U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Region 7)Communities Information Digest

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April 2, 2013

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Note: New items are in *asterisks*.

News

*EPA and Department of Energy Recognize 2013 Energy Star Partners of the Year* The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) are recognizing 118 awardees for their commitment to saving energy and protecting the environment. Recipients of the 2013 Energy Star Partner of the Year Award include Sears Holdings Corporation, PepsiCo, JC Penney, Food Lion, USAA Real Estate, Loudoun County Public Schools in Virginia, and Toyota. “This year's Energy Star award winners have gone above and beyond to save energy and cut greenhouse gases,” said EPA Acting Administrator Bob Perciasepe. “Their commitment to superior energy efficiency not only makes these organizations valuable partners in our effort for a cleaner, healthier environment, but it also helps them reduce their day-to-day energy costs – an important feat for any organization.” Partners of the Year-Sustained Excellence: The 70 Sustained Excellence winners continue to exhibit exceptional leadership year after year in the Energy Star program while remaining dedicated to environmental protection through superior energy efficiency. Partners of the Year: Forty-one organizations are receiving a Partner of the Year award for strategically and comprehensively managing their energy use. These organizations promote Energy Star products and practices in their own operations, in addition to providing efficient products and services to consumers and within their community. Excellence: Seven winners are receiving awards in part for their superior efforts in the Home Performance with Energy Star program. The remaining organizations receive Excellence Awards and other special recognition for specific activities to promote energy-efficient products, homes or buildings. For a complete list of winners, please visit: www.energystar.gov/awards.

*EPA's Lead-Safe Certification Program Important for Consumers*Home repairs that create even a small amount of lead dust are enough to poison your child and put your family at risk. If you live in a home or apartment that was built before 1978 and are planning a renovation or repair project, make sure you renovate right with a Lead-Safe Certified contractor in accordance with EPA guidelines. Consumers with more questions can call EPA Region 7 at 1-800-223-0425 and ask to speak with a lead paint specialist. Facts about lead: FACT: Lead exposure can harm young children and babies even before they are born.FACT: Even children who seem healthy can have high levels of lead in their bodies.FACT: You can get lead in your body by breathing or swallowing lead dust, or by eating soil or paint chips containing lead.FACT: You have many options for reducing lead hazards. In most cases, lead-based paint that is in good condition is not a hazard.FACT: Removing lead-based paint improperly can increase the danger to your family.If you think your home might have lead hazards, go to www.epa.gov/lead or call EPA Region 7 at 1-800-223-0425 and ask to speak with a lead paint specialist.

*U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Highlights Efforts to Increase Access to Affordable and Healthy Food* Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently discussed USDA efforts to improve access to healthy foods, and outlined the need for a renewed commitment to improve childhood nutrition, which includes empowering parents to provide healthy meals for their families. In remarks at a Hy-Vee, Inc. grocery store, Secretary Vilsack noted that increasing access to healthy foods is one of USDA's top priorities. "We must help families provide our children with healthy foods that are full of the nutrients they need," said Vilsack. "Research shows that healthy foods aren't always more expensive than less healthy options. Expanding access to affordable, healthy options and providing more information for parents will help create a generational shift to reverse the obesity crisis and protect the health of our youngest Americans." USDA developed the Food Access Research Atlas to enable researchers, city planners, non-profit organizations and policy makers to identify areas where the availability of grocery stores and transportation create geographical barriers to accessing healthy food. For more information, please visit: http://content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd/USDAOC-736a91.

*New Funding Opportunity from EPA for Sustainable and Healthy Tribes*Information on a new Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Request for Applications (RFA), Science for Sustainable and Healthy Tribes, which focuses on Climate Change and Indoor Air Pollution and impacts on tribal communities, can be found at http://www.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/2013/2013_star_tribal.html. This RFA solicits applications on research to develop sustainable solutions to environmental problems that affect Tribes. The RFA is until June 25, 2013. Component research areas include:-Science to understand the health impacts of climate change on tribal populations -Science to understand the health impacts of indoor air pollution exposures that derive from or are directly affecting traditional tribal life-ways and cultural practices -Development of sustainable, culturally appropriate and acceptable pollution prevention, and adaptation/mitigation strategies -Community involvement in the design, acceptance and implementation of the mitigation and adaptation approaches -Focus on impacts to vulnerable sub-populations of Tribal communities For questions please contact Cynthia McOliver (mcoliver.cynthia@epa.gov).

Funding Opportunities

April 5: EPA Request For Proposals (RFP) for the Pollution Prevention Information Network Grant Program http://www.epa.gov/oppt/p2home/pubs/p2rx.htmlApril 8: National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Program Office http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do;jsessionid=ZtTQQzVNwtbp1bQ7S4NNLNFhWK1f5QwgF0QpBkLmwpMtjhQQ2dTk!1702133586?oppId=213994&mode=VIEWApril 8: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Woody Biomass Utilization Grant http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do;jsessionid=sQvgR9xX2WlQpJCJ64ML70W637QjkwPJGvvwTTSQPdv4XnhypgyY!-517384201?oppId=220073&mode=VIEWApril 9: Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training Grant http://www.grants.gov/April 11: USDA Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Childhood Obesity Prevention http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001chEDfasB_XJRgK45yN_4GfjqvDVQYeZHUNE7chVxEsa3Ctp54chNJJEkl5r651NFr5GaoVnWSnNIKcG5rsiKIVz1_fQPY7UQkjkinsEX5gp5a0305tRZLBGJVrJLn8XtpZ4W95T7Fmk5ytQ0D5oIm3ogDnedbxKPXEzVPc-0n1e3wvqdFKowcQ==April 19: NOAA Sea Grant Community Climate Adaptation Initiative 2013 http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do;jsessionid=cmr5R2NQx0PgRv8htSgWvtqvGSXn2GWQpxHPkDDx6yDnFZ7QR8pb!-517384201?oppId=223153&mode=VIEWApril 15: Environmental Justice (EJ)/Community Scholarships for Brownfields Conference http://www.brownfieldsconference.org/Documents/Document/Document/94*April 19: NOAA Sea Grant Community Climate Adaptation Initiative 2013 http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do;jsessionid=cmr5R2NQx0PgRv8htSgWvtqvGSXn2GWQpxHPkDDx6yDnFZ7QR8pb!-517384201?oppId=223153&mode=VIEWApril 22: Land and Water Conservation Fund Grants www.mostateparks.com/page/55065/outdoor-recreation-grantsApril 24: Farm to School Grant Program http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/f2s/f2_2013_grant_program.htmMay 1: Henry A. Jordan M.D. Preservation Excellence Fund http://www.preservationnation.org/resources/find-funding/special-funds/henry-a-jordan.html#.UTV3eMpWKXcMay 5: Hart Family Fund for Small Towns http://www.preservationnation.org/resources/find-funding/special-funds/#HartMay 24: Bikes Belong Community Partnership Grants http://www.bikesbelong.org/grants/apply-for-a-grant/who-can-apply/*June 25: EPA Science for Sustainable and Healthy Tribes http://www.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/2013/2013_star_tribal.html

