EPA Launches “Be EPA” Recruitment Week: New Video Aims to Expand and Diversify Environmental Workforce and Inspire Next Generation of Environmental Leaders

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the launch of “Be EPA” Recruitment Week and new recruitment video, a dynamic recruitment campaign designed to inspire and attract the next generation of environmental professionals.

EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan kicked off the campaign with a video message for all who care about protecting health and the environment.

“EPA’s mission is not just a responsibility; it’s a sacred duty to our planet and future generations. In 2024, we’re setting a new benchmark. Our aim is to bring on board more than 1,000 new employees, including 350 interns, to tackle some of the most pressing environmental issues of our time,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “From scientists to writers to program managers, we’re hiring for roles that reflect our commitment to expanding and diversifying the environmental workforce. Today, I am calling on the innovators, the visionaries, the changemakers to join us in this crucial fight to protect people and the planet here at EPA.”

Focus on Youth and Diversity

EPA’s plan includes a substantial increase in internship opportunities. Doubling our intern intake is just the beginning. We’re looking for young, energetic minds to infuse new ideas and perspectives into our work. The agency emphasizes the recruitment of graduates from diverse backgrounds, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other minority-serving institutions, to build a workforce reflective of America’s diverse population.

Hiring Webinar and Recruitment Drive

A key element of the campaign is EPA’s hiring webinar on Feb. 7, 2024, facilitated by Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe, designed to demystify the federal hiring process, and highlight the array of career paths within EPA. The agency is also conducting a nationwide recruitment drive, targeting colleges, universities, and professional networks.

EPA’s Mission and Impact

The “Be EPA” campaign supports EPA’s critical role in implementing President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act. These laws charge EPA with unprecedented resources and opportunities to advance environmental justice, climate action, and sustainable infrastructure. EPA’s ongoing projects under the laws include initiatives in greenhouse gas reduction, pollution control, and renewable energy development.

This campaign reinforces EPA’s long-standing commitment to environmental leadership. The agency’s staff, recognized globally for their contributions, continue to push the boundaries of environmental science and policy. The “Be EPA” campaign is a testament to this enduring legacy, inviting dedicated individuals to be part of a significant environmental mission.

About the Environmental Protection Agency

For more than 50 years, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has been at the forefront of environmental science, research, and education, committed to safeguarding human health and the environment. Learn more about EPA, the “Be EPA” campaign, and EPA Careers.

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La Región 7 de la EPA invita al público a asistir a una reunión virtual de partes interesadas de la comunidad sobre justicia ambiental

LENEXA, KAN. (31 DE ENERO DE 2024) – El Programa de Justicia Ambiental (EJ) de la Región 7 de la EPA invita al público a participar en una nueva reunión trimestral de partes interesadas de la comunidad que está abierta a todos los miembros de la comunidad en la Región 7, que incluye Iowa, Kansas, Misuri, Nebraska y nueve naciones tribales.

La EPA celebrará la reunión virtual el jueves 22 de febrero, de 6:30 a 8 p.m.

La justicia ambiental es el tratamiento igualitario y la participación significativa de todas las personas, sin tener en cuenta la raza, el color, la nacionalidad ni los ingresos, con respecto al desarrollo, la implementación y el cumplimiento de las leyes, reglamentaciones y políticas ambientales.

Durante esta reunión, los funcionarios de la EPA proporcionarán información sobre lo siguiente:

• Plan de implementación de EJ
• Política de participación significativa
• Política de consulta con las tribus indígenas
• Programas de subvenciones en materia de justicia ambiental y climática
• Centro de Asistencia Técnica para Comunidades Prósperas (TCTAC)/Heartland Environmental Justice Center

El evento de difusión también permitirá a los asistentes hablar con el personal del programa de EJ y formular preguntas, hacer hincapié en sus preocupaciones y obtener más información sobre las actualizaciones del programa de EJ. Escuchar a los miembros de la comunidad ayudará a la EPA a comprender mejor y ayudar más eficazmente a las comunidades locales. Esta reunión también brindará la oportunidad de establecer contactos con otros miembros de la comunidad y organizaciones que realizan un trabajo similar.

Es posible que el personal de la EPA no pueda responder a todas las preguntas durante la reunión virtual, pero haremos un seguimiento de las preguntas y las remitiremos al experto en la materia más adecuado dentro de la Región 7 de la EPA. Se ofrecerán servicios de interpretación al español y otros servicios de interpretación si se solicitan durante el proceso de inscripción a través del siguiente enlace.

Inscríbase para asistir a la reunión en: https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1613197500.

Se anima a las personas a enviar sugerencias de temas de debate o preguntas, en cualquier momento, a R7-EJ-Stakeholders@epa.gov.

Si tiene alguna otra pregunta, llame a la línea de atención al cliente de la Región 7 de la EPA al 1-800-223-0425 y pregunte por Monica Espinosa.

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Obtenga más información sobre la Región 7 de la EPA

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La EPA anuncia el primer Programa de Artistas en Residencia en asociación con el Fondo Nacional para las Artes

WASHINGTON — La administradora adjunta para el agua de la Agencia de Protección Ambiental (EPA, por sus siglas en inglés), Radhika Fox, anunció el martes el Programa Inaugural de Artistas en Residencia de la EPA en colaboración con el Fondo Nacional para las Artes. Curar, tender puentes, prosperar: Cumbre sobre las artes y la cultura en nuestras comunidades(en inglés), que fue organizado conjuntamente por la Casa Blanca y el Fondo Nacional para las Artes a fin de reconocer el profundo impacto que tienen las artes y la cultura en la formación de nuestras vidas, comunidades y nación. Con el lanzamiento de este programa, la EPA está invirtiendo en las artes y la cultura para impulsar el compromiso, la concienciación y la participación en los desafíos críticos del agua, que van desde el envejecimiento de la infraestructura hasta los impactos climáticos como inundaciones y marejadas ciclónicas, pasando por la inversión en agua potable segura.

“En todo Estados Unidos, la EPA está trabajando mano a mano con socios locales para garantizar que el agua potable sea segura y para restaurar y mantener los océanos, las cuencas hidrográficas y sus ecosistemas acuáticos. La incorporación de estrategias artísticas y culturales en nuestro trabajo puede revelar nuevas ideas, hacer surgir oportunidades y ayudarnos a encontrar soluciones nuevas y duraderas a los desafíos apremiantes del agua”, comentó Fox, administradora adjunta para el agua de la EPA. “A través de esta asociación con el Fondo Nacional para las Artes, los líderes locales del agua, desde Puget Sound hasta el Estuario de la Bahía de San Juan y la cuenca del río Delaware, tendrán nuevas herramientas y recursos para apoyar la restauración del agua y la resiliencia climática”.

