1. Identify Tribal Exposures to Toxics (To think about)
What are the hazardous products and chemicals in your community that you are concerned about?
What are your concerns about them?
What information do you and your tribal council need to know to call in to an EPA consultation?
[note;: Maybe we don’t put all these questions up, but give these to Rhonda for asking the audience?
Also. Thinking about how to gather these comments, by having the audience write down key words and put on the “sticky wall”]

2. First we see the picture from the cover of Understanding Tribal Exposures to Toxics
Then the foods picture appears
Then the NTTC logo appears
Then we go to the next slide
The National Tribal Toxics Council presented at the Alaska Tribal Conference on Environmental Management October 25, 2016 1

3. The National Tribal Toxics Council (NTTC)
Who is the NTTC?
What is the NTTC? What does it do?
Why does this work matter?
What can you do?
What are your concerns?
This is what we’ll cover
Raise your hand if you have ever heard of the National tribal toxics council before now?

4. NTTC Members Chartered council, of about 12 members plus alternates
Representatives of federally-recognized tribal governments and inter-tribal consortia
Some of them are here today: INTRODUCE SELVES

5. NTTC Members See list in distributed NTTC Brochure.
This is were the current members are located, with Alaska on the lower right
Selection based on diversity of geography and expertise, striving for a broad range of perspectives to further the NTTC’s mission
Also, invite ex-officio members, experts in their fields to assist the Council on technical matters, outreach and tribal engagement
See list in distributed NTTC Brochure.

6. What is the NTTC?
A way for tribes to have greater input on issues related to toxic chemicals and pollution prevention.
A forum to advise EPA on chemical management and pollution prevention programs that affect tribes.
An EPA Tribal Partnership Group (TPG) started in 2012

7. What does the NTTC Do? Identify tribal exposures to toxics
Encourage tribes to voice their concerns with toxics and pollution
Enhance tribal consultation and collaboration
Network, collaborate and provide outreach
Identify tribal exposures to toxics

8. Understanding Tribal Exposure to Toxics
Delivered to EPA Administrator McCarthy in June 2015
Requested that EPA institutionalize a process to consider tribal exposure in risk assessments
First step to identifying the state of toxics affecting tribes
[note: the following are notes from the presentation to EPA in April. May want to reword for ATCEM presentation\
Tribal members can be more highly exposed because of activities closely associated with environmental media
When EPA examines the risk to human health and the environment from chemicals, it does not currently considered that tribal members are more exposed to toxic chemicals than the general population
Tribal exposure should be considered for all persistent, bioaccumulative toxic chemicals
Tribal exposure must be considered at the beginning of the risk assessment process during problem formulation and the initial assessment phase
Adequate funding for determining tribal exposure to Work Plan Chemicals needs to be complete before assessments begin

9. Why does this NTTC work matter?
Tribal members are impacted by toxics in consumer products and in the environment more than any other group in the U.S.
We know that tribal lifeways are not historical relics!

10. Why does this NTTC work matter?
Two key laws that regulate the chemicals in products we buy
Pollution Prevention Act and
Toxic Substances and Control Act (TSCA)
EPA manages programs for these two laws and funds the NTTC’s work
(sounds like toss-kuh)

11. U.S. Laws that Regulate Chemicals
U.S. Chemical Universe
Industrial Chemicals
~82,000 Chemicals
Allowed in U.S. commerce
Pesticides
~2000 Chemicals of Active Ingredients
Regulated by EPA
Requires experimental data
From Stan Barone’s presentation. Emphasizes how many chemicals are regulated under TSCA, 95% of all of them.
Drugs, Cosmetics, Food Additives
~2,000 Active Ingredients
Food & Drug Administration
Requires
experimental
data
Regulated by the EPA
Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)
95%

12. Pollution Prevention Act
Regulates pollution prevention (P2) through source reduction:
prevent & reduce the amount of pollution entering the environment through manufacturing, and
through improved efficiency & cost-effective changes in production, operation, and use of raw materials. 
These two laws are so important to understand so that tribes can participate in EPA consultations, and make an impact on how toxic chemicals are regulated in the U.S.
[note there is animation in this slide to emphasize the importance, and to emphasize that these apply to manufacturing of chemicals in commerce.
Also need to talk about “chemicals in commerce’: what are they?

13. Toxics Substances Control Act (TSCA)
Regulates
production,
importation,
use, and
disposal of specific chemicals.
These two laws are so important to understand so that tribes can participate in EPA consultations, and make an impact on how toxic chemicals are regulated in the U.S.
[note there is animation in this slide to emphasize the importance, and to emphasize that these apply to manufacturing of chemicals in commerce.
Also need to talk about “chemicals in commerce’: what are they?

14. TSCA of 1976, Amended in 2016 Chemicals in the products that we buy:
cleaning agents, fabrics, plastics, paint thinners, etc.
Laundry detergent
Mattresses
Fabric & foam in furniture
Children’s pajamas
Lead-based paint
Household cleaners
Motor oil, degreasers
Aircraft
Silicone, caulk
Asbestos
Disposal is really important for tribes. Think about all of the unlined landfills in Alaska villages. There’s also a lot of illegal dumping on Indian reservations across the country. What about all the commercial products that get disposed of in these ways?
Lindaine example

15. TSCA of 1976, Amended in 2016
Significant, positive amendments after 40 years
Finally required to evaluate the safety of existing chemicals in commercial products
Starts with chemicals most likely to cause risks.
New Risk-Based Safety Standard:
Must consider risks to susceptible and highly exposed populations  Tribes
Evaluating existing chemicals is a big deal! This was not allowable under the original TSCA. (does this mean that products that are allowed a small amount of pcb’s in them have to be re-evaluated?)
This new risk-based safety standard is also a really big deal! Finally, tribes must be considered

16. What can you do?
Use your power as a consumer to make green chemistry choices at work and home
Research and use non-toxic cleaning products
When you need something more:
ACAT.org
Zendergroup.org
Epa.gov/saferchoice
Baking soda
White vinegar
Hydrogen peroxide
Lemon juice and rind
Essential oils

17. What can you do? Sign up for the NTTC email list serve for
information,
Draft consultation response letters
Fill in tribal data gaps on toxin levels in subsistence food
Generate tribal resolutions that demand tribal representation in risk assessments
Request funding for local tribal data collection to inform national databases

18. QUESTIONS ?

19. Identify Tribal Exposures to Toxics Information Gathering
What are the hazardous products and chemicals in your community that you are concerned about?
What are your concerns about them?
What information do you and your tribal council need to know to call in to an EPA consultation?

20. Prioritize Pick your most concerning hazardous products and chemicals.
Pick your most important concerns.

21. See our Brochure for these email and website addresses
NTTC listserv: