Issued: Aug 31, 2023 (10:15am EDT)

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EPA Extends Public Comment Period on Proposed Cleanup Plan for Battery Recycling Company Superfund Site in Arecibo, Puerto Rico -- Spanish Translation Below

Contact: Brenda Reyes (Reyes.Brenda@epa.gov), (787)-977-5869

NEW YORK (August 31, 2023) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has extended the public comment period for its proposed cleanup plan to address lead-contaminated soil and groundwater at the Battery Recycling Company Superfund Site in Arecibo, Puerto Rico to October 16, 2023. EPA held a public meeting at Casa Ulanga, Calle Gonzalo Marin #7 on August 29, 2023, to explain the proposed plan to the public.

The cleanup outlined in the proposed plan will address remaining contaminated soil and groundwater on and off the property that is the source of the site contamination. Under the proposed plan, EPA would remove contaminated soil for treatment and containment. Treated soil would be stored in a secure and restricted area at the source property, the former operations of The Battery Recycling Company, Inc. (BRC). EPA would also monitor the groundwater and limit the public's access to groundwater through existing Puerto Rico laws and regulations as well as notifications to local governments and ensure future land use does not conflict with long-term cleanup goals.

The main property at the site was operated as a secondary lead smelter and battery recycling operation until 2014. Prior to the secondary lead smelting operation, the site was used for the manufacture of organic chemicals to produce fumaric acid and phthalic acid. These activities left behind high levels of lead and other contaminants in the soil and groundwater.  The lead in soil presented an immediate risk to human health. In 2011, EPA entered into an order with then-operator, BRC, to clean areas of lead contamination at the source property under EPA oversight. However, when the company failed to finish the work, EPA took over the cleanup and removed lead contamination from employee's homes, vehicles, and nearby pastures. EPA also decontaminated the source property to limit the further spread of lead. EPA added the site to the Superfund National Priorities List in 2017 and commenced a cleanup investigation of the site. EPA finished its early cleanup activities in 2022. The cleanup investigation along with an analysis of cleanup alternatives, led to the proposed cleanup plan announced today.

Written comments on the proposed plan may be mailed or emailed to Zolymar Luna Díaz, Remedial Project Manager, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 2, Caribbean Environmental Protection Division #48 Rd, PR-165 Km 1.2 Citi View Plaza II, Suite 7000 Guaynabo, P.R. 00968-8069, Email: Luna.Zolymar@epa.gov.

For additional background and to see the proposed cleanup plan, visit the Battery Recycling Company Superfund site profile page.

Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter and visit our Facebook page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.

23-073

La EPA extiende el período de comentario público sobre el plan de limpieza propuesto para el Lugar Superfondo The Battery Recycling Company en Arecibo, Puerto Rico

Contacto: Brenda Reyes (Reyes.Brenda@epa.gov), (787)-977-5869

NEW YORK (31 de agosto de 2023) – La Agencia de Protección Ambiental de los Estado Unidos (USEPA, por sus siglas en inglés) extendió el período de comentario público sobre su plan de limpieza propuesto para abordar el suelo contaminado con plomo y el agua subterránea en el Lugar Superfondo The Battery Recycling Company (BRC) en Arecibo, Puerto Rico, hasta el 16 de octubre de 2023. La EPA celebró una reunión pública en Casa Ulanga, Calle Gonzalo Marín #7 el 29 de agosto de 2023, para explicar el plan propuesto al público.

La limpieza descrita en el plan propuesto atenderá el suelo contaminado restante y el agua subterránea dentro y fuera de la propiedad del Lugar. Según el plan propuesto, la EPA eliminará el suelo contaminado que se encuentra fuera y dentro del sitio para su tratamiento y contención. El suelo tratado fuera y dentro del Lugar se almacenaría en un área segura y restringida en la antigua instalación. La EPA también monitoreará las aguas subterráneas y limitará el acceso a éstas a través de leyes y regulaciones existentes en Puerto Rico, al igual que con notificaciones a los gobiernos locales y asegurar que el uso futuro de los terrenos no conflija con las metas de limpieza a largo plazo.

La propiedad principal en el Lugar operaba como una instalación de fundición secundaria de plomo y reciclaje de baterías hasta 2014. Antes de la operación de fundición secundaria de plomo, el Lugar se utilizó para fabricar productos químicos orgánicos para producir ácido fumárico y ácido ftálico. Estas actividades dejaron altos niveles de plomo y otros contaminantes en el suelo y las aguas subterráneas que presentaban un riesgo inmediato para la salud humana. En 2011, la EPA formalizó una orden con BRC. para limpiar las áreas de contaminación por plomo en el Lugar. Sin embargo, cuando la compañía no pudo terminar el trabajo, la EPA se hizo cargo de la limpieza y eliminó la contaminación por plomo de los hogares, vehículos y praderas cerca de los empleados. La EPA también descontaminó la instalación para evitar una mayor propagación del plomo. La EPA agregó el Lugar a la Lista Nacional de Prioridades en 2017 y terminó sus primeras actividades de limpieza en 2022.

