2003 Announcements

Find out about events and news of interest to those who live and work in Indian Country, including upcoming training, conferences, workshops and the latest TribalAIR news.

If you have a tribal announcement not listed on this page, please use the Contact Us link, located at the top and bottom of the page, to submit your announcement and it will be added.

Tribal Review of Air Toxics Risk Assessment

EPA currently has available review drafts of Volumes I and II of the Agency's new Air Toxics Risk Assessment Library. Volume III, which covers multi-source community-level assessment, will be available for review later in 2004.

Volume I (Technical Resource Manual) discusses the overall air toxics risk assessment process and commonly-used technical tools and approaches to perform these analyses. This volume includes information on both human health and ecological analysis. It also provides a basic overview of commonly-used approaches for managing and communicating risk assessment results. Other methods for evaluating environmental risks (such as ATSDR's public health assessment process) are also described to give assessors, risk managers, and other stakeholders a more holistic understanding of the many issues that may come into play when evaluating the potential impact of air toxics on human health and the environment.

Volume II (Facility-specific Assessment) builds on the information described in Volume I by providing a step-by-step approach for assessing the impacts of air emissions from any or all of the sources of air toxics at a given facility.

The primary purpose of these documents is to provide an introduction to and overview of common air toxics risk assessment-related concepts, routine technical approaches for assessing risk, and links to more in-depth information. Neither document is meant to be prescriptive in its approach.

If you are interested in reviewing these documents, please email Ken Mitchell/EPA Region 4 at mitchell.ken@epa.gov or call him in Atlanta at 404-562-9065. When you make your request, please provide your name, phone number and email address. Note that the two documents can be supplied to you as either WordPerfect files or PDF (Adobe Acrobat) files. There are approximately 40 files for Volume I and one file for Volume II. (There are also three Excel files associated with Volume I.)

Comment due date is Friday, January 16, 2004. When you request the files, instruction will be returned on where to send your comments.

New Government Web Site for Grants

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today unveiled a single, comprehensive Web site that will contain information about finding and applying for all federal grant programs.

The Web site, Grants.gov , makes it easier for organizations to learn about and apply for federal grants. Its launch marks an important milestone in President Bush's Electronic Government (E-Gov) Initiative.

"For the first time, there will be a single government-wide source for information about grants programs across the federal government," Secretary Thompson said. "By putting relevant information in one place, we're helping to level the playing field for organizations less familiar with federal grant programs so that they too can identify and apply for appropriate grants."

Grants.gov is a key element of President Bush's E-Gov initiative, which aims at harnessing Internet-based technology to make it easy for citizens and businesses to interact with the government, save taxpayer dollars, and streamline citizen-to-government communications.

The White House Office for Management and Budget named HHS as the lead agency for this Grants.gov initiative. HHS awards more than half of all the competitive grants across the federal government.

"President Bush has made it a priority for his administration to provide government information and applications in ways that are more accessible and easier to understand," OMB Director Joshua Bolten said. "Grants.gov is a strong step forward in that effort, as it makes the federal grant-making process simpler and more efficient for applicants. The launch of this important Web site is a milestone in progress on the President's Management Agenda."

HHS led the development of the cross-agency Web site, which now has information about more than 800 available grant programs involving all 26 federal grant-making agencies. These agencies together award more than $360 billion in grant funds. The site provides information in a standardized format across agencies and includes a "Find Grant Opportunities" feature to help applicants find potential funding opportunities.

The site also contains an "Apply for Grants" feature that greatly simplifies the application process by allowing applicants to download, complete and submit applications for specific grant opportunities from any federal grant-making agency.

To date, application packages have been posted to the Grants.gov Web site by five agencies -- the U.S. Departments of Commerce, Education, Energy, Justice, and HHS. This section will be expanded in the coming months as federal agencies continue to post application information about additional grant opportunities.

The site has been developed with extensive input from organizations that apply for and receive federal grants to maximize its potential to simplify the process and meet the needs of the grant community.

Grants.gov is a collaborative effort involving HHS and the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Justice, Labor and Transportation, as well as the National Science Foundation.

More information:
E-Gov Initiative
HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials

Tribe to Tribe Web Page Now Available

The long-awaited Tribe to Tribe section of the Tribal Air Web site is now available. This section contains short project descriptions for tribal projects across the country. The goal of this page is to provide a place for tribes to look for examples of good projects in common subject areas, but also to help others to see the progress of the tribal air programs across the country.

Internship Opportunity

Do you know a student who can benefit from this program? The Barbara Jordan Health Policy Scholars Program is now accepting applications for the summer of 2004. All application materials are due by January 30, 2004.

Program: The Scholars Program brings talented African American, Latino, Asian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native college seniors and recent graduates to Washington, D.C., where they work in congressional offices and learn about health policy. The application deadline is January 30, 2004.

Purpose: The Kaiser Family Foundation established the Scholars Program to honor the legacy of late US Congresswoman Barbara Jordan, who was a Foundation Trustee, and to expand the pool of students of color interested in the field of health policy.

Structure: Through the nine-week program (June 1 to July 30, 2004), Scholars gain knowledge about federal legislative procedure and health policy issues, while further developing their critical thinking and leadership skills. In addition to an internship in a congressional office, Scholars participate in seminars and site visits to augment their knowledge of health care issues, and write and present a health policy research paper. The program is based at Howard University.

Eligibility: Eligible candidates must be US citizens who are members of a racial/ethnic minority group and will be seniors or recent graduates of an accredited US college or university in the fall of 2004. Candidates are selected based on academic performance, demonstrated leadership potential and interest in health policy.

Compensation: Scholars receive approximately $5,000 in support, which includes a stipend, daily expense allowance, airfare and lodging.

Additional information: Application forms and additional information about the Program are available online at http://www.kff.org/docs/topics/jordanscholars.html

All application materials are due by January 30, 2004. For further information, contact program manager Jomo Kassaye at 202-865-4827 or jkassaye@huhosp.org.

Rule to Cut Power Plant Emissions Proposed

EPA announced plans for a new Interstate Air Quality Rule that will require power plants to dramatically reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). In addition, the Agency will propose rules to reduce mercury from these plants. Projected cuts in emissions will help states meet both existing ozone and planned fine particle standards.

Interstate Air Quality
News Release

New Power Plant Rule to Achieve Largest Emission Reductions in a Decade

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced a proposal to require coal-burning power plants to make the steepest emissions cuts in over a decade. The “Interstate Air Quality Rule” will require power plants to upgrade their facilities to reduce sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx).

This announcement is in addition to Agency proposals to reduce mercury emissions from coal-burning power plants. Taken together, these rules will require utilities to spend tens of billions of dollars to reduce the emissions of these pollutants. The results will be improved public health, ecosystems, and visibility.

"These actions are the largest single investment in any clean air program in history," said EPA Administrator Mike Leavitt. "Together, these programs represent a historic achievement in meeting our new, more stringent national air quality standards and reducing harmful mercury emissions."

"While we continue to believe that the Clear Skies Act is the best approach to reducing power plant emissions, and we are committed to working with our congressional sponsors to move this landmark legislation through Congress, we must move forward with these steps now." Leavitt added.

A major focus of the rule is to proactively provide states with the strongest tools possible to help them meet the new health-based air quality standards, without harming their local economies.

The rules focus on states that significantly contribute to ozone and fine particle pollution in the Eastern United States. These rules would reduce power plant emissions in two phases. Sulfur dioxide emissions would drop by 3.7 million tons by 2010 (a cut of approximately 40 percent from current levels) and by another 2.3 million tons when the rules are fully implemented after 2015 (a total cut of nearly 70 percent from today's levels). NOx emissions would be cut by 1.4 million tons by 2010 and by a total of 1.7 million tons by 2015 (a reduction of approximately 50 percent from today's levels in the 30 states covered under the rules). Cumulatively, the rules will eliminate approximately 34 million tons of SO2 and NOx emissions between now and 2015 beyond the reductions achieved under current programs. Moreover, emissions will be permanently capped and cannot increase.

The proposed mercury rules would focus on coal-fired power plants primarily; the proposed cap-and-trade alternative would cut mercury emissions to 15 tons by 2018, a reduction of 70% from current levels.

The complete plan will consist of a set of new rules to cut the long-range transport of two gases called sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. Mercury is also transported long distances, and the Agency will propose two alternative control plans, one of which will be a proven, market-based cap-and-trade approach that has demonstrated its ability to cut emissions faster and at less cost.

SO2 and NOx can be transported on the wind, causing environmental and health problems hundreds of miles away. SO2 and NOx emissions contribute to the formation of fine particles, which can pose serious health risks, especially for people with heart or lung disease (including asthma) and older adults and children. NOx emissions also contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone, which poses risks for people with lung diseases and children and adults who are active outdoors.

Ozone can irritate the respiratory system, aggravate asthma, reduce lung capacity and increase people’s susceptibility to respiratory illnesses like pneumonia and bronchitis.

Mercury is a highly toxic substance that can impair cognitive and motor skills and can impair reproductive, immune and endocrine systems in unborn children.

EPA will formally propose the Interstate Air Quality Rule in December 2003 and then take public comment. A final rule is planned for 2005. The mercury rules will be proposed by December 15.

Overview of the FY 2004 Exchange Network Grant Program

Purpose: To provide applicants with an overview of the FY 2004 Exchange Network Grant Program Guidance and to respond to applicant questions about Exchange Network data flows.

Date: Monday, December 15, 2003
Time: 2:00 - 4:00 p.m., EST
Place: EPA West, #6122 (Yellowstone Conference Room)
Teleconference Number (for out-of-town participants only): 202-275-0199, Access Code 7111

Please Note: Due to a limited number of conference lines and the large number of potential States/Tribes/Territories participating, all EPA Headquarters participants should attend in person rather than by phone. Thank you!

Tribal Guidance for Section 309 of the Regional Haze Rule

Dear Tribal Members, Representatives and Other Interested Parties,

The Western Regional Air Partnership, largely through the efforts of a working group consisting of tribal representatives and EPA staff, has drafted a guidance document (333KB PDF) for tribes considering adoption of implementation plans under section 309 of the regional haze rule (affecting tribes within the geographical boundaries of the following nine states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming). The intent of the guidance is threefold: (1) to help a tribe discern if it needs to consider adoption of a regional haze implementation plan; (2) if there is a need, should a tribe adopt its own implementation plan or should the tribes request that the EPA implement a Federal Implementation Plan; and (3) if a tribe adopts its own plan, the step-by-step procedures that need to be followed along with other helpful insights to the process.

The guidance document is out for a 90-day review period which ends on February 18, 2004. At that time, the working group will review and respond to comments submitted regarding the guidance document. The expectation is to distribute the guidance document to tribes throughout the aforementioned nine-state region. Please note that a model implementation plan template for tribal use is being created to complement the guidance document. A similar template was created for states and has been effectively used by five of them (Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Wyoming) in submitting state implementation plans due by the end of 2003 (tribes are not subject to such a deadline for submitting their own implementation plans). This tribal template will also be sent out for a 90-day review, but at a later date.

Call for Presenters for 2004 Community Involvement Conference

Please review the attached call for presenters for the 2004 Community Involvement Conference (407KB PDF). The conference organizers are particularly interested in obtaining tribal participation in the event, and are looking for both proposals and interest from Indian Country. The primary audience is EPA staff, but it would probably be good to have input and participation from tribal partners.

AIEO will be collecting presentation ideas for the conference. Ideas received to date include:

• A workshop on specific techniques used in Indian Country to get the most public involvement and an exploration of some of the barriers to getting public involvement in Indian Country. Possibly some case studies on how specific tribes get involvement in a traditional way - general council meetings and similar traditional techniques.
• Organizing a Tribal track at the conference.

The deadline for proposals is December 19, so please forward Regional topic ideas by December 12. This will allow us at least a minimal amount of time to forward a range of ideas to the conference organizers. Individual Tribes can send their proposals directly to the conference organizers.

Indoor Air Quality Training

To Tribal Environmental Professionals,

Please take advantage of the following opportunity. The National Environmental Health Association, in cooperation with the US Environmental Protection Agency, Indoor Environments Division, is offering a training opportunity for environmental professionals on February 18 - 22, 2004. The training course is designed to address Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and health impacts resulting from IAQ pollutants, such as environmental tobacco smoke, mold, and radon. The course will be taught by leading IAQ professionals.

