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Highlights of Network News and Events
ndoor Environments 'Network (JEN) ,, f x :January-"March, 2003
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AROUND THE NETWORK:
National Radon Action Month—January 2003
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designated January as National Radon Action
Month (NRAM). Through various events and outreach campaigns, this month-long promotion will
focus on promoting the public's awareness about radon gas—including the testing for and
mitigating of this dangerous gas;
Volunteers, health advocates, media, local government officials, health professionals, and many
others like you are the driving force in getting the message out to the public about the dangers of
indoor radon gas. Make January a key part of your promotions this year. Activities can range from
writing a letter or press release to conducting an event or planning an outreach campaign on radon
awareness. To get started or enhance your current efforts, visit the EPA Web site at
www.epa.gov/iag/radon.
We hope your National Radon Action Month activity will be a success. If EPA can be of assistance,
please call 202-564-9338 or e-mail keller.iennifer@epa.gov.
National Radon Poster Contest
On December 4, 2002, a distinguished panel of judges met in Washington, D.C., to select the
winning poster for the National Radon Poster Contest. Jointly sponsored by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture and the U.S. EPA, the contest was open to students in grades four through eight
nationwide. Judged first at the local level, representatives from the U.S. Public Health Service,
EPA, and USDA then judged each state winner to determine the national winner.
EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman will present the award to the winner at a ceremony
scheduled for January 2003.
Customizable Templates for the "Take the Smoke-free Home Pledge" Initiative
Across the nation, numerous partners and grassroots organizations have been successful in
actively promoting the Take the Smoke-free Home Pledge initiative through conferences, health
fairs, and other events. To help with those efforts, EPA's Indoor Environments Division has
developed customizable electronic templates in the new Smoke-free Home,.Pledge: Planning
Guide for Events. '•".:.,.
United States Environmental Protection Agency ; Indoor Environments Division
Office of Air and Radiation Washington, DC 20460
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IEN Quarterly
Page Two
January-March, 2003
Customizable Templates for the "Take the Smoke-free Home Pledge" Initiative—Continued
from page 1
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The Planning Guide includes:
• Pledge Sign: Offered in a black/white and a four-color version. This one-page sign fits
standard 8.5 x 11 acrylic sign holders and can be customized by adding your own logo.
• Mini pledge cards: Each sheet can be cut in half so that each person has an individual
certificate to fill out. Add customized graphics, logo, and text to these pledge cards.
• Pledge Tracking List: A quick, easy, and customizable way to capture pledges in a basic
table format, enabling you to send follow-up materials and track results.
• Event Log: A simple form to help you document your event details, such as event name,
when and where it took place, and the total number of pledges obtained.
This new Planning Guide also provides suggestions for in-person pledge drives, details on how to
get your'pledges counted in the national initiative, and contact information if you have questions on
how to get started. For more information, contact Lou Witt atwitt.lou@epa.gov
(202-564-9051) or Shamus Goss at goss.shamus@epa.gov (202-564-6338).
2002IAQ Tools for Schools Symposium Breaks Record
Nearly 500 people attended the three-day national Symposium on IAQ Tools for Schools, held
August 8-10 in Washington, D.C. Sessions covered IAQ basics, advanced IAQ TfS
implementation, asthma, facilities maintenance, integrated pest management, and many other
issues related to environmental health in school buildings. At the accompanying awards ceremony,
twenty-one schools or school districts received Excellence or Special Achievement Awards.
Jnited States Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Air and Radiation
Indoor Environments Division
Washington, DC 20460
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IEN Quarterly January-March, 2003
Page Three
''' -? ?;•£ I ••
2002IAQ Tools for Schools Symposium Breaks Record—Continued from page 2
Presentation slides delivered at the Symposium aresnbw available on VnelAQ TfS Web site
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/index.html. ;
The next Symposium is tentatively scheduled for October 26-28, 2003. In addition, National
Excellence Award applications will be due in the late spring of 2003. Look for additional
information on the Web site.
