Agency request for public comments on a draft EPA publication

Request for comments on a draft EPA publication

Creating Equitable, Healthy, and Sustainable Communities: Strategies for Advancing Smart Growth, Environmental Justice, and Equitable Development

Communities across the country are integrating smart growth and environmental justice approaches to achieve development that is healthy, environmentally and economically sustainable, and beneficial for all residents, regardless of race, ethnicity, and income. Creating Equitable, Healthy, and Sustainable Communities: Strategies for Advancing Smart Growth, Environmental Justice, and Equitable Development aims to build on past successes and help other low-income, minority, tribal, and overburdened communities implement their own versions of equitable development. It identifies strategies that bring together smart growth and environmental justice principles and goals and can be used by community-based organizations, local and regional decision-makers, developers, and other stakeholders to shape land use decisions where they live.

To ensure that this publication is as helpful as possible for communities, EPA is soliciting comments on the draft through July 6, 2012. For more information, please visit http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth.

Please Note: If you commented on this draft in the spring, there is no need to resubmit your comments. The majority of the comments from the first comment period have not yet been incorporated; where appropriate, they will be incorporated following this second comment period.

Upcoming Technical Webinar: Reduce Radon in Your School

Discover how to reduce radon in your school!
Register Today for a Free Webinar!
Wednesday, July 18, 2012, 2 – 3:30 p.m. EDT

Effective radon control is a critical component of any comprehensive indoor air quality (IAQ) management program. Attend the Technical Webinar – Reducing Radon in Schools on Wednesday, July 18, 2012, from 2 – 3:30 p.m. EDT, to learn how to manage this pollutant in your school.
This webinar will provide technical guidance about effective radon testing and control strategies for schools, including how to operate and install a radon mitigation depressurization system. Radon experts Josh Miller and Josh Kerber from the Minnesota Department of Health, both specialists in radon control in school environments, will be featured in this webinar.

Attend this webinar to:
• Learn about the risk of radon in schools and why it's necessary to test every school for radon.
• Discover effective and practical strategies for radon testing and control, including continuous radon monitoring (CRM).
• Apply mitigation techniques, such as sub-slab depressurization and HVAC modification.
• Get answers to your technical radon questions from leading radon experts.
• Increase your understanding of how radon management fits into an integrated school environmental health program with the Framework for Effective School IAQ Management and how it helps meet the Department of Education's Green Ribbon Schools requirements for Pillar Two – healthy school environments.
Speakers:
• Josh Kerber, Environmental Research Scientist, Minnesota Department of Health.
• Josh Miller, Research Scientist, Minnesota Department of Health.

June School IPM 2015 eNewsletter

The June School IPM 2015 eNewsletter features the following articles: Tips for More Effective Asthma Management in Schools, IPMPro Mobile Device App Supplies Plant-Care Help, and California Reports School Pest Management Survey Results.

http://www.ipminstitute.org/school_ipm_2015/June12_eNewsletter.htm

If you have not done so already, please consider signing up for the monthly School IPM 2015 newsletter mailing list to:
• Learn how you can reduce pesticide use and pest complaints by more than 70%!
• Create a successful IPM program with no long-term increase in pest management costs.
• Learn strategies for managing pests all year:
o Fall – stinging insects
o Spring – ants
o New pests – bed bugs
• Improve your ability to educate and gain cooperation from key staff including maintenance, custodial and food service.

Signing up is easy. Email your name and contact information to: newsletter@schoolipm2015.com

Recovering Costs for Community Use of School Facilities - Facility Masters Webcast on 6/28 @ 12pm EST

The next Facility Masters webcast will be on June 28 from 12:00-1:15pm EST, and the topic is “Recovering Costs for Community Use of School Facilities”.

Join us to learn how to establish and manage a program for recovering your school’s costs for after-hours facility use while still effectivhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifely meeting the needs of the community, including developing buy-in for a program that maximizes utilization, increases cost recovery and reduces liability.

