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EPA Awards GLRI Grants to NEMW States
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Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its first FY2012 Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) grants: seven grants, totaling over $2.6 million, to help improve water quality near beaches in Michigan and Wisconsin. EPA is awarding $20 million in total, which the agency initially had estimated may be able to help assist with about 100 projects. GLRI is the largest federal investment in the Great Lakes in nearly two decades. Additional announcements on FY2012 awards are expected this month.
For more information, contact Kate Ostrander, Legislative Director of the Northeast-Midwest Congressional Coalition.
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Much Needed Attention to Mississippi River Issues
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The Mississippi River may enjoy a much deserved higher level of awareness with the American public as a result of six important conferences centered around the Mississippi River from September 12-29. The Northeast-Midwest Institute's Mississippi River Cities & Towns Initiative (MRCTI) meeting in St. Louis takes place from September 12-14. Then, the National Waterways Conference Annual Meeting takes place in Tunica, MS from September 19-21. Following Tunica, America's Great Watershed Initiative will be held, also in St. Louis, September 26-27. Then, the Upper Mississippi River Conference is being hosted in Moline, IL September 26-28. Also at the end of September, the Mississippi River Parkway Commission Annual Meeting occurs in Louisville, KY. Finally, the Waterfront Center Annual Meeting wraps-up the month September 27-29 in Washington, DC. Last year's floods, plus this year's drought, along with Hurricane Isaac have clarified many issues that need to be addressed. In October, One Mississippi River Network will hold their annual meeting in St. Louis (October 23-25). NEMWI will speak at all but one of these meetings on the formation of MRCTI and its agenda to help the waterway. The timing for these meetings and amount of public engagement could elevate the importance of Mississippi River issues in the election, as well as in Farm Bill deliberations in Congress.
For more information, contact Colin Wellenkamp, Director, Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative at the Northeast-Midwest Institute.
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EPA Webinar on School Siting Guideline
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On Wednesday, September 5, from 2:00-3:00 (EST) EPA's Office of Sustainable Communities will host a webinar to discuss EPA's voluntary school siting guidelines (http://www.epa.gov/schools/siting/), which can help local school districts and community members evaluate environmental factors when making school siting decisions. The presentation will focus on how school siting and design influence traffic congestion, air pollution, school transportation budgets, and children's health and obesity.
Visit the EPA Smartgrowth website. Call 1-888-850-4523. Participant passcode: 719661. No pre-registration is required.
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