EPA Region 7

Communities Information Digest

October 14, 2016
Welcome to the latest EPA Region 7 Digest!
October is Children's Health Month

EPA Region 7s Communities Information

Digest provides communities with the latest
news about funding and technical assistance
opportunities, webinars, conferences, and
other activities related to human health and
the environment.

Learn how you can help protect children from

environmental risks at home, at school, and in your
community.
https://www.epa.gov/children/what-you-can-do-protectchildren-environmental-risks

MONARCH MANIA

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Headlines
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Opportunities
Meetings, Conferences, & Events
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More than 300 monarch butterflies were tagged at

the Monarch Mania event at Quivira National
Wildlife Refuge in Kansas in late September. The
event supports the Monarch Watch program which
strives to provide the public with information about
the biology and the migration of monarch
butterflies. Each fall, monarchs travel thousands of
miles over many generations from Canada, through
the U.S., down to Mexico. But monarch butterfly
populations are experiencing declines in the eastern
population by more than 90% since 1997.
Find out how you can help:
https://www.fws.gov/savethemonarch/

Headlines
National
*EPA Offers Assistance to Help Rural Communities Revitalize Downtowns
Communities may apply for assistance through the following programs: Local Foods, Local
Places to help communities leverage local food enterprise to diversify their economy and
renew their downtowns; Cool & Connected, which helps communities use broadband
service to create walkable, connected, economically successful neighborhoods; and
Healthy Places for Healthy People, to help communities partner with health care facilities to
improve options for healthy living and economic opportunity.

*USDA Announces Support for Rural Cooperative Businesses and Organizations

USDA is awarding 29 grants totaling $5.8 million to help rural cooperatives create jobs and
support business expansion. The funds are being provided through the Rural Cooperative
Development Grant (RCDG) program, which helps fund non-profit groups, such as rural
cooperative development centers and higher education institutions.
*Join The USDA Midwest Climate Hub Mailing List
The Midwest Climate Hub provides information that helps agriculture, livestock, and
specialty crop producers manage through a changing climate using innovative partnerships
with research, extension, education, and other federal partners as well as helping improve
agricultural decision-making through climate outlooks and decision tools.
*EPA Awards Funds to Revitalize Urban Waters and Surrounding Communities
EPA is awarding $1.3 million to help protect and restore urban waters and to support
community revitalization and other local priorities. This years Urban Waters grantees will
inform and engage residents in stormwater management and pursue community-based
plans to address pollution in waterways.
*Paris Climate Agreement Crosses Ratification
The Paris Climate Agreement has been formally ratified and will go into effect on November
5, 2016. The Agreement, developed by more than 190 countries last December, required
that at least 55 countries representing more than 55 percent of global greenhouse gas
(GHG) emissions formally ratify the document in order for it to take effect.
*EPA Awards EJ Collaborative Problem-Solving Cooperative Agreements
EPA announced competitive cooperative agreements with 10 community-based
organizations working to address environmental justice issues nationwide. The projects will
address a variety of environmental justice issues through innovative project activities in
areas like green infrastructure, stormwater management and recycling.
*New and Improved Resources Help Land Managers Adapt to a Changing Climate
The Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science and US Forest Service Northern
Research Station recently released an updated and expanded edition of Forest Adaptation
Resources: Climate Change Tools and Approaches for Land Managers.
*New EPA Web Portal Helps Communities Prepare for Climate Change
EPA launched a new online portal that will provide local leaders in the nations 40,000
communities with information and tools to increase resilience to climate change. The
Adaptation Resource Center (ARC-X) provides users with information tailored specifically
to their needs, based on where they live and the particular issues of concern to them.
*USDA Unveils Funding to Support Rural Broadband and Economic Development
USDA is investing in projects through the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant
program, Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program, Intermediary Relending Program,
the Rural Business Development Grant Program and the Community Connect program.
*USDA to Fund Agricultural Wetland Mitigation Banks in 10 States
The Wetland Mitigation Banking Program, created by the 2014 Farm Bill, helps states, local
governments or other qualified partners develop wetland mitigation banks that restore,
create or enhance wetland ecosystems, broadening the conservation options available to
farmers and ranchers so they can maintain eligibility for other USDA programs.
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*New Tool: C-FERST: A Mapping Tool for a Sustainable Future

