The Tribal Newsletter is issued free each month. https://go.usa.gov/xXNnW Region 10 Tribal ewsletter SEPA United States Environmental Protection Agency Vol. 30 No. 1 March 2021 EPA provides some external links in this newsletter for informational purposes only. EPA cannot attest to the accuracy ofnon-EPA information provided by any third-party sites or any other linked site. EPA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies, internet applications or any policies or information expressed therein. Top News JoAnn Chase Announced as American Indian Environmental Office Director EPA's American Indian Environmental Office welcomes back JoAnn Chase as its Director. EPA's AIEO leads Agency efforts to protect human health and the environment of federally recognized tribes by supporting implementation of federal environmental laws consistent with the federal trust responsibility, the government-to-government relationship, and EPA's 1984 Indian Policy. JoAnn previously served as the AIEO Director during the Obama Administration. JoAnn is a citizen of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Indian Nation, and was born and raised on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in central North Dakota. In 2010, JoAnn served as Senior Advisor to the Administrator of the EPA for Native American Affairs. Previously, JoAnn served as the Executive Director of the National Congress of American Indians. JoAnn has a law degree from the University of New Mexico Law School and a baccalaureate in film theory and criticism from Boston University. For information about other recent EPA appointees see the announcements on EPA's News Releases from the Office of the Administrator website. EPA Seeks Nominations for NEJAC Membership EPA invites nominations from a diverse range of qualified candidates to be considered for appointment to its National Environmental Justice Advisory Council. The Agency is seeking nominations to fill approximately eight (8) new vacancies for terms through September 2022. Vacancies are anticipated to be filled by September 2021. Any interested person or organization may nominate qualified persons to be considered for appointment. Individuals are encouraged to self-nominate. The nomination process is open until March 24. Details are available on the Nominations to the NEJAC website. EPA Updates EJSCREEN — Community EJ Mapping Tool EPA released an update of EJSCREEN, the Agency's publicly available award-winning environmental justice screening and mapping tool. EJSCREEN uses high resolution maps and a methodology for combining datasets to identify environmental burdens on vulnerable populations. An exciting new feature is the addition of climate change indicators. EPA will continue to expand the climate change indicators in upcoming updates. EPA's Risk-Screening Environmental Indicators (RSEI) data is also now an available map layer. EPA will hold multiple trainings on EJSCREEN throughout 2021 to demonstrate its uses and to gain feedback. We hope that you will test out EJSCREEN to see how it can serve your needs and provide us feedback on how we can continue to improve it. ------- Region 10 Tribal Newsletter March 2021 „o°' *ir D% B Enter the Cleaner Indoor Air During Wildfires Challenge EPA is partnering with 10 federal, state, tribal, and local organizations to stimulate the development of new technologies to clean indoor air. The first step in this effort is the development and launch of a competition called a Challenge, which offers a cash prize for the best technology design for cleaning indoor air during wildfire smoke events and high pollution days. Through this challenge, EPA and partners encourage the development of new approaches, technologies, or technology combinations for keeping indoor air as clean as possible during periods when outdoor PM2.5 concentrations are elevated. UE^G Submissions are due by May 17. To learn more about the challenge, check out EPA's Cleaner Indoor Air During Wildfires website. Nominations for President's Environmental Student and Teacher Awards EPA is extending the nominations deadline for the Environmental Education Presidential awards program. EPA's Office of Environmental Education is accepting nominations for the 2021 through April 30. The President's Environmental Youth Award Program has recognized outstanding community- level environmental projects by K-12 youth for over 50 years. The application and eligibility information are available on EPA's PEYA page. The Presidential Innovation Awards for Environmental Educators Award recognizes outstanding K-12 grade educators who integrate environmental, place-based experiential learning into their classrooms. The application and eligibility information are available on EPA's PIAEE page. Greenhouse Gas Reporting Data Available for State and Tribal Lands EPA's Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program has