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2013 Spring | Environmental Justice, Policy & Regulation

Burning Passions: Woodstove Emissions, Tribal Sovereignty, and EPA Regulation

Student(s):

Sarah Sanborn

Program or Department(s):

  • Program on the Environment
  • University of Washington

Site supervisor(s):

Erin Mader, Bill Todd

Partner(s):

  • United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10

Faculty advisor(s):

Megan Styles, Program on the Environment, University of Washington

The EPA works with tribes as a consultant for environmental contamination. My internship with the EPA focused on how residential woodstove emissions contribute to poor air quality on reservations in Idaho, Oregon, and Washing- ton. After three months of research, I discovered that woodstove emissions are dangerously high on reservations. This is a health and environmental justice concern. To fix this, I researched cost-efficient methods to lower emissions in a way that observes tribal sovereignty. My findings increased communication between the EPA and Tribal Air Staff. The final report illustrates the total annual emissions and reservation: programs, outreach, and education.