Region 7

Serving Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and 9 Tribal Nations

Region 7 Bicyclists Team Up to Take Car-Free Challenge

By bicycling and carpooling, a group of EPA Region 7 employees helped reduce their carbon footprints as they participated in the Car-Free Challenge May 12-16, an initiative aimed at encouraging Kansas Citians to consider alternatives to traveling alone by automobile. The Challenge was a local event during Bike Week. The Region 7 bicyclists pictured during their morning commute are (left to right): Sarah Hatch, Rebecca Landewe, Jean Schumacher, Amy Bhesania, Chrissy Wolfersberger and Patrick Bustos (not pictured: Craig Smith). News Release | More about Car-Free Challenge | More about transportation alternatives

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EPA Region 7 Responders to Conduct Oil Spill Training in Iowa

(Kansas City, Kan., May 13, 2008) - A group of emergency response coordinators from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will conduct oil spill training for state and local agencies in the Quad Cities area of Iowa on May 14-15. The training will focus on response and recovery techniques in fast and slow currents along the Mississippi River. News Release

EPA Conducts Mercury Safety Outreach to Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Contractors

(Kansas City, Kan., May 8, 2008) - EPA Region 7 has developed fact sheets to inform plumbing, heating and cooling contractors who repair or replace mercury-containing gas regulators, pressure gauges, heat generators and thermostats about the health risks and liability issues associated with a mercury release. News Release

EPA to Conduct Cleanup of Carman Chemical in Paris, Mo.

(Kansas City, Kan., May 5, 2008) - EPA Region 7 will begin work today to remove the last of several aging containers of pesticides from a Monroe County, Mo., agricultural chemical business, finishing a Superfund cleanup operation that the owners of the business had been ordered to complete four years ago. News Release

Significant Changes Proposed for Lead Emissions, Monitoring

(Kansas City, Kan., May 1, 2008) - EPA proposed a significant reduction in the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for lead emissions May 1. The Agency proposes to move the standard from the 1.5 micrograms per cubic meter of air it has been since 1978 to a range of 0.10 to 0.30 micrograms per cubic meter. EPA also proposes to revise various elements of the standard to provide increased protection for children and other at-risk populations against an array of adverse health effects, most notably, effects on the developing nervous system. News Release

E-Scrap Event Nets Nearly 10 Tons of Used Electronics

Nearly 10 tons of used electronic equipment will be responsibly recycled instead of going to landfills, thanks to EPA Region 7's successful "E-Scrap for Earth Day" event held recently. Staged on a parking lot adjacent to the Regional Office in Kansas City, Kan., the event gave federal employees in the Kansas City area, as well as employees of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kan., the opportunity to safely dispose of old and unwanted computer equipment, televisions, personal appliances and other electronic junk. Volunteers collected a total of 19,977 pounds of used electronics in just six hours. News Release

EPA Announces Grant to Keep Nebraska Beautiful for Schools Chemical Cleanout Campaign

(Lincoln, Neb., April 28, 2008) - EPA Region 7 celebrated National Healthy Schools Day today by presenting a $150,000 grant to help rid Nebraska schools of outdated and unsafe chemicals, and by separately recognizing Lincoln Public Schools for its continued work in implementing EPA's Tools for Schools program. News Release

Missouri Educator Honored with National Wetlands Award for Science Research

Dr. Raymond Semlitsch, a professor of biological sciences at the University of Missouri-Columbia, is one of seven recipients of the 2008 National Wetlands Awards for extraordinary commitment to wetland conservation and restoration. Dr. Semlitsch's leading research on amphibian ecology has raised awareness about the need to protect small wetlands and surrounding terrestrial habitat. The annual awards are supported by EPA. The winners will be honored at a May 13 ceremony in Washington, D.C. More about awards

University of Iowa Students Find Greener Solutions and Win Environmental Awards

(Kansas City, Kan., April 23, 2008) - EPA presented annual People, Prosperity and the Planet (P3) Awards to six university teams including University of Iowa students. The University of Iowa team will develop a hand-held water sanitizer useful for disinfecting drinking water in households of poor communities around the world. News Release

Hundreds of Job Seekers Attend Region 7's Career Fair

Job seekers packed the atrium of the EPA Region 7 Office for the recent Career Fair, where they learned about EPA career and internship opportunities through one-on-one conversations and breakout sessions with Agency managers and staff. Information was offered about EPA's mission and functions, federal employee benefits, and hiring programs. Nationwide, EPA employs about 17,000 people, including on-scene coordinators, environmental protection specialists, engineers, scientists, policy analysts, and public affairs, financial and information management specialists. Pictured are EPA staff assisting attendees. News Release

EPA Seeks Nominations for National Clean Water Act Awards

EPA has announced a call for nominations for its 2008 National Clean Water Act Recognition Awards. The awards program recognizes municipalities and industries for outstanding and innovative technological achievements in wastewater treatment and pollution abatement programs. Nominations are due to EPA Region 7 by May 12, 2008. More information

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