Contact: David Sternberg 215-814-5548 sternberg.david@epa.gov

EPA Awards More Than $340,000 to Delaware
for Assessing and Protecting Wetlands

PHILADELPHIA (October 31, 2018) Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that is has awarded $341,691 to the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) to help build the state's capacity to protect, manage and restore wetlands, as well as the waterbodies they connect to. DNREC will use the funds to develop and refine methods of assessing wetlands and stream habitat.

"The information that this project will generate is critical to understanding, protecting and restoring Delaware's wetlands habitat," said EPA Regional Administrator Cosmo Servidio. "It will provide the kind of sound scientific data that is essential for effective wetlands protection."

"Delaware is pleased to leverage this wetlands grant from our federal partners into another opportunity to continue improving our state's water quality," said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. "Wetlands are a critical link in ensuring clean water for all Delawareans, and the ecological value they provide in conserving and preserving our most precious natural resource – our water supply – cannot be overstated."

DNREC also will use the funds for demonstrating and documenting the most successful techniques for restoring coastal habitat, in addition to providing opportunities for improving public education and outreach about wetlands conservation.      

Healthy wetlands perform important ecological functions, such as feeding downstream waters, trapping floodwaters, recharging groundwater supplies, removing pollution, and providing habitat for fish and wildlife.

Wetlands Program Development Grants assist state, tribal, local government agencies, state universities and interstate/intertribal entities in building programs that protect, manage, and restore wetlands and aquatic resources. States, tribes, and local governments are encouraged to develop wetlands program plans, which help create a roadmap for achieving long-term environmental goals.

The Clean Water Act recognizes that as water flows downstream it can carry pollutants from upstream sources along with it. Wetlands are instrumental in eliminating or treating pollution, and can have a huge impact on receiving waters located downstream.

For more wetlands information, visit: https://www.epa.gov/wetlands/wetland-program-development-grants.

 

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EPA Awards $660,000 to West Virginia University for Assessing Wetlands

Contact: David Sternberg 215-814-5548 sternberg.david@epa.gov

EPA Awards $660,000 to West Virginia University for Assessing Wetlands and Developing Wetlands Water Quality Standards for West Virginia

PHILADELPHIA (October 31, 2018) Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it has awarded $659,541 to West Virginia University (WVU) to develop wetlands water quality regulatory guidance for the state of West Virginia.

"The data this project will generate is important to understanding, protecting and restoring wetlands in the state of West Virginia," said EPA Regional Administrator Cosmo Servidio. "Supporting standards with solid scientific data is essential to effective wetlands protection."

"Identifying wetland water quality conditions across West Virginia will advance our understanding of the range of water quality variables and provide us with a more detailed assessment of the extent of wetland pollution," said Jim Anderson, principal investigator and professor of wildlife and fisheries resources in the WVU Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design. "This study will allow our research team to produce and disseminate valuable, novel data and science-based information regarding the chemical, physical, and ecological condition and function of wetlands."

WVU will use the funds to gather and analyze monitoring data that will provide the basis for the standards. The university also will develop numeric criteria for chemical constituents based on the types and locations of wetlands.

In addition, WVU will communicate its findings via webinars, conferences, and meetings with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection and the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources.

Healthy wetlands perform important ecological functions, such as feeding downstream waters, trapping floodwaters, recharging groundwater supplies, removing pollution, and providing habitat for fish and wildlife.

Wetlands Program Development Grants assist state, tribal, local government agencies, state universities and interstate/intertribal entities in building programs that protect, manage, and restore wetlands and aquatic resources. States, tribes, and local governments are encouraged to develop wetlands program plans, which help create a roadmap for achieving long-term environmental goals.

The Clean Water Act recognizes that as water flows downstream it can carry pollutants from upstream sources along with it. Wetlands are instrumental in eliminating or treating pollution, and can have a huge impact on receiving waters located downstream.

For more wetlands information, visit: https://www.epa.gov/wetlands/wetland-program-development-grants.

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EPA Awards $350,000 to Maryland for Protecting Shorelines, Streams and Wetlands

Contact: David Sternberg 215-814-5548 sternberg.david@epa.gov

EPA Awards $350,000 to Maryland for

Protecting Shorelines, Streams and Wetlands

PHILADELPHIA (October 31, 2018) Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it has awarded $348,648 to the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) to improve and stabilize living shorelines, and stream and wetlands restoration projects in nontidal wetlands.

