Manager's Welcome
This is the November 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
H-GAC Downtown Public Spaces Improvements Program
Requesting Applications: FY06 Solid Waste Implementation Grants
H-GAC Clean Texas Marinas Program Receives Honorable Mention
Hazard Mitigation Plan Status Update
New Curbside Recycling Section on Earth 911
TCEQ - Penalty Policy Rule Development
Cans for Critters at the Houston Zoo
Growing Recycling in Texas
Wal-Mart to open 2nd experimental green store in Colorado
EPA Environmental Education Grants Program
Smart Growth Network Membership Now Free
America Recycles Day Is November 15th
H-GAC MEETING NOTICES
Trash Bash Steering Committee
Clean Rivers Steering Committee
Clean Rivers Regional Workgroup
Storm Debris Workshop on Contracting, Force Account Labor and Equipment
OTHER MEETING NOTICES
IN THIS ISSUE
H-GAC Downtown Public Spaces Improvements Program
H-GAC is pleased to announce our new Downtown Public Spaces Improvements Program. Funds currently available through this program will be used to improve public spaces in the Downtown areas of communities in the H-GAC region. The program will benefit the region by making Downtown areas more attractive and increasing local economic vitality, sales tax and property values, while preserving and enhancing their architectural and cultural history. Program requirements and other details, as well as an application, may be found here. Please contact Chris McGowan at cmcgowan@h-gac.com with any questions.
Back to Top Requesting Applications: FY06 Solid Waste Implementation Grants
The Houston-Galveston Area Council is requesting applications for FY2006 Solid Waste Implementation Grants.
The due date for applications is 3:00 pm, Friday, November 18.
There will be a Grant Application Workshop on Thursday, November 3, at 10:00 am. 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 /HGAC/Home/RFP+or+RFQ/default.htm.
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
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.
Back to Top H-GAC Clean Texas Marinas Program Receives Honorable
For the past twenty years Keep Houston Beautiful (KHB) has recognized individuals and projects that help make Houston a cleaner and more beautiful city, KHB shines a light on these environmental projects at the Mayor's Proud Partner Awards Luncheon. H-GAC is pleased to announce that our Clean Texas Marinas Program received honorable mention in this year's program! H-GAC is working with the TCEQ and Texas Sea Grant to implement the Clean Texas Marinas program in our region. The Clean Texas Marinas Program is designed to enhance water quality and environmental compliance by implementing a voluntary certification program for recreational boaters and marina operators. Over 60 of the 357 marinas currently inventoried in the Clean Texas Marinas Program are currently located in the H-GAC region. Marinas in the H-GAC region support some of the largest recreational and commercial boating industries in the nation, and present many challenges and opportunities regarding stormwater management, boat sewage disposal and boater education. To learn more, visit our website at www.h-gac.com/cleanmarinas.
Back to Top Hazard Mitigation Plan Status Update
While a number of communities in our region are recovering from the effects of Hurricane Rita, H-GAC wanted to provide an update on the Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan. In an effort to reduce the Nation's disaster losses through pre-disaster mitigation planning, the United States Congress passed the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000. This legislation makes the development of a hazard mitigation plan a specific eligibility requirement for any local government applying for federal mitigation grant funding, including the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) and the newly-created Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Program. Communities with an adopted and federally-approved hazard mitigation plan thereby become pre-positioned and more apt to receive available mitigation funds to reduce loss of life and property damage associated with natural disasters. Over the past two years, H-GAC has worked with 63 cities and towns and 8 counties to develop a Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan. The Texas Division of Emergency Management (DEM) completed their review of the draft Regional Hazard Mitigation Action Plan in August 2004. H-GAC and our contractor PBS&J promptly addressed the comments and transmitted the revised document to DEM who sent it on to FEMA shortly thereafter. H-GAC received three rounds of comments from FEMA, with the latest round of minor comments received on June 14, 2005. H-GAC and PBS&J promptly responded, and resubmitted the plan to FEMA on June 18, 2005. On-going efforts to help communities recover in the wake of Hurricane Katrina have resulted in a reallocation of FEMA Region 6 staff. As a result, the likelihood of FEMA completing the final review and approval of the Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan in the next few weeks is small. H-GAC requested an extension of our plan deadline and will keep plan participants appraised of any developments. While we await final comments and approval from FEMA, H-GAC is providing an electronic copy of the final draft to participating communities via our website at www.h-gac.com/hazmap.
