Kids grow
and learn better
in pollution-free
schools
vvEPA
EPA910-N-11-001
Winter 2011
EPA Region 10 Healthy Schools Team
Washington Oregon Idaho Alaska
Happy Winter Everyone!
As we make our way through cold and flu season, I'm sure everyone is working
hard to keep our schools clean and our staff and students healthy. This issue of
Healthy School News has some good tips about cleaning your schools in effective
and safe ways. There is also information about upcoming funding opportunities
and trainings, and a special story about a new school in rural Alaska.
As always, please let us know if there are topics you would like more information
about and have a safe and healthy school year.
Sincerely,
Margo Young
EPA Region 10 Children's Health &
Environmental Education
young.margo@epa.gov or 206-553-1287
^ EPA's Healthy School
^ Environments
Portal
In This Issue
EPA Issues National Guidance
to Address PCB-Containing
Fluorescent Lights
Cleaning for Healthy Schools
What's Happening In Your State
Washington School District
Receives Indoor Air Quality
Award
Upcoming Funding
Announcements
Free Energy Efficiency
Assistance for Schools
A Story from a Region 10 Healthy
Schools Initiative
Illustration by Paul Hoffman from Back to School
for Planners issue of Planning Comm'rs Journal
copryighl, Planning Comm'rs Journal
EPA Wants Your Feedback on its New
Draft School Siting Guidelines
Where our schools are located can affect the health of students, school staff,
and everyone who uses school facilities. For example, how close a school is
located to a busy roadway or a coal-burning power plant can affect the quality
of the air, water, or soil at the school. Alternatively, locating schools near
clean, green spaces, like parks, can have positive health impacts.
To help communities protect the health of students and staff from
environmental threats and to select the safest locations for new schools, EPA
has drafted new voluntary guidelines to provide a framework and approach to
help communities consider and balance environmental risks and community
benefits in siting new schools.
EPA developed this draft with the help of other Federal agencies, states,
school districts, community organizations, health care professionals,
teachers, as well as environmental justice, children's health and
environmental groups, among others. EPA is also asking for your feedback on
the guidelines. Send EPA your comments by 4 pm EST on February 18, 2011.
Read the press release
Review the draft guidelines
Get answers to your questions about the draft guidelines
Download a .pdf file of the draft guidelines web site
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Healthy School News
Page 2
Winter 2011
EPA Issues National Guidance to Address PCB-Containing Fluorescent Lights
EPA recently released guidance recommending that
schools take steps to reduce potential exposures to
PCBs from older fluorescent lighting fixtures. The
guidance is based on evidence that the older ballasts
contain PCBs that can leak when the
ballasts fail, leading to elevated levels of
PCBs in the air of schools that should
not represent an immediate threat but
could pose health concerns if they
persist over time.
The guidance document is available
online at http://www.epa.gov/pcb.
Polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs,
are man-made chemicals that persist in
the environment and were widely used
in construction materials and electrical
products prior to 1978. PCBs can affect the immune
system, reproductive system, nervous system and
endocrine system and are potentially cancer causing if
they build up in the body over long periods of time.
Given their widespread use before they were banned, if
a school was built before 1979 or has not had a complete
lighting retrofit since 1979, the fluorescent light ballasts
probably contain PCBs. Although intact and functioning
ballasts do not pose a health threat, these lighting ballasts
will all fail in time. For that reason, EPA recommends
older PCB-containing lighting ballasts should be removed,
whether as part of a previously scheduled lighting retrofit
program or a stand-alone project.
While replacing lighting ballasts
requires an upfront investment, there
are state, federal and private funding
programs available to potentially
provide funding. In addition, replacing
older ballasts with newer lighting
fixtures will result in energy savings
that will increase energy efficiency in
schools and likely pay for itself in less
than seven years, depending upon
hours of operation and local energy
costs.
EPA has also developed information on how to properly
handle and dispose of PCB-containing fluorescent light
ballasts and properly retrofit lighting fixtures to remove
potential PCS hazards.
Contact Tristen Gardner, at EPA Region 10, for additional
information or technical assistance at gardner.tristenฎ
epa.gov or 206.553.6240.
Cleaning for Healthy Schools
Created by Montana State University Extension Pollution Prevention Program
Purchase green products and
equipment
The least toxic or green chemicals
for the job
Microfiber cloths and mops to pick
up dust and dirt
HEPA vacuum cleaners
Unscented products...clean does
not have an odor!
