Did you miss the first offering of the CWSRF webcast on "How to Use
Stimulus Funds to Finance Green Water Infrastructure"? Then please download the archived version of the May 14th webcast, or join us for a repeat offering on May 28 from 11 AM - 1 PM EST!
A download of the slides that were presented during last week's webcast
as well as the archived video recording of the webcast are available online at:
http://216.75.69.10/downloads/stimuluswebcast/GreenProjectWebcasts.htm
Additionally, we will be holding a repeat offering of this webcast on Thursday,
May 28 from 11 AM to 1 PM EST. This will include the same content that
was presented in the first webcast, but will include the opportunity for
attendees to submit questions that will be addressed during several Q&A sessions.
Registration for this second webcast is now open online:
https://www.eventbuilder.com/event_desc.asp?p_event=c84g7u6z
For more information on CWSRF financing, we encourage you to contact
your state CWSRF program. Contact information is also available online:
http://www.epa.gov/OWM/cwfinance/cwsrf/contacts.htm
May 27, 2009
May 26, 2009
ARRA Report on Spending
A recent report on the spending and progress of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has been released. The report covers the progress in the areas of funding, jobs, state and local fiscal relief, and reports from the field. To read the full report, click here.
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: Accessibility Reminder
The “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act” funds a wide array of projects and programs to jump start the economy and create jobs. The $787 billion measure provides funding for infrastructure, transportation, energy efficiency, education, health care, and aid to cities and states.
It is important that accessibility for people with disabilities is integrated into stimulus projects as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other laws. The ADA treats accessibility as a civil right and applies to cities and states and to the private sector. In addition, laws such as the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) and the Rehabilitation Act cover accessibility in the federal sector and also apply to the recipients of federal funds.
Standards and guidelines issued under these laws govern access to buildings, transportation, streetscapes, outdoor sites, and information technology. They include ADA standards for facilities and transportation vehicles, ABA facility standards, and standards for electronic and information technology in the federal sector covered by section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.
The U.S. Access Board, a federal agency, leads the development and upkeep of these standards and guidelines and provides technical assistance and training on them to the public. The Board is available to provide further guidance on applying the requirements to Recovery Act projects so that accessibility is properly achieved. The Board also offers supplementary resources on accessible design.
For further information, please visit the Access Board’s website at www.access-board.gov/recovery or contact:
U.S. Access Board
(800) 872-2253 (voice) or (800) 993-2822 (TTY)
ta@access-board.gov (technical assistance)
training@access-board.gov (training)
It is important that accessibility for people with disabilities is integrated into stimulus projects as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other laws. The ADA treats accessibility as a civil right and applies to cities and states and to the private sector. In addition, laws such as the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) and the Rehabilitation Act cover accessibility in the federal sector and also apply to the recipients of federal funds.
Standards and guidelines issued under these laws govern access to buildings, transportation, streetscapes, outdoor sites, and information technology. They include ADA standards for facilities and transportation vehicles, ABA facility standards, and standards for electronic and information technology in the federal sector covered by section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.
The U.S. Access Board, a federal agency, leads the development and upkeep of these standards and guidelines and provides technical assistance and training on them to the public. The Board is available to provide further guidance on applying the requirements to Recovery Act projects so that accessibility is properly achieved. The Board also offers supplementary resources on accessible design.
For further information, please visit the Access Board’s website at www.access-board.gov/recovery or contact:
U.S. Access Board
(800) 872-2253 (voice) or (800) 993-2822 (TTY)
ta@access-board.gov (technical assistance)
training@access-board.gov (training)
STIMULUS: Little spent so far on energy, environment project
Alex Kaplun, E&E reporter (5/13/2009)
The Obama administration has committed $88 billion from the economic stimulus package in the three months since the law's passage, but little of that has been spent on energy and environment initiatives, according to a White House report released today.
Of more than $1.1 billion the administration has delivered each day since passage of the $787 billion law, most has gone to social programs, the report shows.
In the debate that preceded passage of the law, the White House and congressional Democrats repeatedly touted the measure as a means of jump-starting alternative energy developments and addressing backlogs and underfunding in environmental programs. The package included well over $100 billion for transportation infrastructure and various energy and environmental initiatives.