published an interactive fact sheet that allow users to view and explore data from states, EPA regions, and tribal lands. A summary of the data, including a file that contains each facility's total reported emissions across all years, is available on EPA's GHG Reporting Program Data Sets website. Summary of Emissions in 2019 GHGRP Facilities Reporting Emissions in 2019 veetMap «HiC'lbJiof8 Data os of9/7&7610 T Select filtors and Options Direct GHG Emissions Reported by Sector in 2019 ¦ P«w#r Plants ¦ Petroleum and Natura. ¦ Refineries ¦ Waste ¦ Mlaesaneous combu. Minerals Non-Fluormated Cnemicals I Non-rlwjrinstedChe,.. I Pulp and Pacer I Metals Electronics Maruiact... waste Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems Power Plants 2- ------- Region 10 Tribal Newsletter March 2021 EPA Releases Columbia River Cold Water Refuges Plan In January, EPA Region 10 released the Columbia River Cold Water Refuges Pian outlining the critical role that zones of cooler water play in salmon survival as the iconic fish make their way back to their spawning grounds. These zones, called cold water refuges, occur where cool tributaries enter the Columbia River. The report provides information for federal, state, tribal, and local watershed managers to con- sider as they implement actions to support healthier salmon populations in the face of chal- lenging river temperatures. For details and key findings check out EPA's Columbia River Cold Water Refuges Plan website. The waste materials that are the focus of this grant opportunity are common household products that contain hazardous substances, such as chemical cleaning products, solvents, batteries, pesticides, mercury-containing equipment, lamps, antifreeze, refrigerants, engine fluids, paint thinners, adhesives, waste products that contain heavy metals, waste electronics, and more. The recipient of this grant will coordinate backhaul services for rural Alaskan communities. The competition will result in the award of one grant in the amount of $1,000,000 per year for three years. Grant applications are due April 2. Information about this funding opportunity is available on the Denali Commission's Backhaul Services website. Grant Competition Announced to Lead Alaska Household Hazardous Waste Backhaul Program The Denali Commission, in partnership with the EPA, announced a grant competition inviting tribes and tribal consortia to apply for funding to serve as a lead entity to implement a household hazardous waste backhaul service program for communities located in rural Alaska. Household hazardous waste backhaul is important to rural Alaska communities because solid waste landfills are unlined and not designed for the disposal of hazardous materials. The best management practice for these wastes is to ship the waste to disposal facilities, which is done most cost effectively on a transporter's backhaul. -3 ------- Region 10 Tribal Newsletter March 2021 RTOC News The Region 10 Regional Tribal Operations Committee is a partnership between EPA and elected tribal representatives to further tribal environmental objectives at the regional level, serve as a liaison between EPA and tribes regarding information exchange, and provide assistance to the National Tribal Operations Committee. RTOC Welcomes New Members RTOC welcomes new committee members. Maranda Hamme is the RTOC Alaska Position 1 seat, serving through December of 2023. Maranda is seeking an Alternate from the Western Alaska region to help round out her representation. If you are interested in serving on the RTOC as Maranda's alternate, please reach out to her at epacoord@craigtribe.org. RTOC also welcomes Shawna Larson as the new Alternate for Raymond Paddock in the Alaska Position 2 seat. Shawna is a council member for Chickaloon Native Village. Region 10 RTOC congratulates them both, and thanks the tribes who voted I 2021 Tribal Environmental Leaders Summit After a successful virtual summit last September in Alaska, RTOC's 20th Anniversary Tribal Environmental Leaders Summit is expected to happen later this year in conjunction with a tribe in Eastern Washington. Whether the summit can be offered to a smaller group in person depends on many factors which EPA and the Tribal Caucus are still evaluating. RTOC will still offer the summit 100% virtually, similar to last year's event. More information will be shared as it becomes available. Any interested host tribes are encouraged to reach out with questions on what hosting would entail. Host tribes are important resources to educate and guide the planning committee on local customs, traditions, local environmental issues and culture. If you have questions about hosting or have date preferences in July, August, or September 2021 please send an email to tels@regionlOrtoc.net. Stay Engaged with RTOC Follow us on Facebook for the most up to date news and opportunities. If you wish to attend