U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency (Region 7)

Communities Information Digest

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News

*EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy Declares February 2014 Environmental Justice Month and Reaffirms Commitment to EJ Check out U.S. EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy's latest blog post and video about EJ Month and the 20th anniversary of Executive Order 12898. February 11, 2014 marks the 20th anniversary of President Clinton's signing of Executive Order 12898, "Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations." We've accomplished a lot over the past two decades - not only EPA, but all federal agencies, state and local governments, tribes, community leaders, and partners in academia and business. That's why EPA Administrator McCarthy has declared February 2014 as Environmental Justice Month at EPA and reaffirmed the agencys commitment to environmental justice at the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council meeting held recently in Denver CO, highlighting our progress while also launching a yearlong effort to focus our environmental justice leadership and reaffirm our commitment to do even more. Throughout 2014, EPA will be highlighting events occurring around the country. For more information on how EPA and others are celebrating, visit http://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/events/20th-anniversary.html *EPA Recognizes Seven Communities for Smart Growth Achievement The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently recognized projects in seven communities as winners of the 2013 National Award for Smart Growth Achievement for their creative, sustainable initiatives that better protect the health and the environment while strengthening local economies. Among the winners are an expansive greenway in Atlanta, a downtown whitewater rafting park in rural

Iowa, and a regional development plan for metropolitan Chicago. Other winners include the revitalized Historic Millwork District in Dubuque and an innovative, affordable infill housing development near public transit in Sacramento. The winning projects show us tha t we can develop, grow local economies, and protect public health and the environment all at the same time, said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. The 2013 award winners were judged in five categories: overall excellence; corridor or neighborhood revitalization; plazas, parks, and public places; policies, programs, and plans; and built projects. The 2013 winners are: Overall Excellence in Smart Growth: Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail and Historic Fourth Ward Park Atlanta, Georgia Corridor or Neighborhood Revitalization: Historic Millwork District and Washington Neighborhood Dubuque, Iowa Policies, Programs, and Plans: GO TO 2040 Metropolitan Chicago, Illinois Policies, Programs, and Plans (Honorable Mention): Lower Eastside Action Plan Detroit, Michigan Built Projects: La Valentina Sacramento, California Built Projects (Honorable Mention): Via Verde The Bronx, New York Plazas, Parks, and Public Places: Charles City Riverfront Park Charles City, Iowa For more information on the winners, including videos visit: http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/awards.htm *EPA Proposes New Safety Measures to Protect Farm Workers from Pesticide Exposure On February 20, 2014, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced proposed revisions to the Worker Protection Standard in order to protect the nation's two million farm workers and their families from pesticide exposure. "Today marks an important milestone for the farm workers who plant, tend, and harvest the food that we put on our tables each day," said Gina McCarthy, EPA Administrator. "EPA's revised Worker Protection Standard will afford farm workers similar health protections to those already enjoyed by workers in other jobs. Protecting our nation's farm workers from pesticide exposures is at the core of EPA's work to ensure environmental justice." EPA is proposing significant improvements to worker training regarding the safe usage of pesticides, including how to prevent and effectively treat pesticide exposures. Increased training and signage will inform farm workers about the protections they are afforded under the law and will help them protect themselves and their families from pesticide exposure. Workers and others near treated fields will now be protected from pesticide overspray and fumes. These revisions protect workers while ensuring agricultural productivity and preserving the traditions of family farms. For more information on the EPA's Proposed Worker Protection Standard: http://www.epa.gov/oppfead1/safety/workers/proposed/index.html *Global Green USAs Partnership with the EPA to Provide Technical Assistance to Twenty-six Communities 2014 marks the third year of Global Green USAs partnership with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide free technical assistanceworth $20,000to neighborhoods throughout the country seeking to become more socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable. Eight communitiesincluding two that were impacted by Hurricane Sandywere chosen to receive this assistance in 2014: Santa Monica, CA; Los Angeles, CA; Long Beach, CA; Dubuque, IA; Oak Forest, IL; Chippewa-Cree Tribe, MT; Long Beach, NY; and Westerly, RI. With the help of a grant from the EPAs Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities Program, Green Urbanism Program (GUP) experts will visit each of the communities with other planning and sustainability experts from around the countryincluding Raimi + Associates, Farr Associates, and Agora Group. During the site assessment, the team will identify a neighborhoods positive qu alities, consult with community stakeholders in meetings and public workshops, and identify major opportunities to improve the sustainability of each neighborhood. Smart Growth America also selected the following 18 communities: Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, Iowa; East Central Florida Regional Planning Council, Florida; Emmett, Idaho; Fort Peck Assiniboine & Sioux Tribes of Poplar, Montana; Green River, Wyoming; Hot Springs, Arkansas; Huntington, West Virginia; Indianapolis, Indianapolis; Kauai County, Hawaii; Kenosha County, Wisconsin; Memphis, Tennessee; North Central Texas Council of Governments, Texas; Pasco County, Florida;

Person County, North Carolina; Portsmouth, New Hampshire; Queensbury, New York; Salisbury, Maryland; and San Diego, California. Each community will receive a training session with an expert from Smart Growth America on the issue of their choosing. Topics this year include implementing smart growth 101, planning for economic and fiscal health, complete streets, parking audits, walkability audits, codes for small cities, cool planning to slow climate change, and sustainable land use code audits. Learn more about Global Greens technical assistance. Learn more about Smart Growth Americas technical assistance. Learn more about Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities. *Join HUD-DOE-EPA for the Obama Administration Green Energy Twitter Town Hall You are invited to participate in the Obama Administration Green Energy Twitter Town Hall, a virtual discussion about the green energy policies adopted by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to help improve energy efficiency in commercial buildings, multifamily complexes, and individual homes. The Twitter Town Hall will take place tomorrow Friday, February 21st at 2 p.m. EDT. President Obama addressed the issue of climate change in his State of the Union address, and through his Climate Action Plan, has set the goal of cutting energy waste in our homes and businesses by 50 percent over the next 20 years. HUD, DOE and EPA have been implementing policies to meet this goal, leading to significant energy consumption reductions for both businesses and families. Please send your questions and comments to the hashtag #GreenEnergyQs now through Friday, February 21st, at 2 pm. Your questions and comments will be used to start the discussion and also will be fielded live. The Twitter Town Hall will be streamed live on the HUD, DOE, and EPA websites. *EPA Awards Almost $9 Million in Grants to Researchers Working to Improve Water Quality Recently at the 14th National Conference and Global Forum on Science, Policy and the Environment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy announced grants to four research institutions for innovative and sustainable water research to manage harmful nutrient pollution. Nutrient pollution is one of America's most widespread, costly and challenging environmental problems, and is caused by excess nitrogen and phosphorus in waterways. These grants will go towards research to help us better manage nutrients and better protect our precious water resources from the dangers of nutrient pollution, especially in a changing climate, said Administrator McCarthy. The Science to Achieve Results (STAR) grants, announced by Administrator McCarthy are an integral part of EPAs research on water quality and availability. Improving existing water infrastructure is costly, which makes creating new and sustainable approaches to water use, reuse and nutrient management important. These grants support sustainable water research and demonstration projects consistent with a comprehensive strategy for managing nutrients and active community engagement throughout the research process. For more information on the grants and projects, visit http://epa.gov/ncer/nutrient. For more information on EPA-funded research supporting water quality and availability, visit http://www.epa.gov/research/waterscience. *Invitation to the Proposed FY15 HUD Budget Stakeholder Briefing-RSVP for In Person Deadline February 28 President Barack Obama will be announcing the Administrations FY2015 proposed budget on March 4, 2014. On behalf of Secretary Shaun Donovan, you are invited to join the Secretary for a budget briefing to provide stakeholders with an overview of HUDs Fiscal Year 2015 proposed budget. HUD wants to keep you engaged and informed about how the proposed HUD budget will impact your organization and the communities that you serve. The details are below. Event: Stakeholder FY15 Budget Briefing Date: Tuesday, March 4, 2014 Time: 3-4 p.m. EDT (please arrive no later than 2:30 pm)

