EPA Region 7

Communities Information Digest

March 27, 2015

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. (An * Indicates a new post.)
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Headlines
*EPA Selects 20 Communities for Brownfield Grants to Revitalize Communities, Strengthen Local Economies
The U.S. EPA recently announced the selection of 20 communities in 16 states receiving approximately $4 million in
Brownfields Area-Wide Planning (AWP) grants. EPA is awarding up to $200,000 per recipient to work with communities
on Brownfields planning activities and reuse in conjunction with community assets such as housing, recreation and
open space, employment, education and health facilities, social services, transportation options, infrastructure and
commerce needs. The area-wide planning approach recognizes that revitalization of the area surrounding Brownfield
sites is also critical to the successful reuse of the property. Two of the 2015 Area-Wide Planning grants are in EPA
Region 7:
City of Dubuque, IA - South Port area as a "new downtown neighborhood", with expanded Mississippi Riverwalk in
transit-oriented environment. Estimated 300 new jobs and $100 M increase tax revenue.
City of Pittsburg, KS - Business and/or residential housing.
*USDA Announces $97 Million Available to Expand Access to Healthy Food, Support Rural Economies Due
May 14

In a speech at the National Farmers Union Convention recently, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the
availability of $96.8 million in grants to fund innovative projects designed to support specialty crop producers, local
food entrepreneurs, and farm to school efforts, which in turn will increase access to healthy, nutritious food for
American families and children. The announcement is part of USDA efforts during National Nutrition Month to focus
on improving access to fresh, healthy, and nutritious products for millions of Americans.
*Presidential Proclamation 20th Anniversary of Executive Order 12898 on Environmental Justice
Two decades ago, President Clinton directed the Federal Government to tackle a long-overlooked problem. Lowincome neighborhoods, communities of color, and tribal areas disproportionately bore environmental burdens like
contamination from industrial plants or landfills and indoor air pollution from poor housing conditions. These hazards
worsen health disparities and reduce opportunity for residents -- children who miss school due to complications of
asthma, adults who struggle with medical bills. Executive Order 12898 affirmed every American's right to breathe freely,
drink clean water, and live on uncontaminated land.

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*EPA Awards Clean Diesel Grants in 21 States and Puerto Rico

The U.S. EPA has awarded $8 million to communities in 21 states and Puerto Rico to reduce emissions from the
nations existing fleet of diesel engines through the agencys Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) program. The
grants will fund projects such as retrofitting older school buses to improve air quality for children riding to school,
upgrading marine propulsion and agriculture engines, and replacing long haul truck engines. Each project will improve
air quality and support economic growth in local communities. Since the start of the DERA program in 2008, EPA has
awarded more than 700 grants in 600 communities across the country. One of the projects selected for 2014 DERA
funds is in EPA Region 7: St. Louis Clean Cities, who is replacing six school busses.

*Energy Department Selects 11 Tribal Communities to Deploy Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Technologies
The U.S. Department of Energy announced recently that 11 tribal communities will receive nearly $6 million to
accelerate the implementation of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies on tribal lands. As part of the
Obama Administrations commitment to partner with Tribal Nations, these projects provide Indian Tribes and Alaska
Native villages clean energy options that will reduce fossil fuel use and save money. With tribal renewable energy
resources comprising approximately five percent of all U.S. renewable energy resources, these facility- and communityscale projects support national energy goals to strengthen tribal energy self-sufficiency, create jobs and further
economic development.
*Eldon, Mo., to Receive Free Place-Based Sustainability Technical Assistance for Trail Project
The City of Eldon, Mo., has been selected by Project for Public Spaces and their partners at Livability Solutions as one
of nine communities to receive free sustainability technical assistance in 2015. EPAs Office of Sustainable
Communities provided funding to Project for Public Spaces under its Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities
Program.
*National Public Health Week April 6-12, 2015
Organized by the American Public Health Association (APHA), National Public Health Week, or NPHW, will bring
together communities across the country to recognize public health contributions and highlight issues that are important
to improving our nations health. This years theme, Healthiest Nation 2030, defines one central challenge for
Americans: to make the U.S. the healthiest nation in one generation that is, within the next 15 years. The Daily
Themes for NPHW 2015 are:
Monday, April 6: Raising the Grade.
Tuesday, April 7: Starting from Zip.
Wednesday, April 8: Building Momentum.
Thursday, April 9: Building Broader Connections.
Friday, April 10: Building on 20 Years of Success.
*EPA Encourages Consumers to Save 1 Trillion Gallons of Wasted Water
Every year, more than one trillion gallons of water go down the drain because of household leaks. Leaks may increase
a water bill by as much as 10 percent. The U.S. EPAs WaterSense program encourages consumers to
celebrate the seventh annual Fix a Leak Week, March 16-22, 2015, by finding and fixing water leaks in their
homes. Since 2006, WaterSense has helped consumers save a cumulative 757 billion gallons of water and over $14.2
billion in water and energy bills.
*Energy Department Announces $20 Million to Develop Advanced Components for Next Generation Electric
Machines Due April 16
The Energy Department recently announced up to $20 million in available funding to spur the development of high
speed industrial motors and drives, using high power-density designs and integrated power electronics to increase
efficiency. The industrial sector consumes over a quarter of the electricity produced in the United States and is
projected to increase its use by approximately 30% by 2040. Wide bandgap (WBG) semiconductors could help industry
save on energy costs and improve their competitiveness. WBG componentswhich control or convert electrical energy
into usable powercan operate at higher temperatures, voltages, and frequencies, and are more durable and reliable.
Widely deploying WBG system electronics could save 2% to 4% in industry's electricity consumption and billions of
dollars.