or add an item to a monthly meeting agenda, or if you have questions, comments, or suggestions for how RTOC can better serve your community — please contact the RTOC representative for your area or RTOC's Administrator, Randi Madison. CONTACT: Randi Madison, RTOC Administrator • randi@regionlOrtoc.net 10TRIBA(.c X 4- ------- Region 10 Tribal Newsletter March 2021 Tribal Consultation A full list of consultation opportunities is available in EPA's Tribal Consultation Opportunities Tracking System Revising the Final Guidance on Awards of Grants to Indian Tribes under Section 106 of the Clean Water Act END DATE: March 15. EPA has used the CWA Section 106 Tribal Guidance since Fiscal Year 2007 as the primary Guidance for Section 106 tribal grant recipients and internal and external grant project officers. Revising the CWA Section 106 Tribal Guidance is necessary to update links and out-of- date information, reflect advances in the program over the last 15 years, and allow continued effective support to tribes as they develop, maintain, and expand their water quality programs and increase staff capacity. The goal of these updates is to improve the existing Guidance and ensure it serves as a water quality program development road map, clarifies eligible activities, and better integrates current resources and technical recommendations. For more information, check out EPA's Revisions to the Final Guidance on Awards of Grants to Indian Tribes under Section 106 of the CWA website. CONTACT: Jennifer Wintersteen • 406-457-5006 • Wintersteen.jennifer@epa.gov Proposed Rulemakings under the Toxic Substances Control Act for HBCD and Carbon Tetrachloride END DATE: March 21. EPA is developing proposed regulations under section 6(a) of the Toxic Substances Control Act for conditions of use of cyclic aliphatic bromide cluster (HBCD) and carbon tetrachloride that EPA determined present unreasonable risk. EPA is seeking input from tribes during this consultation and encourages participation and comments to inform upcoming proposed regulation. To learn more, check out EPA's Risk Management for HBCD and Risk Management for Carbon Tetrachloride websites. CONTACT: Amanda Hauff • 202-566-0603 • hauff.amanda@epa.gov El 5 Fuel Dispenser Labeling and Compatibility with Underground Storage Tanks END DATE: April 21. EPA is proposing two actions regarding the E15 label requirement. First, EPA proposes to modify the text and color of the E15 label. Second, EPA proposes to remove the E15 label requirement entirely. EPA is also proposing changes to our underground storage tank compatibility demonstration requirements that would help enable use of E15 and higher-level ethanol blends. EPA expects this action will have tribal implications to the extent that tribally owned entities sell or intend to sell E15 and own UST systems on Indian country. However, it will neither impose substantial direct compliance costs on tribal governments, nor preempt tribal law. For more information about this proposed rule as well as instructions on how to comment, please see the E15 Label Revisions and E15 Compatibility with Underground Storage Tanks web page. CONTACT: Jessie Mroz • 202-564-1094 • Mroz.Jessica@epa.gov -5 ------- Region 10 Tribal Newsletter March 2021 Grants Hazardous Waste Management Grants for Tribes APPLICATIONS DUE; March 30. This grant program supports projects designed to develop and implement hazardous waste management. Programs must improve the applicant's ability to properly identify, manage, or dispose of hazardous waste. All hazardous waste management activities that address the RCRA Subtitle C "cradle to grave" approach are eligible. Example eligible activities include hazardous waste identification; hazardous waste generator siting, monitoring, and compliance; hazardous waste minimization and recycling; management of used oil; hazardous waste transportation; and other activities. Eligible entities are tribes and tribal consortia. Total estimated funding available under this competitive opportunity is $300,000. EPA anticipates the award of up to three cooperative agreements whose maximum estimated value shall not exceed $100,000 each. Details are available on EPA's FY 2021 Hazardous Waste Management Grant Program for Tribes website. / \ Exchange Network Grants APPLICATIONS DUE: March 31. The purpose of Exchange Network grants are to foster better environmental management and decision-making through increased access to timely, high quality, environmental information. An applicant's proposed project goals and outputs should align with one or more funding areas in the solicitation notice and EPA's FY 2018-21 Strategic Plan Goal 3: Greater Certainty, Compliance, and Effectiveness, Objective 3.4: 'Streamline and Modernize'. EPA expects to award 25-35 grants of up to $400,000 each, totaling approximately $8,000,000 in FY21. Most awards will be in the $50,000 to $200,000 