EPA Names City of Chesapeake Central Fleet Management WasteWise Partner of the Year for Local Gov't

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EPA Names City of Chesapeake Central Fleet Management WasteWise Partner of the Year for Local Government

PHILADELPHIA (Jan. 31, 2022) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has recognized the accomplishments of the City of Chesapeake, Virginia, Central Fleet Management as one of 20 WasteWise National Partners of the Year. These national award winners for 2020 and 2021 prevented and diverted close to 408,000 tons of waste that would otherwise have been disposed of in landfills or incinerators, increasing global greenhouse gas emissions.  Instead, they saved over $22.5 million in landfill tipping fees and prevented climate and other environmental impacts.

The City of Chesapeake Central Fleet Management, winning the Waste Wise Partner of the Year Award for Local Government, recycles five items in the current program: scrap metal, used oil, used tires, mixed recyclables and antifreeze. In 2019, Central Fleet Management recycled 311,020 pounds of scrap metal, mixed recyclables, and tires; as well as 5,750 gallons of used oil and antifreeze. 

The city is also making every effort to only purchase new hybrid vehicles or operate on alternative fuels – 41 percent of the vehicles in the 1,495-vehicle fleet run on alternative fuel. Since starting the recycling and environmental program in 2005, City of Chesapeake Central Fleet Management has saved the city over $1.1 million. 

"EPA applauds the courage, innovation and knowledge of the City of Chesapeake Central Fleet Management" said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. "By creatively developing and implementing solutions to reduce waste, they and our other partners are reducing the effects of climate change, and conserving natural resources; the importance of which cannot be overstated."

EPA recognizes WasteWise partners in several data categories for the best overall improvement in waste prevention and recycling activities when compared to the previous year. This year, EPA also recognizes winners in narrative categories who achieved exemplary waste reductions in their organizations and businesses.

The WasteWise award winners achieved noteworthy accomplishments, such as reprocessing N95 respirators, implementing Sustainable Purchasing Guidelines at a university, and reusing shipping containers for return trips to avoid waste.

For more information and to learn about WasteWise https://www.epa.gov/smm/wastewise

 

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EPA Names Delaware River and Bay Authority WasteWise Partner of the Year for State Government

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EPA Names Delaware River and Bay Authority WasteWise Partner of the Year for State Government

PHILADELPHIA (Jan. 31, 2022) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized the accomplishments of the Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA) as one of 20 WasteWise National Partners of the Year. These national award winners for 2020 and 2021 prevented and diverted close to 408,000 tons of waste that would otherwise have been disposed of in landfills or incinerators, increasing global greenhouse gas emissions.  Instead, they saved over $22.5 million in landfill tipping fees and prevented climate and other environmental impacts.

DRBA which won the Partner of the Year award for State Government, is a multifaceted transportation authority responsible for a network of bridges crossed by 35 million vehicles annually, three ferries carrying 800,000 passengers per year, and five regional airports in two states.  DRBA prides itself as an organization connecting people and places in the heart of the northeast corridor that recognizes the importance of sound environmental practices in delivering these services.

Over the past six years, DRBA has increased its focus on resource conservation. In 2020, the authority reduced various waste streams and recycled over 4 million pounds of waste. DRBA increased the amount of waste material they recycle to 25 unique commodities, including aluminum, asphalt, lead acid and NiCad batteries, cardboard, concrete, e-waste electronics, oil filters, parts washer fluids, polycarbonate plastic, used cooking oil, aerosol cans, shredded paper, used motor oil, scrap metal, soil, spent lamps, tires, wood pallets, and vegetative waste. The program's growth is tied to collaboration with employees, the public and suppliers through measurement, education, working together, and advancing sustainable business practices.

"Eco-design features, intelligent procurement, and sustainable business practices are our long-term vision, said Albert Fralinger III, DRBA Environment, Health & Safety Manager. "It's a credit to our employees who have embraced our ongoing environmental sustainability efforts and to our partners for their assistance in building on past successes. We will continue to pursue opportunities and initiatives that reduce our carbon footprint and have a positive impact on our environment."

As one of EPA's longest-running voluntary programs, WasteWise celebrated its 27th year in 2021. Over the years, WasteWise partners prevented and diverted close to 249 million tons of waste from landfills and incinerators, preventing more than 488 million tons of associated greenhouse gas emissions, and saving more than  $13.7 billion in avoided landfill tipping fees.

"EPA applauds the courage, innovation and knowledge of the Delaware River and Bay Authority," said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. "By creatively developing and implementing solutions to reduce waste during a global health crisis, they and our other partners are reducing the effects of climate change and conserving natural resources; the importance of which cannot be overstated."

EPA recognizes WasteWise partners in several data categories for the best overall improvement in waste prevention and recycling activities when compared to the previous year. This year, EPA also recognizes winners in narrative categories who achieved exemplary waste reductions in their organizations and businesses.

The WasteWise award winners achieved noteworthy accomplishments, such as reprocessing N95 respirators, implementing Sustainable Purchasing Guidelines at a university, and reusing shipping containers for return trips to avoid waste.

