H-GAC to Open Application for Solid Waste Grants on September 5
H-GAC receives a portion of the money collected as tipping fees at landfills across the state as pass-through funding from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to fund solid waste grant projects throughout the 13-county region.
As part of this program, H-GAC will award $1 million in solid waste program grant funds to eligible projects through a competitive process. Grants will begin in March or September 2024, and all work must be completed by June 2025. This is the only call for projects planned for this biennium.
The grant application period will open Tuesday, September 5, and will close at noon Tuesday, October 17. H-GAC will host a webinar on how to complete the grant application from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 19. Registration is required.
For more information about the grant program or to be added to an email list to receive future solid waste grant notifications, contact Erin Livingston.
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H-GAC's Regional Household Hazardous Waste Contract Available for Local Governments to Use
Through a cooperative purchasing contract with Clean Earth, local governments in the 13-county H-GAC region have one less step to worry about when planning for household hazardous waste management programs. H-GAC’s contract with Clean Earth covers both one-day collection events and permanent facilities for the collection, transportation, and disposal of household hazardous waste.
H-GAC chose Clean Earth for this contract following our standard RFP (request for proposals) review and selection process. This means that governments and agencies in the H-GAC service area can engage Clean Earth for their household hazardous waste needs without conducting their own lengthy RFP process. Government representatives can contact Clean Earth directly through this contract or can e-mail H-GAC at [email protected] for more information.
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H-GAC's Parks and Natural Areas Awards Application Period to Open September 1
The Parks and Natural Areas Awards recognize projects in four categories: Projects Over $500,000; Projects Under $500,000; Planning Process and Policy Tools; and Programming. Winning entries serve as models for planning and project implementation for parks and natural areas in the region. The application period will be open until 3 p.m. Thursday, September 28.
The application portal is not open yet; however, an online application guide is available to help you prepare your application early. No funding is associated with this awards program.
Winners will be notified in December and recognized in 2024. For more information, contact Andrea Tantillo.
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H-GAC Seeks Public Input on Hazard Mitigation Planning Survey
H-GAC is working with the City of Angleton and Austin, Liberty, and Walker counties' Offices of Emergency Management to update Hazard Mitigation Plans for the entities and participating jurisdictions within them. We are seeking public input to help develop the plans that will include a risk assessment, capability assessment, and a hazard mitigation action plan.
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Natural Resources Advisory Committee Meeting – August 3 (Hybrid)
Participants at this meeting will hear updates on regional activities related to natural resources including the annual update on the region’s Water Quality Management Plan.
The NRAC serves as a forum to advise the H-GAC Board and local decision-makers
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Clean Waters Initiative Workshop – August 16 (Hybrid)
The focus of this workshop is the connection between the stormwater program and successful execution of Total Maximum Daily Load Implementation Plans to address water quality impairments. The workshop will explore efforts to improve water quality and meet stormwater permit requirements. Highlights include updates to the stormwater permit and case studies of successful stormwater programs.
Confirmed presenters include:
- Liz Stone, CPESC, Project Manager, Quiddity Engineering, LLC
- Julie White, Environmental Program Coordinator, City of Austin
- Alexandra O’Connor, CISEC, Stormwater Coordinator, Public Works, City of San Marcos
- Rebecca L. Villalba, Team Leader, Stormwater Team, Water Quality Division, TCEQ
- Macayla Coleman, Environmental Permit Specialist, Stormwater Team, Water Quality Division, TCEQ
Additional presenters will be announced soon.
Clean Waters Initiative workshops offer education and information to local governments, nonprofit organizations, landowners, and residents to develop effective strategies to reduce pollution in local waterways.
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Upper Oyster Creek Annual Meeting – August 29 (In Person)
H-GAC invites residents, local governments, businesses, and non-profits within the Upper Oyster Creek Watershed to attend an annual meeting from 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesday, August 29, at The Cane Room, City of Sugar Land, 2700 Town Center Blvd. North, Sugar Land.
Stakeholders will discuss their efforts to improve water quality within the Upper Oyster Creek Watershed. H-GAC and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality will provide project updates, and the Texas Institute for Applied Environmental Research will present on their recent analysis of dissolved oxygen within the creek.
