EPA Region 7

Communities Information Digest

June 22, 2016
Welcome to the latest EPA Region 7 Digest!
EPA Region 7s Communities Information
Digest provides communities with the latest
news about funding and technical assistance
opportunities, webinars, conferences, and
other activities related to human health and
the environment.
Jump to:
Headlines
Funding and Technical Assistance
Opportunities
Meetings, Conferences, Training, & Events
Webinars and Conference Calls

June 20-24 is National

Pollinator Protection Week!

To learn more about pollinators, visit:

https://www.epa.gov/pollinatorprotection

June is Perennial Gardening

Month!

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Headlines
National
*United States Settles with Trader Joe's to Reduce Ozone-Depleting and Greenhouse
Gas Emissions at Stores Nationwide
The national grocery store chain Trader Joes Company agreed to reduce emissions of
greenhouse gases from refrigeration equipment at 453 of its stores under a proposed
settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency
to resolve alleged violations of the Clean Air Act.

*EPA Honors Winners of the 2016 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards
The EPA is recognizing landmark green chemistry technologies developed by industrial
pioneers and leading scientists that turn climate risk and other environmental problems into
business opportunities, spurring innovation and economic development.
*USDA Invests $5.8 Million to Support Small Businesses in 11 States
USDA awarded $5.8 million in grants and loans to support rural economic development
projects and create jobs in 11 states through its Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance
Program (RMAP) and Intermediary Relending Program (IRP). Recipients of the IRP
program include the NE Rural Investment Corporation in Nebraska.
*Featured Resource: Federal Financing Programs for Clean Energy
This resource guide from the Department of Energy (DOE) details U.S. government
programs that support the development of clean energy projects in the U.S. and abroad.
Featuring programs from ten agencies, the guide includes summaries and case studies
that can benefit private sector partners in finding capital for energy efficiency and clean
energy projects.
Water Infrastructure and Finance Innovation Act Public Comment Period is Open
EPA published the Water Infrastructure and Finance Innovation Act (WIFIA) Information
Collection Request and draft application materials for public comment. The purpose of the
WIFIA program is to provide federal credit assistance in the form of direct loans and loan
guarantees to eligible clean water and drinking water projects. Comments due July 22.

Region 7 News
*EPA Grantee Turns Vacant Lots into Greenways in Kansas City, MO An Urban
Waters Impact Story
The Heartland Conservation Alliance (HCA), an EPA Urban Waters grantee, is finding and
connecting vacant lots to create a greenway along the Blue River. Two-thirds of the urban
area in Kansas City drains into the Blue River, but for most residents, the river is hidden
and suffers from pollutants, lack of access, and industrial concrete channels.
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Funding & Technical Assistance Opportunities

Climate Leadership Awards June 22
EPA National Wetland Program Development Grants June 23
*2016-2017 Environmental Justice Academy June 24
Solar Implementation Assistance June 24
Native American Agricultural Fast Track Fund (NAAFTF) June 24
EDA Innovation Strategies Program Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) June 24

HUD Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grants Program June 28

FWS National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program June 29
KC Water Quality Small Grant Opportunity June 30
Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance program June 30
USDA Strategic Economic and Community Development (SECD) June 30
*National Park Service Challenge Cost Share Program July 1
ATSDR Community Health Projects Related to Contamination at Brownfield/Land
Reuse Sites July 5
Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Food Security Challenge Area July 7
BIA Energy and Mineral Development Program July 8
EPA 2016 Targeted Air Shed Grant Program July 11
*2016 Nsedu Obot Witherspoon (NOW) Youth Leadership Award July 15
Historic Preservation Fund Grants to Underrepresented Communities July 15
*EPA Building the Capacity of Tribes to Address the Health Impacts of Climate
Change Program July 15
*Technical Assistance for Improved Protection of Drinking Water Sources July 15
HUD Community Compass Technical Assistance and Capacity Building Program
July 19
Department of the Interior National Climate Change & Wildlife Science Center
Program July 19
Partners for Places Fall 2016 Grant Cycle July 25
USDA Rural Development Socially-Disadvantaged Groups Grant August 1
NEA Our Town Grants August 1
Long-term Exposure to Air Pollution and Development of Cardiovascular Disease
Research Grant August 2
Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Food Safety Challenge Area August 3
Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Water for Agriculture Challenge Area
August 4