Thirty people will be selected for the all-expense paid training. Please see attached for more information.

Read the Flyer (279KB PDF)

Air Toxics Now Broadcast

You are invited to the November 19 viewing of Air Toxics Now. The viewing will be in room C113 from 1:00 to 2:00. The abstract for the broadcast is below. NOTE: Fond du Lac mercury study is featured.

T-009-03 Air Toxics Now
November 19, 2003
(1:00 - 2:00 PM E.T.)

This broadcast of the on-air news magazine, Air Toxics Now, will feature reports on the State of New Jersey's experience with a pollution prevention initiative, a mercury deposition monitoring study being conducted by a Tribal agency, and an EPA Region V demonstration project that is examining technologies to reduce locomotive idling.

In addition, the broadcast will feature an update on a previously reported study involving a new innovative pollution prevention technique that is being implemented at a pulp mill in Virginia as part of EPA's Project XL.

The broadcast will also feature a story that provides an overview of all ongoing Community Assessment and Risk Reduction projects with an in-depth look at a study currently being conducted in Indianapolis, Indiana. And finally, the November broadcast will provide information on the type of air toxics training that is available to State, Local, and Tribal air agency personnel, and give updates on the recently published Federal Notices on MACT related subjects.

Target Audience

This broadcast is developed especially for State, Local, and Tribal air toxics personnel to support implementation of air toxic reduction.

Simulcast

This broadcast will be simulcast over the Internet and can be viewed on your personal computer. On the day of the broadcast, go to the Internet and follow the instructions for viewing the simulcast. Please go to:

http://itre.ncsu.edu/cte/NCAirQuality/airtoxicnow.html. You will need to install RealPlayer to view the broadcast. RealPlayer is available free of charge and can be downloaded from the internet site http://www.real.com/player/.

Over the last few years a number of tribes have expressed concern about how tribal data is currently entered and housed in EPA's Air Quality System (AQS) database. The AQS database contains measurements of "criteria air pollutant" concentration in the 50 United States, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Currently, AQS requires tribes to enter data under state and county codes. Some tribes are concerned that this is not respectful of tribal sovereignty. EPA's Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards is interested in addressing this concern and has set up a work group with the tribes and Regions and other EPA offices to explore options to address and modify AQS. If you are interested in participating, the next meeting will be held on December 4, 2003 at 2:00 ET. The call-in number is 919-541-4427.

If you have questions, please call Laura McKelvey at 919-541-5497.

The new Introduction to Air Pollution Control course is located at http://www.epa.gov/air/oaqps/eog/control/ and covers such topics as human health and environmental effects of air pollution, indoor air, and ambient air quality monitoring. This course is an excellent introduction to many of the issues OAQPS deals with on a daily basis. An optional test is provided at the end of the course and, upon passing the test, a certificate is generated. A more complete topics list is shown below:

1. Control Program History
2. Human health and environmental effects of air pollution
3. Transport and dispersion of air pollution
4. Indoor air
5. Clean Air Act
6. Ambient air quality monitoring
7. Measurement of pollutant emissions
8. Emissions inventory
9. Control of stationery and mobile source emissions
10. Pollution prevention
11. Laws and regulations
12. Compliance and enforcement

In addition to this course, several other courses have been added recently. These courses are downloadable pdf files which also have an optional test and certificate for passing with a grade of 90% or better. These courses can be found at: http://yosemite.epa.gov/oaqps/eogtrain.nsf/homeform?openform

The deadline for the National Air Toxics Monitoring Program - Community Assessments Request for Applications has been extended to December 22, 2003.

You can find more information at:
RFA# OAR-EMAD-03-08 - "National Air Toxics Monitoring Program-Community Assessments - Request for Applications

EPA's Office of Transportation Air Quality has arranged for the Northeast States Clean Air Academy to provide specialized training in the basics of mobile source air quality management for tribal air quality programs. The training course will be held at the TAMS Center in Las Vegas on December 10-11, 2003. Class size is limited, so please apply as early as possible. Some applicants may have to be deferred to later sessions, but you will be notified of your acceptance as soon as possible.

For additional information, please contact
Pat Childers (childers.pat@epa.gov) or
Darrel Harmon (harmon.darrel@epa.gov).

Training course overview ( 78KB PDF)

Notice is hereby given that the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) has posted State and Tribal 8-hour Ozone Air Quality Designation
Recommendations on the web as they have been received.

Read more... ( 33KB PDF)

10/17/03

2004 Air Toxics Workshop & Training

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and State and Territorial Air Pollution Program Administrators and Association of Local Air Pollution Control Officials (STAPPA/ALAPCO) are co-sponsoring an Air Toxics Workshop in April 2004.

What?
Air Toxics Workshop - a forum for EPA, State, Tribal, and local pollution control personnel to share ideas and exchange information on current and future air toxics programs.

Air Toxics 101 Training Session - introductory air toxics training session geared toward those new to the field or for anyone who needs a refresher.

Surface Coating Training - Identifying Compliance Issues at Coating Facilities.

When?
Air Toxics 101 Training Session & Surface Coating Training - Tuesday, April 13, 2004
Workshop - Wednesday, April 14 - Friday, April 16, 2004 (noon)

Where?
Sheraton Imperial
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina

Materials?
Registration for the workshop will be done on-line. Look for detailed registration, hotel reservation, and agenda information in December 2003.

For additional information contact:

Lalit Banker
US EPA, OAQPS
Phone: 919/541-5420
banker.lalit@epa.gov

10/01/03

EPA Issued a Press Release on September 30 Announcing the Beginning of Year-round Air Quality Index (AQI) Forecasting, Including Forecasting for PM2.5

Press Release
Air Quality Guide for Particle Pollution
Facts About the Expanded AQI Forecast
AQI Information Sources

09/30/03

PM2.5 Implementation Web Site on TTN Updated

The PM2.5 implementation Web site on the Technology Transfer Network (TTN) has been updated. The URL is http://www.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/pm/pm25_index.html

New information on the site includes:

• A new section with links to technical information supporting the PM2.5 designations process, including data related to several of the factors in our guidance, and links to the 2000-2002 PM2.5 monitoring data.
• Links to AIRNow and Air Quality Index, which will now feature PM2.5 forecasting.
• Links to the latest Trends report.

If you have suggestions for additional information or links, please let me know.

Rich Damberg
EPA Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards
Mail Code C504-02
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709
phone: 919-541-5592
fax : 919-541-5489
damberg.rich@epa.gov

09/30/03

Call for Papers International Emission Inventory Conference "Working for Clean Air in Clearwater"

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Emission Factor and Inventory Group, and the Emission Inventory Improvement Program (EIIP) are cosponsoring the thirteenth annual symposium on emission inventories entitled "Working for Clean Air in Clearwater" to be held in Clearwater, Florida, June 7 - 10, 2004. This year, the conference will highlight toxic air pollutant emissions and effects by featuring a plenary session discussion on mercury deposition and a technical session devoted to deposition of toxic (and criteria) pollutants. The technical program committee is interested in papers that describe the application of new technologies for characterizing and inventorying air pollutant emissions, including emissions related to air toxics, regional haze, fine particulate matter, ozone, and climate change. Of particular interest are papers concerning:

• Procedures and guidance on the development and appropriate application of emissions factors;
• Applied new proof-of-concept technologies for air emissions estimations;
• Systemized approaches for data analysis and quality assurance;
• Data management challenges such as data standards, EI system integration, and GIS system-automated solutions for EI analyses;
• Refinement of toxic pollutant stationary and mobile source EIs; and
• Applications of EIs to assess air pollutant deposition.

This conference will provide a useful forum for exchange of ideas and information on the use of emission data between industry, the US EPA and other federal agencies, state/local/tribal governments, regional planning organizations, and international agencies. Papers will be presented from the following topic areas:

• Air Toxics
• Pollutant Deposition
• Fugitive Dust
• Managed Burning and Wildland Fires
• PM Fine
• Greenhouse Gases
• Area Sources
• Tribal Emission Inventories
• Mobile Sources
• Regional Planning Organizations
• Ammonia
• Emission Inventory Preparation for Modeling
• Emissions Factors
• Inventory Validation/Quality Assurance
• Point Sources
• Data Management Systems

Monday of the conference week will be devoted to training courses. In addition to the formalized training program, EPA’s Emissions, Monitoring, and Analysis Division will host on Monday an interactive session to explore innovative approaches for addressing emissions factor needs and related applications issues. An exhibit of related products and services will be held in connection with the conference technical program. Platform and poster presentations are invited. Send (by e-mail, mail, or fax) a 200-400 word abstract by December 1, 2003 to

Sally Dombrowski
US Environmental Protection Agency
OAQPS/EMAD, D205-01
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
Tel: (919) 541-3269
Fax: (919) 541-0684
E-mail: dombrowski.sally@epa.gov.

Include a complete mailing address, telephone and fax numbers, E-mail address, an indication if platform or poster is preferred, and choice of session(s). Unless otherwise noted, we will assume the first author listed to be the primary author and the main contact for conference correspondence. You can also find information on recent EI Conferences at http://www.epa.gov/ttn/chief.

09/30/03

Backyard Burning Brochures Available

EPA has brochures containing information on back yard burning and burn barrel. These brochures are available at http://www.epa.gov/msw/backyard.

Tribal Air Newsletter - August 2003

INSTITUTE FOR TRIBAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROFESSIONALS DIRECTOR RECEIVES AIR QUALITY AWARD FOR HIS WORK WITH INDIAN TRIBES.

Virgil Masayesva, director of the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP), was presented with the Mike Frost Memorial Achievement Award on April 30 for leading, Northern Arizona University-based, ITEP in its exceptional air quality training and support work on behalf of Indian tribes throughout the United States. Masayesva received the award from the National Tribal Environmental Council, a tribal advocacy group based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The ceremony took place at the annual National Tribal Environmental Conference, held at the Gila River Indian Community’s Wild Horse Pass resort near Phoenix, AZ.

Air Toxics Monitoring Contacts

I have several attachments/announcements for you:

1. The FY2004 technical grant guidance was released to the US EPA Air Division Directors last week. Unfortunately, they did not use the latest version. Please refer to this version and please pass it on to all interested parties. We will post to AMTIC this week.
   Learn more. (125KB WPD)

2. The OAR competition notice for the award of $6.2 million in AT grants should be up on the OAR Web site by Wednesday, 09/03/2003. See http://www.epa.gov/air/grants_funding.html. These grants are subject to the new competition policy and cannot be discussed between Regions and states. All questions on these grants must be directed to the Project Officer listed on the document. Again, look for the document Wednesday at the link above.

3. Thanks to all of you who sent in your aethalometer information. A revised aethalometer section of the Technical Assistance Document has been added and will be posted to AMTIC this week. See http://www.epa.gov/ttn/amtic/airtxfil.html
   
   Also, a new Data Quality Objective section and a different Appendix was added to the revised TAD. This revised TAD is still a draft: we anticipate more changes after the October workshop in Las Vegas, so stay tuned. Please note that some new AQS aethalometer parameter/method codes were created.
   Learn more. (5KB XLS)

4. The July AT newsletter is posted on http://www.epa.gov/ttn/amtic/airtxfil.html

5. I'm sure all of you have seen the draft agenda for the October workshop by now. However, I am including the NESCAUM link to remind you. MEETING REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS SEPTEMBER 5. The agenda will be revised again, however, please direct your questions to:
   aleston@snet.net or
   gallen@nescaum.org

   WORKSHOP NESCAUM LINK: http://www.nescaum.org/committees/monitoring/workshop031008.html

6. We will have another QA technical workgroup meeting the latter part of September - please look for the announcement.

Thank you and I look forward to talking to you in September!

Laura McKelvey

08/26/03

Introducing a Public Information brochure entitled "How Smoke from Fires Can Affect Your Health"

EPA is providing a public information brochure entitled "How Smoke from Fires Can Affect Your Health." This brochure is available at EPA's Air Now Web site http://www.epa.gov/airnow/. If you have questions or need more information please contact Susan Stone at 919-541-1146.