WHERE: Brooke-Mondale Auditorium, 1st floor U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development 451 7th Street, SW Washington, DC 20410 ENTRANCE: South Lobby NOTE: This Briefing is not for press purposes. RSVPs to attend in person are mandatory and are due Friday, February 28 at noon, go to http://www.hud.gov/emarc/index.cfm?fuseaction=emar.registerEvent&eventId=1993&update=N Space is limited and will be honored on a first-come-first served basis. Because of security procedures, we request that you check in with security at the South Lobby entrance of HUD (located at 7th and E Streets, S.W.) no later than 2:30 p.m. Please present a valid form of identification to security.This event will also be webcast and can be seen at the following links that will go live about 15 minutes before the broadcast. There is no need to RSVP if you plan to join via webcast. http://portalapps.hud.gov/HUDMediaChannel/liveplayer_secondary.jsp http://portalapps.hud.gov/HUDMediaChannel/liveplayer_tertiary.jsp (captioned) *Annual EPA Enforcement Results Highlight Focus on Major Environmental Violations The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently released its annual enforcement and compliance results demonstrating a focus on violations that have the most impact on public health. Our enforcement work over the past year reflects our focus on the biggest violators and the cases that make the most difference in protecting American communities from pollution, said Cynthia Giles, Assistant Administrator for EPAs Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. Some highlights from fiscal year 2013 include: -- EPAs cases resulted in criminal sentences requiring violators to pay more than $4.5 billion in combined fines, restitution a nd courtordered environmental projects that benefit communities, and more than $1.1 billion in civil penalties. -- Pursuing justice for Gulf Coast residents through the Deepwater Horizon cases, resulting in over $3.7 billion going back to benefit the Gulf States and communities impacted by the spill. -- Requiring Walmart to commit to cutting edge hazardous waste handling systems, as well as compliance and training programs that will protect employees and nearby residents. Walmart also paid more than $80 million in fines and penalties for mishandling pesticides and hazardous waste. -- Working with cities to cut discharges of raw sewage and contaminated stormwater to the nations waters through integrated planning, green infrastructure and other innovative approaches. Recent settlements with Seattle and King Co., WA and Wyandotte County, KS require cities to initially provide relief to overburdened communities most impacted by sewage discharges. Other examples of innovative settlements include San Antonio, TX and Jackson, MS. More information about EPAs Fiscal Year 2013 enforcement results can be found at: http://www2.epa.gov/enforcement/enforcementannual-results-fiscal-year-fy-2013

Funding Opportunities
*March 7: USDA Grant Applications for Conservation Innovation Efforts *March 10: EPA National Center for Sustainable Water Infrastructure Modeling Research $4 million *March 10: FTA Low or No Emission Vehicle Deployment Program $24.9 million *March 11: EPA Source Reduction Assistance (SRA) Grant Program $1.029 million *March 14: EDA Economic Development Assistance Programs Federal Funding Opportunity *March 14: DOE Solar Manufacturing Technology 2 (SolarMat 2) -$25 million *March 20: EPA Pollution Prevention Grant Program $4.1 million *April 1: DOE Vehicle Technologies Program $51.4 million *April 11: Energy Departments $12 Million for Technologies to Produce Renewable Carbon Fiber from Biomass *April 14: *Energy Department Funding to Access Higher Quality Wind Resources and Lower Costs http://energy.gov/eere/wind/financial-opportunities

Meetings, Conferences, & Events

March 17-19: The Funder's Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities 2014 Annual Conference -Boston, Massachusetts March 27-29: National Green Schools Conference, -Sacramento, California http://greenschoolsnationalnetwork.org/conference/ May 7-9: National Training Conference on the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) and Environmental Conditions in Communities, Arlington, Virginia http://www2.epa.gov/toxics-release-inventory-tri-program/2014-national-training-conference May 18 -20: 2014 National Main Streets Conference -Detroit, Michigan June 4-7: 22nd Annual Congress for New Urbanism -Buffalo, New York *June 17-18: 2014 LOCUS Leadership Summit, -Washington D.C.

Webinars & Conference Calls

*Sustainability in Seattle, February 25, 12-1:00 p.m. CST In June of 2013, the Seattle City Council voted unanimously to adopt the Seattle Climate Action Plan. Three years in the making, the 92-page plan outlines hundreds of actions the city must take to become carbon neutral by 2050 and prepare itself for the likely effects of climate change. This free, one-hour webinar, sponsored by Crescent Electric Supply Company, will feature Jill Simmons, director of Seattle's Office of Sustainability & Environment. Ms. Simmons will discuss the Climate Action Plan and other sustainability initiatives the city has embarked upon. For more information go to: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/925006510?utm_source=SCN+InBox+eNewsletter&utm_campaign=9992432976-Newsletter_2-52014_Muni&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_11e7ac761c-9992432976-188541149 Incorporating Solar in Green Power Offers from Coast to Coast, February 25; 3-4:00 p.m. EST The webinar will discuss how utility green pricing programs and other voluntary green power offers have incorporated solar into their product mix. Leslie Brown will discuss how Silicon Valley Power in CA, has developed a product with 20% solar from CA. Jay Carlis will share how Community Energy has been engaged with developing solar, buying and selling solar renewable energy certificates, and supplying solar to voluntary program. To register go to: https://www.mymeetings.com/emeet/rsvp/index.jsp?customHeader=mymeetings&Conference_ID=4146020& passcode=4312800 *DOE Tribal Renewable Energy Series Webinar: Strategic Energy Planning, February 26, 11:00-12:30 PM (MST) - Attendees will learn about developing a strategic energy plan, identifying key aspects of successful energy planning, and using available information and resources. The available resources include archived webinars in the series from the DOE Office of Indian Energy Education Initiative. Attendees will learn how the plan (1) helps the tribe to mobilize the long-term support necessary for energy project development that extends beyond changing political administrations, (2) helps address barriers to energy development by providing a long-term view that prioritizes projects over not just years but several decades, and (3) engages stakeholders from all segments of the community to help the tribe pursue energy development projects in a thoughtful and strategic manner. If you cannot participate the day of the webinar a recording will be available. To register go to: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/319770520 *Demolition and Deconstruction to Promote a Sustainable Future An Example in Cincinnati, Ohio, February 26, 1-2:00 p.m. EST The Hamilton County, Ohio (Cincinnati) Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) is embarking on one of the largest public works projects in the Countys 200-plus year history. Project Groundwork is MSD's plan for addressing a Federal consent decree and reducing or eliminating sewer overflows into local creeks and rivers. This major initiative is designed to reduce or eliminate sewage overflows; benefit communities through environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable solutions to these current problems; and revitalize the economy through creation of jobs and growth opportunities for local businesses. A part of this effort is the removal of approximately 75 buildings in the corridor where an urban waterway- fed

