EPA National News: Press Advisory: (1) EPA Honors 40 Organizations for Outstanding Voluntary Waste Reduction; (2) EPA Awards $1 Million in Grants to Decrease Truck Idling; (3) EPA and Partners Increase Awareness of Protecting Children from Lead Poisoning; (4) Nominations Being Accepted for 10th Annual Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards; (5) Environmental Technology Council Created
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Press Advisory: (1) EPA Honors 40 Organizations for Outstanding Voluntary Waste Reduction; (2) EPA Awards $1 Million in Grants to Decrease Truck Idling; (3) EPA and Partners Increase Awareness of Protecting Children from Lead Poisoning; (4) Nominations Being Accepted for 10th Annual Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards; (5) Environmental Technology Council Created

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(1) EPA Honors 40 Organizations for Outstanding Voluntary Waste Reduction

Contact: Dave Ryan 202-564-7827 / ryan.dave@epa.gov

Forty organizations will be honored Oct. 14 and 15 in Washington, D.C., for their outstanding waste reduction efforts at EPA's WasteWise Tenth Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony. Thomas P. Dunne, EPA Acting Assistant Administrator for Solid Waste and Emergency Response, will present awards to these groups for their commitment to preventing waste, recycling and buying recycled products. WasteWise, a voluntary partnership program launched in 1994, has reported reductions of 73 million tons of waste through prevention and recycling efforts. EPA also estimates that since the program's inception, partners have prevented the emissions of more than 39 million tons of greenhouse gases, similar to removing 31 million cars from the road for one year. This year's ceremony will feature a WasteWise Hall of Fame to acknowledge two partners that have continually reported outstanding waste reduction results throughout their tenure in the program. This is the highest honor members can achieve. General Motors Corp. (GM) will be recognized for introducing a resource management program that compensates waste contractors for achieving the organization's waste reduction goals, rather than just for hauling away debris. This resource management program has reduced waste 42 percent at many GM facilities. King County, Washington will be honored for its extraordinary strides in green building initiatives, as evidenced by its achievement of a 97 percent reuse and recycling rate for the Kingdome demolition project in Seattle. These partners continue to identify innovative waste reduction strategies and serve as role models to other WasteWise partners. The awards ceremony will take place at the Hilton Washington Hotel, 1919 Connecticut Ave. N.W. (202-483-3000). For a complete listing of the 40 organizations that received awards, and for further information about EPA's WasteWise program and the 2004 WasteWise Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony, go to: http://www.epa.gov/wastewise/about/winners.htm or contact the WasteWise Helpline at 1-800-EPA-WISE (372-9473).

(2) EPA Awards $1 Million in Grants to Decrease Truck Idling

Contact: John Millett 202-564-7842 / millett.john@epa.gov

This week, EPA Administrator Mike Leavitt announced the award of $1 million in grants to nine states and non-profits to study the effectiveness of using technologies such as truck stop electrification and shore power to decrease engine idling. As part of EPA's SmartWay Transport Partnership program, the grants will enable trucking companies to save money on fuel and reduce vehicle emissions. The nine grant recipients are the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality; the South Coast Air Quality Management District, California; the Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs; the Missouri Department of Natural Resources; the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority; the Centralina Council of Governments, North Carolina; Oregon State University; the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection; and the Washington State Department of Ecology. Extended idling has a significant impact upon local air quality. On a national scale, extended truck idling contributes, annually, 11 million tons of carbon dioxide, 180,000 tons of oxides of nitrogen, and 5,000 tons of particulate matter. Additionally, idling long haul trucks consume over one billion gallons of fuel, costing over $2 billion annually. Once fully implemented, these grant awards will result in more than 1,000 electrified parking spaces throughout the country which will yield reductions, over a 10-year period, of 270,000 tons of carbon dioxide, 4,500 tons of oxides of nitrogen, 120 tons of particulate matter, and 240 million gallons of diesel fuel saved. These reductions will assist states and counties to achieve their air quality attainment goals. The SmartWay Transport Partnership is a national voluntary program developed by EPA and the freight industry to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gases, and to promote cleaner, more efficient ground freight transportation. With SmartWay, EPA is seeking to reduce long-duration truck engine idling and to establish national idle-free corridors. This strategy promotes a nationwide network of idle-reduction facilities along interstate highway freight corridors and at rail switch yards. More information about EPA's SmartWay Transport Partnership is available at: http://www.epa.gov/smartway .

