EPA Reorganized/Restructured Mosquito and Pesticides Information

The US EPA has restructured and reorganized/updates the mosquitoes and pesticides (including DEET) information posted on the web site. This may be found at http://epa.gov/mosquitocontrol/ . Please remember that additional mosquito control/prevention and pesticide information is also posted at the National Pesticide Information Center at http://npic.orst.edu/pest/mosquito/index.html .

"The EPA has reorganized its resources about controlling mosquitoes and preventing bites on its website. Though the summer is winding down, the EPA advises the public that mosquitoes can still present a serious risk to public health. The new resource directory includes simple, do-it-yourself prevention methods such as removal of standing sources of water where mosquitoes breed, easy tips to prevent being bitten, how to use insect repellants safely, and information about pesticides commonly used in mosquito control programs. The agency understands that Americans are concerned about recent increases in mosquito-borne diseases across the United States, especially the West Nile virus, and is committed to helping people understand how they can be more vigilant in protecting themselves from risks posed by mosquitoes."

School IPM Webinar Recordings

IPM in Schools: Protecting Children from Pests Webinar.

Please keep in mind that the webinar was recorded via Windows Media Format.

It will take approximately 2 minutes or so to load before viewing; so please be patient. Contact me if you have questions. Thanks.

The link to the Integrated Pest Management In Schools (IPM ) Webinar is listed below

https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/382802256

https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/726800121

PC Users: You may first need to install the GoToMeeting codec.

After installing the codec, then copy and paste the following link into your web browser. (Do not just click on the link – it may not direct you in the same way and you may not be able to find the webinar)

Please wait. It may take a few minutes to load. The upper left hand corner will show “Buffering %. When 100% is reached, the webinar will begin.

It is taking a while for us to get the School IPM presentation PDF posted. I will contact everyone as soon as it is.

There will be a re-broadcast of the School IPM webinar early in October at about 4PM EST (After school for many of us). If you are interested in an invitation, please e-mail me.

For Bed Bugs Go to School:

The Webinar Link and Attendance Reports are attached. The webinar was recorded in Windows Media Format and may take a few minutes to load. To view the recorded webinar, copy and paste the link in your web browser and follow the prompt. Let me know if you have questions.

https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/722105169

As promised: Here is the link to the PDF on the Office of Children’s Health website. (10.96MB) http://epa.gov/childcare/training.html

and http://epa.gov/childcare/BB_in_Schools_May_2012.pdf will bring you directly to the Bed Bugs Go to School PDF. Note: it may take your computer a few minutes to download.

California DPR Looking to Form Child Care IPM Focus Group

California DPR would like to form a group of interested persons to advise the Child Care IPM Program on outreach materials for child care providers.

You might be asked to review a document or provide comments on materials although your time commitment would be minimal. You do not need to be an expert on Integrated Pest Management. If you would like to be involved, please contact Belinda Messenger at bmessenger@cdpr.ca.gov or 916-324-4077.

Green Pest Management Webinar; Protecting Your Schools and Facilities Using Advanced Integrated Pest Management

Free Webinar, Thursday, October 4, 1 EDT, 12 CDT, 10 PDT.

Register now!

There are many shades of green when it comes to managing pests. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices can range from a basic “treat when over threshold based on monitoring” approach to advanced techniques focused on eliminating pest-conducive conditions. So how can you transition your pest management program from basic to advanced IPM?

Green Shield Certified®, an award-winning, independent certification for practitioners of effective, prevention-based IPM, will host a free webinar on Thursday, October 4, at 12:00PM CDT. Participants will learn how to use green pest management techniques to solve even the most difficult pest problems. Topics include:

• Basic vs. advanced IPM
• Importance of advanced IPM
• Using green techniques to eliminate pests
• ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Unique examples of difficult pest problems
• Benefits of offering an advanced IPM service

Speakers include: Dr. Austin Frishman, president, AMF Pest Management Services; Keith Willingham, vice president of technical services, Western Exterminator Company; and Dr. Thomas Green, president, IPM Institute. Time will be provided at the end of the presentation for Q & A.

This webinar is open to facility managers, IPM coordinators, Extension agents, health inspectors, pest management professionals and anyone interested in learning more about advanced IPM. Only 100 spaces are available; please register now for this free webinar! Registrants will receive a confirmation email with details for joining the webinar.

About our presenters:

Dr. Austin Frishman is a world-renowned entomologist, consultant, author and speaker with over 40 years of experience in pest management. Austin will discuss green techniques to eliminate pests and share stories about resolving difficult pest problems using advanced IPM.