For More information and to learn about WasteWise https://www.epa.gov/smm/wastewise

 
 

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La EPA y Justicia Federal invitan a someter comentarios públicos sobre la orden preliminar sobre el vertedero del Municipio de Toa Alta

Issued: Jan 31, 2022 (9:24am EST)

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La EPA y Justicia Federal invitan a someter comentarios públicos sobre la orden preliminar sobre el vertedero del Municipio de Toa Alta

La EPA y Justicia Federal llevarán a cabo una reunión pública el 23 de febrero de 2022

Contacto: Stephen McBay, (212)-637-3672, mcbay.stephen@epa.gov

NUEVA YORK (31 de enero de 2022) – Hoy, la Agencia de Protección Ambiental de los EE. UU. (EPA, por sus siglas en inglés) y el Departamento de Justicia de los EE. UU. (DOJ) emitieron un anuncio público para dar inicio a un proceso de comentario público sobre la orden preliminar de resolución estipulada que exigiría al Municipio de Toa Alta implantar una serie de medidas para atender inmediatamente los problemas serios que tiene su vertedero.  Es un paso inusual el que se da aquí al procurar obtener comentarios sobre una orden preliminar de resolución estipulada a fin de asegurar que la EPA y el DOJ integran los comentarios de la comunidad que se ha visto históricamente impactada por las operaciones de este vertedero.

Para comenzar a recibir los comentarios públicos, la EPA y el DOJ emitieron hoy un resumen en inglés y español de los términos que se están considerando para la orden y solicita comentarios por escrito en o antes del 4 de marzo de 2022. La EPA también llevará a cabo una reunión pública el 23 de febrero para explicar las opciones para abordar las condiciones del vertedero y recibir comentarios del público. 

"Estamos dando este paso necesario de obtener comentarios porque esta comunidad ha sufrido demasiado tiempo por las operaciones de este vertedero", señaló Lisa F. García, administradora regional." La EPA está trabajando para abordar los problemas y agradecemos que el municipio está dispuesto a aceptar tomar medidas inmediatas para abordar los problemas peores y más urgentes. Queremos emitir una orden de resolución sólida que sirva para comenzar a encauzar este vertedero inmediatamente a medida que continuamos negociando una solución a más largo plazo."

Los términos que se consideran para el vertedero apuntan a implementar medidas para proteger la salud pública y el medioambiente a corto plazo y posicionar al Municipio de Toa Alta para cerrar completamente el vertedero, de manera segura y permanente bajo la supervisión del Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales de Puerto Rico. Las medidas a corto plazo que se consideran incluirían que Toa Alta: (1) aplique cubierto diaria de todos los residuos a; (2) aplique cubierta intermedia (más gruesa) con el paso del tiempo; (3) mantenga la cubierta de tierra para corregir toda erosión de los suelos; y (4) planifique e implemente medidas para reducir y controlar las escorrentía de aguas y lixiviados (la lixiviación es líquido — a menudo cargado de contaminantes — que excretan los rellenos sanitarios). A más largo plazo, las medidas permanentes en consideración incluyen prohibir todo desecho adicional de residuos en el vertedero, excepto la colocación de desechos según se justifique para reparar una pendiente empinada situada en el costado norte del vertedero.

La EPA planifica llevar a cabo una reunión pública el 23 de febrero, a las 5:30 p.m. para describir las opciones destinadas a abordar las condiciones del vertedero, contestar preguntas y escuchar a los miembros de la comunidad. Esta reunión pública ocurrirá en el Coliseo Lauro Dávila, situado en PR-165R, Toa Alta, Puerto Rico 00953.

Los miembros de la comunidad pueden enviar sus comentarios por correo electrónico a pubcoment-ees.enrd@usdoj.gov indicando el asunto "Comentarios sobre el vertedero de Toa Alta". Los miembros de la comunidad también pueden enviar por correo regular sus comentarios a Eduardo González, Agencia de Protección Ambiental de los EE. UU., División de Protección Ambiental del Caribe, City View Plaza II, Suite 7000, #48 PR165 Km. 1.2, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico 00968-8069. Se considerarán todos los comentarios y la información que se reciba al determinar los términos definitivos de la orden preliminar de resolución estipulada. Los términos definitivos acordados se presentarán entonces al Tribunal Federal para su evaluación y aprobación. Si las partes no pueden llegar a un acuerdo después del periodo de participación comunitaria, o si el Tribunal no aprueba el acuerdo, el Tribunal efectuará entonces una audiencia pública separada acerca del tema.

 

La EPA ha preparado algunos documentos relevantes sobre el acuerdo preliminar de resolución estipulada, los cuales el público puede obtener en línea en www.epa.gov/pr/toa-alta-municipal-landfill. El público también puede revisar los documentos en la Alcaldía de Toa Alta. Dicha oficina se encuentra en Ave. Muñoz Rivera, Esq. Calle Barceló, Toa Alta, PR 00953, y está abierta desde las 8:00 a.m. hasta las 4:30 p.m., de lunes a viernes.

