| Northeast-Midwest Institute Weekly Update |
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Shutdown Averted, but Temporary Measure Cuts Transportation and Housing Funds
| Congress and the White House reached an agreement on spending for the remainder of fiscal year 2011 on Friday, April 8. The agreement prevented a government shutdown and will fund the entire federal government until September 30, 2011. Since Congress needs time to prepare and pass the final legislation, a temporary measure was also agreed upon and will keep the government operating until this Friday, April 15. This temporary measure incorporates additional cuts to programs of importance to the Northeast-Midwest region. It includes $2 billion in spending cuts from transportation and housing programs, such as Capital Assistance for High Speed Rail Corridors and Intercity Passenger Rail Service, FTA Capital Investment Grants, and HUD's Economic Development Initiative. These programs invest heavily in the NEMW region. (See our recent "Note to the Coalitions" for more information on programs with a major role in the region). The Institute will analyze the FY2011 spending plan for impacts to the NEMW region when it is finalized and details are released later this week.
For more information, contact Colleen Cain, Senior Policy Analyst at the Northeast-Midwest Institute. |
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How to Have a Healthy Watershed...
| The Northeast-Midwest region is replete with fresh water systems, but these aquatic assets are at risk. The EPA has released a draft of "Identifying and Protecting Healthy Watersheds Concepts, Assessments, and Management Approaches." The draft technical document provides EPA, state, tribal, and local practitioners with an overview of the key concepts behind the Healthy Watersheds approach, examples of assessments of healthy watershed components, an integrated assessment framework for identifying healthy watersheds, examples of management approaches, sources of national data, and key assessment tools. It contains numerous examples from across the country, including case studies both from and applicable to watersheds in the Northeast-Midwest region.
The EPA is seeking comments on this draft document until June 3, 2011 and a peer
review will be conducted. A final version is expected by October 2011.
For more information, contact Fritz Ohrenschall at the Northeast-Midwest Institute. |
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EPA Renewable Energy Feasibility Studies on Contaminated Properties RFA
| Through its RE-Powering America's Land Initiative, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is soliciting applications from states, tribes, regional governments, and communities that want to evaluate the potential development of renewable energy on contaminated properties. This evaluation will consist of a feasibility study conducted by the Department of Energy National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) that will determine the best renewable energy technology for the site, the optimal location for placement of the renewable energy technology, potential energy generating capacity, the return on the investment, and the economic feasibility of the renewable energy projects.
EPA plans to assist approximately 20 communities in 2011. It anticipates announcing the selected communities in 2011, and working with the communities over a period of 12-24 months. Applications are due to EPA by Friday, May 20, 2011.
For more information, contact Fritz Ohrenschall at the Northeast-Midwest Institute. |
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