Region 7 Community Information Guide
EPA Region 7’s Community Information Guide provides communities, nonprofits, stakeholder groups, community-based organizations, academia, tribes, state and local governments, and other partners with the latest news and information on funding and technical assistance opportunities, meetings, conferences, events, webinars, and other activities related to human health and the environment.
This guide is updated frequently, so be sure to check back for the latest information!
On this page:
- Headlines
- Enforcement
- Funding and Technical Assistance
- Meetings, Conferences and Events
- Webinars and Conference Calls
To suggest content for this page, please email: R7_Communities_Digest@epa.gov.
EPA Region 7 Environmental Justice Community Stakeholder MeetingThursday, Feb. 22, 6:30 to 8 p.m. CSTOur Environmental Justice Program held its new quarterly virtual meeting on Feb. 22. View the meeting presentation (pdf) . To learn more, including contact information, check out the meeting flyer (pdf) . |
Headlines
- Date: Feb. 7, 2024
- The Biden-Harris administration finalized a significantly stronger air quality standard that will better protect America’s families, workers, and communities from the dangerous and costly health effects of fine particle pollution, also known as soot. By strengthening the annual, health-based, national ambient air quality standard for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from a level of 12 micrograms per cubic meter to 9 micrograms per cubic meter, EPA’s updated standard will save lives – preventing up to 4,500 premature deaths and 290,000 lost workdays, yielding up to $46 billion in net health benefits in 2032. For every dollar spent from this action, there could be as much as $77 in human health benefits in 2032.
- EPA carefully considered extensive public input as it determined the final standards. The Agency held a virtual public hearing and received about 700,000 written comments before finalizing the updated air quality standards.
- See projected progress in 2032.
- Learn more about the final standards.
EPA Releases 2023 Update to Equity Action Plan, Outlines New Commitments to Advance Equity
- Date: Feb. 14, 2024
- EPA released the 2023 update to its Equity Action Plan, as part of the Biden-Harris administration’s whole-of-government equity agenda. This plan is part of EPA’s efforts to implement the President’s Executive Order on “Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through The Federal Government,” which reaffirmed the Administration’s commitment to ensure equity and build an America in which all can participate, prosper, and reach their full potential.
- Following robust engagement with community stakeholders, EPA identified eight priority strategies, which include four previously identified priorities carried forward from the 2022 Equity Action Plan and four newly identified strategies to support communities that have been historically underserved, as well as all communities across our nation:
- Improve Access for Communities to Federal Assistance.
- Reduce Cumulative Impacts and Health Disparities.
- Strengthen Our Civil Rights Compliance Program.
- Protect Children from Exposures to Environmental Harms.
- Address Inequitable Access to Resources for Rural Communities.
- Ensure Public Access to EPA Programs and Address Environmental Harms for People with Disabilities.
- Strengthening Community-Based Participatory Science to Achieve Environmental Equity.
- Improve Data and Analytic Capacity to Better Identify and Remove Barriers.
- As this work continues, updates will be posted on EPA’s Equity Action Plan page. Learn more about the Administration’s equity work and check out all Federal Equity Action Plans.
EPA Region 7 Paid Volunteers Wanted!
- Date: ongoing (accepted on a rolling basis)
- Are you interested in environmental stewardship but don’t know where to start? Looking for a unique opportunity to work with Midwestern nonprofit organizations to advance environmental justice in underserved communities? Serve as an AmeriCorps VISTA member in the EPA Region 7 Green VISTA Corps Program!
- Three organizations are currently accepting applications for VISTA members. Click each service opportunity listing link below to find the position that’s right for you:
- Disclaimer: These opportunities are national service opportunities, not EPA jobs. Individuals interested in applying would be applying to be an AmeriCorps VISTA member and would work with the nonprofit organization listed in the opportunity.
- Need help applying or want to learn more about the program? Email R7VISTA@epa.gov for more information.
