Issued: Sep 9, 2022 (4:19pm EDT)

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EPA Awards Nearly $2 Million to UC Berkeley for Research to Advance Water Management and Security

WASHINGTON (September 9, 2022) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced nearly $2 million in research funding to the University of California, Berkeley to develop a cost-benefit tool to support enhanced aquifer recharge (EAR) as a viable, safe, and cost-effective water management strategy. EAR is the practice of using excess surface water to intentionally replenish and supplement existing groundwater supplies for storage and potential reuse.

"Given that changing climate is leading to intensified droughts, as evident this summer in communities throughout the U.S., we need to identify effective and economically feasible solutions to enhance the sustainability of our water supplies," said Chris Frey, Assistant Administrator of EPA's Office of Research and Development. "The research announced today will provide decision makers the knowledge needed to address groundwater depletion, support communities, and advance water availability."

Using too much groundwater can lead to many issues that impact water quality and water availability. In many locations, EAR can be a cost-effective way to increase water resource resiliency to mitigate the impacts of drought exacerbated by climate change and can also provide ways to combat saltwater intrusion near coastal communities, among other benefits. However, groundwater removal is outpacing the rate of EAR implementation, and additional research is needed to address economic, technological, and other factors that affect the ability to implement EAR projects.

With this Science to Achieve Results (STAR) research grant, investigators at the University of California, Berkeley will conduct research using a life-cycle view of EAR which includes three pillars of decision making for EAR implementation: geochemical and physical considerations; legal and institutional considerations; and cost-benefit analysis and life-cycle assessment. The project will culminate in the creation of an EAR Lifecycle Map that can be used by water managers and other decision-makers to assess the costs and benefits of implementing their EAR projects.

"The goal of this effort will be to lower barriers to widespread adoption of recharge at a national scale. Our interdisciplinary team is thrilled about the opportunity to work towards greater adoption of recharge as an element of water security," said Michael Kiparsky, Water Program Director at the Center for Law, Energy & the Environment at UC Berkeley School of Law. "Our approach exemplifies our commitment to facilitating on-the-ground impact and implementation, and builds directly on the experience or our team, and on engagement with experts and stakeholders around the country." 

Learn more about the STAR recipient.

Learn more about EPA research grants.

 

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Issued: Sep 9, 2022 (10:13am EDT)

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EPA Adds the Ochoa Fertilizer Co. Site in Guánica, Puerto Rico to the Superfund National Priorities List

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

NEW YORK (September 8, 2022) – In a move that will allow it to protect the nearby community, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced that it will add the Ochoa Fertilizer Co. site in Guánica, Puerto Rico to its Superfund National Priorities List (NPL), along with four other sites across the U.S. EPA will also propose two sites to the NPL, where releases of contamination pose significant human health and environmental risk.

"Today's news that EPA is adding the Ochoa Fertilizer Co. site to the National Priorities List is another example of EPA's longstanding commitment to the people of Puerto Rico," said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. "With the federal tools and resources now at our disposal, EPA is putting words into action in order to protect human health and safeguard the Guánica Bay, one of Puerto Rico's most precious natural resources."

The Ochoa Fertilizer Co. site includes a former fertilizer manufacturing facility near Guánica Bay in Guánica, Puerto Rico. The facility includes two parcels -- a 13-acre western lot along Guánica Bay and a 112-acre eastern lot within 500 feet of the Bay. Former facility operators manufactured ammonia, ammonium sulfate, and sulfuric acid beginning in the 1950s. The company stopped operating on the eastern lot between 1968 and 1970; however, fertilizer manufacturing on the western lot has continued to the present day. Past operations at the site resulted in releases of hazardous substances at and from the eastern lot, contaminating soil and causing environmental degradation to Guánica Bay. As a result, there is a potential risk of exposure to nearby residents from soil contaminated with mercury, lead, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and other contaminants.

In addition, previous studies from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration identified elevated levels of contamination near the site that could threaten corals, fish, and aquatic life. Studies from the University of Miami also show elevated PCB levels in bay sediment and fish samples. The University also evaluated blood samples from Guánica residents for PCBs. The Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources supports the inclusion of the site to the Superfund NPL.

Thousands of contaminated sites, from landfills, processing plants, to manufacturing facilities exist nationally due to hazardous waste being dumped, left out in the open, or otherwise improperly managed. President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will accelerate EPA's work to help communities clean up these contaminated sites with a $3.5 billion investment in the Superfund Remedial Program and reinstates the Superfund chemical excise taxes, making it one of the largest investments in American history to address legacy pollution. This historic investment strengthens EPA's ability to tackle threats to human health and the environment, and EPA has already set action in motion to clear the backlog of the 49 contaminated sites which had been awaiting funding to start remedial action.