Los comentarios escritos sobre el plan propuesto pueden enviarse por correo postal a Zolymar Luna Díaz, gerente de proyectos de recuperación, Agencia de Protección Ambiental de Estados Unidos Región 2, División de Protección Ambiental del Caribe #48 Rd, PR-165 Km 1.2 Citi View Plaza II, Suite 7000 Guaynabo, P.R. 00968-8069, correo electrónico: Luna.Zolymar@epa.gov.

Para obtener información adicional y ver el plan de limpieza propuesto, visite la página de perfil del sitio Superfondo de Battery Recycling Company.

Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter and visit our Facebook page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.

23-073 - SP

 

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Issued: Aug 30, 2023 (5:40pm EDT)

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EPA Issues Fuel Waiver to Address Fuel Supply Disruptions in Florida Caused by Hurricane Idalia

WASHINGTON (August 29, 2023) –Today, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan issued an emergency fuel waiver to address a fuel supply emergency in Florida caused by Hurricane Idalia.

On August 29, 2023, Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in 49 counties to prepare for potentially devastating impacts to multiple population centers throughout the state from Hurricane Idalia. Storm preparations have resulted in the closure of multiple ports in the state that receive fuel and have restricted and interrupted fuel terminal operations, preventing an adequate supply of gasoline. In addition, evacuations—including mandatory evacuations—are straining available supplies. Waiving federal requirements to sell summer gasoline can help address these supply shortages.

The EPA and the Department of Energy (DOE) have been actively monitoring the supply of fuel. The EPA has concluded, with DOE's concurrence, that it is necessary to waive federal requirements to sell summer gasoline to minimize or prevent the disruption of an adequate supply of gasoline to consumers throughout Florida. This waiver only applies to the federal fuel standards. Regulated parties must continue to comply with any applicable state or local requirements, or restrictions related to this matter, unless waived by the appropriate authorities. The waiver is effective August 30, 2023, and will continue through September 15, 2023.

Federal Clean Air Act regulations require fuel refiners, importers, distributors, resellers, terminal owners and operators, and carriers to switch from selling higher volatility winter gasoline to lower volatility summer gasoline during the summer months to limit the formation of ozone pollution.

To mitigate any impacts on air quality, the Clean Air Act provides strict criteria for when fuel waivers may be granted to help ensure minimal, if any, short term impacts on air quality, including limiting waivers as much as possible in terms of their geographic scope and duration.

As required by law, EPA and DOE evaluated the situation and determined that granting a short-term waiver was consistent with the public interest.  EPA and DOE are continuing to actively monitor the fuel supply situation in Florida.

More information: www.epa.gov/enforcement/fuel-waivers

For further information: EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov)

 

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Issued: Aug 30, 2023 (4:12pm EDT)

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Biden-Harris Administration Announces Availability of $350 Million in Grants to States to Cut Methane Emissions from Oil and Gas Sector

Investment funded by President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act to help tackle the climate crisis, create good-paying jobs, and cut dangerous air pollution. Financial and technical assistance will support methane emissions reductions and monitoring in cooperation with states

WASHINGTON (Aug. 30, 2023) – In support of President Biden's Investing in America agenda, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and DOE's National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) announced today the availability of up to $350 million in formula grant funding to help monitor and reduce methane emissions, one of the biggest drivers of climate change, from the oil and gas sector and for environmental restoration of well sites. The funding, provided by the Inflation Reduction Act, will also help oil and gas well owners, as well as operators of applicable facilities, voluntarily and permanently reduce methane emissions from leaks and daily operations of low-producing conventional wells on non-federal lands. Through the Methane Emissions Reduction Program, EPA and DOE will help reduce inefficiencies of U.S. oil and gas operations, create new jobs in energy communities, and realize near-term emission reductions – helping reach the nation's ambitious climate and clean air goals.

"Thanks to President Biden's Investing in America agenda, we now have unprecedented funding to cut methane pollution that is fueling the climate crisis," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. "This investment will increase competition and help small and medium-sized producers compete on a more level playing field, create new good-paying jobs in energy communities, and support environmental restoration, making clear that strengthening our economy, tackling climate change, and protecting our communities go hand in hand."

"Methane is a much more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, so it's crucial that we work closely with states and industry to develop solutions that will cut emissions at their source," said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. "Thanks to President Biden's Investing in America agenda, DOE's partnership with EPA will bolster our national efforts to monitor and mitigate methane emissions from the oil and gas sector – our largest source of industrial methane – while helping revitalize energy communities and delivering long-lasting health and environmental benefits across the country."

This action is the first in a series of funding opportunities through the Inflation Reduction Act that will target monitoring and reduction of methane emissions from the oil and gas sector. EPA and DOE plan to announce competitive funding opportunities following this non-competitive solicitation and have partnered to offer technical assistance to help industry monitor and reduce methane emissions from leaks and daily operations. This combination of technical and financial assistance is expected to help improve efficiency of U.S. oil and gas operations and provide new economic opportunities in energy communities, as well as realize near-term emission reductions.