by stormwater that will be separated from nearby combined sewers- will flow when the project is completed in 2018. EPA is working with MSD and Building Value, LLC on deconstruction, recycling, and salvage strategies for those buildings. Speakers include: Andrew Reynolds, Environmental Planner with RA Consultants, LLC, for the Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati; Chris Miday, Deconstruction Manager, Building Value, LLC; and David Rich, Director, Building Value, LLC. To register go to: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/345666920 Questions? Contact Janette Hansen, EPA Region 5: Hansen.janette@epa.gov or 312-886-0241 *DOE Webinar on Strategic Energy Planning, February 26, 1-2:30 p.m. EST The Energy Department will present a live webinar titled "Strategic Energy Planning" on Wednesday, February 26, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. During this webinar, attendees will learn about developing a strategic energy plan using key aspects of successful energy planning and available information and resources. Register here to attend the webinar. *Conversion of Municipal Waste to Energy and Products - Wednesday, February 26, 2014, 1 p.m. EST The rapid growth of waste materials generated by humanity and available waste management options in the U.S. cities and worldwide has resulted in renewed focus on thermal conversion technologies, particularly combustion and gasification. As the generation of various types of solid waste grows rapidly, municipalities and companies are moving towards alternative solutions to their waste management problems to the age old method of landfilling. This has resulted in the development and application of many thermal treatment technologies whose objective is resource recovery along with sustainable waste management. In turn this has created a need for earth and environmental engineers with training in thermal treatment technologies that are coupled with the recovery of electricity and heat. For more information go to: http://www.audiosolutionz.com/1020-conference-waste-to energy.php?utm_medium=3rdparty&utm_source=Castaldi_021214&utm_campaign=EEGY0B01 *Listening Sessions (In-Person and Teleconference) - Newark, New Jersey (Afternoon & Evening) on Executive Order 13650 - Improving Chemical Facility Safety and Security, February 27th Location: New Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA), One Newark Center, Newark, NJ 07102 Please note, the afternoon session (1:00pm-5:00pm) will be located on the 12th floor of the NJTPA and the evening session (6:00pm-8:00pm) will be located on the 17th floor. In-Person Registration Link: http://www.govevents.com/word-redir.php?id=12098 Teleconference Registration Link: http://www.govevents.com/word-redir.php?id=12099 *Case Studies: Implementing Green Infrastructure under Enforcement Orders, March 4th, 1-2:30pm EST Green infrastructure can provide cost-effective, flexible, and environmentally-sound solutions to meet Clean Water Act (CWA) requirements. Green infrastructure can also provide a variety of other community benefits including enhanced ecosystem services, improved air quality, increased property values, energy savings, reduced urban heat island effects, and job creation opportunities. Given the multiple benefits of green

infrastructure, communities around the country are increasingly incorporating green designs into wet weather controls to address compliance with the CWA. This webcast will highlight two such communities which have successfully integrated green infrastructure into EPA enforcement agreements to meet regulatory requirements, better manage combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and stormwater runoff, and meet other community goals. Featured case studies and speakers include: Second Chances: Retooling a Great Lakes City with Green Infrastructure with Kyle Dreyfuss-Wells, Manager of Watershed Programs, Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District; and Maximizing Partnerships to Fulfill Infrastructure Investment with Andy Shively, Kansas City Water Services. To sign up go to: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/478735057

Green Schools
*USDA Announces Fiscal Year 2015 Farm to School Grants to Continue Efforts to Increase Local Foods in Eligible Schools Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced in February the release of a request for applications for the third round of USDA's Farm to School grants, including the addition of a new funding track. These grants help eligible schools improve the health and wellbeing of their students and connect with local agricultural producers. "Connecting American farmers and ranchers with the National School Lunch Program provides schoolchildren with daily access to locally sourced, healthy foods," said Vilsack. Three different kinds of grants will be available, as well as a separate funding track to support trainings and events. Planning grants are intended for schools just getting started on farm to school activities. Implementation grants are available for schools seeking to augment or expand existing efforts. Additionally, eligible non-profit entities, Indian tribal organizations, state and local agencies, and agriculture producers or groups of producers may apply for support service grants in order to conduct trainings, create complementary curriculum, or further develop supply chains, among other activities. Proposals are due at 11:59 p.m. EST, April 30, 2014. To assist eligible entities in preparing proposals, USDA will host a series of webinars related to the application process: March 11, 2014, 1:00 EST Planning Grants March 12, 2014, 1:00 EST Implementation Grants March 13, 2014, 1:00 EST Support Service Grants March 14, 2014, 1:00 EST Training and Event Funding Track Collectively, these policies and actions will help combat child hunger and obesity and improve the health and nutrition of the nation's children. This is a top priority for the Obama Administration and is an important component of First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! For more information please visit: http://www.fns.usda.gov/farmtoschool/farm-school USDA Awards Grants for New School Food Service Equipment to Help Schools Improve the Quality of Meals Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will be awarding $11 million in grants to help schools purchase needed equipment to make preparing and serving healthier meals easier and more efficient for hardworking school food service professionals. "Schools are successfully serving healthier meals to America's students, but the right equipment and training can further their efforts to improve the health of our next generation," said Vilsack. "These grants will help schools