Meetings, Conferences, & Events

April 10: SunShot Prize Workshop – Albany, New York http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/solar/newsletter/detail.cfm/articleId=340April 10-12: Transforming Local Government Conference – Atlanta, Georgia http://www.tlgconference.org/April 13-17: American Planning Association—National Planning Conference – Chicago, Illinois http://www.planning.org/conference/*April 19: A Resilient Region—Regional Planning Association’s 23rd Annual Assembly – New York, New York http://www.rpa.org/assembly/2013/April 24-26: 2013 National Rural Transportation Conference – Greenville, South Carolina http://www.nado.org/events/rpo2013/

May 6-8: Water Quality Standards Academy – Washington, DC http://www.horsleywitten.com/WQSA/May 15-17: National Brownfields Conference – Atlanta, Georgia http://www.brownfieldsconference.org/en/home?pub=1&issue=8 May 20-24: Strategic Conservation Planning Using a Green Infrastructure Approach – Shepherdstown, West Virginia https://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/50714/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY=68428May 29-June 1: Congress for New Urbanism—21st Annual Conference – Salt Lake City, Utah http://www.cnu21.org/June 23-27: Making Cities Livable—Reshaping Suburbia into Completely Healthy Communities – Portland, Oregon http://www.livablecities.org/conferences/50th-conference-portlandJune 23-26: Transit Initiatives and Communities Conference – Atlanta, Georgia http://www.cfte.org/initiatives-conferencesJuly 9-11: National Environmental Health Association Annual Conference – Washington, DC. http://neha2013aec.org/July 21-27: Hands-On PV Experience (HOPE) Workshop – Golden, Colorado http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/solar/newsletter/detail.cfm/articleId=316July 30-Aug. 1: 2013 EPA Community Involvement Training Conference: The Next Generation of Community Involvement –Boston, Massachusetts http://www.epa.gov/ciconference/index.htm August 13-15: Safe Routes to School National Conference – Sacramento, California http://saferoutesconference.orgSeptember 9-11: Reclaiming Vacant Properties—5th National Conference – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania http://www.communityprogress.net/2013-reclaiming-vacant-properties-conference-pages-356.php?utm_source=RVP+Announcement+final+Nov+1.+&utm_campaign=2013+RVP+Announcement+Nov+1&utm_medium=emailOctober 29-Nov. 2: National Preservation Conference – Indianapolis, Indiana http://www.preservationnation.org/*November 18-20: Behavior, Energy and Climate Change (BECC) Conference 2013 – Sacramento, California http://beccconference.org/November 21: Massachusetts Smart Growth Conference – Boston, Massachusetts http://ma-smartgrowth.org/take-action/smart-growth-conference/ta_111112_save-the-date-postcard/

Webinars & Conference Calls

*EPA Webcast: Draft National Rivers and Streams Assessment 2008-2009: A Collaborative Survey, April 3, 1:00-3:00 p.m. (EDT)*Hosted by EPA’s Watershed Academy, this webcast seminar will discuss the Draft National Rivers and Streams Assessment (NRSA). The NRSA is a study on the health of the nation’s rivers and streams, from the largest “great rivers” to the smallest headwater streams. This draft study conducted by U.S. EPA and its state, tribal, federal and other partners is available for review and comment. This survey-the first of its kind in the nation – combines an assessment of the nation’s rivers with the second national survey of small wadable streams. The webcast will present key findings of the survey. To learn more and register, please visit: http://water.epa.gov/learn/training/wacademy/webcasts_index.cfm.

*Department of Energy Webinars on State Energy Strategic Planning and Combined Heat and Power April 3, from 2:00-3:30 p.m. (EDT)*The Energy Department will present a live webinar titled "State Energy Strategic Planning" on Wednesday, April 3, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. During this webinar, the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) will discuss their recent analysis of 39 State Energy Strategic Plans and accompanying "Guide to State Energy Planning." Register to attend the webinar by visiting: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/140505713. The Energy Department will also present a live webinar titled "CHP: Enabling Resilient

Energy Infrastructure" on Wednesday, April 3, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. This webinar will discuss how combined heat and power (CHP) systems can fulfill the need for resilient critical infrastructure while making energy more cost- and fuel-efficient for the user and more reliable and environmentally friendly for society at large. To register to attend the webinar, please visit: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/192196760.

*Bats and Bat Management Webinar, April 4, 10:00 a.m. (CDT)*Bats are very beneficial in the environment, but they can cause problems when they occupy our homes, schools, and other structures. Most problems are associated with the guano they leave behind and potential for transmitting diseases to humans, especially rabies and histoplasmosis. We will discuss how to recognize signs of bats and how to conduct a bat watch. Exclusion is the key to managing bat problems, so we will cover how to keep bats out and how to evict them if they get in. April 4, 2013, 10:00 a.m. CDTPresenter: Scott Hygnstrom, Professor and Extension Wildlife Specialist, University of Nebraska-LincolnCertified Wildlife Biologist and Leader of the eXtension CoP for Wildlife Damage ManagementThe webinar will be recorded for viewing later if this time is inconvenient. To view the webinar, please visit: https://learn.extension.org/events/936 .