The online mapping tool gives communities access to resources that can help them
understand their local environmental issues, compare conditions in their community with
their county and state averages, and explore exposure and risk reduction options.
EJSCREEN User Impact Survey Submission Dates: September 27-November 8
The Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ) the EPA is excited to announce the launch of
the EJSCREEN User Impact Survey! The information collected will be used to catalogue
the diverse ways people are using EJSCREEN to support their analysis of environmental
justice concerns in their personal and professional lives.
EPA Seeks Input on the Gap of Water Quality Standards Coverage in Indian
Reservation Waters Comments Due by December 28
On September 19, 2016, Administrator McCarthy signed an advance notice of proposed
rulemaking (ANPRM) requesting public comment on the establishment of federal baseline
water quality standards (WQS) under the Clean Water Act (CWA) for Indian reservation
waters that currently do not have EPA-approved WQS to protect water quality.

Regional
*EPA Awards $120K to Dutchtown South Community Corporation to Implement So
Fresh, So Clean, So Creative Southside St. Louis Project
Dutchtown South Community Corporation (DSCC) in St. Louis, Mo. is one of 10 local
community-based organizations across the country awarded $120,000 for projects seeking
to address local environmental and public health concerns in their communities through
collaboration with other stakeholders.
*EPA, North Cascade Road Developers, LLC, Reach Settlement on Clean Water Act
Violations at Development in Dubuque, Iowa
EPA Region 7 has reached a proposed administrative settlement with North Cascade Road
Developers, LLC, to resolve violations of Section 402 of the Clean Water Act (CWA) at its
Timber Hyrst Estates Residential Development in Dubuque, Iowa. As part of the settlement,
the company has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $50,000.
*KC Water Recognized For Green Infrastructure Excellence
The Middle Blue River Green Infrastructure Project in the Marlborough neighborhood of
south Kansas City has received the nations first Envision Platinum Award for a Combined
Sewer Overflow area. The project is the largest of its type to receive Platinum certification
from the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure.
*University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Saint Louis University to Receive Funds from
EPAs Urban Waters Small Grants Program
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Saint Louis University will receive funding from
EPAs Urban Waters Small Grants Program for a range of projects designed to help protect
and restore urban waters, support community revitalization and address related priorities.
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Funding & Technical Assistance Opportunities

*Transit Safety Research and Demonstration Program October 14
NREL Solar Photovoltaic Screening Applications for Universities October 15
Asthma Empowerment Collaborations to Reduce Childhood Asthma Disparities
Letters of Intent: October 16, Applications due: November 16
EPA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) October 20
DOE First Steps Toward Developing Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency on
Tribal Lands Program October 20
National Science Foundations Environmental Sustainability Program October 20
*Safety Research and Demonstration (SRD) Program October 24
EPAs Smart City Air Challenge October 28
National Native Health Research Training Initiative October 30
*Provide your nomination to the Clean Air Act Advisory Committee October 31
Technical Assistance to Tribal Communities Addressing Brownfields October 31
ASFPM 2017 National Conference Call for Presenters October 31
Grants for K-12 Schools, The Nature Conservancy October 31
US School Gardens Grant, Whole Kids Foundation October 31
Performance Partnership Pilots for Disconnected Youth October 31
2016 School Bus Replacement and Retrofit Rebates November 1
Knight Cities Challenge November 3
*Preservation Technology and Training Grants November 3
Culture of Health Prize, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation November 3
*U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Small Grants November 3
*Cool and Connected Communities November 6
*Healthy Places for Healthy People November 6
*Local Food Local Places November 6
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*Apply now for the Iowa Water Center grants November 7

