Rural Community Assistance Partnership

Practical solutions for improving rural communities
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December 2010

EPA analysis shows reduction in 2009 toxic chemical releases

Posted Fri, 2010/12/17 - 11:40am by RCAP

Agency completes analysis on chemical disposal and release

WASHINGTON (EPA) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is releasing its annual national analysis of the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI), providing Americans with vital information about their communities. The TRI program publishes information on toxic chemical disposals and releases into the air, land and water, as well as information on waste-management and pollution-prevention activities in neighborhoods across the country.

The Rural Blog: Congressman from nation's most rural district will head House Appropriations Committee

Posted Fri, 2010/12/10 - 10:58am by RCAP

The congressman from the country's most rural district, and one of its poorest, will become chairman of the House Appropriations Committee in January after his selection by the Republican Steering Committee yesterday. We broke the news in October that Harold "Hal" Rogers of Somerset in Appalachian Kentucky's 5th District had the votes he needed.

AP Texas News: Driller denies that it contaminated Texas aquifer

Posted Fri, 2010/12/10 - 10:52am by RCAP

This article was originally posted Dec. 8 here

By RAMIT PLUSHNICK-MASTI
Associated Press © 2010 The Associated Press

HOUSTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued an emergency order against a Texas gas driller Tuesday, accusing the company of contaminating an aquifer and giving it 48 hours to provide clean drinking water to affected residents and begin taking steps to resolve the problem.

KUAR-FM (Arkansas): Officials require disclosure of gas drilling "frack" fluids

Posted Fri, 2010/12/10 - 10:47am by RCAP

This story was originally posted Dec. 7 here

By Kelly MacNeil

Arkansas just became one of the first states in the country to require drilling companies to disclose what chemicals they’re using to crack open shale rock to extract natural gas.

Announcing the winners of the RCAP photography contest

Posted Thu, 2010/12/09 - 3:51pm by RCAP

As a way to encourage RCAP staff across the country to produce communications materials that promote RCAP and raise its profile, the national office sponsored a photography contest in the fall of 2010. The contest was to challenge staff of RCAP's regional partners to "picture RCAP" - to depict the work of RCAP in the field in photos.

Analysis of the Use of Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Set-asides: Promoting System sustainability

Posted Mon, 2010/12/06 - 12:14pm by RCAP

EPA is releasing the Analysis of the Use of Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Set-Asides: Promoting System Sustainability. This document highlights activities financed by Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) capitalization grant set-asides to promote capacity-development efforts. A national “one-year snapshot” for federal fiscal year (FFY) 2008 is provided, describing the four different set-asides and highlighting activities that states are pursuing to build system capacity.