EPA Highlights August 2018

August 2018 News and Events EPA Acting Administrator Visits With Elected Officials and Stakeholders at Iowa State Fair On August 13, Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler visited the Hawkeye State's annual state fair to engage with the people of Iowa and take part in a round of meetings with a delegation of Iowa elected officials and agricultural stakeholders. While at the Iowa State Fair, Administrator Wheeler met with Governor Kim Reynolds, Congressman David Young, and Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig to discuss EPA related issues. More information, read the news release. U.S. EPA and DOT Propose Fuel Economy Standards for MY 2021-2026 Vehicles EPA and U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released a notice of proposed rulemaking, to correct the national automobile fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions standards to give the American people greater access to safer, more affordable vehicles that are cleaner for the environment. The public will have 60 days to provide feedback once published at the Federal Register. Submit public comments at: www.regulations.gov to Docket EPA-HQ-OAR-2018-0283. Information on additional methods for submitting formal comments is available at https://www.epa.gov/dockets/where-send-comments-epa-dockets Details can be found at EPA's website here. More information, read the news release Air Pollution Trends Show Cleaner Air, Growing Economy EPA released its annual report on air quality, tracking our nation's progress in improving air quality since the passage of the Clean Air Act. "Our Nation's Air: Status and Trends Through 2017" documents the considerable improvements in air quality across America over more than 45 years. Read the news release. Explore the report and download graphics and data here: https://gispub.epa.gov/air/trendsreport/2018/ Love Canal Revealed a National Problem; Superfund Provided a Solution The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) commemorated the 40th anniversary of Love Canal, a tragedy that spurred a law to clean up hazardous waste and give voice to communities across the country. More than 260 formerly evacuated homes in the affected area were rehabilitated and sold to new residents, creating a viable new neighborhood. For information and images, visit: EPA's Love Canal website.  EPA's new "Superfund Task Force Recommendations 2018 Update" is available at: https://www.epa.gov/superfund/superfund-task-force-recommendations-2018-update Listen to EPA Region 2 Administrator Pete Lopez talk about the 40th anniversary of Love Canal on our podcast: https://www.epa.gov/podcasts EPA Holds PFAS Community Engagement Even ts Throughout the Country EPA provides active engagement to address PFAS by visiting impacted communities and hearing directly from the public on how to best help states and communities facing this issue. Using information from the National Leadership Summit, community engagements, and public input provided by the docket, EPA plans to develop a PFAS Management Plan for release later this year. To fully engage with communities in the months following the summit, EPA is visiting or has visited the following communities: https://www.epa.gov/pfas/pfas-community-engagement . Information about PFAS visit: https://www.epa.gov/pfas . Acting Administrator Wheeler Updates Administrator's Superfund Emphasis List: Eight Sites Come Off List EPA released the next revision of the Administrator's Emphasis List of Superfund Sites Targeted for Immediate, Intense Action. Eight sites (Centredale Manor Restoration Project, American Cyanamid Co., Ventron/Velsicol [aka Berry's Creek], Delaware Sand & Gravel Landfill, B.F. Goodrich, Mississippi Phosphates Corporation, Allied Paper, Inc./Portage Creek/Kalamazoo River, and Casmalia Resources) have been removed from the Administrator's Emphasis List. With this update, there is a total of 14 Superfund sites on the list. More information: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/acting-administrator-wheeler-updates-administrators-superfund-emphasis-list More information about the Superfund Task Force: https://www.epa.gov/superfund/superfund-task-force-recommendations-2018-update Program Updates Asbestos EPA is proposing a significant new use rule (SNUR) for certain uses of asbestos (including asbestos-containing goods) that would require manufacturers and importers to receive EPA approval before starting or resuming manufacturing, and importing or processing of asbestos. The following factsheet provides answers to Frequently Asked Questions Regarding EPA's Proposed New Asbestos Rule:  Information about asbestos: https://www.epa.gov/asbestos Water Infrastructure EPA provides $135 million for innovative groundwater replenishment project expansion in Orange County EPA announced a Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan to the Orange County Water District to help finance its Groundwater Replenishment System final expansion. This loan will help update water infrastructure, cut city costs, and add 700 local jobs. Read the news release. For more information about the WIFIA program and OCWD's Groundwater Replenishment System, visit: https://www.epa.gov/wifia Air Quality EPA and New York Partner to Control and Monitor Air Pollution As part of its work with states to improve air quality, EPA intends to provide the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation with more than $7 million to support the state's air pollution control and air monitoring programs after all requirements of the grants program are completed. This funding will help New York in its efforts to meet the national air quality standards and protect air quality and people's health. Read the news release. For more information about particulate pollution and PM 2.5, visit https://www.epa.gov/pm-pollution. For more information about New York State's Air Pollution Control Program, visit https://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/281.html

If you would rather not receive future communications from US EPA, Office of Public Engagement, let us know by clicking here.
US EPA, Office of Public Engagement, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460 United States