EPA -- The State of Our Environment

Posted:  2 Apr 13

From:  USA.gov

The State of OUR Environment

03/29/2013 01:00 PM EDT

By Jeanethe Falvey, EPA State of the Environment Project Manager

Our rivers no longer burn, nor do our lungs. Chemicals can no longer be dumped carelessly without consequences.

Forty years ago, EPA set out to document the state of our environment: in photographs. In a historic project known as DOCUMERICA, the country’s best photojournalists were given a doorway and ran through it: into mine shafts, living rooms and factories. Those 22,000 pictures will forever depict the state of the United States when the work of the Environmental Protection Agency was just beginning.

When DOCUMERICA closed in 1977, so did the box which contained those faces and places. They would not to be rediscovered – or revisited – until now.

Through the end of 2013, it’s your chance. What you see, can be a part of this unprecedented global call for photos of our lives and environment today.

Side by side, what will State of the Environment and DOCUMERICA say about our past and our current quality of life? What challenges have we overcome and what signs today point to the challenges ahead?

That’s up to you. Join the 2,800 photos and growing that have been submitted to State of the Environment on Flickr. From sea to space and our earthen travels, this project is all about your view.

As we approach Earth Day 2013, we hope you’ll join this global movement. We hope you embrace the potential of a single photograph and are inspired by the power of many.

Take a photo of your environment and share it for the world to see. Read our State of the Environment blog and visit our State of the Environment Flickr Group to learn more.

What to do if you break one of those "swirly" light bulbs

Posted:  22 Jan 13

I didn't realized this was such a "big deal," till a few minutes ago, when I was looking at a notice from USA.gov.  It seems there's more to those new-style CLF light-bulbs than we might expect... especially if we break one.

Take a look at this, from those in the know.

I broke one, last Saturday -- and, according to this link, my procedures were lacking.  Now I know.

This isn't world-stopping news, but it just goes to show, that there's a right way and a wrong way to do even the smallest things -- and those can accumulate to matter a great deal.

Editor



All Original Content © 2013 , The MENTOR Enterprises / ELMS, All Rights Reserved -- BUT, I hereby suspend those rights, to this extent: You may freely copy and pass this along, if you think it will do some good -- as long as it's free of charge, unchanged, and you include this statement.

City of Pittsburg: Adopt A Spot Volunteer Program

Adopt A Spot Volunteer Program

Help Keep Pittsburg Beautiful

Posted Date: 5/2/2012

The Adopt-a-Spot program allows you or your organization to adopt a park, creek, street, trail, or plaza and to assist with the painting of benches, walls and buildings within our community.

The Pittsburg Neighborhood Improvement Team, in partnership with individuals, neighborhood groups, civic organizations, and local businesses, would like the community to take ownership, responsibility, and pride in our public areas. You can make a visible impact in your neighborhoods and reduce pollutants such as trash from entering our waterways and the Delta.

An Adopt-a-Spot project can include many different types of activities. It may be as simple as picking up stray litter in your local park once a month, or it may be a longer-term project such as weeding, planting, and maintaining a specific area. The Adopt-a-Spot program can accommodate an array of volunteer interests and goals.

The City will supply your group with gloves and trash bags and groups with proven commitment will receive a courtesy sign naming you or your organization. We are asking that your group commit to cleaning/maintaining your adopted area at least once per quarter (or 4 times a year). One time community improvement projects are also available for interested parties.

For more information or to sign up call 925-252-4936 or visit www.ci.pittsburg.ca.us.
Adopt A Spot flyer

P.S.  This is a wonderful way to build up community friendships and POWER, for a far more beautiful and productive City -- PCJ Editor


Tags: "EPA, Great Pittsburg Cleanup"

EPA -- ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE 5/16 OUTREACH

EPA Environmental Justice 

Link: Environmental Justice Website

Link: Wikipedia Discussion of "Environmental Justice"

Community Outreach Call

May 16, 2012 at 6 p.m. ET

1.  Background 

• Administrator Lisa P. Jackson has made Expanding the Conversation on Environmentalism and Working for Environmental Justice (EJ) one of EPA's top priorities. 
• In support of this priority, we invite environmental justice advocates to participate on our next Environmental Justice Community Outreach Call, which will take place on May 16, 2012 at 6 p.m. ET.

2.  The purpose of these calls 

• to provide information to participants about the Agency's EJ activities and 
• to maintain an open dialogue with EJ advocates. 

3.  Hopes and Aims  

As EPA continues to advance Plan EJ 2014, the Agency hopes that these calls will:

• better inform the public about EPA's EJ work and 
• enhance opportunities to take advantage of federal activities. 

