2012 Tribal Air Quality PrioritiesNational Tribal Air Association Executive Committee

NTF May 2012

Introduction• NTAA founded in 2002. • 73 Principal Member Tribes.• Mission: ‘to advance air quality management,

policies and programs, consistent with the needs, interests and unique legal status of American Indian Tribes and Alaskan Natives’.

www.ntaatribalair.org

Principles

• Sovereignty– Self-Determination

• Tribes have the right to know the quality of their air

• Tribes are leaders and strong partners and co-regulators

Principles

• Tribes have the legal authority to regulate under the Tribal Authority Rule

• Tribal Population Exposure to Air Pollution–Especially from off reservation sources

2012 National Priorities

• Tribal NSR Requirements and Compliance• Funding for new and existing Tribal Air

Programs and for Indoor Air Quality Programs– NTAA has developed a Budget

subcommittee in an effort to assist with communication and coordination of funding information for Tribes nationally

• Oil and Gas Development

2012 National Priorities

• Indoor Air Quality• Mining Issues• Consultation

– Improvements enhancements to communication and coordination with Tribes

• Designation processes and the implementation of new and revised rules

• Climate Change

Region 1 •East-West highway to split

Maine, through tribal lands.

•Canadian fracking

•Unmet need in program personnel

Region 2• Climate Change Adaptation and

Planning• Wind, Solar and Geothermal

Technologies• Hydro-fracking of Marcellus Shale• General Motors, Alcoa and other

industries with effects on Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe at Akwesasne

• Mobile Sources– Emissions from the international shipping

industry; on-road/non-road

Region 4

• Air Program Development• Indoor Air Quality• Climate Change

research/adaptation planning incorporating Tribal Knowledge (TEK)

• Mercury

Region 5• Mining Impacts

– Iron Ore, Sulfide

• Monitoring – Air Toxics, PM, O3, Mercury

• Mercury– Production, Deposition, Impacts and

Regulation

• Education/Outreach to Tribal Community Members

• Tribal NSR

Region 5• Air Modeling and Risk Assessment• Alternative Energy and Energy

Efficiency• Lack of resources for new Tribal Air

Programs• RPO to MJO Transition• Impacts of non-attainment in ceded

territories

Region 6• Strengthening the relationship

between Tribes and EPA Region 6• Improved and consistent

communication from EPA Region on all aspects of Tribal Air Programs– Funding, Program Issues

• Jurisdictional Issues• Tribal NSR requirements and

compliance– Education and outreach for

sources in Indian Country

Region 6

• NESHAP and RICE Rule compliance training

• Integration of the Tribal Science Priorities into OAR Policy

-Climate change, TEK• Indoor Air Quality

Region 7• Hydrogen Sulfide Gas (H2S) Regulation• Passive Ammonia Monitoring Network• Proposed Hyperion Energy Center and

Keystone XL Pipeline• Impacts of coal-fired EGUs• NSR – Minor Sources

– CAFOs, gravel pits, mobile sources

Region 8

• Oil and Gas–Host another Energy

Conference• Certification funding being held

at Headquarters• QAPP turnarounds• Increased technical assistance

Region 9

• Tribal air programs for all Tribes who want them

• Streamline designation process-Include Tribes from the start and always assume Tribes will affected by EPA standard revisions

• Timely notification and appropriate consultation

• Consistent relationships between Tribes, EPA Region 9 Air Division, and Headquarters

• Recognition of the Tribal Authority Rule

Region 9• EPA staff should be well-versed in TAR, TAS,

exceptional events, consultation etc.

• Realization that the majority of bad air is from off-reservation sources

• Funding for Regional Planning Organizations, radon analysis, and indoor air (Tribal populations have the highest per capita rate of asthma)

• Training, tools, and resources for Tribes

• Advocate for Climate Change as its own media

Region 10• Indoor Air Quality

– Major problem particularly for the costal Tribes

• Climate change adaptation resources• Smoke management program

– Increase Cooperation and Coordination• Toxic and Criteria Pollutants

– Diverse geography and populations creates may different issues

• Regional Haze Implementation

Alaska• Capacity building and funding for Tribes to

conduct indoor/outdoor air quality assessments (as opposed to emission inventories)– Needs continued support from EPA

• Fugitive dust from large scale mining activities

• Dust– Road system in rural Alaska is all gravel

and the majority of vehicles are ATVs

Alaska• Funding

– Alaska Villages continue to face the term “reservations” in RFPs

• Climate change effects that the Villages are facing

• Open dump burning occurs in rural Alaska. Education and outreach to Tribal leaders on the effects of this type of burning is needed.

• Lead monitoring in rural Alaska at airport locations

For more information

www.ntaatribalair.com

Ondrea BarberProgram Director

505-263-1074Ondrea.Barber@ntec.org