| Northeast-Midwest Institute Weekly Update |
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Last Chance to RSVP for NEMWI Revitalizing Small Older Industrial Cities Panel Discussion, Film Screening, and Taste of Vermont Reception, October 13
| The Northeast-Midwest Institute is hosting a free Capitol Hill based evening event on October 13, 2011 (6-9 pm in the Capitol Visitor Center) focused on opportunities to revitalize smaller older industrial cities in the NEMW region. The event includes a screening of "The Blood in This Town," a new documentary that chronicles Rutland, Vermont's drive to revitalize; a panel discussion with national, state, and local experts on post-industrial revitalization of small cities and towns; and a reception featuring Vermont cheese, crackers, beer, and wine. It is made possible by support from the State of Vermont's Department of Tourism and Marketing, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the German Marshall Fund, and presented in cooperation with the Office of Rep. Peter Welch, who will provide remarks before the film. Registration for this unique event is required by October 5. An event flier with a detailed agenda and panelist information can be found here.
For more information, contact Colleen Cain, Senior Policy Analyst at the Northeast-Midwest Institute.
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NEMWI to Host Great Lakes Fisheries Briefing: Who's Catching What (And Where)?
| The Northeast-Midwest Institute is hosting a Capitol Hill briefing regarding the state of the $7 billion Great Lakes fishery. Speakers will discuss management of the fishery, overall health of the fishery per each Lake, and a future outlook for the resource. The speakers will also discuss the threat of invasive species on the fishery and how a healthy fishery benefits the Great Lakes region's economy and environment. The briefing will take place this Friday, October 7 from 11-12pm in SVC 214. Speakers include:
- Chris Goddard: Executive Secretary, Great Lakes Fishery Commission
- Don Pereira: Fisheries Research and Policy Manager for the State of Minnesota
- Judy Ogden: Vice-President, Blue Water Sport Fishing Association and Member of Lake Huron Citizens Advisory Committee
For more information, contact Leah Konrady, Director of the Great Lakes Washington Program.
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House Appropriations Committee Draft Bill Proposes LIHEAP Funding
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The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is an important program for the wintry and populous region; in FY09, NEMW states received nearly 60% of LIHEAP funding. In April, 91 House members called on the House Appropriations Committee to continue to fund LIHEAP at its FY10 and previously authorized level of $5.1 billion. Last week, the Committee released the draft FY2012 Labor, Health and Human Services (L-HHS) funding bill, which included $3.39 billion for LIHEAP. Mark up has not yet been rescheduled. The Senate Appropriations Committee already took action on L-HHS, also recommending a $3.4 billion in formula funds, but including an additional $200 million in emergency contingency funds for a total of $3.6 billion. This would amount to a $1.1 billion cut in LIHEAP funding for FY2012 (from $4.7 billion currently to $3.6 billion next fiscal year). Both the Senate and the House numbers are still higher than the President's request, which would reduce regular funds to $1.98 billion with additional funds for the emergency contingency account at the FY2010 level of $590 million. However, the House and Senate each use a different formula for distributing funds to the states, which has important implications for the NEMW region. The draft House text is available here and the Senate text is available here.
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Briefing on New USGS Water Quality Management Tool: October 28
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The Northeast-Midwest Institute and the Water Environment Federation will host a briefing in Washington, DC on new U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) information on major sources of nutrients to streams, and on nutrient loading to rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and estuaries. USGS announced the roll-out of the new tool in a September 6 press announcement, " New Science to Help Water Managers Target Areas to Improve Water Quality." The briefing will take place on October 28 from 10 - 11:30 AM in 2167 Rayburn House Office Building. More briefing details are available at the NEMWI's River Basin blog and in the Institute's Mississippi River Basin September Update. The September Update also contains news on: - Federal Interagency Floodplain Management Task Force Webinar
- USDA ERS report: Nitrogen in Agricultural Systems: Implications for Conservation Policy
- EPA Healthy Watersheds Initiative National Framework and Action Plan-2011
- USGS Water Quality SPARROW Model "Featured Collection" in Journal of the American Water Resources Association
- Upcoming Conferences, Events and Workshops
- Budget Control Act and Fiscal Year 2012 Appropriations
- Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act
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National Petroleum Council Report on Marcellus, Other Natural Gas Resources
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On September 15, at its 121st meeting in Washington, DC, the National Petroleum Council presented US Secretary of Energy Steven Chu with a major study on current and future North American oil and natural gas supplies and development. Given advances in oil and natural gas recovery technology, the Prudent Development: Realizing the Potential of North America's Abundant Natural Gas and Oil Resources report evaluates the implications of current supply estimates and environmental risks associated with expanding production. The report also calls for regional councils of excellence to "support prudent development and regulation of natural gas and oil resources...." Read this story and more in the September installment of monthly updates on Mid-Atlantic Watershed Issues from the Northeast-Midwest Institute. This edition also includes information on: - New EPA Superfund sites;
- FY12 budget and appropriations progress; and
- Beach legislation.
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EPA Announces Proposal Guidelines for Brownfield Grants and $1.5 Million for Sustainable Communities Programs
| The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has posted FY12 Proposal Guidelines for Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Grants. Especially helpful for former industrial sites in the NEMW region, these grants may be used to address sites contaminated by petroleum and hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants.
Additionally, EPA announced plans to help an estimated 125 local, state, and tribal governments through two separate programs - the Smart Growth Implementation Assistance program (SGIA) and the Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities program. Both programs will be accepting letters from interested communities until Oct. 28, 2011. The Building Blocks and the SGIA programs are coordinated through the Partnership for Sustainable Communities, an initiative of the U.S. EPA, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Department of Transportation. A webinar on Sustainable Communities Technical Assistance programs will take place on October 6, 2011 from 2:00-3:00pm. Register here.
For more information, contact Colleen Cain, Senior Policy Analyst at the Northeast-Midwest Institute.
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