Speakers:
• Melody Temple - Chesterfield County Public Schools, VA
• John Kangas - Eanes ISD, TX
• Roger Young: Executive Director – Facility Masters

If you’d like to attend or receive the webcast recording, simply register online at: https://cc.readytalk.com/r/8ex5m0shj1gp

Please forward this invitation to any of your colleagues who might be interested in joining us for this informative webcast.

Free Webinar: EPA's Greener Summer Cleaning Tips for School Facility Departments

EPA’S GREENER SUMMER CLEANING TIPS FOR
SCHOOL FACILITY DEPARTMENTS
MONDAY, JULY 2ND
10:30 – 11:30 AM

Cleaning the school environment does not end with the end of the school year. No, the next 2 ½ months can be the most intense cleaning, renovating, and maintenance time of the whole school year. This is the best time to re-evaluate and establish cleaning and maintenance practices and policies throughout the facility to ensure that the fall session begins with a top notch indoor environment. Eugene Benoit, U.S. EPA, will review EPA’s SUMMER TIPS with you and your team as you begin your annual cleaning, renovation, and maintenance activities. SUMMER TIPS will cover choice of cleaners, and maintenance products, ventilation, carpet cleaning, lead-based paint hazards, moisture, clutter, energy efficiency, mold growth and more. Tim Parsons of the Local Government Center will cover school liability issues and Peter Johnson, Concord School District, will be on hand to give the local school district’s perspective.

PRESENTERS: Eugene Benoit, Environmental Engineer, Indoor Environments Program, U.S. EPA Region I; and Peter Johnson, School Facilities Coordinator for the Concord NH School District; moderated by Tim Parsons, Local Government Center.

WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE: Superintendents, Business Officials, Principals, Facility Managers, Custodians, Nurses, School Board Members, and Parents

HOW TO REGISTER: Register now at the Local Government Center website.
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/818536448

SPONSORED BY NH PARTNERS FOR HEALTHY SCHOOLS: Cleaning for Health - Informed Green Solutions • Healthy Homes & Lead Poisoning Prevention Program - Division of Public Health • Bureau of Nutrition Program & Services - Department of Education • Primex • Division of Pesticide Control -Department of Agriculture • Bureau of School Approval & Facility Mgt. - NH Department of Education • Tools for Schools Program - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency • NH Local Government Center • NH Coalition for Occupational Safety & Health • Maternal & Child Health - Division of Public Health • Absolute Resource Associates •
Bridge the Gap, LLC • The Scott Lawson Group, Ltd. • Breathe New Hampshire • NH Asthma Control Program -Division of Public Health • New Hampshire Cooperative Extension • NEA New Hampshire School Care • Council for Children & Adolescents with Chronic Health Conditions • Air Resource Division – Department of Environmental Services • American Lung Association •
Manchester School District

20th Anniversary Environmental Justice Video Series - 1st Video Featuring Vernice Miller-Travis, Environmental Justice Leader

Watch OEJ's New Video Series
EPA's Office of Environmental Justice has officially launched its 20th Anniversary Video Series. These videos feature federal and local government officials, non-profit leaders and students who share stories about the lessons that they have learned over their time working on environmental justice.

They will be featured on the Environmental Justice in Action Blog at http://blog.epa.gov/ej/. The first video available on the blog today features Vernice Miller-Travis. Watch the video, share it, and let us know your thoughts in the comments section. Also, be sure to add your e-mail to the subscribe link on the upper right side of the blog's home page to receive our weekly posts. Clicking the "Like" button is another way to let your friends know about this great resource.

CEHN Youth Award Nomination Entry

To celebrate its 20^th anniversary, the Children’s Environmental Health Network (CEHN) is looking for youth nominations to receive the first “CEHN Youth Environmental Health Leadership Award”. CEHN has been a children’s environmental health champion for schools for the last two decades. The award will be presented at the CEHN 20th Anniversary Gala event on September 7th, 2012, at the National Press Club in Washington, DC.

CEHN’s event committee, Board, and staff will review the nominations and select the award recipient based on the following criteria.

