13 Jan 2012

NPS to Assist Iowa Communities with River and Trail Projects

By Kathy Kupper

WASHINGTON–The National Park Service will help local communities implement more than 200 natural resource and recreational projects under the agency's Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program (RTCA), Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced today.

Communities from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico are working in partnership with the National Park Service.

This year, in Iowa, RTCA is working with:

·        Wapello County on the American Gothic Regional Trail

·        City of Des Moines on the Central Iowa Greenways Initiative

·        City of Cherokee, Iowa on the Cherokee Trails and Riverfront Development

·        Fayette County Trails on the Fayette County Trails

·        Decatur County Conservation on the Grand River Water Trail

·        Louisa County Conservation Board on the Louisa County Trail

·        Jones County Conservation and the City of Monticello on the Maquoketa River Restoration Mon Maq Dam Alteration

·        Carroll County Conservation on the Middle Raccoon River Water Trail

·        Mississippi River Trail, Inc. on the Mississippi River Connections Collaborative: Mississippi River Trail

·        Pottawattamie County Conservation on the Pottawattamie County Trail

·        Nishna Valley Trails Association on the T-Bone Trail

·        Whiterock Conservancy Iowa Department of Natural Resources on the Whiterock Conservancy Soft Trail Project

To read more about these projects, visit:

http://www.nps.gov/ncrc/programs/rtca/whatwedo/projects/IA.pdf

To see how RTCA is assisting communities nationwide, visit: http://www.nps.gov/ncrc/programs/rtca/whatwedo/projects_by_state.html

"One of the major goals of President Obama's America's Great Outdoors initiative is to reconnect Americans to nature by expanding recreational opportunities," Salazar said. "Through the RTCA program, the National Park Service will provide expertise and assistance to local communities that are building trails and undertaking other conservation and recreation projects."

Under the RTCA program, the National Park Service helps communities and neighborhoods to preserve valuable open spaces, revitalize nearby rivers, and develop trail and greenway networks. This year's projects were selected from the most competitive field of requests ever received by the agency.

Projects are locally conceived and initiated, with RTCA staff supporting community based recreation and conservation leaders. Each year, RTCA project partnerships contribute to the construction of 1,700 miles of trail, conservation of nearly 1,000 miles of river, and protection of more than 50,000 acres of open space.

More than 20 of the projects included in the RTCA project announcement today also were highlighted in the America's Great Outdoors 50-State report released by Secretary Salazar in November. The report listed more than 100 high-priority projects representing what states believe are among the best investments in the nation to support a healthy, active population, conserve wildlife and working lands, and create travel, tourism and outdoor-recreation jobs across the country. Interior is working closely with states and local communities to advance these priority projects as quickly as possible.

For more information on the National Park Service's Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance program, please visit http://www.nps.gov/rtca.

11 Jan 2012

Winter Storm Watch: Winter driving expert available for interview

By Claudia Carranza
With winter weather ahead of us, many people become anxious behind the wheel. We have winter driving school experts who can teach your audience safety tips to help them handle winter driving conditions.

As Iowa faces the onset of winter storms, our national experts at the Bridgestone Winter Driving School, in Steamboat Springs, Colo., can offer tips on preparing the driver, the car and the family for the hazardous weather conditions. From avoiding skids on icy roads to ways to safely free your car if you become stuck in the snow, our experts' information can help ensure the safety of your community members.

If you are interested in more information, please visit Bridgestone's Winter Driving Safety site at http://winterdrivingsafety.com/.
10 Jan 2012

Quinn and Durbin Announce $7.7 Million Investment to Help Illinois Communities Recover From Storms

By Nafia Khan

CHICAGO - January 9, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and today announced a more than $7.7 million investment in Illinois communities to help cover the costs of repairing roads and bridges damaged by storms last year. Today's funding is provided through the Department of Transportation's Emergency Relief program which funds the repair and reconstruction of federal highways and roads that have suffered serious damage as a result of natural disasters and other outside factors.

The Illinois Department of Transportation will receive a total of $7,718,612 in funding to be distributed in the following areas:

  • Northwest Illinois: $4,756,819 in funding to help Northwest Illinois communities cover the cost of damage caused by high wind and torrential rainfall exceeding 12 inches on July 27, 2011.  Types of damage included drainage and roadway washouts and slope failures.
  • Southern Illinois: $2,961,793 in funding to help Southern Illinois communities cover the cost of damage caused by widespread heavy rain and flooding - mainly along the Ohio and Mississippi River basins - on April 19, 2011.  Types of damage included drainage and roadway system washouts and slope failures.
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10 Jan 2012

Decision Issued on Iowa's Water Quality Standards

By Rick Martin

Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Nine Tribal Nations

Decision Issued on Iowa's Water Quality Standards

(Kansas City, Kan., Jan. 6, 2012) - EPA has approved the Iowa Department of Natural Resources' (IDNR) designated use changes for 430 water bodies and disapproved proposed changes for 89 water bodies.  Designated uses describe the achievable recreational activities and aquatic life uses for Iowa's waters.