- Proposed start date: April 29, 2024
- The HEJC is a Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center (TCTAC) looking for a community leader in tribal nations and Indigenous-led organizations. The ideal candidate will have strong relationships with community members and the ability to strategically engage the community to identify a vast array of environmental justice concerns. As a community engagement coordinator, you will work actively in your community, playing a pivotal role in bridging the community to the resources offered by the HEJC. This position will support tribal nations, Indigenous-led community-based organizations, and organizations championing tribal and Indigenous communities across EPA Region 7 (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska).
- Learn more and apply
- Coming Soon: Community Engagement Coordinator job openings in the Wichita and Kansas City areas. Sign up for HEJC's email list to be notified of new job postings.
Seeking Grant Application Reviewers – Compensation Available!
- Are you interested in Environmental and Climate Justice? Do you want to participate in the process to award transformative climate action and pollution reduction projects and support community-driven projects that can positively transform people’s lives now and in the future? If so, this may be an opportunity for you!
- EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights is seeking a diverse group of individuals with relevant expertise and experience to review grant applications submitted under our historic $2 billion Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program Notice of Funding Opportunity.
- Compensation will be available for non-federal reviewers!
- Individuals interested in serving as application reviewers should expect to dedicate approximately 10-15 hours per application reviewed. Reviewers may request to serve during one review cycle or multiple ones. Non-federal reviewers will receive compensation through GrantSolutions for the time spent reviewing grant applications. Non-federal reviewers assigned to a review panel will receive up to $200 per application reviewed. It is expected that non-federal reviewers will be assigned no more than 10 applications to review.
- All reviewers will be required to sign a conflict-of-interest statement prior to reviewing applications.
RE-Powering America’s Land Initiative Project Tracking Matrix
- Does your community have climate goals to meet or brownfields that might be suitable for solar? Check out EPA’s Tracking Matrix to learn more about the geothermal, biomass, solar and wind installations across the country. The Tracking Matrix shows current trends in the development of renewable energy on contaminated lands. EPA has identified 502 renewable energy installations with over 2.4 gigawatts of installed electricity capacity on contaminated lands. Approximately 70% are large-scale systems with a project capacity of 1 MW or more. Most continue to be solar development on landfills, which as illustrated below has seen exceptional growth over the past decade. The renewable energy generated by these installations is used to export energy onto the utility grid, offset onsite energy demands, or power cleanup of contaminated sites.
Enforcement
EPA Enforcement Program Seeks Public Ideas for Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEPs)
- EPA has announced a new effort to support the public in sharing their ideas for environmentally beneficial projects that could potentially be included in future enforcement settlements. These voluntary projects, called Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEPs), bring environmental and public health benefits beyond those required by law to communities impacted by a violation of an environmental law or regulation.
- Ideas for SEPs can be submitted to EPA at SEPideas@epa.gov. The following type of information would be useful to EPA and/or a defendant when evaluating a project idea:
- Short Title
- Detailed Description
- Public Health and/or Environmental Benefits
- Information About the Location
- Cost Information
- In addition, the email inbox will allow a person to provide contact information, if so desired, in the event that a defendant or settling party wishes to learn more about a proposed project idea.
- More information about how to submit a SEP idea is available on EPA’s SEP page. Learn more in the related news release.
- Do you want to report an environmental violation? – Click on “Report a Violation” at the top of the page and then select one of the three links.
Funding and Technical Assistance
- Due dates: Feb. 7, 2024 (concept papers); April 19, 2024 (full applications)
- This funding will reduce the costs associated with transporting, dismantling, and preprocessing end-of-life electric drive vehicle batteries for recycling, and recycling of plastic and polymer electric drive battery accessory components.
- Eligible entities: state, local, and tribal governments; for-profit and nonprofit entities; and higher education institutions.
U.S. Department of Energy’s Latest and Zero Building Energy Codes Grants Program – $530 Million
- Due dates: Feb. 9, 2024 (concept papers); April 30, 2024 (full applications)
- This program provides funding for the adoption and implementation of the latest model energy codes, zero energy codes, building performance standards, and innovative codes that achieve equivalent energy savings to the latest model and zero energy codes.
- Eligible entities: states, territories, or local governments with the authority to adopt building codes.
