EPA Press Release:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 28, 2013
Wal-Mart Pleads Guilty To Federal Environmental Crimes And Civil Violations And Will Pay More Than $81 Million
Retailer admits violating criminal and civil laws designed to protect water quality and to ensure proper handling of hazardous wastes and pesticides
WASHINGTON – Wal-Mart Stores Inc. pleaded guilty today in cases filed by federal prosecutors in Los Angeles and San Francisco to six counts of violating the Clean Water Act by illegally handling and disposing of hazardous materials at its retail stores across the United States. The Bentonville, Ark.-based company also pleaded guilty today in Kansas City, Mo., to violating the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) by failing to properly handle pesticides that had been returned by customers at its stores across the country.
As a result of the three criminal cases brought by the Justice Department, as well as a related civil case filed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Wal-Mart will pay approximately $81.6 million for its unlawful conduct. Coupled with previous actions brought by the states of California and Missouri for the same conduct, Wal-Mart will pay a combined total of more than $110 million to resolve cases alleging violations of federal and state environmental laws.
According to documents filed in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, from a date unknown until January 2006, Wal-Mart did not have a program in place and failed to train its employees on proper hazardous waste management and disposal practices at the store level. As a result, hazardous wastes were either discarded improperly at the store level – including being put into municipal trash bins or, if a liquid, poured into the local sewer system – or they were improperly transported without proper safety documentation to one of six product return centers located throughout the United States.
“By improperly handling hazardous waste, pesticides and other materials in violation of federal laws, Wal-Mart put the public and the environment at risk and gained an unfair economic advantage over other companies,” said Ignacia S. Moreno, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “Today, Wal-Mart acknowledged responsibility for violations of federal laws and will pay significant fines and penalties, which will, in part, fund important environmental projects in the communities impacted by the violations and help prevent future harm to the environment.”
"Federal laws that address the proper handling, storage and disposal of hazardous wastes exist to safeguard our environment and protect the public from harm,” said André Birotte Jr., the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California. “Retailers like Wal-Mart that generate hazardous waste have a duty to legally and safely dispose of that hazardous waste, and dumping it down the sink was neither legal nor safe. The case against Wal-Mart is designed to ensure compliance with our nation’s environmental laws now and in the future.”
“As one of the largest retailers in the United States, Wal-Mart is responsible not only for the stock on its shelves, but also for the significant amount of hazardous materials that result from damaged products returned by customers,” said Melinda Haag, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California. “The crimes in these cases stem from Wal-Mart's failure to comply with the regulations designed to ensure the proper handling, storage, and disposal of those hazardous materials and waste. With its guilty plea today, Wal-Mart is in a position to be an industry leader by ensuring that not only Wal-Mart, but all retail stores properly handle their waste.”
“This tough financial penalty holds Wal-Mart accountable for its reckless and illegal business practices that threatened both the public and the environment,” said Tammy Dickinson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri. “Truckloads of hazardous products, including more than 2 million pounds of pesticides, were improperly handled under Wal-Mart’s contract. Today’s criminal fine should send a message to companies of all sizes that they will be held accountable to follow federal environmental laws. Additionally, Wal-Mart’s community service payment will fund important environmental projects in Missouri to help prevent such abuses in the future.”
“The FBI holds all companies, regardless of size, to the same standards,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. Johnson of the San Francisco Field Office. “We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to ensure there is a level playing field for all businesses and that everyone follows the rules.”
“Today Wal-Mart is taking responsibility for violating laws that protect people from hazardous wastes and chemicals,” said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “Walmart is committing to safe handling of hazardous wastes at all of its facilities nationwide, and action that will benefit communities across the country.”
Wal-Mart owns more than 4,000 stores nationwide that sell thousands of products which are flammable, corrosive, reactive, toxic or otherwise hazardous under federal law. The products that contain hazardous materials include pesticides, solvents, detergents, paints, aerosols and cleaners. Once discarded, these products are considered hazardous waste under federal law.
