&EPA a. i United States Environmental Protection Agency EPA175-K-95-001 Dear Reader, Earth Day is a day to show how much we care about protecting public health and our environment. You can use this publication as a source of ideas and information about what you can do at home, at work and in your community to take part in protecting the world around you—on Earth Day, and every day. In the 25 years since the first Earth Day, EPA has accomplished much to make the world a safer and healthier place. We banned lead in gasoline, preventing health problems in children. We banned dangerous and widely-used pesticides like DDT, and helped to make recycling a household habit. We reduced toxic air emissions and established fuel standards for automobiles. We established strong public health standards for drinking water, and eliminated direct dumping of raw sewage into our rivers, lakes, and streams. But much more needs to be done. Forty percent of our rivers, lakes and streams are still not suitable for fishing, swimming, or drinking. Two in five Americans live in areas with unhealthy air. And in many communities, residents worry about the safety of their drinking water. EPA can't do the job alone—we need your help to take common-sense steps that will protect our environment. That is why I urge you to take a hands-on approach to environmental protection. The Earth is in Your Hands. Administrat U.S. EPA Recycled/Recyclable • Printed with Vegetable Oil Based Inks on 100% Recycled Paper (50% Postconsumer) • Please Recycle as Newsprint ------- THE EARTH IS IN YOUR HANDS Twenty-five years ago, in response to national environmental crises, this nation established Earth Day as an annual event to recognize the importance of the world around us. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, created in the wake of the first Earth Day, is charged by Congress with the task of protecting the nation's air, land, and water. There is no doubt that much has been accomplished in the last 25 years, but a lot of work is still needed. Here are some suggestions on how you can help, plus a list of EPA contacts across the country—people who will let you know what the Agency and other groups are doing on Earth Day and every day to protect human health and the environ- ment. Remember, The Earth is in your Hands—so take a hands-on approach! Conserving Water A typical American household can save an astounding 50,000-100,000 gallons of water annually by observing a few simple rules: & Repair leaky faucets, indoors and out; just one leaky faucet can waste as much as 4,000 gallons of water per month. * Install faucet aerators to reduce water usage up to 60 percent. Also install a low-flow showerhead and take showers instead of baths. Short showers use one-third the water baths do. *Don't let the water run from the tap in the kitchen or bathroom when you are not using it. Turning off the water when you're brushing your teeth can save 4 gallons each time. * Select a dishwasher with a "light- wash" option and use it only when fully loaded. When hand-washing dishes, save up to 15 gallons by soaking dirty dishes in the sink instead of letting the water run over them. $? When you shop for a new washing machine, consider a water-saving, energy-efficient model. * Repair leaky toilets and save another 50 gallons a day; install a tank-dam and save five to seven gallons per flush. The new low-flush toilets save over 7,000 gallons a year. * Water your lawn in the early morning hours when evaporation is slower. In most locations, one inch of water per week to your lawn or garden should be enough. "& Plant indigenous species of shrubs accustomed to local water conditions. & Set your lawn-mower blades at the 2-3 inch level for healthy grass and better water retention. * When washing your car, turn the hose off between rinses to conserve about 150 gallons per washing. Recycling & Preventing Pollution * Use household chemicals sparingly and according to label instructions. * At home and at work, conserve paper by using both sides of the page and reusing scrap paper. * Encourage your local government to start or expand a program to use recycled/recyclable materials and to dispose of toxic substances responsibly. * Encourage establishment of special hazardous-waste collection days for your community. * Meet with local groups such as the Chamber of Commerce to promote use of recycled materials, eliminate excess packaging, and minimize waste. & Urge your local service stations to encourage recycling of used oil and car batteries. & Sponsor special events at work sites and other public places to push recycling, car/vanpooling, mass transit, and purchase of environmentally