Cherokee Nation part of new EPA community support initiative

[Guest guest]

Cherokee Nation part of new EPA community support initiative

U.S. EPA.gov - Washington,DC*

Release date: 07/18/2007

http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/f6918f19481579f48525731c00

58b2d5?OpenDocument

Contact Information: Dave Bary or Tressa Tillman at 214-665-2200 or

r6press@...

Joint program with CDC aims to advance local environmental and

public health efforts

(Dallas, Texas – July 18, 2007) The Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma will

take part in a new community-based health protection and education

initiative sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency and

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

EPA Administrator and CDC Director Gerberding

signed a formal memorandum of understanding today that will enable

both agencies to better support efforts by local governments.

" EPA and CDC are joining forces to help local communities advance

their environmental and public health protection efforts, " said EPA

Regional Administrator E. Greene. " By capitalizing on the

strengths of our agencies, we will assist the Cherokee Nation and

our other partners in addressing their local environmental

challenges by providing resources, tools and expertise. "

Various communities within the 14 counties in northeast Oklahoma

that make up the Cherokee Nation are collaborating to identify

sources of toxic exposure and improve the environment. In addition,

the Cherokee Nation works in collaboration with the Cherokee Nation

Clinics and Indian Health Service Hospitals to provide screening and

early detection in breast and cervical cancer.

Both CDC and EPA have long been providing support to local

organizations and governments dealing with complex, localized

environmental health issues, such as lead-based paint in homes,

brownfields and pollution-induced asthma. Through today's

memorandum, EPA and CDC will make it easier for communities to

access financial and technical resources to tackle their unique

environmental and public health problems.

In addition to the Cherokee Nation, EPA and CDC are piloting three

other communities in Boston, Massachusetts; Cerro Gordo, Iowa; and

Savannah, Georgia. All four pilot communities are part of EPA's

Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) program, a $4

million competitive grant and technical assistance program to

support community-based education and public health protection

projects across the country.

Additional information on the CARE program and its community

projects is available at http://www.epa.gov/care/.

To learn more about activities in EPA Region 6, please visit

www.epa.gov/region6

[Guest guest]

believe it when I see it. words are cheap.