Region 10 SEPA The Tribal Newsletter is issuea . Tribal https://go.usa.gov/xXNnW L Ĥ Ĥ ~ N e wsl ett er United States free each month. I1 I II IR^CIIH Environmental Protection Agency Vol. 26 No. 4 April 2017 'Ik The EPA provides some external links in this newsletter for informational purposes only. The EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of non-EPA information provided by any third-party sites or any other linked site. The EPA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies, internet applications or any policies or information expressed therein. Top News Earth Day is April 22 On the first Earth Day in 1970, 22 million Americans demonstrated in support of clean air, land, and water. Several months later, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was created. Today, many celebrate Earth Day by making choices that are more sustainable, and participate in community clean-ups and educational events. For ideas on organizing events in your community, for educational resources or to learn more about the history of Earth Day, go to Think globally, act locally https://www.epa.gov/earthday. v You Can Prevent Nutrient Pollution Nutrient pollution is one of America's most widespread, costly and challenging environmental problems. Nutrient pollution occurs when too much nitrogen or phosphorus enters a waterway. These contaminants can harm the waterway and aquatic life, and cause unsightly and sometimes harmful algal blooms. Warming water, droughts and sea level rise can make harmful algal blooms worse. Simple actions at home and in the yard can help prevent nutrient pollution. You can protect waterways from nutrient pollution by: Choosing phosphate-free soaps and detergents. Picking up after your pet. Using water efficiently. Washing your car on your lawn or in commercial car washes . Applying fertilizers to a lawn only when necessary and in the recommended amount. If you have a septic system, pump it out regularly. To learn more about nutrient pollution, go to https://www.epa.gov/nutrientpollution. To watch a video on how you can prevent nutrient pollution, go to http://bit.ly/2nwmAni. ------- Region 10 Tribal Newsletter April 2017 Wood Smoke Activity Books The EPA's Wood Smoke Activity Book may be a helpful air quality educational resource for children in your community. EPA Region 10 along with Burn Wise Alaska and the Quinault Indian Nation collaborated in publishing this children's activity book. Children can read the story about best burning practices, color the pictures and do the activities included in the book. Find the Wood Smoke Activity Book online at https://www.epa.gov/burnwise/wood-smoke- activity-book. For an Alaska-specific wood smoke coloring book, go to http://burnwise.alaska.gov/docs/burnwise- activity-book.pdf. National Tribal Waste and Response Steering Committee DUE DATE: May 26 The National Tribal Waste and Response Steering Committee is seeking up to five individuals who work for federally-recognized tribes in the fields of solid waste, brownfields, Superfund, Underground Storage Tank, and/or emergency response to join the Steering Committee for the term beginning on November 1, 2017 and ending October 31, 2019. This committee plays several roles such as developing an annual priority document for the EPA and the National Tribal Caucus, providing two-way communication between tribes and federal agencies, and collaborating with the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals on the Tribal Lands and Environment Forum, To learn more about the Steering Committee, please visit http://www7.nau.edu/itep/main/Waste/waste_ntsc. Links to websites outside of the EPA are provided for additional information that may be use- ful or interesting to our readers. We cannot attest to the accuracy of these third-party sites, nor does EPA endorse any nongovernment websites, companies or applications. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Alaska Operations Office Alaska News Rural Alaska Landfill Operator - RALO April 11 - 13, Anchorage, AK RALO training is for the designated landfill operator and administrator. It focuses on their duties, their personal safety, and the safety of the village. Participants will learn about landfill regulations and requirements, household hazardous waste, waste separation and screening, waste reduction and segregation, recycling, personal protection equipment and much more. Participants are expected to attend full training to receive a training certificate. Registration is available online at http://www.cvent.eom/d/5vqk3v or http://www.akforum.org. CONTACT: Jennifer Kuhlmann 907-331-0282 jkuhlmann@akforum.org ------- Region 10 Tribal Newsletter April 2017 7 Generations Environmental Planning April 18 - 20, Anchorage, AK During this interactive workshop, participants will learn a community-based approach for developing local environmental plans. The training focuses on team building, community involvement, identifying environmental concerns that can impact health, and learning about ways to address local issues. The workshop is for new tribal environmental program staff, tribal environmental committee members, tribal council members and tribal administrators. 