The youth nominee:

● is between 12-18 years old

● shows excellent character (i.e., strong values, integrity)

● displays a strong commitment to environmental health

● participates in community activities

● participates in social action that helps communities in need

● demonstrates leadership skills through activism

● can be directly linked to environmental health and safety improvement(s) for children

● is a role model for peers

Nominators will be required to write a brief statement of no more than 500 words that describe the activities that qualify the nominee for the CEHN Youth Leadership Award. Nominators will need to specify how the youth meets the above criteria by providing specific details and evidence of leadership, activism, and community awareness.

Additional Details:

· Deadline for submitting nominations is Friday June 22^nd, 2012. All submissions will receive responses by early July.

To obtain the nomination form or ask questions, please contact Joanne Pérodin at jperodin@cehn.org.

Last Chance – Green Strides Webinar Series: Discover Why Good IAQ Is Important for Green and Healthy Schools

Every Student Deserves a Healthy Learning Environment!
Last Chance – Register Today for a Free Webinar on the Role Good IAQ Plays in Green and Healthy Schools

Now is the time to register for the U.S. Department of Education's (ED) first Green Strides Webinar on Thursday, June 21, 2012, from 1 – 2 p.m. EDT. This webinar will describe how the IAQ Tools for Schools guidance can help applicant schools meet the criteria for Pillar Two of the application – healthy school environments – as well as feature Green Ribbon Schools and IAQ Tools for Schools Award winners who have used this guidance to create healthy learning environments in schools. Eleven of these Green Ribbon Schools are from IAQ Tools for Schools award-winning districts, representing nine different states – if they can successfully use IAQ Tools for Schools, so can you!
Attend this webinar to:

• See real examples of how IAQ Tools for Schools guidance can help schools meet Green Ribbon Schools' criteria for Pillar Two of the application.
• Discover why good IAQ is important to maintaining a healthy and green leaning environment and improving academic performance.
• Learn how to gain national recognition for creating healthy indoor environments in schools.
• Gain in-depth knowledge and insight on how the IAQ Tools for Schools guidance provides simple, low-and no-cost resources, such as the IAQ Tools for Schools Action Kit, which any school can use to create healthy learning environments.
• Get your questions answered by healthy learning environment champions.

Speakers:

• Richard Cox, Environmental Safety Coordinator, Montgomery County Public Schools, Maryland.
• Shelley R. Bengtson, Environmental Specialist, Omaha Public Schools, Nebraska.

Facilitator:

• Tracy Washington Enger, Indoor Environments Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

This webinar is offered at no cost to participants. Don't miss your chance to have your questions about the program answered during the webinar. Send your questions to IAQTfSConnector@cadmusgroup.com by June 14, 2012.

Register today!

Want to see what schools in your state earned the Green Ribbon Schools recognition? Check out the first 78 schools recognized as Green Ribbon Schools!
Spread the word! Forward this email to a colleague.
Please note: This webinar will last approximately 60 minutes. You will need a high-speed Internet connection and a telephone line to interact with speakers and other participants. Call-in information will be provided upon registration.

Attend the Clean, Green and Healthy Tribal Schools Workshop from your desk -- Livestream available

U.S. EPA Region 8 is hosting an all-day Clean, Green and Healthy Tribal Schools Workshop on June 11, in Denver, CO, in conjunction with the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) Summer Institute. The workshop is designed for tribal school administrators and school stakeholders, with the goal of providing information and tools for tribal school personnel to ensure that tribal schools are clean, green and healthy for themselves, school children and their community. Detailed information on the workshop, including an agenda, can be found here: http://epa.gov/region8/tribalschools/. IAQ Tools for Schools will be showcased throughout multiple sessions as guidance schools can follow to help maintain healthy school environments.

The entire workshop will also be broadcast via an online livestream. To access the livestream on the morning of the June 11, click on this link http://www.livestream.com/cleangreenhealthytribalschools. No registration is necessary to view the livesteam and you will be able to view specific agenda topics of your choosing.