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December 2011
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Dear Monica,
The following news
"briefs" highlight recent news regarding
transportation-related environmental issues, primarily air quality,
affecting the Baltimore region. Please note that this brief is not all
inclusive of the variety and magnitude of activities in the region. It
is intended for informational purposes only; refer to the source,
guidance, or program for additional information.
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BMC Awarded $3.5 Million HUD Grant To Develop Regional
Plan For Sustainable Development
 On
November 21, the U.S. Department of Housing and Community Development
announced that the Baltimore Metropolitan Council was awarded one of
twenty-nine 2011 Sustainable Communities Grants. The $3.5 million grant
will support efforts to coordinate housing, economic development,
workforce development, and transportation plans to create jobs and
economic opportunities and improve the quality of life in the region's
communities over the next quarter-century.
BMC was the lead
applicant of a 26-member consortium, which includes seven local
governments, three state agencies, the Baltimore Regional
Transportation Board, two universities and thirteen non-governmental
members. One of BMC's goals was to include participation by populations
traditionally marginalized in the decision-making process.
Find out more about the Sustainable Communities
Grant Award
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Baltimore to be Reclassified as "Serious"
Nonattainment for Ozone Pollution
On September 1, EPA proposed a determination that the
Baltimore region (which includes Baltimore City, and Anne Arundel,
Baltimore, Carroll, Harford and Harford Counties) did not reach the
National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for ground-level ozone by
their June 15, 2011 attainment date.
This was based upon examination of monitored data from the
region, between 2008 and 2010. Finalization of this determination would
result in the reclassification of the region from "moderate"
to "serious" nonattainment the ozone standard.
Ground-level
ozone pollution is formed in the atmosphere when a mixture of air
pollutants react in heat and sunlight. The main ozone-forming
pollutants (ozone precursors) are nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile
organic compounds (VOCs). NOx pollution comes from fuel-burning sources
such as utilities and automobiles. VOC pollution comes from sources
such as gasoline, paints, inks and solvents.
If the region's
ozone reclassification is finalized by EPA, the attainment date to reach
the standard would be as expeditiously as practical, but not later than
June 15, 2013. The State of Maryland would need to submit State
Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions to EPA regarding how the region
will meet the requirements for serious ozone nonattainment areas. This
SIP revision would be due by September 30, 2012.
Learn more about the changes
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 Neighborhood
Greening Grants
Application Workshop Tuesday, December 6
Many great
projects start small and just need a little help to get off the ground.
Parks & People's Neighborhood Greening Grants provide essential
funding to a wide range of projects throughout Baltimore.
These Neighborhood Greening Grants of $1,000 or less are available for
Baltimore City community groups interested in conducting projects such
as tree plantings, community gardens, vacant lot clean-ups and
restoration, neighborhood clean-ups, schoolyard greening, water quality
improvement and environmental education activities. Grant funds may
also be used for tools, plant material, equipment and other needed
supplies.
In addition, there are two other funding opportunities. Applicants with
newly adopted vacant lots are eligible to receive in-kind services and
materials, and additional funding if available through the Baltimore
City Power In Dirt Initiative. Plus, Clean Water Mini-Grants can
provide supplements of up to $250 for projects and activities that
improve the health and cleanliness of local waterways.
All potential
applicants must
attend a workshop. The next workshop is Tuesday, December 6 from 6 to 8
p.m. at Historic East Baltimore Community Action Coalition (HEBCAC),
1212 North Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21213. Please RSVP to Val
Shane at 410-448-5663 x111 or valerie.shane@parksandpeople.org.
The application
deadline for Spring projects is January 27, 2012 at 5 p.m.
Apply for a Neighborhood Greening Grant or a
Clean Water Mini-grant
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Upcoming
Events and Opportunities
EPA
Seeking Nominations for Members to the National Advisory Council for
Environmental Policy and Technology (NACEPT)
Deadline for
Nominations: December 9, 2011
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently seeking
nominations from a diverse range of candidates to serve on the National
Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and Technology (NACEPT), a
federal advisory committee. In order to fill anticipated vacancies by
February 2012, nominations should be received by December 9, 2011.
View details about the nomination process and
NACEPT
Green
Heart Webinar: Air Pollution and the Heart
Date:
Tuesday, December 6 from 2 to 3:30 p.m.
Many women think of a heart attack as a problem for men, not them. But,
each year, approximately 400,000 American women die from heart disease
and more than 42 million women are currently living with some form of
heart disease. You may already know about healthy behaviors for
the heart, such as, not smoking, being active, maintaining a healthy
weight and diet.
