EPA is opening the doors on a new, more interactive, and task-oriented Web site designed to meet users' needs. We've heard from our audience – the American people – and they are interested in more than just reading about EPA programs on the Web. Citizens want to participate in protecting the environment in which they live and work. People want an active voice in what happens at EPA. They want to find topics of interest to them quickly.
"EPA has heard the voice of the people loud and clear! We're going to do everything possible to make participating in environmental protection a reality," said Molly O'Neill, EPA's Chief Information Officer and assistant administrator for the Office of Environmental Information. "We're using Web 2.0 technologies to give citizens a Web site that is more interactive, uses multimedia tools, and is better organized by what they want to do or know. "
The new design includes:
Links to immediate actions people can take to protect the environment at home or in their community:
How can I make my home more energy-efficient?
What and where can I recycle?
How do I learn about environmental conditions in my community?
What can my community do to help to prevent pollution?
Interactive media like blogs so people can:
Post comments to our blog "Greenversations"
Comment on proposed regulations
Bookmark EPA pages with Digg It.
Web 2.0 Tools to inform people on EPA activities:
RSS news feeds to provide information to subscribers
Videos and podcasts
Widgets to put EPA information on their Web site.
Take YOUR new Web site out for a "test drive": www.epa.gov
And please use the blog (http://blog.epa.gov/blog/ ) to let EPA know how it runs.
Source: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/F5D93C8B0829072C852574BF0054DCAD
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Sorting Hurricane Debris Can Help Clean Up Communities
AUSTIN, Texas -- As families begin cleaning up after Hurricane Ike, state and federal officials offer directions on how to carefully pre-sort their household debris to help cleanup and disposal efforts.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) are partners in the disaster recovery, with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Texas Governor's Division of Emergency Management.
"The first recommendation we have is to follow the guidelines in your community," said Federal Coordinating Officer Sandy Coachman.
"The debris created by a hurricane has unique challenges," State Coordinating Officer Joan Haun added. "We want everyone to help clean up and start getting neighborhoods back to normal, and we want them to do it safely."
Texas residents should separate their household debris in piles as follows:
* Household garbage - bagged trash, discarded food;
* Construction debris - wood, drywall, carpet, furniture;
* Household hazardous waste - motor oil, batteries, bug sprays;
* Vegetation debris - tree branches, leaves, logs;
* "White" goods - refrigerators, washers and dryers, air conditioners;
* Electronics - televisions, radios, computers;
* Orphan containers - butane or propane tanks, chlorine cylinders.
If possible, residents should clearly mark debris containers before disposing. To prevent spills, leaking containers should be placed in plastic bags. Household hazardous waste should never be poured down drains or storm sewers.
If your community offers curbside pick up, please leave all household debris at the curbside. Do not leave debris leaning against trees or poles or on private property, as this makes it harder to retrieve the debris.
If your community does not offer curbside pick up, please contact your local waste disposal agency for instructions.
Once household debris is gathered, it will be processed for final disposal.
For information on local environmental regulations go to http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/
For EPA information on hurricane response, visit: http://www.epa.gov/hurricanes
More information about the Texas Hurricane Ike disaster is available at http://www.fema.gov/
FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.
Source: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/0BC408BC588886F7852574D700772FDD
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) are partners in the disaster recovery, with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Texas Governor's Division of Emergency Management.
"The first recommendation we have is to follow the guidelines in your community," said Federal Coordinating Officer Sandy Coachman.
"The debris created by a hurricane has unique challenges," State Coordinating Officer Joan Haun added. "We want everyone to help clean up and start getting neighborhoods back to normal, and we want them to do it safely."
Texas residents should separate their household debris in piles as follows:
* Household garbage - bagged trash, discarded food;
* Construction debris - wood, drywall, carpet, furniture;
* Household hazardous waste - motor oil, batteries, bug sprays;
* Vegetation debris - tree branches, leaves, logs;
* "White" goods - refrigerators, washers and dryers, air conditioners;
* Electronics - televisions, radios, computers;
* Orphan containers - butane or propane tanks, chlorine cylinders.
If possible, residents should clearly mark debris containers before disposing. To prevent spills, leaking containers should be placed in plastic bags. Household hazardous waste should never be poured down drains or storm sewers.
If your community offers curbside pick up, please leave all household debris at the curbside. Do not leave debris leaning against trees or poles or on private property, as this makes it harder to retrieve the debris.
If your community does not offer curbside pick up, please contact your local waste disposal agency for instructions.
Once household debris is gathered, it will be processed for final disposal.
For information on local environmental regulations go to http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/
For EPA information on hurricane response, visit: http://www.epa.gov/hurricanes
More information about the Texas Hurricane Ike disaster is available at http://www.fema.gov/
FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.
