ICYMI: BuzzFeed: The EPA Just Announced An Unprecedented $50 Million Environmental Justice Push

Hello -- in case you missed it, BuzzFeed has a write-up of the news out of EPA today on $50 million in environmental justice funding through the American Rescue Plan, which Administrator Regan announced today in Baltimore, Maryland.   The EPA Just Announced An Unprecedented $50 Million Environmental Justice Push (EXIT) "This is the most aggressive approach to tackling environmental injustice and equity issues," EPA Administrator Michael Regan told BuzzFeed News. (Zahra Hirji, BuzzFeed News Reporter) The Environmental Protection Agency unveiled $50 million in new funding on Friday to help low-income and communities of color most impacted by pollution, the climate crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the Biden administration's first big spending blitz on environmental justice, which has formed a cornerstone of his climate policy. And it represents a dramatic increase in funding on an issue largely ignored by the Trump administration. "This is the most aggressive approach to tackling environmental injustice and equity issues," EPA Administrator Michael Regan told BuzzFeed News ahead of Friday's announcement. "And from the White House to the EPA, we are turning the words into action and we are really excited to get these resources into the hands of communities." Congress allocated $100 million to the EPA to go towards environmental justice initiatives as part of the latest COVID aid package, the American Rescue Plan signed into law in March. Friday's funding announcement identified how the first half of that money will be spent, and the agency plans to share details on the next $50 million later this summer. The largest chunk of the money — $16.6 million — will go to environmental justice grants to help cities, states, tribes, and territories to fund education on pollution's impacts on the environment and public health, as well as training community members to get jobs in the environmental sector. "What we've all seen firsthand is that COVID-19 has magnified the daily injustices facing communities of color, low income communities, the same communities that will suffer disproportionately from climate change, who face higher rates of heart and lung disease," Regan said. Some studies have suggested that people living in places across the country with dirty air are more likely to die from COVID-19 than those living with less pollution. Coming in as the first Black man to serve as EPA administrator, Regan vowed to make environmental justice a priority, just as he had in his previous role as the head of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality. For Mustafa Santigao Ali, the former EPA environmental justice head under the Obama administration, this funding announcement is long overdue. The Trump administration curbed pollution enforcement, watered down car and power plant pollution rules, and even suspended diversity training programs, all of which "actually deepened and widened the sacrifice zones across the country," Ali said. "It's great to see for the first time there's going to be significant resources for these various sets of programs," he said, adding that today's funding levels are "magnitudes larger" than what he had to work with at the agency. Regan is announcing this new funding from a water filtration plant in Baltimore, noting that $200,000 is going to a program there called YH20 that trains people from diverse backgrounds to get jobs in water management. Since launching in 2015, YH20 has trained nearly 100 people between the ages of 18 and 24 in local water management. Upwards of 85 of them are still working within Baltimore's Department of Public Works, according to Yolanda Winkler, who helps run the mentoring and training program. The money from the EPA will help the program "expand in a real and serious way," Winkler said, including increasing how many people can participate. "YH20 and organizations like them are the perfect organizations to receive the money, to not only relieve the pressure that has been exacerbated by COVID-19, but to relieve pressures that have been present for generations," Regan said. Some of the additional grant money will go to groups including the Tohono O'odham Tribal Nation in Arizona to help develop plans to address air quality problems, the Alabama Department of Environmental Management to boost awareness about air pollution and disinfectants, and the Los Angeles, California housing authority to fund a pilot program boosting worker awareness about asthma. Additionally, $7 million is going to the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act rebate program to fund electric school buses in underserved communities, $5.1 million is going to expand civil and criminal enforcement of air and water polluters, and $5 million is going to help cleanup brownfield sites. And to help the EPA, which lost hundreds of employees during the prior four years, about $1 million of the money is going towards "administrative costs." "A lot of it will go to shoring up our basic infrastructure to make sure we have equity and environmental justice included" in the agency's work, Regan said. But he acknowledged that even more resources are needed for the EPA to truly address these issues, and hopes the president's proposed 2022 budget goes further to help fill the gaps.