Background

The Superfund National Priorities List includes the nation's most serious uncontrolled or abandoned releases of contamination. The list serves as the basis for prioritizing EPA Superfund cleanup funding and enforcement actions. Only releases at non-federal sites included on the Superfund National Priorities List are eligible to receive federal funding for long-term, permanent cleanup. Cleanup at federal facilities is funded by the lead federal agency responsible for the site.

EPA proposes sites to the Superfund National Priorities List based on a scientific determination of risks to people and the environment, consistent with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act and the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan. Before EPA adds a site to the Superfund National Priorities List, a site must meet EPA's requirements and be proposed for addition to the list in the Federal Register, subject to a 60-day public comment period. EPA will add the site to the Superfund National Priorities List if it continues to meet the listing requirements after the public comment period closes and the agency has responded to any comments.

Superfund cleanups provide health and economic benefits to communities. The program is credited for significant reductions in both birth defects and blood-lead levels among children living near sites, and research has shown residential property values increase up to 24 percent within three miles of sites after cleanup.

Thanks to Superfund cleanups, communities are now using previously blighted properties for a wide range of purposes, including retail businesses, office space, public parks, residences, warehouses, and solar power generation. As of 2021, EPA has collected economic data on 650 Superfund sites. At these sites, there are 10,230 businesses operating on these sites, 246,000 people employed, an estimated $18.6 billion in income earned by employees, and $65.8 billion in sales generated by businesses.

For information about Superfund and the Superfund National Priorities List, please visit: https://www.epa.gov/superfund.

For Federal Register notices and supporting documents for Superfund National Priorities List and proposed sites, please visit:

New Proposed and New Superfund National Priorities List Sites

For additional information and site background, visit the Ochoa Fertilizer Co. Superfund Profile Page.

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

22-063

 

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Issued: Sep 8, 2022 (2:04pm EDT)

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EPA Highlights Successes in Camden, N.J. Communities in Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act

EPA Highlights Successes in Camden, N.J. Communities in Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act

 

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

WASHINGTON (September 8, 2022) — Today U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Deputy Assistant Administrator for Water Bruno Pigott joined U.S Representative Donald Norcross, Camden Mayor Victor Carstarphen, EPA Region 2 Senior Advisor for Equity and Chief of Staff Olivia Glenn, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn LaTourette and local community leaders to highlight the continued improvements made to Camden's water infrastructure as part of the Agency's 50^th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act celebration tour.

"When Congress passed the Clean Water Act in 1972—with an overwhelming bipartisan majority—it charted a new path for America's waters. As a result, we have seen transformational progress over the last 50 years—waters that were once polluted are now fishable and swimmable," said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox. "President Biden and Congress have laid the foundation for the next 50 years of progress by investing $50 billion in EPA's water programs through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law."

"Iconic waterbodies like the Delaware and Cooper Rivers are the lifeblood of communities like Camden," said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. "EPA is proud to provide support to the City of Camden and the Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority as they have worked for many years to improve access to clean water and reduce pollution in communities across the city."

Five decades of Clean Water Act implementation have reduced direct pollution discharges to our nation's waters and improved wastewater and stormwater infrastructure. This progress was built on strong partnerships between EPA, and state, local, and Tribal governments as well as community and environmental organizations, industry, and agriculture.

The City of Camden and the Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority have been long-time recipients of New Jersey's Clean Water State Revolving Fund made possible by annual federal capital investments through EPA. Over the past 20 years, Camden has received $312 million that has helped provide resilient sewer and stormwater infrastructure. These federal investments have helped fund projects to address frequent street flooding, reduce discharges from combined sewer overflows, and redevelop brownfields with public parks that integrate green infrastructure to counter the impacts of pollution and climate change on local communities. Up to $150 million is expected to fund additional Clean Water State Revolving Fund projects in Camden during the next five years of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law implementation.

"The Clean Water Act has transformed our waterways, and improved and strengthened water infrastructure in Camden and across New Jersey," said Senator Bob Menendez. "I'm proud to have worked with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass the bipartisan infrastructure bill that builds upon the success of the Clean Water Act to ensure families have access to clean waterways that provide drinking water, recreation, and so many other valuable functions to communities across the country."

"The Clean Water Act has been an overwhelming success, significantly reducing pollution in America's rivers, lakes, and streams since its passage 50 years ago," said Senator Cory Booker. "For communities such as Camden, it has helped restore iconic waterways, improve water infrastructure, and revitalize environmentally distressed areas. We must continue to make critical infrastructure investments that will guarantee clean water for all Americans, especially Black and Brown people who are disproportionately burdened by water pollution and other environmental injustices."

