September 12, 2014

Welcome to the latest EPA Region 7 Digest!

The purpose of the EPA Region 7 Communities Information Digest is to provide communities
in the 4-state region and other interested areas the latest news, webinars, conferences,
funding, and other community-based activities going on in the region and country related to
human health and the environment. (A * Indicates a new post.)
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*New Toxic Release Inventory Communities Web Page is Live with Community Engagement Pilot Products
The new TRI Communities page is live with products and services. We encourage you to check it out and to especially view the
following products generated from the TRI Community Engagement Pilots Project Initiative led by EPA:
TRI for Communities PowerPoint developed with input from community members;
Two-page snapshots for two of the four pilot communities;
TRI and P2 analysis of North Birmingham, AL that shows how TRI can be used;
South Philadelphia Community-Scale map and companion report that used the GeoPlatform to combine broad EPA, State, and local
data; and

Inventory of TRI Community Outreach and Education Materials, 1989-2012.

*Small Towns in the Kansas City Area Achieve Big Savings with Lighting Upgrades
Dozens of small communities throughout Kansas and Missouri are saving big money and energy as a result of several high-impact
street-lighting projects. Over the past three years, more than 5,700 energy-efficient lights were installed in communities with
populations of less than 35,000 people. The upgrades were part of Smart Lights for Smart Cities, an energy efficiency initiative
managed by the Mid-America Regional Council, a metropolitan planning organization serving the Kansas City area. The new lights
featuring induction and LED technologiesare brighter, more energy efficient, and easier to maintain than the mercury vapor and
high-pressure sodium streetlights they replaced.
*EPAs National Award for Smart Growth Achievement Extended until September 19
th
The application period for the National Award for Smart Growth Achievement has been extended to 5 p.m. Eastern, Friday,
September 19, 2014. Through this award, EPA recognizes and supports communities that use innovative policies and strategies to
strengthen their economies, provide housing and transportation choices, develop in ways that bring benefits to a wide range of
residents, and protect the environment. Public-sector, private-sector, and nonprofit organizations that have successfully used smart
growth principles to improve communities are encouraged to apply.
*Economic Development Administration (EDA) Announces Funding Opportunity under the Regional Innovation Grants
Program Due November 3
rd
The EDA is committed to helping foster connected, innovation-centric economic sectors which support commercialization and
Headlines
EPA Region 7
Communities Information Digest
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The EDA is committed to helping foster connected, innovation-centric economic sectors which support commercialization and
entrepreneurship as described in the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010. As part of this strategy, funding is available
for capacity-building activities that include Proof of Concept Centers and Commercialization Centers as well as scaling of existing
commercialization programs and centers; feasibility studies for the creation and expansion of facilities such as science and research
parks; and supporting opportunities to close the funding gap for early-stage companies.
*EPAs National Award for Smart Growth Achievement Extended until September 19
th
The application period for the National Award for Smart Growth Achievement has been extended to 5 p.m. Eastern, Friday,
September 19, 2014. Through this award, EPA recognizes and supports communities that use innovative policies and strategies to
strengthen their economies, provide housing and transportation choices, develop in ways that bring benefits to a wide range of
residents, and protect the environment. Public-sector, private-sector, and nonprofit organizations that have successfully used smart
growth principles to improve communities are encouraged to apply.
*USDA Provides $328 Million to Conserve Wetlands and Farmland, Boost Economy
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced recently that $328 million in conservation funding is being invested to help landowners
protect and restore key farmlands, grasslands and wetlands across the nation. The USDA initiative will benefit wildlife and promote
outdoor recreation and related sectors of the economy. The funding is provided through the Agricultural Conservation Easement
Program (ACEP), which was created in the 2014 Farm Bill to protect critical wetlands and encourage producers to keep lands in
farming and ranching. Approximately 380 projects nationwide were selected to protect and restore 32,000 acres of prime farmland,
45,000 acres of grasslands and 52,000 acres of wetlands.
REMINDERS:
Brownfields Area-Wide Planning Grants: New Funding Opportunity, Due September 22, 2014
EPAs Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization just announced a funding opportunity to help eligible entities develop area-wide
plans for brownfields assessment, cleanup, and subsequent reuse. This funding is for research, technical assistance, and/or training
activities directed to one or more brownfield site(s) located in a specific area (such as a neighborhood, district, local commercial
corridor, community waterfront or city block).
