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EPA News - New England Region

EPA announces $194M to King County to improve wastewater infrastructure resiliency, protect Puget Sound  Thu, 28 Mar 2024 08:00:00 -0400

ministrator for Water Bruno Pigott announced a $194 million Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loan to King County in Washington.  

This loan is the first installment of funding available to King County under a new master agreement, where EPA has committed to provide almost $500 million in low-interest funding for future water infrastructure projects.  

Pigott was joined by EPA Region 10 Administrator Casey Sixkiller and King County Executive Daw Constantine in celebrating the announcement. EPA’s loan will support critical wastewater infrastructure updates to make the system more reliable and continue to protect Puget Sound. 

Since its creation, EPA’s WIFIA program has announced over $20 billion in financing to support over $43 billion in water infrastructure projects that are strengthening drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure while creating over 140,000 jobs. 

“EPA’s WIFIA loans have a track record of success and nowhere is that clearer than here in King County, where two loans have already reduced the amounts of sewage and untreated stormwater entering local waterways,” said EPA Acting Assistant Administrator for Water Bruno Pigott. “This $194 million loan is just the latest in the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America Agenda. Through WIFIA and with $50 billion for water under President Biden’s infrastructure law, EPA is making unprecedented investments and making strides toward a clean and safe water future for all communities.” 

“Making critical improvements in wastewater infrastructure is vital to protecting communities and the environment from pollution emergencies,” said Sen. Maria Cantwell. “The investment being made to the West Point Wastewater Treatment plant will allow the largest wastewater facility in the state of Washington make needed upgrades to help it safely serve the growing Seattle region and protect against untreated wastewater discharges that can harm the Puget Sound ecosystem.” 

“An efficient wastewater treatment plant is critical to protecting the environment and reducing pollution,” said Sen. Patty Murray. “I’m thrilled to have helped secure this loan for King County to make much needed upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant that is responsible for over 100 millions of gallons per day. Not only will this help make the plant more efficient, it will help to keep costs down for every single ratepayer in King County.” 

"I applaud King County for securing this federal loan to upgrade critical wastewater infrastructure, while better preparing its system for the climate crisis,” said Rep. Pramila Jayapal. “Communities in my district rely on the health of our waterways and natural environment, and the Biden-Harris Administration's nearly $500 million commitment to King County is a victory investment that will better protect Puget Sound for decades to come." 

King County has already used WIFIA resources twice before to improve stormwater treatment with the Georgetown Wet Weather Treatment Station and to build an underground storage tunnel for the Ship Canal Water Quality Project with Seattle Public Utilities.  

The majority of the latest WIFIA loan will go toward various clean-water investments at West Point Treatment Plant, which cleans wastewater and stormwater. This project makes several improvements at the wastewater treatment plant, including removing corroded pipes, upgrading raw sewage pumps, and implementing structural upgrades to the administrative building to protect against future seismic events. As a result, West Point will protect Puget Sound, a culturally important waterbody to Coast Salish Tribes, and better manage daily and peak flows, which are anticipated to be more intense and frequent due to climate change.  

"The Biden administration is once again demonstrating its strong commitment to protecting the natural environment throughout the country, including one of the nation’s premier waterbodies, the Puget Sound,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. “Earning a half-billion-dollar commitment for clean-water infrastructure reflects King County’s reputation as a trusted fiscal and environmental steward, producing the best results for each public dollar we invest for people, salmon, and orcas.” 

King County was EPA’s first WIFIA borrower, closing their first loan in 2018, and this will be their third WIFIA loan. With this $194 million loan, King County expects to save nearly $20 million and create about 1,500 jobs. It is the first WIFIA loan under a master agreement that will commit $498 million to accelerate the implementation of the county’s Wastewater 2024 Improvement Project. Future financing will support other critical projects across the regional wastewater system. 

Learn more about EPA’s WIFIA Program and water infrastructure investments under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

Background  

Established by the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014, the WIFIA program is a federal loan program administered by EPA. The WIFIA program aims to accelerate investment in the nation’s water infrastructure by providing long-term, low-cost supplemental credit assistance for regionally and nationally significant projects. The WIFIA program has an active pipeline of pending applications for projects that will result in billions of dollars in water infrastructure investment and thousands of jobs. 

In 2018, King County was the first loan recipient under the federal act, when the EPA issued a $134.5 million loan to help construct the Georgetown Wet Weather Treatment Station. In 2021, King County closed on a $96.8 million loan to help design and construct the Ship Canal Water Quality Project, which is a partnership with Seattle Public Utilities. 
 
EPA recently made the seventh round of WIFIA financing available and is currently accepting letters of interest for WIFIA and SWIFIA loans. A total of $6.5 billion is available through WIFIA, and $1 billion is available through SWIFIA, which is a loan program exclusively for State infrastructure financing authority borrowers. Learn more about submitting a letter of interest for a WIFIA loan. 

In addition to WIFIA loans, there are many federal funding resources available for communities and utilities to improve vital water and wastewater resources. President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is a once-in-a-generation investment in our nation’s infrastructure and competitiveness. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides a historic $50 billion investment in upgrading critical water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure. 


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EPA Fines Scrap Metal Facility in Kansas City, Kansas, for Alleged Clean Water Act Violations  Thu, 28 Mar 2024 08:00:00 -0400

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LENEXA, KAN. (MARCH 28, 2024) – Scrap Management LLC, doing business as Rivers Edge Scrap Management of Kansas City, Kansas, will pay $144,500 in civil penalties to resolve alleged violations of the federal Clean Water Act.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the company failed to adequately control stormwater runoff from its scrap metal recycling and processing facility. EPA says that these failures could result in illegal discharges of pollution into the Kansas River.

“Uncontrolled runoff from scrap yards harms streams and rivers and limits the public’s use and enjoyment of those waters,” said David Cozad, director of EPA Region 7’s Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division. “This settlement demonstrates EPA’s commitment to protecting vital watersheds in urban communities, especially in areas overburdened by pollution.

In the settlement documents, EPA alleges that Scrap Management failed to comply with certain terms of its Clean Water Act permit, including failure to update and implement practices to prevent runoff of pollution; failure to perform inspections; and failure to train employees on stormwater management practices.

In addition to paying the penalty, Scrap Management is correcting the alleged violations through implementation of an EPA compliance order.

EPA identified the community surrounding Scrap Management’s facility as a potentially sensitive location for multiple pollution sources. EPA is strengthening enforcement in such communities to address disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects of industrial operations on vulnerable populations.

Under the Clean Water Act, industrial facilities that propose to discharge into protected water bodies are required to obtain permits and follow the requirements outlined in those permits to reduce pollution runoff. Failure to obtain a permit or follow the requirements of a permit may violate federal law.

# # #

Learn more about EPA’s enforcement of the Clean Water Act

Learn more about EPA Region 7

View all Region 7 news releases

Connect with EPA Region 7 on Facebook and Instagram

Follow us on X: @EPARegion7


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EPA starts lead inspection sweep in the greater Manchester New Hampshire area to prevent childhood lead poisoning  Thu, 28 Mar 2024 08:00:00 -0400

munities with a higher risk of lead exposure is coming to the greater Manchester, New Hampshire area. Lead is particularly harmful to children because they are more vulnerable to its effects, which include damage to the brain and nervous system.

The aim of the EPA's lead paint initiative is to reduce childhood lead exposure through increased awareness and improved compliance with federal lead paint requirements, in particular the Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) and Lead Disclosure Rules.

"If you live someplace built before 1978, which is quite possible in New England, be aware and share with family and friends how toxic old lead paint chips and dust can be for yourselves and your children," said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "EPA is excited to collaborate with state and local partners who continue to tackle this preventable issue - we will use all available tools possible, including assistance, enforcement, and grant opportunities focused on communities with environmental justice concerns."

