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Asthma Awareness Month
by Duane330＠aol.com 15 May '08

15 May '08

MAY IS ASTHMA AWARENESS MONTH EPA has selected May as asthma awareness month to make the public, asthma sufferers and their caretakers more aware of the programs available to improve the quality of life of sufferers. Poor indoor air quality can aggravate allergies and asthma, and is considered more harmful than outdoor air pollution. Some common indoor asthma triggers include secondhand smoke, dust mites, mold, household pets, cockroaches and other pests, faulty heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. EPA has an asthma outreach Web site at _http://www.epa.gov/asthma/programs.html_ (http://www.epa.gov/asthma/programs.html) Take action during Asthma Awareness Month EPA urges you to take action during Asthma Awareness Month. Join the EPA in its national effort to raise awareness. During Asthma Awareness Month, host activities to educate people in your community about comprehensive asthma management. Download EPA’s Asthma Awareness Month Event Planning Kit featuring new ideas for outreach and awareness activities, tips for working with the media, success stories, and much more. For more information, go to _http://www.epa.gov/asthma/awm/index.html_ (http://www.epa.gov/asthma/awm/index.html) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Submitted by: Mon Valley Clean Air Coalition, P. O. Box 4679, Morgantown, WV 26504. Spokesperson: Duane Nichols, 599-8040 **************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family favorites at AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001)

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Diesel Idle Free Zones
by Duane330＠aol.com 29 Apr '08

29 Apr '08

============================================================ Tuesday, April 29, 2008 @ 1:26 PM ============================================================ Along with the spring flowers, signs are popping up at schools participating in the collaborative effort between West Virginia’s Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Education to establish idle free zones. The Idle Free Zone campaign is an outreach project targeted at reducing diesel emissions from school buses, but includes exhaust emissions from passenger vehicles and delivery trucks on school property. The signs are meant to encourage compliance with the WV State Board of Education policy 4336 to minimize idling. The goal is to raise awareness and stop or limit engine idling. “The cooperation between our agencies will provide benefits not only in creating even healthier school environments, but improving air quality as well,” said John Benedict, Division of Air Quality Director. “This project should improve air quality both outside and inside the schools that participate.” The idle free zone signs are free to the approximately 800 public schools in the state, and to private schools and Head Start locations as well. To date, 47 county public school systems, as well as a few private schools, are participating. “If all of the more than 3,700 public school buses in the state decreased idling by 30 minutes a day during the school year, fuel cost savings would amount to approximately $700,000 a year,” said Ben Shew, Department of Education transportation director. He added that this estimate does not include potential savings from reduced school bus idling at extracurricular activities, such as sporting events and field trips. Diesel fumes from idling school buses can be harmful when loading students onto buses, particularly when several buses are lined up and running all at once. According to the American Lung Association, children are more susceptible to air pollution than healthy adults. Their respiratory systems are still developing and they have a faster breathing rate. Diesel exhaust can aggravate respiratory and cardiovascular disease and existing asthma. “By not idling, you use less fuel, save money, and help air quality,” said Renu Chakrabarty, the DEP’s team leader for the Idle Free Zone. “It’s a win-win situation.” For more information about the idle free zone project, go to www.wvdep,org/daq and click on the Idle Free Zone graphic, or go to the diesel exhaust emissions link on the right side of the page. To inquire about the free signs, school administrators may contact Tammy Mowrer at (304) 926- 0499 ext. 1237, or e-mail her at tmowrer(a)wvdep.org. -30- Contact: Kathy Cosco 304-926-0440 **************Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used car listings at AOL Autos. (http://autos.aol.com/used?NCID=aolcmp00300000002851)

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Envirobytes, US-EPA, Week ending April 18th
by Duane330＠aol.com 25 Apr '08

25 Apr '08

WEBSITE SHOWS REGION 3 ELECTRIC UTILITIES AND THEIR AIR QUALITY STATUS EPA’s Air Protection Division is presenting the region’s air quality data in an innovative way. Its public web site database now enables users of Google Earth mapping software to view an interactive map of electric utilities in region 3. After downloading google.earth software at _http://earth.google.com_ (http://earth.google.com/) (http://www.epa.gov/epahome/exitepa.htm) and fulfilling other conditions, the EPA Google Earth file data is provided at _http://www.epa.gov/reg3artd/divinfo/recentadditions.htm#egu-data_ (http://www.epa.gov/reg3artd/divinfo/recentadditions.htm#egu-data) . When opened, each electric utility is represented as a point on a map which, when clicked, reveals a chart showing the selected facility’s annual emissions of six major air pollutants. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> NATIONAL EMISSIONS INVENTORY SYSTEM TO BE UPGRADED A new National Emissions Inventory System (NEIS) will be replacing the current version in October. The system allows states to report their most commonly found pollutants _(criteria pollutants)_ (http://www.epa.gov/air/urbanair/) , as well as the hazardous air pollutant emissions from all sources in their states. Data from the NEI are used for air dispersion modeling, regional strategy development, setting regulation, air toxics risk assessment, and tracking trends in emissions over time. For more information, go to _http://www.epa.gov/ttnchie1/net/neiwhatis.html_ (http://www.epa.gov/ttnchie1/net/neiwhatis.html) **************Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used car listings at AOL Autos. (http://autos.aol.com/used?NCID=aolcmp00300000002851)

