EPA Region 7

Communities Information Digest

August 13, 2014


Welcome to the latest EPA R7 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 country related to human health and the environment. (A * Indicates a new
post.)
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Headlines

*EPA Issues Policy Supporting Tribal and Indigenous Communities
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy recently signed the EPA Policy on Environmental
Justice for Working with Federally Recognized Tribes and Indigenous Peoples, reinforcing the agencys commitment to work
with tribes on a government-to-government basis when issues of environmental justice arise.

*Federal Report Highlights Five Years of Progress Providing Communities with Affordable Housing, Efficient
Transportation and Economic Growth
In celebration of the fifth anniversary of the Partnership for Sustainable Communities, HUD, DOT, and EPA released
Partnership for Sustainable Communities: Five Years of Learning from Communities and Coordinating Federal Investments
recently. The report shows how the three agencies are changing their policies and removing barriers to help communities
provide more housing choices, make transportation systems more efficient and reliable, and create vibrant neighborhoods
while protecting the environment.

*Two Kansas City Groups to Receive ~$120,000 from EPAs Urban Waters Small Grants Program for Focus on Middle
Blue River
Two non-profit organizations in Kansas City, Mo., have been selected to receive funding from EPAs Urban Waters Small
Grants Program for projects focused on improving areas around the Middle Blue River through Jackson County, Mo., and part
of Johnson County, Kan. The Blue River Watershed Association will receive $59,940 to work with its partner agencies to
create and engage eight teams of underserved community youth by involving them in water quality monitoring studies, data
collection, and community presentations. The Heartland Conservation Alliance, Inc., will receive $60,000 to study 3,000
vacant lands in the Middle Blue River watershed for the purposes of identifying properties to redevelop with green
infrastructure or low-impact development.

*One Water Leadership (OWL) Summit to be Hosted in Kansas City this September
Join us at the 5
th
annual event September 15-17, 2014 in Kansas City, MO. Spotlight panels will explore three teams with
models for overcoming nutrient and scarcity issues under the banner of one water Cape Cod, Massachusetts; Edwards
Aquifer, Texas; and Upper Neuse River Basin, North Carolina. The conference is put on by the US Water Alliance and draws
leaders in water sustainability throughout the country.

*EPA Seeking Nominations for Members to serve on Clean Air Act Advisory Committee by September 1, 2014
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Air and Radiation is seeking nominations for a diverse group of
qualified candidates to be considered for appointment to the Clean Air Act Advisory Committee (CAAAC), a federal advisory
committee to the EPA. The deadline for nominations is September 1, 2014 and should be sent to Jenny Craig, Designated
Federal Officer for the CAAAC, at craig.jeneva@epa.gov, or at (202) 564-1674.

*USDA Seeks Applications for Grants to Increase Economic Opportunity and Improve the Quality of Life in Rural
Areas
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced that USDA is seeking applications for grants that will be awarded to
organizations to provide critical financial and technical assistance to recipients to develop and strengthen their capacity to
carry out housing, community facilities and community and economic development projects.

*White House Council on Environmental Quality and EPA Honor Student Leaders and Teachers with Environmental
Education Awards
The White House Council on Environmental Quality, in conjunction with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, recently
announced the winners of the annual Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators (PIAEE) and Presidents
Environmental Youth Award, (PEYA) recognizing outstanding student leaders in environmental stewardship and K-12
teachers employing innovative approaches to environmental education in their schools. Teachers Kristine Denton, from King
Science & Technology Magnet Middle School in Omaha, Neb., and Darrin Peters, from Rockwood Summit High School in
Fenton, Mo., are EPA Region 7s two top PIAEE honorees for 2014. Eric Kessler, Bioscience Director for the Center for
Advanced Professional Studies at the Blue Valley School District in Overland Park, Kan., was recognized in the Honorable
Mention category of the 2014 PIAEE competition.

*EPA FY 2014 Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) Funding Opportunity - Projects to Improve Air Quality at
Ports
Coming this fall, EPA's Office of Transportation & Air Quality plans to announce the availability of an estimated $5 million in
Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) funding for projects to reduce diesel emissions at marine and inland water ports in
areas of poor air quality. Port authorities and state & local government agencies with jurisdiction over transportation or air
quality are eligible to apply.

