[StBernard] Louisiana Organization Awarded EPA Environmental Justice Grant

[Westley Annis]

Louisiana Organization Awarded EPA Environmental Justice Grant 
Group expects to improve public awareness on unauthorized discharges from
refineries 

(Dallas, Texas - March 24, 2009) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) has awarded the Louisiana Bucket Brigade of New Orleans, Louisiana,
$20,000 as part of the EPA Environmental Justice Small Grants Program.  The
Louisiana Bucket Brigade will implement a project to increase community
outreach and education on unauthorized discharges to the air and water from
Louisiana refineries.  The goals for this project include researching
incident reports from Louisiana refiners from 2005 through 2008, analyzing
data for information on emission and public health, establishing a community
outreach forum to review monthly incident data and providing opportunities
to share findings with neighboring refineries.  This project will increase
the community's understanding of environmental and health impacts associated
with unauthorized discharges. 

The EPA Environmental Justice Small Grants Program awards community-based
organizations with funding for projects in low-income communities on
environmental and public health issues such as exposure to toxins, farm
worker pesticide protection, fish consumption, indoor air quality, drinking
water contamination, and pollution from shipping ports.  Nationally, EPA
awarded $800,000 in local grants for environmental improvements. 

Financial assistance under the Environmental Justice Small Grants Program is
available to all non-profit organizations designated by the IRS or
recognized by the state, territory, commonwealth or tribe in which it is
located. The funding is to help affected communities develop strategic
solutions to their environmental justice issues and to achieve community
health and sustainability. 

Since 1994, EPA has provided more than $32 million to an estimated 1,100
community-based organizations that are committed to protect human health and
the environment. 

Additional information on environmental justice grants is available at
http://www.epa.gov/compliance/environmentaljustice/grants/ej-smgrants.html 

More about activities in EPA Region 6: http://www.epa.gov/region6 

EPA audio file is available at
http://www.epa.gov/region6/6xa/podcast/mar2009.html 

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