U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency (Region 7)

Communities Information Digest

Has this edition of the digest been forwarded to you by a friend? Would you like to sign up to receive future digests? 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? If so, please email Monica Espinosa, espinosa.monica@epa.gov or R7_POIS_Communities_Mailbox@epa.gov Thank you! March 21, 2014 Find us @ www.facebook.com/eparegion7 or https://twitter.com/eparegion7. Note: New items are in *asterisks*.

News
*FY2014 EPA Brownfields Training, Research, and Technical Assistance Grants Request for Proposals- Due April 18 EPA is announcing the availability of funding to eligible entities, including nonprofit organizations, to conduct research, or provide technical assistance to communities facing brownfields cleanup and revitalization challenges. Proposals are due April 18, 2014. Focus areas of this announcement include: - technical assistance to environmental workforce development and job training grantees, - technical assistance on the integration of environmental justice and equitable development for brownfields-impacted communities, - research on the benefits of Brownfields redevelopment, and - technical assistance on Brownfields financing and economic development strategies to brownfields-impacted communities. http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/news/index.htm#fy2014_btrtagag

*EPA Asks Americans to Join the Race to Stop Water Leaks -WaterSense Celebrates Fix a Leak Week Starting March 17 Easy-to-fix household leaks account for more than one trillion gallons of water wasted each year across the United States, equal to the annual household water use of more than 11 million homes. In the race against water waste, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is urging people to fix household water leaks during the sixth annual Fix a Leak Week, March 17 through 23, 2014. Water leaking from dripping faucets, showerheads and worn toilet flappers in one average American home can account for more than 10,000 gallons of water wasted every year, or the amount of water needed to wash 270 loads of laundry. Fixing household water leaks can save homeowners about 10 percent on their water bills. Finding and fixing leaks is simple to do in three easy steps: 1) Check for leaks: Look for dripping faucets, showerheads and fixture connections. Check toilets for leaks by putting a few drops of food coloring in the tank at the back of the toilet and wait 10 minutes before flushing to see if color shows up in the bowl. If there is color, the toilet flapper likely needs to be replaced, which is an easy repair to make. Check irrigation systems and spigots too. 2) Twist and tighten pipe connections: If your showerhead is dripping, make sure there is a tight connection between the showerhead and the pipe stem. It may just need a twist to tighten or some pipe tape to secure it. 3) Replace the fixture if necessary: If youre in the mood for an upgrade, look for WaterSense-labeled models, which are independently certified to use 20 percent less water and perform as well as or better than standard models. Visit the Fix a Leak Week 2014 Event Map on the WaterSense Facebook page at www.facebook.com/EPAWatersense/app_137541772984354 to see if there is an event in your community. To learn more about finding and fixing leaks, visit: www.epa.gov/watersense/fixaleak. *Notice of Funding Availability for DOTs TIGER Grants Round Six The U.S. Department of Transportation recently announced that $600 million will be made available to fund transportation projects across the country under a sixth round of the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) competitive grant program. Applications are due April 28, 2014. TIGER 2014 will emphasize "projects that support reliable, safe and affordable transportation options that improve connections for both urban and rural communities, making it easier for their residents to reach work, school and other ladders of opportunity. While continuing to support projects of all types, DOT will prioritize applications for capital projects that better connect people to jobs, training and other opportunities, promote neighborhood redevelopment, and reconnect neighborhoods divided by physical barriers, such as highways and railroads." In addition to supporting capital grants, up to $35 million of TIGER funds can be used for planning grants, including planning of innovative transportation, regional transportation planning, freight and port planning, and programmatic mitigation approaches that increase efficiency and improve outcomes for communities and the environment. You must submit final applications through Grants.gov by April 28, 2014, at 5:00 p.m. EDT (the Application Deadline). The Grants.gov Apply function will open on April 3, 2014, allowing applicants to submit applications. If interested parties experience difficulties at any point during the registration or application process, please call the Grants.gov Customer Support Hotline at 1-800-5184726, Monday-Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. EST. Additional information on applying through Grants.gov is available in Information about Applying for Federal Grants through Grants.gov at www.dot.gov/TIGER.

*EPA Honors Corporate Leadership in Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Center for Corporate Climate Leadership recently announced the third annual Climate Leadership Award winners in partnership with the Association of Climate Change Officers (ACCO), the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) and The Climate Registry (TCR). Nineteen awards were given to 15 organizations and two individuals in the public and private sectors for their leadership in addressing climate change by reducing carbon pollution. The 2014 Climate Leadership Award recipients are: Organizational Leadership Award: City of Chula Vista, Sprint, and University of California, Irvine Individual Leadership Award: Sam Brooks, Associate Director, D.C. Department of General Services, and Robert Taylor, Energy Manager, Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission Supply Chain Leadership Award: Sprint Excellence in Greenhouse Gas Management (Goal Achievement Award): The Boeing Company; Caesars Entertainment; Cisco Systems, Inc.; Ecolab; The Hartford; IBM; Johnson Controls; Kohl's Department Stores; Mack Trucks; and Novelis Excellence in Greenhouse Gas Management (Goal Setting Certificate): Fruit of the Loom, Inc.; Hasbro, Inc.; and Kohl's Department Stores The national awards program recognizes and incentivizes exemplary corporate, organizational, and individual leadership in response to climate change. Award recipients represent a wide array of industries, including finance, manufacturing, retail, technology, higher education and local government. More information about the 2014 Climate Leadership Award winners is available at www.epa.gov/climateleadership/awards/2014winners.html. More information about EPAs Center for Corporate Climate Leadership: www.epa.gov/climateleadership *CDCs Health Impact Project Call for Proposals (Brief Proposal Deadline April 2, 2014) The Health Impact Project is issuing its fourth call for proposals to support two types of initiatives: health impact assessment, or HIA, demonstration projects that inform a specific decision; and HIA program grants that enable organizations with experience with HIAs to develop sustainable HIA programs that integrate the assessments and related approaches in policymaking at the local, state, or tribal levels. Health Impact Assessment for Improved Community Design (deadline April 28, 2014). Link: http://www.healthimpactproject.org/project/opportunities *CDCs Healthy Community Design Initiative Is Awarding Funds for Improved Community Design (Due April 28, 2014) CDCs Healthy Community Design Initiative is awarding funds to increase the capacity of public health departments to include health considerations in transportation and land use planning decisions, and to expand the scope of health impacts considered when making decisions that impact community design. Total project funding over a period of three years is $2,610,000. Approximate number of awards is six. Eligibility information is on pages 12-13 of the FOA. To read examples of projects by awardees funded for the period of September 2011- August 2014, go to http://www.cdc.gov/healthyplaces/stories/default.htm. To apply by April 28, go to: http://www.grants.gov/view-opportunity.html?oppId=251873 *Agriculture Secretary Announces $3 Million for a New Program to Improve Pollinator Health The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will provide close to $3 million in technical and financial assistance for interested farmers and ranchers to help improve the health of bees, which play an important role in crop production. The funding is a focused investment to improve pollinator health and will be targeted in five Midwestern states, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. "Honey bee pollination supports an estimated $15 billion worth of agricultural production, including more than 130 fruits and vegetables that are the foundation of a nutritious diet. The future security of America's food supply depends on healthy honey bees," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "Expanded support for research, combined with USDA's other efforts to improve

