The Environmental Bulletin Board for the Ozarks Region
Bees on azalea flowers. Photo by Barbara Lucks.
Photo Credit: Terry Whaley
Bees on azalea flowers. Photo by Barbara Lucks.
Welcome to OzarksEnvironmentNews.com! This is your virtual bulletin board – a place to share information and celebrate your events, your accomplishments, your projects as well as a place to find info about organizations of like-minded folks, cool places to go to experience the outdoors at its best, and resources offering data, information, expertise. You are invited to share your news and enjoy the news of others! Got news? Report it to info@ozarksenvironmentnews.com Please note: we make every effort to ensure accuracy in our website; however, we cannot be responsible for info garnered from sites other than ours.
The mission of OzarksEnvironmentNews.com is to facilitate communication and to celebrate efforts and accomplishments among the environmental community of the Southwest Missouri Ozarks and to provide useful information to those who live in or visit the Region. Learn more...
Breaking News
Special Alert!
March 2023
Climate Pollution Reduction Grants
Intent to Apply Deadline is March 31st
The federal government is about to release $4.6 Billion in funding to address Climate Change via the EPA Climate Pollution Reduction Grants.
This funding will go to state-wide efforts to reduce greenhouse gasses (GHGs). However, it goes well beyond GHG emissions by focusing on the full spectrum of decarbonization. Materials management has an important and unique role in achieving energy efficiency, complementing the transition to clean energy and community decarbonization. There is embodied energy and carbon in every material produced, consumed, and, eventually unwanted. Recycling and composting, along with waste reduction and reuse, play a strong role in reducing carbon, recovering, and recirculating materials to prevent more GHGs.
State Recycling Organizations (SROs), cities, and counties should have a seat at the table in reducing climate pollution. Your State Recycling Organization or local government is eligible for this funding as long as your state has a Climate Action Plan.State leaders must notify the federal EPA of their intention to apply for these funds by March 31 and complete a work plan and budget by April 30, 2023.
Recent efforts undertaken by State environmental agencies to apply for funds to the US EPA may mean they will be able to meet this quick turnaround. The NRC encourages you to take an active role in ensuring that materials management is included as part of this program. We each have ways to reduce the impact of the excessive pollution that is changing our climate. Please reach out to your respective state agencies and find a way to take advantage of this funding opportunity.
The EPA held webinars about this grant on March 2 and 7, 2023. Webinar slides and recordings are posted on the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants website.
For complete details visit: https://www.epa.gov/inflation-reduction-act/climate-pollution-reduction-grants.
EPA Training Webinar: Developing and Implementing a PFAS Strategy for Pretreatment Coordinators and NPDES Permit Writers on March 23, 2023
The Environmental Protection Agency is offering a training opportunity for pretreatment coordinators and NPDES permit writers. This training opportunity will discuss EPA’s December 2022 Memorandum, Addressing PFAS Discharges in NPDES Permits and Through the Pretreatment Program and Monitoring Programs, found here: https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2022-12/NPDES_PFAS_State%20Memo_December_2022.pdf
This training will consist of speakers from EPA headquarters and Regions 1, 3, and 8. Speakers will walk through the contents and highlights of the memo and provide training on implementing its key components. EPA will discuss how to identify PFAS sources and create a PFAS Industrial User Inventory, how to develop a PFAS sampling plan for POTWs, and real world examples of permitting language and monitoring results.
The training will be held March 23, 2023, at 12:30 PM CST. To register for the training, please visit https://usepa.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJItf-morjItGE0YoTyVEEDyd3RnOPQDXUA. Please note that space is limited to the first 500 participants. It is recommended to watch the webinar in groups if possible and to register early.
Please stay tuned for the May and August Water Protection Forums for how this memo will affect NPDES permits issued by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. The Water Protection Program’s PFAS Workgroup, specifically the Permitting and Pretreatment subgroup, plan to develop policy recommendations based on the memo in question throughout 2023.
If you have questions about this training opportunity or to join the Permitting and Pretreatment subgroup, please contact Jessica Vitale at jessica.vitale@dnr.mo.gov, or Brad Allen at brad.allen@dnr.mo.gov.
YMCA of the Rockies | Estes Park, Colorado | June 12-15, 2023
It's AmeriCorps Week!
Since 2019, Stream Teams United and partner Stream Team organizations throughout Missouri have together hosted
22 AmeriCorps members, all helping to expand watershed education and stewardship in their communities!
A huge THANK YOU to the 22 members who have served as AmeriCorps members with Missouri Stream Team organizations in the last 3 years!
Stream Teams United is excited to announce that we are again hosting 4 Summer Associate AmeriCorps positions!
The following summer only positions are available: (dates listed are proposed service dates, but there is possibility for flexible start dates)
Missouri River Relief: June 1 to August 2, 2023. Application deadline April 28.
Maramec Spring Park: June 5 to July 30, 2023. Application deadline May 8.
Watershed Committee of the Ozarks: June 5 to July 30, 2023. Application deadline May 7.
James River Basin Partnership: June 12 to August 6, 2023. Application deadline May 15.
Interested? Visit the following website and search to find the on-line application.
To find the online application, go to:
https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/publicRequestSearch.do
Search by:
Program Type: AmeriCorps VISTA
State: Missouri
Program Name: Stream Teams United
Looking for a way to jump start your career, serve your community, or do you know a graduating senior?
Check out all the opportunities here!
Please forward this to anyone you know who might be interested!
"Fish Don't Want Your Meds" was created by the Missouri Product Stewardship Council (MOPSC), a coalition of governments, businesses, and other stakeholders, and the Product Stewardship Institute (PSI), a national policy advocate and consulting nonprofit.
“People with unused medications in their medicine cabinets shouldn’t have to wait for a twice-yearly DEA take-back day to safely dispose of them,” said Angie Snyder, Chair of the MOPSC. “This campaign will help protect people and the environment.”
“Missouri’s new take-back campaign is a great way to educate consumers about pharmaceuticals responsibility,” said Scott Cassel, CEO and Founder of PSI. “We look forward to continuing to work with the Missouri Product Stewardship Council to make sure all residents connect with these valuable resources.” https://missouripsc.org/initiatives/pharmaceuticals/
The people of Southwest Missouri are known for their ability to work together to solve problems. Communication is a critical component of those efforts. All advocacy work takes a toll on its warriors – we all need to celebrate our successes.
OzarksEnvironmentNews.com, created by Barbara Lucks, is a vehicle for both of these important components of a successful effort – communication and celebration.
Barbara Lucks grew up on a family owned and operated resort at the Lake of the Ozarks. Her father built the resort in 1932, just as the Lake was filling. She grew up with a love and respect for everything outdoors and of nature. Following graduation from Missouri State University, she stayed in Springfield and returned to a familiar pursuit – a career in corporate-level hotel management. In 1994, she joined the City of Springfield as the Materials Recovery/Education Coordinator and was instrumental in positioning Springfield as a regional recycling hub. She left the City in 2016, as the City’s first Sustainability Officer, to go into private consulting. She has an extensive resume – both professional and as a community volunteer leader.
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Subject Line: Ozarks Environment News
