NEWS The Tribal Newsletter is published free monthly To receive a copy, call: AK: Rose (907) 271-1316 ID: Jim (208) 378-5691 OR: Don (503) 326-5015 WA: Alison .(360) 753-8185 LETTER Region 10 Tribal Newsletter vvEPA United States Environmental Protection Agency Vol. 19 No. 11 November 2010 %. http://yosemltE.epa.gov/R10/TRIBAL.NSF/Newsletter/Issues ซ Conferences and Workshops November 3-4 Tribal Wetlands Workshop, Nixyaawii Governance Center, Mission, OR. Contact: Scott O Daniel at (541) 429-7452 or ScottO'Daniel@ctuir.org 7-11 Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry: Bridging Science with Communities, Portland, OR, http://portland.setac.org 8-9 Annual Tribal Habitat Conference, hosted by the Nisqually Tribe, Olympia, WA, http://habitatconference.org 9-10 Oregon Tribal Environmental Forum, hosted by the Coquiile Tribe, North Bend, OR. Contact: Bryan Duggan at (541) 756-0904 or bryanduggan@coquilletribe.org 9-10 Sustainable Communities Start with Healthy and Green Homes, Seattle, WA. Presented by Region 10 EPA partnering with PNWIS. Contact: Susan Titus at (206) 553-1189 or titus.susan@epa.gov 15 America Recycles Day, www.americarecyclesday.org J JoAnn Chase named New Director of AIEO The Office of International and Tribal Affairs has announced that JoAnn Chase has accepted the position as next Director of EPA's American Indian Environmental Office. JoAnn joins EPA from the American Indian Community House in New York City where she served as Executive Director. While at the American Indian Community House, JoAnn worked to support the health, cultural preservation, and prosperity of 27,000 Native Americans in New York City. Prior to her work at AICH, JoAnn served as the Executive Director for the National Congress of American Indians, the oldest and largest national Indian organization, and Executive Director of the National Network of Grantmakers. JoAnn is Mandan, Iiidatsa and Arikara Indian, and was born and raised on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in central North Dakota. She has a BA in film theory and criticism from Boston University, and a law degree from the University of New Mexico - School of Law, where she specialized in Indian law. JoAnn Chase ------- Region 10 Tribal Newsletter November 2010 N E W S EPA to Celebrate 40th Anniversary 40 Years of Images: Past, Present, Future The United States Environmental Protection Agency was founded on December 2,1970. From that time to the present, America's environmental history has stood witness to both dramatic events and remarkable progress. In 1969, just before the agency was established, the Cuyahoga River in Ohio became so polluted that it caught fire - a situation that provided impetus for Congress to pass the federal Clean Water Act. By 2009, concern about climate change and sea-level rise led EPA to make the first official finding that greenhouse gases threaten human health and our environment. EPA's Web site has an interactive timeline where you can explore more than 40 years of environmental milestones. Visit www.epa.gov/40th Tribal Air Toolkit The sources of air pollution in tribal com- munities of rural Alaska have been the target of a variety of collaborative efforts by tribes, consortia, nonprofit organizations, State of Alaska and federal agencies. The most com- mon sources come from solid waste burning, road dust, diesel emissions, wood burning, and indoor air. There have been an increasing number of projects and initiatives undertaken recently to raise awareness of sources of air pollution and options for addressing them. Effective collaboration and involving all the responsible or interested partners has been key to success in these projects. One such collaboration has resulted in the "Clean Air, Healthy Villages" Video and Fact Sheet series on the five sources of air pollution in rural Alaska tribal communities. Each short video covers one of the pollution sources with a description of the problem from the view point of members of tribal communities, possible health impacts from professionals, and options that may be available to address the pollution source. Please note that while the target of the videos and fact sheets is rural Alaska tribal communities, the information provided is valuable and methods to address the sources of air pollution can be applied in other communities as well. The video and fact sheet series is available on EPA Region 10 Web site at http://yosemite. epa.gov/R10/TRIBAL.NSF/programs/ tribalairalaska and are the core materials for the new Alaska Tribal Air Toolkit that can be ordered through that web site. Links to fact sheets are also provided here: Diesel Emissions: www.epa.gov/ regionlO/pdf/tribal/ anv_diesel_aug2010.pdf Indoor Air Quality: www.epa.gov/ regionlO/pdf/tribal/ anv_indoor_air_aug2010.pdf Road Dust: www.epa.gov/regionlO/ pdf/tribal/anv_road_dust_aug2010.pdf Solid Waste Burning: www.epa.gov/ regionlO/pdf/tribal/ anv waste burning aug2010.pdf Wood Smoke: www.epa.gov/ regionlO/pdf/tribal/ anv_wood_smoke_aug2010.pdf 2 - ------- Region 10 Tribal Newsletter November 2010 ง EPA Response to Climate Change: Key Action Update for 2010-2011 The EPA National Water Program has released an update to its Response to Climate Change Strategy. The original 2008 Strategy included 44 "Key Actions" to be undertaken during 2008 and 2009. During that time, the National Wa- ter Program implemented the Key Actions across EPA headquarters and regional offices. This 2010-2011 Update describes the Key Actions that are continuing to be implement- ed over the next two years. The document is available at: http://water.epa.gov/ scitech/ climatechange/strategy.cfm Climate Central Sound Science and Vibrant Media Climate Central is a nonprofit, collabora- tive group of scientists and communicators working to bridge the gap between the scientific community and the public and providing clear, honest, nonpartisan, and up-to-date information to help people make sound decisions about climate and energy Their web site provides users with useful resources about climate impacts, responses, trends, projections, and energy. To learn more, visit: www.climatecentral.org National Climate Assessment Newsletter launched This newsletter will be used to keep sub- scribers aware of developments regarding the third National Climate Assessment (NCA). The NCA is being conducted under the auspices of the Global Change Research Act of 1990, which requires a report to the President and the Congress that evaluates, integrates and interprets the findings of the $2.6 billion U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) every four years. In addition, the 1990 Act requires an assess- ment of the impacts of global change on a variety of sectors, and projections of future conditions over the next 25 to 100 years. For more information about the schedule and activities, please visit: glo balchange .gov/what-we-do/assessment or contact NCA at engagement@usgcrp.gov. Climate Change Vulnerability Assessments: EPA Tabletop Exercise Tool for Water Systems This report describes the activities of eight to identify the emergent characteristics of water utilities that have conducted climate water utility climate change vulnerability change vulnerability assessments and assessments. The report is available at: examines the steps taken by each, in order http://go.usa.gov/awl -3 ------- Region 10 Tribal Newsletter Month Year EPA Tabletop Exercise Tool for Water Systems: Emergency Preparedness This Tabletop Exercise Tool (TTX Tool) introduces users to the potential impacts of climate change on the water sector within the context of an all-hazards approach to emer- gency preparedness and response. The 15 scenarios in the tool include natural hazards, man-made incidents, and potential climate change impacts. Five climate change- related scenarios provide an opportunity for utilities to consider and implement long- term planning measures in order to mitigate the potential impacts of climate change. To request copies of the TTX Tool, please e-mail ttxtool@epa.gov with your mailing address and number of requested copies. Climate and Energy Policies A new report has been released by the Western Resource Advocates and the Environmental Defense Fund, Protecting the Lifeline of the West: How Climate and Energy Policies Can Safeguard Water. It illustrates why legislation is needed to curtail the risk that unmitigated climate change poses to western water supplies. It also highlights the inextricable links between energy and water in the region. The report describes how water is the lifeline of the West and is essential to sustaining our people, economy, rivers, and wildlife. However, climate pollution threatens the West's already tight water supplies, and will exacerbate the challenge of meeting urban, agricultural, and environmental water needs. Federal legislation that limits greenhouse gas emissions will not only diminish the specter of a drier future, it can provide a new water supply to the parched West by freeing the vast quantities of water currently consumed by conventional forms of energy. The report is available at www.westernresourceadvocates.org/ water/lifeline.php Renewable Energy Challenge Contest The Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) and the Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development (IEED), in partnership with Argonne National Laboratory, are sponsoring the 2nd Indian Education Renewable Energy Challenge. This contest, open to students in all tribal colleges and BIE high schools, was developed to promote an understanding of renewable energy development opportunities. Specifi- cally, the challenge is to develop designs for a biomass conversion process that will convert biomass into diesel fuel. The deadline for competitive designs, November 30,2010, is approaching. The press release issued by Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs Larry Echo Hawk, and information on deadlines and specifications are available on the TEE- IC Web site at http://teeic.anl.gov Shinnecocks become 565th recognized tribe The Shinnecock Indian Nation received notice October 1st that it is now officially the 565th Native American tribe to earn recognition from the U. S. government, according to Shinnecock Tribal Trustee Lance Gumbs. 4- ------- Region 10 Tribal Newsletter November 2010 Water Quality Standards Academy The Water Quality Standards Academy is a basic, introductory course designed for those with fewer than six months of experience with water quality standards. This is a comprehensive and highly struc- tured course that introduces participants to all aspects of the water quality standards program, including the interpretation and application of the water quality standards regulation. Training topics include: Water body designated uses; The development of water quality criteria (including human health, aquatic life, nutrient and biological); Anti-degradation policies; Implementation; State/tribal standards adoption; and EPA review. The next session will be held December 13- 17 in Washington, DC (Crystal City). If you are interested in attending, please click on the following link and follow the prompts to submit your application and get additional information: www.glec-online.com/form.htm EPA to Host Workshop on Integrated Modeling to Characterize Climate Change Impacts and Support Decision-Making EPA is convening a workshop to facilitate the use of integrated modeling February 1-2,2011 in Atlanta, GAto inform and improve local, regional and national policy decisions relevant to climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies. Goals of the workshop include the future development of a guide for States, Tribes, and municipalities on identifying, assessing, and responding to the impacts of climate change, as well as a white paper on the future needs of integrated modeling for the assessment and response to climate change impacts. Additional information is available at www.epa.gov/ crem/2011 climate, html 2011 Annual Meeting of the Association of American Geographers (AAG) features Tribal rivers The goal of this session is to highlight the growing role that tribal governments and agencies play in the collaborative manage- ment and restoration of rivers that sup- port resources of special tribal significance, including native fish, birds, amphibians, mollusks, and plants. We invite participants to submit papers that describe: 1. Ecological linkages between river processes and life histories of species with cultural importance to Native American tribes; See Tribal Rivers, continued on Page 6 The 2011 AAG Annual Meeting, "Tribal Rivers as Confluences of Environmental and Cultural Restoration", will be held April 12- 16 in Seattle, WA. In many tribal communities, rivers support biota that are important to the maintenance and restoration of tribal cultures and life- styles. Therefore, river management and restoration can be important factors determining the overall cultural health and welfare of tribal communities. -5 ------- Region 10 Tribal Newsletter November 2010 Tribal Rivers Continued 2. Ways in which tribal viewpoints have influenced river science, management, or restoration programs; and/or 3. The growth and significance of tribal or intertribal programs that promote innovative collaboration in the management and restoration of rivers. Please contact Michael Hughes for more information at (541) 783-2149 or michael.hughes@klamathtribes.com Drinking Water Training for Tribes,Tribal Operators The following Web site presents a list of training opportunities that may be of interest to tribes and tribal operators: www.epa.gov/ safewater/tribal/training.html. Click on your region to learn about training opportunities that are available in the up- coming months. For more information, e-mail betanzo.elin@epa.gov General Assistance Program Funding The Region 10 funding invitation for the Tribal Environmental General Assistance Program (GAP) has been mailed. All federally