honey bee health, should help America's beekeepers combat the current, unprecedented loss of honey bee hives each year." Recent studies have shown that beekeepers are losing approximately 30 percent of their honey bee colonies each year, up from historical norms of ten to fifteen percent overwintering losses experienced prior to 2006. http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/national/newsroom/releases/?cid=STELPRDB1246681 *Energy Department Announces $10 Million for Innovative Commercial Building Technologies and Unveils New Commercial Buildings 101 Video The Energy Department recently announced a $10 million funding opportunity to help demonstrate and deploy energy efficiency technologies for commercial buildings, including projects that will bring next generation building systems and components to a broader market fasterhelping to save building owners and businesses money by saving energy. Link: http://energy.gov/eere/articles/energy-department-announces-10-million-innovative-commercial-building-technologiesand?utm_source=PA934&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ProgressAlerts

Funding Opportunities
*March 24: Center for Community Progress Technical Assistance *March 28: DOT INVEST Implementation Projects - Round 2 ~ $150,000 (with a 100% non-federal match *March 31: USDA Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program April 1: DOE Vehicle Technologies Program - $51.4 million *April 2: CDCs Health Impact Project *April 4: USDA Team Nutrition Training Grants-letter of intent for application April 11: Energy Departments $12 Million for Technologies to Produce Renewable Carbon Fiber from Biomass April 14: Energy Department Funding to Access Higher Quality Wind Resources and Lower Costs http://energy.gov/eere/wind/financial-opportunities *April 18: EPA Brownfields Training, Research, and Technical Assistance Grants *April 21: EPA National Indoor Environments Program Request for Applications *April 23: FHWAs Advancing Transportation Planning Through Innovation & Research *April 28: CDCs Healthy Community Design Initiative *April 28: DOTs Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER)

Meetings, Conferences, & Events

March 27-29: National Green Schools Conference, -Sacramento, California http://greenschoolsnationalnetwork.org/conference/ *May 1: 2014 Walkable Bikeable Delaware Summit -Dover, Delaware May 7-9: National Training Conference on the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) and Environmental Conditions in Communities, -Arlington, Virginia http://www2.epa.gov/toxics-release-inventory-tri-program/2014-national-trainingconference May 18 -20: 2014 National Main Streets Conference -Detroit, Michigan *May 19-21: Local Solutions: Northeast Climate Change Preparedness -Manchester, New Hampshire *May 19-22: SunShot Grand Challenge Summit -Anaheim, California June 4-7: 22nd Annual Congress for New Urbanism -Buffalo, New York June 17-18: 2014 LOCUS Leadership Summit, -Washington D.C. *August 19 - 20, 2014 California Adaptation Forum -Sacramento, California October 7 & 8, 2014: 7th Annual Growing Sustainable Communities Conference -Dubuque, Iowa *October 20 - 22, Farmland, Food, and Livable Communities Conference -Lexington, Kentucky

Webinars & Conference Calls

*DOE Best of the Clean Cities Tools and Resources Webinar March 31, from 1-2:00 p.m. EST The Energy Department will also present a live webinar titled Best of the Clean Cities Tools and Resources on Monday, March 31, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. During this webinar, participants will learn about the top 10 resources the Clean Cities Technical Response Service uses to answer common questions related to alternative fuels, advanced vehicles, and other petroleum-reduction strategies. Join the webinar here: https://www.mymeetings.com/emeet/join/index.jsp?customHeader=mymeetings&netId=PW4490477&netPass=2847114&net Type=conference&acceptTerms=on *Successful Green Infrastructure Program Drivers: Real-World Case Studies & Lessons Learned April 2, 2-3:30 pm EST Aging infrastructure, increased regulations, and budgetary constraints are driving communities to find innovative and cost-effective approaches to stormwater management. Green Infrastructure is a popular approach to address this issue. This webinar will discuss how Green Infrastructure design has evolved, the

options available, quantifying direct and ancillary benefits, and avoiding implementation pitfalls. Link: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/398417646 *Public Healthy Benefits of Active Transportation, April 16, 2014; 3-4 pm EST APBP is hosting a series of monthly Professional Development webinars in 2014. Topics covered include the public health benefits of active transportation; calming arterial streets for safer walking and cycling; electricassist bikes and transportation policy; and the value of investing in Complete and Green Streets. Complete details and schedules for each monthly webinar are available on the apbp.org website. Link: http://www.apbp.org/events/event_details.asp?id=381918&group= *In the Mix- Getting Residential Development in Mixed Use Communities Right, April 23, 3:00- 4:30pm EST Presented by the Urban Land Institute's Terwilliger Center for Housing, this webinar will offer an engaging discussion with experienced developers on how to sustain the long-term vibrancy and economic viability of residential development in mixed use communities. Link: http://uli.org/event/webinar-mix-getting-residential-development-mixed-use-communities-right/ *Approaches for Effective Climate Change Communication -National Park Service Webinar, May 14, 2014, 4-5 p.m. EST Join the National Park Service for a webinar exploring the importance of effective communication strategies as a key component of climate change response. The presentation will highlight examples and techniques that National Park Service interpreters are using to engage our audiences on this topic and that K-12 teachers can use as well. The webinar will summarize research highlighting visitors beliefs and perspectives about climate change, share some examples of successful interpretive products, and explore ways to empower staff and visitors to be part of the solution. Link: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/147946561

