Issued: Feb 29, 2024 (1:01pm EST)

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EPA Advances Climate Action in the Virgin Islands

EPA awards Virgin Islands Energy Office a $500,000 Climate Pollution Reduction Planning Grant

 NEW YORK – (February 29, 2024)  The U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is directly investing in strategies to reduce climate pollution and build clean energy economy across the US Virgin Islands through the ground-breaking Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia joined Virgin Islands Energy Office Director Kyle D. Fleming, and others today to celebrate the official award of a half million dollars to the Virgin Islands Energy Office under EPA's Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program, a program funded through IRA. 

 

Earlier this year, EPA awarded a $500,000 Climate Pollution Reduction Planning Grant to the Virgin Islands Energy Office (VIEO) which will provide support for USVI's climate planning process. VIEO will use the planning grant to design a climate action plan for USVI that may include a variety of measures to reduce GHG emissions from across key sectors. Those sectors include electricity generation, industry, transportation, buildings, agriculture/natural and working lands, and waste management. This award will help USVI identify greenhouse gas reduction opportunities and quantify the benefits of energy efficiency programs.  

  

"Caribbean islands have unique opportunities to tackle climate change which is why EPA is happy to be here in St. Thomas to celebrate with the Virgin Islands Energy Office receiving this planning grant," said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. "People living in the U.S. Virgin Islands understand the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emission sources and this funding is an important step forward in our joint efforts to reduce the impacts of climate change.   

 

"The Climate Pollution Reduction Planning Grant award marks a transformative step forward for the U.S. Virgin Islands in our fight against climate change. The program is not just an investment in our environment but a commitment to our future. I am immensely proud of the Virgin Islands Energy Office (VIEO) and VIEO Director Fleming for securing this planning grant, which will aid in creating a more sustainable and resilient Virgin Islands," said Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett. 

  

"The US Virgin Islands are situated on the front lines of climate change and face the most immediate and severe consequences of rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and environmental degradation," said Virgin Island Energy Office Director Kyle D. Fleming. "Strategically planning and implementing effective pollution reduction strategies is not merely an option but a critical imperative for the territory's sustainable development. Through the successful award of the CPRG planning funds, the Virgin Islands Energy Office strives to be the catalyst of safeguarding our vulnerable ecosystem while preserving our economic viability & cultural heritage for generations to come."  

  

In September 2023, EPA launched a $4.6 competition for the second phase of the CPRG program, the Climate Pollution Reduction Implementation Grants. This funding can be used to implement projects and initiatives identified in the Priority Climate Action Plans (PCAP) that were developed by CPRG planning grant recipients. Approximately $300 million will be specifically reserved for Climate Pollution Reduction Implementation Grants for territories and Indian Nations. The Virgin Islands Energy Office and other territorial agencies will be eligible to receive this implementation funding because USVI has opted in to receive the planning grant. 

If you would like to learn more about the CPRG Program, please visit this webpage.  

  

To learn more about CPRG training, tools, and technical assistance, please visit this webpage. 

  

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

For further information: Contact: Iris M. Crawford (Crawford.iris@epa.gov) (347) 908-3374

 

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Partner Spotlight: Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units (PEHSUs)

Get to know our partners in protecting children's health, the Pediatric Environment Health Specialty Units, also known as, PEHSUs.

View as a webpage / Share Partner and Resource Spotlight Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units (PEHSUs) Get to know our partners in protecting children's health, the Pediatric Environment Health Specialty Units, also known as PEHSUs. PEHSUs have spent the last 25 years addressing the environmental threats to children's health across the nation. About PEHSUs The PEHSUs are a network of pediatricians, nurses, health educators and other health professionals with special expertise in the prevention, diagnosis, management, and treatment of health issues that arise from environmental exposures, from preconception through adolescence.  Typically based at university medical centers across the United States, the PEHSUs offer services to child clinicians and caregivers including education, consultation, outreach, and referral for both health professionals and communities.  Prescriptions for Prevention The Western States PEHSU (Region 9) at University of California San Francisco (UCSF) recently launched Prescriptions for Prevention, guidance for parents and caregivers in the best actions they can take to protect children's environmental health and prevent future harm.  The tool covers 30 environmental health topics with simple no-cost or low cost actions. Also available in Spanish. Their team is also working with UCSF's Patient Education Committee to upload all 30 Prescriptions into their electronic medical system. Check out their animated Prescriptions for Prevention video series, featuring an array of "Prescriptions" that guide parents and caregivers in protecting their children from environmental health threats. Each Prescription for Prevention topic also has a corresponding healthcare provider-facing material which can be found in the Pediatric Environmental Health Toolkit. The tool covers concepts, key exposures, sources, and offers anticipatory guidance. Through the Western States PEHSU's Story of Health, healthcare providers can also enroll in their free, at your own pace, online continuing education modules on key environmental health topics. A Silver Anniversary for the Gold Standard in Children's Environmental Health Protection Read the latest article written by EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe to get her perspective on the important role PEHSUs play in protecting children! Learn more about Children's Health and Healthy School Environments.

