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The bi-annual newsletter of the Wisconsin Partners for Clean Air

Clean Air Extravaganza Recognizes Award Winners

The Department of Natural Resources and the Wisconsin Partners for Clean Air hosted the 2004 “Clean Air Extravaganza” at Discovery World in Milwaukee on Wednesday, June 30.

In introducing the event, Secretary Hassett said, “The Wisconsin Partners for Clean Air is a shining example of a successful long-term partnership and shows what we can all do to protect the environment.” The first part of the event announced the finalists and winners of the Wisconsin Partners for Clean Air Recognition Awards. These awards recognize a select number of organizations that took voluntary actions to improve air quality in the previous year. In announcing the finalists and award recipients, Regional Director McCutcheon noted, “These awards provide an opportunity for the businesses to share information on successful efforts, receive public recognition and attract customer attention. We are announcing three award winners from among seven finalists, and all of the nominees should be commended for having gone above and beyond the call of duty with their invaluable efforts.”

The 2003 Wisconsin Partners for Clean Air recognition award winners were:

  • Madison Environmental Group for their innovative Community Car, Car-Free Challenge and Environmental Action Team. The Community Car program is an affordable alternative to vehicle purchasing that allows people to reserve and use fuel-efficient cars located around the city on an as needed basis. The Car-Free Challenge provided recognition and incentives for residents who pledged to go car-free for two weeks. The Environmental Action Teams were developed and managed to help local residents adopt environmentally sustainable lifestyles.
  • Milwaukee Journal Sentinel production plant for their substantial emission improvements at their new facility. The new plant was constructed on the largest reclaimed brownfields site in Wisconsin and features a new ink application process that reduces air emissions, a new computer-to-plate printing technology that reduces waste and uses non-toxic chemicals, use of only non-hazardous, environmentally friendly lubricants, and features energy efficient lighting fixtures.
  • Orion Energy Systems for their extraordinary outreach to help businesses reduce emissions and operating costs through energy efficient lighting fixtures that deliver almost twice the light of a standard commercial light while using less than half the electricity. These savings mean a reduction of emissions from electrical generation and financial savings to the company installing the lights.


Peter Beitzel (Chairman of WPCA, Vice President-MMAC), Neil Verfuerth (Orion Energy Systems), Rebecca Grossberg (Madison Environmental Group), Ken Kieck (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel), Gloria McCutcheon (WDNR)

The other finalists for the awards were:

A second function of the event was the public announcement of the DNR’s Voluntary Emissions Reduction Registry. VERR gives businesses an opportunity to register voluntary efforts with the DNR that they have undertaken to achieve significant reductions in their air emissions. A number of businesses, including Madison Gas and Electric, Miller Brewing, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, QuadGraphics, SC Johnson and Sons, Midwest Airlines, and the state of Wisconsin’s Focus on Energy program, have already registered their emissions reduction projects. The projects include capturing landfill gas to produce electricity, boiler retrofits, equipment modernization and savings through energy efficiency, conservation and weatherization. More information on the VERR can be found at The Wisconsin Voluntary Emission Reduction Registry.

The DNR and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency also announced a Diesel School Bus Retrofit program at the event. Funded by a matching grant, the program will retrofit approximately 400 school busses in southeast Wisconsin with devices to reduce particle pollution and emissions that can lead to the formation of ground level ozone. The DNR is working in partnership with bus companies, school associations, health and environmental groups and businesses to recruit busses and sponsorship for the project. A number of organizations were recognized for their participation, including those who gave large financial contributions. Sponsors include SC Johnson and Sons, In-Sink-Erator, Axis Consulting, Broan-Nutone, Covenant Healthcare, the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, Molded Dimensions and CNH America.

For more information contact Jessica Lawent at 414-263-8653 or Jessica.Lawent@wisconsin.gov.

Marquette Interchange Voluntary Diesel Emission Reduction Initiative
By Peter McMullen

In 2002, an initiative to consider the reduction of diesel emissions related to the reconstruction of the Marquette interchange was presented to a transportation stakeholder group. In 2003, The Wisconsin Departments of Natural Resources and Transportation partnered to host outreach meetings with construction representatives to explore various reduction measures. The outcome was to pursue the easiest and lowest cost measures of reduced idling and the use of on-road fuel (or equivalent) for off-road equipment.

