Lab Earth Day events urge beautification, community service

Part of National Volunteer Week

The Laboratory is celebrating Earth Day and National Volunteer Week with a number of activities in April, including a Laboratory-wide beautification and litter clean-up around select technical areas, tree plantings and a bike-to-work promotion designed to encourage alternative forms of transportation to improve air quality.

The events are sponsored by Risk Reduction and Environmental Stewardship (RRES), Facilities and Waste Operations (FWO) and Communications and External Relations (CER) divisions. The theme of Earth Day at the Lab is "By Protecting the Environment, I Protect Our Health."

The theme for National Volunteer week theme is "Inspire by Example," and the Lab is setting an example by sponsoring the Great Garbage Grab at the Lab April 19-30.

Earth Day is observed nationally on April 22. Originally observed in 1970, this year marks the 34th observed Earth Day.

National Volunteer Week began in 1974 through a proclamation by President Richard Nixon that established a national celebration of volunteering and recognizing volunteers for their contributions to their communities; the proclamation also encouraged local community service projects.

Laboratory Earth Day events begin April 15 when Linton Brooks, National Nuclear Security Administration administrator will present the Laboratory with two NNSA pollution prevention awards. On the same day, there also is bike to work and play promotion designed to encourage Lab workers to use bicycles or other, alternative forms of transportation to get to and from work.

"On the 34th anniversary of Earth Day, it is appropriate that Laboratory employees and neighbors take stock in our role in environmental protection. This year we will celebrate Earth Day and participate in a community-spirited way," said Dennis Hjeresen of the Lab's Pollution Prevention team (RRES-PP).

The Lab also is collaborating with Los Alamos County's Solid Waste Division and the Pajarito Environmental Education Center, a nonprofit local organization, on a number of events open to the community. Among the scheduled community events are a community clean-up day on Saturday, April 17; a hike in Pueblo Canyon; a snake-awareness program at the Betty Ehart Senior Center; a talk about native plants and water conservation all that same day; and a photo display for youths April 24 in the Los Alamos Community Building.

The bike to work and play promotion urges Lab workers to get out from behind the wheel and onto a bike or other non-motorized form of transportation. "Not only does cycling to work reduce automobile emissions and traffic volume, it also is a healthy alternative," said Diane Albert of Materials Science and Technology (MST) Division, president of the Los Alamos County Cyclists Coalition.

As an incentive, Lab workers who forego the auto for the bike or other alternative form of transportation can pick up a punch card at locations around the Lab and at community businesses. The card can be punched at all participating entities listed on the back of the card every time an employee has to travel, such as commuting to and from work, into town or between technical areas, Albert explained. Employees who complete their card can turn it in at the Earth Day picnic April 22 at Ashley Pond and become eligible for prizes, Albert said. The bike to work and play promotion ends April 22 and all cards should be turned in by April 24.

On Earth Day, the Lab will join its co-sponsors in tree plantings and a picnic at Ashley Pond. Employees who ride their bicycle or walk to the pond will receive a double punch of their card. Several types of trees will be planted in a joint effort with the county and Pajarito Environmental Education Center. Transportation is scheduled to be provided to Ashley Pond.

Also scheduled is a talk about elk and other wildlife by Susan Rupp of Ecology (RRES-ECO) at 7 p.m., April 22 in the Bradbury Science Museum.

Employees tired of seeing litter strewn around buildings, the technical areas where they work or along roadways can do something about it by participating in the "Great Garbage Grab at the Lab," April 19 through 30. This event is part of National Volunteer Week, explained Debbi Wersonick of the Community Relations (CRO) Office.

According to Wersonick, Lab workers, individually or in teams, can sign up to pick up litter and refuse on main roads, parking lots and immediate areas in and around the technical areas where they work.

Wersonick said that there will be a competition between Lab organizations to determine who can collect the largest amount of litter and refuse during the 12-day clean-up campaign. The division collecting the largest amount of refuse will receive a Traveling Trash Trophy. The winning division will retain the trophy until the next competition, she added.

"I would like to challenge the Lab work force to join in this initiative, which embraces Laboratory Director Nanos' call for institutional pride and involvement," said Tony Stanford, FWO Division leader. "This event also reinforces the Laboratory's commitment to protecting our environment."

The last scheduled Earth Day event is the Lab's annual Pollution Prevention awards ceremony at 10 a.m., April 29 in the Physics Building Auditorium at Technical Area 3. "The P2 awards honor all the great employee ideas and accomplishments that have reduced waste and saved money at the Lab," said Hjeresen. "It's a great way to recognize Earth Day every day."

The Lab has created an Earth Day Web page listing scheduled events at the Lab and in the community, links to other Earth Day Web pages and information on what people can do to celebrate Earth Day.

A Great Garbage Grab at the Lab Web page can be found at http://fwo.lanl.gov/ online.

For more Earth Day information, call Camille Bustamante of RRES-PP at 930-3174. For information about the Great Garbage Grab and other National Volunteer Week activities, call Wersonick at 7-7870.

-- Steve Sandoval

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