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Tompkins County. By: Aurora Trainor Mentored By: Lisa McDevitt. About EcoEd!. EcoEd is a program for students grades 7-12 (now expanded to elementary students!) that was created to help students learn more about the environment than just what is taught in school
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Tompkins County By: Aurora Trainor Mentored By: Lisa McDevitt
About EcoEd! • EcoEd is a program for students grades 7-12 (now expanded to elementary students!) that was created to help students learn more about the environment than just what is taught in school • This year’s focus was on a New York county, it’s general health, and how it compares with other counties in the state
Methods • First…what is a county? • Helps organize the state • Supports a smaller area • How toresearch a county? • Use of official county sites • County plans • Data provided by the county, state, and federal government.
Background • Established in 1817 • Originally native American land • Settled by Europeans, then given to Revolutionary War veterans • Named for vice president at the time and fourth governor of New York • County government: • County Council of Governments • Many departments • Human and Public Services
Waterfalls, Wetlands, and Gorges in Tompkins County http://ithacafingerlakes.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/FLLT-P63-1-18_0064-1024x681.jpg http://ithacafingerlakes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/40859small-682x1024.jpg http://www.cnyhiking.com/IthacaFallsPanorama10152013.jpg
Indicators • Using data such as watershed health and air quality can help indicate the health of an area • There was no data from Tompkins County on the number of unhealthy air days for the general population according to the EPA • 5% of rivers and 12% of lakes have poor water quality. However, many rivers (about 57%!) do not have available data according to the NY DEC
Lead Case http://images-of-elements.com/lead-cut.jpg http://www.termiteterry.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/lead-paint.jpg
Lead Case • Popular use until 1970s in the U.S • Banned 1978 • Use in paint • Still found in many countries • Found in lead soldered pipes and children’s toys • Many detrimental health effects • Companies can benefit
Soil/Water Case • Importance of soil to a county • Soil needs to be treated well • The dangers of erosion • The many uses of water • Where Tompkins gets its water • What impacts water quality?
Air Quality Case • Greenhouse gas emissions • AES Cayuga • “Good” air quality 98.76% of the time, “moderate” 1.24% • AQI is 41.7 • Ranked 22nd in New York State
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Hydraulic Fracturing Case • What is “fracking”? • Large companies are looking for landowners to lease land to frack on • Affects on water, air, and soil • Human health concerns
Recommendations • I would recommend more updated studies of the county including watershed, air quality, and soil data! • I also believe that before fracking is ever considered in Tompkins, there should be more in depth studies on the potentially harmful affects. • It is important to always improve in order to maintain good county health! • This requires support, hard work, and dedication to the environment from the government and citizens!
Sources • “A Dairy Farmer Shares Her Story About Fracking: ‘What Have We Done?’ | Public Herald.” Accessed April 17, 2014. http://www.publicherald.org/archives/16845/investigative-reports/energy-investigations/. • “Air Compare | AIRNow | US EPA.” Accessed April 20, 2014. http://www.epa.gov/aircompare/index.htm. • “Bradford County Fracking Map | NPR StateImpact.” Accessed April 17, 2014. http://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/drilling/counties/bradford-county/. • “Chesapeake Energy Corporation 2012 Annual Report.” Accessed April 17, 2014. http://www.chk.com/Annual-Report/Pages/index.html#/4-5/zoomed. • “Dangers of Fracking.” Accessed April 17, 2014. http://www.dangersoffracking.com/. • “Fracking Our Food Supply | The Nation.” Accessed April 20, 2014. http://www.thenation.com/article/171504/fracking-our-food-supply#. • “Health - Lead - Product Recalls | Www.tompkinscountyny.gov.” Accessed April 16, 2014. http://www.tompkinscountyny.gov/health/lead/recalls. • “Ithaca: History - Ithaca Before the Civil War, Cornell University Opens, City Prospers.” Accessed April 15, 2014. http://www.city-data.com/us-cities/The-Northeast/Ithaca-History.html. • “Lead in Drinking Water | Lead | US EPA.” Accessed March 23, 2014. http://water.epa.gov/drink/info/lead/. • “Lead Paint Background | Occupational Knowledge International.” Accessed April 16, 2014. http://www.okinternational.org/lead-paint/Background. • “Lead Poisoning Causes - Diseases and Conditions - Mayo Clinic.” Accessed March 22, 2014. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lead-poisoning/basics/causes/con-20035487. • “Lead Poisoning Prevention Outreach in Ithaca, NY | Make A Difference Day.” Accessed March 23, 2014. http://www.makeadifferenceday.com/event/45498. • “Lead Poisoning: Your Child: University of Michigan Health System.” Accessed March 22, 2014. http://www.med.umich.edu/yourchild/topics/leadpois.htm. • “Map 5: Incidence Rate of Blood Lead Levels ≥ 10 mcg/dL Among Children Under Age Six Years by County; Three-Year Average Rates, 2005 - 2007 Blood Lead Test Data, New York State Excluding New York City.” Accessed March 23, 2014. http://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/lead/exposure/childhood/surveillance_report/2006-2007/section_2/map_5.htm. • “Must See New York Waterfalls | Visit Ithaca, NY.” Accessed April 15, 2014. http://www.visitithaca.com/attractions/waterfalls.html. • “Oswego River/Finger Lakes Watershed - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation.” Accessed April 20, 2014. http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/48023.html. • “Restoring Wetlands Near Cayuga Inlet: Presentation December 1 | Www.tompkinscountyny.gov.” Accessed April 17, 2014. http://tompkinscountyny.gov/news/restoring-wetlands-near-cayuga-inlet-presentation-december-1. • “Section I: Testing and Results.” Accessed March 23, 2014. http://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/lead/exposure/report/section1.htm. • “Soil Erosion – Causes and Effects.” Accessed April 17, 2014. http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/engineer/facts/12-053.htm#3.