EPA and DOE are collaborating alongside other members of the new White House Methane Task Force, which is advancing a whole-of-government approach to proactive methane leak detection and data transparency and supporting state and local efforts to mitigate and enforce methane emissions regulations. Today's actions by EPA and DOE accelerate execution of the U.S. Methane Emissions Reduction Action Plan, building on over 80 Administration actions taken in less than a year since the Plan launched in November 2022.

The deadline for states to apply for this funding opportunity is September 30, 2023 at 5PM ET. For any questions on the application, applicants should submit written questions through the FedConnect portal at FedConnect.net. For any technical issues with grants.gov, please contact grants.gov for assistance at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov. More information, including applicant eligibility, can be found at grants.gov.

About the Methane Emissions Reduction Program

The Methane Emissions Reduction Program, created by the Inflation Reduction Act, provides $1.55 billion in funding, including financial and technical assistance to improve methane monitoring and reduce methane and other greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the oil and gas sector with the co-benefit of reducing non-GHG emissions such as volatile organic compounds and hazardous air pollutants. The program allows financial and technical assistance for a number of activities, including: preparing and submitting greenhouse gas reports, monitoring methane emissions, and reducing methane and other greenhouse gas emissions by improving and deploying equipment, supporting innovation, permanently reducing methane emissions from low-producing conventional wells, mitigating health effects in low-income and disadvantaged communities, improving climate resiliency, supporting environmental restoration, and mitigating legacy air pollution.

Access the funding opportunity.

More information on the Methane Emissions Reduction Program.

For further information: EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov); DOE Press Office (DOENews@hq.doe.gov)

 

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Issued: Aug 29, 2023 (12:14pm EDT)

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To Conform with Recent Supreme Court Decision, EPA and Army Amend "Waters of the United States" Rule

WASHINGTON (August 29, 2023) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of the Army (the agencies) announced a final rule amending the 2023 definition of "waters of the United States" to conform with the recent Supreme Court decision in Sackett v. EPA. The agencies are committed to following the law and implementing the Clean Water Act to deliver the essential protections that safeguard the nation's waters from pollution and degradation. This action provides the clarity that is needed to advance these goals, while moving forward with infrastructure projects, economic opportunities, and agricultural activities.

"While I am disappointed by the Supreme Court's decision in the Sackett case, EPA and Army have an obligation to apply this decision alongside our state co-regulators, Tribes, and partners," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. "We've moved quickly to finalize amendments to the definition of 'waters of the United States' to provide a clear path forward that adheres to the Supreme Court's ruling. EPA will never waver from our responsibility to ensure clean water for all. Moving forward, we will do everything we can with our existing authorities and resources to help communities, states, and Tribes protect the clean water upon which we all depend."

"We have worked with EPA to expeditiously develop a rule to incorporate changes required as a result of the Supreme Court's decision in Sackett," said Michael L. Connor, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works. "With this final rule, the Corps can resume issuing approved jurisdictional determinations that were paused in light of the Sackett decision. Moving forward, the Corps will continue to protect and restore the nation's waters in support of jobs and healthy communities.

While EPA's and Army's 2023 rule defining "waters of the United States" was not directly before the Supreme Court, the decision in Sackett made clear that certain aspects of the 2023 rule are invalid. The amendments issued today are limited and change only parts of the 2023 rule that are invalid under the Sackett v. EPA decision. For example, today's final rule removes the significant nexus test from consideration when identifying tributaries and other waters as federally protected.

The Supreme Court's Decision in Sackett v. EPA, issued on May 25, 2023, created uncertainty for Clean Water Act implementation. The agencies are issuing this amendment to the 2023 rule expeditiously—three months after the Supreme Court decision—to provide clarity and a path forward consistent with the ruling. With this action, the Army Corps of Engineers will resume issuing all jurisdictional determinations. Because the sole purpose of this rule is to amend specific provisions of the 2023 Rule that are invalid under Sackett, the rule will take effect immediately.

The agencies will work with state, Tribal and local partners to safeguard waters in need of protection following the Sackett v. EPA decision and will continue to use all available tools to protect public health and provide clarity for stakeholders.

The agencies will host a public webinar on September 12, 2023 to provide updates on the definition of "waters of the United States." For registration information, please visit EPA's webpage for the amendments rule. The agencies also plan to host listening sessions this fall with co-regulators and stakeholders, focusing on identifying issues that may arise outside this limited rule to conform the definition of "waters of the United States" with the Sackett v. EPA decision.

Learn more about this action on EPA's "waters of the United States" website.

Background
On January 18, 2023, the agencies published a final rule revising the definition of "waters of the United States", which became effective on March 20, 2023. On May 25, 2023, the Supreme Court issued a decision in the case of Sackett v. EPA.

