Quarterly Webinar for National Emphasis Area (NEA) Grantees

The EPA National Pollution Prevention Program has established three national emphasis areas (NEAs) to give the program a more centralized focus and direction that will result in more impactful, measurable results. Through these webinars, we are hoping to share best practices among the states and regions in order to amplify all the great work we are doing in this country to support the goals of the NEAs. We have two great speakers lined up for our kick-off meeting in the month of November.

These grants are part of the State and Community Approaches to Hazardous Materials Source Reduction NEA, but we are inviting all grantees to the call in case you would like more information on the other NEA workgroups.

Dial In: 866-299-3188; Passcode: 202-564-8837

Agenda:

• Introduction of Panelists (Tina Guthrie) - 5 minutes
• Rich Bizzozero of the Massachusetts Office of Technical Assistance (MA OTA) will present on their three- year P2 State Technical Assistance Grant involving an innovative “train the trainer” approach to community hazardous material source reduction and climate resilience for businesses using hazardous materials in Massachusetts. Rich will discuss how MA OTA is providing grant funding to eight regional planning agencies that will each hold two training events designed to build models for incorporating toxics use reduction into community and regional emergency preparedness and climate resiliency planning - 20 minutes
• Helaine Barr of the New Jersey Department of Environmental protection (NJDEP) will provide an overview of the New Jersey Sustainable Business Registry, which has identified 50 small businesses in the region and will discuss the sustainability efforts of these small businesses. These businesses have reduced their power, cut waste and have achieved other environmental results that have to date collectively saved nearly $2.5 million dollars. - 20 minutes
• Q&A 15 minutes

Rich Bizzozero, from the Massachusetts Office of Technical Assistance and the state's Toxics Use Reduction Act (TURA) program, has more than 25 years of experience. He has provided technical assistance to manufacturers, and for the past eight years he has serves as the OTA Director. In addition to his OTA responsibilities, Rich serves as Executive Director of the Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Administrative Council, a policy-making body that reviews proposed regulations and chemical policies to protect the health and safety of workers and the public at large and promotes increased coordination in the enforcement of toxics laws and regulations statewide.

Helaine Barr, from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), is committed to advancing sustainability principals and programs that support New Jersey’s communities and businesses. As a Research Scientist, her responsibilities include coordination of the New Jersey Sustainable Business Registry, along with a number of other sustainability initiatives.