"Infants and children are especially vulnerable to lead exposure, which can cause lifelong impacts including developmental impairment, learning disabilities, impaired hearing, reduced attention span, hyperactivity, and behavioral problems. When pregnant women are exposed to lead, it can impact their unborn children's health as well," said Iain Watt, Interim Director of the New Hampshire Division of Public Health Services.

"The City of Manchester is committed to ensuring that all children have the opportunity to thrive. Healthy housing is one part of that equation," said Mayor Jay Ruais. "To that end, in 2023 the Board of Mayor and Aldermen established the Manchester Lead Exposure Prevention Commission. This Commission, which is made up of community members from various disciplines and lived experience, will be working to identify strategies to reduce lead poisoning and increase lead hazard awareness and prevention in our community."

As part of the lead paint initiative in Manchester, inspectors will evaluate compliance with the Toxic Substances Control Act's lead paint RRP Rule, which is applicable to renovation job sites involving housing and child-occupied facilities built before 1978.

Field staff will also be checking to confirm that landlords, including property management and real estate companies, are providing prospective tenants or buyers with proper lead disclosure about the presence of lead-based paint and/or lead-based paint hazards. Lead disclosures are required, under Section 1018 of the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act, before the lease or sale of most housing built before 1978.

These efforts will be supported by an increased focus on education, outreach, and compliance assistance in the greater Manchester area and beyond to ensure that regulated parties and the public are aware of the federal lead-based paint requirements.

Background

EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule is designed to prevent children's exposure to lead-based paint and/or lead-based paint hazards resulting from renovation, repair and painting projects in pre-1978 residences, schools and other buildings where children are present. If lead painted surfaces are to be disturbed at a job site, the RRP Rule requires individual renovators to complete an initial 8-hour accredited training course and the company or firm that they work for to be certified by EPA. These baseline requirements are critical to ensuring that companies take responsibility for their employees following proper lead-safe work practices by containing and managing lead dust and chips created during such projects. Further, the RRP Rule requires that specific records be created and maintained to document compliance with the law.

EPA's Lead Disclosure Rule is designed to ensure that potential buyers and renters of housing built prior to 1978 receive certain information about lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards in the residence prior to becoming obligated to buy or rent, and provides the opportunity for an independent lead inspection for buyers. Sellers, landlords, and agents are responsible for compliance.

More information

Lead

Protect Your Family from Sources of Lead

EPA Lead Enforcement

Report a Violation of Lead Paint Rules in New England

Environmental Justice grant opportunities:

Healthy Communities Grant Program

Community Change Grant Program


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EPA Approves Plan to Mitigate Snake River Damage in Northern Nebraska  Wed, 27 Mar 2024 08:00:00 -0400

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LENEXA, KAN. (MARCH 27, 2024) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved a work plan submitted to the Agency by Richard Minor of Gordon, Nebraska, and Cherry County, Nebraska, to mitigate damage to the Snake River resulting from an unauthorized drainage ditch excavated from Minor’s property to the river in 2020.

According to EPA, discharges from the ditch into the river caused extensive environmental harm and violated the federal Clean Water Act.

“The Snake River is a critical aquatic resource,” said David Cozad, director of EPA Region 7’s Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division. “EPA is encouraged that Mr. Minor and Cherry County are taking steps to minimize further impacts to the Snake River and downstream property owners.”

According to EPA, in April 2020, Minor and Cherry County personnel excavated the drainage ditch to the Snake River to alleviate flooding, without first obtaining the required Clean Water Act permits.

Within days of completing the approximately 2½-mile ditch, rainfall rapidly eroded it, which resulted in massive amounts of sand being deposited into the Snake River. EPA says that millions of tons of sediment have flowed into the river since the ditch excavation.

Under an Administrative Compliance Order filed with EPA on June 14, 2021, Minor and Cherry County agreed to submit a work plan to mitigate the damage. After multiple delays by Minor and the county, EPA recently received an acceptable work plan, which was approved and finalized on Feb. 22, 2024.

EPA says that implementation of the work plan will take approximately one year, and will include:

# # #

Learn more about EPA’s enforcement of the Clean Water Act

Learn more about EPA Region 7

View all Region 7 news releases

Connect with EPA Region 7 on Facebook and Instagram

Follow us on X: @EPARegion7


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Digital Media Kit for EPA funding announcement for Chesapeake Bay Program  Wed, 27 Mar 2024 08:00:00 -0400

elections under President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to implement local projects to restore the Chesapeake Bay and advance environmental justice. 

In August 2023, EPA announced it was seeking applications from eligible community-based organizations for funding opportunities through the EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program Office to administer the innovative nutrient and sediment reduction grant program, small water grant program, and community capacity building grant program. Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, these requests for applications marked the largest single investment in local assistance in the history of the EPA Chesapeake Bay Program Office. 

Press Kit Attachments:


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Gulf of Mexico Alliance receives EPA funding for water quality improvement in Louisiana  Wed, 27 Mar 2024 08:00:00 -0400

Mexico Alliance recently received a grant for more than $1.4 million from the Gulf of Mexico Division of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that will be used to improve water quality in northeast Louisiana.

As part of the project, farmers will learn how to adopt innovative farming practices, that can decrease nutrient runoff while also enhancing the farmers’ cash crop. When excessive runoff from farms enters into local waterways, it can negatively impact wildlife, human usage (such as fishing and swimming) and water quality down to the Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone. Using rice as a cover crop also has the added benefit of creating habitat for waterfowl.

This project will take place in the Bayou Lafouche watershed, along Upper Bayou Galion, and Bayou Coulee and will continue through 2026.

In addition to local farmers, the Alliance is working with state agency partners to implement the project, including the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry/Office of Soil and Water Conservation, and Morehouse Soil and Water conservation District.

The project will also include educational components as well as research into how to prevent runoff from contributing to the Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone.

“This funding will bring critical health protections and economic opportunities to the communities in the Gulf who have been overburdened by pollution,” said Acting Region 4 Administrator Jeaneanne M. Gettle. “We look forward to seeing transformative projects that will work to advance protection and restoration of vital watersheds.”

“The Gulf Coast communities understand the environmental issues impacting this watershed and they are eager to develop innovative solutions to safeguard this resource,” said Region 6 Administrator Dr. Earthea Nance. “This funding will implement climate resilience strategies, provide improvements in water quality, and ensure that coastline habitats continue to thrive. I would like to thank all the parties involved in this announcement for ensuring this critical watershed is maintained and protected.”

“A multi-faceted project like this touches on several of our priority issues, from improving water quality in and around the Gulf to supporting underserved communities and creating habitat for wildlife,” said Laura Bowie, executive director for the Gulf of Mexico Alliance. “Thank you to EPA and to our partners for supporting important projects like this.”

The Gulf of Mexico Alliance is a regional partnership focused on enhancing the environmental and economic health of the Gulf of Mexico through increased collaboration. Led by the five Gulf states, our network includes over 150 participating organizations from state and federal agencies, tribal governments, communities, academia, non-governmental organizations, and industry. Priority issues addressed by the Alliance include coastal community resilience; data and monitoring; education; habitat; water resources; wildlife and fisheries; and marine debris. gulfofmexicoalliance.org

The Gulf of Mexico Division is a non-regulatory program of EPA founded to facilitate collaborative actions to protect, maintain, and restore the health and productivity of the Gulf of Mexico in ways consistent with the economic well-being of the region. To carry out its mission, the Gulf of Mexico Division continues to maintain and expand partnerships with state and federal agencies, federally recognized tribes, local governments and authorities, academia, regional businesses and industries, agricultural and environmental organizations, and individual citizens and communities.

For more information visit: www.epa.gov/gulfofmexico

Connect with the Environmental Protection Agency Region 6 on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), or visit our homepage.


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EPA announces $12M to protect salmon by reducing toxic tire dust, other pollutants in stormwater   Wed, 27 Mar 2024 08:00:00 -0400

officials, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Acting Assistant Administrator for Water Bruno Pigott announced $12 million in new Puget Sound stormwater funding to address pollution entering Puget Sound through the Stormwater Strategic Initiative.  