El agua es esencial, pero los desafíos del agua a los que nos enfrentamos hoy en día son generalizados y van en aumento. Muchas comunidades sufren de mala calidad del agua, demasiada o muy poca agua y una infraestructura de agua envejecida que necesita ser reemplazada urgentemente. Los sistemas hídricos sobrecargados se ven aún más afectados por el cambio climático: condiciones meteorológicas impredecibles, aumento del nivel del mar e inundaciones. Estos desafíos requieren compromiso en todos los niveles.  Los líderes del agua recurren cada vez más a artistas y portadores de la cultura para ayudar a dar visibilidad a los problemas del agua, crear procesos de planificación más inclusivos y aprovechar las inversiones en infraestructura para ofrecer beneficios adicionales a las comunidades a las que sirven.

La EPA está estableciendo un Programa de Artistas en Residencia para continuar ampliando estos esfuerzos en el sector del agua. En 2024, la EPA apoyará a artistas y portadores de cultura en seis lugares con asociaciones de larga data de Estuarios Nacionales y Aguas Urbanas que están realizando un trabajo crucial en la restauración del agua y la resiliencia climática.

“Creo que la integración de las artes y la cultura puede ayudar a fortalecer muchos aspectos de nuestras vidas y comunidades, por lo que estoy entusiasmada con el programa de artistas en residencia de la Agencia de Protección Ambiental”, señaló María Rosario Jackson, PhD, presidenta del Fondo Nacional para las Artes. “Esta es una oportunidad para que la EPA profundice su participación con la comunidad y, al mismo tiempo, amplíe la comprensión de cómo los artistas pueden contribuir en múltiples sectores”.

La Iniciativa de Artistas en Residencia de la EPA se desarrolló en respuesta a la Orden Ejecutiva sobre las Artes y Humanidades (en inglés) del Presidente Biden, diseñada para estimular la inversión y la alineación de las artes y la cultura en todo el gobierno federal, hacer que el arte sea más accesible para las personas de comunidades desatendidas, elevar nuevas voces a través de las artes y las humanidades, y ampliar las oportunidades para artistas y académicos.

El Programa inaugural de Artistas en Residencia de la EPA se centrará en las oportunidades para avanzar en los objetivos de los programas de larga data del Programa Nacional de Estuarios y de la Asociación Federal de Aguas Urbanas (en inglés) que han restaurado y protegido cuerpos de agua preciados en todo Estados Unidos.

Los seis lugares que participarán en el programa son:

• El río Duwamish en Seattle
• El río Grande en Nuevo México
• El Estuario de la Bahía de San Juan en Puerto Rico
• Los ríos Passaic, Bronx y Harlem
• La cuenca del río Delaware en la región metropolitana de Filadelfia
• La cuenca del río Mystic en Boston

La participación pública y comunitaria, la divulgación y la educación son componentes vitales de los programas de NEP y Aguas Urbanas. La incorporación de estrategias artísticas y culturales en los programas específicos del lugar que fomenta la EPA apoyará enfoques innovadores y creará un impacto duradero.

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Oil Companies to Pay $7.4 Million in Civil Penalties to Resolve U.S. Claims for Pipeline Spill on Allotted Tribal Land

WASHINGTON – Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Justice Department announced that Holly Energy Partners-Operating L.P. and Osage Pipe Line Company LLC have agreed to pay $7.4 million in Clean Water Act civil penalties and implement corrective measures to settle claims stemming from a pipeline rupture and crude oil spill from the Osage pipeline onto land owned by members of the Sac and Fox Nation in Oklahoma. In addition to payment of the civil penalties, the settlement requires that the two companies complete the cleanup and remediation of the impacted area and take additional steps to prepare for and prevent future spills.

“The pipeline spill in this case dumped nearly 300,000 gallons of crude oil, contaminating Skull Creek and severely hampering water quality and the aquatic environment in the creek,” said Assistant Administrator David M. Uhlmann of EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “EPA and its federal partners are requiring the oil companies who caused the spill to restore Skull Creek, operate safely, and take steps to prevent future spills.”

“Oil companies have a responsibility to prevent harmful oil spills, and today’s settlement demonstrates that those who violate this duty will be held accountable under the law,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “We appreciate the Sac and Fox Nation’s steady involvement in monitoring the cleanup efforts for environmental, natural resource, and cultural resource impacts and respect the Nation’s efforts to be caring stewards of lands owned by its members.”

“The Sac and Fox Nation is a strong partner in conserving and protecting the environment and natural resources. EPA worked closely with the Nation to keep its environmental staff and leadership updated during the response and cleanup of the Osage Pipeline spill,” said EPA Region 6 Administrator Dr. Earthea Nance. “Today’s settlement is an important step in holding the company accountable for the impacts to Skull Creek and other potential effects.”

“Safeguarding Oklahoma’s natural resources is of the utmost importance for future generations,” said U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester for the Western District of Oklahoma. “My office remains committed to furthering environmental justice by ensuring those responsible for oil spills remediate and rectify the impacts to our communities and tribal partners.”

The United States filed its Complaint today in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma along with the notice of lodging of a Consent Decree to resolve the case. In the Complaint, the United States alleges that the two related Dallas-based companies are liable under the Clean Water Act for the crude oil spill that occurred on July 8, 2022. Osage Pipe Line Company owns the 135-mile-long, 20-inch-diameter pipeline that transports crude oil from a tank farm in Cushing, Oklahoma, to the HollyFrontier refinery in El Dorado, Kansas. Holly Energy Partners-Operating is the operator of the pipeline.

The Complaint alleges the spill occurred when a segment of the pipeline ruptured adjacent to Skull Creek about five miles north of Cushing. From the point of the discharge, Skull Creek flows about three more miles before entering the Cimarron River. The pipeline was operating at the time of the rupture and discharged about 300,000 gallons (7,110 barrels) of crude oil into the creek. The land where the rupture occurred, and the adjacent downstream parcel that the creek runs through, are both allotment lands owned by members of the Sac and Fox Nation.

The companies, the EPA, the Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Sac and Fox Nation responded to the rupture and spill. The companies are continuing cleanup work in Skull Creek under the oversight of the EPA, and the pipeline was returned to operation at reduced pressure under the oversight of PHMSA through its corrective action authority. The Sac and Fox Nation deployed tribal monitors to observe the companies’ work at the spill site and monitor for impacts to natural and cultural resources. 

In addition to payment of the civil penalties in the Consent Decree, the companies will be required to complete the cleanup and remediation of the impacted area, improve their pipeline integrity management program, provide additional training for all their control room operators, and expand their spill notification efforts for tribal governments with land interests within the footprint of the pipeline. The penalties and remedial measures required by the Consent Decree are in addition to the costs the companies have incurred to clean up the oil spill.

Section 311(b) of the Clean Water Act makes it unlawful to discharge oil or hazardous substances into or upon the navigable waters of the United States or adjoining shorelines, the contiguous zone, or in connection with activities under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act in quantities that may be harmful to the environment or public health. The penalties for this spill will be deposited in the federal Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund managed by the National Pollution Funds Center. The Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund is used to pay for federal response activities and to compensate victims for damages when there is a discharge or substantial threat of discharge of oil or hazardous substances.