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EPA News: EPA, District of Columbia Leaders Discuss Lead in Drinking Water

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: R3ress@epa.gov  EPA, District of Columbia Leaders Discuss Lead in Drinking Water PHILADELPHIA (June 25, 2021) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency hosted a roundtable with organizers representing Washington, D.C., to highlight the experience of this community with lead in drinking water. This roundtable discussion, along with nine others being held across the country, is vital to informing EPA's review of the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) revisions to ensure that the rule is grounded in the experience of communities that are most at-risk of exposure to lead in drinking water. "While the number of the District's children testing high for lead-in-blood levels has been dramatically reduced over the past decade, the Bowser Administration's goal is to get to zero and I believe we have a path to get there," said Tommy Wells, Secretary of D.C.'s Department of Energy and Environment. "DC Water has taken many important steps—from locating lead service lines and making their locations publicly available to removing lead pipes from DC communities," said Acting EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Diana Esher. "Addressing lead in drinking water requires partnerships and I want to thank the community groups that organized this roundtable for their leadership." Participants included local officials, D.C. Water, the D.C. Department of Energy and Environment, D.C. Environmental Network, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and Earthjustice. Additional information on the virtual roundtable, including how to watch a recording, is available at: https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/lead-and-copper-rule-revisions-virtual-engagements. Background Lead can cause irreversible and life-long health effects, including decreasing IQ, focus, and academic achievement. EPA is committed to following the best science to address lead in the nation's drinking water and will take the appropriate time to review the LCR Revisions and make sure communities that have been impacted the most are protected. In March of this year, EPA announced an extension of the effective date of the Revised Lead and Copper Rule so that the agency could seek further public input on the rule. The agency hosted virtual public listening sessions on April 28, 2021, and May 5, 2021. On May 26, 2021, EPA announced the 10 communities that were selected for virtual roundtable discussions on EPA's LCR Revisions. Members of the public may also submit comments via the docket at: http://www.regulations.gov, Docket ID: EPA-HQ-OW-2021-0255 until July 30, 2021.                                                                    # # #

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EPA Announces $50 Million to Fund Environmental Justice Initiatives Under the American Rescue Plan