"Healthy watersheds provide Iowa communities with safe drinking water, recreational opportunities, environmental benefits and clean water for habitat for fish and wildlife," said Karl Brooks, regional administrator. "EPA will continue working with the state to protect Iowa's lakes, rivers and streams."

IDNR submitted these new and revised Iowa surface water quality standards to EPA for review and approval, as required by the Clean Water Act (CWA).  The state based its recommendations on site-specific field data gathered by IDNR in and near streams, lakes and rivers. This submission updates the use designations to determine the highest attainable use for the individual waters.

Designated recreational uses protect for activities such as swimming, fishing and canoeing; and for human consumption of aquatic life.  Aquatic life uses provide for the protection and maintenance of a healthy environment for fish and other animals.

The CWA assigns EPA the duty to oversee state-agency actions to protect water quality. In partnership with IDNR, EPA works with the public, community leaders, local and state agencies to meet the growing needs and demands of our water resources.

EPA's Jan. 5, 2012, decision letter provides a more detailed description of EPA's review and the basis for this action.  The decision letter is available at http://www.epa.gov/region07/news_events/legal/index.htm

# # #

 

For more information about activities in EPA Region 7, visit

www.epa.gov/region07/water/

 

Connect with EPA Region 7 on Facebook:

www.facebook.com/eparegion7

04 Jan 2012

WALK WITH THE EAGLES

By Kenneth Asta

Davenport, Iowa, January 4, 2012 - Davenport Parks and Recreation will offer a "Walk with Eagles" program on January 14, 2012 at 9 am. Come and view this most majestic bird in its winter habitat. This event is free and educational for the entire family!

Meet at Credit Island Lodge to start your adventure. Bring your binoculars or borrow one from Parks and Recreation to see the eagles and other wildlife along the river. Remember to dress for the cold weather.

27 Dec 2011

Statement From Governor Quinn on New Federal Rule to Limit Mercury Emissions

By Katelyn Tye

CHICAGO - December 21, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today released the following statement praising a new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) rule that will dramatically decrease the amount of harmful mercury released into the air:

 

"High levels of mercury pose serious health risks, which is why we must do everything we can to ensure clean, healthy air for generations. I would like to thank President Obama and the USEPA for their mercury and air toxics standards rule.

 

"In Illinois, we have seen the benefits of enacting stringent requirements for reducing mercury emissions over the last several years. As a result, thousands of pounds of harmful mercury emissions have been kept out of our air. The President's action will protect millions of Americans from these dangerous emissions just like we have been doing in Illinois."

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23 Dec 2011

This Holiday Season Sign-up for the Conservation Stewardship Program

By Elisha Smith

By Traci Bruckner, tracib@cfra.org, Center for Rural Affairs

Farmers and ranchers that want to participate in the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) this year have less than a month to apply at their local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office. The CSP rewards farmers, ranchers, and foresters for maintaining existing conservation practices and for adopting additional practices on cropland, grassland, non-industrial private forestland and tribal lands. This program pays producers for fostering clean water, better soil management, improved habitat, energy efficiency, and other natural resource benefits.

The CSP is a continuous sign-up program that has periodic cut-off dates for ranking applications. The USDA recently announced that January 13, 2012 is the deadline for this year.  Applications can be filed at your local NRCS office (http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/about/organization/regions.html). The Center for Rural Affairs is also encouraging farmers and ranchers to call the Center's Farm Bill Helpline to help us learn more about how the program and application process are working and any possible barriers farmers and ranchers may encounter during the sign-up.  Potential CSP applicants can call the Farm Bill Helpline at (402) 687-2100 or send an email to tracib@cfra.org.  The Center for Rural Affairs also has a CSP fact sheet available online at http://www.cfra.org/renewrural/csp.

 

CSP is one of the most popular conservation programs, with many more applicants than the program can fund each year. In 2010 alone, 1,480 Iowa farmers received a CSP contract, about 62% of the total applicant pool that year. Those interested in applying should contact their local NRCS office as soon as possible to meet the deadline.