The Justice Department’s Environmental Enforcement Section lodged the consent decree with the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma. The proposed Consent Decree is subject to a 30-day public comment period and court review and approval. A copy of the Consent Decree is available on the Department of Justice website.

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EPA develops 6PPD-q water testing method for widespread use

SEATTLE (January 30, 2024) - On the heels of its November 2023 commitment to gather information on the common tire additive 6PPD -- and its chemical by-product 6PPD-quinone – that could be used to inform a subsequent regulatory action, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today the publication of a draft testing method (EPA Method 1634) that will enable government agencies, Tribes, and other groups to determine where and when 6PPD-quinone is present in local stormwater and surface waters.  The 6PPD-quinone draft method is now available at https://www.epa.gov/cwa-methods.

“We heard from the Tribes and other governmental agencies that one of the highest priorities for the agency should be the rapid development of a test for 6PPD-quinone,” said Casey Sixkiller, Regional Administrator of the agency’s Region 10 office in Seattle. “In what seems like lightspeed, the agency has delivered. The faster we can identify where problems exist, the faster we can correct them. I’m quite proud of our team.” 

Used for more than six decades in tires, 6PPD is also found in other rubber products such as footwear, synthetic turf infill, and synthetic playground surfaces. 6PPD reacts with ozone in the air to form 6PPD-quinone, which EPA-funded research in 2020 found to be linked to the deaths of coho salmon in urban Puget Sound streams. Exposures occur when runoff containing the chemical is washed from parking lots and streets into streams and other bodies of water.

The agency is funding several research initiatives to fill data gaps on 6PPD-quinone, including the development of an analytical method. 

Widespread availability of a draft EPA analytical method for 6PPD-quinone provides tribes and local governments with an important tool for better understanding stormwater and surface water quality, to inform how and where to put in place protections for sensitive salmon, trout, and other aquatic life from potentially dangerous runoff. The agency’s draft testing method is available for use now.

Additional research 

EPA is continuing to fund and conduct research activities to expand its understanding of the impacts of 6PPD-quinone, and to fill data gaps. For instance: 

• The agency’s Office of Research and Development is investigating fate and transport of the chemicals in air and water, ecotoxicity, mitigation strategies including green infrastructure solutions for stormwater contamination, and measurement development research for multiple media (e.g., air and sediment). 
• EPA’s Office of Water is developing draft screening values for 6PPD-quinone and 6PPD in water that are protective of sensitive salmon and other aquatic life; the values can be used by many parties to evaluate monitoring results, and Tribes and states could also consider using the values in their water quality protection programs.
• The agency is also coordinating with the National Science and Technology Council’s Joint Subcommittee on Environment, Innovation and Public Health on potential cross-governmental research on human health effects of 6PPD-quinone. 

To learn more, visit EPA’s new 6PPD-quinone webpage developed to keep the public and stakeholders updated as research progresses, alternatives to 6PPD are identified, and ways to mitigate the effects of 6PPD-quinone on the environment are implemented. 

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Public comment period opens on draft permit to bring the largest offshore wind farm project to Virginia’s coast

PHILADELPHIA (Jan. 30, 2024) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the opening of a 30-day public comment period on Jan. 29 for a draft Clean Air Act Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) air quality permit for Dominion Energy’s Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Commercial project located off the coast of Virginia Beach, Virginia.  

EPA is seeking public comments on the draft permit, which proposes to authorize the construction and operation of the largest offshore wind project in the U.S., featuring up to 176 wind turbines located 26 to 38 nautical miles from the coast.   

“This project alone will generate roughly 2,640 megawatts of renewable energy, enough to power 660,000 homes, and will make significant contributions to the Biden-Harris administration's goal of generating 30 gigawatts of clean, abundant energy from offshore wind by 2030,” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. “EPA plays a significant role in safeguarding our environment while enabling clean energy initiatives that build a sustainable future for the Mid-Atlantic Region.” 

EPA's role is in concert with other federal agencies for the project, including the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management's role in issuing a Record of Decision. The draft OCS air permit includes requirements for the prevention of significant deterioration (PSD) permitting program. It also includes applicable Virginia Department of Environmental Quality regulations. 

The draft permit, if finalized, will regulate air pollutants from the construction and operation of the wind farm. The draft permit includes pollutant limits for offshore air emissions only and includes air emission standards for all vessels used to construct and support the project while the vessels are within 25 nautical miles of the OCS source’s centroid. 

The public comment deadline is Feb. 28.  

The proposed permit, fact sheet, and all supporting materials are available for review on the Regulations.gov website. 

Information about the permit and virtual public hearing can also be found here.  

Visit the EPA website to learn more about Clean Air Act Permitting.

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EPA Recognizes Massachusetts Industrial Pretreatment Program for Excellence

BOSTON (Jan. 29, 2024) – The Greater Lawrence Sanitary District's Industrial Pretreatment Program staff, led by Colleen Spero, was honored for exceptional work inspecting, permitting, and sampling industrial users that discharge industrial waste into the collection system. 

"Wastewater treatment is a vital, but often overlooked, part of our world. Most of us don't realize what it takes behind the scenes for wastewater to be treated for pollution control and reuse, in order to protect public health and the environment," said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "It's important for us to highlight those individuals and entities who excel in their work to protect our water quality and our health, and we at EPA congratulate them for their dedication to the environment and to our communities." 

The EPA Regional Industrial Pretreatment Program Excellence Award was established to recognize and honor employees of publicly owned wastewater treatment plants for their commitment to improving water quality through outstanding oversight of its industrial users discharging to the municipal sewer system. 

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EPA Recognizes Rhode Island Wastewater Treatment Entities for Excellence

BOSTON (Jan. 29, 2024) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) New England Office recently awarded three 2023 Regional Wastewater Treatment Awards to Rhode Island wastewater facilities and individuals to recognize them for their commitment to improving water quality.

The EPA Regional Wastewater Awards Program recognizes personnel in the wastewater field who have provided invaluable public service managing and operating wastewater treatment facilities throughout New England.

"Wastewater treatment is a vital, but often overlooked, part of our world. Most of us don't realize what it takes behind the scenes for wastewater to be treated for pollution control and reuse, in order to protect public health and the environment," said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "It's important for us to highlight those individuals and entities who excel in their work to protect our water quality and our health, and we at EPA congratulate them for their dedication to the environment and to our communities."

2023 Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant Operation and Maintenance Excellence Award

Burrillville Wastewater Treatment Facility

The Burrillville Wastewater Treatment Facility, led by Superintendent, Burrillville Sewer Commission Michael Emond, was recognized for exceptional work in operating and maintaining the wastewater treatment plant during the past year. The facility was one of only three facilities across New England to receive this award. The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management was instrumental in the facility's nomination.

The EPA Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant Operation and Maintenance Excellence Award was established to recognize and honor the employees of publicly owned wastewater treatment plants for their commitment to improving water quality with outstanding plant operations and maintenance. Especially with the smaller facilities, conscientious operators and staff continue to perform exceptionally with limited resources.

