$10 million grant opportunity to advance environmental justice in New England

BOSTON (July 31, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) New England Region Office is announcing a grant competition for an "Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center" (EJ TCTAC).  The agency is offering this funding opportunity of up to $10 million to help communities and other environmental justice stakeholders in the New England states access federal assistance and resources to address environmental and energy justice concerns. EPA Region 1 includes the states of Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, and 10 Tribes.

"This grant opportunity will create a technical assistance center to empower communities and help them tackle environmental justice concerns in New England," said EPA Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "While many of our urban, rural and tribal communities have identified solutions to the environmental challenges they face, there is a significant need for resources to achieve results. This center will help build capacity and deliver federal funds for environmental justice projects across our region."

"Thanks to DOE's historic levels of funding, we are helping to revitalize disadvantaged communities across the nation by breaking down barriers to address their critical energy challenges," said DOE Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations Acting Director Kelly Cummins. By partnering with EPA, DOE is creating a pathway for every community to access the resources, support, and technical capacity needed to thrive in our nation's transition to a clean energy economy." 

In April, EPA announced $177 million in investments for the creation of EJ TCTACs across the country to help underserved and overburdened communities access funds from President Biden's Investing in America agenda. Under this new Region 1 grant opportunity, EPA will partner with the U.S. Department of Energy to select a qualified applicant to deliver much-needed assistance to these communities within New England.

EPA Region 1 issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the EJ TCTAC today and will be seeking applications from eligible entities through September 11.  
The agency will host an informational webinar for prospective applicants on August 10, 2023 from 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. (EST), which will also include a partnership facilitation session.

Access the NOFO here.

Register for webinars here,

Until an EJ TCTAC grant is awarded through this upcoming grant competition, EPA Region 1 communities will be able to access assistance through one of the designated national EJ TCTAC. 

Background

Once awarded, the EPA Region 1 EJ TCTAC will be part of the network of the other EJ TCTACs providing technical assistance on a comprehensive nationwide basis. With these critical investments, the EJ TCTACs will provide training and other technical assistance to community groups, nonprofits, local governments, and others to build capacity for navigating federal, state and private grant application systems, writing strong grant proposals and effectively managing grant funding.

In addition, these EJ TCTACs will provide guidance on engagement in governmental processes, community outreach, meeting facilitation and translation and interpretation services for limited English-speaking participants, removing barriers and improving accessibility for communities with environmental justice concerns. Each of the EJ TCTACs will also create and manage communication channels to ensure the communities they serve have direct access to resources and information.

Process

EPA Region 1 will evaluate applications that are received through September 11 and expects to make the award by the end of the calendar year. The award amount will be approximately $10 million for a five-year project period, up to $2 million for each year.

Eligible applicants who can compete under the NOFO will generally include: 

• Public and private universities and colleges and other nonprofit institutions of higher education such as community colleges 
• Public and private nonprofit institutions/organizations (including philanthropic organizations) 
• Intertribal Consortia – a coalition between two or more Indian tribal governments authorized by the governing bodies of those tribes to apply for and receive assistance and participate in self-governance.

Entities which received an award for EJ TCTAC funding under the national competition are not eligible to apply for this opportunity.

The formation of the EJ TCTACs is in direct response to feedback from communities and environmental justice leaders who have long called for technical assistance and capacity building support for communities and their partners as they work to access critical federal resources. For more information on the EJ TCTACs please visit: EJ Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers program. 

The EJ TCTAC program is part of the Federal Interagency Thriving Communities Network and delivers on the Biden-Harris Administration's Justice40 Initiative to ensure that 40% of the benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities. The new EJ TCTACs will help ensure communities with environmental and energy justice concerns can access President Biden's historic investments in America to address generational disinvestment, legacy pollution, infrastructure challenges and build a clean energy economy that will lower energy costs, strengthen our energy security and meet our climate goals.

Learn more about Environmental Justice at EPA.

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EPA, Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Goodman and Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg highlight $7.9 million investment for polluted Brownfields in Kentucky at Louisville event

LOUISVILLE, KY (July 31, 2023) –Today, officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) joined Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Goodman and Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg at a press event in Louisville to discuss the $7.9 million investment through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to expedite the assessment and cleanup of brownfield sites in Kentucky while advancing environmental justice.

EPA selected ten communities in Kentucky to receive grants totaling more than $7,999,560 in competitive EPA Brownfields funding through the Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (MARC) Grant programs. Thanks to the historic boost from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this is the largest ever funding awarded in the history of the EPA’s Brownfields MARC Grant programs.

These investments are part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda to grow the American economy from the bottom up and middle-out – from rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure, to driving over $470 billion in private sector manufacturing and clean energy investments in the United States, 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.

“This investment in EPA’s Brownfields Program will transform countless lives and spur life-changing revitalization in communities large and small, urban, and rural,” said Acting EPA Region 4 Administrator, Jeaneanne Gettle.  “All with the same desire to keep their neighborhoods healthy, sustainable and reflective of the people who call it home.”

“We appreciate this partnership with the EPA that has provided this funding for communities to reimagine and eventually reuse properties in a way that will bring about jobs and healthier neighborhoods,” said Secretary Rebecca Goodman.

“This funding from EPA will help us further the brownfield remediation work that’s going on throughout our city, work that is critical to our efforts to provide additional affordable housing options for the people of Louisville,” said Mayor Craig Greenberg. “Partnerships between federal, state, and local governments are so important to address these urgent challenges and improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods.”

Additional Background:

EPA’s Brownfields Program began in 1995 and has provided nearly $2.37 billion in Brownfield Grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse. EPA’s investments in addressing brownfield sites have leveraged more than $36 billion in cleanup and redevelopment. Over the years, the relatively small investment of federal funding has leveraged, from both public and private sources, nearly 260,000 jobs. Communities that previously received Brownfields Grants used these resources to fund assessments and cleanups of brownfields, and successfully leverage an average of 10.6 jobs per $100,000 of EPA Brownfield Grant funds spent and $19.78 for every dollar.

The next National Brownfields Training Conference will be held on August 8-11, 2023, in Detroit, Michigan. Offered every two years, this conference is the largest gathering of stakeholders focused on cleaning up and reusing former commercial and industrial properties. EPA co-sponsors this event with the International City/County Management Association (ICMA).

For more on Brownfields Grants: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/types-brownfields-grant-funding

For more on EPA’s Brownfields Program: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields

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Belle Fourche and Bridger Pipeline companies to pay $12.5 million in penalties and improve compliance after pipeline spills in Montana and North Dakota

WASHINGTON (July 31, 2023) – Belle Fourche Pipeline Company and Bridger Pipeline LLC – affiliated companies that own and operate a network of crude oil pipelines in Montana, North Dakota, and Wyoming – have together agreed to pay a $12.5 million civil penalty to resolve claims under the Clean Water Act and Pipeline Safety Laws relating to oil spills in Montana and North Dakota.

“These spills impacted iconic Western watersheds that communities in Montana and North Dakota depend upon,” said EPA Regional Administrator KC Becker.   “EPA will continue to hold companies accountable for spills that threaten human health, drinking water, recreation and fisheries and ensure they take meaningful measures to prevent future incidents.”

 “Today’s settlement is the result of federal and state partners working together to comprehensively address oil spills and assess a significant penalty to deter future violations,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “The agreement also protects public health, safety, and the environment by requiring action to make future spills less likely.”

“All pipeline spills harm our environment and many threaten the safety and well-being of the American public,” said Deputy Administrator Tristan Brown for the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). “PHMSA and our state and federal partners, are sending a strong message that spills will not be tolerated.”

