U.S. EPA Aging Initiative List Serve April 2010

Announcements
News, Research, Reports and Presentations
New Resources and Opportunities
Building Sustainable Communities
Pharmaceuticals in the Environment
Intergenerational Activities
EPA Funding Opportunities
Other Funding Opportunities
Public Comments Requested
2010 Calendar of Events & Meetings and Call for Abstracts

I. Announcements

Earth Day- Learn, Teach, Share-- From California to Washington DC

April 22nd is the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, and it is also EPA's 40th anniversary. Check out EPA's newly redesigned Earth Day web site that includes many ideas of how you can participate in and celebrate Earth Day. See what's happening in your community - http://www.epa.gov/earthday. Go ahead, get involved.

The California State Park Foundation developed its Earth Day Restoration and Cleanup program in 1998 to engage Californians of all ages and demographics in environmental improvement projects in their communities. It is also an opportunity to educate people about behaviors that will help sustain our planet for future generations. Statewide, thousands of volunteers plant trees, restore trails and wildlife habitat, and clean up beaches and park lands. Millions of others learn about simple things that can be done every day to protect our precious natural resources. http://www.calparks.org/programs/earth-day/

Earth Day events on the National Mall
Washington, DC will be hosting several large Earth Day events on the National Mall. The EPA itself is hosting a EPA at 40 event, which will feature interactive, family-friendly exhibits that highlight the work of the Agency, reflect on the past four decades of environmental accomplishments and look forward to the next 40 years of promoting healthier families and cleaner communities. In addition to highly interactive, fun and educational exhibits related to environmental protection, there will also be a performance and speaker stage, packed with events all day long Saturday and Sunday. EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson is scheduled to appear at the EPA Earth Day tent on Saturday between 12pm-2pm. http://www.epa.gov/region03/earthday/

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II. News, Research, Reports and Presentations

Rulemaking Gateway

EPA launched a new web site giving the public additional opportunity to participate in the agency's rulemaking process, demonstrating President Obama's commitment to more transparent and open government. The online Rulemaking Gateway serves as a portal to EPA's priority rules, providing citizens with earlier and more concise information about agency regulations. It also allows users to search for EPA rules that relate to specific interests, including impacts on small business; children's health; environmental justice; and state, local and tribal government.

Rulemaking Gateway complements Regulations.gov, the federal government's main portal for tracking rules from all federal agencies, by providing brief overviews of specific EPA rules and additional ways to search rules based on the phases they are in (e.g., pre-proposal, proposal), the topics they relate to (e.g., air, water), and the impacts they might have (e.g., impacts on small businesses or environmental justice). The new Web site offers a distilled "snapshot" of a rule, with just enough information for a citizen to determine his or her interest in the rule. The individual then can use Rulemaking Gateway links to Regulations.gov and to other EPA sources where comprehensive information is available.

EPA also established a Rulemaking Gateway discussion forum to allow the public to suggest enhancements to the site. The forum will be open through July 16, 2010, after which EPA plans to make enhancements based on ideas received. More information on Rulemaking Gateway and the discussion forum.
More information on Regulations.gov Web site.

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III. New Resources and Opportunities

Compendium of Community Aging Initiatives
The Compendium of Community Aging Initiatives was compiled by the Center for Advanced Study of Aging Services at UC Berkeley and includes summaries of 121 community aging initiatives including EPA's recognition program Building Healthy Communities for Active Aging. To review the compendium please see: http://128.255.56.99/web/centeronaging/WhatWeDo/Compendium_of_Community_Aging_Services2010.pdf (144 pp, 1.3MB, About PDF)

EPA Report: Redevelopment Continues in Urban Neighborhoods
An updated report shows a continuing shift in development toward urban neighborhoods in the United States, despite a slow a real estate market. This trend, described in EPA's 2010 report, "Residential Construction Trends in America's Metropolitan Regions," shows that redevelopment continues in many urban neighborhoods. Taking advantage of opportunities to reuse land and to redevelop underused sites is a key smart growth strategy. It helps communities protect natural lands from being developed, strengthens the local economy, and puts new homes, stores, and jobs within easy reach of surrounding neighborhoods.

The data show that, compared to the early 1990s, the share of construction in urban neighborhoods was up 28 percent in mid-sized metropolitan regions that have promoted redevelopment of underused sites and development around transit, such as Portland, Ore; Denver, Colo.; and Sacramento, Calif. For example, in 2008 Portland issued 38 percent of all the building permits within its region, compared to an average of 9 percent in the early 1990s; Denver accounted for 32 percent, up from 5 percent; and Sacramento accounted for 27 percent, up from 9 percent.