Funding & Technical Assistance Opportunities

*Placemaking Micro-Grant from the National Association of Realtors Applications accepted on a rolling
basis
Calendar of 2015 EPA Grant Opportunities
Climate-Related Funding Opportunities Compiled by the Florida Climate Institute
HUD CDBG Disaster Recovery Assistance
USDA Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant (REDLG) Call Rural Development State Office for Due
Dates
USDA Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) Contact Local USDA Service Center
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USDA Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) Contact Local USDA Service Center
March 27: HUD National Disaster Resilience Competition
March 31: DOE State Energy Program 2015 Competitive Awards
April 1: EDA Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership Program
April 1: USDA Conservation Innovation Grant Program
April 3: EPA Tribal Training and Outreach Support for the American Indian Air Quality Training Program
April 10: National Public Transportation/Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Technical Assistance Initiative
April 13: New Environmental Literacy Grants from NOAA's Office of Education for Building Capacity
Educators
*April 16: Energy Department Announces $20 Million to Develop Advanced Components for Next Generation
Electric Machines
April 30: EPA Environmental Finance Center Grant Program
April 30: USDA Rural Energy for America Program
May 1: DOE Strategic Technical Assistance Response Team Renewable Energy Project Development
Assistance Program
May 1: DOE U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center: Energy and Water Program
May 4: DOE Resilient Electricity Delivery Infrastructure (REDI) Initiative
*May 14: USDA Announces $97 Million Available to Expand Access to Healthy Food, Support Rural
Economies
*May 15: CDC Building Capacity of Professional Planners to Address Public Health Goals Grant

Meetings, Conferences, Training, & Events

Calendar of Events Related to Climate Change and Water
This page includes conferences, meetings, webinars, workshops and training opportunities related to climate change
and water.
Let us know if you have information to add by emailing us the details of the event.
March 31-April 2: Triple Region Roundtable St. Louis, MO
*April 6: 5th Annual KU Energy Conference Lawrence, KS
*April 7: National Healthy Schools Day Nationwide
April 11-12: Structures for Inclusion (SFI 15) Conference Detroit, MI
April 14-15: Iowa Governors Conference on Public Health - Exhibitor and Sponsor Opportunities Cedar
Rapids, IA
*April 16-17: Streets as Places Training Course New York, NY
*April 16-17: Interactive Transit Network Design Course Seattle, WA
*April 17-18: SfunCube Solar Hackathon 2015 Oakland, CA
April 18-21: American Planning Association 2015 National Conference Seattle, WA
*April 24-25: Environmental Justice Conference: "Environmental Resurrection: Let Justice Roll Down Like
Waters"
April 26-28: Magical Mystery Tour 2015 San Antonio, San Marcos, Austin, Dallas, and Fort Worth, TX
April 27-May 1: Water Quality Standards Academy (WQSA) Washington, DC
April 28-30: ITEP Presents Climate Change Adaptation Planning Pocatello, ID
April 29-May 2: Congress for the New Urbanism CNU23: Meeting the Demand for Walkable Places Dallas,
TX
*May 1-4: River Rally 2015 Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico
May 5-7: National Zero Waste Business Conference Los Angeles, CA
May 6-8: Placemaking: Making it Happen Training New York City, NY
May 12-14: National Adaptation Forum St. Louis, MO
*May 20-21: Save the Date: National Environmental Justice Advisory Council Public Meeting San Diego, CA
May 19-21: The National Tribal Forum on Air Quality (NTF) Battle Creek, MI
May 31-June 1: 2nd Annual Local Leaders Council Policy Forum Washington, DC
June 2-3: 2015 LOCUS Leadership Summit: Private Sector Solutions to Affordability and Social Equity
Crisis Washington, D.C.
June 15-17: American Water Resources Association (AWRA) Specialty Conference New Orleans, LA
June 15-19: Great Urban Stream Workshop Pittsburgh, PA
July 13-17: Earth Educators' Rendezvous Boulder, CO
July 19-25: 2015 Hands-On PV Experience (HOPE) Workshop Golden, CO
August 4-6: 2015 U.S. EPA Community Involvement Training Conference Atlanta, GA
August 18-20: 2015 Kansas Environmental Conference Topeka, KS
September 2-4: National Brownfields Training Conference Chicago, IL
*September 14-16: Old Trails and New Directions 2015 Missouri Recycling Association Conference
Kansas City, MO
October 27-29: Policy Links Equity 2015: The National Summit Los Angeles, CA