The initiative, which is a partnership of Washington departments of Ecology and Commerce and the Washington Stormwater Center, will invest in efforts to reduce untreated stormwater runoff entering Puget Sound and impacting aquatic life including salmon, freshwater streams, and exacerbating nutrient pollution that can cause harmful algal blooms.     

“The Biden-Harris Administration recognizes the unique significance of the Puget Sound and is committed to protecting treasured waters and vital species as part of our unprecedented investing in America agenda,” said Pigott. “Today’s $12 million announcement is a perfect example of how federal dollars, interdisciplinary partnerships, and innovation can ensure clean and fishable waters for generations to come.”   

With today’s announcement, EPA has invested a total of $35 million to address toxics through the Stormwater Strategic Initiative. Previously, EPA funded the Puget Sound Regional Council’s stormwater parks planning project, which is laying the groundwork for new stormwater parks across the Puget Sound region. Kitsap County, King County, City of Bellevue and Futurewise GreenLink Port Angeles are also each receiving a $100,000 EPA stormwater park planning grant. 

“This new funding will build upon EPA’s partnerships to address polluted road runoff that is impacting our salmon populations,” said Sixkiller. “With our partners at the Stormwater Strategic Initiative, we aim to reduce toxics entering Puget Sound through road retrofit planning, stormwater parks, and finding and fixing toxic hotpots. These actions will benefit water quality, salmon populations, tribal treaty rights, and the health of Puget Sound.”  

EPA also announced funding for a new Puget Sound Climate Resilient Riparian Systems Lead. This collaborative riparian conservation program provides financial incentives for landowners to protect and restore riparian areas that support salmon recovery, climate resiliency, and other benefits. EPA anticipates awarding up to $30 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding for this new program. 

Washington coho salmon populations, including treaty-protect tribal salmon, are being depleted by the fatal impacts of polluted road runoff including a chemical from tires called 6PPD-q. To address the problem, Puget Sound partners are using the EPA funding, as well as state resources, to develop and implement stormwater treatment practices, including bioswales, rain gardens and stormwater parks to protect salmon populations. As an example, Tacoma’s Point Defiance Regional Stormwater Treatment Facility (funded by the Department of Ecology) ensures that water running off of 754 acres is treated for stormwater pollutants like 6PPD-q.   

“We thank EPA for hearing the call from Washington communities for more funding to combat toxics in stormwater and support Puget Sound recovery,” said Washington State Department of Ecology Deputy Director Heather Bartlett. “By investing in stormwater infrastructure across the region, we are building more resilient communities, with cleaner water that will benefit all who live here for decades to come.” 

“Our partnerships with the EPA, tribes, local governments and natural resource agencies are vital in our effort to be a good steward of the environment while managing our transportation system,” said Washington State Department of Transportation Secretary Roger Millar. “Our riparian restoration program in Pierce County is a prime example of an innovative partnership approach for treating highway runoff, improving water quality and restoring aquatic and wildlife habitat. With the Legislature and EPA investments we will have more opportunities like the riparian restoration program to develop and refine stormwater treatments that serve these critical goals.” 

“This announcement marks a pivotal moment in our ongoing commitment to protect and restore Puget Sound and to ensure the vitality of our salmon populations,” said Kilmer. “New federal funding from the EPA will help our community to address the urgent challenge of reducing stormwater pollution. For years I’ve been working toward getting the federal government to be a better partner in Puget Sound recovery. Now, the Biden Administration is partnering with folks in our community to reduce stormwater pollution, understanding that reducing the pollutants entering our water is critical to restoring salmon and orca populations, upholding Tribal treaty rights, and more.” 

“The Puget Sound is a national treasure that is vital to our economy, wildlife, Tribal treaty rights, and biodiversity," said Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland. “Keeping a healthy, vibrant Puget Sound continues to be a priority of my work in Congress. This funding will help protect our local ecosystem and support treaty-protected tribal salmon resources by reducing toxic chemical run-off." 

Background 

Puget Sound is ground zero for innovation in stormwater infrastructure and 6PPD-q research. EPA-funded Puget Sound science partners discovered that 6PPD-q was killing coho salmon before they spawn. EPA has developed a draft laboratory method for detecting 6PPD-quinone in surface water and stormwater, providing a tool for partners across the country to start monitoring.    

In December 2022, President Biden signed Kilmer’s PUGET SOS Act into law to amend the Clean Water Act to establish the Puget Sound Recovery National Program Office, coordinate Puget Sound restoration and protection activities across EPA, and manage the Puget Sound Federal Leadership Task Force. 

Washington also took action to reduce stormwater pollution from transportation infrastructure. In 2022, the Washington State Legislature authorized $500 million over 16 years for WSDOT to treat stormwater from existing roads with an emphasis on green infrastructure retrofits. The legislature directed WSDOT to prioritize projects that focus on benefits for salmon recovery and ecosystem health, reducing toxic pollution, addressing health disparities and cost effectiveness.    

The Stormwater Strategic Initiative recently announced a new competitive funding opportunity with this EPA Puget Sound funding to support innovative best management practices for the removal of 6PPD-q, PCBs, and other contaminants from Puget Sound watersheds. The funding opportunity will award up to $1.5 million in total and will fund up to $500,000 per proposal.  


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Biden-Harris Administration announces $206 million to selectees to protect and restore Chesapeake Bay through community partnerships  Wed, 27 Mar 2024 08:00:00 -0400

ion Agency (EPA) announced the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and Chesapeake Bay Trust have been awarded approximately $206 million in grants to fund local projects and technical assistance to protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay over the next four years and advance environmental justice.  

EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program announced the grant awards which include $96 million in funding through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. Thanks to this historic boost in funding, today’s announcement marks the most significant single contribution to the Chesapeake Bay Program. This funding announcement is part of the President’s broader effort to protect ecosystems, create good-paying jobs, and expand economic opportunity. 

“The Chesapeake Bay is the lifeblood of this region, supporting all those across six states and the District of Columbia who call the Chesapeake Bay watershed home – and those who visit,” said EPA Assistant Deputy Administrator Mark Rupp. “The funding announced today is strategically focused to support conservation projects -- and the people who will implement them – over the next four years to restore both water quality and habitat.” 

“These grants reflect our continuing commitment to protect the Chesapeake Bay and preserve our nation’s environmental legacy for future generations,” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. “This historic investment by the Biden-Harris Administration enables EPA to continue to provide game-changing funding for our partners who are equally committed to preserving, protecting and enhancing the communities, people and businesses who rely on the Bay.” 

“I’m thrilled to announce that thanks to the bipartisan infrastructure law, which I helped pass, $206 million in Chesapeake Bay Program funding is being awarded to the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation and the Chesapeake Bay Trust,” said U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA). “The Chesapeake Bay is one of the Commonwealth’s greatest treasures and a key part of our economy. Not only will this funding bring jobs and infrastructure investments to Virginia, but these grants will support clean water and healthy ecosystems in the Bay through various multi-year projects to protect and restore our wetlands and waterways for generations to come. That’s a win-win.” 

“A healthy Chesapeake Bay is not just an environmental responsibility, it’s an economic imperative for our whole region because countless lives and livelihoods throughout the watershed depend on it,” said U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD). “This record investment, made possible through our passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, is crucial to reducing the flow of pollution into the Bay, protecting native wildlife habitats, and addressing environmental injustices of the past.” 

“Celebrating this historic funding is not just about the present, but about securing a legacy for the future,” said U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly (VA-11). “These projects will serve as guardians, ensuring that the Chesapeake Bay remains a treasure for generations to come. By investing in restoration and education initiatives, we are not only ensuring we meet our Bay pollution reduction goals, but also cultivating a sense of stewardship for the Bay that will resonate for years to come.” 

