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EPA and New York Harbor School Establish Ground-Breaking Green Partnership

Release Date: 10/04/2010
Contact Information: Sophia Kelley (212) 637-3670, [email protected]

(New York, N.Y.) The Urban Assembly New York Harbor School today marked its official move to the school’s new location on Governor’s island by signing an agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to work together. The college preparatory, public high school committed to a new level of environmental stewardship that will provide students and teachers a range of resources and experiences through EPA. The New York Harbor School’s mission is to use New York City’s unique maritime experience to develop in its students the ethics and skills of stewardship. Today’s agreement is the first of its kind between EPA and a New York City public school.

“The Harbor School is ushering in a new era of respect for and understanding of New York City’s waterways among city public school students,” said EPA Regional Administrator Judith Enck. “I applaud the school’s efforts to instill the values of stewardship among their student population and I am proud to work with them to enhance the school’s sustainable practices and environmental education curriculum.”

“EPA is the ideal partner to help our school become a model sustainable community and a place where young people learn first-hand about their local environment and careers related to it,” said New York Harbor School Founding Principal Nate Dudley.

Highlights of the agreement between the New York Harbor School and EPA include:

• Curriculum enrichment such as providing EPA staff for relevant science presentations
• EPA participation in the school’s career day, or similar events, to encourage students to pursue environmental careers
• Field trips for students onboard EPA’s research boats, enabling them to acquire a better understanding of how water quality testing is done
• Promotion of sustainability efforts at school facilities through recycling initiatives including paper, bottle, can, electronic waste, and toner and ink cartridge recycling
• Focus on EPA’s Energy Star program, which offers technical assistance for conducting energy audits, benchmarking energy use and establishing an energy reduction plan
• Water conservation initiatives such as using WaterSense products, promoting water efficient practices and discouraging the use of plastic water bottles
• Incorporation of environmentally friendly landscaping practices, using EPA’s GreenScapes landscaping program as its guide