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Tribal School Air Toxics Monitoring Initiative:
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.
www.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/school-air-monitoring1.htm
Current Project and Application:
The TAMS Center initially received air toxics monitoring equipment from the National School Air Toxics Monitoring Initiative that was loaned to tribes to conduct 60 to 90 day sampling projects. Now that funding for the Tribal
School Air Toxics Monitoring Initiative is no longer available, the equipment is still available for loan through the TAMS Center equipment loan program. Interested tribes should contact the TAMS Center for further information
regarding the types of equipment available and to discuss the equipment loan application process.
Planning and Operations Procedures: Tribal School Air Toxics Monitoring Study:
Through the National School Air Toxics Monitoring Initiative, an Air Monitoring Plan, a Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP), and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the equipment utilized for monitoring was available for the
school air toxics monitoring projects. The documents can be found at: www.epa.gov/ttnamti1/airtoxschool.html. This documentation may be helpful
to the tribes in developing the quality assurance project plans for their respective projects.
Further information:
For further information, please contact the TAMS Center: