Biden-Harris Administration Announces $162 Million Investment for Clean Water Infrastructure Upgrades in Region 5

CHICAGO — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced over $162 million from the 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act for states, Tribes, and territories through this year’s Clean Water State Revolving Funds (CWSRF) in the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. The funding will help communities in these states upgrade essential wastewater and stormwater systems to protect public health and treasured water bodies.

“Too many communities across the country are facing challenges with water infrastructure – from climate impacts like drought vulnerability, to a lack of basic wastewater services that everyone deserves,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda is getting unprecedented investments in clean water to communities that need them most. This funding paired with this historic funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will support local economies while advancing projects in communities to help ensure clean, safe water for residents.”

“The infrastructure upgrades made possible by these investments are essential to providing clean water for people to drink,” said EPA Region 5 Administrator Debra Shore. “These funds, injected into local economies, will pay dividends for years to come.”

EPA has announced the following:

• Illinois will receive $34,269,000
• Indiana will receive $18,261,000
• Michigan will receive $32,580,000
• Minnesota will receive $13,927,000
• Ohio will receive $42,656,000
• Wisconsin will receive $20,484,000

Administrator Regan announced the funding as part of a $775 million investment on the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America tour in Clayton, North Carolina with Congressman Wiley Nickel, highlighting the President’s historic funding for water infrastructure upgrades. President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is growing the American economy from the bottom up and middle-out – from rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure, to creating a manufacturing and innovation boom powered by good-paying jobs that don’t require a four-year degree, to building a clean-energy economy that will combat climate change and make our communities more resilient.

Today’s announcement builds on the second wave of $2.4 billion EPA announced for clean water infrastructure upgrades through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in February. Over $3.2 billion will be provided to the CWSRF when combined with Fiscal Year 2023 funding available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This investment reflects the Biden Administration’s commitment to strengthening the nation’s wastewater and stormwater systems, while providing significant resources for mitigating nonpoint source pollution and improving energy and water efficiency. It also addresses key challenges, including climate change and emerging contaminants like per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

See the state-by-state allocation of 2023 CWSRF funding.

See a breakdown of EPA CWSRF funding available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Background

The CWSRFs have been the foundation of water infrastructure investments for more than 30 years, providing low-cost financing for local projects across America. Under the Clean Water programs, EPA provides funding to all 50 states and Puerto Rico to capitalize on SRF loan programs. For the base programs, the states and Puerto Rico contribute an additional 20 percent to match the federal grants. The 51 SRF programs function like infrastructure banks by providing low-interest loans to eligible recipients for clean water infrastructure projects. As the loan principal and interest are repaid over time, it allows the state’s CWSRF to be recycled or “revolve.” As money is returned to the state’s revolving loan fund, the state makes new loans to other eligible recipients. These funds can also be combined with Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding and EPA’s Water Infrastructure and Finance Innovation Act (WIFIA) loans to create a powerful, innovative financing solution for major infrastructure projects.

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Statement by EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe on National Farmworker Awareness Week

WASHINGTON — In celebration of National Farmworker Awareness Week, EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe issued the following statement:

“During National Farmworker Awareness Week, we pay tribute to the more than two million unsung heroes who do some of the toughest work to help put food on our tables across the United States. Farmworkers often work day and night in the face of challenges, including increased extreme heat due to climate change, to promote healthy and secure food supplies. I have seen this firsthand in my home state of Indiana.

This week, EPA is shining a spotlight on these unsung heroes and their contributions to our nation. EPA’s mission is to protect human health and the environment, and that includes how our policies and programs support and protect farmworkers and their families across the country. As an agency, we are committed to continuing to work closely with farmworkers and the broader agriculture community to confront environmental issues, advance conservation, and ensure clean air and clean water for all families.”

For more information on how EPA policies and programs protect farmworkers, click here.

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EPA Makes Trends in Domestic Chemical Production and Imports More Accessible to the Public with the First Ever Chemical Data Reporting National Review

WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published the first ever Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) National Review, a web-based, interactive report with comprehensive analysis of data submitted to the Agency during the 2020 CDR reporting cycle. The National Review increases public awareness of chemicals being manufactured in communities and helps EPA and a variety of stakeholders (including citizens and communities, other regulatory agencies, industry, researchers and nongovernmental organizations) evaluate and understand information including the types, quantities and uses of chemicals produced domestically or imported into the U.S.

The 2020 CDR National Review summarizes the most recent reporting cycle data (2020), covering activities from 2016 to 2019 and provides trend data for reporting over the past decade. This interactive report shows that more than 7.2 trillion pounds of chemicals were manufactured or imported at 5,238 sites in the United States that reported to EPA for the 2020 CDR reporting cycle.

“Through the first 2020 CDR National Review, EPA is using new, creative ways to share information with the public, so that it can be easily understood and used by people to make important decisions in their communities,” said Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Michal Freedhoff. “Using an innovative approach to make our work more accessible furthers EPA’s mission to advance the public’s right to know about chemicals being manufactured or imported into their communities. This Review demonstrates EPA’s commitment to data integrity and transparency.”

Overview of 2020 CDR National Review

Manufacturers and importers of certain chemicals listed on the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Chemical Substance Inventory are required to report data to the EPA every four years if they meet certain annual thresholds, generally a minimum production or import volume of 25,000 pounds of a chemical at any single site. The CDR database is the most comprehensive source of basic screening-level, exposure-related information available to EPA on chemicals, and is used by the Agency to screen and prioritize chemicals for further review and assess exposure to chemicals. EPA carried out extensive data quality control efforts to ensure that the information correctly reflects what was submitted and that data claimed as confidential business information (CBI) is not disclosed or ascertainable from aggregations.

In addition to summarizing the most recent reporting cycle, the 2020 CDR National Review provides an interactive trend analysis of the data reported over the past decade (for CDR reporting cycle 2012, 2016 and 2020). To make this data more accessible to the public, the Review includes data visualization and accessibility tools including an interactive map of CDR sites and community characteristics, maps displaying CDR reporting sites by state and figures with production volume and site trends. The Review also contains informational charts and figures to increase understanding of CDR data elements, more extensive analyses of chemical use information and trends highlighting key findings. Previous CDR publications only included raw data collected with minimal analysis or context. 

The 2020 CDR National Review website also includes an interactive map that incorporates data from EJScreen, EPA’s environmental justice mapping and screening tool. The map shows the locations of the industrial sites that reported 2020 CDR data along with demographic information of the communities in which the sites are located. EPA is hosting a public webinar on April 18, 2023, highlighting the findings and trends from the 2020 CDR National Review and explaining the new interactive features of the National Review website. Click here to register for the webinar.