range. Details are available on the Exchange Network Grant Program website, v / Alaska Household Hazardous Waste Backhaul Service Lead Entity APPLICATIONS DUE: April 2. The Denali Commission, in partnership with the EPA announced a grant competition inviting tribes or tribal consortia to apply for funding to serve as a lead entity to implement a household hazardous waste backhaul service program for communities located in rural Alaska. The recipient of this grant will coordinate backhaul services for rural Alaskan communities. The competition will result in the award of one grant in the amount of $1,000,000 per year for three years. More information about this funding opportunity is available on the Denali Commission's Backhaul Services website. 6- ------- Region 10 Tribal Newsletter March 2021 BIA Tribal Climate Resilience Program APPLICATIONS DUE: April 23. BIA's Tribal Climate Resilience Program solicits proposals from federally recognized tribes and tribai organizations for grants to support tribal resilience, and ocean and coastai management and planning. The program supports tribes as they prepare for climate change impacts on tribal treaty and trust resources, economies, infrastructure, and human health and safety. The program will provide funding for projects that support tribal climate resilience as tribes incorporate science (including Traditional Knowledge) and technical information. The program also supports tribal ocean and coastal management and planning. There are nine application categories: Adaptation Planning (categories 1-3); Ocean and Coastal Management Planning (categories 4-5); Capacity Building (category 6); Relocation, Managed Retreat, or Protect-in-Place Activities for Coastal and Riverine Communities (category 7); and Internships and Youth Engagements (categories 8-9). Each category has its own maximum funding levels. For details, check out BIA's Tribal Climate Resilience Program website. Training & Technical Assistance Training opportunities in this newsletter are either hostedfundedor sponsored in collaboration with EPA. Any links to websites outside of EPA are provided for additional information that may be useful or interesting to our readers. EPA can neither attest to the accuracy of these third-party sites nor endorse any nongovernment websites, companies or applications. Managing Harmful Algal Blooms in Tribal Waters Webinar Series March 10,16, and 18 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time REGISTER TODAY! - 7 In collaboration with the National Oceanic and Atmo- spheric Administration and the Sitka Tribe of Alaska, EPA is hosting a three-part webinar series on the impacts of marine and freshwater Harmful Algal Blooms and their toxins. Registration is free. Attendees will have the opportunity to listen to and talk with tribes from across the country about their experiences addressing the impacts of HABs and their toxins in fresh and marine waters. Learn about strategies to build tribal capacity for effectively collecting baseline data on HABs. Ask national experts about data collection, funding, outreach, and other HABs management needs. For more information, piease send an email to EPACyanoHABs@epa.gov. ------- Region 10 Tribal Newsletter March 2021 I N G Informational Webinar: Support Available for Water Quality Data (WQX) from Information Exchange Network March 11 3:00 p.m. Pacific Time Save the date for this informative webinar that will cover data security, management, reporting and spatial analysis of water and other environmental information such as shoreline erosion. Learn about the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission's Water Quality Data Exchange solution and hear how NWIFC can support your data management efforts through their mentor program. You'll also hear from Seldovia Village Tribe's environmental staff on how the NWIFC mentor support helped them manage their water quality data. Join online: https://nwifc-org.zoom.us/j781365635159. If needed, enter ID 81365635159 and passcode 670915. Alternatively, you can join by phone by calling 1-877-853-5247. / \ Water and Soil Sampling Training March 23-25, Virtual In this virtual training offered by Zender Environmental Health and Research Group you will learn how to take your own 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. One-on-one follow-up will be provided post-training to each attendee to answer questions, troubleshoot testing, and help with writing QAPP's and more. This training will be given live by toll-free phone with live online presentations. If you don't have reliable internet, Zender Environmental will mail you all the presentation materials to follow along by phone. No internet required. Details are available on the Zender Environmental Solid Waste Trainings website. v J 7 Generations Training - Environmental Planning for Rural Alaska April 27-30, Virtual During this highly