DENVER — As part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s national initiative to address environmental justice challenges in 10 Western communities, the EPA has screened 192 homes and public buildings on the Wind River Indian Reservation for lead-based paint. The screenings lead to increased awareness and mitigation of lead paint where it could impact the development of young children.

EPA’s Region 8 headquarters in Denver has been working with state and local government and community partners to implement the program in 10 showcase communities, committing $1 million to the effort over the next two years.

“These 10 communities will serve as models for the EPA's committed environmental justice efforts, and help highlight the disproportionate environmental burdens placed on low-income and minority communities all across the nation,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson.  “By expanding the conversation on environmentalism, we can give a voice to vulnerable groups that haven’t always had a voice on these issues. Our 10 Showcase Communities will provide lessons for how we make every community a better place for people to live, for business to invest and bring jobs, and for opportunities to grow.”

Other region-wide efforts include retrofitting 125 school buses to reduce concentrations of in-cabin fine particulate emissions by 56 percent, and cleaning 29,202 pounds of dangerous and hazardous chemicals from 86 schools. The effort has distributed radon test kits in Pubelo Springs, Colo., and has started a Children’s Environmental Health and Environmental Justice initiative in six neighborhoods in Salt Lake City.

For more information on environmental justice and the Environmental Justice Showcase Communities: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/environmentaljustice/grants/ej-showcase.html