ------- Sponsors: EPA and National Partnership for Environmental Technology Education (NPETE) (4 different trainings) Mar 1-2 Carson City, NV Mar 4-5 Graton Rancheria, Santa Rosa, CA Mar 8-9 Coachella, CA Mar 11-12 Scottsdale/ Fountain Hills AZ Administrative and Financial Systems Training Veronica Swann, 415-972-3699 swann.veronica@epa.gov or www.petetribal.org Sponsor: EPA, Region9 and the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe May 4-6 106 Monitoring Workshop Reno, NV Danielle Angeles, angeles.danielle@epa.gov, (415) 972-3441 Sponsor: WestWater Research Mar 11 Investing in our Water Future: A Santa Barbara, CA 800-574-4852 and 12 focus on California Sponsor: Tribal Solid Waste Advisory Network (TSWAN) and University of Washington Mar 15 and 16 Mobile Meth Lab Identification on Tribal Lands Snoqualmie, WA Kami Snowden, 509-235-6007 or ksnowden@tswan.org The Nielsen Environmental Field School: Mar 22-23 The Ground Water Monitoring Well Design, Construction and Development Field Course San Diego, CA 575-532-5535 www.envirofieldschool.com Mar 22-26 The Complete Ground Water Monitoring Field Course San Diego, CA 575-532-5535 www.envirofieldschool.com Mar 24-26 The Complete Ground Water Sampling Field Course San Diego, Ca 575-532-5535 www.envirofieldschool.com Mar 29-30 The Complete Surface Water and Sediment Sampling Field Course San Diego, CA 575-532-5535 www.envirofieldschool.com Apr 20-23 The Environmental Sampling Field Course Las Cruces, NM 575-532-5535 www.envirofieldschool.com Sponsors: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey, National Park Service, and EPA, in collaboration with several other agencies and organizations Apr 20-22 Great Basin / Mojave Desert Climate Change Workshop Las Vegas, NV httD://www.wr.usas.aov/workshoDs/index.html Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) (Applications due March 12) Apr 13-16 Tribal Basic Inspector Denver, CO John Mead, 928-523-2005 or Training John.Mead@nau.edu or www.nau.edu/itep Training catalog for ITEP's American Indian Air Quality Training can be viewed by going to: http://www4.nau.edu/itep/trainings/aiaqtp.asp or contact Lydia Scheer, at Lydia.Scheer@nau.edu, or 928-523-6887or visit: http://www4.nau.edu/itep/trainings/aiaqtp.asp Tribal Program Newsletter, March 2010 2 ------- EPA National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Online Overview Course for Permit Writers: http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/outreach/training/pwtraining.cfm Questions or comments should be directed to David Hair in EPA's Water Permits Division, 202-564-2287; hair.david@epa.gov EPA National Enforcement Training Institute (NETI) NETI is a part of EPA's Office of Compliance, Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. If you have questions about NETI, please contact Zena Aldridge at aldridge.zena@epa.gov or 740-773- 4039. For a copy of the monthly update of all the upcoming environmental enforcement courses, go to www.netionline.com Safety, Health and Environmental Management (SHEM) SHEM courses are available on-line. To access these and other on-line training, go to https://www.netionline.eom/course/schedule.asp#wbt. Sustainable Infrastructure Workshops EPA and the California Rural Water Association are offering a series of free Sustainable Infrastructure workshops throughout California. The dates and locations are on: http://www.epa.gov/region09/waterinfrastructure/docs/Sustainable-lnfrastructure-2009.pdf. For more information, contact Charlotte Ely, 415-972-3731 orely.charlotte@epa.gov Drinking Water Training for Tribes and Tribal Operators The following Web site presents a list of training opportunities that may be of interest to tribes and tribal operators: http://www.epa.gov/safewater/tribal/training.html. Click on your region to learn about training opportunities that are available in the upcoming months. For more information, email betanzo.elin@epa.gov Certification and Training for Applicators of Restricted Use Pesticides in Indian Country: Because of the specific hazards associated with restricted use pesticides (RUPs), the Federal Insecticide, Rodenticide and Fungicide Act (FIFRA) requires any person who applies RUP to demonstrate his/her competency and be certified for the types of applications they intend to conduct. Competency is generally achieved by attending designated training or completing a specific self study program. Applicators then demonstrate competency by passing a certification exam. There are currently 3 options for ensuring that applicators in Indian country are trained and legally certified to apply RUPs (40 CFR Part 171). This year, the Region 9 Pesticides Office will conduct a pilot project with tribes that have pesticide cooperative agreements to determine which of the three regulatory options are preferable for their communities. In the future, we