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Envirobytes - Archive
EnviroBytes, a Summary of Issues and Events for Week Ending May 7, 2010
MAY IS ASTHMA AWARENESS MONTH, A TIME TO ACT TO PREVENT AND CONTROL ASTHMA
Asthma affects the quality of life of 23 million Americans (including 7 million children). Although there is no cure, asthma can be controlled through medical treatment and management of environmental asthma triggers. Asthma triggers include Secondhand smoke, Dust mites, Mold and Nitrogen Dioxide. EPA's asthma program seeks to improve the quality of life of asthma sufferers by raising awareness through education and outreach how to prevent asthma attacks.
NEW EPA ENERGY STAR VOLUNTARY PROGRAM HELPS PARTNERS ACHIEVE GREATER ENERGY EFFICIENCY
EPA's new program: "Building Performance with Energy Star" is designed to help organizations achieve increased energy efficiency and savings to fight climate change with new improved energy tracking tools, including Energy Star's online Portfolio Manager. Organizations can also identify buildings with the most opportunities for improvement, and projects that will deliver the largest energy savings. Energy use in commercial buildings accounts for 17 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions at a cost of over $100 billion per year. Learn more at: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=reps.pt_reps
EPA WEBSITE UPDATED WITH INFORMATION TO KEEP THE PUBLIC INFORMED ON THE BP OIL SPILL IN THE GULF OF MEXICO
EPA's oil spill response website (www.epa.gov/bpspill) is posting information on the BP oil spill. The air, water, and sediment conditions at the site are being monitored to ensure the environment is protected from chemical contamination and the use of dispersants. EPA continues to add information to its BP oil spill response website to keep the public informed about the impact of the spill and EPA's response. Track EPA's response to the spill at https://www.epa.gov/bpspill. Information on the broader response is available at http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com
REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR PARTICIPATES AT EVENT TO REVITALIZE WATERFRONT PROPERTY IN MARYLAND
EPA Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin participated in an event sponsored by the National Aquarium to unveil plans for a waterfront park at Middle Branch, located in Baltimore, Md. EPA's Brownfields program awarded $200,000 to the Center for Aquatic Life and Conservation, an affiliate of the National Aquarium, to support their efforts to clean up a vacant, contaminated property on the Patapsco River's Middle Branch and redevelop it into a waterfront community park. The construction of the park will be managed by Baltimore City, under the direction of the National Aquarium and contractors.
COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN PA CELEBRATES REDEVELOPMENT OF ONCE CONTAMINATED PROPERTY
EPA representatives attended a Montgomery (Pa.) County Community College event to celebrate the completion of the college's $1.2 million parking lot. EPA awarded $200,000 in Recovery Act funding to cleanup contaminated arsenic and other metals at the site. Grants from the Commonwealth of Pa. ($500,000), from the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development ($37,500), and college funds also contributed to this first phase of the project. The building next to the parking lot will be transformed into the Riverfront Academic and Heritage Center. For more information on EPA's Brownfields program, go to https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/index.html
EARTH DAY POSTER CONTEST WINNERS ANNOUNCED
EPA mid-Atlantic region and the Philadelphia Zoo selected winners of their Earth Day poster contest for students in K-12 who reside in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and D.C.
DELAWARE
Yusef Kose, a second grade homeschooler from Newark, Del., took honors in the "Meaning of Earth Day" category for K through second grade students.
VIRGINIA
Jared Brossman, a second-grader at Lucketts Elementary School in Leesburg, Va., took honors in the "Endangered Species" category for students in kindergarten through grade two.
Max Tate, a second-grader at Elon Elementary School, in Madison Heights, Va., took honors in the "Climate Change" category for kindergarten through grade two.
Lulu Lynham, a fourth-grader at the Waterford Elementary School in Lovettsville, Va., took honors in the "Meaning of Earth Day" category for grades three through five.
PENNSYLVANIA
Gregory Yannes, a ninth grader from the MMI Preparatory School in Freeland, Pa. took honors in the "Climate Change" category for students in grades nine through 12.
Two Philadelphia students were among the winners.
Vasiliki Dinoulis, a seventh-grader at St. Laurentis School, took honors in the "Protected Habitat/Endangered Species" category for students in grades six through eight.
Ella Schrand, a 10th-grader at the C.W. Henry School, took honors in the "Protect Habitat/Endangered Species" category for grades three through five.
MARYLAND
Eight Maryland Students Win EPA Earth Day Poster Contest -- Two winners get national recognition
Two winners, 10th grader Alexi Spector of North Harford High School in Pylesville and 11th grader Katherine Ha from Poolsville High School in Poolsville also received national recognition as their posters were selected as EPA's official 40th anniversary Earth Day posters. Alexi Spector's poster design was also used on the official 40th anniversary EPA Earth Day T-shirt. Both girls traveled to Washington. D.C. for Earth Day ceremonies, and their posters are on display at EPA regional offices nationwide.
All the Maryland winners and their categories include:
Sahil Talati, a third-grader at the Calverton Elementary School in Beltsville, in the "Climate Change" category for grades three through five.
Christine Condon, a sixth-grader at the Ridgely Middle School in Lutherville, in the "Climate Change" category for students in grades six through eight.
Corrine Wolfe, a seventh-grader from the Patterson Mill Middle School in Bel Air, in the "Climate Change" category for grades six through eight.
Madison Trupia, a seventh-grader from Patterson Mill Middle School in Bel Air, in the "Meaning of Earth Day" category for grades six through eight.
Ann Marie Colburn, a ninth-grader at La Plata High School in La Plata, in the "Protected Habitats/Endangered Species" category for grades nine through 12.
Katherine Ha, an 11th-grader at Poolesville High School in Poolesville, in the "Protect Habitats/Endangered Species" category for grades nine through 12.
Alexi Spector, a 10th-grader at North Harford High School, in Pylesville in the "Protect Habitats/Endangered Species" category for grades nine through 12.
Asha Kelton, a 10th-grader at Thomas Stone High School in Waldorf, in the "Meaning of Earth Day" category for grades nine through 12.
