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C ommunity A ction for a R enewed E nvironment

C ommunity A ction for a R enewed E nvironment. STAR Fellows Conference September 22, 2009 www.epa.gov/CARE. What is CARE?. CARE is a community-based, community-driven

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C ommunity A ction for a R enewed E nvironment

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  1. Community Action for a Renewed Environment STAR Fellows Conference September 22, 2009 www.epa.gov/CARE

  2. What is CARE? CARE is a community-based, community-driven program created to build partnerships to help under-served communities understand and reduce risks from all sources of toxics using grant funding and technical assistance.

  3. CARE helps communities access technical support and build capacity to reduce toxics through collaborative action at the local level. CARE helps communities: (1) Join together in partnerships with local government, organizations and industry. (2) Develop a comprehensive understanding of the sources of environmental pollutants and set local environmental priorities; (3) Carry out projects to reduce risks through collaborative action at the local level, and (4) Ensure self-sustaining partnerships and capabilities so that it leaves behind organized stakeholder groups and a structure to continue to improve human health and the local environment. The CARE Process

  4. Alaska Hawaii Coral Bay, Virgin Islands

  5. Project Examples: Boston Auto-Body Shops • Public Health Commission CARE partnership built trust by delivering free health care screenings and EPA’s DfE workplace safety trainings to shops • 175 shops inspected and trained. Results: • 90% (a 28% increase) had proper labeling of waste area containers, • 96% (a 20% increase) had proper labeling of waste oil, anti-freeze, paints and solvents; • 100% (a 16% increase) had clean and sanitary conditions. • Practice changes included: switching to aqueous brake cleaner, reducing perchloroethylene-containing aerosols, using hydrophic mop technology, oil and solvent recycling, waterborne coatings to eliminate VOCs. • Model project for EPA National Collision Repair Campaign to meet CAA rules faster.

  6. St. Louis, Anti-Idling • CARE partnered with School Board, 88 School Administrators, bus companies, bus drivers to successfully create “no idling zones.” 600 school bus drivers were trained on zones and signed pledges. • Then, St. Louis City Public Schools passed a resolution to become bus idle-free district-wide. • Estimated 224,000 gallons saved, 1,102 tons NOX, 29 tons PM, 2,491 tons CO2, $785,610 costs saved. “No Idling Zone” Ceremony, St. Louis, Missouri “There would have been virtually no progress without the CARE partnership.”

  7. Marquette, MI, Water Pollution • Joined with 9 faith communities (125 congregations) to focus on pharmaceuticals, household hazardous waste, e-waste, mercury and toxins from household burn barrels. • Annual Earth Day “Clean Sweep” collected one ton of pharmaceuticals, (including ~ $500K in narcotics) from about 2,000 people. • Over 320 tons of e-waste collected and properly disposed of. 7 • Joined with American Dental Association to reduce mercury discharges. 30 dental offices installed mercury amalgam separators in their offices, reducing the community’s mercury effluent to Lake Superior by 19%. • EPA signed an MOU with the ADA and the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) to establish a Voluntary Dental Amalgam Discharge Reduction Program

  8. WV Appalachian Communities, Water Pollution • CARE communities identified and prioritized 140 environmental issues: coal slurry in drinking water was #1. • Then local Catholic church, USGS, and a foundation funded sampling which showed water contamination. ATSDR changed finding to “public health concern.” • Congressman Rahall and WV DEP found funding to connect 500 families to public water supply. • Now grantee replicating CARE model in neighbor communities, leveraging additional funding from three other foundations, working with MSHA, USGS, WV DEP, local organizations, other universities. • Bill now introduced in WV legislature proposing to halt practice of underground injection of coal slurry. Additional testing initiated. • “CARE has given citizens a voice”

  9. Tucson, AZ, Promotoras Programs on P2 • CASA/SERI is one of 5 or more CARE communities getting results and empowering residents through their “Promotoras,” or environmental health embassadors, programs. • 2,800 promotora home visits conducted 6,000 lead tests, distributed 600 smoke detectors, 150 referrals to Tucson Lead program, health center for asthma and blood testing. • 600 promotora business visits to auto repair/paint/body shops, print shops, nail salons focused on P2. • Nail shops reduced acetone emissions by about 10,560 lb/yr. Auto shops reduced emissions of VOCs by about 129,100lbs/year. • Partners include 5 colleges and 11 universities that provide technical expertise and training.

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