 

Antecedentes

El DOJ presentó una denuncia en nombre de la EPA ante el Tribunal Federal en el Distrito de Puerto Rico en febrero de 2021. La denuncia exigía al Municipio de Toa Alta dejar de depositar desechos sólidos en su vertedero y tomar medidas inmediatas para abordar las amenazas a la salud pública y el medioambiente que presentaban las condiciones en el vertedero.

 

La denuncia de febrero de 2021 cita tres amenazas importantes que presenta el vertedero:

  • El Municipio de Toa Alta está tomando medidas inadecuadas para prevenir que escapen grandes cantidades de lixiviado – agua mezclada con contaminantes peligrosos que se filtra desde el vertedero – hacia las comunidades cercanas, las aguas superficiales y el acuífero de agua subterránea subyacente.
  • Las pendientes del vertedero no son estables en ciertas áreas. Existe un mayor riesgo de colapso, poniendo en peligro potencialmente a las personas que trabajan en el vertedero.
  • El Municipio no ha colocado constantemente cubierta diaria sobre los residuos del vertedero al terminar las actividades de disposición de cada jornada. La aplicación de esta cubierta de tierra bloquea el acceso de insectos, plagas, pájaros e intrusos a los desechos del vertedero y ayuda a prevenir la propagación de enfermedades, como los virus del dengue y de Zika.

Siga a la Región 2 de la EPA en Twitter en http://twitter.com/eparegion2 y visite nuestra página de Facebook, http://facebook.com/eparegion2.

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EPA and DOJ Seek Public Input on Potential Settlement Order to Require Immediate Actions to Address Deficiencies at Toa Alta Municipal Landfill

Issued: Jan 31, 2022 (9:22am EST)

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EPA and DOJ Seek Public Input on Potential Settlement Order to Require Immediate Actions to Address Deficiencies at Toa Alta Municipal Landfill

EPA to hold a public meeting on February 23, 2022

Contact: Stephen McBay, (212)-637-3672, mcbay.stephen@epa.gov

NEW YORK (January 31, 2022) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) released for public comment a summary of options for a settlement order currently under negotiation that would require immediate actions to address violations at the Toa Alta Municipal Landfill, in Puerto Rico. Seeking input into a settlement order is an unusual step taken here to ensure that EPA and DOJ are including input from the overburdened community that has been adversely impacted by the landfill.

To begin gathering comments, EPA today released a summary in English and Spanish of the requirements that are under consideration for the order and is asking for written input by March 4, 2022. EPA will also hold a public meeting on February 23 to explain the options for addressing the landfill conditions and obtain public input. 

"We are taking this necessary step of getting input because this community has suffered for too long from this open dump," said Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia." EPA is working to address the problems and we appreciate that the municipality is willing to agree to take immediate actions to address the worst and most urgent issues. We want to issue a strong settlement order that will be a start to getting this open dump on track immediately as we continue to negotiate a longer-term solution."

The terms being considered for the landfill are aimed at implementing measures to protect public health and environment in the short term and positioning Toa Alta to close the landfill completely, safely, and permanently under the supervision of the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources. Shorter term measures under consideration would call for Toa Alta to: (1) cover any newly disposed waste with soil at the end of each day; (2) apply thicker soil cover over time; (3) maintain the soil cover to correct any soil erosion; and (4) plan and implement measures to reduce and control storm water runoff and leachate (Leachate is liquid — often contaminant laden — that seeps from landfills). Longer term, permanent measures under consideration include barring any further waste disposal at the landfill, except for waste placement as warranted to fix a steep slope located on the north side of the landfill.

EPA is planning to hold a public meeting on February 23, at 5:30 p.m. AST to describe options for addressing the conditions at the landfill, answer questions, and hear from community members. This public meeting will occur at the Coliseo Lauro Davila, located at PR-165R, Toa Alta, Puerto Rico 00953.

Community members can email comments to pubcoment-ees.enrd@usdoj.gov with the subject line "Toa Alta Landfill Comments." Community members also may mail their comments to Eduardo Gonzalez, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Caribbean Environmental Protection Division, City View Plaza II, Suite 7000, #48 PR165 Km. 1.2, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico 00968-8069. Comments and information received will be considered in determining the final terms of the potential settlement order. The final agreed upon terms will then be submitted to the Federal Court for its review and approval. If the parties cannot reach an agreement after the community engagement period, or if the Court does not approve the agreement, the Court will instead conduct a separate public hearing about the matter.

EPA has prepared some relevant documents to this matter, which the public can view online at www.epa.gov/pr/toa-alta-municipal-landfill. The public may also obtain the documents at the Toa Alta Mayor's Office. That office is located at Ave. Muñoz Rivera, Esq. Calle Barceló, Toa Alta, PR 00953, and is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Background

DOJ filed a complaint on behalf of EPA in federal court in the District of Puerto Rico in February 2021. The complaint called for the Municipality of Toa Alta to stop solid waste disposal at its landfill and to take immediate steps to address public health and environmental threats posed by the conditions at the landfill.