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Remember: Mon County Commission Forum TONIGHT!
by Paula Hunt 17 Apr '08

17 Apr '08

Please try to attend the Voters Forum tonight. All five people (four Democrats and one Republican) running for the soon-to-be-vacated seat on the Monongalia County Commission will be there to talk to YOU. As one of only three Commissioners, the person winning this race will have a lot of power over our community. When: Tonight The April 17, 2008 at 7 pm Where: United Methodist Church Drummond Chapel on 705 in Suncrest ........................................................ - paula

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Start of Ozone Season
by duane330＠aol.com 15 Apr '08

15 Apr '08

ENVIROBYTES ...... DURING OZONE SEASON, KEEP CHECK ON AIR QUALITY April was designated as the official start of the 2008 ozone season for states in Region 3.? It is a time for everyone to keep abreast of air quality conditions, especially at-risk populations such as asthma sufferers and the elderly who need to protect themselves from ground level ozone exposure.? Ground-level ozone is formed when volatile organic compounds and nitrous oxide in the air react in the presence of sunlight and hot temperatures during the warmer months of the year. People interested in air quality conditions can access the EPA AIRNow Web site for air quality information at (http://www.epa.gov/airnow/ VIRGINIA STRATEGIZES TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS 30 PERCENT BY 2025 EPA regional representatives attended the Virginia Climate Change Commission meeting on March 27 in Charlottesville, Va. ?The meeting included presentations on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)? to the world community, a summary of local, state, regional and federal approaches to address climate change, and natural sequestration: the role of nature (forests, oceans) in capturing and storing carbon emissions. It was announced that Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine's Commission on Climate Change will issue a report by Dec. 15 on the steps Virginia needs to take to achieve 30 percent emissions reductions in its greenhouse gas emissions by 2025. For more information, visit: http://www.deq.virginia.gov/info/climatechange.html.? Envirobytes - An Environmental Newsletter, Summary of Issues and Events for Week Ending April 4, 2008 U. S.? EPA,? Mid-Atlantic Region (Region 3), West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and the District of Columbia.

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Morgantown Toxic Tour Offered April 20 by SSC
by Christy Elise Hartman 09 Apr '08

09 Apr '08

Morgantown Toxic Tour Offered April 20 by WVU Sierra Student Coalition The Sierra Student Coalition at West Virginia University has organized a tour of polluted sites in and around Morgantown, to be held Sunday, April 20th from 1pm-5pm. We would like to extend an invitation to you, your family to participate. The Toxic Tour is a student effort to spread awareness of the toxic environment in and around Morgantown. Presenters will tell each site's story on-site. Tour highlights include: + Acid mine drainage at Decker's Creek + Invasive plants along the rail trail + The proposed Longview coal-fired power plant site + A Morgantown resident’s solar-powered home. The tour is free to attend. Food, soil testing kits and live Appalachian music will be offered at the end of the tour. Transportation is pre-arranged by the SSC, but limited to 40 people. **If you are interested in attending, email your name, email and phone number to motowntoxictour(a)gmail.com. Your email will only be used to send information about the event.** After registering, you will need to meet at Waterfront Park/ the outdoor amphitheater on Beechurst Ave. to get on the tour bus. The tour is Sunday, April 20, at 1P.M. Contact Christy Hartman (chartman(a)mix.wvu.edu) with questions. Thank you in advance for your help spreading the word and I hope to see you there! Thanks, The Toxic Truth Tour Student Planning Collective

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Upcoming Mon County Candidate Forums (Fora?)
by Paula Hunt 08 Apr '08

08 Apr '08

Hi Everyone, The following Mon County League of Women Voter "meet the candidates" forums/fora are your chance to be an informed voter. As a nonprofit organization, MVCAC does not take a political stand or endorse political candidates. .......................................................... You probably know there is a primary election in May to choose a County Commissioner. Then of course the general election in November. The Mon County Commission hopefuls will be at Drummond Chapel on Rt 705 at 7 pm on April 17th (a week from this Thursday). This is a very important race!! We saw with Longview that the Board of Education has more of a role than most of us realized. There is a separate forum for those candidates at Heritage Point on Thursday April 10th (soon!) at 7 pm. The candidates for remaining offices will be at Drummond Chapel on Rt 705 at 7 pm on April 24th (also on a Thursday). In Summary >April 10th - Board of Education- Heritage Point- 7pm >April 17th - County Commision- Drummond Chapel- 7pm* >April 24th - All other candidates- Drummond Chapel- 7pm* See ya there, paula

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SSC Green Fund Petition
by Jonathan Rosenbaum 01 Apr '08