Environmentally preferable paper
and recycled/compostable trash
can liners
Know what green really is
Look for these words on a product
label: an ingredient list, non-
toxic, biodegradable, phosphate
free, contains no dyes or bleach,
recyclable containers
Get help online from 3rd party green
certifiers: EcoLogo, Green Seal, or
EPA's Design for the Environment
Keep school rooms organized and
clean
Have a regular clean up time each
week in the classroom
Encourage frequent handwashing
with soap and water
Adopt green cleaning procedures
Establish a list of prohibited
chemicals
Provide classroom teachers with
one approved all-purpose cleaner
Use less product by spraying the
cloth rather than the surface to be
cleaned
Use sanitizers & disinfectants
only in frequent touch zones (door
handles, keyboards etc.)
Use walk-off mats at each entrance
to keep the area clean
Discourage air freshener
healthy
schools
campaign
Learn more about green
cleaning for schools!
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Healthy School News
PageS
Winter 2011
What's Happening In Your State
Oregon
The Sustainable Oregon Schools Initiative (SOSI)
and the Oregon Department of Transportation's Safe
Routes to School program recently partnered to
increase opportunities to walk and bike to school. Safe
Routes to School is a national program that brings
together parents, schools, community leaders and
government agencies to improve the health and well-
being of children and communities by enabling and
encouraging them to walk and bicycle to school.
Idaho
The Idaho Division of Public Health received a grant
this fall from EPA to implement the Tools for Schools
Program in three school districts in Idaho. The Program
includes working with the schools to: select an Indoor
Air Quality (IAQ) Coordinator for each school or school
district; conduct an IAQ walk-through assessment to
identify asthma triggers and other indoor air quality
issues; and select an IAQ work plan for the school or
school district.
For more information, contact Jim Faust, Idaho Indoor
Environment Program Manager, at 208-332-5717 or
faustj@dhw.idaho.gov.
Washington
2011 Healthy Schools Summit, May 24-25, 2011,
Seattle, WA. Registration opens February 1. Early bird
rate applies on or before May 2, 2011: $130 for one
day; $240 for two days. Scholarships (through March
1) are available to support registration. There is also
transportation support available for those traveling over
100 miles to the Summit.
Alaska
A large contingent from Region 10 attended the Indoor
Air Quality (IAQ) Tools for Schools Symposium in
Washington, D.C January 13-15. Attendees learned
about available resources and materials, including
the IAQ Tools for Schools Action Kit, that will enable
them to support and implement good IAQ practices in
schools. EPA staff are happy to share information they
gathered at the Symposium, and Joan Tovsen, who
specializes in outreach to Alaska Native schools, is a
great contact for additional information on implementing
the Tools for Schools program in Alaska. Contact Joan
at tovsen.joan@epa.gov or 907-271-1481.
Washington School District Receives Indoor Air Quality Award
Northshore School District 417 of
Washington State received an EPA
National Excellence Award at the Tools
for Schools Symposium, in Washington,
D.C. in January, 2011. The District formed
an Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) team in the
mid 2000s in an effort to improve IAQ
throughout the district. Seeking to build a
"best in class" IAQ management program,
the district implemented the IAQ Tools for
Schools Program in 2008 and has since
fully engaged the Program's Framework
and Six Key Drivers of Success in the
pursuit of excellence.
Northshore's current IAQ program is
truly a team effort, including students,
teachers, staff, IAQ coordinators
and administrators. This diverse
participation in the IAQ program has
enabled Northshore to provide innovative,
meaningful and effective solutions to IAQ
issues.
The district's IAQ initiatives range from a
student-led emissions study to assess the
impact of bus idling, to in-class training
on IAQ risks and how to prevent them,
to implementation of a comprehensive
preventative maintenance program to
support IAQ goals. Through monitoring,
analysis and reporting of IAQ program
initiatives the district is able to evaluate
progress to date, identify areas for future
improvement and measure the program's
long-term successes. The district has
reduced reported IAQ issues to less
than one per month per school, which
represents a 40% reduction over previous
years. Congratulations!
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Healthy School News
Page 4
Winter 2011
Funding Opportunities
Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE)
is a competitive grant program that offers an innovative
way for a community to organize and take action to reduce
toxic pollution in its local environment. Through CARE, a
community creates a partnership that implements solutions
to reduce releases of toxic pollutants and minimize people's
exposure to them. By providing financial and technical
assistance, EPA helps CARE communities get on the path
to a renewed environment. Due date: for March 22,2011.
Children's Environmental Health Grants
EPA is pleased to announce a solicitation for grant
proposals to address children's environmental health in
underserved communities. The grant will build capacity
for these communities to reduce environmental exposures
in child-occupied settings, including schools and child
care centers. Funds available for award are expected to
total approximately $1.5 million, and EPA intends to award
approximately 15-20 awards, each for an amount not to
exceed $100,000. The due date for initial proposals is
February 18,2011.