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Webinars, Conference Calls, & Twitter Chats

EPA Webinar "Climate Resilience: What to Expect, How to Prepare, and What You Can Learn from Others"
Available Online
EPA's Watershed Academy has archived the "Climate Resilience: What to Expect, How to Prepare, and What You Can
Learn from Others" webinar. The webinar can be viewed anytime The Workbook and other resources can be found on
the Climate Ready Estuaries website: http://www2.epa.gov/cre/risk-based-adaptation.
CDFA Brownfield Financing Webinar Series
The Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA) is excited to announce the CDFA Brownfield Financing
Webinar Series as part of the CDFA Brownfields Technical Assistance Program. The series will include three 90-minute
webinars over the year and will focus on effective utilization of brownfield and redevelopment financing tools, while
highlighting best practices, case studies, and CDFA's technical assistance program participants.

*EPA and Partners Announce Monthly Webinar Series: Climate Information for Managing Risks in Water
Resources
The series is co-sponsored by the NOAA Sectoral Applications Research Program, U.S. National Integrated Drought
Information System, Water Research Foundation, Water Environment Federation, Water Environment Research
Foundation, American Water Works Association, Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, and EPA's Climate
Ready Water Utility Initiative. Topics include: the U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit; Water Utility Planning Strategies to
Mitigate Impacts of Climate Change; Precipitation Patterns, Supply Planning and Demand Curves; the Complexities of
Assessing Water Supply Risks; and Water Hazards and Community Resilience.
*EPA Launches 2015 Green Infrastructure Webcast Series
This series is generally geared toward public officials and practitioners just beginning to implement green infrastructure,
as well as those looking to enhance established programs. Leading academics and professionals from around the
country will cover a range of emerging topics and applications, from implementing green infrastructure in arid climates
to winter operations and maintenance. The next webcast will be on May 5, 2015 and will focus on getting more green
for your stormwater infrastructure.
Greater Kansas City Regional Water Quality Education Committee Presents the 2015 Center for Watershed
Protection Webinars:
Green Infrastructure & Green Jobs May 20, 121:30 p.m. CST
This webcast will features several programs around the country, and will highlight best practices for these types of
programs, as well as critical lessons learned.
Multi-Sector & Industrial Stormwater Permits June 17, 121:30 p.m. CST
This webcast will feature insights on the permitting process, tools available for facility inventories and inspections,
and BMPs applicable to these types of site.
What to Do About Trashy Watersheds September 16, 121:30 p.m. CST
Learn from places that have been managing trash as part of local or regional TMDLs and some of the approaches
that have been tried. Of course, this webcast will feature a lot of trash-talking.
Checking in on Post-Construction Stormwater Management November 18, 121:30 p.m. CST
This webcast will explore innovations and trends in post-construction stormwater management, with MS4 case
studies featuring program components and budgets.
All webinars will be streamed at the Mid-America Regional Council Conference Center at 600 Broadway, Suite
200, Kansas City, Missouri 64105.
Association of State Wetland Managers (ASWM) IMPROVING WETLAND RESTORATION SUCCESS WEBINARS
Riverine/Riparian Wetland Restoration June 9, 3 p.m. EST
Presenters: Richard Weber, NRCS Wetland Team, CNTSC and Larry Urban, Montana Department of Transportation