hope to work with all the tribes in the region where RUPs are used to ensure that applicators are properly trained and certified. For questions on the Certification and Training Program, contact Katy Wlcoxen at (415) 947-4205 or via e-mail atwilcoxen.katy@epa.gov. Grants and Loans U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Tribal Resource Conservation Funds 2010 Request for Proposals EPA Region 9 is soliciting proposals to fund projects that address solid waste reduction and management. Funding will be as a cooperative agreement and/or grant. Funds will be awarded to applicants carrying out projects that serve the lands in Indian Country in Region 9. Approximately 3 to 5 cooperative agreements or grants ranging in size from $20,000 to $50,000 will be awarded. Proposals must be received by March 19, 2010 by mail, hand delivered or emailed to EPA's Tribal Resource Conservation Fund team (tribal.rcf@epa.gov) by 5 PM Pacific Standard Time. Sponsors of selected projects will be requested to submit a formal application package by April 9. Application and workplan are due April 30 and awards will be made no later than September 30. Contact: Heather White (white.heather@epa.gov); phone: 415-972-3384. The full text of this announcement can be viewed at: http://www.epa.qov/reqion09/fundinq/tribal-solid-waste.html Tribal Program Newsletter, March 2010 3 ------- Methane Recovery EPA requests proposals for Activities that Advance Methane Recovery and Use as a Clean Energy Source. This RFP will support investigation, survey, study, training, and demonstration projects that advance international near-term, cost-effective methane recovery and use as a clean energy source, and support the goals of the Methane to Markets Partnership. $5 million is expected to be available and up to 35 awards are anticipated. Final proposals are due April 15. For more information, contact Henry Ferland at ferland.henry@epa.gov or go to: http://www.epa.gov/air/grants_funding.html. Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) CARE is a unique community-based, community-driven, multimedia demonstration program designed to help communities understand and reduce risks due to toxic pollutants and environmental concerns from all sources. $2 million is expected to be available and up to 9 awards are anticipated. Responses are due March 9. For more information, contact Dennis O'Connor at oconnor.dennis@epa.gov or go to: http://www.epa.gov/air/grants_funding.html. Tribal Public Water System Supervision Source Water Assessment and Protection Program (SWAP) EPA Region 9 intends to award over $400,000 through Direct Implementation Tribal Cooperative Agreements (DITCAs) ranging in size from approximately $25,000 to $85,000 for SWAP activities. The purpose of the funding is to enable federally recognized tribes and eligible tribal consortia within EPA Region 9, who operate at least one public water system (PWS), to identify and assess any possible threats (potential sources of contamination) to their public drinking water supply sources and to develop protection measures to protect these sources against those threats. The deadline for proposal submission is March 31, 2010. This will be the last proposal acceptance date for 2010 awards. For more information, go to http://www.epa.gOv/reqion09/water/tribal/tribal-sdwa.html#swp or contact Jamelya Curtis at 415-972-3529; curtis.jamelya@epa.gov Brownfields Training, Research and Technical Assistance Grants EPA is providing more than $1.5 million for ten Brownfields Training, Research and Technical Assistance Grants. For more information, visit the EPA Brownfields Web site at http://www.epa.gov/brownfields EPA Region 9 Water Infrastructure Loans Available to Tribes For more state-specific information about the CWSRF and DWSRF programs, visit the EPA, Region 9 Web site at http://www.epa.gov/region09/water Department of Agriculture (USDA) USDA Rural Development: This grant focuses on landfill assistance as well as helping communities reduce the solid waste stream. For more information go to: http://www.usda.gov/rus/water/SWMG.htm Other Available Grants Indian Health Service (IHS) Scholarships American Indian and Alaska Native students are invited to apply for pre-graduate scholarships from IHS. Applicants must be U.S. citizens who can document that they meet Tribal membership requirements and are enrolled in courses leading to a bachelor's degree in specific pre-professional areas as needed by Indian Health programs. Applications are due March 28, 2010. Complete details, including an online application, can be found at the IHS Web site: http://www.scholarship.ihs.gov/ Residential Weatherization Grants Tribal Program Newsletter, March 2010 4 ------- The U.S. Department of Energy requests proposals for Weatherization Formula Grants. Prime applicant restricted to agencies responsible for