EPA Funds Local Group to Fight Pollution in Manhattan

NEW YORK, New York, September 26, 2007 (ENS) - WE ACT for Environmental Justice got a boost today as U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, officials visited the group's northern Manhattan center to present the a check for $100,000 - a Community Action for a Renewed Environment, CARE, grant.

WE ACT is a nonprofit, community-based, environmental justice organization that builds the capacity to improve environmental health, protection and policy in communities of color.

EPA Regional Administrator Alan Steinberg, who hosted the presentation, praised the organization. "WE ACT is a strong local force in northern Manhattan with a long history of success in intervening for the Harlem community and reducing environmental health risks," said Steinberg.

The organization is a nationally recognized leader in advancing environmental justice, and received EPA's Children's Environmental Health Excellence National Award in 2005.

"A healthy community begins with a healthy environment. This CARE project addresses environmental issues that negatively impact public health," WE ACT Executive Director Peggy Shepard said. "We take great pride in having been recognized by EPA for this important work and the first CARE community in the city," she said.

The federal agency's CARE program supports communities in creating and using collaborative partnerships to identify sources of pollution and reduce human exposure. Northern Manhattan is the first CARE community in New York City.

The community suffers from high rates of asthma and the organization has already identified air pollution as one of a priority environmental concern.

In addition to air pollution, WE ACT has identified several environmental health concerns in Northern Manhattan, an area of only 7.4 square miles, which has a population of over 600,000 people - many of whom are children and the elderly.

There is the problem of pest infestation and improper use of pesticides, which creates exposure to allergens and can exacerbate asthma.

There are two sewage treatment plants that impact air and water quality, and finally poor indoor air from housing disrepair, mold contamination, lead in household dust from peeling lead paint and poor ventilation plagues many residential buildings, which are in close proximity to polluting sources.

WE ACT was chosen for this grant out of a field of 127 applicants nationwide in the second year of the CARE program.

With the grant funds, WE ACT will join government, businesses, health agencies and academia to educate the public, continue discussions between residents and local industries, and develop diesel emission reduction projects.

EPA will provide technical assistance and support throughout the process, but it is wholly up to the community partners to decide which environmental issues are most critical and develop partnerships to address them.

For more information, visit EPA's website at http://www.epa.gov/CARE

Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2007. All rights reserved.