Call for Abstracts: 2017 National Environmental Justice Conference and Training
Program November 14
1000 Friends of Iowa Best Development Awards call for nominations November 15
*2017 Collaboration Prize, Lodestar Foundation November 16
Agriculture and Natural Resources Science for Climate Variability and Change
Challenge Area November 17
Center for Community Progress Technical Assistance Scholarship Program
Request for Applications November 17
EPA FY 2017 Exchange Network Grant Solicitation Notice November 18
*Call for Proposals: Gathering Input from Tribal Communities to Shape the Next
National Climate Assessment December 2
FY 2017 USDA Farm to School Grant December 8
AIA Sustainable Design Assessment Team December 9
*Kansas Organization of Recyclers Video Contest December 15
*FY17 Guidelines for Brownfields Assessment Grants December 20
*FY17 Guidelines for Brownfields Cleanup Grants December 20
NOAA Educational Partnership Program Undergraduate Scholarship January 31
NOAA Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship January 31
*Endowment for Forestry and Communities Healthy Watersheds Consortium Grant
(HWCG) Program February 1, 2017

Ongoing Opportunities
River Network National Rain Barrel Program Through June 2017
POWER (Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization)
Grants Applications accepted on a rolling basis
Tribal Climate Change Funding Guide Regularly updated grants and programs
EDA Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance Program
USDA Agricultural Conservation Easement Program Local USDA Service Center

Apply for a Fruit Tree Planting Foundation Orchard in Your Community

American Planning Association Community Planning Assistance Teams
Climate Solutions University Adaptation Plan Assistance
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Meetings, Conferences, & Events

National Association of Development Organizations' Annual Training Conference
October 15-18, San Antonio, TX
National Shared Mobility Summit October 17-19, Chicago, IL
AARP Livable Communities National Conference October 17-19, Chicago, IL
2016 Natural Areas Conference October 18-21, Davis, CA
Managing Water Resources: System Losses, Auditing, Conservation, and Drought
Preparedness October 19, Emporia, KS
Green Business Engagement National Network Summit October 19-20, St. Louis,
MO
Toxic Release Inventory Conference October 19-21, Washington, D.C.
National Training Conference on the Toxics Release Inventory and Environmental
Conditions in Communities October 19-21, Washington, D.C.
*Overcoming Environmental Hurdles for Redevelopment Norfolk, NE, October 20
*Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership Summit October 20,
Washington, D.C.
Behavior, Energy and Climate Change Conference October 20-22, Baltimore, MD
Climate & Agriculture Workshop October 24-25, St Louis, MO
National Resources and Training Summit to Revitalize Vulnerable Communities
October 25-26, Arlington, VA
Region 9 Annual Tribal/EPA Conference October 2527, San Francisco, CA
Rally 2016: The National Land Conservation Conference October 28-30,
Minneapolis, MN
American Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Exposition October 29November 2, Denver, CO
*CFDA National Development Finance Summit November 1-4, New Orleans, LA

CitiesAlive: 14th Annual Green Roof and Wall Conference November 1-4,
Washington, D.C.
*Brownfields Project Marketplace November 3, New Orleans, LA
Governors Conference on the Future of Water in Kansas November 14-15,
Manhattan, KS
*PastForward 2016 November 15-18, Houston, TX
*Water as a Resource: Financing Opportunities and Challenges for Municipal
Stormwater Management November 15-16, Durham, NH
*Free Water Nitrate Testing Event November 17, Iowa City, IA
Green Lands Blue Waters Conference November 29-30, Columbia, MO
AGU Chapman Conference on Extreme Climate Event Impacts on Aquatic
Biogeochemical Cycles and Fluxes January 22-27, 2017, San Juan, Puerto Rico
New Partners for Smart Growth Conference February 2-4, 2017, St. Louis, MO
2017 Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference February 5-8, 2017, Lincoln, NE
Climate Leadership Conference March 1-3, 2017, Chicago, IL
National Environmental Justice Conference and Training Program March 8-10, 2017,
Washington, D.C.
11th Annual Iowa Water Conference March 22-23, 2017, Ames, IA
Children's Environmental Health Network Translational Research Conference: New
Challenges April 5-7, 2017, Arlington, VA
ASFPM National Conference April 30-May 5, 2017, Kansas City, MO
2017 National Brownfields Training Conference December 5-7, 2017, Pittsburg, PA
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Webinars and Conference Calls

