EPA Corrects the Record after Reckless Reporting on Temporary Compliance Guidance

 

 

 

EPA Corrects the Record after Reckless Reporting on Temporary Compliance Guidance

 

WASHINGTON — The mission of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is to protect human health and the environment, and during this time of unprecedented public health concerns, that mission is even more critical. On March 26, EPA released a temporary policy regarding the agency's enforcement of environmental legal obligations during the COVID-19 pandemic. This temporary policy is not a license to pollute.

We strongly encourage the press to actually read EPA's Temporary Policy before repeating reckless propaganda about it. Instead of including factual information about the policy, outlets such as E&E News, The Hill , the AP, and  the New York Times are relying on sources who falsely claim that the policy provides a blanket waiver of environmental requirements or creates a presumption that the pandemic is the cause of noncompliance.

Here are some of the facts that have been conveniently left out of the press narrative:

The policy says that EPA will not seek penalties for noncompliance with routine monitoring and reporting requirements, if, on a case-by-case basis, EPA agrees that such noncompliance was caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Regulated parties must document the basis for any claim that the pandemic prevented them from conducting that routine monitoring and reporting and present it to EPA upon request. This action was necessary to avoid tying up EPA staff time with questions about routine monitoring and reporting requirements and instead allow EPA to focus on continued protection of human health and the environment. 

The policy does not say that the COVID-19 pandemic will excuse exceedances of pollutant limitations in permits, regulations, and statutes. EPA expects regulated entities to comply with all obligations and if they do not, the policy says that EPA will consider the pandemic, on a case-by-case basis, when determining an appropriate response. Further, in cases that may involve acute risks or imminent threats, or failure of pollution control or other equipment that may result in exceedances, EPA's willingness to provide even that consideration is conditioned on the facility contacting the appropriate EPA region, or authorized state or tribe, to allow regulators to work with that facility to mitigate or eliminate such risks or threats. 

EPA has been inundated with questions from both state regulators and the regulated community about how to handle the current extraordinary situation where contractors are not available because they cannot travel, state and local governments are imposing stay at home orders, and the number of people who have contracted COVID-19 and are in quarantine is rising. EPA developed the Temporary Policy to allow EPA to prioritize its resources to respond to acute risks and imminent threats, rather than making up front case-by-case determinations regarding routine monitoring and reporting. The development of the policy was a group effort, involving multiple calls and with and drafts shared among EPA staff and managers, both career and political, at both headquarters and in the regions.

It is important to note EPA expects regulated facilities to comply with regulatory requirements, where reasonably practicable, and to return to compliance as quickly as possible, once the COVID-19 threat is over. Additionally, the policy makes clear that EPA expects operators of public water systems to continue normal operations and maintenance during this time, as well as required sampling, to ensure the safety of vital drinking water supplies.

The measures in this policy are temporary and will be lifted as soon as normal operations can resume, which may occur sooner in some locations than others. We take our environmental mandate to protect human health and the environment very seriously and will continue to carry it out during this time. 

 

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EPA Takes Action to Assure Availability of Disinfectant Products for Use Against the Novel Coronavir

 

 

 

EPA Takes Action to Assure Availability of Disinfectant Products for Use Against the Novel Coronavirus

 

WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking further action to help ease the production and availability of EPA-registered disinfectants. EPA will temporarily allow manufacturers of certain already-registered EPA disinfectants to obtain certain active ingredients from any source of suppliers without checking with the agency first. This only applies to products on EPA's List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2. This action comes after last week's announcement of EPA's similar action on certain inert ingredients.

"It is critical that the supply of EPA-registered disinfectants keep up with the demand for these products," said Alexandra Dapolito Dunn, Assistant Administrator of EPA's Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. "By taking this action, EPA is better protecting public health by assuring the availability of surface disinfectants to use against the novel coronavirus."

"We appreciate EPA's continued partnership as we all work together to keep the supply chains for cleaning products running efficiently, particularly for the disinfectants that hospitals, manufacturers and consumers need to protect against the spread of coronavirus," said Bryan Zumwalt, Executive Vice President for Public Affairs, Consumer Brands Association.

