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Winners Selected for the TRB Airport Cooperative Research Program's 2025-2026 University Design Competition for Addressing Airport Needs
WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine issued the following news release:
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Winners Selected for the TRB Airport Cooperative Research Program's 2025-2026 University Design Competition for Addressing Airport Needs
The Transportation Research Board's Airport Cooperative Research Program has selected winners for its latest ACRP University Design Competition. This annual competition encourages students to design innovative and practical solutions to challenges at airports.
Four first-place winners were chosen across the four technical challenge areas:
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WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine issued the following news release:
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Winners Selected for the TRB Airport Cooperative Research Program's 2025-2026 University Design Competition for Addressing Airport Needs
The Transportation Research Board's Airport Cooperative Research Program has selected winners for its latest ACRP University Design Competition. This annual competition encourages students to design innovative and practical solutions to challenges at airports.
Four first-place winners were chosen across the four technical challenge areas:Airport Environmental Interactions; Airport Safety, Operations, and Maintenance; Passenger Experience and Innovations in Airport Terminal Design; and Airport Management and Planning.
"TRB congratulates these students for their winning proposals and their innovative spirit. We look forward to their continued contributions to the industry in the years to come," said Ann Brach, TRB executive director.
The first-place winning teams in each category are:
Airport Environmental Interactions Challenge:
Hunter Lisle, Zackrey Schaeder, and Christopher Sidor from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's School of Graduate Studies won first place for their proposal titled Modernization of Deicing Operations Utilizing Uncrewed Aircraft Systems. Their faculty advisers were Chuyang Yang and Ryan Wallace.
Airport Safety, Operations, and Maintenance Challenge:
Kathleen Brening, Tomas Chacon, Brian Finn, Andrew Kirschenmann, and William Seaman from University of Colorado, Boulder, won first place for their proposal titled Tool Aerie. Their faculty adviser was Azadeh Bolhari.
Passenger Experience and Innovations in Airport Terminal Design Challenge:
Kyle Choate, Jakeb Jackson, and Kayla Kamposh from Lawrence Technical University won first place for their proposal titled BreatheWell Modular Seating System. Their faculty adviser was Julia Jovanovic.
Airport Management and Planning Challenge:
Dale Klika, Jason Kwong, and Yinxiao Zhang from Purdue University won first place for their proposal titled Parking Availability & Routing Knowledge Systems (PARKS). Their faculty adviser was Mary Johnson.
Additionally, teams from University of California, Berkeley, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Lawrence Technical University, and Bowling Green State University won second-place awards. Teams from St. Louis University, Kent State University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida Institute of Technology, and Lawrence Technical University won third-place awards.
Students were invited to propose innovations in any of the four technical challenge areas. The competition requires that students work with a faculty adviser and that they reach out to airport operators and industry experts for advice and to assess the practicality of their proposed design solutions. ACRP manages the competition while funding is provided by the Federal Aviation Administration. Volunteer panels of airport industry practitioners review and judge the submissions based on a standard scoring criteria.
Winning teams receive $3,000 for first place, $2,000 for second place, and $1,000 for third place, and will be given the opportunity to present their proposals at an industry professional conference or workshop in 2026.
The names of all winners and copies of designs receiving place awards will be made available at https://www.trb.org/ACRP.
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The Airport Cooperative Research Program is an industry-driven, applied research program that develops near-term, practical solutions to airport challenges. The ACRP is managed by the Transportation Research Board, which is part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine -- private, nonprofit institutions that provide independent, objective analysis and advice to the nation to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions related to science, engineering, and medicine. The National Academies operate under an 1863 congressional charter to the National Academy of Sciences, signed by President Lincoln. For more information, visit https://national-academies.org.
