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National Institutes of Health |
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Community Liaison Council Meeting
Minutes Draft
HANDOUTS
Janyce Hedetniemi, Director of the Office of Community Liaison (OCL), welcomed Community Liaison Council (CLC) members and guests to the meeting.
NIH Grounds Maintenance and Landscaping Report
by Lynn Mueller, Chief, Grounds Maintenance, NIH Mr. Mueller reported on the grounds activities for the year 2000 and to date for 2001. There are 5,548 trees on the campus over six inches in diameter, all of which have been documented as to species, size, and location and marked with an aluminum tag. There are approximately 3,000 trees under six inches in diameter, which the NIH's lone arborist expects to document in the next year. More than 100 trees were removed but 300 have been planted, so NIH is replacing them at greater than a one-to-one ratio. Most plantings have been of native species. Last year to commemorate Arbor Day, a black walnut was planted in the area behind the Natcher Building (Building 45); this year, a butternut tree was planted. Five large pin oaks were planted on Center Drive, as well as 43 Kwanzan cherry trees. At this time, Mr. Mueller's office is engaged in planting flower annuals, perennials, and bulbs around the campus. Mr. Mueller announced two awards related to grounds work. NIH will receive an award for water conservation from the Department of Health and Human Services. This award is for replanting the plaza at Lister Hill Center in native and drought-resistant species that do not require watering. In the replanting, he said additional plants and shrubs were added to attract butterflies and birds. On April 29, NIH will receive a special Earth Day award for four more champion trees that have been identified on campus. A champion tree is the largest tree of its species found in Montgomery County, Maryland. A plane tree, grown from a cutting from a tree under which Hippocrates is reputed to have taught, was given to NIH as a gift when the library was built. Mr. Mueller said he is concerned about its present condition and is preparing 12 clones, so that there will always be a Hippocrates tree descendent growing on the campus. The NIH Stream Restoration Study is completed, and Mr. Mueller said he is hopeful that NIH will have funding by 2003 to put the creek back to its natural state. Ms. Hedetniemi said she knows of a boy scout troop that wants to assist with stream work. As to the state of wildlife on campus, Mr. Mueller said he has put out bird and bat houses to attract these creatures, so that they will provide a natural way to eliminate insects. In addition, fruit and nut trees have been planted to attract bird and wildlife. He hopes that increased bird and bat populations will help in reducing the use of pesticides. For the past few years, pesticide use has been kept to a level of 1,120 gallons. In addition, Mr. Mueller said beaver damage to campus trees had been discovered for the first time in years. He added that tree destruction was minimized by putting chicken wire around the affected trees. As part of the Chesapeake Bay Clean Water Act, the Maryland Department of Agriculture has initiated a nutrient management regulation program which requires commercial or institutional establishments over 10 acres in size to record fertilizer use. Mr. Mueller said that 1993 was the last year in which fertilizer had been used at NIH, but added that he will certainly keep records if fertilizer is needed again. Mr. Mueller said his office received an honorable mention in an NIH contest on plain writing for a winter safety brochure. The brochure was designed to warn about snow plow use and how and where to walk safely around campus in snowy conditions. To avoid environmental damage, Mr. Mueller said he has increased the use of sand and reduced the amount of salt that is used on sidewalks. He added that only magnesium chloride is used on sidewalks. Mr. Mueller said he had several dead crows tested for the West Nile virus, but none had tested positive. Bird and bat houses should also help keep down mosquitoes that bear this illness. A neighborhood volunteer is monitoring the blue bird houses to ensure that they are not invaded by other birds. The tennis courts are tentatively scheduled to be resurfaced this fall. Dog waste containers near the area where the dogs run have been very popular with the neighbors. In response to a question from Ralph Schofer of the Maplewood Citizens Association, Mr. Mueller said he planted no additional sycamore trees this year to the four that had been planted last year. Ms. Hedetniemi read a letter of thanks to NIH for the dog waste containers and the bird and bat houses from Stephen Sawicki of the Edgewood Glenwood Citizens Association. Ina Feinberg of City Commons of Bethesda asked if pesticides were used on the lawn where the dogs run and was told they were not. Presentation on Montgomery County Fire and Rescue
Emergency Antenna Mr. Dukes reminded the group of last year's fire in the Metro system when the response was limited by inadequate means of communication in and from the tunnels. In response to the need for better emergency response in the tunnels and from the Metro to the county fire and rescue squads, the county requested and was granted use of NIH property to erect a 30-foot 800 MHZ unipole antenna adjacent to the Medical Center Metro Station. On the diagram handed out to the group, Mr. Dukes pointed out where this would be. He then showed a simulated photograph of the antenna and how it would appear. The pole will be painted brown to blend into the background of the trees and to match the color scheme developed by Metro. The antenna will barely be visible above the tree line. He reassured the group that the wattage was very low and would emit no more radio frequency waves than a telephone and would pose no health hazards. Presentation on NIH Mercury Reduction Program Captain Rau said that the theme of the campaign was "Mad as a Hatter" because men's tall dress hats used to be processed with mercury nitrate which, over time, was toxic to those making the hats. The mercury affected their brains, causing them to go insane, hence the term "mad as a hatter," later immortalized in Lewis Carroll's Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland. He said that NIH had success in the past with campaigns focused on a particular hazardous substance and decided to target mercury for several reasons. The first was the institutional fact that traditional medical thermometers and blood pressure cuffs used mercury, and these were a frequent cause of spills and carried the potential for employee exposure. Alternatives to this equipment now exist. Captain Rau started a drive in 1996 to eliminate all mercury devices in the Clinical Center (CC) and can report that the CC is now virtually mercury