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Watershed News
January 2008
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Watershed News is a publication of EPA's Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds. It is designed to provide timely information to groups working at the watershed level.
In this month's newsletter
1) EPA announces availability of around $3 million in cooperative agreement funding through 2008 CARE request for proposals. Application deadline: March 17, 2008
2) EPA Accepting Applications of Assessment, Cleanup and Redevelopment of Brownfield Sites
3) West Coast Estuaries Initiative for Puget Sound
4) FY 2008 Request for Proposals from Indian Tribes and Intertribal Consortia for Nonpoint Source Management Grants Under Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 319
5) Five Star Restoration Challenge Grants
6) EPA Outreach Resources Now Available on CD/DVD
7) American Samoa - Outreach and Enforcement Reduce Instream E. coli Levels and Disease Risk
8) EPA’s Watershed Academy to sponsor free January 16th Webcast on decentralized wastewater systems
9) Habitat Priority Planner Demonstration on February 5, 2008
10) 2008 National Wetlands Awards Nominations Due January 15, 2008
11) EPA, Army Corps Extend Public Comment Period for Joint Rapanos Guidance
12) Report Issued on Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) in the Lake Michigan Basin
13) States Chosen for Unique Source Water Protection Project
14) Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 includes Storm Water Runoff Requirements for Federal Development Projects
15) 7th Annual New Partners for Smart Growth: Building Safe, Healthy and Livable Communities Conference
16) FLOW 2008: Interdisciplinary Solutions to Instream Flow Problems
17) WEFTEC.08 Conference
EPA announces availability of around $3 million in cooperative agreement funding through 2008 CARE request for proposals. Application deadline: March 17, 2008
Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) Program Request for Proposals (RFP) Announced
EPA is soliciting proposals from eligible entities project proposals to receive financial assistance through the Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) program. CARE is a unique community-based, community-driven, multimedia demonstration program designed to help communities understand and reduce risks due to toxics and environmental pollutants from all sources. The CARE grant program works with the eligible entities to help their communities form collaborative partnerships, develop a comprehensive understanding of the many sources of risk from toxics and environmental pollutants, set priorities, and identify and carry out projects to reduce risks through collaborative action at the local level. CARE's long-term goal is to help communities build self-sustaining, community-based partnerships that will continue to improve human health and local environments into the future. The objective of the CARE grant program is to work collaboratively within the community to investigate the effectiveness of the CARE process--whether this cross-Agency, multi-media program provides greater environmental benefits than either non-collaborative or single media approaches. EPA will award two types of cooperative agreements (Level I and Level II) under this solicitation as part of the CARE grant program.
The RFP is available on-line as a PDF file at http://www.epa.gov/air/grants/08-02.pdf (51 pp, 199K, About PDF)
RFP # EPA-OAR-IO-08-02 For additional information, visit http://www.epa.gov/CARE/.
CARE Request for Proposals Q&A Webcast
The CARE program will conduct three national information sessions for cooperative agreement applicants via national Internet seminars, or Webcasts, in January and February 2008.
January 18, 2008 12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. eastern time
February 11, 2008 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. eastern time
February 27, 2008 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon eastern time
For more information about the upcoming Webcasts, visit http://www.epa.gov/CARE/agreements.htm#apply
Funding Opportunities
EPA Accepting Applications of Assessment, Cleanup and Redevelopment of Brownfield Sites
EPA is accepting requests for grants from states and Native American tribes to assess, clean up, and redevelop Brownfields sites and other sites "with actual or perceived contamination" (72 Fed. Reg. 65,238). States and tribes are able to apply for and use fiscal year 2008 funds issued under the 2002 Brownfields amendments to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act. Requests for funding will be accepted from Dec. 1, 2007, through Jan. 31, 2008. For more information, contact EPA’s Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization, at (202) 566-2777 or visit http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/index.html.
West Coast Estuaries Initiative for Puget Sound
EPA Region 10 is soliciting proposals under this announcement to support the protection and restoration of high value Puget Sound aquatic resources in areas threatened by growth pressure through holistic watershed protection and management approaches at the local level. The funds will assist local and tribal governments in managing land uses while protecting watershed functions and values. Successful projects will match proposed activities to the appropriate watershed scale to ensure environmental results. Entities of local governments, special purpose districts and federally recognized Indian tribes in the greater Puget Sound Basin are eligible to apply. State agencies, institutions of higher learning and non-governmental entities are not eligible to directly receive grant awards under this announcement; however, EPA encourages tribes and local governments to solicit their participation as local collaborators. Proposals are due January 31, 2008. For more information visit http://yosemite.epa.gov/r10/water.nsf/Office+of+Water/PS08RFP.
