Envirobytes

EnviroBytes, a Summary of Issues and Events for the Weeks Ending November 24, 2006 and December 1, 2006

CHARRETTE FOR A HEALTHY ANACOSTIA

The EPA Mid-Atlantic Region hosted the Anacostia River Watershed executive planning charette on Nov. 28 at the University of Maryland, titled "Uniting for a Healthy Anacostia." The charette technique for meetings produces a highly charged and creative atmosphere that harnesses the talents and energies of all participants. The aim of this charette was to adopt a measurable, results-oriented, collaborative strategy for restoring the watershed. It was designed to inform interested parties on the anticipated 2007 Anacostia Watershed Workshop; to exchange information on watershed interests and activities; and to identify common priorities, interests, and partnering opportunities among attendees. Ben Grumbles, EPA's Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water, Donald S. Welsh, Mid-Atlantic Region Administrator, and Water Protection Division Director Jon Capacasa were among the featured speakers.

SECOND ANNUAL FEDERAL PRINCIPALS' MEETING HELD TO PROTECT AND RESTORE THE CHESAPEAKE BAY

EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson, Assistant Administrator for Water Ben Grumbles and Regional Administrator Donald S. Welsh hosted a meeting in Washington D.C. on Nov. 29, bringing together high-level leaders from 19 federal agencies to strengthen interagency collaboration and cooperative conservation in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The leaders agreed that the priority for the 2007 Federal Agencies Committee work program would be to develop goals and a framework for action in protecting the forests of the Chesapeake watershed. Agency leaders gave their advice on how the Federal government could best optimize the use of available resources to improve water quality, habitat and living resources.

BROWNFIELDS JOB TRAINING AWARDS ANNOUNCED AT 2006 BROWNFIELDS CONFERENCE

The 2006 Brownfields Conference was held in Boston from Nov. 13-15 at the new Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. At the conference, Administrator Stephen L. Johnson announced 12 new Brownfields job training awards - two in Region 3: The City of Roanoke, Va., and Civic Works Inc. of Baltimore, Md. each will receive $200,000. The City of Roanoke plans to provide 45 persons with assessment and cleanup training prior to placement in Brownfields jobs. Civic Works Inc. intends to train and place an additional 40 persons in jobs remediating hazardous waste. For more information on the Brownfields job training awards, go to: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/4a5be1c25fb55afa8525702100566bbb/3c2c0c364f5ff62f852572250067ce69
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BROWNFIELDS REDEVELOPMENT CONTINUES IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY WATERSHED

Within the Chesapeake Bay watershed, there are thousands of brownfields and vacant properties that may be contaminated with toxic chemicals. Cleaning up and reinvesting in these properties will help improve and protect the environment of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Water quality improvement can be achieved through practices to improve urban stormwater, forest buffers, public access points and restored habitat. Between July 2005 and June 2006, 131 Chesapeake Bay watershed brownfield sites were cleaned up and made ready for redevelopment. This brings the total up to 663 or 63 percent of the Chesapeake Bay 2000 Agreement’s goal to restore 1,050 sites to productive use by 2010. For more information, go to http://www.chesapeakebay.net/info/brownfields.cfm

EPA AWARDS GRANT TO HELP CONTROL STORMWATER RUNOFF

EPA awarded a $1 million Clean Water Act grant to Prince George's County, Md. to fund a study on how wetlands control stormwater runoff in the Anacostia River Watershed. EPA and Prince George's County and other environmental agencies are working collaboratively to improve the water quality of the Anacostia River through extensive water quality monitoring around the wetlands. Results are anticipated to show measurable progress toward improving water quality, including a 25 percent pollution load reduction. The project will include a small low impact development project and the enhancement of a watershed model to assist managers in selecting effective pollution control techniques.

SUCCESS STORY OF THE ANACOSTIA RIVER WATERSHED RIVER FRINGE WETLAND RESTORATION PROJECT

The Anacostia River Fringe Wetlands urban restoration project undertaken by the Mid-Atlantic Region 3, the District of Columbia Environmental Health Administration, and the Corps of Engineers can claim some measure of success. Two and a half years since the construction of the wetlands, and in spite of the numbers of stressors such as invasive plants, resident Canada geese, and poor water quality, more than 40 species of plants have now been identified, and more water quality improvements through sediment trapping and nutrient uptake from the wetland growth are expected. As of Fall 2005, more than 95 percent of the wetland was densely vegetated due to project measures such as creation of high mudflats that encouraged the growth of annuals and other dense vegetation. For a complete success story on this initiative, go to:
http://www.epa.gov/reg3wapd/nps/successstories/DCpdf/Anacostia_River_Fringe.pdf [4pp, 367k, about pdf]
Other success stories: http://www.epa.gov/reg3wapd/nps/successstories.htm

SCRAP YARD TASK FORCE TEAM REDUCES RUNOFF FROM SCRAP YARDS

The EPA Mid-Atlantic Region continues its storm water runoff reduction efforts from industrial, construction, and municipal sites as member of the Philadelphia Scrap Yard Task Force. The task force initiative works to reduce industrial stormwater discharges and is comprised of members of the Philadelphia Managing Director's Office, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the Mid-Atlantic Region's soil and water assessment team and Brownfields office. Last year, the task force succeeded in inspecting more than a dozen scrap yards across Philadelphia. These inspections led to the clean up of several properties, improved compliance with storm water permits and the restoration of one site into a commercial center. The clean up effort resulted in the reduced discharge of uncontrolled stormwater and lower concentrations of metal, oil and grease and hazardous materials in the environment.

NEW PUBLICATION RELEASED TO HELP IMPLEMENT ECOSYSTEM BASED FISHERIES MANAGEMENT PLAN

The American Fisheries Society (AFS) has released a new publication: "Fisheries Ecosystem Planning (FEP) for Chesapeake Bay," a valuable guide for ecosystem-based fisheries management in the Chesapeake Bay and coastal region. In November 2005, the Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) executive council formally adopted an ecosystem-based approach to develop new or revised CBP Fishery Management Plans using the FEP for guidance. This work describes the structure and function of the bay's ecosystem, including key habitats and species interactions. Recommendations to implement ecosystem-based approaches to fisheries management for bay residents and coastal species are included, as well as recommendations for research to enhance knowledge of the ecosystem and its fisheries. Copies of this document can be purchased by visiting the following website: http://www.afsbooks.org/x55051p.html

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