friendly products. Hands-On Projects * Plant trees in open public and private spaces; then set up a schedule of proper care for what you planted. & Construct and repair hiking trails, picnic tables, signs, and other public items to promote safe and environmentally sound outdoor recreation. & Organize an air- or water-quality monitoring program. For details contact your state environmental agency or EPA Public Information Center (see contact list on back page). * Organize cleanups of parks, beaches, woods, alleys, and empty lots. * Establish neighborhood or community composting programs to convert yard waste, vacuum-cleaner lint, wool or cotton rags, sawdust, shredded paper, and fireplace ash into topsoil. Travel Tips '$? Since cars and trucks are a major source of air pollution in most areas, upgrading your driving and vehicle maintenance habits can make a substantial contribution to a better environment. $B Combine your trips. Try to avoid driving at times of stop-and-go traffic. Walk or bike for short errands and leisure activities. * Share a ride. Carpool whenever feasible. Use mass transit. $? Avoid jackrabbit starts and stops; maintain a steady speed within cruising range; don't corner so fast that your tire squeal. ^ Keep your tires properly inflated. $? Turn the engine off if it would otherwise idle for more than 30 seconds * Use an energy-conserving grade of o and, where available, "clean fuels." & Think about ways to save fuel, such as emptying your trunk and back seat o unnecessary loads to save weight. &• Carefully read and follow the maintenance tips in your owner's manual. Wise Pesticide Use $? Adopt integrated pest management practices in and around your garden and home to cut use of pesticides. & Buy only enough pesticides to last th season or for immediate use. '$? Follow use directions carefully. Use only the amount directed and for the purpose listed. Don't think that twice the dosage will do twice the job. * Reduce exposure risks in storage. Store pesticides away from kids and pets in a well-ventilated but locked ------- THE EARTH IS IN YOUR HANDS cabinet, and never store them close to food, cleaning compounds, or medical supplies. * Keep pesticides tightly closed in original containers, with legible directions and antidotes. Never transfer to containers associated with food or drink. $? Never store pesticides where flood waters may inundate them or in the open where containers might rust and leak into the soil or waterways. $s Dispose of pesticides in accordance with instructions; for guidance, call your local health department, solid waste management agency, or EPA regional office. Community Projects * Meet with business and community leaders to identify facilities or practices, such as waste disposal, that are putting neighborhood residents at risk. $? Organize neighborhood cleanup efforts and start integrated pest control systems in local schools and other facilities. * Survey the need for toxic clean-up in your neighborhood. Bring information to the attention of appropriate public agencies and community leaders. $? Arrange testing programs to find out if lead from peeling paint in older buildings is affecting children, and organize efforts to monitor the safety of drinking water and air. Educating $? Get your organization, school system, or local college to run Earth Day essay, photo, and poster contests. $? Assist your school system in developing dramas about the environment, poetry readings, field trips, and school garden or lab projects. $? Organize a speakers' bureau; arrange talks by experts to schools, business clubs, and community organizations. $B Sponsor science and invention fairs, debates, forums, and competitions related to issues in environmental science. & Set up an Earth Day conference with environmentalists, and industrial, agricultural and labor leaders in your community to exchange views on local and regional concerns. * Invite local officials, scientists, and environmentalists to participate in public forums to discuss environmental issues that affect your community. $? Encourage local officials and the news media to assess environmental conditions and trends in your town or county, comparing the 1970-1995 period with what's projected for 1995-2020. * Group-tour sewage treatment and water purification plants and energy- efficient demonstration homes. ^ Learn about what chemicals are being released in your community by calling the Community Right-to-Know Hotline at (800) 535-0202. * Encourage libraries, museums, and managers of public and private buildings to display environmental exhibits. * Present club or association awards to citizens, business leaders, and officials