01 Apr '08

Forwarding this on behalf of WVU's Student Sierra Club: As it stands WVU is not taking any serious measures to better their environmental footprint aside from their improvements to energy efficiency and the creation of a campus recycling program. That is why the Sierra Student Coalition is encouraging the university to do better- because we do not want the burden of a polluted, expensive future on our hands. We want to create a green fund that would fund projects on campus, like the creation of on-site renewable energy. It is our overarching goal to reduce emissions 30% by 2015 at WVU To increase solid waste to 50% recycled (up from it's current figure of 22%) To insure that the university invests in sustainability education To construct on site renewable energy, like wind or solar To insure that all new buildings are Silver LEED certified. How does it work? A green fund would take earmarked alumni donations and invest them in a sustainable company, like one that builds solar panels for example. Than, the interest earned would go into creating a green campus project, like on-site renewable energy. We can fund our own windmills! The catch is- we have to convince the administration that this is a great idea and that people are into donating to such a cause. Current and future WVU alumni please sign and leave a comment "You must be the change you want to see in the world." -Ghandi (No immediate contribution to the fund is required.) Thanks! GOAL: 1500 Signatures April 1 Current Signatures: 42 THE PETITION! http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/WVU-Green-Fund Thank you for your time and energy, Christy Christy Hartman West Virginia University Organizer 703-501-2967 chartman(a)mix.wvu.edu

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160 square miles
by duane330＠aol.com 30 Mar '08

30 Mar '08

Polar News and Notes: Antarctic Ice Sheet Break-Up Friday, March 28th, 2008 8:27 am Written by: Jessica Fries-Gaither, NSDL.org A 160 square-mile chunk of ice broke off from the Wilkins Ice Shelf in Antarctica on Tuesday. The ice, approximately seven times the size of Manhattan, had started to break up in late February. Scientists noticed the movement in satellite images and were able to capture footage and images of the event. Unlike sea ice, which floats freely on the ocean, an ice shelf is a portion of glacial ice that extends out from the edge of land over the ocean. If this floating portion breaks off and melts, it does not contribute to sea level rise. However, ice shelves often act as “doorstops,” preventing glacial ice further inland from moving. As these ice shelves break off, inland ice is able to move out to sea – which can raise sea level. Climate change in Antarctica is a complicated picture. Some places on the continent are cooling and adding ice through accumulated snowfall. Other places, such as the Western Antarctic Ice Sheet (of which the Wilkins Ice Shelf is part) are warming and melting. Scientists hope that continued research into the environmental and climate conditions of Antarctica’s past will shed light into the changes observed today.

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WV Env. Council <yes>
by Duane330＠aol.com 22 Mar '08

22 Mar '08

West Virginia Environmental Council March21, 2008 _WVEC Alerts Archive_ (http://www.wvecouncil.org/take_action/index.html) ____________________________________ Dear Friends, Any way you look at it, this was a successful session for the WV Environmental Council and the legislative lobby team. With your help, we pushed state lawmakers to make a real commitment to protecting West Virginia’s cleanest waters; we defeated another proposal to weaken the state’s solid waste laws and bring a mega dump to McDowell County; we succeeded in restoring anti-degradation language to DEP air regulations; we brought public attention to the devastating practice of mountaintop removal mining; and we educated legislators about how a real Citizen’s Energy Plan could benefit the people of West Virginia. Even though the lobby team is exhausted, now is not the time to rest on our laurels. We are already planning the rest of the year’s activities for WVEC, as we continue to increase our outreach to West Virginians and expand our membership base. And even though the 2008 regular session just ended, the monthly Interim legislative sessions will begin as early as April. This is our opportunity to address upcoming agency rule-making as well as to work with lawmakers on new legislation for the 2009 Legislature. With primary elections just around the corner, the lobby team is busy preparing a legislative scorecard so you can see just how your representatives voted on important environmental issues this session. Even though we had a very good year, several good bills to address global warming, energy efficiency, mining regulation, and more, did not pass. The upcoming election cycle is the time to build these issues into a political constituency and to mobilize citizens to advocate for them. This is also the time to build statewide support for the WVEC Citizen’s Energy Plan and Renewable Energy Campaign. Both of these will be featured components next month at Sustainable Fair 2008 (“Green Makes $en$e”, April 18-20 on the campus of Davis & Elkins College in Elkins, WV – see _flyer_ (http://www.wvecouncil.org/calendar/SustainableFairFlyerAgenda.pdf) and _poster_ (http://www.wvecouncil.org/calendar/SustainableFair2008POSTER.pdf) ). All of our efforts represent fundamental change for West Virginia and require a year round commitment in order to be successful. Your continued financial support will help sustain WVEC’s activities for the rest of the year. So please consider sending us a contribution now. Thank you, Jim Kotcon, WVEC President ____________________________________ **************Create a Home Theater Like the Pros. Watch the video on AOL Home. (http://home.aol.com/diy/home-improvement-eric-stromer?video=15?ncid=aolhom0…)

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