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Envirobytes - Archive
EnviroBytes, a Summary of Issues and Events for Week Ending May 22, 2009
PRESIDENT OBAMA ANNOUNCES NATIONAL FUEL EFFICIENCY POLICY
President Obama proposed a new national policy aimed at both increasing fuel economy and reducing greenhouse gas pollution for all new cars and trucks sold in the U.S. The new rules would raise the average fuel economy for cars and light trucks combined to 35.5 mpg by 2016 (surpassing the 2007 CAFE law which required an average fuel economy of 35 mpg in 2020), and give authority to the EPA to regulate tailpipe emissions from vehicles. The new standards (covering model years 2012-2016) are projected to save 1.8 billion barrels of oil over the life of the program with a fuel economy gain averaging more than 5 percent per year and a reduction of approximately 900 million metric tons in greenhouse gas emissions. Our dependence on oil will also be lessened. Contact Information: THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary 202-456-2580
EPA PRESENTS $1.73 MILLION RECOVERY ACT GRANT TO SUPPORT MARYLAND'S DIESEL PROGRAM
On May 14, EPA Acting Deputy Regional Administrator Jim Newsom presented a $1.73 million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant to the Maryland Department of the Environment to support the state's efforts to reduce diesel pollution. The event was held at the Cox Creek Dredged Material Containment Facility in Baltimore. Also highlighted was the success of a fiscal year 2008 diesel emission reduction grant to the Maryland Environmental Services to retrofit 16 units of heavy dredging and excavation equipment with diesel particulate filters at three dredged material containment facilities.
REGIONAL STAFF PRESENT RESPONSIBLE RECYCLING (R2) PRACTICES TO PROFESSIONAL RECYCLERS GROUP
On May 6, EPA regional staff gave a course on the "Responsible Recycling (R2) Practices for use in Accredited Certification Programs for Electronics Recyclers" to the Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania (PROP) organization. EPA's R2 practices are designed to help electronics recyclers ensure that their materials are handled legally and safely and significantly improve the industry's environmental footprint. EPA is concerned that if managed improperly, used electronics can release materials that may have environmental or adverse health concerns.
EPA MAKES THE LIST FOR 2009 BEST PLACES TO WORK IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
A survey: 2009 Best Places to Work in the Federal Government has ranked EPA as number 6 among the best places to work in the federal government -- up from number 9 in 2008. EPA employees gave the agency high marks as a family-oriented place to work in, and as one offering career advancement opportunities and performance-based awards. They also felt that EPA supports diversity, empowers employees in their work, and provides effective supervisors. Agencies were ranked by size and in 10 workplace categories, including leadership, work/life balance, and pay and benefits. For more information, go to http://www.bestplacestowork.org.
PENNSYLVANIA STUDENT WINS SUN SAFETY POSTER CONTEST
A 13-year old home schooler, Christoffer Crowley of Bernville, Berks County, Pa. was the winner of the 2009 SunWise with SHADE national sun safety poster contest with more than 650 of the 5,000 votes cast online between April 20 and May 10. His winning poster showed two girls talking: one persuading the other to give up her unhealthy relationship with the sun. The yearly contest is co-sponsored by EPA (through its Sunwise program), the SHADE Foundation of America, and the WeatherBug Schools program. The competitive posters bore catchy skin cancer prevention messages to prevent a disease which strikes more than one million Americans every year. Winners win a trip to Disney World and other worthy gifts. For more information, go to www.skincancerprevention.org.
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