U.S. Department of Energy’s Marine Energy University Foundational R&D – $14.5 Million
- Due dates: Feb. 20, 2024 (concept papers); April 22, 2024 (full applications)
- This opportunity will provide funding for foundational research and development (R&D) activities to advance marine energy and offshore wind technologies, with the goal of more widely deploying renewable energy sources.
- Eligible entities: higher education institutions.
- Due date: March 5, 2024 (host applications)
- The EECBG Competitive Program aims to support units of local government, including Indian tribes ineligible for direct formula grants from DOE under the EECGB program to lower fossil fuel emissions and energy use in their jurisdictions.
- Local and tribal governments applying to host a fellow must submit their program applications by Jan. 31, 2024, and their host applications by March 5, 2024. Local and tribal governments not applying to host a fellow must apply by April 30, 2024. EECBG also has a competitive grant program for local governments, state-recognized tribes, or teams of these communities.
- Eligible Entities: states, local governments, and tribes.
U.S. Department of Energy’s Regional Resource Hubs for Purpose-Grown Energy Crops – $29 Million
- Due dates: March 14, 2024 (concept papers); June 13, 2024 (full applications)
- This funding opportunity will support the development of a domestic supply chain of alternative sources of carbon. Research and development (R&D) activities funded from this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) will provide the foundations to transform purpose-grown energy crops, including both algal and terrestrial crops, into environmentally sustainable, conversion-ready feedstocks.
- Eligible entities: including, but not limited to, higher education institutions, businesses, tribal entities, labor organizations, and workforce education and training providers.
EPA Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (GPRG): Phase II Implementation Grants – $4.6 Billion
- Due dates: April 1 and May 1, 2024
- EPA has announced two competitions for the $4.6 billion in funding: a general competition and competition only for tribes and territories. The Agency anticipates that entities with existing climate plans could use Phase I planning funds to update or expand their existing plans in preparation for the future implementation grants competition. The deadline for Priority Action Plans for tribes and territories has been extended to May 1. However, tribes and territories that want to participate in the general implementation grants competition will still need to meet the April 1 plan deadline.
- If possible, please include the dollar amount of the anticipated funding request and one to two sentences about the scope and sector(s) of the greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction measures likely to be included in the application. Additionally, if intending to apply as the lead applicant representing a coalition, please list all anticipated coalition members. More information on the implementation grants can be found on the CPRG website.
- Eligible entities: states, Puerto Rico, air pollution control agencies, municipalities, territories, tribes, or groups of such eligible entities that are covered by a plan developed with funding from a planning grant awarded under Phase I.
U.S. Department of Energy’s Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants
- Due date: April 17, 2024 (allocation requests and applications)
- These grants will help modernize the electric grid to reduce the impacts of climate-driven extreme weather and natural disasters, while also ensuring the reliability of the power sector.
- Eligible entities: state, territorial, and tribal governments.
- Due dates: April 17, 2024 (full applications, Topic Areas 1 and 2); May 22, 2024 (full applications, Topic Area 3)
- This opportunity provides funding to enhance grid flexibility and resilience against growing threats of extreme weather and climate change, while supporting meaningful community and labor engagement. The program focuses on projects that will: 1) improve electric transmission by increasing funding and advancing interconnection processes for faster build-out of energy projects; 2) create comprehensive solutions that link grid communications systems and operations to increase resilience and reduce power outages and threats; and 3) deploy advanced technologies, such as distributed energy resources and battery systems, to provide essential grid services.
- Eligible entities: varies depending on topic area.
- Due date: April 30, 2024
- This program will provide funds to help offset the costs to procure and use products developed through the conversion of captured carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide emissions. The commercial or industrial products to be procured and used under these grants must demonstrate a significant net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to incumbent products via a life cycle analysis.
- Eligible entities: states, local governments, and public utilities or agencies.
EPA Healthy Watersheds Consortium Grant Program
- Due date: May 10, 2024
- EPA has released a Request for Applications for managing the Healthy Watersheds Consortium Grant Program. This program will support demonstration projects and capacity-building projects that expand watershed protection activities in healthy freshwater, estuarine, and marine ecosystems nationwide.
