![[logo] US EPA](http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
Envirobytes - An Environmental Newsletter
EnviroBytes, a Summary of Issues and Events for Week Ending July 11, 2008
NOMINEES BEING SOUGHT FOR EPA WATER EFFICIENCY LEADERSHIP AWARDS
EPA is accepting nominations for its 2008 Water Efficiency Leader Awards to recognize organizations and individuals who demonstrate outstanding leadership, innovative technology, environmental stewardship and efficiency in their water conservation efforts. Winners will be chosen based on leadership, innovation, and water saved. The awards are also intended to foster a nationwide ethic of water efficiency, and to inspire, motivate, and recognize efforts that bring about these water efficiency improvements. Nominations are being accepted until Aug. 29. For more information, go to Water Efficiency Leader Awards: epa.gov/water/wel
EPA EXPANDS CELL PHONE AND ELECTRONICS RECYCLING OPPORTUNITIES
EPA has announced a cell phone recycling campaign (also in Spanish) to encourage and inform consumers of the available opportunities to donate or recycle used electronics, including cell phones. The Plug-In To eCycling program a voluntary partnership between EPA and electronics manufacturers, retailers, and service providers to recycle electronics, keeps valuable material out of landfills and incinerators and conserves natural resources. Recycling a million cell phones reduces greenhouse gas emissions equal to taking 1,368 cars off the road for a year. To know more about the cell phone recycling campaign, go to http://www.epa.gov/cellphone. The information is provided in Spanish at http://www.epa.gov/celulares. For information about the Plug-In to eCycling program, go to http://www.epa.gov/plug-in/
IMPORTANT GREENHOUSE GAS DOCUMENT UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
On July 11, EPA released an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) to solicit public input on climate change's effects and the potential Clean Air Act ramifications in relation to greenhouse gas emissions. The action is in response to the 2007 Supreme Court decision (Massachusetts v. EPA) which found that greenhouse gas emissions could be regulated if EPA determines they cause or contribute to air pollution reasonably anticipated to endanger public health or welfare. EPA requests comment on the best-available science, requests relevant data, and asks questions about the advantages and disadvantages of using the Clean Air Act to potentially regulate (stationary and mobile) sources of greenhouse gases. The notice's publication in the Federal Register begins a 120-day public comment period.
Read the ANPR: http://www.epa.gov/epahome/pdf/anpr20080711.pdf
Fact sheet: http://www.epa.gov/epahome/anprfs.htm
BLUE CRABS MAIN TOPIC AT UPWARD BOUND SESSIONS
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Coastal Ecology Center at Assateague Island, Md. held another of the university's Upward Bound career sessions for disadvantaged youth. Students spent the day crabbing with EPA staff and others on Assateague Island (Md.). They learned the proper catching, handling and releasing techniques for blue crabs, the importance of size regulations, and the crab molting process to help protect future crab generations. The Chesapeake Bay Program provides information on how to help save the endangered blue crab population at http://www.chesapeakebay.net/newsbluecrab072106.htm 
EPA HOSTS TRAINING FOR HOME ENERGY RATER CERTIFICATION
Region 3 hosted a Home Energy Rater Training and Certification session in Philadelphia. The program was sponsored by the Energy Coordinating Agency of Philadelphia, a non-profit group dedicated to ensure that low and moderate income people have access to safe, affordable and reliable sources of energy and water. Sixteen students from the area learned how to conduct residential energy ratings, including how to identify insulation levels, window efficiency, wall-to-window ratios, the heating and cooling system efficiency, the solar orientation of the home, and the water heating system. After the training, students can become RESNET certified technicians and become qualified to verify the energy performance of EPA Energy-Star labeled homes with RESNET standards. To learn more about the RESNET certification program, go to http://www.resnet.us/about/resnet.htm
To subscribe to eBytes send a blank email to:
join-usepar3news@lists.epa.gov
To unsubscribe, send a blank email to:
leave-usepar3news@lists.epa.gov
