Manager's Welcome
This is the December 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
2035 Regional Growth Forecast
TPWD Small Community Grant Application
Walden Marina Earns Two Top Honors
Hybrids sold in US saved 100 million gallons of Gas
EPA Issues Guidance to Control Urban Runoff Pollution
New Smart Growth Report Highlights the Importance of Public Sector Leadership
Grant Program Provides First Responders With Polaris Ranger 6x6 Vehicles
H-GAC MEETING NOTICES
Environmental Enforcement Roundtable
Mandatory Grants Administration Workshop For FY06 Grantees
Clean Rivers Program Regional Monitoring Workgroup
Solid Waste Management Committee
Regional Recycling Roundtable: Glass
Storm Debris: Contracting Force Account Labor and Equipment
IN THIS ISSUE
H-GAC 2035 Regional Growth Forecast
H-GAC's Forecasting Group is pleased to announce the release for public review of the draft results of the 2035 Regional Growth Forecast. Please, visit our website (h-gac.com/forecast) where you can view tables and maps, download forecast data, and submit your comments. The comment submission deadline is February 10, 2006. Please, contact Dmitry Messen (forecast@h-gac.com)with questions about the forecast.
Back to Top TPWD Small Community Grant Application
The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Recreation Grants Branch (TPWD) announces that the new Small Community Grant Application is ready. The deadline for submitting the Small Community Grant Application is January 31st, 2006. This Land and Water Conservation Fund assists local government with the acquisition and development of public recreation areas and facilities throughout the State of Texas. The Program provides 50% matching fund, reimbursement grants to eligible local governments of a population of 20,000 or less, based on the most current certified census, up to a maximum amount $50,000 ($100,000 total project). Visit http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/ for the application or email TPWD (LeeAnne.Quintanilla@tpwd.state.tx.us) with your name and full address to receive a printed copy. For additional information contact Lee Anne Quintanilla at TPWD (512) 912-7124.
Back to Top Walden Marina Earns Two Top Honors
Walden Marina on Lake Conroe has earned top honors for Large Marina of the Year and Clean Marina of the Year from the Marina Association of Texas. Marina of the Year is based on overall appearance, quality of facilities and services, ships store, gas dock, service and repair area, docks and special awards for service promotions, civic affairs, employee recognition as well as unique community services or educational programs. Clean Texas Marina Program is a partnership among the Marina Association of Texas, Texas A&M Sea Grant Program, Texas Parks & Wildlife, Texas Commission of Environmental Quality and the Texas General Land Office. Walden Marina worked with the Houston-Galveston Area Council to launch a monofilament fishing line recycling program and used bright yellow onion sacks to launch the "One Plus boater program". The One Plus Boater Program encourages people to bring in their trash plus the trash of someone else. This is only the second time in the history of the Marina Association of Texas that one marina won both awards in the same year.
Back to Top Hybrids sold in U.S. have saved 100 million gallons of gas
Toyota´s at 100 million and counting. The carmaker estimates that Toyota and Lexus hybrid vehicles sold in the United States since 2000 have now saved more than 100 million gallons of gasoline. To keep track of the ongoing savings, the company has a running tally on a billboard in El Segundo, California. That billboard hit the 100 million mark on Nov. 25, Toyota said. Along with saving gasoline, the company said the hybrids have avoided creating about 900,000 tons of carbon dioxide and 3 million pounds of smog-forming gases.