“As the longest free-flowing river in the Lower 48, the Yellowstone River not only is a national treasure for its historic significance, ecosystems and recreational opportunities, but it also is an important economic resource for communities along its banks and the state of Montana,” said U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich for the District of Montana. “It is essential for pipeline companies operating in and around our rivers to comply with environmental protection and public safety regulations. This agreement holds these companies accountable for their significant oil spills, and more importantly, will help protect the iconic Yellowstone River from future damage.”

 “Through this settlement, we are furthering North Dakota’s twin objectives of safe energy development and protection of our environment,” said Attorney General Drew H. Wrigley for the State of North Dakota. “I want to especially thank the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality staff who spent countless hours investigating and responding to the spill.”

In 2015, Bridger’s Poplar Pipeline ruptured where it crosses under the Yellowstone River near Glendive, Montana. The pipeline crossing had been installed using the “trench-cut” method. The pipeline failed after being exposed due to river scour. Bridger has completed its cleanup of the Montana spill site, and Bridger and the State of Montana separately resolved claims under Montana state law.

 Belle Fourche’s Bicentennial Pipeline ruptured in 2016 in Billings County, North Dakota. The pipeline traversed a steep hillside above an unnamed tributary to Ash Coulee Creek – which feeds into the Little Missouri River – when the slope failed. The size of the North Dakota spill was exacerbated by Belle Fourche’s failure to detect the spill until it was reported by a local landowner. Belle Fourche’s cleanup of the North Dakota spill site is ongoing with oversight by the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality. The State of North Dakota is a co-plaintiff in this case, and it has worked closely with the United States; both are signatories to the consent decree.

 In addition to the $12.5 million civil penalty, the companies are required to implement specified compliance measures including meeting certain control room operation requirements and related employee training, implementing their water crossings and geotechnical evaluation programs and updating their integrity management program. Belle Fourche will also pay the state of North Dakota’s past response costs.

The case is being litigated by the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Enforcement Section, in conjunction with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana, EPA, PHMSA and the State of North Dakota.

The consent decree, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota, is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval. Under section 7003(d) of RCRA, a commenter may request an opportunity for a public meeting in the affected area. The consent decree will be available for viewing on the Department of Justice website

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Belle Fourche and Bridger Pipeline Companies to Pay $12.5 Million in Penalties and Improve Compliance after Pipeline Spills in Montana and North Dakota

WASHINGTON – Belle Fourche Pipeline Company and Bridger Pipeline LLC – affiliated companies that own and operate a network of crude oil pipelines in Montana, North Dakota, and Wyoming – have together agreed to pay a $12.5 million civil penalty to resolve claims under the Clean Water Act and Pipeline Safety Laws relating to oil spills in Montana and North Dakota. 

“Oil pipeline spills can cause enormous and long-lasting damage to the environment,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator Larry Starfield for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “This settlement holds Belle Fourche and Bridger Pipeline accountable for their significant oil spills and requires them to take meaningful measures to prevent future spills from their oil pipelines.”

“Today’s settlement is the result of federal and state partners working together to comprehensively address oil spills and assess a significant penalty to deter future violations,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “The agreement also protects public health, safety, and the environment by requiring action to make future spills less likely.”

“All pipeline spills harm our environment and many threaten the safety and well-being of the American public,” said Deputy Administrator Tristan Brown for the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). “PHMSA and our state and federal partners, are sending a strong message that spills will not be tolerated.”

“As the longest free-flowing river in the Lower 48, the Yellowstone River not only is a national treasure for its historic significance, ecosystems and recreational opportunities, but it also is an important economic resource for communities along its banks and the state of Montana,” said U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich for the District of Montana. “It is essential for pipeline companies operating in and around our rivers to comply with environmental protection and public safety regulations. This agreement holds these companies accountable for their significant oil spills, and more importantly, will help protect the iconic Yellowstone River from future damage.”

“Through this settlement, we are furthering North Dakota’s twin objectives of safe energy development and protection of our environment,” said Attorney General Drew H. Wrigley for the State of North Dakota. “I want to especially thank the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality staff who spent countless hours investigating and responding to the spill.”

In 2015, Bridger’s Poplar Pipeline ruptured where it crosses under the Yellowstone River near Glendive, Montana. The pipeline crossing had been installed using the “trench-cut” method. The pipeline failed after being exposed due to river scour. Bridger has completed its cleanup of the Montana spill site, and Bridger and the State of Montana separately resolved claims under Montana state law.

Belle Fourche’s Bicentennial Pipeline ruptured in 2016 in Billings County, North Dakota. The pipeline traversed a steep hillside above an unnamed tributary to Ash Coulee Creek – which feeds into the Little Missouri River – when the slope failed. The size of the North Dakota spill was exacerbated by Belle Fourche’s failure to detect the spill until it was reported by a local landowner. Belle Fourche’s cleanup of the North Dakota spill site is ongoing with oversight by the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality. The State of North Dakota is a co-plaintiff in this case, and it has worked closely with the United States; both are signatories to the consent decree.

In addition to the $12.5 million civil penalty, the companies are required to implement specified compliance measures including meeting certain control room operation requirements and related employee training, implementing their water crossings and geotechnical evaluation programs and updating their integrity management program. Belle Fourche will also pay the state of North Dakota’s past response costs.

The case is being litigated by the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Enforcement Section, in conjunction with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana, EPA, PHMSA and the State of North Dakota.

The consent decree, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota, is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval. Under section 7003(d) of RCRA, a commenter may request an opportunity for a public meeting in the affected area. The consent decree will be available for viewing on the Department of Justice website.

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EPA proposes new requirements for Skagway and Wrangell wastewater plants to disinfect sewage discharges

SEATTLE (July 28, 2023) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in coordination with the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, is proposing limits on the amount of bacteria and other microorganisms Skagway’s and Wrangell’s wastewater treatment plants will be allowed to release to Taiya Inlet.

This is the second public comment period for the Wrangell WWTP; the draft permit that was released for public comment in October of 2022 has been revised.

Currently, the discharges from the Skagway and Wrangell facilities are not disinfected, contain high levels of fecal coliform and enterococcus bacteria, and rely upon a large “mixing zone” area to meet Alaska’s water quality standards for bacteria.

EPA is proposing draft permits for the Skagway and Wrangell facilities that contains more stringent bacteria limits. ADEC has indicated that these limits will be a condition of its certification of the permit under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act. The proposed limits will require upgrades to the existing plants. The draft permits propose to allow the plants five years to comply with the new limits.

Over the next several months EPA intends to propose new Clean Water Act permits for Ketchikan and Petersburg that would also require their treatment plants to significantly reduce releases of bacteria to local waters within five years.

About waivers under Section 301(h) of the Clean Water Act

The draft permits waive the secondary treatment requirements for the Skagway and Wrangell facilities. Most municipal wastewater treatment plants in the U.S. are required to conduct “secondary” treatment, which involves a combination of physical and biological treatment requirements to remove organic load and solids. However, in limited circumstances, Section 301(h) of the Clean Water Act authorizes EPA -- with concurrence from the state -- to issue discharge permits requiring less than secondary treatment to plants that discharge to marine waters.

Congress mandated that the last year communities could apply for a waiver from secondary treatment requirements under Section 301(h) was 1982. To qualify for a 301(h) waiver,

applicants must satisfy specific criteria designed to maintain and protect the receiving water and ensure compliance with state water quality standards. The permits are for a five-year period. Applicants must reapply in five years, demonstrating that they continue to meet the criteria.

Since the 1980s, EPA has issued permits modified by 301(h) waivers for several other southeast Alaska facilities, including Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, and Sitka. The permits were last reissued between 2000 and 2002.