Wal-Mart pleaded guilty this morning in San Francisco to six misdemeanor counts of negligently violating the Clean Water Act. The six criminal charges were filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles and San Francisco (each office filed three charges), and the two cases were consolidated in the Northern District of California, where the guilty pleas were formally entered before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph C. Spero. As part of a plea agreement filed in California, Wal-Mart was sentenced to pay a $40 million criminal fine and an additional $20 million that will fund various community service projects, including opening a $6 million Retail Compliance Assistance Center that will help retail stores across the nation learn how to properly handle hazardous waste.
In the third criminal case resolved today, Wal-Mart pleaded guilty in the Western District of Missouri to violating FIFRA. According to a plea agreement filed in Kansas City, beginning in 2006, Wal-Mart began sending certain damaged household products, including regulated solid and liquid pesticides, from its six return centers to Greenleaf LLC, a recycling facility located in Neosho, Mo., where the products were processed for reuse and resale. Because Wal-Mart employees failed to provide adequate oversight of the pesticides sent to Greenleaf, regulated pesticides were mixed together and offered for sale to customers without the required registration, ingredients, or use information, which constitutes a violation of FIFRA. Between July 2006 and February 2008, Wal-Mart trucked more than 2 million pounds of regulated pesticides and additional household products from its various return centers to Greenleaf. In November 2008, Greenleaf was also convicted of a FIFRA violation and paid a criminal penalty of $200,000 in 2009.
Pursuant to the plea agreement filed in Missouri and accepted today by U.S. District Judge John T. Maughmer, Wal-Mart agreed to pay a criminal fine of $11 million and to pay another $3 million to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, which will go to that agency’s Hazardous Waste Program and will be used to fund further inspections and education on pesticide regulations for regulators, the regulated community and the public. In addition, Wal-Mart has already spent more than $3.4 million to properly remove and dispose of all hazardous material from Greenleaf’s facility.
In conjunction with today’s guilty pleas in the three criminal cases, Wal-Mart has agreed to pay a $7.628 million civil penalty that will resolve civil violations of FIFRA and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). In addition to the civil penalties, Wal-Mart is required to implement a comprehensive, nationwide environmental compliance agreement to manage hazardous waste generated at its stores. The agreement includes requirements to ensure adequate environmental personnel and training at all levels of the company, proper identification and management of hazardous wastes, and the development and implementation of Environmental Management Systems at its stores and return centers. Compliance with this agreement is a condition of probation imposed in the criminal cases.
The criminal cases announced today are a result of investigations conducted by the FBI and the EPA, which received substantial assistance from the California Department of Substance and Toxics Control, and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
In Missouri, the case was prosecuted by Deputy U.S. Attorney Gene Porter and ENRD Senior Trial Attorney Jennifer Whitfield of the Environmental Crimes Section of the Environment and Natural Resources Division. In California, the cases were prosecuted in Los Angeles by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph O. Johns and in San Francisco by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey Geis.
More information about the case: URL http://www.epa.gov/enforcement/waste/cases/walmart.html
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
U.S. EPA to Hold Public Interagency Meeting on Reactive Nitrogen Research in Fresno, Calif.
EPA News Release:
For Immediate Release: May 28, 2013
Contact: David Yogi, yogi.david@epa.gov, Ph: 415/972-3350
U.S. EPA to Hold Public Interagency Meeting on Reactive Nitrogen Research in Fresno, Calif.
SAN FRANCISCO -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in collaboration with the California Water Institute at Cal State University Fresno, will hold a two-day public workshop and interagency meeting to discuss the status of research on the management of reactive nitrogen in the San Joaquin Valley and other areas of California. The workshop will be held on June 4th and 5th at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center in Fresno, Calif.
Reactive nitrogen research is critical in improving EPA’s ability to understand the pathways of reactive nitrogen compounds into drinking water and PM 2.5 air pollution. The workshop will provide an opportunity for EPA’s Office of Research and Development (ORD) to describe the most recent scientific information on reactive nitrogen, and will give state and local agencies and other stakeholders an opportunity to provide input into ORD’s research program.
