Environmental News

Denise Morrison
(913) 551-7003
morrison.denise@epa.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 3, 2004

WEST BRANCH MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE CLUB PROJECT WINS PRESIDENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL YOUTH AWARD

The West Branch, Iowa, Middle School Science Club has won EPA Region 7’s Presidential Environmental Youth Award for 2003 for its used oil filter disposal project. The club competed with other groups throughout Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska.

Regional Administrator Jim Gulliford said, “The students involved in this winning project have made an outstanding contribution to environmental education in their community.

“Environmental projects such as disposal of used oil filters will have a positive impact on the environment. This project promotes environmental awareness and community involvement. Region 7 is proud of the accomplishments of this year’s winner.”

The club is working on a project to increase public awareness about disposal of used oil filters in landfills.

Students have found that crushing used oil filters keeps about nine ounces of oil from each filter out of the landfill and potentially leaking into the ground water. They also found that crushing the filters with a hydraulic press recovered 90 percent of the oil while compressing the filter to one-fifth of its original size. The used oil filter can then be recycled.

The club believes community involvement makes a difference and has partnered with the Cedar County Conservation Board, the county landfill and local businesses in West Branch, Iowa.

EPA has sponsored the President’s Environmental Youth Awards Program since 1971. The program has two components: the regional certificate program and the national awards competition. Regional certificates are awarded by each of the 10 EPA regions. One outstanding project from each region is selected for national honors.

The annual awards program is sponsored by EPA to recognize outstanding young people involved in their communities. Applications must be submitted by July 31. They can be obtained in Region 7 from:

Office of External Programs
EPA Region 7
901 N. 5th Street
Kansas City, KS 66101
Telephone (913) 551-7003
Toll-free Environmental Action Line (800) 223-0425
Electronically through the Region 7 home page: http://www.epa.gov/region7

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