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Message from the WV-DEP: Monday, April 27, 2015
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Pretty much everyone will occasionally
use a drive-through to pick up food or prescriptions. Many
of us also idle our car longer than necessary on cold
mornings to warm it up. When we do these things, we’re
contributing to air pollution. Everyone does in some way,
most of the time not even realizing it.
In recognition of National Air Quality Awareness Week this
week, the West Virginia Department of Environmental
Protection’s Division of Air Quality (DAQ) is joining the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration and Centers for Disease Control
in a national effort to make citizens aware of simple daily
choices which can affect their air quality.
“Small changes can make a big impact if everyone does their
part,” said DAQ Director Fred Durham. “We all benefit from
good air quality and therefore we all should work to keep
it clean.”
Transportation choices can play a significant role in air
quality improvement. Choose alternatives to driving – take
the bus, carpool, bike or walk to your destination. If
alternatives are not an option, try these tips: turn off
your engine instead of idling; keep your tires properly
inflated for better fuel usage; combine trips; and, refuel
in the evening hours when fumes from refueling won’t
combine with the sun’s heat to increase ozone levels.
Any time you use energy, you contribute to air pollution.
Using energy-efficient lighting and appliances not only
reduce air pollution, they help save you money. Also
consider buying electric or battery-powered lawn care
equipment. If using gasoline-fueled devices, prevent spills
and overfills. Even small gasoline spills evaporate and
pollute the air and groundwater.
Visitors to DEP’s headquarters in the Kanawha City area of
Charleston this week can learn about ways to reduce their
contribution to air pollution at a display set up in the
lobby. The agency also encourages residents to check out
videos on the topic on our YouTube page at this link:
https://www.youtube.com/user/WVEnvironment.
DAQ is involved in outreach throughout the year aimed at
helping young people learn more about how personal
decisions affect air quality. A video of some of the
agency's outreach displays can be seen at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qh0Th72F5YA.
For more information on Air Quality Awareness Week, visit
www.epa.gov/airnow/airaware/.
See also: www.FrackCheckWV.net
To learn more visit
www.mareproject.org
Please comment on the Atlantic Coast Pipeline!
The deadline for submitting scoping comments to FERC for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline is: Tuesday, April 28.
Most, if not all, of the issues are being addressed by the groups organized in opposition, so a comment doesn't need to be more than a sentence or two; but it is important to make a comment for two reasons:
The number of comments matters!
Making a comment during the scoping period entitles you to comment during the EIS (Environmental Impact Statement) and it entitles you to become an "intervener."
Instructions for submitting comments can be found at www.mareproject.org. Click on 'Submit Comment' and follow the directions.
Here is a list of possible topics:
Contribution to climate change.
Disturbance of springs and wells, especially in karst areas, due to excavation and blasting.
Sediment in streams and rivers, particularly trout streams.
Negative impact on wildlife, especially threatened, endangered and sensitive species.
Lack of adequate enforcement of regulations supposed to protect the environment.
Negative impact on property values.
Problems with insurance, mortgages and opportunity to sell and move for landowners.
Negative impact on scenic beauty.
Negative impact on tourism income.
Emotional distress cause by negative impacts.
Lack of benefits to local communities compared to costs.
Truck traffic and resulting delays and accidents.
Cost to local law enforcement and emergency services.
The last day that FERC will receive comments for the MVP is June 16, 2015.
The last day that FERC will receive comments for the ACP is April 28, 2015.
Please call Elise at 304-207-1150 for more information.
Upcoming Community Meetings
Tuesday, April 28 (6-8 pm) - Preserve Monroe has their bi-monthly meeting every other Tuesday at the Union Senior Center in Union (Monroe County).
Thursday, April 30 (7-8:30 pm) -Preserve Greenbrier County will hold a community meeting in the Board Room at Carnegie Hall in Lewisburg (Greenbrier County).
Wednesday, May 20 (5:30 pm) - Summers County Residents Against the Pipeline (SCRAP) will hold their regular meeting at the corner Episcopal Church in Hinton (Summers County).
Sunday, June 14 (9am-10pm) - Preserve Monroe Fundraising Concert at Salt Sulphur Springs, WV (Monroe County).
Please call Elise at 304-207-1150 for more information about these community meetings.
See also: www.FrackCheckWV.net
> From: Group Against Smog and Pollution <jamin(a)gasp-pgh.org>
> Date: April 27, 2015
> Subject: Making the Connection: Air Pollution & Heart Health
> Reply-To: jamin(a)gasp-pgh.org
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> GASP Alert Action and News from
> Group Against Smog and Pollution
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> April 27, 2015
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> Making the Connection: Air Pollution and Heart Health
> Air pollution can affect heart health and trigger heart attacks and strokes that cause disability and death. One in three Americans has heart or blood vessel disease and is at higher risk from air pollution. Not only does air pollution exacerbate existing heart problems, but it may also play a role in the development of heart disease in otherwise healthy people. On April 30, join GASP and leading medical professionals as we explore this connection further.