EPA Announces $50 Million to Fund Environmental Justice Initiatives Under the American Rescue Plan WASHINGTON (June 25, 2021) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced that it will provide $50 million dollars for Environmental Justice (EJ) initiatives through funds allocated to EPA under the American Rescue Plan (ARP). In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress designated this funding for grants, contracts, and other agency activities that identify and address disproportionate environmental or public health harms and risks in underserved communities through a range of local initiatives.    "We know how important it is to put funding to work in environmentally overburdened, economically underserved areas, and today we're excited to let our communities know that thanks to the American Rescue Plan, help is here," said Administrator Michael S. Regan. "EPA is drawing on its many years of experience working with communities and organizations that strive for environmental justice to ensure these funds will deliver real-world results for those who need it most."     At an event today at the Ashburton Filtration Plant in Baltimore, Maryland, Administrator Regan announced that $200,000 is going to the YH2O mentoring program in Baltimore City – an on-the-job training program that prepares young adults to be employed in full-time jobs within the water industry. Participants are involved in water quality monitoring, sampling, and reporting as they develop skills to improve water quality in urban and rural communities and ultimately transition into water infrastructure jobs.     Moving forward, EPA will also work to award an additional $50 million provided under the ARP for enhanced air quality monitoring, including plans to use a portion of these funds to solicit proposals from community groups, state, local and tribal air agencies to conduct monitoring of pollutants of greatest concern in communities with health outcome disparities.    "Taking on environmental injustice is necessary for present and future generations to thrive. I thank the EPA for recognizing this and bolstering our local efforts to build a cleaner, greener, more equitable Baltimore. This investment will support Baltimore YH2O, a six-month program that extends opportunity to young adults through full-time employment in the water industry," said Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott.   "We must always see investments in our infrastructure as investments in our communities, including not only roads and bridges and pipes and drains, but also people. Infrastructure means jobs. Infrastructure means opportunities – opportunities to make a lasting difference, and opportunities to learn and refine the skills on which strong careers are built. That's why I am excited to help underscore the importance of the EPA American Rescue Plan grant announced today to the Baltimore DPW YH20 mentoring program, which prepares young adults for full-time jobs in the drinking water and wastewater services industry.  These are exactly the type of targeted, community-focused investments we need to continue making in this city and country alike," said Senator Ben Cardin.    "Every Marylander needs access to clean, safe drinking water. This federal investment will support critical workforce training in preventing and reducing water pollution, which will not only help us protect public health by ensuring safe drinking water but also prepare more Marylanders for careers in this field. I was proud to help secure these funds within the American Rescue Plan and will continue working in Congress and with Administrator Regan to provide resources to upgrade our water infrastructure and address environmental inequities across our state," said Senator Chris Van Hollen.     "The Hogan Administration is proud of the environmental progress we're making and the bipartisan partnerships we're building with EPA Administrator Regan and Congress on clean water and energy infrastructure, public health, environmental equity, community revitalization, and green jobs in Maryland," said Maryland Secretary of the Environment Ben Grumbles.    "Clean air and clean water should be American birthrights. President Biden and Vice President Harris share this perspective and are committed to having the EPA active in every community across America, no matter the zip code. I welcome their presence in my District and their grant toward mentoring programs in Baltimore," said Congressman Kweisi Mfume.     "The American Rescue Plan provides dedicated federal funding to support projects in Baltimore and across the country that advance environmental justice and equity. Too many communities in America have been denied equal access to clean drinking water, healthy air and accessible green spaces. Working closely with the Biden Administration and my colleagues in Congress, I will continue to prioritize environmental justice efforts that lift up every community and improve the health and well-being of all Americans," said Congressman John Sarbanes.    "The American Rescue Plan continues to deliver for communities like Baltimore – in this case, by providing young adults the opportunity to receive on-the-job-training for careers in the water infrastructure industry. This effort is a smart, common sense way to create quality jobs so that more Marylanders can support their families today while ensuring our communities have safe roads, bridges and pipelines for the economy of the future," said Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger. EPA is assisting under-resourced communities by quickly getting out ARP funding to leverage important programs that improve air quality, drinking water, revitalization of brownfields, diesel emissions from buses in low income communities and communities of color. Under EPA's State Environmental Justice Cooperative Agreement (SEJCA) program, the agency is awarding its first competitive grants focusing directly on the unequal impacts the COVID-19 pandemic has had on communities of color, low income communities, and other vulnerable populations. Projects include training, developing citizen-science tools, pollution monitoring, and educational campaigns to enable EJ advocates, scientists, and decision-makers to address pollution and create thriving communities.   Funding currently being distributed totals approximately $2.8 million for 14 EJ-focused projects, with more to be announced soon throughout the country. In addition to the Baltimore City grant, today's announcement includes funding for the following projects in underserved communities:  City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin – for outreach and education through a Healthy People, Homes and Neighborhood campaign.  City of Fort Collins, Colorado – for a housing intervention program targeting indoor air quality.  South Coast Air Quality Management District, California – to establish an Air Quality Academy to provide resources and training to improve environmental literacy and air quality data.  Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles, California – for a community health worker pilot program on asthma awareness.  Public Health-Seattle & King County, Washington – for community health worker training on healthy homes and home assessments.  Tohono O'odham Tribal Nation, Arizona – for developing local plans to address air quality issues.   Virginia Department of Environmental Quality – for developing and implementing an EJ training academy and EJ map-based tool.  Alabama Department of Environmental Management – for public education on air pollution and disinfectants.  City of Houston, Texas – to launch the Houston Inspires/Houston Inspira public education campaign to creatively engage with communities about clean air and COVID-19.  City of Madison, WI – to implement Intervene Against COVID-19, a public education, training, and emergency planning program.  City of Hartford Department of Health and Human Services, Connecticut – to implement a new strategy to increase outreach on asthma and environmental hazards.  City of San Pablo, CA – to deploy an afterschool internship program for disadvantaged high school students to raise awareness and mitigate the impacts of COVID-19.  Massachusetts Department of Health – to support the Asthma Prevention and Control Program which seeks to improve asthma outcomes in multiple underserved communities.  The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 was signed into law in March 11, 2021. It provides funds to address health outcome disparities from pollution and the COVID–19 pandemic. To learn more about the ARP, visit: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/1319/text    EPA is also announcing today for the first time how the agency will distribute the $50 million in ARP funds. A breakdown is provided below:  $16,650,000 will be used to fund EJ grants. This includes State EJ Cooperative Agreement awards (SEJCA), EJ collaborative problem-solving (EJCPS), and EJ small grants (EJSG). Tribes and territories are eligible for each of these programs and the application requests have closed for this fiscal year. This funding also helps with capacity building, training and assessments, the Puerto Rico drinking water systems capacity assessment, and a new Appalachia Initiative for Revitalization. It will provide technical assistance and environmental youth STEM training in overburdened communities.  $7,000,000 will fund a tailored use of the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) rebate program to address priority EJ issues for reducing diesel pollution. This DERA rebate program will fund electric school buses using screening criteria with the goal of reaching fleets in underserved communities with multiple air quality and health challenges.   $5,130,000 will be used to expand civil and criminal enforcement to include monitoring near low-income communities and drinking water sources for pollution including air toxics and hazardous metals. It also supports EJ analyses related to oil and gas production and refining, along with support for environmental crime victim outreach.  $5,000,000 will help communities tackle the challenge of assessing, cleaning up and preparing brownfield sites for redevelopment.  $4,850,000 will go to children's health issues and will fund the Children's Healthy Learning Environments Grant and Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units (PEHSUs). PEHSUs build capacity in vulnerable communities to reduce children's environmental exposures in child-occupied settings and address children's COVID-19 environmental health risks.   $4,700,000 will be used for drinking water and compliance monitoring in rural and tribal areas. This supports small and underserved public water systems and wastewater treatment facilities through in-person technical assistance, including a circuit rider program, and supports integrating EJ into EPA permit-writing.   $2,150,000 will support the agency's community driven solutions effort to collaboratively build community capacity to address air and water issues in underserved communities. Specialized technical assistance will help align school reopening investments with clean air and neighborhood cooling shelter needs and promote equitable resilience and revitalization.  $1,600,000 will support the Tribal General Assistance Program. This program supports efforts by tribes to engage their community members on priority EJ water and air quality issues. Tribes and indigenous organizations will also be eligible for all the above support mechanisms.   $720,000 will be used to enhance the development of EJSCREEN, the EJ analysis tool and support related resources.  $700,000 is allocated for a climate protection program to advance data analytics work in the Office of Air and Radiation to identify cumulative burdens and improve equity outcomes for vulnerable communities, and to advance regulatory analytics and policy modeling to better incorporate environmental justice considerations.  $500,000 will support new methods of outreach and support for those performing analysis and outreach related to critical EJ issues in the oil and gas sector.   $1,000,000 will be used for administrative costs pursuant to the 2% reserved in the law for this purpose.

