Pre Conference Trainings

This capacity building workshop will build on an overview of basic radon science and theory to form the outline of a focused approach to radon measurement and mitigation on tribal lands. The course will begin with 1) radon basics and health effects, 2) single-family and large building radon measurement theory, 3) single-family and large building radon mitigation theory, and 4) overview of federal radon resources, when to use them, and how to meet typical radon regulations. The course will cover hands-on demonstrations of current radon measurement technology, a working radon mitigation display model, and include a field trip to conduct a practice radon survey and discussion mitigation approaches to two different building types. 

Capacity Building

This session will: 1) provide detailed information about the slate of funding ($100s of millions) available to Tribes in 2024 related to cleaner heating technologies, 2) shed light on recent and successful Tribal initiatives around residential wood heat, and 3) generate discussion about key interventions Tribes can employ for cleaner wood heat, specifically exploring the use of wood banks, heat pump installations and Burn Wise educational programs. 

Voluntary Programs 

Did you ever wonder what was in a dust sample? Believe me you really don’t want to know. But taking tape samples in homes can bring a new appreciation to what’s around us. This training will be about reading tape samples from homes even though the kind of mold is not that important people want to know. Learning how to identify the components of a tape sample can be difficult but interesting. You never know what is in the sample you just took. We will also go over IAQ home assessments and things to look for. 

Voluntary Programs

Following a brief introduction to air quality sensor technology, participants will collaborate on defining their regional air quality management goals, challenges and opportunities according to the principles of Air Quality Management 2.0. Participants shall further collaborate on identifying the critical regional stakeholders and actionable strategies to address to improve their regional air quality, and leverage a network design framework to plan their hypothetical air quality sensor network.

Goals include educating attendees on best practices for siting, installation, and maintenance of low-cost monitors as well as how to build partnerships that allow air quality monitoring initiatives to take on a life of their own. Participants will leave equipped to deploy their own successful low-cost air quality monitoring networks. 

Technical

This interactive training will share with participants "best practices" for creating and presenting a presentation. Marissa and Christal will also have a few activities planned to recruit future ITEP tribal instructors. If you are interested in improving your presentation style, slides or would like to share your expertise with other, please join us for this session. 

Capacity Building 

In this workshop, participants will hear from leaders working to make air quality data more accessible, community-centered and action-oriented. Speakers Darren Riley of JustAir and Katie Tiger of Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians will share project case studies, personal experiences, and best practices, as well as generate conversation and ideation on local air monitoring projects. This session will highlight innovative technologies in air quality data sharing, effective community engagement tools, and ideas to use air quality data to create change. Participants should come ready to discuss local air quality problems, ideas, solutions, and personal experiences and expect to leave with lots of ideas, new connections, and mini action plans!

Other / Cross Media

The 4-hour training will allow students to become familiar with the US EPA certified T640 and T640x PM Mass Monitors. Instrument setup will be discussed for new users. Theory of Operation for both versions of instruments will be reviewed. Key components and their functionality will be discussed. The menu structure will be included in this review which will focus on NumaViewTM operation. The NumaViewTM review will include navigating the software, alarms and alarm setup, and acceptable ranges for the key components. Maintenance which includes checking flow, and challenging the instrument with SpanDust to check overall instrument health will be presented. Common failures, pneumatic and electronic troubleshooting will be reviewed. Questions and answer time will also be included, with limited hands on, based on the class size. 

Capacity Building

The QREST (Quality Review and Exchange System for Tribes) is an online data management tool, managed by the Tribal Air Monitoring Support Center now being used by multiple Tribal Agencies to manage and report their data to their communities, outside agencies, and AQS. QREST is an open source tool that automatically retrieves data from a variety of data logger connections (some agencies also manage their data using the manual import feature), stores it in the cloud for tribal data quality review, and includes an integrated Node Client for data submission directly to AirNow and AQS. QREST is designed specifically for Tribal Agencies to independently manage their own data, in a way that is consistent with all industry and federal guidance for legally defensible environmental data.

Covered Topics:

• Automated Data Validation & Alerting: as data is streamed or imported into QREST, Level 0 validation checks, customizable by each Tribal Agency Admin, flag data and can also alert designated agency operators of exceptions, via email and/or text message.·

• Multi-Phase Data Review: Fulfill the independent quality assurance function by providing a platform for multiple phase data review prior to AQS submission, complete with recorded audit trail.·

• Quality Control: Manage single-point QC, Annual Performance Evaluations, Flow Rate Verifications, Semi-Annual Flow Rate Audits (for particulate matter), and Zero/Span checks, including AQS submittal.·

• AQS Integration: Send data to AQS via an integrated Node Client.

• ITEP manages QREST and ensures that up to date AQS reference data and other relevant codes and limits when EPA makes changes.·

• AirNow Integration: Tribes can opt to automatically send data from QREST to EPA’s AirNow program.·

• Public Data Sharing: map-based website allowing tribes to share air data with the public, with options to download data reports, summary statistics, and charts.·

• Offers a use-what-you-need, customizable system of downloadable SOPs and QAPP excerpt examples.·

• Online, within-application training in the QREST “sandbox” website using TAMS Center met data or your own data, with individual assistance available, especially on new datalogger connections.

Datalogger Connectivity: This adjunct training will review the datalogger connection options that can be used to connect to QREST, including Agilaire, Campbell Scientific, monitors such as BAMs with integrated dataloggers, and others.

Technical

We are proposing a 1/2 day training targeting Oil and Gas Tribes We would like to review the final rules, discuss the importance and benefits of the rule. Discuss how tribes can participate in the implementation of the rules, and have case studies from Navajo Nation and/or Southern Ute on how they will use their existing programs to address these rules.

Air Quality Policy & Regulations