*Energy Department Invests $6 Million to Support Commercial Building Efficiency
The Energy Department recently announced up to $6 million in funding to demonstrate four emerging energy-saving
technologies in commercial buildings. These projects will help businesses cut energy costs through improved efficiency, while
also reducing carbon emissions. One of the selected projects is QM Power, Inc., of Lees Summit, Missouri, which has
developed high-efficiency fan motors often used in commercial refrigeration systems.
REMINDER: Brownfields Area-Wide Planning Grants: New Funding Opportunity, Due September 22, 2014
EPAs Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization just announced a funding opportunity to help eligible entities develop
area-wide plans for brownfields assessment, cleanup, and subsequent reuse. This funding is for research, technical
assistance, and/or training activities directed to one or more brownfield site(s) located in a specific area (such as a
neighborhood, district, local commercial corridor, community waterfront or city block). EPA anticipates awarding
approximately 20 projects in total, funded at up to $200,000 each.

Funding & Technical Assistance Opportunities

August 15: KCP&Ls Energizing Our Environment Micro-Grant Program
HUD CDBG Disaster Recovery Assistance
USDA Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant (REDLG) Contact Rural Development State Office for
Due Dates
USDA Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) Contact Local USDA Service Center
August 25: DOI Tribal Energy and Mineral Development Grant
August 29: DOEs Microgrid 2014 MVP Challenge
September 4: EPA Air, Climate, and Energy Centers: Science Supporting Solutions
September 22: EPAs Brownfields Area-Wide Planning Grants
October 2: Deployment of Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency on Indian Lands
October 7: EPA Air Pollution Monitoring for Communities Request for Applications
*November 12: USDAs Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI)


Meetings, Conferences, & Events


*August 12-14: Water Temperature Impacts Under Climate Change Course Boulder, CO
*August 25: Free Event: ENERGY STAR for Congregations St. Louis, MO
September 8-10: Missouri Recycling Association Conference Springfield, MO
*September 15 17 One Water Leadership (OWL) Summit - Kansas City, MO
September 15-18: Strategic Conservation Planning Using a Green Infrastructure Approach
Shepherdstown, WV
September 16-18: Kansas Built Environment and the Outdoors Summit Wichita, KS
*September 19: Mid-Atlantic Center for Children's Health and the Environment 12th Annual Conference
Washington D.C.
September 21-24: Rail~Volution Annual Conference 2014 Minneapolis, MN
*September 24-26: EcoDistricts Summit Washington, D.C.
*September 27: Green Apple Day of Service
September 29-30: Community Indicators Consortium 2014 Impact Summit Washington, DC
September 30-October 2: Meeting of the Minds 2014 Detroit, MI
September 30-October 2: America's Watershed Initiative Summit Louisville, KY
October 1-2: EPA NEJAC Public Meeting Crystal City, VA
October 7-8: 7th Annual Growing Sustainable Communities Conference Dubuque, IA
*October 7-9: National Conference on Sustainability, Brownfields and Property Transactions Philadelphia,
PA
*October 15-17:Shifting Seasons Summit on Tribal Climate Change Adaptation Keshena, WI
November 4-6: Balancing Nature and Commerce in Rural Communities and Landscapes KS
*November 11-14: The National Preservation Conference Savannah, GA
December 2-4: Renewable Energy Markets 2014 Conference Sacramento, CA
January 29-31, 2015: 14
th
Annual New Partners for Smart Growth Conference Baltimore, MD
*February 4-6, 2015: Children: Food and Environment Austin, Texas
*March 4-7 2015: Green Schools National Conference Virginia Beach, VA


Webinars & Conference Calls

ENERGY STAR Webinars August 2014
August 14, 2:00-3:30 PM (EST) The Federal Guiding Principles Checklist in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager
August 21, 1:00-2:30 PM (EST) Portfolio Manager Office Hours, Focus Topic: Sharing Part 1 (Sharing Tab,
Contact Page, Sharing Report, and Bulk Sharing)
August 26, 1:00- 2:30 PM (EST) Portfolio Manager 101
August 27, 1:00-2:30 PM (EST) Portfolio Manager 201
August 28, 1:00-2:00 PM (EST) How to Apply for the ENERGY STAR

Flood Resilience and Recovery Assistance: Lessons Learned from Vermont Wednesday, August 13, 1:00-2:30 p.m.
EST
This webinar will discuss Smart growth approaches and strategies communities can consider to become more flood resilient
and what the state of Vermont and communities in the Mad River Valley have done since Irene to help enhance flood
resilience by building back better than before.