7G Plan Development Workshop June 6-7, Anchorage, AK Participants will begin developing their tribal environmental plans during this workshop with technical assistance from Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium staff. To take this course, participants must have already attended a 7 Generations Environmental Planning Workshop in the last two years. This workshop is for tribal environmental program staff and other tribal staff who are responsible for the tribe's environmental plan. For more information on both ANTHC workshops, go to http://bit.ly/2iBcTSK. CONTACT: Oxcenia O'Domin 907-729-3492 orodomin@anthc.org Holly Reimer 907-729-4043 holly.reimer@anthc.org Qualifier Sampler Training (Water Quality and Soil Sampling) May 3-5, Dillingham, AK This training will cover taking water and soil samples to send for laboratory contaminant testing, how to test on-site for surface water fecal coliform, and how to sample and monitor for the basic water quality parameters using a YSI probe and turbidity meter. Passing this course satisfies the State of Alaska training requirements to become a qualified sampler. Waste Utility Training June 13-14, Nome, AK Having trouble convincing your community to pay fees? Finding that your solid waste pro- gram starts and stops or doesn't seem to improve? This training will examine your solid waste management program as a utility operation, exploring the 10 management areas that contribute to effective and sustainable utility management. The training also includes devel- oping a full solid waste management plan and budget and a community outreach strategy. For information on both trainings, go to http://www.zendergroup.org/sw.html. CONTACT: Simone Sebalo 907-277-2111 ssebalo@zendergroup.org Introduction to Rural Alaska Landfill Administration Online Training: The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals is offering a free online training course to provide tribal environmental professionals in rural Alaska with an introduction to landfills, administration, and operations, solid waste administration, planning and budget basics, and resources for minimizing waste in landfills. To access the online Introduction to Rural Alaska Landfill Administration training, go to http://bit.ly/2liZRHA. To access all of ITEP's online training courses, go to http://itep.scholarlms.com/catalog. CONTACT: Jennifer Williams 928-523-0673 Jennifer.Williams@nau.edu -3 ------- Region 10 Tribal Newsletter April 2017 Regional News Tribal Wetlands Working Group Spring Workshop April 12-13, Canyonville, OR The theme for the spring 2017 Tribal Wetlands Interagency workshop is Multi-Agency Collaboration for Wetland Restoration. It will be hosted by the Cow Creek Tribes in Roseburg, OR and will address opportunities, challenges and collaborative approaches in restoring lost and impaired habitats that support the tribes' cultural practices. The tribes will highlight projects they are working on to restore and enhance aquatic resources across the tribes usual and accustomed areas including visits to either Cow Hollow Mitigation Bank or Tribal Wetland Monitoring site. Workshop objectives are to gather a diverse group of Pacific Northwest tribal wetland staff to focus on sharing information regarding the techniques of wetland and aquatic ecosystems restoration in coastal northwest landscapes through talks and field trips, discussions regarding tribes' experience with Wetland Program Plan development, and further discussion about ways to include tribal community values in EPA's Core Elements Framework. CONTACT: Scott O'Daniel 541-429-7452 scottodaniel@ctuir.org or Heather Bartlett heather.bartlett@cowcreek.com RTOC News STAY IN THE LOOP! RTOC posts meeting minutes online at http://regionlOrtoc.net/index.php/meetings. Follow RTOC on Facebook for the latest news, training and funding opportunities from the EPA at https://www.facebook.com/RegionlORTOC. Submit meeting discussion topics at http://regionlOrtoc.net. NOTE: The old RTOC website at www.rtocregionlO.org will expire in April. Please bookmark the new website at http://regionlOrtoc.net. Contact Randi Madison, RTOC RIO Communications Specialist 509-703-4219 or communications@regionlOrtoc.net if you wish to join our monthly teleconference and/or have environmental topics to raise. 