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Issued: Feb 28, 2024 (11:00am EST)

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Biden-Harris Administration invests $3B into clean ports as part of President Biden's Investing in America agenda

EPA opens two grant competitions — funding zero-emission port equipment, infrastructure and planning to tackle the climate crisis, reduce pollution, and advance environmental justice

WASHINGTON — Today, Feb. 28, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the launch of the $3 billion Clean Ports Program to fund zero-emission port equipment and infrastructure to tackle the climate crisis and improve air quality at U.S. ports as part of President Biden's Investing in America agenda. The funding opportunities were created under President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act — the largest climate investment in history — and will advance environmental justice by reducing diesel pollution from U.S. ports in surrounding communities, while creating good-paying jobs. EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan made this announcement at an event in Wilmington, North Carolina with Governor Roy Cooper today as part of the Biden-Harris Administration's Investing in America tour.

"Our nation's ports are among the busiest in the world, helping us to create good jobs here in America, move goods, and grow our economy," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. "Today's historic funding announcement reflects President Biden's vision of growing our economy while ensuring America leads in creating globally competitive solutions of the future. Today we're making $3 billion available to install cleaner and more efficient technologies while cutting air pollution to protect the people who work at and live near ports."

"Our country's ports feed our supply chains to put food on our tables, keep our businesses running and provide for our everyday needs," said Governor Roy Cooper. "We are deeply grateful to the Biden Administration for the investments that have helped fix our supply chain, rebuild our infrastructure and create thousands of good paying clean energy jobs."

"Communities living near America's ports have borne the brunt of some of the worst air pollution coming from shipping, trucking, and maritime industries," said John Podesta, Senior Advisor to the President for International Climate Policy. "Today's historic announcement from EPA is an investment in a cleaner, healthier future for those communities."

"President Biden and Vice President Harris believe every person deserves clean air, clean water, and a healthy environment. Communities near our nation's ports are disproportionately impacted by air pollution and other environmental hazards, and this funding will help reduce emissions while creating good-paying jobs as we transition to a clean energy future," said White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory. "Today's announcement will help ensure families who live, work, and play near our ports have cleaner air to breathe and a healthier environment as we work to advance the President's ambitious environmental justice agenda."

"For decades, ports have been hubs of pollution — but thanks to President Biden, we are turning them into hubs of American innovation," said Assistant to the President and National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi. "There's an incredible array of new technologies that can make ports cleaner and greener, all while creating good-paying jobs and strengthening American supply chains. The Clean Ports Program is demonstrating how these technologies can work together to deliver clean air for our children, cut down on harmful climate pollution, and achieve fully zero-emission operations. That's a gamechanger for port communities, for workers, and for America's economy. That's environmental justice – long overdue."

The Clean Ports Program will help advance the President's commitment to environmental justice and the Justice40 Initiative, which sets the goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments in climate, clean energy, and other areas flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. In addition to these efforts, EPA strived to ensure that near-port community engagement and equity considerations are at the forefront of our program design, including by evaluating applications on the extent and quality of community engagement efforts.

The Clean Ports Program is designed to help ports across the country transition to fully zero-emissions operations — serving as a catalyst for transformational change across the freight sector. To achieve this, EPA is releasing two separate Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) as part of the $3 billion. The nearly $2.8 billion Zero-Emission Technology Deployment Competition will directly fund zero-emission port equipment and infrastructure to reduce mobile source emissions at U.S. ports. Eligible uses of funding include human-operated and maintained zero-emission cargo handling equipment, harbor craft and other vessels, electric charging and hydrogen fueling infrastructure, and a number of other technology investments. Applications under this competition will be evaluated under multiple tiers in order to ensure that funds are distributed across ports of different sizes and types, and to ensure funding for ports serving Tribal communities.