Green Schools
*EPA Awards More than $500,000 to Schools to Help Reduce Childrens Exposure to Pesticides -Integrated pest management practices are shown to reduce pesticide use The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced three grants in Arizona, Michigan and Texas, to facilitate integrated pest management practices in schools. This funding will help reduce students exposure to pests and pesticides in the nations schools, while saving money, energy and pesticide treatment costs. Integrated Pest Management

(IPM) reduces pesticide use, helps to eliminate pests and saves schools money. For example, 18 schools in Monroe County, Indiana have reduced both pesticide use and pest control costs by 90 percent using IPM practices. This approach has the potential to reach all 15,000 school districts and improve the health and well-being of the 49 million children attending public and tribal schools in the United States. Link: http://www.epa.gov/pestwise/ipminschools/grants/ *New Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Brochure for Schools and Child Care Facilities: Everyone has a role in IPM to prevent and manage pests in and around schools and childcare facilities. The Ounce of Prevention Integrated Pest Management (IPM) For Schools and Child Care Facilities brochure is intended for school and childcare facility staff, parents, and pest management professionals. This new publication covers all aspects of an integrated pest management program, from why IPM is important, to program components, to working with pest management professionals. This brochure also has a great back page with small checklists that you can place throughout your school and childcare buildings. To download more pesticide safety brochures or order some color copies for your next event check out this link at http://pesticidestewardship.org/Pages/Resources.aspx. To go directly to the brochure, click here: http://pesticidestewardship.org/Documents/An%20Ounce%20of%20Prevention.pdf. *National Poison Prevention Week - Protect Children from Accidental Poisoning Lock up household pesticides and chemicals in a high cabinet out of the reach of children. March 16-22 is National Poison Prevention Week. http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/health/poisonprevention.htm *Comment on EPAs Draft Guidance on Pesticide Spray Drift by March 31 - EPA is announcing the availability of two draft guidance documents for public comment. These documents describe how off-site spray drift will be evaluated for ecological and human health risk assessments for pesticides. Once final, these guidance documents will be posted on EPA's Web site, to ensure consistent risk assessment practices and provide transparency for pesticide registrants and other interested stakeholders. http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=EPA-HQ-OPP-2013-0676-0001 *USDA Announces Support for Smarter Lunchrooms- Team Nutrition Grants Available to Improve the Health and Future of America's Children Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced $5.5 million in new grants to support schools as they continue to provide school lunches and breakfasts that give children the nutrition they need to learn and grow. Over 90 percent of schools are successfully meeting new meal nutrition standards, serving meals with more whole grains, fruits, vegetables, lean protein and low-fat dairy, and less sodium and fat. These new grants provide support to schools to help them achieve or continue to meet those standards. The grants focus on implementation of Smarter Lunchrooms strategies, a broad toolkit of easy-to-implement, evidence-based practices designed to increase consumption of healthier foods and decrease plate waste. http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/2014-training-grant-application *ELI Expands Topics in School Environmental Health to include IPM in Schools The Environmental Law Institute (ELI) has expanded their Topics in School Environmental Health (TSEH) resource to now include information on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in schools. TSEH summarizes state laws on key school indoor environmental quality issues, providing a snapshot of current state policy in these areas. To see the materials on IPM in schools or other topics covered, visit www.eli.org/buildings/tseh.cfm. *ELI Update Their Database of State Indoor Air Quality Laws

The Environmental Law Institute (ELI) has also posted the annual update of their Database of State Indoor Air Quality Laws to reflect state laws that were adopted or changed in 2013. The Database includes laws that address a variety of pollutants, practices, and building types. To view the complete database or to see excerpts covering mold, radon, or IAQ in schools, visit www.eli.org/buildings/database-state-indoor-air-quality-laws *The White House and USDA Announce School Wellness Standards First Lady Michelle Obama joined U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently to announce proposed guidelines for local school wellness policies. The bipartisan Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 mandated that the USDA set guidelines for what needed to be included in local school wellness policies in areas such as setting goals for nutrition education and physical activity, informing parents about content of the policy and implementation, and periodically assessing progress and sharing updates as appropriate. As part of local school wellness policies, the proposed guidelines would ensure that foods and beverages marketed to children in schools are consistent with the recently-released Smart Snacks in School standards. Ensuring that unhealthy food is not marketed to children is one of the First Lady's top priorities; that is why it is so important for schools to reinforce the importance of healthy choices and eliminate marketing of unhealthy products. For more information, go to http://www.fns.usda.gov/school-meals/ *April 15 & April 30 - 2014 - USDA - Farm to School Grant Program The purpose of the USDA Farm to School Grant Program is to assist eligible entities in implementing farm to school programs that improve access to local foods in eligible schools. On an annual basis, USDA awards up to $5 million in competitive grants for training, supporting operations, planning, purchasing equipment, developing school gardens, developing partnerships, and implementing farm to school programs. Planning grants are expected to range from $20,000 - $45,000 and implementation grants and support service grants are expected to range from $65,000 - $100,000. To assist eligible entities in preparing proposals, USDA will host a series of webinars related to the application process: More information about these webinars and about how to apply for this funding opportunity: http://www.fns.usda.gov/farmtoschool/fy-2015-farm-school-grant-program-funds-available *April 21, 2014 EPA National Indoor Environments Program: Reducing Public Exposure to Indoor Pollutants EPAs Indoor Environments Division has released a Request for Applications (RFA) for demonstration, training, outreach and/or education cooperative agreements that will have a national scale impact to reduce exposure to indoor air contaminants and yield measurable environmental outcomes. Applications must articulate a plan to produce results that have implications and/or benefits on a national level (in other words, this RFA is not designed to fund small-scale local projects) in one or more of the following program priority areas: radon, indoor environmental asthma triggers, multiple indoor air quality contaminants. The total estimated funding for this competitive opportunity is approximately $2 million to $4 million annually, for up to three years. EPA anticipates awarding between 10 to 20 cooperative agreements from this announcement, subject to availability of funds, the quality of proposals received, and other applicable considerations. EPA will not consider proposals requesting in excess of $200,000 per year in federal funds. You can download the RFA from OARs grants funding page at http://www.epa.gov/air/grants_funding.html *On-Going - TEEN Nick Halo Awards - DO YOU KNOW ANY INSPIRING TEENS WHO ARE MAKING A HUGE IMPACT IN THEIR COMMUNITIES? Teens who are leading others to join their movement and take action on causes that are important to them? Teens with unique, powerful stories who took their personal experiences and, through service, made it meaningful on a bigger level--a level that really made a difference? That's awesome. We would love to hear about them. And there's a chance we'll shine the HALO spotlight on them! http://www.teennick.com/shows/halo-awards/nomination

