Filed Jul 30, 2008 at 10:46 am

Charleston gets pollution-reduction grant from EPA

On Tuesday, $236,498 was awarded to Charleston County by the EPA to reduce pollution from: "on-road diesel emissions through anti-idling, retrofits and the use of alternative fuel vehicles; controlling open burning; encouraging proper disposal of pet waste; promoting mass transit; working with boaters to address marine pollution; and preserving green space, among others issues," according to a press release.

That release continued to say:

Project partners previously conducted the Charleston Region Toxics Risk Assessment and identified particulate air pollution and ground level ozone as priority air toxics risks, and fecal coliform bacteria, petroleum product releases and trace metals as priority water pollutants in the Charleston County area. Through the CARE project, project partners aim to heighten local residents’ awareness of these air and water pollution sources and encourage actions that individuals can take to reduce pollution.

“We are pleased and honored to have been selected by the EPA to become a CARE community,” said Carl Simmons, Charleston County’s Building Services Director. “We are undertaking an extensive educational campaign with this program to provide information and assistance to our citizens on ways to reduce pollution and improve our air and water quality in order to protect the environment for future generations.”

The program, Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE), seeks to educate residents of common sources of pollution and how reduce them.