- Applicants should address how they will ensure that competitive subawards will support demonstrated and capacity-building projects. In all cases, subaward projects should have the following components: 1) include a variety of partner organizations, 2) advance a new or existing plan or strategy intended to protect healthy watersheds, or some other prioritization scheme based on a healthy watersheds assessment, and 3) include a plan for tracking and communicating the successes of the subaward project.
- Consistent with the goals of the Justice40 Initiative, applicants are strongly encouraged to describe the approach to solicit subaward applications from organizations seeking to protect healthy watersheds in or to benefit disadvantaged, historically marginalized and overburdened communities.
- All applications must be received by electronic submission through Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. EDT on May 10, 2024.
- Background:
- Rather than waiting until a watershed is negatively impacted and attempting to restore it to health, the Healthy Watersheds Consortium Grant Program seeks to protect and sustain healthy watersheds, so they will continue to provide ecological services such as clean water, habitat for fish and wildlife, recreation, and protection from natural hazards.
- This grant program will continue the work of EPA’s Healthy Watersheds Program and, in particular, aims to continue progress toward:
- Mitigating the need for water quality restoration and helping ensure restoration success. Proactive watershed planning and management can prevent or mitigate the need for water quality restoration, which frequently requires significant resource investments and sustained efforts over years to achieve success. Healthy, functioning watersheds can also provide the building blocks that anchor water quality restoration efforts.
- Maintaining the resilience of aquatic ecosystems to climate change. Intact natural systems are more resilient because base flows are preserved during periods of drought; impacts of floods are mitigated through storage of surface and groundwater in floodplains and wetlands; riparian corridors allow for species migration; and carbon is sequestered in the natural land cover. As a result, resilient, healthy watersheds help reduce environmental and human health impacts of climate change.
- Protecting healthy waters that local communities depend upon, including those that are disadvantaged, historically marginalized, and overburdened. There is an inextricable connection between the health of waters, their surrounding watersheds, and the communities that live in them. Healthy watersheds support healthy waters, which together provide a wide range of ecosystem services necessary for social and economic well-being, including social and health benefits provided by nature-based recreation and reduced costs associated with water treatment and flooding.
- Eligible entities: nonprofit and non-governmental organizations, interstate agencies, and intertribal consortia.
- Due dates: May 14, 2024 (letters of intent); May 31, 2025 (full applications)
- This program provides funds to tribal governments and Alaska Native entities for home electrification and appliance rebates. HEAR funds will provide rebates to low- and moderate-income households installing efficient electric technologies.
- Eligible entities: tribal governments and Alaska Native entities.
- Due date: May 31, 2024
- This program aims to reduce or eliminate the flood risk to National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)-participating communities and repetitive flood damage to structures and buildings insured by the NFIP following a flood-related disaster event, and to enhance community flood resilience within NFIP-participating communities. It aims to do so by providing funding for mitigation opportunities immediately after a flood disaster event with the aim of delivering mitigation outcomes as quickly as possible.
- Applicant Eligibility Requirements:
- Applicants may include states, District of Columbia, U.S. territories, and federally recognized tribal governments.
- Each state, District of Columbia, U.S. territory, and federally recognized tribal government shall designate one agency to serve as the applicant for funding. Each applicant’s designated agency may submit only one Flood Mitigation Assistance grant application to FEMA. An application can be made up of an unlimited number of sub-applications.
- Applicants must have a FEMA-approved State or Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan by the application deadline and at the time of obligation of grant funds.
- Eligible entities: state, tribal, and territorial governments.
- Before You Apply for Flood Mitigation Assistance Funds
Brownfields Job Training Coalition and Expenditure of Existing Brownfields Job Training Grant Funds
- Due date: June 1, 2024
- EPA's Brownfields Job Training Program will be allowing coalitions to be eligible for the FY 2025 Request for Applications (RFA). Applicants may, but are not required to, propose forming a coalition to carry out their Brownfields Job Training program. Applying as a Job Training Coalition may be beneficial, since it could allow the Job Training provider to recruit, train, and place students in environmental jobs, especially in rural areas where the geographic area is larger.
