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Photo courtesy John Winters

Thanks to The Boren Foundation, and Jack and Karen Kay Leonard for making this website possible. 

Highlights

As usual, it has been a busy few months at Improving Kids’ Environment. Here is a quick rundown on IKE’s current projects:

Legislation Success: IKE was successful on three of its four legislative priorities. Indiana House Enrolled Act-1864 set the stage for an effective birth defects registry. HEA-1901 strictly limits many unnecessary uses of mercury starting July 1, 2003. While pesticide-in-schools legislation did not pass, the promises made to get 100% adoption by July 1, 2002 and the mechanism set-up by HR-125 promises to be just as effective.

Unfortunately, the top legislative priority to improve kids’ environment — SB-320 which reduces lead poisoning prevention — died at the last minute despite an verbal agreement at conference committee.

Windows of Opportunity: With the assistance of IKE, Indiana has designed a $71 million program to replace lead-based paint windows in low-income homes across Indiana. The $51 million federal match comes from Children’s Health Insurance Program funds. The project will get underway when the federal government approves it. The request was submitted on July 11.

Don’t Make It Worse: IKE is leading an effort to petition the Indiana Water Pollution Control Board to modify its sewer construction permit rules. The modification would require that is no net increase in sewage overflows to our streams when new sewer connections are made.

Arsenic in Playgrounds: IKE has been working with Indianapolis’ WISH-TV to evaluate the hazards posed by arsenic in treated lumber. The results were surprising.

Indy Urban Pesticide Initiative: Thanks to a grant from EPA Region 5, IKE has established an initiative to prevent the misuse of pesticides and promote integrated pest management. The initiative’s priorities are advice from retail stores, landlord-tenant relations, and use of treated lumber.

Monica Dougherty has joined IKE. Learn more about her.