The Clean Water Act prohibits the discharge of pollutants from a point source into "navigable waters" unless otherwise authorized under the Act. "Navigable waters" are defined in the Act as "the waters of the United States, including the territorial seas." Thus, "waters of the United States" is a threshold term establishing the geographic scope of federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act. The term "waters of the United States" is not defined by the Act but has been defined by the agencies in regulations since the 1970s and jointly implemented in the agencies' respective programmatic activities.

For further information: EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov)

 

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Issued: Aug 25, 2023 (9:03am EDT)

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EPA and Senator Cory Booker Celebrate the Power of Partnering with Communities in Elizabeth, NJ to Bring Environmental Equity

NEW YORK (August 25, 2023) – Join EPA and Senator Cory Booker on Friday, August 25, at 3:30 p.m. for a walking tour along 1st Street to see how EPA's investments in overburdened communities in cities like Elizabeth, NJ are improving people's lives. Learn how a $75,000 EPA grant helped Elizabeth monitor truck emissions near one of the world's largest ports and discover how a $500,000 EPA grant will further help Elizabeth provide air quality data and education to its residents. The grants are part of the Biden Administration's Investing in America and Environmental Justice initiatives. EPA is partnering with communities across the nation to ensure that everyone has access to clean air and a healthy environment.

Who:  

• Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia
• U.S. Senator Cory Booker
• U.S. Representative Rob Menendez Jr. 
• City of Elizabeth Mayor Chris Bollwage
• Officials from Groundwork Elizabeth
• Officials from the Housing Authority of the City of Elizabeth

What: Walking tour of air monitors along truck routes near the Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal, followed by informal roundtable with members of the community.

When: Friday, August 25, 2023, at 3:30 p.m.

Where: Elizabeth Housing Authority Building - 205 First Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07206 - (map). The general parking lot is at the corner of pine street and front street.

Credentialed press who would like to attend should RSVP to Stephen McBay at McBay.Stephen@epa.gov.

Reporters are encouraged to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the walking tour. TV crews and cameras will be responsible for their own technical and sound requirements.

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

 

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Issued: Aug 24, 2023 (1:39pm EDT)

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EPA and Senator Cory Booker Celebrate the Power of Partnering with Communities in Elizabeth, NJ to Bring Environmental Equity

NEW YORK (August 24, 2023) – Join EPA and Senator Cory Booker on Friday, August 25, at 3:30 p.m. for a walking tour along 1st Street to see how EPA's investments in overburdened communities in cities like Elizabeth, NJ are improving people's lives. Learn how a $75,000 EPA grant helped Elizabeth monitor truck emissions near one of the world's largest ports and discover how a $500,000 EPA grant will further help Elizabeth provide air quality data and education to its residents. The grants are part of the Biden Administration's Investing in America and Environmental Justice initiatives. EPA is partnering with communities across the nation to ensure that everyone has access to clean air and a healthy environment.

Who:  

• Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia
• U.S. Senator Cory Booker
• U.S. Representative Rob Menendez Jr. 
• City of Elizabeth Mayor Chris Bollwage
• Officials from Groundwork Elizabeth
• Officials from the Housing Authority of the City of Elizabeth

What: Walking tour of air monitors along truck routes near the Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal, followed by informal roundtable with members of the community.

When: Friday, August 25, 2023, at 3:30 p.m.

Where: Elizabeth Housing Authority Building - 205 First Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07206 - (map)

Credentialed press who would like to attend should RSVP to Stephen McBay at McBay.Stephen@epa.gov.

Reporters are encouraged to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the walking tour. TV crews and cameras will be responsible for their own technical and sound requirements.

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

 

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Issued: Aug 23, 2023 (12:04pm EDT)

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EPA and Hershey together commit $2 Million to Land O'Lakes Member Dairy Farms in PA

Funds will support clean water, climate, and sustainable farming initiatives

WASHINGTON BORO, PA - August 22, 2023 - The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and The Hershey Company (Hershey)  announced today the joint commitment of $2 million to support local dairy farmers. The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay (Alliance), in collaboration with Land O'Lakes, Inc., will use funds to promote the adoption of practices that support local and regional environmental goals with dairy farmers in Land O'Lakes' eastern region milk shed.

The Alliance, Hershey, and Land O'Lakes have been working together since 2021 on an initiative called "Sustainable Dairy PA." The initiative takes a collaborative, industry-led, and public sector-supported approach to accelerate on-farm conservation efforts for local eastern region dairy farmers.

The $2 million in funding is part of a commitment between the EPA and Hershey. These funds, $1 million of which will be funded by the EPA and a matching $1 million of which will be committed from Hershey, will be used to support the Alliance and Land O'Lakes in implementing agricultural conservation practices on Land O'Lakes member dairy farms. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) will administer the portion of the funds provided from EPA to the Alliance. 