- The Job Training Coalition may request funding up to $500,000 to recruit, train, and place unemployed and under-employed residents of solid and hazardous waste-impacted communities with the skills needed to obtain full-time, sustainable employment.
- Expenditure of Existing Brownfields Job Training Grant Funds:
- Current EPA Brownfields Job Training Grant recipients must demonstrate that the recipient has received payment from EPA (also known as “drawn down”), and that drawn-down funds have been disbursed, for at least 50% of the funding for each Brownfields Job Training cooperative agreement by June 1, 2024, in order to apply for funding under this solicitation.
- Due date: July 26, 2024 (Phase 1 applications)
- The Power at Sea Prize funds innovative technologies that utilize the power inherent in the ocean to enable sustainable and responsible use of resources; better prediction and tracking of tropical storms; better monitoring of aquaculture for food security in coastal communities; greater understanding of the ocean’s role in climate change mitigation; and more. In Phase 1, applicants will select a blue economy application that their proposed system, subsystem, or component will support, and an integration challenge their solution intends to resolve.
- Eligible entities: state, local, and tribal governments; for-profit and nonprofit organizations, higher education institutions, and individuals.
- Due date: Sept. 3, 2024 (second application)
- This funding is to help groups develop a watershed group, complete watershed restoration planning activities, and design watershed management projects.
- Eligible entities: state, county, local, city or township, and special district governments; nonprofits, and Native American tribal governments (federally recognized).
Biden-Harris Administration Announces $2 Billion to Fund Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants as Part of Investing in America Agenda – See New Information Below!
- Due date: Nov. 21, 2024
- The Biden-Harris administration announced approximately $2 billion in funding available to support community-driven projects that deploy clean energy, strengthen climate resilience, and build capacity for communities to tackle environmental and climate justice challenges. EPA’s Community Change Grants are the single largest investment in environmental justice going directly to communities in history, and will advance collaborative efforts to achieve a healthier, safer, and more prosperous future for all. These funds, part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda, are made possible by the president’s Inflation Reduction Act – the biggest-ever investment in clean energy and climate action.
- The activities to be performed under the grants are expected to fall under the following categories:
- Climate resiliency and adaptation.
- Mitigating climate and health risks from urban heat islands, extreme heat, wood heater emissions, and wildfire events.
- Community-led air and other (including water and waste) pollution monitoring, prevention, and remediation.
- Investments in low- and zero-emission and resilient technologies and related infrastructure.
- Workforce development that supports the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants.
- Reducing indoor toxics and indoor air pollution.
- Facilitating the engagement of disadvantaged communities in state and federal advisory groups, workshops, rulemakings, and other public processes.
- The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) will be open for a year, closing on Nov. 21, and EPA will review applications on a rolling basis. This allows applicants to utilize technical assistance and possibly resubmit a new application if not initially selected. EPA encourages applicants to apply as early as possible.
- EPA's Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights (OEJECR) will host multiple informational webinars while the NOFO is open. View the recording and presentation slides from the Dec. 7 webinar at the link above. These webinars will address questions, and some may facilitate the formation of partnerships and information-sharing.
- OEJECR has updated and modified two important documents for the Community Change Grants (CCG) NOFO. EPA also posted a comprehensive Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) document on the Community Change Grants website. The FAQs address many of the questions OEJECR has received about the CCG NOFO. Please review the FAQs as you prepare your applications and before sending questions to the CCGP@epa.gov mailbox.
U.S. Department of Energy’s Building Codes Formula Funding for States and Territories – $400 Million
- Due date: Sept. 30, 2025 (Full applications)
- This Inflation Reduction Act program provides funding for adopting and implementing building energy codes that reduce utility bills, increase efficiency, lower greenhouse gas emissions that fuel the climate crisis, and make buildings more resilient to climate disasters.
- Eligible entities: states, territories, and units of local government that have the authority to adopt building codes.
U.S. Department of Energy’s Tribal Energy Financing – $20 Billion
- Due date: Aug. 31, 2028 (last Part I submission)
- Information: This program is supporting tribal investment in a broad range of projects and activities for the development of energy resources, products, and services that utilize commercial technology.