upgrade equipment to help support nutritious meals, better ensure food safety, improve energy efficiency in the cafeteria, and expand participation in school nutrition programs." In addition to the District of Columbia and Guam, fourteen states were selected to receive grants based on free- and reduced-price participation in the National School Lunch Program and greatest unmet need. They are Arkansas, California, Illinois, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Washington. States will competitively award the funds to school districts to purchase needed equipment, with priority given to districts serving a high percentage of low-income children. http://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAOC/bulletins/9a9424 Walking School Buses Picking Up Speed - Programs Help Fight Obesity and Reduce Emissions More U.S. children are getting to school the old school way by walking. Requiring only two volunteers and a neighborhood of children willing to dress for the weather, the walking school bus is part of a growing national trend to combat childhood obesit y, traffic congestion and auto emission pollution in urban areas. According to the Trends in Walking and Bicycling to School report released October 2013 by the National Center for Safe Routes to School, a greater percentage of children between the grades of kindergarten and eighth grade are choosing active school travel. Parent surveys showed the percentage of children walking to and from school increased from 12.4 percent in 2007 to 15.7 percent in 2012 in the morning and 15.8 percent in 2007 to 19.7 percent in 2012 in the afternoon. The data was compiled from parent surveys submitted by 8,119 schools representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia. For more information, go to: http://scitynetwork.us2.listmanage1.com/track/click?u=75610d665a8ff31dbc072badb&id=7e4e84d090&e=6d1207504f New EPA Guidance to Schools On PCB-Containing Light Fixtures The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is providing important guidance to school administrators and maintenance personnel on how to properly maintain and manage fluorescent lighting with ballasts that contain polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). In schools across the country, most PCB-containing fluorescent light ballasts have exceeded their life span and are beginning to leak and smoke. The guidance is part of the EPAs ongoing efforts to address potential PCB exposures in schools. http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/2e548f3ed779c8a085257c3f006147ad?OpenDocument State School Environmental Health Statutes At-a-Glance Updated - Several effective state environmental health programs for schools have been built on a foundation of state policies and standards that support, promote, or require schools and school districts to implement practices that promote environmental health. States are encouraged to identify and implement existing policies and standards that can help establish a robust school environmental health program, and to consider whether there are additional opportunities to protect childrens health through the development of additional statewide policies or standards for healthy schools. The New Appendix E State School Environmental Health Statutes At-a-Glance provides model schools environmental health legislation by state. Appendix E is a useful resource for state lawmakers and decision makers seeking model statutes that support school environment health. Safe Routes to School District Policy Workbook - Safe Routes to School is a movement that encourages students to walk, ride bicycles, or use other forms of active transportation to and from school. The Safe Routes to School Policy Workbook is designed to help school board members, administrators, families of students, and community members create and implement policies that support active transportation and Safe Routes to School programs. The workbook will walk you through a series of policy options to help you build your own customized Safe Routes to School policy, which you can download and use in your community. More at http://changelabsolutions.org/safe-routes/welcome Asthma Educator Institute Course in Berkley, MO The American Lung Association is holding an Asthma Educator Institute course on March 5 & 6, 2014. This is a two-day program designed

for the licensed healthcare professional responsible for providing asthma education to people living with asthma. The training is provided by physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists and other licensed medical professionals. The program is intended to raise the standards and expectations of asthma educators by providing the necessary training and to increase the focus of asthma education on quality of life for people living with asthma and their families. Cost is $275. To register, contact Laura Frick at LFrick@breathehealthy.org, or fax to (314)6457128. Registrations must be submitted no later than Monday, February 24. Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Announces Funds for Deployment of Low or No Emission Transit Buses Deadline 3-10-14 Notice of Funding Availability for the Solicitation of Project Proposals for the Low or No Emission Vehicle Deployment Program (LoNo) Program. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the availability of $24.9 million of Fiscal Year 2013 funds for the deployment of low or no emission transit buses. Of that amount, $21.6 million is available for buses and $3.3 million is available for supporting facilities and related equipment. The main purpose of the LoNo Program is to deploy the cleanest and most energy efficient U.S.-made transit buses that have been largely proven in testing and demonstrations but are not yet widely deployed in transit fleets. The LoNo Program provides funding for transit agencies for capital acquisitions and leases of zero emission and low-emission transit buses, including acquisition, construction, and leasing of required supporting facilities such as recharging, refueling, and maintenance facilities. Go to: http://www.grants.gov/custom/viewOppDetails.jsp?oppId=249864 March 27-29: National Green Schools Conference, Sacramento, California http://greenschoolsnationalnetwork.org/conference/

Other Community-Related Information & Events

*EPA Partnerships Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Save Businesses Money The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently released its annual Climate Protection Partnerships report, highlighting the steps more than 21,000 organizations across the United States have taken to reduce greenhouse gas pollution while achieving significant environmental and economic benefits. Through investments in cleaner technologies and energy-efficient practices, EPAs Climate Protection Partners show us that we can cut the harmful carbon pollution that fuels climate change and protects public healthwhile continuing to grow a strong, sustainable economy, said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. The achievements outlined in this report support the goals of President Obamas Climate Action Plan by cutting energy waste, encouraging energy efficiency, and saving money for American families and businesses. The report, "EPAs Office of Atmospheric Programs Climate Protection Partnerships 2012 Annual Report" includes accomplishments such as: -- In 2012, EPA's climate protection programs prevented 365 million metric tons of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. -- Americans saved more than $26 billion on their utility bills in 2012 with the help of ENERGY STAR and prevented greenhouse gas emissions equal to the annual electricity use of 35 million homes. -- In 2012, EPAs methane and fluorinated greenhouse-gas-program partners used EPA tools and resources to prevent emissions equal to the annual electricity use from more than 10 million homes. These reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are increasingly important to tackle climate change challenges. Scientists have observed changes in precipitation, rising sea level, melting ice and altered weather patterns, including more frequent and intense storms. The report

