The National Tribal Forum on Air Quality (NTFAQ) fosters information-sharing and networking opportunities focused on building Tribal capacity in air quality management. The Forum is seeking abstracts for presentations (oral/poster), trainings, and other informational sessions that address Tribal air quality concerns. The event will be held May 19-22, 2025, in Southern California.  

• Submit an abstract.
• Questions? Contact NTFAQ@nau.edu. 

The Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy (ACCAP) will review recent and current climate conditions around Alaska, discuss some forecasting tools, and finish up with the Climate Prediction Center’s forecast for January 2025 and the winter season.  

• Register 

This EPA Region 10 webinar will explain what a Performance Partnership Grant (PPG) is, the surprising flexibilities it allows, and how to apply. Whether you are new to PPGs or have had one for several years, we encourage you to attend to learn all that this grant vehicle has to offer.

• Register 

This has been shared before, but in case you missed it, EPA’s American Indian Environmental Office has teamed up with the Indian Health Service (IHS) to make on-demand training courses available to Tribal staff through the Solid Waste Association of North America.  When you register, you will get a username/password to access the trainings. 

• Find a course
• Register 

The National Adaptation Forum will explore the growing body of evidence supporting nature-based solutions  as a promising approach to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change. Speakers from EcoAdapt, the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and the Millennium Challenge Corporation will discuss various aspects of nature-based solutions and their ability to reduce hazard risks. 

• Register  

The Pacific Northwest Tribal Climate Change Network fosters communication between tribes, agencies, and other entities about climate change policies, programs, and research needs pertaining to tribes and climate change.

• Join the meeting on Zoom. Meeting ID: 922 9124 2097. Passcode: 439196
• Join by phone: 1-346-248-7799 or 1-669-900-9128.

This webinar will discuss EPA’s new Tribal Water & Natural Resources Conservation Guide, which provides information about federal assistance opportunities that can support Tribally led efforts to protect and restore waters, protect air quality, protect wildlife and habitat, prepare for climate change and natural hazards, steward lands, and support and engage Tribal communities. The guide includes:

• An introduction to federal assistance for new Tribal staff
• Quick reference tables highlighting Tribal-specific funding and technical assistance programs
• 10+ Tribal case studies highlighting how Tribal programs have completed conservation projects with federal assistance
• Examples of federal planning frameworks and tools

EPA has published a companion federal funding program inventory, available as a downloadable Excel Workbook. The inventory contains basic information about 150+ federal funding programs that can support Tribal conservation work.

• Register

This EPA Region 10 webinar will explain what a Performance Partnership Grant (PPG) is, the surprising flexibilities it allows, and how to apply. Whether you are new to PPGs or have had one for several years, we encourage you to attend to learn all that this grant vehicle has to offer.

• Register 

Developed by the EPA’s Watershed Academy, this module explores the Clean Water Act (CWA) as a guiding framework to highlight water equity challenges and watershed management opportunities. It explains the basics of environmental justice, provides a brief overview of 10 cornerstone CWA programs that drive surface-water quality protection, and outlines clear opportunities for the public to engage in the CWA process.

• Take the training

This annual conference will include discussion of innovations being used in partnerships, projects, coordination, community involvement, and funding to integrate salmon recovery with other interests while reflecting diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. We believe many of you have great stories to tell in this arena. The Columbia River Basin Toxics Monitoring Subgroup is coordinating a proposal to provide the latest toxics research information to the salmon recovery community who often don’t hear about toxics.

The Institute for Tribal Professionals is accepting abstracts for presentations, trainings, and posters for the 2025 National Tribal Forum on Air Quality. Submit a proposal by Jan. 10, 2025.

The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP), the Indian Health Service (IHS), and EPA are offering the “Development and Implementation of Tribal Solid Waste Codes and Ordinances” training course. The course includes online training, self-paced online assignments, and an in-person workshop to focus on developing and implementing effective Tribal solid waste codes. 

• January 27-30, 2025: Online Training Week
• February 19, 2025: Online Half-Day Training
• April 8-10, 2025: In-Person Workshop
  
  • Apply by Dec. 11.

There is no long-term consistent source of Federal funding for the operation and maintenance (O&M) of Federally recognized Tribal solid waste programs. To assist with building sustainable Tribal solid waste management programs, EPA conducted a study to quantify their O&M costs. The study considers the unique challenges Tribes face, particularly in rural areas and Alaska.  EPA will host two webinars to share the draft results and gather feedback.