The February 2021 complaint alleged three significant threats posed by the landfill:

  • The Municipality of Toa Alta is taking inadequate action to prevent large quantities of leachate – water mixed with hazardous pollutants that seep from the landfill – from escaping into nearby neighborhoods, surface waters and the underlying groundwater aquifer.
  • The landfill's slopes in certain areas are not stable. There is an increased risk of collapse, potentially endangering people working at the landfill.
  • The Municipality has not consistently placed required soil on top of the waste disposed at the landfill at the end of each day's disposal activities. Application of this soil cover – referred to as "daily cover" – cuts off access to landfill waste by insects, vermin, birds and trespassers and helps prevent the spread of diseases, such as dengue and Zika viruses.

Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter at http://twitter.com/eparegion2 and visit our Facebook page, http://facebook.com/eparegion2.

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EPA Recognizes Virginia Department of Corrections for Diverting Food Waste from Landfills

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EPA Recognizes Virginia Department of Corrections for Diverting Food Waste from Landfills

PHILADELPHIA (Jan. 27, 2022) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today that it is recognizing the Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) as an awardee in the Regional Partner category of its Food Recovery Challenge (FRC).

In 2019, VADOC had over 30,000 inmates in its 43 correctional facilities and employed 10,000 facility staff. Inmates and staff generated over 17,000 tons of trash that would have cost $1 million in landfill fees, as well as $200–$600 a month per site in dumpster rental fees.

Waste audits have confirmed that approximately half of the waste generated by a correctional facility is compostable.  VADOC had been operating a large-scale compost program in central Virginia for the past eight years and had successfully diverted a small amount of food waste from landfills. The availability of over 30 agribusiness farms allowed VADOC to expand their compost operation and use the compost on soils and gardens throughout the state.

"We are excited to be composting at Green Rock," said Melvin Davis, Warden at Green Rock Correctional Facility.  "This allows us to divert food waste from the local landfill, which reduces harmful greenhouse gases. This process also allows us to enrich the soil at Green Rock, improving our agribusiness production over time."

Because of grant funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and a week-long basic compost course offered to the staff, VADOC developed and implemented twelve compost programs in 2019, composting 892 tons of food waste – a 53 percent increase from 2018. During the first year, many sites were also able to reduce their tipping and dumpster rental fees by half. By closing the food loop, the Agency was able to save money and reduce the burden of waste on staff, operations, and the environment. 

"EPA congratulates VADOC and all of the Food Recovery Challenge partners for their notable achievements and innovative approaches to reduce food waste in their operations," said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz.  "By addressing food waste, there is an opportunity to lower our carbon footprint and increase climate resilience, while also addressing inequities in food security and public health."

Through the FRC, EPA has worked with organizations and businesses for the past decade to set data-driven goals, implement targeted strategies to reduce wasted food in their operations, and report results. During 2019 and 2020, FRC national awardees implemented innovative approaches and engaged in practical, cost-effective best practices to prevent and reduce wasted food. Best practices included waste audits and custom pallet building to maintain flexibility for those picking up recovered food. Many FRC national awardees provided much-needed food during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nearly 600 businesses, governments and organizations actively participated in EPA's Food Recovery Challenge in 2020-2021. Since the launch of the program in 2011, FRC partners prevented and diverted over 5.5 million tons of wasted food from entering landfills or incinerators. In the most recent reporting cycle, FRC partners prevented or diverted about 1.2 million tons of food from entering landfills or incinerators, saving partners up to $61.5 million in avoided landfill tipping fees. 

For more information https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-management-food/food-recovery-challenge-results-and-awardees

 

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EPA Recognizes the Institute for Local Self-Reliance for its Community Composting Initiative

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EPA Recognizes the Institute for Local Self-Reliance in Washington D.C. for its Community Composting Initiative, Diverting Food Waste from Landfills

PHILADELPHIA (Jan. 27, 2022) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today that it is recognizing the Institute for Local Self-Reliance in Washington, D.C., (ILSR) as an awardee in the Regional Grantee category.

The Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) is a national nonprofit promoting recycling, composting, zero waste, decentralized energy, independent businesses, and other facets of a homegrown economy. Since its inception in 1974, ILSR has provided research and technical assistance to convert wastes from environmental and economic liabilities into valuable resources that create community development opportunities.

The organization continues to share lessons learned from model programs and policies to facilitate the expansion of resilient and healthy communities. ILSR's Composting for Community initiative advances local composting to meet food recovery infrastructure needs; build a culture of composting know-how; and enhance soils for local food production, carbon sequestration, and stormwater management. ILSR's Neighborhood Soil Rebuilders Composter Training Program, for instance, is teaching community leaders how to compost at gardens, farms, and community centers.   

"Composting can be small scale and large scale and everything in between but too often home composting, onsite composting, community scale composting, and on-farm composting are overlooked," said Brenda Platt, Director of the ILSR Composting for Community Initiative.  

"By offering training and support to demonstration sites, we are proving that food recovery can be local and engage the community through participation and education."