"Despite their environmental and economic importance, coastal wetlands in the eastern United States are being lost at twice the rate they are being restored," said EPA Regional Administrator Cosmo Servidio, "This work by the state of Maryland will serve as a model for the more focused protection strategies that we need to reverse this trend."

"Maryland appreciates EPA's support in protecting our natural heritage of wetlands and growing green seams of resilience throughout the state," said Maryland Department of the Environment Secretary Ben Grumbles. 

The funds will be used to expedite the review, approval and construction of living shorelines to achieve multiple environmental benefits and reduce the loss of wetlands in Maryland. In addition to MDE, the Virginia Institute for Marine Science, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, and Shoreline Conservation Service are also partners in this effort.   

Living shorelines are a green infrastructure technique using native vegetation alone or with other natural elements to stabilize coasts, bays, or tributaries. Living shorelines provide a natural alternative to "hard" shoreline stabilization methods like stone sills or bulkheads, and provide numerous benefits including pollution remediation, essential fish habitat, and buffering of shoreline from waves and storms.

Healthy wetlands perform important ecological functions, such as feeding downstream waters, trapping floodwaters, recharging groundwater supplies, removing pollution, and providing habitat for fish and wildlife.

Wetlands Program Development Grants assist state, tribal, local government agencies, state universities and interstate/intertribal entities in building programs that protect, manage, and restore wetlands and aquatic resources. States, tribes, and local governments are encouraged to develop wetlands program plans, which help create a roadmap for achieving long-term environmental goals.

The Clean Water Act recognizes that as water flows downstream it can carry pollutants from upstream sources along with it. Wetlands are instrumental in eliminating or treating pollution, and can have a huge impact on receiving waters located downstream.

For more wetlands information, visit: https://www.epa.gov/wetlands/wetland-program-development-grants.

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EPA Announces $110,000 in Environmental Funding to Pamunkey Tribe

Contact: David Sternberg 215-814-5548 sternberg.david@epa.gov

EPA Announces $110,000 in Environmental Funding to Pamunkey Tribe, The First Federally Recognized Tribe in Virginia

PHILADELPHIA – (October 30, 2018) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that it is providing $110,000 in environmental program funding to the Pamunkey Indian Tribe, the first federally recognized tribe in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

"This funding will assist the Pamunkey in laying down the foundation of an environmental program and facilitating important community outreach and education," said EPA Regional Administrator Cosmo Servidio. "With this funding, the tribe is demonstrating strong stewardship for its lands and resources while ensuring protection of the public health of their community."

EPA funding helps tribes provide critical environmental services. The Pamunkey Indian Tribe will use these funds to help strengthen their programs for establishing an Office of Environmental Protection, sponsoring community events, developing environmental plans and establishing priorities. The Pamunkey will also use these funds to raise tribal awareness about environmental concerns.

Specifically, the tribe will work toward these objectives by:

• Conducting environmental outreach and education with the tribal community through community meetings and events;

• Developing and adopting an EPA/Tribal Environmental Plan to ensure the health and safety of people who live, work and visit the Pamunkey Indian Reservation;

• Implementing an Integrated Waste Management Plan to provide consistency within the Tribal Government and membership regarding proper waste disposal and removal, as well as waste reduction; and,

• Establishing an Office of Environmental Protection which will serve as a resource to the Tribe, and provide information pertaining to environmental media including fish and wildlife, wetlands, air, water, and soil quality, as well as flora and fauna. 

In January 2016, the U.S, government recognized the Pamunkey as the first federally recognized Indian Tribe in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The community is comprised of more than 350 enrolled members that reside on and off the Pamunkey Indian Reservation, which is in the rural Tidewater region of King William County.

The Pamunkey Tribe was one of the first indigenous communities in North America to encounter English colonists, and thus one of the first Tribes to engage in treaty negotiations with European monarchies.

For more information, please visit: https://www.epa.gov/tribal/indian-environmental-general-assistance-program-gap.

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EPA News Release: EPA raises awareness of lead paint rules in Philadelphia

Contact: R3press@epa.gov

EPA raises awareness of lead paint rules in Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA (October 25, 2018) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is working with local partners to raise awareness of EPA's lead-based paint rules in Philadelphia neighborhoods.

