EPA Funds Group for Fighting Pollution in Manhattan

EPA Funds Group for Fighting Pollution in Manhattan



2007 September -   WE ACT for Environmental 
Justice got a boost today as U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, 
officials visited the group's northern Manhattan center to present the a 
check for $100,000 - a Community Action for a Renewed Environment, CARE, 
grant. 
WE ACT is a nonprofit, community-based, environmental justice organization 
that builds the capacity to improve environmental health, protection and 
policy in communities of color. 
EPA Regional Administrator Alan Steinberg, who hosted the presentation, 
praised the organization. "WE ACT is a strong local force in northern 
Manhattan with a long history of success in intervening for the Harlem 
community and reducing environmental health risks," said Steinberg. 
The organization is a nationally recognized leader in advancing 
environmental justice, and received EPA's Children's Environmental Health 
Excellence National Award in 2005. 
"A healthy community begins with a healthy environment. This CARE project 
addresses environmental issues that negatively impact public health," WE 
ACT Executive Director Peggy Shepard said. "We take great pride in having 
been recognized by EPA for this important work and the first CARE 
community in the city," she said. 
The federal agency's CARE program supports communities in creating and 
using collaborative partnerships to identify sources of pollution and 
reduce human exposure. Northern Manhattan is the first CARE community in 
New York City. 
The community suffers from high rates of asthma and the organization has 
already identified air pollution as one of a priority environmental 
concern. 
In addition to air pollution, WE ACT has identified several environmental 
health concerns in Northern Manhattan, an area of only 7.4 square miles, 
which has a population of over 600,000 people - many of whom are children 
and the elderly. 
There is the problem of pest infestation and improper use of pesticides, 
which creates exposure to allergens and can exacerbate asthma. 
There are two sewage treatment plants that impact air and water quality, 
and finally poor indoor air from housing disrepair, mold contamination, 
lead in household dust from peeling lead paint and poor ventilation 
plagues many residential buildings, which are in close proximity to 
polluting sources. 
WE ACT was chosen for this grant out of a field of 127 applicants 
nationwide in the second year of the CARE program. 
With the grant funds, WE ACT will join government, businesses, health 
agencies and academia to educate the public, continue discussions between 
residents and local industries, and develop diesel emission reduction 
projects. 
EPA will provide technical assistance and support throughout the process, 
but it is wholly up to the community partners to decide which 
environmental issues are most critical and develop partnerships to address 
them. 

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