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- Written by: Editor
On Feb. 17, President Barack Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act).
The U.S. EPA manages more than $7 billion in projects and programs that will invest in environmental protection and provide long-term economic benefits to aide recovery efforts across the nation.
More than $517 million in Recovery Act Funds have already been obligated to California, including:
The California State Water Resources Control Board will receive $2.8 Million for water quality management planning. In addition, the Board’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund program will receive $280 million for water quality protection projects.
The California Department of Public Health’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program will receive $159 million to provide low-interest loans for drinking water systems to finance infrastructure improvements and ensuring safe drinking water.
Seven tribes in California will have improved access to vital water services through $8.5 million in Recovery funding. Projects to be undertaken include upgrades to wastewater treatment, upgrades to sewer connections, and expansion of sewer lines.
The California Air Resources Board has been awarded $1.73 million in Recovery Act Funds for clean diesel projects. Eligible projects include engine idling reduction and retrofit technologies, engine replacement, vehicle replacement, and clean diesel emerging technologies.
A cooperative agreement with the California State Water Resources Control Board will be used to distribute $15,577,000 for assessment and cleanup of underground storage tank petroleum leaks.
Over $25,403,971 in Clean Diesel Recovery funds will be used to replace, repower and retrofit engines in buses, heavy-duty trucks, locomotives, agricultural vehicles, construction vehicles, and cargo handling equipment in metropolitan Los Angeles, the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, San Diego, San Joaquin Valley and the Bay Area.
To help clean up sites known as “brownfields” which may be contaminated by hazardous chemicals or pollutants, EPA has awarded $3.3 million from the Recovery Act and $6.8 million from the EPA brownfields general program funding, to help communities in California revitalize former industrial and commercial sites, turning them from problem properties to productive community use.
EPA has awarded $700,000 funded in part through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, to the Los Angeles Conservation Corps. The LA Conservation Corp will provide job training for 160 students to learn the latest environmental technologies and prepare them for “green” jobs.
Over $10 million in new funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 will be used to accelerate the clean-up at the Iron Mountain Mine Superfund site near Redding, California.
For more info, please visit www.epa.gov/recovery .
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
SB 2 extends, from 2011 to 2016, the Pierce's Disease Control Program within the CDFA, and expands the program’s research component to include designated new pests and diseases affecting grapes grown in California.
The research is paid for by funds which the winegrape growers assess upon themselves.
The Wiggins bill calls for a referendum of the state’s winegrape growers in order to continue the industry assessment.
In the late 1990s, Pierce's Disease, which has been present in California for more than 100 years, threatened to cause sizable damage to grapes due to the arrival of the glassy-winged sharpshooter.
The glassy-winged sharpshooter carries the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa, which causes Pierce's Disease in grapes, almonds, oleander, and citrus fruits.
The insect feeds on a plant's water producing elements. When a plant develops Pierce's Disease, its ability to draw in moisture is hindered and the plant will either die or become unproductive.
In response to this threat to the grape industry, the Legislature passed bills that led to the creation of an advisory task force on the Pierce's Disease issue in 1999.
In 2000, the Pierce's Disease Control Program was created as a partnership between the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), county agriculture commissioners, United States Department of Agriculture, University of California, local agencies, industry and agriculture organizations to combat the spread and find solutions for Pierce's Disease and the glassy-winged sharpshooter.
Wiggins, who chairs the Senate Select Committee on California’s Wine Industry, said the program has “proven to be a very successful effort to control the spread of Pierce's Disease and the glassy-winged sharpshooter.
While the program is due to sunset in 2011, the disease and the threat of its spread still remain. By extending the sunset date, the Pierce's Disease Control Program can continue to combat the spread of Pierce's Disease and the glassy-winged sharpshooter.”
Assemblywoman Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa), who chairs the Assembly Select Committee on Wine, is principal co-author of SB 2, as is Assemblyman Wesley Chesbro (D-Eureka).
Evans said the Pierce’s Disease Control Program “has not only kept this pest under control, it has resulted in a sustained reduction of the Sharpshooter population. It shows how government and business can work together effectively. This success was the best argument to keep the program going.”
"Ten years ago the glassy-winged sharpshooter posed a serious threat to California’s winemaking industry,” Chesbro said. “The industry came together, and with legislation Sen. Wiggins and I authored, we made the control program a highly successful hedge against the spread of Pierce’s Disease. It’s heartening to see the private and public sectors continue to work together to keep this important program going strong.”
Supporters of SB 2, including the California Association of Winegrape Growers, Family Winemakers of California and the Wine Institute, state that the great inter-governmental and industry coordination through the Pierce's Disease Control Program has proven an excellent model for pest control programs.
By extending the research funding of the program to include other significant pests and diseases threatening California grape growers, they assert, California will be able to build on the success of the Pierce's Disease Control Program to combat other significant pests to grapes grown in the state.
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- Written by: Editor
If so, the Lake County Chamber of Commerce's next 59-minute seminar is for you.
The “Facebook 101” seminar will take place from 6 p.m. to 6:59 p.m. Monday, Sept. 14, at the Lakeport City Council Chambers, 225 Park St.
Carol Cole-Lewis, Internet and social media marketing consultant, will lead the seminar.
Cole-Lewis' blog, “So You Have a Website … Now What?” provides resources, tips and tricks to enable small business owners to effectively implement social media as an element in an overall marketing plan.
The seminar's experience level is for “newbies” – people who have just joined, or who are considering joining Facebook.
Participants will learn several important “how to” items, including signing up for a Facebook account and setting up a Facebook profile, finding friends and how to use Facebook to build exposure for your business.
The cost is free to chamber members and $10 for non-members.
Space is limited – make your reservation today. Please RSVP online at www.lakecochamber.com , by phone at 707-263-5092 or via email at
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On Wednesday, Sept. 9, Sheriff Rod Mitchell and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office will host a local vendor fair at the Lake County Hill Road Jail Facility.
The fair will take place from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. pm at the Lake County Jail, located at 4913 Helbush Drive in Lakeport.
Refreshments will be on hand and again, all local businesses are invited and strongly encouraged to attend.
The local vendor fair is presented in cooperation with the county of Lake and is intended to afford local businesses a unique opportunity to come out and view the myriad of services and supplies necessary to sustain sheriff’s office operations.
While local businesses have always been considered in selecting vendors and suppliers, the majority of our business has historically gone to vendors outside of the county due partially to the need for specialized equipment or services and the economic use of tax dollars.
However, in the interest of stimulating the local economy and with the support of the Lake County Board of Supervisors, local businesses have recently been granted particular consideration for the service and supply needs of all county departments.
The sheriff manages the largest operational budget of all county departments and several millions of dollars are spent each year on the services and supplies required to sustain its operations.
Sheriff's officials say they are enthused to take the lead on behalf of all county departments in presenting local businesses with the opportunity to reclaim tax dollars currently spent elsewhere and encourage all local businesses to attend the department's exhibits on Sept. 9.
The local vendor fair will not be restricted to just services and supplies purchased by the jail.
There will be representatives from all branches of the sheriff’s department on hand to discuss and display every aspect of the agency's service and supply needs.