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Iowa Department of Natural Resources Receives Two Grants to Support Pollution Prevention in Health Care, Metal Finishing

Release Date: 11/23/2009
Contact Information: Chris Whitley, 913-551-7394, whitley.christopher@epa.gov


Environmental News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Kansas City, Kan., Nov. 23, 2009) - EPA Region 7 has awarded two grants totaling $169,157 to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) to support projects aimed at pollution prevention in the health care and metal finishing industries.

The grants are authorized by the Pollution Prevention Act, which allows EPA to provide funding to states, their entities, and tribal governments for assistance projects that address source reduction or elimination of pollution by businesses across all environmental media--air, water and land.

IDNR will provide matching funds for each of the two projects receiving EPA grant assistance:

IDNR's Pollution Prevention Services will receive $112,750 from EPA and provide additional funds for a total of $225,500 directed at helping metal finishers raise environmental stewardship standards and reduce toxic metals and priority chemicals. This project will help the industry develop environmental management systems, and will conduct assessments to evaluate voluntary pollution prevention opportunities and implementation.

The project is expected to result in a reduction of 240,000 metric tons of greenhouse gases, a reduction of 100,000 pounds of hazardous materials or wastes, the savings of 37 million gallons of water and 180 billion BTUs of energy, and cost savings of $3.4 million.

Key partners for the project include the Iowa Strategic Goals Program, Iowa Waste Reduction Center, Rosenboom Machine & Tool, GE Consumer and Industrial, Rockwell Collins, City of Cedar Rapids and the Iowa Department of Economic Development.

IDNR's Pollution Prevention Services will receive a separate grant of $56,407 from EPA and provide additional funds for a total of $59,376 directed at source reduction technical assistance targeting the health care industry. The assistance will include on-site pollution prevention intern support, a series of webinars and workshops, and professional engineering support for interns and health care facilities.

The project is expected to result in a reduction of 3,400 metric tons of greenhouse gases, a reduction of 45,800 pounds of solid waste, energy savings of more than 8 billion BTUs, and cost savings of $400,000.

Key partners for the project include the Pollution Prevention Institute at Kansas State University, Environmental Assistance Center at the University of Missouri, Iowa City Veterans Administration, Via Christi Health Systems in Wichita, Pollution Prevention Resource Information Network, Associated Purchasing Services, Kansas City Area Healthcare Engineers, Wichita Veterans Administration, Kansas Hospital Association, Nebraska Medical Center, Kansas University Medical Center, and Practice Greenhealth.