In an effort to reduce the amount of particle pollution and to be sensitive to the surrounding area, specification language was put in the bid for the contract for the first major leg of the reconstruction project that is set to begin this fall. Language included the following practical measures to mitigate the impact of operating construction equipment on the air in and around the project site:

To further the effort of instilling the concept of reduced idling, The Wisconsin Partners for Clean Air ordered reduced idling signs that will be placed in and around the project site. If any Partner is interested in sponsoring the cost of the signs, (or for more information) please contact Peter McMullen at 414-263-8751. After all, according to Webster’s, a definition of interchange is the act of changing one for another.

Whatever Happened to Walking to School?

According to the Department of Transportation, far more children ride in a car or bus to school than walk or bicycle, even if the trip is under one mile, and less than one percent of children ride bicycles to school, a decrease of more than 60 percent since the 1970s.

A new program called Safe Routes to School hopes to change these statistics and get more kids pounding -- and riding -- the pavement.

Children, parents and staff from six pilot schools and one pilot employer are actively participating in the Safe Routes to School program to increase physical activity among children (physical inactivity leads to obesity, diabetes and asthma), teach safe walking and driving skills, ease traffic and improve the environment around schools.

Recently, Safe Routes to School conducted "walking workshops" at each pilot school to provide ideas and techniques for encouraging the school community to walk and bike. These workshops provided a forum for parents, school personnel, law enforcement officials, city planners and engineers, and representatives from neighborhood associations to discuss community design and safety improvements. During these workshops participants conducted a "walking audit" by strolling the streets to identify changes that need to be made to increase pedestrian safety such as adjusting the timing of stoplights, installing street lighting, repainting crosswalks or widening sidewalks.

Additionally, Safe Routes to School strives to educate students about the correct time and place to cross streets and the use of bike helmets. The program also aims to educate motorists about safe and appropriate driving habits.

The Milwaukee Police Department is playing a key role by enforcing the speed limit and the law to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and by maintaining a presence in the neighborhoods during key commute times to reduce fear of crime and increase overall security. They are also working to establish "safe spots" along routes such as churches, libraries and homes where children can go if they run into dogs or bullies along the way.

The schools involved in the program are Forest Home Avenue School, Westside Academy II, Browning School, Hopkins Street School, Anna F. Doefler Community School and Sherman School. The pilot employer is the City of Milwaukee.
The Safe Routes to School program was funded by a grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and is being coordinated by the Milwaukee Police Department.

Kudos to the Milwaukee Police Department and their partners (the Milwaukee Safety Committee, the Common Council, Milwaukee Public Schools, the Milwaukee Health Department, UWM, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Wisconsin Partners for Clean Air, The Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Walks, and the Department of Health and Family Services) for taking on this exciting program. Safe Routes to School creates communities where people get out of their cars and onto the sidewalks. It makes kids healthier, air cleaner and neighborhoods more neighborly.

For more information contact Florence Dukes, Safety Director Milwaukee Police Department at (414) 935-7990 or fdukes@milwaukee.gov.

A version of this article appeared on OnMilwaukee.com on October 12, 2004.

Bike Buddies

Bike Buddies are mentors for people who want to begin, (or grow more accustomed to) using their bikes as a regular mode of transportation. Bike buddies can help new riders plan biker-friendly routes for new commuters and riders. Every last Friday of each month Bike Buddies meet at Cathedral Square park at 5:15pm for a “bicycle fun ride” to go out to dinner, catch a concert or see a movie.

Bike Buddy rides provide a fun forum for cyclists to connect with each other and informally discuss issues that affect “ride-ability” in the Milwaukee area. Why? Because... a bikable city is a friendly city, an affordable city, a clean city, an accessible city, a walkable city, and a livable city!

Bike Buddy is supported by the Bike Federation of WI, City of Milwaukee Bike/Ped Task Force, the WI Department of Natural Resources and the Milwaukee Bike Collective. For more information call Maurice Williams at 414-263-8517.