One Water Leadership (OWL) Summit to be Hosted in Kansas City this September
Join us at the 5
th
annual event September 15-17, 2014 in Kansas City, MO. Spotlight panels will explore three teams with models for
overcoming nutrient and scarcity issues under the banner of one water Cape Cod, Massachusetts; Edwards Aquifer, Texas; and
Upper Neuse River Basin, North Carolina. The conference is put on by the US Water Alliance and draws leaders in water
sustainability throughout the country.
USDA Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant (REDLG) Contact Rural Development State Office for Due Dates
USDA Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) Contact Local USDA Service Center
September 22: EPAs Brownfields Area-Wide Planning Grants
*September 26: Safe Routes to School Free Technical Assistance
October 2: Deployment of Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency on Indian Lands
October 7: EPA Air Pollution Monitoring for Communities Request for Applications
*November 3: EDAs Regional Innovation Grants Program
*November 12: USDAs Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI)
HUD CDBG Disaster Recovery Assistance
September 15-17: One Water Leadership (OWL) Summit Kansas City, MO
September 15-18: Strategic Conservation Planning Using a Green Infrastructure Approach Shepherdstown, WV
September 19: Mid-Atlantic Center for Children's Health and the Environment 12th Annual Conference Washington
D.C.
September 21-24: Rail~Volution Annual Conference 2014 Minneapolis, MN
September 24-26: EcoDistricts Summit Washington, D.C.
September 27: Green Apple Day of Service
September 29-30: Community Indicators Consortium 2014 Impact Summit Washington, DC
September 30-October 2: Meeting of the Minds 2014 Detroit, MI
September 30-October 2: America's Watershed Initiative Summit Louisville, KY
September 16-18: Kansas Built Environment and the Outdoors Summit Wichita, KS
Funding & Technical Assistance Opportunities
Meetings, Conferences, & Events
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September 30-October 2: America's Watershed Initiative Summit Louisville, KY
October 1-2: EPA NEJAC Public Meeting Crystal City, VA
October 7-8: 7th Annual Growing Sustainable Communities Conference Dubuque, IA
October 7-9: National Conference on Sustainability, Brownfields and Property Transactions Philadelphia, PA
October 15-17:Shifting Seasons Summit on Tribal Climate Change Adaptation Keshena, WI
November 4-6: Balancing Nature and Commerce in Rural Communities and Landscapes KS
November 11-14: The National Preservation Conference Savannah, GA
December 2-4: Renewable Energy Markets 2014 Conference Sacramento, CA
January 29-31, 2015: 14
th
Annual New Partners for Smart Growth Conference Baltimore, MD
February 4-6, 2015: Children: Food and Environment Austin, TX
March 4-7 2015: Green Schools National Conference Virginia Beach, VA
*September 2-4, 2015: National Brownfields Training Conference Chicago, IL
EPA Releases Best Practices Guidance and Hosts Webinars on Reducing Pesticide Use and Saving Money in Schools
To help school administrators and staff reduce pesticide use and costs, EPA has released Model Pesticide Safety and IPM
Guidance Policy. The guidance document and webinars will help school districts adopt a proactive approach to pest control including
offering models for policies, procedures, program oversight and plans for implementing Integrated Pest Management. The webinars
will address: School Community Mosquito IPM; Creating Tick-Safe Schools Using IPM; The Basics of School IPM; Managing Outdoor
Pests of Schools Using IPM; Bed Bugs; Keeping Rodents out; and Dealing with Nuisance Birds around Schools.
ENERGY STAR Webinars September 2014 (Note: All start times are EST).
Sep. 17, 1:00 p.m. Celebrate the 15th Year of ENERGY STAR for Buildings & get special recognition from EPA!
Sep. 23, 12:00 p.m. Portfolio Manager 101
Sep. 24, 12:00 p.m. Portfolio Manager 201
Sep. 25, 12:00 p.m. How to Apply for the ENERGY STAR
*Getting Equitable Development into the Plan September 17, 1 - 2:30 p.m. EST
As sustainability initiatives gain traction, it is increasingly apparent that the pathway to a sustainable future will require strategies for
'equitable development'. Equitable development encourages fairness in planning and development practice to ensure everyone has a
safe and healthy environment in which to live, work, and play. For this free webinar, planners and community builders will discuss
how to align quality of life goals while being socially responsible and supporting community parity. The webinar will reveal that being
attentive to equitable development during the community planning process results in better community outcomes, especially for
underserved populations and vulnerable groups.
