EPA Announces $6 Million for Tribes to Support Wetlands and Healthy Watersheds

CONTACT: press@epa.gov   EPA Announces $6 Million for Tribes to Support Wetlands and Healthy Watersheds WASHINGTON (June 11, 2021) – Today, The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced selections under two Clean Water Act (CWA) grant programs to support leadership of Tribes in protecting and restoring water resources. The agency anticipates awarding approximately $3 million to 18 Tribal nations and one Intertribal organization under the Tribal Wetland Program Development Grant competition and an additional $3 million in CWA Section 319 Tribal Competitive Grants to 32 Tribal nations to support projects to manage nonpoint source pollution. "Strong Tribal water quality programs are the building blocks for safeguarding sources of drinking water, supporting healthy ecosystems, and ensuring safe recreational, economic, and subsistence activities," said Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator for EPA's Office of Water Radhika Fox. "These grants help build strong equitable Tribal government programs to protect, preserve, and restore water resources while complementing existing Federal Clean Water Act programs." "Investments to improve water quality begins at the local level, and EPA is pleased to support the development and implementation of tribal programs to protect wetland resources and reduce non-point source contamination to our waterways. Actions through these programs will contribute to improved health for Tribal communities, improved ecologic function, and the safe practice of tribal cultural tradition," said JoAnn Chase, Director of EPA's American Indian Environmental Office. Projects selected under the Tribal Wetland Program Development Grant competition would support development of wetland monitoring and assessment, restoration, regulatory, and management programs. Region 1 Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Region 4 Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Region 5 Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Region 8 Chippewa Cree Tribe Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Region 9 Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians Manzanita Band of Diegueno Mission Indians La Posta Band of Mission Indians Resighini Rancheria  Region 10 Coeur d'Alene Tribe Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, & Siuslaw Indians Quinault Indian Nation The Klamath Tribes Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians of Washington Chugach Regional Resources Commission Snoqualmie Indian Tribe EPA's Tribal Nonpoint Source Competitive Grants would support projects to address nonpoint source pollution through practices including streambank protection, riparian area and wetland restoration, livestock exclusion fencing, and community outreach and education. Region 1 Penobscot Indian Nation Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians Region 2 Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe Region 4 Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida Region 5 Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians Prairie Island Indian Community Region 6 Pueblo of Santa Clara Region 8 Southern Ute Indian Tribe Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians Region 9 Bishop Paiute Tribe South Fork Band of the Te-Moak Tribe Fort Mojave Indian Tribe Fort Bidwell Indian Community Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians Walker River Paiute Tribe San Carlos Apache Tribe Chemehuevi Indian Tribe Havasupai Tribe Cedarville Rancheria La Jolla Band of Luiseño Indians Navajo Nation Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Reservation Region 10 Lummi Tribe of the Lummi Reservation Nez Perce Tribe Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation Squaxin Island Tribe of the Squaxin Island Reservation Klamath Tribe Tulalip Tribes of Washington Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians In addition to competitive grants, each year EPA's Nonpoint Source Program awards approximately $5 million in base grants to eligible Tribes to support staffing and program work. Grant awards under both programs will be made once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied. EPA received forty-four (44) applications for over $7.5 million under the Wetland Program Development Grants and forty (40) applications for over $3.7 million under the Tribal Nonpoint Source Competitive Grants. For more information on Wetland Program Development Grants: https://www.epa.gov/wetlands/wetland-program-development-grants-and-epa-wetlands-grant-coordinators. For more information on Tribal Nonpoint Source Management Grants: https://www.epa.gov/nps/tribal.

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EPA Continues to Take Action on PFAS to Protect the Public