administering the annual Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) formula allocation. WAP funds are used to increase the energy efficiency of dwellings owned or occupied by low-income persons, reduce their total residential expenditures, and improve their health and safety. WAP assists persons who are particularly vulnerable such as the elderly, persons with disabilities, families with children, high residential energy users, and households with high-energy burden. $210 million is expected to be available and 59 awards are anticipated. Response due date is dependent on fiscal year end of prime applicant, with range of Feb 15 to Aug 1, 2010. For more information, including contacts go to: https://www.fedconnect.net/FedConnect/?doc=DE-FOA-0000216&agency=DOE. Sponsor: Praxis Project The Praxis Project has a Call for Proposals for Communities Creating Healthy Environments (CCHE)- a grant initiative funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to support community organizing and policy advocacy to increase access to healthy food and safe places to play in communities of color. CCHE will provide funding and technical assistance for up to ten local community organizing groups and indigenous nations with grants of up to $250,000 over three years. For more information, go to www.ccheonline.org where you can download the Call for Proposals, sign up for information sessions and learn about the current CCHE communities! Sponsor: U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration (EDA) EDA has announced that nearly $37 million in grants is available to help communities suffering from the adverse effects of import competition to develop ways to more effectively compete in the global economy. The funding is available under EDA's Community Trade Adjustment Assistance (Community TAA) Program, which was created in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. For more information, contact John Atwood (202) 482-4085 go to: http://www.eda.gov/NewsEvents/PressReleases/PRWashDC011510.xml New Era Rural Technology Competitive Grants Program These grants are for technology development, applied research, and/or training to develop an agriculture- based renewable energy workforce to serve rural communities. Awards will stimulate and enable community colleges and advanced technological centers located in rural areas to provide technology development, applied research, and/or training necessary to produce graduates capable of strengthening the Nation's technical, scientific and professional workforce in the fields of bioenergy, pulp and paper manufacturing, and agriculture-based renewable energy resources, For more information go to: http://www.qrants.gov/search/search. do:isessionid=lhv5LkhLYbvntnQTniMWq6TGW6YT14hT8F9mtXfpG xXalCbiWJpRM299818899?oppld=50214&mode=VIEW. The deadline is April 14. Children's Health The Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (CHIPRA) set aside $100 million for fiscal years 2009-2013 expressly to help find and enroll eligible uninsured children, including $10 million specifically for Indian health providers. For more information about the outreach and enrollment grants, go to www.cms.hhs.gov/CHIPRA . Questions about the grants may be directed to the CHIPRA grants mailboxAIANCHIPRAOUTREACHGRANTS@cms.hhs.gov General information about CHIP can be found at www.insurekidsnow.gov. Tribal Energy Program See http://www.grants.gov/GetStarted. Questions regarding Grants.gov should be directed to the Grant.gov Customer Support Center between 7 am and 9pm EDT at 1-800-518-4726 or at support@grants.gov Rural Development's Business and Industry (B&l) Guaranteed Loan Program September 30, 2010; See http://www.rurdev.usda.qov/arra/recoverv-proqram.htm for additional details. Rural Water and Waste Disposal Program The Water and Environmental Program (WEP) provides a combination of loans, grants, and loan guarantees for drinking water, sanitary sewer, solid waste, and storm drainage facilities in rural areas and Tribal Program Newsletter, March 2010 5 ------- cities and towns of 10,000 or less. For more information, go to: http://www.indiancountryworks.org/file/Rural%20Water%20and%20Waste%20Disposal%20Program%20 2-27-09%20FINAL.pdf or call Tedd Buelow, 202-690-1681, tedd.buelow@wdc.usda.gov or Sandi Boughton, 202, 720-1681 m sandi.boughton@wdc.usda.gov California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) General information and an application package are available on Web site: http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov or by calling 916-341-6316. California Bay-Delta Authority Science Grants To access detailed information about this opportunity, visit: http://www.solicitation.calwater.ca.gov or call the Cal Water Helpline at 877-408-9310. California's Changing Climate California has ambitious plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions, but