*Solar for All: A Community Solar Webinar September 17, 2 - 3:00 p.m. EST
ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability USA presents a free webinar featuring the city of Beaverton, Oregons Solar on
Reservoirs project, and Tompkins County, New Yorks solarize program.
*Encouraging Solar Development through Green Energy Tariffs for Large Utility Customers September 18, 12 - 1:00 p.m.
MST
Several utilities are beginning to create renewable energy tariffs for large customers looking to meet more of their energy needs with
renewables. This webinar will provide key considerations for designing these tariffs in order to promote utility-sponsored solar
development.
*Successful Project Financing Mechanisms ESPCs and UESCs September 24, 11 - 12:30 p.m. MST
The attendees will learn about two popular mechanisms developed for federal agencies to finance renewable energy and energy
efficiency projects, Energy savings performance contracts (ESPCs) and utility energy service contracts (UESCs). The discussion
includes how these two methods allow tribes to develop the projects with limited to no up-front capital costs, thus minimizing the need
for including the project costs in budgets or requesting Congressional appropriations for them.
Contaminant Uptake in Food Crops Grown on Brownfields Sites September 26, 12:00 p.m. EST
Free to Attend. Presented by Dr. Ganga Hettiarachchi and Dr. Sabine Martin, Kansas State University.
"Suddenly, Nothing Was Ever the Same": Hurricane Sandy September 26, 12:00 p.m. EST
Free to Attend. Presented by Donald Watson, FAIA Architect and Author.
*EPA Hosts Webinar on Creating Tick-Safe Schools Using Integrated Pest Management September 30, 1 - 2:30 p.m. EST
A webinar, Creating Tick-Safe Schools Using IPM, will be held on September 30, from 1:00 2:30 p.m. Central time. This webinar is
one in a series of EPA webinars to help school districts adopt a proactive approach to pest control by offering information on plans for
implementing Integrated Pest Management. Integrated Pest Management takes action to address the underlying causes that enable
pests to thrive.
Future webinars will address the following topics:
Webinars & Conference Calls
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Future webinars will address the following topics:
The Basics of School IPM: October 21 at 2 p.m. EST
Managing Outdoor Pests at Schools Using IPM: November 18 at 2 p.m. EST
Bed Bugs in Schools: December 16 at 2 p.m. EST
Keeping Rodents out of Your School: January 27 at 2 p.m. EST
Dealing with Nuisance Birds around Schools: February 24 at 2 p.m. EST
Kansas Citys Mid-America Regional Councils Water Quality Education Committee Webcasts
Implementing TMDLs, Session 1: Local TMDLs & Regional/River Basin TMDLs October 8, 12 - 2 p.m. CST
Implementing TMDLs, Session 2: Retrofitting Existing Stormwater Ponds & Basin November 12, 12 - 2 p.m. CST
Mid-America Regional Councils Water Quality Education Committee is pleased to announce the following series of webcasts offered
at the MARC office. There is no cost to attend. Please contact Lisa Elsas to register at lelsas@marc.org or 816-701-8392 and include
your name, agency, email and which webcast you plan to attend.
Green Infrastructure Training Online
Find information on upcoming webinars and listen to archived webinars. Archived webinars include Case Studies: Implementing
Green Infrastructure under Enforcement Orders and O&M and Green: Best Practices for Green Infrastructure Operations and
Maintenance.
*Apply Now for Safe Routes to School Free Technical Assistance
The Safe Routes to School National Partnership can assist your efforts to make your community a place where kids can easily be
active and healthy.
We are offering free technical assistance to successful applicants working in underserved communities on campaigns to obtain shared
use agreements, Complete Streets policies, or other policies in support of walking, bicycling, and Safe Routes to School. Applications
are due September 26th, 2014,
by 5 p.m. EST.
*EPA Releases Three Final Chemical Risk Assessments Related to Chemicals used in Paint Strippers
EPA recently released three final risk assessments for specific uses of three chemicals found in common household products. The risk
assessment for Dichloromethane (DCM), which is widely used in paint stripping products, indicates health risks to both worker s and
consumers who use these products, and to bystanders in workplaces and residences where DCM is used. EPA estimates that more
than 230,000 workers nationwide are directly exposed to DCM from DCM-containing paint strippers.
