EPA Delivers on Three Water Commitments in the Agency's PFAS Strategic Roadmap WASHINGTON (April 28, 2022) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing three actions to protect communities and the environment from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in our nation's waters. The actions announced today advance progress under the Biden-⁠Harris Administration's Plan to Combat PFAS Pollution by improving methods to detect PFAS in water, reducing PFAS discharges into our nation's waters, and protecting fish and aquatic ecosystems from PFAS. These efforts complement the historic investment of $10 billion to address PFAS and emerging contaminants secured under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. "EPA is using all available tools to address PFAS contamination as part of a broader, whole of government effort to protect communities across the country from these chemicals," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. "This is why we put a Strategic Roadmap in place, and why President Biden fought for billions in funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to tackle this challenge. Today's actions help protect the health of all Americans as we deliver on our commitment to research, restrict, and remediate PFAS." A New Testing Method Will Help Detect PFAS in Water Robust, accurate methods for detecting and measuring PFAS in air, land, and water are essential for understanding which PFAS are in the environment and how much are present. Detection methods are also essential for evaluating the effectiveness of different technologies for remediating PFAS and for implementing future regulations. Today, EPA is publishing a new method that can broadly screen for the presence of PFAS in water at the part per billion level. EPA's new Screening Method for the Determination of Adsorbable Organic Fluorine (AOF) in Aqueous Matrices by Combustion Ion Chromatography (CIC) provides an aggregate measurement of chemical substances that contain carbon-fluorine bonds. PFAS are a common source of organofluorines in wastewater. This new method is especially useful for understanding the presence and forms of PFAS in wastewater when used in conjunction with methods that target individual PFAS. EPA's Draft Method 1621 has successfully completed single laboratory validation. Multi-laboratory validation will take place this summer and EPA intends to publish an updated version of the method later this year. New Permitting Direction Will help Reduce Discharges of PFAS to our Waters The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program interfaces with many pathways by which PFAS travel and are released into the environment and ultimately impact people and water quality. EPA is seeking to proactively use existing NPDES authorities to reduce discharges of PFAS at the source and obtain more comprehensive information through monitoring on sources of PFAS. Today, EPA issued a memo titled, Addressing PFAS Discharges in EPA-Issued NPDES Permits and Expectations Where EPA is the Pretreatment Control Authority. This memo provides instructions for monitoring provisions, analytical methods, the use of pollution prevention, and best management practices to address discharges of PFAS. These provisions will help reduce PFAS pollution in surface water as the agency aggressively embarks to promulgate effluent guidelines, multi-validated analytical methods, and water quality criteria recommendations that address PFAS compounds. EPA also plans to issue new guidance to state permitting authorities to address PFAS in NPDES permits in a future action. New Protective Levels Will Help Support Healthy Fish and Aquatic Ecosystems EPA is also developing national recommended ambient water quality criteria for PFAS to protect aquatic life. States and Tribes may use EPA-recommended water quality criteria to develop water quality standards that protect and restore waters, issue permits to address PFAS discharges, and assess the impact of PFAS pollution on local communities and the environment. EPA is proposing the first Clean Water Act aquatic life criteria for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS)—two of the most well-studied chemicals in this group. The criteria are intended to protect aquatic life in the United States from short-term and long-term toxic effects of PFOA and PFOS. Following the comment period, EPA intends to issue final PFOA and PFOS recommended criteria, considering public comments and any new toxicity data. States and Tribes may consider adopting the final criteria into their water quality standards or can adopt other scientifically defensible criteria that are based on local or site-specific conditions. For more information on EPA's PFAS Strategic Roadmap, visit PFAS Strategic Roadmap: EPA's Commitments to Action 2021-2024 For more information on the Draft Method 1621, visit CWA Analytical Methods for Per- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances (PFAS) For more information on the NPDES memo, visit: Industrial Wastewater For more information on aquatic life criteria for PFOA and PFOS, visit: Aquatic Life Criteria - Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Aquatic Life Criteria - Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) Background PFAS are a large group of man-made chemicals that are used in consumer products and industrial processes. In use since the 1940s, PFAS are resistant to heat, oils, stains, grease, and water—properties which contribute to their persistence in the environment. The PFAS Roadmap sets timelines by which EPA plans to take specific actions and commits to bolder new policies to safeguard public health, protect the environment, and hold polluters accountable. The actions described in the PFAS Roadmap each represent important and meaningful steps to safeguard communities from PFAS contamination. Cumulatively, these actions will build upon one another and lead to more enduring and protective solutions. October 18, 2022, commemorates the first anniversary of the PFAS Strategic Roadmap and the 50th anniversary of the Clean Water Act. Passed in 1972, the Clean Water Act charted a new path for America's waters. Transformational progress has been achieved over the last 50 years. Waters that were once toxic and even caught fire, have been cleaned up. Significant challenges remain, including PFAS pollution, and EPA is committed to working toward a clean water future for all Americans.