*Department of Energy Webcast: The Role of Alternative Fuel Vehicles in Emergency Preparedness April 4, 1:00-2:00 p.m. (EDT)*Sponsored by the Clean Cities Program, this webinar features presentations by Jeff Pillon, director of energy assurance at the National Association of State Energy Officials; Bill Schaeffer, executive director of Valley of the Sun Clean Cities; and Rita Ebert, program coordinator of the Greater Long Island Clean Cities coalition. This webinar will cover the important role that alternative fuel vehicles played in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Learn about energy assurance plans at the state and local level and how transportation technologies can play a part in these plans and in future emergencies. No pre-registration is required. Audio: Dial 888-831-4302 and enter passcode 2951759.Web: Log in at: https://www.mymeetings.com/emeet/join/index.jsp?customHeader=mymeetings with conference number PW8499981 and passcode 2951759.

*ENERGY STAR Webinar For Utilities: Designing and Implementing Successful Data Center Efficiency Programs, April 4, 1:00 p.m. (EDT)* Energy-efficiency program administrators can play a significant role in helping customers reduce data center energy use and demand. Based on the new ENERGY STAR guide on data center efficiency programs, this webinar will explore the energy saving opportunities available and share emerging practices for program design and implementation. To register, please visit: https://esbuildings.webex.com/ec0606l/eventcenter/enroll/register.do?formId=0&formType=0&loadFlag=1&siteurl=esbuildings&confId=1003656454.

*EPA Webcast: Urban Growth Trends in U.S. Metropolitan Regions: A Tale of Two Cities, April 5, 12:00-1:00 p.m. (EDT)*Hosted by EPA’s Office of Sustainable Communities (OSC) and the National Center for Smart Growth at the University of Maryland, College PARK (UMCP). In the past few months, OSC and UMCP have released papers examining growth patterns in large U.S. cities. Both papers find a resurgence of growth in some cities but a continuation of sprawl in others. The two papers are based on different sets of data and cover different periods. Kevin Ramsey of OSC and Gerrit Knaap of UMCP will present the results of these two research projects and discuss the similarities and differences in their findings. Dr. Ramsey's paper, Residential Construction Trends in America's Metropolitan Regions, was released in December 2012. Registration not necessary. View the webcast at: http://smartgrowth.umd.edu/webseries13. *EPA Webcast: Long-Term Power Purchase Agreements for Wind Power: University Perspectives, April 9, 1:00-2:00 p.m. (EDT)*Hosted by EPA’s Green Power Partnership, this webinar examines how colleges and universities can procure wind power via long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs). This webinar will highlight the experiences of The Ohio State University, Oklahoma State University, and the

University of Oklahoma in exploring long-term wind power contracts and the questions and issues that other schools investigating this procurement option should consider. Webinar participants will learn about: Wind PPAs, including their structure, key terms; and requirements; the potential for wind PPAs to reduce energy costs, hedge against price volatility, and reduce an institution’s carbon footprint; and the influence of long-term contracts on decisions by project developers to build new generation facilities, such as wind farms. For more information, please visit: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/835648778.

*EPA Webinar: Smart Growth and Equitable Development, April 9, 2:00-3:00 p.m. (EDT)*Join EPA's Smart Growth Program on April 9 from 2:00-3:00 Eastern for a webinar on how communities are using equitable development and smart growth strategies to create neighborhoods that are healthy, sustainable, and inclusive. You will hear from two of EPA's 2012 National Award for Smart Growth Achievement winners in the Equitable Development category, and you'll get highlights from the agency's new report, Creating Equitable, Healthy, and Sustainable Communities: Strategies for Advancing Smart Growth, Environmental Justice, and Equitable Development. Who should attend: Government officials, planners, developers, community organizers, and others interested in equitable development for communities. No pre-registration is required. To join this webinar, click on https://epa.connectsolutions.com/epasmartgrowth. You may enter as a guest. Please test your computer before attending the meeting at http://admin.adobeconnect.com/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm. Participants will hear the meeting audio through their computer speakers. Please be sure your computer speakers are turned on.

*Setting Energy Use Targets with ENERGY STAR: Responding to the Climate Change Imperative, April 9, 2:00 p.m. (EDT)*Learn how to use EPA's online Target Finder tool to set a building’s energy use intensity target (Btu/sf) at the beginning of a project, and how to use Target Finder at the project’s conclusion to determine whether your design earns EPA recognition for your firm and meets AIA carbon reduction goals. Target Finder also provides energy cost data and a CO2-equivalent emissions value. To register, please visit: https://esbuildings.webex.com/ec0606l/eventcenter/enroll/register.do?siteurl=esbuildings&formId=0&formType=0&loadFlag=1&confId=1003651819.

EPA Webinars: What to Expect from the new ENERGY STAR Portfolio ManagerThe new and improved Portfolio Manager is on track to be released in just a few of months! The upgraded Portfolio Manager will be easier and more intuitive to use with new features to help you accurately benchmark, understand how your properties are performing, and share results.Come to this free, live webinar to:

-Gain important tips on what you need to know to prepare for the transition to the upgraded Portfolio Manager-Know when to expect downtime of the tool and learn how your data will be transferred-Get the latest updates on the project development-See a live demonstration of the new and enhanced features including reporting and property design

 We're offering the same webinar at four different times, but for those who can’t participate, we will post a recording and slides in late April to www.energystar.gov/pmupgrade / . Please register for one of the following sessions:Thursday, April 11, 12:00-1:30 p.m. (EDT) https://esbuildings.webex.com/esbuildings/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=660643474 Thursday, April 11,3:00-4:30 p.m. (EDT) https://esbuildings.webex.com/esbuildings/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=664561345Monday, April 15, 12:00-1:30 p.m.(EDT) https://esbuildings.webex.com/esbuildings/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=661880219Monday, April 15, 3:00-4:30 p.m. (EDT) https://esbuildings.webex.com/esbuildings/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=660276152

*Department of Energy Webcast: Financing Energy Upgrades for K-12 School Districts April 11, 2:00-3:30 (EDT)*In April, DOE and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory will release “Financing Energy Upgrades for K-12 School Districts,” a guide to tapping into funding for energy efficiency and renewable energy improvement in schools. U.S. schools spend over $6 billion on energy

annually – more than they spent on textbooks and computers combined. Well-designed energy improvements can help stabilize and reduce these costs, as well as improve the comfort and health of students and teachers. Of course, even the most cost-effective upgrades require upfront capital, and at time when school budgets are increasingly stretched securing funds can be a challenge. This webinar will introduce key financing principles and the range of options available to schools, as well as feature several schools districts who have successfully implemented projects using a diverse set of financing approaches. https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/573195120?utm_source=BenchmarkEmail&utm_campaign=Schools_webinar&utm_medium=email.