*Approaches for Effective Climate Change Communication -National Park Service Webinar, May 14, 2014, 4-5 p.m. EST Join us for a webinar exploring the importance of effective communication strategies as a key component of climate change response. The presentation will highlight examples and techniques that National Park Service interpreters are using to engage our audiences on this topic and that K-12 teachers can use as well. The webinar will summarize research highlighting visitors beliefs and perspectives about climate change, share some examples of successful interpretive products, and explore ways to empower staff and visitors to be part of the solution. Link: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/147946561

March 27-29: National Green Schools Conference, Sacramento, California http://greenschoolsnationalnetwork.org/conference/

Other Community-Related Information/Events

*Environmental Justice (EJ) in Action Blog: EPA Study Shows Poverty is a Risk Factor for Heart Disease Check out our latest blog post by Ann Brown of the EPA's Air, Climate, and Energy Program. Ms. Brown writes about how a wildfire in North Carolina led researchers to consider how to identify residents whose health might be at risk from the smoke and other air pollution. The results from the study indicates socio-economic status alone can be used to determine if a group is at risk for heart problems, which is good news for those interested in reaching out to at risk communities. Also, check out our 20th anniversary page and video series, which features federal and local government officials, non-profit leaders and students who share stories about their lessons learned over time working on environmental and climate justice. Be sure to add your e-mail address to the subscribe link on the upper-right side of the blog's home page to receive our future posts directly each week. Click the "Like" button to let your friends know about this great resource. Thank you for helping up spread the word! Link: http://blog.epa.gov/ej/2014/02/epa-study-shows-poverty-is-a-risk-factor-for-heart-disease/ *EJ in Action Blog: Celebrating Women Making a Visible Difference in Communities Check out our latest blog post, Who's Your Environmental Justice Shero?, by Dr. Marva King of the EPA's Office of Environmental Justice. Following the anniversary of the Executive Order on Environmental Justice and in honor of Women's History Month, Dr. King reflects on some of the many women in the Environmental Justice movement that have made an impact on her life. Join us in celebrating by writing about your EJ Shero in the comments section. Link: http://blog.epa.gov/ej/2014/03/whos-your-ej-shero/ *EJ in Action Blog: President Obama's Proclamation on Environmental Justice Check out our latest blog post about President Obama's Proclamation on Environmental Justice. The proclamation is much more than a symbolic gesture. It is a very visible statement from the White House firmly re-committing this Administration's dedication to making sure that we, "live up to the promise that here in America, no matter who you are or where you come

from, you can pursue your dreams in a safe and just environment." Also, check out our 20th anniversary page and video series, which features federal and local government officials, non-profit leaders and students who share stories about their lessons learned over time working on environmental and climate justice. Link: http://blog.epa.gov/ej/2014/02/president-proclamation-on-ej/ *Environmental Justice in Action Blog: No Roads, No Problem! Environmental Jobs in Alaska's Most Remote Parts Check out our latest blog post, Environmental Job Training Reaches Rural Alaska by Lynn Zender of Zender Environmental and Research Group in Anchorage, Alaska. Ms. Zender writes about the EPA's Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training Program, which provides training and skills for people from low-income indigenous communities in Alaska in the environmental field. The program distinguishes itself from others by providing participants with the opportunity to apply their skills in their own communities rather than work elsewhere. This reduces the "brain-drain" issue and helps stimulate the economy and development in these communities. Link: http://blog.epa.gov/ej/2014/03/environmental-job-training/ *EPA Releases Projections of Energy Impacts from Key State Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Policies EPA has released updated draft projections of energy impacts from key state energy efficiency (EE) and renewable energy (RE) policies not captured in the Energy Information Administration's Annual Energy Outlook (AEO). These policies include: - Energy Efficiency Resource Standards (EERS) and EE funding policies that reduce electricity demand through the use of energy efficient equipment, technologies and practices, and - Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) requirements beyond what is assumed in AEO 2013 EPA encourages state representatives and other interested parties to submit comments on these draft projections. EPA will carefully consider all comments received, and will make appropriate changes to our analysis on the basis of your input. Please submit your comments by April 1, 2014. Link: http://www.epa.gov/statelocalclimate/state/statepolicies.html
*Lack of Transit Options May Limit Children's Healthcare Approximately three million children miss a healthcare appointment each year because of inadequate access to transit, according to a study from the Children's Health Fund. A third of those children later visited a hospital emergency room for the condition associated with their missed appointment. According to the Fund, transportation barriers could reduce the gains in children's healthcare created through expanded insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act. Link: http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20140224/BLOG/302249991/poor-transportation-could-block-gains-in-pediatrichealthcare

*Repair Priorities 2014: Transportation Spending Strategies to Save Taxpayer Dollars and improve roads -Report from Smart Growth America and Taxpayers for Common Sense Between 2009 and 2011, states spent $16.5 billion each year on road repair. That may seem like a lot, but it was not enough to keep roads from deteriorating: road conditions nationwide declined during those years. States would have needed to spend $45 billion per yearthree times as much as they didto fix their roads and keep them in a state of good repair. Meanwhile, states spent $20.4 billion each year on road expansion, adding to a repair backlog they already couldn't keep up with. If states had put that money toward repair instead, they could have repaired over 95,000 lane-miles annually and been on target to have no roads in poor condition by 2014. States have a long ways to go collectively, but some individual states have changed their spending strategies and shifted funds toward road repair. North Dakota, Nebraska, Michigan, Maine and Wyoming are among the states leading the way. Link: http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/repair-priorities-2014

*EPA Publication - Green Power Procurement: A Guide to Developing and Implementing Greenhouse Gas Reduction Programs EPA has released a new climate and energy strategy guide for local governments, titled Green Power Procurement: A Guide to Developing and Implementing Greenhouse Gas Reduction Programs. This guide provides comprehensive information for local government staff and policy makers on how to implement these GHG reduction strategies, including: Products/technologies and their applications Environmental, energy, and economic benefits Steps for designing procurement plans/installations Key stakeholders to engage Policy mechanisms for initiating programs Implementation strategies for success Link: http://www.epa.gov/statelocalclimate/documents/pdf/greenpowerprocurement508final.pdf *EJ in Action Blog: Protecting Those That Need it Most Check out our latest blog post, Protecting Those That Need it Most, by Cynthia Giles of EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. Ms. Giles reflects on progress made by EPA over the last 20 years in enforcing environmental statutes in overburdened communities. Link: http://blog.epa.gov/ej/2014/03/protecting-those-that-need-it-most/
*"Lean Urbanism" is Focus of CNU Project The new Project for Lean Urbanism (PLU), administered by the Congress for New Urbanism and funded by a three-year, $600,000-plus grant from the Knight Foundation, will help small business and development projects move forward more rapidly by finding creative ways to work through city regulations. In its first year, PLU will compile research and reports on opportunities for workarounds in real estate development, business, liability and risk management, infrastructure, and education. The following two years will involve creating tools and strategies based on the findings, as well as field testing them via pilot initiatives and demonstration projects in select cities. Link: http://nextcity.org/daily/entry/project-for-lean-urbanism-congress-for-the-newurbanism-andres-duany

*Sustainable Development Projects: How Designers, Developers, and Planners can Cooperate, Coordinate, and Conquer Development projects are the building blocks of urban growth. Sustainable development projects start with a blueprint for the kind of development that balances sound economics, quality design, and the public good. This new book walks through the development process, showing sustainable development at work on a variety of projects. Detailed scenarios apply the book's principles to rental apartments, greenfield housing, and mixed use infill projects. http://www.planning.org/store/product/?ProductCode=BOOK_A01207 *Navigating Our Future: Best Practices Case Studies from the Tennessee Regions' Roundtable Network This new publication highlights innovative community and economic development projects being implemented throughout Tennessee. More than twenty case studies demonstrate a wide range of projects in both metropolitan and rural Tennessee. Topics highlighted include regional planning; neighborhood and corridor revitalization; historic preservation; transportation investments; entrepreneurship initiatives; and tourism strategies.

http://www.nado.org/navigating-our-future-best-practices-case-studies-from-the-tennessee-regions-roundtable-network/ *A New Course: How Innovative University Programs Are Reducing Driving on Campus and Creating New Models for Transportation Policy This report from the United States Public Interest Research Group (US PIRG) describes how universities are improving their communities by providing a wider range of transportation choices. More frequent bus routes, additional bike lanes and bike rental programs, and vehicle-sharing programs all help make it easier for students to move around campus and town without a personal car. The report also documents how campuses are avoiding the steep costs of building new parking facilities by supporting alternative transportation options. http://uspirg.org/reports/usp/new-course *EJ in Action Blog: Participation - The Keys to a Healthier and Stronger Community Check out our latest blog post, EPA's 20th Anniversary for Environmental Justice: A Perspective on Community Work, by Mathy Stanislaus of the EPA's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. Mr. Stanislaus reflects on his own experiences working with communities and the importance of government considering communities in all its activities as he highlights community-based initiatives during his tenure. Also, check out our 20th anniversary page and video series, which features federal and local government officials, non-profit leaders and students who share stories about their lessons learned over time working on environmental and climate justice. Be sure to add your e-mail address to the subscribe link on the upper-right side of the blog's home page to receive our future posts directly each week. Click the "Like" button to let your friends know about this great resource. Thank you for helping up spread the word! Link: http://blog.epa.gov/ej/2014/03/epas-20th-anniversary-on-environmental-justice-a-perspective-on-community-work/ *EPA And CEC Partners Announce Winners of the NAPECA Grant Program- $1.2 Million in Community Grants Awarded to Environmental Projects across North America U.S. EPA, Environment Canada, and the Mexico Ministry for Environment and Natural Resources, awarded $1.2 million in grants under the Council of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) North American Partnership for Environmental Community Action (NAPECA) program. These grants will support communities in addressing a wide range of environmental challenges across North America. Link: http://www.cec.org/Page.asp?PageID=835&SiteNodeID=1237&BL_ExpandID=1157 *Get Involved with Earth Day! Every year on April 22, over a billion people in 190 countries take action for Earth Day. From San Francisco to San Juan, Beijing to Brussels, Moscow to Marrakesh, people plant trees, clean up their communities, contact their elected officials, and moreall on behalf of the environment. Like Earth Days of the past, Earth Day 2014 will focus on the unique environmental challenges of our time. As the worlds population migrates to cities, and as the bleak reality of climate change becomes increasingly clear, the need to create sustainable communities is more important than ever. Earth Day 2014 will seek to do just that through its global theme: Green Cities. With smart investments in sustainable technology, forward-thinking public policy, and an educated and active public, we can transform our cities and forge a sustainable future. Nothing is more powerful than the collective action of a billion people. As the global organizer behind Earth Day, Earth Day Network creates tools and resources for you to get involved with Earth Day in your community. Heres how you can participate: http://www.earthday.org/greencities/earth-day-2014/

*USDA Announces Efforts to Expand Support for Small and Mid-Sized Farmers and Ranchers In remarks at the National Farmers Union National Convention, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced new and expanded efforts to connect small- and mid-sized farmers and ranchers with USDA resources that can help them build stronger businesses, expand to reach new and larger markets, and grow their operations. Efforts include improved access to USDA resources; revised risk management tools that better fit the needs of smaller producers, additional support for hoop houses, and expanded collection of valuable market news information. USDA is also introducing a series of education tools focusing on opportunities for farmers engaged in local and regional food systems. In addition, USDA field staff will be boosting their outreach efforts to small and mid-sized farmers and ranchers. Link: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentidonly=true&contentid=small-midsized-farmer-resources.xml *Urban Bikeway Design Guide: Second Edition Completely redesigned with an accessible, four-color layout, the second edition of this classic guide builds on the fastchanging state of bikeway design at the local level. The book offers substantive guidance for cities seeking to improve bicycle transportation in places where competing demands for the use of the right-of-way present unique challenges. http://islandpress.org/ip/books/book/islandpress/U/bo9505518.html *Building Thriving, Resilient Communities A Collection of Resources Building Thriving and Resilient Communities explores innovative resilient systems being created in communities across the nation. This collection of case studies from the Thriving Resilient Communities Collaboratory contains practical hands-on ways you can take action to make your community more resilient and sustainable. http://www.resilience.org/communities-guide *Bicycle and Pedestrian Terminology Do you know the difference between a bike lane, bike boulevard, and bike route? Many pedestrian and bicycle terms like these are similar, and can often be confused or misused. This new glossary from the Michigan Department of Transportation brings clarity to the phrases used in bicycle and pedestrian projects. It's an excellent resource for transportation advocates, citizens, and planners. http://michigancompletestreets.wordpress.com/2014/02/27/mdots-bicycle-and-pedestrian-glossary-brings-clarity-to-nonmotorized-terms/ *Twelve Strategies to Transform Cities This online resource from UrbanSCALE outlines twelve strategies that can transform a city's downtown into a thriving commercial district. A concise explanation of each strategy shows how the strategy will make a downtown more vibrant. Examples are given of cities that have successfully implemented each strategy. http://urbanscale.com/blog/12-strategies-will-transform-citys-downtown/ *Leadership STAR Communities Program In partnership with the Funders Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities (TFN), STAR Communities will offer financial assistance to a limited number of communities that demonstrate need and the ability to leverage local philanthropic support for their participation in the Leadership STAR Community Program. Link: http://www.starcommunities.org/getstarted/leadership-star-community-program

*Solicitation for INVEST Implementation Projects, Federal Highway Administration The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) wants to use its INVEST 1.0 voluntary self-assessment tool to assess and enhance the sustainability of its projects and programs. For this project, FHWA wants to partner with state Departments of Transportation (DOTs), metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), federal lands, and local governments. FHWAs ultimate goal is to improve the sustainability of its highway programs and projects triple bottom line social, economic, and environmental outcomes. FHWA anticipates multiple awards of approximately $25,000 to $150,000, though projects may be larger or smaller depending on their context, scope, and approach. Federal statute requires a 100% nonfederal match (50-50 cost share). In-kind contributions such as staffing can count toward the match requirement. Link: http://www.sustainablehighways.dot.gov/project_solicitation.aspx *Sustainable Cleveland Conference Announces Keynote Speaker who Created The Story of Stuff Mayor Frank G. Jackson will host the 6th annual sustainability summit at Cleveland Public Auditorium on September 17th and 18th. I am excited to announce Annie Leonard as the keynote speaker. She is the creator of The Story of Stuff . Named one of Fast Companys 1000 Most Creative People in Business, Ms. Leonard is an international expert in sustainability and environmental health issues. Her documentaries, beginning with The Story of Stuff, have transformed complex issues of consumerism into understandable challenges. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between environmental and social issues, and the solutions that result in more sustainable procurement, supply chain and cradle-to-cradle technology. Link: http://www.sustainablecleveland.org/annual-summits/2014-2/ *Invitation on Universal Public Review (UPR) Indigenous Issues This is an invitation to Indian tribes and members of civil society for a conference call-in with the Indigenous Issues Working Group on March 26, 2014 from 2:00-3:30 p.m. EST. The purpose of the call is to discuss a draft agenda for use at an April 24 consultation with Indian tribes and members of civil society to be hosted by the University of Oklahoma College of Law, Norman Oklahoma. The toll-free call-in number is: Phone: 1-866-709-3154 Passcode: 1295790 Call-in capacity may be limited. Please advise the Working Group Lead Eric Bruce Wilson, eric.wilson@bia.gov of your intent to participate on call-in. To assure an opportunity for input, messages can be sent to that address in advance of and during the call-in. An effort will be made to get input from all regions of the country during the call-in. *More Evidence That Inclusion Is Good for Growth The International Monetary Fund a leading voice on global economics recently released a new analysis that showed redistributive tax policies do not slow down growth directly and can actually strengthen growth by increasing equality. The same day the study was released, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the Ford Foundation convened a workshop, "Changing the Conversation on Growth: Going Inclusive," that highlighted the importance of pursuing economic growth that is fairly shared and explored win-win policies for equity and growth (see the video and download materials at http://www.oecd.org/inclusive-growth/second-oecd-ford-foundation-workshop-inclusive-growth.htm. *Citizens Institute on Rural Design Issues Request for Proposals for Rural Communities Facing Design Challenges The Citizens' Institute on Rural Design (CIRD) has issued a request for proposals to rural communities facing design

