EPA Announces Nearly $200 Million to Address Emerging Contaminants in Drinking Water in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Texas

DALLAS, TEXAS (March 6^th, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $199,701,000 from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to address emerging contaminants, like Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in drinking water in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. This investment, will be made available to communities as grants through EPA’s Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities (EC-SDC) Grant Program and will promote access to safe and clean water in small, rural, and disadvantaged communities while supporting local economies.

“Too many American communities, especially those that are small, rural, or underserved, are suffering from exposure to PFAS and other harmful contaminants in their drinking water,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Thanks to President Biden’s leadership, we are investing in America and providing billions of dollars to strengthen our nation’s water infrastructure while safeguarding people’s health and boosting local economies. These grants build on EPA’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap and will help protect our smallest and most vulnerable communities from these persistent and dangerous chemicals.”

“Clean water access is a key component to a healthy nation; without it we risk endangering public health and economic growth,” said Regional Administrator Dr. Earthea Nance. “As leaders in environmental quality, we must work with local and state agencies to ensure the funding addresses all communities, especially those at highest risk. We thank the Biden Administration for their commitment towards improving public health and water quality.” 

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law invests $5 billion over five years to help communities that are on the frontlines of PFAS contamination reduce PFAS in drinking water. EPA announced the funds as part of an allotment of $2 billion to states and territories that can be used to prioritize infrastructure and source water treatment for pollutants, like PFAS and other emerging contaminants, and to conduct water quality testing.

The breakdown of funding for each state is below:

• Arkansas will receive $18,914,000
• Louisiana will receive $26,300,000
• New Mexico will receive $18,914,000
• Oklahoma will receive $20,877,000
• Texas will receive $114,696,000

EPA is also releasing the Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities Grant Implementation document. The implementation document provides states and communities with the information necessary to use this funding to address local water quality and public health challenges. These grants will enable communities to improve local water infrastructure and reduce emerging contaminants in drinking water by implementing solutions such as installing necessary treatment solutions.

This action represent a significant milestone within the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitments to combat PFAS pollution and safeguard drinking water, and specifically EPA’s October 2021 PFAS Strategic Roadmap. Under the Roadmap, EPA is working across the agency to protect the public from the health impacts of PFAS. EPA has taken a number of actions to deliver progress on PFAS including: 

• Proposing to designate two PFAS as CERCLA hazardous substances. If finalized, this will be a critical step toward increasing transparency around releases of PFAS and holding polluters accountable for cleaning up their contamination.
• Releasing drinking water health advisories. Acting in accordance with EPA’s mission to protect public health and keep communities and public health authorities informed when new science becomes available, the Agency issued drinking water health advisories for four PFAS.
• Laying the foundation to enhance data on PFAS. This included an order under EPA’s National PFAS Testing Strategy requiring companies to conduct PFAS testing, and nationwide sampling through the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule for 29 PFAS in public drinking water systems .
• Expanding the scientific understanding of PFAS. The Agency issued more than 30 scientific publications by EPA researchers and released EPA’s PFAS Thermal Treatment Database.
• Translating the latest science into EPA’s cross-agency PFAS efforts. This included updating EPA’s contaminated site cleanup tables, developing new PFAS methods and conducting toxicity assessments, and issuing draft national recommended water quality criteria to protect aquatic life.
• Continuing engagement with the public. EPA’s PFAS work was informed by public webinars, stakeholder meetings, Congressional testimony, and engagement with EPA’s federal advisory committees.

In addition to this new grant, EPA is also working to propose a PFAS NPDWR in the coming weeks. The draft proposed rule is currently undergoing interagency review and EPA will issue the proposed rule for public comment when it clears the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The agency anticipates finalizing the rule by the end of 2023. Together, with these actions highlight EPA’s commitments outlined in the PFAS Strategic Roadmap to protect public health and the environment from the impacts of PFAS.  They also illustrate the benefits of investing in water—protecting public health and the environment, addressing key challenges facing communities, and creating jobs.

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

from EPA News Releases https://ift.tt/lE5zFSt

EPA Reaches Settlement with Ashtabula, Ohio Company for Alleged Clean Water Act Violations

Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a settlement with Huntsman Advanced Materials LLC of Ashtabula, Ohio to resolve alleged violations of its Clean Water Act permit limits for pollutant discharges.

