CARE 

Mail Code 8001A 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW 

Washington, DC 20460 

Phone: 1-877-CARE-909 

Inside This Edition: 

CARE Communities in Action......... p. 2-3 

Featured Resource........................p. 4 http://www.epa.gov/care 

Community Action for a Renewed Environment 

CAR E Program

Quarterly Highlights — May 2007

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) program helps communities 

address risks from various sources of toxic pollutants in their local environment. 

CARE Communities Celebrate Earth Day 

Across the country, CARE communities held Earth Day events to enhance participation in their projects and 

promote ways citizens can help renew their local environments. 

The Marquette, Michigan, CARE community held a 

popular event on April 21st collecting prescription drugs 

for disposal, preventing them from entering local waterways. Within three hours community residents turned in 

more than one ton of unwanted pills, powders, and liquid medicines, including an estimated $500,000 worth 

of narcotics. About 2,000 people dropped off drugs at 

nineteen church parking lots in Marquette and the Upper Peninsula. “We had a great public turnout," said 

Carl Lindquist, Executive Director of the Superior Watershed Partnership. Scientific reports suggest that, when 

improperly disposed of, pharmaceuticals may cause 

reproductive and developmental problems in aquatic wildlife. The medications were hauled to a licensed incinerator near St. Louis, Missouri. 

On April 26th Jim Gulliford, Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances, spoke at Rochester (NY) CARE’s Green Printers workshop. Gulliford commended local printers for 

focusing on pollution prevention and actively exploring what it means to be green and sustainable in part by 

attending this technical assistance workshop held during Earth Month. Many printers in the Rochester CARE 

community are active in the Green Suppliers Network(GSN), a partnership between EPA, the Department of 

Commerce, and states. This program works with manufacturing supply chains to improve the efficiencies of 

their processes, accelerate environmental performance, and improve their bottom line. For more information on 

GSN, visit www.greensuppliers.gov. (continued on p. 4)

Project Leaders Share Tricks of the Trade on Auto-Body Shops 

As the CARE network grows, grantees find peers across the nation tackling 

similar environmental health challenges. Dealing with risks from auto-body 

shops is one such prevalent issue. This mostly small-scale industrial sector 

is dispersed across the country, with higher concentrations in low-income 

and minority areas. This spring CARE communities formed a workgroup to 

share “tricks of the trade” in dealing with auto-body shop pollution. 

Participants in the workgroup discussed the important role of pollution prevention (P2) — reducing pollution at the source, by (continued on p.4)

Earthkeepers of Marquette, MI, hosts “Clean Sweep” for 

Earth Day (photo by Greg Peterson)

Projects Addressing AutoBody Shops and Recyclers 

Boston, MA – 2005 Level II 

Holyoke, MA – 2006 Level I

Denver, CO – 2005 Level II 

New Haven, CT – 2005 Level II 

Pacoima, CA – 2006 Level I 

Pueblo, CO – 2006 Level I 
CARE Communities in Action: 

Page 2 U.S. EPA CARE Program: Quarterly Highlights - May 2007

JOINING TOGETHER 

A number of 2006 CARE projects reported impressive 

strides taken during their first months “on the job.” 

 

Two projects have ramped up publicity for their projects 

to recruit new partners. Tacoma-Pierce County (WA) 

Health Department developed a recruitment strategy and 

has already convened six meetings in three different 

communities, including rural, suburban, and urban parts 

of Tacoma/Pierce County. Meanwhile, Southwest Detroit/South Dearborn Environmental Collaborative held a 

press event to attract businesses, organizations, government, churches, and schools to their project. Project leaders also worked with the University of Michigan School of 

Social Work to develop a logic model and evaluation tools for the project. 

Two other CARE projects have begun organizing partners into work groups. Cerro Gordo County CARE Project

formed (1) an advisory council of agencies, businesses, and schools, and (2) a citizen council reflecting the demographics of the county. They also settled on a decision-making system, tasking the citizen council primary responsibility for the project, while taking input from the advisory council. The Urban Rock Hill CARE Program established 

a task force, elected two co-chairs, formed subgroups (air, water, and indoor environments), and developed a 

neighborhood canvassing plan, including questionnaires and focus groups. 

IDENTIFYING PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS 

Hudson Hill/ Woodville Neighborhoods of Savannah (GA) CARE Project held meetings with neighborhood association leaders. The project identified data needed from EPA, including the “Geo-Book” (a computer application containing GIS-based maps of environmental data), blown-up GIS maps of neighborhoods of concern and hazardous 

sites within them, and information about paper mill emissions and their toxicity. 

With CARE Coordinators at four reservation communities, the Montana Indian Country CARE Project (MICCP) 

started using Vision Net technology for interactive dialogue among reservations. MICCP hosted community meetings and collaborated with EPA on health assessments, water contamination, and methamphetamine lab chemical 

exposures. Because of the health risk associated with mold exposure in Indian housing, the CARE coordinators 

attended a workshop on mold. 

