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Perspectives
from the Regional Administrator
"Our
goal is to promote energy independence for our country, while
dramatically improving the environment. I have sent you a comprehensive
energy plan to promote energy efficiency and conservation, to
develop cleaner technology, and to produce more energy at home.
I have sent you Clear Skies legislation that mandates a 70-percent
cut in air pollution from power plants over the next 15 years.
I have sent you a Healthy Forests initiative, to help prevent
the catastrophic fires that devastate communities, kill wildlife,
and burn away millions of acres of treasured forest."
-- President George W. Bush - State of the Union, January
28, 2003 |
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Richard
Greene
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Regional
Administrator - EPA Region 6
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Announcements and Activities -
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Richard Greene takes Smoke-Free Home pledge
Regional Administrator Richard Greene led the
way by signing the Smoke-Free Home pledge to emphasize the
importance of protecting children, especially those under
six, from the dangers of second-hand smoke.
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The Pledge Challenge, part of Children's Health and Indoor
Air Quality Awareness Month, is part of a cooperative partnership
between the EPA and the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services Administration. Both Greene and Health and Human
Services Regional Administrator Leon McCowan are challenging
their employees to take the pledge not to smoke in their homes
or cars.
The two agencies also are working together to integrate environmental
health into the overall Early Head Start/Head Start Health
program. This is designed to help remove a barrier to children's
overall education and development. More than 1600 Head Start
staff and parents have already registered their pledges, along
with more than 1500 Federal employees. The program is being
extended to the entire Federal Sector, and is also available
at scheduled Head Start events.
"Working together, we can make a significant difference
in our children's health simply by keeping our homes and cars
throughout Region 6 smoke-free," Greene said.
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Region 6 shows innovations to EPA financial
leaders
Region 6 Administrator Richard Greene and senior
staff hosted EPA Chief Financial Officer Charlie Johnson and
Deputy Mike Ryan on Friday, October 15.
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Presentations covered a broad range of regional accomplishments,
including major environmental contributions to the agriculture
and energy sectors. The Region's innovative approach to managing
the 2004 fiscal year budget situation, including solicitation
of employee suggestions, also was a highlight, and drew favorable
comment from the visitors.
Still another highlight was a tour of the Region's premier
Brownfield success, the American Airlines Center, home of
the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association,
and Victory Plaza, in the shadow of downtown Dallas. The former
contaminated and abandoned site has become a major economic
engine for the Dallas economy, as well as a beacon lighting
the way to Brownfields across the nation. "We are very
proud of the clean-up at the site, and the many other contributions
made by the people of Region 6 to make the air cleaner, the
water purer and the land better protected," said Mayor
Greene.
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EPA and Agriculture leaders work together
Regional Administrator Richard Greene met recently with Texas
Farm Bureau leaders as part of the Region 6 agricultural outreach
initiative. "Agriculture is an important emerging group
in regards to environmental issues," said Greene, "and
it's vital that we work together to solve them."
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Non-point sources of pollution, including fertilizers and
pesticide use over wide areas, are fast becoming a major issue
that will require collaborative efforts to solve as we work
to make the air cleaner, the water purer and to better protect
the land.
Farm Bureau representatives from districts most heavily involved
in beef cattle, rice, poultry and cotton production and other
agricultural commodities, presented information on those products
to the EPA group, which also toured the Bureau's traveling
Agricultural Planet display. Greene was accompanied by members
of the Region 6 agricultural committee.
Farm Bureau leaders expressed appreciation for the EPA participation
and for the interest Regional Administrator Greene showed
in their activities.
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