EPA Continues to Take Action on PFAS to Protect the Public Actions include proposing first-ever reporting requirements under TSCA for a wide range of PFAS chemicals WASHINGTON - To help deliver on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) commitment to help reduce the potential risks to the public from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), the agency is announcing three important actions that will better protect all communities from pollution. Today's actions include issuing a proposed rule that is designed to gather comprehensive data on more than 1,000 PFAS manufactured in the United States, withdrawing guidance that weakened EPA's July 2020 Significant New Use Rule (SNUR) restricting certain long-chain PFAS, and publishing a final rule that officially incorporates three additional PFAS into the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI). "When it comes to tackling PFAS, EPA is committed to strengthening our rules, improving our data, and advancing our understanding of these complex chemicals, and then using this information to make informed decisions to protect people and the environment," said Michal Freedhoff, Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. "These actions will help us harness the best available science to develop policies and programs that can improve health protections for everyone, including those living in historically underserved communities." Today's announcement includes the following: Proposed Rule to Require Reporting on PFAS Manufactured in the United States   Collecting data from manufacturers of PFAS is an important first step to better understanding and ultimately reducing potential risks caused by these chemicals. The proposed rule announced today, which is a statutory requirement under the FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), would require all manufacturers (including importers) of PFAS in any year since 2011 to report information related to chemical identity, categories of use, volumes manufactured and processed, byproducts, environmental and health effects, worker exposure, and disposal.  The proposed rule would help EPA better understand the sources and quantities of PFAS manufactured in the United States and support the agency's PFAS research, monitoring, and regulatory efforts. Once finalized, this rule would be the first targeted effort under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to collect information on the manufacture of PFAS and would provide EPA with the most comprehensive dataset of PFAS manufactured in the United States. To assist stakeholders in determining whether they have manufactured PFAS during the reporting period and therefore would be subject to this rule, EPA is providing examples of PFAS from the TSCA Inventory and new chemical low-volume exemption notices and structural diagram examples of additional PFAS that cannot be identified on the afore mentioned lists due to confidentiality claims. The proposed deadline for reporting PFAS data to EPA is one year following the effective date of the final rule. EPA will accept public comments on the proposed rule for 60 days following publication in the federal register via docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2020-0549 at www.regulations.gov. View a prepublication version of the proposed rule. Withdrawing Compliance Guide on PFAS SNUR In accordance with the Biden-Harris Administration's Executive Orders and other directives, including those on environmental justice, scientific integrity, and regulatory review, EPA has withdrawn a compliance guide that weakened the July 2020 Significant New Use Rule (SNUR) which, among other things, prohibits companies from importing certain long-chain PFAS as part of a "surface coating" on articles without prior EPA review and approval. Examples of articles that could contain these PFAS as part of a surface coating include, but are not limited to, automotive parts, carpet, furniture, and electronic components.  The compliance guide was issued in January 2021 in the last days of the previous Administration and limited what would be considered a "surface coating" subject to the SNUR. The guide was never deemed necessary by career staff and its development was directed by political officials serving in the last Administration. Additionally, the guide was finalized without considering or addressing comments submitted by the public. After further review, EPA determined that the guide inappropriately narrowed the scope and weakened the prohibitions included in the SNUR.   As such, EPA has removed the January 2021 compliance guide from the agency's website, and it is no longer in effect. This action also follows the announcement that EPA rescinded the procedural rule on guidance documents to restore the flexibilities needed to effectively address urgent human health, safety, and environmental challenges. EPA's July 2020 SNUR continues to be in effect. Articles containing certain long-chain PFAS as a surface coating cannot be imported into the United States without EPA review. Importers of articles, but not processors of articles, are subject to the SNUR. Although the SNUR did not include a regulatory definition of "surface coating," the rule provides information on the intended meaning of the phrase. Therefore, EPA does not intend to issue a new guidance document.    Find more information on the SNUR requirements, including the applicability of those requirements to the import of articles. Implementing NDAA Requirements to Report PFAS to TRI EPA has taken the next step to implement an important PFAS requirement of the NDAA. The NDAA provided a framework for additional PFAS to be added to TRI on an annual basis. For TRI Reporting Year 2021 (reporting forms due by July 1, 2022), the NDAA automatically added three PFAS to the TRI list because they are now subject to a SNUR under TSCA.  On June 3, 2021, the agency issued a final rule that officially incorporates these requirements into the Code of Federal Regulations for TRI. Per the NDAA requirements, the PFAS additions became effective as of January 1, 2021. Reporting forms for these PFAS will be due to EPA by July 1, 2022, for calendar year 2021 data. View the final rule. To learn more about EPA's actions on PFAS, visit https://www.epa.gov/pfas

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EPA, Army Announce Intent to Revise Definition of WOTUS

