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EPA Awards $92,650 Grant to South Charleston, W.Va. Project

Release Date: 01/15/2009
Contact Information: Donna Heron 215-814-5113 / heron.donna@epa.gov

PHILADELPHIA ( January 15, 2009) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded a $92,650 Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) grant to the Mid-Atlantic Technology Research & Innovation Center, doing business as the National Institute for Chemical Studies (NICS), in South Charleston, W. Va.

The CARE Program is a competitive grant program that offers communities an innovative way to address the risks from multiple sources of toxic pollution in their environment. Through CARE, communities create partnerships with residents, businesses, schools, local governments and nongovernment organizations to come up with solutions geared to reduce toxic pollutants. In addition to providing funding, EPA also provides technical assistance and resources.

NICS is a non-profit organization located within the Kanawha Valley, a major chemical manufacturing area since the early 20th century. NICS was established specifically to facilitate communication among the public, regulators, and the numerous chemical plant operations on the exposure of residents to chemicals and their toxic risks, as well as to facilitate the development of emergency contingency plans with industry.

Many of NICS’s programs are designed to empower and educate citizens. Important goals are to help citizens understand risks and to reduce risks from toxics in the air, water, and the land. The institute also will use numerous forums to collaborate with the community to help citizens better understand the short- and long-term health effects from their exposure to toxics. NICS will expand and enhance the current collaborative community-based partnership in the targeted areas of Dunbar, and South Charleston. NICS will also create the foundation for establishing a self-sustaining group to implement further risk-reduction programs.

In 2008, EPA made $2.5 million available to 18 communities through the CARE program. Applications for the 2009 CARE grants are due March 16.

Additional information about the CARE program: https://www.epa.gov/care