4 - ------- Region 10 Tribal Newsletter April 2017 QUffl d The following tribal consultation opportunity may be of interest to tribes in Region 10. A full list of consultation opportunities is available at https://tcots.epa.gov. Alaska's Revised Recreational Water Quality Criteria END DATE: May 5. On January 24, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation submitted to EPA, revisions to state water quality standards for bacteria criteria upon primary human contact during recreation in marine and freshwater. These criteria are designed to protect people from exposure to fecal contamination when exposed to water during recreation. The criteria rely on the latest research and science, including studies that show a link between illness and fecal contamination in recreational waters. ADEC's revisions to protect primary contact recreation in marine and freshwater are consistent with EPA's 2012 Recreational Water Quality Criteria recommendations and also address the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act requirements for coastal waters in Alaska. EPA Region 10 sent a tribal consultation letter to all federally recognized tribes in Alaska regarding EPA's upcoming action on ADEC's submittal. Region 10 will hold an informational conference call for tribal governments in AK on April 4 from 10:00 -11:00 a.m. Alaska Time. To join, please call 1-866-299-3188, and enter conference code 206-553-1906#. CONTACT: Matthew Szelag 907-271-1208 szelag.matthew@epa.gov Memorandum of Understanding for Contaminated Sediment Sites END DATE: May 12. Contaminated sediment is a significant environmental problem that impairs the uses of many waterbodies. It is often a contributing factor to fish consumption advisories issued nationwide. The EPA's Superfund program uses its Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act authority, or CERCLA, in collaboration with other Agency programs and authorities, to clean up sediment sites that present an unacceptable risk to human health and the environment. EPA is initiating consultation and coordination with federally-recognized tribes on draft sample language that could be used in Memoranda of Understanding between EPA's Regions, tribes and/or states at contaminated sediment Superfund sites. The draft MOU would serve as a starting point to improve collaboration, communication and coordination with tribes and states across the cleanup and water programs at contaminated sediment Superfund sites. Two conference calls for tribes are scheduled to discuss the draft sample MOU: April 4 at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time. To join, call 1-866-299-3188, conference code 202- 564-6943. April 20 at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time. To join, call 866-299-3188, conference code 202- 564-6943. To view the draft sample MOU and the letter to tribal leaders initiating consultation and coordination, go to the EPA's Tribal Consultation Opportunities web page at https://tcots.epa.gov and look under "Memorandum of Understanding for Contaminated Sediment Sites." <^> Continued - 5 ------- Region 10 Tribal Newsletter April 2017 Tribal Conultation: Memorandum of Understanding # continued for Contaminated Sediment Sites To learn more about contaminated sediment sites and the EPA's use of Superfund to remediate these sites, please visit https://www.epa.gov/superfund/superfund-contaminated-sediments. CONTACT: Anthony Austin 303-312-6152 austin.anthony@epa.gov FY 2018-2019 National Program Manager Guidance END DATE: June 30. The National Program Manager Guidances provide direction to EPA regions on where the agency will focus its work with tribal and state governments to ensure implementation and compliance with environmental laws and regulations. The NPM Guidances are not budget decision-making documents though they do provide a roadmap for the activities that support the priorities identified in the President's Budget. The NPM Guidances are developed in three stages: 1. NPMs receive input from tribes and states during the early engagement stage, which is now underway. 2. NPMs prepare draft guidances for review and comment. 3. NPMs issue final NPM Guidances. CONTACT: Emily Heller 202-564-0000 heller.emily@epa.gov Joseph Greenblott 202-564-4250 greenblott.joseph@epa.gov Notice of Extension - CERCLA 108(b) Proposed Rule for Hardrock Mining and Mineral Processing END DATE: July 11. The EPA is proposing requirements under section 108(b) of the CERCLA to establish financial responsibility for the hardrock mining industry The Agency received correspondence from stakeholders requesting an extension to the public comment period for the proposed rule. The EPA is committed to continuing its dialogue with federally recognized tribes and has also extended the consultation period from March 13 to July 11. CONTACT: Barbara Foster 703-308-7057 Foster.Barbara@epa.gov Jessica Snyder 202-564-1478 Snyder.Jessica@epa.gov ------- Region 10 Tribal Newsletter April 2017 Gra KB Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act Credit Assistance DUE DATE: April 10. The Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014 established the WIFIA program, a federal credit program administered by EPA for eligible water and wastewater infrastructure projects. Eligible borrowers are: Local, state, tribal, and federal government entities Partnerships and joint ventures Corporations and trusts Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs For more information, visit https://www.epa.gov/wifia. Fundamentals of Air