Pollutants including chlorine, mercury and E. coli were discharged into the Diamond Shamrock tributary which flows to Fields Brook and the Ashtabula River. In June 2021, EPA issued an administrative order requiring the facility to upgrade wastewater treatment equipment and improve cleaning, maintenance, and sampling procedures. The company completed all actions and returned to compliance in August 2022. With today’s settlement, the company has agreed to pay a $180,000 penalty for these past violations. 

Huntsman is in an area with environmental justice concerns. EPA works with all communities to address environmental issues and public health concerns.  

For more information on the Clean Water Act, please visit EPA’s website.  

from EPA News Releases https://ift.tt/P6nIBOR

EPA Takes Action to Improve Cybersecurity Resilience for Public Water Systems

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is releasing a memorandum stressing the need for states to assess cybersecurity risk at drinking water systems to protect our public drinking water. While some public water systems (PWSs) have taken important steps to improve their cybersecurity, a recent survey and reports of cyber-attacks show that many have not adopted basic cybersecurity best practices and are at risk of cyber-attacks — whether from an individual, criminal collective, or a sophisticated state or state-sponsored actor. This memorandum requires states to survey cyber security best practices at PWSs.

“Cyber-attacks against critical infrastructure facilities, including drinking water systems, are increasing, and public water systems are vulnerable. Cyber-attacks have the potential to contaminate drinking water, which threatens public health,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox. “EPA is taking action to protect our public water systems by issuing this memorandum requiring states to audit the cybersecurity practices of local water systems."

"Americans deserve to have confidence in their water systems resilience to cyber attackers. The EPA's new action requires water systems to implement adequate cybersecurity to provide that confidence. EPA used a flexible approach to enable water systems to craft the most effective ways to protect water services. The EPA's action is another step in the Administration's relentless focus on improving the cybersecurity of critical infrastructure by setting minimum cybersecurity measures for owners and operators of the water, pipelines rail other critical services Americans rely on," said Anne Neuberger, Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technologies.

The memorandum conveys EPA’s interpretation that states must include cybersecurity when they conduct periodic audits of water systems (called “sanitary surveys”) and highlights different approaches for states to fulfill this responsibility.

EPA is providing technical assistance and resources to assist states and water systems as they work towards implementation of a robust cybersecurity program. EPA’s guidance entitled “Evaluating Cybersecurity During Public Water Sanitary Surveys” is intended to assist states with building cybersecurity into sanitary surveys. It includes key information on options for evaluating and improving the cybersecurity of operational technology used for safe drinking water. While this guidance is designed to be used right away, EPA is also requesting public comment on Sections 4-8 of the guidance and all Appendices until May 31, 2023. To submit comments, please email wicrd-outreach@epa.gov. EPA plans to revise and update this document as appropriate based on public comment and new information.

EPA’s robust technical assistance program has already proven effective in aiding systems with their cybersecurity and EPA looks forward to working with other entities in the future.

“The Minnesota Department of Health Drinking Water Protection program is looking forward to EPA’s release of guidance related to cybersecurity at public water supplies,” said Kim Larsen, Minnesota Department of Health Regional Supervisor. “This guidance will help to support our programs overall mission to protect public health.”

“EPA’s cybersecurity technical assistance program provided a wonderful jumping-off point to work on improving the cybersecurity of the water and sewer systems,” said Amy Rusiecki, Assistant Superintendent of Operations, Town of Amherst Public Works, Massachusetts. “The program armed us with the tools to have the appropriate conversations with the Town’s IT staff and our water/sewer staff to take small steps towards improvement. The roadmap for how to correct the Town’s vulnerabilities is still driving decisions today.”

“With the help of the EPA’s cybersecurity technical assistance program’s free cybersecurity assessments and technical assistance, [we] were able to submit our cybersecurity program to the New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell (NJCCIC) with a Security Scorecard of 83 out of 100,” said Martin O. Hawlet, Superintendent, Atlantic Highlands Water Department, New Jersey.

