Marine mammals are important indicator species of ocean health. When they show signs of illness, they may be signaling changes in the marine environment that will be important to human health and the overall health of our ocean ecosystems. Monitoring the health of marine mammals, especially during a UME, can reveal emerging threats, potential impacts of human activities, and the effectiveness of management actions.
— National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries (1)
The number of wildfires occurring in the United States over recent years has led to great destruction of land and properties, and risked the lives of people located in susceptible areas. According to the Congressional Research Service, there was an average of 61,410 wildfires and 7.2 million acres of land burned across the United States from 2013 to 2022. (1)
Rural areas across the country are facing issues of aging and declining infrastructure, buildings, and equipment that have widespread consequences for both the economy and the environment. For many farmers and small business owners, energy-inefficient equipment and infrastructure can drastically raise the cost of doing business, placing a further burden on these firms to be financially successful.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has begun accepting new applications for their Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP), designed to expand and “significantly increase” the availability of alternative fuels. This program is a part of the overall national initiative to both solidify America’s energy independence and increase the supply of renewable energy sourced from US agricultural products.
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) is accepting applications for their Climate Smart Humanities Organizations program, distributing a total of $6,000,000 of funds to humanities organizations needing to improve conservation practices of materials while also being ecologically-efficient. Humanities organizations interested in this opportunity shall contemplate strategies to their daily operations that help reduce their carbon footprint as a result of climate change.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity in the amount of $400,000,000 in funds to be released to school districts for the purpose of delivering electric bussing technology for students and communities across the United States.
This initiative is a part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s effort to transition the Nation toward low-emissions technologies, particularly in the transportation and automotive sectors.
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services is now accepting applications from public and private nonprofit organizations for their Street Outreach Program (SOP). SOP is aimed at improving the nationwide effort to prevent sexual abuse of homeless youth. Awards will be granted to up to 31 organizations, with each award amount being between $90,000 and $150,000 per budget year.
Today, the U.S. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the availability of up to $125 million through two new grant programs that will create more options for meat and poultry farmers by investing in independent, local meat and poultry processing projects that increase competition and enhance the resiliency of the food supply chain.
— U.S. Department of Agriculture.