The approximately $150 million Climate and Air Quality Planning Competition will fund climate and air quality planning activities at U.S. ports — including emissions inventories, strategy analysis, community engagement, and resiliency measure identification. Together, these opportunities will advance next-generation, clean technologies that will more safely and efficiently drive the movement of goods and passengers at our nation's ports, a critical part of America's supply chain infrastructure while reducing pollution and advancing environmental justice.

The funding for the two grant competitions is available to port authorities; state, regional, local, or Tribal agencies that have jurisdiction over a port authority or port; air pollution control agencies; and private entities that apply in partnership with an eligible entity above, and that own, operate or use facilities, cargo-handling equipment, transportation equipment, or related technology of a port. The funding can be used for projects at water ports (coastal and inland) as well as projects at facilities where goods are transferred between rail cars and trucks (dry ports).

Ports are the transportation and commerce hubs that make the U.S. economy hum. In our global economy, efficient and effective ports are central to our economic viability and prosperity. At the same time, they are places where large concentrations of diesel equipment converge — including ships, trucks, rail, and non-road machinery. These diesel engines, particularly older engines found in many ports, operate near where people live, work, and play, emitting air pollution that can harm human health and contribute to climate change. This historic investment in clean technologies at ports that reduce exposure to air pollution will protect public health, particularly for communities surrounding ports. The Clean Ports Program will also help to ensure that meaningful community engagement and emissions reduction planning are port industry standard practices.

The new program builds on the success of EPA's Ports Initiative and the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act programs, which have invested over $196 million to implement 207 diesel emissions reduction projects at ports with an additional $88 million to multi-sector projects that involve ports. Using the Ports Initiative and DERA's strong foundation as a launchpad, the Clean Ports Program will drive transformational change across the freight sector. This new Clean Ports Program is one of several complementary programs funded by the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that can help reduce emissions at ports, including the Department of Transportation's Port Infrastructure Development Program, which will be releasing a NOFO shortly. Visit a new interagency webpage summarizing federal funding opportunities for low- to zero-emission port technologies.

In addition to protecting human health and the environment, the program will create new jobs in the domestic clean energy sector and enhance U.S. economic competitiveness, through innovation, installation, maintenance, and operation of zero-emissions equipment and infrastructure. The program's historic investment in zero-emission port technology will promote and ensure the U.S. position as a global leader in clean technologies.

The deadline to apply for the two Clean Ports Program NOFOs is May 28. Eligible applicants can apply for funding through one or both NOFOs.

Zero-Emission Technology Deployment Competition NOFO

Climate and Air Quality Planning Competition NOFO

To learn more about the Clean Ports Program, applicant eligibility, selection process, and informational webinar dates, please visit the Clean Ports Program webpage. Questions may also be directed to CleanPorts@epa.gov.                               

For further information: press@epa.gov

 

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Issued: Feb 28, 2024 (11:30am EST)

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Biden-Harris Administration invests $3B into clean ports as part of President Biden's Investing in America agenda

EPA opens two grant competitions — funding zero-emission port equipment, infrastructure and planning to tackle the climate crisis, reduce pollution, and advance environmental justice

WASHINGTON — Today, Feb. 28, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the launch of the $3 billion Clean Ports Program to fund zero-emission port equipment and infrastructure to tackle the climate crisis and improve air quality at U.S. ports as part of President Biden's Investing in America agenda. The funding opportunities were created under President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act — the largest climate investment in history — and will advance environmental justice by reducing diesel pollution from U.S. ports in surrounding communities, while creating good-paying jobs. EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan made this announcement at an event in Wilmington, North Carolina with Governor Roy Cooper today as part of the Biden-Harris Administration's Investing in America tour.

"Our nation's ports are among the busiest in the world, helping us to create good jobs here in America, move goods, and grow our economy," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. "Today's historic funding announcement reflects President Biden's vision of growing our economy while ensuring America leads in creating globally competitive solutions of the future. Today we're making $3 billion available to install cleaner and more efficient technologies while cutting air pollution to protect the people who work at and live near ports."

"Our country's ports feed our supply chains to put food on our tables, keep our businesses running and provide for our everyday needs," said Governor Roy Cooper. "We are deeply grateful to the Biden Administration for the investments that have helped fix our supply chain, rebuild our infrastructure and create thousands of good paying clean energy jobs."