Current Tribal Energy Program Funding Opportunity Informational Webinar Thursday, August 14, 11:00 a.m.-1:00
p.m. MST
The Tribal Energy Program, in collaboration with DOE's Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs, is currently seeking
applications for funding from Indian tribes, tribal energy resource development organizations, and tribal consortia to install
community and facility-scale clean energy projects on Indian lands.

*Brownfields Area-Wide Planning Grants: Opportunities to Align and Leverage Partnership Investments Wednesday,
August 20, 1:00-2:00 p.m. EST - Speakers from the Partnership for Sustainable Communities, the Environmental Health
Coalition, Chicopee, Massachusetts, and National City, California will discuss how communities interested in area-wide
planning can align their grant activities with other investments to advance their brownfields redevelopment goals.

*DOE Tribal Renewable Energy Series Webinar: Introduction to Facility and Community Scale Project Financing
Wednesday, August 27, 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. MST - Although smaller in scale than the projects covered in the July
webinar, these projects often cannot hurdle the financing barrier. Attendees will become knowledgeable on the forms of
project financing for the smaller projects that serve an individual facility or community and their advantages and
disadvantages to the Tribal communities.

*SunShot Solar Outreach Partnership Webcasts August 27, 2:00-3:00 p.m. EST - Solar Permitting & Inspection Part
3
ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability U.S.A. and the Interstate Renewable Energy Council, Inc. (IREC) present a series
of three webinars on Solar Permitting & Inspection. As part of the U.S. Department of Energys SunShot Solar Outreach
Partnership, the series is reviewing the components of rooftop solar permitting processes, and share best practices and tools
for improving them.

*Green Infrastructure and Smart Growth Wednesday, September 3, 1:00-2:30 EST
Speakers from EPA, the city of Little Rock, Arkansas, and Upstate Forever Communities will discuss how communities can
leverage green infrastructure as part of broader smart growth initiatives. This webinar qualifies for 1.5 certification
maintenance credits from the American Planning Association.

*Sustainability in the City of Austin, Texas Thursday, September 4, 1:00 p.m. CST
This free, one-hour webinar, sponsored by Crescent Electric Supply Company, will feature Austin's Chief Sustainability Officer
Lucia Athens, who will describe the Citys progress on initiatives in 10 Action Areas that have achieved tangible sustainability
benefits for the Austin community.

Kansas Citys Mid-America Regional Councils Water Quality Education Committee Webcasts
Mid-America Regional Councils Water Quality Education Committee is pleased to announce the following series of webcasts
offered at the MARC office. There is no cost to attend. Please contact Lisa Elsas to register at lelsas@marc.org or 816-701-
8392 and include your name, agency, email and which webcast you plan to attend.
Stream Restoration as a Pollutant Reduction Strategy September 10, 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. CST
Implementing TMDLs, Session 1: Local TMDLs & Regional/River Basin TMDLs October 8, 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.
CST
Implementing TMDLs, Session 2: Retrofitting Existing Stormwater Ponds & Basin November 12, 12:00 - 2:00
p.m. CST

Contaminant Uptake in Food Crops Grown on Brownfields Sites September 26, 12:00 p.m. EST
Free to Attend
Presented by Dr. Ganga Hettiarachchi and Dr. Sabine Martin, Kansas State University.

"Suddenly, Nothing Was Ever the Same": Hurricane Sandy September 26, 12:00 p.m. EST
Free to Attend.
Presented by Donald Watson, FAIA Architect and Author.

Green Infrastructure Training Online
Find information on upcoming webinars and listen to archived webinars. Archived webinars include Case Studies:
Implementing Green Infrastructure under Enforcement Orders and O&M and Green: Best Practices for Green Infrastructure
Operations and Maintenance.


Other Environmental News

*EPA Seeks Comments on Potential Revisions to its Risk Management Program
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently published a Request for Information (RFI) to seek comment on
potential revisions to its Risk Management Program (RMP) regulations and related programs to modernize its regulations.
During the 90-day comment period, EPA asks for information and data on regulatory elements and process safety
management approaches to enhance public health and safety, and aid local fire, police, and emergency response personnel.

*EPA EJ Blog: Harnessing Momentum for the Next 20 Years of Environmental Justice
Check out our latest blog post, 100th Blog Post - Harnessing Momentum for the Next 20 Years of Environmental Justice by
Mustafa Ali. In this post, Mustafa highlights some of the most compelling successes of Environmental Justice written about in
the blog since its inception in 2012.

