UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460 OFFICIAL BUSINESS PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE $300 AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER POSTAGE AND FEES PAID U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY EPA-335 A ^ĤEnvironmental News Clapper (202) 755-0720 Deister (202) 755-0344 FOR RELEASE A.M.'S FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 1974 EPA TO KICK OFF NATIONWIDE DRIVE FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN WATER CLEANUP Deputy Administrator John R. Quarles of the Environmental Protection Agency will be the keynote speaker at the first of a nationwide series of training institutes to involve the pub- lic in the nation's water cleanup effort. Quarles will address almost 100 citizen-leaders at the opening session 9:30 a.m., Thursday, January 31, at Airlie House, Warrenton, Virginia. The three-day meeting is aimed at providing trainees with an understanding of the complex Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972. The Act requires EPA and the States to assist and encour- age public participation in planning and enforcing the water program. To comply with the requirement, EPA awarded a $217,000 grant to the Conservation Foundation to conduct ten three-day training institutes around the country to explain the program to citizen-leaders from areas with serious water pollution. Following the institutes, EPA will contract with the citizen- leaders to conduct workshops in their own areas to spread the information. (more) Return this sheet if you do NOT wish to receive this material ~, or if change of address is needed Q (indicate change, including zip code). EPA FORM 1510-1 (REV. 8-72) R-335 ------- -2- Other training sessions are to be conducted for EPA by the Conservation Foundation in Boston, February 7-9; Denver, February 15-17; Seattle, March 1-3; Atlanta, March 15-18; New York, March 21-23; Chicago and Berkeley, California, March 29-31; and Dallas, April 25-27. An institute is also slated for the St. Louis area at a date still to be determined. The Airlie House meeting will include trainees from Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. The curriculum will cover new features of the 1972 water law, including effluent guidelines, the permit pro- gram, the planning process and the specific pollution problems of industries such as pulp and paper, textiles and petroleum refining. # # # R-335 ------- |