"We commend the EPA for acting quickly to remove regulatory barriers during these unprecedented times," said Steve Caldeira, President & CEO of the Household & Commercial Products Association. "The EPA's continued engagement with disinfectant manufacturers has been critically important as we all work together to protect the public health."

EPA usually requires disinfectant manufacturers to first apply for and receive EPA approval prior to making a change in the source of the active ingredient. Under this amendment, manufacturers can source certain active ingredients from alternative suppliers, inform EPA, and immediately start production, provided that the resulting formulation is chemically similar to the current formulation. This will help alleviate reports of supply chain disruptions by pesticide registrants who manufacture disinfectant products on EPA's List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2.

EPA will assess the continued need for and scope of this temporary amendment on a regular basis and will update it if EPA determines modifications are necessary.

The eligible active ingredients are:

• Citric Acid
• Ethanol
• Glycolic Acid
• Hydrochloric Acid
• Hypochlorous Acid
• Hydrogen Peroxide
• L-Lactic Acid
• Sodium Hypochlorite

Pesticides, including disinfectants, contain both active and inactive (or inert) ingredients. Active ingredients prevent, destroy, repel or mitigate a pest, in this case SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. All other ingredients are called inert ingredients by federal law. They are important for product performance and usability.

Read the temporary amendment at: www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/prn-98-10-notifications-non-notifications-and-minor-formulation-amendments

For EPA information on COVID-19: www.epa.gov/coronavirus

 

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U.S. DOT and EPA Put Safety and American Families First with Final Rule on Fuel Economy Standards

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. DOT and EPA Put Safety and American Families First with Final Rule on Fuel Economy Standards

 

WASHINGTON (March 31, 2020) - The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released the final Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicles Rule setting corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) and CO2 emissions standards for model years 2021-2026 passenger cars and light trucks.

"This rule reflects the Department's #1 priority-safety-by making newer, safer, cleaner vehicles more accessible for Americans who are, on average, driving 12-year old cars. By making newer, safer, and cleaner vehicles more accessible for American families, more lives will be saved and more jobs will be created," said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao. "Today, President Trump is keeping his promise to autoworkers made three years ago that he would reinvigorate American auto manufacturing by updating costly, increasingly unachievable fuel economy and vehicle CO2 emissions standards, and that is what the Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient Vehicles Rule accomplishes."

"We are delivering on President Trump's promise to correct the current fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions standards," said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. "Our final rule puts in place a sensible one national program that strikes the right regulatory balance that protects our environment, and sets reasonable targets for the auto industry. This rule supports our economy, and the safety of American families."

The final rule will increase stringency of CAFE and CO2 emissions standards by 1.5% each year through model year 2026, as compared with the standards issued in 2012, which would have required about 5% annual increases. This is a change from the proposal issued in 2018. The majority of automakers are not meeting the 2012 standard without resorting to the use of credits. The final rule can be found here: https://www.epa.gov/regulations-emissions-vehicles-and-engines/safer-affordable-fuel-efficient-safe-vehicles-final-rule.

NHTSA is required by Federal law to set fuel economy standards at the maximum feasible level for both passenger cars and light trucks, for every model year. If NHTSA determines that standards previously set are no longer maximum feasible, NHTSA can amend them. In determining what levels of CAFE standards would be maximum feasible, the law directs NHTSA to consider four specific factors: technological feasibility; economic practicability; the effect of other motor vehicle standards of the Government on fuel economy; and the Nation's need to conserve energy.

On April 2, 2018, the EPA issued the Mid-Term Evaluation Final Determination that found that the MY 2022-2025 CO2 emissions standards are not appropriate and should be revised. For nearly two years, the agencies worked together to extensively analyze current automotive and fuel technologies, reviewed economic conditions and projections, and consulted with other Federal agency partners to ensure the most reliable and accurate analysis possible. The agencies also evaluated more than 750,000 public comments and held three public meetings.