 

 

 

 

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Issued: Apr 27, 2022 (10:59am EDT)

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EPA Announces Winners of its Annual Campus RainWorks Challenge

Cornell University is a Winner

Contact: Tracy McIntosh, (212) 637-3633, McIntosh.Tracy@epa.gov

NEW YORK (April 27, 2022) — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the winners of its tenth annual Campus RainWorks Challenge, a national competition that engages college students in the design of on-campus green infrastructure solutions to address stormwater pollution. This year's winning projects showcase the environmental, health, economic, and social benefits of green infrastructure.

"I congratulate Cornell University students for winning the EPA's Campus RainWorks Challenge. Cornell students are tomorrow's designers, planners, and innovators of green infrastructure, vital to protecting water quality in Cayuga Lake for the community and wildlife," said Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. "Through EPA's Campus RainWorks Challenge, we encourage enthusiastic and creative students to work closely with their local communities to solve local stormwater problems and better protect water resources from harmful stormwater pollution."

 "Green infrastructure is essential to building dynamic and thriving communities. When we apply green infrastructure strategies—like those exemplified by the Campus RainWorks winners—projects can meet community needs while supporting clean water goals," said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox. "The timing of this competition couldn't be better, as we celebrate Water Week 2022, the 50^th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, and begin to implement the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. I would like to congratulate this year's winners and I want to thank the faculty and thousands of students, past and present, that have endeavored to improve their community through Campus RainWorks."

EPA's Campus RainWorks Challenge invites students and faculty members at colleges and universities to apply green infrastructure design principles, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and increase the use of green infrastructure on the nation's college campuses. This year, 42 teams from across 24 states and 35 different academic institutions competed in the Campus RainWorks Challenge's two design categories. The Master Plan category examines how green infrastructure can be broadly integrated across campus while the Demonstration Project category focuses on how green infrastructure can address stormwater pollution at a specific site on campus.

This year's winners are:

Florida International University (1st Place Demonstration Project Category) – The team's entry, titled "Resilient MAST@FIU" redesigned a local magnet high school campus to incorporate a variety of green infrastructure practices with the goal of improving water quality, reducing urban heat island effects, and mitigating the risk of coastal flooding due to climate change. The team engaged with local stakeholders and conducted sophisticated performance modeling to produce design solutions that would not only benefit the local campus and community but serve as a replicable example for other coastal educational institutions. Watch the team's video about their design on Youtube.

University of Maryland (1st Place Master Plan Category) – In their entry titled "Future Flows," this team emphasized the beneficial role green infrastructure can play along transportation and pedestrian corridors. By examining current and predicted fluctuations in the movement of people and water across campus, the team's design would revitalize the campus through restoration of site hydrology and create a more resilient and adaptable campus for future generations of students. Watch the team's video about their design on Youtube.

Cornell University (2nd Place Demonstration Project Category) – Titled "Rain Delay," this entry took advantage of campus plans to construct new computer science facilities to illustrate the potential benefits of green infrastructure. The team consulted with campus experts in architecture, engineering, facilities management, and ecology to design green infrastructure solutions that would protect water quality in nearby Cayuga Lake, promote resilience, create new wildlife habitat, and create new recreational and educational opportunities for students and educators. Watch the team's video about their design on Youtube.