*EPA Seeks Feedback from the Public on Proposed Label Options for Safer Products
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is redesigning its Design for the Environment Safer Product Label to better convey t o
consumers that products bearing the label meet the programs rigorous standard to be safer for people and the environment. The
redesigned label is intended to help consumers, businesses and institutional buyers recognize products that have earned the EPA
Safer Product Label. Comment on the proposed designs until October 31, 2014.
*EPA EJ Blog: Taking Back the Streets: Restoring a Watershed One Community at a Time
Check out our latest blog post, Restoring a Watershed One Community at a Time, by Alicia Neal. In today's post, Alicia talks about
how an EPA Small Grant funded a rain garden which not only helped to offset runoff pollution and mitigate floods in the Lower Ninth
Ward of New Orleans, but also brought together community members to reconnect after the damage of Hurricane Katrina.
*EPA EJ Blog: Women and Climate Change
This week's Climate Justice in Action post entitled Women and Climate Change, examines how women around the world bear a larger
share of the adverse impacts of climate change. The post, written by Brittany Whited and Corinne Hart, outlines how gender pl ays a
role in health impacts of climate change and discusses how clean cook stoves and improved access to clean water can help miti gate
some of these impacts.
*EPA EJ Blog: Climate Justice Through Resiliency
Check out our latest blog post, Climate Justice through Resiliency and Renewable Energy in A Post -Industrial City by Sherrell Dorsey.
In today's post, Sherrell discusses the positive, transformative impact that community planning and an HUD grant have had on
Bridgeport, a low-income community which was further devastated by Hurricane Sandy.
*Smarter Parking Codes to Promote Smart Growth
Unless youre walking to your destination in a busy downtown neighborhood, chances are good that you need parking at the end of the
trip. Nowadays, several cities are changing their thinking on parking regulations in response to the growing demand for car -light living.
*U.S. Settles with Costco to Cut Ozone-Depleting and Greenhouse Gas Refrigerant Emissions Nationwide
Costco Wholesale Corporation, the nations second largest retailer, has agreed to cut its emissions of ozone-depleting and
greenhouse gas chemicals from refrigeration equipment at more than half of its stores nationwide. In the settlement announced
recently by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Justice (DOJ), Costco will pay $335,000 in penal ties
for federal Clean Air Act violations and improve refrigerant management at 274 stores at an estimated cost of $2 million over the next
Other Environmental News
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for federal Clean Air Act violations and improve refrigerant management at 274 stores at an estimated cost of $2 million over the next
three years.
*Settlement with Omaha Tribe of Nebraska Creates Sustainable Path Forward for Tribal Utility Operations to Protect
Residents and Environment
The Omaha Tribe of Nebraska, a federally recognized Native American tribe located in northeastern Nebraska, and the Tribes Utilities
Commission have reached a settlement with the United States to improve the Tribes drinking and wastewater systems and its tr ash
collection program.
*Settlements with Pair of Related Norfolk, Neb., Pesticide Companies to Improve Pesticide Safety and Reliability
Custom Feed Services Corporation and Earthworks Health LLC, two separate pesticide companies based in Norfolk, Neb., with
common ownership, have agreed to pay civil penalties totaling $74,513 to settle allegations related to the production and distribution of
unregistered and misbranded pesticides, in violation of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).
*Facts about SNAP and Senior Hunger from the National Council on Aging
In the U.S., over 4 million low-income adults over age 60 rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to stay
healthy and make ends meet. On average, they receive $119 per month to help put food on the table. Find out some other key facts
about SNAP and senior hunger and learn more about how SNAP can help older adults in your community.
*Time after Time: Environmental Influences on the Aging Brain By Elizabeth Grossman, Portland, OR-based environmental and
science writer
The population of Americans aged 65 and older is expected to double between 2010 and 2050, and by midcentury the proportion o f
the human population made up of people over age 80 is projected to have quadrupled since 2000. So factors that affect this ag ing
population are of increasing importance. Of particular concern are the neurological diseases and disorders typically associat ed with
advanced age, among them Alzheimers and Parkinsons diseases, dementia, and reduced cognitive function.