In 2020, ILSR focused its efforts on the mid-Atlantic region. In Philadelphia, it collaborated with the Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department to offer training and support to its newly launched Community Compost Network Program. In Baltimore, together with the Office of Sustainability, ILSR established a dozen community-scale compost demonstration systems at urban farms and community gardens, which, when fully implemented, will serve as education sites and models for replication. In Montgomery County, Maryland, ILSR supported the development of compost education hubs. And, in the District of Columbia, ILSR worked with the D.C. Department of Public Works to run its home composting training and rebate program.   

"EPA congratulates the Institute for Local Self-Reliance for their notable achievements and innovative approach to reduce residential food waste in Philadelphia and Baltimore communities," said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz.  "By addressing food waste, there is an opportunity to lower our carbon footprint and increase climate resilience, while also addressing inequities in food security and public health."

For more information https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-management-food/food-recovery-challenge-results-and-awardees

 

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EPA Recognizes Philadelphia Department of Prisons for Diverting Food Waste from Landfills

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EPA Recognizes Philadelphia Department of Prisons for Diverting Food Waste from Landfills

PHILADELPHIA (Jan. 27, 2022) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today that it is recognizing the City of Philadelphia Department of Prisons (PDP) as a national awardee in the Government and Tribal category of its Food Recovery Challenge (FRC).

In 2019 PDP diverted more than 555,000 pounds of wasted food to compost, which saved the city approximately $19,000 in landfill fees. The composted material was donated to community gardens and church groups, as well as returned to grounds for use in PDP's orchard and greenhouses. Before composting at the PDP, the department sent food waste to local landfills or industrial garbage disposals. 

"This program enables participants to give back to the community, while obtaining new skills for potential job opportunities upon release," said Laura Cassidy, PDP Director of Sustainability Operations.

PDP also partnered with Food Connect, a nonprofit organization and partner of Philabundance. Food Connect uses smart technology to pool resources and make deliveries efficient. They distribute organically grown food from the PDP Orchard Program to local food pantries. PDP is currently working with EPA to develop internal policies and procedures for distributing food produced at PDP facilities.  

"EPA congratulates the Philadelphia Department of Prisons and all of the Food Recovery Challenge partners for their notable achievements and innovative approaches to reduce food waste in their operations," said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz.  "By addressing food waste, there is an opportunity to lower our carbon footprint and increase climate resilience, while also addressing inequities in food security and public health.

Through the FRC, EPA has worked with organizations and businesses for the past decade to set data-driven goals, implement targeted strategies to reduce wasted food in their operations, and report results. During 2019 and 2020, FRC national awardees implemented innovative approaches and practical, cost-effective best practices to prevent and reduce wasted food. Best practices included waste audits and included custom pallet building to maintain flexibility for those picking up recovered food. Many FRC national awardees provided much-needed food during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nearly 600 businesses, governments and organizations actively participated in EPA's Food Recovery Challenge in 2020-2021. Since the launch of the program in 2011, FRC partners prevented and diverted over 5.5 million tons of wasted food from entering landfills or incinerators. In the most recent reporting cycle, FRC partners prevented or diverted about 1.2 million tons of food from entering landfills or incinerators, saving partners up to $61.5 million in landfill tipping fees. 

For more information https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-management-food/food-recovery-challenge-results-and-awardees

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EPA Recognizes Sodexo for Diverting Food Waste from Landfills

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EPA Recognizes Sodexo for Diverting Food Waste from Landfills

PHILADELPHIA (Jan. 27, 2022) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today that it is recognizing Sodexo Inc. of Gaithersburg, Maryland, as an awardee in the Regional Endorser category of its Food Recovery Challenge (FRC). Endorsers are organizations that work with and educate others to reduce their generation of wasted food and may also recruit other organizations and businesses as Food Recovery Challenge participants.

Sodexo has prioritized food loss and waste reduction efforts as part of the company's corporate social responsibility strategy for over 10 years. Ending hunger has been Sodexo's philanthropic purpose since 1999, and the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation has provided more than $35 million in grants to eradicate hunger in America. During 2020, Sodexo continued to focus on deploying technology that helped reduce food loss and waste at the source and increase participation in the Food Recovery Challenge. Sodexo also jumped into action with its key partners to save food and feed those in need as operations were disrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"If we have learned anything over the past 18 months, it should be that no one organization can accomplish mitigating food waste and ensuring surplus food gets to where it is needed most by itself, said Roxanne Moore, Executive Director, Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation. "We need to think creatively across the entire supply chain and leverage the expertise and resources of both for-profit and nonprofit organizations. We must work together to save people and the planet."

Key results included:  

  • FRC participation increases  
  • A total of 340 Sodexo sites participating in FRC with a 68 percent increase; or 232 new sites in 2020.  
  • Source reduction   
  • Prevented 1.95 million pounds of food waste.  
  • Saved the equivalent of 1.63 million meals.  
  • Helped avoid 6,191 metric tons of CO2.  
  • Food recovery through Stop Hunger  
  • Over 200,000 meals recovered through volunteers and Sodexo's partnership with Move for Hunger.  
  • Over 860 volunteer hours logged by students through Sodexo's partnership with the Food Recovery Network 

"EPA congratulates Sodexo and all of the Food Recovery Challenge partners for their notable achievements and innovative approaches to reduce food waste in their operations," said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz.  "By addressing food waste, there is an opportunity to lower our carbon footprint and increase climate resilience, while also addressing inequities in food security and public health."

