Grant Opportunity! Funders’ Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities (TFN) Deadline January 30th, 2017

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In partnership with the Urban Sustainability Directors Network, the Funders’ Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities (TFN) is pleased to announce the opening of Round Ten of Partners for Places.

Partners for Places is a successful matching grant program that creates opportunities for cities and counties in the United States and Canada to improve communities by building partnerships between local government sustainability offices and place-based foundations. National funders invest in local projects to promote a healthy environment, a strong economy, and well-being of all residents. Through these projects, Partners for Places fosters long-term relationships that make our urban areas more prosperous, livable, and vibrant. The grant program provides partnership investments between $25,000 and $75,000 for one year projects, or $50,000 and $150,000 for two year projects, with a 1:1 match required by one or more local foundations.

The application deadline for Round Ten is January 30, 2017 (by 11:59 p.m., any time zone). Please visit the Partners for Places webpage for more information. Here you can view our promotional video download the Request for Proposals (RFP), access our Proposal Form and consult our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)document (at http://www.fundersnetwork.org/partnersforplaces). You may also want to visit our Idea Bank which has summaries of all the proposals submitted in prior rounds. TFN held  a webinar to answer  questions about the grant program on December 7. A recording of the webinar will be made available through TFN’s website for those of you unable to participate.

Partners for Places general grant program is supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, The JPB Foundation, Kendeda Fund, New York Community Trust, The Summit Foundation, and Surdna Foundation. A selection committee comprised of foundation representatives and urban sustainability directors will make selection decisions on behalf of Partners for Places, and awards will be announced on May 3, 2017. If the RFP and FAQ documents don’t answer all your questions, please contact Ashley Quintana at ashley@fundersnetwork.org or Ann Wallace at ann@fundersnetwork.org for more information.

 

 

IDAHO News: Final Rule Package Submittal to EPA – WQS/Fish Consumption Rates in Human Health Criteria, Docket No. 58-0102-1201

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Idaho has submitted their State adopted Human Health Water Quality Criteria (HHWQC) to EPA for approval.

Final Rule Package Submitted to EPA

This submittal also includes documents that exist as part of the rulemaking record and posted at www.deq.idaho.gov/58-0102-1201.

CSPA Reporting Rule Update

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Please see the response (below) from Kara Steward of the Department of Ecology regarding the the Task Force request to consider PCBs in the CSPA reporting ruling.

—————————–

Happy holidays to everyone.
Please extend my thanks to the members of SRRTTF for the request for consideration of PCBs as an addition to the Chemicals of High Concern to Children during the Children’s Safe Products Act rulemaking update.  Ecology reviewed the information submitted.  At this time, PCBs are not being considered as an addition to the CHCC list.  The scope of the current rulemaking is too narrow to accommodate a rulemaking change to lower the 100 part per million reporting limit for chemicals present as contaminants.
The updated CSPA documents are on this webpage:
Let me know if you have additional questions or comments.
Kindest regards,
Kara
Hazardous Waste & Toxics Reduction Program
360-407-6250 direct | kara.steward@ecy.wa.gov.

SRRTTF Sends Letter to Staff and Directors of the U.S. EPA and Other Parties Regarding TSCA

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The Spokane River Regional Toxics Task Force (SRRTTF) has sent a letter (via Ruckelshaus Center on December 9th, 2016)  to Staff and Directors at EPA as well as State legislators concerning the regulation of PCBs under the Toxic Substances Control Act and its link to Washington Water Quality Standards for PCBs recently submitted by EPA. The SRRTTF developed the letter(s), and agreed on the contents, by consensus.

Letter:
–  srrttf-letter-concerning-wa-wqs-and-tsca_12-9-16

Previous letter sent to EPA and their response:
–  SRRTTF Letter to EPA-Final-approved-10.23.13
–  EPA Response to SRRTTF Letter_pcbs_2.24.15

 

Federal Register publication of the Washington Water Quality Standards MORE INFORMATION

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The final rule was published in the Federal Register today, which means it will take effect on 12/28/16. All the information has been posted on EPA’s website here: https://www.epa.gov/wqs-tech/water-quality-standards-regulations-washington#fed

The docket is also now available (which is also available on the main link above) here: https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=EPA-HQ-OW-2015-0174. The docket includes the response to comments and economic analysis – direct links to these documents below.

Response to comments: https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=EPA-HQ-OW-2015-0174-0427

Econ analysis: https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=EPA-HQ-OW-2015-0174-0300

December 7, 2016 Education and Outreach Work Group Meeting

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The next meeting of the Spokane River Regional Toxics Task Force Education and Outreach Work Group is:

Date: Wednesday, December 7, 2016
Time: 1:30 p.m – 3:30 p.m. 
Location: RiverKeeper
35 West Main, Suite 300 Spokane WA

Click Here for a map.
To connect by phone:
Dial: 509-335-2277
Conf. ID: 5708027
 Note: (the line will remain open for 10 minutes after the meeting starts, if no one joins the call in that time, it will be disconnected, please let Kara Whitman know if you will join the meeting by phone later than this at kmwhitman@wsu.edu)
General Agenda:
  • Education and Outreach activity demonstration (bioaccumulation/biomagnification)
  • Education and Outreach Activities/audiences compilation (update on Brenden Campbell’s work)
  • Education and Outreach Work Plan development (Comp Plan)

Meeting Materials:
–  Education and Outreach Workgroup meeting_12.7.16 summary
–  srrttf-education-and-outreach-spreadsheet_10-17srrttf-education-and-outreach-spreadsheet_10-17

 

outreach items of interest:
–  fw_-dont-drip-and-drive-update-we-need-your-help
–  fw_-free-auto-leak-inspection-workshops-please-spread-the-word

PCB Video WMV (also titled “How to Protect Your Family” in another post, practical, informational) – EMSL Laboratory Services – 2011

https://youtu.be/RekYAZerLIU

Whither PCBs?  (Some history and cleaning up the Hudson) – Duke University – 2009

https://youtu.be/DXw_KDBtgB4

PCBs in our environment (history, fish bioaccumulation, polar bears, orcas) – Emily Zimmermann (student?)

https://youtu.be/oYD9L-aQcfw

December 7, 2016 Task Force and Technical Track Work Group Meeting

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The next meeting of the SRRTTF Task Force and Technical Track Work group is:

Date: Wednesday December 7, 2016
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Location: Washington Department of Ecology
N. 4601 Monroe St.
Spokane, WA 99205
Click here for a map.

Call In Number: 509-335-2277
Conference ID: 3675794

This meeting will be both a Full Task Force meeting as well as a Technical Track Work Group meeting. Full Task Force decision items will be addressed in the first hour of the meeting, once those decision items have been addressed, Task Force participants may choose to leave the meeting.

Meeting Documents:
–  SRRTTF/TTWG 12.7.16 Summary Notes_edited 1.25.17
–
–  SRRTTF-TTWG-agenda-12-07-16 (1)
–  SRRTTF-Comp Plan-cover-letter-on-letterhead_updated-11-29-16
–  pcb-control-actions-requiring-work-plans
– Final Comp Plan

– draft-letter-from-srrttf-to-epa-rev-11302016 For Task Force Approval