free. Mercury was also chosen because it is persistent, biocumulative, and toxic; that is, it does not deteriorate when burned or buried, but will work its way into the air and water and into the food chain. In fact, mercury is solely responsible for most health advisories against eating fish. Even low levels of mercury can be toxic to young children and fetuses. Some recent studies have shown 10 percent of women in child-bearing years have levels of mercury that could adversely affect their children. This new campaign to reduce mercury will target the non-clinical areas of the NIH campus, NIH facilities in other parts of the country, and the local community. The way the campaign will work on campus is first to alert and educate the employees about products containing mercury, then to ask them to find alternatives to using items containing mercury. When they have found and turned to using alternatives, they are asked to turn in the items containing mercury and to pledge not to use them again. The campaign will extend to the home, schools, and community surrounding NIH facilities. Efforts are to improve awareness of mercury hazards, to encourage the exchange of mercury thermometers for digital thermometers, and to dispose of all mercury-containing devices at house-hold hazardous waste facilities. Because he considers children to be major stakeholders in this issue, Captain Rau is launching the campaign on campus during "Bring the Kids to Work Day." On April 26 from 11 a.m. to noon at Masur Auditorium in Building 10, all the kids on campus that day are invited to a program featuring "Mercury Man," an actor in a superman-type costume, who will talk to them about the environmental hazards of mercury. The children will receive information on a home mercury audit to work on with their parents. Captain Rau has spoken to the Montgomery County school system about mercury hazards in schools and has enlisted the county schools' support in promoting the campaign. In response to a question, Captain Rau said there is therapy for mercury exposure; it is called chelation. However, it is not effective against all types of mercury exposure. In response to a question about Mercurochrome, Captain Rau said that this and other uses of mercury in medicines are being reduced or eliminated. Mercury is still legally and widely used in amalgams to fill teeth. Burning of teeth amalgams by crematoria sends mercury into the air. Captain Rau said the major source of airborne mercury is coal-burning electric plants, so electricity conservation is part of the program. Fire stations in the District of Columbia accepted mercury thermometers for disposal, and the Council of Governments will start other mercury thermometer exchange programs later this year. The Web site which lists all products in which mercury is found and instructs readers as to how to get involved in the campaign is http://www.nih.gov/od/ors/ds/nomercury. The site for information on school programs is http://www.mercury-k-12.org/hghome.htm. Robert Resnik of Huntington Terrace Citizens Association asked if mercury light switches were a hazard and was told not until they have been broken, such as when the building is demolished. Ms. Hedetniemi encouraged all members to take this information
back to their communities. Ms. Ceja thanked the group for allowing them to come to the meeting. She said the NIHAA aims to promote the "best interests" of NIH by working with the community. She added that mutual partnership with the community was important since many of them live nearby and have worked at NIH. She then turned the program over to Mr. Van Nevel. Mr. Van Nevel said the NIHAA was formed in 1987 for those who have retired from NIH, for current NIH staff, and for those who left NIH employment but maintain an interest in supporting the institution. He said the association has not been too active lately, but a number of members want to enliven it. They are especially interested in becoming allies with the local community in promoting an understanding of NIH and encouraging participation in its community outreach programs. To this end, the NIHAA is thinking of sponsoring a tour program that will take people around the campus to highlight where medical breakthroughs have taken place, as well as describe present research and clinical programs. He said they also want to begin a speakers bureau about NIH to be made available to local groups. Mr. Van Nevel added that NIHAA would like to help Captain Rau by fielding alumni members to visit Montgomery County schools to support the mercury-free campaign. As a matter of mutual interest, he said that the NIHAA supports the building of a new parking garage on campus and would appreciate community support for this. Ms. Hedetniemi said she would welcome a speakers' bureau
because she gets frequent requests from community groups. She also
said she would welcome NIHAA members at future CLC meetings. ANNOUNCEMENTS New CLC Member Upcoming Events Ms. Hedetniemi passed out a press release announcing the May 6, 2001 fair at the Audubon Naturalist Society headquarters. Free parking is provided at NIH with shuttle buses available to the site off Jones Bridge Road. Construction Parking Stormwater Management Facility Lucy Ozarin of Whitehall Condominium Association asked how large the pond would be. Ms. Serras-Fiotes said it would be a substantial pond but not a lake. Ms. Ozarin then asked about the potential problem of mosquitoes and was told that this issue would be addressed. Mr. Schofer said the pond could attract geese whose waste is a problem and also reminded the group of the recent grease back-up in the NIH stream from a Bethesda restaurant. Ms. Rice said that the surrounding residents would be concerned if there is a backup nearby as there has been in the past. Ms. Serras-Fiotes said all these issues would have to be addressed. Community Announcements Ms. Ozarin thanked NIH for fixing the path near her building. Ms. Feinberg thanked NIH for the dog waste disposal facilities.
Other Ms. Hedetniemi asked Tim Saunders of Aldon Management
Corporation if he knew the status of the house on the corner of Woodmont
and Battery Lane. Mr. Saunders said that his company is interested
in the property but that negotiations are ongoing with the property
owner.
Mr. Costello will be added to the roster as the new
representative of Bethesda Parkview Citizens Association.
Ms. Hedetniemi will invite representatives from NIHAA to come to the CLC meetings. Ms. Hedetniemi will give Ms. Rice the names of CDC epidemiolgists. Mr. Van Nevel volunteered NIHAA members to help Captain Rau visit
Montgomery County schools to support the mercury-free campaign. The next CLC meeting will be held on Thursday, May 17, 2001, at 4 p.m. in Conference Room A (PLEASE NOTE CHANGE) of the Natcher Conference Center, Building 45, on the NIH campus. Attendees: Guests: |
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