Today’s Local Environment—The Compliance Podcast

Recent wildfire smoke events have highlighted the value of air quality measurement. But how does it really work, anyways? From the latest technologies and regulations to the unique challenges faced by local governments and Tribes, this week's guests discuss the transforming landscape of air quality monitoring. Join hosts Georgia Ray and Ella Stack and guests Chet Wayland from the EPA, Christop...

The water sector has untapped potential for Americans looking for a fulfilling career working with ever-advancing technologies and serving the public. Building this pipeline is increasingly critical as long-time workers retire and others leave the industry, with repercussions for communities across the nation—particularly in our smaller towns and rural areas. How can drinking water utilities and l...

The LA County Chief Sustainability Office set out in 2020 to accomplish a monumental task: assess the risks and challenges that a changing climate will bring to over 10 million people and physical infrastructure spanning 182 square miles —while incorporating the needs and priorities of the County’s most vulnerable populations. The result of this collaboration with Climate Resolve is the County of...

Local communities are increasingly turning towards green infrastructure as a cost-effective and successful solution to address the growing challenges presented by stormwater management. Green infrastructure represents a shift away from aging, gray infrastructure (pipes, gutters, and tunnels) and towards systems that mimic nature to sustainably filter stormwater and improve wate...

Lead-based paint is still present in many houses, apartments, and public buildings, making it a critical issue of health and safety for communities. Lead poisoning can cause permanent damage to a person’s brain, nervous system, and other organs, and is especially hazardous to children and pregnant women. Though the federal government banned lead-based paint in 1978, it is still commonly found in o...

The United States produces nearly 300 million tons of municipal solid waste each year, about a third of which is recycled or composted. As foreign markets begin to crack down on the importation of solid wastes for recycling abroad, it is vital that the U.S. advance and improve its current waste management practices. To achieve the National Recycling Goal of 50% by 2030 , the EPA consulted with sta...

Sixty percent of facilities in significant non-compliance (SNC) with their National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits are small municipal wastewater treatment plants. The Clean Water Act’s permit program regulates point sources of water pollution, such as discharges from publicly owned municipal wastewater treatment plants. Why is this? And what can we do about it? Join ELI’s...

Complying with environmental requirements under the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act can be costly, especially for smaller water utilities, which often struggle to find capital to improve aging infrastructure. In this episode, your LGEAN hosts, Cynthia and Shehla, chat with four experts from EPA and the Environmental Finance Center at UNC at Chapel Hill on environmental financing. Liste...

Shehla and Cynthia sit down with two EPA ombudsmen to discuss their role helping municipal and tribal governments navigate the sometimes complex web of federal environmental requirements—from carrying out obligations under the Clean Water Act to addressing asbestos still present in many schools and buildings today. Tune in to learn more about how these “ombuds” can serve as a resource for your cit...