2023 EPA Lifetime Achievement Award

William L. Patenaude of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (retired)

Mr. Patenaude, who retired in 2023 after 34 years as an Environmental Engineer with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, was recognized for his outstanding work over the years as a leader in the field. His founding of the Wastewater Leadership Boot Camp, a one-year professional and personal development experience for municipal wastewater staff, led to an increase in the professionalism of the sector not just in Rhode Island, but in several other states which have since adopted some version of this training. Mr. Patenaude was the only person in New England to receive this award and was nominated by EPA New England.

The EPA Lifetime Achievement Award was established to recognize and honor those members of the wastewater treatment profession who have shown exemplary dedication to improving water quality over their entire careers.

2023 EPA Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator of the Year Award

Kathy Perez of the South Kingstown WWTF

Ms. Perez, who is the Superintendent of the South Kingstown WWTF, was recognized for her outstanding work over the years operating and maintaining the facility. Ms. Perez was one of only seven individuals across New England to receive this award. The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management was instrumental in Perez's nomination.

The EPA Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator of the Year Award was established to recognize and honor the employees of publicly owned wastewater treatment plants for their commitment to improving water quality with outstanding plant operations and maintenance. Wastewater operators and staff work diligently to protect public health and the environment, often with limited resources.

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EPA Enforcement Prevents Multiple Illegal Imports of Super Climate Pollutant

WASHINGTON – Today, EPA is announcing a settlement with Open Mountain Energy, LLC, a geothermal power generation company, for the attempted illegal import of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which is the latest in a series of enforcement actions EPA has taken recently against importers of HFCs.  HFCs are a super climate pollutant with global warming potentials hundreds to thousands of times higher than CO₂.  For this reason, pursuant to the Montreal Protocol, HFCs will be almost fully phased out by developed countries by 2036.  EPA has made it a national enforcement and compliance priority to address the illegal import of HFCs under the current phasedown and has settled five cases over the last several months with companies regarding HFC imports.

“Climate change continues to accelerate, which makes addressing super climate pollutants like HFCs a key part of EPA’s strategy to limit global climate change to 1.5 degrees Celsius,” said Assistant Administrator David M. Uhlmann for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “Our HFC enforcement efforts send a clear message to HFC importers that the federal government is vigilantly monitoring imports of HFCs and will hold illegal actors accountable.”

In EPA’s enforcement case with Open Mountain Energy, LLC, EPA prevented 44,092 pounds, or approximately 20 metric tons, of illegal hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) from being imported into the U.S.  If released into the atmosphere, these HFCs are the equivalent of 20,600 metric tons of CO₂, or the same amount of CO₂ produced from powering 4,008 homes with electricity produced from coal for a year. Under the terms of the settlement, the company will pay a penalty of $41,566.  

In a second case, EPA took enforcement action through its HFC Expedited Settlement Agreement Pilot Program. Earlier last month, EPA finalized its first Expedited Settlement Agreement with Sigma Air, LLC, for the attempted illegal import of 3,736 pounds of R-410A, a blend of different HFCs. The company will remain on EPA’s watch list for repeat offenses. This pilot program can be used to quickly address smaller quantities of illegally imported HFCs, with an appropriate penalty to assure would be violators are adequately punished and deterred.  

Achieving the goals of the HFC phasedown also requires accurate data. In addition to preventing illegal imports of HFCs, EPA is also using its enforcement authorities to target HFC importers that failed to accurately report their import quantities to EPA. Three recent settlements show how EPA enforcement actions are helping ensure accurate data, essential for setting sound climate change policy, such as setting baseline and targets for the HFC Phasedown rule. The combined penalties paid in these cases against Combs Investment Property, LP; Waysmos USA, Inc.; and Nature Gas Import and Export Inc., exceed $500,000. EPA will continue to scrutinize the reporting data to ensure the Agency and the public have the best data available to make informed decisions on fighting climate change. 

The Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, adopted by the United Nations in 2016, requires the global phasedown of HFCs by 2036. Achieving this goal is projected to prevent up to 0.5 degrees Celsius of planetary warming by the end of the century. 

In response to the Kigali Amendment, Congress passed the bipartisan American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020 (AIM Act), requiring the United States to phase down HFC production and consumption by 85% by 2036. Over the past year, EPA and CBP denied entry to approximately 25 shipments of illegal HFCs. Under EPA’s HFC phasedown regulations, importers must expend allowances to import HFCs. Illegal imports of HFCs undermine the phasedown, disadvantage companies who follow the rules, and contribute to global warming. 

More information related to HFCs, greenhouse gases, the AIM Act, and the climate change National Enforcement and Compliance Initiative are available on EPA’s website: 

• Enforcement of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program: HFC Importers web page.  
• Enforcement of the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020 web page.  
• Fiscal Years 2024 – 2027 National Enforcement and Compliance Initiatives (NECIs) web page.  

• Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP) web page. 
• Protection our Climate by Reducing Use of HFCs website. 

If you suspect someone is illegally importing HFCs, tell EPA at its Report Environmental Violations website. Information you submit will be forwarded to EPA environmental enforcement personnel or to the appropriate regulatory authority.

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EPA moving forward with additional cleanup of residential yards in East Helena

EAST HELENA, Mont.--Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the conclusion of a 30-day public comment period and the finalization of an Explanation of Significant Differences (ESD) document that will lower the soil-lead cleanup level at the East Helena Superfund Site from 500 ppm (parts per million) to 400 ppm and remove the 1,000 ppm cleanup action level previously used as a trigger for yard cleanups at the Site. ESDs are documents that EPA uses to modify existing cleanup plans. In this case, the ESD will modify the 2009 Record of Decision (ROD) for Residential Yards and Undeveloped Lands in East Helena.  

Both formal and informal public comments were overwhelmingly in favor of the proposal to reduce the soil-lead cleanup level to 400 ppm. With the ESD finalized, EPA will now solicit contract support to initiate yard cleanups later in 2024. The prior cleanup approach established under the 2009 ROD included an action level of 1,000 ppm and a cleanup level of 500 ppm for lead in residential soils. This means that properties with levels above 1,000 ppm qualified for cleanup, and any parts of the property with levels above 500 ppm were cleaned up.  

“Reducing exposure to lead, especially for young children, is one of EPA’s top priorities,” said Region 8 Administrator KC Becker. “Lowering the cleanup level for yards in East Helena will enable us to complete new cleanup actions that will further protect the community from potential exposure to lead and its harmful health impacts.”  

Previous cleanup efforts under the 2009 ROD led to the remediation of hundreds of yards in East Helena, which involved the removal and replacement of residential soils contaminated by more than one hundred years of smelting by the former ASARCO plant. A better understanding of the health impacts associated with lead exposure, especially for young children and pregnant people, has recently led EPA to reassess acceptable levels of soil-lead contamination at Superfund sites across the country.  