recognized tribal governments and intertribal consortia may apply for 2012 work plan program development activities. The goal of GAP is to assist tribes in building capacity to administer tribal environmental programs according to their individual needs. Draft work plans and budgets must be postmarked by December 20, 2010 (and for those with PPGs, by January 14,2011). A copy of the full announcement will be posted on the Region 10 Tribal Program webpage at http://yosemite.epa.gov/R10/ TRIBAL.NSF/webpage/Tribal+Grants/ USDA Rural Community Development Initiative: $6.3 million available The U.S. Department of Agriculture requests proposals for the Rural Community Development Initiative. RCDI supports organization capacity and ability to undertake projects related to housing, community facilities, or community and economic development in rural area. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to: Programs that support micro-enterprise and sustainable development; and Programs to assist recipients in completing pre-development requirements for housing, community facilities; or community and economic development projects by providing resources for professional services, e.g., architectural, engineering, or legal. Proposals will be accepted from Indian Tribes and others. Applications are due December 22. For more info, including state contacts, visit www.grants.gov/ search/ search. do?mode=VI EW&opp!d=5 8143 6- ------- Region 10 Tribal Newsletter November 2010 USDA Solid Waste Management Grants - $3.5 million The objectives of the Solid Waste Management Grant Program are: To reduce or eliminate pollution of water resources in rural areas and; To improve planning and management of solid waste sites in rural areas. Funds may be used to: Evaluate current landfill conditions to determine threats to water resources in rural areas; Provide technical assistance and/or training to enhance operator skills in the maintenance and operation of active landfills in rural areas; Provide technical assistance and/or training to help associations reduce the solid waste stream; and Provide technical assistance and/or training for operators of landfills in rural areas that are closed or will be closed in the near future with the development/ implementation of closure plans, future land use plans, safety and maintenance planning, and closure scheduling within permit requirements. Proposals will be accepted from Indian Tribes and others; applications are due December 31. For more information, visit: www.usda.gov/ rus/water/ S WMG .htm Whole Watershed Restoration Proposals for Habitat Restoration Protection The Whole Watershed Restoration Ini- tiative (WWRI) requests proposals for community-based habitat restoration proj- ects in Oregon, Washington and Idaho. The WWRI is a partnership between Ecotrust, the National Oceanic and At- mospheric Administration (NOAA), the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB), the Pacific Northwest Region 6 of the Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Natural Re- sources Conservation Service (NRCS). The WWRI request for proposals and ap- plication form can be downloaded at www.ecotrust.org/wwri Requests may range from $20,000 to $100,000; approximately $1.5 million in funding is available. The deadline for proposals is January 12,2011 at 5:00 p.m. Pacific time and grant awards will be an- nounced in March. Contacts: Kate Carone at (503) 467-0814 or wwri@ecotrust.org or contact Seth Walker at (503) 467-0752 or seth@ecotrust.org K-12 Environmental Literacy The U.S. Department of Commerce, Na- tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin- istration (NOAA) requests proposals for Environmental Literacy Grants for Formal K-12 Education. This RFP will support K-12 education projects that advance inqui- ry-based Earth System Science learning and stewardship directly tied to the school curriculum, with a particular interest in in- creasing climate literacy. Tribes are eligible to apply. $8 million is ex- pected to be available and up to 10 awards are anticipated. Responses are due January 12, 2011. For more information, contact Carrie McDougall, at oed.grants@noaa.gov or visit http:/ / go.usa.gov/ ayl -7 ------- Region 10 Tribal Newsletter November 2010 lie Graduate Fellowships for Environmental Study The EPA Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Graduate Fellowship for Environmental Study (Fall 2011) solicitation is now open. The program includes a new topic category that focuses on environmental study/research related to Tribes and American Indian/Alaska Native/Pacific Islander communities. The solicitation is open to all eligible applicants whose