the state also needs an integrated policy to prepare for and adapt to climate change. Some institutions, such as water agencies and electrical utilities, have already begun planning for change but other areas have yet to prepare effectively for the challenges of a changing California. To read more about these changes, goto: http://www.ppic.org/content/pubs/report/R_1108LBR.pdf Native Non-Profit to Focus on Green Collar Careers For more information contact Cristala Mussato-Allen, 512-462-9056, Native Workplace 4415 Garnett Ave. Suite #A Austin, TX 78745. info@nativeworkplace.com Northwest Sustainable Energy for Economic Development (SEED) Releases Northwest Tribal Energy Planning Guidebook For more information or to obtain a copy of the guide, contact Leslie Moynihan, 206-267-2215 or leslie@nwseed.org Toxics Release Inventory A peer-reviewed analysis of the Toxics Release Inventory and the impact of the EPA's Toxics Release Inventory Burden Reduction Rule have been published and are available online at: http://news.duke.edu/2008/06/TRIMiranda.html. Supporting materials for the analysis, including an interactive Web application which provides access to results by EPA Region and state can be found at: http://www.env.duke.edu/cehi/about/news/envjustice.htm. For more information, contact Martha H. Keating, at 919-613-8736 or martha.keating@duke.edu Improving Public Health and the Environment for Local Communities This site includes information about the costs to establish and maintain each project, and how local communities can apply for EPA grants to kick-start their activities. Contact: Cathy Milbourn, 202-564- 4355 / milbourn.cathy@epa.gov or go to: http://www.epa.gov/air/community/ Chemical Spills and Methamphetamine labs To report a spill, contact 1-800-424-8802 or 1-202-267-2675. NRC is open a 24-hour, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year. For more information go to http://www.nrc.uscg.mil/index.html Tribal Compliance Assistance Center - Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assistance EPA's web-based Tribal Compliance Assistance Center is now available to provide comprehensive compliance assistance and pollution prevention information for regulated activities in Indian Country. For more information, go to the following site: http://www.epa.gov/tribalcompliance. All of EPA's compliance assistance centers are found at http://www.assistancecenters.net. If you have any questions about the Tribal Center or the Profile of Tribal Government Operations, contact Jonathan Binder at 202-564-2516, binder.jonathan@epa.gov, or Catherine Tunis at (202) 564-0476, tunis.catherine@epa.gov or by mail: EPA, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Mail Code 2224A, Washington DC 20460. Tribal Program Newsletter, March 2010 6 ------- Tribal Compliance Assistance Notebook EPA's Tribal Schools Compliance Assistance Notebook provides quick access to many programs and resources available to help Tribal school districts and Tribal schools prevent and resolve environmental issues in schools. The Notebook is available at http://yosemite.epa.gov/r10/tribal.nsf/programs/tribal+schools. The Tribal Schools Compliance Assistance Notebook is part of EPA's National Tribal Compliance Assurance Priority (http://www.epa.gov/compliance/data/planning/priorities/tribal.html). Professional Resources for Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Program Staff California Hazardous Materials Information Exchange list serve is used mainly by HHW professionals in California, but may be useful for those working outside of California as well. The list serve is also searchable by topic and date: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hhwie/ Employment Opportunities Clean Water Program Manager The La Jolla Band of Luiseno Indians has a position for a Clean Water Program Manager who will be responsible for running the EPA CWA-Sec.106 program that will protect the surface water quality, the environment, and the residents of the La Jolla Indian Reservation and the San Luis Rey watershed. This position reports to the environmental director. This is a full time position; pay rate is $18-21/hour. All interested persons are encouraged to apply. Applications are available at the La Jolla Tribal Office and an application and resume should be submitted to the La Jolla Personnel Committee or Environmental Director at the address below. We require a responsible person with a professional attitude and a passion for environmental protection. Mail your applications to La Jolla Band of Indians - 22000 Highway 76, Pauma Valley, CA, 92061 760-742-3790 x407 Inter Tribal Council of Arizona (ITCA) ITCA has an opening for a Tribal Water Systems Specialists. The successful candidate will perform various duties and responsibilities of the Tribal Water Systems Program, including