EPA also recently released national guidance lowering the screening level for soil-lead in residential yards to 200 ppm, or to 100 ppm if there are multiple sources of lead contamination. Site project managers use screening levels when determining cleanup levels, taking into account Site-specific information on the bioavailability of contaminants and other factors. This means that, in addition to conducting cleanups under the ESD, EPA will now be assessing what the new national soil-lead guidance means for the East Helena Site.  

EPA’s East Helena Site team will keep the community informed as they work to implement the new guidance, which may lead to a revision of the 400 ppm residential soil-lead cleanup level determined in the ESD. It is important to note that implementation of this updated guidance will only expand the number of residential properties qualifying for cleanups, and that EPA’s whole-yard approach to yard cleanups moving forward will not require multiple cleanups for qualifying properties.    

Health impacts from lead can be permanent. Finding and removing sources of lead from environments, especially where young children live, learn and play, is key in preventing exposure. 

Parents who are concerned about potential lead exposure can help reduce harmful impacts by talking to their child’s doctor and getting connected to learning, nutritional and behavioral programs. 

For more information on follow-up and case management for children with lead in their blood, please refer to CDC’s Recommended Actions Based on Blood Lead Level. 

EPA’s Response to Comments Summary for comments submitted during the public comment period is also available for review. 

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Biden-Harris Administration, EPA announce $1.9 million grant to Arizona for wildfire smoke preparedness

SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has selected the Arizona Board of Regents and Arizona State University to receive a $1,954,130 grant to enhance wildfire smoke preparedness and protection in communities across the state. The grant will help engage diverse communities in Arizona to develop solutions to the challenges that are posed by wildfires. The project is expected to engage community members on the topic of indoor air pollution control and associated health fields, evaluate the capacity of facilities to handle the air pollution and heat impacts of wildfires, and implement sustainable solutions in Arizona facilities.

“Providing the public with tools to protect themselves against the dangers of wildfire smoke is essential for communities across Arizona, especially as climate change accelerates and intensifies wildfires,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. “This grant to Arizona State University will fund a project to improve the capability of local communities to reduce indoor air pollutants during a wildfire smoke event.”

“The Arizona State University team is exceptionally excited for this opportunity to work with communities in Arizona to develop resilient solutions to the unique air quality and heat challenges that are posed by wildfires, which have increased in size and frequency due to our changing climate,” said Dr. Jean Andino, Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering at Arizona State University. “This funding will allow ASU to co-develop solutions to environmental problems facing Arizona, engage students in interdisciplinary research, and positively impact the health of our local communities.”

Wildfire smoke is a significant public health problem. Smoke plumes can have impacts over a large portion of the U.S. population, with health impacts ranging from eye and throat irritation to asthma attacks, heart problems, emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and even premature death. Local officials often advise people to stay indoors during a smoke event. Some of the smoke from outdoors, however, can enter homes and buildings and make it unhealthy to breathe indoor air, too. Buildings are varied and do not all provide the same level of protection against wildfire smoke.

The Wildfire Smoke Preparedness in Community Buildings grant program is a new federal program to enhance community wildfire smoke preparedness by providing grants to states, federally recognized Tribes, public preschools, local educational agencies, and non-profit organizations. Projects are designed to assess, prevent, control, or abate wildfire smoke hazards in community buildings that serve the public, and that serve disadvantaged communities or vulnerable populations. EPA anticipates awarding nine grants across the country, ranging from approximately $350,000 to $2 million – totaling over $10 million.

These grants are provided under Section 103(b)(3) of the Clean Air Act as supplemented by authority provided in the 2022 Consolidated Appropriations Act and the 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act to fund abatement activities.

Learn more about the Wildfire Smoke Preparedness in Community Buildings grant program.

Learn more about wildfires and indoor air quality.

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

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EPA, HUD, DOE Sign Joint Letter Asking Utility Companies to Make Energy and Water Usage Data Available for Multifamily Properties

WASHINGTON (Jan. 25, 2024) – The leaders of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and U.S. Department of Energy announced a joint letter asking for the nation’s leading utility companies to make energy and water use data freely available to the owners of multifamily properties to eliminate barriers to energy efficiency improvements for families who live in multifamily assisted housing. 

“Under President Biden’s leadership, we’re seeing a historic transition to clean energy across the entire economy. Thanks to leaders like Secretary Fudge and Secretary Granholm, this transition includes our nation’s housing, leading to a reduction in household pollution and resulting in significant cost savings for families,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “There’s more work to be done, especially for the communities that have been left behind for far too long. This joint effort will provide improved critical energy data, creating brighter, more efficient homes, and further reducing costs, ensuring we can build a sustainable future for all.” 

“Thanks to the President’s Inflation Reduction Act, we are investing billions in much-needed energy efficiency upgrades at the properties where many of our most vulnerable populations call home,” said HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge. “In order to do that, we need to provide the properties we serve with accurate data. Today, we join the DOE and EPA to ask utility companies to help us by making information available on energy and water usage for all.”

“Through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, DOE’s Home Energy Rebates will help American households save nearly a billion dollars annually on their energy bills by making it easier to install upgrades like insulation or new electric Energy Star appliances,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “We are proud to join HUD and EPA to call for utility companies to provide accurate usage data and maximize the ability for all households – including renters – to live in more comfortable, energy efficient homes.”

Multifamily properties are home to more than 19 million low-income households – over 15 percent of all U.S. households. Upgrades to these properties targeting utility conservation could significantly reduce energy and water costs. Under the Inflation Reduction Act, the Biden-Harris Administration delivered more than $6.6 billion in funding for U.S. multifamily properties to improve energy and water efficiency and lower costs. This includes programs like HUD’s Green and Resilient Retrofit Program (GRRP) and DOE’s Home Efficiency Rebate Program.

To maximize the impact of these investments, owners of multifamily properties need access to complete energy use data for their buildings – data that many utility companies currently fail to share. EPA offers Guidance for Utilities on Providing Whole-Building Energy Data, as well as one-on-one support to utilities interested in making this data available to owners.

By championing the availability of whole-building utility data access, utility companies will facilitate cost-effective investments in the communities they serve. See the full letter sent to major utility companies today.

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EPA takes action against Connecticut contractor for failing to follow lead-safe work practices when renovating

BOSTON (Jan. 25, 2024) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently reached a settlement with a Connecticut-based residential contractor for violations of the federal lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule. As a result of the settlement, Bellamy Home Improvement dba Harmony Home Improvement, based in South Windsor, Conn., agreed to pay a penalty of $34,818 and certify compliance with the federal lead-based paint RRP Rule.

"When renovators fail to follow lead-based paint rules, it puts children and families at risk," said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "It is of the utmost importance that companies ensure that their workers have the proper lead safety training in order to prevent exposure during home renovations – as there is no safe level of exposure to lead. Lead safe renovations are especially important in areas that have been historically overburdened by environmental pollution, and we'll continue to work to get the lead out of these communities and hold violators accountable."