• Register for the webinar on Dec. 11.
• Register for the webinar on Dec. 17.

With funding from EPA, the Indian Health Service (IHS) is offering a wide variety of trainings for Tribal solid waste professionals. The course provides up to 11 months of unlimited access to on-demand safety trainings for solid waste collections, transfer stations, and landfills. In addition to individual webinars and lesson collections, safety certification is available. Training topics include emergency response, equipment safety, first aid, machine maintenance, workplace hazards, and much more. Some in-person classes are also available.

• Register

Got issues with SAM.gov? The Environmental Protection Network (EPN) can help. Join their office hours at 10:00 Alaska, 11:00 Pacific, 12:00 Mountain.

• Register
   

This webinar series hosted by the Environmental Finance Center Network is designed to equip Tribal Nations with essential tools and insights needed to navigate the complex world of grant writing and funding. From identifying the right funding opportunities to developing a budget narrative, each webinar will guide you step-by-step through the critical processes for securing federal and other types of funding. November 5, 2024: Cracking the Code: Navigating RFAs, NOFOs, and Federal Forms 

• November 14: Register for Crafting Powerful Logic Models for Project Success
• December 3: Register for Strengthening Proposals with the Right Data
• December 10: Register for Milestones, Metrics, and Measurements
• December 17: Register for Developing a Budget and Budget Narrative

This is the fifth of five virtual trainings to educate Tribal, small business, and industry professionals about the New Source Review (NSR) preconstruction air permitting program, with a focus on the air permitting requirements that apply to minor sources of air pollution in Indian Country.  

• Join on Teams. Meeting ID: 280 149 047 922. Passcode: gQXtAR
• Join by phone: 984-444-7480. Phone conference ID: 106 592 395#  

This is the fourth of five virtual trainings to educate Tribal, small business, and industry professionals about the New Source Review (NSR) preconstruction air permitting program, with a focus on the air permitting requirements that apply to minor sources of air pollution in Indian Country.  

• Join on Teams. Meeting ID: 236 102 381 883. Passcode: zKWoiB 
• Join by phone: 984-444-7480. Phone conference ID: 371 781 024# 

This is the third of five virtual trainings to educate Tribal, small business, and industry professionals about the New Source Review (NSR) preconstruction air permitting program, with a focus on the air permitting requirements that apply to minor sources of air pollution in Indian Country. 

• Join on Teams at 10:00 Pacific. Meeting ID: 235 832 481 062. Passcode: XYnjsG
• Join by phone: 984-444-7480. Phone conference ID: 420 889 65#  

EPA is holding a series of virtual trainings to educate Tribal, small business, and industry professionals about the New Source Review (NSR) preconstruction air permitting program, with a focus on the air permitting requirements that apply to minor sources of air pollution in Indian Country. The NSR preconstruction permitting program establishes the air permitting requirements that facility owners and operators must follow before constructing a new facility or modifying an existing facility.

On July 1, 2011, EPA finalized the rule, “Review of New Sources and Modifications in Indian Country,” to fully implement the air permitting requirements. The following one-hour virtual trainings will be recorded and presented in five modules. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions at the end of each module. Note that questions will not be recorded. 

If you have any questions about the trainings, please contact Ben Garwood at garwood.ben@epa.gov (919-541-1358) or Jessica Montanez at montanez.jessica@epa.gov (919-541-3407). 
 

**NOTE: If you are opening the online meeting link on a smart phone, you will be prompted to download the Teams app for Android and Apple phones. You will need to create an account and login, which we recommend you do a couple of days before the meeting.

The Alaska Forum on the Environment (AFE) will be held at the Dena’ina Center in Anchorage, Alaska, and online in AFE’s Attendee Hub. The Alaska Forum seeks presentations, posters and films on topics that address technical, scientific or general information on environmental issues.

• Submit presentations by November 1.
• Register for AFE.

The Mark O Hatfield School of Government at Portland State University offers a Certificate in Tribal Relations for local, state, and federal government agencies, non-profit and for-profit organizations, and trade associations that work regularly with Tribal nations and native communities. The program seeks to foster understanding of Tribal perspectives, increase staff effectiveness and accountability when working in Indian Country, and improve working relationships between participants and the Tribal communities with whom they work. The course will be offered both in person and online.

• Register by November 6.