GLIN==> IISG NEWS: Workshop to Highlight New Waste Disposal Resource Kits

[Irene Miles <miles@uiuc.edu>]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
October 20, 2006
Source: Susan Boehme (312) 353-4383; boehme.susan@epa.gov
 
 
Workshop to Highlight New Waste Disposal Resource Kits
 
URBANA--Two new community awareness campaigns on backyard burning and
medicine disposal will be highlighted in an upcoming workshop at the
State of the Lakes Conference (SOLEC) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, November
1-3. New resource kits developed by the U.S. EPA and Illinois-Indiana Sea
Grant, under the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration provide key tools for
communities that want to address these waste disposal concerns.
 
During this three hour workshop, Erin Newman of the U.S. EPA Air
Resources Division will speak about the environmental concerns of
backyard burning, offer alternatives to burning, and provide resources
that can be used by communities and tribes to build infrastructure to
provide burning alternatives. 
 
Susan Boehme of Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant will introduce the emerging
issue of unwanted medicine disposal. "Approximately 4,600 tons of
drugs are discarded annually in this country," said Boehme.
"Pharmaceuticals make their way to our local lakes and streams,
posing a potential environmental concern. In 2000, the U.S. Geological
Survey sampled downstream from wastewater treatment plants in 30 states
and found at least one pharmaceutical in 80 percent of 139
streams."
 
In addition, representatives from several cities and states will explain
their programs to provide effective alternatives for disposing of
unwanted medicine. Participants will have opportunity to ask them
directly about how to start similar programs in other communities.
 
The workshop is titled "Working with Communities to Develop
Pollution Prevention Strategies in the Great Lakes Basin" and takes
place on November 3, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. On November 2, during the
afternoon session focused on chemical integrity, scientists from the U.S
and Canada will present current research on the impacts of
pharmaceuticals on aquatic species and ecosystems.
 
SOLEC is a multi-agency effort led by the U.S. EPA and Environment Canada
as part of the bi-national Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (revised
in 1987). Every two years since 1994 the current conditions of the lakes
are assessed using key indicators. These indicators, such as chemical and
bacteria concentrations, status of fish and wildlife populations, and
water usage in the region, are tools to monitor change over time. This
year's conference focus is chemical integrity. 
 
For more information about SOLEC or this year's agenda, visit
http://www.solecregistration.ca/en/default.asp.
For more information about the new resource kits, contact Erin Newman at
312- 886-4587 or Susan Boehme at 312-353-4383.

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The Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant College Program is one of more than 30
National Sea Grant College Programs. Created by Congress in 1966, Sea
Grant combines university, government, business and industry expertise to
address coastal and Great Lakes needs.  Funding is provided by the
National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U. S. Department of
Commerce, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Purdue
University at West Lafayette, Indiana.

Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant
Two States Caring for one Great Lake

Irene Miles
Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant
376 NSRC
1101 W. Peabody Dr.
Urbana, Il 61801
(217) 333-8055
FAX (217) 333-8046