08/26/03

"Tribal air and environmental issues" for Next Year's Air and Waste Management Association National Conference

I am coordinating a session on "tribal air and environmental issues" for next year's Air and Waste Management Association national conference. The conference is June 20-24, 2004 in Indianapolis, IN. You are invited to present a talk on your tribe's air and/or environmental issues. This is your opportunity to showcase issues/challenges/solutions in your communities. If you are interested, please read on.

An abstract of your talk is due September 19, 2003 at www.awma.org. Don't be discouraged by this "early" date. All you really need to do at this point is write a professional summary paragraph (just one paragraph) about your air/environmental issues. This will probably take no more than a couple of hours. After this has been submitted, THEN you will compile the formal paper. The paper is usually due in January. People that write a paper have the opportunity to "give a talk" to conference attendees about their paper. It is basically like telling your story to an audience. We will have an entire session (many hours) devoted specifically to TRIBAL AIR AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES. This is your opportunity!

ITEP will not be able to pay for your costs associated with attending this conference and giving your talk. However, I am informing you early so you can go to the web site, determine the costs that will be involved, and incorporate that into your budget. Please submit a paragraph EVEN though you may not have your tribal council's approval yet. If you want to write a paragraph to submit for this national conference, please contact me so I have an idea of how many people are interested. I can guide you through the process as we submitted a paper at this year's conference.

It is time for tribes to be on a national agenda. This will be a great opportunity for the air and waste management community to see the extent of tribal involvement in environmental issues.

Please forward this message to any interested tribes.

Alexis Baca-Spry
Instructor, American Indian Air Quality Training Program
Coordinator, Professional Exchange Program
Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals
Northern Arizona University
P.O. Box 15004
Flagstaff, AZ 86011-5004
Office: (928) 523-8871
Fax: (928) 523-1266
www.nau.edu/itep

08/25/03

Ponca Tribe and PACE Union Hold Protest March Condemning Environmental Pollution and Employee Lockout; Legal Actions Announced (PR Newswire)

Native Americans in traditional attire joined with union members and local farmers today in Ponca City, OK to confront Taiwanese-owned Continental Carbon Company with charges of environmental pollution, creating public health risks, and causing "economic havoc."

For the full story, go to

08/15/03

Risk-Based Air Toxics Computer Training Course

The Education and Outreach group has released a new web based training course on Risk Based Air Toxics. The focus of this training course is to provide a basic understanding of air pollution toxicology, epidemiology, and risk assessment. This computer-based training course consists of 11 interactive modules, with each module being approximately 30-45 minutes in length. Once the course is completed, students can take a quiz and upon passing, can print out a certificate of completion. The course can be found at the following URL: http://www.epa.gov/air/oaqps/eog/course/index.html

08/12/03

Air Toxics Workshop Announcement

The U.S. EPA and the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management (NESCAUM) are cosponsoring a workshop on Air Toxics Methods to be held Wednesday and Thursday, October 8 and 9, 2003 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Learn more. (64KB PDF)

08/04/03

Two Job Openings at the National Tribal Environmental Council

Bob Gruenig bgruenig@ntec.org

07/31/2003 12:57 PM

Hi everyone,

There are two job openings in the air program at the National Tribal Environmental Council. If you are interested in applying for either position, the deadline to do so is September 5, 2003. Please also pass this on to anyone you know who might be interested in applying for either of the positions.

Bob Gruenig

08/01/03

Little River Band of Ottawa Indian's Air Quality Specialist

TITLE: Air Quality Specialist
SUPERVISOR: Natural Resource Department Director
LOCATION: Natural Resource Department - East Lake, MI

Position Summary: The Air Quality Specialist will with input from other staff develop and maintain an air quality program. This program will include air monitoring, outreach and education, and the development of tribal ordinances and regulations on air pollution.

Required Qualifications: Bachelors degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Meteorology, Physics, or related field with training and experience in air quality/monitoring programs. The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the science of air pollution and an understanding of air pollution regulatory issues. Experience doing educational outreach is a must. Must be willing and able to obtain additional training as needed. Must be able to work well alone and in groups. Must be willing to travel. Strong written and oral communication skills are essential. A working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and Power Point is essential. Must possess the ability to maintain strong and courteous client-service relationships, and maintain a high degree of confidentiality at all times. Must have a valid Michigan driver's license and be insurable. Must be able to lift and carry 25 to 50 pounds. Must be able to climb steep stairs and ladders. Must be willing to work outside in all seasons and in weather conditions such as rain, snow, and high winds.

Preferred Qualifications: Masters degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Meteorology, Physics, or related field. Knowledge of GIS is preferred. Previous grant writing experience is preferred.

Salary: $27,040 to $35,360 per year depending on experience, plus benefits.
Native American hiring preference will apply according to the personnel policies of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians.

Send Resume or Vitae, and 3 letters of reference to:

Tina Vaquera
Director of Human Resources
Little River Band of Ottawa Indians
375 River Street
Manistee, MI 49660
(231) 398 - 6706

Read the Job Duties (28KB DOC)

08/01/03

TribalAir Vacancy - CenSARA Executive Director

The Central States Air Resource Agencies Association (CenSARA) is accepting applications for the position of Executive Director. If possible we would like for you to distribute the attached announcement to your group to allow the widest exposure for this position. If you have any questions please feel free to get in contact with me.

Executive Director, Central States Air Resource Agencies

Background

The Central States Air Resource Agencies Association (CenSARA) was formed, in 1995, as a collaborative organization of air quality program directors of the nine states that comprise the central area of the United States (i.e. Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas and the local agencies within their states).

CenSARA, a nonprofit organization, was formed to support the unique interests, in air quality protection, that the air directors from the central states represent. CenSARA works for the benefit of the membership and is governed by the officers and the board of directors consisting of the air directors of the member states and one elected representative of local programs from each of the two EPA regions having local programs. Additional information concerning the formation of CenSARA can be found at the website located at www.censara.org.

Read the position responsibilities and qualifications in the
full announcement.

Jeffery Cole
jcole@censara.org

07/31/03

EPA Requests Public Comment on Draft Regulatory Text for the Proposed 8-Hour Ozone Implementation Rule

EPA is requesting public comment on the draft regulatory text for the proposed 8-hour ozone implementation rule. This draft regulatory text accompanies the June 2, 2003 proposed rule to implement the 1997 National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone. The comment period for the draft regulatory text will be set 30 days from the date the Notice of Availability is published in the Federal Register (expected publication within the next week). Click on the links below to read these EPA documents:

• Fact sheet on today's release (43KB PDF)
• Draft regulatory text for today's release (146KB PDF)
• Notice of availability (how to comment) (38 KB PDF)
• Crosswalk from regulatory text to June 2 notice (44KB PDF)
• Crosswalk from June 2 notice to regulatory text (108KB PDF)

Additional information on the June 2, 2003 notice is available at: www.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/ozone/o3imp8hr

07/29/03

Environmental Justice: Partnerships for Communication

Letter of Intent Receipt Date: September 17, 2003

Application Receipt Date: October 17, 2003

http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-ES-03-007.html

An applicant may request a project period of up to four years and a budget for direct costs of up to $225,000 per year.

Eligible Institutions

Community-based organizations are especially encouraged to apply. You may submit (an) application(s) if your institution has any of the following characteristics:

• For-profit or nonprofit organizations
• Public or private institutions, such as universities, colleges, hospitals, and laboratories
• Units of State and local governments
• Eligible agencies of the Federal government
• Domestic
• Faith-based or community-based organizations

The main objective of this RFA is to establish methods for linking members of a community, who are directly affected by adverse environmental or occupational conditions, with researchers and health care providers and to create partnerships that can address environmental and occupational health problems and develop appropriate research and policy strategies to impact public health.

07/28/03

CAAAC 2003 Awards Program - Nominations Due by September 10, 2003

EPA Announces 2003 Clean Air Excellence Awards Program (July 16, 2003)

EPA announced that it is seeking applicants for the 2003 Clean Air Excellence Awards, which recognize and honor outstanding, innovative programs working to achieve cleaner air. The awards are open to state, local and tribal governments and are given in the following categories:

• Clean Air Technology
• Community Development/Redevelopment
• Education/Outreach
• Regulatory/Policy Innovations
• Transportation Efficiency Innovations

For further information:
68 Federal Register 42020; or
http://www.epa.gov/air/caaac/clean_award.html;
or Paul Rasmussen at rasmussen.paul@epa.gov or (202) 564-1306.

Thanks.

Darrel

06/20/03

Air Quality Criteria for Particulate Matter (Fourth External Review Draft)

[Federal Register: June 20, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 119)]
[Notices]
[Page 36985-36986]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20jn03-65]

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-7515-8]

Air Quality Criteria for Particulate Matter (Fourth External Review Draft)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of a draft for public review and comment.

SUMMARY: On or about June 30, 2003, the National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA), within EPA's Office of Research and Development, will make available for public review and comment a fourth external review draft of a revised EPA document, Air Quality Criteria for Particulate Matter. Under sections 108 and 109 of the Clean Air Act, the purpose of the revised document is to provide an assessment of the latest scientific information on the effects of airborne particulate matter (PM) on the public health and welfare, for use in EPA's current review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for PM.

DATES: Comments on the draft document must be submitted in writing no later than August 31, 2003. Send the written comments to the Project Manager for Particulate Matter, National Center for Environmental Assessment-RTP (B243-01), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the EPA document, Air Quality Criteria for Particulate Matter (Fourth External Review Draft), consisting of two volumes, will be available on CD ROM from NCEA-RTP. Contact Ms. Diane Ray by phone (919-541-3637), fax (919-541-1818), or email (ray.diane@epa.gov) to request the document. Please provide the document's title, Air Quality Criteria for Particulate Matter (Fourth External Review Draft), and the EPA numbers for each of the two volumes (EPA/600/P-99/002aD and EPA/600/P-99/002bD), as well as your name and address, to facilitate processing of your request. Internet users will be able to download a copy from the NCEA Web site at http://www.epa.gov/ncea. Hard copies of the draft document can also be made available upon request to Ms. Ray.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Robert Elias, National Center for Environmental Assessment-RTP (B243-01), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; telephone: 919-541-4167; fax: 919-541-1818; e-mail: elias.robert@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA is in the process of updating, and revising where appropriate, the document Air Quality Criteria for Particulate Matter as issued in 1996. Sections 108 and 109 of the Clean Air Act require that EPA carry out a periodic review and revision, where appropriate, of the air quality criteria and the NAAQS for "criteria" air pollutants such as PM. Details of EPA's plans for the review of the NAAQS for PM were initially announced in a previous Federal Register notice (62 FR 55201, October 23, 1997).

EPA made a First External Review Draft of the updated Air Quality Criteria for Particulate Matter available in 1999 for review by members of the public and the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) (64 FR 57884, October 27, 1999). Following that public review and a meeting of the CASAC in December 1999 (64 FR 61875, November 15, 1999), EPA revised the document in response to CASAC and public comments, as well as to reflect additional new studies on PM effects that were not available in time for the First External Review Draft.

In April 2001, EPA made a Second External Review Draft of Air Quality Criteria for Particulate Matter available for public and CASAC review (66 FR 18929, April 12, 2001). Following that public review and a second CASAC meeting in July 2001 (66 FR 34924, July 2, 2001), EPA again revised the document in response to CASAC and public comments and to reflect more new PM studies that had become available.

[Page 36986]

EPA then made a Third External Review Draft of Air Quality Criteria for Particulate Matter available for public and CASAC review in May 2002 (67 FR 31303, May 9, 2002). Following that public review and a third CASAC meeting in July 2002 (67 FR 41723, June 19, 2002), EPA has again revised the document in response to CASAC and public comments and to take into account peer-reviewed analyses of a number of epidemiological studies conducted to address statistical modeling issues that were identified after release of the Third External Review Draft.

EPA is now making the Fourth External Review Draft available for public comment and CASAC review. The public comment period (60 days) will close a few days after a CASAC public review meeting scheduled for August 25-26, 2003 (location to be announced in future Federal Register notice). Members of the public will be able to make brief oral statements during time set aside at that meeting for public comments. After the CASAC meeting and the close of the public comment period, EPA intends to make final revisions to complete the document in December, 2003.