"Dairy farmers are critical to our supply chain and our local communities," said Leigh Horner, Chief Sustainability Officer, The Hershey Company. "We are proud to support the work of Sustainable Dairy PA and the farmers participating as they drive meaningful impact on clean water and conservation efforts to protect the Chesapeake Bay."

As a key partner and funder in this work, EPA understands the need to support corporate initiatives like these. The Alliance has been developing agriculture supply chain programs since 2018, leveraging approximately $16M in public and private funding to assist over 150 farmers. Dairy farming is an essential component of the economy and a source of wholesome local food. Supporting farmers with funding and expertise to help them improve water quality and reduce the environmental impacts of dairy farms is essential. These practices also help improve the long-term sustainability of the farms with the goal of improving soil health and the overall efficiency of the operations. 

"EPA's funding commitment to Hershey, Land O'Lakes, and the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay brings $2 million of much-needed support to Pennsylvania dairy farmers to scale up conservation practices that are good for our farms, climate, local streams, and the Bay." said EPA Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. "With this funding, we are not only investing in the current environment, but into the long term viability of Pennsylvania farmers - our frontline environmentalists."

Thanks to prior funding provided by EPA, NFWF, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), the Alliance has created a model that local companies are now adopting in an effort to increase sustainability in their dairy supply chain and help bring cleaner water back to their communities.

"American farmers continually rise to the challenge of feeding a growing global population in an increasingly sustainable and efficient manner," said Tim Leviny, Land O'Lakes Senior Vice President of Global Dairy Ingredients & International. "Collaborative initiatives like Sustainable Dairy PA provide the necessary incentives to drive voluntary practice changes that not only help contribute to the health of the planet, but also help better position farmers for success in a challenging operating environment."

​As a cooperative, and largely enabled by their ag sustainability businesses Truterra, Land O'Lakes has taken a leadership position in on-farm sustainability by helping customers achieve their environmental goals, while keeping farmer profitability at the forefront. The collaboration at the heart of this work brings significant funding, technical support, and incentives to help farmers prioritize conservation while navigating difficult dairy market conditions.

"Hershey's, EPA's, and Land O'Lakes' leadership to support our Pennsylvania dairy farmers and local ecosystems is revolutionary." said Jenna Mitchell Beckett, Agriculture Program Director at the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. "This effort is helping to create a paradigm shift in which an entire supply chain works together to support work on the ground rather than farmers being expected to carry the load alone. We believe this model is the future of how we will overcome the environmental hurdles we face."

 

 

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Issued: Aug 21, 2023 (3:53pm EDT)

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EPA Initiates New Review of the Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards to Reflect the Latest Science

WASHINGTON (August 21, 2023)  – Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a new review of the Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) to ensure the standards reflect the most current, relevant science and protect people's health from these harmful pollutants. EPA Administrator Michael Regan reached this decision after carefully considering advice provided by the independent Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC). In October 2021, EPA announced a reconsideration of the previous Administration's decision to retain the NAAQS for ozone. EPA is incorporating the ongoing reconsideration into the review announced today and will consider the advice and recommendations of the CASAC in that review. The Agency will move swiftly to execute this new review of the underlying science and the standards – prioritizing transparency, scientific integrity, inclusive public engagement, and environmental justice.

"After carefully reviewing the advice of the independent scientific panel, I am convinced that a full and complete review of the ozone NAAQS is warranted to ensure a thorough and transparent assessment of the latest science," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan.  "From the start, I committed that EPA will uphold the integrity of independent, robust processes to ensure that air quality standards reflect the latest science in order to best protect people from pollution. As we initiate a new review, EPA will continue to work closely with our partners at the state, tribal and local levels to fully implement the existing standards, consistent with our Clean Air Act obligations."

Exposure to ground-level ozone can cause respiratory issues, aggravate asthma and other lung diseases, and may lead to missed days of work or school, emergency room visits, and premature deaths. These costly public health impacts can be especially harmful to children and older adults, disproportionately affecting people of color, families with low-incomes, and other vulnerable populations.

Nationally, due in part to strong EPA emission standards that reduce air pollution, ozone air quality is improving. Between 2010 and 2022, national average ozone air quality concentrations have dropped 7 percent. In many of the areas designated as not meeting the current 2015 standards, work remains. To continue progress in reducing ozone, EPA has initiated important regulatory actions including strong new federal emissions standards for cars and trucks and strengthening rules to reduce pollution from the oil and natural gas industry – a leading source of ozone forming volatile organic compounds.  Taken together, the projected benefits of these and other actions addressing industrial and power sector emissions, such as with the Good Neighbor Plan, would cut emissions of ozone precursors by hundreds of thousands of tons with estimated health benefits adding up to billions of dollars.

The new review will allow EPA to consider fully the information about the latest ozone science and potential implications for the ozone NAAQS provided by the CASAC and the Ozone Review Panel. EPA will conduct the review according to well-established best practices and processes that embrace scientific integrity and the role of the public to provide input at multiple steps along the way.

