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Envirobytes - Archive
EnviroBytes, a Summary of Issues and Events for Week Ending February 20, 2009
STIMULUS FUNDING INCLUDES $7.22 BILLION FOR EPA PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS; CHESAPEAKE BAY TO BENEFIT
The economic recovery plan signed by President Obama on Feb.17 includes $7.22 billion for EPA projects and programs that protect the environment and promote "green" jobs. $4 billion will go for water quality and wastewater infrastructure needs and $2 billion for drinking water infrastructure needs under the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program. $100 million will help clean up brownfields sites,$300 million will go to diesel emissions reduction projects, $600 million to the Superfund program, and $200 million to clean up leaking underground storage tanks. An additional $20 million will go for the monitoring, oversight and review of the funding. For more information, go to https://www.epa.gov/recovery/basic.html#overview .
The Chesapeake Bay program will receive significant stimulus funding to advance the bay’s restoration through upgrades, wastewater treatment plants, and green infrastructure improvements. Funding from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program will provide a total of approximately $870 million to the six Chesapeake Bay watershed states and the District of Columbia. For additional information, go to https://www.epa.gov/recovery/ Announcements of grants will be posted on http://www.recovery.gov/. For information about how EPA is implementing the Recovery Act in each region of the country, go to https://www.epa.gov/recovery/where.html
EPA SPONSORS FARMING FOR THE FUTURE CONFERENCE
EPA co-sponsored the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture’s 18th Annual, Farming for the Future Conference, on Feb. 5-7, at Penn State University’s Entomology Laboratory titled "Hands-On IPM and Bio-Controls." The conference is partially funded by an EPA Strategic Agriculture Initiative Technology grant. Participants were introduced to Integrated Pest Management and sustainable practices to manage pests in the greenhouse and in the field while protecting the environment. Instructors included EPA representatives as well as those from Penn State University’s Entomology Department and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture IPM Program.
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE WORKSHOP
Region 3 along with the Office of Research and Development recently held a Regional Science Workshop Feb. 9-11 in Annapolis, Md. entitled Green Infrastructure: Linking People, Nature and Landscapes through Sound Science. The workshop included presentations, expert panels and breakout discussions about strategically planning, implementing and managing networks of natural lands, working landscapes, and other open spaces to conserve ecosystem values and functions and provide associated benefits to human populations. EPA representatives led discussions on the current state of Green/Natural Infrastructure science and practice, and how to develop research to further land conservation efforts. A newly-formed Mid-Atlantic Green Infrastructure Community of Practice (MAGICoP) will serve as a forum to share ideas, tools, and information, create partnerships and leverage scarce resources.
SMALL BUSINESSES RECEIVE CONTRACTS FOR GREEN TECHNOLOGY
EPA awarded $1.6 million in contracts to 23 small companies to assist them to bring new green technologies to market as part of EPA's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. Integran Technologies USA, Inc. of Pittsburgh, Pa. was awarded $69,787 for the manufacture of amorphous alloy coatings for hard chromium replacement. Under the program, small businesses propose innovative technologies to protect air and water quality and promote alternative sources of energy. These projects are then evaluated by EPA and those selected can receive awards up to $70,000 with a six-month period of performance. Projects with the greatest commercial potential can become eligible for up to $225,000. For a list of all 23 awardees, go to http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncer_abstracts/index.cfm/fuseaction/outlinks.sbir/fullList/Yes/showYear/current. For information on the SBIR program, go to https://www.epa.gov/ncer/sbir
