$3.6 Million EPA Grant to Ontario, Calif., to Spur Recycling, Reduce Food Waste

SAN FRANCISO – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced a $3,571,064 grant to the City of Ontario, Calif., to help the city upgrade its recycling collection infrastructure and reduce food waste through a new digital donation tool. The award comes from EPA’s Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) Grants program, which has received substantial funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and President Biden’s Investing in America agenda.

“This grant empowers the City of Ontario to pursue ambitious food waste reduction efforts, which are critical to keeping material out of landfills that can be donated, composted, or recycled,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Deputy Regional Administrator Cheree Peterson. “The projects this grant will fund are emblematic of the great work happening across California to recover edible food and increase composting and recycling, creating significant benefits for local communities and the environment.”

City of Ontario Integrated Waste Director Blaine Ishii said: “The City of Ontario is excited about receiving grant funding to help expand our recycling infrastructure. We are dedicated to improving our post-consumer waste efforts. With this grant funding, the City will make improvements to our recycling program including enhancements in tracking, education, and market development. We look forward to implementing these progressive goals, reducing contaminations and enhancing our recycling and organics collections.”

“California has cut climate pollution by requiring large food businesses to send unsold food to people in need instead of landfills as part of our organics diversion initiative,” said CalRecycle Director Rachel Machi Wagoner. “So far 246 million meals have reached Californians without enough to eat with the help of state funds.”

With this grant, the City of Ontario will establish new recycling collection routes and optimize materials management infrastructure through the purchase of recycling equipment such as electric trucks, electric vehicle charging stations, bins and carts, a power steam wash machine, and software to enhance zero waste strategies. The project will also create a digital food donation marketplace for businesses and nearby nonprofits and expand source separation of organic food waste and mixed recyclables by distributing carts and bins to residents and businesses. The proposed project facilitates the city’s compliance with California Senate Bill (SB) 1383.

SB 1383 requires California to cut organic waste sent to landfills by 75% and send 20% of edible food that would otherwise be landfilled to Californians in need by 2025. California has committed $464 million to organics recycling and surplus food recovery grants and loans, which includes nearly $29 million for food waste prevention and rescue projects. About half of California’s trash is food scraps, yard waste and other organics, and organic waste in landfills emits 20% of the state’s methane pollution. Methane is a particularly harmful driver of climate change, acting to trap heat in the atmosphere.

Reducing food waste – especially during the holidays – is one of the most important actions communities and individuals can take to reduce climate pollution. The production-related emissions and landfill methane emissions associated with food loss and waste in the U.S. contribute to greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to that of 60 coal-fired power plants.   

SWIFR Grants for Communities

The 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides the largest EPA investment in recycling in 30 years to support National Recycling Strategy implementation and build a circular economy for all. The new funding supports improvements to waste management systems and programs, allowing resources to be used more efficiently and reducing the impact on the climate. SWIFR Community grant funding can be used to establish or optimize collection of materials; fund infrastructure, technology or other improvements; support and enhance end-markets for the use of recycled commodities; and/or increase the diversion, recycling rate and quality of materials collected for municipal solid waste. These grants align with the Administration’s Justice40 Initiative, a commitment to promote environmental justice by targeting certain federal investments to benefit disadvantaged communities.

Learn more about what you can do to reduce wasted food in your home:

• Preventing wasted food at home information
• Local food recovery guides

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

from EPA News Releases https://ift.tt/EpAv6Rk

EPA completes cleanup at 187 properties this year at the Jacobsville Superfund Site in Evansville, Indiana

CHICAGO (Dec. 21, 2023) – Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced contaminated soil cleanup of 187 residential properties is complete at the Jacobsville Neighborhood Soil Contamination Superfund site in Evansville, Indiana, bringing the total number of properties cleaned to 4,187. EPA completed the last of the cleanups on Dec. 8 and will resume cleanups in the spring 2024. 

During the 2023 construction season, EPA cleaned up soil contaminated with lead and arsenic at properties primarily in neighborhoods south and east of downtown Evansville and north of Lloyd Expressway, including Fulton Terrace, Cedar Hall, Jacobsville, Jimtown, Culver, Haynie’s Corner, and Tepe Park. EPA also tested the soil at 575 additional properties, bringing the total to 7,231. EPA anticipates it will take approximately five more years to clean up the remaining 800 properties. 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will continue managing day-to-day site activities when work resume in the spring.   

To learn more, visit the Jacobsville website. 

###

from EPA News Releases https://ift.tt/oR5fWHg

Biden-Harris Administration Selects Texas Southern University to Receive $50,000,000 to Fund Environmental Justice Projects Across Region 6

DALLAS TEXAS (December 22, 2023) – As part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, the Biden-Harris Administration announced the Texas Southern University has been selected to serve as Regional Grantmaker that will receive $50,000,000 under EPA’s Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking program that was created by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, the largest investment in climate action in history. This new grant program, which will make it easier for small community-based organizations to access federal environmental justice funding, responds to community feedback about the need to reduce barriers to federal funds and improve the efficiency of the awards process to ensure communities that have long faced underinvestment can access the benefits of the largest climate investment in history. Communities will be able to apply to Texas Southern University’s Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice for a subgrant to fund a range of different environmental project activities, including (but not limited to) small local clean ups, local emergency preparedness and disaster resiliency programs, environmental workforce development programs for local jobs reducing greenhouse gas emissions, fenceline air quality and asthma related projects, healthy homes programs, and projects addressing illegal dumping.

President Biden is delivering the most ambitious environmental justice agenda in our nation’s history. Vice President Kamala Harris and EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan were joined by Dr. Robert Bullard, a Distinguished Professor of Urban Planning and Environmental Policy at Texas Southern University to announce the historic Grantmaker awards.

“Every person has a right to drink clean water, breathe clean air, and live in a community that is healthy and safe,” said Vice President Kamala Harris. “For too long, however, low-income communities, immigrant communities, Native communities, and communities of color have endured disproportionate levels of air, water, and soil pollution. That is why President Joe Biden and I have put equity at the center of our nation’s largest investment in climate in history. Today’s announcement puts that commitment into action by ensuring critical resources to fund environmental justice projects across the country reach the organizations that know their communities best.”

“For years, community advocates have been calling for federal support and resources to help address our country’s most pressing environmental justice concerns,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Thanks to President Biden and Vice President Harris’ leadership, we’re responding to these calls by removing barriers that have traditionally held communities and applicants back from accessing these historic investments in America. Together, in partnership with these Grantmakers, we are taking a giant step toward a future where every person in America has equal opportunity to breathe clean air, drink clean water, and live a healthy, productive life.”

“I am grateful to see the Biden-Harris Administration support and recognize the importance of strengthening regional partners like Texas Southern University to help advance environmental justice goals,” said Deputy Regional Administrator Stacey Dwyer. “Texas Southern University, with Dr. Bullard’s leadership, became a pioneer for environmental quality not just in Texas but in the nation. With decades of bringing awareness to environmental quality and for fighting to overcome local pollution obstacles, EPA is proud to call Texas Southern University a Regional Grantmaker. We look forward to working with Texas Southern University and Dr. Bullard to bring federal resources to impacted communities and to help address the region’s most pressing environmental concerns.”

“I am happy to say Texas Southern University is the HBCU that served as the ‘launching pad’ for my environmental justice career way back in 1979—before EJ had a name or initials. And today, 44 years later, TSU was selected to serve as a Regional Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaker,” says Center Director and Professor Dr. Robert D. Bullard, who is often referred to as the “father of environmental justice.”

