In the pipeline: Comments wanted, rural health funding available

EPA Seeks Comments on Forest Roads—Comments Due Jan. 11, 2016

On Nov. 10, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) pub­lished a Federal Register notice asking for input on existing public and private sector programs that address storm water discharges from forest roads. Comments are due Jan. 11, 2016.

For the past two decades, forest roads have been regulated through state-adopted Best Management Practices (BMP), however, due to a recent court decision in En­vironmental Defense Center (EDC) v. EPA, the EPA is required to assess whether the agency should oversee storm water runoff from logging roads.

Whether a forest road is consid­ered a point or non-point source is relevant to county governments who own 45 percent of the roads and highways in the U.S., some of which may run through federal, state and private forested lands.

EPA is taking comments on the following:

1. Should EPA create a regula­tory definition for forest road? Cur­rently, EPA uses the term “forest road” to mean a road located on forested land

2. EPA seeks comments on the implementation, effectiveness and scope of existing federal, state, local, tribal and other programs to address storm water discharges from forested roads

3. EPA requests comments on what specific elements of a forest road program are the most important to protect water quality

4. Finally, the EPA will accept comments on the additional mea­sures that could be implemented

For more information, contact Julie Ufner, associate legislative director for energy, environment and land use: 202.942.4269; juf­ner@naco.org

Funding Opportunity An­nouncement: Rural Health Net­work Development Planning Program — Deadline to Apply Jan. 8, 2016

The Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) has an­nounced the release of the Rural Health Network Development Planning Program (Network Plan­ning) funding opportunity. This is a one-year community-driven program targeted to assist in the planning and development of an integrated health care network.

Previously funded projects sup­ported efforts related to workforce re­tention and recruitment, behavioral health, telehealth, care coordination and health information technology.

Applications that propose strate­gies to support continued access to viable health care services are encouraged. Recognizing the chal­lenges rural hospitals face, commu­nities that have emergency medical services that either have at least one rural hospital at financial risk of closing or converting or within communities that have experienced a recent hospital closure or conver­sion may submit an application. Network planning activities that model evidence-based frameworks or models that work are encouraged as well.

To learn more about applying for the FY16 Rural Health Network Development Planning Program (HRSA-16-017), please visit http:// www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=279931 (click the “package” tab) or contact Amber Berrian at aberrian@hrsa.gov. The deadline to apply is Jan. 8, 2016.