Issued: Jan 12, 2023 (3:56pm EST)

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EPA to Host January 26 Community Meeting for Fajardo, Puerto Rico Residents Regarding Air Pollutant from Sterilizer Facility -- Spanish Translation Continues Below

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

Contact: Brenda Reyes, 787-977-5865 / 787-295-0087

Fajardo, PR (January 12, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will host a community meeting for residents of Fajardo, Puerto Rico to share information about health risks from the chemical ethylene oxide or EtO, which is being emitted from a commercial sterilizer facility called Customed Inc.

The community meeting will take place on Thursday, January 26 at 5:00 p.m. at the basketball court in Urbanización Altamira in Fajardo.

EPA Region 2 Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia; Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources Air Director; and Fajardo Mayor Jose Anibal Meléndez will join EPA staff to discuss potential risks associated with emissions from the Customed facility at Calle Igualdad # 7, Fajardo.

Ethylene oxide – also known as EtO – is a human carcinogen emitted by some commercial sterilizers. EtO emissions from commercial sterilizers can contribute to elevated cancer risks for nearby communities.

EPA analysis indicates that the air near the Fajardo facility 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 that we are giving people the best information about the risks posed by EtO and about what actions may already be underway or planned to reduce risks at these facilities," said Lisa F. Garcia, EPA Regional Administrator. "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."

Meeting Details:

Community Meeting on Thursday, January 26, 2023; 5:00 pm (Registration) and 5:30 pm (Presentation and Community Meeting).

To register for the January 26^th meeting and learn more about this facility.

EPA is continuing 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, with the goal of making these regulations more protective of health.
• Working with state, territory, local and tribal environmental agencies to reduce EtO emissions, as soon as possible.
• Expanding environmental reporting requirements for sterilization facilities.
• 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.
• Using enforcement options, as appropriate.

For more information about the EPA's efforts to address ethylene oxide.

#  #  # Spanish # # # 

La EPA llevará a cabo reunión comunitaria sobre emisiones de óxido de etileno en Fajardo, Puerto Rico el 26 de enero

La reunión se centrará en informar a los residentes sobre los posibles riesgos a la salud de una planta esterilizadora cercana

Contact: Brenda Reyes reyes.brenda@epa.gov, 787-977-5869

PUERTO RICO (12 de enero de 2023) – La Agencia de Protección Ambiental de Estados Unidos (EPA, por sus siglas en inglés) llevará a cabo una reunión comunitaria para residentes de Fajardo, Puerto Rico para compartir información sobre los riesgos a la salud del gas denominado óxido de etileno, también conocido como EtO, que se emite desde la instalación de esterilización comercial Customed Inc.

La reunión comunitaria se llevará a cabo el martes, 26 de enero a las 5:00 p.m. en la cancha de baloncesto de la Urbanización Altamira en Fajardo.

La Administradora Regional de la EPA Región 2 Lisa F. García; El director de Aire del Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales; el alcalde de Fajardo, Jose Aníbal Meléndez se unirán al personal de la EPA para discutir los riesgos potenciales asociados con las emisiones de la instalación de Customed ubicada en la Calle Igualdad # 7, Fajardo.

El óxido de etileno es un carcinógeno humano emitido por algunos esterilizadores comerciales. Las emisiones de EtO de los esterilizadores comerciales pueden contribuir a un riesgo elevado de cáncer para las comunidades cercanas por exposición a largo plazo

El análisis de la EPA indica que el aire cerca de las instalaciones de Fajardo no excede los puntos de referencia de salud a corto plazo. Sin embargo, la preocupación es que una exposición a lo largo de la vida a las emisiones de EtO podría producir impactos en la salud a largo plazo si no se reducen los niveles de riesgo. La EPA está trabajando con instalaciones como esta para tomar las medidas adecuadas destinadas a reducir las emisiones. Más adelante este año, la EPA espera proponer una regulación acerca de la contaminación del aire para proteger la salud pública al exigir más controles en cuanto a las emisiones de EtO de los esterilizadores comerciales.

