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Three Oklahoma Education Projects Receive more than $20,000 from EPA

Release Date: 11/4/2004
Contact Information: For more information contact the Office of External Affairs at (214) 665-2200.

      Three Oklahoma projects received Environmental Education (EE) grants totaling $20,386 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  The EE program supports environmental education projects that enhance the public's ability to make informed and responsible decisions about the environment.

      "The creativity, enthusiasm and commitment of these students and their adult sponsors will help ensure that our environment is protected for future generations. The projects are powerful examples of what can be accomplished when concerned individuals work together to improve their neighborhoods and communities," EPA Regional Administrator Richard E. Greene said.

      The Great Plans Resource Conservation and Development Association in Cordell received $5,500 for its "Reduce, Recycle, and Return to Beauty" project to conduct eight workshops with county commissioners and volunteers on proper solid waste disposal and recycling.  The association's goals are to reduce the amount of solid waste going to local landfills by two percent, increase the percentage of residents utilizing solid waste programs by two percent and eliminate illegal dumping.  

      The Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma in Norman received $9,886 for its project, "Geographic Information Systems and Environmental Justice," to inform citizens on the benefits of developing and using a public participation geographic information system for addressing environmental issues and active participation in environmental policy decision making at the state and federal levels.

      Opportunities Industrialization Center of Oklahoma City will receive $5,000 for its project, "Groundwater Area Protection," to improve environmental education teaching skills of teachers, faculty and non-formal educators about environmental issues through workshops and school based service learning projects.

      Since 1992, Congress has annually appropriated almost $3 million to EPA to award EE grants.  The competition for EE grants is considerable, and about 200 grants are funded annually from among more than 1,000 applications received.

      More information on EE grants awarded this year in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas is available at http://epa.gov/region6/6xa/grants2004.pdf.  More information on the EE grant program and how to apply for grants to be awarded in 2005 is available at https://www.epa.gov/enviroed/grants.html or by calling the Region 6 coordinator at 214.665.2204 or toll-free at 800.887.6063.  The deadline for applying for 2005 EE grants is Nov. 15, 2004.