Notable Trends

Of the more than 8,000 chemicals reported for the 2020 CDR reporting cycle, about 54% were manufactured domestically and 46% were imported, representing a 10% increase in chemicals imported from 2016 to 2020. Overall, sites reported domestic manufacture or import of more than 7.2 trillion pounds of chemicals during 2019 driven by two industry sectors: petroleum and coal products manufacturing (64%) and chemical manufacturing (14%). Additionally, the chemical manufacturing sector reported the most (84%) chemicals and represents nearly half (43%) of all sites. More than a third (38%) of the 2020 CDR reporting sites are located in six states: Texas, Ohio, Pennsylvania, California, Georgia and Illinois.

The Review also includes information and analysis to provide insight and inform EPA’s Agency priorities regarding certain types of chemicals, including poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and chemicals that have undergone or are undergoing risk evaluation under TSCA. Analysis of the reported CDR information by chemical groups shows that 180 PFAS were reported by 57 sites for a total production volume (PV) of about 678 million pounds.

Of the total 37 TSCA Risk Evaluation Chemicals by CASRN, 33 chemicals were reported in the 2020 reporting cycle, and 34 chemicals were reported in both the 2012 and 2016 reporting cycles. 254 sites reported information for 33 TSCA risk evaluation chemicals for a total PV of about 38 billion pounds in the 2020 reporting cycle. The number of sites that manufactured and/or imported TSCA Risk Evaluation Chemicals has increased by 40%, while the manufactured and imported volumes have generally remained consistent over the past 10 years.

Additionally, the review includes analysis of use information, for which 73% of reports submitted contain industrial processing and use information and 40% contain consumer and/or commercial use information. 

View the 2020 CDR National Review.

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Biden-Harris Administration Announces $775 Million Investment in America for Clean Water Infrastructure Upgrades

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this release stated funding from the annual Clean Water State Revolving Fund will be available as grants or principal forgiveness loans. This funding for water infrastructure is provided through annual appropriations from Congress as loans. It is additional to $2.4 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding EPA announced in February that to help underserved communities across America invest in water infrastructure, of which nearly half will be available as grants or principal forgiveness loans.

WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced over $775 million from the 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act for states, Tribes, and territories through this year’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF). The funding will help communities upgrade essential wastewater and stormwater systems to protect public health and treasured water bodies across the nation. 

“Too many communities across the country are facing challenges with water infrastructure – from climate impacts like drought vulnerability, to a lack of basic wastewater services that everyone deserves,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda is getting unprecedented investments in clean water to communities that need them most. This funding paired with this historic funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will support local economies while advancing projects in communities to help ensure clean, safe water for residents.”

Administrator Regan announced the $775 million investment on the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America tour in Clayton, North Carolina with Congressman Wiley Nickel, highlighting the President’s historic funding for water infrastructure upgrades. President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is growing the American economy from the bottom up and middle-out – from rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure, to creating a manufacturing and innovation boom powered by good-paying jobs that don’t require a four-year degree, to building a clean-energy economy that will combat climate change and make our communities more resilient.

“Today's announcement by Administrator Regan and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will enable millions in federal funding through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to support priority water infrastructure projects and upgrades here in North Carolina and throughout the country,” said Representative Wiley Nickel (NC-13). “This transformational federal investment in America’s water infrastructure will create good-paying jobs, spur economic growth, and ensure our communities can access clean water.”

Today’s announcement builds on the second wave of $2.4 billion EPA announced for clean water infrastructure upgrades through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in February. Over $3.2 billion will be provided to the CWSRF when combined with Fiscal Year 2023 funding available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This investment reflects the Biden Administration’s commitment to strengthening the nation’s wastewater and stormwater systems, while providing significant resources for mitigating nonpoint source pollution and improving energy and water efficiency. It also addresses key challenges, including climate change and emerging contaminants like per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

See the state-by-state allocation of 2023 CWSRF funding.

See a breakdown of EPA CWSRF funding available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Background

The CWSRFs have been the foundation of water infrastructure investments for more than 30 years, providing low-cost financing for local projects across America. Under the Clean Water programs, EPA provides funding to all 50 states and Puerto Rico to capitalize on SRF loan programs. For the base programs, the states and Puerto Rico contribute an additional 20 percent to match the federal grants. The 51 SRF programs function like infrastructure banks by providing low-interest loans to eligible recipients for clean water infrastructure projects. As the loan principal and interest are repaid over time, it allows the state’s CWSRF to be recycled or “revolve.” As money is returned to the state’s revolving loan fund, the state makes new loans to other eligible recipients. These funds can also be combined with Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding and EPA’s Water Infrastructure and Finance Innovation Act (WIFIA) loans to create a powerful, innovative financing solution for major infrastructure projects.

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EPA and Justice Department File Complaint Against Norfolk Southern Railway Company for Unlawful Discharge of Pollutants and Hazardous Substances in East Palestine Derailment

WASHINGTON — Yesterday, on behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and in coordination with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio, the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the U.S. Department of Justice filed a complaint against Norfolk Southern Railway Company related to the Feb. 3, 2023, derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. The complaint seeks penalties and injunctive relief for the unlawful discharge of pollutants, oil, and hazardous substances under the Clean Water Act, and declaratory judgment on liability for past and future costs under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). This action follows EPA’s issuance on Feb. 21, 2023 of a Unilateral Administrative Order under CERCLA to Norfolk Southern requiring the company to develop and implement plans to address contamination and pay EPA’s response costs associated with the order. 

“From the very beginning, I pledged to the people of East Palestine that EPA would hold Norfolk Southern fully accountable for jeopardizing the community’s health and safety,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “No community should have to go through what East Palestine residents have faced. With today’s action, we are once more delivering on our commitment to ensure Norfolk Southern cleans up the mess they made and pays for the damage they have inflicted as we work to ensure this community can feel safe at home again.”

“When a Norfolk Southern train derailed last month in East Palestine, Ohio, it released toxins into the air, soil, and water, endangering the health and safety of people in surrounding communities,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “With this complaint, the Justice Department and the EPA are acting to ensure that Norfolk Southern is held accountable for the harm it has caused and continues to inflict on the residents of East Palestine.”

“Last month, the East Palestine community was upended by a horrific train derailment. By filing this complaint today, we are demanding accountability from Norfolk Southern Railway for the harm this event has caused,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “We will tirelessly pursue justice for the people living in and near East Palestine, who like all Americans deserve clean air, clean water, and a safe community for their children.”