further outlines the environmental accomplishments of these programs. To read the full report, go to: http://www.energystar.gov/about/sites/default/uploads/files/2012_AnnualReport_Final.pdf?3cd5-e266. To learn more about climate change go to: www.epa.gov/climatechange/ *Environmental Justice in Action Blog: Looking Back on 20 Years of Working toward Environmental Justice Check out another recent blog post, Evolving Visions of Environmental Justice: An EJ Pioneer's Reflections on Executive Order 12898 after Twenty Years, by Charles Lee of the EPA's Office of Environmental Justice. Mr. Lee writes about the 20th anniversary of EO 12898, which established the Office of Environmental Justice and helped to amplify much of the community activism that lead to its signing by President Bill Clinton on February 11, 1994. Also, check out our 20th Anniversary Video Series, which features federal and local government officials, non-profit leaders and students who share stories about their lessons learned over time working on environmental and climate justice. Be sure to add your e-mail address to the subscribe link on the upper-right side of the blog's home page to receive our future posts directly each week. Click the "Like" button to let your friends know about this great resource. Thank you for helping up spread the word! Link: http://blog.epa.gov/ej/2014/02/evolving-visions-of-ej/ *Environmental Justice in Action Blog: Elevators for Everyone! Check out the blog post, Sustainability for All, by Deeohn Ferris of the Sustainable Community Development Group. Ms. Ferris writes about equitable development and how many low income communities do not have the same opportunities as others. "If the race to sustainability is a race to the top, some of our communities can take the elevator. Others only have stairs, and some of them have asthma too!" Addressing such inequities as fairer access to healthcare, better schools, and housing choices in these communities is crucial in improving their ability to achieve sustainability. Link: http://blog.epa.gov/ej/2014/01/sustainability-for-all/ *EPA Launches WaterSense H2Otel Challenge to Encourage Water Savings The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently launched the WaterSense H2Otel Challenge as a way for agency partners and other organizations to encourage hotels to use best management practices that will save water and money, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. From New York Citys Times Square to the Las Vegas strip, hotels across the country will take a pledge to ACTassess, change, and track their water use in the following ways: assess water use and savings opportunities; change products and processes to more water-efficient models and methods; and track water reduction progress before and after incorporating best management practices. Caesars Entertainment is the first company to sign up for the H2Otel Challenge. To help hotels make operational changes and meet growing customer demand for green lodging, EPA will initiate a series of educational webinars and provide free tools based on the online guide, WaterSense at Work: Best Management Practices for Commercial and Institutional Facilities. WaterSense will also offer outreach materials for hotels to publicize their efforts and celebrate their successes with guests and employees. For more information about the challenge, visit the WaterSense website at www.epa.gov/watersense/challenge. *GlobalChange.gov Launches New Website featuring Climate Change Adaptation Resources for Federal Agencies We are pleased to announce the launch of our new website featuring an easy-to-access collection of resources to help Federal agencies with planning and implementation for climate change adaptation. Resources include relevant Federal executive orders and strategic plans, selected technical reports on adaptation research, frameworks and other information to help agencies adapt their operations to changing climate conditions, and overview reports for higher-level decision

makers. The resources collected on the website are designed in part to help agencies meet the requirements outlined in Executive Order 13653: Preparing the United States for the Impacts of Climate Change, and in the guidance subsequently provided by the Office of the Federal Environmental Executive. The website will be updated as new resources are developed and deployed. If there are resources that your agencies have available that would be relevant to the purpose of this new website, please send them along to Emily Seyller with a short description of and link to the resource. To explore the new website, please go to: http://www.globalchange.gov/resources/federal-agency-adaptation-planning-resources *Environmental Justice (EJ) in Action Blog: Quilting to Give a Community a Voice Check out our latest blog post, Quilting to Give a Community a Voice, by Jeanie Economos of the Farmworker Association of Florida. Ms. Economos writes about how farmworkers in Lake Apopka are telling their stories through folk art. Each square of each quilt tells a story of some small victory or tragedy, and together they speak of the injustices experienced by farmworkers in their region. Through the years, these quilts have helped raise awareness and gave the community a voice with the state legislature. Link: http://blog.epa.gov/ej/2014/01/quilting-to-give-a-voice/ *EJ in Action Blog: Hazel Johnson - A Legacy, A Founder, And A Leader Check out our latest blog post, Mama Johnson: A Visionary Who Inspired Her Country, written by the daughter of Ms. Hazel Johnson, Cheryl Johnson. Ms. Johnson writes about her mother's impact on the environmental justice movement. Through her pioneering efforts and actions, Ms. Hazel worked to inspire others to seek environmental justice and careers in environmental advocacy. She played a critical role in the creation of Executive Order 12898, signed by President Bill Clinton on February 11, 1994. Link: http://blog.epa.gov/ej/2014/02/mama-johnson/ *MDNR Has Onsite Funding Program for Wastewater Treatment Systems Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) has a State Onsite Funding Program that was created to provide State Revolving Funds (SRF) to individuals for the repair or replacement of onsite wastewater treatment systems. While the two programs are similar in nature, each has their own eligibility and funding parameters. Upper White River Basin Foundation, Inc. d/b/a Ozarks Water Watch will use the SRF funds to provide low interest loans and grants to qualified homeowners in the Upper White River Basin watershed alone. Qualified homeowners can receive 60% reimbursement for the cost of construction of these facilities in the form of a grant/loan combination while low income applicants will be able to receive up to 98% grant/loan reimbursement, up to $25,000 total reimbursement. The Missouri Association of Councils of Government has also developed a means of last resort program to fund projects throughout Missouri. Loan terms will be based on the borrowers ability to repay, not to exceed $15,000 over ten years. Interest rates on loans will not exceed 5% with lower interest rates available for low income borrowers. It is the expectation of MDNR that many sources of non-point source pollution will be alleviated, protecting Missouri waters. Many of these sources would not otherwise be remedied without the availability of these programs. Interested applicants should contact Ozarks Water Watch if in the Upper White River Basin watershed, or your regional planning commission for applications. Applications are accepted at any time. For more information or to apply please contact: Ms. Ronna Haxby Ozarks Water Watch Kimberling City, MO 65686 Phone: 417-739-5001 Email: ronna@ozarkswaterwatch.org or

Mr. Chuck Eichmeyer Boonslick Regional Planning Commission Warrenton, MO 63383 Phone: (636) 456-3473 Website: www.macogonline.org/onsite *Surgeon General report says 5.6 million U.S. children will die prematurely unless current smoking rates drop-Report finds cigarette smoking causes diabetes and colorectal cancer Approximately 5.6 million American children alive today or one out of every 13 children under age 18 will die prematurely from smoking-related diseases unless current smoking rates drop, according to a new Surgeon Generals report. Over the last 50 years, more than 20 million Americans have died from smoking. The new report concludes that cigarette smoking kills nearly half a million Americans a year, with an additional 16 million suffering from smoking-related conditions. It puts the price tag of smoking in this country at more than $289 billion a year in direct medical care and other economic costs. To help communicate the report findings as widely as possible, the Surgeon General unveiled an easy-to-read consumer guide with practical information on tobacco use and a 30-second public service announcement video. For the full report, executive summary, consumer guide and PSA, visit http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/reports/50-years-of-progress/index.html . For free help quitting smoking, smokers can call 1-800-QUIT-NOW or visit www.smokefree.gov or www.cdc.gov/tips . *My Air, My Health Challenge Results With $160,000 in prizes offered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service (HHS), the My Air, My Health Challenge was a multidisciplinary call to innovators to create a personal, portable, near-real-time, location-specific system to monitor and report air pollutants and potentially-related health events. In December, OSTP released its second annual comprehensive report detailing benefits reaped from the increasing use of prizes and competitions by Federal agencies. You can learn more about the prize competitions being run across the Federal Government by visiting Challenge.gov. http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2014/01/23/challengegov-wins-innovations-americangovernment-award *7th Annual Growing Sustainable Communities Conference in Dubuque, IA, Call for Presentations Due March 11 This is an invitation to submit your application for consideration as a presenter at the 7th Annual Growing Sustainable Communities Conference, scheduled to be held at the Grand River Center in Dubuque, Iowa on October 7 & 8, 2014. The deadline for submissions is Tuesday, March 11. Please note: All presentations should include case studies of sustainability focused projects involving municipal governments, non-profit organizations, and/or high-profile commercial initiatives that significantly impact local economies, ecologies and/or address issues of resiliency, social/cultural vibrancy or equity. For more information or to submit your application go to: http://www.eventbrite.com/e/gscc-2014-call-for-presentations-tickets8513198205?utm_campaign=a757dd25acGSCDubuqueCallForPresentations&utm_medium=email&utm_source=SCN+InBox +e-Newsletter&utm_term=0_11e7ac761c-a757dd25ac-188651097 *EPA Takes Action To Protect Public From Harmful Lead Exposure The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced enforcement actions that will require 35 home renovation contractors and training providers to take additional steps to protect communities by minimizing harmful lead dust from home renovation activities, as required by the EPAs Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Standards. These