The latest report shows that an even stronger trend toward urban redevelopment in the largest metropolitan regions continued in 2008. New York City accounted for 63 percent of the building permits issued within its region. By comparison, the city averaged about 15 percent of regional building permits during the early 1990s. Similarly, Chicago now accounts for 45 percent of the building permits within its region, up from just 7 percent in the early 1990s.

The original report, issued in Feb. 2009, examined building trends in the 50 largest metropolitan areas from 1990 to 2007. The update incorporates data for 2008, which included several months of national economic downturn. More information on the report.

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IV. Building Sustainable Communities

World Health Day: Urban Planning Essential for Public Health
Urban settings have a direct impact on the health of the people who live there. On April 7^th, World Health Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched a campaign to highlight urban planning as a crucial link to building a healthy 21st century. In particular, WHO called upon municipal authorities, concerned residents, advocates for healthy living and others to take a close look at health inequities in cities and take action.

The world is rapidly urbanizing with significant changes in our living standards, lifestyles, social behavior and health. Thirty years ago, four out of every 10 people were living in cities, but by 2050 this number will grow to seven out of 10.

"In general, urban populations are better off than their rural counterparts. They tend to have greater access to social and health services and their life expectancy is longer. But cities can also concentrate threats to health such as inadequate sanitation and refuse collection, pollution, road traffic accidents, outbreaks of infectious diseases and also unhealthy lifestyles," says Dr Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General.

Despite these challenges, cities also bring opportunities. Five actions will significantly increase the chance people will be able to enjoy better urban living conditions:

Promote urban planning for healthy behaviors and safety;
Improve urban living conditions;
Ensure participatory governance;
Build inclusive cities that are accessible and age-friendly;
Make cities resilient to disasters and emergencies.

"The wide range of health issues in cities and its determinants require coordinated policies and actions across multiple disciplines including environment, transport, education, parks and recreation, and urban planning," says Dr Ala Alwan, WHO Assistant Director-General for Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health.

Coordinated policies and actions are also needed to address the underlying conditions of major health issues in cities today. For instance, outdoor urban air pollution kills some 1.2 million people worldwide.

In many cases, rapid population growth outpaces the municipal capacity to build essential infrastructure that make life in cities safe and healthy, leading to the proliferation of informal settlements. Today, an estimated one in three urban dwellers, amounting to nearly one billion people, live in urban slums and informal settings. Urgent action is needed to address their needs. Read more about Urban Planning Essential for Public Health.

USDA's Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP)
Healthy Aging with Food Access to Fresh, Local Foods
USDA's Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) awards grants to States, Territories, and federally-recognized Indian Tribal Organizations to provide low-income seniors with coupons that can be used at farmers' markets, roadside stands, and community supported agriculture programs. Program coupons can be used to purchase fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, and honey from farmers at authorized farmers' markets or roadside stands. Program benefits may also be provided in the form of shares in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs for regularly distributed bags or boxes of eligible foods.

Senior Farmer's Market Nutrition Program currently operates in areas of 41 States, 7 tribal organizations, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. Low-income seniors at least 60 years of age with household incomes of no more than 185 percent of the federal poverty income guidelines ($26,955 for a two-person household as of July 1, 2009) are eligible to receive benefits. SFMNP participants' Federal food benefit for this program may be up to $50 per year. State agencies may supplement the per participant benefit level. In FY 2008, 963,685 low-income seniors purchased food with SFMNP benefits from 17,156 farmers at 3,159 farmers' markets, as well as 2,512 roadside stands and 199 CSA programs. For additional information.

To learn more about the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program in your area, contact your state agency.

More farmers' markets are accepting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. To learn more about SNAP and find hunger programs and social service resources in your community contact the USDA National Hunger Clearinghouse at 1-866-3-HUNGRY or See Why Hunger Resource Directory

Building Healthy Communities for Active Aging Recognition and Award Program
This award recognizes communities for their outstanding comprehensive approaches to implementing principles of smart growth, as well as strategies that support active aging. It is presented to communities with the best and most inclusive overall approach to implementing smart growth and active aging on a variety of fronts, at the neighborhood, tribe, city, county, and/or regional level.

For more information on the past winning communities.

While this recognition program does not provide a financial award, the winners are the people living in these communities and this award recognizes the leadership of these communities in making their communities a great place to live. If you would like to submit an application to be considered for this recognition please see: http://www.epa.gov/aging/bhc/awards. Applications for 4th annual Building Healthy Communities for Active Aging the 2010 are due July 17, 2010.

