Tribal Data Work Group

Overview

There are 468 federally recognized Tribes within the 15-state area that comprises the Western Regional Air Partnership (WRAP) region. Many of these, 225, are in the state of Alaska, while the remaining Tribes (239) are spread throughout the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regions 8, 9, the lower three states of 10 and New Mexico in Region 6. There are at least 61 Tribal air quality programs in the WRAP region, excluding those in Alaska. Due to the large numbers WRAP considers all federally recognized Tribes as members but does request a letter requesting to become an active voting member. WRAP currently has 28 active voting member Tribes.

Each Tribal air quality program encompasses unique needs and requires specific emphasis to meet their goals. However, there are certain common themes that weave them together including:

Staff (capacity) – many programs have one or two people to address the complexities of air quality. Some Tribes experience turnover in positions that tend to keep air programs at a lower level of capacity compared to long-term stable programs.
Funding – Most Tribal air programs are funded by EPA Clean Air Act (CAA) 103, 105, Indian General Assistance Grant (IGAP) grant programs, or Direct Implementation Tribal Cooperative Agreements (DITCAs).
Training (capability) – New personnel to Tribal air programs may not always possess the basic knowledge or experience needed to manage the program. Opportunities to expand skills are available to Tribal professionals from several sources specific to Tribes and are imperative to building capacity and capability.

Duties & Products

The majority of this Workplan Scope spans many years of effort and potential effort by the TDWG to provide needed information and services to the WRAP membership. The identified topical areas are considered ongoing. The ability of the TDWG to complete specific deliverables is subject to availability of time and contractor funding.

Workplan Scope Topical Areas

Discuss current and evolving regional air quality issues in the West impacting Tribes, such as regional haze; wildfires; oil and gas development; ozone; particulate matter; deposition of nitrogen, sulfur, and mercury; critical loads; and other air pollutants
Discuss how the impacts of climate change, as well as associated mitigation and adaptation strategies, may affect Tribes and air quality management in the West
Examine and discuss Western regional air quality issues from a multi-pollutant perspective
Support availability of monitoring/emissions data from WRAP member Tribes for inclusion in WRAP/WESTAR databases and to support regional and sub-regional technical analyses for WRAP member Tribes
Provide educational opportunities for WRAP member Tribes to facilitate understanding of the benefits of WRAP/WESTAR products and services, e.g., such as the WRAP Technical Support System
Identify applicable SIP, TIP, and FIP planning target dates
Encourage Tribal participation in other WRAP Work Groups
Collaborate with WRAP member agencies
Coordinate information gathering and educational efforts with other Tribal organizations such as the National Tribal Air Association(NTAA) and the Tribal Air Monitoring Support Center (TAMS) Steering Committee, as necessary and applicable, to reduce duplication of effort and enhance efficiency and consistency of databases and analyses.

Annual Action Items

TDWG periodic calls and meetings, reports on any deliverables completed
Maintain distribution and contact list
Solicit Tribal membership in WRAP and participation in the FSWG and OGWG
Adapt products from TDWG and other Work Groups into a Tribal Resources webpage

This work must take into consideration differing levels of expertise, programmatic resources and approaches, cultural necessities, and needs by WESTAR-WRAP member agency. Several of these activities will involve close coordination within WESTAR-WRAP facilitated by the Technical Steering Committee (TSC), as is done with other WRAP Work Groups.

Operations & Reporting

The Co-Chairs will provide a summary report to the TSC at each TSC/WG Co-Chairs meeting, about the status of activities, findings, and work products related to the topics and for the action items described above. Participation in the TDWG will be dynamic and evolving depending on topics and action items being addressed and the interests of the Work Group’s members. The Co-Chairs, with support from WESTAR-WRAP staff, will maintain a distribution list to be updated when needed. Although a Tribal focus exists, the TDWG encourages other interested parties to join Work Group meetings. Participation will be tracked on the Tribal Data Work Group webpage. No formal detailed workplan is required but welcome.

The TDWG will have regular virtual or in-person meetings arranged by Co-Chairs, at least quarterly. The principal purpose of TDWG meetings is to provide a regular opportunity for Tribes to discuss the TDWG action items and other topics. If necessary, Subcommittees or Teams may be defined by the TDWG to execute, track, and provide oversight for both in-kind and/or any contractor-supported TDWG projects, and will meet as needed at self-defined separate intervals. Any active Teams and Subcommittees will report regularly to the TDWG. The TDWG Co-Chairs will communicate on relevant matters with the TSC and Board.

