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News First National Lakes Assessment ReleasedTuesday, February 09, 2010-- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) just released its most comprehensive study of the nations lakes to date. The draft study, which rated the condition of 56 percent of the lakes in the United States as good and the remainder as fair or poor, marked the first time EPA and its state and tribal partners used a nationally consistent approach to survey the ecological and water quality of lakes. -- (full text) [EPA] Climate Change Education Toolkit Updated Tuesday, February 09, 2010-- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and numerous partners recently updated and expanded the Climate Change, Wildlife and Wildlands Toolkit for Formal and Informal Educators. -- (full text) [EPA] Free Online Training Available to Help Tackle Nonpoint Source Pollution Tuesday, February 09, 2010-- Need help training new employees about the basics of nonpoint source pollution? Need a refresher course on stormwater permitting requirements? The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offers numerous free, Web-based watershed training options for a variety of audiences. -- (full text) [EPA] Worlds First Floating Wetland Classroom Opens in Virginia Tuesday, February 09, 2010-- Students in southeastern Virginia are the first in the world to enjoy a truly unique learning experience a floating wetland classroom. In September 2009, staff from the nonprofit Elizabeth River Project, faculty and students from the University of Virginia (UVA), and many other sponsors and supporters gathered to christen the new Learning Barge, a self-sustaining, mobile education center that holds up to 149 passengers. The curriculum is largely based on the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) with a particular concentration on grades 3 through 8. Sample lesson plans are available online at www.arch.virginia.edu/learningbarge/educate_curriculum.html. -- (full text) [Elizabeth River Project] Project WatershedCollecting and Sharing Information Tuesday, February 09, 2010-- In tight economic times, efficiency is important, especially for watershed organizations. One upstate New York-based Izaak Walton League of America (IWLA) program has developed protocols that serve multiple purposes and audiences at a relatively low cost. The group has combined education, monitoring and restoration programs into one package that appeals to teachers, benefits students and provides a platform for high quality data collection. -- (full text) [Izaak Walton League of America ] Web Site Highlights States TMDL Successes Tuesday, February 09, 2010-- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently launched a new Web site that highlights a collection of stories demonstrating how total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) have helped to restore and protect water quality across the nation. Also referred to as a pollution budget, a TMDL is a calculation of the maximum amount of a pollutant that a water body can receive and still meet water quality standards. The new Web site, features ten stories about diverse stakeholders that are helping to develop and implement TMDLs using innovative approaches to reduce pollution from a variety of sources.. -- (full text) [EPA] Road Salt Affects Nations Northern Waters Tuesday, February 09, 2010-- A recent U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) study indicates that levels of chloride, a component of salt, are elevated in many urban streams and in some groundwater across the northern United States. -- (full text) [EPA] Water Quality Scorecard and Incentive Guide Added to Municipal Handbook Tuesday, February 09, 2010-- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has added to its series of documents designed to help local officials implement green stormwater infrastructure in their communities. -- (full text) [EPA] EPA Issues Rule to Reduce Water Pollution from Construction Sites Tuesday, February 09, 2010-- On November 23, 2009, EPA issued a final rule to help reduce water pollution from construction sites. The agency believes this rule, which takes effect in February 2010 and will be phased in over four years, will significantly improve the quality of water nationwide. -- (full text) [EPA] EPA Announces New Support for Sustainable Communities Monday, February 08, 2010-- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced three steps to support communities efforts to provide their citizens with economic opportunity while reducing impacts on the environment. The actions will encourage state and local government to make their communities more sustainable by strategically aligning their environmental, transportation and housing investments. The steps EPA announced today are: " The creation of a new Office of Sustainable Communities to encourage communities to take an integrated approach in making environmental, housing and transportation decisions. " A new pilot grant program designed to help three states New York, Maryland and California use their clean water funding programs to support efforts to make communities more sustainable. " A pilot program to clean up and redevelop contaminated sites, known as brownfield sites, in coordination with communities efforts to develop public transportation and affordable housing. -- (full text) [EPA] Plan Aims to Lift Providence Workers Skills and R.I.'s Economy Monday, February 08, 2010-- The Providence Plan, a local nonprofit focused on socioeconomic advancement, will launch a jobs-training program next month geared at getting low-income city residents trained in the energy-efficient construction and renewable-power industries. -- (full text) [Providence (RI) Journal ] Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Projects Earn Smart Growth Awards Thursday, February 04, 2010-- Eight local development projects were honored by the Lancaster County Planning Commission as recipients of the 2009 Envision Leadership Awards. The awards are given annually to foster and raise awareness of smart growth in Lancaster County. -- (full text) [Lancaster (PA) New Era ] Hoboken Loft Project Called Template For Green Development Wednesday, February 03, 2010-- Back in 1919, the structure at 1425 Garden St., in Hoboken was a storage warehouse and factory for processing coconuts so as to be used for shredded toppings on Hostess snowball cupcakes. Plenty has changed. As of last year, the building was an environmentally friendly, mixed residential high-rise called Garden Street Lofts, with 30 luxury condominiums and a sedum ground-covered, grassy roof for carbon monoxide emissions. -- (full text) [Jersey Journal] Improvements to Regulations.gov Make for Easier Access to Federal Regulations Wednesday, February 03, 2010-- As part of President Obamas commitment to more effective and open government, the public can more quickly access federal regulations at Regulations.gov, thanks to comments received during the Regulations.gov Exchange online forum held last year. Regulations.gov provides one-stop public access to information related to current and forthcoming regulations issued by the federal government. -- (full text) [EPA] EPAs Energy Star Leaders Quadruple Energy Savings In One Year Wednesday, February 03, 2010-- In 2009, EPAs Energy Star Leaders prevented the equivalent of more than 220,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide and saved more than $48 million across their commercial building portfolios. These savings have quadrupled since 2008 and represent the single greatest year of savings since EPA recognized the first Energy Star Leaders in 2004. Over the past five years, Energy Star Leaders are saving money and helping our environment by preventing greenhouse gas emissions equal to the emissions from the electricity use of nearly 39,000 homes annually. -- (full text) [EPA] Ashland, OR Considering Start-up Grants for Sustainability Projects Tuesday, February 02, 2010-- Ashland Mayor John Stromberg has proposed that the city set aside $12,500 for start-up grants to fund projects that promote sustainability. -- (full text) [Oregon's Mail Tribune] Acton, MA Working on Adopting a Green Building Code Monday, February 01, 2010-- Many Acton residents agree that being green is a top priority. With a special advisory board, an active citizen group and town leaders who continually push for energy-efficient initiatives, Acton has many reasons to call itself a green community. If residents vote to take a few more steps, Acton could be the first town in the state to make that description official. The Green Advisory Board will host a public forum Monday, Feb. 1, to give a presentation on one major move: Adopting the stretch code, a list of green regulations on new building construction and renovations. -- (full text) [Acton (MA) Beacon ] Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Rule Monday, February 01, 2010-- Starting January 1, 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will, for the first time, require large emitters of heat-trapping emissions to begin collecting greenhouse gas (GHG) data under a national reporting system. The reporting will cover approximately 85 percent of the nations GHG emissions and apply to approximately 10,000 facilities. -- (full text) [EPA] Entries Invited for America's Greenest School Contest Monday, February 01, 2010-- A grant of approximately $20,000 plus a hybrid school bus and green audit by a LEED-accredited professional will be given to a K-12 school nominated by its students for efforts to make it a greener place. Deadline: March 8, 2010 -- (full text) [Foundation Center] Clorox Announces 2010 Green Heroes Grant Program Monday, February 01, 2010-- Grants totaling $60,000 will be awarded to individuals, organiza- tions, and schools across the United States working to make their communities a greener place to live -- (full text) [Foundation Center] San Jose Will Begin Campaign About Residents' Responsibility For City Trees Thursday, January 28, 2010-- In the wake of public outrage following the weekend death of a toddler killed by a falling tree, San Jose officials are launching a public outreach campaign to remind residents they are responsible for maintaining city-owned trees in front of their homes. -- (full text) [San Jose Mercury New] LEED 2009 Green Neighborhood Development Reference Guide Thursday, January 28, 2010-- The LEED 2009 Reference Guide for Green Neighborhood Development is a user's manual that guides a LEED-ND project from registration to certification. This guide is specifically designed to provide the tools necessary for sustainable choices. -- (full text) [US Green Building Council] Best Practices in Development: ULI Award Winning Projects 2009 Thursday, January 28, 2010-- The awards book profiles 48 top development projects throughout the world. Each project description includes photos, the development story, and project data and is a winner or finalist for the prestigious ULI Awards for Excellence. The annual prize is based on financial viability, the resourceful use of land, design, relevance to contemporary issues, and sensitivity to the community and environment. -- (full text) [ULI] DOE Invites Public Comment on Recovery Act Weatherization and Retrofit Reporting Thursday, January 28, 2010-- As published in the January 21 edition of the Federal Register, DOE invites the public to comment on the following proposed draft reporting guidance documents under the 2009 Recovery Act for the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), State