[Federal Register: September 29, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 188)]
[Notices]
[Page 58160]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29se04-56]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-7821-7]
Notice of Launch of Children's Environmental Health Awards
Program
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Office of Children's Health Protection at the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency is pleased to announce the First Annual
Children's Environmental Health Awards. The awards are designed to
increase awareness, stimulate activity, and recognize efforts that
protect children from environmental health risks at the local,
regional, national, and international level.
Level One Recognition Awards are designed for groups or individuals
who have demonstrated a level of commitment to protect children from
environmental risks. Applicants must show that they have initiated
outreach, education, or intervention activities.
Level Two Excellence Awards are designed to recognize applicants
who have demonstrated leadership and a track record in the protection
of children from environmental health risks. Outreach, education, and
intervention projects or programs must have been in place for at least
6 months.
Applications are due December 15, 2004, and an awards ceremony will
be held for the winners in Washington, DC, in March 2005
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Carolyn Hubbard, Office of
Children's Health Protection for more information or copies of the
application, USEPA, MC 1107A, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.,
Washington, DC 20460, (202) 564-2189, hubbard.carolyn@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Children may be more susceptible to
environmental hazards than adults. Their nervous, immune, digestive,
and other systems are still developing and their ability to metabolize
or inactivate toxicants may be different than adults. They eat more
food, drink more fluids, and breathe more air in proportion to their
weight than adults, and their behavior--such as crawling and placing
objects in their mouths--may result in greater exposure to
environmental contaminants.
Environmental health hazards that may affect children include: (1)
Air pollutants, both indoor and ambient; (2) toxic chemicals such as
lead, mercury, arsenic, organochlorines such as polychlorinated
biphenyls, and dioxins; (3) endocrine disruptors; (4) environmental
tobacco smoke; (5) ultraviolet radiation; (6) water pollution; (7)
pesticides; (8) brominated flame retardants; (9) radon; and (10) carbon
monoxide. Many environmental health problems can be prevented, managed,
and treated. EPA encourages communities, citizens, and organizations to
become leaders in protecting our children from environmental health
hazards.
Award Levels
Level 1--Recognition Award
Recognition awards are designed for groups or individuals who have
demonstrated a level of commitment to protect children from
environmental risks. Applicants must show that they have initiated
outreach, education, or intervention activities. Winners will receive a
certificate of recognition signed by the Director of EPA's Office of
Children's Health Protection and use of the children's environmental
health awards logo.
Who Should Apply? Individuals, communities, non-profit
organizations, schools and universities, and governmental agencies.
Level 2--Excellence Award
Excellence awards are designed to recognize applicants who have
demonstrated leadership and a track record in the protection of
children from environmental health risks. Outreach, education, and
intervention projects or programs must have been in place for at least
6 months.
Applications will be judged based on innovation, effectiveness,
ability to measure success, and replication potential. Ten to twenty
award winners will be invited to an awards ceremony in Washington, DC
in March 2005, where they will receive a plaque. They will also receive
use of the children's environmental health awards logo, recognition on
EPA's Web site and in a press release, and photos with a senior EPA
official.
Who Should Apply? Individuals, communities, non-profit
organizations, schools and universities, governmental agencies, and
businesses.
Award Activity Descriptions
Outreach
Outreach efforts increase public awareness about children's
environmental health issues. Projects may include public awareness
campaigns, public service announcements, and events to highlight the
importance of protecting children from environmental health risks.
Education
EPA will recognize projects or programs that teach the public about
the relationship between their environment and children's health.
Education efforts may include instruction on how to improve the
environment in order to protect children's health, prevent or reduce
exposure to harmful environmental agents, or manage environmentally-
related illness.
Intervention
Intervention programs are designed to improve the environment,
prevent or reduce exposure to environmental contaminants, or improve
the environmental health of children. Programs may include implementing
policies that protect children from environmental risks, voluntary
efforts, or taking any other action that directly reduces environmental
health risks to children.
Dated: September 22, 2004.
William H. Sanders, III,
Acting Director, Office of Children's Health Protection.
[FR Doc. 04-21802 Filed 9-28-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P