"By educating the public about the dangers of lead paint and increasing awareness of lead paint rules, we can help reduce lead poisoning in children," said EPA's Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Cosmo Servidio. "This initiative is a focused effort with our local counterparts to reduce lead exposure in Philadelphia, where there is a large amount of older housing stock with lead paint that has not been removed."

The most common source of lead exposure is through deteriorating lead-based paint in residences and commercial buildings built before 1978. EPA, along with partners from other federal agencies, the city of Philadelphia, and independent non-profit organizations are targeting communities where pre-1978 housing stock is prevalent.

Outreach efforts include in-person meetings, distributing technical assistance information, visits to paint/hardware stores, awareness training for city inspectors and providing information to contractors/renovators and property management firms. Information is also provided to daycare centers, childcare and healthcare focused organizations.

EPA enforces and raises awareness of several rules. The Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (RRP) applies when a renovation or repair disturbs six square feet of interior (about the size of a standard poster) or 20 square feet (about the size of a standard door) of exterior painted surfaces.

The RRP rule requires that those working on pre-1978 housing be trained by an EPA-accredited training provider, be employed by a certified firm, use the required work practices to control exposure to lead/lead dust, and provide information on the rule to owner and tenants.

The Lead-based Paint Disclosure Rule requires owners of residential rental properties and sellers of residential property built before 1978 to disclose known information on lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards before a lease or sale becomes enforceable. Sales contracts and leases must include a disclosure form about lead-based paint. Buyers have up to 10 days to check for lead hazards. Further, landlords and sellers must also provide the EPA publication "Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home."

To find Certified "Lead-Safe" providers, go to www.epa.gov/lead or call 1-800-424-LEAD. The RRP rule does not apply to individuals doing work on their personal residences.

For more information on becoming a Certified "Lead-Safe" firm or renovator, or finding a certified firm for your renovation or repair project, go to: www.epa.gov/lead or call the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEAD (5323).

Earlier this week, EPA released a report called "Protecting Children from Lead Exposures" to highlight some of the ongoing programs being worked on across the various program and regional offices. The Agency continues to aggressively address lead issues across America, working with communities and partners to further identify and eliminate lead exposure, especially for children who are most vulnerable to lead poisoning.

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EPA News: EPA awards $100K grant to teach Richmond, Va. students, teachers about Chesapeake Bay

Contact: R3press@epa.gov                

EPA awards $100,000 grant to teach students, teachers In Richmond, Va. schools about Chesapeake Bay

PHILADELPHIA (October 24, 2018) Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a $100,000 environmental education grant to the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay to increase environmental awareness for students and teachers in the Richmond Public Schools with an emphasis onhow stormwater issues affect the Chesapeake Bay.

"It is encouraging to see groups like the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay developing a program that will teach and inspire students and teachers about the importance of protecting the Chesapeake Bay," said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Cosmo Servidio. "Environmental education begins in our own backyards and classrooms. This project is intended to increase public awareness so communities can make informed decisions."

The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, a non-profit organization with offices in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia, will use funding to teach students, educators and parents about stormwater runoff and the benefits of using stormwater management practices to reduce pollution from school campuses, as well as private and public properties.

The program will use a variety of indoor and outdoor lessons and community workshops to educate students and adults about their environmental footprint and what they can do to protect the James River Watershed and the Chesapeake Bay.

The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay is one of 37 organizations designated to receive $3.3 million for projects under the 2018 Environmental Education (EE) Grants Program this year. Funding will range from $50,000 to $100,000 to organizations that provide environmental education activities and programs. The awards are going to organizations in 29 states, including the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

To learn more about grant winners, or to apply for future Environmental Education Grant competitions, visit: https://www.epa.gov/education/environmental-education-ee-grants. This website will be updated as additional grants are awarded.

For more information about environmental education grants, visit: https://www.epa.gov/education

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EPA News: EPA settles with Feasterville, Pa. contractor for alleged lead safe renovation violations

Contact: R3press@epa.gov
 

EPA settles with Feasterville, Pa. contractor for alleged violations of "Lead Safe" Renovation protections

(PHILADELPHIA) October 23, 2018 -- Global Home Improvements, Inc. (GHI) of Feasterville, Pennsylvania, will pay a $28,000 penalty to resolve alleged violations of the lead-based paint Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today.