coordinating and facilitating water and wastewater certification courses and testing modules for certifying operators of water and wastewater systems. Salary is negotiable, depending on experience. For more information, contact Bette Hartsfield, Human Resources Specialist, Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc. 2214 North Central Avenue Suite 100, Phoenix, AZ 85004, 602-258-4822; fax 602-258-4825 or bette.hartsfield@itcaonline.com Pechanga Environmental Job Announcement The Environmental Department has an opening for an environmental technician. This position is responsible for staff support to meet the Tribal environmental goals and objectives for the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians under the direction of the Pechanga Environmental Director. The successful candidate will be responsible for maintaining the current technical data, inspections, and testing for environmental programs, which include, but not limited to air, water and soil. The environmental technician is also responsible for the operations and maintenance of equipment. The closing date is March 10. Submit your resume to: Pechanga Government Center, Environmental Department Director, 12705 Pechanga Road, Temecula, CA 92593 Tribal Energy Student Internship Program The Bureau of Indian Affairs is accepting applications for the Tribal Energy Student Internship Program. Twelve post-secondary students will be selected for the program, which runs May 25 through August 6 at the Argonne National Laboratory near Chicago, Illinois. The application deadline is March 15. According to BIA, interns will work with nationally known scientists in a wide range of research fields including energy resource development, both renewable and non-renewable, and environmental evaluation and Tribal Program Newsletter, March 2010 7 ------- analysis of potential impacts from energy resource development activities. Applications can be made at http://www.dep.anl.gov/p_undergrad/Triballnternships. For more information, contact the ANL Division of Educational Programs at (630) 252-4114. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Summer Intern Program USDA invites all currently enrolled college students to apply for the Summer Intern Program (SIP). Click on the following link for more information: http://www.da.usda.qov/emplov/SIPIntro.htm Environmental Positions The Air Quality Program (AQP) with the Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency has openings for one senior environmental specialist, one environmental engineer and one associate environmental engineer. These positions will be opened until filled. For more information, contact Charlene Nelson at 928-729-4247 or by email at charlenenelson@navajo.org. Tribal outreach, review and comment National Geospatial Resource Center The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and Federally Recognized Tribal Entities (FRTE) can obtain specific Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) products through the National Geospatial Resource Center (NGRC) at no cost. The current Enterprise License Agreement (ELA) between ESRI and the Department of the Interior (DOI), USGS BPA No. G09PA00003, is valid through September 30, 2013. BIA and FRTEs can submit an application to become BIA customers of this Agreement. For more information, go to the following Web site. http://www.bia.g0v/WhatWeD0/ServiceOverview/Ge0spatial/index.htm#GISS0ftware EPA Seeks Information on Lead-Based Paint activities in Region IX Indian Country 1999-2010 In coordination with RTOC, EPA Region IX is gathering information on all lead-based paint activities conducted at Region IX tribes for the past 10+ years. EPA also seeks information from BIA, HUD and HIS. Information which EPA is seeking includes activities already completed, underway, or approved but not started. EPA specifically seeks the following information to prepare a "baseline inventory" of all lead- based paint activities conducted in Region IX Indian Country from 1999 to 2010: (1) outreach efforts on lead-based paint and lead's hazards; (2) childhood blood lead screening efforts; (3) evaluating lead-based paint conditions at tribal housing, child-occupied facilities or tribal buildings including dust sampling and soil sampling; and (4) remediating lead-based paint hazards at tribal housing, child-occupied facilities or tribal buildings including lead in soil remediation. EPA seeks information on all efforts (completed; underway; or approved) in Region IX Indian Country whether financed by grants/funding agreements with EPA, BIA, HUD, IHS or other federal departments; funded by tribal governments ortribally-owned entities; or funded by sources such as foundations or nonprofit groups. Please note that EPA is not seeking information related to any specific person's blood lead testing or lead hazard testing involving