But are you
familiar with the risk factor of unhealthy air and the invisible
particle pollution that can harm your heart? Do you know where to find
information about the air quality in your community or zip code?
This webinar will discuss the importance of being aware of the
environmental hazard of air pollution and its potential health impacts
on the heart. RSVP to Aging.info@epa.gov
(In the Subject line write RSVP - Green Heart and please include your
name and organization) or visit the link below.
Register
to Participate in the Webinar
Live
& Learn Eco-Workshop with Blue Water Baltimore
Date:
December 13, 6:30 to 8:30 pm
Location:
Enoch Pratt Free Library, 6310 Reisterstown Rd., Baltimore, MD
Do you know what
watershed you live in? The quality of our water can affect our
health, our livelihood and our environment. Find out how healthy (or
unhealthy) your water is. Learn about rain gardens, rain barrels, and
conservation landscaping and Blue Water Baltimore's incentive programs
to help with such projects. This Live & Learn Eco-Workshop series
is presented in partnership by Baltimore Green Works, the Enoch Pratt
Free Library and The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of
Baltimore.
Find out more information about this or other great
events
Transportation Advocates
Date:
January 12, 2012 at 7:30 a.m.
Location:
Bain Center, 5470 Ruth Keaton Way, Columbia, MD 21044
At the next meeting, the Transportation Advocates will
work together to create a summary of their vision for transportation -
including streets, roads, public transit, bicycles, complete pedestrian
access and more - in central Maryland and Howard County for the next
two, five and 20 years. The Steering Committee of the Transportation
Advocates will put together all the comments and information, then
provide it to the County Executive, County Council, and General Plan
Task Force. The group will also have a regular update on the
downtown shuttle, Howard Transit's Green Route electric/ inductive
charging project, and the upcoming expansion of the TRIP travel
planning tool from Central Maryland Regional Transportation
(CMRT).
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Project
Applications Now Being Accepted for FY 2012 Congestion Mitigation
and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program
 The
Baltimore Regional Transportation Board (BRTB) is now accepting
applications for CMAQ funding through the FY 2012 BRTB CMAQ Competitive
Selection Process.
The BRTB has the authority to select $800,000 worth of CMAQ projects in
FY 2012.
The purpose of
the CMAQ program, which is administered by the Federal Highway
Administration and the Federal Transit Administration, is to provide
funding for transportation programs and projects that reduce air
pollution emissions from the transportation system. This funding is
provided to state and local governments to assist them in reaching
federal air quality requirements established by the Clean Air Act and
its amendments.
The deadline for
submitting applications is February
15, 2012, 2:00 p.m.
Find out more about CMAQ application process
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 Clean Air
Partners Poster Contest
Clean Air
Partners are currently inviting students in grades 4-8 from the
Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan region to submit a creative poster
that will bring to light the solutions to air pollution and climate
change and inspire people to take actions to improve our region's air
quality.
This year's
theme is "Fresh
Air is a Start to Living Life Smart." Example
topics include:
- Health
effects of air pollution
- Ways
to reduce ground-level ozone and air pollutants
- Increasing
energy efficiency
- Alternatives
to fossil fuels that reduce air pollution
- Different
transportation options such as biking to work, teleworking, etc.
- "Green
Jobs" related to air quality and climate change
The deadline for submissions is March 16, 2012.
Get
the full contest details
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 Plan It 2035 and Air Quality
Conformity Document Approved by the BRTB
On
Monday, November 14, 2011 the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board
approved Plan It
2035, the region's long-range transportation plan for the
years 2016 to 2035.
Plan It 2035 allocates $24 billion
to system operations and $9.4 billion to system preservation. The BRTB
proposes nearly $11.5 billion for system expansion. The expansion
amount includes $6.7 billion for new and improved highways, $4.3
billion for expanded transit service, and $93 million for new and
improved stand-alone bicycle/pedestrian facilities.
In addition, the BRTB has allocated $325 million to help
the region mitigate congestion and reduce vehicle emissions.
Also on November 14, the BRTB approved the Air Quality
Conformity Determination of the FY 2012-2015 Transportation Improvement
Program and Plan
It 2035, which concluded that implementation of
projects in these two documents does not worsen the region's air
quality or delay the timely attainment of the national ambient air
quality standards. The pollutants addressed in the report include
ozone, fine particulate matter, and carbon monoxide.
Learn more about Plan It 2035 and the Conformity Determination
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