Energy Program (SEP), and Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program as well as collection of utility billing data to validate the cost effectiveness of energy efficiency retrofits in buildings. -- (full text) [DOE] Maximize Your Energy Efficiency Stimulus Funding: No-Cost Web Training Available Tuesday, January 26, 2010-- ICMA will host a free Web training session to help local governments plan, implement, and monitor their energy efficiency initiatives funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. -- (full text) [ICMA] The Office of Minority Health National Plan for Action Is Open for Public Comments Monday, January 25, 2010-- The National Plan for Action, which captures the status of minority health disparities in our country and proposes 20 strategies for their elimination, is a thoughtful and thorough collaborative effort of representatives from community, faith-based and non-profit organizations, academic institutions, foundations and Federal, State and local agencies. -- (full text) [The Office of Minority Health ] February e-Session Series: Maximizing the Value of Your Landfill Gas Monday, January 25, 2010-- Landfill gas has developed into a mature alternative energy technology increasingly utilized to displace fossil fuels.This months e-Sessions provide information to landfill operators seeking to maximize the environmental and economic benefits of landfill gas-to-energy systems -- (full text) [SWANA] Medway, Massachusetts, Looks To Become State-Designated "Green Community." Monday, January 25, 2010-- The town is going green in order to save some green. In an effort to become more competitive for state grants and save money on utilities, the town is looking to become a state-designated "green community." The state has five criteria for towns to meet before they can become a designated green community. It will take time and energy to complete the requirements, said Town Planner Susan Affleck-Childs, but the town could secure grants to pay for its numerous capital needs. -- (full text) [The Milford (MA) Daily News] Palm Desert, CA Deploys USA's First CNG-Powered Ambulance Monday, January 25, 2010-- The City of Palm Desert, CA has unveiled the community's new compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered ambulance and medic unit--the first of its kind in the United States. -- (full text) [NGV Global, a newsletter of the International Association for Natural Gas Vehicles ] Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Group To Examine City's Sustainability Monday, January 25, 2010-- In the months ahead, the city's residents will come together in the hopes of crafting a sustainable vision for Portsmouth. That's the wish of representatives from Sustainable Portsmouth, an effort led by volunteers who seek to engage the community in a transformation of the way the city handles a wide range of environmental and energy issues. -- (full text) [Portsmouth (NH) Herald ] Webinar January 27: Sustainability Planning in El Paso Friday, January 22, 2010-- The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Technical Assistance Project (TAP) for state and local officials is offering a Web seminar on energy and sustainability planning in El Paso, Texas. The presentation will take place Wednesday, January 27, from 3:00 to 4:15 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, and is titled "Strategic Energy and Sustainability Planning in El Paso, Texas." -- (full text) [DOE] Seattle's Methane Energy Program Turns Operational Friday, January 22, 2010-- Seattle's latest renewable-energy source is methane landfill gas created as garbage decomposes. And the energy it produces costs half as much as wind power. Seattle ships its trash about 400,000 tons a year by rail to a Waste Management-owned landfill in Arlington, Ore. As part of a contract reached last year, Waste Management agreed to begin turning the landfill's methane into energy and sell it to Seattle. -- (full text) [Seattle Times ] San Rafael, CA Council Passes Green-Building Reform Thursday, January 21, 2010-- San Rafael's new green-building ordinance, touted as one of the most comprehensive in the nation, is expected to serve as a template for Marin's cities and towns. -- (full text) [Marin (CA) Independent-Journal ] New Program for California Residents to Finance Renewable Energy Thursday, January 21, 2010-- Milpitas City Council voted unanimously Jan. 5 to adopt a resolution authorizing the city to join the CaliforniaFirst Program to allow residential property owners to finance renewable energy, energy efficiency and water efficiency improvements on their properties. The program is sponsored by the California Communities, a joint powers authority sponsored by the League of California Cities and the California State Association of Counties, which includes all 58 counties and more than 400 other local agencies throughout California, including City of Milpitas. -- (full text) [The San Jose Mercury News] EPA Seeks Public Comment: Impacts of Waste Rule on Disadvantaged Communities Agency's Draft Plan on Hazardous Waste Recycling Thursday, January 21, 2010-- EPA is requesting public input on a draft plan for assessing the potential impacts of its hazardous waste recycling rule on low-income, minority and tribal populations. To encourage safe recycling and to help conserve natural resources, EPA's Definition of Solid Waste (DSW) rule published in October of 2008, modified the regulations for hazardous materials that are recycled, also known as hazardous secondary materials. EPA is reaching out to stakeholders, including the environmental justice community, requesting public comment before the analysis begins. -- (full text) [EPA]
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