The SAFE Vehicles Rule reflects the realities of today's markets, including substantially lower oil prices than in the original 2012 projection, significant increases in U.S. oil production, and growing consumer demand for larger vehicles.

The SAFE Vehicles Rule increases U.S. competitiveness by reducing regulatory costs by as much as $100 billion through model year 2029. According to NHTSA/EPA projections, it will also boost new vehicle sales through model year 2029 by up to 2.7 million vehicles. At a time of sudden economic uncertainty, the SAFE Vehicles Rule provides help for millions of American workers and thousands of businesses in the auto sector and related industries by cutting costs and increasing sales of safe new vehicles.

By reducing the average price of a new vehicle by about $1,000, this right-sized rule will make it easier for Americans to afford to buy newer, cleaner, and safer vehicles.

The SAFE Rule will also help more Americans afford newer vehicles, which NHTSA's research shows are safer than ever. About 3,300 fewer crash fatalities, 397,000 fewer injuries, and more than 1.8 million fewer vehicles damaged in crashes are projected over the lifetimes of vehicles built according to these new standards.

At the same time, the SAFE Rule continues to protect the environment by increasing stringency of CAFE and CO2 emissions standards over the next five years, ensuring that Americans will have a wide range of affordable, safe, and fuel-efficient vehicles to choose from. Under the SAFE Rule, the projected overall industry average required fuel economy in MYs 2021-2026 is 40.4 miles per gallon, compared to 46.7 mpg projected requirement in MY 2025 under the 2012 standards, and the new rule reduces the number of credits that are not associated with improved fuel economy. This rule is the largest deregulatory initiative of this administration. The agencies project that under these final standards, required technology costs would be reduced by $86 to $126 billion over the lifetimes of vehicles through MY 2029. At the same time, the SAFE Vehicles Rule provides regulatory certainty by establishing one set of national fuel economy and CO2 emissions standards for passenger cars and light trucks.

Under the rule, new vehicles will continue to be required to meet the Clean Air Act's strict pollution standards, ensuring that air quality will be protected from smog-forming emissions. The rule will also see CO2 reductions year over year.

SAFE Vehicles Rule: By the Numbers

The final rule will increase stringency of CAFE and CO2 emissions standards by 1.5% each yearthrough model year 2026, as compared with the CO2 standards issued in 2012, which would have required increases of about 5% per year.

Overall Impact:

• Lower costs, thousands of lives saved, and minimal impact to fuel consumption and the environment.
• $200 billion reduction in total costs over the lifetimes of vehicles through MY 2029, including the value of increased safety
• $100 billion reduction in regulatory costs
• $1,400 reduction of total consumer cost of ownership per new vehicle
• More than $1,000 reduction in sales price per new vehicle
• 2.7 million additional new vehicles sold (because new vehicles are more affordable)

Safety:

• 3,300 fewer crash fatalities
• 46,000 fewer hospitalizations after serious crashes projected over the lifetimes of vehicles built through MY 2029
• 397,000 fewer injuries
• 1.8 million fewer vehicles damaged in crashes

Environment:

All new vehicles will continue to be subject to the strict pollution standards of the Clean Air Act and new vehicles will be subject to higher pollution standards than the older vehicles that will be retired because of this rule

40.4 mpg projected overall industry average required fuel economy in MY 2026, compared to 46.7 mpg projected requirement under the 2012 standards

 

 

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EPA Honors 2020 ENERGY STAR® Award Winners

 

 

 

EPA Honors 2020 ENERGY STAR® Award Winners

 

WASHINGTON (March 30, 2020) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) are honoring 191 ENERGY STAR partners for their outstanding contributions to public health and the environment. The award winners –including Fortune 500 companies, schools, retailers, manufacturers, home builders, and commercial building owners and operators – have demonstrated national leadership in cost-saving energy efficient solutions. Recipients of the 2020 ENERGY STAR Awards come from 37 states.

"I salute the 2020 ENERGY STAR award winners," said Anne Idsal, EPA Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation. "These leaders demonstrate how energy efficiency drives economic competitiveness in tandem with environmental protection."