any specific person's individual housing. If you have information, regarding this baseline inventory for 1999-2010, please contact David Tomsovic, EPA Region IX Toxics Office, 415-972-3858 or email tomsovic.david@epa.gov. Notice of Public Hearing This hearing on the proposed regulations regarding methylmercury and total (inorganic) mercury in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta will be held on April 22, 8:30 a.m., at the Central Valley Water Board office, 22010 Sun Center Drive, Ranch Cordova. CA. This proposed mercury control program addresses beneficial uses, fish tissue objectives, and an implementation program to achieve the objectives. It will have requirements for municipal and industrial wastewater, urban runoff, irrigated agriculture, managed wetlands, flood conveyance, water management, dredging, and the Cache Creek settling basin. The Hearing Notice, February 2010 Staff Report, and proposed Basin Plan amendments are available at: Tribal Program Newsletter, March 2010 8 ------- http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/centralvalley/water_issues/tmdl/central_valley_projects/delta_hg/april_201 0_hg_tmdl_hearing. Written comments must be submitted by April 7 in order to be included in the written response to comments that will become part of the final administrative record. Please submit written comments to Patrick Morris, Central Valley Water Board, 11020 Sun Center Drive, #200, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670-6114. The Tribal Energy and Environmental Information Clearinghouse (TEEIC) The TEEIC Web site (http://teeic.anl.gov) provides information about the environmental effects of energy development on tribal lands. If you have questions or need more information, visit the TEEIC Web site (http://teeic.anl.gov) or contact the TEEIC Webmaster at teeicwebmaster@anl.gov EPA Releases First-Ever Baseline Study of U.S. Lakes This draft study, which rated the condition of 56 percent of the lakes in the United States as good and the remainder as fair or poor, marked the first time EPA and its partners used a nationally consistent approach to survey the ecological and water quality of lakes. A total of 1,028 lakes were randomly sampled during 2007 by states, tribes and EPA. The survey included a comparison to a subset of lakes with wastewater impacts that were sampled in the 1970s. It finds that 75 percent show either improvements or no change in phosphorus levels. This suggests that the nation's investments in wastewater treatment and other pollution control activities are working despite population increases across the country. To view this study, go to: http://www.epa.gov/lakessurvev Pesticide Endangered Species Bulletins for California: In January, 2010, EPA Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) completed draft Endangered Species Bulletins for 40 California counties. The bulletins were developed for the protection of Salmon and Steelhead in the states of California, Oregon, Idaho, and Washington and describe pesticide use limitations for pesticide products containing chlorpyrifos, diazinon or malathion. This year the Region 9 Pesticides Office will assist tribes with implementation of the pesticide use limitations in specific counties described in the bulletins. Once pesticide products with generic endangered species label statements are being used, the use limitations will be enforceable. If you would like a copy of the bulletin for your county or counties, contact Allen Demorest at 415-947-4214 or via e-mail at demorest.allen@epa.gov. Community Renewable Energy Project Guide Available The Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) has completed the Guide to Developing a Community Renewable Energy Project in North America. This guide is meant to assist community and indigenous communities groups in the development of their own small-scale renewable energy projects. The Guide covers Canada, Mexico and the United States. The Guide is available on the CEC Web site at: http://www.cec.org/files/pdf/ECONOMY/QA0608_Guide_Community_RE_en.pdf. Reducing Methane from Landfills EPA announces its intent to request proposals for Technical and Outreach Support Services for Reducing Emissions from Landfills. The contractor will support the mission of the Landfill Methane Outreach Program, a voluntary assistance program that helps to reduce methane from landfills by encouraging the recovery and use of landfill gas as a renewable, green energy source. The RFP will be issued on or about February 2. For more information, contact Faye Sas at sas.faye@epa.gov or go to: https://www.fbo.gov/?