Tribal School Air Toxics Monitoring Project:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recommended air quality monitoring at 63 schools around the country as part of a new initiative to ensure children are breathing healthy outdoor air. EPA identified schools for monitoring based on information that raised some questions about air quality that merit investigation. That information included the best data available to EPA scientists about air pollution in the vicinity of schools, results of a computer modeling analysis, results from a recent newspaper analysis, and information from state and local air agencies. Unfortunately, because of limited information on tribal schools and limited emissions information, most tribal schools could not be considered in time for EPA’s analysis of the schools initially chosen to conduct monitoring. The term “tribal school” refers to any school located within a reservation boundary or any school operated by a tribe, BIA or tribal agency (regardless of location). EPA is still concerned that lack of information/data does not necessarily mean there is not a problem in Indian country and wants to ensure that we are investing in potential air toxics impacts around tribal schools as well. In order to accomplish this parallel effort to the national study, EPA, working with the Regional Offices, identified two tribal schools with appropriate conditions to initiate this monitoring effort.

    http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/school-air-monitoring1.htm

Current Project and Application:
The TAMS Center has since received additional monitoring equipment from the national air toxics monitoring initiative that the center can loan to tribes to conduct 60 to 90 day sampling projects. Interested tribes will need to identify the particular air toxic of concern and complete the application to be considered for the air toxics monitoring study. The project operation and application process is explained below.

Planning and Operations Procedures: Tribal School Air Toxics Monitoring Study:

• Monitors have been transferred to the TAMS Center, from EPA for deployment to Tribal applicants across the country. An application packet, criteria and process has been developed for those interested in monitoring.
  
  
• Tribes will be selected for monitoring as monitors are available and applications are processed. Schedule for monitoring and selection to be determined and approved by the TAMS Steering Committee and technical staff.
  
  
• Monitoring and analysis will follow the requirements of the National School Air Toxics Monitoring Quality Assurance Project Plans for each of the selected schools.
  Visit their site at: www.epa.gov/ttnamti1/airtoxschool.html
  
  
• Tribal capacity will be assessed for running monitors; if technical assistance or training is needed/requested every attempt will be made to hold training for the Tribes interested in the program.
  
  
• The Tribe must agree to monitor and report data to the Tribal air toxics database.

PROCESS:
Monitors will be rotated to new school locations through an application process. Decisions on the schools, school priority and length of time for the monitoring will be determined by criteria outlined in the TSATM Application.

Application Packet:
    Click HERE to download application packet.

• Application will be submitted via email, fax, or postal mail to the TAMS Center Co-Directors.
  EPA TAMS Co-Director
  Farshid Farsi
  4220 S. Maryland Pkwy, Bldg C
  Las Vegas, Nevada 89119
  702/784-8263
  Farsi.Farshid@epa.gov

  ITEP TAMS Co-Director
  Christopher Lee
  4220 S. Maryland Pkwy, Bldg C
  Las Vegas, Nevada 89119
  702/784-8278
  Christopher.Lee@nau.edu
  
  
  
• Applications will be prioritized and assessed by voting members of the TAMS Steering Committee.
  
  
• When applying for monitoring, the Tribes should identify when they will be ready for deployment of monitors. If approved, monitors need to be deployed as soon as possible and should not sit idle.
  
  
• A calendar of rotation, training, etc. will be maintained by the TAMS Center. Alternates will be identified in case a tribe is unable to take their assigned rotation.
  
  
• Selected applicants will be required to sign and submit a TAMS monitor agreement.

For more information contact:
Chris Lee, TAMS Co-Director
Phone: 702/784-8278
Email: Christopher.Lee@nau.edu

Last updated: November 5, 2012