For more than 25 years, EPA's ENERGY STAR program has been America's resource for saving energy and protecting the environment. Since 1992, ENERGY STAR and its thousands of partners helped American families and businesses save more than 4 trillion kilowatt-hours of electricity and achieve over 3.5 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas reductions. In 2018 alone, ENERGY STAR and its partners helped Americans avoid nearly $35 billion in energy costs.

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

(New York, Ny.) Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, biopharmaceutical company, reached the ENERGY STAR Challenge for Industry goal with a 10.5% energy intensity reduction at its Humacao site, participated in the inaugural ENERGY STAR Treasure Hunt Campaign, and conducted 14 energy treasure hunts that identified over $12 million in energy and water savings, and reduced its energy intensity by nearly 14% since 2013. 

(San Francisco, Ca.) Digital Realty, a real estate investment trust, achieved ENERGY STAR certification for 30 data centers representing 64% of its U.S. portfolio and benchmarked 100% of its U.S. real estate portfolio with the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager®.

(Orange, Ct.) Energize Connecticut, a statewide energy efficiency initiative (in partnership with Eversource Energy and AVANGRID), promoted ENERGY STAR HVAC and water heating products through many channels (independent and big-box retailers, manufacturers, equipment distributors, and contractors), provided incentives to nearly 27,000 ENERGY STAR certified units, and delivered ENERGY STAR services to 6,600 single-family and 2,350 multifamily residences.  

(Palo Alto, Ca.) HP, a global technology company, certified 96% of eligible products, trained 1,300 HP employees on the value of ENERGY STAR, and integrated ENERGY STAR information into events reaching over 465,000 partners and customers.

(Los Angeles, Ca.) KB Home, a large national home builder, achieved the milestone of more than 137,000 cumulative ENERGY STAR certified homes built to date, more than any other home builder.

(Hoffman Estates, Il.) Kenmore, a home appliance provider, partnered with Bob Vila in an ENERGY STAR promotion that gained 500,000 participants, utilized ENERGY STAR point-of-sale materials, and delivered a web-based ENERGY STAR training to over 90% of sales associates selling ENERGY STAR certified Kenmore brand appliances.

(New York, Ny.) MetLife, a global financial services company, gained ENERGY STAR certification for 25 real estate properties representing over 12 million square feet, delivered real-time energy monitoring dashboards with ENERGY STAR scores to more than 110 investment properties, and promoted ENERGY STAR certified programmable thermostats to MetLife customers.

(Mokena, Il.) Ozinga Bros. Inc., a construction materials and logistics company, built a corporate ENERGY STAR energy management program that reduced energy intensity by 15% in its first year.

(Fairfax, VA) Patuxent Environmental Group (PEG), a home energy rating company, certified more than 5,000 homes as ENERGY STAR in 2019, for a total of more than 78,000 since 2007.

(Tulsa, Ok.) Public Service Company of Oklahoma, an electric utility company, achieved 122% of its energy savings goal by providing incentives for many ENERGY STAR certified products--lighting, appliances, heat pump water heaters, electric vehicle supply equipment, pool pumps, and HVAC equipment--and producing a comprehensive training program involving sales associates, home energy raters, and homebuilders.

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—including more than 40 percent of the Fortune 500®—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 thousands of partners helped American families and businesses save more than 4 trillion kilowatt-hours of electricity and achieve over 3.5 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas reductions. In 2018 alone, ENERGY STAR and its partners helped Americans avoid nearly $35 billion in energy costs. More background information about ENERGY STAR can be found at: https://www.energystar.gov/about and https://www.energystar.gov/about/origins_mission/energy_star_numbers.

 

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EPA Encourages Americans to Only Flush Toilet Paper

 

 

 

EPA Encourages Americans to Only Flush Toilet Paper

 

WASHINGTON (March 30, 2020) — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is encouraging all Americans to only flush toilet paper, not disinfecting wipes or other non-flushable items that should be disposed of in the trash. Flushing only toilet paper helps ensure that the toilets, plumbing, sewer systems and septic systems will continue working properly to safely manage our nation's wastewater. While EPA encourages disinfecting your environment to prevent the spread of COVID-19, never flush disinfecting wipes or other non-flushable items. These easy steps will keep surfaces disinfected and wastewater management systems working for all Americans.