Asthma Management for Businesses

Fight Asthma Milwaukee Allies provides free, one-hour in-service presentation for businesses and organizations to teach employees how to manage their asthma or their children’s asthma. “Catch Your Breath: Asthma Survival Skills “ includes information on:

Asthma is the most common chronic disease of childhood. It keeps kids home from school and parents home form work. Some of the devastating results are lost learning time, lower productivity and higher medical costs.

“Catch Your Breath: Asthma Survival Skills” can be scheduled any day of the week at the time most convenient for you and your staff. Schedule a FREE in-service today by calling Erin Lee, the Program Coordinator, at 414-390-2179.

The Real Bus

FOX 6 WakeUp News aired a segment every weekday (from September 13 through October 11) in which five contestants (none of them former bus riders) used Milwaukee County Transit System to complete a weekly “challenge” to familiarize them with riding the bus. On Fridays viewers cast their votes at “TheRealBus.com” to pick who would move on to the next week’s challenge and who would be voted off.

Steven, a 40 year-old, Bayview Resident was voted favorite Real Bus contestant and the ultimate bus rider. After giving up his car and completing all four challenges on the Milwaukee County Transit System, the FOX 6 WakeUp News viewers voted Steven as the winner over four others. As the winner, Steven will enjoy a year in groceries courtesy of Pick n’ Save, two airline tickets courtesy of Midwest Airlines, baseball tickets to next season at Miller Park from the Milwaukee Brewers and a one-year pass to ride the Milwaukee County Transit System.

A rugby-playing, assistant library director, Steven has many diverse interests. Married with three kids, he loves to read, writes for a theater group and participates in outdoor activities. Explaining why he entered The Real Bus, he told everyone he likes a challenge and believes in public transportation. But then this father of three revealed his real motivation. "I need the groceries!"

Gas Cap Wrench Garners EPA’s Clean Air Excellence Award

The 2003 Clean Air Excellence Award was presented to Eva Robelia, formerly of the DNR, on March 23, 2004 in Washington D. C. on behalf of the Wisconsin Partners for Clean Air in cooperation with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and R.A.M. Products Limited. Dick Shaw, the developer of the wrench, was also present.

The Clean Air Excellence Awards Program is sponsored by EPA's Office of Air and Radiation to annually recognize and honor both individuals and organizations that have undertaken the risks of innovation, served as pioneers in their fields, and have helped to improve air quality.

The Gas Cap Wrench is a device that helps individuals with limited strength or flexibility in their hands tighten and loosen a vehicle gas cap more easily. A loose or missing gas cap can cause up to 30 gallons of gasoline to evaporate from a gas tank each year. In Wisconsin, use of the 30,000 Gas Cap Wrenches being distributed could translate into a savings of up to one million gallons of gasoline per year.


Stephen L. Johnson, Acting Deputy Administrator of EPA, and Eva Robelia

For more information visit Clean Air Excellence Awards Program or call Jessica Laub at 414-263-8367.

Pump Toppers Featured Air Messages

As a part of this year’s “It All Adds Up to Cleaner Air” campaign pump toppers were displayed at about 35 Milwaukee area gas stations. They featured four different car related/air quality messages from mid-July through the end of August. The pump topper idea was cited at a past WPCA steering committee meeting as an area worth re-pursuing. Pump toppers speak to the captive audience of motorists fueling their vehicles and remind them to tighten their gas caps and not top off their gas tanks. Pump topper messages were previously displayed as a part of the 2000 “It All Adds Up” campaign.

This year’s “It All Adds Up” campaign also featured radio ads. Traffic reporters read 10-second spots during peak travel times to remind people about what actions they can take to improve air quality. Various 30-second spots were also be featured. Ozone Action Days were also announced via the airwaves.

We Want YOU...

To write an article about what voluntary actions your company or organization is taking to reduce air emissions for the next issue of “The Partner Link”. Please send your articles or article ideas to Jessica Laub at Jessica.Laub@wisconsin.gov (or call 414-263-8367).

October 2003 Issue

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Email Questions to Jessica Lawent, Jessica.Lawent@wisconsin.gov, (414) 263-8653