University of Connecticut (2^nd Place Master Plan Category) – The "Ecologic L.I. Sound" entry redesigned the university's Avery Point campus to mitigate the effects of stormwater pollution on the terrestrial and marine ecology of Long Island Sound. Selected green infrastructure practices emphasized the importance of native species that represent the distinctive character of coastal plant communities. In addition to protecting public health, water quality, and local ecology, the design would create collaborative educational spaces that invite students and the public to learn about the role green infrastructure can play in stormwater management and coastal resilience. Watch the team's video about their design on Youtube. 

EPA is also pleased to recognize the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Maryland, the University of Illinois, and the University of Arkansas for honorable mention in the Demonstration Project category. Utah State University, the University of Portland, and Michigan State University were selected for honorable mention in the Master Plan category.

First place teams will receive a $7,000 student prize to be split among team members and a $3,000 faculty prize to support green infrastructure research and training. Second place teams will receive a $3,500 student prize and a $1,500 faculty prize.

Since 2012 nearly 800 teams have participated in the Campus RainWorks Challenge.  View previous winners and teams here: Explore 10 Years of Campus RainWorks.

Background

Green infrastructure practices include green roofs, permeable materials, alternative designs for streets and buildings, trees, habitat conservation, rain gardens, and rain harvesting systems. Utilizing these practices protects local waterways by treating rain where it falls and keeping polluted stormwater from entering sewer systems. Communities are increasingly using innovative green infrastructure to supplement or replace "gray" infrastructure such as pipes, tunnels, and concrete channels. Green infrastructure reduces water pollution while increasing economic activity and neighborhood revitalization, job creation, energy savings, and open space.

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Issued: Apr 26, 2022 (6:54pm EDT)

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EPA Region 7 and Lincoln University Renew Environmental Partnership and Collaboration Through 2027

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7 - 11201 Renner Blvd., Lenexa, KS 66219

Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Nine Tribal Nations

EPA Region 7 and Lincoln University Renew Environmental Partnership and Collaboration Through 2027

Contact Information: Shannan B. Beisser, 913-551-7423, beisser.shannan@epa.gov

LENEXA, KAN. (APRIL 26, 2022) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 and Lincoln University (LU) in Jefferson City, Missouri, have renewed their partnership to provide scientific collaboration, outreach, and career opportunities for students.

A five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) formalizing the partnership was signed on Tuesday, April 26, at an event held on the LU campus. EPA Region 7 Administrator Meg McCollister and LU President Dr. John B. Moseley signed the MOU after meeting with 1890 Scholars and students from the LU chapter of Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources & Related Sciences (MANRRS). The event was livestreamed on EPA Region 7's Facebook page.

"By advertising employment and internship opportunities to LU students, there will be opportunities to gain valuable hands-on experience," said McCollister. "But we will be the real winners, because we find that students, in particular, bring incredible enthusiasm to pursuing EPA's mission."

"We are proud of the scientific research conducted on Lincoln's campus, and our partnership with the EPA takes our students' and faculty's work to the next level with meaningful, positive changes for our health and environment," said Lincoln University President Dr. John Moseley. "The EPA brings great value to our students as they transition from the university to careers, and in return, Lincoln students bring passion and dedication to help the EPA improve our world."

The MOU outlines seven areas for collaboration and partnership between EPA Region 7 and LU:

• Joint Research Projects – EPA Region 7 and LU will coordinate on a regular basis to identify mutually beneficial research priorities.
• Faculty Research Participation – EPA Region 7 and LU will encourage and facilitate visits of EPA Region 7 personnel and LU affiliates to each other's facilities consultations, meetings, workshops, short courses tours, and research participation. Temporary faculty appointments may be offered to EPA Region 7 personnel in conjunction with classes or research.
• Student Internships and Employment – EPA Region 7 will share information with LU regarding programs that are designed for student employment, participation, and training. LU will facilitate the participation of students and staff in EPA internship outreach opportunities.
• Technical Assistance – EPA Region 7 and LU will consider opportunities to work together on research-related consultations, meetings, workshops, and seminars.
• Mini-Courses/Lectures/Seminar Speakers – EPA Region 7 and LU will consider opportunities to inform each other about training support, including mini-courses, inspection/certification courses, lectures, and seminars covering topics such as environmental economics, environmental sociology, anthropology, environmental psychology, public affairs and administration, biology, engineering, environmental studies, diversity and inclusion, chemistry, physical sciences, and waste disposal.
• Outreach Program – EPA Region 7 will make efforts to attend career fairs and other outreach events. LU will inform EPA Region 7 of such events and encourage students to apply for internship opportunities. EPA Region 7 will make efforts to participate in career forums and host environmental justice programming for LU satellite officers; LU may request Black History Month programming each year.
• Environmental Student Initiatives – EPA Region 7 will support LU's quest for on-campus environmental awareness by supporting activities such as environmental sustainability and Earth Day planning.

 

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Learn more about EPA Region 7: www.epa.gov/aboutepa/epa-region-7-midwest

 

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Issued: Apr 25, 2022 (1:11pm EDT)

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EPA Announces $308 Million through WIFIA to Modernize Water Infrastructure in Joliet, Illinois

Nationally, 76 WIFIA loans are financing over $29 billion in water infrastructure upgrades, creating 88,600 jobs

WASHINGTON (April 25, 2022) — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) kicked off Water Week 2022 by announcing two Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loans totaling $308 million to the City of Joliet, Illinois. EPA's WIFIA loans will support the Alternative Water Source Program, which will tap into Lake Michigan as a sustainable source of drinking water to benefit the city and neighboring communities.

"Water Week 2022 is focused on elevating clean water as a national priority and EPA's WIFIA program is a powerful investment tool that is helping achieve that goal in Joliet and communities across the country," said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox. "Clean, reliable, and affordable water is essential to everyone, and this project will help the city transition from counting on a depleted aquifer to a much more reliable and sustainable source of water."

The City of Joliet's two WIFIA loans will support the planning, design, and program management costs for the Alternative Water Source Program and the modernization of the city's existing water distribution system. These projects will enable a new connection to Lake Michigan as a primary water source while also identifying and replacing lead service lines and reducing the system's water loss from over 30% to under 10%—saving 2.5 million gallons per day. An Illinois State Water Survey projection has indicated that local aquifers will be unable to support the city's maximum daily water demand by 2030.

"Every community deserves to have clean water running from their tap. As we kick off Water Week, these grants will bring us a step closer to that goal by funding the Alternative Water Source Program," said U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (IL). "This funding will go a long way in ensuring that Joliet can finally rely on their water source by transitioning residents from an outdated aquifer to using one of our region's greatest resources, Lake Michigan."

"Updating our crumbling water infrastructure is crucial in helping ensure families across Illinois have safer and cleaner drinking water," U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (IL) said. "I'm glad to see the City of Joliet, with critical support from EPA, not only helping ensure sustainable, clean drinking water for its residents, but saving money and creating good-paying, local jobs in the process. My Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act, as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, helped reauthorize the WIFIA loan program, and I'm pleased to see this program at work for Illinoisans."

"This is great news for Joliet and surrounding communities, and these federal water infrastructure loans will make it easier to bring clean, sustainable water from Lake Michigan to the southwest suburbs. I'm pleased this funding will also go to replacing lead service lines so we can make sure every home has access to safe drinking water," said U.S. Representative Bill Foster (IL-11). "In addition to these loans, I was proud to announce recently that I secured $3.5 million of federal community project funds for this project. The people of Joliet, Will County, and the entire area deserve access to a clean, reliable, and sustainable water source."

The City of Joliet will save approximately $112 million by financing with WIFIA loans. Project construction and operation for these first two loans are expected to create over 5,000 jobs. These two WIFIA loans are part of a master agreement that will commit over $340 million in WIFIA financial assistance to the City of Joliet for the Alternative Water Source Program. This arrangement with EPA provides the City of Joliet quick access to long-term, committed financing at attractive terms, enabling the City of Joliet to reduce cost impacts to customers.