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V. Pharmaceuticals in the Environment

Postal Service Expands Prescription Mail Back
Program Diverts Expired, Unused Medicine from Landfills, Water Supply
Veterans will be able to safely dispose of expired and unused prescriptions and help the environment at the same under a program offered by the U.S. Postal Service and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

This pilot program is limited to an estimated 780,000 veterans living in Baltimore, Washington, DC, and West Virginia. Veterans mail back outdated, unwanted medicine. Federally approved facilities safely destroy the medicine, insuring that prescriptions don't end up in municipal refuse, soil or ground water.

"This initiative pairs the convenience of the mail with the safety of a federally approved prescription drug disposal process," said Robert Bernstock, president, Mailing and Shipping Services. "The Prescription Mail Back program demonstrates the Postal Service's continued value as an integral part of American communities."

Veterans receive specially designed, postage-paid envelopes and instructions with their prescription fulfillment. Expired and unused pharmaceuticals placed in the special packaging can be dropped in familiar blue USPS collection boxes or at Post Offices. The envelopes are delivered to facilities regulated and approved by EPA and Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). Pharmaceuticals from this and other similar mail-back initiatives are destroyed in accordance with EPA and DEA standards, including cataloguing and use of incineration, chemical or thermal processes.

The prescription mail-back initiative began in the state of Maine in 2008, and has been successfully expanding ever since. The VA program joins similar ones in 47 states. Mail-back envelopes are being distributed at supermarket pharmacies, in doctors and dentists offices, and at medical facilities including hospitals, clinics and hospices.

"The 40th anniversary of Earth Day is a perfect opportunity to tell Americans the good news about the expanded prescription mail-back program," said Sam Pulcrano, vice president, Sustainability. "It is another way the Postal Service demonstrates its commitment to the environment."

The Postal Service has won more than 75 environmental awards, including 40 White House Closing the Circle, 10 Environmental Protection Agency WasteWise Partner of the Year, Climate Action Champion, Direct Marketing Association Green Echo, and the Postal Technology International Environmental Achievement of the Year, 2009.

For more information about the Postal Service green initiatives, tools and products.

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VI. Intergenerational Activities

In His Own Words: Senator Gaylord Nelson History of the First Earth Day
"Earth Day worked because of the spontaneous response at the grassroots level. We had neither the time nor resources to organize 20 million demonstrators and the thousands of schools and local communities that participated. That was the remarkable thing about Earth Day. It organized itself." Read about the events that lead up to the first Earth Day.

4th Annual Rachel Carson Intergenerational Sense of Wonder Contest
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is pleased to announce the 4th annual Rachel Carson intergenerational "Sense of Wonder" contest. Entries for the contest should be developed by persons from younger and older generations. Teams can work create poetry, take photographs, write essays, and or dance. These creations should celebrate the legacy and love of nature that Rachel Carson so eloquently embodied. The contest is sponsored by the US EPA, the Dance Exchange, the Rachel Carson Council, Inc., and Generations United.

Teams can select the medium for their work as it captures their interactions with and reflections on the wonders of nature. Mixed media entries are welcome as well, such as a photo accompanied with a poem or an essay. Video entries can be of persons dancing or capture movements and visible changes in nature from dawn to dusk. A panel of expert judges will select finalists. The winners in each category of photography, essay, poetry, and dance will then be determined by the public, who will have an opportunity to cast votes online for their favorite submissions.

Carson wrote that she would endow every child with "a sense of wonder so indestructible that it would last throughout life." However, "if a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement, and mystery of the world we live in." The contest seeks to spur and instill that same sense of wonder among all generations. Should you need some inspiration from Rachel Carson, check out this web page about her and her works that captured nature so eloquently.

Entries are due June 16, 2010. For more information about the contest.

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VII. EPA Funding Opportunities

Grants Page
Community Action For a Renewed Environment (CARE) Program - Annual Training Workshop Support
This notice announces the availability of funds and solicits proposals from eligible entities to support the Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) Annual Training Workshop. The CARE Annual Training Workshop is held each year to support CARE's community-based, community-driven, multimedia demonstration program designed to help communities understand and reduce risk due to toxic pollution and environmental concerns from all sources. The objective of the training workshop is to educate the CARE program in working collaboratively within the community to increase understanding of new approaches, to facilitate use of proven concepts, and to encourage more innovation in environmental programs.
Community Action For a Renewed Environment (CARE) Program - Annual Training Workshop Support (PDF) (19 pp, 129K, About PDF)
Deadline: May 24, 2010.