Who: Participants will include representatives from EPA’s ORD, USDA, Central Valley Water Board, SJV Air District, academia, environmental and community groups, and agriculture groups
What: Reactive nitrogen research workshop
When: June 4th and 5th, 2013 from 8:00 am to 5:30 pm
Where: Radisson Hotel and Conference Center
2233 Ventura Street, Fresno, Calif.
2233 Ventura Street, Fresno, Calif.
For more information on the workshop, or to register to participate, please visit: http://www.cvent.com/events/workshop-reactive-nitrogen-research-for-san-joaquin-valley-agriculture/invitation-142329650d1b451faafb6b7211477f1f.aspx
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EPA Region 7 to Hold May 29 Press Call to Discuss Aerial Radiological Survey of West Lake Landfill in Bridgeton, Mo.
EPA News Release:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7
11201 Renner Boulevard, Lenexa, KS 66219
Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Nine Tribal Nations
NEWS MEDIA ADVISORY - FOR COVERAGE PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY
EPA Region 7 to Hold May 29 Press Call to Discuss Aerial Radiological Survey of West Lake Landfill in Bridgeton, Mo.
Contact Information: Chris Whitley, 913-551-7394, whitley.christopher@epa.gov
Environmental News
(Lenexa, Kan., May 28, 2013) - EPA Region 7 Administrator Karl Brooks will participate in a telephone media availability for working journalists from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, May 29, to discuss the results of an aerial radiological survey of the West Lake Landfill Site in Bridgeton, Mo.
EPA Region 7 requested the survey, which was conducted March 8 by EPA’s Airborne Spectral Photometric Environmental Collection Technology (ASPECT) Program, to gather data to help inform future decisions about the Superfund site. An ASPECT airplane with a pilot, co-pilot, technician and scientific equipment on board flew multiple low-altitude passes over the site and adjacent residential and industrial properties to identify surface areas that emit gamma radiation.
The ASPECT survey is part of EPA’s work to update information collected through prior investigations. The 200-acre West Lake Landfill Site encompasses several inactive areas of closed sanitary and demolition fills, including two areas where leached barium sulfate waste from World War II-era nuclear weapons manufacturing was buried in the 1970s; and the separate Bridgeton Sanitary Landfill.
During the May 29 telephone media availability, Regional Administrator Brooks will summarize the results of the ASPECT survey and next steps in EPA’s continuing work at the site, and answer journalists’ questions. NOTE: Because of a limited number of call-in lines, participation in this telephone availability is intended for working press members only.
A corresponding EPA Region 7 press release, and the full text of the ASPECT survey report, will be available for review online by 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 29, at www.epa.gov/region7/cleanup/npl_files/index.htm#westlake.
WHO: EPA Regional Administrator Karl Brooks
WHAT: Telephone Media Availability to Discuss Results of Aerial Radiological Survey of West Lake Landfill Site in Bridgeton, Mo.
WHEN: 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Central Time, Wednesday, May 29, 2013
HOW: Dial the Conference Number, 1-866-299-3188 and enter Access Code 913-551-7444 at the prompt.
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A Cleaner, Greener Park: A New Way to Manage Trash in Central Park
Alcoa News Release:
May 28, 2013
A Cleaner, Greener Park: A New Way to Manage Trash in Central Park
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Central Park Conservancy plans to nearly double the number of recycling cans in Manhattan through the addition of more than 400 cans in the Park, as part of a plan to reduce rats, improve visitor safety and increase sustainability.
Despite the number of visitors quadrupling since 1980, the Central Park Conservancy has managed to keep the Park clean by focusing on the collection of recyclables and, since 2003, reducing the Park’s waste stream by almost 40 percent. To even more effectively manage the impact of 40 million annual visitors and follow the City’s lead in enhanced recycling efforts, the Conservancy is partnering with Alcoa Inc., Alcoa Foundation and Landor Associates to expand trash management successes throughout the Park.
The new system includes the replacement of the Park’s current trash and recycling receptacles with more than 700 newly designed aluminum cans. These cans, made from 30 percent recycled aluminum donated by Alcoa Inc., are more durable than the current plastic receptacles. They were designed by Landor Associates to prevent overflow of trash and access by rats, and are a more attractive alternative to today’s plastic receptacles. Alcoa Foundation awarded the Conservancy a $500,000 grant to support the new system’s design.
