(New York, N.Y.) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded a nearly $30,000 Environmental Justice Small Grant to the Coral Bay Community Council, Inc., of St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The grant money will be used to increase community awareness about health risks and environmental hazards posed by the illegal dumping of solid waste into drainage ditches.

“Coral Bay is a precious resource in need of help,” said Judith A. Enck, EPA Regional Administrator. “The pollutants that leach out of these ditches, along with the waste itself, is threatening the environment, marine life and the health of the members of this community. This grant will help the Coral Bay Community Council address the risks posed from dumping garbage into ditches.”

The grant was awarded to bolster programs designed to take direct action against the dumping of solid waste into ditches in and around the community. Nearby coastal waters surrounding the Coral Bay community are at risk from the improper dumping. To address this, the Coral Bay Community Council, Inc., will partner with youth groups and residents to create an environmental education program specifically about the impact of improper solid waste disposal and its effect on residents and the local waterway.

With the help of this EPA grant, community organizations like the Coral Bay Community Council will have the opportunity to conduct research, implement environmental education programs, and develop solutions to health issues that harm both humans and the environment. EPA’s Environmental Justice Small Grants further EPA’s commitment to making a visible difference in communities across the nation.

More information regarding the Environmental Justice Small Grants Program, including descriptions of previously funded grants: http://www3.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/grants/ej-smgrants.html

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