"Communities living near America's ports have borne the brunt of some of the worst air pollution coming from shipping, trucking, and maritime industries," said John Podesta, Senior Advisor to the President for International Climate Policy. "Today's historic announcement from EPA is an investment in a cleaner, healthier future for those communities."

"President Biden and Vice President Harris believe every person deserves clean air, clean water, and a healthy environment. Communities near our nation's ports are disproportionately impacted by air pollution and other environmental hazards, and this funding will help reduce emissions while creating good-paying jobs as we transition to a clean energy future," said White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory. "Today's announcement will help ensure families who live, work, and play near our ports have cleaner air to breathe and a healthier environment as we work to advance the President's ambitious environmental justice agenda."

"For decades, ports have been hubs of pollution — but thanks to President Biden, we are turning them into hubs of American innovation," said Assistant to the President and National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi. "There's an incredible array of new technologies that can make ports cleaner and greener, all while creating good-paying jobs and strengthening American supply chains. The Clean Ports Program is demonstrating how these technologies can work together to deliver clean air for our children, cut down on harmful climate pollution, and achieve fully zero-emission operations. That's a gamechanger for port communities, for workers, and for America's economy. That's environmental justice – long overdue."

The Clean Ports Program will help advance the President's commitment to environmental justice and the Justice40 Initiative, which sets the goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments in climate, clean energy, and other areas flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. In addition to these efforts, EPA strived to ensure that near-port community engagement and equity considerations are at the forefront of our program design, including by evaluating applications on the extent and quality of community engagement efforts.

The Clean Ports Program is designed to help ports across the country transition to fully zero-emissions operations — serving as a catalyst for transformational change across the freight sector. To achieve this, EPA is releasing two separate Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) as part of the $3 billion. The nearly $2.8 billion Zero-Emission Technology Deployment Competition will directly fund zero-emission port equipment and infrastructure to reduce mobile source emissions at U.S. ports. Eligible uses of funding include human-operated and maintained zero-emission cargo handling equipment, harbor craft and other vessels, electric charging and hydrogen fueling infrastructure, and a number of other technology investments. Applications under this competition will be evaluated under multiple tiers in order to ensure that funds are distributed across ports of different sizes and types, and to ensure funding for ports serving Tribal communities.

The approximately $150 million Climate and Air Quality Planning Competition will fund climate and air quality planning activities at U.S. ports — including emissions inventories, strategy analysis, community engagement, and resiliency measure identification. Together, these opportunities will advance next-generation, clean technologies that will more safely and efficiently drive the movement of goods and passengers at our nation's ports, a critical part of America's supply chain infrastructure while reducing pollution and advancing environmental justice.

The funding for the two grant competitions is available to port authorities; state, regional, local, or Tribal agencies that have jurisdiction over a port authority or port; air pollution control agencies; and private entities that apply in partnership with an eligible entity above, and that own, operate or use facilities, cargo-handling equipment, transportation equipment, or related technology of a port. The funding can be used for projects at water ports (coastal and inland) as well as projects at facilities where goods are transferred between rail cars and trucks (dry ports).

Ports are the transportation and commerce hubs that make the U.S. economy hum. In our global economy, efficient and effective ports are central to our economic viability and prosperity. At the same time, they are places where large concentrations of diesel equipment converge — including ships, trucks, rail, and non-road machinery. These diesel engines, particularly older engines found in many ports, operate near where people live, work, and play, emitting air pollution that can harm human health and contribute to climate change. This historic investment in clean technologies at ports that reduce exposure to air pollution will protect public health, particularly for communities surrounding ports. The Clean Ports Program will also help to ensure that meaningful community engagement and emissions reduction planning are port industry standard practices.

The new program builds on the success of EPA's Ports Initiative and the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act programs, which have invested over $196 million to implement 207 diesel emissions reduction projects at ports with an additional $88 million to multi-sector projects that involve ports. Using the Ports Initiative and DERA's strong foundation as a launchpad, the Clean Ports Program will drive transformational change across the freight sector. This new Clean Ports Program is one of several complementary programs funded by the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that can help reduce emissions at ports, including the Department of Transportation's Port Infrastructure Development Program, which will be releasing a NOFO shortly. Visit a new interagency webpage summarizing federal funding opportunities for low- to zero-emission port technologies.