On June 15, 2001, EPA's Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS) made available (66 FR 32621, June 15, 2001) for public review and comment a preliminary draft Staff Paper (SP) that drew on information in the earlier draft Air Quality Criteria document. The preliminary draft SP was also submitted to CASAC for discussion with the Committee at its July 2001 meeting. In January 2002 (67 FR 3897, January 28, 2002), OAQPS also made available for CASAC and public review and comment a draft document, Proposed Methodology for Particulate Matter Risk Analyses for Selected Urban Areas, which was reviewed by CASAC at a public teleconference on February 27, 2002.

OAQPS is now preparing a draft health risk assessment document based on the proposed methodology and is revising the draft SP to address CASAC and public comments and to incorporate updated information from the current draft Air Quality Criteria document. As in other NAAQS reviews, the SP will evaluate policy implications of key studies and other scientific information in the criteria document, identify critical elements that EPA staff believes should be considered, and present staff conclusions and recommendations for the Administrator's consideration.

Dates and details of availability of the updated draft SP and of the draft health risk assessment document and plans for future public CASAC review meetings on the SP and the draft health risk assessment document will be published in future Federal Register notices.

Dated: June 13, 2003.
Peter W. Preuss,
Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment.
[FR Doc. 03-15665 Filed 6-19-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P

06/17/03

Notice of Clean School Bus Request for Applications

The announcement for the "Clean School Bus USA Assistance Agreements - Request for Applications" is available at http://www.epa.gov/air/grants_funding.html.

06/04/03

Subject: AGENDA AND MATERIALS FOR JUNE 9 TRANSPORT RULE PLENARY GOVERNMENT PARTNERS CONFERENCE CALL.

Attached are the agenda and discussion materials for the next Transport Rule plenary government partners conference call which will be on Monday, June 9, 2003 from 1 to 4 PM Eastern Time. I and others in EPA regret that we were unable to get this material to you earlier, as we always try to do.

The call in Number is (202) 275-0170, Conference Access Code: 3736#. We have plenty of lines reserved.

AGENDA HIGHLIGHTS

• The biggest topic will be on the draft products from two EPA projects to use air quality data analysis -- source-receptor analyses and back trajectories -- to characterize transported PM2.5 and its emissions source types and locations.
• We will also review our efforts to develop control options, reductions, and costs for sources other than electric power plants. These efforts have highlighted (again) the importance of good emission inventory information in such an effort. We will have an open discussion about how we can work together to get better information earlier rather than later in the rulemaking process.
• We had hoped to be able to present the results of our REMSAD zero-out modeling in this call, but the necessary internal briefings on these results have not been completed. Consequently we will give only a short oral status report on that work.
• Mike Koerber will describe the PM2.5 air quality modeling work underway by LADCO/Midwest RPO, and the plan to have a meeting of his states to review the results.
• EPA's Clean Air Markets Division will try to nail down date(s) and place(s) for meeting(s) on emissions trading.

GETTING THIS INFORMATION DISTRIBUTED

Not everyone who needs this agenda and material is getting this message directly. We are depending on some of you to pass it on to others. The following people are responsible for passing this material on to others. Since the attachments are large, please give attention to potential problems in sending them by e-mail. You may want to have a separate message alerting intended recipients that they should contact you if they do not receive the main message with the attachments.

• Amy Royden/Stephanie Cooper - STAPPA/ALAPCO staff and the state/local representatives STAPPA/ALAPCO has chosen as regular participants.
• Bill Grantham and Laura McKelvey - NTAA and individual tribe participants (via the tribal list server if you choose).
• Transport Rule Team Leads - your team members.
• Rosalina Rodriguez - EPA regions 4 and 8, as co-leads for PM2.5 (Kay Prince, Larry Svoboda, Steve Scofield, Libby Faulk), but just in case I've also included them in this message.
• EPA regions 4 and 8 (Kay Prince, Larry Svoboda, Steve Scofield, Libby Faulk) - all other interested EPA regional staff.
• Bill Beal and Rosalina Rodriguez - RPO and MSO executive directors, and federal land management agency contacts with regular involvement in regional haze.
• Michele Laur - other federal air quality contacts (e.g., USDA) you think need to be invited if any. I don't think the agenda requires their participation this time.
• RPO and MSO executive directors - any other federal, state, or tribal representatives you wish to include (e.g. technical committee leaders).

Data Analysis (1055KB PDF) | Partners Agenda (350KB PDF)

Non EGU Information (318KB PDF) | Projection Team (62KB PDF)

Overview (1057KB PDF) | Unites (1670KB Excel)

05/27/03

EPA STRENGTHENS REGIONAL HAZE PROVISIONS FOR WESTERN STATES AND ELIGIBLE INDIAN TRIBES; EFFORT WILL IMPROVE VISIBILITY IN WESTERN U.S.

EPA today approved a proposal to amend its regional haze rule, incorporating provisions designed to improve visibility in the 16 federally-protected national parks and wilderness areas on the Colorado Plateau, including the Grand Canyon. The new provisions set regional milestones for reducing emissions of sulfur dioxide, a key compound in the formation of fine particles and regional haze, that participating states must meet between 2003 and 2018. The new provisions were first proposed to the Agency in September 2000 by the Western Regional Air Partnership (WRAP), which includes representatives of western states, tribes and federal agencies. According to the WRAP plan, states and tribes will collect annual sulfur dioxide emission reports from power plants and other large sources and generate a regional emissions total. If the regional total exceeds the annual milestone, a backstop sulfur dioxide market trading program would be triggered, ensuring that emission reduction milestones and visibility goals are met. Haze forms when sunlight strikes very small pollution particles in the air. The same pollution that causes haze also poses serious health risks, especially for people with chronic respiratory diseases.

REVISIONS TO THE REGIONAL HAZE RULE INCORPORATING KEY PROVISIONS FOR NINE WESTERN STATES AND ELIGIBLE INDIAN TRIBES

TODAY'S ACTION

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is amending its regional haze rule to incorporate provisions to address visibility impairment in the 16 Class I areas on the Colorado Plateau. Class I areas are federally protected areas and include national parks and wilderness areas. In September 2000, the Western Regional Air Partnership (WRAP) submitted a plan to EPA containing recommendations for implementing the regional haze rule in the Western United States. Specifically, the plan contains a set of recommended regional emissions reduction milestones for sulfur dioxide, a key compound in the formation of fine particles and regional haze. The plan, also known as the Annex to the 1996 Report of the Grand Canyon Visibility Transport Commission (GCVTC), also included a description of an emissions trading program for nine Western States and eligible Indian Tribes within that geographic area. The trading program would act as a backstop to ensure that emission milestones would be met.

In today's action, EPA is approving the provisions of the Annex.

For the final rule, EPA considered and addressed public comments from a number of stakeholders, including the WRAP, representatives from the utility, coal, and copper smelting industries, as well as environmental groups.

The proposed Clear Skies Act of 2003 is fully compatible with this rule. If enacted, Clear Skies would codify the reduction milestones and trading program finalized through this rulemaking.

BACKGROUND

Haze is caused when sunlight encounters very small pollution particles in the air. Some light is absorbed by particles. Other light is scattered away before it reaches an observer. More pollutants mean more absorption and scattering of light, which reduces the clarity and color of what we see. Some types of particles such as sulfates scatter more light, particularly during humid conditions.

The same pollution that causes haze also poses serious health risks, especially for people with chronic respiratory diseases.

To reduce haze, and to meet requirements of the Clean Air Act, EPA in April 1999 issued a regional haze rule aimed at protecting visibility in 156 federal Class 1 areas. The rule seeks to reduce the visibility impairment caused by many sources over a wide area. EPA's previous visibility regulation, issued in 1980, addressed only local visibility impairment from local sources.

Under the 1999 regional haze rule, states are required to set periodic goals for improving visibility in the 156 natural areas. As they work to reach these goals, states must develop "implementation plans" that contain enforceable measures and strategies for reducing visibility-impairing pollution.

The 1990 Amendments to the Clean Air Act established the GCVTC. The purpose of this commission was to advise EPA on strategies for protecting visual air quality at national parks and wilderness areas on the Colorado Plateau. In 1996, the Commission issued a report which contained long-term recommendations for visibility improvements in 16 western scenic areas, including the Grand Canyon.

The WRAP, a collaborative effort of tribal governments, Western state governments, and various federal agencies, was formed in 1997 as a follow-on to the Commission. The WRAP is divided into various technical and policy "forums" that develop the technical and policy tools needed by Western states and tribes to comply with EPA's visibility regulations.

WRAP participants include: Western states: Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, California, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and Alaska.

Western tribes: Pueblo of Acoma, Campo Band of Kumeyaay Indians, Cortina Indian Rancheria, Hopi Tribe, Hualapai Nation of the Grand Canyon, Northern Cheyenne Tribe, Salish and Kootenai Confederated Tribes, Pueblo of San Felipe, and Shoshone-Bannock Tribes of Fort Hall.

Federal participants: US Department of Agriculture, US Department of the Interior and US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA is non-voting member of WRAP board).

At the request of several Western states (especially Utah and Arizona) and other WRAP stakeholders (industry and environmentalists), EPA's 1999 regional haze rule contains an optional program for Western states. This program, developed by working closely with the WRAP, is a program for preserving and improving Western visibility between 2003 and 2018. Western states choosing to follow the optional program must submit plans by the end of 2003.

When EPA finalized the regional haze rule, two issues were not resolved? long term emission caps for stationary sources of sulfur dioxide, and details of a "backstop" emission trading program to ensure that the caps will be met. The WRAP needed more time to develop its approach. EPA gave the WRAP until October 2000 to develop that plan or "Annex" to the Grand Canyon Commission Report. The WRAP submitted the Annex to EPA in September of 2000.

WHAT THE RULE INCLUDES

Today's rule approves the WRAP's sulfur dioxide emission milestones for each year between 2003 and 2018. In addition, it includes a description of an annual process to determine if voluntary measures meet the milestones.

Currently, sources in the region covered by the WRAP emit approximately 650,000 tons per year of sulfur dioxide. By 2018, this rule will reduce emissions by more than one-fourth.

States and tribes would collect annual emission reports and use them to generate a regional emissions total. If the regional total exceeds the annual milestone, a backstop market trading program would be triggered to ensure that emission reduction milestones and ultimately visibility goals are met.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

To download a copy of the Regional Haze Rule, go to: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg/t1/fr_notices/rhfedreg.pdf

For more information, call Mr. Tim Smith, 919-541-4718 at EPA's Office of Air Quality Planning & Standards.

05/21/03

Settlement on PM/03 NAAQS Revisions

With implementation of the 1997 PM/O3 standards still in the works, after long litigation delays, EPA has reached a settlement with a number of environmental organizations on a schedule for the next NAAQS revision.

Health and Environmental Groups Compel EPA to Set Schedule to Update National Soot and Smog Standards

A settlement agreement filed today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in a case brought by a coalition of health and environmental groups lays out the following schedule for the completion of the review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for particulate matter and ozone. EPA obligations under the court order are shown in italics.

Particulate Matter

By June 30, 2003	4th draft Criteria Document issued
By August 31, 2003	1st Draft Staff Paper and Risk Assessment issued
By August 31, 2003	CASAC meeting to review 4th draft Criteria Document
By November 30, 2003	CASAC meeting to review 1st draft Staff Paper and Risk Assessment
December 19, 2003	Final Criteria Document issued
By April 30, 2004	2nd draft Staff Paper and Risk Assessment issued
By July 31, 2004	CASAC meeting to review 2nd draft Staff Paper and Risk Assessment
By September 30, 2004	Final Staff Paper and Risk Assessment issued
March 31, 2005	Proposed rule (including review of PM standards, any revisions, and new standards) signed for Federal Register
December 20, 2005	Final Rule signed for Federal Register

Ozone

By September 30, 2003	1st draft Criteria Document
By June 30, 2004	2nd draft Criteria Document and 1st draft Staff Paper and Risk Assessment
By October 31, 2004	CASAC meeting to review 2nd draft Criteria Document and 1st draft Staff Paper and Risk Assessment
December 20, 2004	Final Criteria Document issued
By March 31, 2005	2nd draft Staff Paper and Risk Assessment
By June 30, 2005	CASAC meeting to review 2nd draft Staff Paper and Risk Assessment
By September 30, 2005	Final Staff Paper and Risk Assessment issued
March 31, 2006	Proposed rule signed for Federal Register
December 20, 2006	Final rule signed for Federal Register

Proposed and Final rules must be published in Federal Register 10 days after the rules are signed.