"The Clean Water Act has helped protect the water we drink for 50 years," said Congressman Norcross. "Before this landmark legislation, hazardous waste in the Delaware River, Cooper River, and Mantua Creek put millions of South Jersey families at risk, including mine. I'm proud that we have made historic investments in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that protect our children for years to come."

"Here in Camden, throughout the Garden State, and across our nation many rivers and streams are healthier today than they were 50 years ago thanks to the Clean Water Act," said New Jersey Commissioner of Environmental Protection Shawn M. LaTourette. "New Jersey has a long, proud, and bipartisan history of improving water quality through infrastructure investments and legal protections because we see so clearly the economic, health, and environmental benefits of cleaner waterways. That commitment led the Murphy Administration to add new protections for hundreds of miles of high-quality streams—including the Cooper River here in Camden—to help ensure that our children and theirs continue to enjoy cleaner water."

"The Clean Water Act has transformed waterways in post-industrial cities like Camden, into places for recreation where residents are able to fish, exercise and simply enjoy nature," said Camden Mayor Victor Carstarphen. "Camden has such a significant relationship to our rivers and the backchannel of the Delaware.  These waterways have been viewed as symbols of rebirth for our City.  The New Jersey Clean Water State Revolving Fund allowed Camden to access hundreds of millions of dollars in funding to reduce pollutants and strengthen our water infrastructure.  I am grateful to Congressman Donald Norcross, the U.S. EPA, NJDEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette, the Camden County Commissioners, and the Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority for their efforts to help improve the quality of life in Camden and provide access to clean water in our community."

"The impact of the clean water act could not be more tangible than right here in Camden County with our local waterways. In 1972, both the Delaware River, Cooper River and the Big Timber Creek were wrought with environmental degradation from more than 100 previous years of pollution starting at the beginning of the industrial revolution," Camden County Commissioner Jeffrey Nash said. "These waterways had unspecified amounts of bacteria, heavy metals and the direct outflow of millions of gallons of wastewater directly into the river beds. That said, the clean water act and the simultaneous construction of the CCMUA in the same year have brought our precious natural resources back to life in our region. Today, you can see thousands of residents utilizing these priceless assets for recreation and enjoyment throughout our county. Moving forward, with the help of the EPA and DEP we will continue to maintain and build on the progress of the last 50 years to ensure that our children and grandchildren have clean water to drink and can appreciate the natural beauty these waterways deliver to our community."

As EPA kicks off a tour celebrating the Clean Water Act, the agency is also collaborating with its partners to chart a course for the next fifty years of progress for clean water. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has provided a historic investment in water infrastructure, including $12.7 billion through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund programs that were established by the 1987 amendments to the Clean Water Act. This funding is a significant investment in the future of clean water in the country. And our investments in improved, resilient infrastructure will have positive impacts on our waterways for years to come.

Leading up to the 50^th Anniversary of October 18, the tour will highlight waters that are essential to healthy people, vibrant ecosystems, agricultural productivity, and economic growth. Stops will include the Florida Everglades, Chesapeake Bay, Great Lakes, Cuyahoga River, the San Francisco Bay, and more.

 

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Issued: Sep 7, 2022 (4:54pm EDT)

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EPA Adds the Lower Hackensack River to the Superfund National Priorities List

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

NEW YORK (September 7, 2022) – Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Deputy Regional Administrator Walter Mugdan, Representative Donald Payne, Jr., Representative Josh Gottheimer, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette, the Hackensack Riverkeeper Captain Bill Sheehan and other officials joined together to announce that EPA is adding the Lower Hackensack River in Bergen and Hudson counties to the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL). The site had been proposed for the list in March of this year. Nationwide, EPA is adding to its NPL five sites and proposing to add two others that pose significant risk to people's health and the environment.

"The inclusion of the Lower Hackensack River on the National Priorities List will unlock the federal tools and resources needed to return this precious waterway to the community," said Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. "New Jersey's industrial past helped build this country, but the weight of that legacy has been unequally carried by overburdened and underserved communities. We are committed to restoring this natural resource and working with our state, local and community leaders to get the job done."

"I am glad to see that the EPA is taking steps to initiate the clean-up of the Lower Hackensack River, benefitting our communities, families, and environment," said Senator Bob Menendez. "New Jersey has more Superfund sites than any other state in the nation, which is why I fought hard to ensure that the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act included not only $3.5 billion in additional appropriations for the program, but, along with the Inflation Reduction Act, also reinstated the Superfund Tax on polluting industries to provide the program with a steady revenue stream. A strong Superfund program is essential in transforming all communities impacted by toxic contamination." 