Brownfields Area-Wide Planning Pilot Program
This notice announces the availability of EPA grant funds and direct assistance (through Agency contract support) for projects from eligible entities to facilitate community involvement in area-wide planning approaches to brownfields assessment, cleanup, and subsequent reuse. Area-wide planning grant funding and technical assistance will be directed to brownfields-impacted areas, such as a neighborhood, district, city block or corridor. The grant funding and direct assistance will result in an area-wide plan which will inform the assessment, cleanup and reuse of brownfields properties and promote area-wide revitalization. EPA anticipates selecting approximately 20 pilot projects through this competitive opportunity.
Brownfields Area-Wide Planning Pilot Program (PDF) (35 pp, 267K, About PDF)
Deadline: June 1, 2010.

Webinar for Applicants: EPA will be hosting a webinar for applicants interested in submitting a proposal for the new Brownfields Area-Wide Planning Pilot Program on Tuesday, April 13, 2010 from 3:00-4:00 pm EST. There is no pre-registration for the webinar. The audio portion will be accessible via telephone: Call In Number 1-866-299-3188; Access Code 202 566 0633# The video portion will be accessible at: http://hawkeye.epa.gov/imtapp/app/prelogin.uix?siteID=0

Exploring New Air Pollution-Health Effects Links in Existing Datasets
EPA is soliciting proposals that will utilize existing, large datasets (e.g., from observational or clinical studies) to search for unknown or weakly-forged links between air pollution and human disorders. The evidence for links between air pollutants and respiratory and cardiovascular diseases is compelling. There is modest evidence suggesting a relationship between air pollution and diabetes, certain neurological disorders, and reproductive and developmental disturbances. Deadline: April 27, 2010 Read more...

Activities that Advance Methane Recovery and Use as a Clean Energy Source
This notice announces the availability of funds and solicits proposals for investigation, survey, study, training, and demonstration projects (eligible projects) that advance international near-term, cost-effective methane recovery and use as a clean energy source, and support the goals of the Methane to Markets Partnership. This funding opportunity is only for international activities in support of the Methane to Markets Partnership. Deadline: April 15, 2010 Read more...

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VIII. Other Funding Opportunities

Health and Aging Policy Fellows Program
This national program seeks to provide professionals in health and aging with the experience and skills necessary to make a positive contribution to the development and implementation of health policies that affect older Americans. The program offers two different tracks: (1) a residential track that includes a nine-to-12-month placement in Washington, D.C. or at a state agency (as a legislative assistant in Congress, a professional staff member in an executive agency or in a policy organization); and (2) a non-residential track that includes a health policy project and brief placement(s) throughout the year at relevant sites. Core program components focused on career development and professional enrichment are provided for fellows in both tracks.

This unique professional fellowship opportunity is supported by The Atlantic Philanthropies in collaboration with the American Political Science Association Congressional Fellowship Program. The application deadline for the 2009-2010 fellowship years is April 15, 2010. For further information, please visit http://www.healthandagingpolicy.org

Geographic and Contextual Influences on Energy Balance-Related Health Behaviors (R01)
This announcement invites applications for investigator-initiated projects concerned with the influence of the built environment, "contextual" environment (where people live, work and play), and health-related behavior on the individual's energy balance and, therefore, on health. There is clear evidence of a strong association between diet, exercise, body weight (i.e. the "energy balance") and a variety of chronic ("metabolic") diseases. A number of environmental features can affect energy balance such as density, diversity, design and accessibility of buildings. Socioeconomic status of residents, amenities such as transportation, accessible parks and pathways for walking and cycling - all of those and others can influence energy balance-related behavior. Studies are needed to evaluate all of those factors. Deadline: June 5, 2010 Read more...

NIH Critical Illness and Injury in Aging
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) are requesting research grant applications that are focused on mechanisms and management of critical illness and injury (including trauma and neurotrauma) in aging. The type of investigation may be mechanistic, observational or interventional. Proposals that utilize existing datasets, such as from large observational studies or clinical trials, are acceptable. Animal studies are appropriate in cases where human studies are not feasible. Deadline: June 5 & October 5, 2010. Read more...

NIMH Developing Centers for Intervention and/or Services Research
The National Institute of Mental Health invites research grant applications related to the missions of the Division of Services and Intervention Research and the NIMH Geriatrics Research Branch. The latter supports intervention research relevant to older adults. The purpose of the grants is to provide infrastructure support for groups of investigators that will allow expansion of their intervention and/or services research. The scope of this offering is broad and meant to support investigators who are involved in treatment, prevention and/or services research. Deadline: June 24, 2010 Read more...