EPA, Army Announce Intent to Revise Definition of WOTUS WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of the Army (the agencies) are announcing their intent to revise the definition of "waters of the United States" (WOTUS) to better protect our nation's vital water resources that support public health, environmental protection, agricultural activity, and economic growth. As described in an EPA declaration requesting remand of the 2020 Navigable Waters Protection Rule, a broad array of stakeholders—including states, Tribes, local governments, scientists, and non-governmental organizations—are seeing destructive impacts to critical water bodies under the 2020 rule. "After reviewing the Navigable Waters Protection Rule as directed by President Biden, the EPA and Department of the Army have determined that this rule is leading to significant environmental degradation," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. "We are committed to establishing a durable definition of 'waters of the United States' based on Supreme Court precedent and drawing from the lessons learned from the current and previous regulations, as well as input from a wide array of stakeholders, so we can better protect our nation's waters, foster economic growth, and support thriving communities." "Communities deserve to have our nation's waters protected. However, the Navigable Waters Protection Rule has resulted in a 25 percentage point reduction in determinations of waters that would otherwise be afforded protection," said Acting Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Jaime A. Pinkham. "Together, the Department of the Army and EPA will develop a rule that is informed by our technical expertise, is straightforward to implement by our agencies and our state and Tribal co-regulators, and is shaped by the lived experience of local communities." Upon review of the Navigable Waters Protection Rule, the agencies have determined that the rule is significantly reducing clean water protections. The lack of protections is particularly significant in arid states, like New Mexico and Arizona, where nearly every one of over 1,500 streams assessed has been found to be non-jurisdictional. The agencies are also aware of 333 projects that would have required Section 404 permitting prior to the Navigable Waters Protection Rule, but no longer do. As a result of these findings, today, the Department of Justice is filing a motion requesting remand of the rule. Today's action reflects the agencies' intent to initiate a new rulemaking process that restores the protections in place prior to the 2015 WOTUS implementation, and anticipates developing a new rule that defines WOTUS and is informed by a robust engagement process as well as the experience of implementing the pre-2015 rule, the Obama-era Clean Water Rule, and the Trump-era Navigable Waters Protection Rule. The agencies' new regulatory effort will be guided by the following considerations: Protecting water resources and our communities consistent with the Clean Water Act. The latest science and the effects of climate change on our waters. Emphasizing a rule with a practical implementation approach for state and Tribal partners. Reflecting the experience of and input received from landowners, the agricultural community that fuels and feeds the world, states, Tribes, local governments, community organizations, environmental groups, and disadvantaged communities with environmental justice concerns.  The agencies are committed to meaningful stakeholder engagement to ensure that a revised definition of WOTUS considers essential clean water protections, as well as how the use of water supports key economic sectors. Further details of the agencies' plans, including opportunity for public participation, will be conveyed in a forthcoming action. To learn more about the definition of waters of the United States, visit: https://www.epa.gov/wotus. Background The Clean Water Act prohibits the discharge of pollutants from a point source to 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" (WOTUS) 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 EPA and the Army in regulations since the 1970s and jointly implemented in the agencies' respective programmatic activities. The 2020 Navigable Waters Protection Rule was identified in President Biden's Executive Order 13990, which directs federal agencies to review all existing regulations, orders, guidance documents, policies, and any other similar agency actions promulgated, issued, or adopted between January 20, 2017, and January 20, 2021. See Fact Sheet: List of Agency Actions for Review, available at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/01/20/fact-sheet-list-of-agency-actions-for-review/.

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EPA News: EPA settlement with WVA Manufacturing of Alloy, W.Va., ensures Clean Air Act compliance

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: R3press@epa.gov   EPA settlement with WVA manufacturing of Alloy, W.Va. ensures Clean Air Act compliance PHILADELPHIA (June 3, 2021) – WVA Manufacturing LLC will pay a $182,350 penalty to settle alleged Clean Air Act violations at its primary-metals manufacturing facility in Alloy, West Virginia, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today. The alleged violations are related to fugitive particulate matter emissions from several of the facility's furnaces and other production activities. Scientific studies have shown these types of excess emissions can contribute to decreased lung function and increased respiratory symptoms, such as irritation of the airways, coughing or difficulty breathing. The area surrounding the facility is considered to be in an area of potential environmental justice concern, and corrective actions in this settlement will help reduce negative health impacts in this area.  As part of the settlement, the company has certified that it is now in compliance with applicable Clean Air Act requirements. For more information on Clean Air Act, visit: https://www.epa.gov/clean-air-act-overview. For more information on environmental justice, visit: https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice.   #          #          #

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EPA Announces the Selection of Six Communities in Pennsylvania to Receive $3 Million in Brownfields