Earthjustice press release

05/20/03

EPA 2003 National Community Involvement Conference

The 2003 Community Involvement Conference will be held July 22-25 in Philadelphia, PA. For more information, please visit http://www.epancic.org/.

05/19/03

Subject: Invitation to the National Tribal Forum
May 19, 2003

Dear Tribal Colleagues,

This announcement is regarding participation in the National Tribal Forum (NTF) in Albuquerque, New Mexico on June 17-19, 2003 at the La Posada de Albuquerque Hotel. I recommend that you respond immediately if you are interested in this great opportunity. I have attached documents containing pertinent information regarding the NTF. Please act quickly as space is limited and contingent on a first come first serve basis.

Please note that the agenda is still being developed at this time. I will send it out as soon as it is available. If you should have any questions regarding this email, please contact me at any time. Thank you.

Laurel Sekakuku
Administrative Assistant
Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals
Northern Arizona University
PO Box 15004
Flagstaff, AZ 86011

Phone: (928) 523-9555
Fax: (928) 523-1266
Email: Laurel.Sekakuku@nau.edu
Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals Web site: http://www4.nau.edu/itep/

• Invitation to the 4th Annual National Tribal Forum Series on Air Quality (44KB DOC)
• Participant Registration Form (108KB DOC)

05/19/03

Mercury Listening Session for Tribal Organizations

The mercury listening session for tribal organizations is Tuesday, May 20 from 1-3 pm, Eastern Standard Time. The room location is EPA East, room 4225. The call-in number is 202-275-0199, 0580#.

Attached are the following documents:

1. Agenda (138KB PDF)
2. Key Agency Activities on Mercury (142KB PDF)
3. Update on USEPA's Mercury Action Plan (140KB PDF)
4. Update on USEPA Office of Water Draft Methylmercury Criterion Implementation Guidance (190KB PDF)
5. Updates on Mercury in the Air Program (142KB PDF)
6. Updates on OSWER's Mercury Activities (141KB PDF)
7. List of tribal organization participants as of 5pm May 16 (all by phone) (4KB WPD)
8. List of EPA attendees (5KB WPD)
   

05/19/03

Request For Applications (RFA): Environmental Justice: Partnerships for Communication

Letter of Intent Receipt Date: September 17, 2003
Application Receipt Date: October 17, 2003

Purpose of this RFA
The purpose of this program is to strengthen the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences' (NIEHS) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's (NIOSH) support of research aimed at achieving environmental justice for socio-economically disadvantaged and medically under-served populations in the United States. One goal of the NIEHS and NIOSH is to understand the influence of economic and social factors on the health status of individuals exposed to environmental toxicants and occupational hazards and impact public health. The intent is to promote health research, education and intervention programs that address improved ways to serve low income, immigrant, and minorities who may be disproportionately exposed to environmental and occupational stressors.

Eligible Institutions
Community-based organizations are especially encouraged to apply. You may submit (an) application(s) if your institution has any of the following characteristics:

• For-profit or non-profit organizations
• Public or private institutions, such as universities, colleges, hospitals, and laboratories
• Units of State and local governments
• Eligible agencies of the Federal government
• Domestic
• Faith-based or community-based organizations

Foreign institutions are not eligible to apply.

Funds Available
The NIEHS intends to commit approximately $1.67 million in FY04 to fund five to six new and/or competitive continuation grants in response to this RFA. The NIOSH intends to commit approximately $500,000 in FY04 to fund two to three new grants in response to this RFA. An applicant may request a project period of up to four years and a budget for direct costs of up to $225,000 per year. Indirect costs will be paid at eight percent of direct costs less appropriate exclusions. This is not a modular grant and a detailed budget is expected. The application should include within its scope the plans for the entire length of the grant. Although the financial plans of the NIEHS and NIOSH provide support for this program, awards pursuant to this RFA are contingent upon the availability of funds and the receipt of a sufficient number of meritorious applications.

Translational Research Program
NIEHS supports a series of translational research programs designed to establish sustainable mechanisms for educating the public about environmental health issues and for supporting individual and community involvement in the identification and investigation of environmental health concerns.

Read the RFA
Further information on the Translational Research Program.

05/15/03

Proposal Outlines Implementation of More Protective National Air Quality Standards for Ground-level Ozone

David Deegan 202-564-7839/deegan.dave@epa.gov

EPA is taking an important step in protecting the American public from ground-level ozone pollution by proposing a rule that outlines steps certain polluted areas would have to take to clean up their air. The proposed rule would establish guidelines for state and tribal authorities to implement the 8-hour national air quality standard for ozone, first enacted by EPA in 1997 and upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2001. The proposal seeks public comment on options for planning and control requirements for states and tribes, as well as on options for making the transition from the 1-hour ozone standard to the 8-hour standard. The new 8-hour standard is more protective of public health than the current 1-hour standard because it more accurately reflects people’s exposure to ground-level ozone. The proposed rule describes options for classifying nonattainment areas; however, the proposal does not make any attainment designations. A nonattainment area violates the ozone standard or contributes to violations of the standard in a nearby area. Designations for nonattainment areas will occur by April 15, 2004 under a separate process. EPA will take comments on this proposed rule for 60 days following publication in the Federal Register. The Agency will also hold three public hearings across the country on the proposed rule:

• Dallas, Texas on June 17;
• San Francisco, California on June 19; and
• Alexandria, Virginia on June 27.

More information is available at: http://www.epa.gov/airlinks/airlinks1.html.

05/12/03

Draft E-mail Regarding May 20 Designation Training

On May 21, 2003, at 1:00 to 2:30 Eastern Time, EPA will provide training on 8-hour ozone and PM 2.5 designations. We will be using a new format for the training called "Same Time" which uses Internet Explorer versions 5.5 or 6.0 to access the training. In order to participate in the training you must preregister with EPA.

Registration instructions are included as an attachment below. It takes approximately 2 days to process your registration. I encourage you to register early. Once you are registered and get a password, you can do a test login to the system to ensure that you can get in. Login instructions are also included as an attachment below.

Under this approach, you can access our presentation materials through the Internet, but you will need to call in to a conference line to hear the presenters walk through the material. The number of participants will be limited by the number of conference lines we have available. We will provide the conference number in a future e-mail.

If you have any questions about the registration process, you can contact Chet Wayland (wayland.richard@epa.gov).

Registration Instructions (37KB PDF)
SameTime Instructions (27KB PDF)

05/08/03

NTEC Conference Presentations

The EPA Air office, OAQPS, gave two presentations (424KB PPT) to the NTEC Conference April 28 - May 1, 2003. The first one deals with the health impacts of two criteria pollutants, particulate matter and ozone, on human health. The second explores the regulatory framework and designations process, as well as some of the issues identified by Tribes.

05/08/03

Vacancy in Region 9 Tribal Program

EPA's San Francisco Office has a vacancy for a tribal liaison. The position is located in the Indian Programs Office, which works with 146 tribes in Arizona, California, and Nevada. The selected candidate will assist 12 - 15 tribes in building and maintaining environmental programs by managing General Assistance Program grants, providing technical assistance, and acting as a liaison between tribes and EPA program offices. Candidates should have a) experience in working for tribal governments, b) knowledge of federal environmental programs, c) good writing skills, and d) the ability to work well with people. The position is located in San Francisco.

Interested candidates should apply at www.epa.gov/ezhire between May 20 and June 2. The system will not accept applications before May 30.

For questions on using EZHire, please contact Heidi Acquisti at (415) 972-3836.

05/05/03

The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
In collaboration with
The National Association of County and City Health Organizations (NACCHO) and EPA Present:

The Air in Schools: State-of-the-Science
Indoor Air Quality Management Techniques

May 20, 2003
10:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Zanvyl Krieger School of Arts and Sciences
1717 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20036

Registration Fee: Free
Registration Deadline: May 15, 2003
You must register to attend.
Please contact Sharon Butler at 443-287-7833 or subtler@jhsph.edu to register. Space is limited.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, "Indoor levels of air pollutants can be 2-5 times higher, and occasionally 100 times higher, than outdoor levels. Nearly 55 million -- 20 percent of the U.S. population -- spend their days inside elementary and secondary schools. And according to a 1995 federal government report, an estimated 50 percent of the nation's schools have problems linked to poor indoor air quality."

This one-day workshop is aimed at presenting the latest tools for the evaluation and control of indoor air quality in the school environment and the prevention and resolution of existing air quality problems.

Learn more.

05/05/03

The "Mobile Source Outreach Assistance Competition Fiscal Years 2003-2004" is ready for application!

The Solicitation Notice is available on two EPA Web sites in text and PDF:

• The Office of Air and Radiation (OAR) http://www.epa.gov/air/grants_funding.html (available immediately)
• and Office of Transportation and Air Quality (OTAQ) Web site http://www.epa.gov/otaq/RFA.htm (on the web as of 4/25)

Good luck to everyone!

Solicitation Notice (WPD 80KB)

04/28/03

National Workshop

SUBJECT: 2nd Particulate Matter, Regional Haze, Ozone Modeling Workshop

FROM: Ellen Baldridge, EPA OAQPS

TO: Regional Modeling Contacts, Regions I-X

Attached are (1) the revised announcement and agenda for the 2nd Particulate Matter, Regional Haze, Ozone Modeling Workshop (i.e., photochemical workshop) scheduled for June 4-6, 2003, (2) the revised agenda for the "Regional/State/Local Modelers Workshop" (i.e., permit workshop) scheduled for June 2-3, 2003, and (3) a registration form for the workshops. The workshops will be held in Santa Fe, NM. Thursday, May 1, 2003 is the registration deadline. Please assist us to assure widespread participation from the pertinent State, Local, and Tribal agencies and Federal Land Managers by distributing this message to the appropriate environmental agencies in your region.

The photochemical workshop will consist of individual presentations, panel discussions, breakout session work groups and a closing plenary session. In preparation for the panel discussions and breakout session work groups, we are soliciting problems, solutions and other issues of interest. Please urge all potential participants to identify issues for panel discussions and breakout-session work groups (see attached DRAFT agenda for example ideas). These may be submitted via the registration form or through the Regional Office.

The permit workshop will primarily focus on the implementation and use of AERMOD. Issues may be submitted via the registration form or through the Regional Office.

We believe that Regional Office participation has been and will be an important factor influencing the success of the workshop. Thank you for your assistance. If you have any questions, or concerns please call (919) 541-5684 or e-mail me at baldridge.ellen@epa.gov.

Revised announcement and agenda for the "2nd Particulate Matter, Regional Haze, Ozone Modeling Workshop" (WPD 27KB)

Revised agenda for the "Regional/State/Local Modelers Workshop" (WPD 6KB)

Registration Form (WPD 11KB)

04/22/03

Mobile Source Outreach Assistance Competition 2003-2004

The "Mobile Source Outreach Assistance Competition for Fiscal Years 2003-2004" is ready for application. The Solicitation Notice is available on two EPA web sites in text and PDF:

Office of Air and Radiation (OAR) http://www.epa.gov/air/grants_funding.html (available immediately)

Office of Transportation and Air Quality (OTAQ) http://www.epa.gov/otaq/RFA.htm (available as of 04/25/03)

04/16/03

Bush Administration Proposes Dramatic Reductions Of Pollution from Nonroad Diesel Engines

April 15, 2003

The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed to dramatically reduce emissions from nonroad diesel engines used in construction, agricultural and industrial equipment. This comprehensive national program requires stringent nonroad engine controls and reductions of sulfur in diesel fuel a program that will achieve enormous air quality improvements throughout the country.

This action represents a strong commitment from the Bush Administration to take the next step to achieve cleaner air and protect the health of all Americans, especially the health of children and elderly who are more susceptible to diesel pollution, said Administrator Christie Whitman. Coupled with the 2007 diesel rule for highway trucks and our school bus retrofit program, these actions will be the most far-reaching diesel programs in the world today.

The proposal would take effect for new engines starting as early as 2008 and be fully phased in by 2014. EPA is proposing to reduce emissions of soot, known as particulate matter (PM), and nitrogen oxides (NOx) from today's engines by more than 90 percent. When fully phased in, annual reductions will be 825,000 tons of NOx and 125,000 tons of PM. For the first time ever, advanced emission control systems will be incorporated into nonroad equipment. The sulfur content of diesel fuel will be dramatically phased down from its current uncontrolled level of 3400 parts per million to 500 parts per million (ppm) beginning in 2007 and then to 15 ppm in 2010 a 99 percent reduction.