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Original text here: https://www.nationalacademies.org/news?type[]=136&pagination-page-select=https://www.nationalacademies.org/news?page=1
U.S. Chemical Safety Board Closes Didion Milling Recommendations
WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- The U.S. Chemical Safety Board issued the following news release on Aug. 12, 2026:
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U.S. Chemical Safety Board Closes Didion Milling Recommendations
CSB Concludes that Didion Has Implemented the Agency's Recommendations
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The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) said today that Didion Milling, Inc. (Didion) has now implemented all nine safety recommendations issued to the company by the CSB stemming from the agency's investigation of the fatal May 2017 explosion at Didion's Cambria, Wisconsin, facility. The explosion killed five employees and
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WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- The U.S. Chemical Safety Board issued the following news release on Aug. 12, 2026:
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U.S. Chemical Safety Board Closes Didion Milling Recommendations
CSB Concludes that Didion Has Implemented the Agency's Recommendations
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The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) said today that Didion Milling, Inc. (Didion) has now implemented all nine safety recommendations issued to the company by the CSB stemming from the agency's investigation of the fatal May 2017 explosion at Didion's Cambria, Wisconsin, facility. The explosion killed five employees andseriously injured 14 others.
The CSB issued the nine recommendations to Didion in December 2023, when the agency released its final report on the incident. Didion was not initially responsive to the CSB. However, after certain actions by the CSB last year, Didion has worked cooperatively with the agency since August 2025 to implement the recommendations and provide the CSB with documentation demonstrating that all nine of the recommendations have been satisfactorily implemented.
In implementing the CSB's recommendations, Didion has:
* Developed a comprehensive combustible dust management program including addressing safety leadership and culture;
* Ensured the effective design, construction, and maintenance of the company's combustible dust handling equipment, including the building where such equipment is located, through dust hazard analysis supported by industry experts;
* Installed engineered safeguards commensurate with the combustible dust hazards of the Cambria facility; and
* Made improvements in the company's continuity of operations program, emergency response plan, and personal protective equipment program.
CSB Chairperson Steve Owens stated, "The CSB recognizes Didion's effort over the last year to engage with the agency and implement the recommendations we made to improve safety at the company's facility. The CSB's recommendations are intended to prevent recurrence of the kind of deadly incident that occurred in May 2017, or at the very least minimize the consequences of such of a terrible event."
The CSB is an independent federal agency charged with investigating incidents and hazards that result, or may result, in the catastrophic release of extremely hazardous substances. The agency's core mission activities include conducting incident investigations; formulating preventive or mitigative recommendations based on investigation findings and advocating for their implementation; issuing reports containing the findings, conclusions, and recommendations arising from incident investigations; and conducting studies on chemical hazards.
The agency's board members are appointed by the president subject to Senate confirmation. The Board does not issue citations or fines but makes safety recommendations to companies, industry organizations, labor groups, and regulatory agencies such as OSHA and EPA.
Please visit our website, www.csb.gov. For more information, contact Director of External Affairs Hillary Cohen at Hillary.Cohen@csb.gov.
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Original text here: https://www.csb.gov/us-chemical-safety-board-closes-didion-milling-recommendations/
Smithsonian Institution: Sensory Overload Makes It Harder for Female Treefrogs To Select a Mate
WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 (TNSjou) -- The Smithsonian Institution issued the following news release:
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Sensory Overload Makes It Harder for Female Treefrogs To Select a Mate
When Faced With Too Many Mating Calls, Female Treefrogs Take Longer To Decide or Abandon the Search Altogether
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When shopping for a new appliance, choosing a movie to watch or even ordering a cup of coffee, people often experience "choice overload." New research from the Smithsonian suggests that female Cope's gray treefrogs face a similar challenge when selecting a mate. In a study published today in iScience, researchers
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WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 (TNSjou) -- The Smithsonian Institution issued the following news release:
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Sensory Overload Makes It Harder for Female Treefrogs To Select a Mate
When Faced With Too Many Mating Calls, Female Treefrogs Take Longer To Decide or Abandon the Search Altogether
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When shopping for a new appliance, choosing a movie to watch or even ordering a cup of coffee, people often experience "choice overload." New research from the Smithsonian suggests that female Cope's gray treefrogs face a similar challenge when selecting a mate. In a study published today in iScience, researchersfrom the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and the University of Tennessee found that when female treefrogs are confronted with too many males calls at once, they become less likely to successfully choose a mate. The findings reveal how cognitive limits may influence mating behavior not only in treefrogs, but also across the animal kingdom.
During the breeding season across Eastern North America, Cope's gray treefrogs gather in large choruses with males calling simultaneously to attract females. The resulting wall of sound can make it difficult for females to identify a suitable mate. Previous research has focused on "energetic masking," in which overlapping calls make individual males difficult to hear. But few studies have explored choice overload, where frogs are confronted with too many calls at once. To separate the effects of these two phenomena, researchers played recorded mating calls through speakers in a laboratory and measured female responses when confronted with increasing numbers of potential mates, varying levels of background noise, or both.
