National Tribal Forum on Air Quality 2015 National Tribal Air Association’s Executive Committee.

National Tribal Forum on Air Quality 2015

Tribal Air Prioritiesat the

National and Regional Levels

National Tribal Air Association’s Executive Committee

National Tribal Forum

on Air Quality 2015

‘To advance air quality management, policies and programs, consistent with the needs, interests and unique legal status of American Indian Tribes and Alaskan Natives’

NTAA’s Mission

www.ntaatribalair.org


on Air Quality 2015

Sovereignty/ Self-Determination of Tribes

Tribes have the right to know and protect the quality of their air

Tribes are leaders, strong partners, and co-regulators

NTAA PRINCIPLES


on Air Quality 2015

Tribes have the legal authority to regulate under the Tribal Authority Rule (TAR)

As sovereign nations, Tribes should be consulted on how best to address their community's exposure to air pollution from off-reservation sources, and actively engaged in the process of eliminating harmful off-reservation pollution.

NTAA PRINCIPLES


on Air Quality 2015

Process Used to Determine Priorities

Regional calls/emails by NTAA Executive Committee Regional Representatives

Face-to-face discussions and/or meetings with Tribes and NTAA Executive Committee Regional Representatives

Documents identifying regional Tribal priorities utilized

NTAA EC Representatives compiled results


on Air Quality 2015

National

Tribal

Priorities


on Air Quality 2015

EPA Tribal Air Program Funding• Static or reduced, has led to same

number or fewer Tribes funded

• Aging monitoring equipment

• Inspector credentials program greatly reduced

• Tribal capacity has stalled or been reduced instead of more Tribes building capacity to assume programs

NTAA NATIONAL PRIORITIES


on Air Quality 2015

EPA Program Regression• Reduction and continual re-education of EPA staff

• No travel funds for education of EPA or Tribal staff

• EPA lack of mentoring, technical support; in permitting, tracking of non-tribal project impacts

• Reduction of EPA interdepartmental coordination on projects involving multi-media effects



on Air Quality 2015

Climate Change• Create funding for Tribes which does

not reduce other air quality program funds

• Adaptation planning

• Research - Predicted affects particularly on traditional foods (Projections)

• Participating in the Clean Power Plan



on Air Quality 2015

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)• More technical support and assistance for

Tribal staff to conduct IAQ assessments• Water intrusion issues: mold & relative

humidity• Radon testing in Tribal homes and

communities to determine exposure risks; Radon mitigation

• Lack of funding for IAQ activities in Indian Country

• Addressing asthma disparities



on Air Quality 2015

Mobile Sources• On-road emissions: diesel exhaust, PM• Other: Construction equipment, shipping

vessels (e.g. water and rail) and recreational vehicles

Oil and Gas Development• Hydraulic fracturing, radon, radiation,

aquifer contamination• Permitting• Methane Rule promulgation• Tribal Minor NSR General Permit

promulgation



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NTAA NATIONAL PRIORITIESRegional Haze• Participation in Regional Planning

Organizations (RPOs)

Ground Level Ozone Impacts• Off Reservation source impacts• EPA monitoring funding for Tribes effected

Tribal New Source Review• Implementation coordination with EPA

regions, lack of communication


on Air Quality 2015

NTAA

Regional

Priorities


on Air Quality 2015

• Impacts of climate change in rural Alaska

• Improvement of indoor air quality (IAQ) in Tribal homes

• Road dust in villages

• Impacts of fugitive dust from large scale mining

• Open burning/land fill burning

NTAA REGIONAL PRIORITIES Alaska


on Air Quality 2015

Funding presents a major challenge to Alaska Native Villages who are not eligible to receive federal monies designated for Tribes with Reservation lands

Fukushima radiation Asian haze Cruise ship emissions Lead in rural airports from small airplanes

(e.g. Cessna 207)

NTAA REGIONAL PRIORITIES Alaska


on Air Quality 2015

• Funding cut 10-15% for FY2016, Tribal capacity building stalled

• EPA staffing cutbacks, in R-10 over 100 unfilled positions in the last 10 years

• Permit review and other EPA technical support resources

• FARR revision process stalled, Tribes unable to collect fees under current program

• Lack of coordination within EPA departments• Reductions in funding for the Tribal inspector

program

NTAA REGIONAL PRIORITIES Region 10


on Air Quality 2015

• Radon: SIRG cut, Vegas lab closed, mitigation funding

• Indoor air quality technical support: asbestos/outreach

• Climate Change and Adaptation Planning - separate funding stream. Increase in dust storms predicted.

