Archive: February 25, 2020

 

 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7 11201 Renner Blvd., Lenexa, KS 66219   Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Nine Tribal Nations   EPA Administrator Appoints St. Joseph, Missouri, Mayor Bill McMurray to EPA Local Government Advisory Committee   Contact Information: [email protected]   Environmental News   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   (Lenexa, Kan., Feb. 25, 2020) – Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler announced the appointment of St. Joseph, Missouri, Mayor Bill McMurray as one of 12 new members to the Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC). The 31-member LGAC provides advice to EPA on developing stronger partnerships with local governments and building their capacity to deliver environmental services and programs. The administrator also appointed five new members to the LGAC’s Small Community Advisory Subcommittee.   “Ensuring the Agency is well informed on how its programs impact local governments is an essential part of our decision-making process,” Wheeler said. “I want to thank our 12 new LGAC members, and five new Small Community Advisory Subcommittee (SCAS) members, for their willingness to serve in this important role. I also want to thank the returning LGAC and SCAS members for their contributions. The committees provide invaluable insight on how to best work with our local partners to build and maintain strong environmental programs, and I look forward to working with them in the coming year.”   The administrator also appointed Commissioner Kitty Barnes of Catawba County, North Carolina, as the LGAC’s new chair.   “I am honored to be appointed chair of the Committee and look forward to working with Administrator Wheeler on issues of importance to us at the local level,” said Commissioner Barnes. “As elected and appointed officials of states, tribes, and local governments, we bring firsthand experience from the communities we represent.”   Kitty Barnes has served 21 years on the Catawba County Board of Commissioners, and 12 years as its chair. She has led the county to the top ranking in North Carolina for curbside, single‐stream recycling and biannual household hazardous waste collections. Commissioner Barnes also serves as vice‐chair of the National Association of Counties’ Environment, Energy, and Land Use Steering Committee and Resilient Counties Task Force.   The 11 other newly appointment LGAC members include:   The Honorable Gary Ward Black, commissioner of agriculture, state of Georgia The Honorable Bruce Bracker, supervisor, Santa Cruz County, Arizona The Honorable Melissa Cribbins, commissioner, Coos County, Oregon The Honorable Eric Genrich, mayor, Green Bay, Wisconsin The Honorable Evan Paul Hansen, House delegate, state of West Virginia The Honorable Ryan E. MacKenzie, state representative, House 134th District, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania The Honorable Steve Miller, mayor, Fairfield, Ohio The Honorable Cynthia Pratt, deputy mayor, Lacey, Washington The Honorable Matt Surrency, mayor, Hawthorne, Florida The Honorable Paul TenHaken, mayor, Sioux Falls, South Dakota The Honorable Eric Thompson, Tehoroniathe (Bright Sky), chief, St. Regis Mohawk Nation, New York   The five new appointments to the LGAC Small Community Advisory Subcommittee include:   The Honorable Vincent DeSantis, Esq., mayor, Gloversville, New York The Honorable Ella M. Jones, city council member, Ferguson, Missouri The Honorable Joan Lee, commissioner, Polk County, Minnesota The Honorable Gabriel Lopez, vice-chair, AK-Chin Indian Community, Arizona The Honorable Ann Mallek, commissioner, Albemarle County, Virginia   Chartered in 1993 under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Local Government Advisory Committee provides independent and objective policy advice to the EPA administrator on a broad range of issues affecting local governments, such as regulatory innovation and reform, environmental protection tools, pollution prevention, performance measures, and coordinated environmental management and stewardship. The Small Community Advisory Subcommittee was established by EPA in 1996 to advise the administrator on environmental issues of concern to the residents of smaller communities. New committee members were selected based on their demonstrated leadership experience; proven record of service to their communities; and involvement in effective environmental protection services and programs at the community, state, and national level.   The committees intend to convene in early 2020 to begin their work.   For more information and to see the full list of LGAC and SCAS members, please visit our websites: EPA Local Government Advisory Committee and EPA Small Community Advisory Subcommittee.   # # #   Learn more about EPA Region 7: https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/epa-region-7-midwest   Connect with EPA Region 7 on Facebook: www.facebook.com/eparegion7   Follow us on Twitter: @EPARegion7

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EPA Region 7, 11201 Renner Blvd., Lenexa, KS 66219 United States

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7 11201 Renner Blvd., Lenexa, KS 66219 Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Nine Tribal Nations   EPA at 50: Helping Address Emerging Water Challenges   Contact Information:  [email protected]    Environmental News   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   (Lenexa, Kan., Feb. 24, 2020) – This month, in celebration of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 50th anniversary, the agency is highlighting progress in protecting America’s waters. This final week of February features EPA actions to meet emerging water challenges, including supporting innovative solutions like water reuse, recruiting the next generation of water sector workforce and helping states and local communities address PFAS.   “While acknowledging significant accomplishments the agency and its partners have made in providing Americans with access to safe water, we also see emerging challenges that require collaborative and creative solutions,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Dave Ross. “Together, we are leading efforts to address these challenges to protect public health and the environment while supporting the economy—today and for future generations.”   EPA is helping address a number of emerging challenges, including bolstering safe and reliable water supplies for human consumption, agriculture, business, industry, recreation and healthy ecosystems. While the U.S. uses less freshwater today than 25 years ago—even as population and productivity grow—40 states anticipate some freshwater shortages within their borders over the next decade. Diversifying the nation’s water portfolio is a priority for the Trump Administration and EPA is answering that challenge by advancing water reuse technology, which has the potential to ensure the viability of our water economy for generations to come. This week EPA will unveil the next step under the National Water Reuse Action Plan, a collaborative effort that represents the first initiative of its magnitude to be coordinated across the water sector. Actions taken under this plan will bolster the sustainability, security and resilience of the nation’s water resources. For more on water reuse, visit: https://www.epa.gov/waterreuse.   As EPA works to promote strategies and technologies to help address the country’s water challenges, the agency is also working to highlight the importance of recruiting and training the next generation of water utility operators to implement those approaches. With approximately one-third of drinking water and wastewater utility operators eligible to retire in the next 10 years, EPA is helping utilities attract and maintain qualified operators—everyday environmental heros who protect public health and the environment. On September 24, 2019, EPA announced its Water Workforce Initiative, which will support cities and communities facing critical staffing shortages. For more information on EPA’s efforts to support the water workforce, visit: https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-water-infrastructure/water-sector-workforce and https://www.epa.gov/dwcapacity/learn-about-workforce-issues.   Additionally, aggressively addressing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is an active and ongoing priority for the EPA. One year ago, the agency announced its PFAS Action Plan—the agency’s first multi-media, multi-program, national communication and research plan to address an emerging environmental challenge like PFAS. EPA continues to make progress implementing this plan, including last week’s proposed regulatory determinations for perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in drinking water. For additional information on this action, visit www.epa.gov/safewater.   For more on EPA’s 50th Anniversary and how the agency is protecting America’s waters, visit: https://www.epa.gov/50.   Follow EPA’s 50th Anniversary celebration on social media using #EPAat50.   # # #   Learn more about EPA Region 7: https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/epa-region-7-midwest   Connect with EPA Region 7 on Facebook: www.facebook.com/eparegion7     Follow us on Twitter: @EPARegion7

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EPA Region 7, 11201 Renner Blvd., Lenexa, KS 66219 United States