EPA has estimated that by 2030 the nonroad program will, among other benefits, annually prevent over: 9,600 premature deaths, 8,300 hospitalizations, 16,000 heart attacks, 5,700 children's asthma-related emergency room visits, 260,000 respiratory problems in children and nearly a million work days lost due to illness. (Under an alternative estimate, the nonroad program would deliver annual benefits that include preventing 5,600 premature deaths.) Nearly 111 million people live in areas that do not meet air quality standards for ground level ozone (smog), and more than 70 million people live an areas that do not meet air quality standards for PM. Nonroad diesel engines contribute significantly to these problems. A typical piece of construction equipment such as a 175 hp bulldozer emits as much NOx and PM as 26 new cars today. EPA estimates that nonroad diesel engines currently account for about 44 percent of diesel PM emissions and about 12 percent of NOx emissions from mobile sources nationwide and in some urban areas the percentage is greater. The nonroad program would significantly help areas across the country reach their clean air goals and improve public health nationwide.

The 2007 diesel rule for highway trucks and buses, and today's announcement of a comprehensive nonroad diesel program illustrate the Administration's commitment to making our air cleaner for this generation and generations to come, Whitman concluded.

The public may comment by sending an e-mail to nrt4@epa.gov. Additional ways to send comments are found in the Federal Register notice. Written comments may be submitted until August 20. Public hearings will be held in New York on June 10, Chicago on June 12, and Los Angeles June 17, 2003. Detailed information about the hearings will be published in the Federal Register. This proposal, related documents and information about the public hearings are available at http://www.epa.gov/nonroad.

04/15/03

Tribal/EPA-only Transport Rule Issues Call

As previously announced, there will be a Tribal/EPA-only call regarding transport rule issues this Thursday. In order to facilitate understanding by those of us who are not modelers of the various technical issues to be discussed on next Monday's plenary call, the Thursday call will consist of a presentation by EPA staff on fundamentals of air quality modeling, followed by Q&A;/discussion.

The Tribal call will be Thursday, April 17th at 3:00-4:00 Eastern Time. The call-in number is (919) 541-4376.

Please let me know if you have other requests for agenda items and I'll see if appropriate participants may be located in time to oblige such requests. For your convenience, I'm resending the agenda for Monday's plenary call.

Thanks and I look forward to speaking to you Thursday.

Bill Grantham

04/07/03

April 1, 2003

TODAY'S ACTION

• In another step to ensure that Americans breathe cleaner air, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued guidance for states and tribes to use in identifying areas that meet or do not meet EPA's national air quality standards for fine particles. EPA will consider the state and tribal recommendations as it designates areas as attainment or nonattainment for the fine particle standards.
• This non-binding guidance outlines how states should determine appropriate boundaries for the attainment and nonattainment areas. The term "nonattainment" means an area violates the fine particle standard or that it contributes to violations of the standard in a nearby area.
• Under the process outlined today, EPA plans to make final designations by December 15, 2004. States and tribes should submit their initial recommendations to EPA by February 15, 2004.
• States and tribes should make initial recommendations using air quality data from the years 2000-2002. However, EPA intends to base final designations (in December 2004) on data from 2001-2003, to reflect the most recent three years of data.
• EPA's national air quality standards for fine particles, also known as "PM 2.5 standards," are levels allowed in the outdoor air for particulate matter 2.5 microns in diameter or smaller. EPA issued the PM 2.5 standards in 1997 to protect human health and the environment. Studies have linked increased exposure to PM2.5 to increases in premature death as well as a range of serious respiratory and cardiovascular effects.
• Today's guidance encourages states and tribes to base attainment and nonattainment area boundaries on the boundaries of metropolitan areas. Surrounding counties contributing to fine particle pollution in those metropolitan areas also should be included in the nonattainment areas.
• EPA is encouraging states and tribes to use metropolitan area boundaries in an effort to ensure that they consider population density, traffic and commuting patterns, commercial development and area growth when recommending areas for attainment and nonattainment designation. States and tribes will be able to suggest modifications to these boundaries by providing additional information on these and other factors.
• Today's guidance also recommends that states and tribes consider using common boundaries for areas to be classified as nonattainment for both the PM 2.5 and 8-hour ozone standards. Common boundaries will help states and tribes facilitate future planning and implementation activities.

WHAT A NONATTAINMENT DESIGNATION MEANS

• The Clean Air Act requires state and local governments to take steps to reduce fine particle pollution in nonattainment areas. State and local governments must detail these steps in plans demonstrating how they will meet the fine particle standards. Those plans are known as state implementation plans, or SIPs. States and tribes must submit their Sips to EPA within three years after the Agency makes final designations (by December 2007).
• Attaining the standards in nonattainment areas will require a combination of local emission reductions and regional reductions, such as those that would be achieved under the President's Clear Skies proposal. (For more information on Clear Skies, go to http://www.epa.gov/clearskies).
• Nonattainment areas also are subject to a measure known as "transportation conformity," which requires local transportation and air quality officials to coordinate planning to ensure that transportation projects, such as road construction, do not affect an area's ability to reach its clean air goals. Transportation conformity requirements become effective one year after an area is designated as nonattainment.
• Once designated, nonattainment areas also are subject to new source review requirements. New Source Review is a permitting program for industrial facilities to ensure that new and modified sources of pollution do not impede progress toward cleaner air.

HOW THE DESIGNATIONS PROCESS WILL WORK

• States will have until February 15, 2004, to recommend to EPA areas that should be designated as attainment and nonattainment. EPA will review and consider those recommendations, and respond to states and tribes by late summer of 2004. In that response, the Agency will notify states and tribes of any modifications EPA wishes to make to state or tribal recommendations.
• States will have an opportunity to comment on any modifications EPA makes to their recommendations. New air quality data (for the year 2003) will become available in mid-2004. EPA expects to take the 2001-2003 data into consideration when making the final designations (by December 15, 2004.)
• Tribes that have their own air quality programs may submit recommendations for designations; however, they are not required to do so. Because air quality data is lacking in some tribal areas, EPA will work with tribes to determine the appropriate designations. EPA will address all state and tribal lands during the designations process.

BACKGROUND

• In 1997, EPA issued two standards for fine particles: an annual standard, at 15 micrograms per cubic meter ( µg/m³ ); and a 24-hour PM standard, at 65 µg/m³.
• Two laws require EPA to designate areas as attainment or nonattainment for the fine particle standards. Those laws are the Clean Air Act and the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (known as TEA-21).
• TEA-21 requires states to submit recommendations for PM2.5 designations to EPA within one year of the time that three years of complete monitoring data become available. Many areas did not collect a complete year of monitoring data in 1999. As a result, state and tribal recommendations for nonattainment areas should be based on 2000 - 2002 data.

Fine Particles

• Particulate matter is a complex mixture of extremely small particles and liquid droplets. Particles smaller than 2.5 microns in diameter are known as "fine particles."
• Fine particles can be emitted directly or formed secondarily in the atmosphere. Particles emitted directly (also known as primary emissions) come from sources such as diesel engines, wood burning activities, and other industrial and commercial combustion processes.
• "Secondary" particles are those that are formed by reactions of gases in the atmosphere. For example, sulfur dioxide gas from combustion of coal in power plants and industrial boilers reacts with other gases in the atmosphere to form sulfate particles. Similarly, nitrogen oxide gas from combustion sources such as automobiles and industrial facilities forms nitrate particles in the atmosphere.
• Other secondary particles include organic carbon particles, which can be formed when certain volatile organic compounds react with other gases in the atmosphere. Sources of organic particles include burning activities, motor vehicle emissions, and other combustion activities.

Fine Particles and Health

• Many health studies have correlated increased exposure to PM2.5 with increases in premature death as well as a range of serious respiratory and cardiovascular effects.
  • Respiratory effects include aggravation of lung diseases such as asthma and bronchitis. Other symptoms include coughing, chest discomfort, wheezing and shortness of breath.
  • Cardiovascular symptoms include chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, heartbeat irregularities and heart attacks.
• Attainment of the PM2.5 national air quality standards could avoid tens of thousands of premature deaths each year. Attainment of the standards could also prevent tens of thousands of hospital admissions, millions of work absences, and millions of respiratory illnesses in children annually.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

• Today's guidance can be obtained from EPA's PM2.5 implementation web site at: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/PM/pm25_guide.html or on the Policy and Guidance web site at http://www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg.
• For more information about today's guidance, call Tom Rosendahl (919-541-5314) or Rich Damberg (919-541-5592) at the Office of Air Quality Planning & Standards.
• Designations for the Fine Particle National Ambient Air Quality Standards

04/03/03

Tribal Funding Opportunity

Tribal Air Leaders,

On Friday, March 7, 2003 the Department of Justice and the Environment Protection Agency finalized a settlement of the government's lawsuit against Toyota Motor Corporation for Clean Air Act violations. Under the settlement, Toyota will spend $20 million on a supplemental environmental project to retrofit public diesel fleet vehicles to make them run cleaner. Below is the web page with information about the settlement. Toyota will have a competitive grant process to decide which vehicle fleets will be chosen to be retrofitted, It is likely that there could be a period of 45 to 60 days before Toyota will actually solicit proposals.

http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/cases/civil/caa/toyota.html

If you are interested in pursuing a grant from this source you may want to do 2 things. First, if you are potentially interested in receiving any of the Toyota funding for a retrofit project, you should contact the person referenced on the web page and ask to be kept informed about how you can apply for the funds when they are available. Second, you may want to start developing a proposal and justification that meets the criteria in Attachment C (on the webpage) of the Consent Decree so that you will be ready to propose when the solicitation becomes available.

EPA can not direct Toyota which projects to select for funding. After reviewing and selecting proposals, Toyota will be informing us which proposals they would like to fund and EPA will verify that they adequately meet the settlement requirements. I hope this has been informative and I wish you luck if you decide to pursue this opportunity.

04/01/03

Job Description

OCENRAP is looking for a technical director.

04/01/03

Voluntary Diesel Retrofit Program Funding Assistance

OTAQ will soon announce two funding assistance programs under the Voluntary Diesel Retrofit Program. The first program will only be announced via EPA Web site and the second program will be in the Federal Register. Please send on to your State/Local/Tribal contacts.

1) Soon to be up on the EPA Web site -- Request for Applications (RFA) for funding proposals targeting State/Local/Tribal organizations to partner with EPA to reduce heavy duty diesel emissions from transportation fleets in their jurisdictions. OTAQ is seeking proposals to retrofit existing diesel engines with improved or new technology that has been verified to reduce diesel exhaust emissions under EPA's Voluntary Diesel Retrofit program. Examples of these fleets are public transit fleets, public or private school bus fleets, waste haulers, department of transportation fleets, private trucking companies, and construction and/or agricultural fleets. It is expected that these projects will primarily be targeting particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. EPA will issue 5 to 10 grants in the $50,000 to $100,000 range. The complete announcement soliciting proposals will be at http://www.epa.gov/air/grants_funding.html by April 7th.

2) EPA is anticipating that the second RFA will announce a second similar request for applications; however, it will be strictly for funding school bus retrofits or upgrades. EPA received a line item budget designation of $5 million directed for school districts. OTAQ is anticipating that these grants could be in the $500,000 to $1,000,000 range in order to offer a greater environmental benefit. EPA anticipates issuing this RFA by the end of May but only after we receive input from the School Bus Summit scheduled for April 7th & 8th. The complete announcement for this solicitation will also be on the Web site mentioned above and in the Federal Register.