- Eligible entities: federally recognized Indian tribes, including Alaska Native Regional Corporations and Alaska Native Village Corporations.
EPA Emerging Contaminants (EC) in Small or Disadvantaged Communities Grant (SDC) – $2 Billion
- Due date: ongoing
- This noncompetitive program will provide states, territories, and tribes with grants to public water systems in small or disadvantaged communities to address emerging contaminants, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
- Eligible entities: states, territories, tribes.
- Due date: ongoing
- EIR offers financing to support projects that retool, repower, repurpose, or replace energy infrastructure that has ceased operations or that enable operating energy infrastructure to avoid, reduce, utilize, or sequester air pollutants or anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases.
- Eligible entities: See program guidance.
U.S. Department of Energy’s Home Energy Rebates – $8.8 Billion
- Due date: ongoing (accepted on a rolling basis)
- This funding supports home energy rebates that will help American households save money on energy bills; upgrade to clean energy equipment and improve energy efficiency; and reduce indoor and outdoor air pollution.
- Eligible entities: state and territory energy offices.
EPA’s Community Change Equitable Resilience Technical Assistance
- Due date: ongoing (accepted on a rolling basis)
- EPA has launched a technical assistance program to help disaster-prone and disadvantaged communities prepare to apply for Community Change Grants. The Community Change Equitable Resilience Program will provide free design and project development assistance, community engagement, and partnership development workshops.
- Climate resilience projects that qualify for technical assistance include a focus on new or expanded green infrastructure, open spaces, and/or retrofits of existing community buildings or streets to address climate change impacts (such as extreme heat and more intense heat islands, wildfire and smoke, floods, storms, or other climate impacts that pose a greater risk to disadvantaged communities).
- Requests for technical assistance are now being accepted on a rolling basis until 50 recipients have been identified. Eligible projects must show the following:
- Intent and eligibility to apply for a grant under the Community Change Grant Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
- Agreement to host EPA contractors for site visits.
- Project location in a disaster-prone area.
- Site description, ownership status, and environmental and land use information (if available).
- Potential resilience benefits for disadvantaged community.
- Engagement opportunities.
U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Strategic Economic and Community Development Program
- Due dates: vary depending on agency
- This program is for projects that support multi-jurisdictional and multi-sectoral strategic community investment plans. Applicants are encouraged to consider projects that will reduce climate pollution and increase resilience to climate change impacts in rural communities.
- Eligible entities: vary depending on agency
- Due date: TBD
- This funding will install clean energy-generating systems and/or energy efficiency measures for tribal buildings; deploy community-scale, clean energy-generating systems or energy storage on tribal lands; install integrated energy systems for autonomous operation; and power unelectrified tribal buildings. The full Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is expected to be released in spring 2024.
- Eligible entities: tribal governments, intertribal organizations, and tribal energy development organizations.
Coming Soon: U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Auditor Training (EAT) Program – $40 Million
- Due date: TBD
- This program intends to provide grants to support the training of energy auditors by paying the costs associated with energy auditor trainings and certifications for the purpose of conducting energy audits, or surveys, of commercial and residential buildings.
- Eligible entities: state governments.
- Due date: TBD
- This funding intends to support the development of planning and strategies for utilizing organic waste as a feedstock for various transportation fuel end products. Under this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), Topic Area 1 will support feasibility studies. For communities that may have already identified potential solutions for their waste/transportation needs, Topic Area 2 would support more detailed, engineering design work to position these entities for future projects and demonstrations.
- Eligible entities: state, local, and tribal governments and nonprofit organizations.
- Due date: TBD
- This funding is expected to support communities’ development of in-depth feasibility analyses of potential waste-to-fuels solutions and support communities with completed feasibility studies to advance detailed engineering designs.
- Eligible entities: state, local, and tribal governments, nonprofit organizations, and transit authorities.
- Due date: TBD
- This program will work with communities to co-develop equitable climate resilience plans that are ready for funding and implementation. The priority will be to assist communities that are at the highest risk of climate impacts and have the most need for assistance.
- Eligible entities: partnerships across four domains – government, academic, commercial, and nonprofit organizations.