who donate time to environmental causes. Specific Subjects For information about specific EPA environmental programs, please call these offices: Headquarters Public Information Center (general EPA publications) (202) 260-2080 National Center for Environmental Publications & Information (EPA publications) (513) 489-8190 Indoor Air Quality Information Clearinghouse (800) 438-4318 / (202) 484-1307 Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800) 426-4791 / (202) 260-7942 National Lead Information Center (800) LEAD-FYI National Poison Control Center Hotline (202) 625-3333 Pollution Prevention Information Clearinghouse (202) 260-1023 National Radon Hotline (800) SOS-RADON Asbestos and Small Business Ombudsman (800) 368-5888 / (703) 305-5938 Acid Rain Hotline (202) 233-9620 Wetlands Protection Hotline (800) 832-7828 Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know (What chemicals are in your community?) (800) 535-0202 Environmental Justice Hotline (800) 962-6215 / (202) 260-6357 Superfund / Resource Conservation & Recovery Act (recycling, hazardous and solid waste, composting) (800) 424-9346 / (703) 412-9810 Air RISC Hotline (health, risk, and exposure information) (Risk Information Support Center) (919) 541-0888 National Response Center (to report spills of oil and other hazardous materials 24 hours/day) (800) 424-8802 National Pesticide Telecommunications Network (800) 853-7378 Hazardous Waste Ombudsman (Assistance with problems related to hazardous waste issues) (800) 262-7937 / (202) 260-9361 Stratospheric Ozone Info Hotline (recycling and production ban on ozone depleting substances) (800) 296-1996 / (202) 775-6677 Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) Information Service (TSCA-related chemicals, ex. PCBs) (202) 554-1404 Wastewater Programs/National Small Flows Clearinghouse (rural wastewater) (800) 624-8301 / (304) 293-4191 EPA Center for Environmental Research Information (EPA technical reports) (513) 569-7562 Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Infoline (800) 363-2383 / (202) 484-1803 ------- THE EARTH IS IN YOUR HANDS Additional Information For additional information on Earth Day 25 activities, please contact: EPA Headquarters Melba Meador U.S. EPA (Mailcode 1101ED) 401 M Street, SW Washington, DC 20460 Earth Day Office: (202) 260-1128 Public Info Center: (202) 260-2080 Region 1 (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT) Frank Mclntyre (REA) John F. Kennedy Federal Building Boston, MA 02203 Phone: (617) 565-9028 Public Info Center: (617) 565-3300 Region 2 (NJ, NY, PR, VI) Ann Rychlenski 26 Federal Plaza, Room 1141-F New York, NY 10278 Phone: (212) 264-7214 Fax: (212) 264-9697 Region 3 (DE, PA, MD, VA, WV, DC) Virginia Moseley 841 Chestnut Building (3EA20) Philadelphia, PA 19107-4431 Phone: (215) 597-9904 Public Info Center: (800) 438-2474 (215)597-7332 Region 4 (AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN) Alice Chastain 345 Courtland Street, N.E. Atlanta, GA 30365 Phone: (404) 347-3555 ext. 6747 Public Info Center: (404) 347-3004 Region 5 (IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI) Nancy Sullivan 77 West Jackson Boulevard Chicago, IL 60604-3507 Phone: (312) 886-6687 Public Info Center: (312) 323-2072 Region 6 (AR, LA, NM, OK, TX) Alfredo Coy 1445 Ross Avenue (Mail Code 6X) Dallas, TX 75202-2733 Phone: (214) 665-2206 Public Info Center: (214) 665-2206 Region 7 (IA, KS, MO, NE) Bill Landis 726 Minnesota Avenue Kansas City, KS 66101 Phone: (913) 551-7314 Public Info Center: (913) 551-7003 Region 8 (CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY) Linda Woodworth (80EA-EISC) 999 18th Street, Suite 800 Denver, CO 80202-2466 Phone: (303) 391-6219 Public Info Center: (800) 227-8917 (303) 293-1603 Region 9 (AZ, CA, HA, NV, GU, AS) Ida Tolliver (E-2) 75 Hawthorne Street San Francisco, CA 94105 Phone: (415) 744-1581 Public Info Center: (415) 744-1505 Region 10 (ID, WA, OR, AK) Sally Hanft U.S. EPA Region 10 1200 6th Avenue (MS SO-141) Seattle, WA 98101 Phone: (206) 553-1207 Public Info Center: (800) 424-4EPA (206) 553-1200 ORD Laboratories Environmental Research Lab Narragansett, RI (401) 782-3000 Research Triangle Park Lab RTF, NC (919) 541-5552 Environmental Research Lab Athens, GA (706) 546-3524 Environmental Research Lab Gulf Breeze, FL (904) 934-9208 Environmental Research Lab Duluth, MN (218) 720-5500 Cincinnati Lab Cincinnati, OH (513) 569-7772 Robert E. Kerr Environmental Research Lab Ada, OK (405) 436-8511 Environmental Research Lab Corvallis, OR (503) 754-4601 xvEPA United States Environmental Protection Agency (1101ED) 401 M Street, SW Washington, DC.20460 Official Business Penalty for Private Use $300 ------- |