Monitoring (For tribes in the lower 48) April 4-6, Las Vegas, NV This course will provide tribal environmental professionals with a basic understanding of how to develop and conduct an air monitoring project. It is designed as an overview and wil not include exhaustive detail of each topic. The course will focus on criteria air pollutants, as well as monitoring requirements for those seeking National Ambient Air Quality Standard designations from their monitoring projects. It will also include information about meteorological monitoring and air toxics. Air monitoring equipment will be available for hands-on activities. For more information, visit https://www7.nau.edu/itep/main/Training/training aq_fam. Region 8 Nonpoint Source Workshop April 18-20, East Poulson, MT The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes are now accepting registrations for this workshop. The workshop is a forum for tribes to share information and improve communication on controlling and tracking Nonpoint Source pollution at its source. The focus of the workshop is holistic and includes approaches to assessing and solving problems for tribal governments at the programmatic and technical levels of implementing an NPS program. This event will bring together tribes to share lessons learned from completed NPS projects, new technologies, monitoring approaches, and partnerships. To register or for more information, go to http://bit.ly/2n2kZCv. - 7 ------- Region 10 Tribal Newsletter April 2017 ITEP Tribal Underground Storage Tank'Boot Camp' April 25-27, Pa la, CA The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals is offering a special training for tribal staff working on Underground Storage Tank issues that will be conducted by the Oneida Nation and other entities. Appropriate, effective responses to releases from LIST systems are essential to protect the valuable natural resources of a tribal nation. The course will provide an overview of federal regulatory requirements for operating and maintaining an UST system, leak detection methodologies, reporting requirements, selecting contractors and implementing appropriate response actions. A field exercise will be used to demonstrate the functional components of an UST system, various release scenarios and identifying appropriate release responses. For more information, go to www.nau.edu/itep. CONTACT: Todd Barnell 928-523-3840 Todd.Barnell@nau.edu National Tribal Forum on Air Quality May 1-4, Tucson, AZ The National Tribal Forum on Air Quality provides environmental professionals from tribes, EPA, and other organizations an opportunity to meet, exchange ideas, and discuss current policies, regulatory initiatives, technical and outreach topics on air quality. The conference is coordinated by ITEP and the National Tribal Air Association through funding from EPA. For more information, go to http://www7.nau.edu/itep/main/Conferences/confr_ntf EPA Tribal Solid Waste Peer Matching Program The EPA has developed a tribal solid waste management peer matching program. The program aims to strengthen tribal capacity building and develop sustainable waste management programs. The program identifies peer matches for tribes through the use of peer mentors who are working on similar issues to exchange experiences and share practical knowledge with each other. Peer mentors are tribal environmental personnel who can provide expertise and experience. Mentors volunteer to participate in the program. Please note that the peer matching program does not have funding available to cover any associated costs (i.e., travel to meet with a mentor). However, funding for travel for peer matches may be available through the Indian Environmental General Assistance Program or other programs. For details, click on the fact sheet link at http://go.usa.gov/xDwz4. CONTACT: Tonya Hawkins 703-308-8278 Hawkins.tonya@epa.gov -- - Ĥ 8- ------- Region 10 Tribal Newsletter April 2017 0 fiEMfeS mgİ Tribal Science Webinar - Harmful Algal Blooms April 11, 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time The EPA's National Center for Environmental Research's Tribal Science Webinar Series provides a forum for discussion of the complex environmental issues facing many tribal and indigenous communities, and features a wide variety of expert guest speakers from government, academic institutions and other organizations. This month's webinar will focus on Harmful Algal Blooms and the adverse effects on tribal communities. Presenters will discuss their roles and involvement in ongoing HABs activities, research, and collaborations. Speakers will also present HABs research supported under the Science to Achieve Results grants program. Learn more about this and other NCER Tribal Science webinars at https://go.usa.gov/xX8FK. CONTACT: Cynthia McOliver 202-564-7657 McOliver.Cynthia@epa.gov What You Can Do About Climate Change EPA's What You Can Do About Climate Change website provides more than 25 easy steps you can take at home, school, at the office and on the road