The Rapids:

US EPA's Trash Free Waters Monthly Update

https: / / www, epa. gov/trash-free-waters

Introduction

The US Environmental Protection Agency's Trash Free Waters (TFW) program proudly presents The Rapids, a
monthly information resource for interested stakeholders around the country. Below, you will find pertinent
information on upcoming funding opportunities, webinars, and conferences. The Rapids will also include job
postings, microplastics research findings, and informative Web links. The Rapids has traditionally been a section of
The Flow, but the TFW program wanted to get valuable information out to stakeholders on a more timely basis than
we are able to do via The Flow. Please understand that The Rapids is not intended to replace The Flow, which will
still come out 3-4 times per year.

Be on the lookout for The Rapids on the first Monday of each month!

Thank you.

Romell Nandi

Environmental Protection Agency
Trash Free Waters Program Lead

EPA Announcements

EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler recently released a video highlighting the importance of recycling and proper
management of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) during COVID-19. Watch ere.

EPA's Trash Free Waters website was recently updated with information on proper disposal tips and waste
management reminders during and after the coronavirus public health emergency. The webpage features the
aforementioned Administrator's video as well as a Spanish-language video created by the San Juan Bay National
Estuary Program in Puerto Rico, which outlines how improperly disposed of Personal Protective Gear (PPE) can
impact our waterways. For more information, please click iere.

Trash Free Waters regional project highlights and success stories were recently published on the EPA's TFW website.
Check them out here:

On Earth Day 2020, EPA's Gulf of Mexico Division released a tentative list of awardees for the Waterway Trash
Reduction Grant in the Gulf. This grant will provide over $7.8 million in funding to 17 recipients for innovative
projects focused on reducing the amount of trash in our waterways through trash prevention and/or removal.
Awardees can be found here.

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative received an additional $20 million in funding in April. A total of $2 million of
these additional funds will be used to continue efforts to provide healthy habitat for fish and wildlife in the region
through the Great Lakes Trash Free Waters Grant Program. Read all about it here.

Marine litter and Trash Free Waters efforts have also been recently highlighted on social media, including EPA
Instagram posts about what you can do to reduce marine litter (see highlights herel and information on proper waste
disposal practices (found here). Recent EPA Twitter posts included a poll on the most effective way to prevent
marine and aquatic debris can be found here, sharing the Spanish-language video on proper PPE disposal are
located here and a sharing the EPA Administrator Wheeler video asking citizens to "Recycle More, Recycle Right"
and to refrain from littering is posted iere.

On May 28, Administrator Wheeler visited the TFW trash traps in Atlanta's Proctor Creek, where he noted, "The
Proctor Creek Trash Trap Project is a great example of how partnerships between public and private sectors can
produce better environmental solutions for Americans." The full story is posted here.

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Funding Opportunities

The Water Research Foundation (WRF) Research Priority Program

WRF has funded 12 new Research Priority Program projects with a total funding amount of $2,125,000. This
research allocation will be significantly leveraged with partnership funding and in-kind support. Requests for
Proposals (RFPs) for these projects will be released in August 2020. Please track progress here.

National Estuary Program Coastal Watersheds Grant Program RFP

Restore America's Estuaries, in close coordination with and financial support from EPA, is a newly created national
competitive grants program which will administer the NEP Coastal Watersheds Grant Program. This grant program
funds projects within the NEP geographic areas and supports Congressionally-set priorities including: loss of key
habitats, harmful algae blooms, invasive species, flooding and coastal erosion, nutrients, and contaminants of
emerging concern such as microplastics. RAE will conduct an annual solicitation with approximately $1 million
awarded each year. Each sub-award will range between $75,000 and $250,000.

• Prospective applicants are encouraged to participate in an informational webinar, which will occur on
Wednesday, June 3,1:00-3:00 pm ET. The webinar will be recorded for those unable to participate. To
participate, please register here!