IMPLEMENTING SOLUTIONS & REDUCING RISKS 

The CARE Clean Air Partnership in St. Louis (MO) created the first "No 

Idling Zone" in the city. A city ordinance requires bus drivers to turn off 

their engines within 10 minutes. Establishing these new zones raises 

awareness about the ordinance. According to the community partners, 

for each of the nearly 1,000 school buses in St. Louis that reduces idling 

by 20 minutes a school day, over 516 tons of carbon dioxide would be 

reduced from the air," (as reported by Betsy Taylor, AP, May 18, 2007 

2:15 PM, examiner.com). Anti-idling efforts also reduce risks of aggravating asthma and other upper-respiratory problems in children. A recent ribbon-cutting ceremony was hosted by the Clay Community Education Center, a public elementary school. Doug Eller of Grace Hill Settlement House and Donna Owens, Clay Community Education Center 

principal, cut the ribbon along with representatives of diverse partner organizations, including the office of St. Louis 

Mayor Francis Slay, the St. Louis Association of Community Organizations (SLACO), St. Louis Public Schools, and 

Laidlaw Student Services. 

There are four steps in the CARE process: 

(1) Joining together, (2) Identifying problems & 

solutions, (3) Implementing solutions & reducing risks, 

and (4) Becoming self-sustaining. 

29 CARE Communities

Tacoma-Pierce County, WA

Seattle, WA

Montana Indian 

Country, MT

West Oakland, CA

Pacoima, CA

Gallup, NM

Tucson, AZ

Denver, Co

Pueblo, CO

Cherokee Nation, OK

St. Bernard’s Parish, LA

Cerro Gordo County, IA

St. Louis, MO

Muskegon, 

MI

Marquette, MI

SW Detroit, 

MI

Decatur, GA

Savannah, GA

City of Rock Hill, SC

Gardner, NH

.Boston, 

MA

Utica, NY

Holyoke, MA

New Haven, 

CT

Rochester, NY

Camden, NJ

Port of 

Philadelphia

Philadelphia, PA

Nunakauyak

Traditional 

Council, AK

Level I Grant

Level II Grant

2005 Grants

Level I Grant

Level II Grant

2006 Grants

Doug Eller of Grace Hill (third from left) and 

Donna Owens, Clay Community Education Center (fourth from right), cut the ribbon at a “No 

Idling Zone” ceremony 
The Philadelphia School and Community Integrated Pest Management Partnership kicked-off its CARE project with 

a press event attended by EPA’s Region 3 Administrator and local press. The event was followed by a “Safer Pest 

Management: IPM Information Fair.” Project Leader Michelle Niedermeier estimates that at least 500 residents and 

six health care organizations and their staff will be educated on pests, pesticide use and IPM. “We’ll be ‘training the 

trainer’ with various organizations so that potentially a much larger population can be reached through their 

own clientele,” she says. 

Community Assist of Southern Arizona (CASA) in Tucson (AZ) and its partners trained 26 environmental health promotoras on air toxics, indoor-outdoor air quality issues, asthma, lead poisoning, hazardous materials, and nutrition. 

The promotoras will visit homes and provide outreach to the CARE community. Tucson’s project is one of three 

CARE communities across the nation using this culturally sensitive direct outreach model. 

BECOMING SELF-SUSTAINING

New Haven (CT) received nearly $115,000 from an EPA diesel retrofit grant 

to install controls on construction equipment operating at schools. Reduction 

of diesel pollution was one of the top priorities for action identified by the 

CARE project based on the city's Community Air Toxics Inventory. On February 16, EPA's Administrator Stephen Johnson announced in New Haven $3.8 

million in funding across the US to reduce pollution from diesel vehicles. New 

Haven Mayor DeStefano and high school students accepted the check stating 

that the grant will ensure that New Haven is home to the cleanest and most 

environmentally friendly construction sites in the state (photo at right). 

Pacoima Beautiful (CA) received a grant from the Hewlett Foundation to address auto emissions and super emitter cars. The community also began an 

effort to reduce solid waste hazards and formed a taskforce to reduce diesel 

from trucks, the most significant environmental health concern in Pacoima. 

A collaborative from Holyoke, MA, with CARE grantee Nuestras Raices’ leadership, was awarded nearly $500,000 

over two years by the Kellogg Foundation to address obesity from social, cultural and environmental perspectives. 

The CARE project put the collaborative in a position to receive the additional funding. In addition, members of the 

CARE partnership met with city officials to plan collaborative projects such as targeting water pollution in Connecticut River and inviting Holyoke’s large industries to participate in “Lean and Green” workshops. 