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18) said:

“Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee is pleased to announce with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) a major $50 million Environmental Justice Program Grant to Texas Southern University (TSU). TSU is the academic home of Professor Robert D. Bullard, who is known as the ‘Father of Environmental Justice.’ Dr. Bullard's groundbreaking work and pioneering research regarding communities of color expanded beyond academia to establish environmental justice as a national priority.

This unique grant we are announcing resulted from the work of many of us as Members of Congress on environmental justice issues. Specifically, this grant resulted from the work of the United States Congress and the Biden-Harris Administration on the Inflation Reduction Act, which is the largest investment in climate action relief in our history. I worked on the Inflation Reduction Act as a member of the House Budget Committee.

Through my 18th Congressional District Office, I led in efforts to directly engage the EPA on frontline environmental challenges facing residents of my district. I called a community meeting that brought all sides to a discussion on the creosote contamination of Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens, which led to my work for a cancer study of the impacted area. The study resulted in three reports each revealing a new cancer cluster involving residents of the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens area.

I applaud the work of EPA Administrator Regan and his team for positively receiving communications from my office on the cancer clusters and their effort to focus energy and resources on the environmental problems faced by at-risk communities like Fifth Ward, Kashmere Gardens, and the larger Northeast community along with other communities in the 18th Congressional District. Under Administrator Regan and his team's leadership, EPA is bringing this grant opportunity to the City of Houston.

Throughout my legislative and representational work, I have worked closely with the EPA on addressing environmental concerns impacting communities in my Congressional District. I welcome today's funding and will work with the Administrator and his team to bring this grant opportunity to the City of Houston.” 

EPA Grantmakers will work in collaboration with EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights to issue subgrants to community-based nonprofit organizations and other eligible organizations representing disadvantaged communities. As a Grantmaker, Texas Southern University will design comprehensive application and submission processes, award environmental justice subgrants, implement tracking and reporting systems, and provide resources and support to communities. The subgrants are expected to become available by summer of 2024.

EPA has selected, the Texas Southern University to receive $50,000,000 as a National Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaker to provide additional support, coordination, and oversight to the subgrantees, applicants, and the Regional Grantmakers across the southern part of the country. The Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice (“Bullard Center”) at Texas Southern University (TSU)—in partnership with Achieving Community Tasks Successfully (ACTS), a community-based nonprofit organization—will serve as a Regional Grantmaker (RGM) for the purpose of distributing funds to CBOs that are addressing environmental justice issues in disadvantaged and underserved communities. The Bullard Center RGM program builds on decades of experience, expertise and trust earned the past three decades in operating centers, consortia, and collaboratives engaged in regranting to EJ CBOs.

Grantmakers are expected to begin opening competitions and awarding subgrants by summer 2024. Community-based nonprofit organizations and other eligible organizations seeking subgrant funding will be able to apply for subgrants through three concurrent tiers offered by the Grantmakers. Tier One will consist of grants for $150,000 for assessment, Tier Two will consist of grants for $250,000 for planning, and Tier Three will consist of grants for $350,000 for project development. In addition, $75,000 will be available for capacity-constrained community-based organizations through a noncompetitive process during Tier One. Each Grantmaker will design and implement a distribution program best suited for their region and communities.

The Grantmakers program is part of the Federal Interagency Thriving Communities Network and delivers on the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 Initiative which set the goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. Grantmakers will work in collaboration with the Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers (EJ TCTACs) to create a robust support network to assist eligible entities when applying.

Learn more about the Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmakers.

Background

From day one of their administration, President Biden and Vice President Harris have made achieving environmental justice a top priority. In August 2022, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law, creating the largest investment in environmental and climate justice in U.S. history. EPA received $3 billion in total to award grants and fund related technical assistance to benefit disadvantaged communities. 

EPA has since launched and expanded innovative programs to provide more support than ever before to communities that unjustly bear the burdens of environmental harm and pollution. This includes the $177 million for the creation of 16 EJ TCTACs in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy to remove barriers to federal resources and help communities pursue funding opportunities like those made available through President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda.

EPA announced nearly $128 million to fund 186 projects across the country that advance environmental justice as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. The organizations, which EPA has selected through its Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem Solving Cooperative Agreement and Environmental Justice Government-to-Government programs, will use the funds to ensure disadvantaged communities that have historically suffered from underinvestment have access to clean air and water and climate resilience solutions in alignment with the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 Initiative.

EPA also announced approximately $2 billion in funding available to support community-driven projects that deploy clean energy, strengthen climate resilience, and build capacity for communities to tackle environmental and climate justice challenges last month. The Community Change Grants are the single largest investment in environmental justice going directly to communities in history, and will advance collaborative efforts to achieve a healthier, safer, and more prosperous future for all.

Learn more about environmental justice at EPA.

For up-to-date information on when subgrants will be available, subscribe to the Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights’ listserv by sending a blank email to: join-epa-ej@lists.epa.gov. Follow OEJECR on X (formerly Twitter): @EPAEnvJustice.

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

from EPA News Releases https://ift.tt/ZHGJ6Fm

EPA Reaches Agreement to Advance the Cleanup of the San German Superfund Site in Puerto Rico

NEW YORK (December 22, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced that the United States District Court in Puerto Rico has approved a settlement between the agency and HP Inc., the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Corporation, Wallace Silversmiths of Puerto Rico, Ltd., and Lifetime Brands, Inc. to design and carry out a cleanup at the San German Groundwater Contamination Site in Puerto Rico. The cost of the cleanup is estimated at $7.7 million.

The San German Groundwater Contamination Superfund Site includes the Retiro Industrial Park and adjacent areas. Over 44 nearby industrial sites were part of the EPA's investigation. After discovering the contamination, the Puerto Rico Department of Health ordered three public supply wells to be closed in 2006. Area residents are connected to safe sources of drinking water from other municipal water supplies in the area.

"Today’s announcement demonstrates EPA’s progress in ensuring that the communities of San German are protected from the potential risk of exposure to chemical contamination,” said Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “EPA will continue to hold companies responsible and require them to conduct the work necessary to clean up contaminated sites which in turn helps to protect public health and our environment.”

The site is located in the municipality of San German in the southwestern part of Puerto Rico. The EPA placed the site on the Superfund program’s National Priorities List in 2008.  The site includes three public water supply wells in the municipality of San German that functioned as an independent, interconnected water supply system. In 2006, the Puerto Rico Department of Health closed the three supply wells after sampling revealed the presence of elevated concentrations of volatile organic compounds, including tetrachloroethylene and trichloroethylene. Investigations indicated that the Retiro Industrial Park, located near the affected supply wells, is the source of the contamination. Several buildings in the park, currently occupied by active businesses, were investigated during a remedial investigation.

In 2015, the EPA decided on a plan to clean up the soil at two lots located within the Retiro Industrial Park where contamination was found, known as the Wallace Lot and the CCL Lot. The cleanup is being addressed in two phases. The first phase, which is the subject of the agreement, focuses on contaminated soils and shallow, highly contaminated groundwater.  The second phase, which is currently ongoing, involves further investigations of larger, less contaminated groundwater plume.

