1. Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment Overview & Updates
Calepa Tribal advisory committee meeting
November 1, 2018
Amy Dunn, OEHHA’s Tribal Liaison

2. OEHHA’s Mission
To protect and enhance the health of Californians and our state’s environment through scientific evaluations that inform, support and guide regulatory and other actions

3. Science for a Healthy California
Video about OEHHA
3 minutes

4. OEHHA’s Tribal Consultation Policy - Draft for Review
The policy:
Will guide OEHHA staff when engaging with California Native American Tribes
Encourages communication and collaboration with Tribes
Is modeled on CalEPA’s 2015 Tribal consultation policy
Comment period ends December 10, 2018. 

5. Tribal Affairs Website
New webpage:
Provides information on and links to OEHHA programs of potential interest to Tribes
Links to OEHHA’s draft Tribal consultation policy:

6. Climate Change Indicators
Purpose
Track the impact of climate change in California
Communicate complex information in a simple format
Provide context for mitigation and adaptation
Report is a collaborative effort, relies on monitoring and research in state and federal government, universities and other research institutions
Third edition – May 2018: “Indicators of Climate Change in California”

7. The Indicators Climate change drivers Changes in climate
Impacts on physical systems
Impacts on biological systems (humans, vegetation, wildlife)

8. Climate Change Drivers
Source: CARB, 2017

9. Changes in Climate
Source: Western Regional Climate Center, 2017

10. Change in Surface Area, Sierra Nevada Glaciers
Impacts of Climate Change on Physical Systems
Change in Surface Area, Sierra Nevada Glaciers
Dana Glacier
Source: USGS (left) Basagic, 2017 (right))
Source: Basagic, 2017

11. Impacts of Climate Change on Biological Systems
Note: Chart does NOT include 2017 or 2018 wildfires

12. Summary Climate Change Indicators
California’s climate is warming, resulting in significant, measurable impacts.
Warming has impacted snowmelt, glaciers, lakes and the Pacific Ocean; changes are consistent with global observations.
Observed biological responses include changes in:
Timing of life cycle events
Distribution of plants and animals
Reproductive success and abundance
The changes underscore the need for action to address impacts.

13. Nine new advisories were published (Sept 2017- Aug. 2018)
OEHHA Develops Advice
Based on results of testing fish samples for certain chemicals
How much fish can be safely eaten using advisory tissue levels (ATLs)
ATLs based on studies of health effects of fish contaminants
If followed, keeps exposure at or below a safe level
Need adequate sample sizes
Nine new advisories were published (Sept Aug. 2018)

14. How OEHHA and Tribes can collaborate on advisories
11/1/2018
How OEHHA and Tribes can collaborate on advisories
Communicating advice
Share information with Tribal members who fish
All advisories will have updated pictorials available by the end of 2018
We can assist with printing (e.g., posters)
Advisory development
Open to Tribal input
Pictorial example

15. Questions and Discussion