challenges - such as Main Street revitalization, how to manage and direct growth, design community-supportive transportation systems, preserve natural and historic landscapes and buildings, protect working agricultural lands, and provide adequate and affordable housing - who are interested in hosting a local workshop in 2014-2015. Successful applicants will receive a $7,000 stipend and in-kind professional design expertise and technical assistance valued at $35,000. The Request for Proposals is posted on the CIRD website. The deadline for submitting a proposal is Tuesday, May 6, 2014 at 9:00 pm EST. Link: http://www.communitymatters.org/citizens%E2%80%99-institute-rural-design-issues-request-proposals-ruralcommunities-facing-design-challenges *US Public Transit Use At Highest Level Since the 1950s More Americans used buses, trains, and subways in 2013 than in any year since 1956, according to a press release from the American Public Transportation Association. Improved transit service, growth in local economies, and travelers seeking alternatives to the automobile for in-city travel helped boost the ridership levels. Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/10/us/use-of-public-transit-in-us-reaches-highest-level-since-1956-advocatesreport.html?emc=eta1&_r=1 *PeopleForBikes Selects Six Cities for Bike Lane Program The PeopleForBikes Green Lane Project has selected six US cities to join its intensive two-year program to build better bike lanes. Atlanta, Georgia; Boston, Massachusetts; Denver, Colorado; Indianapolis, Indiana; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Seattle, Washington will receive financial, strategic, and technical assistance to create low-stress streets and increase vitality in urban centers through the installation of protected bike lanes. The six cities were chosen from more than 100 that submitted letters of interest for the program. Link: http://www.peopleforbikes.org/blog/entry/peopleforbikes-selects-new-green-lane-project-cities *U.S. Geological Survey Tool Provides County-Level Maps with Historical and Projected Climate Change Data for 21st Century For the first time, maps and summaries of historical and projected temperature and precipitation changes for the 21st century for the continental United States are accessible at a county-by-county level on a website developed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in collaboration with the College of Earth, Oceanic, and Atmospheric Sciences at Oregon State University. The maps and summaries are based on NASA downscaling of the 33 climate models used in the 5th Climate Model Intercomparison Project and the current Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Assessment Report. The USGS leveraged this massive dataset and distilled the information into easily understood maps, 3-page summaries, and spreadsheet compatible data files for each state and county in the United States. A similar implementation for the USGS nested hydrologic units will be available in the next month. Other useful tools for characterizing climate change include plots of monthly averages of temperature and precipitation, time-series spanning 1950-2099, and tables that summarize possible changes in the extremes of temperature and precipitation. For more information, see the press release. Link: http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=3745#.UvjePmJdV8E *Energy Department Announces Outdoor Winners of Next Generation Luminaires Solid-State Lighting Design Competition The 2013 Next Generation Luminaires (NGL) Design Competition outdoor lighting category winners were announced Wednesday night at the Strategies in Light conference in Santa Clara, California. The competition, sponsored by the Energy

Department, the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America, and the International Association of Lighting Designers, was launched in 2008 to promote excellence in the design of energy-efficient light-emitting diode (LED) commercial lighting fixtures, or "luminaires." Link: http://energy.gov/eere/articles/energy-department-announces-outdoor-winners-next-generationluminaires-solid-state *EPA, Sergeants Pet Care and Wellmark International Reach Agreement to Cancel Potentially Harmful Insecticide Products The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reached agreement with Sergeant's Pet Care Products, Inc. and Wellmark International to cancel flea and tick pet collars containing propoxur marketed under the trade names including Bansect, Sentry, Zodiac and Biospot. This decision was reached between EPA and Sergeant's and Wellmark as a result of EPAs risk assessment showing risks to children from exposure to pet collars containing propoxur. Propoxur is an insecticide registered for use to control ticks, fleas and a variety of insects and is used in industrial, commercial and residential facilities. The agreement represents the solution to most quickly remove the pet collars from the market. If you purchase a propoxur pet collar, read the label carefully and follow all directions on the label to protect your family from exposure. Do not allow children to play with the collar, and wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling. For more information about the voluntary cancellation: http://www2.epa.gov/safepestcontrol/companies-agree-stop-selling-pet-collars-containing-pesticide-protect-children *SunShot Summit Registration Now Open Registration is now open for the 2014 SunShot Grand Challenge Summit and Peer Review. Visit the Grand Challenge Summit website today to access registration rates and instructions, the event program, useful resources, travel and venue information, and stay up-to-date on the latest Summit news and announcements. This years Summit will feature a variety of exhibits and sessions providing opportunities for learning and networking with more than 800 thought leaders and members of the U.S. solar community. Register today *Staples Recognized for Leadership in Energy Efficiency The Department of Energy on March 13 recently recognized Staples for its leadership in energy efficiency at the Coppell Fulfillment Center near Dallas, Texas. Through the Better Buildings Challenge, building owners and managers are charged with making their commercial buildings, multifamily housing, and industrial plants and facilities at least 20% more energyefficient over the next 10 years. Staplesone of the worlds largest e-commerce companieshas committed to reducing energy intensity by 25% in more than 1,700 of its buildings in the next ten years. To date, Staples has improved the energy efficiency of 800 facilities by more than 10%. As part of their participation in the Better Buildings Challenge, Staples is conducting retrofits in facilities across the United States. Staples also implemented a number of efficiency measures, including installing LEDs in loading docks and retrofitting with highly efficient fans. These strategies have cut the Coppell Fulfillment Centers energy costs by 26% annually and saved more than $65,000 on energy bills. Staples is now implementing these strategies at other fulfillment centers across the country. See the Energy Department news release and the Better Buildings Challenge website. Link: http://www.energy.gov/articles/texas-staples-recognized-leadership-energyefficiency *Energy Department Announces $10 Million to Speed Enhanced Geothermal Systems into the Market In support of President Obamas all-of-the-above energy strategy, the Energy Department recently announced $10 million to