Wild & Scenic Rivers Community Watershed Science Funding

River Network and the National Park Service (NPS) are excited to announce a funding opportunity for nonprofit
organizations working on community watershed science activities on NPS administered Wild and Scenic Rivers and
Partnership Wild and Scenic Rivers. Activities that meet the goals of this funding include, a) Water quality, quantity
and habitat monitoring; b) Plant and animal inventory and monitoring; c) Quantification of pollution sources
(including trash); and d) Stream restoration activities using green infrastructure (e.g. riparian restoration, habitat
improvement). There is currently a total of $45,000 available. Groups are eligible to apply for one grant of $3,000-
$10,000. Application due by June 8th, 2020. Iisam more herei

Sea Grant Programs Requesting Proposals for 2020 LISS Grant Program

The Connecticut and New York Sea Grant Programs are soliciting preliminary proposals for the 2020 Long Island
Sound Study Research Grant Program. The proposals are invited for the funding period of March 1, 2021 to February
28, 2023. Any investigator seeking support for this period must submit a preliminary proposal via NYSG's electronic
submission website by June 8 at 5pm EDT. About $3 million in funding is expected to be available for one- or two-
year projects. The intent of the grant program is to fund research that will support the management of Long Island
Sound and its resources. For a copy of the complete RFP please refer to: this link and this link.

National Science Foundation Proposal: Micro- and Nano-plastics

The National Science Foundation seeks proposals that tackle some of the fundamental scientific questions
underlying micro- and nano-plastic characterization, behavior, and reactivity in the environment, as well as their
elimination from land and water systems. NSF is considering proposals in a wide range of research having to deal
with chemistry, toxicity and the geoscience, ecological and evolutionary science interactions of micro- and nano-
plastics as well as solutions regarding engineering, innovation, and education around the topic. Ixiarn more by
clicking here!.

EPA 2020 Healthy Communities Grant Program

The Healthy Communities Grant Program is EPA New England's main competitive grant program to work directly
with communities to support EPA's "Back-to- Basics" agenda to reduce environmental risks, protect and improve
human health and improve the quality of life. Proposals due on June 5th, 2020! Learn more here!

EPA's State Environmental Justice Cooperative Agreement Program — COVID-19 Projects RFA

EPA is working to improve the environment and public health conditions of low-income and minority communities
through our daily efforts to ensure all Americans have clean air, safe water, and access to information to make
decisions to protect personal and public health. As part of these efforts, EPA has re-opened the State Environmental
Justice Cooperative Agreement Program (SEJCA) and expanded its availability to include states, local governments,
tribes and territories. EPA is giving a special consideration to those applications aimed at addressing the impacts of
the COVID-19 pandemic on urban and rural low income and minority communities. EPA anticipates making five
awards in amounts of up to $200,000 per award for a two-year project period. The opportunity closes on June 30,
2020 at 11:59 PM (ET). Ixiarn more here!

Save the Dates/Calendar

June ist-5th: Virtual Ocean Dialogues, hosted by the World Economic Forum and Friends of Ocean
Action

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The Virtual Ocean Dialogues will connect communities seeking innovative and bold ways to promote a healthy
ocean. This virtual conference is open to all and will feature a series of panels on key challenges facing the ocean,
including how to stem the tide of marine pollution. The full program and registration details will be available soon

here.

June 2nd-6th: 2020 UN Ocean Conference - POSTPONED UNTIL A LATER DATE (TBD)

For more information click here.

June 3rd: (10am EDT) Waste Wise webinar on "International Development in Single Use Plastics"

Markets and legislators worldwide have increasing pressure to develop legislation banning single-use plastics. This
panel webinar, moderated by Jonathan D. Cocker of Baker McKenzie and with speakers from Circular-Vision, G A
Circular, and Eunomia Research & Consulting will outline the recent developments around the world in single-use
plastics restrictions and options for industry in response. For more information, click here.