*EPA ENVIRO-TIPS OF THE MONTH:
*Prepare for Emergencies
Find out what you can do to reduce risks from environmental hazards before, during, and after a natural disaster strikes. September is
National Preparedness Month and the peak of hurricane activity. En Espaol:
http://www.epa.gov/espanol/eventosnaturales/huracanes.html .
*Tweet a tip - Twip!
Share the things you do to protect your health and the environment. September is National Preparedness Month. What are you doing
to make
sure you and your family are prepared for disasters? Tweet your tips with hashtag #EPAtips and we'll retweet the best ones.
*Back to School
Get tips, resources, and fun facts for students, teachers, and administrators.
*Buying a New 'Fridge?
Starting in September 2014, Energy Star-certified refrigerators and freezers will use at least 10 percent less energy than other models
meeting 2014 federal minimum efficiency standards.
*Safer Product Labels
You can help EPA redesign the Design for the Environment safer product label. The label helps shoppers identify and choose pr oducts
that are safer for you, your family and the environment.
*EPA Call for Nominations for the Good Neighbor Environmental Board Membership -Due October 31, 2014
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites nominations of a diverse group of qualified candidates to be considered for
appointment to the Good Neighbor Environmental Board (GNEB). The GNEB was created in 1992 by the Enterprise for the Americas
Initiative Act, and it is responsible for providing advice to the President on environmental and infrastructure issues and needs within the
States contiguous to Mexico. Please send nominees to the Acting Designated Federal Officer, Ann-Marie Gantner at (202) 564-4330
or gantner.ann-marie@epa.gov.
Back to School Reminders:
Announcing the Coalition for Healthier Schools Back To School 2014 Toolkit
Fall is the time of year when parents, teachers and school administrators are preparing for students to return and the new school year
to begin. To help your school prepare, the Coalition for Healthier Schools has created the Back to School 2014 Toolkit. Please
consider implementing the toolkit in your school today as you prepare for the 2014 school year!
EPA Releases Best Practices Guidance and Hosts Webinars on Reducing Pesticide Use and Saving Money in Schools
To help school administrators and staff reduce pesticide use and costs, EPA has released Model Pesticide Safety and IPM Guidance
Policy. The guidance document and webinars will help school districts adopt a proactive approach to pest control including offering
models for policies, procedures, program oversight and plans for implementing Integrated Pest Management.
Learn more about IPM in Schools: http://www.epa.gov/pestwise/ipminschools/ and
http://www.epa.gov/pestwise/ipminschools/implementation.html .
Watch this short video from the Colorado School IPM Coalition to learn more about IPM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
6TSJaDtqAeY.
Use CDCs Dont Mess with Mercury Website to Keep your School Mercury-free
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Use CDCs Dont Mess with Mercury Website to Keep your School Mercury-free
Coming Soon Autumn 2014: Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators
The Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators recognizes outstanding kindergarten through grade 12 teachers who
employ innovative approaches to environmental education and use the environment as a context for learning for their students.
Applications for 2014- 2015 awards will open autumn 2014.
December, 2014 - Presidents Environmental Youth Awards (PEYA)
The PEYA program promotes awareness of our nation's natural resources and encourages positive community involvement. It is on e
of the most important ways EPA and the Administration demonstrate commitment to environmental stewardship efforts created and
conducted by our nation's youth.
Environmental Health in Early Care and Education Best Practices Now Available
This resource is a compilation of best practices for environmentally-healthy early care and education programs. Topics include the
importance of children's environmental health; staffing and training; program activities; health promotion and education; nut rition and
food service; facilities, supplies, and equipment; general furnishings/equipment and maintenance; play areas/playgrounds;
administration; and licensing and community action.
National Action Plan for Educating for Sustainability Now Available
This plan represents the perspectives of the leading minds and the strongest champions of Education for Sustainability, toget her with
one voice committing to a series of actions that will ensure that by 2040, every student graduating from a U.S. K-12 school will be
equipped to shape a more sustainable future.
Two New Asthma Education Opportunities from the ALA Asthma Basics and Lungtropolis
The American Lung Association (ALA) has two new learning opportunities for children, parents and caregivers of children with asthma.
Asthma Basics is an online learning tool that helps people learn about asthma, and it includes videos that show what happens to the
airway during an asthma episode. Lungtropolis is an action-packed computer game designed to help kids control their asthma. Contact
the ALA at 1-800-LUNG-USA for more information.
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.
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