This rule protects the public from toxic lead hazards created by renovation activities involving lead-based paint. RRP safeguards are designed to ensure "lead safe" practices in the renovation and repair activities involving "target housing" built before the 1978 federal ban on lead-based paint. 

EPA alleged that during multiple renovations of target housing in 2016 and 2017, GHI violated the RRP "lead safe" requirements by:

* Performing renovations after its lead-safe firm certification expired on June 28, 2015;

* Failing to document whether 16 target housing owners who contracted with GHI for renovations had timely received the required lead hazard information pamphlet, titled "Renovate Right: Important Lead Hazard Information for Families, Child Care Providers and Schools;"

* Failing to document GHI's compliance with the "lead safe" work practice standards during 17 target housing renovations. 

As part of the settlement, the company did not admit these alleged violations, but has cooperated with EPA in resolving this matter and certifying its compliance with applicable RRP requirements.

Infants, children, and pregnant women 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. Because of these health risks, the U.S. banned lead-based paint in 1978. However, EPA estimates that lead-based paint is still present in more than 30 million homes nationwide.

For more information on the RRP program, visit http://www.epa.gov/lead/renovation-repair-and-painting-program

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EPA News: Owner, operator of Phila. service station settle underground storage tank violations (PA)

Contact: R3press@epa.gov

Owner and operator of Philadelphia service station settle with EPA on underground storage tank violations

(PHILADELPHIA) October 17, 2018 – The owner and operator of the F-Street Sunoco service station, 3951 Roosevelt Boulevard, Philadelphia have agreed to pay a $22,080 penalty to settle alleged violations of underground storage tank regulations, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today.

The settlement with service station owner, 3951 Roosevelt Blvd. Realty Corporation, and operator Liberty Tradeplus, Inc., addresses compliance with environmental safeguards protecting communities and the environment from exposure to petroleum or potentially harmful chemicals.

EPA cited the companies for violating safeguards designed to prevent, detect, and control leaks from the underground tanks. Based on a September 2017 inspection and follow-up investigations, EPA alleged that two underground gasoline tanks failed to comply with leak detection and recordkeeping requirements for a 27-month period in 2015 through 2017.  

The penalty reflects the companies' cooperation with EPA. As part of the settlement, the companies did not admit liability, but have certified that the station is now in compliance.

With millions of gallons of petroleum products and hazardous substances stored in underground storage tanks throughout the country, leaking tanks are a major source of soil and groundwater contamination. EPA and state regulations are designed to reduce the risk of underground leaks and to promptly detect and properly address leaks thus minimizing environmental harm and avoiding the costs of major cleanups. 

For more information, visit: https://www.epa.gov/ust

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EPA Finalizes $19.5 Million Plan to Upgrade Groundwater Treatment System at the Fair Lawn NJ

 

 

  

