Envirobytes

EnviroBytes, a Summary of Issues and Events for the Week Ending April 20, 2007

REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR ENCOURAGES EVERYONE TO "BE GREEN"

Regional Administrator Donald S. Welsh's Earth Day op-ed was distributed to weekly community and mid-sized newspapers throughout the region on April 19. He discussed how Earth Day has grown into an international event since 1970 and is celebrated throughout the world. He noted that Americans are adopting a green culture and embracing the idea that environmental responsibility is everyone's responsibility. Individual participation in environmental protection can improve all aspects of life. Visit EPA's Web site at: http://www.epa.gov.

SOFTWARE TOOL HELPS WATERSHEDS ADDRESS POLLUTION

EPA released the Watershed Plan Builder interactive Web based tool to help watershed organizations address polluted runoff and water quality improvement. When data is entered, the tool produces a comprehensive watershed plan outline, tailored to a specific watershed. There will be a free public Webcast on the interactive tool on May 2 from 1 to 2:30 p.m., and for a limited time, users are invited to provide feedback. For more information, go to http://www.epa.gov/watershedwebcasts/

EPA PROMOTES SPECIAL BROWNFIELDS REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

EPA staff attended the Schuylkill Action Network meeting in Pottsville, Pa. to promote the EPA Targeted Brownfields Assessment (TBA) program. TBA assessments will be conducted on qualified Upper Schuylkill River Watershed acid mine drainage impacted mine-scarred lands having redevelopment potential. This source of direct funding can be used by a municipality or redevelopment authority to facilitate the cleanup and reuse of formerly contaminated (brownfields) properties. For more details, go to http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/facts/tba_0403.pdf

EPA EMPLOYEE SPEAKS AT LAW FORUM ON SUPERFUND REGULATION AFFECTING PROPERTY PURCHASERS

EPA's Heather Gray made a presentation regarding EPA's new All Appropriate Inquiries (phase 1) regulation for property purchasers, at the annual Pennsylvania Environmental Law Forum in Harrisburg., Pa., on April 11. Highlights of the rule were covered, including sharing of information between the property purchaser and environmental professional, interview requirements, data gaps, and lien searches, featuring the EPA new webpage on Superfund liens. For more information on Superfund liens, go to http://www.epa.gov/reg3hwmd/liens.htm

GREEN HIGHWAY PARTNERSHIP WORKSHOP PLANS U.S. HIGHWAY 301 PROJECT

The Mid-Atlantic Green Highway Partners (GHP) held a workshop on April 11- 12 in Adelphi, Md. to discuss the application of GHP principles to upgrade a 13-mile long corridor along U.S. Route 301 in Waldorf, Md. The main focus was to identify and recommend innovative, sustainable approaches, technologies and actions in the planning of the project's Environmental Impact Statement, in accordance with EPA National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The common goal of stakeholders was to implement environmental stewardship activities and effective transportation improvements.

EPA JOINS TASK FORCE TO HELP COUNTY CURTAIL GREEN HOUSE GASES

In 2006, Pennsylvania State University graduate students presented Montgomery County, Pa. officials with a report on how to reduce the county's greenhouse gases which had risen 36 percent since 1990. County commissioners responded to this challenge by assembling a task force consisting of representatives from EPA, state government, elected officials, institutions, non-profits, design professionals and others, to create a plan of action to help the county reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 2004 levels or reduce emissions to below 1990 levels.

EPA EMPLOYEE'S MEMORY TO BE HONORED AT CHILDREN'S GARDEN

The EPA Flower Show team has coordinated with the Camden, N.J. Children's Garden to plant a commemorative brick in honor of the late EPA employee, Ken Andersen, during the garden's upcoming Arbor Day Family Festival. Ken had always donated most of the trees and shrubs from EPA's Flower Show exhibits to the Children's Garden. The dedication will take place on April 28 between 10:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. For more information about the event and directions, visit www.camdenchildrensgarden.org.

EPA PARTICIPATES IN LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY SYMPOSIUM

EPA staff attended the 22nd Annual Symposium of the International Association of Landscape Ecology, in Tucson, Az., and helped with a presentation entitled "Putting theory into practice: application of landscape ecology principles into environmental decision-making." Topics included how practitioners base their decision-making on landscape ecology research and principles; the philosophies of landscape ecology; implementation challenges; how wildlife management uses landscape ecology in practice; and how state and regional agencies apply landscape ecology principles to planning and conservation.

EPA BIOLOGISTS ATTEND AQUATIC BIOLOGISTS' 2007 MEETING

The Association of Mid-Atlantic Aquatic Biologists held its annual meeting at Berkeley Springs, W.Va. on April 4 and 5 at the Cacapon State Park. The event featured a full-day technical presentation and a poster session. Several mini-workshops included: Advanced Stonefly Identification, River Algae Taxonomy, Aquatic Vascular Plant Identification, Wetland Assessments, and The Taxonomy and Identification of Fishes. The association consists of approximately 200 federal, state, academic and private sector aquatic biologists interested in the biological assessments of aquatic ecosystems.

REGION WORKS ON IMPROVING RECYCLING IN SCHOOLS

EPA awarded a solid waste assistance grant to the schools in Central Virginia to start recycling programs at up to 18 schools in the area. Pennsylvania is working with its 500 school districts to implement and improve their school recycling program and has purchased over 19,000 recycling bins for its schools. The District of Columbia recycling program is working with the 145 schools in the District to implement recycling programs. In Virginia, the Virginia Recycling Association recently received $35,000 from the Oak Hill Fund to work on a school recycling project from June 2007-May 2008.

EPA STAFF DISCUSS CLIMATE CHANGE AT SCHOOL EVENTS

Catholic Schools Hold Forum On Climate Change

EPA staff participated in a global warming forum at St. Dorothy's Catholic School in Drexel Hill, Pa. on April 17, to discuss the impact of climate change in America and how Energy Star and other energy efficient methods can help reduce its impact. Students from area Catholic Schools prepared projects illustrating global warming throughout the world.

Students Learned About Climate Change at Earth Day Event

EPA staff participated at the April 19 gala Earth Day event held at the Beverly Hills Middle School in Upper Darby, Pa. to teach students about climate change and ground level ozone. The students learned that they can make an impact on climate change by utilizing energy efficiency in their homes, and that ground level ozone affects air quality and can aggravate and cause respiratory conditions.

GRANT PROPOSES WATERSHED-WIDE APPROACH TO TRASH

The Alice Ferguson Foundation is proposing a $15,000 one-year grant to implement a comprehensive watershed-wide approach to trash management. EPA will review the proposed plan and identify the appropriate requirements. EPA funds will be leveraged with private donations and corporate partnerships to finance data management and to enlist volunteer organizations to collect the data necessary on trash sources, flows, and volume. This proposal strives to remove hundreds of tons of trash each year, resulting in a trash free Potomac by the year 2013.

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