June 3rd: (6:30pm-9pm EDT) "Story of Plastic" Documentary Screening & Panel (Michigan Clean
Water Action)

Hosted by Michigan Clean Water Action. Includes a link to the "Story of Stuff documentary and an invitation to a
discussion panel conversation. Click here.

June 4th: (lpm EDT) "Plastics or Planet? Moving Beyond Plastics" Webinar

Judith Enck of Beyond Plastics will explore the environmental, economic, and health implications of plastic
production, use, and disposal, and will discuss the latest plastic reduction laws. The webinar is co-hosted by the EBM
Tools Network and OCTO. To register, visit: here.

June 5th: World Environment Day!

June 6th: (3- 5:15pm EDT) "Microplastics Madness" Documentary Screening and Discussion

For World Oceans Day, Cafeteria Culture is offering free screenings of their award winning documentary,
MICROPLASTIC MADNESS. Told through a refreshing urban youth point of view, the movie links youth activism to
two of the most critical issues of our time, plastic pollution and the climate crisis. The screening will be followed by a
Q&A with world-renowned ecotoxicologist, Dr. Chelsea Rochman, Ph.D Assistant Professor, University of Toronto,
who is featured in the movie alongside the movie's directors. Register here!

June 8th: World Oceans Day!

June 8th: (6:30pm EDT) "Story of Plastic" Documentary Screening & Panel (Keep Lee County
Beautiful)

Hosted by Keep Lee County Beautiful, Florida. Includes a link to the Story of Stuff documentary and an invitation to
a Q&A discussion session with Dr. Maia McGuire, University of Florida Sea Grant Agent and the developer of the
Florida Microplastics Awareness Project. Click here for more information.

June 9th, 9:00 AM — 6:00 PM, Capitol Hill Ocean Week 2020 (organized by the National Marine
Sanctuary Foundation)

This is a free online event. Check out the link here.

June 9th: BlueTech Expo 2020

The BlueTech Virtual Exhibition, the annual trade show of the International Ocean Science & Technology Industry
Association, will be held alongside CHOW this year. Attendance is free and will include virtual access to emerging
blue technologies and innovations. Oo herel

June gth-llth: Association of State Floodplain Managers Annual Conference (Virtual)

This three-day event includes daily plenary sessions and 54 concurrent sessions for a total of more than 150
presentations. Topics include: Flood mapping, modeling, and mitigation planning; Natural and beneficial functions
of floodplains including stream restoration and watershed management; Coastal resilience; and Stormwater
management. Click here for more information!

June 10th: (2pm EDT) USAID & Ocean Conservancy World Oceans Day Online Event: "Local
Solutions to the Global Challenge of Ocean Plastic Pollution."

A virtual event highlighting local solutions to addressing the global challenge of ocean plastic pollution. The webinar
will feature speakers from USAID, Ocean Conservancy, PepsiCo, Inc., and others. More details are available here.
Register for the event at Ijiissite.

June 16th: (l2-2pm EDT) Environmental Law Institute Summer Series: Basics of the Clean Water
Act (CWA)

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Faculty will explore one of the nation's most significant and pivotal environmental laws, including the regulatory and
permitting framework for limiting water pollution, the distinction between point sources and nonpoint sources,
CWA compliance, and the Navigable Waters Protection Rule. For more information, click here.

June 18th: (5:30-6:30pm EDT) "People and the Planet"- MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative

Republican United States Senator Dan Sullivan of Alaska and Democratic Secretary of State Alex Padilla of
California will participate in a virtual fireside chat on "government action on the environment at the federal and state
levels." These distinguished guests will share their experiences and views on bipartisan environmental action and the
roles of regulatory and legislative approaches. This free event will also serve as the keynote to the two-day "Plastics
and the Environment" workshop mentioned here.