Source: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/0BC408BC588886F7852574D700772FDD
Sunday, November 2, 2008
EPA Encourages Homeowners Impacted by Hurricane Ike to Take Proper Measures To Safeguard Drinking Water
EPA Encourages Homeowners Impacted by Hurricane Ike to Take Proper Measures To Safeguard Drinking Water
Release date: 10/21/2008
Contact Information: Dave Bary or Tressa Tillman at 214-665-2200 or r6press@epa.gov
(Dallas, Texas - October 21, 2008) - Homeowners who are still concerned about the quality and safety of their drinking water following Hurricane Ike are encouraged to be pro-active in ensuring that all proper measures to safeguard drinking water in the home are taken.
As a result of flooding and the speed and direction of ground water flow, some pumps and wells used to provide drinking water for homes may be contaminated with bacteria and other pollutants. What follows are some tips that will help in taking the appropriate steps in securing safe drinking water.
Only water that has been disinfected should be used for drinking, cooking, making any prepared drink, or for brushing teeth. Bottled water that has not been exposed to flood waters should be used. If residents do not have bottled water, there are ways to ensure that the water is safe for consumption and use. One of the most effective ways of doing this is to boil water. Boiling water will kill most types of disease-causing organisms that may be present. If the water is cloudy, it should be filtered through clean cloths or allowed to settle. Then, clear water can be drawn off for boiling. Residents should boil the water for one minute, let it cool and store it in clean containers with covers.
If boiling is not a possibility, chemical disinfection of filtered and settled water collected from a well, spring, river, or other surface water body will still provide some health benefits and is better than no treatment at all. Residents can disinfect contaminated water with household bleach by adding 1/8 teaspoon (8 drops) of regular, unscented, liquid household bleach for each gallon of water, stirring it well and letting it stand for 30 minutes before use.
If a resident has a well that has been flooded, the water should be tested and disinfected after floodwaters recede. When emergency disinfection is necessary, disinfectants are less effective in cloudy, murky or colored water. After filtering until it is clear, or allowing all dirt and other particles to settle, clean and clear water may be drawn off for disinfection.
Boiling and chemical treatment are two general methods used to effectively disinfect small quantities of filtered and settled water. Boiling is the surest method to make water safe, but when done correctly, chemical disinfection is just as effective.
Information on home water treatment units is available from EPA by phone at 1-800-426-4791 or the U.S. EPA’s website at: http://www.epa.gov/region6/disaster/pdf/private_wells.pdf.
Source: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/7F3CCC484C8A0F5F852574E9005F6DFE
Release date: 10/21/2008
Contact Information: Dave Bary or Tressa Tillman at 214-665-2200 or r6press@epa.gov
(Dallas, Texas - October 21, 2008) - Homeowners who are still concerned about the quality and safety of their drinking water following Hurricane Ike are encouraged to be pro-active in ensuring that all proper measures to safeguard drinking water in the home are taken.
As a result of flooding and the speed and direction of ground water flow, some pumps and wells used to provide drinking water for homes may be contaminated with bacteria and other pollutants. What follows are some tips that will help in taking the appropriate steps in securing safe drinking water.
Only water that has been disinfected should be used for drinking, cooking, making any prepared drink, or for brushing teeth. Bottled water that has not been exposed to flood waters should be used. If residents do not have bottled water, there are ways to ensure that the water is safe for consumption and use. One of the most effective ways of doing this is to boil water. Boiling water will kill most types of disease-causing organisms that may be present. If the water is cloudy, it should be filtered through clean cloths or allowed to settle. Then, clear water can be drawn off for boiling. Residents should boil the water for one minute, let it cool and store it in clean containers with covers.
If boiling is not a possibility, chemical disinfection of filtered and settled water collected from a well, spring, river, or other surface water body will still provide some health benefits and is better than no treatment at all. Residents can disinfect contaminated water with household bleach by adding 1/8 teaspoon (8 drops) of regular, unscented, liquid household bleach for each gallon of water, stirring it well and letting it stand for 30 minutes before use.
If a resident has a well that has been flooded, the water should be tested and disinfected after floodwaters recede. When emergency disinfection is necessary, disinfectants are less effective in cloudy, murky or colored water. After filtering until it is clear, or allowing all dirt and other particles to settle, clean and clear water may be drawn off for disinfection.
Boiling and chemical treatment are two general methods used to effectively disinfect small quantities of filtered and settled water. Boiling is the surest method to make water safe, but when done correctly, chemical disinfection is just as effective.
Information on home water treatment units is available from EPA by phone at 1-800-426-4791 or the U.S. EPA’s website at: http://www.epa.gov/region6/disaster/pdf/private_wells.pdf.
Source: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/7F3CCC484C8A0F5F852574E9005F6DFE
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