But the report shows that out of the $88 billion already committed, about $3.6 billion are for Energy Department programs, $1.8 billion for U.S. EPA and $16,000 for the Interior Department.
Under DOE cash committed, the majority, $2.3 billion, has gone for Defense Department environmental cleanups and most of the rest, about $1.1 billion, has gone toward energy efficiency, renewable energy or science research.
Virtually all of EPA's committed money, more than $1.7 billion, has gone toward state and tribal assistance grants.
The Department of Transportation has committed $10.4 billion to roughly 3,000 transportation projection but only a fraction, $34 million, has already been paid out.
The pattern is similar for the various energy- and environment-related agencies. DOE has paid out $22.3 million, EPA just over $1 million and Interior has yet to provide any funds.
Most of the DOE cash has gone toward the Uranium Enrichment Decontamination and Decommissioning Fund, while all of EPA's spent money has gone to the Office of Inspector General or Environmental Programs and Management.
As a whole, the federal government has paid a total of $28.6 million, but almost all of that has gone to Medicaid checks and unemployment benefits.
Republicans criticized the administration for failing to quickly spend the money and jump-start the economy. But White House officials said the pace of the spending remains on schedule and the legislation would meet the promised job-saving and job-creation goals promised by Democrats.
Cash for specific projects typically takes longer to spend than direct payments to individuals. Administration officials say they expect spending on infrastructure and other initiatives to increase in the coming months.
"As the pace of the Recovery Act spending increases, we anticipate that by the end of September 2010, there will be 3.5 million jobs in place that have been created or retained and that we will have outlayed the $350 billion that you targeted if not more," Vice President Joe Biden said in a letter to President Obama. Biden's office is in charge of tracking stimulus spending.
The administration has said that it wants to commit 70 percent of the stimulus dollars by the end of 2010.
The White House intends to release a similar report on stimulus spending every three months.
The Obama administration has committed $88 billion from the economic stimulus package in the three months since the law's passage, but little of that has been spent on energy and environment initiatives, according to a White House report released today.
Of more than $1.1 billion the administration has delivered each day since passage of the $787 billion law, most has gone to social programs, the report shows.
In the debate that preceded passage of the law, the White House and congressional Democrats repeatedly touted the measure as a means of jump-starting alternative energy developments and addressing backlogs and underfunding in environmental programs. The package included well over $100 billion for transportation infrastructure and various energy and environmental initiatives.
But the report shows that out of the $88 billion already committed, about $3.6 billion are for Energy Department programs, $1.8 billion for U.S. EPA and $16,000 for the Interior Department.
Under DOE cash committed, the majority, $2.3 billion, has gone for Defense Department environmental cleanups and most of the rest, about $1.1 billion, has gone toward energy efficiency, renewable energy or science research.
Virtually all of EPA's committed money, more than $1.7 billion, has gone toward state and tribal assistance grants.
The Department of Transportation has committed $10.4 billion to roughly 3,000 transportation projection but only a fraction, $34 million, has already been paid out.
The pattern is similar for the various energy- and environment-related agencies. DOE has paid out $22.3 million, EPA just over $1 million and Interior has yet to provide any funds.
Most of the DOE cash has gone toward the Uranium Enrichment Decontamination and Decommissioning Fund, while all of EPA's spent money has gone to the Office of Inspector General or Environmental Programs and Management.
As a whole, the federal government has paid a total of $28.6 million, but almost all of that has gone to Medicaid checks and unemployment benefits.
Republicans criticized the administration for failing to quickly spend the money and jump-start the economy. But White House officials said the pace of the spending remains on schedule and the legislation would meet the promised job-saving and job-creation goals promised by Democrats.
Cash for specific projects typically takes longer to spend than direct payments to individuals. Administration officials say they expect spending on infrastructure and other initiatives to increase in the coming months.
"As the pace of the Recovery Act spending increases, we anticipate that by the end of September 2010, there will be 3.5 million jobs in place that have been created or retained and that we will have outlayed the $350 billion that you targeted if not more," Vice President Joe Biden said in a letter to President Obama. Biden's office is in charge of tracking stimulus spending.
The administration has said that it wants to commit 70 percent of the stimulus dollars by the end of 2010.
