Press Release - Six Mile Regional Library DistrictArchived Message
Posted by Katy and Lorri on June 25, 2015, 11:04 pm
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
US STEEL ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST SUPPORTS LIBRARY RENOVATION
United States Steel Corporation and SunCoke Energy, Inc., in cooperation with the American Bottoms Conservancy and the Sierra Club, awarded $872,255.00 to the Six Mile Regional Library District for its downtown building renovation.
As part of a settlement made in March 2008, US Steel and SunCoke created an environmental trust in support of local efforts to promote better air quality and energy efficiency.
With the renovation of the downtown facility, the library meets many requirements of the trust and helps all parties further advance toward meeting environmental goals.
Virginia Woulfe-Beile, Three Rivers Project Coordinator for the Piasa Palisades Group of The Sierra Club, stated, “The Sierra Club is pleased to work closely with the elected officials and community leaders in the Granite City, Madison, and Venice municipalities to develop air quality improvement projects to be funded through the United States Steel and Gateway Energy Settlement Fund, which was negotiated by the Sierra Club and the American Bottoms Conservancy for the improved health through better air quality for the citizens of the region.”
Those serving on the award committee consisted of the following:
▪ Virginia Woulfe-Beile, Three Rivers Project Coordinator, Piasa Palisades Group, The Sierra Club
▪ Bryan Kresak, Director – Environmental, Granite City Works, United States Steel Corporation
▪ Jack Darin, Director, Illinois Chapter Sierra Club
▪ Joyce Blumenshine, Conservation Committee Chair, Illinois Chapter Sierra Club
▪ Kathy Andria, American Bottoms Conservancy
▪ Dale Wojtkowski, American Bottoms Conservancy Library Director
Tina Hubert stated, “On behalf of our entire community I am deeply grateful for this truly generous award. The award will help the Library pay down the construction bond issued in 2013 specifically for the renovation project that established a sustainable state-of-the-art building for the future.”
Portions of the renovation supported by the environmental trust are replacement of original windows, new HVAC, energy-efficient lighting upgrades, and weather caulking. The renovation of the library located at 2001 Delmar Avenue in Granite City was completed in August 2014.
The Library developed an online Clean Air Repository on its website in gratitude for the grant award; it can be found at www.smrld.org/clean-air-repository/.
The goal of the Clean Air Repository is to provide information to the public to educate the residents of Granite City, Mitchell, and Pontoon Beach on the hazards of various pollutants created by nearby industries.
The Repository provides resources concerning air permits and various agencies involved in such permits.
For more information, please call the Library at 452-6238.
on June 25, 2015, 11:04 pm