The agreement requires the parties to address conditions related to the first phase by cleaning up the soil and shallow, highly contaminated groundwater through the use of processes called soil vapor extraction and dual-phase extraction and treatment in place. Soil vapor and dual-phase extraction treatment systems are used to reduce the volatile organic compounds in the soil and groundwater. These methods remove harmful chemicals from the soil and groundwater in the form of vapor by applying a vacuum. The parties have agreed to monitor the area long-term to ensure that the cleanup is effective.

For more information about this superfund site, please visit San German Ground Water Contamination Site.

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

23-111

### 

from EPA News Releases https://ift.tt/H1678NU

EPA Moved Further and Faster Than Ever Before in 2023

WASHINGTON – In 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) moved further and faster than ever before to deliver on its mission and protect human health and the environment. Thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration’s historic investments in America and the President’s ambitious climate and environmental agenda, EPA took significant steps over the last year to tackle climate change, advance environmental justice, and protect the health and safety of communities across the country.

“President Biden believes every person in this country deserves clean air to breathe, clean water to drink and the opportunity to lead a healthy life, and EPA is central to making that belief a reality. After a year of significant unparalleled accomplishments, I couldn’t be prouder of EPA’s driven and dedicated workforce,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “From standing up rules to cut harmful pollution and bring clean, reliable energy to communities that need it most, to deploying billions of dollars in resources, EPA has never been in a stronger position to make people’s lives better and we’re not slowing down now.”

In 2023, Administrator Regan traveled to communities in all 10 EPA regions where he met with residents, interested parties, and elected leaders to advance the Biden-Harris Administration’s ambitious environmental agenda. Administrator Regan and agency officials also signed more than 50 rules. The agency is also delivering more than $16 Billion in investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and more than $41 Billion from the Inflation Reduction Act to reduce pollution, build a clean energy economy, lower costs for American households and businesses, create good-paying jobs, and advance environmental justice across the country.

Highlights of EPA’s 2023 Accomplishments:

• EPA’s final rule on methane is set to prevent the equivalent of more than a billion tons of carbon emissions, marking a major step in combating climate change, while reducing other harmful pollution.
• The agency introduced new technology standards for power plants and the transportation sector, representing some of the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S.  
• The agency proposed the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements and a rule to regulate six PFAS in drinking water, demonstrating its leadership in safeguarding drinking water.  
• The EPA delivered the largest single investment in environmental justice in history, launched the Thriving Justice Grantmakers Program, and developed Environmental Justice Technical Guidelines.  
• EPA made significant progress implementing the 2016 amendments to strengthen our nation’s chemical safety law after years of mismanagement and delay, advancing rules to better protect communities from harmful chemicals like TCE and methylene chloride.
• The EPA enhanced its consultation policy with Indian Tribes and agreed with Canada and the Ktunaxa Nation to develop a joint initiative to tackle transboundary water pollution, showcasing its commitment to collaborative environmental solutions.  
• The agency deployed $1 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to expedite Superfund cleanup activities at 100 Superfund sites, and began cleanup of 22 additional Superfund sites.
• The EPA’s 24th consecutive clean financial audit opinion highlights the agency's commitment to responsible and transparent financial management.  
• EPA made significant contributions in PFAS research, air quality standards, and climate adaptation strategies, underlining the agency’s role in leading environmental science. 
• Enforcement has been revitalized, with significant increases in on-site inspections, new criminal investigations, civil settlements, and cleanup enforcement.
• EPA carried out emergency response efforts across the country, including East Palestine, Ohio, and on Maui, Hawaii.
• Administrator Regan established a first-of-its-kind National Environmental Youth Advisory Council.

As the agency looks to 2024, it remains committed to building on these achievements, delivering on the Biden-Harris Administration’s climate and environmental agenda, and ensuring all people benefit equally from the historic economic opportunity and environmental progress ahead.

from EPA News Releases https://ift.tt/TbI0i9W

EPA completes reviews at six Mass. Superfund sites

BOSTON (Dec. 20, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has completed required comprehensive site cleanup reviews, or Five-Year Reviews, of six National Priorities List Sites (Superfund Sites) across Massachusetts.

"Continuing to monitor Superfund sites after our primary cleanup work is completed ensures that site remedies are continuing to protect human health and the natural environment, and that communities who had been burdened by concerns of contamination can rest easier," said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "By completing these reviews of the cleanups every five years, EPA can continue to keep communities in the know, and information up-to-date."   

As required by law, EPA conducts reviews at Superfund sites after cleanup remedies have been implemented every five years. This comprehensive review of previous work helps ensure that EPA continues to evaluate the performance of cleanup efforts and determines whether any further action to protect human health or the environment is required.

The Superfund Sites in Massachusetts, where EPA has completed Five-Year Reviews during the 2023 Fiscal Year, are listed below. The following links provide access to each Superfund Site page where you can find their Five-Year Review report(s). The Five-Year Review of four of these sites concluded that the previous work continues to effectively protect peoples' health and the environment and made recommendations for follow up actions where needed. At Sullivan's Ledge, in New Bedford, Mass., the report recommended additional time and data evaluation before a final finding on protectiveness can be determined.

Completed Mass. Five Year Reviews in Fiscal Year 2023:

Iron Horse Park, Billerica, Massachusetts

Re-Solve, Inc., Dartmouth, Massachusetts

Sullivan's Ledge, New Bedford, Massachusetts

Shpack Landfill, Norton/Attleboro, Massachusetts

Plymouth Harbor/Cannon Engineering Corp., Plymouth, Massachusetts

Completed Mass. Five Year Reviews for Federal Facilities in Fiscal Year 2023:

Otis Air National Guard Base/Camp Edwards, Bourne, Sandwich, Mashpee, and Falmouth, Massachusetts

Background

The Superfund program, a federal program established by Congress in 1980, investigates and cleans up the most complex, uncontrolled, or abandoned hazardous waste sites in the country and endeavors to facilitate activities to return them to productive use.

Throughout the process of designing and constructing a cleanup at a hazardous waste site, EPA's primary goal is to protect public health and the environment. At many sites, EPA continues to ensure it remains true to EPA's mission, by requiring cleanup reviews every five years. It is important for EPA to regularly check on these sites to ensure the cleanup remedy is working properly. These reviews identify issues (if any) that may affect the protectiveness of the completed remedy and, if necessary, recommend action(s) necessary to address them.

There are many phases of the Superfund cleanup process including considering future use and redevelopment at sites and conducting post cleanup monitoring of sites.

More information:

For more information about EPA's Superfund program, visit www.epa.gov/superfund

from EPA News Releases https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-completes-reviews-six-mass-superfund-sites

EPA completes reviews at four Rhode Island Superfund sites

BOSTON (Dec. 20, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has completed required comprehensive site cleanup reviews, or Five-Year reviews, of four National Priority List Sites (Superfund Sites) across Rhode Island. 

"Continuing to monitor Superfund sites after our primary cleanup work is completed ensures that site remedies are continuing to protect human health and the natural environment, and that communities who had been burdened by concerns of contamination can rest easier," said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "By completing these reviews of the cleanups every five years, EPA can continue to keep communities in the know, and information up-to-date."   

As required by law, EPA conducts reviews at Superfund sites after cleanup remedies have been implemented every five years. This comprehensive review of previous work helps ensure that EPA continues to evaluate the performance of cleanup efforts and determines whether any further action to protect human health or the environment is required.

The Superfund Sites in Rhode Island where EPA has completed Five-Year Reviews during the 2023 Fiscal Year, are listed below. The following links provide access to each Superfund Site page where you can find their Five-Year Review report(s). The Five-Year Review at each of these sites concluded that the remedies continue to effectively protect peoples' health and the environment and made recommendations for follow up actions where needed.