“The Chesapeake Bay is a vital and diverse ecosystem that not only serves as a cultural hallmark, but also drives economic prosperity in our region,” said U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (VA-8). “As we continue to face the escalating environmental challenges in a warming planet, this historic investment – much of which was funded by the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which I strongly supported in Congress – will bolster critical efforts to preserve and restore the Bay. I thank the EPA and its partners for their collective commitment to safeguarding the resilience and vitality of the Chesapeake Bay for generations to come.” 

“This federal investment to protect the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed is proof that the bipartisan infrastructure law continues to deliver for Virginia’s communities,” said U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger (VA-7). “The Bay is vital to Virginia’s economy and environment — and one of our Commonwealth’s natural treasures. Thanks to the bipartisan infrastructure law, the NFWF and Chesapeake Bay Trust are receiving a significant investment to help preserve the Bay, improve the health of the watershed, and continue one of our region’s great success stories. I look forward to seeing this investment in action.”  

“Without strong communities and strong nonprofits realizing multiple benefits from and participating in natural resources efforts, we will not be able to realize our vision of a restored watershed,” said Jana Davis, Chesapeake Bay Trust President. “The Bay Trust will be investing these resources in a wide range of community-based organizations and local governments, many of them historically excluded, to build their capacity to restore watersheds and improve public health.” 

In August 2023, EPA announced it is seeking applications from eligible community-based organizations for funding opportunities through the EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program Office to administer the Innovative Nutrient and Sediment Reduction Grant Program, Small Watershed Grant Program, and Community Capacity Building Grant Program. Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, these requests for applications marked the largest single investment in local assistance in the history of the EPA Chesapeake Bay Program Office. 

These awards reflect EPA’s commitment to the Chesapeake Bay Program and demonstrate its focus on strengthening partnerships to restore the health and productivity of the Chesapeake Bay. Funding for these programs will empower communities to implement local programs to restore the Chesapeake Bay’s water quality while advancing President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative which set the goal that 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. 

Small Watershed Grant (SWG) program 

The Small Watershed Grant (SWG) program funds projects within the Chesapeake Bay watershed that promote community-based efforts to protect and restore the diverse natural resources of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributary rivers and streams.  

The SWG Program has provided more than $130 million to 560 projects that have permanently protected 180,000 acres under conservation easement, restored more than 1,600 miles of riparian habitat and 14,000 acres of wetlands, and engaged more than 150,000 watershed residents in volunteer conservation and restoration efforts.  

Innovative Nutrient and Sediment Reduction program 

The Innovative Nutrient and Sediment Reduction (INSR) program aims to accelerate the implementation of water quality improvements, specifically through the collaborative and coordinated efforts of sustainable, regional-scale partnerships and networks of practitioners with a shared focus on water quality restoration and protection.  

Since 2006, the INSR Program has provided more than $150 million to 346 projects that have reduced 25 million pounds of nitrogen, four million pounds of phosphorus, and 500,000 tons of sediment across the Chesapeake Bay watershed.  

Community Capacity Building program 

The new Community Capacity Building program aims to increase the effectiveness of community and frontline organizations working collaboratively to protect and restore rivers and local watersheds by addressing their organizational capacity needs. 

Background:  

The Chesapeake Bay Program is a regional partnership made up of federal agencies, six states, local governments, academic institutions, and non-governmental organizations that lead and direct the restoration and protection of the Chesapeake Bay and its 64,000-square-mile watershed. 

Visit the EPA’s website to learn more about its support for the Chesapeake Bay.  

Visit the EPA website to learn more about the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and available funding opportunities.  


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EPA visits Halfmoon Creek Watershed in Centre County, PA to learn more about local conservation efforts, water quality improvements  Wed, 27 Mar 2024 08:00:00 -0400

rator Adam Ortiz visited Centre County, Pennsylvania to see first-hand the positive impact ClearWater Conservancy is having on local and downstream water quality.

People standing looking and pointing at a stream.
Donnan Stoicovy, Interim Executive Director; Jennifer Dombroskie, Riparian Program Manager; Suzy Yetter, Ecologist pictured with Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz looking at a stream.

Joining staff from the Conservancy, Ortiz viewed several conservation sites in the Halfmoon Creek Watershed, discussing how the Conservancy works to identify opportunities, is leveraging increased federal funds available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and how even small projects can change water quality.

“From Centre County to the Chesapeake Bay, we’re seeing the positive impact organizations like ClearWater Conservancy are having on water quality, both locally and downstream,” said Ortiz. “Every mile of stream restored, every bank stabilized, and every riparian buffer planted makes a difference. It’s remarkable to see how federal dollars, partnerships, and a vision can deliver tangible solutions to intractable problems.”

Last year, EPA awarded over $430,000 in Section 319 grants for Halfmoon Creek’s Watershed Implementation Plan. This type of funding is used to address non-point source pollution, typically from agriculture or stormwater, in areas that have an approved watershed plan.

Ortiz team ended the tour at the Radzwich Farm, situated along the Beaver Branch of Spruce Creek. Beginning in 2017, ClearWater worked with several partners, including the Radzwich Family, to restore and stabilize 3.8 acres of stream bank, plant a riparian buffer, and install fencing and livestock crossings that allowed animals access to all pastures but kept them out of the stream. Removing livestock from streams is good for both stream and herd health and prevents sediment and nutrients from flowing downstream where it can ultimately make its way to the Chesapeake Bay.

Donnan Stoicovy, Interim Executive Director, “Having the opportunity to personally show EPA leadership the work we’re doing in Centre County - from partnering with landowners to getting federal dollars on the ground - is a testament to the commitment this administration has to the environment. From Spruce Creek down to the Bay, we’re working hard and we’re working together to improve our waters.”

ClearWater Conservancy’s mission is to conserve and restore natural resources through land conservation, water resources stewardship, and environmental outreach across Central Pennsylvania. Since 1980, the organization has conserved over 3,100 acres of land through easements and ownership, while working to repair streams, stabilize banks, and restore the natural landscape.


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EPA Announces a $4,000,000 Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grant to the City of Austin  Wed, 27 Mar 2024 08:00:00 -0400

an>The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is announcing that the City of Austin will receive a Solid Waste Infrastructure Grant (SWIFR) of $4,000,000 to construct and maintain a new reuse warehouse. The warehouse will be an onsite space for redistributing used furniture and building materials and hosting programming. As part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, this grant will improve recycling systems in Austin.

“Through the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda, EPA has given more than $100 million to cities like Austin to ensure underserved areas can increase their capacity for solid waste recycling and reuse,” said Regional Administrator Dr. Earthea Nance. “Today’s grant will help our partners in Austin extend the life of furniture and building materials, prevent more landfill waste, and help families in need.”

“EPA is proud to support the City of Austin in its efforts to provide its citizens with valuable goods that might otherwise end up in a landfill,” said Cliff Villa, Deputy Assistant Administrator of EPA’s Office of Land and Emergency Management. “By redistributing used furniture and building supplies, Austin’s new reuse warehouse will help reduce waste, assist those transitioning out of homelessness, create a circular economy, and build a more resilient community.” 

“Reduce, reuse, recycle: Austin is moving closer toward achieving our long-term goal of zero waste. By preventing usable yet bulky furniture from overwhelming our landfills, we can help our most vulnerable neighbors get back on their feet and create a welcoming home for themselves and their families. The Infrastructure Law I supported is delivering for Central Texas, and I look forward to continue working to obtain additional federal resources for our community,” said Congressman Doggett (TX-37).

“Right now, far too many materials are wasted when they could be recycled and reused by people in need. Improved recycling not only lets these items have a second life — but they’ll be a lifeline to struggling Austinites,” said Congressman Greg Casar (TX-35). “I’m grateful for the Biden Administration supporting this creative way of reducing waste while helping people get back on their feet.”

“Through this grant, Austin will be able to get good used furniture out of our landfills and into the homes of folks transitioning out of homelessness. It’s an innovative and sustainable approach to reducing waste in our city and helping those most vulnerable create a stable home. Thank you to our congressional delegation for your work,” said Mayor Watson.