In some circumstances funding support may be available for wastewater treatment upgrades through EPA and ADEC to meet nearer term and potential future water quality requirements.

For more information about the proposed permits, please view the public notice for Skagway at: https://www.epa.gov/npdes-permits/npdes-permit-skagway-wastewater-treatment-plant-alaska, and the second public notice for Wrangell at: https://www.epa.gov/npdes-permits/npdes-permit-wrangell-wastewater-treatment-plant-alaska.

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EPA Awards $1.3M in Research Funding to the University of Wisconsin-Madison to Develop Nanosensors to Detect Pesticides and Mitigate Their Harmful Impacts

WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced over $1.3 million in funding to a team of researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, in Madison, Wisconsin, to develop nanosensor technology that can detect, monitor, and degrade commonly used pesticides found in water that can harm human health.

“Nanotechnology advances are creating a new future for environmental monitoring,” said Chris Frey, Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Research and Development. “The cutting-edge nanosensor technology that is being developed by researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison will help detect pesticides in water at extremely low levels and mitigate the harmful impacts of these pesticides.”

Environmental pollutants such as pesticides can adversely affect human health. Simple and reliable sensors to detect pesticides in water sources can help reduce human exposure. The unique properties of nanomaterials have enabled advances in sensor design, such as portability and rapid signal response times, and provided more cost-effective, efficient, and selective detection and monitoring methods.

Using funding from this grant, researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison will develop an integrated, portable, sensor-controlled water treatment technology that itself generates the chemicals needed for treatment. The researchers will distribute and deploy the treatment technology across rural communities in Alabama that rely on private and/or community wells for drinking water that have been impacted by neonicotinoids, a commonly used type of pesticide.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Integrated Portable Raman and Electrochemical NanoSystem, or I-PRENS, will be used for rapid onsite detection and degradation of neonicotinoid pesticides in drinking water supplies. The team will develop a small-scale I-PRENS prototype for deployment in Alabama’s Black Belt region for long-term monitoring and remediation of neonicotinoid-impacted drinking water supplies. The Black Belt of Central Alabama, known for the region's rich, dark topsoil, faces many factors that make traditional wastewater treatment challenging, including its rural landscape and heavy clay soils. Results from the research are expected to help low income, underrepresented, rural communities in Alabama.

Learn more about the funded recipient.  

Learn more about EPA research grants.

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Poor Air Quality Expected for parts of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island on July 28, 2023

BOSTON (July 27, 2023) – New England state air quality forecasters are predicting air quality that is unhealthy for sensitive groups, due to elevated ground-level ozone. Sensitive groups include people with lung disease such as asthma, older adults, children and teenagers, and people who are active outdoors. The areas that are predicted to exceed the Federal air quality standard for ozone on Friday, July 28 are:

Southeastern coastal Massachusetts (Cape and Islands), Rhode Island (statewide), and the southeast coast of Connecticut.

These locations are subject to change, so please refer to EPA New England's AQI Air Quality Index (AQI) for current air quality conditions and forecasts across New England.

With hot, summery weather, EPA and state air quality forecasters predict areas of unhealthy air quality in several areas of New England tomorrow. EPA and the medical community advise people to limit any strenuous outdoor activity when poor air quality is expected. Exposure to elevated ozone levels can cause breathing problems, aggravate asthma, and other pre-existing lung diseases, and make people more susceptible to respiratory infection. When ozone levels are elevated, people should refrain from strenuous outdoor activity, especially sensitive populations such as children and adults with respiratory problems. Due to impacts from climate change, these kinds of air quality events may increase in frequency. Communities already vulnerable and overburdened will also be impacted by unhealthy air quality.

Ground-level ozone forms when volatile organic compounds and oxides of nitrogen (ozone precursors) interact in the presence of strong sunshine. Cars, trucks, and buses emit most of the pollution that creates ozone. Emissions from gasoline stations, print shops, household products, like paints and some cleaners, as well as lawn and garden equipment also add to the ozone formation.

Also, everyone can take steps to keep air emissions down during air quality alert days. When ozone is forecast to be unhealthy for sensitive groups, members of the public are encouraged to help limit emissions and reduce ozone formation by:

• using public transportation, if possible;
• combining errands and carpooling to reduce driving time and mileage; and
• avoiding the use of small gasoline-powered engines, such as lawn mowers, string trimmers, chain saws, power-washers, air compressors, and leaf blowers on unhealthy air days.

During poor air quality events, it is also important to reduce household energy usage, such as setting air conditioners to a higher temperature, turning off unnecessary lights, equipment, and appliances. EPA's ENERGY STAR Program also provides trusted guidance and online tools to help homeowners make smart decisions about improving the energy efficiency of their existing homes.
The current ozone standard is 0.070 parts per million (ppm).

More information:

Real-time ozone data and air quality forecasts New England Air Quality Index

National real-time air quality data (free iPhone and Android apps) AirNow  

Air Quality Alerts  EnviroFlash

EPA's ENERGY STAR Program

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Illinois American Water Meets Requirements of EPA Order to Improve Drinking Water Safety in Cahokia Heights, Illinois

CHICAGO (July 27,2023) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) terminated its order under the Safe Drinking Water Act to Illinois American Water Co. following completion of requirements to monitor the safety of drinking water in Cahokia Heights, Illinois, and to protect residents from potential exposure to contamination from sanitary sewer overflows.

“This order was, and still is, an important step in protecting the health of Cahokia Heights residents and the safety of their drinking water,” said EPA Region 5 Administrator Debra Shore. “EPA continues to work toward resolving the remaining issues affecting the Cahokia Heights community.”

Cahokia Heights is served by two different drinking water systems, one operated by Illinois American Water and the other by the city’s water and sewer department. EPA’s order was issued to both Illinois American Water and the city of Cahokia Heights in August 2021 based on violations and significant deficiencies found during an inspection of the two water systems. The order requires several steps that together will better monitor the drinking water systems and will help protect the health of Cahokia Heights residents. The city remains under EPA’s order as it continues to make infrastructure upgrades to resolve significant deficiencies.

Illinois American Water has demonstrated to EPA that it has satisfactorily completed the terms of the order and, though not required, has improved its community outreach by publishing newsletters, holding an open house for residents and designating staff to answer questions from the community.

Termination of the order does not relieve Illinois American Water of the ongoing obligation to comply with the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act and its regulations. In its role as the primacy agency, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency will continue to work with Illinois American Water to maintain compliance with applicable requirements. EPA will continue to track compliance of public water systems in Illinois, including Cahokia Heights, through routine coordination with the state.

EPA continues to meet with Cahokia Heights city officials and is working to address community members’ needs and concerns around water infrastructure. EPA provided the city a compliance advisor to provide training assistance to the system operator. Such assistance is made available to small under-resourced drinking water systems nationwide that may lack sufficient expertise.

For more information visit EPA’s website.

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EPA Posts Pesticide Incident Data Publicly

WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took a major step to increase transparency by posting 10 years of pesticide incident data on its website. Sharing this information advances EPA’s commitment to environmental justice and aligns with EPA’s Equity Action Plan by expanding the availability of data and capacity so the public and community organizations can better understand pesticide exposures, including exposures to vulnerable populations.

This action also advances the President’s transparency goal of ensuring that the public, including members of communities with environmental justice concerns, has adequate access to information on federal activities related to human health or the environment, as charged in Executive Order 14096, Revitalizing Our Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice for All.