4.  Action Requested

• Listen to, or read about, previous calls at http://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/events/ej-outreach-calls.html.
• We are taking suggestions on agenda topics for the upcoming call. 
• After receiving your suggestions, we will select the topic(s) that are of general concern to communities. 
• Please keep in mind that the call will only last one hour, so the number of topics discussed will be limited.
• Submit a topic at http://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/events/ej-outreach-calls.html.

5.  For more information

• about the Administrator's priorities: http://blog.epa.gov/administrator/2010/01/12/seven-priorities-for-epas-future/
• about Plan EJ 2014: http://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/plan-ej/index.html

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Tag: "EPA"

Great Pittsburg Cleanup -- Beautifully Done!

End of Day Note:  On this beautiful Spring day, it was remarkable (but not surprising) to witness the fine, cheerful, large turnout of citizens (young and not) who were working along both sides of the Pittsburg-Antioch Highway -- filling bags with refuse.  Civic pride is alive and well here, and today was further proof.  Thanks to all, for a beautiful job, well done!

The Partners for the Watershed, The Dow Chemical Company and the City of Pittsburg are seeking volunteers to participate in The 2012 Great Pittsburg Cleanup! 

Date: April 28th 2012 9AM-11AM

Location: meet at Central Park (cornor of Pittsburg-Antioch Hwy and Truck Bypass)

This is a great opportunity to help improve your community and meet new people. Also high school students can earn Community Service credits for graduation.

This year we will be cleaning the Creek/Flood Channel along Pittsburg Antioch Highway. We will meet at Central Park on the corner of Pittsburg-Antioch Hwy and Truck Bypass at 9AM.

We will provide gloves and snacks for those who RSVP prior to the event, but you are responsible for wearing appropriate shoes and clothes for possible wet, muddy conditions. 

Everyone must bring a signed release form to the event in order to participate.

Volunteer Release Form - Adult

Volunteer Release Form - Minor

To RSVP please call (925) 252-4129 or just show up!

 

Tags: "EPA" and "Great Pittsburg Cleanup"

EPA: $20 Million Available for Clean Diesel Projects

Environmental Justice Mailing List

$20 Million Available for Clean Diesel Projects

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the availability of up to $20 million in FY 2012 grant funding to establish clean diesel projects aimed at reducing harmful pollution from the nation's existing fleet of diesel engines and improving air quality and Americans' health. In addition to these grants, approximately $9 million will be available through direct state allocations. EPA estimates that for every $1 spent on clean diesel funding up to $13 of public health benefit is realized.

"Technology has evolved to make diesel engines more efficient and cleaner than ever," said Gina McCarthy, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Air and Radiation. "These grants enable owners of older diesel vehicles to make investments that modernize their vehicles while making the air in their communities cleaner and healthier to breathe."

This is the first competition since the Diesel Emission Reduction Program, also known as DERA, was reauthorized in 2011. The program cleans up existing diesel vehicles, many of which can be operated for decades, by targeting projects that utilize the most cost-effective clean diesel strategies. By reducing diesel emissions in areas that have significant air quality issues the program can have a direct impact on community health.

Diesel engines are durable, fuel efficient workhorses in the American economy. EPA has standards in place that make new diesels more than 90 percent cleaner. However, older diesels that predate these standards emit large amounts of air pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM). These pollutants are linked to health problems, including asthma, lung and heart disease, and even premature death. Nearly 11 million older diesels still operate throughout the nation's transportation system.

States, tribes, local governments, and non-profits are eligible to apply for these grants. Projects can reduce air pollution from older school buses, transit buses, heavy-duty diesel trucks, marine engines, locomotives, and other diesel engines. The closing date for receipt of proposals is June 4, 2012.

DERA was enacted in 2005 and since it was first funded in FY 2008, EPA has awarded over 500 grants nationwide. These projects have reduced hundreds of thousands of tons of air pollution and saved millions of gallons of fuel. As part of EPA's National Clean Diesel Campaign, many of these projects fund cleaner diesel engines that operate in economically disadvantaged communities whose residents suffer from higher-than-average instances of respiratory ailments.

Request for Proposals forms and related documents: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/diesel/prgnational.htm

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If you are not already a member, the Office of Environmental Justice would like to invite you to join the EJ ListServ. The purpose of this information tool is to notify individuals about activities at EPA in the field of environmental justice. By subscribing to this list you will receive information on EPA's activities, programs, projects grants and about environmental justice activities at other agencies. Noteworthy news items, National meeting announcements, meeting summaries of NEJAC meetings, and new publication notices will also be distributed. Postings can only be made by the Office of Environmental Justice. To request an item to be posted, send your information to environmental-justice@epa.gov and indicate in the subject “Post to EPA-EJ ListServ”

To join the listserv go to: https://lists.epa.gov/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=epa-ej

City of Pittsburg: Creek Cleanup April 28

Creek Cleanup April 28

Volunteers Needed

Posted Date: 4/23/2012 5:15 PM

The GREAT Pittsburg Cleanup!!
Saturday, April 28th 2012 9AM Central Park
The Partners for the Kirker Creek Watershed, Dow Chemical Company, and The City of Pittsburg are seeking volunteers to participate in the 2012 Great Pittsburg Cleanup on Saturday, April 28th from 9AM to 11AM. This is a great opportunity to improve your community. High school students can earn community service credits towards graduation.
This year we will be cleaning the Creek/Flood Channel along Pittsburg-Antioch Highway. We will meet at Central Park on the corner of Pittsburg-Antioch Highway and Truck Bypass.
The City will provide gloves and snacks for those who RSVP at 925-252-4129, but participants are responsible for wearing appropriate shoes and clothing for possible wet and muddy conditions.
Everyone must bring a signed release form in order to participate. If you are under 18 your release form MUST be signed by a parent or guardian. Release forms and more information can be found at www.ci.pittsburg.ca.us or by calling 925-252-4129.

Creek Cleanup April 2012

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EPA -- Earth Day and Beyond

Environmental Justice Mailing List

Earth Day and Beyond

Earth Day was April 22, and The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has created a compelling video to help spark ideas about what people can do every day to help protect the planet. http://youtu.be/XdwC03n2whQ
We also have a discussion board to expand the conversation on environmental issues facing Americans today. http://epaconversations.ideascale.com/
If you'd like to join our efforts through social media, share your ideas on EPA's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/#!/EPA
Please share this information in your social networks. Here are some examples of posts below:

• Facebook: Join the conversation! EPA has created a place for you to talk about environmental issues and share environmental tips you use every day. Watch the video: http://youtu.be/XdwC03n2whQ
  
• Facebook: Expand the environmental conversation. EPA has created the "EPA Conversations" discussion board for environmental issues, topics and green living tips: http://epaconversations.ideascale.com/
  
• Twitter: Look #BeneathTheSurface. Check out EPA's #EarthDay 2012 video. http://youtu.be/XdwC03n2whQ
  
• Twitter: Join EPA's new discussion board and watch their #EarthDay 2012 video. http://youtu.be/XdwC03n2whQ

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If you are not already a member, the Office of Environmental Justice would like to invite you to join the EJ ListServ. The purpose of this information tool is to notify individuals about activities at EPA in the field of environmental justice. By subscribing to this list you will receive information on EPA's activities, programs, projects grants and about environmental justice activities at other agencies. Noteworthy news items, National meeting announcements, meeting summaries of NEJAC meetings, and new publication notices will also be distributed. Postings can only be made by the Office of Environmental Justice. To request an item to be posted, send your information to environmental-justice@epa.gov and indicate in the subject “Post to EPA-EJ ListServ”

To join the listserv go to: https://lists.epa.gov/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=epa-ej

EPA -- New Webpage for Community-based GRANT Resources

Environmental Justice Mailing List

New Webpage for Community Grant Resources

EPA is making it easier for communities to access our community-based grant resources. The Agency now presents a calendar of upcoming 2012 grant opportunities to help communities address environmental challenges. This page will be updated periodically to reflect upcoming EPA grant programs. In addition, EPA is offering a Grants 101 Tutorial to assist communities in understanding the grants process.

We welcome your comments about how we can make this resource more helpful to you. You can contact us at http://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/contact/index.html.

View the calendar: http://www.epa.gov/ogd/training/resources_for_communities/community_grants_table.htm

Grants 101 Tutorial: http://www.epa.gov/ogd/training/resources_for_communities/epa_grants_101.htm

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If you are not already a member, the Office of Environmental Justice would like to invite you to join the EJ ListServ. The purpose of this information tool is to notify individuals about activities at EPA in the field of environmental justice. By subscribing to this list you will receive information on EPA's activities, programs, projects grants and about environmental justice activities at other agencies. Noteworthy news items, National meeting announcements, meeting summaries of NEJAC meetings, and new publication notices will also be distributed. Postings can only be made by the Office of Environmental Justice. To request an item to be posted, send your information to environmental-justice@epa.gov and indicate in the subject “Post to EPA-EJ ListServ”

To join the listserv go to: https://lists.epa.gov/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=epa-ej

To change the way you receive these emails, go to: https://lists.epa.gov/read/?forum=epa-ej and click “My Account.”