Applications now being accepted for the Iowa Environmental Excellence Awards

From a press release by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources:

Iowa businesses, organizations and citizens are invited to apply for the Governor’s Iowa Environmental Excellence Awards. To download an application, go to www.iowadnr.gov/eeawards; applications are due April 12, 2013.

These awards are the premier environmental honors in Iowa, recognizing leadership and innovation in the protection of Iowa’s water, land and air.

For 2013, organizations are encouraged to submit their applications electronically to reduce paper waste. Complete instructions are included in the application packet.

“The Environmental Excellence Awards allow us to showcase and share the creative efforts businesses and organizations in Iowa are utilizing to protect our natural resources as well as grow jobs in our state,” said Gov. Terry Branstad.

In addition to rewarding important efforts to improve Iowa’s natural resources, Gov. Branstad noted that highlighting success stories benefits other businesses and organizations in the state.

Innovation is one of the key components needed to reaching important state goals of creating 200,000 new jobs, increasing personal income by 25 percent in the state and promoting Iowa’s Healthiest State initiative, Branstad said.

Awards will be given for Overall Environmental Excellence, along with Special Project Awards in:

• Air Quality
• Energy Efficiency/Renewable Energy
• Habitat Restoration
• Waste Management
• Water Quality
• Environmental Education

The awards program is coordinated by the Iowa Governor’s Office, the Department of Natural Resources, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, the Iowa Department of Economic Development, the Iowa Department of Education, the Iowa Department of Public Health and the Iowa Waste Reduction Center.

For more information and to download an application, go to www.iowadnr.gov/eeawards or contact Emily Bainter at 515-242-5955 or Emily.Bainter@dnr.iowa.gov.

Elevated air pollution yesterday a cause for concern in SE Iowa, elsewhere

Levels of air pollution were considered unhealthy for sensitive groups yesterday in Muscatine County and surrounding areas.

Elevated air pollution levels in southeast Iowa yesterday prompted the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to issue an advisory that air quality was unhealthy for sensitive groups.

At yesterday’s levels, “members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected,” according to the EPA.

DNR reported moderate levels of fine particles  across a large part of the state yesterday:

As of 11 a.m, the average fine particle levels for the day were 70 in Muscatine. Several other monitors in the state recorded elevated levels.  Fine particle levels were 33 in Emmetsburg, 29 in Des Moines, 20 in Waterloo, 27 in Cedar Rapids, 27 in Iowa City, 33 in Davenport, 24 in Clinton, and 29 in Lake Sugema State Park.

The DNR’s 24-hour “health threshold” for fine particles is 35.

Today’s air quality forecast calls for moderate fine particle levels to continue over a large portion of central and eastern Iowa.

To monitor air quality in your area each day, the Iowa Environmental Council recommends monitoring the federal government’s Air Quality Index (AQI) map for Iowa, which provides a daily forecast and hourly updates on current conditions.

“Twitter party” allows public to question experts on healthy air

From a press release by the American Lung Association.  The Iowa Environmental Council doesn’t typically work on federal issues, but if air quality matters to you, we think this event will have educational value.

The Lung Association is hosting a Twitter party Today from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. (central time)  with air quality experts who will answer participants’ questions including the impact of air pollution on children’s health; how air quality and lung disease are closely related; and what steps parents should take to ensure the Clean Air Act remains a vital public health protection for generations to come.  The experts are

• Paul Billings, Vice President of National Policy and Advocacy, American Lung Association,
• Peter Iwanowicz, Director of the Healthy Air Campaign, American Lung Association, and
• Janice Nolen, Assistant Vice President of National Policy and Advocacy, American Lung Association.

Continued attacks by some in Congress to weaken the Clean Air Act have become a serious threat to public health. The latest example is set to play out during a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee meeting scheduled to take place at 9:00 a.m. today. The committee is expected to explore avenues to weaken, block or delay the life-saving benefits of the Power Plant Mercury and Air Toxics Standards.

Using the hashtag #FightingforAir, the Lung Association will tweet live updates from Capitol Hill relaying key points presented during this House committee meeting. Join the Lung Association afterwards for a Twitter party to hear about Congressional efforts to undermine clean air protections that will impact public health, and what you can do to protect your family.

How to participate:  Use the hashtag #FightingforAir to join this Twitter party and to submit healthy air questions to @LungAssociation. Participants’ healthy air questions will be answered by Lung Association experts.

And remember, the Iowa Environmental Council is on Twitter too–follow us @Iowa_Env.