Rural Community Assistance Partnership

Practical solutions for improving rural communities

May 2010

EPA adds more than 6,300 chemicals and 3,800 chemical facilities to public database

Posted Thu, 2010/05/20 - 5:01pm by RCAP

Unprecedented access provided for the first time

WASHINGTON – As part of Administrator Lisa P. Jackson’s commitment to increase public access to information on chemicals, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has added more than 6,300 chemicals and 3,800 chemical facilities regulated under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to a public database called Envirofacts.

Report released on pharmaceutical mail-back pilot program funded by EPA

Posted Thu, 2010/05/20 - 3:44pm by RCAP

Agency provided $150,000 grant to University of Maine’s Center on Aging to undertake study

Fiscal tear 2011 National Water Program guidance released

Posted Thu, 2010/05/20 - 9:01am by RCAP

The National Water Program has released the final FY 2011 National Water Program Guidance. This guidance describes water program priorities and strategies, including the suite of water performance measures and their targets, for the coming fiscal year. The National Water Program thanks stakeholders who provided comments on the draft Guidance in March for their contribution to the revision of the draft document.

Final Guidance

EPA releases land-management guidance to reduce water pollution to Chesapeake Bay

Posted Thu, 2010/05/20 - 8:59am by RCAP

On the same day the federal government announced a comprehensive strategy to protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced guidance to help federal facilities reduce their pollution to the bay. EPA is delivering to federal land managers in the Chesapeake Bay watershed the most effective tools and practices to reduce water pollution from a variety of nonpoint sources, including agricultural lands, urban and suburban areas and septic systems.

New federal strategy for Chesapeake launches major initiatives and holds government accountable for progress

Posted Thu, 2010/05/20 - 8:56am by RCAP

The new federal strategy for the Chesapeake region released May 12 focuses on protecting and restoring the environment in communities throughout the 64,000-square-mile watershed and in its thousands of streams, creeks and rivers. The strategy includes using rigorous regulations to restore clean water, implementing new conservation practices on 4 million acres of farms, conserving 2 million acres of undeveloped land and rebuilding oysters in 20 tributaries of the bay.

Washington Post: New EPA water infrastructure policy seeks to encourage smart growth

Posted Wed, 2010/05/05 - 11:48am by RCAP

By Alec MacGillis
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, May 5, 2010

If you build it, they will come. And, if you don't, they won't.

EPA marks American Wetlands Month

Posted Tue, 2010/05/04 - 9:26am by RCAP

May marks the 20th anniversary of American Wetlands Month (AWM), a time when EPA and its wetland partners celebrate the vital importance of wetlands to the nation's ecological, economic, and social health. EPA and its partners are planning a number of events.

EPA launches new web tools to inform the public about clean water enforcement

Posted Mon, 2010/05/03 - 4:42pm by RCAP

Interactive web tool allows the public to check water violations in their communities

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is launching a new set of web tools, data, and interactive maps to inform the public about serious Clean Water Act violations in their communities. Improving water quality is one of EPA Administrator Lisa P.