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Earth Day April 22

Message from Regional Administrator Richard Greene

The way citizens, businesses, and governments think about the environment has changed radically, and for the better, since the first Earth Day 37 years ago. Today, “going green” is a sound business move, and states and cities work hard to protect their air, water, and land.

The biggest and most important change is among ordinary people who now understand how they can help preserve those same resources. Citizens in Dallas and around the country have enthusiastically embraced their responsibility as environmental stewards.

This has made the job of the Environmental Protection Agency’s dedicated public servants both more challenging and more rewarding. Public expectations of our organization have risen, and we have met and exceeded those expectations in many respects.

In the five-state region of Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico, EPA has helped create over 11,000 jobs by redeveloping abandoned, contaminated sites, and awarded over $62 million in grants to Native American tribes. We have restored over 1,000 acres of habitat on two Gulf of Mexico barrier islands, providing added surge protection during hurricanes. And, even as science advocates more protective air quality standards, cities across the nation are enjoying steadily improving air quality and the health benefits that come with it.

These achievements are just a few examples of what EPA has accomplished in the south-central United States over the last several years. While we can’t solve all of our nation’s environmental problems overnight, we feel proud that we continually strive to protect and improve our resources. This Earth Day, we should all celebrate the efforts of people around the nation who do the same.

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