"We are pleased to close on this loan. Federal financing at a low interest rate reduces cost impacts to our residents," said Joliet Mayor Bob O'Dekirk. "As we work to bring Lake Michigan water to Joliet and the region by 2030, this loan will finance development costs enabling continuation of this critical infrastructure project. The City of Joliet is committed to upgrading our water distribution system. These improvements will conserve water and reduce water loss, allowing us to receive Lake Michigan water and provide a sustainable, reliable and high-quality water source to our residents for generations to come."

"Providing safe and reliable water to the residents of Joliet is my first priority," said Joliet Director of Public Utilities, Allison Swisher. "The WIFIA program will support the City in achieving its mission of providing Lake Michigan water by 2030 to promote the public health, safety and economic interests of our community."

With this WIFIA loan closing, EPA has announced 76 WIFIA loans that are providing $13.8 billion in credit assistance to help finance over $29 billion for water infrastructure while creating approximately 88,600 jobs and saving customers over $5 billion. 

For more information about the WIFIA program, visit: WIFIA.

Background 

Established by the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014, the WIFIA program is a federal loan and guarantee program administered by EPA. WIFIA's aim is to accelerate investment in the nation's water infrastructure by providing long-term, low-cost supplemental credit assistance for regionally and nationally significant projects. For more information about the WIFIA program's accomplishments through 2021, visit: WIFIA Annual Report.

 

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Issued: Apr 21, 2022 (4:51pm EDT)

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EPA Administrator Regan Highlights Investments for Rural Water Infrastructure in Wisconsin, Promise of President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for Rural America

Stop in Wisconsin part of Building a Better America Rural Infrastructure Tour, highlighting how investments deliver clean water, good-paying jobs and economic opportunity to small towns and rural America

WASHINGTON (April 21, 2022) – During a stop on the Building a Better America Rural Infrastructure Tour in West Salem, Wisconsin this week, US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael S. Regan highlighted EPA's $7 million infrastructure investment to expand the rural community's wastewater treatment plant. Once completed, the expansion will increase the capacity of West Salem's wastewater treatment system and reduce nutrient discharges.

Along with Governor Tony Evers, Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes and Congressman Ron Kind, Administrator Regan also discussed how new funding through EPA's Clean Water State Revolving Fund from President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will provide a once-in-a-generation investment in rural communities. In 2022, Wisconsin will receive over $142 million in funding through the SRF from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which is expected to create approximately 2,200 jobs. And there will be more to come over the next five years. The Biden-Harris Administration is investing in the infrastructure that rural Americans need to succeed, to create good-paying jobs, build new economic opportunity, and build wealth that stays in the community.

"In 2022, Wisconsin will receive over $142 million in funding through EPA's state revolving fund from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which is expected to create approximately 2,200 jobs," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. "And there will be more to come over the next five years. When we talk about building a better America, this is what we mean."

Last month EPA issued a memorandum to state, local, and Tribal partners outlining the strategy to equitably invest $43 billion in water infrastructure funding, and deliver clean water through President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.  President Biden, with bipartisan support from Congress, is providing the single largest investment in water the federal government has ever made. EPA's memo is a key implementation step that outlines requirements and recommendations for the Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving Funds (SRFs) to ensure the country is working together to deliver clean and safe water and replace lead pipes for all Americans, including those in small towns and rural communities.

Building a Better America for Rural Communities and Small Towns

President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is sending historic investments to revitalize and rebuild rural communities across the country. Supporting Americans living in rural areas remains a top priority for the Biden Administration, and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law delivers on the President's promises to provide affordable high-speed internet, safe roads and bridges, clean drinking water, modern wastewater systems, reliable and affordable electricity, and good-paying jobs in every rural community.

For more information on infrastructure investments specific to America's rural communities, visit the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Rural Playbook at build.gov/rural

 

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