Back to Top New Curbside Recycling Section on Earth 911
Earth 911, or http://www.cleanup.org/, has added a new Curbside Recycling section to their web site. This section provides information for the public about programs in their area, as well as resources for material recovery facility (MRF) operators, local officials and organizations interested in recycling. Resources for the public in this new section include: - A Curbside Recycling Program Locator - Information About Curbside Recycling - Fun Facts About Curbside Recycling - Economics & Convenience A second new curbside related section, the Curbside Value Partnership (CVP) Resource Center, has also been added to Earth 911 for Recycling Coordinators. The Curbside Value Partnership (CVP) is a national partnership between the aluminum industry and material recovery facility (MRF) operators, local officials and organizations interested in recycling. The CVP was created to increase residential participation in local curbside recycling programs and make the programs more cost-effective and sustainable. Free registration to this area brings invaluable resources. This section also features information on Lessons Learned and Best Practices. View the new Curbside Recycling sections from the top banner on the Earth 911 main page or here: Recycle Curbside, http://www.earth911.org/usa/master.asp?s=lib&a=Curbside/default.asp
Curbside Value Partnership Resource Center, http://www.earth911.org/usa/master.asp?s=lib&a=Curbside/CVPMain.asp.
Back to Top TCEQ - Penalty Policy Rule Development
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is revising its administrative penalty policy. This rulemaking will address how penalties will be calculated for violations. When calculating an administrative penalty, the law requires that the TCEQ consider many things such as the nature and extent of the violation, economic benefit gained through the violation, and good faith efforts to correct the violation. This rulemaking will specify how these factors are applied to the penalty calculation. As a small business or local government, this is your prime opportunity to provide meaningful input into crafting a rule that may directly affect you. Please refer to the attached agenda which contains questions that the TCEQ is seeking input on in this rulemaking process. You may refer to these questions as you draft your comment letters. In addition the Compliance Advisory Panel (CAP) and the Small Business Advisory Committees (SBACs) have been providing input throughout the review process. Their comments on the Penalty Policy are attached for your reference. The meetings are scheduled to be held at the locations and times as follows: November 8, 2005
San Antonio 10:00 - 2:00
Alamo Area Council of Governments
Conference Room located at:
8700 Tesoro Drive, Suite 100
San Antonio, Texas 78217 November 10, 2005
Houston 3:00 - 7:00
Houston-Galveston Area Council
3555 Timmons, Conference Room A, 2nd Floor
Houston, Texas 77027 December 1, 2005
Arlington 2:00 - 6:00
North Central Texas Council of Governments
2nd Floor Boardroom
616 Six Flags Dr
Arlington, Texas 76011-6347 December 5, 2005
El Paso 1:00 - 5:00
Rio Grande Council of Governments
6th Floor Conference Room
1100 North Stanton, Suite 610
El Paso, Texas 79902 The Agenda and backup material for the meetings are attached. You may send comments to Pen_Rule@tceq.state.tx.us and cc Melinda Houlihan at mhouliha@tceq.state.tx.us so we may keep track of small business and local government involvement in the rulemaking process and ensure your comments get addressed.
Back to Top Cans for Critters at the Houston Zoo
Every minute of every day the world produces more than 35,000 aluminum cans. Despite their recycling potential, thousands of aluminum cans end up in the world's landfills. But kids who save their aluminum soft drink cans between now and November 12 can make a difference for the environment and Zoo animals when they participate in Waste Management "Cans for Critters" at the Houston Zoo. When kids 11 and under bring their empty aluminum cans to the Zoo on Saturday, November 12 between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. they'll receive FREE admission to the Zoo that day and a FREE "Cans for Critters" button. Register to win a Blockbuster Video gift card good for 52 (one per week) free rentals. See Zoo animals interact with enrichment items made from recyclable items. All donated aluminum cans will be processed for recycling by "Cans for Critters" sponsor Waste Management. Cartridges for Kids will be on hand to collect old cell phones, laptop computers and PDAs for recycling. Proceeds from the program benefit Bat Conservation International, an Austin-based non-profit organization devoted to conservation, education, and research initiatives. Visit with representatives from Keep Houston Beautiful and the Houston-Galveston Area Council to find out what you can do at home to "be green!" When kids participate in "Cans for Critters" they'll get double duty out of every aluminum can they bring to the Zoo. Each can recycled provides benefits for the environment and for Zoo animals. Recycling an aluminum can requires 95-percent less energy than making a new can. In fact, recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a television for three hours. The Houston Zoo is located at 1513 North MacGregor. For information visit http://www.houstonzoo.org/.