*EPA Webcast: Climate Change Adaptation for State and Local Governments, Part 2: Overcoming the Uncertainty Barrier to Adaptation, April 17, 1:00-2:30 p.m.(EDT)*This is the second in a three-part webcast series on climate change adaptation hosted by EPA’s State and Local Climate and Energy Program. This mini-series builds on our popular 2010-2011 adaptation mini-series. In Part II, experts and local government staff will address the challenge of planning for climate change in the face of uncertainty. Through presentations on best practices, case studies, and an interactive panel, experts will discuss how to look at historical information to understand future vulnerability and how to use downscaling tools that are appropriate for local governments of various sizes and capacities. Part III, “Attracting Funding for Adaptation” will be on May 1. To register, please visit:https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/587592314.

*Free Webinar: Community Gardens, Turning Vacant Lots into Urban Assets, April 18,12:00 p.m. (CDT)* This free one-hour webinar features the Common Ground Program, a community gardening and urban agriculture program created by the city of Lawrence, Kan. In the winter of 2011, the city surveyed its vacant and underutilized properties, identified appropriate sites for agriculture and made these sites available through an application process for citizens. During the 2012 growing season, five pilot sites were opened to the public through partnerships with neighborhood associations, nonprofit organizations and schools. The five sites include two neighborhood community gardens, a youth-focused garden in a city park, a community orchard for free picking, and a market farm coordinated by college and middle school students. In exchange for receiving a free license for use of city property, each applicant created a community benefit plan for their project. For more information, please visit: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/559250846?utm_source=SCN+InBox+e-Newsletter&utm_campaign=96ccd81fc6-CommunityGardensWebinar3-28-13&utm_medium=email.

*Computer Power Management with ENERGY STAR ®Tuesday, April 23, 1:00 p.m. (EDT)*This presentation describes an ENERGY STAR offering that is helping organizations realize substantial energy and financial savings available from computer and monitor power management. The training introduces an innovative software tool that enables monitor power management from a central location, as well as educational outreach material. Organizations utilizing this free software (available which may be downloaded from the Web) can save $10 to $50 per computer. To register, please visit: https://esbuildings.webex.com/ec0606l/eventcenter/enroll/register.do?siteurl=esbuildings&formId=0&formType=0&loadFlag=1&confId=1003657208.

*The Basics of Benchmarking in Portfolio Manager, April 25, 2:00 p.m. (EDT)*Whether you are looking to benchmark a K-12 school, fire station, courthouse, retail store, supermarket, or office, learn how easy it is to start benchmarking your building’s energy consumption and tracking its improvements in energy efficiency over time. Learn how to enter data into ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, EPA’s no-cost energy measurement and tracking tool; understand and utilize energy metrics and concepts; and find other helpful ENERGY STAR tools and resources. To register, please visit:https://esbuildings.webex.com/ec0606l/eventcenter/enroll/register.do?siteurl=esbuildings&formId=0&formType=0&loadFlag=1&confId=1003693951.

Webinar: Low Impact Development and Smart Growth—How are They Best Integrated and Utilized in our Communities? May 15, 12:00-1:00 p.m. (EST) (repeated at 7:00-8:00 p.m.)This webinar from Penn State Extension will help planners, elected officials, and concerned citizens come together to make better land use decisions using Smart Growth principles. Planning tools and resources available to decision-makers will be discussed, as well as how to engage in planning to benefit your community. For more information, please visit: http://www.feedingcities.com/.

*Webinar: Pocket Neighborhoods—Scale Matters, May 16, 3:00-4:00 pm (EDT)*Pocket neighborhoods can engender a sense of belonging and care among neighbors, making them the building blocks of resilient communities. In this webinar, key practices will be shared for introducing small-scale neighborhoods to infill locations. For more information, and to register, please visit: http://www.placemakers.com/webinars/pocket-neighborhoods-design-counts-a-lot/.

*Regional Climate Scenarios and Projections of Sea Level Rise – Webinar Files Now Available*On January 29, 2013, EPA hosted a webinar on “Regional Climate Scenarios and Projections of Sea Level Rise.” The webinar was held in partnership with the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP). The purpose of the webinar was to present regional climate scenarios and sea level rise scenarios that are now available for all federal agencies, and their partners in the states, tribes, and local communities, to use as they begin to integrate climate adaptation planning into their programs, policies, and operations. The scenarios were developed as part of the USGCRP’s National Climate Assessment. Webinar materials are now available on EPA’s website. The webinar materials are also listed on EPA’s “Adaptation Tools for Public Officials” website in the section on “Region-Specific Tools and Resources.” 

Green Schools

*Lured by Savings and Cash, Many American Schools are Going Solar*When the Dublin City School District in central Georgia broke ground on a new solar project earlier this month, school officials celebrated more than just sustainability. The new solar array, to be completed in June, will also save some serious, much-needed cash. Over the next 25 years, the panels are expected to save the district $3.5 million, said Dublin City Schools Superintendent Chuck Ledbetter. By June 2014, Ledbetter expects the district will save $100,000 -- enough to cut the number of teacher furlough days from 10 to nine. This means "another school day for our students and another day for our teachers to work, which is a good thing," he said. For more information, please visit: http://eenews.net/climatewire/2013/03/28/2.