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EPA News: East Coast Diesel of Jonestown, Pa. settles alleged environmental violations

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: R3press@epa.gov   East Coast Diesel of Jonestown, Pa. settles alleged violations involving aftermarket devices for diesel trucks   PHILADELPHIA (June 22, 2021) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today that East Coast Diesel, a vehicle parts distributor in Jonestown, Pennsylvania, will pay a $20,000 penalty for allegedly selling aftermarket devices that were designed to defeat the emissions control systems of heavy-duty diesel engines. The company's actions allegedly violated the Clean Air Act's prohibition on the sale of so-called "defeat devices," which are designed to "bypass, defeat or render inoperative" a motor vehicle engine's air pollution control equipment or systems. The facility is located at 529 Shirksville Road in Jonestown, and the company also operates a website for sales of aftermarket diesel truck performance upgrade products. Illegally modified vehicles and engines contribute substantial excess pollution that harms public health and impedes efforts by EPA, tribes, states and local agencies to attain air quality standards. Clean Air Act penalties take into account various factors such as the seriousness and duration of the violations, size of the business, the penalty's impact on the business, compliance history, good faith efforts, and economic benefit of past non-compliance. As part of the settlement, the company has certified it is now in compliance with applicable requirements. This enforcement action is part of EPA's National Compliance Initiative for Stopping Aftermarket Defeat Devices for Vehicles and Engines. Today's vehicles emit far less pollution than vehicles of the past. This is made possible by careful engine calibrations, and the use of filters and catalysts in the exhaust system. Aftermarket defeat devices undo this progress and pollute the air we breathe. EPA testing has shown that a truck's emissions increase drastically (tens or hundreds of times, depending on the pollutant) when its emissions controls are removed. For more information on this initiative, visit: https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/national-compliance-initiative-stopping-aftermarket-defeat-devices-vehicles-and-engines . #          #          #

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EPA Continues to Protect Community by Requiring Additional Monitoring of Emissions from Limetree Bay

