Tribal Pollution Prevention

National Pollution Prevention Roundtable
Tribal Workgroup Conference Call

Tuesday March 17, 2009 at 2 pm EDT, 1 pm CDT, Noon MDT, 11am PDT

  1. Introductions
    • David Jaber, TribalP2 coordinator
    • Chris Campbell, P2 UNM
    • Garrett Smith, EPA Region 1 and II
    • Cynthia Naha, Lone Pine Paiute
    • Dana DeVries, Morongo
    • Jonna, Nez Perce tribe
    • Monte Davis, Potawatami in Michigan
    • Kevin Gunderson, Ho-Chunk
    • Pat Donovan, MI DEQ
    • Erin Hubbard, Potawatami
    • Cristala Mussato-Allen, Native Workplace
    • Shannon Judd, Fond du Lac Reservation
    • Lynn Hall
    • and other guests
     
  2. Announcements
    • EPA two grant solicitations for solid waste/recycling and the other is for hazardous waste work
    • see recent Lizana Pierce e-mailing with 60 solicitation notices
     

  3. Guest Speaker
    Cristala Mussato-Allen, Native Workplace, cristala@nativeworkplace.com or 512.462.9056

    Native Workplace/Native Green Jobs Alliance www.nativeworkplace.com began when Cristala began gathering green jobs information, and didn't find one single source for information. They divide their programs into several areas: Wind, water, fire, earth, and thunder. They have a National Board with broad representation.

    Three main pieces of the work:

    • Community education: for legislators: answer the questions of what is a green job, and what qualifies for green jobs? Some traditional jobs, like welding and electricians, become "green jobs" when you're working on the right things.
    • Training and Recruitment: weatherization, and green jobs. They are partnering with entity in the NW which has contract for workforce development with 40 cities to do IT (Information Technology) work.
    • Creating an Indian Economy. Contact them to let them know what they could do to support your community. They don't come with a pre-decided solution as to what's best for you; they listen to your needs. There must be different solutions for different communities; each community has its own needs.

    Interest Areas:

    • Waste to Energy: includes manufacturing opportunities, no-incineration solutions, get rid of landfills and make self-sustaining energy. The no-incineration process creates clean potable ash that can be sent to agriculture. Canadian project takes railroad ties and processes them; it's a closed-loop effort.
    • Rainwater Catchments: Rainwater catchments are about sustainability of our communities - not just Navajo where water is scarce, but also West Coast as fire mitigation strategy. They are partnering with: American Rainwater Catchment Association. This is also a small business opportunity: they promote sustainability where there are business opportunities.
    • Veterans Outreach: give jobs to returned vets.

    They will be holding a Green Jobs conference. They are also partnering with North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners: does solar panel installer certification. They are working to get an entry-level certification course into tribal colleges.

    The Washoe tribe has green tribal housing projects, and there's quite a bit of support for weatherization.

  4. Questions

    Funding sources to support website: very small, community donations?
    - Training and recruitment contracts are in the works.

    Recycling disincentive from Waste-to-Energy?

    Region IX: sustainable infrastructure workgroup came out of West Coast Green conference.

    Cristala worked for 5-6 years in economic development, and knows they are looking for ongoing long-term support to make sure jobs are there after training. It's critical to make sure job opportunities are there; workforce development - job opportunities needs to be synergistic. RES 2009 offered them opportunities, and the CHMM conference is coming up in San Diego.

    See the Training page on their website www.nativeworkplace.com. One needs to know more than just what the technology is; you need to know what those jobs are. Send them small business opportunities.

    They will be greening the Gathering of Nations powwow, and putting together tips for greening your own powwows.

     

  5. Environmental Summit Topics

    • review activities, and what should TribalP2 be doing?
    • green building waste: CFLs, e-waste,
    • sustainable infrastructure/waste oil
    • broken CFLs
     

  6. Next call
    Date: Tuesday, April 21, 2009
    Time: 2 pm EDT, 1 pm CDT, Noon MDT, 11am PDT
    Call in Number: 888-296-6500 Pass code 547845