EPA Finalizes $19.5 Million Plan to Upgrade Groundwater Treatment System and Maximize Removal of Contaminants at the Fair Lawn Well Field Superfund Site, New Jersey    Contact: Elias Rodriguez, (212) 637-3664, rodriguez.elias@epa.gov       (New York, N.Y. – October 5, 2018) Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a $19.5       million cleanup plan for the Fair Lawn Well Field Superfund site in Fair Lawn, New Jersey. Previous industrial     and commercial activities at the site contaminated the soil and groundwater with chlorinated volatile organic     compounds. EPA will expand and enhance the system that extracts and treats the contaminated groundwater     at the site.    "EPA's groundwater cleanup plan complements the state's work to control the source of contamination       and reflects years of thorough scientific studies and collaboration with our state and local partners," said     EPA Regional Administrator Pete Lopez. "By upgrading the groundwater treatment system, we are                   maximizing the removal of contaminants and ensuring the protection of people's health."    "I don't want any parents in Bergen County, in the Fifth District, or anywhere in New Jersey to have to         worry if the water their children are drinking is safe. It's important for the EPA to move forward and           clean up the Fair Lawn Well Field Superfund site, removing harmful groundwater contaminants and             making sure the site is monitored over the long term. We need to work together to ensure every North         Jersey family has access to clean, safe drinking water," said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5).    EPA held a public meeting in August 2018 to explain its cleanup proposal, discuss the other cleanup options         that were considered, and to solicit public comments. To read the EPA's selected cleanup plan, visit:                 www.epa.gov/superfund/fair-lawn-wellfield  or view a direct link to the EPA's Record of Decision at                   https://semspub.epa.gov/src/document/02/550183    Background:    Most of the contamination at the Superfund site comes from the Fair Lawn Industrial Park, which                       contaminated the groundwater and some municipal wells with volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including       1,4 dioxane. The impacted municipal supply wells are currently not used for the public water supply but the       groundwater is being treated to remove contaminants and discharged to Henderson Brook. The Westmoreland     Well Field treatment system will be upgraded to also address 1,4 dioxane. To ensure that the public is               provided with a clean, secure drinking water supply, Fair Lawn is relying on other sources of water until the       cleanup plan can be implemented.    Previous cleanup actions by the potentially responsible parties included investigation of soil and groundwater,     removal and disposal of contaminated soil, long-term monitoring of groundwater quality, and payment to the     Borough of Fair Lawn for the installation, operation, and maintenance of the groundwater treatment system       at the Westmoreland Well Field.    Groundwater treatment is ongoing and preventing the contaminated groundwater from spreading, while             efforts by the State of New Jersey are addressing the sources of contamination. EPA's cleanup plan will               upgrade the groundwater treatment equipment at the Westmoreland Well Field and it will remove the               contaminant 1,4 dioxane.  Additionally, the two other municipal wells at the Westmoreland Well Field will be     re-started, if feasible, to further control the contaminated plume. EPA's cleanup plan includes long-term           monitoring and measures to restrict the use of untreated groundwater from the site. Throughout the cleanup,     monitoring, testing, and further studies will be conducted to ensure the effectiveness of the cleanup.    The Superfund program has been providing important health benefits to communities across the country for       more than 35 years. Superfund cleanups also strengthen local economies. Data collected through 2017 shows       that at 487 Superfund sites in reuse, approximately 6,600 businesses are generating $43.6 billion in sales and     employ 156,000 people who earned a combined income of $11.2 billion.    Under the Trump Administration, the Superfund program has reemerged as a priority to fulfill and strengthen     EPA's core mission of protecting human health and the environment.    On the one-year anniversary of the EPA's Superfund Task Force Report, EPA announced significant progress in     carrying out the report's recommendations. These achievements will provide certainty to communities, state     partners, and developers that the nation's most hazardous sites will be cleaned up as quickly and safely as         possible.    EPA's "Superfund Task Force Recommendations 2018 Update" is available at:                                                     https://www.epa.gov/superfund/superfund-task-force-recommendations-2018-update.    Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter at http://twitter.com/eparegion2 and visit our Facebook page,                           http://facebook.com/eparegion2.    18-078

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EPA News: EPA awards $100K environmental education grant to West Virginia University Research Corp.

Contact: R3press@epa.gov

EPA awards a $100,000 environmental education grant to West Virginia University Research Corp.

PHILADELPHIA (October 5, 2018)  Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a $100,000 environmental education grant to the West Virginia University (WVU) Research Corp. in Morgantown, West Virginia to engage students and the community in citizen science projects that will improve environmental awareness.

"It is encouraging to see groups like the WVU Research Corp. take the initiative to get students and community members involved in environmental projects," said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Cosmo Servidio. "Citizen science can establish a positive framework in a community that will continuously help protect human health and the environment."

The WVU Research Corp. will use the funding to develop environmental education and stewardship opportunities that will focus on improving water quality in local streams. These will include a water monitoring program and an environmental restoration project.

The WVU Research Corp. is one of 37 organizations designated to receive $3.3 million for projects under the 2018 Environmental Education (EE) Grants Program. Funding to organizations that provide environmental education activities and programs ranges from $50,000 to $100,000. The awards are going to organizations in 29 states, including the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

To learn more about grant winners, or to apply for future Environmental Education Grant competitions, visit: https://www.epa.gov/education/environmental-education-ee-grants. This website will be updated as additional grants are awarded.

