Announcements regarding hearings, grants, and public comment notices of importance to California's rural counties.
State Water Board Awarding O&M Grants To Disadvantaged Public Drinking Water Systems
The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) is soliciting letters of interest from public agencies, public water systems or nonprofit organizations to award a total of $27.5 million from uncommitted Proposition 68 funds for disadvantaged communities (DACs) treatment of contaminated groundwater. Specifically, operations and maintenance (O&M) costs are eligible for DAC water systems over a period of three to five years, including (but not limited to) permitting, monitoring and reporting, chemicals, and/or plant operator labor. Letters of interest are due to the SWRCB’s Division of Financial Assistance by July 12, 2021. For more information, see here.
State Department Offers Free Domestic Well Water Quality Testing
The Department of Pesticide Regulation’s (DPR’s) Groundwater Protection Program is seeking volunteers with domestic wells to allow water quality samples be collected. These samples would be collected over time through a passive sampler and give DPR a better understanding of groundwater quality, specifically as it relates to pesticides. All equipment and testing is free to the volunteer. For more information, see here or contact gwpp@cdpr.ca.gov.
Forest Stewardship Workshop
The University of California Cooperative Extension is offering training opportunities to help landowners develop sustainable plans to improve and protect their forest lands.
- Online every Wednesday, (6-7:30pm) starting April 21, 2021 through June 16, 2021, and in-person Saturday, May 15th in San Bernardino County
- Online every Tuesday, (6-7:30pm) starting June 1, 2021 through July 27, 2021, and in-person, Saturday, June 26th in Sonoma County
For more information, see here.
Free Training Webinar for How to Use the California Vegetation Treatment Program
The Board of Forestry and Fire Protection is offering a free training webinar about how to use the California Vegetation Treatment Program (CalVTP) Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to streamline California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) compliance for vegetation treatment projects.
The training course will cover the following topics:
Part 1: Overview of the CalVTP Program EIR
- Treatment types and activities
- Treatable landscape
- Eligible project proponents
Part 2: Preparing a CEQA Document Using the CalVTP Program EIR
- CEQA Fundamentals – Program EIRs
- Project-Specific Analysis
- Project-Specific Analysis/Addendum
- Decision Documentation and Approval Process
- MMRP Implementation
Wrap Up: CalVTP Training Resources
Date: Thursday, May 13, 2021
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT
Register here
Date: Thursday, May 20, 2021
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT
Register here
Visit the How to Use the CalVTP webpage for training materials.
California Air Resources Board Offers Webinars on Regulatory Compliance Training
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is offering a variety of training webinars for regulatory compliance on issues affecting public fleets such as Off-Road Regulations, Truck and Bus Rules, and Diesel Truck Rules.
The In-Use Off-Road Diesel-Fueled Fleets Regulation (Off-Road Regulation) requires fleet owners to report to CARB, label their off-road vehicles, and reduce emissions from older equipment. This course provides detailed information to help fleet owners understand and comply with the Off-Road Regulation:
Date: May 13, 2021
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Webinar: Register