Gila River Indian CommunityDepartment Of Environmental

QualityAir Quality Program

Ondrea BarberGRIC DEQ Executive Director

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Introduction Background

◦ GRIC◦ DEQ

Air Quality Program◦ Regulatory Development◦ Outdoor Air Monitoring

Looking Forward

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Akimel O’odham (Pima) & Pee Posh (Maricopa)

Reservation established in 1859 by Executive Order

Central Arizona – Maricopa & Pinal counties

374,000 acres or 584 square miles 20,145 enrolled members 15,500 Reservation population

Gila River Indian Community

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Established in 1995 Created new and consolidated existing programs

Air Program established in 1995 25 full time employees Approximately 2/3 of budget from US EPA grants

Other funding- tribal, permit fees,etc.

Department of Environmental Quality - DEQ

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Protect human health & environment Manage local sources of air pollution Assert GRIC tribal sovereignty Local vs. federal regulatory oversight Assess local air quality & inform community Support economic development

opportunities Support GRIC’s cultural heritage as an

agricultural society

GRIC DEQ Air Quality Program- WHY?

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GRIC DEQ Air Quality Program

Permitting Compliance &

Enforcement Monitoring

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GRIC DEQ Air Quality Program Air Quality Regulatory Program

◦ Tribal Implementation Plan (or Air Quality Management Program, AQMP) 1st Tribe w/ AQMP Authority to issue air permits

◦ Regulatory Program Rules and Regulations Operating Permit Program Compliance/Enforcement Emissions Inventory

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GRIC DEQ Air Quality Program (Cont.)

Air quality monitoring◦ Pollutants of concern

Ozone (emission sources from cars, trucks, etc.) Particulate Matter (10 micron size- i.e., dust)

◦ GRIC Air Monitoring Network 3 Sites

Casa Blanca (continuous PM10 monitor + weather station)

St. Johns- District 6 (cont. PM10 monitor + Ozone + weather)

Sacaton – District 3 (cont. PM10 + Ozone + weather)◦ Special-purpose monitoring

Tire fires, wild fires JATAP – Air Toxics Assessment

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Regulatory requirements◦Clean Air Act◦Air monitoring data

Exchange Network◦GRIC DEQ/MIS◦EPA database (Air Quality System, AQS)

Information Technology

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Education /Outreach

Schools District meetings Elderly meetings Multi-agency

workgroups

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Complete regulatory program◦Permitting all GRIC facilities◦Compliance Inspection Program

Complete Part 70 program Policy fix

◦Air Quality Control Region (or Airshed)◦EPA consultation◦Exceptional Events demonstration◦Designations of PM10

Resources

Next Steps

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Gila River Indian Community Department of Environmental Quality

GRIC DEQ Air ProgramP.O. Box 97Sacaton, Arizona 85147Phone #: (520) 562-2234Fax #: (520) 562-2245

03-19-2012 lw