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EPA Community Programs by Environmental Topic

Be Prepared

Natural Disasters and Weather Emergencies: Learn how you can reduce risks from generators, contaminated flood water, flooded drinking water wells, hazardous debris, and much more.

Hurricane season starts June 1. Learn what homeowners, communities, or business can do to prepare.

See something? Say something!

Report a Violation or Emergency - Information on potential environmental violations and how to report a suspicious situation. To report oil and chemical spills, call the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802. Information on natural disasters

EPA resources for...

Get in the act

Think Globally

Learn about environmental issues that impact our world. Read more

Act Locally

Make a difference where you live. Read more

Take Action – United We Serve

Search for volunteer opportunities in your community. Go to Serve.gov

Get in the know

Your Right-to-Know

Laws exist for your safety and awareness of chemical use, manufacturing, or transport near you. Learn more

Proposed Regulations

Laws and regulations can better protect you and your environment. Speak up

Action for health

Take Action for Children's Health

Help protect children from potential environmental health threats. Learn how

Take Action for Community Health

Join with others to make your community a healthier place to live. Learn how

Programs for your community

EPA has locally active programs to help make your community a greener and safer place to live. Learn more and see other community success stories by topic.

Air Quality

Community-Based Childhood Asthma Program - This online Network is designed for community-based asthma programs and organizations that sponsor them—including representatives of health plans and providers, government health and environmental agencies, nonprofits, coalitions, schools and more.

Sustainability

Local Climate and Energy Program (Climate Showcase Communities) - In 2009 and 2010, EPA awarded $20 million in competitive grants to help local and tribal governments establish and implement climate change initiatives. The overall goal of the program is to create replicable models of cost-effective and persistent greenhouse gas reductions that will facilitate broader local government actions to stabilize the climate and improve environmental, economic, health, and social conditions.

Economy, Energy, and Environment (E3) Initiative - The Green Suppliers Network is a collaboration between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Commerce (DoC) and was established to help small and medium-sized manufacturers stay competitive and profitable while reducing their impact on the environment.

Community Action for Renewed Environment (CARE) Is a competitive grant program that provides on-the-ground support and funding to help revitalize and improve the health of communities in sustainable ways.

SmartGrowth -- EPA's Office of Sustainable Communities (Smart Growth program) helps communities grow in ways that expand economic opportunity, protect public health and the environment, and create and enhance the places that people love.

Environmental Justice

EJ Showcase Communities - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has committed $1,000,000 to address environmental justice challenges in ten communities across the nation. The Agency is providing $100,000 per project over the next two years to help alleviate the environmental and human health challenges facing many American communities.

EJ Small Grants Program - Since its inception in 1994, the Environmental Justice Small Grants Program has awarded more than $23 million in funding to 1,253 community-based organizations, and local and tribal organizations working with communities facing environmental justice issues.

Indian Environmental General Assistance Program - In 1992, Congress passed the Indian Environmental General Assistance Program Act (42 U.S.C. 4368b) which authorizes EPA to provide grants to federally-recognized tribes and tribal consortia for planning, developing, and establishing environmental protection programs in Indian country, as well as for developing and implementing solid and hazardous waste programs on tribal lands.

Urban Waters Initiative This program supports communities in their efforts to access, improve, and benefit from their urban waters and the surrounding land.

Superfund JobTraining Initiative -- SuperJTI is a job readiness program that provides training and employment opportunities for citizens living in communities affected by Superfund sites.

Cleanup and Property Reuse

Brownfields Assessment, Cleanup, and RLF Grants -- Provides funding to help communities clean up, revitalize, and sustainably reuse contaminated properties, turning them from problem properties to productive community use.

Brownfields Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training Grants - Provides technical assistance and training to communities and other stakeholders on brownfields issues with the goal of increasing the community's understanding and involvement in brownfield cleanup and revitalization.

RE-Powering America's Land -- EPA is encouraging renewable energy development on current and formerly contaminated land and mine sites when it is aligned with the community's vision for the site.

Targeted Brownfields Assessments -- Helps minimize the uncertainties of contamination often associated with brownfields.

Technical Assistance to Brownfields (TAB) Helps increase a community's understanding and involvement in brownfield cleanup and revitalization.

Superfund Technical Assistance Grants (TAG) - A Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) provides money for activities that help your community participate in decision making at eligible Superfund sites.

Superfund Job Training Initiative -- SuperJTI is a job readiness program that provides training and employment opportunities for citizens living in communities affected by Superfund sites.

Superfund Redevelopment Initiative -- Helps communities return some of the nation's worst hazardous waste sites to safe and productive uses.

Technical Assistance Services for Communities Program (TASC) --TASC provides independent educational and technical assistance to communities dealing with environmental problems.

Healthy Schools

Healthy School Environments - The healthy school environments web site is designed to provide one-stop access to the many programs and resources available to help prevent and resolve environmental issues in schools.

Drinking Water in Schools - This one-stop EPA site provides information about drinking water quality in schools and child care facilities.

Environmental Education - Through environmental education, people gain an understanding of how individual actions affect the environment, acquire skills to weigh various sides of issues, and become better equipped to make informed decisions.

Water

Five Star Restoration Grants Program -- Brings together students, conservation corps, other youth groups, citizen groups, corporations, landowners and government agencies to provide environmental education and training through projects that restore wetlands and streams.

Urban Waters Initiative -- Support communities in their efforts to access, improve, and benefit from their urban waters and the surrounding land.

Stormwater/SSO/CSO permits -- The Clean Water Act authorizes EPA and states to regulate point sources that discharge pollutants into waters of the United States through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. So-called "point sources" are generated from a variety of municipal and industrial operations, including treated wastewater, process water, cooling water, and stormwater runoff from drainage systems.

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