*EPA Tools and Resources Webinar Series October 19, 2-3:00 p.m. CST
EPAs Office of Research and Development (ORD) hosts a Tools and Resources webinar
the third Wednesday of each month to share our research, demonstrate tools, and seek
input from partners.
*Not Lost in Translation: How to Select the Right Wetland Restoration Team
October 18, 2-4:00 p.m. CST
Join our group of experts to learn about the various ingredients that are needed to form a
top-notch wetland restoration team. This webinar will include a thorough discussion of the
potential skill sets to include in your team. The discussion will cover key professional
expertise, important personality traits, and requisite communication abilities.
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*What You Should Know About Financing Energy Efficiency Upgrades October 18,
1-2:00 p.m. CST
Learn how public sector organizations are improving energy efficiency with innovative
solutions to financial barriers. Attendees will learn about financing projects in the public
and private sectors, the basics of performance contracting, and how EPAs tools and
resources can help you make the decision to improve your facilities now or later.
2015 PET Container Recycling Rate Report Overview October 18, 12-1:00 p.m. CST
This webinar will serve as an Executive Summary, featuring data and analyses from the
Report on Postconsumer PET Container Recycling Activity in 2015.
Freshwater HABs Response Efforts October 20, 10 a.m.-noon CST
This webinar will provide an overview of control and management techniques for
cyanobacteria and their toxins in freshwater systems, including innovative techniques
aimed at preventing eutrophication and HABs.
*How to Apply for the ENERGY STAR October 20, 12-1:00 p.m. CST
Learn about applying for the Energy Star Certification in Portfolio Manager. Understand
the value of the Energy Star Certification, see the step-by-step process of applying, and
gain tips to help your property get from application to award.
*Reforming Laws and Policies to Enhance Food Recovery at the State and Local
Level toolkit October 20, 12-1:30 p.m. CST
Learn about how you use this toolkit in your state or local food waste policy planning.
Presenters will explain the content and how best to use the toolkit, with a focus on a few
of the sections, and will answer questions from webinar participants about these and other
examples.
*EPA's Travel Efficiency Assessment Method: Evaluating the Potential to Reduce
Emissions in Three Case Study Areas October 20, 1-2:00 p.m. CST
During this webinar, EPA and its partner agencies in these case studies will provide an
overview of the TEAM analytical process, the travel efficiency strategies each agency
considered, and their potential emission reductions.
*Local Foods, Local Places; Cool & Connected; Healthy Places for Healthy People:
Program Overviews and Application Questions October 20, 1-2:00 p.m. CST
EPA's Office of Sustainable Communities will provide brief presentations on three
planning assistance programs open for applications.
*Executive Order 13650 Improving Chemical Facility Safety and Security Webinar
October 24, 9-10:30 a.m. CST
Please join the Department of Homeland Security, the Environmental Protection Agency,
and the Department of Labor for a webinar on Executive Order 13650: Improving
Chemical Facility Safety and Security (EO).
*Portfolio Manager 101 October 25, 12-1:00 p.m. CST
Learn about EPAs ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool. Attendees will learn how to:
navigate Portfolio Manager; add a property and enter details about it; enter energy and
water consumption data; and generate template performance reports to assess progress.
Meet the Funders: Leveraging Brownfields Assessment/Cleanup Funds with
Economic Development Resources October 25, 12-1:30 p.m. CST
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This webinar will highlight a number of economic development resources available from
the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Economic Development
Administration, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to leverage your brownfield dollars
and fund community revitalization.
*Portfolio Manager 201 October 26, 12-1:00 p.m. CST
Continue to learn about EPAs ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool with a deeper dive
into more advanced functionalities such as: editing property data; correcting and updating
property use details; using the data quality checker; and sharing property data.
*Accessing Capital for Tribal Energy and Economic Development October 26, 1-2:00
p.m. CST
Topics will include details of financing renewable projects, use of federal and state
incentives, and local resources and partnerships that can help develop creative project
financing terms and structures, and will describe tax credits and incentives available via
DOEs Database for State Incentives for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency.
*Portfolio Manager 301 October 27, 12-1:00 p.m. CST
With a good background on the basic functionality of EPAs ENERGY STAR Portfolio
Manager tool, learn about some advanced features including: using spreadsheet upload
templates to update property data; setting goals and targets to plan energy improvements
for properties; creating custom reports; and using the Sustainable Buildings Checklist.
*Source Water Collaborative Learning Exchange Webinar Series: Funding Source
Water Protection November 2, 12-1:30 p.m. CST
A distinguished webinar panel will share perspectives on establishing and growing
successful watershed investment programs.
*Free Preparedness Resources for Water Utilities November 9, 12-1:00 p.m. CST
This webinar will feature short presentations on four resources: Hazard Mitigation for
Natural Disasters: A Starter Guide, Water Utility Response On-The-Go, Laboratory
Support Resources, and the Climate Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool (CREAT)
Learning Together: Lessons Learned from Collaborative Place-Based Initiatives
November 10, 12-1:30 p.m. CST
Overview of the Federal Interagency Working Group on Environmental Justice Framework
for Collaboration to showcase the importance of effective federal collaboration.
*U.S. EPA Brownfields Promoting Aquaponics in Redevelopment Projects
November 15, 12-1:30 p.m. CST
Learn about a new planning tool, developed by U.S. EPA, which can help communities
create these healthy food production systems. While originally created to encourage
aquaponics development on brownfields, the new guide is now available for use in any
community. Learn about aquaponics business planning, and hear about the experience of
the East Capital Urban Farm in implementing an urban aquaponics project in DC.
2015 National Postconsumer Plastics Bottle Recycling Rate Report Overview
November 15, 12-1:00 p.m. CST
This webinar will serve as an Executive Summary, featuring data and analyses from the
2015 National Postconsumer Plastics Bottle Recycling Rate Report.
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Improving Wastewater Infrastructure in Vulnerable Communities December 8, 121:30 p.m. CST