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: R3press@epa.gov   EPA Announces the Selection of Six Communities in Pennsylvania to Receive $3 Million in Brownfields Assessment and Cleanup Funding Will help underserved communities 'Build Back Better' and address Environmental Justice concerns   PHILDELPHIA (June 3, 2021) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is announcing the selection of 151 communities to receive 154 grant awards totaling $66.5 million in Brownfields funding through its Multipurpose, Assessment and Cleanup (MAC) Grants. This includes $3 million for communities in Pennsylvania.   This funding will support underserved and economically disadvantaged communities across the country in assessing and cleaning up contaminated and abandoned industrial and commercial properties. Approximately 50 percent of selected recipients will be receiving EPA Brownfields Grant funding for the first time and more than 85 percent are in small communities.   "Through our Brownfields Program, EPA is delivering on the Biden Administration's commitment to lifting up and protecting overburdened communities across America, especially communities that have experienced long periods of disinvestment and decay," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. "These assessment and cleanup grants will not only support economic growth and job creation, but they will also empower communities to address the environmental, public health, and social issues associated with contaminated land."   These MAC grants include:   $8.8 million for 11 Multipurpose Grants, which will provide funding to conduct a range of eligible assessment and cleanup activities at one or more brownfield sites in a target area.    $42.2 million for 107 Assessment Grants, which will provide funding for brownfield inventories, planning, environmental assessments, and community outreach.   $15.5 million for 36 Cleanup Grants, which will provide funding to carry out cleanup activities at brownfield sites owned by the recipient.   The MAC grant recipients in Pennsylvania are:   JASTECH Development Services, Inc., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Cleanup Grant $423,088 EPA has selected JASTECH Development Services, Inc., for a Brownfields Cleanup Grant. Grant funds will be used to clean up two brownfield sites in West Philadelphia located at 6122 and 6150 Lancaster Avenue. Historically, 6122 Lancaster operated as a filling station, motorcycle repair facility, and auto repair shop and storage facility. 6150 Lancaster was formerly a building supply and construction materials company. The 6122 Lancaster site is contaminated with semi-volatile organic compounds and 6150 Lancaster is contaminated with heavy metals and hydrocarbon-related materials. Grant funds also will be used for reuse planning and community engagement activities. The sites are located in an environmental justice community.   Butler County, Pennsylvania Assessment Grant $600,000 EPA has selected Butler County for a Brownfields Assessment Coalition Grant. Community-wide grant funds will be used to complete the county's site inventory, conduct 12 Phase I and 15 Phase II environmental site assessments, and prepare four cleanup plans and two reuse plans. Grant funds also will be used to host up to 36 Steering Committee meetings and 24 public meetings. Assessment activities will focus on 14 sites throughout distressed regions of Butler County. Coalition partners are the Housing and Redevelopment Authority of the County of Butler, Butler Economic Development Corporation, and the City of Butler.   McKeesport, Pennsylvania Cleanup Grant $500,000 EPA has selected the City of McKeesport for a Brownfields Cleanup Grant. Grant funds will be used to clean up the Former Penn-McKee Hotel located at 122 Fifth Avenue. The now-vacant property operated as a hotel from the 1920s until the early 1990s. Its restaurant and ballroom were the centers of social life in McKeesport. It is contaminated with inorganic materials.   North Side Industrial Development Company, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Assessment Grant $600,000 EPA has selected the North Side Industrial Development Company for a Brownfields Assessment Coalition Grant. Coalition grant funds will be used to complete a site inventory and select sites for assessment, conduct 14 Phase I and 14 Phase II environmental site assessments, and complete four cleanup plans. Grant funds also will be used for community engagement, including 12 coalition meetings and 12 public meetings. Coalition partners are the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh and the Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County.   SEDA-Council of Governments, Shamokin, Pennsylvania Assessment Grant $300,000 EPA has selected the SEDA-Council of Governments for a Brownfields Assessment Grant. Community-wide grant funds will be used to conduct six Phase I and three Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used for cleanup and reuse planning activities and to conduct community outreach activities, including the facilitation of 12 community meetings. The target area for this grant is the City of Shamokin, a former railroad, mining, and mill town. Assessment activities will focus on five priority brownfield sites located in flood zones or historic areas.   Somerset County Economic Development Council, PA Assessment Grant $600,000 EPA has selected the Somerset County Economic Development Council for a Brownfields Assessment Coalition Grant. Coalition grant funds will be used to conduct 15 Phase I and 11 Phase II environmental site assessments, as well as complete four cleanup plans and prepare reuse plans for three areas. Grant funds also will be used to host 12 coalition meetings and 24 public meetings. Assessment activities will focus on 16 priority sites throughout Somerset County, with a focus on Somerset Borough. Coalition partners are Somerset Borough, Somerset, Inc., and the Redevelopment Authority of Somerset County.   The list of all the fiscal year 2021 applicants selected for funding is available here: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/applicants-selected-fy-2021-brownfields-multipurpose-assessment-and-cleanup-grants.   EPA anticipates that it will award the grants once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied by the selected recipients.   Since its inception in 1995, EPA's Brownfields Program has provided nearly $1.76 billion in grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return them to productive reuse. This has led to significant benefits for communities across the country. For example, To date, communities participating in the Brownfields Program have been able to attract more than $34.4 billion in cleanup and redevelopment funding after receiving Brownfields funds. This has led to over 175,500 jobs in cleanup, construction, and redevelopment.   Based on grant recipient reporting, recipients leveraged on average $20.13 for each EPA Brownfields dollar and 10.3 jobs per $100,000 of EPA Brownfield Grant funds expended on assessment, cleanup, and revolving loan fund cooperative agreements.   In addition, an academic peer-reviewed study has found that residential properties near brownfield sites increased in value by 5% to 15.2% because of cleanup activities.   Finally, analyzing data near 48 brownfields, EPA found an estimated $29 million to $97 million in additional tax revenue for local governments in a single year after cleanup—2 to 7 times more than the $12.4 million EPA contributed to the cleanup of those brownfield sites.   For more on the Brownfields Grants: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/types-brownfields-grant-funding   For more on EPA's Brownfields Program: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields

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EPA News:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contacts: EPA Region 3 Press Office R3press@epa.gov                   NFWF: Rob Blumenthal, 202-857-0166, rob.blumenthal@nfwf.org   NFWF's Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund Awards $9.6 Million in Grants to Benefit the Bay Watershed ​ Grants awarded will support clean water, sustainable agriculture and stormwater infrastructure across the Chesapeake Bay watershed ​WASHINGTON (June 3, 2021) – The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced $9.6 million in grants to support the restoration and conservation of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The 11 grants will leverage more than $28 million in matching contributions to generate a total conservation impact of nearly $38 million. The grants were awarded through the Innovative Nutrient and Sediment Reduction Grant Program (INSR Program), a core program under NFWF's Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund (CBSF). CBSF is a partnership between NFWF and the EPA to provide grant funding, technical assistance, and networking and information sharing in support of local, on-the-ground conservation and restoration efforts to restore the bay and its tributary rivers and streams. Additional support for CBSF is provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service and U.S. Forest Service, the Department of the Interior's U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Altria Group.  The 11 grants announced today will support innovative approaches to reduce pollution to local rivers and streams, restore habitats, and improve rural and urban communities in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. These projects will further emphasize partnerships and collaborative approaches as central to effective local and regional ecosystem restoration efforts. The funds will help partners engage farmers and agricultural producers, homeowners, churches, businesses and municipalities to improve the quality of life in their communities, local water quality and, ultimately, the health of the Chesapeake Bay. "EPA is pleased to invest in partnerships and projects that improve the quality of local waters and habitat and help restore the Chesapeake Bay," said EPA Mid-Atlantic Acting Regional Administrator Diana Esher.  "It is a priority for EPA to support local actions that move us closer to our restoration goals. We appreciate the forward-thinking ideas reflected in these projects." "The grants announced today will accelerate the efforts of dozens of partners working together to implement on-the-ground improvements that benefit the Chesapeake Bay, its remarkable wildlife, and local communities across the bay's 64,000-square-mile watershed," said Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO of NFWF. "These grants demonstrate the essential role of partnerships and collaboration in providing resources for local restoration efforts that are critical to the future health of the Bay." Examples of this year's INSR grant recipients include: Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources ($1 million) will accelerate the pace of riparian forest buffer, urban forest planting, and conservation landscaping implementation through partner-funded outreach, large contract plantings, investments in professional development, and creation of experiential learning labs. Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority ($848,440) will implement green infrastructure demonstration projects, form a stormwater steering committee, assess to municipal codes and policies to remove implementation barriers, and provide education and training to local partners for design and construction of stormwater infrastructure improvements. Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake ($882,750) will grow and diversify its engagement of congregations and faith-based institutions across central Maryland and the lower Eastern Shore in implementing locally led stormwater management and conservation landscaping projects. A complete list of the 2021 Chesapeake Bay Innovative Nutrient and Sediment Reduction grants recipients is available here. Since 2006, the INSR Program has provided more than $115 million to 210 projects that reduce the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. For more information about the Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund or to download the 2021 Chesapeake Bay Innovative Nutrient and Sediment Reduction Grant Slate, visit www.nfwf.org/chesapeake. About the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) works with the public and private sectors to sustain, restore and enhance the nation's fish, wildlife, plants and habitats for current and future generations. Chartered by Congress in 1984, NFWF has grown to become the nation's largest private conservation grant-maker, funding more than 19,700 projects and generating a total conservation impact of $6.8 billion. Learn more at www.nfwf.org About the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Grants Every year, EPA awards more than $4 billion in funding for grants and other assistance agreements. From small non-profit organizations to large state governments, EPA works to help many visionary organizations achieve their environmental goals. With countless success stories over the years, EPA grants remain a chief tool to protect human health and the environment. # # #