On Feb. 3, 2023, a Norfolk Southern Railway Company train carrying hazardous materials, including hazardous substances, pollutants and oil derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. The derailment resulted in a pile of burning rail cars, and contamination of the community’s air, land, and water. Residents living near the derailment site were evacuated. Based on information Norfolk Southern provided, the hazardous materials contained in these cars included vinyl chloride, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, ethylhexyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, isobutylene, and benzene residue. Within hours of the derailment, EPA and its federal and state partners began responding to the incident, including providing on-the-ground assistance to first responders and conducting robust testing in and around East Palestine.

The fire caused by the derailment burned for several days. On Feb. 5, monitoring indicated that the temperature in one of the rail cars containing vinyl chloride was rising. To prevent an explosion, Norfolk Southern vented and burned five rail cars containing vinyl chloride in a flare trench the following day, resulting in additional releases.

Since EPA’s issuance of the Unilateral Administrative Order to Norfolk Southern, EPA has been overseeing Norfolk Southern’s work under the order. As of March 29, 2023, 9.2 million gallons of liquid wastewater has been shipped off-site, and an estimated 12,932 tons of contaminated soils and solids have been shipped off-site.

EPA and other federal agencies continue to investigate the circumstances leading up to and following the derailment. The United States will pursue further actions as warranted in the future as its investigatory work proceeds.  

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EPA's Finalization of "Good Neighbor" Plan will reduce transport of harmful air pollution to Connecticut

BOSTON (March 30, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) announcement of the final Good Neighbor Plan, a rule that will significantly cut smog-forming nitrogen oxide pollution from power plants and other industrial facilities in 23 states, will improve air quality for millions of people living in downwind communities, including Connecticut.

The Clean Air Act directs EPA to issue a federal plan to address pollution that significantly contributes to unhealthy levels of ground-level ozone, or smog, formed in part from nitrogen oxide emissions traveling beyond certain states' boundaries.

Exposure to ground-level ozone can cause respiratory issues, aggravate asthma and other lung diseases, and lead to missed days of work or school, emergency room visits, and premature deaths. These costly public health impacts can be especially harmful to children and older adults, disproportionately affecting people of color, families with low-incomes, and other vulnerable populations.

Southern Conn. experiences the highest ground-level ozone levels in the eastern half of the U.S. The ozone recorded at air quality monitors in Southwest Conn. comes almost entirely (90-95%) from out of state. Connecticut cannot reach attainment with EPA's ozone air-quality standard without upwind emission reductions from sources in States south and west of Connecticut.

"Air pollution doesn't stop at the Connecticut state line," said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "EPA's 'Good Neighbor' plan will help our state partners meet stronger air quality health standards within and beyond their borders, saving lives and improving public health in impacted communities across the United States. This is especially important in communities that have been overburdened by pollution for decades." As part of this rule, EPA looked at power plants (also called Electric Generating Units or EGUs) to identify emission reductions that could be achieved to help mitigate the impact of ozone transport. The agency found that many EGUs in contributing upwind states that have NO_X controls are not operating them efficiently, particularly on high ozone days. The Good Neighbor Plan will ensure that these controls operate effectively when emissions reductions are most needed. The final rule's 2027 budget for power plants reflects a 50% reduction from 2021 ozone-season NOx emissions levels.

In addition to EGUs, for the first time in a transport rule contributing states will be required to put further controls on emissions from industrial sectors (non-EGUs). These sectors include reciprocating internal combustion engines in pipeline transportation of natural gas; cement manufacturing; boilers and furnaces in iron and steel mills; furnaces in glass manufacturing; municipal waste combustors; and large boilers in chemical, oil, metal ore mining, and pulp and paper industries. These standards will collectively reduce NOx emissions by about 15% from 2019 ozone-season emissions.

Together, EGU and non-EGU measures will reduce ozone-forming NOX emissions from the 23 significantly contributing upwind states by about 70,000 tons during the 2026 ozone season (May 1 – Sept 30) compared to a business-as-usual scenario. Emissions from 11 of the 23 states were found to adversely affect air quality in southern CT and NYC.

The costs to powerplants and industries associated with implementing the Good Neighbor Plan will be more than offset by the public-health benefits for residents of downwind states, especially southern CT, and the NYC metropolitan area. By 2026, the net benefits of this final rule – after accounting for the costs of compliance – are about $3.7 billion and could be greater.

"I commend the EPA for issuing its final Good Neighbor Plan, and for recognizing the significant impact emissions from upwind states have on their downwind neighbors like Connecticut," Governor Ned Lamont said. "Good neighbors look out for each other, and through this plan the federal EPA will hold upwind states accountable by requiring reductions in air pollution from their power plants and other industrial sources that harm Connecticut. Everyone deserves to breathe clean air and Connecticut has led the country on innovative approaches to reducing our own emissions. The State of Connecticut will continue to support the Biden Administration as it implements federal policies that will positively impact health outcomes here in Connecticut and nationwide."

"The purpose of this plan is to stop pollution from coming across our border, so other states will be truly good neighbors. Connecticut's air quality should not be degraded by coal burning power plants and other industries located hundreds of miles away," said U.S. Senator Blumenthal. "The EPA's 'Good Neighbor' plan will set strong standards for states to reduce smog-causing pollutants. Thanks to the Clean Air Act, this initiative will curb emissions and improve public health in states like Connecticut most vulnerable to downwind pollution."

"Improving the air-quality for Connecticut's families is crucial," said U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro. "I am proud to see EPA's Good Neighbor Plan direct initiatives to cut smog and address air pollution across our communities. This is about improving the air we breathe. Because of the initiatives of the Clean Air Act, we will be able to help institute stronger air quality standards to ultimately better public health and save lives."

"We passed the Inflation Reduction Act in Congress to incentivize clean energy and support efforts in Connecticut and nationwide to reduce harmful emissions," said U.S. Representative John B. Larson. "The Good Neighbor Plan will ensure states work together to reduce air pollution both within and outside their borders. I commend the Biden Administration for taking this step to both improve public health and put us on a path to cut ozone emissions in half by 2027."

"Air pollution and smog that travels across state borders into Connecticut puts vulnerable groups like our senior citizens and infants at risk, aggravates asthma and other chronic lung diseases, and has serious implications for the health and wellbeing of my constituents," said U.S. Representative Jim Himes. "I'm glad to see the EPA implementing stricter requirements for air quality in nearby states so that Connecticut residents will no longer be forced to bear the brunt of emissions from polluters operating beyond our state's borders."