Completed Rhode Island Five Year Reviews in Fiscal Year 2023:

Central Landfill, Johnston, Rhode Island

Picillo Farm, Coventry, Rhode Island

Western Sand & Gravel, Burrillville, Rhode Island

Completed Rhode Island Five Year Reviews for Federal Facilities in Fiscal Year 2023: 

Davisville Naval Construction Battalion Center, North Kingstown, Rhode Island

Background

The Superfund program, a federal program established by Congress in 1980, investigates and cleans up the most complex, uncontrolled, or abandoned hazardous waste sites in the country and endeavors to facilitate activities to return them to productive use.  

Throughout the process of designing and constructing a cleanup at a hazardous waste site, EPA's primary goal is to protect public health and the environment. At many sites, EPA continues to ensure it remains true to EPA's mission, by requiring cleanup reviews every five years. It is important for EPA to regularly check on these sites to ensure the cleanup remedy is working properly. These reviews identify issues (if any) that may affect the protectiveness of the completed remedy and, if necessary, recommend action(s) necessary to address them.

There are many phases of the Superfund cleanup process including considering future use and redevelopment at sites and conducting post cleanup monitoring of sites. 

More information:

For more information about EPA's Superfund program, visit www.epa.gov/superfund

from EPA News Releases https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-completes-reviews-four-rhode-island-superfund-sites

EPA completes reviews at five New Hampshire Superfund sites

BOSTON (Dec. 20, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has completed required comprehensive site cleanup reviews, or Five-Year reviews, of five National Priority List Sites (Superfund Sites) across New Hampshire.

"Continuing to monitor Superfund sites after our primary cleanup work is completed ensures that site remedies are continuing to protect human health and the natural environment, and that communities who had been burdened by concerns of contamination can rest easier," said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "By completing these reviews of the cleanups every five years, EPA can continue to keep communities in the know, and information up-to-date."    

As required by law, EPA conducts reviews at Superfund sites after cleanup remedies have been implemented every five years. This comprehensive review of previous work helps ensure that EPA continues to evaluate the performance of cleanup efforts and determines whether any further action to protect human health or the environment is required.

The Superfund Sites in New Hampshire where EPA has completed Five-Year Reviews during the 2023 Fiscal Year, are listed below. The following links provide access to each Superfund Site page where you can find their Five-Year Review report(s). The Five-Year Review of each of these sites concluded that the remedies continue to effectively protect peoples' health and the environment and made recommendations for follow up actions where needed.

Completed New Hampshire Five Year Reviews in Fiscal Year 2023:

Kearsarge Metallurgical Corp., Conway, New Hampshire

Tibbetts Road, Barrington, New Hampshire

Fletcher's Paint Works & Storage, Milford, New Hampshire

South Municipal Water Supply Well, Peterborough, New Hampshire

Mottolo Pig Farm, Raymond, New Hampshire

Background

The Superfund program, a federal program established by Congress in 1980, investigates and cleans up the most complex, uncontrolled, or abandoned hazardous waste sites in the country and endeavors to facilitate activities to return them to productive use.

Throughout the process of designing and constructing a cleanup at a hazardous waste site, EPA's primary goal is to protect public health and the environment. At many sites, EPA continues to ensure it remains true to EPA's mission, by requiring cleanup reviews every five years. It is important for EPA to regularly check on these sites to ensure the cleanup remedy is working properly. These reviews identify issues (if any) that may affect the protectiveness of the completed remedy and, if necessary, recommend action(s) necessary to address them.

There are many phases of the Superfund cleanup process including considering future use and redevelopment at sites and conducting post cleanup monitoring of sites.

More information:

For more information about EPA's Superfund program, visit www.epa.gov/superfund

from EPA News Releases https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-completes-reviews-five-new-hampshire-superfund-sites

EPA report: US fuel economy marks a new record high; CO2 emissions reach record lows, and all large manufacturers meet greenhouse gas standards

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday released its annual Automotive Trends Report, which shows that model year 2022 vehicle fuel economy reached a record high while emission levels dropped to record low levels. The report also shows that through the MY 2022 reporting period, all 14 large manufacturers are in compliance with the light-duty greenhouse gas program requirements.

“As the United States accelerates towards a clean transportation future, today’s report highlights the historic progress made so far by the industry to reduce climate pollution and other harmful emissions,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “We are thrilled to see manufacturers continue to innovate and develop technologies in multiple vehicle categories that have led to a substantial increase in miles per gallon, passing cost savings onto families across the nation.”

Key highlights of the report:

• New vehicle carbon dioxide emissions and fuel economy had the biggest annual improvement of the last nine years, reaching record low CO2 emissions and record high fuel economy.
• From MY 2021-22, average fuel economy increased by 0.6 mpg, which is more than double the annual rate of improvement in fuel economy over the last decade.
• Most vehicle types are at their best-ever fuel economy, including sport utility vehicles, which increased their fuel economy by 2.4 mpg in MY 2022.
• The average estimated real-world CO2 emission rate for all new vehicles fell by 3% to the lowest level ever reported.
• Since MY 2004, CO2 emissions have decreased 27%, and fuel economy has increased 35%.
• Electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles helped reduce the overall average CO2 emissions from the MY 2022 fleet by 22 grams per mile and improved fuel economy by 1.2 mpg in MY 2022.

Most manufacturers have made improvements in fuel economy over the past five years, and they continue to use a wide array of advanced technologies to achieve CO2 emissions, fuel economy, and performance goals. In MY 2022, the combined category of electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles, and fuel cell vehicles increased from 4% of production in MY 2021 to 7% of production in MY 2022 and are projected to reach 12% of production in MY 2023. This trend will likely continue as EV production is expected to grow across the industry in coming years.

This annual report reflects EPA’s commitment to provide the public with information about new light-duty vehicle greenhouse gas emissions, fuel economy, technology data, and auto manufacturers' performance in meeting the nation’s emissions standards. EPA’s annual Automotive Trends Report is separate from the agency’s regulatory process.

Read the full EPA Annual Automotive Trends Report and learn more about the trends.

from EPA News Releases https://ift.tt/F6w0HS8

EPA New England advances three air permits for offshore wind farm projects

BOSTON (Dec. 19, 2023) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its issuance of draft Clean Air Act Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) air quality permits for Sunrise Wind, Park City Wind (NEW1) and Park City Wind (NEW2). The draft permits allow for construction to begin on these three offshore "wind development areas" located in federal waters. EPA is seeking public comment before draft permits are finalized.

EPA's approval is in concert with other federal approvals for the project, including the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management's Record of Decision.

"When built, these projects will contribute 3 gigawatts of energy – powering 1.8 million homes and leaping toward the Biden-Harris administration's goal of generating 30 gigawatts of clean, abundant energy from offshore wind by 2030," said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "New England continues to lead the way to our clean energy future, growing clean tech jobs, and making sure our communities most overburdened by air pollution can breathe clean air and take advantage of green workforce development."

The permits regulate pollutants from OCS sources during the construction phase - such as jack-up barges that will construct each wind turbine and the electrical service platforms. Additionally, emissions associated with air-emitting devices used during the operation of the windfarm, including generators used as a source of back-up electricity for space conditioning where sensitive electronics are housed, and for emission standards for all vessels used within 25 nautical miles of the projects are also regulated.