“With three times as many people visiting the Park now compared to 1980, the Conservancy has to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to smart management,” said Douglas Blonsky, President & CEO of the Central Park Conservancy. “New bins in smarter locations means a more environmentally friendly, efficient collection system that helps 40 million visitors a year continue to enjoy the Park they love. We are thrilled to have the support and expertise of Alcoa Inc., Alcoa Foundation, and Landor Associates in enhancing how we manage Central Park.”
“Aluminum is the most recycled material on earth and we are proud to partner with the Central Park Conservancy on this important initiative,” said Klaus Kleinfeld, Chairman and CEO, Alcoa. “We will continue to look for compelling and creative ways to help individuals, public spaces and cities increase recycling rates and capture the economic and environmental value of recycling aluminum.”
“As New Yorkers and regular visitors to Central Park, we were really excited to take on the assignment of designing the new trash bins,” said Allen Adamson, managing director of Landor’s New York office, which designed the cans. “The result is a really iconic form, designed to complement its surroundings, while encouraging recycling in the Park. Using aluminum was a perfect match, giving the design flexibility and resilience we wouldn’t have had from any other material. We think we struck a nice balance here.”
The trash and recycling cans will be placed in strategic, high-traffic locations throughout the Park and removed from the centers of landscapes. Concentrating trash cans in high-traffic areas means fewer vehicles on pedestrian paths, making children’s and pets’ visit to Central Park safer than ever.
For more information on managing trash in Central Park, visitcentralparknyc.org/trash.
About the Central Park Conservancy
The mission of the Central Park Conservancy is to restore, manage and enhance Central Park in partnership with the public, for the enjoyment of present and future generations. A private, not-for-profit organization founded in 1980, the Conservancy provides 85 percent of Central Park's $46 million expense budget and is responsible for all basic care of the Park. For more information on the Conservancy, please visit centralparknyc.org.
About Alcoa Foundation
Alcoa Foundation is one of the largest corporate foundations in the U.S., with assets of approximately US$460 million. Founded 60 years ago, Alcoa Foundation has invested more than US$570 million since 1952. In 2012, Alcoa Foundation contributed more than US$21 million to nonprofit organizations throughout the world, building innovative partnerships to improve the environment and educate tomorrow’s leaders for careers in manufacturing and engineering. The work of Alcoa Foundation is further enhanced by Alcoa’s thousands of employee volunteers who share their talents and time to make a difference in the communities where Alcoa operates. Through the Company’s signature Month of Service program, in 2012, a record 60 percent of Alcoa employees took part in more than 1,050 events across 24 countries, benefiting more than 450,000 people and 2,050 nonprofit organizations. For more information, visit www.alcoafoundation.com and follow @AlcoaFoundation on Twitter.
About Alcoa
Alcoa is the world’s leading producer of primary and fabricated aluminum, as well as the world’s largest miner of bauxite and refiner of alumina. In addition to inventing the modern-day aluminum industry, Alcoa innovation has been behind major milestones in the aerospace, automotive, packaging, building and construction, commercial transportation, consumer electronics and industrial markets over the past 125 years. Among the solutions Alcoa markets are flat-rolled products, hard alloy extrusions, and forgings, as well as Alcoa® wheels, fastening systems, precision and investment castings, and building systems in addition to its expertise in other light metals such as titanium and nickel-based super alloys. Sustainability is an integral part of Alcoa’s operating practices and the product design and engineering it provides to customers. Alcoa has been a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for 11 consecutive years and approximately 75 percent of all of the aluminum ever produced since 1888 is still in active use today. Alcoa employs approximately 61,000 people in 30 countries across the world. For more information, visitwww.alcoa.com, follow @Alcoa on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Alcoaand follow Alcoa on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Alcoa.