Through the FRC, EPA has worked with organizations and businesses for the past decade to set data-driven goals, implement targeted strategies to reduce wasted food in their operations, and report results. During 2019 and 2020, FRC national awardees implemented innovative approaches and engaged in practical, cost-effective best practices to prevent and reduce wasted food. Best practices included waste audits and an innovation included custom pallet building to maintain flexibility for those picking up recovered food. Many FRC national awardees provided much-needed food during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nearly 600 businesses, governments and organizations actively participated in EPA's Food Recovery Challenge in 2020-2021. Since the launch of the program in 2011, FRC partners prevented and diverted over 5.5 million tons of wasted food from entering landfills or incinerators. In the most recent reporting cycle, FRC partners prevented or diverted about 1.2 million tons of food from entering landfills or incinerators, saving partners up to $61.5 million in  landfill tipping fees. 

For more information https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-management-food/food-recovery-challenge-results-and-awardees

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EPA Announces Bold Actions to Protect Communities Following the Journey to Justice Tour

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EPA Administrator Regan Announces Bold Actions to Protect Communities Following the Journey to Justice Tour

Initial set of steps includes multiple actions to protect public health and community specific deliverables

WASHINGTON (Jan. 26, 2022) – Following through on his commitment to action during his Journey to Justice Tour, US Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael S. Regan announced today the first in a series of actions responding directly to concerns of communities historically and disproportionately impacted by pollution. The actions, which range from policy changes to community-driven efforts, reflect Administrator Regan's commitment to deliver environmental justice and work towards building a better America, and are part of the Biden-Harris Administration's whole-of-government approach to addressing these issues in communities that are marginalized, underserved, and overburdened by pollution.

"In every community I visited during the Journey to Justice tour, the message was clear - residents have suffered far too long and local, state, and federal agencies have to do better," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. "The pollution concerns have been impacting these communities for decades. Our actions will begin to help not only the communities I visited on this tour, but also others across the country who have suffered from environmental injustices."

In response to concerns from residents in overburdened neighborhoods, EPA is announcing specific actions in each of the areas that he visited on the tour. In addition, EPA is outlining a series of broad policy actions including: 

  • Committing EPA to aggressively use its authority to conduct unannounced inspections of suspected non-compliant facilities, as needed to protect public health. When facilities are found to be non-compliant, EPA will use all available tools to hold them accountable.
  • Deploying a new program to expand air monitoring capacity, utilizing assets such as the ASPECT airplane, GMAP mobile air monitoring vehicle, and additional air pollution inspectors to enhance enforcement.
  • Mobilizing agency resources to invest in community air monitoring to better protect people and public health in vulnerable areas.
  • Pressing state and local elected officials to take urgent action to better protect the most overburdened communities.
  • Holding companies more accountable for their actions in overburdened communities with increased monitoring and oversight of polluting facilities.
  • Applying best available science to agency policymaking to safeguard public health and protect the environment.

In addition to these policy changes, the Administrator has directed his team to work on several steps to address specific community concerns.

Agency-wide actions

To ensure facility compliance with environmental laws, the Administrator directed the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) to aggressively use its authority to conduct unannounced inspections at suspected non-compliant facilities, as needed, to protect public health.

EPA is announcing today a new Multi-Scale Monitoring Project called the Pollution Accountability Team (PAT) to provide strong environmental compliance and monitoring in the south, launching in Spring 2022. This program combines high-tech air pollution monitoring with boots-on-the-ground inspectors to address pollution and enhance enforcement at a community scale. EPA's ASPECT airplane will monitor facilities from the sky while mobile vehicles like EPA's GMAP will monitor pollution from the ground. At the same time, a team of inspectors from across EPA regions will follow up to investigate any emission detection findings at specific sites. The PAT pilot program will also work to develop and/or acquire new instrumentation to measure newly emerging contaminants, such as chloroprene and ethylene oxide.  More details on this program will be available in the coming weeks, including a schedule for meetings with communities. 

As previously announced, the Agency is also directing resources to better protect people and public health in overburdened areas across the nation, making $20 million in grants available from the American Rescue Plan to enhance local air monitoring for pollutants of greatest concern in communities facing health disparities. The largest investment in community-based monitoring systems in EPA history will provide transparency and accountability, and foster pollution strategies in underserved communities.  EPA encourages community-based nonprofit organizations, Tribes, states, and local governments to apply for the grants before the March 25 deadline. More information: https://www.epa.gov/arp/enhanced-air-quality-monitoring-funding-under-arp.

The Agency is also taking steps to apply the best available science to solutions for communities facing severe pollution. Last week, the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP) released for peer review a proposed screening methodology to evaluate chemical risk to fenceline communities. Today, the Administrator signed a notice proposing to reaffirm EPA's peer-reviewed scientific assessment showing that ethylene oxide is significantly more toxic than previously understood, and to find that it is appropriate to rely upon this assessment in taking regulatory actions to reduce this harmful pollutant. This notice responds to several petitions for reconsideration of a 2020 rule revising emission standards for chemical plants in the Miscellaneous Organic Chemical Manufacturing source category and will be open to public comment for 30 days. The rigorous evaluation of scientific studies that EPA is reaffirming in today's notice will ensure the agency is guided by the best information as EPA works to address health risks posed by ethylene oxide.