Concrete, transparent and public next steps include: 

• Issuing a call for information in the Federal Register in the next few days; 
• convening a public science and policy workshop in spring 2024 to gather input from the scientific community and the public; 
• in summer 2024, EPA will summarize the proceedings of the workshop to consider how the information gathered can be used to inform the next review, including specific areas of science that warrant particular focus and analytic enhancements; 
• in fall 2024 the agency plans to release its Integrated Review Plan, Volume 2 to guide CASAC consideration and development of the Integrated Science Assessment.

EPA established the current standards at a level of 70 parts per billion in 2015 and retained them in 2020, after concluding that there was little new information to suggest the need for revision. The CASAC, however, has identified studies published more recently and also recommended that EPA conduct additional risk analyses that might support more stringent standards. EPA has determined that incorporating the ongoing reconsideration into a new review will best ensure full consideration of this new information and advice.

More information about ground-level ozone and the most recent review of the ozone NAAQS

For further information: EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov)

 

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Issued: Aug 18, 2023 (1:28pm EDT)

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EPA Invites Public Input on Proposed Cleanup Plan for Lehigh Valley Railroad Superfund Site in Genesee County, New York

Contact: Mike Basile, 646-369-0055, basile.michael@epa.gov

NEW YORK (August 18, 2023) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking public input on its proposed cleanup plan to address contaminated groundwater, soil, bedrock, soil vapor and surface water at the Lehigh Valley Railroad site located in LeRoy, New York. A 30-day public comment period for the proposed plan begins on August 18, 2023. EPA will host a public meeting at Caledonia Mumford High School auditorium, 99 North Street, Caledonia, NY   on August 29, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. to explain the new cleanup proposal. EPA's proposed plan for the Lehigh Valley Railroad site will address the remaining contamination from a historic train accident that spilled trichloroethylene (TCE) onto the ground and into the groundwater.

The site includes the location of a former train derailment that occurred on December 6, 1970, at the Gulf Road crossing in the Town of LeRoy. Two tank cars ruptured and spilled approximately 30,000 gallons of TCE onto the ground. A third car containing a crystalline form of cyanide was also reported to have partially spilled. The cyanide was recovered shortly after the derailment, however the TCE was flushed with water, and it seeped into the ground, resulting in a 4-mile-long plume of TCE contamination. EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List in 1999 and has been cleaning the site in several stages, including early removal responses, as well as remedial actions known as operable units (OUs).

The cleanup outlined in today's proposed plan will address the groundwater, bedrock, soil, soil vapor, and surface water. For the groundwater contamination, EPA has determined that no existing treatment methods can clean up the groundwater to meet standards in a reasonable time. Therefore, EPA proposes to monitor the groundwater and use institutional controls (ICs) to limit its use and protect people's health over the long term.

The proposed plan also includes:

• Removing remaining contaminated soil and disposing of it off-site, followed by backfilling with clean fill.
• In-situ treatment of contaminated surface water with streambed cover, ICs, and monitoring. 
• Monitoring groundwater, surface water, soil vapor and indoor air to check the levels of contaminants.
• Maintaining and installing vapor mitigation systems for properties that are affected by soil vapor intrusion from the groundwater plume. These systems prevent harmful vapors from entering indoor spaces.
• Connecting new homes built over the groundwater plume to the public water supply system. Existing homes over the plume were connected to the public water system in 2003.
• ICs in the form of governmental controls, proprietary controls (e.g., easements in the spill area), and informational devices (e.g., notices, publications) to limit exposure to contaminated groundwater and soil vapor.

EPA also proposes changes to a 1997 cleanup plan to eliminate source control measures including bedrock vapor extraction, to update the surface water standard for TCE, and to address soil contamination beneath Gulf Road by implementing ICs to restrict access and to require proper soil management if the roadbed is disturbed in the future.

Written comments on the proposed plan may be mailed or emailed to Maria Jon, Remedial Project Manager, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 290 Broadway – 19th Floor, New York, NY 10007, Email: jon.maria@epa.gov.

For additional background and to see the proposed cleanup plan, visit the Lehigh Valley Railroad Superfund site profile page.

Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter and visit our Facebook page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.

23-074

 

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Issued: Aug 17, 2023 (1:23pm EDT)

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EPA Deletes Smithtown Ground Water Contamination Site from the National Priorities List

NEW YORK (August 17, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has deleted the Smithtown Groundwater Contamination Superfund site in Smithtown, New York, from the National Priorities List (NPL) of Superfund sites. EPA has determined all cleanup work has been completed and that no further federal action is required at the site.

"A few decades ago, people were drinking the contaminated groundwater at this site, but thanks to our Superfund program EPA was able to quickly give them a safe and permanent source of drinking water, allowing the aquifer time to recover." said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. "Contamination levels in the groundwater have fallen to a level that meets drinking water standards, and EPA is now removing the designation of this site as a Superfund site."