Preventable toilet and sewer backups can pose a threat to human health and present an extra challenge to our water utilities and their workforce. Flushing anything other than toilet paper, including disinfecting wipes, can damage internal plumbing, local sewer systems and septic systems. Fixing these backups is costly and takes time and resources away from ensuring that wastewater management systems are otherwise working properly. EPA thanks wastewater utilities and their workforce for their courageous efforts at a time when resources may be stretched thin. Having fully operational wastewater services is critical to containing COVID-19 and protecting Americans from other public health risks. Our nation's wastewater employees are everyday heroes who are on the frontline of protecting human health and the environment every single day.

For more information, see: https://www.epa.gov/coronavirus.

 

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EPA Encourages Americans to Only Flush Toilet Paper 03/30/2020 Contact Information:  EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov) WASHINGTON (March 30, 2020) — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is encouraging all Americans to only flush toilet paper, not disinfecting wipes or other non-flushable items that should be disposed of in the trash. Flushing only toilet paper helps ensure that the toilets, plumbing, sewer systems and septic systems will continue working properly to safely manage our nation's wastewater. While EPA encourages disinfecting your environment to prevent the spread of COVID-19, never flush disinfecting wipes or other non-flushable items. These easy steps will keep surfaces disinfected and wastewater management systems working for all Americans. Preventable toilet and sewer backups can pose a threat to human health and present an extra challenge to our water utilities and their workforce. Flushing anything other than toilet paper, including disinfecting wipes, can damage internal plumbing, local sewer systems and septic systems. Fixing these backups is costly and takes time and resources away from ensuring that wastewater management systems are otherwise working properly. EPA thanks wastewater utilities and their workforce for their courageous efforts at a time when resources may be stretched thin. Having fully operational wastewater services is critical to containing COVID-19 and protecting Americans from other public health risks. Our nation's wastewater employees are everyday heroes who are on the frontline of protecting human health and the environment every single day. For more information, see https://www.epa.gov/coronavirus.

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EPA Announces Steps to Protect the Availability of Gasoline during COVID-19 Pandemic

 

 

 

EPA Announces Steps to Protect the Availability of Gasoline during COVID-19 Pandemic

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced several steps the Agency is taking to protect the Nation's gasoline supply in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

EPA intends to provide additional flexibility to the marketplace to transition from winter-grade, high volatility gasoline to summer-grade low vapor pressure gasoline. Due to the steep fall-off in gasoline demand as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, gasoline storage capacity is limited and more time is needed to transition the distribution system in order to come into compliance for the summer driving season. EPA will temporarily waive the summer low volatility requirements and blending limitations for gasoline.

Without a waiver of the summer gasoline requirements, parties upstream of retailers and wholesale purchasers would be required to stop selling the winter gasoline sitting in their storage tanks on May 1, 2020, which would prevent them from loading summer gasoline into the storage tanks, resulting in a shortage of gasoline. By waiving the low volatility and blending limitations through May 20, 2020, EPA will ensure a steady supply of gasoline. EPA will continue to monitor the adequacy of gasoline supplies and, should conditions warrant, may modify or extend this waiver at a later date.

Additionally, EPA does not intend to unilaterally revisit or rescind any previously granted small refinery exemptions issued for prior compliance years. As noted in the temporary policy on COVID-19 Implications for EPA's Enforcement and Assurance Program, issued yesterday, EPA is focused on protecting our employees and ensuring continued protection of public health and the environment from acute or imminent threats during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, investigating and initiating enforcement actions against small refineries that were previously subject to an exemption is a low priority for the agency. EPA intends to develop an appropriate implementation and enforcement response to the Tenth Circuit's decision in RFA v. EPA once appeals have been resolved and the court's mandate has been issued.

Finally, in a forthcoming action, EPA intends to extend the RFS compliance date for small refineries to provide them with additional flexibility.  