Other Environmental News

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*Energy Department and National Institute of Building Sciences Release Better Buildings Workforce Guidelines
As a part of the Obama Administrations effort to support greater energy efficiency through the Better Buildings Initiative,
the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Institute of Building Sciences (Institute) recently announced new Better
Buildings Workforce Guidelines.
*2015 MORA Conference Call for Presentations Due April 1, 2015
We invite you to share your new directions story with your colleagues at our annual conference. Possible topic areas
include, but are not limited to: education and outreach programs; policy, economics and planning; electronics recycling;
organics management; construction & demolition debris management; market updates; hard-to-recycle materials;
innovative recycling programs; multi-family recycling; commercial recycling; reuse programs; and stewardship or
extended producer responsibility programs.
*EPA Green Power Leadership Awards Application Period Open Through April 17
The EPA Green Power Leadership Awards serve to recognize the leading actions of organizations, programs, suppliers,
and individuals that significantly advance the development of green power sources. Past winners have earned
recognition, in part, for their dedication to water use efficiency, the use of efficient energy and renewable energy to pump
and treat water, and even solar water heating initiatives.
*Call for Nominations! First Annual Secretary's Awards for Healthy Homes Due April 30
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, in partnership with the National Environmental Health
Association, is pleased to announce the first annual Secretary's Awards for Healthy Homes. These awards will recognize
excellence in healthy housing innovation and achievement in three categories: Public Housing/Multifamily Supported
Housing, Public Policy, and Cross Program Coordination among Health, Environment and Housing.
*Find New Resources on EPAs Smart Growth Program and a Whole New Look!
What Is Smart Growth explains smart growth basics, provides examples, and directs you to our National Award for
Smart Growth Achievement pages. Smart Growth Topics includes brand new pages on water and brownfields and infill
development, and 12 other pages on a wide range of smart growth issues. Resources provides information on grants
and funding and technical assistance from EPAs Smart Growth Program, publications, tools, webinars, videos, and
podcasts. Partnerships describes multiple partnership programs that can help communities identify and use smart
growth approaches.

*Elkhorn, Neb., Facility Recognized as Top Performing Energy Star Certified Manufacturing Plant
The Merck Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health facility in Elkhorn, Neb., is one of 70 manufacturing plants that
achieved Energy Star certification for their superior energy performance in 2014. The facility was officially recognized
this week for leading the pharmaceutical industry by saving energy and money while combating changing climate.
*State Energy Program 2015 Funding Opportunity Announcement Application Deadline: Rolling
The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's (EERE's) State Energy
Program (SEP) seeks applications for Fiscal Year 2015 Competitive Financial Assistance Awards. This competitive
Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) will allow states to compete for EERE funding focused on two areas of
interest: State Energy Planning / Opportunities for Innovative Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Practices.
*Groundwork USA's Technical Assistance Program - Working Together to Advance
Equitable Development and Environmental Justice in Communities Nationwide
Groundwork USA's Brownfields Technical Assistance (TA) Program is designed to help communities integrate
environmental justice and equitable development best practices into their brownfields redevelopment planning. Through
this program, like-minded communities and practitioners across the country can join others in a Community of Practice
where they can receive peer support and access to tools, workshops, and thought partners.
*Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency Launches New Website
Established in 1995, the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency is the most comprehensive source
of information related to policies and incentives that support the nations use of renewable energy and energy efficiency
technologies. Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, the DSIRE database and website implemented multiple
enhancements during the past year.
*HUDs New Sustainable Communities Initiative Resource Library
This new online library catalogues dozens of local and regional comprehensive plans, model codes and reports and it
will be expanded over the coming months with additional plans, tools, reports and fact sheets that take users inside the
innovations of our grantee communities.
Among the resources you will find on the SCI Resource Library, is a new HUD report, Green Infrastructure and the
Sustainable Communities Initiative. This report showcases the climate and economic resilience benefits of green
infrastructure in 30 grantee communities.
*Reducing Mercury Use for Your Family and Our Global Community By Marianne Bailey and Karissa Kovner
At EPA, we work every day to reduce the use of mercury in products and processes, making them safer for you and your
family. Lowering levels of mercury in our environment is important because at high levels, mercury can harm the brains,
hearts, kidneys, lungs and immune systems of []
*Energy Department Releases New Wind Report, Examines Future of Industry
In support of the Presidents all-of-the-above energy strategy to diversify our nations power supplies, the Energy
Department recently released a new report looking at the future of wind power through 2050 and the economic benefits
that come with a robust wind industry.
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that come with a robust wind industry.