"We were really interested in disentangling why female treefrogs have trouble finding a mate, whether it's because they have trouble hearing males against a noisy backdrop, or if the females simply become overwhelmed by the number of options," said Claire Hemingway, a research associate at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, an assistant professor at the University of Tennessee and the lead author on the paper. "In human terms, is it like entering a crowded bar and not being able to hear anyone talk, or is it like using a dating app and not being able to choose among the many options?"
The researchers presented females with one target mating call and varying numbers of competing calls. As the number of options increased, the frogs' ability to make decisions declined. When presented with only two calls, females pursued their mate 97% of the time. When the number of calls increased to eight, the proportion dropped to 82%. Even when females did make a choice, they were less likely to select the target call, and it took significantly longer for them to decide. With two calls, females selected the target 76% of the time and reached it in an average of 114 seconds. With eight calls, target selection fell to just 25%, and decision times increased to 183 seconds.
"We were shocked by how straightforward the results were," said Jessie Tanner, an assistant professor at the University of Tennesee and the paper's senior author. "With or without noise, when we presented more calls to the females at once, their performance declined in several ways, making the effect of choice overload clear."
The findings demonstrate that treefrogs, like humans, are susceptible to choice overload and suggest that cognitive constraints may play a larger role in sexual selection among animals than previously recognized. By highlighting the limits of how animals process information in complex environments, the research opens new avenues for understanding how cognition affects mate choice and evolution across species.
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About the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
Headquartered in Panama City, Panama, STRI is a unit of the Smithsonian Institution. Our mission is to understand tropical biodiversity and its importance to human welfare, to train students to conduct research in the tropics and to promote conservation by increasing public awareness of the beauty and importance of tropical ecosystems. Watch our video, and visit our website, Facebook and Instagram for updates.
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View journal here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2026.117086
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Original text here: https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/releases/sensory-overload-makes-it-harder-female-treefrogs-select-mate
IDB Group's Amazonia for All Initiative Has First ETF With BTG Pactual Asset
WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release:
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IDB Group's Amazonia for All Initiative Has First ETF with BTG Pactual Asset
SAO PAULO -- BTG Pactual Asset Management, one of Latin America's largest asset managers, has launched AMAB11, the first exchange-traded fund (ETF) associated with the Inter-American Development Bank Group's (IDB Group) Amazonia for All initiative.
The fund marks an important step to broaden access to investments focused on Brazil's Legal Amazon, enabling retail investors to participate in financing initiatives that
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WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release:
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IDB Group's Amazonia for All Initiative Has First ETF with BTG Pactual Asset
SAO PAULO -- BTG Pactual Asset Management, one of Latin America's largest asset managers, has launched AMAB11, the first exchange-traded fund (ETF) associated with the Inter-American Development Bank Group's (IDB Group) Amazonia for All initiative.
The fund marks an important step to broaden access to investments focused on Brazil's Legal Amazon, enabling retail investors to participate in financing initiatives thatsupport the region's sustainable development and strengthen its capital markets. The initiative seeks to encourage a virtuous cycle of sustainable investment in the Amazon.
Managed by BTG Pactual Asset Management, AMAB11 plans to invest in financial instruments aligned with the Amazon Bond Issuance Guidelines, developed by the IDB Group and the World Bank. The guidelines establish eligibility, transparency, and reporting criteria for financial instruments that support sustainable development in the Amazon region across Latin America.
"Now, any individual investor, with as little as R$10, can directly contribute to and own a share of development projects in the Amazon. This ETF is a pioneering step toward democratizing access to investments in the Amazon region," said Ilan Goldfajn, President of the IDB Group. "We hope this initiative will inspire institutions in Brazil to issue financial instruments that support the development of the region," he added.
"AMAB11 reflects BTG Asset's role as a leader and innovator in the Latin American investment industry. By aligning with the IDB Group's sustainability guidelines for Amazon investments, this ETF combines return potential and impact in a solution that is accessible, transparent, and tax efficient. It provides local and global investors with access to a new investment strategy while helping connect capital markets to the Amazon region," said Rubens Henriques, CEO of BTG Pactual Asset Management.