June l8th-l9th: MIT's "Plastics and the Environment: Science Meets Public Policy" Virtual
Workshop

This workshop will bring together scientists, policy-makers, and other stakeholders (foundations, corporations,
startups, NGOs) to examine the current state of science, of public policy and of the economic incentives related to
plastic pollution; to promote dialogue; and to suggest avenues for future mutual learning and effective collaboration.
Registration fee of $25-$loo depending on sector. Click here for more information

June 19th: (lpm EDT) Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act_

Please join Beyond Plastics' president, Judith Enck, the bill's co-sponsor, Representative Alan Lowenthal (D-CA),
Senator Tom Udall's senior policy advisor, Jonathan Black, and Representative Lowenthal's senior legislative
assistant, Shane Trimmer for an informative and interactive webinar on the new Break Free From Plastic Pollution
Act (SB 3263/ HR5845).

June 22nd-25th: SWANApalooza 2020

The Solid Waste Association of North America will be hosting a virtual conference this year through a combination of
livestreamed keynote presentations and discussions and pre-recorded technical presentations. Sessions include:
COVID-19 Impacts on Solid Waste Operations, Ocean Plastics and Marine Litter (led by Dr. Jenna Jambeck), and
Overcoming Recycling Challenges and Taking Advantage of New Opportunities (EPA's Kathleen Salyer). Register

here.

June 23rd: (noon EDT) "Stream Health and Stormwater - What Can Municipalities Do"

Hosted by the Allegheny County Conservation District. Municipalities have a part to play in protecting stream health
and reducing stormwater. Learn what steps municipalities can take to improve water quality in your community.
Click here for more information.

June 24th: (lpm EDT) CWP webcast- "Source Water Impacts, Urbanization and Protection"

The Center for Watershed Protection is hosting a webcast on Source Water Protection plans and identifying tools to
mitigate the effects of development and possible pollutant producing behaviors in drinking water watersheds. This
webcast will look at planning level tools and review how some communities have addressed their source water
protection requirements. Click hero for more information.

June 24th-25th: California Ocean Protection Council Litter Strategy webinar (timing TBD)

The summer 2020 workshop has been postponed due to the coronavirus emergency but please continue to hold June
24-25 for a webinar check-in on Ocean Litter Strategy implementation. The webinar will not be an all-day event on
both days, but timing and agenda details will be released soon. Click here for more information.

The Our Ocean conference in Palau has been postponed to December 7-8th 2020.

Keep apprised of news by clicking hero.

Job Opportunities

Plastics and Waste Senior Program Officer - World Wildlife Fund

link to WWF Job Opportunity Link

Communications Manager — Restore America's Estuaries

link to RAH .Job ()pportunity

Policy Advisor on Plastics — Oceana (Europe)

Link to Oceana .Job Opportunity

Stream Watch Coordinator — Kenai Watershed Forum

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link to Kcnai .Job Opportunity

Media Specialist - 40cean

link to 40ccan .Job Opportunity

Environmental Health Program Manager (focusing on single-use plastics) - National Caucus of
Environmental Legislators

link to NCKI, .Job ()pportunity

Oceans Campaigner — Center for Biological Diversity

link to GBP .Job Opportunity

Clean Cities Blue Oceans Project Intern — Tetra Tech

link to TetraTech .Job Opportunity

Numerous openings - State Sea Grants

link to Sea Grant .Job Opportunities

The Microplastics Breakdown

The section below only includes top takeaway* on recent microplastics research. If
you'd like to subscribe to receiving the complete Microplastics Breakdown, please

contact 13a t hers tic Id. N i xa.n na (a) e pa .gov

Microplastics disrupt hermit crab shell selection

This study used shell selection in common European hermit crabs (Pagurus bernhardus) as a model to test
whether microplastic exposure impacts essential survival behaviors. The study results indicate that
microplastics impair cognition (information-gathering and processing) and disrupt this essential survival
behavior in hermit crabs. Read the full abstract here-

Global distribution of microplastics and its impact on marine environment—a review
The findings of this review article suggest that among 192 countries of the world, only 22.9% (44) of the
countries have carried out research regarding microplastics. Most studies that have assessed impacts on
organisms have mostly targeted fish (38%), studies on other highly affected organisms such as turtles (1%)
are not as well documented. The authors suggest expanding research in all the above areas considering that
there are several pristine marine environments and organisms that are yet unexplored. Quantifying research
in this regard would enable the development of a microplastic threshold level and the formulation of control
measures to reduce the use of plastics and its subsequent threat to the marine environment. Read the full
abstract here.