to protect the ciimate, reduce greenhouse gas pollution and save money. The website also features a household carbon footprint calculator that provides a quick, rough estimate of your carbon footprint by using U.S. average values. Small steps add up, if we all do our part. To learn more, go to https://www.epa.gov/climatechange/what-you-can-do-about-climate-change. Climate Change Webinars, Conferences and Trainings For a calendar of climate change and water-related trainings, conferences and webinars, go to http://go.usa.gov/xg84F. -9 ------- Region 10 Tribal Newsletter April 2017 Calendar of Events April 4 Alaska's Revised Recreational Water Quality Criteria. Teleconference 10 - 11 a.m. Alaska Time. To join, call 1-866-299-3188, enter conference code 206-553-1906#. 4 Draft Sample MOU for Contaminated Sediment Sites. Teleconference at 11 a.m. Pacific Time. To join, call 1-866-299-3188, enter conference code 202-564-6943. 4-6 Fundamentals of Air Monitoring. Las Vegas, NV https://www7.nau.edu/itep/main/Training/training aq_fam 5 Alaska Solid Waste Teleconference. 1:30 p.m. Alaska Time. http://bit.ly/2oeqZs4 11 Tribal Science Webinar - Harmful Algal Blooms. Webinar 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time. https://go.usa.gov/xX8FK 11 - 13 Rural Alaska Landfill Operator. Anchorage, AK. http://bit.ly/2ic8Xox 12 - 13 Tribal Wetlands Working Group Spring Workshop. Canyonville, OR. Scott O'Daniel 541-429-7452 scottodaniel@ctuir.org or Heather Bartlett heather.bartlett@cowcreek.com 18-20 7 Generations Environmental Planning. Anchorage, AK. http://bit.ly/2iBcTSK 18 - 20 Region 8 Nonpoint Source Workshop. East Poulson, MT http://bit.ly/2n2kZCv 20 Draft Sample MOU for Contaminated Sediment Sites. Teleconference at 11 a.m. Pacific Time. To join, call 1-866-299-3188, enter conference code 202-564-6943. 25 - 27 Tribal Underground Storage Tank "Boot Camp." Pala, CA. http://www7.nau.edu/itep/main/Training/training_waste May 1-4 National Tribal Forum on Air Quality. Tucson, AZ. http://www7.nau.edu/itep/main/Conferences/confr_ntf 1-5 EPA Air Quality Awareness Week - Be Air Aware. https://www3.epa. gov/a i r now/a i ra wa re 3 Alaska Solid Waste Teleconference. 1:30 p.m. Alaska Time. http://bit.ly/2oeqZs4 3-5 Qualified Sampler Training (Water Quality and Soil Sampling Training). Dillingham, AK http://www.zendergroup.org/sw.html June 6-7 7G Plan Development Workshop. Anchorage, AK. http://bit.ly/2iBcTSK 7 Alaska Solid Waste Teleconference. 1:30 p.m. Alaska Time. http://bit.ly/2oeqZs4 13 - 14 Waste Utility Training. Nome, AK. http://www.zendergroup.org/sw.htmI 20 - 22 RTOC In-Person Meeting. Juneau, AK. http://regionlOrtoc.net/meetings This newsletter contains information from multiple sources including tribes, newspapers, and other sources. Any information or opinions in this newsletter do not necessarily represent the views of the United States or the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 10- ------- Region 10 Tribal Staff Vol. 26 No. 4-April 2017 &EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency Region 10 Tribal Program 1200 Sixth Avenue, Suite 900, RAD-202 Seattle, WA 98101-3140 Got News? The Region 10 Tribal Newsletter invites you, our readers, to submit ideas and articles for consideration and to share your successes and challenges. Photographs are also welcome as separate files in jpeg or other graphic format. Please submit articles and pictures to: Don Creek EPA, 805 SW Broadway, Suite 500 Portland, Oregon 97205 503-326-5015 ^ email creek.don@epa.gov Helpful Links R10 Tribal Programs: http://go.usa.gov/xkdMv EPA on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EPARegionlO Follow us @EPAnorthwest on Twitter! https://twitter.com/EPAnorthwest EPA Region 10 Tribal Trust and Assistance Unit Staff JR Herbst, Acting Unit Manager 206-553-2116 ALASKA Todd Bender, Tribal Coordinator 206-553-0344 Katherine Brown, Tribal Coordinator 206-553-7263 Susan Conbere, Tribal Coordinator 206-553-6243 Michelle Davis, Tribal Coordinator 907-271-3434 Sherry Davis, Tribal Coordinator 907-271-6322 Santina Gay, Tribal Coordinator 907-271-3413 Nica Klaber, Tribal Coordinator 206-553-2570 Mahri Lowinger, Tribal Coordinator 907-271-6334 Michael Ortiz, Tribal Coordinator 206-553-6234 Neverley Shoemake, Tribal Coordinator 907-271-3206 Cathy Villa, Tribal Coordinator 907-271-1270 IDAHO, EASTERN & CENTRAL WASHINGTON, AND EASTERN OREGON Jim Zokan, Tribal Coordinator 208-378-5691 WESTERN & CENTRAL OREGON, SOUTHWEST WASH Kristine Carre, Tribal Coordinator 503-326-7024 Don Creek, SEE 503-326-5015 NORTHWEST WASHINGTON Westley Foster, Tribal Coordinator 206-553-1604 Alan Moomaw, Tribal Coordinator 360-753-8071 Report Spills and Accidents Note these emergency numbers to call in the event OF HAZARDOUS MATERIAL SPILLS OR ACCIDENTS: Alaska 800-478-9300 Idaho 800-632-8000 Oregon 800-452-0311 Washington 800-258-5990 National (EPA) 800-424-8802 Environmental (Violations) To report environmental violation tips and Complaints to the EPA: www.epa .gov/ti ps. ------- |