 |
||
|
Water |  |
 |
||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
WaterNews for November 19, 2002WaterNews is a weekly on-line publication that announces publications, policies, and activities of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Water.
Inside this week’s WaterNews
Emergency Funds Made Available To Defend Against Asian Carp InvasionThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in a joint effort with the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, International Joint Commission, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and U.S. Department of State announced on Nov. 18 $150,000 in emergency funds for the purchase and installation of backup power hardware for an electrical barrier to defend against the spread of Asian carp into the Great Lakes region. G. Tracy Mehan, III, Assistant Administrator for Water at the EPA said, “The specter of large, prolific Asian carp in the Great Lakes has motivated our coalition of government agencies to act swiftly. We have learned from hard experience the environmental and economic havoc caused in the Great Lakes by aquatic invasive species such as zebra mussels, sea lamprey and round gobies. The latest threat from Asian carp underscores the serious problems posed by invasive species and the urgent need to prevent further introductions. The Great Lakes simply cannot afford another aquatic invasion.” This action marks an unprecedented level of speed and cooperation. Release of NEMI!The Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Geological Survey are pleased to announce the public release of the National Environmental Methods Index (NEMI). NEMI is a free web-based online clearinghouse of environmental monitoring methods. The NEMI database contains method summaries of laboratory and field protocols for regulatory and non-regulatory related water-quality analyses. By visiting www.nemi.gov users can access up-to-date methods information through a standard internet connection and browser. NEMI is a powerful tool in the quest to be more efficient and ultimately more effective. NEMI users can compare methods at a glance, find the method that best meets their needs, and share monitoring data among different agencies, using different methods at different times. Proposed Water Quality Standards for KentuckyThe EPA proposal for certain water quality standards in the Commonwealth of Kentucky was published in the Federal Register with the comment period extending until Mar. 14, 2003. It proposes a Federal antidegradation policy with implementation methods specifically for high-quality waters in Kentucky. This proposal supplements the Commonwealth's current water quality standards regulations which exclude some high-quality waters from the Federally-required protection. The notice can be viewed at http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/. The docket is available and comments can be submitted at http://www.epa.gov/edocket/. Once in that system, select “search,” then key in OW-2002-0022, the docket identification number. Improving Children’s Health WorldwideThe EPA Offices of Water and International Activities have worked with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in El Salvador as part of the Agency’s international initiative on “Microbiologically Safe Drinking Water for Children’s Health”. Recently, PAHO’s technical development center, announced their intention to expand the program into Honduras. This expansion by the Latin American partners demonstrates their desire to use the water treatment improvement concepts on a regional basis. For further information, contact Eric Bissonette at 513- 569-7933 or visit the website at www.paho.org/. $1.5 Million Security Grant SolicitationNonprofit organizations are encouraged to apply for $1.5 million in grants to provide technical assistance to drinking water systems that supply water to less than 50,000 people. As part of the Agency’s critical water infrastructure protection initiative awards of up to $300,000 per eligible nonprofit organization will provide no-cost training to state, tribal or local agencies on activities such as vulnerability assessments and emergency response plans. The Office of Water request for applications is posted on the water security website at www.epa.gov/safewater/security and the solicitation will also be published in the Federal Government’s Business Opportunities. For further contact Andy Bielanski at 202-564-3824.
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