standards provide important, front-line protection for children and others vulnerable to exposure to lead dust that can cause lead poisoning. The settlements, issued between May 2013 and January 2014, include 17 contractors that failed to obtain required certification prior to performing renovation activities on pre-1978 homes, where lead is more likely to be present. The enforcement actions, which all require contractors to certify compliance with the RRP standards, led to more than $274,000 in civil penalties. The RRP standards, which are part of the federal Toxic Substances Control Act, are intended to 1) ensure that owners and occupants of housing built before 1978 and child-occupied facilities receive information on lead-based paint hazards before renovations begin, 2) that individuals performing such renovations are properly trained and certified by EPA, and that, 3) during renovations, specific work practices are followed to reduce the potential for lead-based paint exposure. Between May 2013 and January 2014, EPA settled enforcement actions with several companies. More information about the settlements can be found at: http://www2.epa.gov/enforcement/lead-renovation-repair-and-painting-rule-february-2014. More information about the RRP standards and how contractors can get certified can be found at: www.epa.gov/lead *The Robert Wood Johnson Commission to Build a Healthier America The Robert Wood Johnson Commission is calling for a seismic shift in funding priorities to improve health, emphasizing the importance of community revitalization, early childhood education, and a broader health care scope. Creating healthier communities and lives, the Commission asserts, requires considering the health impacts of all aspects of community development and revitalization. To learn more about the Commissions recommendations, go to http://www.rwjf.org/en/aboutrwjf/newsroom/newsroom-content/2014/01/commission-to-build-a-healthier-america-recommends-seismic-shift.html or watch the release video. *Energy Department Awards New ARPA-E Solar Projects The Energy Department on February 6 announced $30 million in funding to 12 ARPA-E projects to develop transformational hybrid solar energy technologies that deliver cost-effective power even when the sun is not shining. These projectsin Arizona, California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Oklahoma, and Washingtonwill help advance solar energy beyond current photovoltaic (PV) and concentrated solar power (CSP) technologies to drive lower-cost, reliable solar energy deployment. For example, Sharp Labs of America will receive about $4 million to develop a hybrid solar converter that could enable utilities to provide on-demand and low-cost solar electricity. MicroLink Devices, based in Niles, Illinois, will receive about $3.6 million to develop high-efficiency solar cells that can operate at temperatures above 750F and can extract the most energy possible from sunlight when integrated with hybrid solar converters. See the Energy Department news release, the complete project list , and the ARPA-E website *The Best Complete Streets Policies of 2013, released by Smart Growth America Cities and towns across the country are making roads safer and more convenient for everyone through Complete Streets policies. A total of 83 communities adopted Complete Streets policies in 2013. These laws, resolutions and planning and design documents encourage and provide for the safe access to destinations for everyone, regardless of age, ability, income or ethnicity, and no matter how they travel. The Best Complete Streets Policies of 2013, released today by Smart Growth America's National Complete Streets Coalition, highlights 15 communities that led the nation in creating comprehensive Complete Streets policies last year. To see the winning communities go to: http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/completestreets-2013-analysis *U.S. EPA and its Federal Partners Advance Decontamination Techniques Recently the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), along with federal partners, announced the results of a multi-year

project called Bio-Response Operational Testing and Evaluation (BOTE) that tested and evaluated decontamination techniques for a biological incident. The information gained from this project gives communities tested decontamination methods and real world guidance to inform future response efforts, said Lek Kadeli, Acting Assistant Administrator of EPAs Office of Research and Development. Results of this collaborative research effort is helping make the United States and our communities more secure, better prepared, and increasingly resilient. EPA plays an important role in helping to prepare and protect the country against chemical, radiological and biological threats. This project also examined the associated costs of each method, and the expense of managing the waste cleanup. The results will help provide state and local leaders, onscene coordinators, waste managers and others with a guideline for effective decontamination in the event of a biological threat. For more information on the BOTE project go to: http://cfpub.epa.gov/si/si_public_record_report.cfm?dirEntryId=263911 For more information on EPAs homeland security research go to: http://www.epa.gov/nhsrc/ *NASCAR and Sprint Join Energy Department's Workplace Charging Challenge At the NASCAR Plaza in Charlotte, N.C., officials from the Energy Department, NASCAR, and Sprint Corp. recently announced the companies' participation in the Department's Workplace Charging Challengea collaborative effort to increase the number of U.S. employers offering workplace charging by tenfold. The Challenge also supports the broader efforts of the Department's EV Everywhere Grand Challenge to make plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) as affordable and convenient for the American family as gasoline-powered vehicles within the next 10 years. For more information, go to: http://energy.gov/articles/nascar-and-sprint-join-energy-department-s-workplace-charging-challenge. *New video for Kansas Citys Mid-America Regional Councils (MARC) Creating Sustainable Places Plan This plan will expand job access, connect people to places, and improve community life in neighborhoods throughout the region. With a 2010 HUD Regional Planning grant, MARC united its two-state, six county region, getting ahead of local trends -- aging population, increased diversity, and shrinking household size -- to create a thriving region for their children and grandchildren. Joining together a 2011 HUD Challenge grant with Kansas and Missouri state funding, MARC provided grants to 18 localities to develop neighborhood plans and programs, to implement the regions vision. To see the video, please visit: http://www.marc.org/Regional-Planning/Creating-Sustainable-Places *State of the Union Highlights Clean Energy Progress President Obama focused on a variety of renewable energy and energy efficiency issues in his State of the Union address on January 28, highlighting progress toward a "shift to a cleaner energy economy" and spotlighting solar energy and fuel efficiency. "The shift to a cleaner energy economy wont happen overnight, and it will require tough choices along the way," President Obama said. "But the debate is settled. Climate change is a fact. And when our childrens children look us in the eye and ask if we did all we could to leave them a safer, more stable world, with new sources of energy, I want us to be able to say yes, we did." The President noted that as the United States has increased its energy production, the nation has "partnered with businesses, builders, and local communities to reduce the energy we consume. When we rescued our automakers, for example, we worked with them to set higher fuel efficiency standards for our cars. In the coming months, Ill build on that success by setting new standards for our trucks, so we can keep driving down oil imports and what we pay at the pump." For more information, please visit: the State of the Union Address, a White House State of the Union video, and a White House State of the Union fact sheet.

