American Indian Policy Institute JATAP Joint Air Toxics Assessment Project A Successful Multi-Jurisdictional Research Partnership National Congress of American Indians Mid-Year Convention Policy Research Center Tribal Leader/Scholar Forum June 16, 2009 Niagara Falls, NY

American Indian Policy Institute Presented by: Ondrea Barber Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Margaret Cook Department of Environmental Quality Gila River Indian Community Gila River Indian Community Patricia Mariella American Indian Policy Institute American Indian Policy Institute Arizona State University

American Indian Policy Institute Joint Air Toxics Assessment Project (JATAP) Collaboration between tribal, state, county and federal governments to:Collaboration between tribal, state, county and federal governments to: -determine the types, distribution and -determine the types, distribution and sources of air toxics in central Arizona sources of air toxics in central Arizona (Phoenix area) airshed (Phoenix area) airshed -understand and reduce the health risks -understand and reduce the health risks from air toxics in the airshed from air toxics in the airshed

American Indian Policy Institute Air Pollution does not recognize political boundaries. Are air toxics coming onto tribal lands from neighboring urban areas? Are air toxics coming onto tribal lands from neighboring urban areas? What air toxics are being emitted from freeways on tribal lands? What air toxics are being emitted from freeways on tribal lands?

American Indian Policy Institute JATAP is a Complex Project Multi-jurisdictional Steering Committee for planning and coordination of joint activities; consensus decision-makingMulti-jurisdictional Steering Committee for planning and coordination of joint activities; consensus decision-making Coordination, Logistical and Technical Support: ASU American Indian Policy Institute (ITEP for the first phase)Coordination, Logistical and Technical Support: ASU American Indian Policy Institute (ITEP for the first phase) Funding: EPA Grants; EPA scientist onFunding: EPA Grants; EPA scientist on special detail (Intergovernmental special detail (Intergovernmental Personnel Agreement/IPA) Personnel Agreement/IPA)

American Indian Policy Institute JATAP Participants Agencies with Monitoring Sites:Agencies with Monitoring Sites: Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community EPNR Gila River Indian Community DEQ Arizona DEQ Other participating agencies:Other participating agencies: Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation Maricopa County Air Quality Pinal County Air Quality Control District EPA Region 9 and Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards City of Phoenix

American Indian Policy Institute ADEQ Tribal Governments Policy established in 1995 ADEQ recognizes the sovereignty of Tribal governments and their jurisdiction over lands within Indian Country as defined by federal law [18 U.S.C.A. §1151]. ADEQ will not assert authority over Indian Country. ADEQ recognizes that the federal government has the primary responsibility for assisting Tribes to regulate and manage the environment within Indian Country. ADEQ supports the strengthening of Tribal capacity for environmental management and regulation. ADEQ support to Tribes will be provided in the interest of the State and will not be used as the basis for assertion of State authority within Indian Country. ADEQ is committed to developing cooperative relationships with Tribes, and will respect the environmental concerns of Tribes. ADEQ requests that Tribes show similar respect for the environmental concerns of the State of Arizona. Without Tribal consent, ADEQ will not solicit and asserts no claim to EPA resources that would otherwise be provided directly to Tribes.

American Indian Policy Institute Modeling Domain Monitoring Area Pilot Study JATAP Project Area

American Indian Policy Institute Accomplishments of JATAP Continuous involvement of multi-jurisdictional agencies (airshed)Continuous involvement of multi-jurisdictional agencies (airshed) High quality micro and neighborhood scale data and analysis (enhances regional and national data)High quality micro and neighborhood scale data and analysis (enhances regional and national data) Significantly improved understanding of distribution and sources of air toxics in PhoenixSignificantly improved understanding of distribution and sources of air toxics in Phoenix Area Airshed Area Airshed

American Indian Policy Institute TRANSITIONS: from Monitoring to Outreach from Data to Policy and Action Need Outreach Messages; include ‘action plan’ for risk reductionNeed Outreach Messages; include ‘action plan’ for risk reduction Modeling and risk assessment (air toxics differ from ‘criteria pollutants’)Modeling and risk assessment (air toxics differ from ‘criteria pollutants’) Salt River and Gila River conducted micro-scale emissions inventoriesSalt River and Gila River conducted micro-scale emissions inventories