"We must leverage every opportunity to work together to achieve better health outcomes and protect our environment. No state can act alone, which is why this final rule is critically important, said U.S. Representative Jahana Hayes. "While Connecticut has taken many steps to promote clean air solutions, we need the investment of our neighboring states to act with us. This collaborative effort will address harmful pollution that threatens the lives of our constituents and puts them at higher risk for asthma and other respiratory illnesses. Every person deserves to breathe clean air, and with the efforts of the Biden Administration, we are charting a path to make that a reality."

"The EPA's Good Neighbor Plan is a positive step forward in addressing the impact of interstate air pollution," Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner Katie Dykes said. "The collective impact of this plan is significant nationwide, and Connecticut will continue to push for state and federal action to bring our state's air quality into compliance. We've worked hard in Connecticut to improve our air quality through decarbonizing our grid, our buildings, and our transportation sector, and that critically important work will continue. We urge EPA to do the same and adopt further controls on all contributing source sectors within the purview of federal regulation, including on-road, non-road, and other stationary sources."

In 2026 alone, EPA projects that the final rule will result in significant public health benefits:

• preventing approximately 1,300 premature deaths,
• avoiding more than 2,300 hospital and emergency room visits,
• cutting asthma symptoms by 1.3 million cases,
• avoiding 430,000 school absence days,
• avoiding 25,000 lost workdays.

Beginning in the 2023 ozone season, power plants in 22 states will participate in a revised and strengthened Cross-State Air Pollution Rule ozone season trading program. To achieve emissions reductions as soon as possible, EPA is basing the initial control stringency on the level of reductions achievable through immediately available measures, including consistently operating emissions controls already installed at power plants. Further reductions will be phased in over several years starting in 2024 and reflect emissions levels that could be achieved through installation of new emissions controls.

This final rule implements the Clean Air Act's "Good Neighbor" or "interstate transport" provision, which requires each state to submit a State Implementation Plan (SIP) that ensures sources within the state do not contribute significantly to nonattainment or interfere with maintenance of the NAAQS in other states.

More information on EPA's final Good Neighbor Plan is available by clicking here.

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EPA Continues Oversight of Cleanup Operations Performed by TC Energy Near Washington, Kansas

EPA personnel remain on-scene to oversee cleanup operations of Mill Creek

LENEXA, KAN. (MARCH 30, 2023) – EPA on-scene coordinators (OSCs) from Region 7 continue to remain on-scene at the site of the pipeline rupture and oil discharge into Mill Creek near Washington, Kansas.

Since the spill occurred, EPA Region 7 has deployed 18 OSCs; EPA Region 6 has deployed five OSCs; and the U.S. Coast Guard has deployed three Atlantic Strike Team members to provide technical advice and assistance to support EPA response oversight. In addition, EPA has utilized contractor resources to provide on-scene and remote technical support to the responding OSCs.

Response crews have made significant progress over the last few months. The installation of a temporary water diversion system in January produced two results:

• A reduction in oil-related contaminants impacting surface water downstream of the oil-impacted segment of Mill Creek.
• The ability to conduct submerged oil assessments and perform cleanup of submerged oil from the creek bed, sediment, and shoreline of Mill Creek.

As response crews work to continue removing oil and oil-impacted soil, sediment, shoreline, and debris from Mill Creek, additional personnel working on-scene have constructed a higher-capacity diversion system (Phase 2 Diversion) and two surface water treatment impoundments. These impoundments allow for the separation of oil and water to occur on-scene. The separated water is then treated and tested to ensure that it meets discharge limits established by Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) prior to being discharged back to Mill Creek, downstream of the oil-impacted segment.

The response is being performed by TC Energy and overseen by EPA, pursuant to a consent agreement signed by the parties on Jan. 6, 2023. KDHE is also providing oversight of the response actions taken at the scene. Currently, the work being performed on-scene is following a phased-project approach. The phased-project approach has established goals, and response crews work to achieve milestones that correlate to the goals set forth in the workplan.

EPA is committed to transparency and regularly updating members of the public and the press. In December 2022, EPA established a photo- and data-rich Story Map that has been consistently updated at the end of every Operational Period. Since the work on-scene has transitioned to a phased-project approach, EPA has revamped the Story Map and will update it periodically as key milestones are achieved. EPA Region 7 will share on its social media channels when it updates the Story Map.

View EPA’s Story Map for the Mill Creek Response.

# # #

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EPA Proposes Former Uranium Mining District on Navajo Nation for Superfund National Priorities List

ARIZONA — In an effort to protect public health from contamination, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced this week that it is proposing to add the Lukachukai Mountains Mining District on Navajo Nation to the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL). The Agency is also proposing three additional sites in other parts of the country for the List and adding one site -- in Delaware -- to the List. The NPL comprises sites where releases of contamination pose significant human health and environmental risks.

The Lukachukai Mountains Mining District site is located entirely on the Navajo Nation and consists of over a hundred waste piles scattered primarily in the Cove, Lukachukai, and Round Rock Chapters in northeast Arizona. Contamination in the site stems from prior uranium mining. The EPA received a letter from the former Navajo Nation President in December 2022 in support of listing this site on the NPL, which would be the first ever Navajo site to be placed on the Superfund List.

“The Lukachukai Mountains Mining District is used for ceremonial and medicinal plant gathering, hunting, and livestock grazing, and provides important habitat for wildlife including the threatened Mexican spotted owl,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. “Adding this site to the National Priorities List would provide federal resources that will greatly enhance cleanup efforts on the Navajo Nation.”

“This is monumental for the Navajo Nation communities of Cove, Red Valley, Lukachukai, Round Rock, and the whole Navajo Nation,” said Cove Chapter President James Benally. “This will help address the legacy of abandoned uranium mine sites on our sacred mountain. We welcome it, on behalf of our grandchildren and generations to come.”

The complexity of the geology, hydrology, and terrain in the Lukachukai Mountains presents uniquely challenging considerations for cleaning up the contamination. EPA has already taken action to reduce some of the most urgent threats within the site. For example, EPA, in coordination with the Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency, has undertaken or overseen evaluations at many of the mine waste piles to characterize the extent of contamination and to identify and compare cleanup alternatives.

A 60-day public comment period is currently underway to receive input on EPA’s proposal to add the Lukachukai Mountains Mining District site to the NPL, which ends on May 30, 2023. If the Lukachukai site is listed, it will allow EPA to target additional resources toward assessment and cleanup of the site.

