EPA K-12 School Environmental Health Program

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NaepcA1
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EPA K-12 School Environmental Health Program

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On February 27, 2012, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)released for public comment the K-12 School Environmental Health Program Guidelines for States, Tribes and Territories. In December 2007,Congress enacted the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA). Subtitle E, Section 504 of EISA requires the EPA, in consultation with the Department of Education, the Department of Health and Human Services and other relevant federal agencies, to develop voluntary guidelines to assist states in establishing and implementing environmental health programs in K-12 schools.

Exposure to environmental hazards in schools can negatively impact the health of students and school staff. Unhealthy school environments can affect attendance, concentration and performance. In carrying out this statutory mandate, EPA, with assistance from its federal partners and feedback from stakeholders, developed these draft voluntary State K-12 School Environmental Health Program Guidelines. The guidelines are primarily intended to be used as a resource for the establishment of a state, tribal, or territorial K-12 school environmental health program.

Your feedback will help in the development of useful guidelines to states, tribes, and territories that will better support healthy school environments for our nation's children. We encourage you to review the draft guidelines and provide comments by April 13, 2012. Please visit the EPA's Office of Children's Health Protection School's website at www.epa.gov/schools to post your comments.

EPA is also happy to announce the release of a Request for Applications (RFA) which will provide funding for implementation of the draft voluntary guidelines. Eligibility for funding under this competitive solicitation is limited to states, tribes and territories. Total funding available is expected to be $750,000 and applications for up to $150,000 will be accepted. The closing date for receipt of applications is April 10. For more information, including a copy of the RFA, go to: www.epa.gov/schools.

We encourage you to share this announcement with your colleagues and,where possible, post this announcement on relevant listservs and websites.

If you have additional questions, please contact Cyndy Merse (merse.cynthia@epa.gov, (202)566-2970).


Sincerely,
Marcia Kargbo
Public Liaison Specialist
Office of Children's Health Protection
Environmental Protection Agency
Phone: (202) 566-0942

Send mail to:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
MC: 1107T
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20460

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