interactive virtual workshop, participants ALASKA NATIVE will learn a community-based approach for developing local TRIBAL HEALTH environmental plans. The training focuses on team building, CONSORTIUM community involvement, identifying local environmental concerns and finding solutions, health impacts, and steps for getting an environmental plan on paper. To join this virtual workshop, participants will need a working computer, access to internet, and ability to join Zoom. Information is available on ANTHC's Capacity & Training website. CONTACT: Brandie Radigan • bdradigan@anthc.org or ceh@anthc.org 8- ------- Region 10 Tribal Newsletter March 2021 Grants Management Online Training This online training course is designed to introduce EPA grant applicants and recipients to key aspects of the entire grant life cycle, from preparation of an application through grant closeout. The course is divided into separate modules that can be completed individually. Each module includes knowledge checks to verify your understanding of key concepts. Upon completion, you will be prompted to generate a downloadable certificate of completion. You can access the online course on EPA's Grants Management Training for Applicants and Recipients website. Calendar of Events March 4 EPA Environmental Justice and Systemic Racism Speaker Series: The Mapping Inequality Project. 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time https://www.eventbrite.eom/e/the-mapping-inequality-project-tickets-136940963107 10 ANTHC IGAP Networking Webinar. 1:00 p.m. Alaska Time, https://anthc.zoom.us/j7975873 25061pwd=OE92S3NPMjFRUFBTQXhvVzJRcUVEdzQ9 Meeting ID: 975 8732 5061, Passcode: 605249 or call 1-833-548-0276 or 1-833-548-0282. 10,16, and 18 Managing Harmful Algal Blooms in Tribal Waters Webinar Series. 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time https://www.eventbrite.eom/e/us-epa-ma naging-ha rmful-alga l-blooms-in-triba l-waters- webinar-series-tickets-138473282315 EPA Tribal Partnership Groups - Highlighting the National Tribal Air Association and Interest in Environmental Justice. 11:30 a.m. Pacific Time https://www.eventbrite.com/e/epa-tribal-partnership-groups-national-tribal-air-association- 11 11 and-ej-tickets-140205367027 Support Available for Water Quality Data (WQX) from Information Exchange Network. 3:00 p.m. Pacific Time • https://nwifc-org.zoom.us/j781365635159 or 1-877-853-5247 23-25 Water and Soil Sampling Training. Virtual • http://www.zendergroup.org/sw.html April 14 27-29 27-30 May 17-20 ANTHC IGAP Networking Webinar. 1:00 p.m. Alaska Time, https://anthc.zoom.us/j7915292 48967pwd=aFI4N2RpVWtXM3l3d3VTWGJYNINOZzO . Meeting ID: 915 2924 8967 Passcode: 110830, or call 1-833-548-0276 or 1-833-548-0282 EPA Quality Assurance Virtual Meeting. Katherine Chalfant • chalfant.katherine@epa.gov 7 Generations Training - Environmental Planning for Rural Alaska. Virtual Training. https://anthc.org/what-we-do/community-environment-and-health/tribal-capacity-and- training National Tribal Forum on Air Quality. Virtual Event. http://www7.nau.edu/itep/main/Conferences/confr_ntf Links to websites outside of EPA are provided for additional information that may be useful 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. -9 ------- Region 10 Tribal Newsletter Vol. 30 No. 1-March 2021 SEPA United States Environmental Protection Agency Region 10 Tribal Program 1200 Sixth Avenue, Suite 155, Mail Stop 12-D12 Seattle, WA 98101-3140 s - Got News? Got News? Please send submission ideas to ^ R10TribalNewsletter@epa.gov For Tribal Solid and Hazardous Waste Technical Assistance ALASKA: Jim Penor • 907-500-4963 IDAHO, OREGON, WASHINGTON: Rick McMonagle • 503-326-6363 Helpful Links R10 Tribal Programs: http://go.usa.gov/xkdMv EPA on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EPARegionlQ Follow us @EPAnorthwest on Twitter! https://twitter.com/EPAnorthwest Tribal Trust and Assistance Branch Staff 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 Kristy Fry, Tribal Coordinator (206) 553-1085 Santina Gay, Tribal Coordinator (907) 271-3413 Mahri Lowinger, Tribal Coordinator (907) 271-6334 Catherine Vila, Grants Coordinator (206) 553-1544 Cathy Villa, Tribal Coordinator (907) 271-1270 Jim Zokan, Tribal Coordinator (208) 378-5772 IDAHO, OREGON, and WASHINGTON Kristine Carre, Tribal Coordinator (503) 326-7024 Michael Ortiz, Tribal Coordinator (206) 553-6234 Lucas DuSablon, Tribal Coordinator (206) 553-2987 c Report Spills and Violations In the event of an oil spill, release of hazardous materials, or accident that may lead to an immediate threat to human health or the environment, /era\ please call 911. Then, report it to EPA's National Response Center by calling 1-800-424-8802. Environmental To report a possible environmental violation, submit information online to (violations) the EPA at https://echo.epa.gov/report-environmental-violations. V J ------- |