The White House intends to release a similar report on stimulus spending every three months.
May 19, 2009
FRA Announces High Speed Rail Workshops
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is holding High-Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail Workshops as the agency begins to implement a vision for developing a cohesive national intercity and high-speed passenger rail network. This vision was set forth in FRA's Strategic Plan for High-Speed Rail (HSR) announced by President Obama, Vice President Biden and U.S. Transportation Secretary LaHood, and sent to Congress on April 16, 2009.
The workshops will be led by FRA Deputy Administrator Karen Rae or Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph Szabo. Through these workshops, FRA is reaching out to the rail community in seven regions across the country to seek input on the Interim Guidance the agency is required to issue on or before June 17, 2009 for the $8 billion in grant funds provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) for the high-speed rail corridors program, intercity passenger rail grants, and congestion grants. The workshops will enable FRA to discuss the HSR Strategic Plan with key stakeholders such as state departments of transportation, regional planning authorities, metropolitan leaders, associations and labor groups (under the ARRA, these workshops exclude the participation of lobbyists). The agency seeks input not only to provide it with your regional vision of high-speed and intercity rail networks, but to enable stakeholders to focus on the critical factors that will make this program a success for generations to come.
The goal of the workshop is to take the first steps toward determining how best to partner together to make the Strategic Plan a reality. During the workshop, you will have an opportunity to share experiences, raise concerns, provide insights, and make recommendations on several key issues and questions, as well as hear those of your colleagues and representatives from a regional perspective. The workshop schedule will include the following:
1. Introduction – 10 minutes
2. Overview of FRA strategic plan and next steps – 30 minutes
3. Amtrak presentation – 15 minutes
4. Q & A – 35 minutes
5. Regional presentation – 30 minutes
6. Break – 15 minutes
7. Working group break-out – 1 hour
8. Wrap-up – 15 minutes
The workshops will be held 1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. on the following dates and locations:
Southeast Corridor: Charlotte – May 20th
Renaissance Charlotte Suites Hotel
2800 Coliseum Drive, Charlotte, NC 28205
Florida Corridor: Orlando – May 21st
Marriott Orlando Airport
7499 Augusta National Drive, Orlando, FL 32822
Pacific Northwest Corridor: Seattle – May 27th
Seattle Airport Marriott Hotel
3201 South 176th Street, Seattle, WA 98188
California Corridor: Sacramento – May 28th
Sacramento Marriott Rancho Cordova
11211 Point East Drive, Rancho Cordova, CA 95742
South Central and Gulf Coast Corridor: Houston - May 29th
Marriott Houston Airport
18700 John F. Kennedy Blvd, Houston, TX 77032
Midwest Region: Chicago – June 1st
Union Station, Union Gallery (off the Great Hall)
210 South Canal Street, Chicago, IL 60606
Northeast Region: Philadelphia – June 2nd
The Westin Philadelphia
99 South 17th Street at Liberty Place Philadelphia
Due to practical space and time constraints, FRA asks that you only plan to attend the event that is nearest to your location or proposed corridor. Please RSVP at the following Web site: https://survey.deloitte.com/wsb.dll/5644/FRARegistration.htm, and indicate which workshop you will be attending no later than 3 days before the scheduled workshop, after which confirmed attendees will receive additional details regarding the location and program. Those wishing to attend without an RSVP may do so as long as space is available. (Despite the name survey in the URL, the website is not a survey, but rather a means to track the number of individuals who indicate that they will be attending particular workshop sessions.)
In addition to participating in the workshop, the agency is requesting the public to submit written comments to FRA by June 5, 2009 on issues that should be addressed in the Interim Guidance and specific recommendations on the criteria to be used in evaluating grant applications. FRA has created a public docket (Docket No. FRA-2009-0045) for the receipt of written comments. Please visit FRA's Web site at: www.fra.dot.gov/us/content/2236 For information regarding the various ways in which you may submit comments to the public docket.
Please note, additional sessions to aid states with the mechanics of applying for ARRA funds will be scheduled after these workshops, as will informational sessions for industry, labor, intergovernmental and other interested parties.
The workshops will be led by FRA Deputy Administrator Karen Rae or Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph Szabo. Through these workshops, FRA is reaching out to the rail community in seven regions across the country to seek input on the Interim Guidance the agency is required to issue on or before June 17, 2009 for the $8 billion in grant funds provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) for the high-speed rail corridors program, intercity passenger rail grants, and congestion grants. The workshops will enable FRA to discuss the HSR Strategic Plan with key stakeholders such as state departments of transportation, regional planning authorities, metropolitan leaders, associations and labor groups (under the ARRA, these workshops exclude the participation of lobbyists). The agency seeks input not only to provide it with your regional vision of high-speed and intercity rail networks, but to enable stakeholders to focus on the critical factors that will make this program a success for generations to come.
The goal of the workshop is to take the first steps toward determining how best to partner together to make the Strategic Plan a reality. During the workshop, you will have an opportunity to share experiences, raise concerns, provide insights, and make recommendations on several key issues and questions, as well as hear those of your colleagues and representatives from a regional perspective. The workshop schedule will include the following:
1. Introduction – 10 minutes
2. Overview of FRA strategic plan and next steps – 30 minutes
3. Amtrak presentation – 15 minutes
4. Q & A – 35 minutes
5. Regional presentation – 30 minutes
6. Break – 15 minutes
7. Working group break-out – 1 hour
8. Wrap-up – 15 minutes
The workshops will be held 1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. on the following dates and locations:
Southeast Corridor: Charlotte – May 20th
Renaissance Charlotte Suites Hotel
2800 Coliseum Drive, Charlotte, NC 28205
Florida Corridor: Orlando – May 21st
Marriott Orlando Airport
7499 Augusta National Drive, Orlando, FL 32822
Pacific Northwest Corridor: Seattle – May 27th
Seattle Airport Marriott Hotel
3201 South 176th Street, Seattle, WA 98188
California Corridor: Sacramento – May 28th
Sacramento Marriott Rancho Cordova
11211 Point East Drive, Rancho Cordova, CA 95742
South Central and Gulf Coast Corridor: Houston - May 29th
Marriott Houston Airport
18700 John F. Kennedy Blvd, Houston, TX 77032
Midwest Region: Chicago – June 1st
Union Station, Union Gallery (off the Great Hall)
210 South Canal Street, Chicago, IL 60606
Northeast Region: Philadelphia – June 2nd
The Westin Philadelphia
99 South 17th Street at Liberty Place Philadelphia
Due to practical space and time constraints, FRA asks that you only plan to attend the event that is nearest to your location or proposed corridor. Please RSVP at the following Web site: https://survey.deloitte.com/wsb.dll/5644/FRARegistration.htm, and indicate which workshop you will be attending no later than 3 days before the scheduled workshop, after which confirmed attendees will receive additional details regarding the location and program. Those wishing to attend without an RSVP may do so as long as space is available. (Despite the name survey in the URL, the website is not a survey, but rather a means to track the number of individuals who indicate that they will be attending particular workshop sessions.)
In addition to participating in the workshop, the agency is requesting the public to submit written comments to FRA by June 5, 2009 on issues that should be addressed in the Interim Guidance and specific recommendations on the criteria to be used in evaluating grant applications. FRA has created a public docket (Docket No. FRA-2009-0045) for the receipt of written comments. Please visit FRA's Web site at: www.fra.dot.gov/us/content/2236 For information regarding the various ways in which you may submit comments to the public docket.
Please note, additional sessions to aid states with the mechanics of applying for ARRA funds will be scheduled after these workshops, as will informational sessions for industry, labor, intergovernmental and other interested parties.
May 18, 2009
DOT Announces $1.5 Billion in Transportation Grants Available
The U.S. Department of Transportation has announced the availability of $1.5 billion in TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) Discretionary Grants for capital investment in surface transportation projects. The program was created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) signed into law in February. Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis to projects that have a significant impact on the nation, a region or metropolitan area and can create jobs and benefit economically distressed areas.
Applications for TIGER discretionary grants must be submitted to US Department of Transportation (USDOT) by September 15, 2009 from state and local governments, including U.S. territories, tribal governments, transit agencies, port authorities and others. Comments on the criteria must be received by June 1, 2009.
The grants can range from $20 million up to $300 million to support high impact transportation projects. USDOT can waive the minimum grant requirement for beneficial projects in smaller cities, regions or states. The department will require rigorous economic justifications for projects over $100 million, and to ensure responsible spending, the department will require all fund recipients to report on their activities on a routine basis.
The solicitation published in the May 18th Federal Register provides clear criteria for the department to make merit-based decisions on the new discretionary program. Primary selection criteria include contributing to the medium- to long-term economic competitiveness of the nation, improving the condition of existing transportation facilities and systems, improving the quality of living and working environments through livable communities, improving energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving the safety of U.S. transportation facilities.
The Department will also give priority to projects that are expected to quickly create and preserve jobs and stimulate rapid increases in economic activity, especially projects that will benefit economically distressed areas.
To view the Federal Register notice, please visit http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fedreg/a090518c.html. Look under Transportation Department, Notices: Funding Availability; Request for Comments on Grant Criteria; Supplemental Discretionary Grants for Capital Investments in Surface Transportation Infrastructure.
To view the TIGER Fact Sheet, click here.
To view US Department of Transportation TIGER Press Release, click here.
To view the May 18th issue of the Federal Register, click here.
Applications for TIGER discretionary grants must be submitted to US Department of Transportation (USDOT) by September 15, 2009 from state and local governments, including U.S. territories, tribal governments, transit agencies, port authorities and others. Comments on the criteria must be received by June 1, 2009.
The grants can range from $20 million up to $300 million to support high impact transportation projects. USDOT can waive the minimum grant requirement for beneficial projects in smaller cities, regions or states. The department will require rigorous economic justifications for projects over $100 million, and to ensure responsible spending, the department will require all fund recipients to report on their activities on a routine basis.
The solicitation published in the May 18th Federal Register provides clear criteria for the department to make merit-based decisions on the new discretionary program. Primary selection criteria include contributing to the medium- to long-term economic competitiveness of the nation, improving the condition of existing transportation facilities and systems, improving the quality of living and working environments through livable communities, improving energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving the safety of U.S. transportation facilities.
The Department will also give priority to projects that are expected to quickly create and preserve jobs and stimulate rapid increases in economic activity, especially projects that will benefit economically distressed areas.
To view the Federal Register notice, please visit http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fedreg/a090518c.html. Look under Transportation Department, Notices: Funding Availability; Request for Comments on Grant Criteria; Supplemental Discretionary Grants for Capital Investments in Surface Transportation Infrastructure.
To view the TIGER Fact Sheet, click here.
To view US Department of Transportation TIGER Press Release, click here.
To view the May 18th issue of the Federal Register, click here.
May 11, 2009
CWSRF Recovery Act Funding Webcast
SAVE THE DATE -- MAY 14, 2009, 2-4 PM EST for a webcast on State Revolving Fund Recovery Act funding for green and innovative projects
Did you know that stimulus money is available in your state for green projects that will help protect water resources? Approximately $800 million is available right now through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund’s Recovery Act appropriation to provide low-cost loans or grants for a variety of green projects, including green stormwater infrastructure and nonpoint source solutions, decentralized approaches to wastewater treatment, water and energy efficiency, and wetland restoration.
Join EPA on Thursday, May 14, 2009 from 2-4 PM EST to learn more about how you can benefit from this funding opportunity. EPA will introduce the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) programs, describe what types of projects may be eligible under the Recovery Act’s Green Project Reserve, and how you can apply for funding for your projects.
This webcast is for anyone in the water quality community that would like to learn more about CWSRF Green Project Reserve funding. Please feel free to forward this notice to potentially interested individuals or organizations.
To learn more about this webcast, or to register and attend, please visit the following website:https://www.eventbuilder.com/event_desc.asp?p_event=e7f4g7n2
Connections are limited, so if multiple individuals at your organization are interested in participating, please consider accessing the webcast from the same computer.
About the CWSRF: The Clean Water State Revolving Fund programs have been active in every state and
The Clean Water State Revolving Fund programs received $4 billion dollars in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, and will help create jobs by funding projects to improve and maintain water quality in communities across the country. 20% of ARRA money has been placed in a Green Project Reserve, and is specifically targeted towards green and alternative projects.
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