“We are excited that the EPA has selected our initiative for their grant program,” says Richard McHale, Director of Austin Resource Recovery. “The reuse warehouse will connect valuable items, like furniture, to Austinites who can use them. It will also keep these items out of the landfill as we continue to work toward zero waste.”

The City of Austin has a surplus of valuable goods that are going to the landfill due to space constraints and limited reuse. Austin Resource Recovery, a department of the City of Austin, intends to use the EPA grant funding to permanently fill the resource gap by opening a new reuse warehouse. The new warehouse will accept and redistribute used furniture at no cost to nonprofits and their clients, with a focus on furnishing the homes of those transitioning out of homelessness. The warehouse will eventually expand to also accept building materials. The overall goal of this project will be to reduce the amount of furniture and building materials sent to landfills annually.

This grant reflects the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to tackling environmental justice and the climate crisis. Many communities with environmental justice concerns carry a disproportionate environmental and human health burden from waste management. Last year, EPA announced over $105 million for the selectees of the historic SWIFR grants for states and communities. These improvements support a circular economy and help lower greenhouse gas emissions, while rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure, powered by well-paying jobs that don’t require four-year degrees.

Visit EPA’s website to learn more ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle. 

Connect with the Environmental Protection Agency Region 6 on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), or visit our homepage.


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U.S. EPA Honors 2024 ENERGY STAR® Partners of the Year Award Winners in New York and New Jersey  Tue, 26 Mar 2024 08:00:00 -0400

/span> partners for their outstanding leadership in support of the clean energy transition. ENERGY STAR Award Winners represent the program’s top partners and will be recognized at an event in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, April 25.

“President Biden’s Investing in America agenda creates unprecedented opportunity to build a clean energy economy, and private sector partners through programs like ENERGY STAR are leading the way,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “I congratulate this year’s ENERGY STAR award winners for their innovation and leadership, in delivering cost-effective energy efficient solutions that create jobs, address climate change, and contribute to a healthier environment for all.”

Today’s awards recognize leaders among the thousands of industrial, commercial, utility, state, and local organizations—including nearly 40% of the Fortune 500®—that partner with EPA through the ENERGY STAR program. For every $1 EPA spends to administer ENERGY STAR, these partners collectively add $230 of their own investment. The result is: millions of ENERGY STAR certified products, homes, apartments, buildings, and industrial plants across the nation; utility rebate programs reaching 95% of American households; 4 billion tons of greenhouse gas reductions; and $500 billion in cost savings.

Here are a few examples of how 2024 ENERGY STAR Award Winners in Region 2 are taking action:

(New York, NY) BGO, a global real estate investment firm, has maintained a long-standing commitment to energy efficiency, promoting its ENERGY STAR partnership to internal and external stakeholders, and pursuing its decarbonization goals. Sustained Excellence winner for 14 years.

(Princeton, NJ) Bristol Myers Squibb, a global biopharmaceutical company, leveraged ENERGY STAR tools and resources to strengthen its energy program, including earning ENERGY STAR certification for two pharmaceutical manufacturing plants, and amplified its promotion of ENERGY STAR to strategic suppliers. Sustained Excellence winner for 6 years.

(Melville, NY) Canon USA Inc., a consumer, business, and industrial imaging solutions manufacturer, improved the energy efficiency of its ENERGY STAR certified products by up to 15% through improved toners and power management technologies. Sustained Excellence winner for 7 years.

(Poughkeepsie, NY) Central Hudson Gas & Electric, a utility in New York, demonstrated the effectiveness of working with distributors to offer instant discounts on ENERGY STAR certified heat pump water heaters through affiliate contract networks, leading to this program approach becoming available to other utilities in New York. Sustained Excellence winner for 3 years.

(New York, NY) Clarion Partners, a real estate investment firm, leveraged ENERGY STAR resources to grow its comprehensive energy management program with a focus on internal and external stakeholder engagement, and achieved ENERGY STAR certification for 115 properties.

(New York, NY) CodeGreen Solutions, a real estate sustainability and energy management company, used ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager to benchmark 100% of its clients’ properties and produce analyses and roadmaps for compliance with New York City’s Local Law 97. Sustained Excellence winner for 6 years.

(New York, NY) Colgate-Palmolive Company, a consumer products company, leveraged ENERGY STAR Treasure Hunts at four facilities to identify more than 5,700 MMBtu in savings. Sustained Excellence winner for 12 years.

(New York, NY) Columbia Property Trust, a publicly listed real estate investment trust, leveraged ENERGY STAR resources to grow its comprehensive energy management program, with a focus on engagement with its tenants around energy efficiency. Sustained Excellence winner for 2 years.

(Corning, NY) Corning Incorporated, a manufacturer of specialty glass, ceramics, and advanced optical products, advanced energy management by leveraging ENERGY STAR tools and resources across domestic and global operations and reinforcing identification of energy projects by all employees. Sustained Excellence winner for 8 years.

(New York, NY) Empire State Realty Trust, a real estate investment trust, demonstrated an ongoing commitment to energy management and ENERGY STAR, leveraging its partnership to promote best practices and undertaking several new initiatives as it executes its decarbonization strategy. Sustained Excellence winner for 1 year.

(Englewood Cliffs, NY) LG Electronics, Inc., a home appliance, consumer electronics, and mobile communications manufacturer, offered 437 ENERGY STAR certified models, up from 388 in 2022, across multiple product categories, with their sales representing 84% of total 2023 revenues. Excellence winner for 9 years.

(New York, NY) Link Logistics Real Estate, an owner-operated firm of supply chain real estate, used an innovative campaign to acquire tenant data to more than double the number of its properties benchmarking in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager and certifying 51 properties as ENERGY STAR. Sustained Excellence winner for 1 year.

(Mount Laurel, NJ) MaGrann Associates, a home energy rating company, certified nearly 1,700 homes as ENERGY STAR in 2023, for a total of more than 57,000 homes since 1997. Sustained Excellence winner for 5 years.

(Rahway, NJ) Merck & Co., Inc., a global pharmaceutical company, employed ENERGY STAR strategies and resources to support the company’s 2023 commitment to the Science Based Targets initiative and its achievement of Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions reductions. Sustained Excellence winner for 17 years.

(New York, NY) MetLife, Inc., a global financial services company, demonstrated ongoing dedication to corporate sustainability, leveraging the ENERGY STAR program to achieve its energy efficiency and decarbonization goals and engaging internal and external stakeholders on energy management best practices. Sustained Excellence winner for 4 years.

(Trenton, NJ) New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, a regulatory agency overseeing the state’s Clean Energy Program, incentivized more than 3,900 ENERGY STAR certified homes and apartments, for a total of more than 92,000 residential units since joining the program in 2001. Sustained Excellence winner for 12 years.

(New York, NY) Nuveen Real Estate, a real estate investment management firm, demonstrated outstanding energy management across its portfolio, expanded on its decarbonization planning, and maintained its dedication to ENERGY STAR. Sustained Excellence winner for 15 years.

(Pearl River, NY) Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc., a gas and electric utility in New York, made it easier to purchase ENERGY STAR certified heat pump water heaters by adding discounts at point of sale to their incentive program, saving an estimated 700 MMBtu and more than doubling the savings achieved in 2022.

(Newark, NJ) Panasonic Eco Systems North America, a provider of sustainable technology solutions, including ventilation and indoor air quality solutions, put ENERGY STAR certification front and center in its education on healthy homes and indoor air quality, while leading the industry with 99% of its 2023 sales consisting of ENERGY STAR certified models. Sustained Excellence winner for 12 years.

(New York, NY) Paramount Group, Inc., a real estate investment trust, demonstrated a commitment to energy management and ENERGY STAR, leveraging ENERGY STAR tools, resources, and recognition opportunities to promote best practices to internal and external audiences. Sustained Excellence winner for 1 year.