The data sets, which pull information from EPA’s Incident Data System (IDS), allow users to access raw data on pesticide exposure incidents such as the incident date, the reason for the report (e.g., adverse effect, product defect), and the severity of the incident. It may also provide information on the location of the incident, the pesticide product, and a description of the incident(s). EPA has not verified the raw data for accuracy or completeness, so users should be aware of this limitation before drawing any conclusions from the data.

“People have the right to know when accidental pesticide exposures or other incidents are reported to the Agency,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Michal Freedhoff. “It is particularly critical to share how pesticides may have impacted our most vulnerable populations, including children and farmworkers.”

EPA considers a pesticide incident as any exposure or effect from a pesticide’s use that is not expected or intended. Pesticide incidents may involve people, domestic animals (e.g., pets or livestock), wildlife, or the environment (e.g., air, soil, water, plants). Reporting a pesticide incident provides EPA with additional information on the effects and consequences of exposures to pesticides affecting people and the environment.

EPA receives information about pesticide incidents from a variety of sources. The incident reports contained in IDS include data from:

• pesticide manufacturers (registrants), as they are required to submit reports of unreasonable adverse effects from their products;
• reporting by the public through other entities (including state regulators for pesticide enforcement);
• information submitted when individuals send an email directly to EPA;
• the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC); and
• the American Association of Poison Control Centers.

Prior to today’s action, EPA generally only provided incident information to the public when responding to requests under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) or as an incident summary as part of EPA’s pesticide registration review process. EPA has made these data accessible to expand the public’s access and understanding of pesticide incidents and pesticide-related illness. Releasing these data is responsive to many long-standing requests to share incident data with farmworker organizations and public health officials.

EPA has made the last 10 years of incident data accessible because incident data older than 10 years may not reflect pesticide product labels currently on the market due to label changes that may occur during registration review. EPA plans to update the data monthly going forward.

Background on EPA’s Review and Use of Incident Data

EPA completes a periodic review of pesticide registrations — including pesticide incidents — at least every 15 years to ensure that, as the ability to assess risk evolves and as policies and practices change, all registered pesticides continue to meet the statutory standard of no unreasonable adverse effects. EPA’s analysis may result in label changes to address any identified risks of concern. As mentioned above, this process is known as registration review.

During registration review, EPA conducts human health and environmental assessments to ensure that pesticides will not cause unreasonable adverse effects to human health or the environment. Human health risk assessments evaluate the nature and probability of adverse health effects occurring in people who may be exposed to chemicals in their daily activities (e.g., from food and water they consume, air they breathe, contact at work, or other activities). Ecological risk assessments evaluate how a pesticide is expected to move through and break down in the environment, and whether potential exposure to the pesticide will result in unreasonable adverse effects to wildlife and vegetation.

In addition, incident reports, both those submitted to the Agency and those available in open literature, can help EPA determine whether pesticides have adequate use directions and restrictions, protective safety equipment requirements for farmworkers and/or pesticide applicators, and any other necessary mitigation measures to reduce risk to humans and the environment.

Background on the Incident Data System

EPA is making two data sets public. The first data set contains incidents that were submitted to EPA with a description of the incident (e.g., who was involved, how it happened, and where the incident occurred). The second data set contains incidents that were submitted in aggregate to the Agency. Aggregate incidents are submitted in bulk, as outlined in the Agency’s PR Notice 98- 3 and only contain information on the product and the severity of the incident, with no narrative description. For either data set, a single submission may contain one or more incidents.

EPA is publishing these data sets to increase transparency to the public, but the Agency does not currently have the resources to answer individual questions about its content.

It is important to recognize that the data sets contain raw data that have never been reviewed for their validity or modified to facilitate public review. The Agency did not design the incident reporting system to cover only information known to be valid, and as such, cannot guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the contents of the data sets. People who download and use the data should exercise caution in drawing conclusions from the data.

For incident reports that contain personally identifiable information, EPA has made every effort to remove this information before making the records public. EPA will continue to redact this information as it updates the data sets each month.

To learn more, view the data sets and/or visit our About the Incident Data System webpage that explains how to search the data sets.

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EPA Seeks Public Input on Plan to Address Contaminated Soil at the Olean Well Field Superfund Site in Cattaraugus County, New York

NEW YORK – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is encouraging the public to comment on its proposed cleanup plan to excavate and remove soil contaminated with volatile organic compounds on the former AVX Corporation (AVX) property at the Olean Well Field Superfund site in Olean, New York. A 30-day public comment period for the proposed plan begins July 27, 2023. EPA will host a public meeting at the Cattaraugus County Campus of Jamestown Community College, 305 North Barry Street, Olean, New York, in the TECH Building, Mangano Reception Room, near the Cutco Theater on August 8, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. to explain this cleanup proposal. EPA is proposing to dig up and dispose of contaminated soil at the AVX Property. This method will protect those at risk as well as remove a source of groundwater contamination.

Today’s proposed plan will address soil contamination that was not fully resolved by prior cleanup actions. The contamination is under and near the former manufacturing building on the AVX Property. The plan calls for:

• Demolishing and removing the concrete slab floor and foundation supports
• Digging out the polluted soil that is not saturated with water
• Transporting and disposing of the dug-out material off-site
• Restoring the area with clean fill material

The Olean Well Field site is an approximately 1.5 square-mile area in Cattaraugus County that contains various wells, homes, and manufacturing facilities. Earlier industrial operations at the AVX property, as well as at three other facilities that EPA considers sources of site contamination, resulted in the contamination of soil and groundwater with trichloroethylene, 1,4-dioxane, and other volatile organic compounds. As a result of the contamination at all four facilities, EPA added the site to the Superfund list in 1983. Since that time, several investigations have led to cleanup remedies for the four source facilities impacting soil and groundwater, most of which are being carried out by parties responsible for the site.

Written comments on EPA's proposed plan may be mailed or emailed to Maeve Wurtz, Remedial Project Manager, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 290 Broadway – 19th Floor, New York, NY 10007, Email: Wurtz.maeve@epa.gov.

Visit the Olean Well Field Superfund site profile page for additional background and to view the proposed plan.

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

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EE. UU. impone una multa de USD 650 000 a una instalación de North Kingstown, R.I., por infracciones a las leyes de prevención de accidentes con sustancias químicas

BOSTON (26 de julio de 2023) — La Agencia de Protección Ambiental (EPA) de EE. UU. y el Departamento de Justicia llegaron a un acuerdo con Taylor Farms New England, Inc. para resolver presuntas infracciones a la Ley de Aire Limpio (CAA) y la Ley de Planificación para Emergencias y Derecho a Saber de la Comunidad (EPCRA) en la planta de procesamiento de alimentos de la empresa, en North Kingstown, Rhode Island. Las infracciones específicas corresponden a los requisitos de prevención y notificación de emisiones de sustancias químicas incluidas en ambos estatutos. La empresa pagará USD 650 000 en multas civiles y se asegurará de auditar a otras 19 instalaciones de la familia corporativa para evaluar si sus sistemas de refrigeración a base de amoníaco se están diseñando y operando de manera segura.  

Taylor Farms usa amoníaco anhidro en el sistema de refrigeración de la instalación. El amoníaco anhidro tiene diversos beneficios económicos y operativos como refrigerante; sin embargo, su uso exige mucho cuidado por su toxicidad química e inflamabilidad en ciertas concentraciones de vapor. El amoníaco anhidro, al liberarse, puede causar efectos graves y a menudo irreversibles sobre la salud. Se considera que la sustancia química es sumamente peligrosa.

