Rural Community Assistance Partnership

Practical solutions for improving rural communities

March 2013

EPA’s Science Advisory Board announces independent panel to peer review agency’s hydraulic fracturing research

Posted Fri, 2013/03/29 - 5:01pm by RCAP

WASHINGTON (EPA) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) independent Science Advisory Board (SAB) announced March 25 the formation of its Hydraulic Fracturing Research Advisory panel. This panel of independent experts will peer review EPA’s 2014 draft report of results for its national study on any potential health and environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources. Leading up to the peer review, the SAB panel will provide scientific feedback on EPA’s research in an open and transparent manner.

EPA survey finds more than half of the nation’s river and stream miles in poor condition

Posted Fri, 2013/03/29 - 4:45pm by RCAP

WASHINGTON (EPA) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released Marcy 26 the results of the first comprehensive survey looking at the health of thousands of stream and river miles across the country, finding that more than half – 55 percent – are in poor condition for aquatic life.

Rural Matters 2013 Issue 1 - Happy 40th Birthday, RCAP!

Posted Fri, 2013/03/29 - 11:23am by RCAP

This year, 2013, marks RCAP’s 40^th year of existence. In 1973, the first formal organizing event, a legal incorporation, took place in the series of events that make up RCAP’s early origins. This article is the first of occasional ways we will be looking back at the history of RCAP and its predecessor programs.

The ideas that started it all

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Today is World Water Day!

Posted Fri, 2013/03/22 - 4:02pm by RCAP

Today is World Water Day, a day to mark the importance of water in our lives. To RCAP, however, every day is a day to be concerned about water, and our mission is to assist small, rural communities in particular and to ensure that they have a clean, safe and affordable supply for their residents.

Five things you can do to improve your utility’s financial health

Posted Mon, 2013/03/18 - 3:59pm by RCAP

There are five basic things that must be accomplished to ensure that your utility is financially healthy. Successfully addressing all of these is essential to your system’s financial sustainability.

The board and management of utilities have very important responsibilities and duties to perform in the financial area. Chief among these responsibilities are:

Format:

Magazine/newsletter (single article)

Topic:

Finance

Source:

RCAP

Audience:

Board/council member

Mayor/town manager/elected official (local)

Plant manager

Financial manager/accountant/bookkeeper

Wastewater Management Handbook for Local Representatives

Posted Mon, 2013/03/11 - 3:24pm by RCAP

The New York Water Environment Association and the Environmental Finance Center have collaborated with the help of many partners to produce the Second Edition of the Wastewater Management Handbook for Local Representatives. This handbook is designed to be a reference tool for local officials, public administrators, and managers. In addition to the basic treatment operations, this handbook will discuss the strategies to ensure compliance, funding, adequate training, and public education.

Format:

Printed guide

Topic:

Operations - technical operations of facilities and infrastructure

Management

Source:

Other nonprofit/organization

Audience:

Board/council member

Mayor/town manager/elected official (local)

USDA official discusses changing the definition of 'rural'

Posted Fri, 2013/03/08 - 4:50pm by RCAP

Writing for the Daily Yonder blog, Doug O'Brien, deputy undersecretary for Rural Development programs in the U.S. Department of Agriculture, weighs in on the discussion about the USDA's definition of "rural."

New RCAP resources

Posted Fri, 2013/03/01 - 12:06pm by RCAP

RCAP's new videos

Produced for:

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