FY 2008 Request for Proposals from Indian Tribes and Intertribal Consortia for Nonpoint Source Management Grants Under Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 319
Section 319 of the CWA authorizes EPA to award grants to eligible Tribes to implement approved nonpoint source (NPS) management programs developed pursuant to section 319(b). The primary goal of the NPS management program is to control NPS pollution through implementation of management measures and practices to reduce pollutant loadings resulting from each category or subcategory of NPSs identified in the Tribe's NPS assessment report developed pursuant to section 319(a). There is continuing recognition that Indian Tribes need increased financial support to implement NPS programs that address critical water quality concerns on Tribal lands. EPA will continue to work closely with the Tribes to assist them in developing and implementing effective Tribal NPS pollution programs. Proposals are due by January 15, 2008. For more information visit http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/tribal/.
Five Star Restoration Challenge Grants
The Five Star Restoration Challenge Grant Program project partners are currently accepting applications for the 2008 Five Star Restoration Challenge Grants. The Five Star Program provides financial assistance on a competitive basis to support community-based wetland, riparian and coastal habitat restoration projects that build diverse partnerships and foster local natural resource stewardship through education, outreach and training activities. Funding is available nationwide, but applicants in Calif., Ala., Ga., Fla. and Miss. are especially encouraged to apply due to special funding opportunities provided by the programs corporate sponsors.
The Five Star Partners encourages interested applicants to participate in a webcast on January 18, 2008. The webcast will provide an overview of the grant program and offer suggestions on what makes a strong proposal. If you are interested in participating in the webcast, please RSVP Fivestar@nfwf.org by January 11, 2008.
The deadline for applications is February 15, 2008. For more information, visit www.nfwf.org/fivestar. 
Watershed Tool of the Month
EPA Outreach Resources Now Available on CD/DVD
"Nonpoint Source Outreach Toolbox" was just-released as a CD edition (publication # 841-C-05-003). The popular online resource released earlier this year is now available to you even when you are untethered from the information superhighway. With nearly 700 MB of multimedia files, this is a slightly scaled-down version of all the resources available at www.epa.gov/nps/toolbox. (All TV, radio and print ads are available, but no "other products.")
"Getting in Step: A DVD Guide for Conducting Watershed Outreach Campaigns" (publication # 841-C-07-001). This 2003 classic is now out on DVD. Includes chapter menu and closed captioning. 35 minutes.
Both of these resources are available for free through the National Service Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP) by calling toll-free 1-800-490-9198 or e-mailing the National Service Center for Environmental Publications (nscep@bps-lmit.com).
Spotlight: Watersheds at Work
American Samoa - Outreach and Enforcement Reduce Instream E. coli Levels and Disease Risk
Small-scale pig farms with improperly constructed waste management systems caused Afuelo Stream to be contaminated with high levels of bacteria and exposed the public to the disease leptospirosis. In 2004, the stream was placed on the American Samoa 303(d) list for impairment due to bacterial indicators. Regular stream water monitoring, public education and outreach, facility inspections, and enforcement of environmental and public health regulations helped reduce the leptospirosis risk and led to impressive declines in average Escherichia coli concentrations, with preliminary data indicating the stream is now meeting water quality standards. For more information about this success story, visit http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/Success319/state/as_afuelo.htm.
Webcasts
EPA’s Watershed Academy to sponsor free January 16th Webcast on decentralized wastewater systems
EPA’s Watershed Academy sponsors free monthly Webcasts for watershed practitioners from around the globe. On Wed., Jan. 16, 2008, presenters will discuss The Wastewater Information System Tool (TWIST), a Microsoft Access based information management system developed for US EPA to help communities inventory and manage decentralized (i.e., individual and clustered) wastewater systems. The Webcast will provide an introduction on how to use TWIST, an overview of watershed and water quality issues related to wastewater management, discuss treatment system options and management, and address the need for inventory systems such as TWIST. Finally, the Webcast will also provide information on other tools for small communities and decentralized system users.
Registration opens January 4th. For more information or to access archived audio versions of past Webcasts, please visit www.epa.gov/watershedwebcasts.
Habitat Priority Planner Demonstration on February 5, 2008
On February 5, 2008, 2 p.m. EST Danielle Bamford and Chrissa Stroh of NOAA Coastal Services Center will demonstrate the Habitat Priority Planner. HPP is a new spatial decision support tool designed as an ArcGIS toolbar to assist resource managers, researchers, and land-use planners in prioritizing important areas in the landscape or seascape for conservation or restoration action. What makes this tool unique is the ease with which the scenarios can be displayed and changed, making this a helpful companion when working with a group. In addition to the scenarios, the tool also generates pertinent reports, maps, and data tables. The tool and additional information are available at http://www.csc.noaa.gov/hpp/. Additional information on the webinar can be found at www.ebmtools.org/contact.html.