Public comment deadline is January 24, 2024 for Sunrise Wind, and January 25, 2024 for Park City Wind projects.

More information

Electronic copies of the permits, fact sheets, virtual public hearing information, and all supporting materials can be found on EPA's website at: https://www.epa.gov/caa-permitting/caa-public-comment-opportunities-region-1

Clean Air Act Permitting by EPA: https://www.epa.gov/caa-permitting

from EPA News Releases https://ift.tt/0Ptz4rw

Biden-Harris Administration Announces $600M to 11 Grantmakers to Fund Thousands of Environmental Justice Projects Across the Nation as Part of Investing in America Agenda

WASHINGTON – As part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, the Biden-Harris Administration announced on Wednesday $600 million for 11 selected Grantmakers under EPA’s Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking program, created by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, the largest investment in climate action in history. This new grant program, which will make it easier for small community-based organizations to access federal environmental justice funding, responds to community feedback about the need to reduce barriers to federal funds and improve the efficiency of the awards process to ensure communities that have long faced underinvestment can access the benefits of the largest climate investment in history. Communities will be able to apply to a Grantmaker for a subgrant to fund a range of different environmental project activities, including (but not limited to) small local clean ups, local emergency preparedness and disaster resiliency programs, environmental workforce development programs for local jobs reducing greenhouse gas emissions, fenceline air quality and asthma related projects, healthy homes programs, and projects addressing illegal dumping.

President Biden is delivering the most ambitious environmental justice agenda in our nation’s history. Vice President Kamala Harris and EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan were joined by Dr. Robert Bullard, a Distinguished Professor of Urban Planning and Environmental Policy at Texas Southern University to announce the historic Grantmaker awards.

“Every person has a right to drink clean water, breathe clean air, and live in a community that is healthy and safe,” said Vice President Kamala Harris. “For too long, however, low-income communities, immigrant communities, Native communities, and communities of color have endured disproportionate levels of air, water, and soil pollution. That is why President Joe Biden and I have put equity at the center of our nation’s largest investment in climate in history. Today’s announcement puts that commitment into action by ensuring critical resources to fund environmental justice projects across the country reach the organizations that know their communities best.”

“For years, community advocates have been calling for federal support and resources to help address our country’s most pressing environmental justice concerns,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Thanks to President Biden and Vice President Harris’ leadership, we’re responding to these calls by removing barriers that have traditionally held communities and applicants back from accessing these historic investments in America. Together, in partnership with these Grantmakers, we are taking a giant step toward a future where every person in America has equal opportunity to breathe clean air, drink clean water, and live a healthy, productive life.”

The Grantmakers will work in collaboration with EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights to issue subgrants to community-based nonprofit organizations and other eligible organizations representing disadvantaged communities. The 11 Grantmakers will design comprehensive application and submission processes, award environmental justice subgrants, implement tracking and reporting systems, and provide resources and support to communities. The subgrants are expected to become available by summer of 2024.

The 11 Grantmakers consist of regional selectees (i.e., Regional Grantmakers) who will issue subgrants to communities in specific EPA Regions, as well as national selectees (i.e., National Grantmakers) who will provide additional support, coordination, and oversight to the subgrantees, applicants, and the Regional Grantmakers themselves, as well as issue additional subgrants to fill potential gaps in the regions. Ten Grantmakers are receiving $50 million each with one selectee, Research Triangle Institute, receiving $100 million to serve as both a Regional Grantmaker serving communities in EPA Region 4 and as a National Grantmaker in which part of their responsibility is providing subgrants to communities in EPA Region 7. Collectively, the 11 Grantmakers will issue thousands of subgrants to disadvantaged communities over the next three years. 

EPA has selected the following nine organizations to serve as Regional Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmakers:

• Health Resources in Action, Massachusetts (EPA Region 1)
• Fordham University, New York (EPA Region 2)
• Green & Healthy Homes Initiative Inc., Maryland (EPA Region 3)
• Research Triangle Institute, North Carolina (EPA Region 4)
• The Minneapolis Foundation, Minnesota (EPA Region 5)
• Texas Southern University, Texas (EPA Region 6)
• JSI Research and Training Institute, Inc., Colorado (EPA Region 8)
• Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs (SEE), Inc., California (EPA Region 9)
• Philanthropy Northwest, Washington (EPA Region 10)

In addition, EPA has selected three National Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmakers, including:

• Institute For Sustainable Communities, Vermont (EPA Regions 1-3)
• Research Triangle Institute, North Carolina (EPA Regions 4-7)
• Climate Justice Alliance, California (EPA Regions 8-10)

Grantmakers are expected to begin opening competitions and awarding subgrants by summer 2024. Community-based nonprofit organizations and other eligible organizations seeking subgrant funding will be able to apply for subgrants through three concurrent tiers offered by the Grantmakers. Tier One will consist of grants for $150,000 for assessment, Tier Two will consist of grants for $250,000 for planning, and Tier Three will consist of grants for $350,000 for project development. In addition, $75,000 will be available for capacity-constrained community-based organizations through a noncompetitive process under Tier One. Each Grantmaker will design and implement a distribution program best suited for their region and communities.

The Grantmakers program is part of the Federal Interagency Thriving Communities Network and delivers on the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 Initiative which set the goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. Grantmakers will work in collaboration with the Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers  to create a robust support network to assist eligible entities when applying.

Learn more about the Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmakers.

Background

From day one of their administration, President Biden and Vice President Harris have made achieving environmental justice a top priority. In August 2022, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law, creating the largest investment in environmental and climate justice in U.S. history. EPA received $3 billion in total to award grants and fund related technical assistance to benefit disadvantaged communities.

EPA has since launched and expanded innovative programs to provide more support than ever before to communities that unjustly bear the burdens of environmental harm and pollution. This includes the $177 million for the creation of 16 EJ TCTACs in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy to remove barriers to federal resources and help communities pursue funding opportunities like those made available through President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda.

EPA announced nearly $128 million to fund 186 projects across the country that advance environmental justice as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. The organizations, which EPA has selected through its Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem Solving Cooperative Agreement and Environmental Justice Government-to-Government programs, will use the funds to ensure disadvantaged communities that have historically suffered from underinvestment have access to clean air and water and climate resilience solutions in alignment with the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 Initiative.

EPA also announced approximately $2 billion in funding available to support community-driven projects that deploy clean energy, strengthen climate resilience, and build capacity for communities to tackle environmental and climate justice challenges last month. The Community Change Grants are the single largest investment in environmental justice going directly to communities in history, and will advance collaborative efforts to achieve a healthier, safer, and more prosperous future for all.

Learn more about environmental justice at EPA.

For up-to-date information on when Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking subgrants will be available, subscribe to the Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights’ listserv by sending a blank email to: join-epa-ej@lists.epa.gov. Follow OEJECR on X (formerly Twitter): @EPAEnvJustice.

from EPA News Releases https://ift.tt/5nUCGDm

EPA Fines Cobalt Boats for Alleged Hazardous Waste Violations in Kansas

LENEXA, KAN. (DEC. 19, 2023) – Cobalt Boats LLC will pay $133,780 in civil penalties to resolve alleged violations of the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the company generates large amounts of hazardous waste at its Neodesha, Kansas, boat manufacturing facility and failed to comply with regulations intended to prevent releases of hazardous waste, including:

• Failure to maintain and operate the facility to minimize the possibility of a fire, explosion, or unplanned release of hazardous waste.
• Failure to monitor pumps and valves to detect potential leaks of hazardous waste.
• Failure to maintain required records.
• Storage of potentially incompatible hazardous wastes.

