Environmental Justice Blog: January 2015

Thursday, January 1, 2015

EPA Posts New Environmental Education Grant Opportunity

The second Request for Proposals (RFP) under the 2014-2015 Environmental Education (EE) Grants Program, called the EE Local Grants RFP, is now open. EPA seeks grant proposals to support locally-focused environmental education projects that promote environmental awareness and stewardship. Successful applicants will submit projects that design, demonstrate, and/or disseminate environmental education practices, methods, or techniques.

The goal of these projects is to develop informed, knowledgeable citizens, and provide them with the skills to take responsible actions to protect the environment. EPA expects to award three grants from each of EPA's 10 Regional Offices, for a total of approximately 30 grants nationwide. Applications are due March 6, 2015.

Read the RFP and learn how to apply here: http://go.usa.gov/MsN4.

A webinar specific to the EE Local Grants RFP will be scheduled for a later date.

Proposals under the first RFP, called the EE Model Grants RFP, will be accepted through February 2, 2015. (EPA)

EPA Smog Standards Hearings

EPA to Hold Public Hearings in California, Texas and Washington, D.C. on Proposed Smog Standards

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold three public hearings on the proposed updates to the national air quality standards for ground-level ozone, also known as smog. EPA has proposed to strengthen the standards to a level within a range of 65 to 70 parts per billion to better protect Americans' health and the environment, while taking comment on a level down to 60 ppb. The agency estimates that the benefits of meeting the proposed standards will significantly outweigh the costs, preventing asthma attacks, heart attacks, missed school days and premature deaths, among other health effects.

WHAT: Public hearings on proposed updates to national air quality standards for ozone
WHEN: Jan. 29 and Feb. 2, 2015. Each hearing will begin at 9 a.m. and continue until 7:30 p.m. local time
WHERE:

Jan. 29: Arlington, Texas (Arlington City Hall, 101 W. Abram Street, Arlington, Texas, 76010)
Jan. 29: Washington. D.C. (U.S. EPA, 1301 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room 1153, Washington, D.C. 20460)
Feb. 2: Sacramento, Calif. (California Air Resources Board, Byron Sher Auditorium, 1001 "I" Street, Sacramento, CA 95814

Note: People attending the hearings in Washington, D.C. and Sacramento will be required to show valid photo identification to enter the buildings. In Washington, an additional form of ID may be required for people with driver's licenses issued by certain states. See http://www.epa.gov/glo/hearings.html for more information about the REAL ID Act.

The public may register to speak at a specific time at a hearing by contacting Eloise Shepherd at 919-541-5507 or shepherd.eloise@epa.gov. People may also register in person on the day of the hearing. EPA will accept written comments on the proposed standards until March 17, 2015. The agency will issue a final rule by Oct. 1, 2015. (EPA)

For more information about the proposal: https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2014/12/17/2014-28674/national-ambient-air-quality-standards-for-ozone

For instructions about submitting written comments: http://www.epa.gov/glo/how-to-comment.html

Statement of Purpose

Mission and goals of conferences: The EJ conferences bring together individuals interested in environmental justice from diverse groups at this noteworthy juncture in the history of environmental justice, through a process of dialogue and learning from each other. The conference seeks to bring together federal employees, academics, business and industry, non-profit organizations, faith-based organizations, local community activists and others to participate in dialog on achieving equality of environmental protection. The conference will serve as an academic legal conference to advance scholarship regarding environmental justice.