News
2008 National Wetlands Awards Nominations Due January 15, 2008
The National Wetlands Awards Program celebrates individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary dedication, innovation or excellence in wetlands conservation. Their work covers programs or projects on the regional, state, and local levels. National Wetlands Awards nominees and recipients educate their communities about the value of wetlands, lead programs to protect and restore wetlands, and demonstrate the value of cooperation among grassroots organizations, educational organizations, private landowners, and government agencies to enable the successful protection of wetland resources. Nominations are due January 15th, 2008. More information, including the nomination form can be found at http://www.nationalwetlandsawards.org/index.htm.
EPA, Army Corps Extend Public Comment Period for Joint Rapanos Guidance
EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) are extending the public comment period for the interagency joint guidance on the scope of Clean Water Act geographic jurisdiction following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Rapanos v. United States. The public comment period has been extended 45 days and comments on the guidance and experiences with its implementation are now due by Jan. 21, 2008.
During the early implementation of the guidance, the agencies are inviting public comments on case studies and experiences in applying the guidance. Comments can be submitted to docket EPA-HQ-OW-2007-0282 through www.regulations.gov. The agencies, within nine months after the Rapanos guidance has been issued, intend to either re-issue, revise, or suspend the guidance after carefully considering the public comments received and field experience with implementing the guidance. For more information, see: http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/guidance/CWAwaters.html
Report Issued on Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) in the Lake Michigan Basin
EPA has released a new Report to Congress assessing the occurrence of Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) in the Lake Michigan drainage basin. The Report identifies EPA actions to ensure that state permitting and enforcement efforts are: consistent with the Clean Water Act and EPA's National CSO Control Policy, and lead to further reduction in CSO discharges to Lake Michigan. To get a copy of this Report to Congress, please visit please visit http://www.epa.gov/npdes/cso. Hard copies of the report are available through the Office of Water Resource Center at (202) 566-1729.
States Chosen for Unique Source Water Protection Project
The Trust for Public Land, the Smart Growth Leadership Institute, the Association of Drinking Water Administrators and River Network are pleased to announce that Maine, New Hampshire and Ohio have been selected for the first round of demonstrations under a unique project to align State water quality protection and land use programs and policies to better protect drinking water sources. These three States demonstrated a high level of commitment to source water protection, as well as timely policy initiatives and support for finding linkages among State programs. For more information on project details, the project team, and information on the next round of applications, visit: www.landuseandwater.org.
Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 includes Storm Water Runoff Requirements for Federal Development Projects
Title IV, Subtitle C, Section 438 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 provides that "the sponsor of any development or redevelopment project involving a Federal facility with a footprint that exceeds 5,000 square feet shall use site planning, design, construction, and maintenance strategies for the property to maintain or restore, to the maximum extent technically feasible, the predevelopment hydrology of the property with regard to the temperature, rate, volume, and duration of flow." This provision should increase focus on Low Impact Development (LID) in Federal development projects, and as a consequence, help foster increased use, technical improvements, and potential cost reductions for LID practices nationwide. The full text of the Act can be found at www.thomas.gov.
Upcoming Conferences and Workshops
7th Annual New Partners for Smart Growth: Building Safe, Healthy and Livable Communities Conference
February 7-9, 2008, Washington, DC. The program will include a dynamic mix of plenaries, interactive breakouts, implementation workshops, specialized trainings, and optional tours of local model projects. It will feature the latest on cutting-edge smart growth issues, implementation tools and strategies, best practices, interactive learning experiences, new partners, new projects, and new policies. Visit www.newpartners.org for more information.
Save the Date
FLOW 2008: Interdisciplinary Solutions to Instream Flow Problems
October 7-9, 2008, San Antonio, TX. Sponsored by the Instream Flow Council, the conference will provide opportunities to learn about creative, interdisciplinary tools and approaches to instream flow problem-solving, explore the latest developments in instream flow science, policy and public dialogue and build collaborative decision-making skills through an interactive session with Professor Larry Susskind of Harvard Law School’s Program on Negotiation. For more information, visit www.instreamflowcouncil.org/.
WEFTEC.08 Conference
October 18-22, 2008, Chicago, IL. The 81st Annual Water Environment Federation Technical Exhibition and Conference is the largest conference of its kind in North America and offers water quality professionals from around the world water quality education and training. Learn from your peers about the latest practices, technologies, solutions and regulations in the water quality field. Earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) by participating in workshops and earn Professional Development Hours (PDHs) by attending technical sessions. For more information, visit www.weftec.org.
Be sure to check EPA and Watershed Funding Web site at: http://www.epa.gov/owow/funding.html
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