Great Start and Leadership IAQ TfS Awards now available
The Great Start and Leadership Awards applications for IAQ TfS are now available. The Great
Start Award recognizes schools or school districts newly committed to IAQ TfS, while the
Leadership Award goes to schools or school districts in the process of implementing the
program. Applications for these two categories of awards are accepted and awarded on an
ongoing basis. Competition for the prestigious Excellence Award is conducted annually.
Applications are due in late spring for the 2003 award cycle. For information on criteria and
applications, check the />AQ TfS Web site http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/tfsawards.html.
IAQ TfS a Highlight on Capitol Hill
On October 1, 2002, EPA testified at a hearing on healthy schools held by Senator James
Jeffords of Vermont. Ramona Trovato, Deputy Assistant Administrator of the Agency's Office of
Environmental Information and formerly the Director of the Office of Children's Health
Protection, covered topics on children's health and healthy schools. She highlighted the
agency's voluntary IAQ TfS program, which was commended by the Senators attending the
hearing. To read her testimony, link to http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/index.html.
EPA's New Web Portal for Schools Now Open
To help schools access the information they need from EPA on environmental programs, the
agency launched the Healthy School Environments Web Portal. This new site will help facility
managers, school administrators, architects, design engineers, school nurses, parents, teachers,
and staff address environmental health issues in schools. While the information is primarily
devoted to the environment of school facilities, educational resources for students and teachers are
also available.
The Healthy School Environments Web Portal includes resources that other Federal agencies,
state and local governments, and non-governmental organizations have developed. Visitors can
browse resources by topic, geographic area, or find specific information by key word search. Visit
http://www.epa.gov/schools.
Reach Your Audience with the ETS Booth
The EPA Environmental Tobacco Smoke Team invites you to use the Secondhand Smoke Booth
for your upcoming professional conferences, local community fairs,'and'other events. The 8' by 10'
booth features four infants playing with blocks and focuses on the increased health risks
United States Environmental Protection Agency ! Indoor Environments Division
Office of Air and Radiation Washington, DC 20460
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IEN Quarterly
Page Four
Reach Your Audience with the ETS Booth—
Continued from page 3
associated with children's exposure to ETS. Potential
target audiences include: parents, health professionals
parent organizations, asthma partners, and the public.
The booth consists of four modular panels that are easy
to assemble. (Unfortunately, it cannot be customized.)
EPA may pay for shipping to and from your desired
destination.
For more information, contact Lou Witt at 202-564-9051
or witt.lou@epa.gov.
IAQ PUBLICATIONS AND PRODUCTS:
January-March, 2003
Booth's Key Message: It strikes hardest at home -
Children's exposure to secondhand smoke causes
increased health risks, including pneumonia,
bronchitis, ear problems, worsened asthma, and
respiratory irritations.
A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home
EPA produced a new mold document targeted to residential audiences. The guide covers such
topics as: Why is mold growing in my home, how do I get rid of mold, and mold prevention and
control tips. The document is available in HTML and PDF (downloadable form) from the EPA's
Web site (http://www.epa.gov/iaq/molds/moldguide.html). or in hard copy from the IAQ
clearinghouse at 1 -800-438-4318.
IAQ Design Tools for Schools '
EPA is working to finalize the new Web site on new-school construction that is good for indoor air
quality. Entitled IAQ Design Tools for Schools, this guidance compiles the best information
currently available on planning, siting, constructing, and commissioning healthy new-school
buildings. It should go live sometime this winter, and you will be able to link from the IAQ TfS Web
site (http://www.epa.gov/iag/schools/index.html).
New Collateral for Smoke-free Homes Outreach
Updated "Take the Smoke-free Pledge" Magnets and Decals are now available by placing
orders through TV Access. You can order by. phone at 1 -800-944-9134, by fax 866-790-3348, or
by e-mail at tvaccess@ameritech.net
(For additional information on these publications, visit htto://www. eoa. aov/iaa/radon/pubs/index. html. To order any of
the products mentioned in this publication, call 1-800-IAQ-INFO.)
Lou Witt
U.S. EPA Program Analyst
Partner Network- Support Coordinator
Voice: 302-564-9051
Fax: 202-565-207.1
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Air and Radiation
Indoor Environments Division
Washington, DC 20460
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