- Due date: N/A
- This funding opportunity is designed to help tribes build capacity when engaging in the environmental review and permitting process for infrastructure projects covered by the FAST-41 program, which was established by Title 41 of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act. Tribes can secure funding for several resources that may be needed to engage in the permitting process including, but not limited to, additional staff for Tribal Historic Preservation Offices or natural resource offices, upgrading office equipment, training, consultants, reimbursement for travel, and more.
- Eligible entities: federally recognized tribes.
- Due date: N/A
- The Critical Material Innovation, Efficiency, and Alternatives Program is designed to conduct a program of research, development, demonstration, and commercialization to develop alternatives to critical materials, promote their efficient production and use, and ensure a long-term secure and sustainable supply of them.
- Eligible entities: institutions of higher education, for-profit and nonprofit entities, and state and local governmental entities and tribes.
EPA Science Matters: Wildfire Smoke and More
- Smoke from wildfires can impact air quality across much of the U.S. EPA researchers have been working to address many of the issues wildfires present to health and the environment, including preparing communities and individuals on how to protect themselves.
- Listen to EPA's Jason Sacks and a panel of other experts discuss how wildfire smoke affects your health on NPR's 1A.
- EPA's Ana Rappold spoke to The Atlantic about the effects of wildfire smoke and particulate matter on brain function.
- EPA develops software models and tools to address a range of environmental issues. The Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) modeling system is EPA’s premier tool for studying air pollution from global to local scales. In June 2023, EPA proudly celebrated the 25th anniversary of CMAQ’s initial release with a three-part story on the history and significance of this powerful computational tool.
- Read about what has made the CMAQ model so successful over the years and why it is still relevant today.
- Read about how CMAQ has been working toward a “one environment-one health” approach throughout its lifetime.
- Read about how CMAQ has continued to innovate, modernize, and address emerging environmental issues.
Combined Sewer Overflows
- Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Technical Assistance is available from EPA’s Office of Wastewater Management on monitoring/modeling; smart sewers and smart data; asset management; operation and maintenance; regulatory/ compliance questions; and small CSO community spreadsheet-based tools (CSO model, long-term control plan review checklist, post-construction compliance monitoring checklist). See flyer for more information.
Environmental Finance Center Network
- The Environmental Finance Center Network offers free help on training and technical assistance to small wastewater and decentralized wastewater treatment works serving approximately 10,000 or fewer people. Request assistance here.
EPA Cybersecurity Assessments and Technical Assistance
- Interested water and wastewater utilities can sign up for FREE, confidential cybersecurity assessments and technical assistance services provided virtually.
- Register here
U.S. Department of Energy’s National Community Solar Partnership (NCSP) States Collaborative
U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities Coalition Network Technical Assistance
- To assist with alternative fuels, fuel economy improvements, and emerging transportation technologies.
EPA’s Technical Assistance to Brownfields Communities Program
White House Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Guidebook
- A roadmap to the funding available under the law and program-by-program information is now available, including the downloadable guidebook data and EPA’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law page.
- This update includes data provided by EPA Brownfields, Superfund, Abandoned Mine Lands, Landfill Methane Outreach, and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act programs, and a pilot with Underground Storage Tanks, in addition to data from 22 state partners. Over 190,000 sites and nearly 40 million acres of land are included and screened for solar, wind, biomass and geothermal energy potential. EPA partnered with the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) to provide up-to-date data and screening that reflects current trends in renewable energy development.
EPA's Legal Tools to Advance Environmental Justice (EJ Legal Tools)
- EPA’s Office of General Counsel offers EPA Legal Tools to Advance Environmental Justice (EJ Legal Tools), an updated and expanded compilation of legal authorities available to EPA for identifying and addressing the disproportionate impact of pollution on underserved and overburdened communities, including communities of color, Indigenous people, and low-income communities. EJ Legal Tools is intended to help EPA decision-makers and partners understand their authorities to consider and address environmental justice and equity in decision-making, and to promote meaningful engagement.