 

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EPA Urges States to Support Drinking Water and Wastewater Operations during COVID-19

 

 

 

 

EPA Urges States to Support Drinking Water and Wastewater Operations during COVID-19

 

WASHINGTON --- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler sent a letter to Governors in all 50 states, territories and Washington, D.C. urging them to ensure that drinking water and wastewater employees are considered essential workers by state authorities when enacting restrictions such as shelter in place orders to curb the spread of COVID-19. Supporting water utilities as they work to provide clean water for drinking and handwashing is essential during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Ensuring that all Americans have clean and safe water is a high priority for the agency and I want to thank the water sector for their courageous efforts at a time when workforces are being challenged and stretched," said Administrator Andrew Wheeler. "Having fully operational drinking water and wastewater services is critical to containing COVID-19 and protecting Americans from other public health risks. Our nation's water and wastewater employees are everyday heroes who are on the frontline of protecting human health and the environment every single day."

Over the past two days, Administrator Wheeler has held teleconferences with water sector stakeholders, including small and rural operators, to acknowledge the importance of their work and identify ways that EPA and its partners can support the sector during the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of these meetings, the Administrator discussed the importance of the steps he outlined in his letter to Governors to ensure that state and local communities consider the water workforce as essential in the process of granting access and credentials to restricted areas in order to sustain critical water and wastewater services. They also discussed the importance of supply chain businesses, including chemical manufacturers and distributors. These businesses support the daily operations of the nation's water and wastewater facilities and should also be designated as essential.

"The Association of State Drinking Water Administrators appreciates EPA recognizing the critical role of states and water system play in ensuring the delivery of safe drinking water to the public," said ASDWA Executive Director Alan Roberson. "Continuing the ongoing partnership between EPA, states, water systems and the public is as important as ever during these challenging times."

"Small community water and wastewater systems are the lifeblood of rural and tribal communities across the country. With more than 97 percent of public water systems and 72 percent of public wastewater systems serving communities of 10,000 people or fewer, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will reverberate in rural and tribal communities for years to come," said CEO of the Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP) Nathan Ohle. "We are grateful to be able to bring the voice of small communities to discussions like this with EPA, and greatly appreciate the opportunity to ensure that small system issues are raised and addressed."

"National and State Rural Water Associations have implemented emergency protocols to bring the full range of capabilities and resources to assist small systems for the duration of the pandemic," said Deputy CEO, National Rural Water Association Matthew Holmes. "Literally hundreds of certified operators have volunteered to assist their neighboring systems in case of workforce shortages. NRWA acknowledges that any emergency affecting critical water and wastewater utilities places heightened stresses on the professionals responsible for the public's safety. My expectation is that these individuals will rise to meet the challenges facing our Nation, and they all deserve increased recognition and gratitude for the service they provide each and every day."

"Water professionals are doing heroic work to keep water flowing and that assure that citizens stay hydrated, wash their hands and prevent the spread of COVID-19," said American Water Works Association CEO David LaFrance. "Our preliminary research shows that nearly half of water utilities either already have plans to assure essential workers can live on-site at their jobs or are considering developing those plans. Water workers are literally saving lives, and we owe them our gratitude and support."

Background

EPA has also posted new information and resources that water stakeholders-including states, municipalities, utilities and their workforce-can use to support operations during the pandemic. For example, on the website, the agency is summarizing resources that can support utilities, including by helping maintain adequate staffing and laboratory capacity. Included in the materials is an incident action checklist to support water utilities as they prepare for, respond to, and recover from a pandemic. While most water systems already have continuity plans in place as part of best-management practices, EPA recommends that states work with their utilities to review these plans and to keep up with the latest announcements on COVID-19.

Additionally, EPA supports states and cities that are taking proactive measures to ensure continued access to clean water during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many drinking water systems are discontinuing service cut-offs, restoring service to customers whose service was previously cut-off, and refraining from imposing penalties for nonpayment. EPA recommends widespread adoption of these practices, which provide critical support for public health.

For the latest information from EPA about COVID-19 and water, see: www.epa.gov/coronavirus.

 

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