American Indian Air Quality Training Program

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION A. Background and Summary This funding opportunity solicits applications from eligible entities to provide continuous and comprehensive air quality training, technical support, and outreach programs for the EPA’s tribal partners and American Indian students considering pursuing environmental careers in the field of air quality. This training and outreach program is best administered as a comprehensive activity with multiple tasks, delivered by a single grant recipient. This approach allows for efficient delivery of programs through effective use of staff and management resources and expertise. The purpose of the American Indian Air Quality Training Program is to provide continuous and comprehensive air quality training, technical support for Tribal environmental professionals, and outreach programs for the EPA’s Tribal partner governments and American Indian students considering pursuing environmental careers in the field of air quality. The program includes five essential components: (1) The American Indian Air Quality Training Program, which provides in-person, workshopstyle training for Tribal environmental professionalsthat is timely, relevant, high-quality, and culturally sensitive; (2) The Tribal Air Monitoring Support Center, which provides comprehensive, hands-on training and technical support for Tribal monitoring and related activities; (3) The Professional Assistance element supports Tasks 1 and 2 by providing additional technical resources that enhance and supplement the other tasksto support Tribal environmental professionals; (4) The Tribal Environmental Education, Outreach, and Support Program, which provides environmental outreach, education, and associated support to Tribal educatorsthat will encourage Tribal students to develop interest, understanding, and abilities to pursue careers in the field of air quality management; and (5) The Internship Program, which provides practical environmental work experience as a complement to course work that will provide exposure to and perspective on the broad range of career opportunities available in air quality management. American Indian Air Quality Training Program (AIAQTP) The AIAQTP provides Tribal governments interested in air quality with training and support that would facilitate their interaction with the EPA and air quality programs. The mission of AIAQTP is to assist in building Tribal capacity to manage air quality through in-person, workshop-style training for Tribal environmental professionals that is timely, relevant, high-quality, and culturally sensitive. OAR has supports this activity through grant funding and by providing expertise and technical resources to support AIAQTP and Tribes have made meaningful gains in air quality management as a result. 6 The AIAQTP hosts up to 20 workshops annually. The scheduling and content of the workshops are based on a combination of air quality expertise and experience, coupled with feedback from participants and instructors and ongoing contact between the recipient and the Tribal environmental community. Close interactions with Tribal governments nationwide, as well as with the EPA, ensure courses are developed and offered to meet current ongoing needs of Tribal governments and their communities on an ongoing basis. In addition to the workshop courses, AIAQTP provides Tribal Environmental Resource Center and Professional Assistance program elements to ensure training activities are fully supported. These components , described later in this NOFO, include support activities that together form the comprehensive program by providing activities such as professional internships, programmatic meetings, supporting technical resources, and outreach. Tribal Air Monitoring Support (TAMS) Center The TAMS Center is physically housed within the EPA’s National Center for Radiation Field Operations (NCRFO) facility, located in Las Vegas, NV. NCRFO is a part of the EPA under the Office of Radiation and Indoor Air (ORIA) within the Office of Air and Radiation (OAR). The TAMS Center provides unique scientific and technical support services related to indoor air, ambient air, and radon monitoring. The EPA manages the Center as well as an equipment loan program available to Tribes. The TAMS Center is a model partnership between Tribes and the EPA. Its mission is to develop Tribal capacity to assess, understand air quality and prevent environmental impacts that adversely affect health, cultural, and natural resources through the provision of culturally specific training and technical support. It is the first technical learning center designed to specifically meet the needs of Tribes involved in air quality management in Indian country. The TAMS Center provides a centralized location where Tribal environmental professionals can obtain both hands-on air monitoring training and arrange for technical support from Tribal and other environmental professionals as well as the EPA. The TAMS Center also serves as a base for air quality outreach to Indian country. This NOFO includes requirements that address the recipient’s staffing, co-management, and operation of TAMS Center activities in close cooperation with EPA staff and management. Tribal Environmental Education, Outreach, and Support Program OAR provides assistance to ensure Tribes receive appropriate support as they work to develop and implement air quality management programs. The Tribal Environmental Education Outreach and Support Program continues this support to ensure American Indian students, educators, and communities are properly informed and are provided with opportunities to participate and pursue environmental careers, particularly in the field of air quality management. 7 B. Program Goals and Objectives The EPA is seeking applications from eligible entities to provide comprehensive training, technical support, and outreach to federally recognized Indian Tribesrelated to air quality management. The Tribal Training and Outreach Support for the AIAQTP is designed to build the capacity of interested Tribes to successfully implement effective and efficient air quality programs that address or operate under: (1) Tribal sovereign authority; (2) Tribal authority under 301(d) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) and the Tribal Authority Rule (40 CFR Parts 9, 35, 49, 50, and 81), which describe how the EPA delegates authority to authorized Tribes; and, (3) The EPA’s policies, rules, and executive orders as well as the unique aspects of Tribal sovereignty and federal Indian law under the CAA. For additional information, visit the Tribal Air and Climate Resources EPA website. Applicants must address in their applications how they will perform training, technical support, and outreach services as outlined in the five tasks described below. Applicants must address each task individually, including a discussion of how much time will be devoted to each task. Clear and efficient use of resources to address all tasks is encouraged. In general, Tasks 1, 2, and 3 are expected to constitute a larger portion of the program than Tasks 4 and 5. Applications must also describe how they will provide environmental outreach, education, and support to Tribes that will encourage Tribal students to develop interest, understanding, and abilities to pursue careers in the field of air quality management as described in Task 4. Applicants may include in their applications additional tasks to those listed below; however, they must at a minimum address the five tasks in this announcement. While applicants must address each of the five listed tasks in their application, they have discretion in how to carry out the tasks based on the descriptions of each task below. These tasks are more fully described in Section IV.C. Task 1: AIAQTP Workshops Task 2: TAMS Center 2.A – Specialized and Individualized Training 2.B – Outreach 2.C – Logistical Support 2.D – Support for Participant Training Attendance Task 3: Professional Assistance 3.A – Website 3.B – Information and Technical Assistance 8 3.C – Mentoring 3.D – Reference Documents Library 3.E – National Meetings Task 4: Tribal Environmental Education, Outreach, and Support Program 4.A – Outreach to Tribal Schools, Students, and Communities 4.B – Mentoring Programs 4.C – Professional Assistance and Support 4.D – Environmental Education Program Website Task 5: Environmental Education Internship Programs