EPA observed a subcontractor of Bellamy Home Improvement failing to follow lead-safe work practices while removing painted siding from a residence in Manchester, Conn. EPA alleges that Bellamy failed to: provide the owners of several homes built before 1978 where renovations occurred with a lead-hazard information pamphlet prior to beginning the renovation work; ensure that one of the company's subcontractors covered the ground with plastic sheeting to contain lead paint debris; ensure that its subcontractors obtained proper renovator training and certification; and failed to retain all records necessary to demonstrate compliance with the lead-safe work practices required by the RRP Rule.

After observing that the company failed to follow lead-safe work practices at one residence, EPA performed an audit of the company's business records. A sample of six renovation projects that Bellamy subcontracted over the previous two years, including the aforementioned project in Manchester, Conn., was used to evaluate the company's compliance with the RRP Rule. Based on a review of these records, EPA alleged that the company violated the RRP Rule 15 times during six renovation projects in the period audited. The location of one of the renovation projects cited is in an area of environmental justice concern. This inspection was part of EPA New England's Connecticut Geographic Initiative for lead-based paint.

Background

The Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule requirements aim to protect occupants from lead-based paint hazards created by renovation, repair, and painting activities that disturb lead-based paint in housing and child-occupied facilities built before 1978. The regulations require contractors, property owners, managers, and others who perform repairs and renovations of target housing for compensation that disturb more than six square feet of interior or 20 square feet of exterior painted surface (even if it is not known whether the paint contains lead) to provide notification to owners and occupants; ensure that renovators, contractors, and dust sampling technicians are properly trained; obtain proper certification for renovators, contractors, and dust sampling technicians; use lead-safe renovation work practices; obtain certification for the firm from EPA; and keep records for at least three years.

More information

Lead RRP Rule Program

Lead Enforcement

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EPA Regional Administrator and U.S. Congresswoman visit Southside Richmond community to talk environmental justice

PHILADELPHIA (Jan. 25, 2024) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz and U.S. Rep. Jennifer McClellan (VA-4) met with Virginia Community Voice leaders to discuss environmental justice during a visit to Richmond, Virginia on Jan. 24.  

The visit focused on Virginia Community Voice’s initiatives to enhance sustainability and foster social equity within the Southside community and included a tour for a firsthand look at the community’s challenges, successes, and continued progress.    

“EPA is committed to building impactful relationships with groups like Virginia Community Voice,” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. “Through continued dialogue and collaborative problem-solving, we can take transformative steps in our shared journey toward environmental justice for communities throughout Virginia.”

Ortiz applauded Virginia Community Voice for its inspiring work in the Southside community.  

“It was wonderful to welcome EPA Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz to Virginia for a community tour in Southside Richmond. As we work to address environmental injustice and other challenges communities face in Region 3, we must continue facilitating collaboration between all levels of government and relevant community organizations,” said U.S. Rep. Jennifer McClellan (VA-4). “I thank Virginia Community Voice, Southside Community Development and Housing Corporation, and the City of Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities for their partnership in today’s event and their continued efforts to meet Virginians’ needs. I look forward to continued collaboration with Administrator Ortiz to advance environmental justice, bolster community development and job creation, and increase equitable access to green spaces.”

Ortiz said that EPA is focused on investing in communities that have historically experienced environmental stressors. He has prioritized implementing a coordinated approach between EPA and its partners to connect community groups with resources that lead to improved outcomes.

“Virginia Community Voice has been community organizing and engaging neighbors on Richmond’s Southside since 2017,” said Virginia Community Voice Director of Strategic Partnerships Rebekah Kendrick. “We are excited to have the EPA, city partners and Congresswoman McClellan join us for a visit today to see the community gardens that neighbors have built in the Oak Grove community and hear about our vision for a Southside healing hub, a bilingual multipurpose space dedicated to healing the mind, body, spirit and land of this historically marginalized Black and brown community.”

The Virginia Community Voice’s mission is to equip neighbors in marginalized communities to realize their vision for their neighborhoods and prepare institutions to respond effectively.

Visit the EPA website to learn more about the agency’s environmental justice efforts.

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EPA penalizes private landowner for violating the Clean Water Act by discharging fill into the South Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today that Michael Gagliano agreed to pay a penalty of $8,000 for violating the Clean Water Act when he discharged fill material into the South Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River at his property in Pinehurst, Idaho.

Beginning in September 2022, Gagliano discharged large rocks below the ordinary high-water mark of the South Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River without a Clean Water Act permit. The unauthorized discharges occurred within the Bunker Hill Superfund Site. As a result, these discharges likely mobilized highly contaminated sediment and mine tailings frequently found throughout the site. This type of mobilization is often exacerbated by high-flow events following heavy rains or snowmelt.

“Property owners must get the necessary Clean Water Act permits to make sure that any work impacting waters of the United States is done in a way that protects the health of the ecosystem and minimizes the impact to sources of drinking water and water used for recreation.” said EPA Region 10 Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Director Ed Kowalski. “These types of Clean Water Act enforcement actions are important in protecting our valuable water resources and are especially important in areas within Superfund sites with highly contaminated sediments.”

The unauthorized discharges occurred when the landowner attempted to increase armoring of the riverbank. This activity, especially when combined with similar bank armoring activities throughout a river system, can have dramatic and long-term impacts on ecosystem health and can result in increased riverbank scouring and erosion on adjacent properties.

In addition to paying the penalty, Gagliano agreed to remove the fill material and restore the site prioritizing slope stabilization, erosion reduction, and establishing vegetation along the riverbank.

EPA Region 10 worked closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, Idaho Department of Water Resources, and the Panhandle Health District on an appropriate resolution to the violation. 

This is the second Clean Water Act enforcement action brought by EPA within the Bunker Hill Superfund Site during the last couple of years. In 2022, Cody Karst of Pinehurst was required to pay a $14,000 penalty and restore wetlands that he damaged, also along a portion of the South Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River, and a tributary to the river. 

Additional details of the Gagliano matter can be found in the Consent Agreement and Final Order.

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EPA Approves Permits to Begin Construction of Wabash Carbon Services Underground Injection Wells in Indiana’s Vermillion and Vigo Counties

CHICAGO (Jan. 24, 2024) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued permits that allow Wabash Carbon Services LLC to construct two wells for the eventual injection and permanent storage of carbon dioxide underground, one at a site in Vermillion County and another in Vigo County, Indiana. Following extensive review and public engagement, EPA determined that the wells meet all requirements for initial approval, including stringent safety measures. Once the wells are constructed, the applicant will require separate approval from EPA before underground injection of carbon dioxide can begin, and the agency will maintain robust oversight. These underground injection wells will be used to store carbon dioxide from nearby fertilizer production that has been captured prior to release to the atmosphere, reducing emissions that contribute to climate change.