Background on Superfund and the National Priorities List:

All the sites being added or proposed to be added to the National Priorities List are in communities with potential environmental justice concerns based on data from EJSCREEN. Nationwide, thousands of contaminated sites, from landfills to processing plants to manufacturing facilities, exist due to hazardous waste being dumped, left out in the open, or otherwise improperly managed. President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law accelerates EPA’s work to clean up this pollution with a $3.5 billion investment in the Superfund Remedial Program. This historic investment strengthens EPA’s ability to tackle threats to human health and the environment at Superfund National Priorities List sites. The law also reinstates the Superfund chemical excise taxes, making it one of the largest investments in American history to address legacy pollution.

EPA typically proposes sites to the National Priorities List based on a scientific determination of risks to people and the environment, consistent with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act and the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan. Before EPA adds a site to the National Priorities List, the site must meet EPA’s requirements and be proposed for addition to the list in the Federal Register, subject to a 60-day public comment period. EPA will add the site to the National Priorities List if it continues to meet the listing requirements after the public comment period closes and the agency has responded to any comments.

For Federal Register notices and supporting documents for the National Priorities List and proposed sites, please visit:
New Proposed and New Superfund National Priorities List Sites.

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Biden-Harris Administration Announces $3 Million to Wisconsin to Plan Innovative Projects to Tackle Climate Pollution Across the State

Today, the Biden-Harris Administration announced Wisconsin would receive a $3 million planning grant to develop innovative strategies to cut climate pollution and build clean energy economies. Earlier this month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of the funds from the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program created by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act.  

“We know that tackling the climate crisis demands a sense of urgency to protect people and the planet,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act is a historic opportunity to provide communities across the country with the resources they need to protect people from harmful climate pollution and improve our economy. These Climate Pollution Reduction Grants are an important first step to equip communities with the resources to create innovative strategies that reduce climate emissions and drive benefits across the country.” 

“The climate crisis is taking an undeniable toll on folks across our state and Wisconsinites are ready for bold, urgent solutions to the challenges we face,” said Gov. Tony Evers. “We don’t have to choose between mitigating climate change and protecting our environment and good-paying jobs and economic development, and these Climate Pollution Reduction Grants will help ensure Wisconsin can continue working to do both as we build the future we want for our state.”   

On March 21, 2023, Wisconsin submitted the state’s intent to participate in the new program. The state will use the funds to update and expand its existing climate action plan. The funds will also be used to conduct meaningful engagement including with low income and disadvantaged communities throughout Wisconsin.  

Later this year, EPA will launch a competition for an additional $4.6 billion in funding to implement projects and initiatives included in the plans, which Wisconsin is eligible to receive. The state can also use this funding to develop strategies for using the other grant, loan, and tax provisions secured by President Biden’s historic legislation, including the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, to achieve it clean energy, climate, and environmental justice goals.  

“Climate change is already hurting Americans throughout the country,” said EPA Region 5 Administrator Debra Shore. “The Climate Pollution Reduction grants made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act will help urban and rural residents, cities and states become more resilient so that Americans can live in healthy, vibrant communities for generations to come.” 

“I voted for the Inflation Reduction Act because it is helping Wisconsin communities act on climate change, creating family supporting jobs in the clean energy economy, and lowering costs for families,” said Sen. Tammy Baldwin. “I am thrilled to help our state engage communities most impacted by climate change and build a plan that will reduce pollution, keep families healthy, and support good paying jobs in the renewable energy economy.” 

“Every community should have clean air and homes free of toxins, it’s what our babies deserve,” said Rep. Gwen Moore. “I particularly appreciate the efforts by the states to help ensure that the communities most impacted by climate change and exposure to air pollutants are actively engaged and included during the planning and implementation process. I look forward to seeing how these vital funds will be used to develop a truly effective plan that benefits residents in my district and throughout this state.” 

President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act includes historic funding to combat climate change while creating good-paying jobs and advancing environmental justice. Today’s announcement builds on $550 million announced in February for EPA’s new Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking program and $100 million announced earlier this year for environmental justice grants to support underserved and overburdened communities. Additionally, the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund will award nearly $27 billion to leverage private capital for clean energy and clean air investments across the country.  

About the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program 

The CPRG planning grants will support states, territories, Tribes, municipalities and air agencies, in the creation of comprehensive, innovative strategies for reducing pollution and ensuring that investments maximize benefits, especially for low-income and disadvantaged communities. These climate plans will include: 

• Greenhouse gas emissions inventories. 
• Emissions projections and reduction targets. 
• Economic, health, and social benefits, including to low-income and disadvantaged communities. 
• Plans to leverage other sources of federal funding including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. 
• Workforce needs to support decarbonization and a clean energy economy. 
• Future government staffing and budget needs. 

In program guidance released earlier this month, EPA describes how the agency intends to award and manage CPRG funds to eligible entities, including states, metropolitan areas, Tribes, and territories.  

Next Steps  

This funding for climate planning will be followed later this year by $4.6 billion in implementation grant funding that will support the expeditious implementation of investment-ready policies, programs, and projects created by the CPRG planning grants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the near term. Through the CPRG program, EPA will support the development and deployment of technologies and solutions that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and harmful air pollution, as well as transition America to a clean energy economy that benefits all Americans. 

By summer 2023, EPA regional offices expect to award and administer the funding agreements.  

More information on the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants 

CPRG Planning Grant Program Guidances  

Sign up for notifications about the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants

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EPA and Colorado release final enforcement and compliance workplan to prioritize heavily polluted communities

DENVER — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 8 and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment released their final workplan to implement the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Advancing Environmental Justice through Enforcement and Compliance Assurance in Disproportionately Impacted Communities, which the agencies signed last year. The final workplan explains how the agencies will collaborate through enforcement and compliance to reduce pollution in communities overburdened by environmental and public health impacts.

“EPA is committed to doing more to reduce burdens in disproportionately impacted communities in Colorado by ensuring that enforcement actions result in tangible health and environmental benefits,” said Suzanne Bohan, director of EPA Region 8’s Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division. “We are looking forward to coordinating with CDPHE in our enforcement and compliance assurance work to reduce pollution and protect people’s health and quality of life.”

“We are going to leverage every tool we have to make sure that everyone has a healthy environment to be in,” said CDPHE Director of Environmental Health and Protection Trisha Oeth. “That means prioritizing areas that have more than their fair share of pollution to reduce negative environmental impacts.”

The focus areas of the final workplan include:

• Strategically targeting inspections in disproportionately impacted communities.
• Collaborating with state, local, and federal partners on enforcement and compliance assurance actions to reduce pollution burdens.
• Creating equitable opportunities for communities across Colorado to learn and engage with us about enforcement and compliance issues.