improve subsurface characterization for enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) by developing state-of-the-art methods that quantify critical underground reservoir properties as they change over time. New methods to access engineered reservoirs will speed the deployment of this next generation geothermal technology and support geothermal energys continued role in the U.S. clean energy mix. To generate baseload, renewable power, EGS projects capture power from intensely hot rocks, buried thousands of feet below the surface, that lack the permeability or fluid saturation found in naturally occurring geothermal systems. The U.S. Geological Survey has estimated this vast, untapped thermal resource is between 100 and 500 gigawatts, enough to power millions of American homes. Link: https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/#FoaId55e2762f-f6594316-b0a4-5b3fbd01b84b *Listen Now to EPAs Webcast Series on Communications for Climate and Clean Energy Programs If you missed our popular December 2013 webcast series on communications strategies for state and local governments, you can listen now to all three online, access presentations, and read audience Qs&As. Over 1,000 state and local staff tuned in to listen to some or all of these webcasts, making it one of our most popular offerings to date. The structure of the three webcasts parallels the general phases of program development and implementation: attracting stakeholder support and participation, sustaining change, and gaining momentum from program successes. Participants will learn how to design communications strategies to engage and empower stakeholders, use communications methods to instigate and sustain behavior change and foster individual and community solutions, and effectively communicate their programs successes and resulting benefits to diverse audiences. Link: http://www.epa.gov/statelocalclimate/web-podcasts/local-webcasts-by-date.html#a2013 *EPA Regions and Antioch University-New England to Host Regional Conference, "Local Solutions: Northeast Climate Change Preparedness," May 19-21 in Manchester, New Hampshire Antioch University-New England and EPA will host a regional conference this May for local planners, decision makers, and educators to understand how to create healthy resilient communities that are better prepared to handle severe weather and climate impacts. The first two days of the conference will focus on the topic of Building Resilient Communities: informing community planners, decision makers, and those responsible for implementing change at the local level how best to identify current and future vulnerabilities, followed by adaptive responses to build resilient communities. The last day of the conference will feature an Educators Summit, which will inform middle and high school teachers how to design a communitybased, problem-solving curriculum that will teach students how best to support municipal officials preparing for impacts from a changing climate. For more information and to register, visit the conference website. *Two New EPA Climate and Energy Strategy Guides for Local Governments On-Site Renewable Energy Generation. A growing number of local governments are turning to renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, biomass, hydropower, and landfill gas, to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, improve air quality and energy security, boost the local economy, and pave the way to a sustainable energy future. Local governments can work with utilities, local businesses, nonprofit groups, residents, state agencies, and green power marketers and brokers to plan and implement on-site renewable energy generation projects at local government facilities and throughout their communities. Combined Heat and Power. Combined heat and power, also known as cogeneration, refers to the simultaneous production of electricity and thermal energy from a single fuel source. Simultaneous production is more efficient than producing electricity and thermal energy through two separate power systems and requires less fuel. Reductions in fuel use can produce a number of benefits, including energy cost savings, reduced GHG emissions, and reductions in other air emissions.

To access these guides and others in this series, please visit the Local Climate and Energy Strategy Series page at http://www.epa.gov/statelocalclimate/resources/strategy-guides.html. *Is Government Responsible for Sustaining Rural Populations? -Rural Counties See Historic Population Loss Municipal governments invest time, talent, and money into sustainable infrastructure projects, from water treatment to transportation to greenways, all in an attempt to sustain or grow their existing population. But, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, one sector of America - rural areas and small towns - are losing ground. Between April 2010 and July 2012, non-metropolitan counties as a whole declined in population, most likely for the first time in U.S. history, the USDA noted in a recent report. The population figures are irrefutable, but reasons for the migration from farms and small towns to big cities - and what can or should be done about it - remain debatable. Iowa is a prime example of a state that has seen its rural population shrink rapidly. This was especially true during the farm crisis of the 1980s, when many long-time farm families, unable to keep up with rising interest rates, lost their properties to mortgage holders. When those farms failed, the families that ran them struggled, too. Eventually, many people left those farms, rural areas and small towns, and headed for the cities. To read the entire article go to: http://www.sustainablecitynetwork.com/topic_channels/policy/article_cb2c7498683a-11e3-a8bf-0019bb30f31a.html EPA Recognizes Seven Communities for Smart Growth Achievement The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently recognized projects in seven communities as winners of the 2013 National Award for Smart Growth Achievement for their creative, sustainable initiatives that better protect the health and the environment while strengthening local economies. Among the winners are an expansive greenway in Atlanta, a downtown whitewater rafting park in rural Iowa, and a regional development plan for metropolitan Chicago. Other winners include the revitalized Historic Millwork District in Dubuque and an innovative, affordable infill housing development near public transit in Sacramento. The winning projects show us that we can develop, grow local economies, and protect public health and the environment all at the same time, said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. The 2013 award winners were judged in five categories: overall excellence; corridor or neighborhood revitalization; plazas, parks, and public places; policies, programs, and plans; and built projects. The 2013 winners are: Overall Excellence in Smart Growth: Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail and Historic Fourth Ward Park Atlanta, Georgia Corridor or Neighborhood Revitalization: Historic Millwork District and Washington Neighborhood Dubuque, Iowa Policies, Programs, and Plans: GO TO 2040 Metropolitan Chicago, Illinois Policies, Programs, and Plans (Honorable Mention): Lower Eastside Action Plan Detroit, Michigan Built Projects: La Valentina Sacramento, California Built Projects (Honorable Mention): Via Verde The Bronx, New York Plazas, Parks, and Public Places: Charles City Riverfront Park Charles City, Iowa For more information on the winners, including videos, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/awards.htm

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