California Water Boards Launch Countywide, Community Action Programs to Reduce Neighborhood Pollution and Improve Los Angeles Water Quality.

News Editors/Environment Writers

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 5, 2004

Erase the Waste Campaign Puts Comprehensive Neighborhood Action

Kit In the Hands of Residents,

Empowering Them to Make Neighborhoods Litter-Free

Today, California Water Boards (known previously as the State Water Resources Control Board) board members Richard Katz and Nancy Sutley, Los Angeles City Councilmember Jack Weiss, and approximately 300 volunteers rolled up their sleeves to clean the Los Angeles River and launch programs to involve communities in the L.A. County Erase the Waste Storm Water Public Education Campaign.

The campaign introduced the Neighborhood Action Kit, a comprehensive how-to guide of storm water pollution prevention activities designed to help residents develop solutions to the widespread problem of litter and pollution in their neighborhoods. The kit includes resource materials and easy-to-follow "get involved" suggestions encouraging residents to take simple actions -- such as adopting a local park or playground as a trash-free zone, staging community clean-ups, signing pet owner "pick-up" pledges, using media and speaking to homeowners groups and other local organizations about the health issues associated with storm water pollution. The kit, developed in five languages, will first be distributed throughout L.A. County and will then be adapted for statewide use.

This community effort is part of a two-year, $5 million public education campaign, Erase the Waste, aimed at reducing harmful and costly storm water pollution in Los Angeles County and engaging the community to help improve the environment of the region's coastal and inland communities.

"The California Water Boards are excited to launch this important community outreach phase of our campaign, where Los Angeles County residents will receive valuable tools, information and suggestions for activities they can do to ensure their neighborhoods are safe and contribute to the health of local waters," said Arthur G. Baggett, Jr., Chair, California Water Boards. "Research indicates that every month, Los Angeles County residents toss almost 1 million pieces of trash on the ground. Through the Erase the Waste campaign, the State is committed to reducing this problem by empowering residents to take ownership of their communities and work with us to improve the water quality of the L.A. County region."

The Neighborhood Action Kit offers simple activities that everyone -- including residents, community-based organizations, non-profits, civic groups and elected officials -- can use to support pollution prevention efforts in their communities. The guide includes template materials for use when targeting the media, outreach materials ready for distribution, a comprehensive resource directory and recommended community activities. The kits are available for free to download in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese languages through the Erase the Waste Web site, www.erasethewaste.com. The kits are also available in hard copy through a distribution network of civic, faith-based and community organizations, elected officials, at fairs and festivals, and through corporate and community partnerships developed by the campaign.

The campaign is also launching a number of other outreach programs, including: the Water Improvement Network, a group of community-based and environmental organizations serving as community messengers; participation in local fairs and festivals throughout the county; and partnerships and in-store promotions with leading retailers and corporations, including The Home Depot, Lowe's, PetCo and 99 Ranch Supermarkets. In addition, the campaign is launching the second round of action-oriented, pollutant-specific advertising, including: "Hold on to Your Butts" and "Cause & Effect" (focus: cigarette butts); "Drop Something?" (focus: pet waste); "Health Threat" and "Take One for the Team" (focus: litter). The English and Spanish ads will run on major market radio, network television and print media from May 31, 2004 - August 8, 2004.

"Through my involvement with the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, I am thrilled about the resources the Erase the Waste campaign is providing residents and organizations to enable us to fight trash and litter in our neighborhoods. We will join this effort to keep our community clean by implementing some of the many activities in the kit, such as community clean ups and recycling drives," said John Jackson, State Campaign Coordinator, Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, an organizational member of the Erase the Waste Community Advisory Council. "Pollution affects all of us; unfortunately, not all residents get involved. The Neighborhood Action Kit will help reach those of us who know very little about pollution issues and don't think that we can make a difference. We can all take action to prevent pollution in our neighborhoods."

Storm water pollution is created when litter, animal droppings, cigarette butts, motor oil, fertilizers, pesticides and other pollutants end up on the ground and are washed into storm drains. This polluted runoff mixes with millions of gallons of rainwater and flows untreated into local creeks, rivers and the Pacific Ocean -- polluting our waterways, and degrading neighborhoods and other natural resources.

The effects of storm water pollution are severe and widespread. A study by the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Project linked storm water pollution in the ocean to increased risk of viral infections such as hepatitis, earaches, fever, flu and skin rashes. L.A. County Department of Health Services has a standing rain advisory that recommends avoiding contact with ocean water for 72 hours after rainfall ends. And Heal the Bay's 2002-2003 Beach Report Card on L.A. County's beaches gave 56 percent of monitored beaches a failing grade during wet weather. Beach pollution has significant negative economic impacts -- as beach attendance has dropped 56 percent since 1983 and clean-up measures are expensive. Poor water quality and unsafe beach conditions threaten Los Angeles' tourism.

The California Water Boards were created by the Legislature in 1967. The mission of the Water Boards is to ensure the highest quality for waters of the State, while balancing its beneficial uses. The joint authority of water allocation and water quality protection enables the Water Boards to provide comprehensive protection for California's inland, coastal and ground water sources.

Note: To download the Neighborhood Action Kit, view copies of the advertising or for more information on the Erase the Waste campaign and the California Water Boards, log on to www.erasethewaste.com. To request copies of the kit or advertising, please call Barbara Hodgson at 310-552-4134 or Lori Small at 310-552-4173.