"As the state with the most Superfund sites in the nation, New Jersey has been harmed by legacy pollution and residents have had to endure the harmful effects of toxic air and toxic water," said Senator Cory Booker. "With the Lower Hackensack River finally added to the Superfund National Priorities List, our state will receive new tools and resources to clean and restore one of our state's treasured waterways. I am especially grateful to the advocates, organizations, and government officials who worked tirelessly to make this announcement a reality."

"The EPA prioritizing the cleanup of our Lower Hackensack River here in North Jersey is terrific news. I have been leading federal efforts to restore the river from its current contaminated state because our communities deserve better," said Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09). "I have worked closely with the EPA to ensure that the Lower Hackensack's cleanup process be prioritized. I have also strongly supported the Murphy Administration's efforts to hold up their end of the bargain in this endeavor. I'm grateful for the work of our partners on the federal, state, and local level to make this progress possible. Together we will restore the Lower Hackensack River to its former glory." 

"It is great to see the Lower Hackensack River added to the EPA's Superfund National Priorities List," said Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. "A few of my New Jersey House colleagues and I wrote a letter to the EPA in July 2021 to request the agency designate the river as a Superfund priority.  This action shows the Biden Administration's continued commitment to environmental protections and restorations. Now, New Jersey can get the funding and support necessary to clean up the Lower Hackensack River and create an environmental space that all residents can enjoy."

"After years of fighting to clean up and protect our local waters, the Lower Hackensack River has now officially been included in the federal government's Superfund clean-up program. As Co-Chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus, I fought hard to include additional investment in the Superfund Program in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill that I helped shape and pass. It makes significant investment in cleaning up Superfund sites, making it one of the largest investments in American history to address pollution in communities across the country. This will help protect our water, our wildlife, our air, our open spaces, and — most importantly — our children and families," said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). 

"The official Superfund designation for the Hackensack River is a critical milestone for the Garden State that will hasten the cleanup and restoration of one of our most precious natural resources," said Shawn M. LaTourette, who requested the federal superfund listing immediately upon his confirmation as New Jersey Commissioner of Environmental Protection last year. "Governor Phil Murphy, Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver, and our Administration are committed to the swift assessment and cleanup of the Hackensack for all those who live, work and recreate in its watershed. We thank Administrator Regan, Regional Administrator Garcia, Congressmen Pascrell and Gottheimer, and the many EPA, county, local and nonprofit partners who have championed this river and made this moment possible. While we may just be at the beginning, there is abundant light at the end of this river."

The Lower Hackensack River site, stretching approximately 18.75 river miles from the Oradell Dam to near the river mouth at Newark Bay, along with its associated wetlands and the surrounding area, has been a center of industrial activities for more than 200 years. As a result, decades of sewage and industrial discharges into the river and its tributaries have contaminated river sediments. Prior studies and investigations show that the river contains sediments contaminated with arsenic, lead, chromium, mercury, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compounds (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

The Hackensack River is part of the New York–New Jersey Harbor Estuary and is habitat to over 30 designated endangered or threatened species and home to over 8,400 acres of wetlands. It runs through residential, commercial, industrial and public areas. Due to the elevated contamination levels found in fish and crab throughout the Newark Bay Complex, including the tidal Hackensack River, NJDEP has placed multiple advisories on the river's recreational and fishing activities.

There are thousands of contaminated sites across the country due to past practices of dumping, storing or discharging contamination indiscriminately. President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will accelerate EPA's work to help communities clean up these contaminated sites with a $3.5 billion investment in the Superfund Remedial Program and reinstates the Superfund chemical excise taxes, making it one of the largest investments in American history to address legacy pollution. This historic investment strengthens EPA's ability to tackle threats to human health and the environment. EPA has already set action in motion to clear the backlog of the 49 contaminated sites awaiting funding to start remedial action.

Background

EPA proposes sites to the Superfund National Priorities List based on a scientific determination of risks to people and the environment, consistent with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act and the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan. Before EPA adds a site to the Superfund National Priorities List, a site must meet EPA's requirements and be proposed for addition to the list in the Federal Register, subject to a 60-day public comment period. EPA will add the site to the Superfund National Priorities List if it continues to meet the listing requirements after the public comment period closes and the agency has responded to any comments.

Thanks to Superfund cleanups, communities are now using previously blighted properties for a wide range of purposes, including retail businesses, office space, public parks, residences, warehouses, and solar power generation. As of 2021, EPA has collected economic data on 650 Superfund sites. At these sites, there are 10,230 businesses operating on these sites, 246,000 people employed, an estimated $18.6 billion in income earned by employees, and $65.8 billion in sales generated by businesses.