(Newark, NJ) PSE&G, a gas and electric utility in New Jersey, enhanced program offerings for its instant discount ENERGY STAR heating and cooling program, resulting in the sale of 7,900 certified products and energy savings of more than 1,900 MWh and 580,000 therms. Sustained Excellence winner for 4 years.

(Springfield, NJ) ReVireo, a home energy rating company, certified nearly 400 homes as ENERGY STAR in 2023, for a total of more than 8,000 homes since 2011.

(Uniondale, NY) RXR, a real estate owner, investor, and operator, integrated ENERGY STAR into several aspects of its energy management program and promoted ENERGY STAR recognition and energy performance metrics to its tenants and internal stakeholders..

(Ridgefield Park, NJ) Samsung Electronics, a manufacturer of home appliance, consumer electronics, and mobile communications, increased its ENERGY STAR certified product offerings by 15% to 549 products and those product efficiency improvements have helped consumers avoid more than 350 million metric tons of CO2 emissions, which is equivalent to taking more than 77 million cars off the road for a year. Sustained Excellence winner for 12 years.

(New York, NY) SL Green Realty Corp., a fully integrated real estate investment trust, promoted ENERGY STAR tools and best practices to internal and external stakeholders, and advanced its decarbonization initiatives. Sustained Excellence winner for 12 years.

(New York, NY) Tishman Speyer, a real estate owner, developer, and operator, maintained its robust energy management plan across its portfolio, advanced its decarbonization planning, and implemented internal education programs that leverage ENERGY STAR tools and resources. Sustained Excellence winner for 8 years.

(Basking Ridge, NJ) Verizon, a telecommunications company, increased the average ENERGY STAR score and reduced its source energy use intensity by 2.9% across 1,378 properties since 2022. Sustained Excellence winner for 10 years.

(New York, NY) Vornado Realty Trust, a fully integrated real estate investment trust, maintained its robust energy management program, advanced its decarbonization strategy, and consistently promoted ENERGY STAR and energy efficiency programs throughout its organization and to its tenants. Sustained Excellence winner for 9 years.

Read more about the ENERGY STAR Awards and all 2024 ENERGY STAR Award Winners’ achievements.

About ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR® is the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency, providing simple, credible, and unbiased information that consumers and businesses rely on to make well-informed decisions. Thousands of industrial, commercial, utility, state, and local organizations rely on their partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to deliver cost-saving energy efficiency solutions. Since 1992, ENERGY STAR and its partners helped American families and businesses avoid more than $500 billion in energy costs and achieve more than 4 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas reductions. More background information about ENERGY STAR’s impacts can be found at www.energystar.gov/impacts

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

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Biden-Harris Administration Announces More Than $35 million to Selectees to Fund Environmental Justice Projects Across the Great Lakes  Tue, 26 Mar 2024 08:00:00 -0400

lang="EN"> – Today, March 26, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the selection of four applicants to receive more than $35 million to fund projects that advance environmental justice in underserved and overburdened communities across the Great Lakes. Through EPA’s newly created Great Lakes Environmental Justice Grant Program, made possible by President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda, each selectee will develop and oversee their own subgrant competition that will fund environmental protection and restoration projects that safeguard our nation’s largest fresh surface water resources and benefit underserved and overburdened communities throughout the Great Lakes Basin.

“Thanks to President Biden’s historic investments in America, we are taking another critical step to protect our treasured Great Lakes and advance environmental justice,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Together, with the partners we’re announcing today, we will continue our work to remove barriers for communities that have been left behind while preserving the rich cultural, economic, and environmental role of the Great Lakes in communities across the Great Lakes Basin.”

The Great Lakes Environmental Justice Grant Program is part of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), the largest investment in the Great Lakes in two decades, which received $1 billion in funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The following organizations have been selected to receive funding through today’s announcement.

“There’s no exaggerating the importance of protecting and restoring the Great Lakes. They provide our drinking water, fuel our economy, offer us spaces for recreation, and harbor vital resources for many Tribes,” said EPA Region 5 Administrator and Great Lakes National Program Manager Debra Shore. “Thanks to additional funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA and our partners are making more progress than ever before and with today’s announcement we are ensuring that some of our most vulnerable Great Lakes communities will benefit from these historic investments.”

“Our Great Lakes make up 20% of the fresh water on Earth. It’s why I have long fought for under resourced communities across our Great Lakes Region, especially in the Western Basin of Lake Erie, to receive the adequate resources they deserve to preserve our most precious resources. And, it’s why I delivered funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and the creation and funding of the Great Lakes Authority,” said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development. “I am thrilled to see more than $5.8 million in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law come back to Ohio as part of the EPA’s Great Lakes Environmental Justice Grant Program to help underserved communities in the Lake Erie Watershed. This new initiative will ease administrative barriers and help underserved communities in our region more effectively access federal funding for important local projects.”

“The climate crisis is having a real impact on our everyday lives, and we know that historically underserved communities are disproportionately hurt,” said Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06). “As a co-chair of the Great Lakes Task force, I have seen just how critically important The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative is to protecting our greatest natural treasures and the communities that depend on them. These grant programs will prioritize those who have been overlooked for too long, and I will continue to work in Congress and with the Biden Administration to ensure we’re focused on environmental justice as we make historic investments in combating the climate crisis.”

“Restore America’s Estuaries is looking forward to working with the Great Lakes National Program Office on the Great Lakes Environmental Justice Grant Program,” said Daniel Hayden, President and CEO of Restore America’s Estuaries (RAE). “RAE is excited to create a grant program and training programs for the Great Lakes Region and to partner with organizations committed to protecting our waterways. These funds will be utilized in the region’s underserved communities with the aim of ensuring cleaner waterways suitable for both recreational and commercial purposes.”

“Investment in Southeast Michigan’s green infrastructure network is critical for the health and well-being of our region, and this is especially true for communities which have been historically underserved,” said Amy O’Leary, Executive Director of SEMCOG, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments. “SEMCOG is thrilled to receive this funding from the Great Lakes National Program Office and looks forward to working with environmental justice communities on managing stormwater runoff and improving water quality.”

“The Ohio Lake Erie Commission is very excited to partner with the Black Environmental Leaders and Rural Action to bring more Great Lakes restoration projects to historically overburdened and underserved communities in Ohio’s Lake Erie watershed,” said Ohio Lake Erie Commission Executive Director, Joy Mulinex. “This work will enhance Ohio’s efforts to protect and restore Lake Erie in communities that have not had the capacity to undertake this work.”

“Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper has spent decades mobilizing our community and advocating for our local environment in order to correct mistakes and clean up after generations of poor decisions,” said Jill Jedlicka, Executive Director. “Western New York is home to numerous underserved communities who are faced with a disproportionate burden of environmental stressors and injustices, and it is the primary goal of this project to empower local communities and increase their capacity to implement solutions. With USEPA’s support, Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper’s leadership team and our partners will have the combined skills, shared vision, and community relationships to help break down barriers, address these ongoing challenges, and bring an innovative watershed funding partnership model to the lower Great Lakes. We are grateful for the trust and investment by USEPA-GLNPO that will allow us to dedicate federal dollars towards local projects in the communities that need it the most, while simultaneously creating a model for sustainable funding and collaboration into the future.”

Many communities in the Great Lakes Basin lack the resources needed to apply for, obtain, and oversee the implementation of federal grant projects. These new grant programs will ease these administrative barriers and help underserved communities more effectively access federal funding for important local projects. EPA anticipates finalizing all the awards once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied. Funding opportunities are expected to be made available to communities within the first year of selectees receiving the funds announced today.

Cities, states, Tribes and nonprofit organizations representing underserved communities will be able to apply directly to the selected Grant programs to fund a range of environmental protection and restoration projects in underserved communities that will further the goals of the GLRI. These programs will also provide technical assistance to organizations in underserved communities to increase their organizational capacity. This investment will also encourage even greater environmental, economic, health, and recreational benefits for underserved Great Lakes communities.

