OMB issues guidance to help clarifies ARRA "Buy American" provisions

The U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released interim final guidance to clarify the "Buy American" provisions of the ARRA.

Click here to read the guidance.

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack announces $84.8M for vital watershed projects

According to a press release issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA):

Recovery Act Assistance Will Help Rural Communities

WASHINGTON, April 16, 2009 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the USDA will be sending $84.8 million to state and local governments to improve water quality, increase water supply, decrease soil erosion, and improve fish and wildlife habitat in rural communities as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009.

"President Obama is committed to improving water quality, creating more dependable water supplies and decreasing soil erosion and this funding will make a big difference in the lives of the people who live in these rural communities," Vilsack said.

Other major benefits include improved community safety and health, flood mitigation, sediment control, and enhanced fish and wildlife habitat.

Click here for full text of the release.

Economic stimulus oversight field hearings announced

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee (Chairman Towns, D-N.Y.) will hold a series of oversight field hearings on stimulus spending under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (PL 111-5).

Contact: Lawrence Brady - Democratic Staff Director at 202-225-5051

Date Tuesday, April 21, 10 a.m.

Place Brooklyn Borough Hall; 209 Joralemon Street; Brooklyn, N.Y.

Note Date changed to April 21 from April 20. Time changed to 10 a.m.

Witnesses Scheduled:
William C. Thompson Jr. - comptroller, City of New York

Timothy Gilchrist - senior advisor for infrastructure and transportation, Office of New York Democratic Governor David A. Paterson

Edward Skyler - deputy mayor for operations, City of New York

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Date TBA

Place California location TBA

Note This hearing is planned for early June.

$600M in Recovery Act funding to clean up hazardous waste sites, create jobs

The Environmental Protection Agency recently issued the following press release:

Recovery act funds to accelerate cleanup, boost economy, create jobs and protect human health at 50 federal Superfund sites

Contact: Enesta Jones, 202-564-7873 /4355/ jones.enesta@epa.gov

(Washington, DC – April 15, 2009) EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson today announced $600 million in new funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 for the cleanup of hazardous waste (Superfund) sites across the nation. In most cases, this recovery act funding will accelerate the hazardous waste cleanup already underway at the sites and fund new clean-up projects. It will also jumpstart the local economy by creating jobs in the site areas.

“EPA has an answer to these challenging economic times,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “Under the Recovery Act, we're getting harmful pollutants and dangerous chemicals out of these communities and putting jobs and investment back in.”

The federal Superfund program was created in 1980 to clean up uncontrolled hazardous waste sites that pose unacceptable risks to human health and the environment. Superfund sites are often found in industrial areas hardest hit by the recession. Superfund cleanups are major construction projects that employ thousands of workers nationwide. Since it began, the program has completed construction of remedies at more than 1,060 of the 1,596 sites on its National Priorities List. The Superfund program is implementing new or expanded cleanup actions at 50 sites around the country with recovery act funds.

By starting or accelerating cleanup at Superfund sites, recovery act funding is also increasing the speed with which these sites are returned to productive use. When a Superfund site is redeveloped, it can offer significant economic benefits to local communities including future job creation.

President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act on February 17, 2009 and has directed the recovery act be implemented with unprecedented transparency and accountability. To that end, the American people can see how every dollar is being invested at http://www.epa.gov/recovery.

More information on the Superfund program: http://www.epa.gov/superfund.

EPA issues guidance for award of Water Planning Quality Management Grants through ARRA

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently issued a memo containing information, guidelines and answers to frequently asked questions on how the agency will award and administer Water Quality Management Planning Grants appropriated to the State and Tribal Assistance Grants through ARRA.

Click here to view the memo.

Secretary Salazar announces $260M in economic recovery investments to help California address long-term water supply challenges

According to a press release distributed April 15 by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of the Secretary:

SACRAMENTO, CA – Today, at a press conference with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and California congressional leaders, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced the Department of the Interior will invest $1 billion under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) in America’s water infrastructure to create jobs and get the economy moving again. Overall, the Department of the Interior will manage $3 billion in investments as part of the recovery plan signed by the President to jumpstart our economy, create or save jobs,
and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the 21st Century.

Of the $1 billion that Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation is investing in water projects across the country, $260 million will go to projects in California that will expand water supplies, repair aging water infrastructure, and mitigate the effects of a devastating drought the state is currently experiencing. An additional $135 million is available for grants for water reuse and recycling projects; California is emerging as a leader in the development of these projects and is expected to also significantly benefit from this funding.

“In the midst of one of the deepest economic crises in our history, Californians have been saddled with a drought that is putting tens of thousands of people out of work and devastating entire communities,” said Secretary Salazar. “President Obama’s economic recovery plan will not only create jobs on basic water infrastructure projects, but it will help address both the short and long-term water supply challenges the Golden State is facing. From boosting water supplies
and improving conservation to improving safety at our dams, these shovel-ready projects will make a real and immediate difference in the lives of farmers, businesses, Native American Tribes and communities across California.”

Click here to read the entire press release.

Clean Energy Recovery Funding Updates

The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) State and Local Climate and Energy Program has launched a Web site compiling EPA analysis of clean energy opportunities within the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The site provides information on clean energy opportunities from EPA as well as other federal agencies, descriptions of EPA programs that can help state and local governments maximize the clean energy benefits of Recovery Act funds, webcasts and training opportunities, and links to federal and NGO resources related to the Recovery Act.

To see these resources click on the following link: http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-programs/state-and-local/recovery.html.