WHEELING, WV, July 29, 2009 - The University has received its second Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency equaling $269,374. The announcement was made through an agency press release dated July 28, 2009.

The money will help six Appalachian communities tackle environmental problems in Mud River, Prenter, Cabin Creek, Anstead, Logan and Varney, W.Va.

This is the second CARE grant awarded to WJU. The first grant allowed the university to conduct an assessment of the communities that helped local groups identify 140 environmental concerns.

The University will use this grant funding to focus on specific problems including impacts from mining and coal slurry; water and wastewater management; reducing exposure to toxins; and developing new expertise in community medicine.

Some communities will have their drinking water sampled to determine its safety. The work will be done under the umbrella of the collective community organization Appalachia CARE Partnership.

For more information on the CARE Program, please visit the EPA Web site.