U.S EPA CARE Program: Quarterly Highlights - May 2007 Page 3 

Above: Students with Administrator 

Johnson (far right) & Mayor DeStefano 

(2nd from far right) at grant award event 

From Coast to Coast Ports See Progress 

Three CARE projects are focused on air, water, and land pollution resulting from port operations. These projects span funding levels and are located on both the West and East coasts. Since emissions from ships and ports are relatively unregulated, 

CARE projects’ success in addressing 

port pollution is an important source of 

transferable lessons. These CARE communities reported significant progress 

since the new year, including securing 

commitments for additional funding. 

Camden expects to expand and increase involvement of community partners since it received a commitment for supplemental funding from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. West Oakland obtained additional funding to 

expand on home assessments and resident trainings, with fifteen residents now trained in the use of the “Healthy Homes 

Checklist” and 42 homes assessed. Philadelphia’s Clean Air Council received a Grant from the National Fish & Wildlife 

Foundation for $45,000 to implement best management practices to prevent storm water run-off at Philadelphia Ports. 

In addition, working with the South Jersey Port Corporation, the Camden project developed a database inventory of port 

equipment and vehicles that will help it select the most productive diesel equipment and vehicles to retrofit. West Oakland 

partnered with local businesses to explore the use of “clean diesel” or alternative-fueled construction equipment. Also, the 

team investigated historical records and proved that a site proposed for housing development was contaminated by a gas 

station and initiated clean-up before redevelopment. Furthermore, Philadelphia ordered 83 diesel oxidation catalysts to be 

installed on port cargo-handling equipment. 

• Camden (NJ) Waterfront South Community Collaborative (2006 Level II) 

• West Oakland (CA) Toxics Reduction Collaborative (2006 Level II) 

• Philadelphia’s Clean Air Council (2005 Level I) 
Page 4 U.S. EPA CARE Program: Quarterly Highlights - Mayy 2007

http://www.epa.gov/care 

Featured Resource: New Integrated Pest Management Tools Available

CARE Communities Celebrate Earth Day (from p. 1)

While in Rochester, Gulliford toured the community with the CARE toxics educator who helps residents reduce exposure to toxic chemicals, and visited a "healthy home" — an older, renovated home that is a showplace for toxics education. He also visited Strong Memorial Hospital, a winner of EPA’s Hospitals for a Healthy Environment award. 

Elsewhere, St. Louis held its 8th annual Earth Day Festival on Sunday, April 22. The theme this year– Living Green 

–focused on providing examples of how community members can easily apply “green living” to their everyday lives. 

In Muskegon (MI) high school students released salmon raised in the classroom into Muskegon Lake/River and 

planted dune grass in eroded areas of a nearby park. In Philadelphia, the Clean Air Council held its annual Earth 

Day Event, a 5K Run for Clean Air. 

Find out why public health departments, housing managers, and pest management professionals agree that Integrated 

Pest Management (IPM) is the best approach to pest control. Three new videos produced by the Asthma Regional 

Council of New England (ARC) explain how community partnerships can 

launch and sustain successful IPM programs in multi-family housing. Two 

videos (one in English, the other in Spanish) illustrate the benefits of IPM 

and are ideal for engaging resident and community leaders. A third video 

explaining IPM from the standpoint of a facilities manager features Jim 

McCarthy from the Boston Housing Authority, which delivers pest management through IPM to residents of some 40,000 low-income housing units. 

All three videos can be downloaded for free from the National Center for 

Healthy Housing web site at www.healthyhomestraining.org/ipm/

ARC_BHA.htm. The three videos are also available on DVD for free by 

contacting Laurie Stillman, Executive Director of the Asthma Regional 

Council of New England, at lstillman@tmfnet.org. Find a number of other 

IPM resources from ARC's website at www.asthmaregionalcouncil.org/

about/IPM.html. 

Finding Local Success in Pollution Prevention (from p. 1)

...finding alternative materials, technologies, and best practices in the workplace, rather than regulating it at the end of 

a pipe. 

Each project participant mentioned how (s)he tailored a P2 approach to the local culture. For example, members of 

Boston Public Health Safe Shops Project discussed that some shops in Massachusetts are out of compliance with 

applicable regulations. This could be as a result of workers’ limited English skills, lack of familiarity with regulations 

and local regulatory culture, or reticence to work with government officials because of their immigration status. Workgroup participants agreed that in such cases, collaborative P2 programs could begin by focusing on initial steps of 

having workers wear gloves or a respirator and to safely store hazardous materials. 

To develop appropriate tools and training needed to reduce risks to workers and communities, Boston’s Safe Shops 

Project set up separate focus groups with shop mangers and employees to discuss health, safety, and the environment. Shops were identified by city inspectors. The project provided incentives such as a free dinner and $25 gift certificates to a local stores to increase attendance. For more information or to join this workgroup, contact Harry Lewis, 

EPA-Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, (202) 564-8642, lewis.harry@epa.gov. 

Screen capture from IPM video