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ITEP—Providing Training, Assistance and Resources for Tribes

Pat EllsworthCristina Gonzalez-MadduxSue Wotkyns

Institute for Tribal Environmental ProfessionalsNorthern Arizona University

Alaska Conference on Environmental ManagementNovember 12, 2013, Anchorage, AK

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Presentation Overview

•Air Quality•National Tribal Toxics Council, Toxics Release Inventory•Indoor Air Quality•Tribal Clean Energy Resource Center•Environmental Outreach and Education•Climate Change•Solid Waste and Emergency Response

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• Based at Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ

• Mission: ITEP serves tribes through outstanding, culturally-relevant education and training that increase environmental capacity and strengthen sovereignty

• Served over 500/566 tribes nationally in 20 years

Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP)

San Francisco Peaks, Flagstaff, AZ

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• AIAQTP = American Indian Air Quality Training Program• Goals•Tribal capacity for air quality management •High-quality training relevant to tribes •Communication skills, collaboration, networking

• Training Approaches•Classroom – full course•Classroom – mini-course •Web-based•Hybrid•PA

Curriculum Coordinator: Pat Ellsworth, patricia.ellsworth@nau.edu, 928-523-6721Program Coordinator: Lydia Scheer, lydia.scheer@nau.edu, 928-523-6887

Air Quality – AIAQTP

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Air Quality – PA

• PA = Professional Assistance• Complements AIAQTP courses• Individualized training• Small-group training• Based on tribal requests

• Program Coordinator: Lydia Scheer, lydia.scheer@nau.edu, 928-523-6887

Native Voices newsletter

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Air Quality – TAMS Center

• TAMS = Tribal Air Monitoring Support Center• Collaboration: Tribes, ITEP, EPA• More advanced technical courses• Small class size• Hands-on learning• Equipment loans• PA

TAMS Co-Director: Chris Lee, christopher.lee@nau.edu, 702-784-8278

TAMS Co-Director: Farshid Farsi, farsi.farshid@epa.gov, 702-784-8263

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• National Tribal Toxics Council (NTTC) • USEPA Tribal Partnership Group focused on giving Tribes greater

input on issues related to toxic chemicals and pollution prevention • 12 Council members work with tribal environmental programs

located across US and Alaska

• Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) • ITEP is working with EPA’s TRI Program staff to increase awareness

of toxic chemical releases that occur on or near tribal lands across US and Alaska.

• Program Coordinators:• John Mead, john.mead@nau.edu, 928-523-2005• Jennifer Williams, jennifer.williams@nau.edu, 928-523-0673

National Tribal Toxics Council (NTTC) andToxic Release Inventory (TRI) Programs

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• National Tribal Toxics Council (NTTC) • USEPA Tribal Partnership Group focused on giving Tribes greater input on

issues related to toxic chemicals and pollution prevention • 12 Council members work with tribal environmental programs located

across US and Alaska

• Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) • ITEP is working with EPA’s TRI Program staff to increase awareness of toxic

chemical releases that occur on or near tribal lands across US and Alaska.

• Program Coordinators:• John Mead, john.mead@nau.edu, 928-523-2005• Jennifer Williams, jennifer.williams@nau.edu, 928-523-0673

National Tribal Toxics Council (NTTC) andToxic Release Inventory (TRI) Programs

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Indoor Air Quality• Training• Level 1 and Level 2 Indoor Air Quality Training courses • IAQ mini-courses for regional groups• www4.nau.edu/itep/air/training_aq.asp

• Conferences & Outreach• National Tribal Forum on Air Quality • www4.nau.edu/itep/conferences/confr_ntf.asp

• Web Resources• nau.edu/iaqtc

• Technical Assistance • nau.edu/iaqtc

For more information: mansel.nelson@nau.edu

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Indoor Air Quality• Past• IAQ in Alaska – Anchorage, AK (April 2008)• IAQ in Alaska – Anchorage, AK (Oct 2009)• Air Quality in AK Native Villages – Dillingham, AK (March 2010)• IAQ in Alaska – Bethel, AK (April 2010)• IAQ in Alaska – Juneau, AK (Mar 2011)• IAQ in Alaska – Nome, AK (April 2011)• IAQ in Alaska – Fairbanks, AK (Sept 2011)• IAQ in Alaska – Ketchikan, AK (April 2013)