03/26/03

2nd Particulate Matter/Regional Haze/Ozone Modeling Workshop

SUBJECT: 2nd Particulate Matter/Regional Haze/Ozone Modeling Workshop in Santa Fe

FROM: Ellen Baldridge, OAQPS, EMAD, AQMG

TO: Invited Panelists and Breakout Session Co-Chairs

We are planning the "2nd Particulate Matter/Regional Haze/Ozone Modeling Workshop" in Santa Fe, New Mexico on June 4-6, 2003. The purpose of the workshop is to "kick-off" regulatory efforts to implement the 8-hour ozone and PM2.5 standards through presentations of Agency guidance, discussion of modeling experiences, issue identification/recommendations, and discussion of ideas for collaborating and sharing resources to support the development of plans across all three programs (i.e., PM2.5, Regional Haze and 8-hour ozone). Program managers and technical staff (monitoring, emissions, modeling, and meteorological professionals) from State/Local/Tribal agencies, the Environmental Protection Agency, and Federal Land Managers (DOI/DOA) involved in the modeling demonstrations are invited to attend. The workshop is being hosted by the New Mexico Environment Department at the State Land Office.

Much of the information exchange will be accomplished through panel discussions and breakout sessions. Topics include modeling and data analysis needs to complete Clean Air Act mandated requirements for SIP revisions with special focus on the need to collaborate and develop integrated plans for particulate matter, regional haze and ozone. Key to the success of the workshop will be identifying problems, developing solutions and identifying action items for follow up after the workshop.

Most of you have been contacted within the past week. Because of your experience with modeling applications for the particulate matter, regional haze and ozone programs, we are soliciting your support for the workshop. Attached is an announcement for the workshop with hotel information, a draft agenda with your name as a panelist or co-chair for a breakout session, and lists of panelist/co-chairs with phone numbers and e-mail addresses. We have scheduled a conference call for April 2, 2003 at 1:00 ET on line 919-541-4328. During this call we will review the agenda and discuss topics for the panelists and breakout sessions. If you are unable to participate on the call or attend the workshop, please call (919-541-5684) or email me (baldridge.ellen@epa.gov) .

Please alert your management about this workshop. We believe that your participation will be an important factor influencing the success of the workshop.

Co-chairs (9KB WPD) | Panel list (17KB WPD)

Agenda (30KB WPD) | Announcement (17KB WPD)

03/21/03

Clean School Bus USA Summit

In an effort reduce children's exposure to diesel exhaust, EPA is launching a new initiative to reduce pollution from school buses and will be holding a Clean School Bus summit in April. This week, you should receive a letter from Governor Whitman, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, inviting you to participate in the summit and help us shape this new initiative. In order to allow as much time as possible for you to make the necessary arrangements or gather additional information, we are providing the text of that letter in this message. In addition, we have attached the preliminary agenda, hotel information, Summit registration form, and a list of invited participants. Please contact Kay Larsen at (734) 214-4428 or at larsen.kay@epa.gov, if you have any questions.

************************

I invite you to join me at the St. Regis Hotel in Washington, D.C., next month for the introduction of Clean School Bus USA. On April 7-8, 2003, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Corning Incorporated, and other members of the Manufacturers of Emission Controls Association are hosting a Clean School Bus USA Summit. Our goal is to bring together top-level government, community, business, educational, health, and environmental leaders to share experiences, insights, and ideas and help guide the formation of Clean School Bus USA, a new children's health initiative aimed at reducing air pollution from America's school buses.

While school buses have long been one of the safest ways to transport schoolchildren, bus emissions remain a serious health concern. Fortunately, we can take steps to make school buses cleaner. We can avoid idling bus engines unnecessarily. We can retrofit buses with devices that reduce pollution. And we can replace our oldest buses with new, cleaner ones. At the Clean School Bus USA Summit, we will explore how we can reduce pollution and upgrade our nation's school bus fleet by taking advantage of remarkable advances in fuel and engine technology.

I am enclosing a preliminary agenda for the Summit, a registration form to be completed and returned by March 21, 2003, a list of invited participants, and hotel information. For additional information, please contact Kay Larsen at (734) 214-4428 or at larsen.kay@epa.gov.

You can contribute much to the Summit's success, and I urge your participation. In the event that you cannot attend, please send a representative. By working together we can meet the challenge of creating an effective and practical national plan for cleaner school buses.

Sincerely yours,

/s/

Christine Todd Whitman

03/21/03

Tribal Air Leaders,

On Friday, March 7, 2003 the Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency finalized a settlement of the government's lawsuit against Toyota Motor Corporation for Clean Air Act violations. Under the settlement, Toyota will spend $20 million on a supplemental environmental project to retrofit public diesel fleet vehicles to make them run cleaner. Below is the web page with information about the settlement. Toyota will have a competitive grant process to decide which vehicle fleets will be chosen to be retrofitted. It is likely that there could be a period of 45 to 60 days before Toyota will actually solicit proposals.

http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/cases/civil/CAA/toyota.html

If you are interested in pursuing a grant from this source you may want to do 3 things. First, you may want to read and comment on the proposed settlement. Attachment C gives the criteria for the retrofit projects. Second, if you are potentially interested in receiving any of the Toyota funding for a retrofit project, you should contact the person referenced on the web page and ask to be kept informed about how you can apply for the funds when they are available. Finally, you may want to start developing a proposal and justification that meets the criteria in Attachment C (on the web page) of the Consent Decree so that you will be ready to propose when the solicitation becomes available.

EPA cannot direct Toyota which projects to select for funding. After reviewing and selecting proposals, Toyota will be informing us which proposals they would like to fund and EPA will verify that they adequately meet the settlement requirements. I hope this has been informative and I wish you luck if you decide to pursue this opportunity.

03/12/03

BGrantham <bgrantham@ntec.org>
03/11/2003 06:53 PM

To: TribalAir@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [TribalAir] Agenda -- Tribal Transport Call

Below is the agenda for the Tribal/EPA call regarding the prospective Transport rule. As previously announced, the call is Monday, March 17 at 1:00 PM Eastern. The call in number is 919-541-4154.

Rather than simply soliciting follow-up input from the plenary (EPA/state/tribal/FLM/Stappa/RPO) call of yesterday, we thought it would be better to provide more introductory material and context, for those who have not been exposed to this topic. The agenda below reflects this approach. I will forward presentation material when it becomes available.

Thanks,
Bill Grantham
NTEC/NTAA

Call Agenda:

1. What is the transport rule?
   - What is it designed to accomplish?
   - What pollutants are involved?
   - What is the scope of the rule?
2. What implications might there be for the tribes?
   - Trading
   - New Sources
   - Impacts on Indian country via control strategies imposed by the
   rule
3. What is the current outreach plan?
   - How do the tribes want to interact with EPA on the rule
   development?
4. What technical analysis is being done? What additional analysis is
   needed to help the tribes?
5. Next steps
   

03/11/03

EPA Announces Public Hearings on Proposed New Source Review Reforms

Contact: Cathy Milbourn (202) 564-7824 milbourn.cathy@epa.gov

On March 31, 2003, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold five public hearings on the rule it proposed in December 2002 related to routine maintenance, repair and replacement under the New Source Review air permitting program. EPA will hold the meetings at the following locations:

1. Albany Marriott Hotel, Albany, New York. - (518) 458-8444;
2. Doubletree Hotel Dallas, Dallas, Texas - (972) 934-8400;
3. Crowne Plaza Hotel, Romulus, Michigan - (734) 729-2600;
4. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina - (919) 541-5319; and
5. Hilton Salt Lake City Center, Salt Lake City, Utah - (801) 328-2000.
   

Each meeting will begin at 9:00 a.m. and continue into the evening as necessary to accommodate as many speakers as possible. EPA invites all interested individuals to attend. Individuals wishing to speak at one of the hearings should contact Ms. Chandra Kennedy at (919) 541-5319 or kennedy.chandra@epa.gov no later than March 26, 2003. Comments should focus on the December 2002 proposal and will be limited to five minutes in length.

The public comment period for this rule extends through May 2, 2003. In addition to participating in the public hearings, comments may be submitted to EPA electronically, by mail, by facsimile, by phone, or through hand delivery/courier.

To check for changes in date or locations for these hearings, to find details on submitting public comments, and to review the proposed rule, visit: http://www.epa.gov/nsr/ .

03/11/03

OAR/OAQPS/ISEG Position Openings

OAR/OAQPS/ISEG (Innovative Strategies and Economics Group) currently has two open positions in RTP, North Carolina which it expects to fill in the Spring of 2003. These positions opened today at the GS-9/11/12/13 levels. These positions will augment ISEG’s demonstrated strengths in environmental economics and in particular, applied benefits analysis. One of these positions will be filled by an economist with background/experience/training in environmental economics. The second position focuses on applied human health and environmental benefits analysis. This position can be filled by economists, risk assessors, epidemiologists, and others trained in or with experience in benefits analysis, risk assessment or health and environmental impacts assessment. A more detailed description of the duties of these positions can be found at http://www.epa.gov/ttn/ecas/.

Job announcements can be found on the Internet at the Office of Personnel Management Web site (http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/) . The specific announcements are as follows:

Vacancy announcements open 3/10 - 3/28:

Economist - RTP-DE-2003-0290; RTP-MP-2003-0415
Economist - RTP-DE-2003-0294; RTP-MP-2003-0424
EPS - RTP-DE-2003-0292; RTP-MP-2003-0420
Health Scientist - RTP-DE-0293; MP-2003-0422
Physical Scientist - RTP-DE-0291; MP-2003-0418

03/04/03

Extension for States and Tribes to Submit Air Quality Designation Recommendations for the 8-hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards

EPA has extended the date from April 15 to July 15, 2003 for tribes and states to submit recommendations on designations for the 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standards.

Read more. (781KB PDF)

2/28/03

Please Spread the Word: The EPA Intern Program -- Professional Employment and Career Development Opportunity with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Welcome! If you are seeking information about summer or temporary student opportunities or scholarships at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, please go to our Agency Web site at http://www.epa.gov/students. The EPA Intern Program discussed below is for potential applicants who already have earned a college degree or are expecting to receive one no later than August, 2003. U.S. citizenship is required.

February 12, 2003

TO: EPA Intern Program Candidates

FROM: Jamie L. Langlie, Manager
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Intern Program

RE: EPA Intern Program Information

Thank you for your interest in the EPA Intern Program (EIP). The EIP is a full-time, permanent, entry-level employment and career development program at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Since our inaugural class in 1998, we have hired 152 new professionals and placed them in our Washington, DC headquarters and eleven regional offices. The Vacancy Announcement for the EIP Class of 2003 will be open April 7 - 18, 2003, at EPA’s EZhire Web site, http://www.epa.gov/ezhire or at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's Web site at http://www.usajobs.opm.gov. Applications are to be completed online with supplemental materials mailed to addresses noted in the application packages.

Read more.

2/26/03

Register Now for the April 2003 Air Toxics Implementation Workshop

Registration for this Workshop is going strong. REGISTER TODAY, if you haven't, to ensure room availability and the low room rate, since the deadline is fast approaching. ACT NOW! Also, please pass this along to others who are interested!

Read more.

2/21/03

EPA Rollout of Fine Particle Air Quality Index (AQI) Reporting

EPA has posted on-line the presentations from the 2003 Air Quality Conference -- "It's Not Just About Ozone Anymore." Presentations are available at http://www.epa.gov/airnow/2003conference/index.html.

The conference focused on EPA's and the States' efforts to extend mapping and forecasting of air quality alerts to fine particle pollution. Beginning this fall, EPA hopes to provide national media outlets, including "USA Today" and the Weather Channel, with air quality forecasts for particulate matter concentrations in 36 cities on a daily basis.

2/7/03

Relationship Between the NAAQS and the Clear Skies Proposal

Please see the attached Web sites. This information might be helpful in understanding the relationship between the NAAQS and the Clear Skies proposal. This information was requested on yesterday's Tribal Designation and Implementation Work Group. EPA has a rather extensive set of information on a Clear Skies Web site that might be useful to you. Some selected links that have county-level projections of ozone and PM nonattainment are listed below:

http://www.epa.gov/air/clearskies/benefits.html http://www.epa.gov/air/clearskies/tech_sectionb.pdf (4.3MB PDF)

2/4/03

2003 Air Toxics Implementation Workshop

IT'S UP ON THE WEB!

Registration starts now for the 2003 Air Toxics Implementation Workshop and optional training sessions that will be held April 7-10, 2003 at the Hilton North Raleigh in Raleigh, NC. Please register early, the deadline for registration is March 7, 2003.

The workshop is being cosponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, State and Territorial Air Pollution Program Administrators, and Association of Local Air Pollution Control Officials.

