Community Notes 06-25-2012

1. America Is Your Park. Coca-Cola is holding its 3rd annual America is your park campaign. Your vote can help your favorite park win the title of “America’s Favorite Park” and a $100,000 recreation grant from Coca-Cola. Many people have decided to vote to help Bastrop State Park, which is still recovering from the wildfires last fall. Visit https://apps.facebook.com/ to learn more and to vote. You can vote everyday until July 15th.
2. CoH Recycles Polystyrene Foam. Beginning Monday, June 25, 2012, the City of Houston will accept clean block style or packaging polystyrene foam at the Westpark Recycling Center, 5900 Westpark, Houston 77057and the Environmental Service Center South, 11500 South Post Oak Lane, Houston 77045. Residents can drop off polystyrene foam at both facilities.Thanks to the generosity of Total Petrochemicals & Refining USA, Inc, the City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) has obtained a polystyrene densifier and compactor machine that enables SWMD to transform polystyrene waste into a valuable recycled material. Up until now, polystyrene foams – commonly known as “Styrofoam” – were bulk materials used in packaging that ended up in Houston’s landfills. Now, polystyrene foam can be compressed by a factor of 40 to 1. As a result, the densified polystyrene foam becomes a product that can be recycled and reused in a variety of commercial and residential uses. More at www.greenhouston.org.
3. EPA Announces Framework to Help Local Governments Manage Stormwater Runoff and Wastewater. the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a new framework to help local governments meet their Clean Water Act obligations. The Integrated Municipal Stormwater and Wastewater Planning Approach Framework assists EPA regional offices, states, and local governments to develop voluntary storm and wastewater management plans and implement effective integrated approaches that will protect public health by reducing overflows from wastewater systems and pollution from stormwater. In developing the framework, the EPA worked in close coordination with a variety of stakeholders, including publicly owned treatment works, state water permitting authorities, local governments, and nonprofit environmental groups. More information on the EPA website.
4. TV: Texas Parks & Wildlife. Broadcast on KUHT Channel 8 at 3:00 PM each Saturday and on cable channels in Baytown, Deer Park, Seabrook, and on HCC. More info on the TPWD website (* indicates a segment about the Houston area). This week’s broadcast will include:
   • Outdoor Clubbing
   • Fort Leaton State Historic Site
   • TPWD People: Shawn Hervey
   • The River Runs Red
5. Air Quality Forecast. http://www.tceq.texas.gov/airquality/monops/forecast_today.html
   • June 26: Orange–Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups–Ozone–and Yellow–Moderate–Fine Particulate. Continental air with high ozone background levels should continue over much of the eastern half of the state and, combined with light winds, sunny skies, and hot temperatures, could help ozone to reach “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” on the south, southwest, and west side of the Houston area with highest concentrations in the afternoon and early evening. Elevated background levels may also help fine particulate to reach “Moderate” levels over much of the eastern half of the state.
   • June 27: Orange–Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups–Ozone–and Yellow–Moderate–Fine Particulate. Continental air with high ozone background levels should continue over much of the eastern half of the state and, combined with light winds, sunny skies, and hot temperatures, could help ozone to reach “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” on the west and northwest side of the Houston area with highest concentrations in the afternoon and early evening. Elevated background levels may also help fine particulate to reach “Moderate” levels over much of the eastern half of the state.
   • June 28: Orange–Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups–Ozone–and Yellow–Moderate–Fine Particulate. Continental air with high ozone background levels should continue over much of the eastern half of the state and, combined with light winds, sunny skies, and hot temperatures, could help ozone to reach “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” on the north side of the Houston area, with highest concentrations in the afternoon and early evening. Elevated background levels may also help fine particulate to reach “Moderate” levels over much of the eastern half of the state.
   • On June 25, TCEQ issued Air Pollution Warnings – Level Orange for unhealthy levels of ozone in the Houston-Galveston-Brazoria areas. During a Level Orange warning, active children and adults as well as people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should limit prolonged outdoor exposure.