«Es imperativo que las instalaciones manejen de forma adecuada las sustancias químicas extremadamente peligrosas para evitar accidentes graves. Las empresas que usan sustancias químicas extremadamente peligrosas deben trabajar de forma muy coordinada con el personal local de planificación y respuesta ante emergencias para reducir al mínimo los daños si se produce un accidente con estas sustancias», expresó el administrador regional de la EPA en Nueva Inglaterra, David W. Cash. «Es necesario cumplir a conciencia las reglamentaciones de prevención de accidentes con sustancias químicas para resguardar a los trabajadores y a las comunidades cercanas. La EPA trabaja para proteger a todas las comunidades, incluidas las poblaciones vulnerables que enfrentan una mayor parte de estos riesgos. Estamos contentos porque, en virtud de este acuerdo, Taylor Farms evaluará los otros sistemas de refrigeración a base de amoníaco de su familia corporativa para ver si cumplen con los estándares industriales de referencia. Instamos a las otras corporaciones a tomar esta medida».

La instalación de Taylor Farm en Rhode Island utiliza aproximadamente 16 000 libras de amoníaco anhidro como refrigerante, lo que la somete a las reglamentaciones de prevención de accidentes con sustancias químicas de la CAA (requisitos del Plan de Manejo de Riesgos) y a los requisitos de notificación y planificación ante emergencias de la EPCRA. Durante una inspección de la EPA en 2019 con el fin de apoyar al personal local de planificación y respuesta ante emergencias, la EPA identificó varios problemas, por ejemplo, que los evaporadores de la instalación no estaban protegidos contra posibles impactos de los autoelevadores, a pesar de que en el propio análisis de riesgos de la empresa se había recomendado la protección de ciertos evaporadores contra los impactos.

Posteriormente, en abril de 2020, se produjo una emisión de amoníaco cuando un autoelevador chocó con un evaporador ubicado en una sala de almacenamiento de frutas. La empresa había llevado el evaporador a esta ubicación después de realizar el análisis inicial de riesgos del proceso y no había identificado la necesidad de proteger al evaporador antes de comenzar sus operaciones. El incidente obligó a evacuar a cientos de empleados, exigió que se cortara una carretera, destruyó alimentos e hizo que 14 empleados debieran ir al hospital local para una evaluación médica. La EPA emitió una orden de cumplimiento administrativo para la instalación el 11 de junio de 2020, para exigir que la empresa corrigiera las infracciones de la CAA y la EPCRA, y posteriormente remitió el caso al Departamento de Justicia. La EPA también trabajó de forma coordinada con la Administración de Salud y Seguridad Ocupacional, que emitió sus propias citaciones.

Algunas de las infracciones clave alegadas en el reclamo incluyen no haber identificado los peligros, incluso aquellos originados por los cambios realizados en la instalación; no haber cumplido oportunamente las recomendaciones formuladas en el análisis de riesgos del proceso de la empresa; no haber documentado el cumplimiento de las prácticas de ingeniería reconocidas y generalmente aceptadas; y no haber coordinado correctamente con las organizaciones locales de planificación y respuesta ante emergencias.

Conforme a los términos del acuerdo propuesto, Taylor Farms pagará USD 650 000 en multas; implementará mejoras específicas en la seguridad de la instalación de North Kingstown, R.I.; evaluará si las medidas de seguridad existentes en la instalación son adecuadas dadas las barreras idiomáticas de los empleados; evaluará si la ubicación de la planta en una zona de evacuación por marejada ciclónica y sujeta a vientos huracanados plantea riesgos que deben analizarse; y realizará auditorías de seguridad de los sistemas de refrigeración a base de amoníaco en las otras 19 instalaciones de la familia corporativa, en todo el país. Taylor Farms completó la mayor parte del trabajo de cumplimiento necesario en la instalación de Rhode Island después de que la EPA emitiera su orden de cumplimiento en 2020. 

Taylor Farms de Nueva Inglaterra fabrica y almacena alimentos perecederos para tiendas de comestibles y otros negocios minoristas en una base aérea naval fuera de servicio en North Kingstown. La instalación está en una zona de evacuación por huracanes. En el peor de los casos, un escape de amoníaco de la instalación podría afectar a otros negocios, un área residencial, una escuela primaria, un aeropuerto y una base de la Guardia Nacional Aérea de Rhode Island. En la instalación trabajan cientos de personas, muchas de las cuales no son hablantes nativos de inglés. La instalación de North Kingstown es una de las 20 ubicaciones de Estados Unidos con sistemas de refrigeración a base de amoníaco operadas por la familia corporativa privada de Taylor Fresh Foods, Inc.

Miles de plantas de todo el país producen, usan y almacenan sustancias extremadamente peligrosas, entre ellas, el amoníaco anhidro. Los accidentes catastróficos en estas instalaciones de refrigeración a base de amoníaco traen aparejadas evacuaciones, además de fatalidades, lesiones graves y otros daños para la salud humana y el medioambiente.

Más información:

El decreto de consentimiento propuesto está sujeto a un periodo de comentarios públicos de 30 días y la aprobación por el tribunal federal. Una vez que se haya publicado en el Registro Federal, una copia del decreto de consentimiento estará disponible en el sitio web del Departamento de Justicia de EE. UU. en: https://www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees

Conforme a la Ley de Aire Limpio, en la Regla del Programa de Manejo de Riesgos (RMP), se implementa la Sección 112(r) de las enmiendas a la Ley de Aire Limpio de 1990, que requiere que determinadas instalaciones que usan sustancias extremadamente peligrosas por encima de umbrales establecidos creen un Plan de Manejo de Riesgos. Más información: https://www.epa.gov/rmp

En las Enmiendas a la Ley de Aire Limpio de 1990, el Congreso también promulgó la Sección 112(r)(1), conocida como Cláusula de Obligación General (GDC). Esta se aplica a las instalaciones en las que hay sustancias extremadamente peligrosas, independientemente de la cantidad de dicha sustancia presente en la planta. La GDC exige que estas instalaciones identifiquen los peligros, diseñen y mantengan instalaciones seguras, y reduzcan al mínimo las consecuencias de las emisiones. Más información: https://www.epa.gov/rmp/general-duty-clause-under-clean-air-act-section-112r1

La Ley de Planificación para Emergencias y Derecho a Saber de la Comunidad de 1986 fue autorizada por el Título III de la Ley de Reautorización y Enmiendas de Superfund para ayudar a las comunidades a planificar respuestas ante emergencias con sustancias químicas. Esta exige que las industrias informen acerca del almacenamiento, el uso y las emisiones de ciertas sustancias químicas a los gobiernos federales, estatales, tribales, territoriales o locales. También exige que estos informes se utilicen para preparar y proteger a las comunidades de los posibles riesgos. Más información: https://www.epa.gov/epcra

Recursos de cumplimiento para las instalaciones con sistemas de refrigeración a base de amoníaco: https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/compliance-assistance-tools-and-resources-ammonia-refrigeration-sector

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EPA Fines Hastings, Nebraska, Landlord for Alleged Lead-Based Paint Violations

LENEXA, KAN. (JULY 26, 2023) – Pavelka Rentals LLC, a residential leasing company in Hastings, Nebraska, has agreed to pay a $24,579 penalty to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to resolve alleged violations of the federal Toxic Substances Control Act.

According to EPA, Pavelka failed to notify tenants of potential hazards of lead-based paint exposure at the company’s properties.

“EPA and the federal government are committed to reducing harmful exposure to lead-based paint, especially among children and pregnant women,” said David Cozad, director of EPA Region 7’s Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division. “Landlords play a critical role in notifying residents of potential harm, and EPA will hold accountable property owners that fail to tell tenants about lead-based paint in their housing.”

