Environmental Outreach

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Environmental Outreach EducationIDEM
Initiatives for Hoosiers

• Environmental Education Symposium
• June 26, 2008
• Thomas W. Easterly, P.E., BCEE, QEP Commissioner
• IN Department of Environmental Management

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IDEM Mission Statement

• IDEMs mission is to implement federal and state
  regulations to protect human health and the
  environment while allowing the environmentally
  sound operations of industrial, agricultural,
  commercial and government activities vital to a
  prosperous economy.

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Pilot 2006 2008 Environmental Performance Index

• Yale Center for Environmental Law Policy
• Yale University
• Center for International Earth Science
  Information Network (CIESIN)
• Columbia University
• http//www.yale.edu/epi/

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• Wealth correlates highly with EPI scores. But
  at every level of development, some countries
  achieve results that exceed their income-group
  peers. Statistical analysis suggests that good
  governance contributes to better environmental
  outcomes.

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Healthy Economy Healthy Environment

• Both can exist together
• Neither can exist for long without the other
• Future generations will need to know how to have
  that balance
• Your role as educators is vital in helping
  students understand this balance

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IDEMs Performance Metrics

• Increase the percentage of Hoosiers that live in
  counties that meet air quality standards
• Increase the percentage of Combined Sewer
  Overflow Communities with approved programs to
  prevent the release of untreated sewage
• Decrease the permit backlog (decrease the number
  of days it takes to issue a permit)

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• So where does Environmental Education fall in
  IDEMs Performance Metrics?

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Its necessary in each metric!

• We cant have clean air and water unless everyone
  (businesses and citizens) takes responsibility
  for their part
• To do this, we all need to understand what we
  could be doing better
• For example, do Hoosiers know what they could be
  doing in their everyday lives to reduce air
  emissions? Do they know where the storm drain on
  their street empties?

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Breaking Bad Habits

• Currently, we spend a lot of time trying to
  convince adults to change bad or old habits
• Its much easier though to create good habits in
  children that last a lifetime

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Environmental Education at IDEM

• Educates children (starting good habits) and
  adults (breaking bad habits)
• Focuses on Indiana specific environmental issues
  and priorities
• Provides ideas for simple steps anyone can take
  at home, school, in the car, and at work to make
  a difference
• Draws connections between personal daily choices
  and how the impact adds up when thousands of
  other Hoosiers make the same choices

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How Is IDEM Protecting Hoosiers and Our
Environment through Environmental Education?

• Here are just a few ways

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Ozone KnockOut 08

• Take the pledge to help your employees reduce
  ozone
• Encourage carpooling
• Provide flexible schedules
• Install bike racks

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Be Air Aware

• Provides simple steps to decrease air pollution
  and protect our health
• Saves gas money, too!
• Provides tips for your car, home, and work

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Pollution isnt just Rubber Duckies

• Provides simple steps to reduce water pollution
  from households
• Addresses contaminants that could flow down storm
  sewers
• Fertilizers, trash, grass clippings, and more
• Teaches that pollution from many households adds
  up fast

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Use Your Brain, Dont Pour it Down the Drain

• What happens to things you pour down the drain?
  Where do they end up?
• Provides safer alternatives for disposal of
  household chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and grease

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Earth Day Challenge

• IDEM partnered with Region V EPA to promote and
  help track local collection events for
  pharmaceuticals and electronic waste
• During April, events around the state collected
  305 pounds of pharmaceuticals and sharps

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Hoosiers Care

• Launched at Earth Day 08
• 1000 Citizens pledged to take simple steps at
  home to reduce their impact on the environment
• 1000 CFL bulbs were provided
• Pledges will also be available at State Fair

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Earth Week 2008

• 50 IDEM employees from across the state
  volunteered
• 80 schools participated in Earth Week
• 12,180 students participated in the two week
  event
• 1,151 adults participated in the programs

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IDEMs Environmental Education Curriculum

• Indianas Environment and You is available for
  educators at no cost
• Designed to help students recognize the
  importance of the environment
• Students will gain an understanding of what can
  be done to improve the quality of our air, land,
  and water

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IDEM Funding

• School Recycling Learning Grants
• Waste Tire Fund
• Recycling Market Development Program
• Clean Water Act Section 319(h) Grants
• Pollution Prevention Grants

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For information on any of these initiatives, stop
by the IDEM booth.