*Application Period Now Open for EPA's TRI University Challenge*EPA is now accepting applications for the TRI University Challenge. EPA is challenging the academic community to find creative ways to use TRI data to promote more informed decision-making and action on the part of communities, manufacturers, and government. Sample project ideas, evaluation criteria, and application materials are posted on the TRI University Challenge website: www.epa.gov/tri/university/. Applications must be submitted electronically to Scott.Zachary@epa.gov by 5 p.m. on May 13, 2013 to be considered. Applicants will be

contacted regarding their application status in by June 14, 2013. Interested parties should join the TRI University Challenge staff and other TRI experts for one of two upcoming informational webinars that will allow applicants to learn more about the Challenge and ask questions about getting involved.Tuesday, April 9 at 2:00 p.m. EST - register at: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/190436866. Wednesday, April 17 at 2:00 p.m. EST - register at: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/908035978. For questions not answered during the webinars, please contact Zachary Scott at Scott.Zachary@epa.gov.

*Department of Energy Webcast: Financing Energy Upgrades for K-12 School Districts April 11, 2:00-3:30 p.m. (EDT)*In April, DOE and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory will release “Financing Energy Upgrades for K-12 School Districts,” a guide to tapping into funding for energy efficiency and renewable energy improvement in schools. U.S. schools spend over $6 billion on energy annually – more than they spent on textbooks and computers combined. Well-designed energy improvements can help stabilize and reduce these costs, as well as improve the comfort and health of students and teachers. Of course, even the most cost-effective upgrades require upfront capital, and at time when school budgets are increasingly stretched securing funds can be a challenge. This webinar will introduce key financing principles and the range of options available to schools, as well as feature several schools districts who have successfully implemented projects using a diverse set of financing approaches. https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/573195120?utm_source=BenchmarkEmail&utm_campaign=Schools_webinar&utm_medium=email.

EPA Announces Launch of National Center of Expertise for School Integrated Pest ManagementThe EPA is announcing the launch of its National Center of Expertise for School Integrated Pest Management (IPM) at the Region 6 offices in Dallas, TX. The Center will provide leadership and expertise to carry out the goal of ensuring that millions of children in our Nation’s schools benefit from IPM practices and verifiable IPM programs. School IPM is an approach to managing pests that schools can use to reduce pest and pesticide risk for students and staff. The Center will serve as a national resource on School IPM, as well as a facilitator of activities amongst key school IPM stakeholders at the local, regional, and Federal level. The Center of Expertise will focus on a wide range of school IPM activities including:  developing and refining national program direction; coordinating Regional activities to achieve national goals; creating and maintaining web-based resources; and coordinating with other EPA national programs. Are you interested in more information about

school IPM?  The Region 7 Contacts for the EPA School Integrated Pest Management program are: Katie Howard at 913-551-7861 or

howard.katherine@epa.gov and Dan Tuggle at 913-551-7308 or tuggle.dan@epa.gov.

New University of Nebraska, Lincoln Resource on Integrated Pest ManagementThe much anticipated update of the IPM in Schools: a How-To Guide from University of Nebraska, Lincoln has been released.  This manual is used by schools across the nation.  The revised manual,  Integrated Pest Management in Sensitive Environments: a How-To Guide includes information to fit not only schools, but also other sensitive environments such as hospitals, nursing homes, child care centers, etc. The manual includes chapters about IPM, including monitoring and inspection, treatment strategies, action and injury levels, and how to develop an IPM program. It also has chapters on specific pests that cause problems in structures or on lawns and grounds, such as cockroaches, flies, lice, rodents, stinging insects and a new chapter on Bed Bugs.  The manual may be downloaded at:  http://pestfiles.unl.edu/2012%20IPM%20Manual.pdf.    

4th Safe Routes to School National ConferenceThe 4th Safe Routes to School National Conference will be making its way to sunny Sacramento, CA, August 13-15, 2013. The conference will span three days and include over 50 sessions and many dynamic mobile workshops. Also included are several exciting Special Features that will engage participants and showcase Sacramento's bicycle and pedestrian-friendly streets. An onsite Bike Share program will allow participants the opportunity explore Sacramento's lively downtown and expansive bike trails. Wondering what to do in between sessions? Stop

on by the Bike Build project and take part in building new bikes that will benefit local youth. Calling all Youth! The conference will include several opportunities for youth from throughout the region to participate in educational, interactive, fun and informative discussions and conference activities. Registration will open up in early April. Visit the conference web site for more details: http://saferoutesconference.org.

Other Community Related Information & Events

*Green Infrastructure Passes Kansas City Test*Just last year, workers in Kansas City replaced the last of the city’s wooden sewer pipes, some constructed prior to the Civil War. But, the infrastructure changes having the most impact on one challenged neighborhood are blossoming above the ground, not buried beneath it. Green infrastructure is helping alleviate combined sewer overflows, as intended, in the neighborhood where heavy rains often sent raw sewage spilling into the waterways of the Middle Blue River Basin. But, Jan Marcason, a Kansas City councilmember speaking at the recent New Partners for Smart Growth Conference in Kansas City, said going green in the basin has created a ripple effect, increasing community pride, a spike in private investment, an increase in property values, and citizens who are more engaged in neighborhood beautification projects and city policymaking. For more information, please visit: http://www.sustainablecitynetwork.com/topic_channels/water/article_59336e44-91a0-11e2-a8f1-001a4bcf6878.html?utm_source=SCN+InBox+e-Newsletter&utm_campaign=743c273822-Newsletter_3-20-2013_Admin&utm_medium=email.

*EPA, NOAA, National Wildlife Federation, and the North Atlantic Landscape Conservation Cooperative Announce Searchable Online Database of Eastern Regional Climate Information*NEclimateUS.org is a searchable online database that provides a gateway to climate information for the Eastern United States. It summarizes needs for climate information as articulated in publications; identifies available data, products and services; and captures planned and on-going projects. Its goal is to offer a tool to search for regionally relevant climate information, and to facilitate collaborative opportunities across the network of climate-focused programs and partners in the Eastern United States. The database is in its early stages of development.  Its content will change with time to reflect developments in climate work within the region, and to respond to individual sector needs when necessary. To view the site, visit: www.NEclimateUS.org.