The workshop's Web site is available on our contractor's home page at:

http://www.scicomminc.com/airtox

This Web site has an online registration form and other current agenda, hotel, and travel information. Closer to the workshop, this Web site will also have all of the speakers' presentations available for download.

An "Air Toxics 2003 Workshop" room block has been established at the Hilton North Raleigh at a rate of $74/night plus tax. The phone number is (919) 872-2323. Please make your reservations early to ensure room availability! Room reservations must be made before March 7, 2003.

Also, for your information, attached is a flyer for you to post in your office or distribute to colleagues.

For additional information contact Lalit Banker, EPA OAQPS, (919) 541-5420, banker.lalit@epa.gov (for agenda and technical issues) or Debra Kemp, SciComm, Inc., (301) 652-1900 ext. 5112, dkemp@scicomm.com (for registration and logistics issues).

We look forward to your participation and attendance!

Read the flyer (43KB PDF)

2/3/03 Draft 1999 Ambient Concentrations Available

The draft 1999 ambient concentrations resulting from modeling the draft 1999 National Emission Inventory (NEI) for Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) that was released October 2002 is available. This data is available on a password-protected Web site. The purpose of releasing this data is to assist State, local and tribal organizations with their review of draft NEI for HAPs. The review period for the 1999 draft NEI for HAPs has been extended from February 1, 2003 to March 1, 2003 to allow for the use of this information in the review. The revised inventory will be used for the 1999 national-scale assessment (99 NATA) which will be conducted in the summer of 2003. Please note that we are still in the process of providing quality assurance/quality control of the draft data presented. We are checking the data for both potential errors in emissions and anomalies that are caused by processing techniques (e.g., choice of surrogates, etc.). Any help the State, local and tribal organizations can provide us with this effort, including identifying anomalies in the data, will be appreciated.

There are several enhancements for the 99 NATA study which we have incorporated into these draft results.

• Alaska and Hawaii are included in the modeling domain.
• The following 5 additional HAPs are added:
  • benzidine CAS 92875;
  • carbon disulfide CAS 75150;
  • hexachlorobutadiene CAS 87683;
  • hexamethylene-1,6 diisocyanate CAS 822060; and
  • p-dichlorobenzene CAS 106467.
• Hexavalent chromium is modeled in addition to total chromium.

We have not included emissions or modeled ambient concentrations for diesel particulate matter in this release.

Please be sure to read about these and other changes and the caveats on the Web site.

To receive the password please call Laura McKelvey at 919-541-5497 or e-mail at mckelvey.laura@epa.gov

Please contact Dr. Nancy Pate (919) 541-5347 (pate.nancy@epa.gov) for questions on the Web site, Anne Pope (919) 541-5373 (pope.anne@epa.gov) for questions and comments on the inventory, and Madeleine Strum (919) 541-2383 (strum.madeleine@epa.gov) for questions and comments on the modeling.

1/21/03

STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES -- US Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions Graduate Sciences Program and Undergraduate Scholarship Program.

For more information: NOAA Undergrad Flier (PPT 1.2 MB)
NOAA Graduate Flier (PPT 218 KB)

http://www.orau.gov/orise/educ.htm

The application deadline for both programs is January 27, 2003.

1/16/03

Community Toolbox for Children's Environmental Health 2003 Capacity Building

2003 Capacity Building Grants for community groups working on childhood lead poisoning prevention or children's environmental health & justice issues.

About Community Toolbox for Children's Environmental Health

Guided by a board comprised primarily of grassroots leaders, Community Toolbox supports community-based initiatives to protect children from environmental health hazards. Founded in 1997, Community Toolbox provides small grants, training, and technical assistance to build organizational capacity and sustainability. Our grantees are parent, youth and community-based organizations from low-income and communities of color that are educating and organizing their neighbors around environmental justice issues and the dangers children face from exposure to environmental health threats, such as lead poisoning, pesticides, toxic waste incinerators, dioxins and mercury.

Read More...

1/13/03

Vacancy -- Fond du Lac Air Coordinator

Title: Fond du Lac Air Coordinator
Location: Fond du Lac Resource Management Division
Supervisor: Environmental Program Manager
Pay Basis: Annual
Position Responsibilities:

• Coordinate indoor and outdoor air program projects that affect Fond du Lac band members living on or off the Reservation.
• Participate in regional and local workgroups dealing with clean air issues.
• Develop plans specific to Fond du Lac that will reduce reservation air pollutants and protect reservation air quality.
• Assist Fond du Lac Air Technician with monitoring duties as needed.
• Compile and analyze data collected from existing monitors.
• Develop new monitoring sites as directed by environmental assessments.
• Participate in Federal policy decisions that affect the Fond du Lac Reservation.
• Write grants to supplement Fond du Lac air program needs.
• Develop/maintain air quality databases.
• Conduct educational outreach with Fond du Lac students and the community.
  

Physical Requirements:

• Walking, standing, bending, stooping, climbing, pushing and pulling are required. Subject to inside and outside environmental conditions, including work in adverse weather.

Position Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science degree required. Master of Science in Air Technology preferred or 5 to 10 years of experience in the field of air quality management and data collection.
• Knowledge of Federal and State Environmental Air Quality regulations required.
• Ability to communicate both orally and in writing required.
• Knowledge of word processing, spreadsheets, and data base development is required.
• Valid drivers license and the ability to be insured is required.
• Ability to meet deadlines as demonstrated by the timely completion of reports, plans and other types of work is required.
• Ability to travel is required.
• Subject to pre-employment and annual background checks.
• Subject to pre-employment, post accident, return to duty, follow-up and random drug testing.

You can download a Fond du Lac application form off their Web site at http://www.fdlrez.com. Send completed and signed application and a resume to:

Lee Main
Fond du Lac Reservation
1720 Big Lake Road
Cloquet, MN 55720

1/12/03

EPA Issues Solicitation for 2003 Environmental Education Grants

EPA issued a Notice of Solicitation for its 2003 Environmental Education Grant Program, subject to congressional action to appropriate funds for the program. The grant program is sponsored by EPA's Office of Environmental Education and supports environmental education projects that enhance the public's awareness, knowledge and skills to make informed decisions that affect environmental quality.

Grants of up to $25,000 are awarded in EPA's ten regional offices; EPA Headquarters awards grants that are larger than $25,000. The deadline for the Environmental Education 2003 Grant Program is February 14, 2003.

Due to funding uncertainties, please check the following web site to ensure that funds are available before contacting EPA. The appropriate forms are also available at this web site.

For further information: Contact Drew Burnett of EPA at (202) 564-0448 or http://www.epa.gov/enviroed/grants.html

2/20/03

IIIRM ANNOUNCEMENTS

The International Institute for Indigenous Resource Management
444 South Emerson Street
Denver, Colorado 80209-2216
Phone: (303) 733-0481; FAX: (303) 744-9808
E-mail: iiirm@iiirm.org Web site: www.iiirm.org

__________________________

Upcoming Workshops:

WORKSHOP ON REMOTE SENSING AND GIS FOR TRIBAL NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

Designed for Tribal Council Members, Environmental Protection, Natural and Cultural Resource Managers, Planners, Economic Development Staff, Attorneys, and Information Technology Personnel.

March 19-20, 2003
Red Lion Hotel/Denver Central
4040 Quebec Street
Denver, Colorado 80216
(303) 321-6666

Remote sensing is the science (and to some extent, art) of acquiring information about the Earth's surface without actually being in contact with it. This information, when processed, analyzed, and integrated into the tribe's geographic information system along with tribal histories, songs, stories, and other information can be a powerful tool for tribal natural and cultural resources managers to identify and incorporate economic, environmental, recreational, geo-political, and cultural interests in their management and development plans and programs. This workshop will introduce participants to the technologies and the application to forestry, agriculture, mineral development, water resource management, and cultural resource protection. Workshop participants will get hands-on demonstrations of recent technologies.

Agenda, Faculty and Registration Information

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WORKSHOP: AN INTRODUCTION TO INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS FOR INDIAN TRIBES

Designed for Tribal Council Members, Attorneys, Cultural Resource Managers, Planners, Economic Development Staff, School Administrators, and Information Technology Personnel.

March 19-20, 2003
Red Lion Hotel/Denver Central
4040 Quebec Street
Denver, Colorado 80216
(303) 321-6666

Who owns tribal stories? Who owns the traditional knowledge of native peoples? What information can a tribe post to its Web site? Can our genes be patented? Does the tribe have bootlegged or pirated copies of software on its computers? Do the reading materials for courses in the tribal college and high school violate any laws? What is the tribe's liability for copyright violations? The intellectual property issues confronting tribal decision-makers are more varied and more complex than for most businesses. On one hand tribes need to protect their stories, knowledge, and symbols but on the other, indigenous peoples are generally opposed to the notion of calling these parts of their heritage property. This workshop, intended for tribal council members, tribal attorneys, cultural resource managers, economic development staff, school administrators and information technicians, answers these questions, introduces traditional concepts of intellectual property, and outlines alternative approaches to protect tribal resources.

Agenda, Faculty and Registration Information

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A WORKSHOP ON THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT (NEPA) IN INDIAN COUNTRY

Designed for Tribal Council Members, Attorneys, Natural and Cultural Resource Specialists and Environmental Protection Professionals and Federal Agency Personnel and Contractors Working in Indian Country.

March 19-20, 2003
Red Lion Hotel/Denver Central
4040 Quebec Street
Denver, Colorado 80216
(303) 321-6666

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) can be an important part of federal agency consultation with Indian tribes. However, effective tribal participation in the NEPA process requires an awareness of the workings and procedural requirements of NEPA, technical expertise, knowledge of the broad range of tribal environmental, social, cultural, health and safety interests that may be affected by federal programs and activities and a strategy that links NEPA responses to other legal and statutory requirements such as the federal-Indian trust doctrine, treaty rights, AIRFA, NAGPRA, etc. This Workshop will provide practical instruction and assistance to inform tribal decision-makers on the: requirements and latest developments in NEPA compliance and litigation; the role of tribal, federal and state regulators in the NEPA process; and strategies to identify and protect tribal interests that may be affected by proposed federal actions.

Agenda, Faculty and Registration Information

2/19/03

Clearing the Path to Clean Air: Strategic and Technological Innovations for Ozone SIP Development

Dear OAR Managers and Air Division Directors:

Final planning is underway for the "Clearing the Path to Clean Air: Strategic and Technological Innovations for Ozone SIP Development," a one and a half day conference and workshop on regulatory innovations to be held in at the Crystal City Sheraton March 13-14, 2003. We have been working with the Greater Houston Partnership and other cosponsors, including Environmental Defense, to meet Administrator Whitman's goal of producing a showcase for innovation.

Registration is now open. There is a link to the conference Web site available under "Current Air and Radiation Issues" on the OAR Web site (http://www.epa.gov/air). We are targeting the stakeholders who will be working to craft SIPs for the 8-hour ozone standard. We will be reaching out to local and county governments, planning organizations, transportation agencies, local businesses and public interest groups in prospective 8-hour nonattainment areas to share with them a broad array of innovative strategies that they could use in their Sips In addition, we are holding a special "SIP 101" session the afternoon before the conference for attendees for whom SIP development is truly a new experience. We would appreciate your assistance in letting your State and local contacts know of the conference. I know that most States are experiencing a budget crunch and we are working to make travel assistance available for State and local government employees.

I am also asking that the Regions make their staff available to attend. Regional staff will be on the front lines of 8-hour ozone SIP development. Some staff have experience in this area and some do not. Both groups would add a lot to the conference experience -- we want regional staff attending to hear and discuss these new approaches. We will be needing regional facilitators willing to help attendees through the mock SIP exercise. EPA personnel assisting with the conference will be entitled to free registration.

OAR Managers, while regional air staff will be on the front lines of new SIP development, OAR program staff will be expected to play a role as well. Many of the innovative strategies that will be showcased during the conference have had input from our personnel. Some of your staff may already have been asked to assist with different parts of the conference. I want to thank you for helping us to make this conference a success.

Carey Fitzmaurice of my staff is leading the planning effort for this event. Please contact her with any questions or suggestions or names of staff who wish to assist at fitzmaurice.carey@epa.gov or (202) 564-1667.

Thank you,
Rob Brenner

Read the agenda (57KB DOC)

Announcements from prior years: