EPA Region 7

Communities Information Digest

October 2, 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.)
Has this edition of the digest been forwarded to you by a
friend? Would you like to sign up to receive future digests or
unsubscribe? Do you have any news, funding, webinars or
conferences related to environmental protection or human
health youd like to submit for consideration in future digests?

EPA Assistant Administrator for the Office of Solid Waste and

Emergency Response, Mathy Stanislaus announces $13.2 million in
Brownfields funding. Check out the Headlines for more
information.
(photo: Kansas City Business Journal)

If so, please email R7_POIS_Communities_Mailbox@epa.gov.

Thank you!
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EPAs ENERGY STAR program launches 2nd annual Rule Your

Attic campaign October 1-November 20

www.scribd.com/eparegion7

Headlines
*October is Childrens Health Month!
Find out what you can do to ensure children breathe clean air, drink safe water, and live in healthy communities.

*EPA Announces $13.2 Million in Supplemental Funds to Clean up Contaminated Brownfields Sites Across the Country
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced approximately $13.2 million in supplemental funding to help
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced approximately $13.2 million in supplemental funding to help
transform communities by cleaning up contaminated Brownfields properties. Supplemental funding of the Revolving Loan
Funding (RLF) will be given to 31 successful RLF grantees, including Kansas City, MO.
*HUD announces five communities will receive a combined $150 million in Choice Neighborhood Initiative
Implementation Grants
These Grants were awarded to city and housing authority partnerships in Atlanta, Georgia; Kansas City, Missouri; Memphis,
Tennessee; Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Sacramento, California. HUDs Neighborhood Choice Initiative is part of HUDs portfolio
of place-based programs, which addresses interconnected problems by leveraging and geographically targeting resources.
*Kansas City and St. Louis, Mo., and State of Missouri to Receive Shares of EPA Brownfields Funds for Environmental
Cleanups
The cities of Kansas City and St. Louis, Mo., and the State of Missouri, will receive a total of $1,375,000 in EPA supplement al
funding to help carry out environmental cleanups and aid in the redevelopment of brownfields properties. The City of Kansas
City, Mo., will receive $475,000, the St. Louis Development Corporation will receive $400,000, and the State of Missouris
Environmental Improvement & Energy Resources Authority will receive $500,000, all part of a $13.2 million package of
supplemental Revolving Loan Funding from EPAs Brownfields program.
*EPA Adds Five Hazardous Waste Sites to Superfunds National Priorities List & Proposes an Additional Seven
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is adding five hazardous waste sites that pose risks to human health and the
environment to the Superfund National Priorities List. A separate action includes a proposal to add seven sites to the list,
including Iowa-Nebraska Light & Power Co. (former manufactured gas plant) in Norfolk, Neb, and PCE Former Dry Cleaner in
Atlantic, Iowa.
*EPA Updates Standards to Increase Safety and Protect the Health of Americas Farmworkers
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced increased protections for the nations two million agricultural workers an d
their families. Each year, thousands of potentially preventable pesticide exposure incidents are reported that lead to sick d ays,
lost wages and medical bills. With changes to the Agricultural Worker Protection Standard, the risk of injury or illness resulting
from contact with pesticides on farms and in forests, nurseries and greenhouses can be reduced.
*EPA Finalizes Rule to Modernize Clean Water Act Reporting
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency finalized a rule to modernize Clean Water Act reporting for municipalities, industri es,
and other facilities. The final rule will require regulated entities and state and federal regulators to use existing, availa ble
information technology to electronically report data required by the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
program instead of filing written paper reports. EPA estimates that, once the rule is fully implemented, the 46 states and th e
Virgin Islands Territory that are authorized to administer the NPDES program will collectively save approximately $22.6 milli on
each year as a result of switching from paper to electronic reporting.
*EPA Announces National Limits to Reduce Toxic Pollutants Discharged into Waterways by Steam Electric Power
Plants
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency finalized a rule that will reduce the discharge of toxic pollutants into Americas
waterways from steam electric power plants by 1.4 billion pounds annually, as well as reduce water withdrawal by 57 billion
gallons per year, resulting in an estimated benefit of $463 million per year to Americans across the country. Toxic pollutant s
include mercury, arsenic, lead, and selenium, which can cause neurological damage in children, lead to cancer, and damage the
circulatory system, kidneys, and liver.
*Managing and Transforming Waste Streams A Tool for Communities
The newly published EPA tool addresses 100 policy & program measures related to Sustainable Materials Management, along
with over 240 implementation examples/best practices from communities and numerous online resources.
*EPAs ENERGY STAR Program Launches 2nd annual Rule Your Attic Campaign October 1-November 20
To encourage homeowners to take control over their high utility bills this heating season, EPAs ENERGY STAR program is
launching its second annual Rule Your Attic! consumer outreach campaign. Local and tribal governments can participate in the
campaign to help raise homeowners awareness of the comfort and energy saving benefits of sealing and insulating their attics ,
and to help homeowners take action to improve the insulation in their attics.