For information about Superfund and the Superfund National Priorities List, please visit: https://www.epa.gov/superfund.

For Federal Register notices and supporting documents for Superfund National Priorities List and proposed sites, please visit:

New Proposed and New Superfund National Priorities List Sites

For additional information and site background, visit the Lower Hackensack River 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.

22-061

 

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Issued: Sep 7, 2022 (4:56pm EDT)

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EPA Adds the Brillo Landfill Site to the National Priorities List

Contact: Mike Basile, (716)-551-4410, Basile.Michael@epa.gov

NEW YORK (September 7, 2022) – In a move that will protect the nearby community, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced that it is adding the Brillo Landfill in Victory, New York to its Superfund National Priorities List (NPL), along with four other sites across the country. EPA will also propose two sites to the NPL, where releases of contamination pose significant human health and environmental risk.

"Adding the Brillo Landfill to the Superfund National Priorities List will provide the federal funding and capabilities needed to address this legacy pollution in Cayuga County," said Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. "We will work with our state, local and community partners to investigate the extent of contamination, weigh our cleanup options and pursue those responsible to pay for the mess they've left behind."

Now closed, the Brillo Landfill received various industrial and sanitary waste, as well as paint sludge and wastewater treatment sludge. As a result, it is currently contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and metals such as lead and mercury, found in numerous waste disposal units and in the surrounding soil. Further New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) investigations in 2021 found similar contamination and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in nearby wetlands bordering Little Sodus Creek.

EPA conducted an immediate removal action to protect public health starting in June 2018 through 2019, removing approximately 2,000 intact drums and drum carcasses, including about 8,000 gallons of liquid waste and 782 tons of contaminated soil and other solid debris. However, a long-term cleanup is still required to address the remaining contamination at the site. Groundwater sampling results from facility monitoring wells show site-related contaminants above federal and state groundwater standards. NYSDEC has tested private drinking water wells within one mile of the site and has not identified impacts to these wells.  

Thousands of contaminated sites, from landfills, processing plants, to manufacturing facilities exist nationally due to hazardous waste being dumped, left out in the open, or otherwise improperly managed. President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will accelerate EPA's work to help communities clean up these contaminated sites with a $3.5 billion investment in the Superfund Remedial Program and reinstates the Superfund chemical excise taxes, making it one of the largest investments in American history to address legacy pollution. This historic investment strengthens EPA's ability to tackle threats to human health and the environment, and EPA has already set action in motion to clear the backlog of the 49 contaminated sites which had been awaiting funding to start remedial action.

Background

The Superfund National Priorities List includes the nation's most serious uncontrolled or abandoned releases of contamination. The list serves as the basis for prioritizing EPA Superfund cleanup funding and enforcement actions. Only releases at non-federal sites included on the Superfund National Priorities List are eligible to receive federal funding for long-term, permanent cleanup. Cleanup at federal facilities is funded by the lead federal agency responsible for the site.

EPA proposes sites to the Superfund National Priorities List based on a scientific determination of risks to people and the environment, consistent with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act and the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan. Before EPA adds a site to the Superfund National Priorities List, a site must meet EPA's requirements and be proposed for addition to the list in the Federal Register, subject to a 60-day public comment period. EPA will add the site to the Superfund National Priorities List if it continues to meet the listing requirements after the public comment period closes and the agency has responded to any comments.

Superfund cleanups provide health and economic benefits to communities. The program is credited for significant reductions in both birth defects and blood-lead levels among children living near sites, and research has shown residential property values increase up to 24 percent within three miles of sites after cleanup.

Thanks to Superfund cleanups, communities are now using previously blighted properties for a wide range of purposes, including retail businesses, office space, public parks, residences, warehouses, and solar power generation. As of 2021, EPA has collected economic data on 650 Superfund sites. At these sites, there are 10,230 businesses operating on these sites, 246,000 people employed, an estimated $18.6 billion in income earned by employees, and $65.8 billion in sales generated by businesses.

For information about Superfund and the Superfund National Priorities List, please visit: https://www.epa.gov/superfund.

For Federal Register notices and supporting documents for Superfund National Priorities List and proposed sites, please visit:

New Proposed and New Superfund National Priorities List Sites

For additional site information and background, visit the Brillo Landfill Superfund Profile Page.