AMAB11's portfolio includes Amazon Bonds aligned with the issuance guidelines, debentures issued by companies with significant activities in Brazil's Legal Amazon, and Brazilian federal government securities. The combination of these instruments with BTG Asset's portfolio management expertise is expected to promote transparency and alignment with Amazonia's sustainable development objectives.
The launch is part of Amazonia for All, an initiative linked to the IDB Group's Amazonia Forever program. The initiative seeks to expand opportunities for retail investors to support Amazon development through financial instruments that adhere to high standards of transparency, impact, and sustainability. It also contributes to the broader goals of Amazonia Forever, which mobilizes financing, knowledge, and partnerships to promote sustainable development, expand economic opportunities, and support conservation efforts across the region.
The IDB Group contributes the Amazonia for All seal and framework, while BTG Pactual Asset Management is responsible for managing AMAB11 and making all investment decisions related to the fund.
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About the IDB Group
The Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group) is the leading source of development financing and knowledge for improving lives in Latin America and the Caribbean. It comprises the IDB, which works with the region's public sector and facilitates private sector engagement; IDB Invest, which supports private companies and projects; and IDB Lab, which promotes entrepreneurial innovation.
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About Amazonia Forever
Amazonia Forever is the IDB Group's regional coordination program aimed at protecting biodiversity through greater development and economic opportunities. The program operates through three pillars: expanding financing, promoting knowledge exchange, and facilitating regional coordination among the eight countries that share the Amazon biome.
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About BTG Pactual Asset Management
BTG Pactual Asset Management is one of Latin America's largest asset managers, with more than R$673 billion in assets under management across a broad range of liquid and alternative investment strategies. The firm has a presence in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, the United States, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and Luxembourg.
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Original text here: https://www.iadb.org/en/news/idb-groups-amazonia-all-initiative-has-first-etf-btg-pactual-asset
Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics: Eclipse Web App Tracks Real-time Sun Coverage From Anywhere in the World
CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, Aug. 12 -- The Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics issued the following news release:
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New Eclipse Web App Tracks Real-time Sun Coverage From Anywhere in the World
The Center for Astrophysics app, called a Cosmic Data Story, makes it easy to discover the best viewing near you
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The Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian has launched a new interactive web app for use during the August 12 total solar eclipse.
The interface, called a Cosmic Data Story, is built on WorldWide Telescope and works on both phones and computers. It lets anyone, from
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CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, Aug. 12 -- The Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics issued the following news release:
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New Eclipse Web App Tracks Real-time Sun Coverage From Anywhere in the World
The Center for Astrophysics app, called a Cosmic Data Story, makes it easy to discover the best viewing near you
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The Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian has launched a new interactive web app for use during the August 12 total solar eclipse.
The interface, called a Cosmic Data Story, is built on WorldWide Telescope and works on both phones and computers. It lets anyone, fromanywhere on Earth, see exactly what the eclipse will look like from their location at any given time.
"We're making it easy for anybody to understand what a total eclipse looks like and how long the eclipse will last along different locations in the path of totality.," said Patricia Udomprasert, project director and research associate in the CfA's Science Education Department.
On a laptop or desktop, users can view a detailed overview of the event, where an interactive map shows the eclipse's path of totality across Spain, Iceland, and Greenland, and where a partial eclipse will be seen, including much of the U.S. Historical weather data about things like cloud cover can be overlaid on the map to predict the likelihood of clear skies along the path of totality.
On phones and tablets, the streamlined "in the field" view is designed for eclipse day itself: By entering or selecting a location, users can see a simulation of what the Sun will look like at that spot as the eclipse progresses. A built in timer offers countdowns to key moments such as the start of the partial phase and the onset of totality.
"This makes it easy for people to know when to put on their eclipse glasses as the eclipse begins, and when they can take them off to see the breathtaking glow of the Sun's corona in totality," Udomprasert noted.
The web app also incorporates real time weather forecasts alongside the historical cloud cover probability. Users can compare locations, consider both long term climate and short term forecasts, and adjust their plans--even on the day of the eclipse--based on the latest information.
This eclipse explorer is part of CfA's broader Cosmic Data Stories initiative, which uses sophisticated visualization tools to create intuitive, public facing experiences that help people learn STEM concepts.