• Smoke Management Coordination

• Funding & Technical Support for participation in RPOs

• Atmospheric pollutant deposition, including radiation

• COIL Export facilities and transportation, CAFOs



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• Funding Air programs for all Tribes who request them & targeted funding for mature air monitoring programs

• Streamline the designation process

• Ensure consistent relationships between Tribes, EPA R9 Air Division, and Headquarters

• Acknowledgement that the majority of poor air quality is transported from off-Reservation sources

• Targeted emphasis and funding for Tribal indoor air programs



on Air Quality 2015

• Recognition of the Tribal Authority Rule (TAR)

• Specific guidance for Tribes on Exceptional Events

• Additional consultation with respect to proposed ground level ozone standard with both TAS & non-TAS Tribes & targeted funding for Tribes affected by new ozone standards

• Provide resources for Tribes to develop their own template database for utilization of all Tribes & compatible with existing USEPA programs (e.g. ICIS-Air)



on Air Quality 2015

QAPP approvals• Follow turnaround schedule• Single crosswalk• Stronger mentoring

Responsive Tribal Assistance Program at Region Agency employee fallout, early retirement and non-backfilling of positions

No travel funds Stronger mentoring



on Air Quality 2015

Oil and Gas Development

• Permitting of oil and gas wells

• Methane rule

• Tribal NSR general permit for Oil and Gas



on Air Quality 2015

• Ground-level ozone transport from power plants and other sources

• IAQ in Tribal homes and buildings

• Concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) and agricultural emissions



on Air Quality 2015

Development of Ambient Air Monitoring programs

• Several Tribes in initial stages of program development utilizing CAA 103 funding

• Various developed Tribal air programs are providing technical assistance Cherokee Nation Quapaw Tribe Delaware Nation and others



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• Indoor air quality projects and programs

• Recognition and respect of Tribes as Sovereign Nations when it comes to air quality Issues

• Ground-level Ozone and future designations with new proposed standard



on Air Quality 2015

Funding• New/expanding Tribal Air - 33 Tribes in TARJ• Established Programs operating in “keep the

lights on”

Monitoring - Losing ability to have regional snap shot• Class 1 Re-designations – AQRVs: establish

baseline, determine trends and identify potential impacts

• Air Modeling/Risk Assessment• Hg, PM, O3, toxics: production, deposition,

impacts & regulation (No dry deposition, wet deposition dispersion, few leaf litter)

Protection of Ceded Territories



on Air Quality 2015

Climate Change• Flora/Fauna shifts: moose, wild rice,

tulibee, plants • Climate Change Adaptation: air emission

reductions

IAQ: Radon, Mold, Healthy Homes• Lack of technical support • Need solutions, leverage resources - few

out there, $

Tribal mNSR - Lack of communication from Region• Details of OK DEQ vs. EPA have impact on

Tribes

Lack of notification by States & EPA on enforcement issues on, near Reservations or within TAS areas



on Air Quality 2015

• Air Program Development and TAS

• Indoor Air Quality

• Climate Change research/ adaptation planning incorporating Tribal Knowledge (TEK)



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• Increased dust pollution from drought caused by climate change

• Pollution from Hydraulic Fracturing

• Mercury

• Increase Tribal Participation with Region 4 EPA



on Air Quality 2015

Industrial effects on Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe at Akwesasne• Alcoa and others

Indoor Air Quality• Environmental Justice • New “Dioxin in the Dust”



on Air Quality 2015

Mobile Sources• Emissions from the international shipping

industry; on-road/non-road

Climate Change

Hydro-Fracking



on Air Quality 2015

Particulate matter Our most problematic priority pollutant,

originates from both local and regional sources

Mercury emissions and deposition When will our fish be safe to eat?

Climate change Particularly with regard to predicted

increases in ozone, and its effects on human health and damage to vegetation



on Air Quality 2015

Indoor air quality Mold and radon during the winter months

when the houses are all buttoned up

Diesel exhaust Particularly in the winter months when large

trucks and school buses are idling for long periods

Regional haze and transport of other pollutants



on Air Quality 2015

Visit NTAA’s website

www.ntaatribalair.org

National Tribal Forum on Air Quality 2015 National Tribal Air Association’s Executive Committee.

Documents

Transcript of National Tribal Forum on Air Quality 2015 National Tribal Air Association’s Executive Committee.