“This settlement demonstrates EPA’s commitment to protect communities from releases of hazardous waste,” said David Cozad, director of EPA Region 7’s Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division. “The Agency is also committed to leveling the playing field for companies that comply with federal law.”

EPA discovered the alleged violations during a February 2022 inspection. In response to EPA’s findings, Cobalt Boats promptly took the necessary steps to return to compliance.

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act creates the framework for the proper management of hazardous and non-hazardous solid waste.

# # #

Learn more about the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

Learn more about EPA Region 7

View all Region 7 news releases

Connect with EPA Region 7 on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter: @EPARegion7

from EPA News Releases https://ift.tt/yk8FUsb

EPA Awards Austin’s Molecular Rebar Design With Small Businesses Innovation Research Funding

DALLAS, TEXAS (December 19, 2023) –The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Molecular Rebar Design in Austin, Texas, is among 23 small businesses that received part of $2,298,867 in research funding to develop technologies that will help protect human health and the environment. The 23 small businesses will use EPA funding to develop their novel projects, including an AI-based mapping tool to support first responders during disasters, a reactor to remove PFAS from sewage waste, and a self-cleaning indoor air purification system for use during wildfires.

“EPA’s small business research funding allows us to harness the cutting-edge technology these small companies are developing to help solve complex environmental issues,” said Chris Frey, Assistant Administrator of EPA’s Office of Research and Development. “EPA’s funding will help these businesses move their designs from concept to reality and help grow the green economy.”

Molecular Rebar Design will receive Phase I funding under EPA’s Small Business Innovation Research program for developing carbon nanotubes as an alternative to 6PPD to strengthen tires, preventing microcracks and premature tire failure. The 23 small businesses are receiving funding of up to $100,000 for 6 months for “proof of concept” of their proposed technologies. Companies that complete Phase I can then apply to receive Phase II award of $400,000 to further develop and commercialize their technologies.

The following other small businesses are receiving SBIR Phase I awards:

• Creekside Environmental Products (Starkville, Miss.) to develop low-cost adsorbents from waste products like rice hulls and biochar to reduce PFAS in drinking water, wastewater, and agricultural systems.
• Fourth State, LLC (Ann Arbor, Mich.) to develop a plasma reactor that destroys PFAS and removes heavy metals in landfill leachate and other wastewaters.
• IM Technologies (Shoreham, N.Y.) to develop a plasma system to degrade PFAS levels for water purification and reuse.
• River Otter Renewables, Inc. (Stow, Mass.) to develop a reactor to remove PFAS from sewage waste and transform it into a renewable energy source.
• Water Illumination, Inc. (Irvine, Calif.) to develop technology using UV light to destroy PFAS in wastewater without producing harmful byproducts.
• Triton Systems, Inc. (Chelmsford, Mass.) to develop a microsensor technology to remotely identify harmful algae blooms and toxins in terrestrial water.
• DiPole Materials (Baltimore, Md.) to develop affordable, adaptable, and effective biodegradable filters made from nanofibers to clean indoor air during wildfires.
• Metalmark Innovations, PBC (Cambridge, Mass.) to develop a low-maintenance, low-waste, self-cleaning air purification system to protect against wildfire smoke.
• Rotoheater, LLC (Ann Arbor, Mich.) to develop a modular and cost-effective regenerative air pollutant control system for small sources in urban areas.
• Holochip Corporation (Torrance, Calif.) to develop a mobile mapping application that does not require access to GPS, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi for users in disaster areas.
• VISIMO, LLC (Carnegie, Penn.) to develop an AI-based indoor mapping tool to support first responders and other response personnel in disaster areas.
• GreenLifeTech Corporation (Banner Elk, N.C.) to develop a system for increasing the shelf-life of produce by recirculating oxygen in refrigerators.
• SafetySpect, Inc. (Grand Forks, N.D.) to develop a handheld device to determine the shelf life of red meat to reduce unnecessary waste.
• ChemFinity Technologies, Inc. (Brooklyn, N.Y.) to develop a method to extract and recycle precious metals from solid waste, including from catalytic converters.
• KLAW Industries, LLC (Binghamton, N.Y.) to develop an autonomous robotic system for sorting recycling that improves recovery and reduces cost.
• Recirclable, LLC (Arlington, Mass.) to develop an innovative approach to increase reuse in restaurant takeout practices and reduce single-use container waste.
• Valis Insights, Inc. (Worcester, Mass.) to develop an AI-powered software tool to recover valuable materials from metal recycling.
• Acadian Research & Development, LLC (Laramie, Wyo.) to develop an environmentally friendly, low-cost method of producing graphene oxide from wood waste to increase concrete strength and reduce the amount of concrete needed for construction projects.
• Lab to Market Fund, LLC, DBA Adhesion Technologies (Cambridge, Mass.) to develop novel bio-based adhesives for wood products in the construction industry to mitigate carbon dioxide and other emissions.
• Material Reuse, LLC (Gainesville, Fla.) to develop a time-efficient and robust assessment of existing buildings for salvageable and reusable products and materials prior to demolition.
• The SMART Tire Company, Inc. (Akron, Ohio) to develop an innovative and safe process for the reuse and recycling of superelastic shape memory alloys for airless, never-flat tires.
• GreenTechnologies, LLC (Jacksonville, Fla.) to develop a technology to transform food waste into enhanced efficient fertilizers.

Learn more about the recipients.

Learn more about EPA’s SBIR program.

Learn more about the federal SBIR program.

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

from EPA News Releases https://ift.tt/cy2iSdB

Biden-Harris Administration Announces New Agreement Between Seven Federal Agencies To Implement The American Climate Corps

WASHINGTON – Today, the Biden-Harris Administration is taking critical steps to advance the American Climate Corps, a landmark initiative announced by President Biden earlier this year to train the next generation of clean energy, conservation, and climate resilience workers, while putting them on a path to good-paying union jobs. As part of this commitment, today seven federal agencies – the Departments of Commerce, The Interior, Agriculture, Labor and Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, and AmeriCorps – are formally entering into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will serve as a blueprint for the multiagency program. The MOU lays out the mission, goals, priorities, and next steps for implementing President Biden’s American Climate Corps.

In addition, beginning in January, senior Administration officials will also convene a series of virtual listening sessions to hear directly from prospective American Climate Corps applicants and implementing partners, including labor unions, educational institutions, employer partners, and state, local, and Tribal governments about their priorities for the American Climate Corps. The convenings announced today will inform the implementation of this historic new initiative. More information about the virtual listening sessions can be found on the American Climate Corps website.   

“Today’s action is a testament to the Biden-Harris Administration's whole-of-government approach to tackle climate change and promote environmental justice nationwide. EPA continues to be at the center of this ambitious agenda, and now through the American Climate Corps we’ll work across the federal family to advance projects that promote environmental justice, resilience, and clean energy,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “The Climate Corps represents a significant step forward in engaging and nurturing young leaders who are passionate about climate action, furthering our journey towards a sustainable and equitable future.” 

Under the MOU, agencies are agreeing to the following principles:

• The American Climate Corps will reflect a comprehensive approach to tackling climate change; 
• The American Climate Corps will build upon and expand existing partnerships, while also initiating new partnerships in communities across the country;
• American Climate Corps programs will compensate members to ensure the initiative is accessible to all;
• American Climate Corps programs will provide a pathway to high-quality employment;
• The American Climate Corps will expand workforce pathways in and led by disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved, and overburdened by pollution; and
• The American Climate Corps will serve all of America’s communities by improving climate resilience, reducing climate pollution, and by creating economic opportunity in our urban, rural, suburban, and wilderness remote areas. 