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19 Dec 2011

Let's Put American's Back to Work to Clean Up Our Ailing Water Infrastructure

By Rick Martin

AFSCME & Environmental Advocates

WHO: Danny Homan President of AFSCME Council 61

Bill Gearhard, Secretary-Treasurer of Great Plaines Laborers International, President of State Building Trades Council

Matt Ohloff, Iowa Director, Food and Water Watch

Bill Stowe, Public Works Director, City of Des Moines

Jim Piazza, Executive Director of Heavy Highway and Construction Contractors Association

WHAT: The American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO (AFSCME) and local environmental advocates applaud the candid findings of a recent report on the nation's water infrastructure and call on the federal government to make immediate improvements to ensure public safety. According to the report, our nation's water infrastructure is outdated, overextended and in crisis.  Not only are we failing to make the investments to meet today's needs, we are also failing to make the investments needed to accommodate a growing population.

Nearly four million people get sick every year from swimming in contaminated water.  Twenty million people get sick each year simply from drinking contaminated water.  Forty percent of rivers and 46 percent of lakes in America are too polluted for fishing, swimming or even aquatic life.

President Obama's jobs bill, the American Jobs Act, would be a start at tackling the water infrastructure gap.  While more investment will be needed, this bill is an important step in the right direction.  We call on all members of Congress to support the American Jobs Act so that we can put people to work and make our communities and our people healthier and safer.

WHERE: Des Moines Water Works Filter Building, Fleur Drive, Des Moines, IA

DATE: Tomorrow, Wednesday, December 14, 2011

TIME: 10:30 AM

19 Dec 2011

Guest Opinion: Wind Over Coal

By Elisha Smith

By Tom Means, tommeans@cfra.org, Center for Rural Affairs

Wind power is the future. It's the most cost-effective source of renewable energy, and is starting to undercut fossil fuels. Power from conventional coal costs $68 per megawatt-hour, while wind power in high resource areas cost $65 per megawatt-hour.

Supplies of coal and oil dwindle each day, but there will always be wind. And since wind will always be there, it isn't subject to the type of supply-side market fluctuations that exist for fossil fuels.

Moreover, coal has serious underlying environmental implications. The combustion of coal is required for it to be used for energy, and this combustion releases multiple tons of carbon dioxide and other gases, which contribute to respiratory diseases and climate change.

Combustion of coal exceeds both natural gas and crude oil in its emissions.  Although some of these emissions can be reduced through technology, they are proven to create serious health problems in areas where they are emitted excessively.

The only environmentally unfriendly thing about wind is its effect on birds and their migration. Cars, glass, cats, and pesticides all make far greater contributions to bird mortality than windmills. Wind companies are working to further minimize this impact.

Global energy consumption is on the rise, wind power even more so. Thirty-five percent of all new U.S. generating capacity added in the last 4 years was wind. The energy, jobs and environmental benefits of wind hold great promise, not just for the rural Midwest and Great Plains, but for all of America, rural and urban alike.

 

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The Center for Rural Affairs was established in 1973 as an unaffiliated nonprofit corporation under IRS code 501(c)3. The Center for Rural Affairs was formed by rural Nebraskans concerned about family farms and rural communities, and we work to strengthen small businesses, family farms and ranches, and rural communities.
09 Dec 2011

MF Global, Agricultural Hearing

By Grassley Press
Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011

On Thursday (tomorrow), the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry will hold a hearing examining derivatives reform that will feature testimony from Gary Gensler, chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and Mary Schapiro, chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Committee members are likely to ask questions about the agencies' work leading up to the MF Global bankruptcy, which has left farmer clients in the lurch.  Sen. Chuck Grassley, a member of the Agriculture Committee, made the following comment on the hearing.  Grassley has a scheduling conflict with the Judiciary Committee, where he serves as Ranking Member, but plans to attend the Agriculture Committee hearing as much as possible.  If he can't attend, he will pose any questions he thinks were not asked to the witnesses for written responses for the hearing record.  Also, the Agriculture Committee has scheduled an investigative hearing on the MF Global case for Dec. 13, so there will be continued opportunities to ask questions.

"I appreciate the committee leaders' attention to this issue.  It's been weeks since MF Global's bankruptcy.  The public is still in the dark on basic facts.  Unanswered questions include who discovered that client money was missing, how much of that money is actually missing, and how much of the client money can be recovered.  I hope the committee will be able to get some direct answers from Chairman Gensler and Chairman Schapiro.  It's a good opportunity to ask the questions our constituents would ask if they could be there."

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