Back to Top Growing Recycling in Texas
Texas Recycles Day 2005.....Coming To a Community Near You! Join the thousand of Texans celebrating Texas Recycles Day by sponsoring a recycling event. The theme this year is "Growing Recycling in Texas". Need help planning an event? Visit http://www.texasrecyclesday.org/ or email educate@tceq.state.tx.us for information and to request FREE materials to make your event a success. Also, don't forget to officially register your scheduled Texas Recycles Day event!
Back to Top
Wal-Mart to open 2nd experimental green store in Colorado
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. will open a second experimental store in Aurora, Colo., on Nov. 9 to test more efficient water and energy systems and other environmental projects. The store will test solar energy use in a retail setting as well as wind energy projects. It also will use waste oil boilers that will burn used motor oil and vegetable oil. Other features include an environmentally friendly gas station, waterless urinals and the use of recycled material from a local airport in the building's foundation and monument signs. Wal-Mart opened a similar experimental store in July in McKinney, Texas. The company has commissioned the Building Technology Center at the U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory to study the impact of the 26 environmental projects at the McKinney store.
Back to Top EPA Environmental Education Grants Program
This effort supports environmental education projects that promote environmental stewardship and help develop aware and responsible students, teachers, and citizens. This grant program provides financial support for projects which design, demonstrate, or disseminate environmental education practices, methods, or techniques as described in this notice. Maximum Award: $79,000. Eligibility: Any local education agency, college or university, state education or environmental agency, not-for-profit organization as described in Section 501(C)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or noncommercial educational broadcasting entity may submit a proposal. A teacher's school district, an educator's nonprofit organization, or a faculty member's college or university may apply, but an individual teacher or faculty member may not apply. This information can be found on their website at:
http://www.epa.gov/enviroed/grants_sol2006.html. Deadline: November 23, 2005 .
Back to Top Smart Growth Network Membership Now Free
Membership in the Smart Growth Network is now free! Now, anyone interested in smart growth can join SGN, and receive the bi-monthly newsletter Getting Smart!, participate in discussions on the SGN members listserv, get tips and useful information from the SGN Information Hotline, and get access to the members section of the SGN Web site, Smart Growth Online. For more information, click on the following URL: http://www.lgean.org/html/whatsnew.cfm?id=944.
Back to Top America Recycles Day (ARD) Is November 15th
America Recycles Day is a national event that focuses on the importance of recycling and buying products made with recycled content and will take place on November 15th. Communities across the nation are gearing up for ARD and other Fall recycling and HHW events. Earth 911 would like to remind you that it is easy to post America Recycles Day and other recycling and HHW events on http://www.earth911.org/ in two easy ways: Back to Top H-GAC MEETING NOTICES
Trash Bash Steering Committee
November 8, 2005
H-GAC Conference Room C
3555 Timmons, Houston, TX 77027
10:00am to noon
For more information, please contact Chuck Wemple at 713-993-4514 or cwemple@h-gac.com..
Back to Top Clean Rivers Steering Committee
November 16, 2005
H-GAC Conference Room A
3555 Timmons, Houston, TX 77027
9:30am to 11:30am
For more information, please contact Todd Running at 713-993-4549 or trunning@h-gac.com.
Back to Top Clean Rivers Regional Workgroup
November 29, 2005
H-GAC Conference Room C
3555 Timmons, Houston, TX 77027
10:00am to noon
For more information, please contact Jean Wright at 713-499-6660 or jwright@h-gac.com.
Back to Top Storm Debris Workshop on Contracting, Force Account Labor and Equipment
9 am to 4 pm H-GAC Conference Room A This workshop will cover Contracting for Storm Debris Management Services, Memorandums of Agreement/Understanding, Force Account Labor and Equipment. We will send you official notice and further details of the workshop as the scheduled time approaches. For more information, contact Kelly Doyle at 713-993-4566 or kdoyle@h-gac.com..
Back to Top
OTHER MEETING NOTICE
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H-GAC Community and Environmental Update November2005
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