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=0e90c51835d6b1 b73e011 dbba75df433&tab=core&_ cview=0. Treatment and removal of abandoned vehicles EPA Region 9 has published a 15-page booklet on the treatment and removal of abandoned vehicles, with emphasis on the problem faced by tribal nations. Here is the URL http://www.epa.gov/region09/waste/tribal/resources.html. In addition to the internet, paper copies are available by request to Michelle Baker at baker.michelle@epa.gov or 415-972-3206. Expanding the Self Governance Model to Tribal Environmental Programs - the Swinomish "Indian Environmental Act" - The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community is sponsoring a bill referred to as the Tribal Program Newsletter, March 2010 9 ------- Indian Environmental Act. The proposed bill supports applying the "Self Governance" model to environmental programs, as a proven model that recognizes the sovereignty of tribal nations and allows for continuous and flexible funding that meets the needs and priorities of Tribes. The Act supports a pilot project with a new funding source for 12 tribes and four to five consortia (north, south, east, west, Alaska), and supports Tribes working with EPA on a Nation-to-Nation basis to develop a self governed environmental program that would allow tribes, to combine funds from different agencies and programs to address tribal priorities in a sustainable manner. The anticipated outcome is to develop the new program within one year and begin implementation of the program nationally in year two. The effort is intended to be structured under EPA's competitive RFP process, and one grant is being sought for each region. To view the document to go: http://www.ntec.org/Documents/Envtl%20and%20Natural%20Resources%20Brief%20- %202009%20Tribal%20Nations%20Conf.pdf Targeted Brownfields Assessments (TBA) A TBA is an environmental investigation designed to document environmental conditions at a property under consideration for redevelopment. EPA can provide communities and nonprofit organizations with environmental assessment services at brownfield properties with redevelopment potential. TBAs are noncompetitive and are available all year. Brochure (PDF) 5/2007 (3-page brochure, 725 K, About PDF) Online Application (PDF tillable form) Smart Growth Solutions Guide For more information on the guide: http://www.epa.gov/smartarowth/sq-coastal.htnil A Guide to Build Cultural Awareness of the American Indian and Alaska Native Communities This free publication may be downloaded or ordered from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA) at www.SAMHSA.gov/shin; or call SAMHSA's Health Information Network at 877-726-4727and ask for DHHS publication # (SMA) 08-4354. Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) EPA has set up a hotline and a website to answer questions about this issue - concerned parties can call (888) 835-5372 or visit http://www.epa.gov/pcbsincaulk/ for additional information. The National Partnership for Environmental Technology Education (PETE) For more information, please go to the tribal training project web site: http://www.petetribal.org National Congress for American Indians (NCAI) Opportunities NCAI has posted a list of opportunities for Tribes resulting from the Recovery Act. There are also links to related news updates and webinars. See: http://www.indiancountryworks.org/. National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) NPIC offers a toll-free number staffed by knowledgeable specialists seven days/week from 6:30 am to 4:30 pm PST. NPIC has real-time access to current, in depth information for a national audience. NPIC addresses questions in multiple languages such as Navajo, Cherokee, Ojibway and many more. For any question regarding pesticides, please call toll free 800-858-7378 orvisitwww.npic.orst.edu. Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council (ITRC) For more information, call Eugenia McNaughton, 415-972-3411 or Joe Eidelberg at 415-972-3809or go to http://www.itrcweb.org/membership.asp Sources of Exposure to Lead in Children and Eliminating Childhood Lead Poisoning in America For more information, go to http://www.epa.gov/region09/lead/EHP-lead.pdfor contact Dave Tomsovic, EPA Region IX Toxics Office, 415-972-3858. Rapid Deployment Energy Efficiency (RDEE) Toolkit Help Line Call 866-602-7333 or email RDEE@icfi.com to receive a response to your inquiry within one business day. Or visit: www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-resources/ee_toolkit.html. All questions related to Tribal Program Newsletter, March 2010 10 ------- funding provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act should be directed to DOE: www.eere.energy.gov/recovery or 1-877-337-3463. Ensuring health and safety from potential asbestos hazards in schools (grades K-12). Asbestos, a naturally-occurring mineral, is used in building materials due to its heat- and fire-resistant properties. For information on the asbestos-in-schools program go to: http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/ or contact: Ron Tsuchiya, EPA