NEWS AND UPDATES

Updated Residential On-Site Wastewater

Treatment Information

DNR's Private Septic Systems webpage has been updated with a revised Residential On-Site Wastewater Treatment document. This publication will answer many questions that homeowners or potential homeowners, real estate agents and lenders may have about residential onsite wastewater treatment systems. Information is based on Iowa Administrative Code (IAC) 567-Chapter 69, Private Sewage Disposal Systems.

If you have questions about the new document or on-site systems, please contact Cory Frank, Iowa DNR, at 515-689-7941, or e-mail at Cory.Frank@dnr.iowa.gov.

Mon, May 16 at 8:52 AM

	Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Subscribe to Environmental Health Services (EHS) for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For more information, visit www.cdc.gov/nceh/ehs.

IEHA makes the National NEHA news

Iowa Environmental Health Association’s Credentialing Support

The Iowa Environmental Health Association (IEHA) does something remarkable for its members – particularly during these difficult economic times. IEHA not only promotes and provides proctored exams for several environmental health credentials, but in addition, it has been reimbursing members the cost of their exam fees for the C.E.H.T., R.E.H.S., and CP-FS certification exams (for qualified IEHA members) at its spring and fall conferences! NEHA salutes the Iowa affiliate and encourages all NEHA affiliates to consider taking similar steps to help their members elevate their professionalism even as budget and staff cuts threaten careers.

Why did they do this?

In 2005, one of the goals of the Iowa Affiliate was to promote credentialing through either the REHS or CEHT. In spring 2006, a small group of local environmental health practitioners obtained at least one of these professional credentials through NEHA. As these efforts were taking place, progress was also being made to create public health standards for Iowa. Among other things, the standards call for Environmental Health Managers to hold an appropriate credential. In view of this policy, the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) worked with IEHA to develop credentialing study groups, which were partially funded through EH Capacity Building grants and/or preparedness funding. To attract more people to these study groups, IEHA stepped forward to offer to pay for the cost of the credentialing exams.

Paying for the Exams

Each spring, IEHA and IPHA hold an annual statewide conference for environmental health and public health professionals. The conference draws over 600 attendees on each day of the three-day event. Both IEHA and IPHA share in the proceeds from the conference. In addition, IEHA holds a fall conference every other year. IEHA is also a part of a multi-state regional affiliate conference that is held periodically. Proceeds from all of these events constitute the main funding source for the exam proctoring and reimbursement program.

How can YOUR Affiliate Replicate IEHA’s Success?

• Do your homework!

• Is there interest among your membership for a similar program?

• How many of your members are preparing to become certified?

• Approximately how many members each year would sit for an exam?

• What would the yearly cost be to your affiliate for a similar program?

• Are there capacity-building funding opportunities (federal or state level) that you could consider to fund your program?

• Establish Program Goals!

• If there is sufficient interest, develop attainable goals, by year, for your affiliate to achieve.

• Create a committee to oversee the program and its development.

• Network!

• If sufficient interests exists, create a network within your state for:

• Study groups by credential type

• Work groups to research funding opportunities

• Creation of a state-wide conference of environmental health and public health professionals (if one does not currently exist)

• Connect with local and state officials of EH and PH programs to determine interest in and support for your program goals.

• Communicate!

• On your Web site, Newsletter(s), social media, or other avenues, share information about your program.

• Welcome ideas on funding opportunities from others.

• Connect with other Affiliate Presidents (contact information is available on the NEHA Web site and in the JEH) to find out about similar programs being conducted in other affiliates.

• Share your program success stories with others.

Bed Bug Information Clearinghouse

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is launching an online Bed Bug Information Clearinghouse. It contains peer-reviewed bed bug outreach materials from a variety of different sources such as governments, universities and extension services. Stemming from a top recommendation from EPA’s Second Annual National Bed Bug Summit, the Bed Bug Information Clearinghouse is a collaborative effort between EPA and partners in the Federal Bed Bug Workgroup.

The goal of the Bed Bug Information Clearinghouse is to provide a “one-stop” location for communities throughout the country to exchange information and outreach materials on the control, detection and prevention of bed bugs. This will help communities conserve resources and provide improved effectiveness and accuracy of community outreach materials.
The Clearinghouse is searchable based on:

Audience – such as Hotels, Health Centers, Housing Authorities, Schools, Shelters, Residential Consumers, etc.
Topic – Detection, Prevention, Non-chemical Control, Management, Pesticides
Type of product – Outreach Materials such as Factsheets, Brochures, Websites, etc.

The Clearinghouse will include information in English and other languages as available. Some of the current information focuses on identifying and treating bed bug infestations in various types of situations. In addition, there is information on several different types of treatments such the use of heat to kill bed bugs.
While there is no quick fix for bed bug infestations, having accurate information about bed bug control will help keep the public from over-applying or misusing pesticides. There are a variety of non-chemical approaches for controlling, detecting and preventing bed bugs that have been shown to be effective, including:

Checking for bed bugs on luggage and clothing when returning from a trip
Looking for bed bugs or signs of an infestation on second-hand items, such as a sofa or bed, before bringing the item into your home
Reducing clutter where bed bugs can hide
Using a protective cover that encases mattresses and box springs

A more informed public is a better partner in the control, detection and prevention of bed bugs. With the help of community advocates distributing outreach materials from the Clearinghouse to the public, EPA hopes that this will lead to increased prevention as well as a reduction in infestations.

For more information on bed bugs, visit http://www.epa.gov/bedbugs/

U.S. Public Health Service (U.S. PHS)

The US Public Health Service team is reaching out to environmental health associations across the country to make them aware of who the USPHS is and ways in which the USPHS can network together.

Get to know who the USPHS is and what services are provide as well as career opportunities. For more information, Click Here

The IEC Bulletin

The latest version of the Iowa Environmental Council News Bulletin is available online! The IEC News Bulletin provides timely information regarding statewide environmental issues. Check it out today

Environmental Health: It is Everywhere, Everyday! ~ Non-Profit Organization (501c) Information ~

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