United States Environmental Protection Agency launches green infrastructure drive

Strategic Agenda to Protect Waters and Build More Livable Communities

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has launched an initiative to promote the use of “green infrastructure” by cities and towns, in an effort to reduce rainwater runoff.

On April 29, 2011 Deputy Administrator Bob Perciasepe announced the release of EPA’s new Strategic Agenda to Protect Waters and Build More Livable Communities through Green Infrastructure. This outlines the activities that the Agency will undertake to help communities implement green infrastructure approaches.

“Through this agenda, we’ll help cities and towns across the nation clean up their waters and strengthen their communities by supporting and expanding green infrastructure,” said Bob Perciasepe. “Green infrastructure changes improve the health of our waters while creating local jobs, saving communities money and making them healthier and more prosperous places to raise a family and start a business.”

THE VIEW FROM BRITISH COLUMBIA: "From a British Columbia perspective, it is great to see the EPA brand their Strategic Agenda as 'protect waters and build more livable communities'," states Kim Stephens, Executive Director of the Partnership for Water Sustainability in British Columbia. "We have been using almost identical branding since 2008 when the Province released Living Water Smart, British Columbia's Water Plan. Our mantra is: create liveable communities and protect stream health. If we design with nature, the latter will be an outcome of the former."

To learn more, click on United State EPA’s Strategic Agenda to Protect Waters and Build More Liveable Communities Through Green Infrastructure to read a supporting story posted on the Water Bucket website.

News Release #2011-23

May 17, 2011