*EPA FY2017 Brownfields Area-Wide Planning Grant August 10

*NOAA Coastal Ecosystem Resiliency Grants Program August 16
*Tribal Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program August 23
Vehicle Technologies Multi-Topic Funding Opportunity August 29
Mid-America Regional Council Solid Waste Management District grant August 31
EPA National Wetland Condition Assessment Campus Research Challenge
September 30
Asthma Empowerment Collaborations to Reduce Childhood Asthma Disparities
October 16

Ongoing Opportunities
Tribal Climate Change Funding Guide Regularly updated grants and programs
EDA Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance Program
USDA Agricultural Conservation Easement Program Contact Local USDA Service
Center
Apply for a Fruit Tree Planting Foundation Orchard in Your Community
American Planning Association Community Planning Assistance Teams
Climate Solutions University Adaptation Plan Assistance
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Meetings, Conferences, & Events

CDFA Oklahoma/Kansas Financing Roundtable Conference June 22, Oklahoma
City, OK
Reduce and Recover: Save Food for People June 28-29, Cambridge, MA
IRIS Public Science Meeting June 29-30, Arlington, VA
NOAA Climate Stewards Free Regional Climate Education Workshop June 30-July
2, Boulder, CO
Missouri Brownfields Conference July 11, Osage Beach, MO
Climate-Smart Conservation with Scenario Planning July 11-15, Shepherdstown,
WV

Local Leaders Council Policy Forum 2016 July 18-19, Washington, DC

Climate Strategies Forum - East Coast July 18-20, Arlington, VA
G-WOW "Hear the Water's Voice" July 18-21, Ashland, WI
Earth Educators Rendezvous July 18-22, Madison, WI
Nebraska Floodplain and Stormwater Managers Association Conference July 21,
Kearney, NE
*Arkansas Water Resources Center Annual Water Conference July 26-27,
Fayetteville, AR
Urban Waters National Training Workshop July 26-28, Arlington, VA
NOAA Climate Stewards Free Regional Climate Education Workshop August 3-4,
Charleston, SC
Kansas Environmental Conference August 9-11, Hutchinson, KS
North American Symposium on Climate Adaptation August 16-18, New York, NY
2016 International Open Streets Summit August 18-21, Portland, OR
US Fish and Wildlife Service: Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment August 2325, Shepherdstown, WV
National Nonpoint Source Monitoring Workshop August 23-25, Salt Lake City, UT
2016 Missouri Recycling Association (MORA) Recycling Conference September 1214, St. Louis, MO
Pro Walk/Pro Bike/Pro Place September 12-15, Vancouver, BC
Institute for Tribal Environmental Partners (ITEP) Training: Climate Change
Adaptation Planning September 13-15, Nebraska City, NE
National Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference September 28-30, Baltimore,
MD
18th Annual Stormwater Conference October 2-6, Oklahoma City, OK
Green Business Engagement National Network Summit October 19-20, St. Louis,
MO

Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) Conference October 19-21, Washington, DC

National Training Conference on the Toxics Release Inventory and Environmental
Conditions in Communities October 19-21, Washington, DC
American Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Exposition October 29November 2, Denver, CO
CitiesAlive: 14th Annual Green Roof and Wall Conference November 1-4,
Washington DC
New Partners for Smart Growth Conference February 2-4, 2017, St. Louis, MO
Proposal submissions June 30, 2016
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Webinars and Conference Calls