Active Projects

Work Products & Materials

Work Group Meetings

2018-20 Tribal Data Work Group Meetings

January 16, 2020 Agenda Notes

November 22, 2019 Agenda Notes

September 19, 2019 Agenda Notes

April 18, 2019 Agenda Notes

Ramboll-suggested edits to WRAP Communication Framework for Regional Haze Planning – update to Consultation and Coordination Subcommittee Jan. 2019 draft (April 9, 2019)
April_11_2019_C-C_Framework_OutreachGuidanceDocs_RambollEdits_DRAFT.docx – update to original Jan. 2019 Consultation and Coordination Subcommittee draft (updated after CGP SC call of April 9, 2019,this version dated April 11, 2019)
Ramboll draft of flow chart: WRAP Regional Haze Planning Schedule of Communication (April 9, 2019)

TDWG Monthly Call Agendas/Notes/Follow-up action items for Sept. 2018 through Jan. 2019

2018-19 ITEP / EN3 Work Products for TDWG

Task 1.1 General WRAP Outreach to Tribes Status: Complete
Sub-Task 1.1.1 Regional Haze materials for Tribal professionals
Fact Sheet | Presentation

Sub-Task 1.1.2 WRAP Processes and Procedures for Tribes
Fact Sheet } Presentation

Sub-Task 1.1.3 Tribal Contacts in the WRAP Region Status: Complete (spreadsheet Dec. 2019, outreach letter drafted, to be sent in Feb. 2020)

Sub-Task 1.1.4 WRAP Tribal Maps Status: Complete
Updated main WRAP map page and TDWG map are the same: Here

Task 1.2 Tribal AQS Data Gap Study Status: Complete
EN3’s Technical Report Tribal AQS Data Gap Study was completed and submitted on November 23, 2018. A comprehensive Excel spreadsheet showing tribal and tribally-related air monitoring activities accompanied this report.

Task 1.3 Tribal NEI Data Gap Stud Status: Complete
EN3’s Technical Report that presents the results and conclusions of this work. Tribes with Point Sources spreadsheet

Task 1.4 Tribal Oil & Gas Emissions Inventory Status: Complete
EN3 has completed a compilation of principal oil and gas (O&G) producing tribes in the WRAP region.
Final Report | Comments on Draft Report

Task 1.5 Consultation Protocol Status: Complete
Process used: EN3 engaged in frequent communications with TDWG leaders and the WRAP Consultation & Coordination (C&C) Subcommittee. The Subcommittee has prepared a Draft WRAP Communication Framework for Regional Haze Planning. EN3 has reviewed this document and shared comments with TDWG in preparation for the upcoming meeting. (Notes document) EN3 suggested that the TDWG, C&C Subcommittee and broader WRAP leadership decide whether to modify and expand this “Framework” document to include Tribal consultation or, alternatively, prefer to have a separate complementary product. Using comments from ITEP and EN3, the TDWG, Coordination and Glide Path Subcommittee, and the Regional Haze Planning Work Group have all reviewed and completed the final CommunicationFramework for Regional Haze Planning Sept. 3, 2019.

Task 1.6 Webinars Status: Complete
EN3 completed materials on Regional Haze (Task 1.1.1) and “Tribes, WRAP and Regional Haze” (Task 1.1.2). These materials were used in webinars as posted above (WRAP Tribal Outreach (April 18, 2019) WebEx recording | Presentation , and WESTAR-WRAP Air Quality Data and Decision Support Systems at CSU/CIRA (December 4, 2019) Webinar recording | Presentation .

Other Resources

Tribal Data Work Group Board Approved Scope

Communication Framework for Regional Haze Planning Sept. 3, 2019 TDWG and RHPWG consensus

Regional Haze Principles of Engagement – adopted April 4, 2018

WESTAR and WRAP Joint Operating Agreement – adopted August 1, 2017

WRAP region map with Tribal Resources

WESTAR/WRAP Air Quality Data and Decision Support Systems at CSU/CIRA (December 4, 2019) Webinar recording | Presentation

Regional Haze Materials for Tribal Professionals Fact Sheet (November 2019)

WRAP Tribal Outreach (April 18, 2019) WebEx recording | Presentation

WRAP Processes and Procedures for Tribes Fact Sheet (March 2019)