H-GAC Community and Environmental Update- APR 2006

Manager's Welcome
This is the April issue of the Houston-Galveston Area Council's (H-GAC's) Community and Environmental Planning (C&E) E-newsletter. We hope this monthly newsletter will keep you up to date on the wide variety of community planning, economic development and environmental planning programs going on at H-GAC. We want this information to be useful and are very interested in your feedback! If you have any questions about any of our programs, please feel free to contact me at 713-993-4560 or Jeff.Taebel@h-gac.com. To unsubscribe, add another subscriber or offer any comments on the e-newsletter, please e-mail cep_news@h-gac.com. To view the current and past editions of the e-newsletter, please visit:
www.h-gac.com/CEeNewsletter

Please click on the links below to view information regarding each topic.

IN THIS ISSUE
Requesting Applications: FY07 Solid Waste Implementation Grants
2006 Environmental Summit 
Local Schools Recognized in Arbor Day Poster Contest
Recycle Old Fishing Line
Urban Forestry Summit
EPA Region 6 Announces Grants for Wetlands Protection
CNMP Website Launched
Keep America Beautiful to Focus on Reducing Cigarette Litter

H-GAC MEETING NOTICES 
MSW Basics Workshop
Storm Debris: Community Relations and Special Collection Areas 
Solid Waste Management Committee 
Regional Recycling Roundtable: Electronic Recycling

IN THIS ISSUE
Requesting Applications: FY07 Solid Waste Implementation Grants
The Houston-Galveston Area Council is requesting applications for FY2007 Solid Waste Implementation Grants. The due date for applications is 3:00 pm, Tuesday, May 30, 2006.  There will be a Grant Application Workshop on Monday, May 15th at 1:30 pm. The workshop will be held at the H-GAC offices on the second floor in Conference Room A. Please RSVP to Kelly Doyle if you plan to attend. Grant applicants are strongly encouraged to attend the Grant Application Workshop. The application packet materials can be downloaded from our web site at www.h-gac.com/2007swgrants.

If you have any questions or concerns, or if you would like to obtain a hard copy of the application packet, you may contact the Solid Waste staff:
Kelly Doyle, Environmental Planner, 713-993-4566, kdoyle@h-gac.com
Amy Boyers, Senior Environmental Planner, 713-993-2441, aboyers@h-gac.com
Cheryl Mergo, Solid Waste Program Manager, 713-993-4520, cmergo@h-gac.com
Gabi De la Rosa, Public Information Planner, 713-993-4568, gdelarosa@h-gac.com
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2006 Environmental Summit
The City of Houston, along with co-sponsor Keep Houston Beautiful will be hosting the 2006 Environmental Summit on Thursday, June 1st at the Marriott Westchase.The goal/theme of the Summit promotes Mayor White's environmental plan and vision for Houston and states, "Make Houston a Model Environmental City". We envision the Summit as a vehicle to develop a baseline to address the many environmental issues facing the Houston area, as well as a vehicle to bring together those environmental "shareholders" to address these key issues. 

There will be General Sessions in the morning from 9:00 am to 11:30 am. The noon luncheon will be highlighted by Mayor Bill White presenting Environmental Excellence Awards to worthy recipients, along with a "Recycled Fashion Show" coordinated by Houston Community College. From 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm there will be concurrent sessions covering the areas of Energy Issues, Sustainable Development, Pollution Reduction and Community Involvement. There will also be an exhibit area for companies and groups to disseminate information. 

Please come out and join us. A seat at the luncheon is $30 and allows entry into the General and Concurrent Sessions. Companies and groups can also become Sponsors at various levels of participation. Additionally, we encourage you to participate by nominating your hard-working employees who work in the environmental arena for award consideration. For more information and to obtain general information about the Summit contact Gary Readore (713-837-9137; gary.readore@cityofhouston.net) or Ed Zilton (713-837-9139; Edward.zilton@cityofhouston.net).  For information about the Environmental Excellence Awards contact Marilyn Leday (713-837-9138; marilyn.leday@cityofhouston.net).
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Local Schools Recognized in Arbor Day Poster Contest
As part of the state Arbor Day celebration, the Texas Forest Service (TFS) sponsored the National Foundation's poster contest in Texas. This year's theme, "Trees Are Terrific...in All Shapes and Sizes!" helped teachers and students learn about the diversity of trees and how they are adapted to their environment.  More than 6,000 fifth-graders in 149 Texas schools took part in the classroom activities and drew posters illustrating the theme.

H-GAC schools did very well in the competition.  A student from Lexington Creek Elementary in Missouri City was voted the Winner of the Southeast Region. Four additional posters from Conroe, Houston and Sugarland received honorable mention.   Lexington Creek Elementary will receive a 15-gallon tree to be planted on their school grounds as part of an Arbor Day ceremony. To view the posters visit http://texasforestservice.tamu.edu/shared/article.asp?DocumentID=1212

H-GAC, in partnership with the Texas Forest Service, is currently working with local communities to develop tree ordinances, establish "neighborwoods" tree planting programs, and increase the number of schools participating in Arbor Day celebrations. To find out more about H-GAC's Urban Forestry Program visit us on the web at www.h-gac.com, or contact Chuck Wemple at 713-993-4514 or cwemple@h-gac.com
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Recycle Old Fishing Line
This year's annual "River, Lakes, Bays 'n' Bayous Trash Bash" cleanup effort in the Houston and Galveston area had a new twist. While collecting debris along shorelines of local waterways, volunteers were told to keep an eye out for used fishing line and deposit it in special recycling bins. Monofilament line, the type used by most anglers, is a strong, flexible plastic line that is manufactured as a single strand. This line, even line that is thrown in the garbage, can end up in the environment. Birds and other animals become entangled in it and may drown or lose a limb, or swallow it and starve to death, according to wildlife advocates. The line also can wrap around boat propellers, causing damage by blocking water intakes and creating excessive wear on lower units. Monofilament fishing line can last up to 600 years in an aquatic environment.

