Welcome- you will have a chance after presentations to ask questions live. Please raise your hand. Also, add your questions to the chat and if we don't get to them we can send them to EPA for followup.

We will also share EPA slides after the presentation

To ask questions during Q&A- go to the reactions tab and raise your hand.

Does EPA maintain a definition for "underserved communities" or is this left to each state to determine?

happy to connect anyone that is interested to more resources on the One Water approach

Can EPA encourage States to start hiring additional SRF staff now? It seems like everything is moving forward real fast except for this, and I don't think that the letter to Governors clearly let them know that SRF staff will likely need to be increased in order to handle BIL (and remind them that those positions are federally funded)?

it would also if EPA encouraged Congress to provide 106/PWSS funding so states have the resources they need.

We've been hearing from state programs that there are definitely concerns with the workloads that the BIL will bring onto already limited staff.

https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/public-infrastructure-coordination-assessment-and-planning-tool

If you haven't already seen the BIL guidebook, this is a great resource that outlines where the federal programs, including EPA, are in implementing BIL funds: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BUILDING-A-BETTER-AMERICA_FINAL.pdf

We are excited about HQs leadership on TA as well!

Sec. 106 State, Tribal and Assistance Grants

To Bevin's point, states' increased staffing needs to manage BIL funds and programs includes technical staff, financial staff for managing funding (i.e., executing loans), and marketing/outreach staff to help coordinate with communities, other financing entities, etc.

Alan - you got it right!

Great session, thanks all!

Great session! Thank you Bevin for organizing and great presentation Wendi!

Thanks for hosting this Wendi and Bevin!!

Thanks all!

Nice job Wendi

Thank you!

any other Qs please send to barbery.andrea@epa.gov