In addition to protecting human health and the environment, the program will create new jobs in the domestic clean energy sector and enhance U.S. economic competitiveness, through innovation, installation, maintenance, and operation of zero-emissions equipment and infrastructure. The program's historic investment in zero-emission port technology will promote and ensure the U.S. position as a global leader in clean technologies.

The deadline to apply for the two Clean Ports Program NOFOs is May 28. Eligible applicants can apply for funding through one or both NOFOs.

Zero-Emission Technology Deployment Competition NOFO

Climate and Air Quality Planning Competition NOFO

To learn more about the Clean Ports Program, applicant eligibility, selection process, and informational webinar dates, please visit the Clean Ports Program webpage. Questions may also be directed to CleanPorts@epa.gov.                               

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

 

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Issued: Feb 28, 2024 (9:24am EST)

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EPA Announces Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funds for Cleanup at Scorpio Recycling Superfund Site in Puerto Rico

EPA Announces Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funds for Cleanup at Scorpio Recycling Superfund Site in Puerto Rico

Contact: Carlos Vega, (646) 988-2996, vega.carlos@epa.gov

NEW YORK (February 27, 2024) - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that the Scorpio Recycling, Inc. Superfund site in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico is among the over 100 sites across the country getting more than $1 billion for cleanup projects as part of President Biden's Investing in America agenda. This funding is made possible by the President's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and will launch new cleanup projects at 25 Superfund sites and continue other cleanups at over 85 Superfund sites.  

Thousands of contaminated sites exist nationally due to hazardous waste being dumped, left out in the open, or otherwise improperly managed. These sites can include toxic chemicals from manufacturing facilities, processing plants, landfills and mining, and can harm the health and well-being of local communities in urban and rural areas. More than one in four Black and Hispanic Americans live within three miles of a Superfund site.  

"People living in Puerto Rico have seen firsthand how transformative the Superfund program can be for communities," said Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia.  "This investment in America and in Puerto Rico builds on the historic progress we have already made in recent years to ensure that communities living near the most serious uncontrolled, or abandoned contaminated sites get the protections they deserve."   

"The Biden-Harris Administration continues its steadfast support for Puerto Rico in our collaborative efforts to protect our natural resources. Following last week's announcement of $63.3 million from the EPA for water resources and infrastructure work, today we are pleased to announce another allocation for cleanup at the Scorpio Recycling, Inc Superfund site.  This area, which was a metal recycling facility until 2010 in Toa Baja, is one of the 100 sites across the Nation that will receive more than $1 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The $3.1 million that EPA is allocating to Puerto Rico will be used to further the cleaning efforts and address contamination at the site. Once again, actions speak louder than words, and my administration will continue working with the federal government to protect our environment and the health of all American citizens living in Puerto Rico, "said Governor Pedro R. Pierluisi.

The Scorpio Recycling Inc. site in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico was a 6-acre metal recycling facility that bought all types of metal and sold it to foundries in the United States, Brazil, Spain and Japan. The facility began operating in 1972. The site was poorly operated, and the soil became contaminated with acids, lead and other metals. EPA has addressed the immediate risks by excavating and removing battery casings, miscellaneous debris, and stabilized soil contamination on portions of the site by treating the soil with trisodium phosphate as a temporary mitigation measure to immobilize the lead. 

EPA BIL funding will be used to install a gravel cover in an industrial area and soil cover in a conservation area of the site.  This work which has an estimated value of $3.1 million and will be the last work planned to address contamination at this site. The work is expected to be fully completed in 2028. 

Today's investment is the final wave of funding from the $3.5 billion allocated for Superfund cleanup work in the President's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. So far, EPA has deployed more than $2 billion for cleanup activities at more than 150 Superfund National Priorities List sites.  

Thanks President Biden's commitment to addressing legacy pollution and improving public health, EPA has been able to provide as much funding for cleanup work in the past two years as it did in the previous five years while delivering on President Biden's Justice40 Initiative, which set a goal to deliver 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. 

EPA is committed to advancing environmental justice and incorporating equity considerations into all aspects of the Superfund cleanup process.  Thus far, nearly 80% of the funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has gone to sites in communities with potential environmental justice concerns. Out of the 25 sites to receive funding for new cleanup projects, more than 75% are in communities with potential environmental justice concerns based on data from EJSCREEN. 