Region IX Toxics Office, 415-947-4168, or email tsuchiya.ron@epa.gov Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) Public Data Region 9 TRI data and press releases are at http://www.epa.qov/reqion09/toxic/tri/ and the national web site is at http://www.epa.gov/tri or contact: Mariela Lopez, EPA Region 9 Toxics Office, 415-972-3771 or lopez.mariela@epa.gov. Tribal Pesticide Issues Contact Pam Cooper, Manager, Region 9 Pesticides Office at 415-947-4217 ore-mail cooper.pam@epa.gov. The Sierra Nevada Adaptive Management Project (SNAMP) A mailing list and a Web site at http://snamp.cnr.berkely.edu will have all of SNAMPs activities. For more information, contact Anne Lombardo at 209-966-2417or email amlombardo@ucdavis.edu. Procedures for Accessing EPA Resources for Emergency Responses to Hazards Materials Incidents on Tribal or Federal Lands in AZ Call 9-1-1 first. Then notify the National Response Center at 1 800-424-8802. A tribe can also notify Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) at 602-390-7894 or 602-771-2330. If it is a transportation-related spill, call 602-223-2212 at the Arizona Department of Public Safety. In addition, local jurisdictions need to be notified of the incident. If ADEQ is unable to respond to a hazardous materials incident on tribal and federal lands, contact the National Response Center at 800-424-8802, and ask for the EPA Region 9 Duty Officer. EPA has On-Scene Coordinators placed in San Francisco, and Los Angeles, CA, Carson City, NV and Phoenix, AZ who can provide timely response to a hazardous materials incident. Web sites for tribal programs and federal programs To find case studies and information on Energy Efficiency, Green Site Cleanups, Renewable Energy, Smart Growth, Transportation, Sustainable Water Infrastructure and Waste Management go to: http://www.epa.gov/region09/climatechange/tribes.html Web sites for EPA's compliance assistance newsletter: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/newsletters/assistance/index.html Automotive Recycling: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/newsletters/assistance/cacompassvol4no1 .pdf Strategic Approach-Best Practices: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/newsletters/assistance/cacompassvol3no1 .pdf Educational Facilities: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/newsletters/assistance/cacompassvol2no2.pdf Healthcare: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/newsletters/assistance/cacompass2-2006.pdf Storm Water: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/newsletters/assistance/cacompassvol1 no1 .pdf WTR7 presented the Clean Water Act compliance program to tribes on August 20th. The presentations are available online at this address: http://www.epa.gov/region09/water/tribal-CWA-workshop/ More EPA Websites: http://yosemite.epa.gOv/opa/admpress.nsf/0/F7C43BF20985D562852576B100764FB1 http://www.epa.gov/indian/new.htm; http://www.epa.gov/smokefree Tribal Program Newsletter, March 2010 11 ------- http://www.epa.gov/radon/index.html; http://www.epa.gov/water/tribaltraining/2009/tevent0919.html. http://www.epa.gov/region09/waste/ust/leaking-tanks-indian/ http://www.epa.gov/water/tribaltraining/training.html http://www.epa.gov/tribalportal/ http://www.epa.gov/oswer/tribal. http://www.epa.gov/region09/funding/index.html http://www.epa.gov/region09/indian/res.html http://www.epa.gov/region9/indian/pdf/gap-water-activities-factsheet.pdf http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/newsletters/assistance/index.html http://www.epa.govhttp://www. epa.gov/water/tribaltraining/resources/general. html) http://www.epa.gov/water/tribaltraining/resources/data.html) http://www.epa.gov/water/tribaltraining/index.htmlv/region09/funding/pdfs/tribal-gap/GAP- http://iaspub.epa.gov/GAP_Online/ National Indian Justice Center http://www.nijc.org/pdfs/AIR.PDF ; http://www.nijc.org/pdfs/SOLIDWAS.PDF http://www.nijc.org/pdfs/WATER.PDF ; http://www.nijc.org/pdfs/DRWATER.PDF Other Web Sites of Interest http://www.communityhealthstudies.com http://www.wihresourcegroup.com/; http://www.doi.gov/bia http://www.narf.org/nill/triballaw/index.htm; http://www.stopwaste.org/home/index.asp http://www.conservatree.com/index.shtml; http://soils.usda.gov/survey http://www.eere.energy.gov/tribalenergy/projects.cfm www.energysavers.gov http://www.gaia-gis.it/spatialite / http://earth911 .com/hazardous/rechargeable-batteries/ This monthly newsletter contains information on meetings, conferences, trainings, available grants, employment opportunities and other items of interest. Comments and feedback are appreciated. Contact Maria Castain 415-972-3264; email castain.maria@epa.gov or go to: http://www.epa.gov/region09 /indian/newslet.html. Also, if you want to be removed from this mailing list, contact Maria. Tribal Program Newsletter, March 2010 12 ------- |