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

22-062

 

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Issued: Sep 7, 2022 (3:55pm EDT)

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EPA to Host Sept. 14 Virtual Community Meeting for Linden and Elizabeth New Jersey Residents

Community meeting will focus on informing residents about potential health risks from a nearby sterilizer plant

EPA to Host Sept. 14 Virtual Community Meeting for Linden and Elizabeth New Jersey Residents  

Community meeting will focus on informing residents about potential health risks from a nearby sterilizer plant 

 

Contact: Elias Rodriguez, 212-637-3664, rodriguez.elias@epa.gov 

NEW YORK (September 7, 2022) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the City of Linden will host a virtual community meeting for residents of Linden and Elizabeth, New Jersey to share information about health risks from the chemical, ethylene oxide or EtO, which is being emitted from a facility called the Cosmed ETO Sterilization Plant #2.  

The community meeting will take place virtually on September 14 at 6:30 p.m. with an in-person option to participate hosted by the City of Linden at Linden City Hall Planning Board Room- 301 N Wood Ave 3rd Floor Linden, NJ 07036. 

During the meeting EPA staff will discuss potential risks for nearby residential and commercial properties associated with emissions from the ETO Sterilization-Plant #2 located at 2500 Brunswick Avenue, Linden, NJ.  

Ethylene oxide – also known as EtO – is a human carcinogen emitted by some commercial sterilizers.  

EPA analysis indicates that the air near the Cosmed ETO Sterilization Plant #2 does not exceed short-term health benchmarks. However, the concern is that a lifetime of exposure to EtO emissions could lead to long-term health impacts if risk levels are not reduced.  

EPA is working with facilities like this one to take appropriate steps to reduce emissions. Later this year, EPA expects to propose an air pollution regulation to protect public health by requiring more controls on EtO emissions from commercial sterilizers.  

"EPA wants to make sure we are giving people the most up to date information about the risks posed by EtO and at the same time discuss what actions may already be underway or planned to reduce risk in their area," said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. "We also want to engage the public as we develop new regulations with the benefit of our current understanding of the risk posed by EtO. EPA's actions will be strengthened by this input." 

"The EPA as the lead agency in this matter has been keeping our city's Board of Health Department and my office apprised of all actions to best handle this situation. I want our residents to know that my office and our council take this very seriously and will work with the EPA to remedy this situation," said City of Linden Mayor Derek Armstead. "I encourage all residents of Linden to please take a moment out of your day to register for the meeting and join this informative meeting on September 14th." 

Meeting Details: 

Virtual Zoom Meeting on Wednesday, September 14, 2022; 6:30 p.m.  

To register for the September 14 virtual and in-person meeting and learn more about this facility.  

 

EPA is taking significant action to address EtO and advance critical EtO research. These actions include: 

• Reviewing Clean Air Act regulations for industries that emit EtO into the air, particularly rules to control air toxic emissions from commercial sterilizers and facilities that manufacture chemicals, 
• Working with state and local environmental agencies to reduce EtO emissions, 

• Expanding environmental reporting requirements for sterilization facilities, 
• EPA is committed using enforcement options as appropriate, 
• Reevaluating how EtO is used within sterilization facilities with the goal of reducing risks to workers who handle EtO and those who are exposed in other ways, 
• Conducting research to better understand and measure EtO. 

 

For more information about the EPA's efforts to address ethylene oxide, visit our website: www.epa.gov/eto.  

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

22-064 

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Issued: Sep 7, 2022 (1:19pm EDT)

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EPA Updates Superfund National Priorities List to Clean Up Pollution and Address Public Health Risks

WASHINGTON (Sep. 7, 2022) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it is adding five sites to the Superfund National Priorities List and is proposing to add another two where releases of contamination pose significant human health and environmental risk.

"All people in this country, no matter the color of their skin, their zip code or income, deserve to live in communities free from harmful pollutants and contaminated lands," said EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe. "By adding sites to the Superfund National Priorities List, we are accelerating cleanups and working to ensure that more people living near the nation's most serious uncontrolled or abandoned releases of contamination have the health and environmental protections they deserve."

Thousands of contaminated sites, from landfills and processing plants to manufacturing facilities exist nationally due to hazardous waste being dumped, left out in the open, or otherwise improperly managed. President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will accelerate EPA's work to help communities clean up these contaminated sites with a $3.5 billion investment in the Superfund Remedial Program and reinstates the Superfund chemical excise taxes, making it one of the largest investments in American history to address legacy pollution. This historic investment strengthens EPA's ability to tackle threats to human health and the environment, and EPA has already set action in motion to clear the backlog of the 49 contaminated sites which had been awaiting funding to start remedial action.

With this Superfund National Priorities List update, the Biden-Harris Administration is following through on its commitment to update the Superfund National Priorities List twice a year, as opposed to once per year. By pledging to add sites more regularly to the Superfund National Priorities List, EPA is taking action to protect the health of communities across the country while cleaning up and returning blighted properties to safe and productive reuse in areas where environmental cleanup and jobs are needed most.