Lead-contaminated dust from chipped or peeling lead-based paint in homes built prior to 1978 is one of the most common causes of elevated blood lead levels in children. Infants and children are especially vulnerable to lead-based paint exposure because their growing bodies absorb more lead than adults, and their brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead. They can be exposed to lead from multiple sources and may experience irreversible and lifelong health effects. Lead dust can be generated when lead-based paint deteriorates or is disturbed.

Under the Toxic Substances Control Act, lessors of pre-1978 housing are required to disclose to lessees the presence of known lead-based paint hazards and accompanying records; provide lessees a federally approved lead hazard information pamphlet; and allow lessees the opportunity to conduct a lead-based paint risk assessment before the purchaser is obligated under any purchase contract.

Reducing childhood lead exposure and the associated health impacts is a top priority for EPA.

Please visit these EPA websites for additional lead-based paint information:

• EPA’s Lead website
• Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule
• Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Rule
• Find a Lead-Safe Certified Firm
• Apply for Lead-Safe Certification
• Shareable Infographics on Lead Poisoning Awareness
• Contact Us About Lead Tips and Complaints

# # #

Learn more about EPA Region 7

View all Region 7 news releases

Connect with EPA Region 7 on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter: @EPARegion7

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EPA Extends Comment Period for Proposed Cleanup of Contaminated Sediment at Quanta Resources Superfund Site in Edgewater, NJ

NEW YORK - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has extended the public comment period for its proposed cleanup plan to address contaminated sediment and surface water at the Quanta Resources Superfund site in Edgewater, New Jersey to October 6, 2023. EPA held a public meeting at the Edgewater Community Center on July 25, 2023, to explain the new cleanup proposal to the public.

The cleanup outlined in the proposed plan will address the sediment and surface water contamination in an area of the site called Operable Unit 2 (OU2). Sediment in OU2 is contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), highly concentrated tar-like material referred to as non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL), and arsenic. Under the proposed plan, EPA would oversee work to:

• Demolish the 115 River Road pier structure and remove other pilings and structures within the contaminated area.
• Remove contaminated sediment to depths ranging from 10 to 30 feet and take it to a licensed facility off-site for disposal.
• Place a cap over less contaminated areas of the river bottom to lock in residual contamination.
• Establish “institutional” controls such as navigational restrictions, signs prohibiting swimming, wading or fishing, and other use restrictions to protect the cap.
• Monitor sediment and surface water long-term to assess the effectiveness of the cleanup in preventing the migration of contaminants from sediment to surface water and maintaining the cap as needed.

Written comments on the EPA’s new proposed plan may be mailed or emailed to Thomas Dobinson, Remedial Project Manager, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 290 Broadway – 19th Floor, New York, NY 10007, Email: Dobinson.Thomas@epa.gov.

For additional background and to see the proposed cleanup plan, visit the Quanta Resources Superfund site profile page.

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 and Lawmakers Celebrate $500K Cleanup Grant for Polluted Brownfields Site in Rhode Island

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regional Administrator David Cash joined senior Rhode Island elected officials, state experts and local advocates to celebrate a grant of $500,000 from President Biden's Investing in America Agenda to expedite the cleanup of a brownfields site in Rhode Island while advancing environmental justice. Under EPA's Brownfields program, the competitive grant will be awarded to What Cheer Flower Farm of Providence.

This investment is part of President Biden's Investing in America Agenda to grow the American economy from the bottom up and middle-out – from rebuilding our nation's infrastructure, to driving over $470 billion in private sector manufacturing and clean energy investments in the United States, 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. Thanks to the historic boost from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this is the largest ever funding awarded in the history of the EPA's Brownfields MARC Grant programs.

"Congratulations to the What Cheer Flower Farm for earning a $500,000 Brownfields cleanup grant this year," said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this grant will be used to cleanup the site of an abandoned factory, which will help the flower farm expand operations and services in an underserved part of the City of Providence, providing flowers, greenspace and training to those who need it most."

"I commend the dedicated volunteers and staff of What Cheer Flower Farm for planting seeds of change and I am pleased to help deliver this $500,000 federal grant to help urban renewal blossom here in Olneyville. This federal brownfields funding will accelerate budding progress at What Cheer Flower Farm and transform the derelict former Colonial Knife site into a thriving, inviting urban flower farm and community asset," said U.S. Senator Jack Reed. "Rhode Island has had a great deal of brownfields successes and partnerships. This is another good example of federal funding supporting community-driven revitalization In a way that helps deliver economic gains and environmental benefits."

"The EPA's Brownfields program continues to make important investments in communities across the Ocean State. With this federal funding for environmental remediation, What Cheer Flower Farm in Olneyville will grow its mission of delivering free flowers to Rhode Islanders in need of a smile, and help stimulate the local economy," said U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse.

"What Cheer Flower Farm brings so much joy to our community by growing flowers to give to hospitals, senior centers and more," said U.S. Congressman Seth Magaziner. "I am proud to announce this federal funding that will help What Cheer Flower Farm to continue cleaning up this land and growing its beautiful flowers in a safe environment."

What Cheer Flower Farm, of Providence, R.I., has been selected to receive $500,000 for a Brownfields Cleanup Grant that will be funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The grant funds will be used to clean up the 2.7-acre site located at 63 Magnolia Street in the City of Providence's Olneyville, which is currently contaminated with metals, chlorinated volatile organic compounds, petroleum, and inorganic contaminants from previous manufacturing operations. The What Cheer Flower farm will also use their funds to support community outreach activities.

Additional Background:

Many communities that are under economic stress, particularly those located in areas that have experienced long periods of disinvestment, lack the resources needed to initiate brownfields cleanup and redevelopment projects. As brownfields sites are transformed into community assets, they attract jobs, promote economic revitalization, and transform communities into sustainable and environmentally just places.

Thanks to the historic $1.5 billion boost from President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA's Brownfields Program is helping more communities than ever before begin to address the economic, social, and environmental challenges caused by brownfields and stimulate economic opportunity, and environmental revitalization in historically overburdened communities.

EPA's Brownfields Program also advances President Biden's Justice40 Initiative to direct 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments to disadvantaged communities. The Brownfields Program strives to meet this commitment and advance environmental justice and equity considerations into all aspects of its work. Approximately 84 percent of the MARC program applications selected to receive funding proposed to work in areas that include historically underserved communities.

EPA has selected these organizations to receive funding to address and support the reuse of brownfields sites. EPA anticipates making all the awards announced today once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied.

EPA's Brownfields Program began in 1995 and has provided nearly $2.37 billion in Brownfields Grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse. EPA's investments in addressing brownfields sites have leveraged more than $36 billion in cleanup and redevelopment. Over the years, the relatively small investment of federal funding has leveraged, from both public and private sources, nearly 260,000 jobs. Communities that previously received Brownfields Grants used these resources to fund assessments and cleanups of brownfields, and successfully leverage an average of 10.6 jobs per $100,000 of EPA Brownfields Grant funds spent and $19.78 for every dollar.

The next National Brownfields Training Conference will be held on August 8-11, 2023, in Detroit, Michigan. Offered every two years, this conference is the largest gathering of stakeholders focused on cleaning up and reusing former commercial and industrial properties. EPA co-sponsors this event with the International City/County Management Association (ICMA).

• More on EPA's Brownfields Program.
• More on EPA's New England Brownfields work.

