Earth Day Highlights in Boston Area and New England

News Release
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
New England Regional Office
April 18, 2012
Contacts: David Deegan, (617) 918-1017
Earth Day Highlights in Boston Area and New England
Community events, traveling environmental photo exhibit, homeowner ideas

(Boston, Mass. – April 18, 2012) – EPA’s New England office is partnering with Boston community groups to complete two Earth Day activities on April 20th.

Boston-Area Community Projects - EPA staff will work with YouthBuild Boston and the Rose F. Kennedy Conservancy’s Green and Grow program to complete a rain garden installation in Dewey Square on The Rose F. Kennedy Greenway. The installation will be part of a demonstration garden project. In addition to the rain garden, raised garden beds, an outdoor classroom, and a compost bin area are also being installed at the location.

2012 marks the 40th anniversary of the Clean Water Act. Signed in 1972, the law set a national goal to restore the integrity of rivers, streams, lakes, wetlands and coastal waters of the United States. In celebration of this milestone, EPA is partnering with the Emerald Necklace Conservancy in a cleanup event along the Muddy River in Brighton, Mass. The Muddy River is one of the contributing waters to the Charles River. The cleanup is a precursor to the Charles River Report Card announcement taking place on Saturday April 21st. Since 1995, the Charles River Initiative has coordinated EPA, state and local governments, private organizations, and environmental advocates, to improve the health of the lower Charles River. EPA issues a water quality based report card to the Charles every year around Earth Day.

New England “Soak Up the Rain” Campaign - The rain garden installation coincides with EPA New England’s new campaign: Soak up the Rain. This is a call to action for citizens, businesses and communities to create healthier and more beautiful landscapes that also help reduce flooding and be proactive about stormwater. The campaign asks New Englanders to help soak up the rain and reduce polluted runoff that flows to streams, lakes, rivers and coastlines in the area. A rain garden (a garden with plantings that are particularly well suited to take in water) is an excellent way to help.

Traveling Environmental Photo Display - New England is the first stop on a national tour by EPA’s “Documerica” exhibit of photographs depicting environmental conditions of our past and present. The exhibit will be visiting different New England locations as follows:

- Save The Bay Center, 100 Save The Bay Dr., Providence, RI from April 17 – 20;
- Common Ground High School, New Haven, Conn. Friday April 20-21;
- Bennington College, Vermont April 23-24;
- Faneuil Hall, Boston April 25;
- EPA Regional Office, McCormick Building (Post Office Square), Boston April 26;
- Bates College, Lewiston, ME, April 27-30.

Check for updates on where the photo exhibit goes next: http://blog.epa.gov/epplocations/2012/04/traveling-exhibit-in-new-england/ ;

Environment in a Day - Calling all citizen photographers! On Earth Day, April 22, take a picture within the 24 hours of Earth Day for State of the Environment. ONE top photo from each state and territory will be featured on a map of the moment!

http://blog.epa.gov/epplocations/2012/03/14/4-22-12-environment-in-a-day/
More information on Earth Day from EPA (www.epa.gov/earthday)

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