CONTACT: senn.john@epa.gov EPA Continues to Protect Community by Requiring Additional Monitoring of Emissions from Limetree Bay Refinery on St. Croix NEW YORK (June 17, 2021) – In its ongoing efforts to protect overburdened communities from pollution, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced that it is establishing air monitoring requirements that Limetree Bay Terminals, LLC and Limetree Bay Refining, LLC must meet regarding the company's refinery on St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Repeated, recent incidents at the facility have raised significant health concerns and reinforced the need for air monitors to be in place and operational. The Limetree refinery is in a community that is disproportionately affected by environmental burdens and addressing environmental justice issues is a priority for EPA. "This monitoring will provide important information about emissions coming from the operations at Limetree's refinery," said EPA acting Regional Administrator Walter Mugdan. "EPA is in close touch with this community to be responsive to serious pollution concerns, and we will not hesitate to use our authority to ensure companies like Limetree Bay come into compliance with laws that protect clean air. At the same time, we recognize the economic importance of this business on St. Croix, and EPA stands ready to assist Limetree in understanding its compliance obligations." In a June 16, 2021 letter to Limetree, issued under Section 114 of the Clean Air Act, EPA is directing Limetree to develop and submit within 15 days a plan to install, operate and maintain nine hydrogen sulfide (H2S) monitors and nine sulfur dioxide (SO2) monitors on St. Croix. Five of the SO2 monitors are already required by a preexisting permit. The other four SO2 monitors and all nine of the H2S monitors are being newly required. EPA's May 14, 2021 administrative order under Section 303 of the Clean Air Act requires Limetree to arrange for an independent auditor to evaluate the refinery's compliance with environmental requirements. EPA is working to lend relief and assistance to the surrounding St. Croix community members, many of whom have been sickened by some of the releases from the refinery. On May 12, Limetree temporarily stopped certain refinery operations following a series of incidents that included exceedances of limits for SO2 and H2S, endangering the health and welfare of nearby communities. To read the EPA directive requiring the additional monitors, visit: https://www.epa.gov/vi/limetree-bay-terminals-and-limetree-bay-refining-llc Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter at http://twitter.com/eparegion2 and visit our Facebook page, http://facebook.com/eparegion2 21-044                                                                         ###

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New York Ranks in Top 10 U.S. Cities with Energy Star Certified Buildings

CONTACT: mcbay.stephen@epa.gov   New York Ranks in Top 10 U.S. Cities with Energy Star Certified Buildings Energy efficiency helps cut energy costs while reducing emissions NEW YORK (June 17, 2021) – The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released its most recent annual "Top Cities" list, spotlighting the cities with the largest number of ENERGY STAR certified commercial and multifamily buildings last year. New York made the national "Top Ten," scoring the fifth spot on the list with 276 ENERGY STAR certified buildings. "Cities and communities play an essential role in reducing energy use in commercial and multifamily buildings," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. "With help from ENERGY STAR, city leaders and building owners are working together to strengthen their economies and reduce the emissions that lead to climate change." "New York City's path to carbon neutrality cannot exist without making our built environment more energy-efficient, sustainable, and comfortable for all New Yorkers," said Ben Furnas, Director of the NYC Mayor's Office of Climate and Sustainability. "Being one of the leading cities in energy performance year after year reaffirms our ambitious approach to curbing greenhouse gas emissions. Thank you to the EPA for this recognition and vote of confidence." Commercial buildings are responsible for 18 percent of the nation's energy use and cost more than $190 billion per year in energy bills. ENERGY STAR certified buildings use an average of 35 percent less energy and are responsible for 35 percent less carbon dioxide emissions than typical buildings. First released in 2009, EPA's list of cities with the most ENERGY STAR certified buildings shows how buildings across America are embracing energy efficiency as a simple and effective way to save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. To create the annual list, EPA tallies the number of ENERGY STAR certified buildings within each metropolitan area, as defined by the U.S. Census. These areas include the city itself as well as surrounding suburbs. This year's Top Cities are: Rank Metro Area Building Count Last Year's Rank 1 Los Angeles 587 1 2 Washington, DC 549 2 3 San Francisco 341 6 4 Atlanta 329 4 5 New York 276 5 6 Chicago 237 7 7 Houston 195 10 8 Dallas 194 3 9 Boston 193 11 10 Denver 186 9 11 Seattle 165 13 12 San Diego 164 13 13 Riverside, Calif. 152 12 13 Tampa 152 16 15 Minneapolis 133 19 16 Phoenix 119 8 17 Austin 107 17 18 San Jose 104 18 19 Charlotte 103 23 20 Miami 87 21 20 Philadelphia 87 15 22 Sacramento 77 22 23 Portland 65 n/a 24 Raleigh 54 n/a 25 San Antonio 42 n/a Across the country, nearly 6,500 commercial buildings earned the ENERGY STAR last year. As of the end of 2020, over the lifetime of the program, more than 37,000 buildings across America had earned EPA's ENERGY STAR certification. Together, these buildings have saved more than $5 billion on energy bills and prevented nearly 22 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions—equal to the annual emissions of more than 2.6 million homes.  To earn EPA's ENERGY STAR, a commercial building must earn an ENERGY STAR score of 75 or higher on EPA's 1 – 100 scale, indicating that it is more energy efficient than 75 percent of similar buildings nationwide. When calculating a building's ENERGY STAR score, ENERGY STAR takes into account multiple factors, including hours of operation, energy use, and occupancy. This means that, despite buildings operating differently during the COVID pandemic, ENERGY STAR scores and certification still reflect actual, measured energy efficiency. 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 nearly 40 percent of Fortune 500®—rely on their partnership with EPA to deliver cost-saving energy efficiency solutions. Together, since 1992, ENERGY STAR and its partners have helped American families and businesses save 5 trillion kilowatt-hours of electricity, avoid more than $450 billion in energy costs, and achieve 4 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas reductions, all through voluntary action. Learn more about ENERGY STAR at https://www.energystar.gov/about More on ENERGY STAR Top Cities, including the 2021 ranking of top small and mid-sized cities, as well as last year's rankings: https://www.energystar.gov/buildings/about_us/newsroom/2021_top_cities Search for ENERGY STAR certified buildings: https://www.energystar.gov/buildings/reference/find-energy-star-certified-buildings-and-plants/registry-energy-star-certified-buildings More about earning the ENERGY STAR certification for commercial buildings: https://www.energystar.gov/buildings/building_recognition/building_certification Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter at http://twitter.com/eparegion2 and visit our Facebook page, http://facebook.com/eparegion2   21-043