President Biden's Investing in America agenda is restoring the health and economic vitality of communities that have been exposed to pervasive legacy pollution. The historic investment made by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law strengthens every part of the Superfund program, making a dramatic difference in EPA's ability to tackle threats to human health and the environment. In addition to funding cleanup construction work, the investment is enabling EPA to increase funding for and accelerate essential work needed to prepare sites for construction and to ensure communities are meaningfully involved in the cleanup process. In 2023, EPA continued to fund Superfund pre-construction activities such as remedial investigations, feasibility studies, remedial designs, and community involvement at double pre-Bipartisan Infrastructure Law levels. 

In 1980, Congress passed the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERLCA), known as Superfund. The law gave EPA the authority and funds to hold polluters accountable for cleaning up the most contaminated sites across the country. When no viable responsible party is found or cannot afford the cleanup, EPA steps in to address risks to human health and the environment using funds appropriated by Congress, like the funding provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. 

To see a list of the 25 sites to receive funding for new cleanup projects, visit EPA's Superfund webpage.

To see highlights from the first two years of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding at Superfund sites, visit EPA's Cleaning Up Superfund Sites: Highlights of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funding website.

For more information about EPA's Superfund program, visit EPA's Superfund website. 

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

24-18

La EPA anuncia fondos de la Ley Bipartidista de Infraestructura para limpieza en el Lugar Superfondo de Scorpio Recycling en Puerto Rico

Contacto: Carlos Vega, (646) 988-2996, Vega.Carlos@epa.gov

NUEVA YORK (27 de febrero de 2024) - La Agencia Federal de Protección Ambiental de los Estados Unidos (USEPA) anunció hoy que el lugar Superfondo Scorpio Recycling, Inc. en Toa Baja, Puerto Rico se encuentra entre más de 100 lugares en todo el país que reciben más de mil millones de dólares para proyectos de limpieza como parte de la "Investing in America" del presidente Biden. Estos fondos son posibles gracias a la Ley Bipartidista de Infraestructura (BIL, por sus siglas en inglés) del presidente y lanzará nuevos proyectos de limpieza en 25 lugares Superfondo, continuando con otras limpiezas en más de 85 lugares Superfondo.

Existen miles de lugares contaminados en todo el país debido a que desechos peligrosos se vierten, se dejan a la intemperie o se manejan de otros modos indebidos. Estos lugares pueden incluir sustancias químicas tóxicas de instalaciones manufactureras, instalaciones procesadoras, rellenos sanitarios y minería, con el potencial de perjudicar la salud y el bienestar de las comunidades locales en áreas urbanas y rurales. Más de uno de cada cuatro estadounidenses negros e hispanos viven dentro de un radio de tres millas de un lugar Superfondo. 

"La gente que vive en Puerto Rico ha visto directamente lo transformador que puede ser el programa Superfondo para las comunidades", señaló Lisa F. García, administradora regional de la EPA.  "Esta inversión en Estados Unidos y en Puerto Rico se basa en el progreso histórico que ya hemos logrado en años recientes para asegurar que las comunidades que viven cerca de los lugares contaminados, de manera seriamente descontrolada, o abandonados reciban las protecciones que merecen."

"La Administración Biden-Harris sigue demostrando su firme apoyo a Puerto Rico en nuestros esfuerzos colaborativos para la protección de los recursos naturales en la Isla. Luego del anuncio de la semana pasada sobre la asignación de $63.3 millones para el trabajo en nuestra infraestructura de agua potable, hoy nos place anunciar otra asignación para la limpieza localizada en el área de la antigua instalación Scorpio Recycling, Inc., perteneciente al listado del Programa Superfondo. Esa área, la cual fue una planta de reciclaje de metales en Toa Baja hasta el 2010, es uno de los más de 100 lugares en toda la Nación que recibirán fondos de los más de $1,000 millones del BIL. Los $3.1 millones que la EPA destinó para Puerto Rico se utilizarán para rectificar la contaminación y continuar la limpieza en esta última etapa de la obra. Nuevamente, queda demostrado que las acciones hablan más que las palabras, y mi administración continuará trabajando con el gobierno federal para proteger nuestro medioambiente y la salud de todos los ciudadanos que residen en Puerto Rico," destacó el gobernador Pedro R. Pierluisi.

