TWO AREA GROUPS TO SHARE AWARD FROM EPA

The U.S. Environmental Protection recognizes and honors outstanding, innovative efforts in achieving cleaner air with its annual “Clean Air Excellence Awards.” Two local groups, Mothers for Clean Air and University of Texas Medical Branch will receive an education/outreach award for Ozone Theater. Ozone Theater uses interactive, performance-based lessons to teach students about important air quality issues. The program, created by Mothers for Clean Air in partnership with University of Texas Medical Branch Theater Outreach and Education, was developed specifically for the Houston-Galveston area and is closely aligned with state-mandated teaching objectives. A trained leader conducts the game, which takes about 35 minutes. In “Pesky Polluters,” for kids in pre-K through grade two, children act out various pollution sources, such as such as a bus, a plane, a ship, and a factory. In “Good Ozone, Bad Ozone,” for grades three to five, students learn about the EPA’s Air Quality Index and act out activities that are safe during different ozone pollution levels. The school is given a set of AQI flags to be used as an outdoor air quality warning at the school.”We’re thrilled that EPA has chosen to recognize Ozone Theater,” said Jane Laping, executive director of Mothers for Clean Air. “So far, we’ve provided this free program to more than 10,000 students in the Houston area, and they really have a great time learning about our air.”

Also, the award for clean air technology will be presented to Leak Surveys, Inc., of Early, Texas, for the “HAWK” Leak Detection System. Originally used to detect natural gas leaks in pipelines, HAWK has recently found a new application in petrochemical plants, refineries and terminals. Ship Channel companies and the Texas Commission for Environmental Quality use the system to detect leaks of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from storage tanks, barges, valves and fittings so they can be identified and repaired faster. VOCs are a component of smog. This system, which uses a passive infrared camera, has revolutionized the potential for VOC emission recognition. The technician scans for emissions while watching a digital video screen to verify a leaking component.

The Clean Air Excellence Awards recognize programs, projects, or technologies that directly or indirectly reduce emissions of criteria pollutants or hazardous/toxic air pollutants; are innovative and unique; provide a model for others to follow; and result in positive outcomes that are sustainable. The other categories of awards are community action, regulatory/policy innovations, transportation efficiency innovations, visionary programs, and individual achievement. The 7th annual Clean Air Excellence Award ceremony will take place on the evening of May 9 at Smithsonian’s Museum of the American Indian. Thirteen awards will be presented.