About Landor Associates
Landor Associates is one of the world’s leading branding and design firms. Founded by Walter Landor in 1941, Landor pioneered many of the research, design, and consulting methods that are now standard in the branding industry. Partnering with clients, Landor drives business transformation and performance by creating brands that are more innovative, progressive, and dynamic than their competitors. Landor’s holistic approach to branding is a balance of rigorous, business-driven thinking and exceptional creativity. Its work spans the full breadth of branding services, including brand research and valuation, brand positioning and architecture, naming and writing, corporate identity and consumer packaging design, experience and environmental design, brand equity management, brand engagement, and digital branding. With 21 offices in 16 countries, Landor’s current and past clients include some of the world’s most powerful brands, including BlackBerry, Citi, the Council on Foreign Relations, Diageo, Hilton Hotels, HP, Jet Airways, Microsoft, MillerCoors, Panasonic, PGA of America, Procter & Gamble, Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces, and Verizon. Landor is a member of the Young & Rubicam Brands network within WPP, the world's largest marketing and communications firm.
May 28, 2013
A Cleaner, Greener Park: A New Way to Manage Trash in Central Park
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Central Park Conservancy plans to nearly double the number of recycling cans in Manhattan through the addition of more than 400 cans in the Park, as part of a plan to reduce rats, improve visitor safety and increase sustainability.
Despite the number of visitors quadrupling since 1980, the Central Park Conservancy has managed to keep the Park clean by focusing on the collection of recyclables and, since 2003, reducing the Park’s waste stream by almost 40 percent. To even more effectively manage the impact of 40 million annual visitors and follow the City’s lead in enhanced recycling efforts, the Conservancy is partnering with Alcoa Inc., Alcoa Foundation and Landor Associates to expand trash management successes throughout the Park.
The new system includes the replacement of the Park’s current trash and recycling receptacles with more than 700 newly designed aluminum cans. These cans, made from 30 percent recycled aluminum donated by Alcoa Inc., are more durable than the current plastic receptacles. They were designed by Landor Associates to prevent overflow of trash and access by rats, and are a more attractive alternative to today’s plastic receptacles. Alcoa Foundation awarded the Conservancy a $500,000 grant to support the new system’s design.
“With three times as many people visiting the Park now compared to 1980, the Conservancy has to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to smart management,” said Douglas Blonsky, President & CEO of the Central Park Conservancy. “New bins in smarter locations means a more environmentally friendly, efficient collection system that helps 40 million visitors a year continue to enjoy the Park they love. We are thrilled to have the support and expertise of Alcoa Inc., Alcoa Foundation, and Landor Associates in enhancing how we manage Central Park.”
“Aluminum is the most recycled material on earth and we are proud to partner with the Central Park Conservancy on this important initiative,” said Klaus Kleinfeld, Chairman and CEO, Alcoa. “We will continue to look for compelling and creative ways to help individuals, public spaces and cities increase recycling rates and capture the economic and environmental value of recycling aluminum.”
“As New Yorkers and regular visitors to Central Park, we were really excited to take on the assignment of designing the new trash bins,” said Allen Adamson, managing director of Landor’s New York office, which designed the cans. “The result is a really iconic form, designed to complement its surroundings, while encouraging recycling in the Park. Using aluminum was a perfect match, giving the design flexibility and resilience we wouldn’t have had from any other material. We think we struck a nice balance here.”
The trash and recycling cans will be placed in strategic, high-traffic locations throughout the Park and removed from the centers of landscapes. Concentrating trash cans in high-traffic areas means fewer vehicles on pedestrian paths, making children’s and pets’ visit to Central Park safer than ever.
For more information on managing trash in Central Park, visitcentralparknyc.org/trash.
About the Central Park Conservancy
The mission of the Central Park Conservancy is to restore, manage and enhance Central Park in partnership with the public, for the enjoyment of present and future generations. A private, not-for-profit organization founded in 1980, the Conservancy provides 85 percent of Central Park's $46 million expense budget and is responsible for all basic care of the Park. For more information on the Conservancy, please visit centralparknyc.org.
About Alcoa Foundation
Alcoa Foundation is one of the largest corporate foundations in the U.S., with assets of approximately US$460 million. Founded 60 years ago, Alcoa Foundation has invested more than US$570 million since 1952. In 2012, Alcoa Foundation contributed more than US$21 million to nonprofit organizations throughout the world, building innovative partnerships to improve the environment and educate tomorrow’s leaders for careers in manufacturing and engineering. The work of Alcoa Foundation is further enhanced by Alcoa’s thousands of employee volunteers who share their talents and time to make a difference in the communities where Alcoa operates. Through the Company’s signature Month of Service program, in 2012, a record 60 percent of Alcoa employees took part in more than 1,050 events across 24 countries, benefiting more than 450,000 people and 2,050 nonprofit organizations. For more information, visit www.alcoafoundation.com and follow @AlcoaFoundation on Twitter.