• Future• IAQ in Alaska course - Chickaloon, AK (March, 2014)• Assessments for IAQ in Schools - Chickaloon, AK (March, 2014)

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• Internships• Summer Internships (College students)• Short Internships (High School or

College students)• Host sites (Tribal Organizations)

• Education and Outreach• Indoor Air Quality• Air Quality• Climate Change• Renewable Energy

Environmental Education and Outreach Program

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• Past• School Visit – Chistochina, AK (Oct 2008)• School Visit – Ouzinkie, AK (April, 2009)• School Visit – Bethel, AK (April, 2010)• School Visit – Chistochina, AK (April 2010)• School Visit – Juneau, AK (March, 2011)• School Visit – Soldotna, AK (March 2011)• School Visit - Nome, AK (April, 2011)• School Visit – Fairbanks, AK (Sept, 2011)

• Future• School Visit - Chickaloon, AK (March, 2014)

Environmental Education and Outreach Program

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Tribal Clean Energy Resource Center (TCERC)

To help meet Northern Arizona University Strategic Goal 6: “Become the nation's leading University serving Native Americans,” ITEP and tribal leaders created TCERC.

TCERC’s Mission: “To foster the transition of Native American tribes and Alaskan Native Villages from fossil fuel to renewable energy and clean energy.”

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Tribal Clean Energy Resource Center

Four Program Areas:

1. Work Force Development• Tribal Employees• TCERC Scholars @ NAU • Workshops 2. Financing/Grant Project Development 3. Technical Assistance Online Request Form 4. Policy Development Energy Codes and Strategic Plans

http://www4.nau.edu/itep/tcerc/

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Climate Change

Trainings:•Climate Change in Alaska • Nov 14-15, ATCEM

•Climate Change Adaptation Planning • Spring 2014, Pacific Northwest• Summer 2014, Oklahoma (tentative)• Fall 2014, Pacific Northwest

Webinars:•Alaska-focused• cohosted with EPA Reg. 10

•General audience•http://www4.nau.edu/itep/climatechange/tcc_webinars.asp

Climate Change Adaptation Planning Pueblo of Santa Ana, NMFebruary 2013

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• Tribal Climate Change Newsletter• Tribes & Climate Change website• Outreach material: Fact Sheets• Tribal Climate Change Adaptation Planning

Toolkit US Dept. of Interior Advisory Committee on

Climate Change and Natural Resources• Ann Marie Chischilly, Member• Sue Wotkyns, Alternate (pending)

Climate Change Program Contact:Sue Wotkyns, Program Manager Susan.Wotkyns@nau.edu928-523-1488

Climate Change

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• Full Circle Newsletter• Distributed 6x/year, focused on solid waste,

hazardous substances, Brownfields, USTs, contaminated sites, and toxic substances

• Tribal Solid Waste Education and Assistance Program (TSWEAP)• Trainings focused on development and

implementation of effective tribal solid waste codes

• Technical assistance on creating and enforcing solid waste codes, as well as other solid waste management issues, including peer-to-peer matching opportunities

• Program Manager: Todd Barnell, todd.barnell@nau.edu; 928-523-3840

Waste and Response Programs

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• Tribal Waste and Response Assistance Program• Recently completed a five year cooperative agreement that

established the annual Tribal Lands Forum, training courses on OSWER-related subjects, and a national tribal steering committee

• Program Manager: Todd Barnell, todd.barnell@nau.edu; 928-523-3840

• Navajo Nation Workforce Development Program• Providing job training for members of the Navajo Nation, with the

goal of placing them in jobs focused on environmental cleanup of contaminated lands affecting their communities.

• Program Coordinator: Roberta Tohannie, roberta.tohannie@nau.edu; 928-523-2082

Waste and Response Programs

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•What are your training and technical assistance needs?

•Any questions about ITEP?

Discussion and Questions

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Contact Information

Pat EllsworthCurriculum Coordinator, American Indian Air Quality Training Program928-523-6721Patricia.Ellsworth@nau.edu

Cristina Gonzalez-MadduxResearch Specialist928-523-8785Cristina.Gonzalez-Maddux@nau.edu

Sue WotkynsProgram Manager, Climate Change ProgramInstitute for Tribal Environmental Professionals928-523-1488Susan.Wotkyns@nau.edu

For more information about ITEP, please visit our website: http://www4.nau.edu/itep/