Keith Willingham is vice president of technical services at Western Exterminator Company in Anaheim, California. Keith started out in the pest management industry as a field technician and has been with Western for over 28 years. He will discuss the benefits of advanced IPM techniques to practitioners. www.westernexterminator.com

Dr. Thomas Green is president of the IPM Institute of North America, a non-profit he co-founded in 1998 to leverage the power of the marketplace to drive improvements in health and environment. Tom will introduce advanced IPM fundamentals and the importance of advanced IPM. www.ipminstitute.org

This webinar is the second in a series. To view a recording of the first webinar, "Marketing Your Green Service Effectively; Converting Prospects to Clients," visit www.greenshieldcertified.org.

For any questions or comments please contact Caitlin Seifert, Green Shield Certified project coordinator, at cseifert@ipminstitute.org or by phone at (608)232-1426.

Webinar: Pest Proofing and Exclusion, Thursday. Sept. 6, 2012 at 10:00 CDT

As summer winds down and we prepare for fall and winter – are your school buildings ready? Did you know a typical house mouse only needs the size of a dime (1/4 inch) to squeeze into your building? The average roof rat or Norway rat only needs the size of a quarter to enter a structure. Crickets, outdoor cockroaches and other crawling pests can gain entrance into your structure with less than ¼-inch gap under a door.

This informative webinar will discuss how you can prevent pest problems and how you and your staff can not only prevent pests, but also make your school buildings healthier.

Webinar Presenters:
Dr. Thomas Green, who has been a national leader in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for more than 20 years. Green has dedicated his career to help improve health, environment, and economics through IPM.

Dr. Fudd Graham holds a BS in animal science and a PhD in entomology. Currently Auburn University employs him as a coordinator of the Alabama Fire Ant Program. He is a co-leader for eXtension Urban IPM community and oversees the AL effort for school IPM. Graham holds a pest control license in Alabama and has used IPM in his pest control business for more than 20 years.

Janet Hurley, Extension Program Specialist for School IPM at Texas AgriLife Extension, will facilitate and moderate the session.

No need to pre-register - log on 15 minutes prior to the event to watch and learn. If you can't make this event - you can log on later to watch a replay of the event.

Event Location https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/urbancop

EPA Environmental Education Regional Grants -- Solicitation Notice for 2012

The 2012 RFP for EPA's Environmental Education program has been posted at: http://epa.gov/education/pdf/solNotice2012.htm

Purpose: The purpose of the Environmental Education (EE) Regional Grant Program is to increase public awareness and knowledge about environmental issues and provide the skills that participants in its funded projects need to make informed environmental decisions and take responsible actions toward the environment.

Application Deadline: Applications must be postmarked by November 21, 2012, 11:59 pm local time or submitted electronically via www.grants.gov by November 21, 2012, 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) in order to be considered for funding

Number and Value of Awards: The total estimated funding for this competitive opportunity is approximately $2,160,000 nationwide. EPA expects to award one (1) grant per Region for an expected 10 grants nationwide; the award amount is approximately (but no more than) $216,000, subject to the availability of funds, the quality and quantity of applications received, and other applicable considerations.

Cost Sharing Requirement: Applicants must demonstrate how they will provide non-federal matching funds of at least 25% of the total cost of the project.

In order to be eligible, all applications must: (1) address at least one of the EPA educational priorities listed below, (2) address at least one EPA environmental priority listed below; and, (3) be for a project that satisfies the definition of “environmental education” as defined under Section I(B) (see RFP for this)

The educational and environmental priorities listed below are not in order of importance or preference. Proposals may address more than one priority in each category. However, it is important that a proposal is clear as to what the focus of the project will be and how that focus will contribute to a replicable project that will model quality outputs and outcomes and that has a vision for advancing and strengthening the field of practice of environmental education.

EPA’s Educational Priorities

(1) Community Projects: Addressing environmental stewardship in a local formal or informal educational context in rural, suburban and urban settings, and using outdoor, place-based, experiential, service learning and/or community-focused stewardship activities as the primary teaching tool(s).

(2) Human Health and the Environment: Educating students of any age group, from the very young through the elderly, and training* their educators or community leaders on how to teach, in formal and non-formal settings, in the outdoors and in classrooms, about human health threats from environmental pollution and how to minimize human exposure to preserve good health.

(3) Career Development: Educating students of any age group, from the very young through the elderly, and training* their educators or community leaders on how to teach, in formal and non-formal settings, about environmental issues, solutions and stewardship for the purpose of encouraging interest in careers in environmental fields.

More information at http://epa.gov/education/pdf/solNotice2012.htm