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Biden Administration to Support Local Food Initiative, Environmental Protection, and Community

CONTACT: mcbay.stephen@epa.gov Biden Administration to Support Local Food Initiative, Environmental Protection, and Community Revitalization in Culebra, Puerto Rico NEW YORK (June 2, 2021) – The Biden Administration has announced that the island of Culebra, Puerto Rico is one of 13 communities selected to participate in Local Foods, Local Places (LFLP), a federal partnership program that supports community-led efforts to reinvest in existing neighborhoods, protects the environment, and improves residents' health and quality of life through the development of the local food economy. Through LFLP, a team of agricultural, environmental, public health and regional economic development experts will work directly with the group 'Mujeres de Islas' in collaborating with the local municipality and businesses to address food insecurity and to build a more sovereign and sustainable local food system for residents. The group looks to develop an island-wide organic composting initiative coupled with an urban vegetable and fruit gardening initiative and will also coordinate with ongoing revitalization efforts in downtown Culebra. "By promoting urban gardening, organic composting, and increased access to healthy food, EPA is working to revitalize and support communities in our Region," said Acting Regional Administrator Walter Mugdan. "The Local Foods, Local Places program is a great thing for Puerto Rico as it can help protect the environment, improve health and create jobs for the community. When Mujeres de Islas received this notice of acceptance of our LFLP EPA's technical assistance application, we were in awe," said Organizational Coordinator Dulce del Rio-Pineda. "We have committed to identify resources that will lead to Culebra being recognized as where sustainability happens and be an example for the other islands of our archipelago and the Caribbean. Culebra will soon be the 1st Solar Island of the Américas and the LFLP support will enhance spectacularly. This year, LFLP is sponsored jointly by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service, with multiple federal agencies planning to participate. The 13 LFLP communities selected in 2021 were chosen from among 97 applicants. Since its launch in 2014, LFLP has helped more than 120 communities across the country develop local food enterprises, such as farmers markets, community gardens and cooperative grocery stores, using a place-based approach that improves environmental, economic, and health outcomes in downtowns and neighborhoods. The program pays special attention to overcoming economic challenges, improving equity, and tackling climate change and other factors that can hinder revitalization efforts and residents' access to more affordable healthy food. For more information about Local Foods, Local Places, visit: https://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/local-foods-local-places Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter at http://twitter.com/eparegion2 and visit our Facebook page, http://facebook.com/eparegion2 21-039                 Comic Sans MS

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Biden Administration to Support Local Food Initiative, Environmental Protection, and Community