As an initial step in honoring the commitments outlined in the workplan, the EPA and CDPHE will host a virtual community engagement session on May 1^st at 5:30 PM to discuss the workplan in more detail and foster an open dialogue with Coloradans about holding regulated entities accountable for compliance with state and federal environmental laws. Community members can register here for the meeting and find meeting information on CDPHE’s upcoming community engagement opportunities calendar. The final workplan will help prioritize inspections and enforcement actions in communities of color and low-income communities.

Background

In Fall 2022, the two agencies sought community feedback before drafting the final workplan. The agencies received feedback on the draft workplan from more than 75 individuals, nonprofit organizations, and local governments. The EPA and CDPHE considered that feedback in the development of the final workplan. This effort is part of the broader Biden-Harris Administration priority of advancing environmental justice by engaging with and focusing on disproportionately impacted communities across the country.

For more information about environmental justice in Colorado visit:

•  CDPHE’s environmental justice webpage
•  EPA's Region 8 environmental justice webpage

 

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EPA Announces $3 Million For New York to Plan Innovative Climate Projects Across the State

NEW YORK - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it will award $3 million for New York to plan innovative strategies to cut climate pollution and build clean energy economies across the state. Earlier this month, EPA announced the availability of the funds, which represent the first funding going to states, local governments, Tribes, and territories from the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) program created by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act. Later this year, EPA will launch a competition for $4.6 billion in funding to implement projects and initiatives included in the plans. New York will be eligible to receive that implementation funding because it has opted in to receive the planning grant.

New York is among the 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico that are eligible to receive $3 million each in EPA Climate Pollution Reduction planning grant funds. New York will use the funds to augment climate planning in collaboration with municipalities statewide and to conduct meaningful engagement with communities, including with overburdened communities throughout the state. New York State’s Climate Act passed in 2019 is among the most ambitious climate laws in the nation. New York State's nation-leading climate agenda calls for an orderly and just transition that creates family-sustaining jobs, continues fostering a green economy across all sectors and ensures that at least 35 percent, with a goal of 40 percent, of the benefits of clean energy and energy efficiency investments are directed to disadvantaged communities. Guided by some of the nation’s most aggressive climate and clean energy initiatives, New York is on a path to achieving a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040, including 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, and economywide carbon neutrality by mid-century. New York’s participation in the CPRG program will support its ongoing efforts to reduce economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions and ensure all communities equitably benefit in the clean energy transition.

“New York is once again proving itself to be a national climate leader. By signing on to this program, it is positioning communities across the state, large and small, to holistically reduce climate pollution and its impacts, especially for those most overburdened by environmental pollution,” said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “The Inflation Reduction Act represents the most unique and important opportunity we have ever had to tackle the climate crisis. We’re happy to provide this critical support to New York State to establish healthier communities and create job opportunities.”

New York Governor Kathy Hochul said, "New York continues to lead the nation in our efforts to fight the climate crisis, creating good-paying jobs in the energy sector and cutting pollution that impacts some of our most vulnerable communities. Thanks to the leadership of the Biden Administration and our Congressional Delegation, New York is set to receive significant federal funding from the Inflation Reduction Act that will advance innovative climate action and ensure a cleaner, greener environment for future generations."

Basil Seggos, Commissioner, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and Co-Chair of the State’s Climate Action Council said, “With this support from our federal partners, New York will continue our collaborative, groundbreaking efforts to improve air quality, spur innovation, create jobs, and address the impacts of climate change. The Inflation Reduction Act will help us to reach our ambitious climate targets while ensuring those historically burdened by pollution are prioritized to achieve equity and justice, improve public health and quality of life, and create opportunities for the future. Thank you to the Biden Administration, EPA Administrator Regan, and EPA Region 2 Administrator Garcia for this continued partnership and support on climate.”

Doreen Harris, President and CEO, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and Co-Chair of the State’s Climate Action Council said, “Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, the opportunity to leverage current and future federal funding opportunities under the Inflation Reduction Act will allow us to deliver critical benefits to communities across the state, including those historically underserved, as we establish an equitable and just transition to a growing green economy. Our economy-wide efforts to advance clean energy and climate initiatives that address the most pressing climate challenges of our time are stronger thanks to the leadership and partnership from the Biden Administration and the EPA, and are providing meaningful health, economic, and environmental benefits that will be felt for generations to come.”

“This award for New York State will continue the incredible work of the CLCPA – which I helped get over the finish line – as New York continues to lead the pack in climate action,” said U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer. “This funding opens the way for even more federal assistance as the EPA continues administering the billions I secured for climate action through the Inflation Reduction Act. I will continue to fight tooth and nail to ensure New York gets the funding it needs to reduce emissions while promoting environmental justice and the workforce of tomorrow.” 

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said, “New York State is leading the fight to tackle climate change and is paving the way to a greener future. I fought hard to pass the Inflation Reduction Act to bring home the most significant climate investment in our nation’s history. This $3 million investment from the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program, which was created by the IRA, will help New York continue its ambitious work in clean energy and will help New York reach its goal to reduce carbon emissions 40% by 2030. I thank President Biden for his leadership and I remain a committed partner in the Senate on achieving our decarbonization targets and protecting our environment for generations to come.” 

“The impacts of climate change have touched communities all across the nation from Queens to areas throughout our state, but through groundbreaking and innovative strategies, we will continue to build clean energy economies and fight back against climate pollution,” said Congresswoman Grace Meng (NY-06). “I am proud to have helped establish the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program through my support of the Inflation Reduction Act, and am thrilled that New York will be receiving $3 million through this program. New York State has some of the most ambitious climate laws in the nation. This grant will help continue New York’s efforts to develop strategies that fight climate change and further be a national leader on this issue." 

“Climate change is an existential threat to our state, nation, and planet. That's why New York needs bold solutions to tackle this crisis head on," said Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez (NY-07). "The $3 million in funding announced today will help develop innovative plans to increase renewable energy use and achieve net-zero emissions. This investment in cutting pollution and supporting our clean energy economy was made possible through the Inflation Reduction Act, which I was a proud supporter of." 

“Studies have proven time and time again that Black and Brown communities disproportionately bear the brunt of climate change. I was proud to vote for the Inflation Reduction Act last Congress, which was the largest investment in both combatting climate change and promoting environmental justice in American history. The announcement by the EPA today shows that these historic investments in tackling air pollution and combatting climate change are coming to the people of Brooklyn and New York State. I’m pleased to see that progress come to fruition, and I look forward to continuing to champion climate justice legislation to deliver for our communities and our environment,” said Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (NY-09).  