EPA is adding the following sites to the Superfund National Priorities List:
Lower Hackensack River, Bergen and Hudson Counties, New Jersey
Brillo Landfill, Victory, New York
Ochoa Fertilizer Co., Guánica, Puerto Rico
Georgetown North Groundwater, Georgetown, Delaware
Highway 3 PCE, Le Mars, Iowa              

EPA is proposing to add the following sites to the Superfund National Priorities List:
East Basin Road Groundwater, New Castle, Delaware 
PCE Carriage Cleaners, Bellevue, Nebraska

EPA is also withdrawing a previously proposed site, the East Tenth Street site in Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania, following the Agency's determination that the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection will continue to investigate and clean up the site pursuant to its state cleanup authority. EPA remains committed to using all available tools to ensure the protection of human health and the environment.

Background
The Superfund National Priorities List includes the nation's most serious uncontrolled or abandoned releases of contamination. The list serves as the basis for prioritizing EPA Superfund cleanup funding and enforcement actions. Only releases at non-federal sites included on the Superfund National Priorities List are eligible to receive federal funding for long-term, permanent cleanup. Cleanup at federal facilities is funded by the lead federal agency responsible for the site.

EPA proposes sites to the Superfund National Priorities List based on a scientific determination of risks to people and the environment, consistent with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act and the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan. Before EPA adds a site to the Superfund National Priorities List, a site must meet EPA's requirements and be proposed for addition to the list in the Federal Register, subject to a 60-day public comment period. EPA will add the site to the Superfund National Priorities List if it continues to meet the listing requirements after the public comment period closes and the agency has responded to any comments.

Superfund cleanups provide health and economic benefits to communities. The program is credited for significant reductions in both birth defects and blood-lead levels among children living near sites, and research has shown residential property values increase up to 24 percent within three miles of sites after cleanup.

Further, thanks to Superfund cleanups, communities are now using previously blighted properties for a wide range of purposes, including retail businesses, office space, public parks, residences, warehouses, and solar power generation. As of 2021, EPA has collected economic data on 650 Superfund sites. At these sites, there are 10,230 businesses operating on these sites, 246,000 people employed, an estimated $18.6 billion in income earned by employees, and $65.8 billion in sales generated by businesses.

For information about Superfund and the Superfund National Priorities List, please visit: https://www.epa.gov/superfund. 

For Federal Register notices and supporting documents for Superfund National Priorities List and proposed sites, please visit: 
New Proposed and New Superfund National Priorities List Sites 

 

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Issued: Sep 2, 2022 (9:17am EDT)

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EPA and The Ministry of the Environment of Japan Release Joint Statement on Continued Bilateral Environmental Cooperation

WASHINGTON (September 2, 2022) – On September 2, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Michael S. Regan and Minister of the Environment, Japan Nishimura Akihiro met in Tokyo, Japan for a high-level bilateral dialogue. The ministers met to discuss accomplishments, including the historic climate investments from President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act and priorities for continued international, regional, and bilateral cooperation on environmental protection.

 

Climate Change and Decarbonization

• The Ministry of the Environment, Japan (MOE) and the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognize the importance of implementation of the Paris Agreement on strengthening global response to the threat of climate change. As documented in the U.S.-Japan Climate Partnership, both countries are committed to taking ambitious steps to lead domestic climate efforts, accelerate international climate action, promote climate transparency, and achieve 2050 net zero goals and aligned 2030 nationally determined contributions (NDCs).
• An enhanced transparency framework is the foundation for implementation of the Paris Agreement, designed to build trust and confidence that all countries are contributing their share to the global effort. MOE and EPA will continue to cooperate in providing capacity building support to Asian countries including through the Workshop on Greenhouse Gas Inventories in Asia and EPA's Transparency Accelerator. The enhancement of monitoring, reporting, and verification for developing countries contributes to their assessment of progress towards NDCs, development and implementation of effective greenhouse gas emission reduction measures, and development of biennial transparency reports including Article 6 reporting.
• Subnational actors are vital in leading efforts towards decarbonization. MOE and the Office of Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, United States of America, joined by EPA, launched the "Global Subnational Zero Carbon Promotion Initiative" at COP26. Both participate in Zero Carbon City International Forums to highlight the efforts that state, city, and local governments are taking to reach zero carbon goals. Together MOE and EPA promote action globally to support and accelerate subnational climate action. While in Japan, the EPA Administrator visited a model city that is proactively working towards decarbonization and has received funding from MOE to achieve these goals.
• MOE and EPA are taking steps to promote lifecycle management of fluorocarbons, including hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). The agencies continue to share approaches to managing fluorocarbons and best practices for sustainably managing these compounds with each other and the global community.
• The United States and Japan are among the initial countries that participated in the Global Methane Pledge (GMP) and the GMP Energy Pathway to reduce global methane emissions. In addition, MOE and EPA will continue to promote domestic policies and international cooperation to reduce methane emissions in the waste sector including through highlighting the issues and facilitating relevant actions at national and international levels.
• MOE and EPA work closely with the United Nations Global Adaptation Network (GAN) and Educational Partnerships for Innovation in Communities (EPIC) in hosting training workshops in cities in the Asia-Pacific region and in Sub-Saharan Africa.