Taking action in Mississippi

In Jackson, Administrator Regan saw firsthand the longstanding water infrastructure challenges and the impacts these problems have on the community including children at Wilkins Elementary School, where the Administrator was to visit students and faculty until school was canceled due to low water pressure.

And once again this week, the winter weather has caused yet another boil water notice in Jackson, which has faced too many significant water challenges for too long. On January 25, 2022, EPA issued a Notice of Noncompliance to the city for not timely repairing and maintaining equipment necessary to reliably produce drinking water.

Later this week, Administrator Regan will be sending follow-up letters to elected officials to stress the importance of dedicating federal infrastructure funds, including nearly $79 million allocated to Mississippi from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to solve some of most dire water needs in Jackson and other areas of need across Mississippi.

"Administrator Regan's leadership on addressing environmental Justice issues that have plagued communities in the deep south for far too long gives us hope that change will come," said NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson. "During his visit to Jackson he was able to see firsthand the water infrastructure challenges we're experiencing in the city, and today he's following through on his commitment to fight for vulnerable communities to receive the funding they need from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law."

"I look forward to EPA keeping its promise of equity and equality when serving minority communities," said Congressman Bennie Thompson.

Taking action in Louisiana

Administrator Regan later traveled to Louisiana, meeting residents in New Orleans, St. John the Baptist Parish, St. James Parish, and Mossville, where he saw the impacts of pollution, climate change and crumbling water infrastructure.

The new Pollution Accountability Team will start as the pilot air monitoring project in Mossville, St. James Parish and St. John the Baptist Parish. EPA will work with residents and community leaders to determine the routes to be traveled by the mobile monitoring vehicle and the contaminants to be monitored.  As part of the Administration's commitment to transparency, EPA Region 6 will make this data available to the public.

EPA will also invest more than $600,000 to procure mobile air pollution monitoring equipment and will be deploying the monitors specifically in Mossville, St. John the Baptist Parish and St. James Parish, among other communities located in the south. This equipment will measure volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including air toxics, and will dramatically improve EPA's ability to measure pollution quickly and assess situations in real-time. EPA will work with local organizations to host trainings for community members to familiarize them with the technology and the process the Agency uses for its air monitoring.  

In St. John the Baptist Parish, EPA used its authority to require the Denka facility to install fenceline monitors to identify sources of emissions onsite, allowing the EPA and communities to better understand air pollutants in a quick, reliable way.  This month, Denka complied with EPA's request to install these monitors. 

In addition, Administrator Regan sent a letter to Denka and DuPont CEOs pressing the companies to protect residents of St. John the Baptist Parish, including children that learn and play along their fenceline, after periodic elevated concentrations of chloroprene were measured nearby. In the letter, Administrator Regan wrote: "…as a parent, I remain extremely concerned about the over 500 children at the elementary school. I am writing to you today to reiterate what I hope are our shared concerns and expectations over the health and well-being of the students. EPA expects DuPont and Denka to take other needed action to address community concerns." Further, EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance will work with the Department of Justice to redouble their efforts in seeking additional, and timely, avenues of relief for this community.

In St. James Parish, Administrator Regan heard concerns about the impacts of the proposed Formosa Plastics facility. In response to resident requests, EPA announced support for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' decision to require a more robust Environmental Impact Statement as a permit for a proposed Formosa plant expansion is considered. This will ensure a stronger understanding of impacts this plant may have on communities. Considerations will include evaluating reasonable alternatives to the proposed action, the potential cumulative effects, and a public comment period – none of which were previously required by the environmental assessment. EPA has offered to provide technical assistance to the Army Corps in the development of the Impact Statement.

This week, EPA Region 6 also issued a Notice of Violation and Opportunity to Confer (NOVOC) to Nucor Steel Louisiana LLC in St. James Parish. The EPA notice requires Nucor to address unauthorized emissions of hydrogen sulfide and sulfuric acid mist, and exceedance of permitted limits for sulfur dioxide emissions at Nucor's Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) facility.

In Mossville, LA, Administrator Regan joined residents to discuss their concerns around air and water quality. In response, today EPA announced a significant increase in inspections of industrial facilities in the Mossville area. EPA will assess compliance at facilities that present potentially elevated risks to the community based on recent EPA helicopter flyovers and mobile air monitoring of the area. EPA also provided $38,886 for LDEQ to purchase a NAAQS quality PM 2.5 continuous monitor to be placed across the road from Sasol's Lake Charles Complex.

EPA will monitor and review the data and conduct an independent assessment to determine if NAAQS standards are exceeded in the Lake Charles area. The EPA will also conduct Technical System Audits on a rotating basis of the State's monitoring system operations as well as reviewing LDEQ's annual data certifications and LDEQ's annual monitoring network plan.