The web app is available free online and requires no download. Users are encouraged to bookmark the page to use as a live guide. A share feature creates a url that takes the user directly to a specific location. Whether you are in the path of totality or viewing a partial eclipse, this tool offers a clear, data driven way to understand and experience the event.
Cosmic Data Stories is funded by a NASA Science Activation grant under cooperative agreement award No. 80NSSC21M0002 and is built using the open-source visualization software WorldWide Telescope.
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About the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian
The Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian is a collaboration between the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and the Harvard College Observatory designed to ask, and ultimately answer, humanity's greatest unresolved questions about the universe.
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Original text here: https://www.cfa.harvard.edu/news/new-eclipse-web-app-tracks-real-time-sun-coverage-anywhere-world
EPA, State, and Local Partners Announce $37.6 Million Investment to Restore Maumee Area of Concern in Northwest Ohio
WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA, State, and Local Partners Announce $37.6 Million Investment to Restore Maumee Area of Concern in Northwest Ohio
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Funding will support dredging and habitat restoration in the Maumee and Ottawa Rivers
Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) joined state and local partners at the National Museum of the Great Lakes in Toledo, Ohio, to announce more than $37.6 million in funding to support continued restoration and remediation efforts in the Maumee Area of Concern in northwest Ohio.
"When
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WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA, State, and Local Partners Announce $37.6 Million Investment to Restore Maumee Area of Concern in Northwest Ohio
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Funding will support dredging and habitat restoration in the Maumee and Ottawa Rivers
Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) joined state and local partners at the National Museum of the Great Lakes in Toledo, Ohio, to announce more than $37.6 million in funding to support continued restoration and remediation efforts in the Maumee Area of Concern in northwest Ohio.
"Whenwe clean up contaminated sediment and rebuild habitat, we don't just heal a watershed-we unlock opportunity," said EPA Regional Administrator Anne Vogel. "We've already accomplished so much, and it's vital we continue to deliver for the people of northwest Ohio."
The funding will be used to complete three projects in the Maumee and Ottawa rivers. This includes more than $34 million for the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority to dredge approximately 121,000 cubic yards of sediment contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and other contaminants from a one-mile area along the Lower Maumee River. The dredged sediment will be placed in the Toledo Harbor confined disposal facility. EPA is providing $32.34 million from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative for the project while Ohio EPA are providing $1.75 million to cover disposal.
"We are grateful to the U.S. EPA for its tremendous support of the Lower Maumee River Sway Bridge Project and for its continued confidence in the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority to lead important environmental initiatives throughout northwest Ohio," said Thomas J. Winston, President and CEO of the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority. "This significant investment builds on our ongoing work to restore and protect our region's natural resources, strengthen the health and vitality of our community, and ensure a cleaner, healthier Maumee River for generations to come."
Additionally, there is $2.6 million in funding for the City of Toledo to improve fish habitat in the Ottawa River by constructing floating wetlands, rock shoals, fish shelves, and woody habitat.
"For decades, contamination kept Toledoans from accessing their own river, but projects like this one have changed that -building the floating wetlands and berms that will bring calm-water kayaking, a better fishery, and hands-on learning for Ottawa River Elementary students right back to the Ottawa River," said Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz. "Clean water is good for the fish, good for the environment, and good for quality of life, and this investment helps us deliver all of the above for our neighborhoods."
EPA is also awarding Ohio EPA $1 million to evaluate cleanup options and design a project to address an area of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contamination in the Ottawa River approximately 8 river miles upstream from Lake Erie.
"Ohio EPA is proud to partner on projects that protect and restore Ohio's waters while addressing environmental challenges that have existed for decades," said Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Director John Logue. "This investment will help advance meaningful restoration work in the Maumee and Ottawa Rivers, creating cleaner waterways, healthier ecosystems, and stronger communities across northwest Ohio."
The Maumee Area of concern is one of the largest areas of concern in the United States, covering 787 square miles in northwest Ohio, including 1,900 miles of streams and 45 miles of Lake Erie shoreline. It was designated as an area of concern in 1987 by the U.S. and Canadian governments because of decades of industrial pollution, untreated waste discharges, stormwater runoff and habitat deterioration. This degradation resulted in 10 beneficial use impairments-official restrictions on normal uses of the water, including swimming, eating fish, or accessing beaches.