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Globe Metallurgical to Pay $2.6 Million Fine, Implement Extensive Emissions Controls and Limit Sulfur Inputs to Reduce Pollution from Industrial Furnaces in Ohio

WASHINGTON – Globe Metallurgical, Inc. has agreed to a consent decree that would require it to pay a $2.6 million civil penalty, implement an estimated $6.5 million in new and improved air pollution emissions controls and limit the sulfur content of inputs in its metal production process to settle alleged violations of the Clean Air Act (CAA) at a ferroalloy production facility in Beverly, Ohio. Emissions of air pollutants, such as the sulfur dioxide (SO2) and particulate matter (PM) emitted from Globe’s operation of five electric arc furnaces, may cause adverse environmental and health impacts, including lung disorders such as asthma and bronchitis.

According to the six-count complaint, filed simultaneously with the settlement today in the Southern District of Ohio, Globe allegedly violated CAA requirements following the expansion of one of its furnaces, including a failure to assess best available pollution control technology for the modified furnace and failure to demonstrate compliance with regulations applicable to ferroalloy production plants. The United States also alleged that Globe had a history of excessive emissions of PM from the facility in violation of its existing permits.

“This settlement requires Globe to take substantial steps to reduce emissions of harmful air pollutants from industrial furnaces at its Beverly, Ohio facility,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator Larry Starfield for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “The result will be cleaner, healthier air for neighboring communities.”

“The extensive measures required by today’s settlement will reduce pollution and help prevent future violations of the Clean Air Act, ensuring that the citizens of Southeast Ohio have cleaner air to breathe,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “This case demonstrates that the Department of Justice will work tenaciously to hold accountable companies that violate federal environmental law.

“Compliance with regulations requiring upgrades to aging industrial facilities are critical when protecting health and the environment,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker for the Southern District of Ohio. “The Justice Department and the Environmental Protection Agency are vigilantly ensuring compliance with the Clean Air Act and other environmental laws.”

In addition to paying a penalty, Globe will now be required to utilize coal and other materials with a specified reduced-sulfur content to limit the generation of harmful SO2 emissions. Globe will also take significant steps to reduce emissions of PM, including construction of an additional pollution control baghouse, and implementation of physical improvements to equipment and changes to operational practices to reduce emissions of PM both from stacks and directly to the atmosphere from equipment. Globe will also be conducting extensive testing and implementing significantly enhanced monitoring of air pollutants to ensure ongoing compliance.

The consent decree also brings the Globe facility’s pollution control obligations up to date with environmental regulations that post-date the plant’s construction, including stricter limits on PM and carbon monoxide emissions.

The consent decree is subject to a 30-day comment period and final approval by the court. A copy of the consent decree is available on the Justice Department website.

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EPA Settles with Michigan Company over Alleged Underground Injection Well Violations

CHICAGO (July 25, 2023) – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reached a settlement with Team Disposal Systems, LLC of Kalkaska, Michigan, over alleged violations of federal Safe Drinking Water Act requirements aimed at protecting groundwater from waste associated with oil and natural gas production. The company has paid a penalty of $176,804.

EPA alleges that for several years, Team Disposal Systems violated monitoring, reporting and record-keeping requirements for its three underground injection control permits for Class II wells in Grand Traverse and Manistee counties in Michigan. Class II wells are used only to inject fluids, usually brines (salt water), brought to the surface during oil and natural gas production.

On August 29, 2022, EPA turned over responsibility to the state of Michigan to administer and serve as the primary enforcement authority for the regulation of Class II wells. However, EPA retains primary enforcement authority for Class II wells subject to “ongoing EPA enforcement” from prior to Michigan receiving this responsibility. Once the enforcement action is closed and back into compliance, the permits will be transferred to the state.

Learn how EPA is protecting drinking water from underground injection.

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Biden-Harris Administration Proposes to Improve Air Pollution Emissions Data

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced proposed updates to the Agency’s Air Emissions Reporting Requirements rule, including proposing to require reporting of hazardous air pollutants, or “air toxics.” Air toxics are known or suspected to cause cancer and other serious health effects. The proposed updates would ensure that EPA has readily available data to identify places where people are exposed to harmful air pollution and to develop solutions, aligning with the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to advancing environmental justice.

The proposal would revise the Air Emissions Reporting Requirements rule, which currently requires states to report emissions of common air pollutants, such as particulate matter, along with pollutants that contribute to their formation, such as ozone-forming volatile organic compounds (VOCs). While most states voluntarily report some air toxics emissions data to EPA now, that reporting is not consistent nationwide.

“Data and science are the very foundation of the work we do every day at EPA to protect public health and the environment,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “When we have the most recent, most accurate data on air toxics and other emissions, we can improve our identification of areas where people may be at risk from pollution, develop solutions and help ensure everyone has clean air to breathe.”

The data EPA receives under the rule forms the basis for the National Emissions Inventory. EPA uses information in the inventory as it develops and reviews regulations, conducts air quality modeling, and conducts risk assessments to understand how air pollution may affect the health of communities across the country, including those that are marginalized and overburdened by pollution. Other federal agencies, along with state, local, and tribal air agencies also use the data and information the inventory provides.

In addition to ensuring EPA has the data critical to identifying places where people are exposed to harmful air pollution, the proposal also would provide data that communities can use to understand the significant sources of air pollution that may be affecting them – including data on highly toxic chemicals that can cause cancer and other serious health problems. Collecting air toxics data will advance President Biden’s Cancer Moonshot, which includes a goal of preventing cancers by reducing environmental exposures to cancer-causing pollution.

The proposed rule would require nearly 130,000 facilities to report air toxics emissions directly to EPA. It would also give states the option to collect the air toxics data from industry and report it to EPA, provided the Agency approves their program. In addition, the proposal includes provisions to limit burden on small businesses, such as allowing certain small businesses to report total emissions of each air toxic instead of providing more detailed information.

EPA’s proposal also would improve other emissions data in other areas, by:

• Requiring certain facilities located in Tribal nations to report emissions if Tribes do not report them.
• Increasing reporting of common pollutants known as “criteria pollutants” by using the same emissions thresholds every year.
• Adding to the information that EPA and other federal and state agencies have available to understand the impacts of prescribed fires.

EPA will hold several informational webinars to provide background on the proposed rule and provide an opportunity for attendees to ask questions. The Agency will take written comment on the proposal for 70 days after it is published in the Federal Register. The Agency also will hold a virtual public hearing 21 days after the proposal is published in the Federal Register.

To read the proposal or to sign up to attend a webinar, visit the website for the proposed rule.

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EPA Seeks Input on Expansion of the Safer Choice and Design for the Environment Programs

WASHINGTON – Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a 45-day public comment period on a proposed expansion of its Safer Choice and potentially its Design for the Environment (DfE) programs to include certification of additional product categories beyond cleaners and disinfectants. Safer Choice and DfE are voluntary EPA programs that help consumers, businesses, and purchasers find cleaning and disinfectant products that perform and meet stringent EPA criteria for effects on human health and the environment. The Agency will hold a listening session webinar on August 29, 2023, to gather feedback on certification of additional product categories by EPA’s Safer Choice and DfE programs. 

Given the increasing consumer interest in chemicals used in products, EPA is working to expand its certification programs to include additional product categories, reflecting the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to safeguarding human health, addressing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and advancing environmental justice. The Agency is seeking input on which new product categories Safer Choice and DfE could expand into and how the potential expansion offers significant benefit to human health and the environment.

"Thanks to EPA’s Safer Choice and Design for the Environment programs, the marketplace has a tool to ensure consumers know if a product meets stringent EPA criteria for effects on human health and the environment," said EPA Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Deputy Assistant Administrator for Pollution Prevention Jennie Romer. "We’re eager to engage with a variety of stakeholders on expanding the programs to additional product categories, empowering consumers to make informed choices about products they use in their daily lives."