EPA Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Tools Available
- Check out the NEW CSO Tools for combined sewer overflow permittees and permitting authorities for planning and management of different aspects of CSO programs. Each tool consists of an interactive spreadsheet, fact sheet or user guide, and three recorded trainings. These tools, which are currently in Beta test version, do not present new or changed requirements; rather they attempt to help break down information in a more digestible and interactive fashion.
- Long-Term Control Plan (LTCP) Review Checklist – Designed to help CSO permittees and NPDES authorities determine if LTCPs meet the requirements of the Clean Water Act (CWA) and the CSO Control Policy, and conform with EPA guidance on developing LTCPs.
- Post-Construction Compliance Monitoring (PCCM) Checklist – Designed to help CSO permittees and NPDES authorities develop and evaluate PCCM programs to meet the requirements of the CWA and CSO Control Policy, and conform with EPA guidance on PCCM.
- Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Model for Small Communities – Planning tool for small CSO communities that want a reasonably simple approach to estimating a CSO occurrence, as well as treated or untreated CSO volume over a 24-hour period and have limited resources to invest in more advanced CSO monitoring and modeling.
Meetings, Conferences and Events
EPA Region 7 Environmental Justice Community Stakeholder Meeting
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Webinars and Conference Calls
Webinars for Request for Applications to Manage Healthy Watersheds Consortium Grant Program
- Dates: March 28 and April 9, 2024
- Exciting news from EPA’s Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds (OWOW)! A Request for Applications (RFA) is now live for managing the second Healthy Watersheds Consortium Grant Program. This program will support an array of demonstration projects and capacity-building projects that expand watershed protection activities in healthy freshwater, estuarine, and marine ecosystems nationwide. Rather than waiting until a watershed is negatively impacted and attempting to restore it to health, the Healthy Watersheds Consortium Grant Program seeks to protect and sustain healthy watersheds, so they will continue to provide ecological services such as clean water, habitat for fish and wildlife, recreation, and protection from natural hazards. The program will also support the Protection goal of the 303(d) Vision, which seeks to prevent water quality impairments and improve water quality, as part of a holistic watershed approach.
- OWOW will also host multiple informational webinars, with the first being held on March 28 from noon to 1:30 p.m. CDT (register here); and the second on April 9 from 1:30 to 3 p.m. CDT (register here). These webinars, targeted toward potential applicants, will answer frequently asked questions and may facilitate the formation of partnerships and information-sharing.
- All applications must be received by electronic submission through Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m EDT on May 10, 2024. Late applications will not be considered for funding.
- For up-to-date information about the RFA, including information on the webinars or other news related to the assessment, identification, and protection of healthy watersheds, consider subscribing to the Healthy Watersheds Protection email listserv by sending an email message to lyris@lists.epa.gov; include in the subject line or the body of the message:
- Subscribe hwp_info [Your First Name] [Your Last Name] (e.g., Subscribe hwp_info John Smith)
- Please use your actual name when subscribing. Subscription requests that lack valid names will be rejected. You will receive a message upon acceptance or rejection of your request. Confirmed subscribers will also receive an automated welcome message that includes important information about their subscription.
Over the Seawall: The Delusion of Controlling Nature
- Date/time: April 18, 2024, at noon CDT
- Never in human history have we undertaken such widespread and hurried attempts to remake the world. All this reconstruction is being done to “fix” the damages humans are inflicting on our planet. However, our hubris has led to unintended – and sometimes disastrous – consequences. Academics call this maladaptation or, simply, solutions that backfire. In Stephen Robert Miller’s new book, “Over the Seawall,” he shares the stories behind the unintended consequences and the fixes that can do more harm than good. From seawalls in coastal Japan, to the reengineered waters in the Ganges River Delta, to the artificial ribbon of water supporting both farms and urban centers in parched Arizona, the author traces the histories of engineering marvels that were once deemed too smart and too big to fail. What lessons can communities learn from Millers’ study of maladaptation practices? How can municipalities undertaking major climate adaptation projects prevent future disasters from happening to them?
- Register here
The information above is being provided by EPA Region 7 for informational purposes only. This page contains links to information, agencies, sites, and organizations external to EPA’s website. EPA is not responsible for third-party links. EPA does not endorse third-party organizations or agencies.