About Alcoa
Alcoa is the world’s leading producer of primary and fabricated aluminum, as well as the world’s largest miner of bauxite and refiner of alumina. In addition to inventing the modern-day aluminum industry, Alcoa innovation has been behind major milestones in the aerospace, automotive, packaging, building and construction, commercial transportation, consumer electronics and industrial markets over the past 125 years. Among the solutions Alcoa markets are flat-rolled products, hard alloy extrusions, and forgings, as well as Alcoa® wheels, fastening systems, precision and investment castings, and building systems in addition to its expertise in other light metals such as titanium and nickel-based super alloys. Sustainability is an integral part of Alcoa’s operating practices and the product design and engineering it provides to customers. Alcoa has been a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for 11 consecutive years and approximately 75 percent of all of the aluminum ever produced since 1888 is still in active use today. Alcoa employs approximately 61,000 people in 30 countries across the world. For more information, visitwww.alcoa.com, follow @Alcoa on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Alcoaand follow Alcoa on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Alcoa.
About Landor Associates
Landor Associates is one of the world’s leading branding and design firms. Founded by Walter Landor in 1941, Landor pioneered many of the research, design, and consulting methods that are now standard in the branding industry. Partnering with clients, Landor drives business transformation and performance by creating brands that are more innovative, progressive, and dynamic than their competitors. Landor’s holistic approach to branding is a balance of rigorous, business-driven thinking and exceptional creativity. Its work spans the full breadth of branding services, including brand research and valuation, brand positioning and architecture, naming and writing, corporate identity and consumer packaging design, experience and environmental design, brand equity management, brand engagement, and digital branding. With 21 offices in 16 countries, Landor’s current and past clients include some of the world’s most powerful brands, including BlackBerry, Citi, the Council on Foreign Relations, Diageo, Hilton Hotels, HP, Jet Airways, Microsoft, MillerCoors, Panasonic, PGA of America, Procter & Gamble, Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces, and Verizon. Landor is a member of the Young & Rubicam Brands network within WPP, the world's largest marketing and communications firm.
Northrop Grumman Foundation, Conservation International Announce Teachers Selected for 2013 ECO Classroom Ecology Field Experience
Northrop Grumman News Release:
Northrop Grumman Foundation, Conservation International Announce Teachers Selected for 2013 ECO Classroom Ecology Field Experience | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Instructors From California, Texas, Mississippi and Illinois to Spend Two Weeks in Costa Rica Preparing to Become Better Science Teachers
FALLS CHURCH, Va.– May 28, 2013 – The Northrop Grumman Foundation and Conservation International (CI) today announced the 16 teachers who have been selected to participate in the second ECO Classroom, a unique and innovative professional development program for public middle and high school science teachers.
The Northrop Grumman Foundation, in collaboration with CI, created the program, sent its first group of teachers to Costa Rica last summer. The program offers teachers supplemental tools and real-world experiences that inspire students to pursue science and technical careers.
It is widely acknowledged among educators and policymakers that insufficient numbers of students are entering science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields. One way to address this issue and emphasize environmental stewardship is to motivate educators to engage students in the sciences and to bring unique learning opportunities into their classrooms with real-world curricula and hands-on experiences such as ECO Classroom.
The ECO Classroom program brings groups of public school teachers from across the United States to CI's Tropical Ecology Assessment and Monitoring (TEAM) Network (www.teamnetwork.org) Volcan Barva site in La Selva Biological Station and Braulio Carrillo National Park, Costa Rica. They participate in field data collection on plant and animal biodiversity, climate and land use using TEAM scientific protocols.