“While cybersecurity can be a bit overwhelming for Operators in the water sector, it is comforting to know that we can engage with EPA’s cybersecurity technical assistance program to assist with a comprehensive assessment of risk and vulnerability for our community’s water system,” said Jason C. Randall, Superintendent, Plymouth Village Water & Sewer, New Hampshire. “The Cyber Action Plan deliverable is now our roadmap to implement recommended best practices, improving our cyber incident preparation, response, and recovery. These cyber actions ultimately protect our assets, employees, and the citizens we serve.”

“Cybersecurity is very important to our water utility. We understand its importance; however, we don't have any employees that are professionally trained to ensure the safety of our network. Thankfully, USEPA offered assistance to our utility at no cost via the Cybersecurity Technical Assistance Program,” said Eric Kiefer, Manager, North Shore Water Commission, Wisconsin. “As a participant of this program, our water utility was able to identify and rank the severity of our vulnerabilities. With targeted improvements, we have significantly reduced our exposure to cybersecurity threats and improved our ability to successfully recover from a disaster.”

To further assist public waters systems and states, EPA will be offering additional training on how to implement best practices for cybersecurity and use the available resources. EPA is also offering consultations with subject matter experts and direct technical assistance to water systems to conduct assessments of their cybersecurity practices and plans for closing security gaps.

Additional tools, updates on training, resources, and information about assessing cybersecurity in sanitary surveys.

Background

Cybersecurity represents a substantial and increasing threat to the water sector, given the relative ease of access to critical water treatment systems from the internet. Currently, many water systems do not implement cybersecurity practices. Efforts to improve cybersecurity through voluntary measures have yielded minimal progress to protect the nations vitally important drinking water systems.

Water security planning has been a critical component of EPA and of state efforts to ensure the provision of clean and safe water since the increased threat of terrorism and malevolent attacks after 9/11. Through their sanitary survey programs, states have worked with PWSs to identify and protect against physical security vulnerabilities. PWSs have increasingly relied on the use of electronic systems to operate drinking water systems efficiently. As a result, incidents of malicious cyber activity on PWSs have shut down critical treatment processes, locked up control system networks behind ransomware, and disabled communications used to monitor and control distribution system infrastructure like pumping stations. Including cybersecurity in PWS sanitary surveys, or equivalent alternate programs, is an essential tool to address vulnerabilities and mitigate consequences, which can reduce the risk of a successful cyberattack on a PWS and improve recovery if a cyber incident occurs.

EPA engaged extensively with states, the Water Sector Coordinating Council, the Water Government Coordinating Council, and individual water associations to build their awareness, understand issues, and address concerns while developing the Memo and guidance. 

from EPA News Releases https://ift.tt/rtEa4KY

EPA awards $70,675 to Chippewa Cree Tribe in Montana for Solid Waste Management

Rocky Boys Indian Reservation, Montana - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded $70,675 to the Chippewa Cree Tribe to build capacity and educate the public on solid waste management practices on the Rocky Boys Indian Reservation in northern Montana. The Chippewa Cree Tribal Water Resources Department (TWRD) will use the EPA funds overhaul their solid waste management plan, improve collection and processing of materials, and educate the public on best practices for handling waste and recyclables.

"These EPA funds will help the Chippewa Cree Tribe improve solid waste management and recycling across the Rocky Boys Reservation," said EPA Regional Administrator KC Becker. "We are proud to support the Tribe in developing a waste system that is affordable, safe, healthy, and sustainable for all community members."

With the funding the TWRD will begin with a waste characterization study of materials disposed, both legally and illegally, at transfer stations throughout the year. Using this data, TWRD will then update its Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan and educate local contractors and the public about proper solid waste disposal practices to improve the safe management of waste and recovery of recyclable materials in Reservation communities.

“This grant will take the Chippewa Cree Tribe’s Solid Waste program to the next level and provide improved services to community,” said TWRD Director Ted Whitford.

The Chippewa Cree Tribe is one of seven awardees nationwide this year to receive a total of approximately $700,000 for improving Tribal Solid Waste Management. EPA’s Tribal Solid Waste Grant program is designed to assist tribes in conducting solid waste management activities that establish and strengthen sustainable waste management programs.

from EPA News Releases https://ift.tt/5Hp6taj