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Environmental Justice Grant Will Aid Eastern Washington Farm Worker Communities

Release Date: 03/24/2009
Contact Information: Running Grass, Environmental Justice Program Manager, (206) 553-2899, grass.running@epa.gov Tony Brown, EPA Public Affairs, (206) 553-1203, brown.anthony@epa.gov Carol Dansereau, Project Contact, (206) 729-0498, cdanseraufwpp@earthlink.net

Farm Worker Pesticide Project Receives $20,000 from EPA
(Seattle, Wash. – March 24, 2009) Farm Worker Pesticide Project, located in Seattle, Washington, is receiving a $20,000 Environmental Justice Grant from the Environmental Protection Agency. This project seeks to provide information to farm workers, their families and communities on the public health impacts of pesticide exposures and actions they can take to protect themselves from exposure.

"These grants help communities take an active role in solving local environmental problems," said Michelle Pirzadeh, EPA’s acting Regional Administrator in Seattle. “EPA is committed to ensuring that all people receive fair treatment and meaningful involvement in our efforts to protect human health and the environment.”

Further, it aims to educate workers on mitigations and alternatives to pesticide use, while informing them about the public policy processes governing pesticide regulation. The project accomplishes these goals by intensive community outreach, developing and enhancing multi-sector networks at the community level and by facilitating opportunities for meaningful involvement.

The Environmental Protection Agency is awarding $800,000 in grants to organizations working with communities facing environmental justice challenges throughout the country. Forty community-based organizations (four per region) will receive grants of $20,000 each for projects on environmental and public health issues such as exposure to toxins, farm worker pesticide protection, fish consumption, indoor air quality, drinking water contamination, and pollution from shipping ports.

For additional information about Environmental Justice Grant Awards, please see the national news release: EPA Awards $800,000 in Environmental Justice Grants to Communities in 28 States.