The MOU also establishes an Executive Committee – comprised of the Assistant to the President and National Climate Advisor, CEO of AmeriCorps, Secretary of Commerce, Secretary of the Interior, Secretary of Agriculture, Secretary of Labor, Secretary of Energy, and Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency – that will provide leadership across the federal government for the American Climate Corps, as well as a Working Group to formally carry out and implement the initiative.

Within the first three weeks of launching the American Climate Corps, more than 40,000 people, about two-thirds of whom are ages 18-35, expressed interest in joining the initiative. The American Climate Corps is on track to establish the first cohort of members in the summer of 2024. 

from EPA News Releases https://ift.tt/KlzcV4P

EPA Awards Nearly $2.2M to Small Businesses to Advance Innovative Environmental Technologies

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced $2,198,867 in research funding to 22 small businesses to develop technologies that will help protect human health and the environment. The 22 small businesses will use EPA funding to develop their novel projects, including an AI-based mapping tool to support first responders during disasters, a reactor to remove PFAS from sewage waste, and a self-cleaning indoor air purification system for use during wildfires.

“EPA’s small business research funding allows us to harness the cutting-edge technology these small companies are developing to help solve complex environmental issues,” said Chris Frey, Assistant Administrator of EPA’s Office of Research and Development. “EPA’s funding will help these businesses move their designs from concept to reality and help grow the green economy.”

The companies announced today are receiving Phase I awards as part of EPA’s annual Small Business Innovation Research program. The 22 small businesses are receiving funding of up to $100,000 for six months for “proof of concept” of their proposed technologies. Companies that complete Phase I can then apply to receive a Phase II award of $400,000 to further develop and commercialize their technologies.

The following small businesses are receiving SBIR Phase I awards:

• Creekside Environmental Products (Starkville, Miss.) to develop low-cost adsorbents from waste products like rice hulls and biochar to reduce PFAS in drinking water, wastewater, and agricultural systems.
• Fourth State, LLC (Ann Arbor, Mich.) to develop a plasma reactor that destroys PFAS and removes heavy metals in landfill leachate and other wastewaters.
• IM Technologies (Shoreham, N.Y.) to develop a plasma system to degrade PFAS levels for water purification and reuse.
• River Otter Renewables, Inc. (Stow, Mass.) to develop a reactor to remove PFAS from sewage waste and transform it into a renewable energy source.
• Water Illumination, Inc. (Irvine, Calif.) to develop technology using UV light to destroy PFAS in wastewater without producing harmful byproducts.
• Triton Systems, Inc. (Chelmsford, Mass.) to develop a microsensor technology to remotely identify harmful algae blooms and toxins in terrestrial water.
• DiPole Materials (Baltimore, Md.) to develop affordable, adaptable, and effective biodegradable filters made from nanofibers to clean indoor air during wildfires.
• Metalmark Innovations, PBC (Cambridge, Mass.) to develop a low-maintenance, low-waste, self-cleaning air purification system to protect against wildfire smoke.
• Holochip Corporation (Torrance, Calif.) to develop a mobile mapping application that does not require access to GPS, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi for users in disaster areas.
• VISIMO, LLC (Carnegie, Pa.) to develop an AI-based indoor mapping tool to support first responders and other response personnel in disaster areas.
• GreenLifeTech Corporation (Banner Elk, N.C.) to develop a system for increasing the shelf-life of produce by recirculating oxygen in refrigerators.
• SafetySpect, Inc. (Grand Forks, N.D.) to develop a handheld device to determine the shelf life of red meat to reduce unnecessary waste.
• ChemFinity Technologies, Inc. (Brooklyn, N.Y.) to develop a method to extract and recycle precious metals from solid waste, including from catalytic converters.
• KLAW Industries, LLC (Binghamton, N.Y.) to develop an autonomous robotic system for sorting recycling that improves recovery and reduces cost.
• Recirclable, LLC (Arlington, Mass.) to develop an innovative approach to increase reuse in restaurant takeout practices and reduce single-use container waste.
• Valis Insights, Inc. (Worcester, Mass.) to develop an AI-powered software tool to recover valuable materials from metal recycling.
• Acadian Research & Development, LLC (Laramie, Wyo.) to develop an environmentally friendly, low-cost method of producing graphene oxide from wood waste to increase concrete strength and reduce the amount of concrete needed for construction projects.
• Lab to Market Fund, LLC, DBA Adhesion Technologies (Cambridge, Mass.) to develop novel bio-based adhesives for wood products in the construction industry to mitigate carbon dioxide and other emissions.
• Material Reuse, LLC (Gainesville, Fla.) to develop a time-efficient and robust assessment of existing buildings for salvageable and reusable products and materials prior to demolition.
• The SMART Tire Company, Inc. (Akron, Ohio) to develop an innovative and safe process for the reuse and recycling of superelastic shape memory alloys for airless, never-flat tires.
• Molecular Rebar Design, LLC (Austin, Texas) to develop carbon nanotubes as an alternative to 6PPD to strengthen tires, preventing microcracks and premature tire failure.
• GreenTechnologies, LLC (Jacksonville, Fla.) to develop a technology to transform food waste into enhanced efficient fertilizers.

Learn more about the recipients.

Learn more about EPA’s SBIR program.

Learn more about the federal SBIR program.

from EPA News Releases https://ift.tt/UWc89In

EPA settles with two Rhode Island companies for Clean Air Act violations

BOSTON (Dec 18, 2023) – Two Rhode Island-based facilities have agreed to pay penalties to settle claims by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that they violated federal laws regulating the handling of ammonia at their facilities in Cranston and North Kingstown, R.I. One company agreed to conduct audits at 14 facilities to determine whether their systems meet minimum safety requirements while the other company agreed to evaluate potential risks associated with its location in a hurricane evacuation zone. Anhydrous ammonia is an efficient refrigerant, but managing its use requires care due to the chemical's toxicity.

"EPA's actions underscore the paramount importance of safely managing hazardous substances like anhydrous ammonia. When companies fail to adhere to safety obligations, it jeopardizes safety in our communities, including those historically overburdened by pollution and exposure to harmful chemicals," said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "EPA's mission is rooted in safeguarding all communities from pollution, including chemical releases. These cases vividly illustrate the critical necessity of complying with chemical accident planning, prevention, and mitigation requirements. This is even more critical with the changing climate and the increased vulnerabilities associated with facilities situated in populated or hurricane-prone areas."

Bottling Group, LLC, operating as Pepsi Beverages Company, and CB Manufacturing Company, Inc, a beverage manufacturing and storage company, have agreed to pay a penalty of $96,852 to settle EPA claims that they violated federal laws regulating the handling of ammonia at their facility in Cranston, R.I. The companies have also agreed to conduct audits at the Cranston facility and at 13 other ammonia refrigeration facilities in the corporate family to ensure compliance with minimum safety requirements.

Seafreeze Limited, a fish processing and cold storage company, has agreed to pay a penalty of $122,622 to settle claims by the EPA that it violated federal laws regulating the handling of ammonia at its facility in North Kingstown, R.I. The company has also agreed to update its process hazard review by Feb. 1, 2024, to evaluate potential risks associated with its location in a hurricane evacuation zone.