“After a thorough technical review and engagement with the public, including consideration of over 1,000 public comments, EPA has determined that the two proposed wells meet public health and safety requirements to move forward,” said EPA Region 5 Administrator Debra Shore. “Today’s action will help reduce industrial carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to climate change while protecting nearby communities and essential groundwater resources in Vermillion and Vigo counties. We look forward to continued engagement with these communities as construction proceeds.”

The process of storing carbon underground to reduce emissions into the atmosphere is known as “carbon sequestration.” If and when EPA authorizes the start of injection, Wabash Carbon Services plans to inject up to 1.67 million metric tons of carbon dioxide per year into the wells over an injection period of 12 years. Wabash is required to continuously monitor and fulfill reporting requirements—during the 12 years of proposed carbon dioxide injection and 10 years thereafter—to ensure that the injection wells work properly, the carbon dioxide does not move from its injected location and drinking water sources are protected.

The well sites were selected following extensive research to ensure the carbon dioxide can be safely stored in the rock formations about 5,000 feet below the ground. Studies of the site show that there is about 2,100 feet of solid rock, including very low-permeability shale, between the deepest source of drinking water in the area and the proposed carbon dioxide reservoir below, creating an effective and impermeable confining zone.

EPA follows guidance from the Council on Environmental Quality to ensure that the advancement of carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration technologies are done in a responsible manner that incorporates the input of communities and reflects the best available science. Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, EPA has developed specific and rigorous criteria to protect underground sources of drinking water from carbon dioxide stored underground. EPA will continue to facilitate extensive public engagement around carbon sequestration projects under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

View a copy of the two final permits and response to public comments.

Read more information on EPA’s injection permit process.

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Colorado to reduce indoor air pollution in schools, public buildings from wildfire smoke events through EPA grant

DENVER – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is expected to award $10,670,000 in grant funding to nine selected recipients across the country to enhance community wildfire smoke preparedness. Of these recipients, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) is anticipating a $1,895,705 grant to design a state-wide program for wildfire smoke awareness and preparation. 

CDPHE will use the EPA funds to provide outreach, education, and training for local community partners on how to prepare for, and respond to, the public health threat of wildfire smoke. This includes leveraging the Clean Air for Schools program, which provides air cleaners and indoor air quality monitors to K-12 schools, where CDPHE will partner with local communities to develop response plans for wildfire smoke events. Some of the expected outcomes include Smoke Readiness Plans, providing technical training on ventilation and filtration strategies, preparing school buildings to serve as Community Cleaner Air Shelters, and enabling indoor air quality monitoring in public school buildings to understand wildfire smoke impacts and evaluate effective responses.  With more than 880,000 kids enrolled in Colorado public schools, developing wildfire smoke preparedness programs improves indoor air quality and reduces public health risks for many students. 

“Colorado is no stranger to wildfires, and now more than ever, communities who once seemed unlikely to experience wildfire are now front line communities,” said EPA Regional Administrator KC Becker. “This grant will provide important resources to communities to build awareness and develop plans for wildfire smoke events that will protect public health and save lives.” 
 

Wildfire smoke in Denver. Source: CDPHE

Additional states in EPA Region 8 receiving funding for wildfire smoke preparedness include Montana and Utah, which will be awarded to their public health entities: 

•  Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, MT has been selected to receive $610,000 to engage a variety of partners to increase wildfire smoke awareness, create and pilot a clean air shelter recognition program in six communities for easy replication in other high need areas, create culturally appropriate and tailored messaging on wildfire smoke and air quality, and provide training to building and facility managers on HVAC maintenance and importance of good indoor air quality. 

• Utah Department of Environmental Quality, UT has been selected to receive $854,609 to enhance communities’ resilience to wildfire smoke by deploying indoor and outdoor PM2.5 and CO2 sensors at public schools, developing air quality alerts, and distributing air cleaners and filters to public schools, preschools and residents in target underserved areas. 

Wildfire smoke is a significant public health problem, especially in western states like Colorado. Smoke plumes can adversely affect a large portion of our population, with health impacts ranging from eye and throat irritation, to asthma attacks, cardiovascular events, and even premature death. Local officials often advise people to stay indoors during a smoke event. However, some of the smoke from outdoors can enter homes and buildings and can also make indoor air hazardous to breathe. Because buildings vary in their design and construction, they also vary in their levels of protection against wildfire smoke.  

These grants are provided under Section 103(b)(3) of the Clean Air Act as supplemented by authority provided in the 2022 Consolidated Appropriations Act and the 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act to fund abatement activities. 

Learn more about these grants. 

Learn more about Wildfires and Indoor Air Quality. 

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Utah to reduce indoor air pollution in schools, public buildings from wildfire smoke events through EPA grant

SALT LAKE CITY – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is expected to award $10.67 million in grant funding to nine selected recipients across the country to enhance community wildfire smoke preparedness. Of these recipients, the Utah Department of Environmental Quality (UDEQ) is anticipating a $854,609 grant to improve community resiliency to wildfire smoke through enhanced deployment of air quality monitors and alerts. 

UDEQ will be working with partners to enhance communities’ resilience to wildfire smoke in target underserved areas. The plan will include deploying indoor and outdoor PM2.5 and CO2 sensors at public schools, developing air quality alerts, and distributing air cleaners and filters to public schools, preschools and residents. With more than 672,000 kids enrolled in Utah public schools, developing wildfire smoke preparedness programs improves indoor air quality and reduces public health risks for many students. 

“Utah is one of the most fire-prone states in the American West,  communities who once seemed unlikely to experience wildfire are now front line communities,” said EPA Regional Administrator KC Becker. “This grant will provide important resources to communities to build awareness and develop plans for wildfire smoke events that will protect public health and save lives.” 

Wildfire smoke in Salt Lake City. Source: Utah Fire Info

Additional states in EPA Region 8 receiving funding for wildfire smoke preparedness include Montana and Colorado, which will be awarded to their public health entities: 

• The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has been selected to receive $1.89M to design and implement a state-wide program to provide outreach, education, and training for local community partners on how to prepare for, and respond to, the public health threat of wildfire smoke. 

• The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services has been selected to receive $610,000 to engage a variety of partners to increase wildfire smoke awareness, create and pilot a clean air shelter recognition program in six communities for easy replication in other high need areas, create culturally appropriate and tailored messaging on wildfire smoke and air quality, and provide training to building and facility managers on HVAC maintenance and importance of good indoor air quality. 

Wildfire smoke is a significant public health problem, especially in western states where large wildfires are becoming increasingly more common. Smoke plumes can adversely affect a large portion of our population, with health impacts ranging from eye and throat irritation, to asthma attacks, cardiovascular events, and even premature death. Local officials often advise people to stay indoors during a smoke event. However, some of the smoke from outdoors can enter homes and buildings and can also make indoor air hazardous to breathe. Because buildings vary in their design and construction, they also vary in their levels of protection against wildfire smoke.  

These grants are provided under Section 103(b)(3) of the Clean Air Act as supplemented by authority provided in the 2022 Consolidated Appropriations Act and the 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act to fund abatement activities. 

Learn more about these grants. 