To date, EPA and partners have completed 42 of 53 planned management actions in the Maumee Area of Concern, including the removal of more than 300,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment and the restoration of more than 3,500 acres of habitat. This effort has enabled EPA to remove four beneficial use impairments, including fish consumption advisories and limits on dredging activities. Once all of these restrictions have been removed, the area of concern can be delisted.
Follow EPA Region 5 on InstagramExit EPA's website, XExit EPA's website and visit our FacebookExit EPA's website page. For more information about EPA Region 5, visit our website.
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-state-and-local-partners-announce-376-million-investment-restore-maumee-area
Administrator Lee Zeldin Announces Local Government Advisory Committee Membership, Revitalized Group Embodies EPA's Commitment to Cooperative Federalism
WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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Administrator Lee Zeldin Announces Local Government Advisory Committee Membership, Revitalized Group Embodies EPA's Commitment to Cooperative Federalism
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WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the revitalization of the Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC), an advisory group comprised of state and local officials who will help to advance the agency's core mission of protecting human health and the environment while Powering the Great American Comeback.
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WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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Administrator Lee Zeldin Announces Local Government Advisory Committee Membership, Revitalized Group Embodies EPA's Commitment to Cooperative Federalism
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WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the revitalization of the Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC), an advisory group comprised of state and local officials who will help to advance the agency's core mission of protecting human health and the environment while Powering the Great American Comeback.
"Cooperative federalism is at the core of the Trump EPA, and we are proud to work with our state and local governments that are most closely connected to their communities' environmental issues. Revitalizing the Local Government Advisory Committee ensures we are operating in lock step to protect human health and the environment while Powering the Great American Comeback," said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin.
The LGAC will begin its new charter with a discussion of challenges local governments face when navigating the siting and development of AI infrastructure and data centers in a sustainable manner. This work will be discussed at a virtual public meeting this September, which will be published soon in the Federal Register.
The 22-member committee represents a broad range of communities across the country, including 13 new appointments and 9 reappointments or continuing members. The Committee will be led by Ohio's Clermont County Commissioner David Painter.
"The synergies between environmental regulations and ensuring responsible performance in future projects are essential to moving America forward while protecting our environment for future generations," said LGAC Chair David Painter. "This is our number one goal. The combined expertise of these members, serving in an advisory role, will result in practical advice that the Federal EPA can count on to guide its future."
The LGAC members and their affiliations are:
* The Honorable Vicente "Tony" Ada, Senator, Guam
* The Honorable Lori Blong, Mayor, Midland, TX
* The Honorable Patrick Collins, Mayor, Cheyenne, WY*
* The Honorable Seth Crawford, Commissioner, Crook County, OR*
* The Honorable Kendall Culp, Representative, Indiana General Assembly
* The Honorable Bob Dyer, Mayor, Virginia Beach, VA*
* The Honorable Allison Eckel, Commissioner, Burlington County, NJ
* The Honorable Chad Frank, Mayor, Connersville, IN*
* Mr. Brian Fulton, County Administrator, Jackson County, MS
* The Honorable Leirion Gaylor Baird, Mayor, Lincoln, NE
* The Honorable Steve Gist, State Representative, State of Pennsylvania*
* The Honorable Matthew Jewell, Parish President, St. Charles Parish, LA*
* The Honorable Jason Maxey, Commissioner, Weld County, CO*
* The Honorable Doug McLinko, Commissioner, Bradford County, PA*
* The Honorable Matthew Murdock, Mayor, Pinedale, WY*
* The Honorable Douglas Nicholls, Mayor, Yuma, AZ
* The Honorable David Painter, County Commissioner, Clermont County, OH
* The Honorable Hattie Portis-Jones, Councilmember, Fairburn, GA
* The Honorable Ben Queen, State Senator, West Virginia*
* The Honorable Ed Romaine, County Executive, Suffolk County, NY
* The Honorable Bill Rosacker, Mayor, Newberg, OR*
* The Honorable Martina White, State Representative, State of Pennsylvania*
* Denotes newly appointed members
Background
Chartered in 1993 under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Local Government Advisory Committee is comprised of elected and appointed officials at local, state, tribal and territorial governments within the U.S., who provide independent policy advice to the EPA Administrator on a broad range of issues affecting local governments.
For more information about the LGAC, visit EPA's Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC) website.
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/administrator-lee-zeldin-announces-local-government-advisory-committee-membership-0