Back to Top EPA Issues Guidance to Control Urban Runoff Pollution
EPA has released "National Management Measures to Control Nonpoint Source Pollution from Urban Areas." The comprehensive 512-page guidance will help local governments and others protect water resources from polluted runoff that can result from everyday activities and urban development. It will also help municipalities and other regulated entities implement Phase I and Phase II Stormwater Permit Programs. For more information, click on the following URL: http://www.lgean.org/html/whatsnew.cfm?id=988
Back to Top New Smart Growth Report Highlights the Importance of Public Sector Leadership
A new report, "Public Sector Leadership: The Role of Local Government in Smart Growth," prepared by the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), examines public sector leadership on growth and development issues. This report is designed to improve understanding of the role that local government can play regarding smart growth development patterns and highlight opportunities for partnership with philanthropy. For more information, click on the following URL: http://www.lgean.org/html/whatsnew.cfm?id=989
Back to Top Grant Program Provides First Responders With Polaris Ranger 6x6 Vehicles
Program web site
http://www.ustinc.com/uploadedFiles/RangerOnLineForm2.dot
Sponsor
U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company
Deadlines
January 6, 2006
Purpose
U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company (USSTC) is pleased to announce that it is now accepting applications for versatile Polaris Ranger 6x6 utility vehicles to be awarded in 2006 through its Operation Ranger donation program to assist America's emergency first responders.
Eligibility
Operation Ranger will review applications only from the following types of emergency organizations: Fire-Rescue, Volunteer and Career Police/Sheriff, Municipal/County/State EMS/Ambulance Search & Rescue, Wildlife Conservation & Law Enforcement, Park/Forest Ranger Emergency Management and, Municipal/County/Regional Vehicles.
Applications must be received by Jan. 6, 2006 for consideration in the 2006 award period. Application can be downloaded at: http://www.ustinc.com/uploadedFiles/RangerOnLineForm2.dot
You may also request a paper form by calling 203-622-3368.
Back to Top H-GAC MEETING NOTICES
Environmental Enforcement Roundtable
Topic: Storm Water Enforcement and Prosecution
January 12, 2006
H-GAC Conference Room A
3555 Timmons, Houston, TX 77027
10:00am to noon
For more information, please contact Cheryl Mergo at 713-993-4520 or cmergo@h-gac.com.
Back to Top Mandatory Grants Administration Workshop for FY06 Grantees
January 17, 2006
H-GAC Conference Room A
3555 Timmons, Houston, TX 77027
2 pm to 4 pm
This workshop is for entities who have received an FY06 Solid Waste Implementation Grant. Both Financial and Program representatives must attend. Please RSVP by January 12 to Kelly Doyle at kdoyle@h-gac.com or 713-993-4566.
Back to Top Clean Rivers Program Regional Monitoring Workgroup
January 24, 2006
H-GAC Conference Room C
3555 Timmons, Houston, TX 77027
10 am to 12 pm
For more information, contact Jean Wright at 713-499-6660 or jwright@h-gac.com.
Back to Top Solid Waste Management Committee
January 25, 2006
H-GAC Conference Room A
3555 Timmons, Houston, TX 77027
10 am to noon
For more information, contact Cheryl Mergo at 713-993-4520 or cmergo@h-gac.com.
Back to Top Regional Recycling Roundtable: Glass
January 26, 2006
H-GAC Conference Room C
3555 Timmons, Houston, TX 77027
9:30am to 11:30am
This Roundtable is open to anyone with an interest in recycling and the special issues and opportunities presented by glass recycling. To RSVP or for more information, please contact Kelly Doyle at 713-993-4566 or kdoyle@h-gac.com.
Back to Top Storm Debris: Contracting Force Account Labor and Equipment
January 30, 2006
H-GAC Conference Room A
3555 Timmons, Houston, TX 77027
9:00am to 4:00pm
This workshop will cover contracting, mutual aid agreements, force account labor and force account equipment as they relate to debris generating storm events. Topics include: Design and management of contracts for debris management and removal, Use of mutual aid agreements, Use and tracking of force account labor and equipment during event and cleanup, Working with FEMA. Due to the deployment of our scheduled speakers to aid in the recovery from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, this workshop has been rescheduled from January 18. Thanks for your patience while our speakers attend to the pressing needs of those affected by Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita, and please join us in wishing them well in their endeavors. To RSVP by January 25th or for more information, please contact Kelly Doyle at kdoyle@h-gac.com or 713-993-4566.
Back to Top To unsubscribe, add another subscriber or offer any comments on the e-newsletter, please e-mail cep_news@h-gac.com.
H-GAC Community and Environmental Update December 2005
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