For more information about environmental education grants, see https://www.epa.gov/education

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EPA Honors New Jersey WaterSense Partner for Water Saving Innovation

WIFIA Appropriation - 5/17/2017 CONTACT: press@epa.gov   EPA Honors New Jersey WaterSense Partner for Water Saving Innovation Agency recognizes leading WaterSense Partners in Calif., Fla., Ga., Ind., Minn., Nev., N.C., N.J., Texas, Va. (New York, N.Y. – October 4, 2018) Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) honored 20 water utilities, manufacturers, builders, and organizations for protecting the environment by creating and promoting WaterSense labeled fixtures, homes, and programs. EPA's WaterSense partners have helped Americans save more than 2.7 trillion gallons of water and $63.8 billion on utility bills since 2006. "Through their commitment to water efficiency, our partners are helping to transform the market for water-efficient, high-performing products and homes," said EPA Office of Water Assistant Administrator Dave Ross. "The 2018 EPA WaterSense award winners are making our communities and economy stronger while serving as models for others to follow." The winners were chosen from more than 1,900 WaterSense partners, including utilities, local governments, manufacturers, retailers, distributors, builders, and other organizations who have partnered with EPA to produce and promote water-efficient products, programs, and homes. 2018 Sustained Excellence Award Winners Athens-Clarke County Public Utilities Department (Ga.) received its second Sustained Excellence Award. In addition to hosting consumer events and a pledge drive to reduce water use, the County sponsored an art contest to paint fire hydrants to educate consumers during Fix a Leak Week 2017. The City of Charlottesville (Va.) earned its first Sustained Excellence Award with creative outreach approaches during the region's first significant drought in a decade. The City hosted a 5k family road race during Fix a Leak Week and reached homeowners with water conservation messages during the drought through the weather.com app. Cobb County Water System (Ga.) earned its second Sustained Excellence Award after it addressed a Level 2 drought in 2017 with a new "Drought Busters" outreach campaign. The utility also focused on multifamily water savings by promoting the EPA Water Score tool to help building owners track and improve water use. Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District received its first Sustained Excellence Award, focusing on assessments to help homeowners and businesses reduce water use and offering WaterSense labeled toilet rebates to make it easy for them to do so. The District provided its 55 member utilities with toolkits to promote WaterSense campaigns and hosted a Water Drop Dash 5k race. American Standard, part of LIXIL, (N.J.) earned its first Sustained Excellence Award after increasing the number of WaterSense labeled products it distributed to retail outlets by 34 percent in 2017 compared to the previous year. Its innovative, award-winning, water-saving toilets and other products were on display at trade shows and in the company's Beauty in Motion Mobile Showroom throughout 2017. Delta Faucet Company (Ind.) a four-time Sustained Excellence Award winner, promoted its WaterSense labeled products through displays at big-box retailers. It also launched a program to increase awareness of smart home technology devices that help homeowners find leaks and pooling water before they become water waste. KB Home (Calif.) earned its fourth Sustained Excellence Award for its continued commitment to building homes to meet the WaterSense specification. In addition to completing 170 WaterSense labeled homes, the company installed WaterSense labeled plumbing fixtures in all the homes it built in 2017. Energy Inspectors Corporation (Nev.) received its first Sustained Excellence Award. The licensed certification provider inspected and certified all the homes that fellow WaterSense partner KB Home labeled in 2017. To increase its support for the WaterSense labeled home market, the company trained 12 additional raters in 2017. Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership (SMSWP) (Calif.) earned its second Sustained Excellence Award as a professional certifying organization. The Partnership host a certification program that other organizations can adopt to certify irrigation professionals who are trained on water-efficient techniques. To date, SMSWP's Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper program has certified more than 2,500 professionals. 2018 Promotional Partners of the Year EPA also honored four utilities and organizations with the WaterSense Partner of the Year Award: The Broward Water Partnership (Fla.), a collaboration of 18 utilities and municipalities in Broward County, received its first WaterSense Partner of the Year Award for creating a series of YouTube videos promoting water conservation and its toilet rebate program. Citrus County Utilities (Fla.) earned its third Partner of the Year Award for helping students test toilets in schools for leaks, which resulted in identifying 90 leaks. The utility also provided free irrigation audits and distributed hundreds of free WaterSense labeled showerheads and faucet aerators. The City of Fort Worth (Texas) worked with other partners to provide more than 200 water audits and water-efficient landscaping seminars for residents, as well as free facility water use assessments for commercial and institutional customers. The City's SmartFlush Toilet Program distributed more than 3,500 WaterSense labeled toilets to residential low-income and commercial customers. The City of Plano (Texas) held workshops and classes for customers on fixing leaks and repairing sprinklers, in conjunction with WaterSense's Fix a Leak Week and Sprinkler Spruce-Up campaigns. The City also provided free WaterSense labeled showerheads, water-saving faucet aerators, and toilet flappers for Fix a Leak Week and hosted a WaterWise Landscape Tour. Eight WaterSense partners received Excellence Awards to recognize their support for a specific aspect of the program in 2017: City of Durham Water Management (N.C.), City of Frisco (Texas), and Sacramento Suburban Water District (Calif.), for Excellence in Education and Outreach. Alliance for Water Efficiency for Excellence in Strategic Collaboration. Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership (Calif.) for Excellence in Promoting WaterSense Labeled Products. The Toro Company (Minn.) for Excellence in Education and Public Relations. Hunter Industries (Calif.) for Excellence in Labeled Products in the Marketplace. San Diego County Water Authority (Calif.) for Excellence in Certification Program Growth. WaterSense, a partnership program sponsored by EPA, seeks to protect the future of the nation's water supply by offering Americans a simple way to use less water with water-efficient products, homes, and services. WaterSense labeled products, which are independently certified to use at least 20 percent less water and perform as well or better than standard models, have been on the market since 2007. Today there are more than 27,000 labeled models, including products used in residential and commercial bathrooms, commercial kitchens, and outdoor irrigation. EPA's WaterSense program certifies homes with WaterSense labeled fixtures and features. To date more than 1,000 homes have earned the WaterSense label. Learn more about the 2018 WaterSense Award winners at https://www.epa.gov/watersense/watersense-awards.