*Featured Webinar: EJSCREEN 2016 Public Release Webinar
EJSCREEN has new features, including National Air Toxic Assessment environmental
indicators for cancer risk, respiratory, and diesel PM, scalable maps, the ability to save
sessions and print maps from the home screen, side-by-side views of maps, the addition
of Puerto Rico and more. Register now for one of three webinar previews of the tools new
features, and to share your EJSCREEN experiences with EPA and your EJ colleagues.
June 28, 1-2:30 p.m. CST
June 30, 3-4:30 p.m. CST
July 11, 2-3:30 p.m. CST
*National Adaptation Forum Webinar: The State of Climate Change Adaptation in
Water Resources of the Southeast United States and U.S. Caribbean June 22, 121:00 p.m. CST
Learn about climate adaptation activities in the Southeast United States, focusing on
water resources in 11 states in the Southeast.
*What Market Studies Tell Us About Revitalization June 22, 12-1:00 p.m. CST
This webinar explores the data available to community development professionals
conducting market research.
Residential Solar Financing 101 June 22, 12-1:00 p.m. CST
This webcast will provide state and municipal officials with information about current solar
financing options. You will learn about common residential solar financing choices, solar
financing consumer protection issues, publicly supported solar finance programs from
around the country, and broad solar financing trends.
Brownfields Project Marketplace Application June 22-23, 12-5:00 p.m. CST
The Online Brownfields Project Marketplace will include brief presentations by
communities detailing important information on their brownfield sites. Presentations will be

followed by open discussions among community officials and technical assistance

partners.
Environmental Justice Technical Guidance: Presentation and Discussion June 23,
12-1:00 p.m. CST
This webinar will present an overview of the content of the EJ Technical Guidance,
including information on the best practices, recommendations, and questions that are
included to guide the EJ analyses that are conducted for national regulations. The EJ
Technical Guidance is available here.
Pollinator Habitat & Food Security: Whats All the Buzz About? June 23, 12-1:30
p.m. CST
In this webinar, celebrating National Pollinator Week, get inspired by the White Houses
federal strategy to restore or enhance 7 million acres of land for pollinators over the next 5
years, tune in to federal facilities with pollinator habitat, and learn about the Pollinator
Partnerships pollinator-friendly, eco-regional planting guides.
*Completing a Tribal Strategic Plan for Health and Health Equity: Planning, Process
and Outcome June 23, 2-3:00 p.m. CST
This webinar will examine the planning, process, and expected outcomes associated with
constructing a Tribal strategic plan for health and health equity, and will explore best
practices in the planning steps leading up to the construction of the plan, key elements of
a strategic plan, and strategies and tips for using an outside entity to assist in the process.
The APR Design Guide for Plastics Recyclability: A Guided Tour through this
Comprehensive Product Design Reference Tool June 28, 12-1:00 p.m. CST
This webinar will provide a step by step guide through the extensive resources provided
on the Association of Plastics Recyclers website.
Portfolio Manager 101 June 28, 12-1:00 p.m. CST
Learn about the core functionality of EPAs ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool.
Attendees will learn how to: navigate Portfolio Manager; add a property and enter details
about it; enter energy and water consumption data; and generate template performance
reports to assess progress.
*Revised Total Coliform Rule (RTCR) for Small Systems June 28, 1-2:30 p.m. CST
This webinar will discuss the federal RTCR requirements applicable to small systems
serving less than or equal to 1,000 persons. Presenters will address routine, additional
routine, and repeat sampling requirements; and events that trigger a level 1 or level 2
assessment along with the actions PWSs should take.
*CEIP Design Details Proposal Overview for State and Local Agencies Webinar
June 28, 12-1:00 p.m. CST
This webinar will provide an overview of the Clean Energy Incentive Program (CEIP)
Design Details Proposal. The CEIP, which was included in the final Clean Power Plan,
was designed to help states meet their goals under the plan by encouraging early
investments in zero-emitting renewable energy generation, and by removing barriers to
investment in energy efficiency and solar measures in low-income communities.
*Health Impacts of Climate Change Making the Connection: Climate Changes
Mental Health June 29, 12:30 1:30 p.m. CST