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Parks and Natural Areas Roundtable – September 11 (In Person)
The topic will focus on prairies, and presenters include:
- Royce Daniels, Environmental Field Operations Coordinator, Harris County Pct. 1
- Jaime González, Community & Equitable Conservation Programs Director, The Nature Conservancy in Texas
- Mary Anne Piacentini, President and CEO, Coastal Prairie Conservancy
- Cassidy Kempf, Habitat Restoration Manager, City of Houston Parks and Recreation Department
- Garry Stephens, Executive Managing Director, Wildlife Habitat Federation
The roundtable meets the second Monday of July and September, with field trips typically scheduled in the spring and fall and an awards ceremony in February. The group is open to anyone who is interested in participating.
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Elements of Placemaking Beyond Aesthetics Workshop – September 14 (In Person)
At H-GAC’s annual Livable Centers Land Use / Transportation Workshop, participants will
- Learn about Livable Centers projects that have been implemented around the region; and
- Learn about different elements of placemaking beyond aesthetics, such as safety, economic development, and environmental impact.
Confirmed presenters include:
- Eileen Egan, Near Northwest Management District
- Veronica Gorczynski, East End Management District
- Amna Ansari and Marcus Martinez, Ultra Barrio
Additional presenters will be announced soon.
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2024 Texas Environmental Excellence Awards Application Open Until August 25
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EPA, ICMA Brownfields Training Conference 2023 – August 8-11
Registration is open for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and International City County Management Association (ICMA) National Brownfields Training Conference to be held August 8-11 in Detroit, Michigan. The National Brownfields Training Conference is the largest event in the nation focused on environmental revitalization and economic redevelopment. Held every two years, the National Brownfields Conference attracts over 2,000 stakeholders in brownfields redevelopment and cleanup to share knowledge about sustainable reuse and celebrate the EPA brownfields program’s success. This year’s conference will explore the latest techniques, policies, and technologies for brownfield remediation, redevelopment, and reuse. It will also provide an opportunity to network with experts in the field and engage in discussions on current brownfields challenges.
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2023 Coastal Watershed Symposium – September 20-21
The Bayou Preservation Association will host its annual Coastal Watershed Symposium from 8 a.m. to noon September 20 and 21 on Zoom. The symposium, "Balancing Growth, Preservation, and Restoration," is a crucial component of Bayou Preservation's education initiative, providing a valuable platform for learning and growth. Learn more and purchase tickets to attend the symposium. |
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Houston Audubon Bird Week – September 23-30
Houston Bird Week 2023 celebrates the important role Houston plays in the journey of billions of migratory birds and the everyday lives of resident birds. Houston Audubon and local conservation partners arrange a week of events centered around the region’s birds and wildlife. Events include birding opportunities, watch parties, trivia, movie night, and more. Visit www.houstonaudubon.org/BirdWeek for details.
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STAR Texas Recycling Conference – November 1-3
Mark your calendars for the 25th Annual Texas Recycling Summit November 1-3 in San Marcos. The State of Texas Alliance for Recycling (STAR) hosts the summit to bring together more than 200 industry professionals from schools, cities, businesses, and NGOs to collaborate, educate, and network as we collectively advance recycling in Texas. Attendees interact with more than 40 exhibitors and gain useful insights from keynote speakers, workshops and breakout and plenary sessions. Registration opens soon.
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Funding Sources
All content, including links to websites, is for informational purposes only. Users of this content are responsible for checking its accuracy, currency, and suitability.
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More Information and Programs |
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Mapping Applications
Facebook
H-GAC has a Facebook page where information about current and upcoming events is posted. Please visit and like H-GAC's page. While there, visit other H-GAC pages on Facebook, including Recycling, and Trash Bash.
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Conservation Note of the Month
The Houston-Galveston Region has 2.5 million acres of forest, which provided an estimated $24 million in flood protection benefits by slowing the speed of moving floodwater. Infographics and posters highlighting the benefits of forests, wetlands, and prairies are available online in the Regional Conservation initiative Conservation Tool.
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Unless otherwise noted, all meetings scheduled at H-GAC are at 3555 Timmons Lane, Houston, Texas. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, H-GAC will provide reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities attending H-GAC functions. Requests should be received 72 business hours prior to the function. Contact the meeting organizer to make arrangements.
Banner Photo: Exploration Green. Photo by Marcus Tantillo. Would you like us to consider featuring your municipality, program, or regional photo on the C&E Planning Update banner? Just forward your picture to Andrea Tantillo, along with some information about the subject and the photographer, and you might see it in a future month's newsletter.
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Houston-Galveston Area Council
713-627-3200
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