GLIN==> Northeast-Midwest Weekly Update -- 30 April 2001

[Glenn Starnes <gstarnes@nemw.org>]

H I G H L I G H T S

*  Brownfields Legislation
*  Briefing on Nutrient Management
*  Briefing on Energy Prices
*  Letter on Invasive Species
*  Affordable Housing and Smart Growth Briefing Report
*  Upcoming Events


BROWNFIELDS LEGISLATION
-----------------------
     The Senate last week unanimously approved a
brownfield
redevelopment bill (S. 350).  That legislation, introduced by
Sen.
Lincoln Chafee (R-RI), authorizes $200 million in annual funding
from
fiscal 2002 to 2006, and it provides developers and prospective
landowners some liability protection.

     Senators Carl Levin (D-MI) and Jim Jeffords
(R-VT), co-chairs of
the Senate Smart Growth Task Force, succeeded in obtaining
assurances
that Environment and Public Works Committee leaders would work
toward
passage of two complementary legislative initiatives.  The
Brownfield
Site Redevelopment Assistance Act of 2001 would provide targeted
assistance through the Economic Development Administration (EDA) 
for
projects that redevelop brownfield sites.  The Brownfields
Economic
Development Act of 2001 will allow the Department of Housing and
Urban
Development (HUD) to make Brownfields Economic Development
Initiative
(BEDI) grants independent of Section 108 economic development loan
guarantees.

     CONTACT: 
Heather Smith with
the Senate Smart Growth Task Force
(224-5141) and Charlie Bartsch at
the Northeast-Midwest Institute
(544-5200).


BRIEFING ON NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT
-------------------------------
     The Upper Mississippi Task Force on Monday,
April 30, will host a
briefing on strategies and potential solutions associated with
nutrient management.  Excessive nutrients from point and
nonpoint
sources can lead to eutrophication and algal blooms, threatening
drinking water quality, aquatic life, and recreational water uses.

     Speaking will be representatives of the
Agricultural Research
Service, Farm Bureau, Chesapeake Bay Program, Mississippi River
Basin
Alliance, and World Resources Institute.  The April 30 briefing
will
run from 2:00 pm until 3:30 pm in room HC-6 of the U.S. Capitol.

     CONTACT: 
Laura Cimo with the Upper
Mississippi River Task Force
(225-5506).


BRIEFING ON ENERGY PRICES
-------------------------
     The Northeast-Midwest Coalitions on Wednesday,
May 2, will host a
briefing on spiking energy prices for gasoline, natural gas, and
fuel
oil.  Representatives from the Energy Information Administration
will
provide their latest projections and discuss the importance of
state-
level energy data in tracking these developments.

     The May 2 briefing will begin at 9:00 am in room
SC-4 of the U.S.
Capitol.

     CONTACT: 
Olwen Huxley at the
Northeast-Midwest Congressional
Coalition (226-9497).


LETTER ON INVASIVE SPECIES
--------------------------
     Senators Mike DeWine (R-OH) and Daniel Akaka
(D-HI) and Reps.
Steve LaTourette (R-OH) and Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) are seeking
signatures on a letter that supports funding levels for numerous
Federal programs that prevent, research, monitor, control and
eradicate invasive species in both aquatic and terrestrial
environments.

     Invasive species typically are non-native
organisms that are
transported into our environment, and in the absence of natural
predators, thrive and compete with native organisms.  These
organisms
cause crop and livestock damage, public health threats, marine
commerce disruptions, ecosystem destruction, and cost the U.S. more
that $138 billion each year -- more than twice the annual economic
damage caused by all natural disasters in the U.S.

     CONTACTS: 
Joy Mulinex with the
Senate Great Lakes Task Force
(224-1211), Shirley Fiske with Sen. Akaka (224-6361), Paula Steiner
with Rep. LaTourette (225-5731), or Orly Isaacson with Rep. Maloney
(225-7944).


BRIEFING REPORT:  AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SMART GROWTH
------------------------------------------------------
     A summary of presentations and discussion at a
recent briefing on
affordable housing and smart growth, sponsored by the Senate Smart
Growth Task Force, House Sustainable Development Caucus, and House
Livable Communities Task Force, has just been released.

     The April 11 briefing featured a broad range of
perspectives
offered by five panelists representing home builders, financiers,
and
marketers, as well as community-based groups dedicated to
revitalizing
and strengthening neighborhoods.  The summary report describes
the
challenges of using smart growth strategies to meet critical 
housing
needs, and suggests public and private initiatives to address them. 

     CONTACT: 
Barbara Wells at the
Northeast-Midwest Institute (544-
5200).


UPCOMING EVENTS
---------------
May 7 – Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs); 11:00 am; SC-5 of the
Capitol
May 8 – Mercury Pollution; 10:00 am; HC-6 of the Capitol 
May 9 –
25th
Anniversary of Northeast-Midwest groups