"I applaud EPA's successful efforts to address the toxic contamination at the Smithtown Groundwater Contamination Site that has threatened the health of local residents for years. It is imperative that all New Yorkers have access to clean drinking water, and everyone deserves to know that their community is a safe place to live, work, and raise a family," said New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. "Thanks to this 24-year effort, residents of Nissequogue and Head of the Harbor can now take solace in knowing their groundwater is safe, and I will never stop fighting to ensure it remains that way."

Groundwater at the site became contaminated with tetrachloroethylene (or PCE), a solvent used in dry cleaning and metal cleaning, though in this case EPA was not able to pinpoint specific sources of the contamination. Exposure to PCE can have serious health impacts, including liver damage and increased risk of cancer. EPA selected a cleanup plan in 2004 to clean up groundwater contaminated with PCE. The plan included providing alternate water supplies to homes affected by the contamination and relied on existing state and local regulations to restrict future groundwater use.

In 2005, EPA began installing service lines to connect people's homes to the public water that is regulated and regularly tested. In addition, EPA extended the water main so all the impacted homes could be connected. EPA monitored groundwater using a network of monitoring wells to gauge the concentration and movement of the PCE in the groundwater over time.

When hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants remain on a site at levels that limit use and restrict exposure, EPA conducts follow-up reviews every five years. These five-year reviews, ensure that the cleanup actions continue to protect people and the environment. Several five-year reviews for the site were performed from 2011 through 2020 to ensure that contamination was not posing a risk to people. The most recent five-year review, conducted in November 2020, determined that EPA's actions at the site protect people's health and the environment. Levels of PCE in the groundwater have fallen to below state and federal drinking water standards. As a result, no additional five-year reviews will be required.

The NPL includes some of the nation's most serious uncontrolled or abandoned releases of contamination. EPA deletes sites or parts of sites from the NPL when no further cleanup is required to protect human health or the environment. Years, and sometimes decades, of complex investigation and cleanup work have gone into getting these sites to where they are today.   

Visit the [Smithtown Groundwater Contamination] Superfund site profile page for additional background and site documents.

Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter and visit our Facebook page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.

For further information: Contact: Carlos Vega, (642)-988-2996, vega.carlos@epa.gov

 

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Issued: Aug 17, 2023 (12:03pm EDT)

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EPA Releases Initial Nationwide Monitoring Data on 29 PFAS and Lithium

First of 12 sets of data to be released through 2026, this information further builds upon EPA actions to address PFAS in Drinking Water

WASHINGTON (Aug. 17, 2023) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is releasing the first set of data collected under the fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5). In the latest action to deliver on EPA's PFAS Strategic Roadmap, UCMR 5 will provide new data that will improve EPA's understanding of the frequency that 29 PFAS and lithium are found in the nation's drinking water systems, and at what levels. The monitoring data on PFAS and lithium will help the Agency make determinations about future actions to protect public health under the Safe Drinking Water Act. This action advances the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to combat PFAS pollution and safeguard drinking water for all people.

 

"PFAS are an urgent public health issue facing people and communities across the nation. The latest science is clear: exposure to certain PFAS, also known as forever chemicals, over long periods of time is linked to significant health risks," said Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox. "That's why the Biden-Harris Administration is leading a whole-of-government approach to address these harmful chemicals. As part of this commitment, EPA is conducting the most comprehensive monitoring effort for PFAS ever, at every large and midsize public water system in America, and at hundreds small water systems."

 

The data collected under UCMR 5 will ensure science-based decision-making and help EPA better understand national-level exposure to these 29 PFAS and lithium, and whether they disproportionately impact communities with environmental justice concerns. This initial data release represents approximately 7% of the total results that EPA expects to receive over the next three years. The Agency will update the results quarterly and share them with the public in EPA's National Contaminant Occurrence Database (NCOD) until completion of data reporting in 2026. EPA continues to conduct research and monitor advances in techniques that may improve our ability to measure these and other contaminants at even lower levels.

 

EPA is acting to protect peoples' health from PFAS in drinking water. In March 2023, EPA proposed standards to limit certain PFAS in drinking water. The proposal, if finalized, would allow public water systems to use results from UCMR 5 to meet the rule's initial monitoring requirements and to inform communities of actions that may need to be taken. In the interim period before the PFAS drinking water standard is final, EPA has established Health Advisories for four PFAS included in the UCMR 5. EPA continues to advance the science on the potential health effects of a wide range of PFAS, including many of those monitored for under this program.

 

EPA is moving forward to expand the investigation and cleanup of PFAS contaminated sites, including by finalizing new safeguards under Superfund to hold polluters accountable for contamination from two widely used PFAS chemicals. The Agency also recent issued its third order to require PFAS manufacturers to conduct testing under EPA's National Testing Strategy to help EPA better confront these forever chemicals.

