Western New York Radon/Indoor Air Quality Coalition
Erie County, N.Y.
The Erie County Department of Environment and Planning (ECDEP) established a partnership of western New York counties and agencies for the purpose of offering the community accurate information on radon gas and other indoor air pollutants. The result was the creation of the western New York Radon/Indoor Air Quality Coalition (WNY Coalition), a partnership of municipal agencies and civic organizations whose mission is to protect and preserve public health by offering consistent, accurate information and technical support on radon and other air quality pollutants to the residents of western New York.

Of the eight counties comprising western New York, six, including Erie County, were designated by the EPA as high-risk “Zone 1” for radon. In response, in 1992 Erie County DEP initiated an aggressive program promoting radon awareness.

The primary goal of the WNY Coalition was to create a network of counties and tribal lands in western New York to address a growing need by the community for information on radon gas and other indoor air quality issues.

Currently there is representation from 12 counties, three tribal communities and two civic organizations, which, combined, serve more than 1.8 million residents.

Funding for the WNY Coalition is provided by the Environmental Protection Agency State Indoor Radon Grant (SIRG) and is administered by the New York State Department of Health. Supplemental financial support for the program is provided by revenue generated through the sale of radon testing kits and in-kind contributions by Erie County.

Examples of the program’s success include: development and implementation of a new radon/IAQ awareness program, expansion of radon testing, creation of a radon awareness program in counties where none existed, coordination of a annual roundtable meeting of the WNY Coalition, the Central New York Coalition for Healthy Indoor Air, and many others.

Grass Roots Lawn Care Program
Chesterfield County, Va.
The objective of the Grass Roots Lawn Care Program is to educate homeowners about how to establish and maintain a healthy and attractive lawn in an environmentally sensitive manner. The long-range goal is to preserve and protect water quality.

Master gardeners are volunteers of the local Extension Office who have had a minimum of 50 hours of training in horticulture. Those who have a particular interest in lawn care may opt to participate as a Grass Roots volunteer. These volunteers are provided with more intensive training devoted to soil testing, nutrient management of turf, aeration of soils, irrigation and other cultural needs of turf. Volunteers receive their initial training in February and March and the more intensive training on turf in April.

This program is coordinated by a water quality technician who schedules the volunteers, analyzes the site visit information and provides the program participants with requested and needed information regarding lawn care.

The extension office promotes the program to the public via press releases, notices printed in community newsletters and the distribution of Grass Roots News.

The cost of the program is $10,000 to pay the salary for the technician/coordinator. Participants pay a $15 fee.

(Hats off to …. was compiled by Christina Crayton, research assistant. Hats off to … features 2000 NACo Achievement Award Winners. For more information, call (202) 942-4285.)