EPA’s Great Lakes Environmental Justice Grant Program was created under President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which invests $1 billion in the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) to accelerate Great Lakes restoration and protection. The program also 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.

Additional Background

Since 2010, EPA’s Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) has funded more than 7,500 restoration and protection projects totaling more than $3.7 billion. Read more about the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

Sign up for the Great Lakes News email list to get information about funding opportunities to support Great Lakes environmental work and get updates about Great Lakes environmental projects. 


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EPA Announces 2024 ENERGY STAR Awards for Outstanding Contributions to Energy Efficiency and a Clean Future  Tue, 26 Mar 2024 08:00:00 -0400

AR® Partner of the Year Awards. These 211 organizations, which represent the top ENERGY STAR program partners, are making significant contributions in support of the clean energy transition. They come from 38 states and localities, representing multiple economic sectors. The winners will be recognized at an event in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, April 25. 

“President Biden’s Investing in America agenda creates unprecedented opportunity to build a clean energy economy, and private sector partners through programs like ENERGY STAR are leading the way,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “I congratulate this year’s ENERGY STAR award winners for their innovation and leadership, in delivering cost-effective energy efficient solutions that create jobs, address climate change, and contribute to a healthier environment for all.” 1

Today’s awards recognize leaders among the thousands of industrial, commercial, utility, state, and local organizations—including nearly 40% of the Fortune 500®—that partner with the EPA through the ENERGY STAR program. For every $1 the EPA spends to administer ENERGY STAR, these partners collectively add $230 of their own investment. The result is: millions of ENERGY STAR certified products, homes, apartments, buildings, and industrial plants across the nation; utility rebate programs reaching 95% of American households; 4 billion tons of greenhouse gas reductions; and $500 billion in cost savings. 

Among today’s ENERGY STAR award winners, 160 partners have demonstrated an ongoing, year after year commitment to energy efficiency. These award winners are being recognized through the program’s highest honor: ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Award. 

Here are a few examples of how 2024 ENERGY STAR Award Winners are taking action:

•    (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) A.O. Smith, a manufacturer of water heating and water treatment products, launched a new website design that highlights ENERGY STAR products for homeowner and trade professional audiences and features a heat pump water heater product page banner to promote the latest innovations in energy efficiency.  
•    (Charlotte, North Carolina) Atrium Health, a healthcare organization, significantly improved energy efficiency and increased the average ENERGY STAR score of its portfolio of hospitals, medical office buildings and more by almost 5% in 2023. 
•    (Richfield, Minnesota), Best Buy Co. Inc., a seller of electronics and appliances, demonstrated its dedication to ENERGY STAR by holistically using ENERGY STAR as a key strategy to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions and drive consumer adoption of efficient products by stocking more than 4,150 different models of ENERGY STAR certified products across stores nationwide. 
•    (Irvine, California) Bosch Home Appliances, a residential kitchen and laundry appliances manufacturer, revamped its offerings of highly efficient appliances to meet new ENERGY STAR requirements and significantly enhanced its marketing and media focus on energy efficiency and ENERGY STAR, earning billions of impressions. 
•    (Southfield, Michigan) Grede Holdings, a manufacturer of ductile, gray and specialty iron castings, built a comprehensive industrial energy program using ENERGY STAR energy management guidance and achieved a 5% reduction in energy intensity over 2022. 
•    (Anaheim, California) Greenlite, a manufacturer of lighting products, expanded its offerings through one utility implementer’s programs by over 15 million ENERGY STAR certified bulbs, resulting in over $60 million in energy savings for consumers.  
•    (Malibu, California) Green Econome, an energy-efficiency consulting and construction firm, helped to benchmark more than 1,200 of its clients’ properties in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager®.  
•    (Prescott, Arizona) Mandalay Homes, a regional home builder, constructed nearly 150 ENERGY STAR certified homes in 2023, for a total of over 1,400 since joining the program in 2013, and launched a maintenance program to help new and re-sale buyers ensure that their ENERGY STAR certified homes continue to perform well.  
•    (Greenbelt, Maryland) National Asphalt Pavement Association, a trade association representing asphalt mixture producers and paving contractors, increased the visibility of the ENERGY STAR program and championed energy efficiency as key strategies to reduce the embodied carbon of the industry’s products at industry events and in trade press. 
•    (Boston, Massachusetts) Rockhill Management LLC, a property management company, achieved ENERGY STAR Certification for 17 properties, and demonstrated innovation through its Property Playoff campaign, a friendly competition that trained 100% of property managers on how to benchmark in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager and led to a 2% overall energy reduction across its portfolio from September to November.
•    (Streetsboro, Ohio) Softlite Windows & Doors, a window and door manufacturer, demonstrated its strong support of ENERGY STAR by offering 156 product lines, with 100% having an ENERGY STAR certified option, while actively improving the current product lines to meet new, more stringent ENERGY STAR criteria.
•    (Irving, Texas) U.S. EcoLogic, a home energy rating company, certified more than 3,600 homes as ENERGY STAR in 2023, for a total of nearly 60,000 since 2002, and developed new software to enhance its ENERGY STAR certification process with exception reporting to identify data anomalies, reporting archives, photos, timestamps, and geolocations.
•    (Denver, Colorado) Xcel Energy-Colorado, an electric utility and natural gas company, supported the construction of more than 1,800 ENERGY STAR certified homes and hosted meetings with the community, builders, and energy rating companies to answer questions about rebuilding, energy efficiency and available incentives. 

Read more about the ENERGY STAR Awards and Award Winners’ achievements.

About ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR® is the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency, providing simple, credible, and unbiased information that consumers and businesses rely on to make well-informed decisions. Thousands of industrial, commercial, utility, state, and local organizations rely on their partnership with the EPA to deliver cost-saving energy efficiency solutions. Since 1992, ENERGY STAR and its partners helped American families and businesses avoid more than $500 billion in energy costs and achieve more than 4 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas reductions. Please see more background information about ENERGY STAR’s impacts.


1 EPA Administrator quote adjusted 3.26.24/12:10pm


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EPA Honors 2024 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year Award Winner in Kansas  Tue, 26 Mar 2024 08:00:00 -0400

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LENEXA, KAN. (MARCH 26, 2024) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 is honoring one Kansas ENERGY STAR® partner for its outstanding leadership in support of the clean energy transition. ENERGY STAR award winners represent the program’s top partners and will be recognized at an event in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, April 25.

Koch Industries in Wichita has been selected for a 2024 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year program award.

“President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda creates unprecedented opportunity to build a clean energy economy, and private sector partners through programs like ENERGY STAR are leading the way,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “I congratulate this year’s ENERGY STAR award winners for their innovation and leadership in delivering cost-effective, energy-efficient solutions that create jobs, address climate change, and contribute to a healthier environment for all.”

“We congratulate our 2024 ENERGY STAR Partners of the Year for their leadership in reducing emissions by operating in more energy-efficient ways,” said EPA Region 7 Administrator Meghan A. McCollister. “These awardees demonstrate practices and implement climate solutions that benefit our communities here in the Heartland.”

Today’s awards recognize leaders among the thousands of industrial, commercial, utility, state, and local organizations – including nearly 40% of the Fortune 500® – that partner with EPA through the ENERGY STAR program. For every dollar EPA spends to administer ENERGY STAR, these partners collectively add $230 of their own investment. The result is millions of ENERGY STAR-certified products, homes, apartments, buildings, and industrial plants across the nation; utility rebate programs reaching 95% of American households; 4 billion tons of greenhouse gas reductions; and $500 billion in cost savings.

Here's how the 2024 ENERGY STAR award winner from Kansas is leading the way for energy efficiency:

Read more about the ENERGY STAR awards and all 2024 ENERGY STAR award winners’ achievements.

About ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR® is the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency, providing simple, credible, and unbiased information that consumers and businesses rely on to make well-informed decisions. Thousands of industrial, commercial, utility, state, and local organizations rely on their partnership with EPA to deliver cost-saving energy efficiency solutions. Since 1992, ENERGY STAR and its partners have helped American families and businesses avoid over $500 billion in energy costs and achieve over 4 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas reductions. More background information about ENERGY STAR’s impacts can be found online.

# # #

Learn more about EPA Region 7

View all Region 7 news releases

Connect with EPA Region 7 on Facebook and Instagram

Follow us on X: @EPARegion7


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EPA Analysis shows 2022 increase of toxic chemical releases in Maine  Tue, 26 Mar 2024 08:00:00 -0400

National Analysis showing that environmental releases of TRI chemicals from facilities covered by the program were 21% lower in 2022 compared to 2013. This includes a 26% decrease in air releases. During this 10-year period, releases from manufacturing facilities decreased by 9% while the value added to the U.S. economy from manufacturing increased by 14%. While overall releases increased by 1% from 2021 to 2022, there was a 6.5% increase in the number of pollution prevention activities reported under the TRI program compared to 2021. 

In Maine, the reporting data shows that over the last 10 years, air emissions from have decreased from 4.3 million pounds to 2.0 million pounds due to air emission reductions and reduced production from paper mills. Additionally, overall releases (including discharges to water and solid waste to landfills) decreased by 40% over the last ten years. However, from 2021 overall releases of pollutants to the environment (including discharges to water and solid waste to landfills) increased by 10% from the previous reporting year (2021) due to increases in waste sent to landfills.

The 2022 TRI National Analysis summarizes environmental releases of TRI chemicals, and how facilities managed their waste. In 2022, facilities reported managing 88.5% of their TRI chemical waste through preferred practices such as recycling, energy recovery and treatment, while releasing 11.5% of their TRI chemical waste into the environment.

"A big part of how we do our part of protecting the environment and serving our communities is the gathering and analysis of crucial scientific data, which we use to inform and guide our processes moving forward. TRI reporting is one of many ways we do this, and it provides more insight into where pollution may be harming communities and the environment," said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "We know that that transparency is key, especially for those locations that have been overburdened by environmental issues and concerns. By releasing this information out to the public, we can empower our communities and give guidance on how to proceed with being equipped with this latest environmental data."

EPA, states, and Tribes receive TRI data from facilities in sectors such as manufacturing, mining, hazardous waste management and electric utilities. More than 21,000 facilities submitted reports on 522 of the 827 chemicals and chemical categories for which TRI reporting is required. The remaining 305 chemicals either were not manufactured, processed, or used by facilities required to report to TRI or were not manufactured, processed, or used in amounts large enough to trigger reporting.

The 2022 TRI National Analysis features visualizations and analytical tools to make data more useful and accessible to communities. Readers can view data by state, Tribe, metropolitan area, EPA region and watershed using the "Where You Live"mapping tool. This tool also allows readers to view facility locations overlayed with demographic data to identify potential exposure to TRI chemical releases in communities, including overburdened communities. Community groups, policymakers and other stakeholders can use this information, along with other environmental data, to better understand which communities may be experiencing a disproportionate pollution burden and take action at the local level.

Additionally, the 2022 TRI National Analysis highlights trends and changes in waste management practices for specific sectors and chemicals in the Sector Profile and Chemical Profile sections. This year, the 2022 TRI National Analysis highlights the primary metals manufacturing sector alongside the standard profiles for electric utilities, chemical manufacturing and metal mining.

EPA is holding a public webinar on Thursday, April 4, 2024, at 2 p.m. ET to provide an overview of the 2022 TRI National Analysis. Register for the webinar.

Maine: Total On and offsite disposal and releases
During 2022, 78 facilities reported that approximately 7.3 million pounds were released on and off site to the air, water and land (such as landfills), compared to 6.6 million pounds released in 2021 (an increase of 0.7 million pounds). In 2022, approximately 2.0 million pounds were released to the air and 2.2 million pounds were released to surface water. The major pollutants released to the air were methanol at 33% of total air releases and an additional 33% of air releases were ammonia. The major pollutant released to the water were nitrate compounds (at 85% of all releases to water) which can promote algal growth in surface waters. From 2013, on-site releases decreased from 9.1 million pounds in 2012 to 5.7 million pounds in 2022.

Maine: Total Production Related Waste
During 2022, 78 facilities reported that approximately 50.5 million pounds of total production related waste was managed, compared to 79 facilities and 51.5 million pounds managed in 2021 (a decrease of 2.7 million pounds). During 2013, 90 facilities reported approximately 79 million pounds of total production related waste was managed. Total production related waste includes chemicals released directly to the environment, waste that is recycled offsite, waste that is sent offsite for treatment (such as to an incinerator or wastewater treatment system), and waste sent to landfills.

Maine: Top Five Companies
The companies in Maine with the greatest releases included four paper mills and one food processor. The food processor has remailed the same, one paper mill has left, and another has taken its place over the last ten years. The current 5 facilities produced 86% of the releases in the state of Maine. 

Each year, EPA makes publicly available TRI data reported by industries throughout the United States regarding chemical releases to air, water and land by power plants, manufacturers and other facilities which employ ten or more workers, and which exceed thresholds for chemicals. Reporting includes information on chemicals released at a company's facility, as well as those transported to disposal facilities off site. TRI data do not reflect the relative toxicity of the chemicals emitted or potential exposure to people living in a community with reported releases.

Reporting under TRI does not indicate illegal discharges of pollutants to the environment. EPA works closely with states to provide regulatory oversight of facilities that generate pollution to the nation’s air, land, and water. Effective review and permitting programs work to ensure that the public and the environment are not subjected to unhealthful levels of pollution, even as agencies work to further reduce emissions of chemicals to the environment. Enforcement efforts by EPA and states ensure that facilities that violate their environmental permits are subject to penalties and corrective action. Yearly releases by individual facilities can vary due to factors such as power outages, production variability, lulls in the business cycle, etc., that do not reflect a facility's pollution prevention program(s).

View the 2022 TRI National Analysis, including local data from Maine.

PFAS Reporting

The TRI National Analysis includes reporting on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as required by the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). A provision of the NDAA outlines criteria for additional PFAS to be automatically added for TRI reporting. For reporting year 2022, four PFAS met the criteria and were added to the reporting requirements for a total of 180 PFAS tracked by the TRI program. During 2022, 50 facilities managed 1.2 million pounds of these chemicals as waste, which represents an 8% decrease compared to 2021.

For reporting year 2024, TRI will no longer have a reporting exemption for facilities that use PFAS in small, or de minimis, concentrations as a result of EPA’s recently published final rule. This rule will improve the quality and quantity of publicly available data on PFAS, as many materials used at facilities contain PFAS in low concentrations. Facilities that make or use these products will no longer be able to rely on the de minimis exemption to avoid their responsibility to disclose PFAS releases and other waste management of these chemicals.

Pollution Prevention

Facilities implemented 3,589 total pollution prevention activities in 2022 with the most common being process and equipment modifications, followed by changes to operating practices and training. Through both existing programs and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA offers grant opportunities to state and Tribal technical assistance providers to help prevent pollution.

Industry professionals can view TRI reporting on pollution prevention to learn about best practices implemented at other facilities.

Key Expansions to TRI Reporting

Important expansions to TRI reporting went into effect for reporting year 2022. Some contract sterilization facilities, which are contracted to sterilize products or equipment for hospitals and other facilities, were required to report to TRI for the first time on their management of ethylene oxide and ethylene glycol as waste. These facilities managed 6.3 million pounds of ethylene oxide waste, nearly all of which was treated.

Reporting year 2022 was also the first year of expanded reporting for the natural gas processing sector. The 305 facilities in this sector that reported to TRI managed 115 million pounds of TRI chemicals in waste and disposed of 81% of TRI chemicals in underground injection wells.


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