*Statement by Secretary Vilsack on the Passage of the Agricultural Act of 2014 On February 4, 2014, Department of Agriculture Secretary Vilsack made the following statement on passage of the Agricultural Act of 2014: "Today's action will allow the proud men and women who feed millions around the world to invest confidently in the future. Our communities will have additional support to attract new economic opportunity and create jobs. During difficult times, children, working families, seniors and people with disabilities will have access to nutritious food. The potential of new products, treatments and discoveries will be strengthened through new agricultural research. Renewed conservation efforts will protect our fields, forests and waters creating new tourism options. This legislation is important to the entire nation. The Agricultural Act of 2014 is important legislation that provides authorization for services and programs that impact every American and millions of people around the world. The new Farm Bill builds on historic economic gains in rural America over the past five years, while achieving meaningful reform and billions of dollars in savings for the taxpayer. For more information go to: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?navid=farmbill *EPA Releases New Climate and Energy Strategy Guide for Local Governments EPA has released a new climate and energy strategy guide for local governments, titled Green Power Procurement: A Guide to Developing and Implementing Greenhouse Gas Reduction Programs (pdf). This guide provides comprehensive information for local government staff and policy makers on how to implement these GHG reduction strategies, including: Products/technologies and their applications; Environmental, energy, and economic benefits; Steps for designing procurement plans/installations; Key stakeholders to engage; Policy mechanisms for initiating programs; Implementation strategies for success; and Costs and funding opportunities. Key features of the guide include case studies and examples from communities across the United States, and links to technical resources, analytical tools, and sources of funding. This guide is part of EPAs Local Government Climate and Energy Strategy Series, which is designed to help policy makers and program staff plan, implement, and evaluate cost-effective climate and energy projects that generate environmental, economic, social, and human health benefits. To access other guides in this series, please visit the Local Government Climate and Energy Strategy Series page. *Greening Greensburg, Kansas magazine article On the evening of May 4, 2007, Greensburg, Kansas, was utterly demolished by a category EF5 tornado. Roaring up from the Texas panhandle, the 1.7-mile-wide monster tore through the town, flattening houses and flinging car parts onto the roof of the grain elevator. Residents had twenty-six minutes warning, allowing many of them to scramble for shelter. Nonetheless, the tornado destroyed 95 percent of the town and killed eleven people. Despite its name (the original Green was a nineteenth-century stagecoach driver), Greensburg was no hotbed of eco-activism. Fast forward to 2013. Greensburg farms the wind for its electricity, selling its surplus back to the grid. Most municipal buildings, including the city hall, school, and hospital, are LEED-certified, and the streets are now lit by LEDs. To read the entire article, go to: http://www.orionmagazine.org/index.php/articles/article/7967 *Los Angeles Recognized for Leadership in Energy Efficiency The Energy Department on January 29 recognized the City of Los Angeles, California, for its leadership in the Energy Departments Better Buildings Challengehelping the city save on energy costs and cut greenhouse gas emissions. Through the Better Buildings Challenge, Los Angeles has pledged to reduce the energy intensity for 30 million square feet of cityowned facilities and private buildings by 20% by 2020. As part of the Better Buildings Challenge, Los Angeles is working to

benchmark 250 of the citys most energy-intensive facilities and develop a plan to improve building performance by 2020. More than 25 owners of large commercial buildings, including Transwestern, Kaiser Permanente of Southern California, Kilroy Realty, and the Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles, have joined the Challenge and are reporting their results annually to help others save money and energy. See the Energy Department press release and Better Buildings Challenge website. *Energy Department Offers $3 Million to Find New Geothermal Sources The Energy Department on January 30 announced $3 million to spur geothermal energy development using "play fairway" analysis. This technique identifies prospective geothermal resources in areas with no obvious surface expression by mapping the most favorable intersections of heat, permeability, and fluid. While commonly used in oil and gas exploration, play fairway analysis is not yet widely used in the geothermal industry. The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that 30 gigawatts of undiscovered hydrothermal energy potential exist untapped beneath the Earth's surfacenearly 10 times the current installed capacity of geothermal energy in the United States. One of the keys to tapping this clean resource is reducing the cost and risk of locating it. The Energy Department will support one-year collaborative research and development projects, especially in new, unexplored areas, that adapt play fairway analysis to geothermal exploration. See the Energy Department press release for more information at: http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/progress_alerts.cfm/news_id=21240 *Energy Department Announces Funding to Access Higher Quality Wind Resources and Lower Costs The Energy Department recently announced $2 million to help efficiently harness wind energy using taller towers. These projects will help strengthen U.S. wind turbine component manufacturing, reduce the cost of clean and renewable wind energy, and expand the geographic range of cost-effective wind power in the United States. The closing date is April 14, 2014. For more information go to: http://energy.gov/eere/wind/financial-opportunities *USDA Announces Winners of the 2014 Agricultural Outlook Forum Student Diversity Program Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced the selection of 30 university students to attend USDA's 2014 Agricultural Outlook Forum, titled "The Changing Face of Agriculture," held Feb. 20- 21, 2014, at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel in Arlington, Va. Twenty university juniors and seniors were chosen on the basis of their essays on "Agriculture as a Career," and 10 graduate students were selected for their response to "The Greatest Challenge Facing Agriculture over the Next Five Years." "The future of agriculture and rural America depends on the upcoming generation of leaders in farming, ranching and conservation, and the students selected to attend the Agricultural Outlook Forum are among the best young leaders our country has to offer," said Vilsack." USDA's Agricultural Outlook Forum Student Diversity Program is designed to introduce students to contemporary agribusiness, future trends, scientific research, and agricultural policy in today's real world environment. The students are from land-grant, Hispanic-serving, and non land-grant agricultural and renewable resources universities. Several of the 2014 winning essays are found here: www.usda.gov/oce/forum/diversity/diversity_program.htm. Plenary speeches will be webcast after 6:00 p.m. EST on Feb. 21. Program details and registration information are available at www.usda.gov/oce/forum *EPA's 2012 Toxics Release Inventory Shows Air Pollutants Continue to Decline Total releases of toxic chemicals decreased 12 percent from 2011-2012, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys (EPA) annual Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) report released today. The decrease includes an eight percent decline in total toxic air releases, primarily due to reductions in hazardous air pollutant (HAP) emissions. People deserve to know what toxic chemicals are being used and released in their backyards, and what companies are doing to prevent pollution, said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. The 2012 data show that 3.63 billion pounds of toxic chemicals were either disposed

