EPA, PUSH Buffalo and Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper Announce Green Infrastructure Initiative on Buffalo’s West Side

EPA News Release:

EPA, PUSH Buffalo and Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper Announce

Green Infrastructure Initiative on Buffalo’s West Side

Announcement to Take Place Ahead of EPA and UB’s Green Infrastructure Conference

Contact: John Martin (212) 637-3662, martin.johnj@epa.gov

(New York, N.Y. – March 11, 2013) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck, along with representatives from PUSH Buffalo, Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper, the Western New York Regional Economic Development Council, the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation and other public officials will announce an expansion of Green Infrastructure projects on Buffalo’s West Side on Wednesday, March 13.

On Thursday, March 14, the EPA and the University at Buffalo are co-sponsoring a conference in Buffalo to discuss how Western New York communities can utilize green infrastructure projects. The event, called the Western New York Green Infrastructure Forum, includes a special welcome address from EPA Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck and Dennis Black, Vice President for University Life and Services, University at Buffalo. It includes guest speakers, such as Buffalo Sewer Authority Commissioner Dave Comerford and representatives from Buffalo Riverkeeper and other key community groups.

Discussions at the Western New York Green Infrastructure Forum include:

•          Acquiring Resources for Green Infrastructure
•          Community Action in Green Infrastructure
•          Innovations in Green Infrastructure
•          Green Infrastructure Public Private Partnerships

Green infrastructure provides solutions to run off pollution using vegetation, soils, and natural processes to manage water and create healthier urban environments. At the scale of a city or county, green infrastructure refers to the patchwork of natural areas that provides habitat, flood protection, cleaner air, and cleaner water. At the scale of a neighborhood or city, green infrastructure refers to stormwater management systems that mimic nature by soaking up and storing water.

West Side Green Infrastructure Announcement

WHO:             Judith A. Enck, EPA Region 2 Regional Administrator

Jenifer Kaminsky, PUSH Buffalo

Jill Jedicka, Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper

Dave Comerford, Buffalo Sewer Authority

WHAT:          Formal remarks, photo opportunities

WHEN:           Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at 11:00am

            WHERE:         460 Massachusetts Avenue, Buffalo 

EPA & UB Western New York Green Infrastructure Forum

WHO:             Judith A. Enck, EPA Region 2 Regional Administrator

Dennis Black, VP for University Life and Services, University at Buffalo

Representatives of various government agencies and community groups

WHAT:          Presentations, panel discussions and featured speakers

WHEN:           Thursday, March 14, 2013, 9:30am – 4:30pm

            WHERE:         UB Clinical & Translational Research Center, 875 Ellicott St., Buffalo

For more information, please visit https://www.ubevents.org/event/epaconference2013

Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter at http://twitter.com/eparegion2 and Facebook athttp://www.facebook.com/eparegion2

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