In this Climate Changes Health series webinar, participants will gain insights on how the
conditions of climate change can impact mental health and how this presents itself in our
communities.
*From Buses to Bikeshare: How Integrated Mobility Can Have Big Impacts in Small
Communities June 29, 1-2:00 p.m. CST
In this webinar you will walk through a case study of how a traditional transportation
agency is transforming itself in a small town to produce big wins in active, multi-modal
regional transportation planning and implementation.
Portfolio Manager 201 June 29, 12-1:00 p.m. CST
Continue to learn about EPAs ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool, with a deeper dive
into more advanced functionalities such as: editing property data; correcting and updating
property use details; using the data quality checker; and sharing property data.
Portfolio Manager 301 June 30, 12-1:00 p.m. CST
With a good background on the basic functionality of EPAs ENERGY STAR Portfolio
Manager tool, learn about some advanced features including: using spreadsheet upload
templates to update property data; setting goals and targets to plan energy improvements
for properties; creating custom reports; and using the Sustainable Buildings Checklist.
Environmental Justice Technical Guidance: Presentation and Discussion July 11, 23:00 p.m. CST
This webinar will present an overview of the content of the EJ Technical Guidance,
including information on the best practices, recommendations, and questions that are
included to guide the EJ analyses that are conducted for national regulations. The EJ
Technical Guidance is available here.
*Biological Indicators of Soil Health: What they are, how they are measured, and
what is on the horizon? July 12, 1-2:00 p.m. CST
Participants in this webinar will learn about the biological importance related to soil health
management. Advantages and limitations for a variety of biological soil health indicators
will be discussed including how they are measured and may be interpreted.
*Investing in People and Place: Building Wealth and Equity to Advance the
Equitable Development Agenda July 20, 12:30-2:00 p.m. CST
Tune in for a discussion among leading-edge practitioners about how their programs
promote wealth building, job placement and training, job creation, and increase access to
financing and supports for small businesses and social enterprises.
*Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and Capacity Building In Action: Sanitary
Surveys July 28, 12-1:00 p.m. CST
The topic of this webinar is to discuss how the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund
(DWSRF) DWSRF can be used to fund sanitary surveys, and how state programs are
collaborating to address capacity concerns at drinking water systems through the use of
sanitary surveys.
Plastics Recycling Works: Facts and Figures to Support a Thriving Industry
August 9, 12-1:00 p.m. CST

This webinar will provide an overview of the environmental benefits of recycling, market
trends, brand owner sustainability goals, and future areas of growth in the plastics
recycling industry.
Recycling Rigid Plastics Beyond Bottles: Resources to Support MRFs and
Municipalities September 6, 12-1:00 p.m. CST
This webinar will provide an overview of the resources, developed by the Association of
Plastics Recyclers for MRFs and Municipalities to support the expansion of plastics
collected.
2015 PET Container Recycling Rate Report Overview October 18, 12-1:00 p.m. CST
This webinar will serve as an Executive Summary, featuring data and analyses from the
Report on Postconsumer PET Container Recycling Activity in 2015.
2015 National Postconsumer Plastics Bottle Recycling Rate Report Overview
November 15, 12-1:00 p.m. CST
This webinar will serve as an Executive Summary, featuring data and analyses from the
2015 National Postconsumer Plastics Bottle Recycling Rate Report.

On-Going and On-Demand Webinars

EPA Computer Training Helps Water and Wastewater Utilities Build Resilience
The training covers several topics including: identifying and funding potential hazard
mitigation projects, developing and updating an Emergency Response Plan (ERP),
coordinating mutual aid and assistance during emergencies, conducting damage
assessments, and many more.
EPA Sensible Steps to Healthier School Environments 10-Part Webinar Series
Student Curriculum: Recipes for Healthy Kids, and a Healthy Environment
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.
LeanPath presents: Five Food Waste Myths to Debunk Now!
This webinar will explore five myths about food waste and the facts you need to debunk
them in your kitchen.
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