[FRC] SMM and TFW need your help developing a South Atlantic Strategy

[Moore, Karen S.]

Good Afternoon:

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 4 Trash Free Waters (TFW) Program is developing a South Atlantic Strategy (SAS). The Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) Program has been asked to be part of this effort and reach out to our stakeholders as well. Our two programs are joining forces in hopes of reducing the volume of trash entering our waters.

You are invited to attend the first of two Trash Free Waters State-based Workshops identified along with links below according to your State. Please click on the link and register. You will receive a return confirmation email from Mark Anthony Sebarrotin, with Kearns & West, which is the EPA contractor retained for this effort.

The SAS will span a geography on the Atlantic Coast from North Carolina to Key West, Florida. It will frame goals, strategies (major activities) and possibly objectives and tactics.  Much like the Mid-Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico TFW strategies of 2013-2015, the  SAS will result in up to a dozen high-priority project concepts designed to markedly reduce the flow of aquatic trash flowing through the four southeast coastal states and into the Atlantic Ocean.  The SAS will evolve well beyond the previous TFW strategies to:


1.     Leverage existing work and establish four to seven strategic goals for the region;

2.     Identify project champions within each of the 4 South Atlantic states;

3.     Institutionalize a region-wide trash-free planning body with representation from each of the 4 states;

4.     Catalyze momentum and build a foundation for engagement, project ideation and boots-on-the-ground progress in the Atlantic Coastal states.

5.     Spotlight historical successes and conceptualize up to twelve specific projects for current and subsequent funding.

Additionally, we will be seeking "shovel-ready" projects that include TFW/SMM objectives and could potentially be funded should funding become available.

The SAS will leverage existing stakeholder energy and expand it through collaborative dialogue during the May Workshops below and the subsequent Workshops   to be scheduled in early June. We look forward to your many possible contributions and ultimately reducing and preventing the flow of trash into our environment.

When: South Carolina, May 12, 2021 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEoceuprzwtGNdebLtPghfJE8IxnWI7oWuc<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fzoom.us%2Fmeeting%2Fregister%2FtJEoceuprzwtGNdebLtPghfJE8IxnWI7oWuc&data=04%7C01%7CAlfano.Barbara%40epa.gov%7C229464a6ff874ca3d99708d909852ae6%7C88b378b367484867acf976aacbeca6a7%7C0%7C0%7C637551289812659897%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=u9YYsZdKDFaILk1qSbh97UE5VfK6s6hjbNBAThVaFT8%3D&reserved=0>

When: Florida, May 13, 2021 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJctfuCuqDouG9wJ-0zmFYWLfg5wXyut0G5I<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fzoom.us%2Fmeeting%2Fregister%2FtJctfuCuqDouG9wJ-0zmFYWLfg5wXyut0G5I&data=04%7C01%7CAlfano.Barbara%40epa.gov%7C229464a6ff874ca3d99708d909852ae6%7C88b378b367484867acf976aacbeca6a7%7C0%7C0%7C637551289812669849%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=yeav4Ip8n8Kjw48bTqNIuLXpTVVX3ApNRuRi5977Yq0%3D&reserved=0>

When: Georgia, May 18, 2021 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwvfuCuqz0uGNfGvlGv8DXEQncPkJWL11x0<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fzoom.us%2Fmeeting%2Fregister%2FtJwvfuCuqz0uGNfGvlGv8DXEQncPkJWL11x0&data=04%7C01%7CAlfano.Barbara%40epa.gov%7C229464a6ff874ca3d99708d909852ae6%7C88b378b367484867acf976aacbeca6a7%7C0%7C0%7C637551289812669849%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=KCsu8mWYCyz5Ri1PrbYFfe88mYIrK3a6uqItnA4ByA0%3D&reserved=0>

When: North Carolina, May 20, 2021 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUkd-iqqzstH9aplqs32OAJafQUPEcg3FDB<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fzoom.us%2Fmeeting%2Fregister%2FtJUkd-iqqzstH9aplqs32OAJafQUPEcg3FDB&data=04%7C01%7CAlfano.Barbara%40epa.gov%7C229464a6ff874ca3d99708d909852ae6%7C88b378b367484867acf976aacbeca6a7%7C0%7C0%7C637551289812679816%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=gt4MDAqZiXmn8isuAGFqotJEqlAvq7eoKlWeuAYtIpA%3D&reserved=0>

Please feel free to forward this email to other potentially interested partners that may want to be part of this dialogue. I look forward to your participation in developing this very important strategy,

            Kim

Kim Charick
Physical Scientist
Sustainable Materials Management
US EPA Region 4
61 Forsyth St SW
Atlanta, GA 30303

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