American Indian Policy Institute Geographical and Trend Perspectives Part of ‘Message’ What are the national and regional trends for air toxics? (Benzene risks in all urban areas; trend is down)What are the national and regional trends for air toxics? (Benzene risks in all urban areas; trend is down) [Studies predict significant reductions in pollution from high traffic roadways from new federal diesel fuel and engine rules] [Studies predict significant reductions in pollution from high traffic roadways from new federal diesel fuel and engine rules]

American Indian Policy Institute California Case Study: Unintended Consequences South Coast CA Air Toxics Study (Multiple Air Toxics Study 1999)South Coast CA Air Toxics Study (Multiple Air Toxics Study 1999) Ban on new schools or expansion of schools near freewaysBan on new schools or expansion of schools near freeways School over-crowdingSchool over-crowding Do we know how many schools, day care centers, health facilities, other sensitive facilities are near freeways in the Valley?Do we know how many schools, day care centers, health facilities, other sensitive facilities are near freeways in the Valley?

American Indian Policy Institute Gila River Indian Community JATAP Message for Policy Makers The Gila River Indian Community’s air quality is good (particularly from a regional perspective)The Gila River Indian Community’s air quality is good (particularly from a regional perspective) Data indicates essentially no health risk near monitor of air toxics from industriesData indicates essentially no health risk near monitor of air toxics from industries There is a low level increase in air toxics (benzene) from vehicles; benzene is distributed though the whole Valley; at Gila River the levels are lower than at Salt River and only slightly higher than at Queen Valley (a remote site)There is a low level increase in air toxics (benzene) from vehicles; benzene is distributed though the whole Valley; at Gila River the levels are lower than at Salt River and only slightly higher than at Queen Valley (a remote site)

American Indian Policy Institute Gila River Indian Community JATAP Message for Policy Makers (continued) The primary health risk from air toxics is an increased risk of cancer (leukemia); urban areas in the U.S. have levels of air toxics that pose some increased cancer riskThe primary health risk from air toxics is an increased risk of cancer (leukemia); urban areas in the U.S. have levels of air toxics that pose some increased cancer risk Freeways increase near-by air pollution; air pollution declines 60% at 320 feet from the roadway and drops to background levels at 650 feetFreeways increase near-by air pollution; air pollution declines 60% at 320 feet from the roadway and drops to background levels at 650 feet JATAP is working in the Community to reduce air toxics, particularly at schoolsJATAP is working in the Community to reduce air toxics, particularly at schools

American Indian Policy Institute WHAT ACTIONS MITIGATE RISKS FROM AIR TOXICS? Facilities: regulatory/non-regulatory Mobile Sources: (freeways) -roadway design -roadway design -trees and vegetation -trees and vegetation -buffer zones (land use planning) -buffer zones (land use planning) -filters in near roadway buildings -filters in near roadway buildings -targeted reduction in outdoor activities -targeted reduction in outdoor activities -school bus anti-idling and retrofit -school bus anti-idling and retrofit

American Indian Policy Institute Tribal Planning Implications Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Existing Freeways: Existing Freeways: -adjacent land use commercial -adjacent land use commercial Gila River Indian Community Potential Freeways: Potential Freeways: -costs and benefits -costs and benefits

American Indian Policy Institute Reasons for Success Multi jurisdictional collaboration with an overarching set of goals with immediate significanceMulti jurisdictional collaboration with an overarching set of goals with immediate significance EPA funding available; each jurisdiction had its own grant fundingEPA funding available; each jurisdiction had its own grant funding Coordination through university programs with tribal and state partnershipsCoordination through university programs with tribal and state partnerships Excellent quality data – reassessment by all partners after pilot project; dedicated and highly-trained technical staff committed to collaborationExcellent quality data – reassessment by all partners after pilot project; dedicated and highly-trained technical staff committed to collaboration

American Indian Policy Institute Challenges Common to all Partners There are no national ambient standards for air toxics; understanding health risks requires risk assessments and modelingThere are no national ambient standards for air toxics; understanding health risks requires risk assessments and modeling EPA primarily funds monitoring; harder to find funding for risk assessment and almost impossible to find funding for outreachEPA primarily funds monitoring; harder to find funding for risk assessment and almost impossible to find funding for outreach Technical staff need support in developing effective outreach messages for policy- makers and publicTechnical staff need support in developing effective outreach messages for policy- makers and public

American Indian Policy Institute THANK YOU! For More Information: Ondrea Barber (480) Margaret Cook (520) Patricia Mariella, Ph.D. (480)