EPA's Environmental Education Grant Program - Go online
to see information about the 2011 grant program. Click the
"Grants Update" button to be notified when applications
can be submitted. Contact Sally Hanft @ 206-553-1207 or
hanft.sally@epa.gov for more information.
Indoor Air Quality Grants - Available in March. Visit the
website soon to apply for this funding program that provides
indoor air quality project support for schools, buildings,
and homes. Contact Davis Zhen at 206-553-7660 orzhen.
davis@epa.gov for more information.
Learning Opportunities
Peaks to Prairies Healthy and Safe Schools Webinar Series
EPA's Indoor Air Quality for Schools Webinars
Prevent Air Pollution at the Source: Schools Chemical
Cleanout
State-Based School IAQ Management Initiatives
Integrated Pest Management in Schools Webinar
Managing Asthma in the School Environment Webinar
Finding Solutions: The Virtual Walk-through
Real Schools, Real Challenges Finding Solutions
with the IAQ Tools for Schools Framework and
Connector
Free Energy Efficiency
Assistance for Schools
Even a small school district can save big bucks by
starting an energy efficiency program. Schools all over
the country are making changes that are resulting in
savings.
Loudoun County (VA) Public Schools
$5.7 million saved
Council Rock (PA) School District
$7.1 million saved in four years
Gresham-Barlow (OR) School District
$1.5 million saved in 2009
Evergreen (WA) Public Schools
$720,000 saved
Free help is available for districts thinking about starting
an energy efficiency program. Get started today
by contacting Jim Borthen, EPA's Energy Assistant
Specialist for additional ideas, at borthen.jim@epa.gov or
206-498-1287.
Examples of free assistance available:
Washington State University Energy Extension
Program
WSU provides technical assistance to utility staff and
commercial and industrial customers of the Western
Area Power Administration in 15 western states. Call
(800) 769-3756 or visit www.energyexperts.org.
Oregon Department of Energy-Schools Program
Contact J.P. Batmale 503-378-5054 or jp.batmaleฎ
state.or.us
Washington State School Energy Improvement
Grants
Washington State General Administration
Assistance with benchmarking, financing options,
energy efficiency programs Contact Donna Albert
360-902-7248
Council of Educational Facilities Planners
International
Washington
Kelley Tanner 206.461.6000
Alaska
Michael Carlson 907.563.8474
Oregon
Renee Kroupa 503.226.6950
Idaho
Dave Teater dteater@mgtofamerica.com
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Healthy School News
Pages
Winter 2011
A Story from a Region 10 Healthy Schools Initiative
Indoor Air Quality in Remote Alaska
Story and photos by Joan Tovsen, Alaska Tribal Outreach Coordinator
On the banks of the Yukon River in rural Alaska, a new
school opened its doors in the fall of 2010. The Russian
Mission School combines kindergarten through grade
twelve under one roof, and contains state-of-the-art
facilities for 117 students in an Alaska Native village of
363 primarily Yupik Eskimo. As is true with many Alaska
Native Villages, planes are used instead of road travel,
and the river is both a highway for boats in summer and
a surface for snow mobile travel after it freezes. Storms
and inclement weather can limit access to and from
the village
for weeks or
months, so a
subsistence
lifestyle and
sustainability
mean survival.
At the new
school, staff
and students
teach and
learn with a strong focus on environmental and cultural
place-based activities. Mahri Lowinger, EPA Tribal
Coordinator, Joan Tovsen, Alaska Tribal Air Outreach
Coordinator, and Sharon Kozevnikoff, RM Environmental
Coordinator did an environmental health School Walk
Through, shared resources from the Tools for Schools
Action Toolkit, and visited three teachers and their
combined classrooms.
During the discussions, teachers expressed their
appreciation for the environmental lessons included in
the Tools for Schools Action Toolkit and identified ways
to integrate these into their social studies and science
curricula. In rural Alaska, open burning, landfill burns,
and sewage lagoons cause challenging air pollution
problems. Through collaboration and using the Tools for
Schools program, the village hopes to ultimately improve
respiratory health in this remote area.
New Russian Mission School
Russian Mission on Yukon River
Healthy School NEWS is published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 10. Region 10 includes the states
of Washington, Idaho, Alaska and Oregon and the tribes within those boundaries. For general information about school
environmental health or to provide feedback on this newsletter, please contact Margo Young at young.margo@epa.gov. To
be added or removed from the distribution list, please email pollow.george@epa.gov with your request. Contact Region
10's Public Environmental Resource Center, the education, publication and information gateway to EPA's Region 10 Office,
for free publications and educational resources for your school. Call at (800) 424-4EPA or email epa-seattle@epa.gov.
EPA Environmental Education: www.epa.gov/enviroed/
EPA Children's Environmental Health: www.epa.gov/children
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