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Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Tribal Radon Program

Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Tribal Radon Program. Brandy Toft Air Quality Specialist ITEP IAQ Course March 2013. Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. Leech Lake Reservation–rural area located in North Central Minnesota 864,158 acres, over 78% is water/wetlands 268 miles of rivers/streams

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Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Tribal Radon Program

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  1. Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Tribal RadonProgram Brandy Toft Air QualitySpecialist ITEP IAQ Course March 2013

  2. Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe • Leech Lake Reservation–rural area located in North Central Minnesota • 864,158 acres, over 78% is water/wetlands • 268 miles of rivers/streams • 270 fishable lakes • 40 wildrice lakes • Serving 12,000 in 14 communities

  3. Government Structure and Operations • Sovereign government • Council of five elected officials • Employ over 2,000 people • 3 casinos…proceeds go to human services • 18 Divisions • Housing • 620+ Housing homes • Div of Resource Management • Fisheries, Land, Environmental, Admin, Forestry, GIS, Conservation Enforcement, Wildland Fire

  4. Air Quality Program – Started 2001 • Projects include • Radon • Air policy (NTAA) • Mining • Permit, NEPA, EIS, EAW review • Indoor Air Quality • Green Team (compost, food soverign, wind, solar, sustainability) • Air Pollution monitoring • Diesel retrofitting (School bus, on/off road) • Burn barrel mitigation/exchange • Education and outreach

  5. Starting IAQ • Started IAQs in 2004 • 1st IAQ – No idea…thought had idea, but… • Father is a carpenter, limited building experience • Training in 2004 but 2008 multiple courses • Since then over 80+ IAQs completed • Community member homes • Office buildings, individual offices

  6. Starting IAQ • Trainings – choose carefully • Tribal, ITEP, EPA, private, Universities, Montana Tribal Healthy Homes • Learn MORE hands on, repeated exposure • Worked with R5 IAQ Center of Excellence Bois Forte Band of Ojibwe • Requested to do assessment on government building • OJT – trained during with assessment

  7. However, Not Certified… • …but qualified to be certified • Liability issues, protect LLBO • Currently limited resources • Really requires a dedicated, full time program • In assessments provide disclaimers • Have tenant/resident sign disclaimer Stress informational and educational, not to be used for court cases

  8. Tools of the Trade • Initial purchase – used GAP/103 funding • Tramex moisture meter • Delmhorst pin moisture meter • Bora scope • Camera • Next • Psychrometer • Q-trak • THEN…used Radon grant funding • Infra-red camera

  9. Tools of the Trade…

  10. Partnership with Housing • Started in 2007 and building on each day • Not an easy in…took time to build relationship • Radon • training, testing, mitigation, construction • Assist with IAQ assessments • Serve as another set of senses • Back up each other • Share equipment

  11. Work To Make Better Homes • Building better, more efficient • Fixing insulation issues, windows • Ensuring proper ventilation • bathrooms, HRVs, ranges • Efficient, sustainable, green (solar furnaces) • Radon Resistant New Construction (RRNC) • Control radon and other soil gases • Control moisture – double whammy! • Educate Housing builders, administration, tenants

  12. American Lung Association Project • 24 homes for asthmatic mitigation - $6,000/home • Homes with asthmatic elders or children • Partnerships re-enforced, learn together • Building science stressed and how to test • Understand pressure flows & how a building operates • Learned how to operate instruments, use senses • Blower doors • Learned that every IAQ can be puzzling

  13. New Partnerships - Leveraging • Leech Lake Community Services • OSHA Tribal Representative • Work with other Tribes • Phone, visits • Some not or never will be partners • “Disliked very much” by Facilities Manager

  14. New Tenant Classes • Housing new tenant classes (8 to date) • Overview of IAQ and what they can do • Stress to be own advocate • Why IAQ important and tips • Reporting small problems before BIG problems • How to change filters • Many don’t know – 1st time introduction

  15. Doing IAQs • Every place is unique, different system • Still learning every time, scared to miss info • Go in with confidence, not cocky • Willing to learn from each IAQ • Use network contacts for assistance/guidance • Usually take 1-2 hours for initial assessment • A good day to write report

  16. IAQ Reports • IAQ check list and field notes • LLAP detailed IAQ report (3-8 pages) • Pictures • Description of home/office • Description of issues found and of concern • List of findings and suggestions • Enclose educational materials • JUST THE FACTS…

  17. Final IAQ Page Findings The Leech Lake Air Program recommendations are as follows: • Furnace #1 – Change furnace filter every month. Ensure correct size and install filter slot cover. • Furnace #1 – Investigate and reroute condensate line to sump pump or sewer. • Furnace #2 – Change furnace filter every month. Ensure correct size and install filter slot cover. • Furnace #3 – Change furnace filter every month. Ensure correct size and install filter slot cover. • Furnace #3 – Repair leaking condensate pipe in N crawl space. • EACH furnace MUST professionally inspected, cleaned, and maintained each year. • Date each filter change on filter with a sharpie or pen. (cont.)

  18. Final IAQ Page (cont.) • Must use pleated air filters, MERV rating 7-8, change monthly, fit filter slot, and install filter slot cover. • HRV should be checked with each furnace filter change and cleaned if necessary (spring with pollen/insects/seeds). Every 3 months the pre-filters and core must be cleaned. • Install another HRV in building. With multiple furnaces and zones, coupled with the square footage of the building, another HRV is required. • If there are floor vents, the registers can be removed and the boot of the ductwork vacuumed out. • Vacuum carpeting at least twice to three times a week (e.g. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) at end of day. • If carpeting is removed, replace with hard surface flooring that can be swept and mopped. • Fungus identified growing in N crawl space. Remove fungus. Remediate crawl space for moisture to remediate for fungus. • Poly barrier requires sealing at each joint with tape designed for poly, adhered to the walls and center posts by either special adhesion caulking or by mechanical fasteners and around any penetrations

  19. No time to advertise… • “Unfunded” ~ limited scope of workplan • Only by word of mouth • Other duties – have to balance • However - Who else is there to do it? IAQ is one of the best ways to improve someone’s health; to assist Tribal members with direct impact.

  20. Funding • EPA GAP • EPA 103 • EPA SPRIG Radon • EPA Environmental Justice • LEVERAGE RESOURCES!!! • Use Housing wages as match • Be creative • Network! • Work with State, other Tribes, Organizations

  21. Brandy Toft Air Quality Specialist Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe 218-335-7429 air@lldrm.org

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