H-GAC is working with John O'Connell, Texas Sea Grant College Program's Matagorda County marine agent, to spearhead the Monofilament Recovery and Recycling Program.  In addition to promoting the program at Trash Bash, H-GAC worked with Walden Marina on Lake Conroe to establish a fishing line recycling – and hopes to add additional recycling bins at several Clear Lake and Galveston Marinas during the summer of 2006. Recycling bins are also available at many boat ramps, fishing piers, parks, tackle shops and marinas during the rest of the year — a list is available at mrrp.tamu.edu.
 
Pure Fishing, the parent company of the fishing gear vendor Berkley, is the only company recycling the line, which is used to manufacture new plastic fishing-related products such as tackle boxes and spools for line.
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Urban Forestry Summit
H-GAC is teaming with the Texas Forest Service and the Houston Advanced Research Center to host Urban Forestry Summit 2006.  A one-day workshop for Community Leaders, Municipal Officials, Public Works, Parks, and Planning Staff, Home Owner and Neighborhood Association Members, Residential and Commercial Developers, and Concerned Citizens. The Summit will be held at the Houston Arboretum on May 11, 2006. The workshop fee of $25 covers lunch.

Building on the success of last year's summit, we will have national and local experts addressing Urban Forestry issues that affect urban, suburban and rural areas.  This is a great opportunity for municipal officials, planning and parks staff, community leaders, and concerned citizens to learn more about the important urban forestry topics, including: Measuring the Economic Benefit of Trees • Incorporating Trees into Flood Control Structures • Preserving Trees during Residential and Commercial Development • The Role of Trees in Quality of Life Initiatives • The Importance of Tree Inventories • Developing an Effective Tree Ordinance • Funding Tree Planting Projects.

Please RSVP by May 5th to Sandra McKnight at 713.993.2461 or sandra.mcknight@h-gac.com. For more information on the Urban Forestry Summit, visit us on the web at http://www.houstonregionalforest.org/Events/Summit2006 or contact Chuck Wemple at 713.993.4514 or cwemple@h-gac.com .
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EPA Region 6 Announces Availability of Grants for Wetlands Protection 
EPA Region 6 (TX, NM, AK, LA, and OK) is now accepting applications for the Wetlands Program Development Grants (WPDGs). This year's WPDG Program encourages applicants to pursue projects that will develop one or more core elements of a comprehensive wetland program: Regulation; Monitoring and Assessment; Restoration; Water Quality Standards; Public – Private Partnerships; and Coordination with other water programs. Proposals are due April 29, 2006. For more information, click on the following URL: http://www.lgean.org/html/whatsnew.cfm?id=1033
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Keep America Beautiful to Focus on Reducing Cigarette Litter
Keep America Beautiful is stepping up its efforts to prevent cigarette butt littering. Cigarette butts are the most-littered item in America, representing nearly 30 percent of all items documented in our cleanup initiatives. The group will aggressively address this growing problem is essential to the mission of improving communities through litter prevention, waste reduction and beautification.

Keep America Beautiful said many smokers do not believe tossing cigarette butts is littering. And many believe cigarette butts are biodegradable. Filters, the group said, are made of cellulose acetate which is a plastic that does not easily degrade under normal conditions.     
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CNMP Website Launched
Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans (CNMP) Watch is a web source for manure and nutrient management planning information. It is designed to assist the agriculture livestock industry and others with information and guidance related to nutrient management plans and CNMPs. The site is made possible by the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture Research Foundation through funding from EPA's Office of Wastewater Management. The site also provides state-by-state information on specific requirements. The site is intended for the agricultural livestock industry, federal and state government agencies, and agricultural service providers, but can be a valuable for agriculture as a whole, the environmental community as well as the general public. For more information click here:  http://www.cnmpwatch.com/.
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H-GAC MEETING NOTICES
MSW Basics Workshop
April 13, 2006
9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
H-GAC Conference Room A
3555 Timmons Lane,
Houston, TX 77027
 
This workshop is intended for those new to municipal solid waste (MSW) services and will cover basic information on history and types of MSW services. Topics Include: Recycling & Landfill Basics, Materials Recovery Facility and Special Events, Compost Operations Basics, HHW/E-Waste Basics. Speakers Include: Chuck Rivette - Waste Management of Texas, Marcos Elizondo - Republic Waste Services, Lori LeBlue - Central Texas Recycling Authority, Alan Watts - TCEQ, Cheryl Fentress - Harris County Storm Water Quality. For more information please contact Amy Boyers at 713-993-2441 or aboyers@h-gac.com. RSVP Required. To RSVP please contact Mila Bagdikian at 713-499-6676 or mbagdikian@h-gac.com.
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Regional Recycling Roundtable: Electronic Recycling
April 20, 2006
H-GAC Conference Room A
3555 Timmons, Houston, TX 77027
2:00 pm to 3:30 pm
RSVP to Kelly Doyle at 713-993-4566 or kdoyle@h-gac.com.
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