| Northeast-Midwest Institute Weekly Update |
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DRBC Announces Draft Natural Gas Development Regulations
| Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) Executive Director Carol R. Collier last week announced that draft natural gas development regulations are now available for public review on the Commission's web site, www.drbc.net. According to DRBC, the purpose of the proposed regulations is to protect the water resources of the Delaware River Basin during the construction and operation of natural gas development projects. Three public hearings will be scheduled during the ensuing 90-day comment period to receive oral testimony on the proposed rulemaking. Details will be forthcoming as the dates and locations are confirmed. Written comments will be accepted through the close of business March 16, 2011 - see the DRBC website for more information.
For more information contact Rachel Dawson, Policy Analyst at the Northeast-Midwest Institute. |
House Passes Full-Year Continuing Resolution
| The House passed H.R. 3082, the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011. The bill contains the following additions and subtractions from current levels of funding:
Discretionary Appropriations (in millions of dollars):
- FY 2010 actual: $1,089,652
- FY 2011 president's request: $1,135,555
- FY 2011 continuing resolution (HR 3082): $1,089,652
Biggest Adjustments from 2010 (dollars)
- Reductions from fiscal 2010 levels
- 6 billion less for the Census, plus a rescission of $1.7 billion
- 5.1 billion less for defense base closure funding
- 1.5 billion less for high-speed rail
- 630 million rescinded from previously authorized highway projects
- 500 million rescinded from the Asset Forfeiture Fund
- Increased Spending
- 5.7 billion more for Pell grants
- 4.9 billion more for the Defense Department for regular Pentagon operations
- 3.1 billion more for Veterans Administration medical operations
- 723 million more for Social Security, Medicare and unemployment compensation
- 624 million more for nuclear weapons programs, dependent upon New START ratification
- 550 million more for Race to the Top education grants
- 438 million for nuclear nonproliferation efforts
See also the House Appropriations Committee's press release.
For more information contact Fritz Ohrenschall, Policy Analyst at the Northeast-Midwest Institute. |
December Installment of Monthly Updates on Mid-Atlantic Watershed Issues Released
| The December installment of monthly updates on Mid-Atlantic Watershed issues from the Northeast-Midwest Institute has been released. This edition includes information on:
- DRBC Draft Natural Gas Regulation
- Chesapeake Bay TMDL
- FY11 Appropriations
- Nutrient and Sediment Reduction Grant Opportunity
- EPA and DOI Fracking Disclosure
These updates are intended to be timely resources providing brief news clippings, legislative and policy information, and other information relevant to conservation and restoration efforts in the Mid-Atlantic. All editions will also be available on the NEMWI website.
For more information or to provide feedback contact Rachel Dawson, Policy Analyst at the Northeast-Midwest Institute. |
DOT Redirects $1.195 Billion in High-Speed Rail Money From Wisconsin and Ohio
After the governors of both Wisconsin and Ohio indicated they would not use their grants from the high-speed and intercity passenger rail program authorized by the stimulus, Secretary LaHood announced that they money will be redistributed to other "eager" states. The funds will now be used on projects in the following states:
- California: up to $624 million
- Florida: up to $342.3 million
- Washington State: up to $161.5 million
- Illinois: up to $42.3 million
- New York: up to $7.3 million
- Maine: up to $3.3 million
- Massachusetts: up to $2.8 million
- Vermont: up to $2.7 million
- Missouri up to $2.2 million
- Wisconsin: up to $2 million for the Hiawatha line
- Oregon: up to $1.6 million
- North Carolina: up to $1.5 million
- Iowa: up to $309,080
- Indiana: up to $364,980
| Read the press release at the DOT website.
For more information contact Fritz Ohrenschall, Research Associate at the Northeast-Midwest Institute. |
1,000 Friends of Minnesota Releases Investment Guide for New Governor
1,000 Friends of Minnesota released, "Investments for a Competitive and Healthy Minnesota", a guide for the next Governor to "coordinate and align [his] approach to growth and development". The report argues that every dollar must help actualize multiple goals. Wise strategic investments can leverage transportation dollars--for example--to also realize the state's housing objectives. A PDF of the report is available here.
| | For more information contact Fritz Ohrenschall, Research Associate at the Northeast-Midwest Institute. |
USDA Announces Three Key Mississippi River Basin Funding Initiatives for Fiscal Year 2011
| During this past week, the USDA made three announcements that focus on Mississippi River Basin clean water initiatives under the agency's purview. These included a Fiscal Year 2011 Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative (or MRBI) Request for Proposals, a Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) program funding announcement, and an announcement of continued funding for existing water quality improvement projects in the Mississippi River Basin under the MRBI.
A press release was issued on Monday, announcing that USDA will fund 70 existing conservation projects in 41 eligible watersheds in 12 states during the 2011 Fiscal Year as a continuing part of its MRBI. (the 12 states are Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee and Wisconsin).
Also on Monday, USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) published a Federal Register notice (PDF file here) announcing a request for proposals (RFP) for 2011 Fiscal Year MRBI Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative (CCPI; $15 million) and Wetlands Reserve Enhancement Program (WREP; $25 million) funding. NRCS will provide assistance for projects in 43 designated watershed focus areas (8-digit HUCs) in 13 states (Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, South Dakota, and Wisconsin). Proposals are due by January 28, 2011.
On Tuesday, NRCS published the 2011 Fiscal Year CIG funding announcement on its web site, calling for special CIG emphases in the Chesapeake Bay and Mississippi River watersheds. The actual notice (PDF file) is here. Under CIG, Environmental Quality Incentives Program funds (an anticipated $25 million in Fiscal Year 2011) are used to award competitive grants to non-Federal governmental or non-governmental organizations, Tribes, or individuals. For the Mississippi River Basin, according to the NRCS announcement, "only pre-proposals that demonstrate the use of innovative technologies and/or approaches to address at least one bulleted topic specific to and within the Mississippi River Basin and address the Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative (MRBI) objectives to manage and optimize nutrient management, reduce downstream nutrient loads, maintain agricultural productivity, and enhance wildlife and other ecosystem services will be considered." Applications for the pre-proposal phase must be received at the NRCS National Headquarters by 4 p.m. EST, on December 28; selected pre-proposal applications will be announced by January 17. Full proposal packages will be due by March 4.
For more information contact Mark Gorman, Policy Analyst at the Northeast-Midwest Institute. |
Registration Open for Brownfields 2011 Conference
| Registration is open for the 2011 National Brownfields Conference which takes place April 3-5, 2011 in Philadelphia (click here to register). The conference is the largest, most comprehensive event focused on cleaning up and redeveloping abandoned, underutilized, and potentially contaminated properties in the nation. There is no better deal in the redevelopment marketplace than Brownfields 2011 because registration is FREE! The conference is cosponsored by the U.S. EPA and ICMA, and attracts more than six thousand registrants and hundreds of exhibitors.
Brownfields 2011 will offer:
- More than 100 lively panel sessions, interactive roundtable discussions and engaging town hall meetings
- Real-world projects showcased in mobile workshops and tours
- Exciting plenary speakers and networking events
- More than 200 solutions-oriented product and service providers in the Exhibit Hall
- Film screenings, volunteer activities and other special events
- The Economic Redevelopment Forum
- The Environmental Justice Caucus
- Regional EPA Open Houses
Whether you're a newcomer to the world of economic and environmental redevelopment, or a seasoned professional looking to make new connections and increase your business, Brownfields 2011 offers something for everyone.
For more information visit the conference website at www.brownfields2011.org.
For more information contact Greg Lewis, Policy Analyst at the Northeast-Midwest Institute. |
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