The teachers and schools attending this summer are:
During last year's inaugural two-week expedition, 16 ECO Classroom teachers from across the United States conducted group projects in the field and created lessons based on their projects dealing with land use, forest carbon sequestration, geographic information system mapping and natural resource management using scientific protocols. They returned to their schools with an in-depth understanding of the interrelationship between biodiversity, climate change and human activities, and were better equipped with new techniques and resources to enhance their classroom teaching.
"This is a fantastic program because it helps teachers expand their STEM teaching tool kit, and at the same time increases attention to the importance of environmental sustainability," said Sandra Evers-Manly, president of the Northrop Grumman Foundation. "Increasing student interest in STEM starts with our teachers, and the hands-on experience they get in Costa Rica helps them inspire students to get excited about science and protecting the environment."
"It is wonderful to have the opportunity to bring a second group of skilled science teachers to the TEAM site in Costa Rica," said Sandy Andelman, chief scientist and senior vice president of CI. "Like the first group of teachers, we know they will return to their schools inspired and energized, armed with lessons, stories and photos to motivate their students to become the next generation of environmental science leaders."
About Conservation International
Building upon a strong foundation of science, partnership and field demonstration, CI empowers societies to responsibly and sustainably care for nature, our global biodiversity, for the long-term well-being of people. Founded in 1987, CI is headquartered in the Washington, D.C., area and employs more than 800 staff in nearly 30 countries on four continents and works with more than 1,000 partners around the world. For more information, please see www.conservation.org, or visit us on Facebookor Twitter.
About the Northrop Grumman Foundation
The Northrop Grumman Foundation supports diverse and sustainable programs for students and teachers. These programs create innovative education experiences in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. For more information, please visit www.northropgrumman.com/foundation.
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Northrop Grumman Achieves ISO 14001 Certification for Environmental Management System at Peterborough, UK, Facility
Northrop Grumman News Release:
Northrop Grumman Achieves ISO 14001 Certification for Environmental Management System at Peterborough, UK, Facility | ||
LONDON – May 28, 2013 – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) announced that its Europe-based air traffic management systems subsidiary, Northrop Grumman Park Air Systems, has received the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) 14001:2004 accreditation for its environmental management system, demonstrating that it meets rigorous international standards for minimising the company's impact on the environment.
Northrop Grumman Park Air Systems earned the certification after implementing a thorough environmental management system, which included creating a list of the environmental aspects associated with business operations and systematically identifying those with the most significant impact. The certification was issued by Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance, an accredited third-party organisation, after a series of certification audits.
"Achieving this certification reaffirms Northrop Grumman's commitment to being a responsible corporate citizen by making the development and manufacturing of our products cleaner, safer and more efficient," said Charles Houseago, managing director of Northrop Grumman Park Air Systems. "This certification provides assurance to all stakeholders that environmental impact is being measured and improved."
Northrop Grumman Park Air Systems is committed to improving the aviation community's environmental credentials through its business activities and employee initiatives. This applies to design, manufacture, integration and long-term support of air traffic communication products, systems, software and services.
The company's Airport Realtime Collaboration (ARC) solution provides all of the technical, professional and business service support required to deploy an A-CDM programme effectively. By reducing taxi times and the time spent queuing at the runway with engines on, an airport using ARC A-CDM can minimise the environmental impact by reducing C02 emissions fuel burn and noise pollution.
Northrop Grumman Park Air Systems has embarked on a number of initiatives to minimise the environmental impact at its facility near Peterborough, U.K. These include installing a rain water harvesting system to collect rain water for use onsite as the primary water source for operations, rather than using expensive purified water that has been treated and pumped from the water authority. The company has also adopted a zero landfill waste recycling programme, which will result in all of the company's waste being recycled by the end of 2013.
ISO is the world's largest developer and publisher of international standards for business, government and society. ISO 14001:2004 is an environmental management standard that specifies a set of requirements for environmental management systems. The purpose of this standard is to help organisations protect the environment, prevent pollution and improve their environmental performance. Only those companies with excellent environmental programmes qualify for this globally recognised certification.
Northrop Grumman Park Air Systems supplies communication systems for airspace operations worldwide.
Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in unmanned systems, cyber security, C4ISR, and logistics and modernization to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information.
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