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EPA Announces $500,000 in Supplemental Funds to Cleanup and Redevelop Contaminated Brownfields Sites

CONTACT: senn.john@epa.gov EPA Announces $500,000 in Supplemental Funds to Cleanup and Redevelop Contaminated Brownfields Sites in Niagara County NEW YORK (June 16, 2021) — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing $11.6 million in supplemental funding to help transform communities by cleaning up contaminated brownfields properties with $500,000 going to the Niagara County Center for Economic Development in New York. The funding will be provided to 27 communities that have demonstrated success in using their previously awarded Brownfields Revolving Loan Funding (RLF) grants to clean up and redevelop brownfield sites, and the Niagara County Center for Economic Development is the only recipient of this type of funding in New York this year. This investment is an important part of the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to address environmental justice issues in underserved communities. "Many of the brownfields cleanups supported by EPA's Revolving Loan Funding are in economically disadvantaged communities where environmental cleanup and jobs are needed most, including in Niagara County," said EPA acting Regional Administrator Walter Mugdan. "The Niagara County Center for Economic Development has for years been dedicated to making the county's brownfields program highly-successful and a standard for others to emulate across New York." Niagara County Legislature Chairwoman Rebecca Wydysh stated: "Niagara County continues to work towards transforming our brownfields from community liabilities into assets. Through Niagara County's Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund Program, 14 properties have been remediated, environmental contamination addressed, and new economic opportunities created.  The newest grant award will be used to provide low interest loans to carry out cleanup activities at brownfield sites in the County. We look forward to continuing our strong partnership with the USEPA and thank them for recognizing Niagara County's successful brownfield program." The supplemental funding awarded to Niagara County will be used for the cleanup of the former Military Road School and will result in redevelopment into the first senior assisted living complex in the Town of Niagara allowing elderly residents to stay in the community. The project will create 100 construction jobs and 20 new jobs. Green building design is proposed with pedestrian connections to a neighboring commercial plaza, town park, and community center. Brownfield RLF grants enable funding for communities to provide loans and sub-grants for cleanup activities at brownfield sites. When loans are repaid, the loan amount is returned into the fund and re-lent to other borrowers, providing an ongoing source of capital within a community. To date, EPA's RLF grantees across the country have completed 794 cleanups and attracted approximately 48,000 jobs and $16.2 billion in public and private funding. Today's supplemental funds will help communities keep the cleanup momentum going so that more cleanups can be completed. Each grantee will receive from $200,000 to $500,000. Background: Since 1995, EPA's Brownfields Program has provided nearly $1.6 billion in Brownfield Grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse. To date, these brownfields investments have leveraged more than $34.5 billion in cleanup and redevelopment in communities across the country. Over the years, the relatively small investment of federal funding has leveraged, from both public and private sources, more than 176,800 jobs. For more information on EPA's Revolving Loan Fund program: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/brownfields-revolving-loan-fund-rlf-grants For more information on EPA's Brownfields program: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields   21-042                                                                                   ###

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