*EPA Launches New Tool to Support Community Interest in Green Infrastructure

As part of a commitment to make a visible difference in communities, EPA is releasing a new web -based tool that helps local
officials and other community members consider the benefits and uses of green infrastructure. Green infrastructure relies on
vegetation, soils, and natural processes to manage stormwater and create healthier urban environments. The Green
Infrastructure Wizard, or GIWiz, responds to growing community interest in using green infrastructure as a means of addressin g
water quality and a range of other local goals.

Funding & Technical Assistance Opportunities

Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) for Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program Due dates vary by state
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

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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
NOAA Climate Program Office Releases 2016 Funding Opportunities: Full Applications
*USDA Announces $2.5 million in grants for projects to education new and underserved farmers USDA will conduct
four evaluation periods to review applications, with the deadlines of Nov. 20, 2015, Jan. 22, 2016, Mar. 18, 2016, and
May 27, 2016.
October 2: National Science Foundation: Coastal Science, Engineering and Education for Sustainability
October 7: MAPP - NOAA Climate Test Bed - Accelerating Transition of Research into Operations
October 15: Every Body Walk! Collaborative Micro Grants
October 15: American Public Power Association: DEED Funding Opportunities for Students
October 15: National Science Foundation: Paleo Perspectives on Climate Change program

October 16: HHS NIH Asthma Empowerment Collaborations to Reduce Childhood Asthma Disparities
October 20: Environmental Sustainability Grant Program
October 20: National Science Foundation: Environmental Engineering
*October 27: Knight Cities Challenge Grants
*October 30: 2015 School Bus Replacement and Retrofit Funding Opportunity
October 30: Increase Your Grantmaking Impact: Apply for a PLACES Fellowship
*October 31: Urban Waters Small Grants Program
*October 31: Technical Assistance for Communities Affected by Brownfields Offered by Groundwork USA
*November 3: Preservation Technology and Training Grants Program
*November 3: National Center for Preservation Technology and Training Media Grants Program
November 12: The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Prize

*November 13: Ecological and Social Dimensions of Resilient Landscapes Grants

*November 20: Urban Waters Small Grants RFP
*November 23: DOI 2016 U.S. Forest Service National Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Cost -Share Grant
Program Pre-proposals Due

November 24: The Rockefeller Foundation 100 Resilient Cities Challenge

*December 10: DOE Deployment of Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency Projects on Indian Lands Grants
December 15: RISA competition for the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions only

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.
October 6-7: Growing Sustainable Communities Conference Dubuque, IA

October 7: Walk to School Day 2015

October 7-9: WaterSmart Innovations Conference 2015 Las Vegas, NV
October 8: Solar Decathlon 2015 Irvine, CA

October 13-15: Built Environment and Outdoor Summit Overland Park, KS

October 15-16: CityBuilding Exchange New Orleans, LA
October 18-20: Renewable Energy Markets 2015 Washington D.C.
*October 19-21: National Transit Institute: Transportation & Land Use Lakewood, CO
*October 20-22: Transit Oriented Development & Urban Real Estate Conference Washington, D.C.
October 18-21: Behavior, Energy & Climate Change Conference (BECC) Sacramento, CA
*October 19-22: BioCycle Conference: Renewable Energy from Organics Boston, MA
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*October 19-22: BioCycle Conference: Renewable Energy from Organics Boston, MA

*Workshop 1: Food For People, Food For Soil
October 20: Free Brownfields Workshop Lincoln, NE
October 24-27: NADO Annual Training Conference New Orleans, LA

