![[logo] US EPA](http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
Envirobytes - An Environmental Newsletter
EnviroBytes, a Summary of Issues and Events for Week Ending August 22, 2008
IN VIRGINIA, SOLID WASTE AUTHORITY TARGETS MERCURY RECYCLING UNDER EPA PROGRAM
The Rivanna Solid Waste Authority of Charlottesville, Va. which handles solid waste disposal and recycling activities in the Charlottesville and Albemarle County, Va. areas has enrolled in Region 3’s National Partnership for Environmental Priorities (NPEP) program. Rivanna has committed to develop a community program to promote collection of mercury containing fluorescent and compact fluorescent bulbs, switches and thermostats at two of its recycling facilities; and anticipates to recycle around 250 pounds of mercury in one year. Under the NPEP program, companies and organizations commit to voluntarily reduce, recycle or eliminate certain priority toxic chemicals such as mercury. For more information, go to http://www.epa.gov/npep/
EPA HAS FIELD DAY PROMOTING EPA COMPOSTING TECHNOLOGY
EPA Region 3 representatives participated in the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture’s Field Day held in Kutztown, Berks County, Pa. on Aug. 12. Field Day is held to promote farm food-waste composting activities in all Region 3 states (Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, D.C., and Maryland). At the event, EPA highlighted its best management practices in composting technology, farm composting permits, grant opportunities as well as composting practices, research, and equipment. Participants included farmers, livestock and/or stable managers, institutional facility managers, local and county, and state government officials.
ARCADIA U. GRADUATE STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT PEST MANAGEMENT AND RESPONSIBLE LAWN CARE
EPA's Land and Chemicals Division staff made a presentation on Aug. 14 to a class of Human Ecology graduate students at Glenside, Pa's Arcadia University to explore the complexities of indoor/outdoor pest management and responsible lawn care and landscaping practices. The presentation highlighted the fundamentals of integrated pest management (IPM), the use of biopesticides and plant incorporated protectants (PIP) in contrast to conventional pest management practices. To learn about responsible lawn care and landscaping practices that minimize the impact on human health and the environment, go to http://www.epa.gov/reg3wcmd//pesticideslawn.htm
REGISTER FOR THE 6TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON CHILDREN’S HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT ON SEPT. 19
The Region 3 Children's Health Program, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry and the Mid-Atlantic Center for Children's Health and the Environment (MACCHE) are partnering with Drexel University, Pennsylvania Department of Health, University of Pennsylvania, US Fish and Wildlife Service and George Washington University to host this year's conference on Children's Health and the Environment. Discussions will center on Climate Change, Healthy Homes, Children in Nature, Exposure to Toxicants and Outcomes in Children, and Emerging Issues in Children's Environmental Health. There will be a panel discussion on children’s environmental health policy issues. Healthcare providers, public health and environmental professionals and the interested public are invited to attend. For more information go to http://www.gwu.edu/~macche/philadelphiaconference08 
HEALTHY HOMES GUIDEBOOK HELPS FAMILIES TACKLE COMMON ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS IN THE HOME
The Mid-Atlantic Center for Children’s Health and the Environment (MACCHE) with funding from the Region 3 offices of the Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry and the EPA has developed a guidebook for families living in the mid-Atlantic region to address environmental health concerns in the home. The guidebook answers questions about some of the most common environmental problems affecting families in the home, including drinking water, household chemicals, indoor air pollution, and lead, and provides families from this region with specific state and federal contacts and internet links. For more information, go to http://www.gwu.edu/~macche/download/Healthy%20Homes%20-%20R3%20Final.pdf
CONGRESS PASSES BILL TO FUND EPA GRANT PROGRAM FOR SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS IN HIGHER EDUCATION
Congress has passed the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HR 4137) that is expected to be signed into law to recognize the leadership role of the campus community in creating innovation and new responses to sustainability efforts. Two key campus sustainability provisions in HR 4137 include: the convening of a Summit on Sustainability to expand sustainable operations and academic programs; and the establishment of a University Sustainability Grant Program authorizing the Secretary of Education, in consultation with EPA, to offer competitive grants to colleges and universities to establish sustainability research, such as developing new alternative energy sources, and implementing sustainability practices in campus communities.
EPA CO-SPONSORS NORTHERN TRANSPORTATION AND AIR QUALITY SUMMIT IN BALTIMORE
EPA Region 3, Regions 1 and 2 and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) cosponsored the first Northern Transportation and Air Quality Summit in Baltimore, Md. from Aug. 13-15. Region 3 organized and moderated a half-day Mobile Vehicular Emission Simulator (MOVES) workshop for the conference. This workshop provided air and transportation planners/modelers with the latest information of the new mobile emissions model (developed by EPA and FHWA) to estimate emissions for on-road and nonroad sources. In addition to the MOVES workshop, topics related to climate change, mobile air toxics, regulatory issues, and diesel/freight issues were also covered. For more information about MOVES, got to
http://www.epa.gov/omswww/ngm.htm
WEST SHORE (PA) SCHOOLS JOIN THE TOOLS FOR SCHOOLS PROGRAM
The West Shore School District recently joined the agency's Tools for Schools (TfS) Program. West Shore is the second largest suburban school district in the Greater Harrisburg metropolitan area, and home to approximately 8,300 students in Cumberland and York counties. The district is comprised of 16 school buildings some with mold and chemical issues in their labs. The EPA Region 3 Air Protection Division provided an overview and some basic indoor air quality training to the district's 50 administrators and custodial staff. They will next provide in-service training to the remainder of the staff and information on other voluntary programs and other environmental issues.
To subscribe to eBytes send a blank email to:
join-usepar3news@lists.epa.gov
To unsubscribe, send a blank email to:
leave-usepar3news@lists.epa.gov