*Two New Asthma Education Opportunities from the ALA Asthma Basics and Lungtropolis
The American Lung Association (ALA) has two new learning opportunities for children, parents and caregivers of children with
asthma. Asthma Basics is an online learning tool that helps people learn about asthma, and it includes videos that show what
happens to the airway during an asthma episode. Lungtropolis is an action-packed computer game designed to help kids
control their asthma. Contact the ALA at 1-800-LUNG-USA for more information.

*Applications Open for Rockefeller Foundations 100 Resilient Cities Challenge
The next group of cities chosen will be the programs second class. Apply by September 10
th
. Visit the 100 Resilient Cities
website to learn more about the program.

*USDA Releases Greenhouse Gas Report Providing Producers a Roadmap
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently released a report that, for the first time, provides uniform scientific
methods for quantifying the changes in greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and carbon storage from various land management
and conservation activities.

*EPA EJ Blog: Read About How Hip Hop is Acting on Climate
Check out our latest blog post, Hip Hop is Acting on Climate! by Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr. of the Hip Hop Caucus. Rev.
Yearwood discusses why it is so imperative for us to act on climate in terms of the economic, environmental, and public
health benefits of action and the costs of inaction. He also highlights EPA's Clean Power Plan and how you can engage in this
critical dialogue.

*EPA EJ Blog: Climate Justice Hits Home
Check out our latest blog post, Port Arthur Texas - Climate Justice Hits Home, by Hilton Kelley of Community In-Power
Development Association. Hilton talks about the massive industrial pollution that plagues low-income and minority
communities in Port Arthur, and discusses how climate change will only make conditions worse in this hurricane hotspot.

*EPA EJ Blog: Seeing the Whole Picture
Check out our latest blog post, Seeing the Whole Picture by Malavika Sahai, a recent intern at EPA. In today's post, Malavika
talks about her experiences learning about Environmental Policy and Planning at school and how she decided to make
Environmental Justice her life's work.

*New USDA Conservation Partnership Program Receives Nearly 600 Initial Proposals
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said recently that USDA's new Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), which
brings together businesses, tribes, communities and other non-government partners to invest in conservation efforts, has
drawn an overwhelming response from partners across the nation. Nearly 5,000 organizations partnered together to submit
nearly 600 pre-proposals by the July deadline.

*EPA Blog: Working Together to Tackle Environmental Challenges By Walker Smith
As I sat in traffic on my way back to the Nairobi airport, I watched the children weaving between the old taxis and buses that
clog Nairobis streets, breathing in the black plumes pouring out of the tailpipes. The sight was a powerful reminder of why Id
traveled to Nairobi in the first place for the first meeting of the United Nations Environment Assembly of the United Nations
Environment Program, or UNEA.

*Settlement of Clean Water Act Violations Aims to Prevent Future Oil Spills by Cargill Inc.
Cargill Incorporated, a privately held multinational corporation headquartered in Minnetonka, Minn., has agreed to settle
allegations that it violated the Clean Water Act (CWA) at two different large oil storage facilities located in Blair, Neb., and
Eddyville, Iowa. Through the settlement with EPA Region 7, Cargill will pay a civil penalty of $187,500 to the United States.

*Staying Sustainable at School By Maddie Dwyer
As fall approaches, theres one thing on every college kids mind: living on campus. Whether youre excited or not, dorm life is
coming, and its time to start getting ready. For me, this means using the things I learned at EPA this summer. Here are some
tips for green living.

*Center for Resource Solutions report: Tracking Renewable Energy for the U.S. EPA's Clean Power Plan
Recently, the Center for Resource Solutions released a guide to help states comply with the U.S. EPA's recently proposed
Clean Power Plan, which directs states to cut carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants to 30% below 2005 levels
by 2030. The report, co-written with the Regulatory Assistance Project, is intended to help state administrators use existing
renewable energy certificate tracking systems to comply with the EPA's plan.

Reminder: Check Out EPA's Climate Justice in Action Blog Series and Add Your Story
EPA has just kicked off a summer-long Climate Justice in Action blog series with a video from Administrator Gina McCarthy.
The series will focus on the unequal burdens climate change places on low-income and minority communities and the
innovative solutions communities are taking across the country to fight climate change and prepare for its effects.

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.