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University of Delaware Awarded $13,195 EPA Grant to Promote Pesticide Safety

Release Date: 8/4/1999
Contact Information: Donna M. Heron 215-814-5113

NEWARK, Del. -- The University of Delaware has been awarded a $13,195 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to develop a program to teach home gardeners how to safely handle and dispose of pesticides.

The goal of the project is to change the way pesticides are handled by homeowners. Improper storage, disposal or application can contaminate soil and water and some pesticides have leached into drinking water supplies in many parts of the U.S.

This program will teach master gardeners - volunteers from the state cooperative extension speakers bureau - to train homeowners through an innovative technique called active learning. A training manual will also be developed and will eventually be available on the Internet.

"These grants increase the public’s appreciation of the environment and help people understand why it’s important to protect public health by preserving a safe environment," said W. Michael McCabe, regional administrator for the mid-Atlantic region.

EPA’s education grant program is designed to stimulate grass-roots environmental education. In the mid-Atlantic region, 25 grant recipients include schools, civic groups and non-profit organizations. Nationally, $3 million was awarded in 1999.

For more information on this grant contact Janice Lewis at 215-814-2185. EPA’s Regional Internet Home Page also has general information on the grants https://www.epa.gov/region03.


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