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> Keynote speaker Wayne Cascio, MD and Director of EPA's Environmental Public Health Division, has spent more than 25 years as a cardiologist helping people take care of their hearts. Now he is bringing a broader view of public health to EPA by leading research on the links between exposures to air pollution and maintaining a healthy heart.
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> James Fabisiak, PhD, Associate Professor in Environmental & Occupational Health and is part of the Center for Healthy Environments and Communities at the University of Pittsburgh's Graduate School of Public Health. Dr. Fabisiak is one of the authors of the Pittsburgh Regional Environmental Threats Analysis Report and will discuss the air pollution challenges our region faces.
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> April 30, 2015
> 5-8 p.m.
> Networking, food, and drinks start at 5 p.m.; program begins promptly at 6 p.m.
> Allegheny General Hospital Magovern Conference Center 320 East North Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15212
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> This event is free and open to the public. Please register here. Continuing Medical Education Credits are available.
> This event is jointly provided by the Group Against Smog and Pollution and Allegheny General Hospital.
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> We appreciate your participation on the GASP Alert email list. Together, we can make a difference in our region's environment. We won't trade or sell your email address with other organizations or inundate you with messages. Visit our website at gasp-pgh.org or call us at (412) 924-0604 for more information. Thank you!
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> Group Against Smog and Pollution | 5135 Penn Avenue | Pittsburgh | PA | 15224
Making the Connection: Air Pollution and Heart Health
Air pollution can affect heart health and trigger heart attacks and
strokes that cause disability and death. One in three Americans has heart or
blood vessel disease and is at higher risk from air pollution. Not only does
air pollution exacerbate existing heart problems, but it may also play a role
in the development of heart disease in otherwise healthy people. On April
30, _join GASP_
(http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0017LC7W6jo0vm_QxLlM6qvDCXQ35kOq-tDDgaMhSbSSJid…
U7eYPzMvo1_rx29pZRgKciNPCFs5nkwjbkfr0Y8q-r2-g9YLXbI6hdyqvhrxdBlgNU0f9Wttc0Xl
YWhcaM0JkK_sQLJf7D4303j66ornk8KwVqXrC20uIUqFnWuGEEEBz9hGxhpjCALga2_OkW4yrIkk
eftNChnu54=&c=A1dr01rWxZn8E_MUJGk6h3c3vf2b6KZOdL15V6YgD9pn0DfDbJPO0Q==&ch=P-
q93sL_-Z-_dDg3F4eiTh50P9ZG7mBBS520wmHkmzKEg_XCpLix2Q==) and leading
medical professionals as we explore this connection further.
Keynote speaker:
Wayne Cascio, MD and Director of EPA's Environmental Public Health
Division, has spent more than 25 years as a cardiologist helping people take care
of their hearts. Now he is bringing a broader view of public health to EPA
by leading research on the links between exposures to air pollution and
maintaining a healthy heart.
James Fabisiak, PhD, Associate Professor in Environmental & Occupational
Health and is part of the Center for Healthy Environments and Communities at
the University of Pittsburgh's Graduate School of Public Health. Dr.
Fabisiak is one of the authors of the Pittsburgh Regional Environmental Threats
Analysis Report and will discuss the air pollution challenges our region
faces.
April 30, 2015, 5-8 p.m.
Networking, food, and drinks start at 5 p.m.-program begins promptly at 6
p.m.
Allegheny General Hospital Magovern Conference Center 320 E. North Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
This event is free and open to the public. Please _register here_
(http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0017LC7W6jo0vm_QxLlM6qvDCXQ35kOq-tDDgaMhSbSSJid…
FXmEorbM7UeapGoIZF5zExKx8DGByVi_-XqfIzDNj39AwC2u17WdU7eYPzMvo1_rx29pZRgKciNP
CFs5nkwjbkfr0Y8q-r2-g9YLXbI6hdyqvhrxdBlgNU0f9Wttc0XlYWhcaM0JkK_sQLJf7D4303j6
6or
nk8KwVqXrC20uIUqFnWuGEEEBz9hGxhpjCALga2_OkW4yrIkkeftNChnu54=&c=A1dr01rWxZn8E_MUJGk6h3c3vf2b6KZOdL15V6YgD9pn0DfDbJPO0Q==&ch=P-q93sL_-Z-_dDg3F4eiTh50P9
ZG7mBBS520wmHkmzKEg_XCpLix2Q==) . Continuing Medical Education Credits are
available.
This event is jointly provided by the Group Against Smog and Pollution and
Allegheny General Hospital.