The Environmental Protection Agency is accepting applications through Sept. 30 for its Local Government Advisory Committee, a group of elected and appointed officials that advises the federal agency on what it describes as “critical environmental issues impacting local governments.”
The agency will select up to five officials to serve one-year terms starting in January. Eligible applicants are those who represent local, state, tribal or territorial governments. Committee members are not paid, although they will be reimbursed for official committee travel and related expenses, the EPA said.
The monthly time commitment averages three hours and in 2024 the committee will hold two or three full-day public meetings that can be joined online or in person. The EPA encourages members to also join one or more issue-specific workgroups.
The EPA highlighted the following issues that incoming committee members will advise the agency on:
- Advancing environmental justice.
- Capacity-building for local technical assistance.
- Reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
- Improving climate resilience.
- Supporting local governments in assessing and remediating PFAS chemicals in their communities.
When selecting candidates, the EPA will give preference to those who have experience developing and implementing environmental programs related to these topics. Qualified candidates representing tribes or territories or from the southwest U.S. may also be given preference, the EPA said, to ensure the committee is geographically diverse.
The online application asks candidates to provide information on their experience and includes open-ended questions such as: What experience do you have leading meetings or building consensus in a group? Why do you want to be appointed to the LGAC?
EPA’s current Local Government Advisory Committee has 34 members from across the country. This year, the committee has so far published two reports with recommendations for the EPA — one on Inflation Reduction Act grants and another on regulations regarding PFAS in drinking water.
