| Northeast-Midwest Institute Weekly Update |
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Natural Gas Regulations for the Delaware River Watershed and Other Mid-Atlantic Watershed News
| On November 18, the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) canceled a vote on proposed final regulations for natural gas development in the Delaware River watershed previously set for November 21. The final rules, released on November 8, provide a framework for the agency to regulate water withdrawal, use and management, and according to the DRBC website, "The Commission will rely on the oil and gas program of the state in which a natural gas well is located to regulate the construction and operation activities of the natural gas well and well pad for which separate administration by the Commission would result in unnecessary duplication." A new date for a vote on the regulations has not yet been determined. Read about this story and more in the November Update on Mid-Atlantic Watershed Issues from the Northeast-Midwest Institute. This edition also includes information on:
- EPA science and regulation hearings
- Chesapeake Bay dead zone report
- FY12 budget and appropriations progress update
- Regulatory reform, ballast water and climate adaptation legislation
For more information, contact Rachel Dawson, Policy Analyst at the Northeast-Midwest Institute.
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Great Ships Initiative Produces Logistical Guide to Monitoring Ballast Discharge from Ships that Ply the Great Lakes
| The Northeast-Midwest Institute's Great Ships Initiative recently released "A Ballast Discharge Monitoring System for Great Lakes Relevant Ships: A Guidebook for Researchers, Ship Owners, and Agency Officials." The Guidebook methods, developed with support of the Legislative Citizens Commission on Minnesota Resources, the Maritime Administration and the Great Lakes Protection Fund, allow retrieval of quantitative samples from ships to determine live organism densities in three size classes of organisms commonly subject to regulation (> 50 micrometers in minimum dimension, < 50 micrometers and > 10 micrometers in minimum dimension, and < 10 micrometers in minimum dimension), water quality parameters, and whole effluent toxicity tests. Methods associated with sample analysis can be downloaded from GSI's website. The methods in this Guidebook are highly applicable type approval testing and other planned treatment performance monitoring events. GSI will periodically update this Guidebook and repost new versions on its website over time.
For more information, contact Allegra Cangelosi, President of the Northeast-Midwest Institute.
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HUD Names Sustainable Communities Grant Recipients
| The Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded $96 million in Community Challenge and Regional Planning grants to 56 communities and areas, including 25 from the Northeast-Midwest region. HUD's Community Challenge Grants reduce barriers to affordable, economically vital and sustainable communities. The Regional Planning Grant program encourages grantees integrate housing, land-use, economic and workforce development, transportation, and infrastructure developments to create more jobs and economic opportunities. The projects range from a comprehensive sustainability plan for the Baltimore, MD metropolitan area to a local growth plan for that will allow Mansfield, CT to maintain its rural character. A summary of every grant is available here and the full press release is available on the HUD website.
For more information, contact Colleen Cain, Senior Policy Analyst at the Northeast-Midwest Institute.
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Six NEMW Localities to Receive Smart Growth Technical Assistance
| Smart Growth America will provide free technical assistance to 15 localities for the development of local solutions to help communities grow in ways that benefit families and businesses while protecting the environment and preserving a sense of place. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities program is supporting the effort. The six NEMW communities that will receive technical assistance include: Township of Byram, NJ; City of Eastport, ME; Derry Township, PA; City of Newark, OH; Northern Maine Development Commission, ME; City of Pittsburgh, PA. The full press release can be viewed here.
For more information, contact Colleen Cain, Senior Policy Analyst at the Northeast-Midwest Institute.
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