Local Government Environmental Assistance Network (LGEAN)

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Latest News

Check out our latest LGEAN content:

Webinar: Defending Our Water Infrastructure: Creating a Cybersecurity Culture in Small Community Water Systems
Podcast: Sensing a Change in the Air: How Local Governments Can Respond and Adapt to Shifts in Air Quality Monitoring Technology
Blog: New Resource Locator Provides Climate Tools for States

Local governments play an indispensable role in protecting our environment. Local environmental agencies work hard to ensure that city residents enjoy clean water, fresh air, and safe living conditions. Federal laws and regulations impose requirements on local governments that are intended to help achieve these important goals. Especially in smaller and more remote areas, local governments may face challenges in complying with all the federal (as well as state) environmental requirements. Challenges range from understanding regulations to finding the capital necessary to finance their endeavors. Likewise, community members may also struggle to know how they can best advocate for communities in this complex system.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) created the Local Government Environmental Assistance Network (LGEAN) to help local governments understand and comply with federal requirements. LGEAN is a “first-stop shop” for local environmental managers that gathers useful resources on federal environmental laws, regulations, technical requirements, and financing—on a single, easily accessible platform. The Environmental Law Institute assumed administration of LGEAN, beginning in 2020, under a cooperative agreement.

Leveraging its 50 years of experience supporting local governments, promoting community engagement, and collaborating with a wide network of local government, environmental justice, and community stakeholders, ELI is:

Developing new content, including easy-to-read fact sheets and exemplary case studies in local compliance on topics ranging from stormwater pollution and air quality to climate and sustainable communities;
Creating dynamic educational programming, including podcasts and webinars;
Connecting local environmental managers and EPA subject matter experts to respond to technical inquiries;
Empowering communities to get involved and take part in addressing local pollution and environmental inequity; and
Alerting local officials to new funding opportunities and environmental financing tools.

LGEAN Podcast

Check out Today’s Local Environment—the Compliance Podcast. Hosted by ELI’s LGEAN team, this series features experts from EPA and beyond sharing their insights and resources for local governments looking to improve their compliance with federal environmental laws.

Sensing a Change in the Air: How Local Governments Can Respond and Adapt to Shifts in Air Quality Monitoring Technology (July 2023)
Building the Water Workforce: Recruiting and Retaining the Next Generation of Utility Workers (February 2023)
Climate and the Community: Centering Equity in Climate Vulnerability Assessments (October 2022)
Meeting Stormwater Compliance Objectives with Green Infrastructure (August 2022)
Compliance Assistance on the Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (RRP) (May 2022)
Taking on Trash: The National Recycling Strategy (April 2022)
EPA, States, and Permittees Take on Significant Non-Compliance (October 2021)
The 4-1-1 on Financing: Strategies and Support for Small Water and Wastewater Systems (June 2021)
Meet EPA's Ombuds (March 2021)

LGEAN Webinars

Defending Our Infrastructure: Creating a Cybersecurity Culture in Small Community Water and Wastewater systems (January 2023)
Youth Climate Action: How Local Governments Can Learn from Generation Z (November 2022)
Equity-Centered Local Climate Action Planning (May 2022)
Toxics in the Community: Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) for Local and Tribal Governments (October 2021)
Small Community Drinking Water Systems Financing Workshop (November 2021)
Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) 101 for Local and Tribal Governments (May 2021)
Clean Air Act Regulations for Natural Disaster Management (January 2021)

Learn more about LGEAN at https://lgean.net and connect with us on social media!