The Pepsi facility in Cranston, which uses approximately 5,800 pounds of anhydrous ammonia in its refrigeration system, is located in a mixed-use area in two buildings having a combined square footage of 220,000. The manufacturing and warehousing operations run 24 hours a day, six days a week. Within a mile of the facility are numerous residences, a hospital, a prison, several state office buildings, and numerous commercial operations (e.g., a yoga studio, floral distributor, and a plumbing distributor).

During an inspection of the facility, several violations were observed that would fail to minimize the consequences of an accidental release, including inadequate ammonia release alarms inside and outside of the ammonia refrigeration machinery rooms (AMR), no emergency ventilation override switches outside or adjacent to the AMR, pressure release valves discharging horizontally or downwards, putting people at risk of being sprayed with ammonia, and no eyewash and safety showers outside the primary entrance to the AMR.

Seafreeze Limited, which uses approximately 8,700 pounds of anhydrous ammonia in its refrigeration system in North Kingstown, is located immediately adjacent to Narragansett Bay. It is also approximately one-third of a mile from several marinas, one mile from a few homes, and 1.5 miles from an elementary school, a residential neighborhood, and a small airport.

Over the course of six months, Seafreeze experienced what are considered three small releases due to cracks and leaks on facility equipment, all below the reportable quantity of 100 lbs. Following the releases, EPA conducted an inspection of Seafreeze's facility and subsequently notified Seafreeze of the alleged violations under the Clean Air Act: a failure to design and maintain a safe facility, and to minimize consequences of accidental releases that do occur. The company was cooperative and agreed to take the necessary steps to bring its facility into compliance with the Clean Air Act, as well as update its process hazard review to take into consideration its location within a hurricane evacuation zone.

Background

The goal of Section 112(r) of the Clean Air Act is to prevent accidental releases of substances that can cause serious harm to the public and the environment from short-term exposures and to mitigate the severity of releases that do occur. Anhydrous ammonia is an efficient refrigerant with low global warming potential, but it must be handled with care because it is highly corrosive to the skin, eyes, and lungs. Exposure to 300 parts per million is immediately dangerous to life and health. Ammonia is also flammable at certain concentrations and can explode if it is released in an enclosed space with a source of ignition present, or if a vessel containing anhydrous ammonia is exposed to fire.

Steps required under the Clean Air Act's General Duty Clause help prevent accidental releases of extremely hazardous substances and reduce the severity of releases that do occur. Failure of a facility to identify hazards, design and maintain a safe facility, and take steps to limit and mitigate the harm from accidental releases of extremely hazardous substances puts the local population and environment at risk.

More information:

• General Duty Clause Fact Sheet
• EPA information on the General Duty Clause requirements of Section 112(r) of the Clean Air Act
• Overview of Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act and reporting requirements
  EPCRA Quick Reference Fact Sheet(pdf) (183 KB)
  Guide to EPCRA (pdf) (838 KB)
• EPA information on Compliance Assistance Tools and Resources for the Ammonia Refrigeration Sector (pdf) (161 KB)
• EPA information on key safety measures for ammonia refrigeration systems

from EPA News Releases https://ift.tt/YZeugkA

EPA Reaches Settlements Over Clean Air Act Violations at Ports in California and Hawaii

SAN FRANCISCO (December 18, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has entered into settlements with nine companies or individuals regarding claims of violation of the Clean Air Act. The companies and individuals, all based in California or Hawaii, violated the legal ban on importing into the U.S. any motor vehicle, motor vehicle engine, nonroad engine or equipment that does not conform to EPA emission standards and requirements. Uncertified vehicles and engines can emit harmful air pollutants at 30% or more above allowable standards.

"The illegal importing of vehicles and engines circumvents controls put in place to protect us all – and our environment -- from hazardous air pollution,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. "These settlements will serve to prevent pollution from unlawful vehicles and engines, helping to improve air quality and prevent asthma and other respiratory and health harms.”

Since 2008, there has been a steady flow of illegally imported uncertified motorcycles, equipment containing small gasoline-powered engines (e.g., generators, mowers, chainsaws, etc.), and recreational vehicles. EPA is working with U.S. Customs to stop such illegal vehicles and engines at ports of entry and require exportation or destruction.

The EPA’s expedited settlement agreement (ESA) policy for the Clean Air Act Vehicle and Engine Import program is an efficient, standardized process to resolve violations by first-time violators in matters with lower penalties.

Details of the nine agreements:

1. On June 27, 2023, EPA ratified an ESA with PACCAR Inc. for importing one heavy-duty diesel engine at the Port of Calexico, located on the US-Mexico border. The company paid a penalty of $4,545 and, as required, returned the uncertified engine to Mexico. This enforcement initiative was funded by a US-Mexico-Canada Agreement grant to prevent illegal imports from entering the United States through the Southern Border. 
2. On June 27, 2023, EPA ratified an ESA with Dar-Yih David Wu, Shenzhen Senlinyun Technology Co. Ltd. for importing 50 gasoline sweepers at the Port of Los Angeles. The company paid a $2,500 penalty and, as required, exported the uncertified equipment to a country other than Canada or Mexico.
3. On July 21, 2023, EPA ratified an ESA with One Dreamworks Inc. for importing 480 chainsaws and 30 hedge trimmers at the Port of Los Angeles. The company paid a penalty of $8,018 and, as required, destroyed the uncertified equipment.
4. On August 15, 2023, EPA ratified an ESA with E-Speed Inc. for importing 40 dirt bikes at the Port of Los Angeles. E-Speed paid a penalty of $3,200 and, as required, destroyed the uncertified equipment.
5. On September 19, 2023, EPA ratified an ESA with Golden Dragon Farm Inc. for importing one piece of diesel-powered farming equipment at the Port of Honolulu. The company paid a penalty of $800 and forfeited the equipment to U.S. Customs and Border Protection for destruction.
6. On September 25, 2023, EPA ratified an ESA with Springbrook SGC LLC for importing two highway vehicles at the Port of Los Angeles. The company paid a penalty of $300 and, as required, destroyed the uncertified vehicles.
7. On October 31, 2023, EPA ratified an ESA with Eddie Hardister for importing one gasoline plate vibrating machine engine at the Port of Honolulu. Eddie Hardister paid a penalty of $140 and forfeited the engine to U.S. Customs and Border Protection for destruction.
8. On November 1, 2023, EPA ratified an ESA with KCK Builders LLC for importing one gasoline forklift at the Port of Honolulu. The company paid a penalty of $2,860 and forfeited the engine to U.S Customs and Border Protection.
9. On November 1, 2023, EPA ratified an ESA with Pro Motion Racing Productions Inc. for importing 92 gasoline engines intended to be used in uncertified, ridable scooters into the Port of Los Angeles. The company paid a penalty of $2,583 and U.S. Customs and Border Protection facilitated the re-export of the engines.

The denial of entry into the United States of these uncertified engines resulted in the prevention of 21,495 pounds of hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides, 736 pounds of particulate matter, and 51,139 pounds of carbon monoxide. Hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxide react with other chemicals in the air to form both particulate matter and ozone, and can aggravate respiratory diseases, particularly asthma.

Read more about the EPA’s Expedited Settlement Agreement National Program for Clean Air Act Vehicle and Engine Violations - Imports

Learn about the EPA basics on enforcement and the Clean Air Act.

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

from EPA News Releases https://ift.tt/9sN1yjO