*EPA Releases Final Risk Assessment for Chemical used for Paint and Coating Removal
The U.S. EPA recently released the final risk assessment for N-Methylpyrrolidone (NMP), a chemical commonly used to
remove paint and other coatings. The assessment identified risks to pregnant women and women of childbearing age,
who have high exposure to NMP through paint or other coating removal. NMP is a common alternative to methylene
chloride, also known as Dichloromethane (DCM), a chemical-based paint and coating remover.
*National Association of Realtors' Smart Growth Action Grants
National Association of Realtors' (NAR) Smart Growth Action Grants fund activities that support realtor engagement in
land use or transportation-related issues. The primary goals of the grants are to impact public policies on behalf of a
more sustainable development paradigm while raising the profile of realtors as community leaders and enhancing
realtor-elected official relationships. Applications for smart growth grants are accepted on a rolling basis.
*EPA Greenversations Blog Post: Puerto Rico Shows the Power of Community Involvement in Protecting
Waterways By Mike Shapiro
Growing up, I remember playing along the mud flats by Newark Bay and pondering why the water nearby was so dark
and sticky. I later learned that the water and mud flats were contaminated with oil and other substances. While Newark
Bay is still far from clean by our current standards, today []

*Living Alleys Toolkit

A living alley is a street that is activated, pedestrianized, and greened to support environmentally sustainable functions,
with an emphasis on community and social activation. The Market Octavia Living Alleys Program, a collaborative effort
led by the San Francisco Planning Department, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, and San Francisco
Public Works, created this toolkit as a resource for community members and designers to develop and implement living
alleys.
*Sustaining Places: Best Practices for Comprehensive Plans
The comprehensive plan, with its broad focus on a range of distinct yet interrelated elements, is the guiding policy
document on the local level. Since 2010 and the launch of the Sustaining Places Initiative, American Planning
Association (APA) has been working to define the role of the comprehensive plan in addressing the challenges of
sustainability and to develop planning practices and standards as a resource for communities.
*EPA Greenversations Blog: Preparing Students for the Future Through Environmental Education
One of the best parts of my job here in the Office of Environmental Education is meeting creative, committed
environmental educators- and getting to recognize them for their work. Until March 13, were accepting applications for
the Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators (PIAEE). We recently reached out to Nathaniel Thayer
Wight, who teaches about []

*Department of Energy, Department of the Interior and Army Corps of Engineers Renew Five -Year Partnership to
Advance Hydropower
The U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of the Interior and U.S. Department of the Army for Civil Works
announced recently that the three agencies have extended their partnership to advance hydropower development for an
additional five years.
*EPA Greenversations Blog: Farmers Using Special Crops in Holtwood, PA to Protect Soil & Help Their Farms
Thrive By Kate Pinkerton and Erika Larsen
It is hard to imagine anything growing in fields during winter, but last fall, we visited a farm in Pennsylvania that was
covered in thriving, green crops. This farm showcases crop research and water quality conservation practices on
agricultural lands. One of its practices is planting cover crops []
*EPA Region 7 Big Blue Thread Blog: Water Wednesday Fix a Leak By Jeffery Robichaud
Drip, drip, driphear that? Its the sound of your money escaping through a leaky faucet. This week is Fix a Leak Week
(it is also National Salt Awareness Week in the UK so be sure to watch your salt intake too). I thought I would put
together a quick blog entry to []
*Call for Nominations: National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and Technology (NACEPT ) Due
May 15
EPA is identifying persons to serve on a federal advisory subcommittee under the National Advisory Council for
Environmental Policy and Technology (NACEPT) for an effort related to Section 404(g) of the Clean Water Act (CWA).
This section are the regulations pertaining to state and tribal assumption of the CWA Section 404 program. This
subcommittee will be known as the "Assumable Waters" subcommittee under NACEPT.
*EPA Greenversations Blog: Protecting our Drinking Water for Everyone By Dr. Peter Grevatt
Like families in almost every city and town across the U.S., everyone in my house counts on the idea that we can just
reach for the tap any time were thirsty or need some water to cook dinner. And, there hasnt been a single day when
safe drinking water wasnt readily []

*Seven Best Practices for Smart Growth in Iowa

With a mission focused on responsible land use, 1000 Friends of Iowa promotes ways to keep urban areas fit while
preserving Iowa's farmland, open spaces and natural habitats. The nonprofit announced its 2014 Best Development
Awards winners last month, showcasing projects that champion smart growth planning principles. In this article, the
winners offer valuable insights on how they achieved success using smart growth principles in their projects.

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SunShot Postdoctoral Research Awards Accepting Applications Due May 7

SunShot is now accepting applications for postdoctoral researchers in solar energy to participate in the EERE
Postdoctoral Research Awards. Up to five recent Ph.D. recipients will be selected for the program to conduct applied
research projects at universities, national laboratories and other research facilities in order to advance breakthrough
solar energy technologies.

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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