<div dir="ltr"><img src="cid:ii_lr7zkgka1" alt="image.png" width="196" height="75" style="margin-right: 0px;"><div><br></div><div><font color="#38761d"><b>Take advantage of this opportunity to comment on the draft National Strategy for Reducing Food loss.  This is an opportunity to tell the EPA what would be helpful to Oklahomans who are composting and reducing food waste.  Please consider making comments by February 3, 2024.</b></font></div><div><font color="#38761d"><br></font></div><div><font color="#38761d"><br></font><div style="text-align:center"><img src="cid:ii_lr7ze0ye0" alt="unnamed (6).jpg" width="562" height="117"><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div><div><div align="right" style="margin:16px 0in;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><div align="right" style="margin:0px 0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;text-align:left"><div align="right" style="margin:0px 0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><p align="right" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48)">Program Updates: January 10, 2024</span></p><p align="right" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48)"> </span></p><p align="center" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;text-align:center;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:16pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(51,51,51);background:rgb(51,51,51)">       </span><span style="font-size:16pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(51,51,51)">     Special Update: Seeking Public Comments     <span style="background:rgb(51,51,51)">       </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48)"></span></p><p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;text-align:center;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48);background:rgb(249,159,0)"><br>                                                                        </span><span style="font-size:12pt;color:rgb(50,49,48)"></span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:12pt;color:rgb(50,49,48)"></span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><b><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48)">Draft National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss: Comment Period Extension</span></b></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><b><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48)"> </span></b></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48)">On December 2, 2023, the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released the "Draft National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss and Waste and Recycling Organics." This strategy is part of a series of strategies on building a more circular economy for all. You can review the draft strategy </span><span style="color:black"><a href="https://www.epa.gov/circulareconomy/draft-national-strategy-reducing-food-loss-and-waste-and-recycling-organics#:~:text=The%20goal%20of%20the%20strategy%2closs%20of%20food%20where%20possible." title="here" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">here</span></a></span><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48)">.</span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48)"> </span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48)">EPA, USDA, and FDA are requesting public comments on the draft strategy. This notice was provided in a previous program update but we have since </span><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:red">extended the comment period on the Draft National Strategy for an additional 30 days, through <u>February 3, 2024</u>.<b><u></u></b></span><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48)"></span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48)"> </span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><a><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48)">Submit your comments through </span></a><a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/12/05/2023-26574/draft-national-strategy-for-reducing-food-loss-and-waste-and-recycling-organics-request-for-public#open-comment" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">the Federal Register</span></a><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48)"> or </span><a href="https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/EPA-HQ-OLEM-2022-0415-0001" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Regulations.gov, Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OLEM-2022-0415.</span></a><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48)"></span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48)"> </span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48)">We seek input from everyone and encourage you to consider the following key questions when reviewing and commenting on the draft strategy:</span></p><ul style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-top:0in"><li style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48);text-align:justify;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">What actions could help the U.S. meet its goals that are not reflected in the draft?</span></li><li style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48);text-align:justify;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">What type of research should be funded?</span></li><li style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48);text-align:justify;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">What actions would result in more equitable outcomes for underserved and/or food insecure communities?</span></li></ul><p style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48)"> </span></p><p align="center" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;margin:0in;text-align:center;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48);background:rgb(219,47,33)">                                                                                                                                </span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48)"> </span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><b><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48)">WARM v16: Request for Public Comment</span></b></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><b><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48)"> </span></b></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48)">The Waste Reduction Model (WARM) is a tool that provides high-level comparative estimates of the potential GHG emissions, energy savings, and economic impacts of materials managed in baseline and alternative materials management practices, including source reduction, recycling, composting, anaerobic digestion, combustion, and landfilling. The model estimates emissions, energy units and economic factors across a wide range of material types commonly found in municipal solid waste and construction and demolition debris in the following categories:</span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48)"> </span></p><ul style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-top:0in"><li style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48);text-align:justify;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2E),</span></li><li style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48);text-align:justify;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Energy units (million British Thermal Unit - BTU),</span></li><li style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48);text-align:justify;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Labor hours,</span></li><li style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48);text-align:justify;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Wages ($), and</span></li><li style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48);text-align:justify;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Taxes ($).</span></li></ul><p style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48)"> </span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48)">To learn more about this tool, visit the </span><span style="color:black"><a href="https://www.epa.gov/warm" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">WARM homepage</span></a></span><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48)">.</span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48)"> </span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48)">On December 26, 2023, the EPA released WARM version 16, its supporting documentation, recent WARM v16 methodology external peer review report and WARM v16 Data Quality Assessment report on EPA’s WARM website and through the Federal Register. With this release, we are soliciting public comment on WARM and its supporting documentation. </span><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:red">The public comment period is through <u>February 9^th, 2023</u>.</span><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48)"></span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48)"> </span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48)">Submit your comments through </span><span style="color:black"><a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/12/26/2023-28342/waste-reduction-model-warm-version-16-request-for-public-comment" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">the Federal Register </span></a></span><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48)">or </span><span style="color:black"><a href="https://www.regulations.gov/docket/EPA-HQ-OLEM-2023-0451/document" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Regulations.gov, Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OLEM-2023-0451-0001.</span></a></span><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48)"></span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48)"> </span></p><p align="center" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;text-align:center;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48);background:purple">                                                                                            </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48)"></span></p><p align="center" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;text-align:center;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48)"> </span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><a><b><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48)">Regional Contacts</span></b></a></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48)">Sustainable Management of Food: </span><a href="mailto:sturdivant.stephen@epa.gov" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">sturdivant.stephen@epa.gov</span></a><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48)"></span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48)">Sustainable Materials Management: </span><a href="mailto:debose.deanna@epa.gov" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">debose.deanna@epa.gov</span></a><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48)"></span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48)">Safer Choice: </span><a href="mailto:lillard.melanie@epa.gov" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">lillard.melanie@epa.gov</span></a><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48)"></span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48)">Pollution Prevention: </span><a href="mailto:cheaney.stephanie@epa.gov" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">cheaney.stephanie@epa.gov</span></a><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48)"></span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48)">Lead Based Paint: </span><a href="mailto:adams.mikeal@epa.gov" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">adams.mikeal@epa.gov</span></a><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48)"></span></p><p align="center" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;text-align:center;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48)"> </span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(50,49,48)">For help with grant-related questions, e-mail </span><a href="mailto:p2hub@epa.gov" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">p2hub@epa.gov</span></a></p></div></div></div></div></div><br><br><p></p><br class="gmail-Apple-interchange-newline"></div></div></div>