 

EPA is also deploying an unprecedented $9 billion, included in President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, specifically to invest in communities with drinking water impacted by PFAS and other emerging contaminants. This includes $4 billion via the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) and $5 billion through EPA's "Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities" grant program. States, Tribes and communities can further leverage an additional nearly $12 billion in BIL DWSRF funds and billions more in annual SRF funds dedicated to making drinking water safer. These funds will help communities make important investments in solutions to remove PFAS from drinking water.

 

For more information visit EPA's Ground Water and Drinking Water webpage.

 

Background

The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) specifies that every five years EPA is required to monitor for priority contaminants that may be present in drinking water but are not yet subject to EPA drinking water regulations. EPA uses the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR) to provide the agency and other interested parties with nationally representative data on the occurrence of contaminants in drinking water, the number of people potentially being exposed, and an estimate of the levels of that exposure. These data can support future regulatory determinations, the development of national primary drinking water regulations (NPDWRs), and other actions to protect public health. EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5) requires sample collection for 30 chemical contaminants (29 PFAS and lithium) between 2023 and 2025 using analytical methods developed by EPA and consensus organizations.

 

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Educational Organizations to Receive Over $3.1 Million to Support Environmental Projects Nationwide

The funding will range from $50,000 to $100,000, to organizations that provide environmental education activities and programs.

View as a webpage / Share EPA Selects Educational Organizations to Receive Over $3.1 Million to Support Environmental Projects Nationwide   EPA is announcing the selection of 33 organizations to receive over $3.1 million in funding for projects under the Environmental Education Grants Program. Among the grant recipients are four Minority Serving Institutions.   "We know that climate change is one of the greatest environmental challenges of our time, and it demands bold and innovative solutions," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. "This year's grant recipients represent some of the brightest minds from across the country, and they demonstrate what it means to couple the power of environmental education with a commitment to creating a future with clean air, clean water, and a healthy planet for all." The funding will range from $50,000 to $100,000, to organizations that provide environmental education activities and programs. This year's grantees will conduct project activities in 27 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  This year's education projects include: Using a one-of-a-kind 35' x 27' giant floor map of the Lake Champlain watershed to increase the capability of educators to use environmental education in their own teaching and increase stewardship behaviors in teachers and students at five Title I schools. Empowering students at an HBCU to utilize 21st century skills to address long-standing solid waste management issues in the Virgin Islands. Developing a program to increase opportunities for young people in the Pittsburgh area to be exposed to environmental careers and racially diverse environmental professionals, while completing projects that help to green communities and mitigate the effects of climate change. Creating innovative solutions to address the low resource recovery of demolition waste while educating the next generation of engineers at an HBCU to make more sustainable decisions related to this waste, which ~90% of is recyclable or reusable. Building ecological awareness, as well as introducing conservation practices and environmental careers to young adults from majority Latinx and African American communities on Chicago's south side through a series of hands-on experiential learning opportunities.  Expanding experimental place-based learning on bosque ecosystem heath to reach every seventh-grade student in New Mexico's Middle Rio Grande Valley. Increasing education efforts to help communities build resilience to floods and wildfires in Colorado's St. Vrain Watershed by developing a publicly accessible curriculum, offering workshops for teachers to implement the curriculum, and providing higher education and leadership opportunities. Educating Arizonans in 12 underserved communities about their groundwater conditions by developing a traveling, interactive groundwater exhibit. Fostering interconnectivity between formal environmental education curriculum and traditional knowledge of Alaskan indigenous communities by working with underserved communities to infuse traditional application into a culturally sustaining and place-based curriculum. Using salmon as a local phenomenon to educate approximately 2,400 eighth-grade students from Title I schools on critical watershed issues through lessons designed to increase student understanding of habitat water quality needs, think critically and brainstorm local stormwater pollution solutions, and take action to physically improve their schoolyard habitats. The following organizations have been selected to receive this year's EE Grants: Audubon Great Lakes Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania Bergen Community College Bosque Ecosystem Monitoring Program Chesapeake Conservancy Envirolution Environmental Science Center Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) Green & Healthy Homes Initiative Groundwork Ohio River Valley Gulf of Maine Research Institute Hazon Kenai Watershed Forum Kentucky Association for Environmental Education Lake Champlain Maritime Museum Left Hand Watershed Center Maine Campus Contact Mountain Studies Institute Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association Ohio University Orange County Coastkeeper Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Project WET Foundation Rowan University Sequoia Riverlands Trust University of Arizona University of Connecticut University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) University of Mississippi University of Nebraska-Lincoln University of the Virgin Islands Van Cortlandt Park Alliance Washington State University EPA anticipates providing funding for these projects once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied. Since 1992, EPA has distributed between $2 million and $3.5 million in EE grant funding each year, for a total of over $91.3 million supporting more than 3,922 projects. The program traditionally provides financial support for projects that design, demonstrate or disseminate environmental education practices, methods or techniques. For more information, visit the Environmental Education webpage.  To learn more about current and past award winners, or to apply for future EE grant competitions, visit the Environmental Education Grants webpage. This page is updated as future competitions are announced and additional grants are awarded.

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