or otherwise released into the environment through air, water, and land. The annual TRI report provides citizens with critical information about their communities. The TRI Program collects data on certain toxic chemical releases to the air, water, and land, as well as information on waste management and pollution prevention activities by facilities across the country. The data are submitted annually to EPA, states, and tribes by facilities in industry sectors such as manufacturing, metal mining, electric utilities, and commercial hazardous waste. More information on the 2012 TRI analysis, including metropolitan and micropolitan areas is available at: www.epa.gov/tri/nationalanalysis. More information on facility efforts to reduce toxic chemical releases, including the new P2 facility comparison report, is available at: www.epa.gov/tri/p2. *Energy Department Offers $50 Million to Advance Fuel Efficient Autos The Energy Department recently announced nearly $50 million to accelerate research and development of new vehicle technologies that give drivers and businesses more transportation options and protect the environment in communities nationwide. This new funding includes support for the Energy Departments EV Everywhere Grand Challenge, a broader initiative launched in March 2012 to make plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) as affordable and convenient to own and drive as todays gasoline-powered vehicles within the next 10 years. The funding will support a wide range of technologies that further cut fuel costs for drivers and help make vehicles more efficient and durable, including lightweighting materials; cost-effective batteries and power electronics; advanced heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems; and improved fuels and lubricants. Last year, Americans bought nearly 100,000 plug-in electric vehicles, nearly twice as many as sold during 2012. According to industry estimates, the U.S. PEV market is on track to pass the 200,000 sales milestone by spring 2014nearly two years faster than hybrid electric vehicles reached this milestone after their introduction 10 years ago. See the Energy Department press release for more information. *DOT Offers nearly $25 Million for More Zero-Emission Buses The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced recently that its Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is making $24.9 million available through its new Low- or No-Emission Vehicle Deployment Program that will put a new generation of advanced, non-polluting transit buses on the road in communities nationwide. The funds are intended to encourage more widespread adoption of reliable green energy buses into transit fleets. FTA will award the funds on a competitive basis to transit agencies and state transportation departments working either independently or jointly with bus manufacturers that are already making low- and zero-emission buses. The program builds on the success of FTAs National Fuel Cell Bus Program, which invested in the research, development, and testing of alternative fuels and related equipment, such as electric charging stations, for the transit industry. This program successfully committed $90 million over seven years for innovative research, demonstration, and deployment projects to reduce the cost of fuel cells for transit use. In addition to their environmental benefits, LoNo transit buses will, in the long run, help transit agencies save money on fuel and maintenance costs. According to the Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory, zero-emission buses can achieve more than double the fuel economy of buses running on diesel and other fuels. See the DOT press release. Seven New Cities Selected as Strong Cities, Strong Communities including St. Louis, MO Last week, the White House announced it is expanding the Strong Cities, Strong Communities (SC2) Initiative to seven cities: Brownsville, TX; Flint, MI; Gary, IN Macon, GA; Rockford, IL; St. Louis, MO; and Rocky Mount, NC. They join the pilot cities of Chester, PA; Cleveland, OH; Detroit, MI; Fresno, CA; Memphis, TN; New Orleans, LA; and Youngstown, OH. SC2 was established in 2011 to strengthen local capacity, coordinate federal investments, and spark growth in economically distressed communities. Federal inter-agency expert teams are deployed to work alongside city leadership, community organizations, local businesses and philanthropic foundations to support the cities visions for economic growth and development. EPA is

one of more than 13 agencies that support SC2. EPAs Office of Sustainable Communities contributes resources and staff expertise to ensure that sustainable community approaches are part of the assistance the federal government provides to communities working to recover from economic distress. For more information, please visit: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/press/press_releases_media_advisories/2014/HUDNo.14-006 Obama Administration Announces the First Five Promise Zone Designees The U.S. Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today the five inaugural U.S. communities that have been designated as Promise Zones, an intensive and layered approach to revitalizing distressed communities. The Promise Zones will benefit from a comprehensive approach to development that will enhance and connect local assets ranging from schools to housing to jobs. The first five Promise Zoneslocated in San Antonio, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Southeastern Kentucky, and the Choctaw Nation of Oklahomahave each put forward a plan on how they will leverage federal partnerships and resources in the most effective ways possible to improve their communities. In exchange, these designees will be able to access federal investments in order to achieve their goals. "Rural Americans often face the same barriers to income equality as folks in our cities, and that's why the Promise Zones effort focuses on both urban and rural areas," said USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack. "Through intensive outreach and technical assistance, we will provide rural and tribal areas with the tools they need to create new, sustainable economic opportunity today and for generations to come. USDA looks forward to teaming up with partners across the federal government and at the local level to build a brighter economic future for all." For more information, go to: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2014/01/0005.xml&contentidonly=true Four Years Later: Sustainable Communities, Job Creation and Shared Knowledge (written by Secretary Shaun Donovan) Its hard to believe that more than four years have gone by since the creation of the Partnership for Sustainable Communities . In 2009, President Obama gave HUD, DOT and EPA the directive to work together to create strong, sustainable communities by connecting housing to jobs, fostering economic development, and helping to build a clean energy economy. The goals and mission established by President Obama are becoming a reality, and today hundreds of representatives from HUDs 143 Sustainable Communities grantee communities have gathered in Washington, D.C. to discuss their best practices, exchange ideas, and learn from each others experiences so that they may build stronger local and regional partnerships. The convening, organized by HUDs Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities (OSHC), also marked the completion of the master plans for many of the 2010 HUD Sustainable Community Grantees. These plans serve as community road maps to guide growth and development for years to come and were shaped by the input and long range visions of many regional partners and stakeholders, including local governments, chambers of commerce, transportation agencies, and of course the residents of those communities. The on-going development of our grantee master plans has already obtained the input of more than 50,000 residents and stakeholders over the course of more than 2,000 public meetings all over the country, from rural to urban communities. For more information, please visit: http://blog.hud.gov/index.php/2013/12/06/four-years-later-sustainable-communities-job-creation-and-sharedknowledge/ This digest is being provided by EPA Region 7 for informational purposes only. This digest contains links to information, agencies, sites, and organizations outside of the EPA website. EPA is not responsible for third party links. EPA does not endorse third party organizations or agencies.