October 25-28: Rail~volution 2015 Dallas, TX

October 27-29: Policy Links Equity 2015: The National Summit Los Angeles, CA
October 28-30: 2015 National Walking Summit Washington, D.C.
October 28-31: NACTO Designing Cities conference Austin, TX
*October 29-30: 2015 NIEHS/EPA Childrens Centers Annual Meeting: Protecting Childrens Health for a Lifetime
Washington, D.C.
November 3-6: National Trust for Historic Preservations PastForward Conference Washington, D.C.
*November 16-17: Code Enforcement Academy: Moving from Traditional to Transformative Dallas, TX
February 11-13, 2016: New Partners for Smart Growth Conference Portland, OR
April 4-6, 2016: Local Solutions Eastern Regional Climate Conference Baltimore, MD
April 5-7, 2016: National Safe Routes to School Conference Columbus, OH
*April 14-20: San Francisco Green Film Festival San Francisco, CA
*Submissions due November 6

May 20-23, 2016: River Rally 2016 Mobile, AL

September 18-30, 2016: National Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference Baltimore, MD

Webinars, Conference Calls, & Twitter Chats

LeanPath presents 5 Food Waste Myths to Debunk Now! On-demand
This webinar will explore 5 myths about food waste and the facts you need to debunk them in your kitchen.

Student Curriculum: Recipes for Healthy Kids, and a Healthy Environment Lesson plans available to download now
This nine-lesson program is designed to encourage kids to actively explore the environments in which they live and play. Each
45-minute lesson empowers kids to take steps in their everyday lives to improve the environment for their communities and
reduce their environmental risk.
*School Bus Replacement and Retrofit Funding Opportunity Webinar October 6, 1-2:00 p.m. CST
Air Quality and Asthma Solutions: EPAs Air Quality Flag Program October 8, 2-3:00 p.m. CST
Learn about the impact of outdoor air quality on human health and specific actions that can be taken on days with poor air
quality through participation in EPAs free Air Quality Flag Program. This webinar is open to any school or organization that is
new to the Flag Program or that would like to learn more and expand their program.
*Setting the Table: Principles of Meaningful Community Engagement October 14, 2015 1-2:30 p.m. CST
Join Groundwork USA for Webinar Wednesdays to hear directly from some of the field's most innovative practitioners. Learn and
discuss strategies for leveraging brownfield redevelopment and advancing equity and environmental justice.
*Watershed Academy Webcast: Implementing Low-Cost Modifications to Improve Nutrient Reduction at Wastewater
Treatment Plants October 15, 12-2:00 p.m. CST
The recent EPA draft report on Case Studies on Implementing Low-Cost Modifications to Improve Nutrient Reduction at
Wastewater Treatment Plants showcases a number of communities that were able to achieve better nutrient treatment at
WWTPs through relatively low-cost modifications without requiring costly infrastructure upgrades. The webcast will give listeners
a broad overview of the report, and will highlight two of the case studies in Crewe, VA and Victor Valley, CA.
*SMM Web Academy Webinar Series: Does plastics recycling need to be so confusing? October 15, 12-1:30 p.m. CST
*Hazards Planning & Resilience: The Elected Officials Perspective October 19, 12-1:00pm CST
In cooperation with the American Planning Association, the Association of State Floodplain Managers presents the third
Planning Information Exchange webinar. PIE is a free eight-part quarterly webinar series focusing on tools, best practices, and
strategies on the role of hazard mitigation planning and its connections with recovery planning and preparedness.
Keep Your Caps On! A 2015 Update October 27
Due to an ever growing demand for material by plastic reclaimers, APR continues to support the Caps On
message. Historically, the perception has been that the best way to recycle a plastic bottle is with the cap off. This webinar will
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message. Historically, the perception has been that the best way to recycle a plastic bottle is with the cap off. This webinar will
give an update on this initiative, address the common concerns surrounding the change, and provide resources to those
communities to support this message.
Greater Kansas City Regional Water Quality Education Committee Presents the 2015 Center for Watershed Protection
Webinars:
Checking in on Post-Construction Stormwater Management November 18, 12-1:30 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, Ste. 200,
Kansas City, Missouri 64105.

Other Environmental News

*EPA inviting nominations for EPAs Environmental Financial Advisory Board Deadline October 9
The EPA is pleased to invite nominations for individuals to serve on their Environmental Financial Advisory Board. Members of
EFAB provide advice and recommendations to EPA on a wide range of issues including: reducing the cost of financing
environmental facilities; creating incentives to increase private investment in the provision of environmental services; iden tifying
financing approaches specifically targeted to small/disadvantaged communities; and increasing the total investment in
environmental protection of public and private environmental resources to help ease the environmental financing challenge
facing our nations.