CONTACT: mcbay.stephen@epa.gov Biden Administration to Support Local Food Initiative, Environmental Protection, and Community Revitalization in Jersey City, New Jersey NEW YORK (June 2, 2021) – The Biden Administration has announced that Jersey City, New Jersey is one of 13 communities selected to participate in Local Foods, Local Places (LFLP), a federal partnership program that supports community-led efforts to reinvest in existing neighborhoods, protects the environment, and improves residents' health and quality of life through the development of the local food economy. Through LFLP, a team of agricultural, environmental, public health and regional economic development experts will work directly with residents of the Bergen-Lafayette neighborhood and other community leaders to establish a "food value chain" in the community. The goal is to increase demand for healthy local food and support the local economy by highlighting healthy food businesses and connecting unemployed residents with jobs in food production, aggregation, distribution, service, and disposal. Communities that partner with EPA under the Local Foods, Local Places program receive technical assistance needed for healthier, locally produced food," said Acting Regional Administrator Walter Mugdan. "EPA is proud to partner with Jersey City and the residents of the Bergen-Lafayette neighborhood to support local food initiatives that improve access to fresh foods, support and grow new business and protect the environment." "We are excited to have the opportunity to bring together key Jersey City stakeholders to focus on healthy food access and economic revitalization in the Bergen-Lafayette neighborhood. The establishment of a 'food value chain' will help bring nutritious food and good jobs into one of our most unserved communities," said Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop. "Throughout my tenure, we have made significant investments of City resources into the Bergen-Lafayette neighborhood, and the Local Foods Local Places program will allow us to continue to make important connections between our local economy, food security, and job creation." This year, LFLP is sponsored jointly by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service, with multiple federal agencies planning to participate. The 13 LFLP communities selected in 2021 were chosen from among 97 applicants. Since its launch in 2014, LFLP has helped more than 120 communities across the country develop local food enterprises, such as farmers markets, community gardens and cooperative grocery stores, using a place-based approach that improves environmental, economic, and health outcomes in downtowns and neighborhoods. The program pays special attention to overcoming economic challenges, improving equity, and tackling climate change and other factors that can hinder revitalization efforts and residents' access to more affordable healthy food. For more information about Local Foods, Local Places, visit: https://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/local-foods-local-places Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter at http://twitter.com/eparegion2 and visit our Facebook page, http://facebook.com/eparegion2   21-038

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EPA News: EPA cites Alliant Techsystems Operations for violations at at Navy facility in Keyser, WV

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: R3press@epa.gov  EPA cites Alliant Techsystems Operations for environmental violations at Navy facility in Keyser, W. Va. PHILADELPHIA (June 2, 2021) – Alliant Techsystems Operations LLC will pay a $350,000 penalty to settle several alleged environmental violations at the U.S. Navy-owned Allegany Ballistics Laboratory in Keyser, West Virginia. Alliant Techsystems, a subsidiary of the Northrup Grumman Corporation, operates the laboratory under a lease with the Navy. There, Alliant Techsystems manufactures military products that include solid fuel rocket motors, explosive warheads, solid fuels and propellants. The cited violations were related to hazardous waste storage and treatment operations, the facility's Clean Air Act permit, water discharge requirements under the facility's National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit, and the facility's Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures Plan. The company allegedly violated the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the federal law governing the treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste. The goal of RCRA is to protect public health and the environment, and avoid long and extensive cleanups, by requiring the safe, environmentally sound storage and disposal of hazardous waste. RCRA violations included: Failure to make proper waste determinations. Failure to conduct weekly container storage area inspections. Amending a facility contingency plan. Transferring hazardous waste from a container in poor condition. Failure to maintain records of waste analyses. The company also allegedly failed to construct, maintain, and operate the facility's open burning grounds to minimize the release of hazardous waste. Alleged Clean Air Act Title V Permit violations included: Failure to conduct emission observations. Failure to comply with air conditioning and refrigeration unit leak calculation and repair requirements. Failure to conduct sulfur dioxide emission calculations and sulfur dioxide weight emission testing for a coal-fired boiler. Failure to submit a timely report to the state after burning coal with an excess sulfur content. Alleged NPDES violations included failure to conduct properly monitor perchlorate levels. Alleged Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures Plan violations included failure to amend the plan to reflect changes in operations. Along with the $350,000 penalty, Alliant Techsystems must ensure it is in full compliance with state and federal environmental requirements. Part of this includes: Submitting proposed RCRA permit modifications to the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP). Obtaining WVDEP approval on proposed changes to the facility's waste analysis plan. Making construction modifications to the open burn pads to prevent hazardous waste contaminated stormwater runoff from migrating to adjacent soil, surface water, ground water and/or the subsurface environment. For more information on RCRA regulations, visit: https://www.epa.gov/rcra/resource-conservation-and-recovery-act-rcra-regulations For more information on operating permits operated under Title V of the Clean Air Act, visit: https://www.epa.gov/title-v-operating-permits For more information on NPDES permitting requirements, visit: https://www.epa.gov/npdes                                                               #          #          #

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