*Call for Abstracts: Behavior, Energy and Climate Change (BECC) Conference 2013 – Abstracts Due April 15*The Behavior, Energy and Climate Change (BECC) Conference 2013 focuses on understanding human behavior and decision-making with respect to energy usage, greenhouse gas emissions, climate change, and sustainability. Annually, 700 participants come together to share new research, discuss policy and program strategies, build networks, and find potential partners for collaboration. BECC is interested in abstracts that address “building & technology design and usage (residential and commercial), transportation, urban design, and sustainable consumption (e.g., food, water, and waste). Abstracts should offer new research findings and/or documented examples of behavior change pilots, programs, or trials.” For more information, please visit: http://beccconference.org/.

*USDA Announces New Conservation Collaboration with DuPont to Promote Sustainable Harvesting of Bio-based Feedstocks for Cellulosic Ethanol*

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced a new federal-private collaboration with DuPont to safeguard natural resources on private lands used to supply bio-based feedstocks for cellulosic ethanol production. The joint agreement between USDA's Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and DuPont aims to set voluntary standards for the sustainable harvesting of agricultural residues for renewable fuel, and supports rural job creation, additional income for farmers, bio-based energy development, and the safeguarding of natural resources and land productivity. The first plant involved in this national agreement is northeast of Des Moines, Iowa, near the town of Nevada where DuPont is building a 30 million gallons/year cellulosic facility. This plant will use harvested residues from a 30-mile radius around the facility. "This agreement will support our Nation's effort to reduce dependency on foreign oil, while working to protect and improve the productivity of our soils—one of our most valuable resources," said Secretary Vilsack. For more information, please visit:http://content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd/USDAOC-738536.

*USDA Invites Applications for Renewable Energy System and Energy Efficiency Improvement Projects* Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced that USDA is seeking applications to provide assistance to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Funding is available from USDA's Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). For more information, please visit: http://content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd/USDAOC-738553.

*Real Progress on Environmental Justice*Check out EPA's blog post, Real Progress on Environmental Justice, written by Acting Administrator Bob Perciasepe and CEQ Chair Nancy Sutley. The authors discuss the progress being made to advance environmental justice within the agency through Plan EJ 2014 and progress that is being made by other agencies from their respective environmental justice strategies. Also, read more stories like that at EPA's EJ in Action blog. The blog regularly highlights the positive activities happening in the government and from communities to reduce environmental and health disparities in low income and minority areas. To view the blog post, please visit: http://blog.epa.gov/blog/2013/03/real-progress-on-environmental-justice/.

*Department of Energy Study: Deep Cuts Possible in Transportation Petroleum Use and Emissions*A study released by two U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) laboratories on March 15 reveals strategies to reduce petroleum use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the transportation sector by more than 80% by 2050. The Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) prepared the Transportation Energy Futures study, which was funded by DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). The study found that there's no "silver bullet" that will achieve deep cuts in petroleum use and GHG emissions on its own. Instead, a coordinated approach on all fronts examined by the study is needed to achieve the deep cuts. For more information, please visit: http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=18264.

Application Period Open Until April 12: National Award for Smart Growth AchievementThe application period for the 12th annual National Award for Smart Growth Achievement is now open. This competition is open to public- and private-sector entities that have successfully used smart growth principles to improve communities environmentally, socially, and economically. The application deadline is April 12, 2013.There is one application form for four categories:

Built Projects Corridor and Neighborhood Revitalization Plazas, Parks, and Public Places Policies, Programs, and Plans

In addition, the review panel will choose an Overall Excellence winner from those that apply in these four categories. Further information and the application form can be found at http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/awards.htm.

EPA's Office of Sustainable Communities Seeks Summer InternsEPA's Office of Sustainable Communities (OSC), which manages EPA’s Smart Growth program, is seeking interns for summer 2013. Interns will have the opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research, support technical assistance efforts in states and communities, develop tools, and gain insight into environmental policymaking and planning. Interns must be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program to apply. All internships will be housed in US EPA Headquarters in Washington, DC. Two positions are being advertised; Sustainable Communities Intern and Communications Intern. Applicants should submit a brief cover letter summarizing their interests and qualifications (not to exceed one page), current resume, and writing sample (no longer than five pages) to Adhir Kackar at kackar.adhir@epa.gov. Applications for internships are due April 19, 2013.

New Report Features Strategies for Advancing Smart Growth, Environmental Justice, and Equitable DevelopmentEPA has released a new report that offers low-income, minority, tribal, and overburdened communities approaches to shape development that responds to their needs and reflects their values. Creating Equitable, Healthy, and Sustainable Communities: Strategies for Advancing Smart Growth, Environmental Justice, and Equitable Development provides a menu of land use and community design strategies that community-based organizations, local and regional decision-makers, developers, and others can use to revitalize their communities. The strategies can help:

Facilitate meaningful community engagement in planning and land use decisions Promote public health and a clean and safe environment Strengthen existing communities Provide housing choices Provide transportation options Improve access to opportunities and daily necessities Preserve and build on the features that make a community distinctive

Case studies highlight seven communities that have used these strategies: Edmonston, MD; Chicago, IL; Spartanburg, SC; New Orleans, LA; Ohkay Owingeh, NM; Boston, MA; and Seattle, WA. The report was developed jointly by the Office of Sustainable Communities and Office of Environmental Justice.

St. Louis Launches Plan to be a more Sustainable CommunitySt. Louis, regarded as the Gateway to the West, is also becoming the gateway to sustainability for the state of Missouri. Central to increasing energy efficiency in St. Louis has been the Energy Department's Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program.St. Louis identified its City Hall, considered the crown jewel of the city's buildings portfolio, as a building that could benefit from retrofit. Before making upgrades, the city conducted an energy audit of the building and determined that it was only occupied 40% of the year. The city saw an opportunity to reduce energy use for the other 60% of the year when the systems require minimal operation. EECBG funds were leveraged to help meet these energy efficiency goals, including HVAC retrofits, internal lighting upgrades, direct digital control upgrades and whole building lighting upgrades, and resulted in energy savings up to 50%. Additionally, 52 outdated metal halide lamp fixtures were replaced with LED fixture tops in the City Hall parking structure. The new LED fixtures deliver more useful light where it is needed and use a total of 1.3 kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy—compared to the 7.8 kWh required by the previous lighting—for an energy savings of nearly 83%. For the complete story, see the Energy Blog: http://energy.gov/articles/st-louis-launches-plan-more-sustainable-community.