Learn more about Wildfires and Indoor Air Quality. 

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Biden-Harris Administration announces nearly $11M in grants for wildfire smoke preparedness in community buildings

WASHINGTON –  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday announced the selection of nine grant applicants to receive an expected $10.67 million in funding to enhance wildfire smoke preparedness and protection in communities throughout the West.

“After the wildfires in Maui, the wildfire smoke that blanketed the East Coast last summer, and the many devastating wildfires in the West, we are all aware of the very real health impacts of smoke as well as the critical importance of smoke preparedness,” said EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe. “EPA is providing more than $10 million in grant funding that will help provide important public health protections in communities across our country, especially in those communities who have been overburdened by smoke pollution for far too long.”

“As climate chaos intensifies, so do extreme wildfires and hazardous smoke events — events that endanger public health and impact everyday life for those under the plumes of dark smoke,” said Senator Jeff Merkley, Chair of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee. “I created this program to help ensure communities in Oregon and across the West have access to the resources they need to protect themselves from the dangerous smoke and heat that has unfortunately become expected with our increasingly hot summer months.” 

Wildfire smoke is a significant public health problem. Smoke plumes can have impacts over a large portion of the U.S. population, with health impacts ranging from eye and throat irritation to asthma attacks, heart problems, emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and even premature death. Local officials often advise people to stay indoors during a smoke event. Some of the smoke from outdoors, however, can enter homes and buildings and make it unhealthy to breathe indoor air, too. Buildings are varied and do not all provide the same level of protection against wildfire smoke.

The Wildfire Smoke Preparedness in Community Buildings grant program is a new federal program to enhance community wildfire smoke preparedness by providing grants to states, federally recognized Tribes, public preschools, local educational agencies, and non-profit organizations. Projects are designed to assess, prevent, control, or abate wildfire smoke hazards in community buildings that serve the public, and that serve disadvantaged communities or vulnerable populations. EPA anticipates award of nine grants, ranging from approximately $350,000 to $2 million – totaling over $10 million.

The following entities have been selected for awards, which are contingent on completion of all legal and administrative requirements relating to the grant:

• Arizona Board of Regents-Arizona State University, Arizona - To engage diverse communities in Arizona to develop resilient solutions to the challenges that are posed by wildfires. The project is expected to: (1) engage community members with knowledge of indoor air pollution control and associated health fields, (2) evaluate the resilient capacity of facilities to handle the air pollution and heat impacts of wildfires, and (3) implement sustainable solutions in facilities to enhance resiliency towards the air quality and heat impacts of wildfires.
• Esperanza Community Housing Corporation, California - To protect the people of South Los Angeles from wildfire smoke by strengthening wildfire smoke preparedness infrastructure in the Mercado La Paloma building and using the site as the launch pad for a grassroots education and outreach campaign. 
• Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Colorado - To design and implement a statewide program to provide outreach, education, and training for local community partners on how to prepare for, and respond to, the public health threat of wildfire smoke.
• Nez Perce Tribe, Tribal land within boundaries of Idaho - To improve public health protection against smoke from wildfires by strengthening preparedness in community buildings. The project will enhance smoke readiness planning, outreach and training, deploy portable air cleaners, conduct indoor/outdoor air monitoring, complete weatherization, and upgrade HVAC systems. Three community centers, nine public libraries, and four youth centers will be upgraded to provide cleaner air spaces to the public during wildfire smoke events for effective reduction of occupants’ exposure.
• Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Montana - To engage a variety of partners to increase wildfire smoke awareness, create and pilot a clean air shelter recognition program in six communities for easy replication in other high need areas, create culturally appropriate and tailored messaging on wildfire smoke and air quality, and provide training to building and facility managers on HVAC maintenance and importance of good indoor air quality.
• Oregon State University, Oregon - To develop a set of interventions that includes tailored toolkits and resources that can be used by schools, preschools, and daycares to reduce wildfire smoke exposures and increase community resilience across Oregon.
• Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Utah - To enhance communities’ resilience to wildfire smoke by (1) deploying indoor/outdoor low-cost PM2.5 and CO2 sensors at public schools, (2) developing air quality alerts, and (3) distributing air cleaners and filters to public schools/preschools and residents in target underserved areas.
• Gonzaga University, Washington - For activities that will reduce indoor exposure to pollutants in wildfire smoke in the City of Spokane and in three community centers serving disadvantaged communities.
• Bellingham School District No.501, Washington - To focus on smoke readiness assessment and planning as well as indoor and outdoor air quality monitoring.

These grants are provided under Section 103(b)(3) of the Clean Air Act as supplemented by authority provided in the 2022 Consolidated Appropriations Act and the 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act to fund abatement activities.

Learn more about the Wildfire Smoke Preparedness in Community Buildings grant program.

Learn more about wildfires and indoor air quality.

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EPA to host a community meeting for Calvert City, KY, residents about air monitoring study

Calvert City, KY. (January 23, 2024) –  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Kentucky Division for Air Quality (KDAQ) announced the completion of a monitoring study for toxic air pollution (air toxics) near the Calvert City Industrial Complex that focused on volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including ethylene dichloride (EDC). The air monitoring results from the study were used to determine if residents are being exposed to elevated VOC concentrations.  

The air monitoring study found elevated levels of VOCs (specifically EDC), a chemical that can cause cancer. Exposure to EDC in the air over long periods of time can pose an increased risk of cancer and other negative health effects to the liver and kidneys. The EPA and KDAQ are taking steps locally and nationally to limit EDC emissions, reduce exposure and protect people’s health.

The levels identified at two Calvert City air monitoring sites located closer to the industrial complex are estimated to result in elevated chronic cancer risk over a 70-year lifetime of continuous exposure. These levels are at or above the top of the range of risks that the EPA generally uses to protect people from toxic air pollutants.

Next Steps

WHAT:           EPA and KDAQ are hosting an in-person and virtual meeting to provide

                         information about the Calvert City air     

                         monitoring risk assessment study   

              

WHERE:         Tuesday, February 13th, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. CT
                          Calvert City Library
                          949 5th Ave SE
                          Calvert City, KY 42029

To register to attend this public meeting virtually, use this link.

***5:30 p.m. - Press Availability*** Interested credentialed media should e-mail an RSVP to region4press@epa.gov. Please include your name, media affiliation and contact information.

The EPA is supporting the KDAQ in developing short-and long-term strategies to reduce EDC exposure in Calvert City, including working with Westlake Vinyls, the largest source of EDC in the area, to explore potential voluntary actions to reduce EDC emissions. The EPA has also proposed revisions to air emissions rules for the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturing Industry that are applicable to Westlake Vinyls and other similar chemical plants .

KDAQ is continuing air monitoring for EDC and other VOCs at the three Calvert City sites and will work with the EPA to assess any changes or trends in the air pollution concentrations.

The study report, including the monitoring results, is posted online at https://www.epa.gov/ky/calvert-city-kentucky-air-monitoring.

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