Region 7

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

Kansas Receives $357K in Economic Recovery Funds to Improve Water Quality, Create Jobs

(Kansas City, Kan., April 30, 2009) – In an effort to improve water quality and create jobs, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded $357,300 to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. A total of $39 million will be awarded nationally to states for Water Quality Management Planning (WQMP) grants, which will keep and create jobs to help prevent water pollution and protect human health and the environment. News Release

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Free Community Revitalization Workshops Scheduled for the cities of Dodge City, Topeka and Wichita, Kan.

(Kansas City, Kan., April 28, 2009) – EPA Region 7, in coordination with Kansas State University and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), will host three free one-day workshops next month in Dodge City, Topeka and Wichita, Kan., to provide information about available resources for the revitalization of Kansas communities. News Release

Schools and Child Care Facilities across Missouri to Receive Reminders about Lead Hazard Protection Rule

(Kansas City, Kan., April 28, 2009) - Public and private elementary schools, kindergarten and Headstart programs and child care centers across Missouri will soon receive courtesy reminders from EPA Region 7 about a federal rule aimed at protecting children from exposure to harmful lead dust generated during renovations, repairs and painting projects at their educational facilities. News Release

Schools and Child Care Facilities across Nebraska to Receive Reminders about Lead Hazard Protection Rule

(Kansas City, Kan., April 28, 2009) - Public and private elementary schools, kindergarten and Headstart programs and child care centers across Nebraska will soon receive courtesy reminders from EPA Region 7 about a federal rule aimed at protecting children from exposure to harmful lead dust generated during renovations, repairs and painting projects at their educational facilities. News Release

EPA Joins Renewable Energy Project Dedication at LaFarge

William Rice, EPA Region 7 acting administrator (at podium), spoke at the LaFarge renewable energy project dedication April 17 in Sugar Creek, Mo. LaFarge, a supplier of cement products, will collect landfill gas to reduce the use of coal at its Sugar Creek plant. The plant's landfill gas system will send it through approximately 6,500 feet of pipe into the plant's preheat tower. Converting landfill gases to energy offsets the need for non-renewable resources such as coal and oil, and cuts emissions of air pollutants that contribute to smog. Using waste to create energy has been part of EPA's sustainability and renewable fuel programs since the 1990s.

Scottsbluff, Neb., Student Wins President's Environmental Youth Award

Scottsbluff High School student Elizabeth Turnbo (pictured in foreground) will receive EPA Region 7's 2008 President's Environmental Youth Award for organizing and leading a major recycling event in her community, the Recycle Rally. Turnbo competed with other students and groups from throughout Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska to receive the award. More than 250 people participated in the Recycle Rally, a family event to educate and inform the community about the importance of recycling and where to take recyclable items. Pictured behind Turnbo (from left) are natural resource students Meredith Palomo and Danika Englehaupt, who assisted with the Recycle Rally. News Release

Independence, Mo., Company Receives EPA Energy Star Accolade

(Kansas City, Kan., April 23, 2009) - Hathmore Technologies, LLC, of Independence, Mo., has received the Energy Star for Homes Leadership in Housing Award. The award recognizes raters who qualify at least 50 homes in the last calendar year as Energy Star homes. Hathmore Technologies qualified 53 homes in 2008. News Release

Pella Corporation Earns Energy Star Award for Sustained Excellence

(Kansas City, Kan., April 23, 2009) - Pella Corporation of Pella, Iowa, has been honored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy for its outstanding contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency at the 2009 Energy Star Awards ceremony. Pella was honored with the Sustained Excellence award in recognition of three consecutive years as an Energy Star Partner of the Year. News Release

EPA Announces $53 Million Recovery Act Funds for Wastewater Infrastructure Projects in Iowa to Boost Economy, Create Jobs and Protect the Environment

(Kansas City, Kan., April 22, 2009) - In a move that stands to create jobs, boost local economies, improve aging water infrastructure and protect human health and the environment for the people in the State of Iowa, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded $53,040,000 to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. This new infusion of money provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 will help the state and local governments finance many of the overdue improvements to wastewater projects that are essential to protecting public health and the environment across the state. News Release

Clarinda, Iowa, Honored for Drinking Water System Improvement

(Kansas City, Kan., April 20, 2009) - The City of Clarinda, Iowa, will be honored this week by EPA Region 7 and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for a series of drinking water system improvements that are providing benefits to its citizens and to customers of a nearby rural water district in southwestern Iowa's Page County. News Release

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