Lisa Jackson’s Final Video on Environmental Justice – Why Strong Leaders MatterFormer Administrator Lisa P. Jackson decided the last video she wanted to do for EPA was for OEJ's 20th Anniversary Environmental Justice Video Series. In this video, Administrator Jackson talks about the importance of leadership in communities and tells the story about Hazel

Johnson who was one of the original pioneers in the environmental justice movement. To view the video, please visit: http://blog.epa.gov/ej/2013/03/strong-leaders-matter/.

General Services Administration (GSA) Seeks Public Input for Green Building CertificationThe U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) on February 5 announced that it is seeking additional input from the public regarding the federal government's use of third-party green building certification systems, which reflect building energy efficiency. GSA published a notice in the Federal Register seeking public comments through April 6, 2013, on how the federal government can best use certification systems to measure the design and performance of the federal government's construction and major modernization projects. Federal construction and modernization projects must adhere to the government's own green building requirements, and third party certification systems should help in measuring effectiveness and performance. GSA is currently evaluating three certification systems for green building standards, including the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) 2009, the Green Building Initiative's Green Globes, and the International Living Future Institute’s Living Building Challenge. After the public comment period, GSA will use that feedback and make a recommendation to the Energy Department, which could include one system, multiple systems, or no system. See the GSA press release and the notice in the Federal Register: https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2013/02/05/2013-02408/sequence-24-findings-of-the-eisa-436h-ad-hoc-review-group-on-green-building-certification-systems.

Federal Interagency Healthy Homes Strategy Now AvailableThe full version of Advancing Healthy Housing: A Strategy for Action is now  available online at: http://1.usa.gov/ViSCj4 or athttp://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=AHHASA_2-19.pdf.The goals are: Goal 1 Establish Healthy Homes Recommendations, Goal 2 Encourage Adoption of Healthy Homes RecommendationsGoal 3 Create and Support Training and Workforce Development to Address Health Hazards in Housing, Goal 4 Educate the Public about Healthy Homes, Goal 5 Support Research that Informs and Advances Healthy Housing in a Cost-Effective Manner.For more information, please visit: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=AHHASA_2-19.pdf.

U.S Department of the Interior Grant Applications are Available for Outdoor Recreation ProjectsApplications are available for the federally funded Land and Water Conservation Fund grants to assist in financing outdoor recreation projects. All local governments and public school districts are eligible for the federal LWCF funds, which are made available through the U.S. Department of the Interior's National Park Service. Projects can be for the development or renovation of outdoor recreational facilities, or for acquisition of park land. A 55 percent match is required. Applications must be postmarked by April 22, 2013. An estimated $600,000 is expected to be awarded in the fiscal year 2013 cycle. In Missouri, the Department of Natural Resources administers the LWCF grant program. The application is available on the department’s web page at www.mostateparks.com/page/55065/outdoor-recreation-grants or by writing to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Division of State Parks, Grants Management Section, P.O. Box 176, Jefferson City, MO 65102.

Energy Department Announces New Funding to Advance Plug-in Electric Vehicle TechnologiesAs part of the Obama Administration's commitment to strengthening our energy security and lowering fuel costs for U.S. businesses and consumers, the Energy Department today announced more than $50 million in funding for new projects that will accelerate the development of advanced plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) technologies to increase vehicle fuel economy and improve performance. For more information, please visit: http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/progress_alerts.cfm/pa_id=850.

EPA Request for Comments on Waste Analysis Plan (WAP) Guidance

EPA is seeking comment on a revision to the Waste Analysis at Facilities That Generate, Treat, Store, and Dispose of Hazardous Wastes: A Guidance Manual. The manual is used to provide guidance on how to develop and implement a Waste Analysis Plan (WAP) suitable for managing hazardous wastes in accordance with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), assist federal and state permit writers in evaluating submitted WAPs, and assist enforcement personnel in determining whether a facility is in compliance with their testing requirements. The EPA is inviting operating TSDFs, permit writers, and various trade associations, and environmental groups to provide comments on the updated guidance. You may download a copy of the guidance for comment at: http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/hazard/tsd/permit/tsd-regs/tsdf-wap-guide.pdf. Comments will be accepted for 60 days, ending April 30, 2013. Please submit any comments to Gail Hansen at hansen.gail@epa.gov.

Agriculture Department Awards $8 Million for Smart Grid TechnologyThe U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on February 18 announced that rural electric cooperatives and utilities in 12 states will receive loan guarantees to improve generation and transmission facilities, as well as to implement smart grid technologies. The announcement includes support for more than $8 million in smart grid technologies, which help utilities make efficiency improvements to the electric grid and help consumers lower their electric bills by reducing energy use in homes and businesses. States receiving this USDA smart grid funding are Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Texas.Smart grid technologies involve adding communication capabilities and control systems to the electrical grid; this is expected to change how people use electricity, resulting in improved home energy management for the homeowner, greater demand control for the utility, and a more reliable power grid overall. Smart grids are also expected to better accommodate the use of renewable energy, all forms of on-site power production, and electric vehicles. For more information, please visit: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2013/02/0027.xml&contentidonly=true.

Energy Department Announces Winners of Student Competition to Promote Energy Efficient BuildingsThe Energy Department announced today the winners of the second annual Better Buildings Case Competition, which challenges university teams to develop and present real-world business and technical solutions to cut energy waste and improve the efficiency commercial buildings across the country. For more information, please visit: http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/progress_alerts.cfm/pa_id=851.

