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Envirobytes
EnviroBytes, a Summary of Issues and Events for Week Ending February 29, 2008
EPA FLOWER SHOW EXHIBIT WINS AWARDS
The Philadelphia Flower Show’s March 2-9 EPA exhibit titled Urban Scenes, Natural Rhythms, showed that a carefree, environmentally viable urban garden can be created using some simple techniques. Plant a no-mow lawn that saves on fossil fuels and minimizes air pollution, use less water by capturing rain water in a rain barrel, use native plants, natural fertilizers, non-toxic pesticides, and compost yard waste. Using recycled décor such as wrought iron fencing and glass and aluminum tiles in fountains and obelisks will save on landfill space. EPA's exhibit won merit awards for non-academic education. For additional information on green landscaping, go to: http://www.epa.gov/reg3esd1/garden/
GRANT FUNDS BAY WATERSHED RESTORATION PROJECTS
The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay (a regional nonprofit organization that fosters partnerships to protect and to restore the bay and its rivers), received a $700,554 EPA Clean Water grant to fund its Chesapeake Bay Watershed restoration efforts. Alliance projects promote public education, outreach and participation in many aspects of bay protection. The organization's publication, Watershed Watch, lists some current projects: http://www.acb-online.org/pubs/watershed_watch/LatestWatershedWatch.pdf
EPA HOSTS WORKSHOP ON BROWNFIELDS REDEVELOPMENT FOR BANKERS
EPA sponsored a one-day workshop, geared for bankers, on March 4 at its regional headquarters in Philadelphia titled Brownfields - New Opportunities for Lenders in the Mid-Atlantic Region. The workshop was co-sponsored by three participating states, (N.J., Pa. and Del.) to provide bankers in the tri-state area with an opportunity to better understand the redevelopment process of formerly contaminated properties. Lending money to finance brownfields cleanup and redevelopment projects can provide banks with safe and profitable ventures to foster the economic and environmental improvement of communities.
COMPLIANCE ASSISTANCE OFFERED TO PUBLIC DRINKING WATER SYSTEMS
Mid-Atlantic region public water systems are being assisted by EPA to complete their state management plans to comply with water disinfection regulations by April 1. EPA’s Initial Distribution System Evaluation Assistance Program helps water systems develop their Stage 2 disinfection byproduct rule standard monitoring plans to meet EPA’s safe and clean drinking water standards. The monitoring plans help to identify and reduce high concentrations of disinfection byproducts in chlorinated water (i.e. trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids) which can be dangerous to public health. For information about these compliance requirements, go to http://www.epa.gov/SAFEWATER/disinfection/stage2/compliance.html
CLIMATE CHANGE AND AQUATIC RESOURCES WORKSHOP
The EPA mid-Atlantic freshwater biology team participated in the EPA Headquarters- sponsored Climate Change Workshop on Bioindicators for Rivers, Streams and Lakes (Bioindicators are species or chemicals used to monitor the health of an environment or ecosystem). At the by invitation-only workshop, experts spoke of the potential effects of climate change on weather patterns, marine ecosystems, estuarine ecosystems, and freshwater ecosystems. Attendees learned about the potential effects of climate change on aquatic resources and the monitoring and assessment data needed to better understand the effects of climate change on aquatic resources.
EPA STAFF ATTEND LAND ETHICS SYMPOSIUM
Landscape architects, contractors, state and local officials and others attended the 8th annual Land Ethics Symposium titled Creative Approaches for Ecological Landscaping held by Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve in Langhorne, Pa. Ecological landscaping involves using native plants, natural fertilizers and pesticides, rain gardens and other natural means to create a sustainable habitat beneficial to birds and wild life. Presentations included how land is being preserved in the face of development, and an introduction to the Sustainable Sites Initiative (SSI) -- an organization developing nationwide standards for those who want to create sustainable landscapes similar to the LEED standards for green buildings.
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