interests lie in this area, and we are hopeful that students at Tribal Colleges and Universities will be inter- ested in applying. The link to the full solicitation is provided at: http://go.usa.gov/atP. Questions can be directed to Jose L. Zambrana, Jr. at (202)343-9638 v . Tribal Energy Program Funding from the Tribal Energy Program is through a competitive process. Each opportu- nity will include instructions on how to apply, application content, and the criteria by which applications will be selected for funding. Only applications submitted through Grants.gov can be considered for awards. To submit an application, there is a one- time registration process. As the registration process in Grants.gov may take 21 days or more to complete and must take place prior to submitting an application, applicants are encouraged to begin the process at least three weeks before the application due date. See www.grants .gov/ GetStarted Questions regarding Grants.gov should be directed to the Grants.gov Customer Support Center between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. Eastern time at (800) 518-4726 or at support(ฎgrants .gov IFY 2011 Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training Grant Guidelines This notice announces the availability of funds and solicits proposals from eligible entities, including Indian tribes and non- profit organizations, to deliver environmen- tal workforce development and job training programs focused on: Hazardous and solid waste management; Assessment; Cleanup associated activities,. Proposals are due January 14,2011. Please go to the full funding announcement for further information at http://go.usa.gov/aMB EPA, DOT Propose New Fuel Economy Labels As a new generation of cars and light trucks start appearing on the market, the DOT and the EPA are jointly propos- ing changes to the fuel economy labels consumers see on the window of every new vehicle in dealer showrooms. The proposed rule seeks public com- ment on label design options and related issues. The public can view the proposed rule and labels at: www.epa.gov/ fueleconomy/ The public may submit comments as part of the rulemaking process via e-mail to newlabels@epa.gov You can also review the proposed rule at www.nlitsa.gov/ fuel-economy 8- ------- Region 10 Tribal Newsletter November 2010 Clearinghouse of Information for Lake Shoreland Protection Resources EPA's Office of Water launched a new Web clearinghouse of Lake Shore- land Protection Resources, http:// water.epa.gov/ type/lakes/ shoreland .cfm, which provides practitioners with links to key resources to protect and restore frag- ile lake shorelands and to promote better stewardship by lakeside property owners and others who recreate on lakes. The clearinghouse, which includes links to fact sheets, webcasts, videos, and other helpful resources for lakeshore protection, is part of an outreach campaign to educate the public and others about the key findings of the National Lakes Assessment (NLA). According to the NLA, poor lakeshore habitat and high levels of nutrients are lead- ing stressors affecting the biological health of lakes. In 2007, EPA, the States, Tribes and others partners sampled more than 1,000 lakes as part of this first-ever, national as- sessment of the ecological condition of the nation's lakes. For a print copy of the report (EPA publica- tion number EPA 841-R-09-001.) contact EPA's publications warehouse at (800) 490-9198. To download a copy of the report or the data used in developing the report, please visit www.epa.gov/lakessurvey. For more information, contact Carol Peterson at (202) 566-1304. r EPA, DOT Propose nation's first greenhouse gas and fuel efficiency standards for trucks and buses EPA and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) have announced the first national standards to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improve fuel efficiency of heavy-duty trucks and buses. This comprehensive national program is projected to reduce GHG emissions by about 250 million metric tons and save 500 million barrels of oil over the lives of the vehicles produced within the program's first five years. For a copy of the press release and details on submitting comments on the proposal, visit http://go.usa.gov/Ci2 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. The booklet can be downloaded at http:// go.usa.gov/ COq -9 ------- Region 10 Tribal Newsletter November 2010 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:/ / go.usa.gov/ at6 The Tribal Schools Compliance Assis- tance Notebook is part of EPA's National Tribal Compliance Assurance Priority (www.epa.gov/ compliance/data/ planning/ priorities/tribal.html) EPA to Host Webinars on the Electronic Greenhouse Gas Reporting Tool EPA will host a number of web-based train- ing sessions for people involved with reporting under the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reporting Program. These sessions will provide users with infor- mation on the electronic GHG reporting tool (e-GGRT) and will provide information on registration, the designated representative, how to use the web forms, and other topics. Webinars are scheduled: IS November 3: 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time 'CP November 17: 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Pacific Standard Time Additional sessions are expected to be added. More information is available at: http:// epa.gov/ climatechange/ emissions/training.html EPA backs off lead shot but may limit lead tackle The EPA will not seek restrictions on lead ammunition as requested in a petition filed last month by several environmental groups. But the agency is still considering restrictions on lead in fishing tackle. The agency said it does not have legal authority to regulate am- munition under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the law under which the peti- tion was filed. / \ Recycle Plastic Grocery Bags Find out if your local curbside recycling program will accept plastic grocery bags. Drop off plastic grocery bags Type 2 and Type 4 at your local grocery store if you cannot recycle them through your curbside program. Most grocery stores have recy- cling bins inside the store. Exclude any plastic bags that are dark in color or bags that have drawstrings. Plastic food packag- ing and plastic food wrap (Saran wrap) are also non-recyclable. v. J National Partnership for Environmental Technology Education (PETE) PETE has entered into a multi-year contract with EPA to develop a nationwide tribal training program for the Office of Grants and Debarment (OGD) and the Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP). This program will provide tribes, tribal consortia and insular areas with training in the proper management of EPA funds through assistance awards, and OSBP's new Disadvantaged Business Enter- prise Rule (DBE) rule. For more information, please go to the tribal training project web site: www.petetribal.org 10- ------- Region 10 Tribal Newsletter November 2010 EPA Lays Out Five-Year Plan on Agency Priorities The U.S. EPA has issued its fiscal year 2011 to 2015 strategic plan, which provides a blueprint for advancing EPA's mission and Administrator Lisa P.Jackson's priorities. This plan presents five strategic goals for ad- vancing the agency's environmental and human- health mission, accompanied by five cross-cut- ting fundamental strategies that seek to adapt the EPA's work inside and outside of the agency to meet the growing environmental protection needs of the day. The plan will guide the agency to foster a renewed commitment to new pos- sibilities for achieving the vision of a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable environment. The five strategic goals for advancing the agency's environmental and human-health mission include: Taking action on climate change and improving air quality; Protecting America's waters; Cleaning up communities and advancing sustainable development; Ensuring the safety of chemicals and preventing pollution; Enforcing environmental laws. For more information on the strategic plan, visit www.epa.gov/ ocfo/plan/plan.htm United States Environmental Protection Agency Region 10 Tribal Program 1200 Sixth Avenue, Suite 900, ETPA-085 Seattle, WA 98101-3140 Toil-Free: (800) 424-4372 Phone: (206) 553-0542 Fax (206) 553-0151 Tribal Staff IDAHO and EASTERN WASHINGTON Jim Zokan, Tribal Coordinator. (208) 378-5691 OREGON Kris Carre, Tribal Coordinator (503) 326-7024 WASHINGTON Alan Moomaw, Tribal Coordinator... (360) 753-8071 Diana Boquist, Tribal Coordinator... (206) 553-1586 Robin Slate, Tribal Coordinator. (206) 553-8545 &EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency Region 10 Tribal Newsletter November 2010 -11 ------- rnA United States Environmental Protection tl mm. Agency Region 10 Tribal Program 1200 Sixth Avenue Seattle, WA 98101-1128 Region 10 Tribal Newsletter November 2010 JQ| Got E-mail? TllllM-J Make the choice to receive this newsletter electronically. Send your e-mail address to Don Creek at Creek. Don@epa.gov To Report Spills and Accidents Note these emergency numbers to call in the event of hazardous material spills or accidents. Alaska 800-478-9300 Washington 800-258-5990 Idaho 800-632-8000 National (EPA) 800-424-8802 Oregon 800-452-0311 Printed on 100% recycled paper ------- |