Call for Comments: EPA Civil Rights External Compliance Strategic Plan Due October 13 EPA's Office of Civil Rights
has just released -- for a 30-day public comment period -- the draft External Compliance and Complaints Program Strategic Plan
for FY 2015-2020.
*EPA Seeking Input on National Enforcement Initiatives Comments Due October 14
EPA Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance is collecting comment on which of the current National Enforcement
Initiatives should continue, be expanded or returned to the standard enforcement program; which new potential NEIs described
below should be considered for the FY 2017-2019 national enforcement cycle; or which other areas are appropriate for
consideration as NEIs, keeping in mind resource constraints. The NEIs serve to focus EPAs civil and criminal enforcement
resources and expertise on the most serious pollution problems affecting communities.

*Federal Interagency Action Agenda on Environmental Justice Public Comment Extended to October 19
The Federal Interagency Working Group on Environmental Justice wants to hear from you about its draft FY 2016 -2018 Action
Agenda Framework. The Framework is the EJ IWGs three year strategic plan to advance greater Federal agency collaboration
to support holistic community-based solutions to address environmental justice issues in environmental protection, housing,
transportation, economic development, energy policy, natural and cultural resources management and health disparities. Send
comments to ejstrategy@epa.gov.
*EPA Proposes New Protections for International Hazardous Waste Shipments
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing enhancements to the oversight of hazardous waste shipments to help
ensure safe management of imported and exported hazardous wastes. The rule proposes consolidation of the regulations so
that one set of protective requirements will apply to transboundary movements of hazardous waste.
*EPA Update on Recent Volkswagen Announcement
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released a letter sent to vehicle manufacturers notifying them that the agency is
adding to its confirmatory testing additional evaluations designed to look for potential defeat devices.
*Agriculture Secretary Announces Karla Thieman as USDA Chief of Staff
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the appointment of Karla Thieman as Chief of Staff for the U.S. Department of
Agriculture. Thieman previously served in leadership positions on the campaigns of Senators McCaskill, Udall and Bennet.
Thieman grew up on a third-generation family farm in central Missouri where her family raised cattle, corn and soybeans. She
has a degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Missouri.
*Energy Department Announces $5 Million for Energy Planning in 11 States
The Energy Department on September 15 announced $5 million in funding to 11 states, including Missouri and Nebraska, to
advance innovative approaches for local clean energy development. Each state will design and deploy innovative programs to
advance energy efficiency and renewable energy.
*USDA Announces $8.8 Million to Support a Diverse Next Generation of Farmers and Ranchers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced $8.4 million to support the work of 54 partner organizations in 35 states to
provide training, outreach and technical assistance for socially disadvantaged, tribal and veteran farmers and ranchers, incl uding
Lincoln University in Missouri.
*2016 International Compost Awareness Week Poster Contest September 1-November 14
The US Composting Council has announced a call for entries for the 2016 International Compost Awareness Week Poster
Contest. All applicants are asked to share their artistic interpretation of compost and its ties to soil health, incorporating this
years theme, Compost The Soil and Water Connection.
Now available: Community Air Monitoring Training videos
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Now available: Community Air Monitoring Training videos

EPA hosted a training workshop to share tools and best practices for successful air monitoring projects with community groups
and individuals interested in citizen science. Videos of the training are now available for groups who want to learn more abo ut
monitoring air quality in their communities.
Environmental Sustainability Grant Program Due October 20
The goal of the National Science Foundation's Environmental Sustainability Program is to promote sustainable engineered
systems that support human well-being and that are also compatible with sustaining natural systems. The program supports
engineering research that seeks to balance society's need to provide ecological protection and maintain stable economic
conditions.
Climate Solutions University Now Accepting Applications for 2016
Climate Solutions University has helped more than 30 communities create adaptation plans that are ready for
implementation. Your region is a good fit for the program if you need to tackle the following challenges:
Social equity and the impact of climate change on vulnerable citizens
A regional approach to planning that integrates urban and rural linkages
Threats to watersheds, forest, and economic resources using an ecosystem services model
Community leaders of local government agencies; Watershed organizations and resource conservation districts; Nonprofits; and
Civic organizations should apply.
Apply for a Fruit Tree Planting Foundation Orchard in Your Community Ongoing
The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation strategically donates orchards where the harvest will best serve communities for
generations, including at community gardens, public schools, city and state parks, low -income neighborhoods, and Native
American reservations.
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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