As with cleaning products, EPA would evaluate each ingredient against a stringent set of health and environmental criteria outlined in the Safer Choice Standard. The availability of EPA certified products would help give consumers a choice of products that meet EPA’s high standard for human and environmental health and, as part of meeting these criteria, would not contain intentionally added PFAS.

EPA will hold a webinar to solicit input from stakeholders, including manufacturers and distributors, retailers, community groups and representatives from states, Tribal Nations, non-profit organizations, trade associations, and others.

• August 29, 2023, 2:00 p.m. ET: This webinar will ask for input on the types of products Safer Choice and/or DfE should certify and why. Register here for the webinar.

Upon publication of the Federal Register notice, comments should be submitted to docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2023-0311 on www.regulations.gov by September 11, 2023.

EPA will use the public input received during the webinar and in writing to guide the development and implementation of the expansion of its Safer Choice and/or DfE programs.

Safer Choice

Safer Choice incentivizes chemistry that meets EPA’s stringent criteria for human health and the environment and provides opportunities for companies to differentiate their products in the marketplace with the Safer Choice label. With thousands of certified products, the Safer Choice label is a reliable way to find products whose chemical ingredients have met EPA’s criteria for being “safer” without sacrificing performance.

Visit the Safer Choice program website for more information.

Design for the Environment (DfE)

Similar to the Safer Choice label, EPA’s Design for the Environment (DfE) logo currently helps consumers and commercial buyers identify antimicrobial products like disinfectants that meet the health and safety standards of the normal pesticide registration process required by the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) as well as meeting the DfE certification criteria (as described in the Safer Choice Standard). When a consumer or purchaser sees EPA’s DfE logo on a product, they can feel confident that the product performs and meets stringent EPA criteria for human health and the environment.

Visit the Design for the Environment website for more information.

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Biden-Harris Administration Announces $184,000 for Hawaii to Reduce Lead in Schools and Childcare Facilities Through Investing in America Agenda

SAN FRANCISCO – Today, at an event in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox and EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash, along with U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren and U.S. Representative Katherine Clark, announced $58 million in grant funding from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to protect children from lead in drinking water at schools and childcare facilities across the country, including $184,000 for Hawaii. Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, activities that remove sources of lead in drinking water are now, for the first time, eligible to receive funding through the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (WIIN). This grant funding, which is provided to states, territories, and Tribes, advances the Biden-Harris Administration’s Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan and unprecedented commitment to delivering clean water for all communities, especially historically marginalized and low-income communities.       

“Reducing lead in drinking water is a top priority for the Biden-Harris Administration and the EPA. We are taking a holistic approach to tackling this critical public health issue in Hawaii,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. “By harmonizing regulations with historic infrastructure investments under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, while also providing technical assistance to disadvantaged communities, EPA is taking bold action to protect all our children from lead in drinking water.” 

EPA is also releasing a revised grant implementation document that outlines new authority provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to fund activities that remove sources of lead in drinking water. The Voluntary School and Child Care Lead Testing and Reduction Grant Program funds voluntary lead testing, compliance monitoring, and for the first-time, lead in drinking water remediation projects. Lead remediation actions may include but are not limited to the removal, installation, and replacement of internal plumbing, lead pipes or lead connectors, faucets, water fountains, water filler stations, point-of-use devices, and other lead-free apparatus related to drinking water. 

“Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Massachusetts students and families will rest easier knowing that the water in our schools is safe and free of dangerous toxins like lead,” said U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (MA). “This investment in our schools and our infrastructure will help support the lasting, resilient water systems our communities deserve.”

“During his first year in office, President Biden announced a bold plan to replace every lead pipe in America. Today’s announcement is another step toward making that vision a reality. Schools and child care centers across the country will have the resources to ensure students are safe to learn, play, and grow alongside their friends,” said House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-05). “As this funding is put to work in Massachusetts and across the country, House Democrats remain committed to building on the success of our Investing in America agenda – forging a cleaner, greener, safer, and more prosperous future for every American.”

The grant funding announced today is provided to states, territories, and Tribes through the WIIN. The grant program requires the use of guidance from EPA’s 3Ts (Training, Testing, and Taking Action) Program to support schools and childcare facilities in making progress on reducing lead in drinking water. Tools and resources from the 3Ts Program help states, territories, and Tribes provide technical assistance and take action to support the health and safety of children in early care and education settings. The program also helps advance President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which is helping address environmental injustice by ensuring that the benefits of federal investments in clean water, clean energy, and other programs reach communities that are marginalized, underserved, and overburdened by pollution. 

Today’s announcement advances the goals of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan and EPA’s Strategy to Reduce Lead Exposures and Disparities in U.S. Communities. Under these initiatives, EPA is developing the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements to strengthen the Agency’s regulatory framework. EPA intends to propose requirements that, along with other actions, would result in the replacement of all lead service lines as quickly as is feasible. EPA is also investing $15 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to remove lead service lines. In addition to the dedicated funding for lead service line removal, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides another $11.7 billion in general funding through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund that can also be utilized for lead removal projects. 

Learn more about the Biden-Harris Administration’s Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan and EPA’s Strategy to Reduce Lead Exposures and Disparities in U.S. Communities.

Background 

President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is dedicating an unprecedented $15 billion to removing lead from drinking water. The Voluntary School and Childcare Lead Testing and Reduction Grant Program complements these funds to further reduce lead in drinking water. Under this grant, EPA allocates funds to eligible states and territories based on a formula that includes factors for population, disadvantaged communities, and lead exposure risk. For more information, visit: WIIN Grant: Voluntary School and Child Care Lead Testing and Reduction Grant Program.

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

 

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EPA Invites Public to Scoping Meeting of Red Hill Community Representation Initiative

HONOLULU  – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in coordination with the Department of the Navy and Defense Logistics Agency, is inviting members of the public to attend the planning meeting for the formation of the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility Community Representation Initiative on July 27, 2023.

The Community Representation Initiative independently represents the interests of the community in matters related to the 2023 Consent Order between the EPA and Navy. Membership will include ten representatives who meet with government agencies approximately once a month throughout the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility defueling and closure.

The group will review Red Hill information and provide input on decisions related to defueling, closure, and assuring safe drinking water. The formation of this group is a requirement added to the 2023 Red Hill Consent Order in response to public comments.

The meeting on July 27 will provide an overview of the Community Representation Initiative, schedule for meetings, and dialogue with participants on how the selection process will be conducted.

The EPA is inviting all interested individuals to participate in this planning meeting, which will focus on soliciting community inputs regarding the design and roadmap for implementing the Community Representation Initiative.

The key areas of discussion will include:

• Defining the process for member nomination and selection
• Determining the composition of the membership
• Addressing member responsibilities

The planning meeting is scheduled as follows:

Date:                  July 27, 2023

Time:                  5 – 7 p.m. HT

Location:          Aliamanu Middle School, 3271 Salt Lake Blvd, Honolulu, HI 96818

Broadcast:       ‘Olelo Community Media, Olelo.org/53

For more information about this planning meeting or the Community Representation Initiative please visit the EPA Red Hill Public Events Calendar or contact:

Dominique Smith, US EPA, Region 9

Red Hill EJ Community Engagement Coordinator

smith.dominique@epa.gov

Steve Hurff, U.S. Navy, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy

Director, Environmental Restoration and Compliance Policy

cnrh.pao@us.navy.mil

The EPA encourages community members to attend this meeting and actively contribute to the formation of the Community Representation Initiative to help shape the future decision-making processes regarding the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility.

Read more about the Community Representation Initiative.

Read the Final 2023 Consent Order and Statement of Work on EPA’s website.

Read about EPA’s work at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility in Hawai‘i.

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

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