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Envirobytes - Archive
EnviroBytes, a Summary of Issues and Events for week ending September 10, 2010
EPA TO HOST A FREE AUTO COLLISION REPAIR WORKSHOP IN THREE PENNSYLVANIA LOCALITIES
EPA will hold three free public workshops to explain federal air pollution regulations affecting auto repair shops, and to help reduce hazardous air pollutant emissions/exposures in collision repair shops. A workshop will be held in Delaware County, Pa. on Monday, Sept. 20 at Delaware County Community College in Media from 1 - 4 p.m. On Sept. 21 another workshop will be held in The Café at Johnson College in Scranton, Pa. from 4 - 7 p.m. and on Sept. 22 a third workshop will be held at the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg, Pa. from 6 - 9 p.m.
COMPETITION CHALLENGES COLLEGES WITH FOOTBALL TEAMS TO RECYCLE THE MOST WASTE AT A GAME; WEBINAR TO DISCUSS 'GAME DAY CHALLENGE'
EPA is challenging colleges nationwide to design a waste reduction plan for a home football game in October. The greenest schools will be determined by the least amount of waste generated per attendee; greatest greenhouse gas reductions; highest recycling rate; highest organics reduction rate (food donation and composting); and highest combined recycling and composting rate. Any college or university with a football team can compete. The Challenge is sponsored by EPA's WasteWise program: https://www.epa.gov/epawaste/partnerships/wastewise/index.htm
There will be a webinar on Sept. 23 from 1:00 to 2:30 PM EDT to discuss the 2010 Game Day Challenge and to find out what your college or university needs to do to participate. Experts around the country will give you some ideas.
EPA SUPPORTS NATIONWIDE PRESCRIPTION TAKE-BACK EVENTS
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is coordinating a nationwide prescription drug take-back one-day event on Sept. 25 from 10am-2pm in conjunction with local governments and health and law enforcement partnerships to remove expired, unused and unwanted medicines through free, anonymous collections for disposing of potentially harmful pharmaceutical drugs. Learn more about the event and search for a collection site near you at
http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/
EPA REQUIRES MORE STRINGENT DISCHARGE LIMITS OF THE D.C. BLUE PLAINS WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY TO REDUCE NITROGEN POLLUTION INTO THE BAY AND POTOMAC RIVER
EPA mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin announced a more stringent discharge permit for the D.C. Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility to help improve the water quality of the Chesapeake Bay and the Potomac River. The revised permit will reduce the amount of nitrogen discharged from the plant 3.8 million pounds each year -- a 45 percent reduction. Excess nitrogen and phosphorus reduces the amount of oxygen in the water crucial to sustaining fish and wildlife, underwater grasses and the natural habitats of the Potomac and Bay. Blue Plains services approximately 1.6 million people in the D.C. area including Montgomery and Prince Georges counties (Md.) and Fairfax and Loudoun counties (Va.).
EPA, HUD AND DOT PARTNER TO CREATE MODELS OF GREEN DESIGN IN FIVE STATE CAPITALS
Charleston, (W.Va.) is among five state capital cities selected for EPA's Greening America's Capitals project. The initiative commits EPA in partnership with HUD and DOT to provide direct technical assistance in helping communities develop model, green, sustainable developments by cleaning up and recycling vacant lands, providing greater housing and transportation choices, reducing infrastructure and energy costs. The other four cities are Boston, Jefferson City (Mo.), Hartford (Conn.), and Little Rock (Ark.). For more information, go to https://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/greencapitals.htm
HEALTHY WATERS BLOG CURRENT HIGHLIGHTS
The blog: "Region 3 Middle Schoolers Grow Greener in the Summer" describes EPA's Student Environmental Development Program (SEDP)'s six-week summer program where 8TH graders are provided environmental and leadership training in the Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington DC metropolis areas. Their environmental involvement could be an inspiration for your children or other young people in your community to get involved in helping the environment.
“How Green is Your Garden?” This blog describes how rain gardens can direct water from downspouts to your garden, reduce your own water use, and the volume of rainfall runoff before it enters the stormwater system. Join the Mid-Atlantic National Estuary Program in their campaign, Rain Gardens for the Bays! Have you installed a rain garden? If so, tell us about your experience and register your rain garden here.
Visit the Healthy Waters Web site at http://blog.epa.gov/healthywaters/
