Envirobytes

EnviroBytes, a Summary of Issues and Events for the Week Ending May 18, 2007

SCHOOL NURSES UPDATED ON PROGRAMS TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM INDOOR AIR POLLUTION

EPA staff trained a group of Pennsylvania school district nurses on indoor environmental programs at the Pennsylvania Department of Health training center on May 14. Training topics included the EPA's Tools for Schools program, the Integrated Pest Management program and the newly launched Schools Chemical Cleanout Campaign (SC3) program to prevent mismanagement of laboratory chemicals in schools. Children spend long hours in school and have a greater susceptibility to pollutants. Threats to their health in school range from poor indoor air quality to problems caused by asbestos, radon, pesticides, mold, and other toxins. For more information, go to http://www.epa.gov/reg3artd/Indoor/iaq.htm

EPA POSTERS FEATURE ASTHMA AWARENESS MONTH

Some major libraries in Philadelphia are demonstrating their commitment to Asthma Awareness Month by hanging EPA asthma awareness posters on their walls. Visitors to the Center City library, The Free Library of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia City Institute Library, and the Independence Branch Library will notice the colorful posters hanging on the walls displaying asthma prevention messages, including messages illustrating asthma triggers, what people with asthma can do to manage their asthma and how asthma actually affects the lungs' bronchiole tubes. For more information on asthma awareness, go to http://www.epa.gov/asthma/pdfs/event_planning_kit.pdf

MID-ATLANTIC REGION COMPANIES WIN EPA AWARDS FOR VOLUNTARY EFFORTS

EPA recognized NcNeil PPC, of Lititz, Pa. as one of four top leaders in EPA's Performance Track program. McNeil's environmental performance record went beyond compliance replacing equipment containing ozone-depleting CFC refrigerants with HFC refrigerants, reducing its annual energy use by 7,000 million BTUs, and its water usage by 24 percent. Other regional awardees included the W.V. DEP for using innovative ways in water resource protection. The Virginia Performance Track group won the outreach award, including International Paper (Franklin); Dupont Spruance Plant (Richmond), and Lockheed Martin (Manassas). For a full list of the 2007 awardees, visit http://www.epa.gov/performancetrack/benefits/2007awardees.htm#env

REGIONAL HOSPITALS AWARDED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE

EPA staff attended the 2007 Hospitals for a Healthy Environment Excellence Summit, held May 14-15 in Minneapolis, Mn. At the summit the annual Hospitals for a Healthy Environment (H2E) awards ceremony celebrated the accomplishments of more than 100 national hospitals for supporting environmentally sustainable operations and for reducing their impact on the environment. Twenty-three awards went to regional hospitals and organizations. Presentations included green buildings in healthcare, getting chemicals out of facilities, pharmaceutical waste management, and an appearance by Clancy, the country's only mercury-sniffing dog. For a list of the national and regional 2007 award winners, go to http://cms.h2e-online.org/awards/2007winners/

EPA MEETS WITH ITS PARTNERS AGAINST ASTHMA

The Philadelphia Community Asthma Prevention Program (CAPP) held its quarterly meeting with its partners (EPA, Philadelphia Allies Against Asthma, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia Health Management Corporation, Americhoice Health Insurance and Congreso - a Hispanic non-profit group). CAPP showed progress this quarter in its in-home asthma and secondhand smoke education and intervention efforts under a CDC grant. More than 550 home visits were completed to teach families to eliminate asthma triggers from a child's environment, and to provide HEPA vacuums, plastic covers for mattresses as well information on EPA's smoke free-pledge campaign.

EPA TO HOST PHILADELPHIA ENERGY EFFICIENCY INITIATIVE

Philadelphia formally announced its Energy Action Plan for Sustainability, and a new workgroup whose goal is to increase energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in buildings throughout the city. EPA is part of the work group and will host the initial planning event at the regional office on July 18, 19 and 20. EPA collaborated with city officials, the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, and others to make this happen. Cities are responsible for three-quarters of the world's energy consumption, so Philadelphia has a critical role to play in the reduction of carbon emissions and the reversal of climate change.

EPA ANNOUNCES THE WINNERS OF THE 2007 BROWNFIELDS GRANTS COMPETITION

On May 14, EPA announced the 2007 brownfields assessment, cleanup, and revolving loan fund grants national winners. Applicants from 39 states received a total of $70.7 million to revitalize former industrial and commercial sites, and turn them into productive use. Regional firms received a total of $5 million, including in Pennsylvania: Allegheny County, the Borough of Central City, the City of Johnstown, the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp., the Borough of Steelton, and the North Side Industrial Development Co.; in West Virginia: the Jefferson County Parks and Recreation Commission, Monongalia County, and the city of Nitro; and in Virginia: the city of Roanoke. For additional information on the regional brownfields grant recipients, go to http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/07arc/fy07_brownfields_selected_grantees.pdf

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