This webinar will highlight challenges and solutions to providing wastewater infrastructure
in some of the most vulnerable communities in America.

On-Going and On-Demand Webinars

Communicating Climate Change Scenarios With Decision Makers
Research hydrologist Dr. Holly Hartmann discusses approaches for communicating with
decision-makers on climate change, water management and planning.
Leveraging Resources for Brownfields Revitalization Webinar
This previously recorded webinar discusses available tools to assist communities in
leveraging resources to address community revitalization goals and challenges. It
includes a presentation on Dubuque, Iowa's efforts to leverage its own resources to attract
other federal, state, public and private sources of funding and technical assistance.
EPA Computer Training Helps Water and Wastewater Utilities Build Resilience
The training covers several topics including: identifying and funding potential hazard
mitigation projects, developing and updating an Emergency Response Plan (ERP),
coordinating mutual aid and assistance during emergencies, conducting damage
assessments, and many more.
EPA Sensible Steps to Healthier School Environments 10-Part Webinar Series
Student Curriculum: Recipes for Healthy Kids, and a Healthy Environment
Each 45-minute lesson empowers kids to take steps in their everyday lives to improve
the environment for their communities and reduce their environmental risk.
LeanPath presents: Five Food Waste Myths to Debunk Now!
This webinar will explore five myths about food waste and the facts you need to debunk
them in your kitchen.
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This digest is being provided by EPA Region 7 for informational purposes only.
This digest contains links to information, agencies, sites, and organizations outside of the
EPA website.
EPA is not responsible for third party links. EPA does not endorse third party organizations
or agencies.

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