EPA Environmental Justice Grant will Tackle Water Pollution in Peekskill, NY

EPA Press Release:

EPA Environmental Justice Grant will

Tackle Water Pollution in Peekskill, NY

Contact: John Martin 212 637 3662; martin.johnj@epa.gov

(New York, N.Y. – December 28, 2012) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded nearly $25,000 to the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater to improve water quality in Peekskill, New York. The grant was awarded under the EPA’s Environmental Justice Small Grants Program, which supports and empowers communities working on solutions to local environmental and public health issues.

“EPA is happy to provide this grant to the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater to work with the Peekskill community to prevent water pollution,” said Judith A. Enck, EPA Regional Administrator. “Everyone has a role to play in keeping our water clean and this federal grant will boost the public’s role in Peekskill.”

Using the EPA grant, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc. will lead a collaborative, community-based watershed planning and protection initiative focused on the urban watershed of the city of Peekskill. The waterways are used by people for fishing, swimming and boating. Through training, technical assistance and hands-on activities, the project will give members of the community the knowledge needed to better understand how to prevent water pollution. Residents will also learn about environmental hazards and health risks associated with polluted local waterways. The project will also include an Urban Watershed Steward program, which will be geared toward young people and will promote peer-to-peer learning and encourage neighborhood cleanup projects.

Since 1994, EPA’s environmental justice small grants program has supported projects to address environmental justice issues in more than 1,300 communities. The grants represent EPA’s continued commitment to expand the conversation on environmentalism and advance environmental justice in communities across the nation.

2012 EJ Small Grant recipients and project descriptions: http://www.epa.govenvironmentaljustice/resources/publications/grants/ej-smgrants-recipients-2012.pdf.

More information about EPA’s Environmental Justice Small Grants program: http://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/grants/ej-smgrants.html.

Request for Proposals (RFP) for the FY 2013 Environmental Justice Small Grants and schedule of pre-application teleconference calls: http://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/resources/publications/grants/ej-smgrants-rfp-2013.pdf.

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