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Office of Public Engagement Fall Highlights

EPA Highlights Fall 2018 News and Events EPA Meets Important TSCA Milestone by Finalizing Last of Four Chemical Safety Framework Rules EPA issued a final fees rule under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), ensuring that resources are available to the Agency to complete chemical reviews and actions in a timely, transparent manner while maintaining high scientific standards. "With today's action EPA has once again met another important milestone under TSCA," said EPA Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler. "This rule will provide resources needed to support the valuable work EPA does to review chemicals for safety, manage risk as required, and make chemical information available as appropriate." Read the news release; https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-meets-important-tsca-milestone-finalizing-last-four-chemical-safety-framework-rules EPA Honors Award-Winning Environmental Education Teachers and Students On September 21, EPA announced the winners of the Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators (PIAEE) and the President's Environmental Youth Award (PEYA). EPA honored these award-winning educators and students at a series of events in Washington, D.C. where their projects were presented at a poster session for attendees and EPA leadership, including Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler. Detailed information on PEYA and PIAEE winners is available at: https://www.epa.gov/education/presidents-environmental-youth-award-peya-winners and: https://www.epa.gov/education/presidential-innovation-award-environmental-educators-piaee-winners .    Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler Addresses Award-Winning Environmental Education Teachers and Students Student Winners of the President's Environmental Youth Awards Acting Administrator Wheeler visits with students on their "Make Soil Not Smoke" project.   EPA Continues Its Response to Hurricane Florence U.S. Environmental Protection Agency works with other federal, state, and local responders to prepare for and recover from hurricanes. EPA is coordinating closely with local, state, and federal partners as the Agency continues to respond to the impacts of Hurricane Florence. On September 25, EPA Superfund site assessment teams continued preliminary inspections of assessable National Priority List (NPL) sites. As of September 25, EPA assessment teams have conducted preliminary inspections of 77 sites, with no issues identified. Teams will move into areas still experiencing flooding and road closures when conditions allow. A list of assessed sites can be found here: https://www.epa.gov/hurricane-response/national-priorities-list-sites-assessed-after-hurricane-florence. This page will be updated as additional assessments are conducted. For more information visit: https://response.epa.gov/florence View EPA press releases on Hurricane Florence here. EPA Recognizes Supermarkets Across America for Smart Refrigerant Management EPA recognized 13 organizations in the supermarket industry for their achievements in protecting human health and the environment under its GreenChill Partnership Program. The GreenChill Partnership works with food retailers to reduce refrigerant emissions and decrease their impact on the ozone layer by supporting a transition to environmentally friendlier refrigerants, lowering charge sizes and eliminating leaks, and adopting green refrigeration technologies and best environmental practices. More about the GreenChill Partnership and winners' achievements: https://www.epa.gov/greenchill EPA Proposes Affordable Clean Energy Rule EPA proposed a new rule to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from existing coal-fired electric utility generating units and power plants across the country. This proposal, entitled the Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) Rule, establishes emission guidelines for states to use when developing plans to limit GHGs at their power plants. The ACE Rule replaced the prior administration's overly prescriptive and burdensome Clean Power Plan (CPP) and instead empowers states, promotes energy independence, and facilitates economic growth and job creation.  "The ACE Rule would restore the rule of law and empower states to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide modern, reliable, and affordable energy for all Americans," said EPA Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler. "Today's proposal provides the states and regulated community the certainty they need to continue environmental progress while fulfilling President Trump's goal of energy dominance." More information:https://www.epa.gov/stationary-sources-air-pollution/proposal-affordable-clean-energy-ace-rule   Acting EPA Administrator Wheeler Concludes Visit to G7 Environmental Ministers Meeting On September 20, EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler concluded his visit to the G7 Environmental Ministers meeting where he held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Japan, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, and the European Commission. He also attended sessions with an expanded group of global leaders to discuss environmental concerns and solutions. While at the G7, the United States set in motion a number of international initiatives aimed at addressing tangible environmental issues with practical solutions including minimizing food waste, reducing marine litter, and improving air quality. "I applaud Minister McKenna for hosting a successful G7 environmental ministry," said Acting EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. "The United States is pleased with the progress being made by global leaders to advance practical solutions that will reduce marine litter, minimize food waste, and improve air quality. We look forward to continuing constructive dialogue." Read the news release: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/acting-epa-administrator-wheeler-concludes-visit-g7-environmental-ministers-meeting   Administrator Wheeler Releases Memo to Improve Drug Take-Back Programs and Help Fight the Opioid Crisis On September 12, at the National Narcotics Officers' Associations' Coalition (NNOAC) Drug Enforcement Forum, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler released a new memorandum to provide clarity, certainty, and assist law enforcement agencies with the management of household drugs collected in take-back programs. "Efforts by law enforcement agencies across the country to collect unwanted drugs from households is a critical tool in fighting the opioid crisis," said EPA Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler. "EPA strongly supports these efforts and is working to ensure that drugs collected in take-back programs are transported and destroyed in a manner that is protective of public health and the environment, including the health of law enforcement officers." Read EPA's memo: https://www.epa.gov/hwgenerators/management-household-pharmaceuticals-collected-law-enforcement-during-take-back-events. For more information, visit https://www.epa.gov/hwgenerators/collecting-and-disposing-unwanted-medicines.   EPA Hosts National Environmental Justice Public Meeting On August 15, in Boston, EPA kicked off the first in-person National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC) public meeting since new members were announced on March 3, 2018. One of the sessions opened with video remarks from EPA Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler.   "NEJAC plays a vital role in providing EPA Administrators with feedback and advice for improving our efforts to ensure environmental justice for all Americans," said EPA Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler. "We are committed to protecting the environment and public health for every American, regardless of race or income, and I look forward to NEJAC's recommendations."  For more information on NEJAC: https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice

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EPA News: EPA awards environmental education grant to teaching farm in Prince George's County, Md.

Contact: R3press@epa.gov 

EPA awards a nearly $100,000 environmental education grant to urban teaching farm in Prince George's County, Md.

PHILADELPHIA (October 4, 2018) Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a $97,847 environmental education grant to Engaged Community Offshoots, Inc. in Riverdale, Maryland to support educating youths about sustainable agriculture and environmental conservation at an urban teaching farm.

"It is encouraging to see groups like the Engaged Community Offshoots take the initiative to get students involved in environmental projects," said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Cosmo Servidio. "This organization educates and engages youth in conservation projects on an urban farm that is a valuable conservation asset to the community."

Engaged Community Offshoots will use funding to support environmental educational programs for elementary, middle, and high school students including field trips to ECO City Farms, a nonprofit urban teaching and learning farm in Prince George's County. Other projects will include in-school educational sessions and resources for school projects that focus on sustainable agriculture.

Engaged Community Offshoots is one of 37 organizations designated to receive $3.3 million for projects under the 2018 Environmental Education (EE) Grants Program this year. Funding will range from $50,000 to $100,000 to organizations that provide environmental education activities and programs. The awards are going to organizations in 29 states, including the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

To learn more about grant winners, or to apply for future Environmental Education Grant competitions, visit: https://www.epa.gov/education/environmental-education-ee-grants. This website will be updated as additional grants are awarded.

For more information about environmental education grants, visit: https://www.epa.gov/education

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