 

Marine Litter and Circular Economy

• MOE and EPA are continually aligned on international environmental policy matters including demonstrating leadership on ocean plastic pollution and circular economy matters. This alignment brings us closer to achieving the Osaka Blue Ocean Vision which was shared under the Japan G20 presidency in 2019 and aims to reduce additional plastic pollution to zero by 2050. We are jointly committed to the negotiation of a global agreement on plastic pollution that will address the full lifecycle of plastic through an ambitious, innovative, country-driven approach.
• Japan is part of the United States OECD Environmental Performance Review Team that is assessing multi-country progress, policies, and best practices towards addressing marine litter with a focus on linkages to environmental justice. Through this process, MOE and EPA are working with Indonesia and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development to analyze policies and enhance peer-to-peer learning including through workshops, roundtables, participation in review missions to the United States, and preparation of a report to discuss review findings.
• Principles of circular economy overlap with properly managing waste streams including keeping plastic out of our oceans, promoting resource efficiency, and addressing source reduction. MOE and EPA are committed to realizing circular economy, marine litter, and waste reduction goals through domestic strategies and multilateral cooperation including through the G7 Alliance on Resource Efficiency and the G20 Resource Efficiency Dialogue.

 

Chemical Management

• MOE and EPA underscore our joint commitment to continuing cooperation for effective implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, participation in the Global Mercury Partnership, and strengthening mercury monitoring capabilities in the Asia-Pacific region.
• MOE and EPA regularly share information on chemical management policy and approaches. MOE and EPA recognize the importance of PFAS management and will continue cooperation to deepen scientific knowledge in relation to regulations and countermeasures for PFAS.

 

Environmental Education and Youth

• MOE and EPA are committed to promoting and enhancing environmental education. Together with international partners we participate in the Global Environmental Education Partnership to promote and develop environmental education and sustainable development goals.
• Since the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, MOE and EPA have worked together to support and assist recovery and revitalization in Fukushima, learn from the disaster, and take actions to prevent nuclear incidents. During this visit, the EPA Administrator met with Asaka high school students that work with the Dream Support Fukushima organization to share an understanding of issues including radiation and environmental restoration with peers from across Japan and internationally. This youth program received Japan's Minister of the Environment Award in 2021.

EPA and MOE regularly share information on a range of issues that protect young people and their communities, human health, and the environment.

 

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Issued: Sep 1, 2022 (12:39pm EDT)

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EPA Awards $3.5 Million to Protect Coastal Habitats through a National Estuary Grant Program

WASHINGTON (September 1, 2022) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the award of $3.5 million to an ongoing program that will support projects to protect and restore the nation's estuaries—those rich, productive coastal habitats where freshwater rivers and streams meet tidal areas. The funds were the second such award from EPA to Restore America's Estuaries (RAE), which manages the competitive National Estuary Program (NEP) Watersheds Grant Program.

"Estuaries provide unique recreational and economic opportunity to nearby communities while also cultivating wildlife and protecting our coastlines from flooding," said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox. "EPA is committed to helping protect these important coastal waters through the National Estuary Program, which includes 28 estuaries of significance around the country. EPA's $3.5 million will support future projects for these important coastal ecosystems."

EPA anticipates that projects funded through the competitive grant program will  apply new or innovative approaches and technologies to treat, remove, or prevent pollution before it enters estuaries; build sustained local capacity to protect and restore coastal watersheds; and bolster resilience to the impacts of climate change. Awarded project funding may range from $200,000 to $500,000.

A total of $18 million may be provided through this partnership over six years, subject to availability of appropriations, EPA funding priorities, and satisfactory progress in carrying out the program.

The NEP is an EPA program committed to protecting and restoring the water quality and ecological integrity of 28 estuaries across the country from threats such as climate change, habitat loss, and nutrient pollution.

Learn more about the National Estuary Program

Learn more about the NEP Watersheds Grant Program

 

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