El lugar de Scorpio Recycling Inc. en Toa Baja, Puerto Rico era una instalación de reciclaje de metales de 6 cuerdas que compraba todo tipo de metal y lo vendía a fundidoras en los Estados Unidos, Brasil, España y Japón. La instalación comenzó sus operaciones en 1972. El lugar era mal administrador, y contaminaron el suelo con ácidos, plomo y otros metales. La EPA remedió los riesgos inmediatos al excavar y eliminar armazones de baterías y escombros, y estabilizar la contaminación en partes del lugar tratando el suelo con fosfato trisódico como medida provisoria de mitigación destinada a inmovilizar el plomo.

Los fondos del BIL de la EPA se utilizarán para instalar una cubierta de grava en un área industrial y una cubierta de tierra en un área de conservación del lugar.  Este trabajo se estima que tendrá un costo de $3.1 millones y será el último trabajo planificado para remediar la contaminación en este lugar. Se espera que el trabajo termine en 2028.

Dicha inversión es la última oleada de fondos de los $3,500 millones asignados por BIL del presidente Biden para trabajos de limpieza de Superfondo. Hasta ahora, la EPA ha desplegado más de $2 mil millones para actividades de limpieza en más de 150 lugares Superfondo en la Lista Nacional de Prioridades. Gracias al compromiso del presidente Biden para atender la contaminación existente y mejorar la salud pública, la EPA ha podido aportar todos estos fondos para trabajo de limpieza en los últimos dos años; tal como lo hizo en los últimos cinco años gracias a la Iniciativa Justice40 del presidente Biden. La iniciativa Justice40 fijó una meta de aportar el 40% de los beneficios generales de ciertas inversiones federales a comunidades desventajadas que se encuentran marginadas por la escasa inversión y sobrecargadas por la contaminación.

La EPA está comprometida a avanzar la justicia ambiental e incorporar consideraciones de equidad en todos los aspectos del proceso de limpieza de lugares Superfondo.  A la fecha, casi el 80% de los fondos del BIL se ha destinado a lugares en comunidades con posibles casos de justicia ambiental. De los 25 lugares que recibirán fondos para nuevos proyectos de limpieza, más del 75% están en comunidades con preocupaciones potenciales de justicia ambiental según datos de EJSCREEN.

La agenda Invest in America del presidente Biden procura restaurar la salud y la vitalidad económica de comunidades que han estado expuestas a una contaminación existente generalizada. La inversión histórica efectuada por el BIL fortalece cada parte del programa Superfondo, haciendo una diferencia enorme en la capacidad de la EPA para enfrentar amenazas a la salud humana y el medioambiente. Además de financiar obras de construcción para limpieza, la inversión permite que la EPA aumente los fondos y acelere trabajo esencial necesario para preparar los lugares para la construcción y asegurar que las comunidades participen de manera significativa en el proceso de limpieza. En 2023, la EPA costeó y duplicó las actividades de Superfondo previas a la etapa construcción, tales como investigaciones de remedios, estudios de viabilidad, diseños de remedio y participación comunitaria gracias al BIL.

En 1980, el Congreso promulgó la Ley de Responsabilidad, Compensación y Recuperación Ambiental (CERCLA), conocida como Superfondo. La ley dio a la EPA la autoridad y los fondos para responsabilizar a quienes causen la contaminación y que estos limpien los lugares más contaminados en todo el país. Cuando no se encuentra ninguna parte responsable viable o si esta no puede costear la limpieza, la EPA interviene para atender los riesgos inmediatos a la salud humana y al medioambiente usando fondos asignados por el Congreso, como el financiamiento provisto por el BIL.

Para ver una lista de los 25 lugares que recibirán fondos para nuevos proyectos de limpieza, visite: https://www.epa.gov/Superfondo/Superfondo-sites-new-construction-projects-receive-bipartisan-infrastructure-law-funding

Para ver hitos de los primeros dos años de la Ley Bipartidista de Infraestructura en los lugares Superfondo, visite el lugar web de la EPA Limpieza de lugares Superfondo: Hitos de los fondos de la Ley Bipartidista de Infraestructura.

Para obtener más detalles sobre el programa Superfondo de la EPA, visite el lugar web Superfondo de la EPA.

Siga a la Región 2 de la EPA en X y visite nuestra página en Facebook. Para obtener más información sobre la Región 2 de la EPA, visite nuestro lugar web.

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For further information: Contact: Carlos Vega, (646) 988-2996, vega.carlos@epa.gov

 

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