Mid-America Regional Council’s (MARC) Sustainable Real Estate Development Course, April 24, 8:30–11:00 a.m., Kansas City, MOThis course covers topics such as the financial effects of sustainable development and evidence regarding project costs, income, investment returns and default rates. Risk mitigation and return requirements from different types of investors are discussed. Special attention is paid to overcoming the challenges for mixed-use, infill and transit-oriented development. The broader lens of triple bottom line accounting will also be introduced to address important non-financial issues, such as environmental justice, public health, social capital and pollution prevention. Register now at: https://www.marc2.org/iEBMS/reg/reg_p1_form.aspx?oc=10&ct=STDASC&eventid=15133.

Blog: Energy Department and USDA Partner to Support Energy Efficiency in Rural Communities by Dr. Kathleen Hogan, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency, and Todd Campbell, Alternative Energy Advisor, USDAEach year, urban households in the United States combined use more than three times the total energy that rural households use. Yet, the Energy Information Administration estimates that rural families spend about $400 more per year in energy bills compared to the typical urban household. Unlocking new opportunities to save energy will help rural Americans save money while improving our energy security, creating jobs, and protecting our air and water. We have seen this work firsthand at USDA Rural Development. Through our Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), we have partnered with agriculture producers and rural small businesses to construct 6,605 renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvement projects since 2009, providing $213 million in grants and $178 million in loan guarantees. When complete, these projects will be responsible for generating or saving 7.32 billion kWh annually, enough energy to power 680,000 households each year.

At the Energy Department, the Weatherization Assistance Program is helping low-income rural households save on their utility bills through a broad range of home efficiency upgrades—from installing insulation to replacing leaking windows to repairing heating and cooling systems. Since the program’s inception in 1976, we’ve helped low-income families permanently reduce their energy bills to the tune of hundreds of dollars per year. For the complete story, see the Energy Blog: http://energy.gov/articles/energy-department-and-usda-partner-support-energy-efficiency-rural-communities.

Energy Department Study Examines Potential to Reduce Transportation Petroleum Use and Carbon EmissionsThe U.S. Department of Energy, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and Argonne National Laboratory today released a new study that finds the United States has the potential to reduce petroleum use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the transportation sector by more than 80% by 2050. The Transportation Energy Futures (TEF) study identifies possible paths to a low-carbon, low-petroleum future in the U.S. transportation sector. For more information, please visit: http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/progress_alerts.cfm/pa_id=854.

USDA Climate Change Adaptation Plan Open for Public CommentTo better coordinate USDA’s sustainability efforts and build on past success, USDA has prepared its 2012 Strategic Sustainability Performance Plan that underscores strategies and goals to save taxpayer dollars, reduce carbon emissions, cut waste and save energy.  As part of this effort, this year USDA has also prepared a Climate Change Adaptation Plan that outlines how the Department will address the impacts of climate change on its key mission areas such as agricultural production, food security, rural development, and forestry and natural resources conservation. The plan is available and open for a 60-day public comment period. USDA encourages the public to review the document and provide comments by April 8, 2013.  The USDA Climate Change Adaptation Plan can be accessed at http://www.dm.usda.gov/emd. All comments are to be directed to William Hohenstein, Director of USDA’s Climate Change Program Office at ccpo@oce.usda.gov.

EPA FY13 Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training grant - Request for Proposals (RFP) IssuedEPA has issued an RPF for the FY13 Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training Grants. The Guidelines are attached and also available at http://www.epa.gov/oswer/grants-funding.htm. Proposals are due April 9, 2013. Please also consider registering for one of EPA's CLU-IN sessions to be held on March 7. Both sessions will be held from 3:00-5:00pm Eastern Standard Time. These sessions are for prospective Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training grant applicants and would benefit anyone planning to submit a proposal. To register for the CLU-IN, please visit http://www.clu-in.org/conf/tio/bfjt2013/. EPA's Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization (OBLR) will also post Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) in the next week or so. For further questions, please contact: Joseph Bruss, Environmental Justice and Job Training Coordinator U.S. EPA, Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization, Phone: (202) 566-2772.

2013 National Pharmaceutical Take Back Day—Save the Date April 27, 2013The DEA is planning the next National Take-Back Day on April 27, 2013. The take back day will be on the last Saturday of April from (10:00AM - 2:00PM). For more information please check the website. http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/index.html

Environmental Justice (EJ)/Community Scholarships for BrownfieldsThe scholarship program for Brownfields 2013 is now open. Scholarships will be distributed among organizations and communities, and preference will be given to community group and EJ members from the Southeast region. The Center for Public Environmental Oversight has received funding from U.S. EPA and the Goldstein Brownfields Group to provide a limited number of scholarships for environmental justice and other community participants in the Brownfields 2013 Conference in Atlanta, Georgia May 15-17, 2013.There are two types of scholarships listed below. Applicants can choose to apply for one or both.1.  $100 discount on conference registration - normally $125 for community participants. Each person is responsible for his/her own

registration, including a payment of $25. We will provide selected applicants with instructions for registering with the discount.2. Two-night hotel stays at the Omni Hotel at CNN Center. Scholarship recipients are still responsible for incidental expenses at the hotel.   Please fill out and submit the application by April 15, 2013. Notification will begin by April 22, 2013. Click here to download application. If you have any further questions, please contact Jocelyn Worley, jworley@icma.org.

National Brownfields 2013 Conference is May 15-17The National Brownfields Conference, co-sponsored by the US EPA and ICMA, is the premier event focused on catalyzing economic development through cleanup and sustainable reuse of environmentally impaired properties. Come and learn redevelopment strategies you can put into action. Network and make key partnerships for the future. Share inspiring success stories to fuel the movement that is revitalizing communities! Now in its 15th year, the event is two and a half days of educational sessions, training workshops, volunteer activities, mobile workshops, film screenings and much more. This is the place to be where all topics related to brownfield cleanup, ranging from community engagement to public health, will take center stage in Atlanta's Georgia World Congress Center May 15-17, 2013. To register, please visit:http://www.brownfieldsconference.org/en/LoginQms.

This newsletter is being provided by EPA Region 7 for informational purposes only. This newsletter 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.