A Review of Microplastics in Table Salt. Drinking Water, and Air: Direct Human Exposure
The authors reviewed 46 publications concerning abundances, potential sources, and analytical methods of
microplastics in table salt, drinking water, and air. The intake of microplastics via inhalation, especially via
indoor air, was found to be much higher than intake via other exposure routes. Read the full abstract here-

Statistical Curvature Change Analysis of Random-Shape Polyethylene Microplastics and
their Toxicity front a Physical Perspective

Microplastics are normally categorized into the following three types: particles, fibers, and random-shape
fragments broken down from bulk plastics. This study demonstrated the in vitro toxicity of microplastics of
two different shapes of polyethylene (PE). The shapes were: high-density PE (HDPE) microbeads and
randomly ground low-density PE (LDPE) from bulk pellets. The authors found that random-shape plastics
with sharp edges and higher curvature differences may adversely affect human cells. Read the full abstract
hero.

F.-yanmiinatioin. of the Ocean as a Source for Atmospheric Microplastics

It appears that some plastic particles could be leaving the sea and entering the atmosphere along with sea
salt, bacteria, virus' and algae via the process of bubble burst ejection and wave action. The authors reviewed
evidence from existing literature and followed this with a pilot study analyzing microplastics in sea spray.

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The study found evidence of microplastics particles in marine boundary layer air samples on the French
Atlantic coast during both onshore and offshore wind scenarios. The results also indicated that there is a
potential for microplastics to be released from the marine environment into the atmosphere by sea-spray.
Read the full abstract here.

Microplastics in Wastewater: Microfiber Emissions from Common Household Laundry
Synthetic fibers released during the washing of textiles are a source of microplastics (aslo known as
microfibers or fiber fragments), which reach aquatic ecosystems from sewer discharges, even when there is
retention in wastewater treatment plants. The authors focused on microfiber emissions from washing of
textiles in a domestic environment by collecting wastewater from washings of a mix of clothing from a
household of four people. Results estimated an average emission rate of 18,000,000 synthetic microfibers
for a reference load of six kg of synthetic fibers. Read the full abstract here.

Macro and Microplastics in Stormwater and Combined Sewer Overflows in Paris Meeacitv
(Conference Paper): Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Microplastic
Pollution in the Mediterranean Sea.

Stormwater and combined sewer overflows (CSO) might represent an important source of macro and
microplastics in the environment. This paper examined macro and microplastic concentrations in (i)
stormwater and grid refusals at the outlet of a runoff water pipe located in Sucy-en-Brie (a suburb of Paris,
France) and (ii) in CSO discharges at the Clichy outfall (another suburb of Paris, France). Microplastics were
sorted, weighed and classified. Full abstract available here.

Detection and occurrence of microplastics in the stomach of commercial fish species from a
municipal water supply lake in southwestern Nigeria

The authors screened and detected microplastics in the stomach of a select group of commonly consumed
fish species from a Lake Eleyele in Nigeria - a key water supply reservoir. A total of 109 fish samples
consisting of eight species were collected between February and April, 2018. Microplastics were present in
seven of the screened species. Ecological variables such as habitat, feeding mode, and trophic levels were
identified as critical factors that may determine and influence microplastic uptake in the fish
population. Read the full abstract hero.

If you'd like to see your posting in this email, please email MHrshall.Laync@cpH.gov with any

suggestions!

US EPA - Trash Free Waters | iiaiidiromellcatepa.gov | hllps://www.epa.g()\-/trash-fre:e-walers

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