Critical Illness and Injury in Aging (R01)
Four Institutes of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have joined in soliciting applications designed to study mechanisms and management of critical illness and injury, including trauma and neurotrama, in aging. In recent years there have been important advances in the evaluation and management of critical illnesses and injuries. However, the relationship of critical care and aging remains understudied. The treatment of critical illnesses of elders is frequently simply an extension of the treatments applied to younger adult populations. Given the age-related structural and functional changes associated with age, it is probable that such changes influence that presentation and treatment of illnesses of the elderly. Proposed studies may be mechanistic, observational or interventional in nature. Deadline: July 5, November 5, 2010 Read more...

NSF - Research to Aid Persons with Disabilities
The National Science Foundation invites research proposals that will lead to new technology, devices or software that will benefit persons with disabilities. Research may be directed toward the characterization, restoration, and /or substitution of human functional abilities or cognition, or the interaction of persons with disabilities and their environment. Emphasis is placed on significant advancement of fundamental engineering and scientific knowledge rather than on incremental improvements. Application due dates: August 15 - September 23, 2010 Read more...

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IX. Public Comments Requested

EPA Seeks Public Comment on the 15th Annual U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory
EPA is seeking public comment on the annual Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2008 draft report. The draft report shows that in 2008, overall greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions have decreased by 2.9 percent. This downward trend was attributed to a decrease in carbon dioxide emissions associated with fuel and electricity consumption.

The inventory tracks annual greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 to 2008 at the national level. The gases covered by this inventory include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride. The inventory also calculates carbon dioxide emissions that are removed from the atmosphere by "sinks," e.g., through the uptake of carbon by forests, vegetation, and soils.

The report will fulfill the annual requirement of the UNFCCC international treaty, ratified by the United States in 1992, which sets an overall framework for intergovernmental efforts to tackle the challenge posed by climate change. More information on the draft report and how to submit public comments.
Please submit your comments by April 14, 2010.

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X. 2010 Calendar of Events & Meetings

Calendar 2010

April 2010

American Planning Association
April 10-13, 2010.
New Orleans, Louisiana
http://www.planning.org/conference/index.htm

National Center for Creative Aging Presents Creativity Matters! Civic Engagement & Garden Symposium
April 12-14, 2010

The National Center for Creative Aging (NCCA) will be holding its latest NCCA-MetLife Foundation Creativity Matters! Symposium with Focus on Civic Engagement Building Communities Through Intergenerational Gardening in Washington, DC. "This symposium will feature workshops and best-practice programs designed to bring together older and younger people through gardening," said Susan Perlstein, M.S.W., the Founder of NCCA. "Intergenerational programs bring generations together to learn, create and promote awareness, acceptance and understanding. Creative programs such as gardening give seniors the chance to pass on the wisdom and skills gained from a lifetime of experiences while remaining productive and engaged members of society." For more information or to register visit http://www.creativeaging.org or call (202) 895-9456.

US EPA and Fordham University, Moral Heat:
Ethical Dimensions of Environmental Regulations and Economics of the 21st Century
April 20, 2010
New York City, NY
http://www.fordham.edu/MoralHeat

Earth Day
April 22, 2010
http://www.earthday.net/earthday2010

May 2010

May is Older Americans
http://www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/Press_Room/Observances/oam/archive/archive.aspx

International Federation on Ageing
May 3-6, 2010.
Melbourne, Australia
http://www.ifa-fiv.org/

American Geriatrics Society
May 12-15, 2010
Orando, FL
http://www.americangeriatrics.org/news/meeting/2010/

Congress for the New Urbanism Annual Conference
May 19-22, 2010
Atlanta, GA
http://www.cnu.org/cnu18

2010 National River Rally
May 21-24th
Snowbird, UT
http://www.rivernetwork.org/programs/national-river-rally

June 2010

NANASP 2010 Annual Training Conference
June 2-4, 2010
Las Vegas, NV
http://www.nanasp.org/upcomingconferences.html

Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE)
June 6-10, 2010
Portland, OR
http://www.cste.org/conference/Default.aspx

National Association of State Units on Aging
46th Annual NASUA Membership Meeting
June 27-29, 2010
Washington, DC
http://www.nasua.org/

July 2010

National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) Annual Conference
July 17-21, 2010
St. Louis, MO
http://www.n4a.org/training-events/annual-conference/

Call for Papers
XVIIIth International Conference of the Society for Human Ecology
Human Responsibility & Environmental Change: Planning, Process, and Policy
Las Vegas, Nevada
April 20-23, 2011
http://www.societyforhumanecology.org/final%20program_files/CallForPapers.html

Save the Dates 2011 -- Calendar
http://www.epa.gov/aging/calendar/2011/index.htm

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