LWVLMR member Jeanette Neagu continues the important work of researching, educating the public about, and advocating for inspections of above-ground chemical storage tanks located near water sources. The reach of her efforts benefited from recent media coverage.

Indianapolis indie weekly Nuvo featured Neagu and her work in its recent story,  "Uninspected Tanks of Toxins."  The author called her "...a kind of Paul Revere." 

The New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission recognized the impact of Neagu's endeavors as well.  In its latest Lustline (that's LUST for Leaking Underground Storage Tank), an article, "It Takes a Village" (on pp. 13-14), described the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA) of 1986 and included a list of questions Neagu developed for citizens to ask about storage tanks. 

As the NEIWPCC recognized, "Jeanette saw a serious problem and is working tirelessly to educate a network of people to take up the cause. When all is said and done, it is the community that must be in the frontline of protecting its citizens and its environment."

We couldn't agree more!

As we've been on the road, promoting the use of green infrastructure for all of its virtues, including its ability to naturally clean stormwater, we've heard plenty of stories.  This one comes from Jean & Doug Cheever, of the League of Women Voters of Dubuque, IA.   They shared,

It turned out that the City only allowed grass in parkway plantings. After some research, the Cheevers found a St. Paul, Minnesota ordinance that encouraged other street plantings as long as they were less than 3 feet tall and did not include noxious weeds or marijuana.

Armed with their case and the ordinance, they appealed to their government officials. Success! The City changed the policy!  Thanks, Cheevers, for helping to beautify America and working towards cleaner water!