(3) EPA and Partners Increase Awareness of Protecting Children from Lead Poisoning

Contact: Enesta P. Jones 202-564-7873 / jones.enesta@epa.gov

Federal, State and local governments and non-profit organizations will participate in the sixth annual Lead Poisoning Prevention Week Oct. 24-30. This year's theme is "Shut the Door on Lead Poisoning," emphasizing to parents and children the importance of lead poisoning across the country. Each October, EPA commemorates Children's Health Month, which is designed to increase public awareness and provide tools to help protect children from environmental health risks. With lead poisoning rates still high in many U.S. cities, EPA is partnering with other government agencies and organizations to highlight the importance of lead poisoning prevention. Events being held across the country include free blood-lead tests for children, opportunities for education and outreach to families such as health fairs and workshops on lead education and safety. Low-level lead poisoning, from lead paint in older homes continues to be a concern for as many as three million American children under the age of six. Children are especially susceptible to lead poisoning since they are more likely to ingest lead paint and are more sensitive to the effects of lead. Elevated blood lead levels in young children can trigger learning disabilities, decreased growth, hyperactivity, impaired hearing and even brain damage. To learn more about Lead Poisoning Prevention Week activities, contact a local health department or call 1-800-424-LEAD. To learn how to protect children from lead poisoning, go to: http://www.epa.gov/lead/ .

(4) Nominations Being Accepted for 10th Annual Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards

Contact: Enesta P. Jones 202-564-7873 / jones.enesta@epa.gov

EPA is now accepting nominations for the 2005 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards. These prestigious awards recognize innovative chemical technologies that incorporate green chemistry into chemical design, manufacture and use and that have broad applications in industry. Green Chemistry strives to develop alternative ways to synthesize industrial chemicals in order to reduce or prevent the generation of environmental pollutants. Any individual, group or organization, both nonprofit and for profit, including academia, government and industry, may nominate a green chemistry technology for these awards. Self-nominations are welcome and expected. Typically, five awards are given each year: one to an academic researcher, one to a small business, and the rest in specific areas of green chemistry. EPA has given 46 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards. Each nominated technology must have reached a significant milestone within the past five years in the United States. Nominations must be postmarked by Dec. 31, to be eligible for the 2005 awards. The 2005 awards, marking the 10th year of the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge, will be presented at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C., on June 20, 2005. More information on the Green Chemistry Program is available at: http://www.epa.gov/greenchemistry/ . More information about the nomination process is available at: http://www.epa.gov/greenchemistry/wanted.html .

(5) Environmental Technology Council Created

Contact: Suzanne Ackerman 202-564-7819 / ackerman.suzanne@epa.gov

EPA has formed a new Environmental Technology Council to apply new technologies to address complex environmental problems. This year, the Council will select at least 10 priority environmental concerns needing new technology approaches. As the United States continues to face difficult and costly environmental challenges, Administrator Leavitt has identified technology as key to developing more cost-effective, timely solutions. The Council will consist of representatives from EPA, the states and tribes. For each problem, the Council will form an action team that may bring in experts from other federal agencies, industry and other stakeholders. Selection of problems will be based on risk, connection to regulatory requirements and potential for significant cost reduction. One example the Council may address is the limitations and cost of conventional methods of emissions monitoring by states and private companies for regulatory compliance. Remote sensing (RS) technology has greatly improved in the last decade, and now could supplement or replace older emission and pollution detection methods. Current RS technology can detect a number of pollutants simultaneously, thus reducing the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish monitoring objectives. By focusing and combining existing resources from EPA, states, other governmental agencies and the private sector, the Council will achieve its goals without new resources. More information about the Environmental Technology Council can be found at: http://www.epa.gov/etop/tc .


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