“New York City is on the frontlines of the climate crisis so we must be a leader in innovation and the advancement of strategies to curtail pollution and mitigate the worst impacts of climate change,” Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) said. “New York State has some of the most rigorous climate laws in the nation and I’m thankful that funding in President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act will help us meet our ambitious goals. I’m looking forward to continuing to push the envelope at the federal level in the fight against climate change and for a clean energy future.” 

“Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, New York will continue to be at the forefront of our nation’s fight against the climate crisis,” said Congressman Jerry Nadler (NY-12). “I’m proud to have voted to deliver this funding which will allow New York State to discover new ways to address climate pollution while creating good-paying jobs by expanding our clean-energy economy. I applaud both the EPA and NYSDEC for our shared commitment to advancing environmental justice, and will look forward to working with them as IRA funds continue to make their way to New York.” 

“I am encouraged by today’s announcement from the EPA and NYSDEC to provide $3 million in funding for the development of innovative and progressive strategies to help tackle climate pollution and build clean energy economies throughout New York," said Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13). "These funds are made available as a direct result of the Inflation Reduction Act, which I helped to secure in Congress and will support New York's efforts to prioritize investments in renewable and clean energy alternatives. Daily we are making progress toward greater climate solutions, and I vow to continue my efforts alongside our federal and state partners to deliver the economic and eco-friendly future New Yorkers deserve."

“Combating both indoor and outdoor pollution to protect and improve the health and safety of people living in the Bronx, particularly those in public housing and adjacent to major highways, has been one of my highest priorities in Congress,” said U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres (NY-15). “This substantial investment from the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program will help communities like mine develop innovate strategies to not only fight pollution and greenhouse gas emissions but build clean energy economies for the future. It’s just one of the many reasons I’m proud to have supported the landmark Inflation Reduction Act – the most significant piece of climate-related legislation in American history.” 

“This federal funding is desperately needed to help New York navigate the climate crisis and invest in strategies that will both reduce pollution and create good-paying, middle class jobs across the Hudson Valley,” said Representative Pat Ryan (NY-18). “I’m looking forward to working alongside our partners at EPA and NYSDEC to implement the Inflation Reduction Act and continue to lower carbon emissions. 

“Last year, we took a powerful, critically-needed climate action by advancing our Inflation Reduction Act,” Rep. Paul Tonko (NY-20) said. “Now, New York can access these investments and build upon their comprehensive planning efforts to ensure a just, equitable, and rapid clean energy transition. I’m proud of my work to deliver this funding, and it is my hope that, by making the most of this grant, New York will be empowered to secure future IRA funding and continue down its path in leading our nation in tackling the climate crisis.” 

“It’s going to take concrete steps to combat the climate crisis, which is why I fought to pass the most significant climate bill in the history of our nation,” said Congressman Joe Morelle (NY-25). “I’m grateful to the Environmental Protection Agency for awarding this Climate Pollution Reduction Grant to New York state so we can develop and implement innovative strategies to accelerate our transition to a clean economy.” 

Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26) said, “This is a $3 million investment in the health of New York residents and communities.  The Inflation Reduction Act is continuing to deliver on the promise of a cleaner environment for our children as well as opportunity and jobs in a robust green U.S. economy.” 

About the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program

The CPRG planning grants will support states, territories, Tribes, municipalities and air agencies, in the creation of comprehensive, innovative strategies for reducing pollution and ensuring that investments maximize benefits, especially for low-income and disadvantaged communities. These climate plans will include:

• Greenhouse gas emissions inventories;
• Emissions projections and reduction targets;
• Economic, health, and social benefits, including to low-income and disadvantaged communities;
• Plans to leverage other sources of federal funding including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act;
• Workforce needs to support decarbonization and a clean energy economy; and
• Future government staffing and budget needs.

In program guidance released earlier this month, EPA describes how the agency intends to award and manage CPRG funds to eligible entities, including states, metropolitan areas, Tribes, and territories.

Next Steps

This funding for climate planning will be followed later this year by a national grant competition for $4.6 billion in implementation grant funding that will support the expeditious implementation of investment-ready policies created by the CPRG planning grants, programs, and projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the near term. Through the CPRG program, EPA will support the development and deployment of technologies and solutions that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and harmful air pollution, as well as transition America to a clean energy economy that benefits all Americans.

By summer 2023, EPA Regional Offices expect to award and administer the funding agreements once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied.

More information on the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants

CPRG Planning Grant Program Guidances

Sign up for notifications about the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants

More information about New York’s Climate Scoping Plan and New York’s framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and achieving net-zero emissions.

Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter and visit our Facebook page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.

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EPA to Add Louisiana Superfund Site to the National Priorities List

DALLAS, TEXAS – (March 29th, 2023)- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to add the Louisiana Superfund site Capitol Lakes to the National Priorities List. The NPL is a roster of the nation’s most contaminated sites that threaten human health or the environment. By adding this site to the NPL, the EPA can prioritize funding for cleanup and necessary enforcement action.

“When we add a site to the National Priorities List, EPA is committing to permanently addressing contamination on-site and ensuring surrounding communities receive the protection and support they deserve,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Thanks to President Biden’s investments in America, EPA is making sure complex hazardous waste sites get the long-term federal financial assistance and cleanup support they need to safeguard critical resources families rely on, like clean drinking water.”

“The EPA remains committed to ensuring the safety and health of citizens who live near these Superfund sites,” said Regional Administrator Dr. Earthea Nance. “By adding the Capitol Lakes site to the NPL, we are enforcing environmental justice and taking action to remove a threat that impacts the environment and public health. I would like to thank the Biden Administration and LDEQ for working with us on ensuring the health of Baton Rouge residents remains a top priority.”

“This is the first step in restoring these key assets to their designated uses,” LDEQ Secretary Dr. Chuck Carr Brown said. “Once the lakes are clean again, all Capital area residents will be able to take advantage of these centrally located water bodies for sports and recreation, and a potential source of ongoing pollution will be removed thanks to the assistance of our federal partners.”

The Capitol Lakes site encompasses three lakes in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; North Lake, South Lake, and East Lake and occupies 60 acres adjacent to the Capitol Building and the Governor’s Mansion. In 1972, Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) were detected in the sediment, PCBs are a variety of chemicals that can cause liver damage and skin conditions. In addition to PCB-contaminated sediments, PCBs have been detected in fish tissue samples collected from North and South Lakes beginning in the 1980’s and in April 2022. Based on detected PCB concentrations in the fish tissue samples, a fishing advisory was established to warn residents of the issue and is still in place as of March 2023.  

