![[logo] US EPA](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20081108213752im_/http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
National Information
Learn more from our federal partners in environmental protection
Earth Day “Take-Home Kit” learn how you and your family can protect the environment every day in lots of ways.
Earth Day, April 22, is an annual observance held to increase public awareness of the environment. Each year on Earth Day, millions of people throughout the world gather together to celebrate the event by cleaning up parks and schools, going out and teaching others and learning about progress in reducing pollution. Links below help you choose how to celebrate Earth Day every day.
EPA Celebrates Earth Day Throughout April with New Web and Multimedia Features How can you reduce your carbon footprint, make your home or business water efficient or make sure our nation's beaches stay clean this summer? April 22 was Earth Day and this year, EPA launched several online initiatives throughout the month of April to help raise environmental awareness.
Click on the black arrow to begin video.
Regional Administrator's Earth Day remarks (interviewed by EPA staff)
Region 3 Earth Day Events, Activities, and Multi-Media Resources
- Regional Administrator Donald Welsh joined city and non-profit partners in Pittsburgh on April 25 for the presentation of more than $125,000 to fund a pilot program to reduce diesel emissions from the city’s fleet of waste hauler trucks. The city of Pittsburgh has partnered with Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) and Clean Water Action to develop the pilot initiative. EPA Region 3 granted the award as part of its Mid-Atlantic Clean Diesel Program.
- Overbrook School's Earth Day class, co-sponsored by EPA
- More than $1.75 million in brownfields grant funds for sites in western Pennsylvania were announced by Regional Administrator Donald Welsh on April 25 at an event in Pittsburgh.
- Thousands of commuter rail passengers in Philadelphia learned more about “Clean, Green and Efficient Energy Use” on Earth Day, April 22, as EPA Region 3 employees and many government, non-profit and academic partners hosted activities to promote environmental stewardship at SEPTA’s Suburban Station. Commuters and others had the opportunity pick up educational materials, participate in hands-on pollution prevention activities and ask questions about “going green.”
- To kick off Earth Week, EPA Region 3 was among the key sponsors of the second annual Science Symposium at Overbrook Elementary School in Philadelphia on April 21. EPA employees taught students about various environmental topics and careers.
- The EPA Region 3 school winner of a Presidential Environmental Youth Award
(PEYA) was honored with other winners from around the country at a White House ceremony in Washington, D.C. on April 17. Regional Administrator Donald Welsh participated in the event. 
EPA Region 3 is hosted a free lead-based paint training program for remodelers and renovators on Earth Day, April 22, at the regional offices at 1650 Arch St., Philadelphia.- Small, high-tech firms interested in developing and commercializing cutting-edge energy and environmental technologies attended a free workshop hosted by EPA Region 3 on April 22 at the region’s offices at 1650 Arch St., Philadelphia.
The District of Columbia was the site of a Clean School Bus announcement on April 29 as a month of environmental events and activities comes to a close.
- Region 3 made an Earth Day, April 22 announcement of its first External Awards Program – an initiative to recognize public, private and non-profit sector activities that are making a major difference to improve the environment. The awards will be presented during a ceremony in September.
Region 3’s Children’s Health and Environmental Education programs sponsored a contest in which elementary school classrooms are challenged to lower their carbon footprints. Largest reductions win. Winners were announced on Earth Day, April 22.- Region 3 made an Earth Day, April 22 announcement on the Philadelphia-area selectees for the 2008 Student Environmental Development Program, a leadership development initiative for 7th grade students that provides a holistic approach to environmental education.
- EPA Region 3’s Public Information Center (PIC) provided the public with information on environmental topics. The PIC is open to the public and provided residents in the mid-Atlantic region and beyond with more than 15,000 pieces of environmental literature during the month of April.
- The region sponsored an internal employee event to distribute information and materials that will allow our employees to spread the word about environmental best practices during the month of April. The event drew more than 80 employees.
- The EPA Region 3 Environmental Science Center at Fort Meade, Md., hosted an April 22 Earth Day event for employees with a variety of activities focused on renewable energy.
- EPA Region 3 Senior Environmental Training Program classes were held on April 24 and April 30 at the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge in Tinicum, Pa. for the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program members from the Delaware Valley and Salisbury, Md., respectively. The training topics were pharmaceuticals in water and pesticide usage.
- The region’s pollution prevention coordinator participated in an April 22, Earth Day Fair for ING Direct Bank in West Chester, Pa., providing outreach materials for approximately 700 employees.
- The region is supporting Region 5’s Great Lakes Challenge to collect e-waste and pharmaceuticals. Region 3 issued a press release encouraging people to take advantage of an April 26 collection event in Erie, Pa.
- Region 3 has sent a collection of “going green” information and Web sites to newspaper editors in the region to encourage articles on how people can take simple actions to help the environment.
- Regional Administrator Welsh submitted an op-ed on environmental protection to regional weekly newspapers.
- The lobby of EPA Region 3’s building at 1650 Arch St., Philadelphia was decorated with colorful anti-litter banners prepared by 5th grade students at the Glen Acres Elementary School in West Chester, PA. The banners are captured in a slide show available on the Region 3 Web site.
- EPA Regional Administrator Donald Welsh posted a guest entry on Deputy Administrator Marcus Peacock’s “Flow of the River” blog in April. The blog highlighted Region 3’s unique approach to identifying environmental challenges and actions.
- EPA Region 3 pesticides expert John Butler recorded a “Green Scene” interview to be posted on the EPA national Web site discussing the region’s “Healthy Yards, Healthy Laws, Healthy Environment” program. The program is designed to support and promote environmental sound lawn care and landscaping practices across the region that are economically viable and socially responsible to improve water quality.
The first Earth Day, April 22, 1970, was organized by former U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin. An overwhelming response helped to continue Earth Day celebrations throughout the years since then, leading the way to enactment of environmental laws and creation of environmental organizations which continue to serve us well. No single organization owns Earth Day. Internationally there are hundreds of organizations planning activities on April 22 and through the month of April.
It takes everyone to protect our earth....... everyone working together, 365 days a year. In the 34 years since the first Earth Day we have made tremendous progress because of the efforts of the public. The greatest gains in environmental quality in the years ahead will come with voluntary actions that encourage environmental stewardship.
Everyday is Earth Day.