EPA Region 6 also issued this week a Notice of Potential Violation and Opportunity to Confer (NOPVOC) Letter to Sasol Chemicals USA, LLC. The Sasol facility uses natural gas and by-products from refinery operations to produce specialty chemicals for detergents and cosmetics. The chemical complex uses or produces several regulated flammables such as ethylene, propane, butane, propylene, ethane, butane, hydrogen, methane and pentane. The EPA notice follows a January 2021 Compliance Evaluation conducted by inspectors from EPA Region 6 and LDEQ, and requires Sasol to address potential Risk Management Plan violations found during the inspection.

In New Orleans' Gordon Plaza neighborhood, Administrator Regan heard from residents about the impacts of living in the affordable housing development built on the former site of the Agriculture Street Landfill. As part of addressing those concerns, EPA will now expedite a review of the site which was previously slated for review in 2023; the accelerated review will begin in March 2022 and will include 9 homes that were not included in the previous review process. The Agency is taking this step to re-evaluate its previous decision that the land is safe and to communicate the results to the community. In addition, on January 6, 2022, Administrator Regan met with Mayor Cantrell and Dr. Beverly Wright of the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice (DSCEJ) to discuss a shared commitment between EPA and the City of New Orleans to work together on community-based solutions for the residents of Gordon Plaza. The solutions discussed would support relocation of community members off the land, provide economic opportunity for the City, advance clean energy, and lower greenhouse gas emissions in the area. Most importantly, they would ensure the health and safety of Gordon Plaza residents is protected. Administrator Regan and Dr. Wright committed to continue working closely with Mayor Cantrell and her team to advance these shared goals.

"I would like to thank the Administrator for assisting the City of New Orleans with their infrastructure issues, as well as initiating first steps toward accountability, especially regarding air quality enforcement, monitoring, and data collection, which I called for back in August," said Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. "The environmental justice actions announced today will allow collection of independent, reliable data that will inform the path forward to better the public health of our community."

Taking Action in Texas

Following stops in Houston, including the Fifth Ward, Kashmere Gardens and the Houston Ship Channel, where Administrator Regan spoke with residents about impacts of air and water pollution from nearby facilities on the community, EPA announced the following actions.

Throughout stops in Texas and Louisiana, communities voiced concerns over the health risks that ethylene oxide (EtO) poses to their residents and called for swift action to reduce emissions of this dangerous chemical to outdoor air. As part of the proposal announced today to reaffirm EPA's peer-reviewed scientific assessment showing that EtO is significantly more toxic than previously understood, EPA is proposing to formally reject the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's less protective risk value for EtO. EPA is committed to leading with the best available science in this and future rulemakings to reduce emissions of this chemical and better protect people's health. The agency is also looking at a range of approaches besides regulations for achieving emissions reductions while regulations are in development, and ensuring communities are informed and engaged as we work to address EtO.

In the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens area, EPA announced completion of a review of a proposed Union Pacific Railroad permit renewal and corrective actions that govern cleanup of contamination at the Houston Wood Preserving Works site. EPA intends to submit comments to TCEQ laying out concerns and recommendations to ensure that permit terms and corrective action goals address the concerns of community members, who are disproportionately impacted by pollution. EPA is also monitoring TCEQ's installation and operation of additional air monitors. These air monitors will supplement the existing monitoring network and capture the pollution that residents in these communities face. In addition, on January 20, 2022, Administrator Regan spoke with Mayor Sylvester Turner to discuss the continued commitment between EPA and the City of Houston to work together to ensure the community's concerns are addressed and the health and safety of residents is protected.

In response to the call for improved accessibility to language and interpretation services, EPA is establishing a partnership with Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Services ( T.E.J.A.S) under the Beyond Translation (BT) Plus program to improve communication, especially when it comes to information on environmental risk and enforcement. Under the partnership, EPA will develop local strategies to address air toxics in communities, provide better transparency regarding enforcement, and improve access to risk management plans.

"I am pleased to thank EPA Administrator Michael Regan, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Biden Administration for these important steps forward to help the people in my Congressional District, living in Kashmere Gardens, 5th Ward and other Northeast areas of Houston and Harris County that comprise the 18th Congressional District.   This announcement today is going to change lives.  Over the past years I have been holding meetings, and engaging with state and federal officials repeatedly, and meeting cancer victims while listening to the stories of families who lost loved to cancer and other diseases over the generations.  We are desperate for relief.   I have been disappointed by the unwillingness of previous Administrations to act to protect residents. Now that has changed with the Biden Administration," said Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. "As a member of the House Committees on Homeland Security, I have long worked for every resource possible to solve the problem of creosote contamination in these neighborhoods. Again, this focused relief that is coming under the leadership of the Environmental Protection Agency Administrator is a great relief to my constituents; and is evidence of the importance of the Environmental Justice Tours that the Administrator has taken throughout the nation.  People's lives will be better, and we are going to save lives because of this.  I will continue to raise these issues and seek major relief, which for these residents may result in a Super Fund cleanup."

 For more information, visit: https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/journey-justice

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