The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality conducted a Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study in the late 1990’s. Currently, LDEQ continues to collect fish tissue samples on an annual basis in support of the fishing advisory. The LDEQ referred the site to the EPA in spring/summer of 2021, once it was discovered long-term remediation options were limited. In April 2022, the EPA performed a site reassessment on the lakes, in which both sediment samples and fish tissue samples were collected and analyzed for chemical constituents. Chemical analysis of lake sediment samples indicated the presence of PCBs. Fish tissue analysis continued to detect PCB concentrations above the Human Food Chain Cancer Risk benchmark. To address safety concerns and to remove a threat to the environment, the EPA is moving forward with proposing this site to the NPL. In addition to the Capitol Lake site, the EPA is adding one site to the NPL while proposing to add three more sites. 

The EPA is adding the following site to the National Priorities List:

• East Basin Road Groundwater site in New Castle, Delaware.

The EPA is proposing to add the following sites to the National Priorities List:

• Federated Metals Corp Whiting in Hammond, Indiana.
• Capitol Lakes in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
• Fansteel Metals/FMRI in Muskogee, Oklahoma.
• Lukachukai Mountains Mining District in Cove, Navajo Nation, Arizona.

The sites included in this announcement demonstrate the EPA’s commitment to priority environmental issues like the long-term protection of drinking water, reducing childhood lead exposure, remediating contamination from per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances, addressing the legacy of uranium contamination in the Navajo Nation, and advancing environmental justice. All the sites being added or proposed to be added to the National Priorities List are in communities with potential environmental justice concerns based on data from EJSCREEN.

Thousands of contaminated sites, from landfills, to processing plants, to manufacturing facilities, exist nationally due to hazardous waste being dumped, left out in the open, or otherwise improperly managed. President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law accelerates the EPA’s work to clean up this pollution with a $3.5 billion investment in the Superfund Remedial Program. The law also reinstates the Superfund chemical excise taxes, making it one of the largest investments in American history to address legacy pollution. This historic investment strengthens the EPA’s ability to tackle threats to human health and the environment from Superfund National Priorities List sites.

The Superfund program is credited for handling the most hazardous sites in our nation and for providing significant health improvements among residents who live in close proximity to these sites. For information about Superfund and the NPL, please visit the EPA’s Superfund webpage. For Federal Register notices and supporting documents for the NPL and proposed sites, please visit: New Proposed and New Superfund National Priorities List Sites.

Connect with the Environmental Protection Agency Region 6 on Facebook, Twitter, or visit our homepage. 

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EPA Announces $3 Million for Hawaii to Plan Innovative Climate Projects Across the State

SAN FRANCISCO – Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it will award $3 million for Hawai‘i to plan innovative strategies to cut climate pollution and build clean energy economies across the state. Earlier this month, EPA announced the availability of the funds, representing the first funding going to states, local governments, Tribes, and territories from the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) program created by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act. Later this year, EPA will launch a competition for $4.6 billion in funding to implement projects and initiatives included in the plans. Hawaii will be eligible to receive that implementation funding because it has now opted in to receive the planning grant.

"This grant will enable Hawai'i to enhance its climate action planning to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and local air pollution. Moreover, Hawai’i is now eligible to compete for greater federal funding next summer to implement its climate reduction strategies," said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. "We are proud to support the state's ongoing efforts to reduce emissions, mitigate climate change impacts, advance environmental justice, and transition to a clean energy economy."

“Hawai‘i thanks the Biden administration, its congressional delegation, and the EPA for once again prioritizing and supporting innovative climate action,” said Hawai‘i Governor Josh Green, M.D. “This grant further empowers the State Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission to address climate change head-on and protect and preserve our state’s natural resources.”

“The islands of the Pacific - some 25,000 including my home state of Hawai‘i - are on the front lines of climate change. The evidence is clear in rising sea levels inundating low-lying coastlines, increasing temperatures degrading coral reefs, and storms increasing in intensity, among other devastating impacts,” said Congressman Ed Case (HI-01). “I joined a majority of my colleagues last year in passing the landmark Inflation Reduction Act, which included the largest investment ever for our country in the battle against climate change. The Act provided for these grants from the EPA, which will help build on climate action plans as well as provide an economic boost to jurisdictions across our country.”

“This Climate Pollution Reduction Grant comes at a crucial time for Hawaiʻi. We find ourselves on the frontlines of climate change, seeing the impact of rising seas on our roads and beaches and changing weather patterns turning what normally would have been a disaster declaration into just another bad week,” said Congresswoman Jill Tokuda (HI-02). “This federal funding is desperately needed to help Hawaiʻi navigate the climate emergency and invest in strategies that will both reduce pollution and create good-paying jobs throughout Hawaiʻi. I applaud President Biden for implementing these critical investments from the Inflation Reduction Act.”

Hawai‘i is among the 50 states that – along with the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico -- are eligible to receive $3 million in grant funds. The state will use the funds to advance its existing climate action planning. The Hawai‘i Department of Health has established the Hawaiʻi Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Program to combat the threat of climate change and sea level rise. The program utilizes the Air Pollution Control Permit process of the Clean Air Branch to regulate GHG emissions statewide. The Hawai’i GHG program works with other Federal and Hawaii State programs to mitigate GHGs. Through the State’s Hawai’i Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, and its partners like the Greenhouse Gas Sequestration Taskforce, Hawai’i aims to achieve 100 percent renewable energy and carbon neutrality by 2045.

President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act includes historic funding to combat climate change while creating good-paying jobs and advancing environmental justice. Today’s announcement builds on $550 million previously announced for EPA’s new Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking program and $100 million announced earlier this year for environmental justice grants to support underserved and overburdened communities. Additionally, the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund will award nearly $27 billion to leverage private capital for clean energy and clean air investments across the country.

About the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program

The CPRG planning grants will support states, territories, Tribes, municipalities, and air agencies in creating comprehensive, innovative strategies for reducing pollution and ensuring that investments maximize benefits, especially for low-income and disadvantaged communities. These climate plans will include the following:

• Greenhouse gas emissions inventories;
• Emissions projections and reduction targets;
• Economic, health, and social benefits, including to low-income and disadvantaged communities;
• Plans to leverage other sources of federal funding, including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act;
• Workforce needs to support decarbonization and a clean energy economy; and
• Future government staffing and budget needs.

Next Steps

This funding for climate planning will be followed later this year by $4.6 billion that will support the expeditious implementation of investment-ready policies created by the CPRG planning grants, programs, and projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the near term. Through the CPRG program, EPA will support the development and deployment of technologies and solutions that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and harmful air pollution and transition America to a clean energy economy that benefits all Americans.

By summer 2023, EPA Regional Offices expect to award and administer the funding agreements.

More information on the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants

Sign up for notifications about the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants

Learn more about EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

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