"La EPA quiere asegurarse de que estamos dando a las comunidades la mejor información sobre los riesgos que representa el EtO y sobre qué medidas pueden estar ya en marcha o planificadas para reducir los riesgos en estas instalaciones", comentó Lisa F. García, administradora regional de la EPA. "También queremos involucrar al público a medida que desarrollamos nueva reglamentación basada en la ventaja de nuestra comprensión actual del riesgo que representa el EtO".

Detalles de la reunión:

Reunión comunitaria el martes, 26 de enero de 2023; a las 5:00 pm

Para inscribirse en la reunión del 26 de enero y obtener más información sobre esta instalación.

La EPA continúa actuando significativamente para abordar el EtO y avanzar en la investigación crucial del EtO. Las acciones incluyen:

• Revisar la reglamentación de la Ley Federal de Aire Limpio para las industrias que emiten EtO al aire, particularmente las directrices para controlar las emisiones tóxicas al aire de los esterilizadores comerciales y las instalaciones que fabrican productos químicos, con el objetivo de hacer que esta reglamentación proteja más la salud.
• Trabajar con agencias ambientales locales para reducir las emisiones de EtO, lo antes posible.
• Ampliar los requisitos de presentación de informes ambientales para las instalaciones de esterilización.
• Utilizar acciones de cumplimiento, según corresponda.
• Reevaluar la manera en que se utiliza el EtO dentro de las instalaciones de esterilización con el objetivo de reducir los riesgos para los trabajadores que manejan EtO y aquellos que están expuestos de otras maneras.
• Realizar investigaciones para comprender y medir mejor el EtO.

Para obtener más información sobre los esfuerzos de la EPA destinados a abordar el óxido de etileno.

Siga a la Región 2 de la EPA en Twitter y en Facebook. Para obtener más información sobre la Región 2 de la EPA, visite nuestro sitio web.

 

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Issued: Jan 12, 2023 (3:53pm EST)

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EPA to Host January 24 Community Meeting for Villalba, Puerto Rico Residents Regarding Air Pollutant from Sterilizer Facility -- Spanish Translation Continues Below

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

Contact: Brenda Reyes 787-977-5865 / 787-295-0087

Villalba, PR (January 12, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will host a community meeting for residents of Villalba, Puerto Rico to share information about health risks from the chemical ethylene oxide or EtO, which is being emitted from a commercial sterilizer facility called Medtronics.

The community meeting will take place on Tuesday, January 24 at 5:00 p.m. at Centro de Bellas Artes Municipal, Adrian Rosado Guzman in Villalba.

EPA Region 2 Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia; Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources Air Director; and Villalba Mayor Luis Javier Hernández will join EPA staff to discuss potential risks associated with emissions from the Medtronics facility at Road 149 KM. 56.3, Villalba.

Ethylene oxide – also known as EtO – is a human carcinogen emitted by some commercial sterilizers. EtO emissions from commercial sterilizers can contribute to elevated cancer risks for nearby communities.

EPA analysis indicates that the air near the Villalba facility 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 that we are giving people the best information about the risks posed by EtO and about what actions may already be underway or planned to reduce risks at these facilities," said Lisa F. Garcia, EPA Regional Administrator. "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."

Meeting Details:

Community Meeting on Tuesday, January 24, 2023; 5:00 pm (Registration) and 5:30 pm (Presentation and Community Meeting).

To register for the January 24^th meeting and learn more about this facility.

EPA is continuing 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, with the goal of making these regulations more protective of health.
• Working with state, territory, local and tribal environmental agencies to reduce EtO emissions, as soon as possible.
• Expanding environmental reporting requirements for sterilization facilities.
• 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.
• Using enforcement options as appropriate.

For more information about the EPA's efforts to address ethylene oxide.

#  #  # Spanish # # # 

Contact: Brenda Reyes reyes.brenda@epa.gov, 787-977-5869

PUERTO RICO (12 de enero de 2023) – La Agencia de Protección Ambiental de Estados Unidos (EPA, por sus siglas en inglés) llevará a cabo una reunión comunitaria para residentes de Villalba, Puerto Rico para compartir información sobre los riesgos a la salud del gas denominado óxido de etileno, también conocido como EtO, que se emite desde la instalación de esterilización comercial Medtronics.

La reunión comunitaria se llevará a cabo el martes, 24 de enero a las 5:00 p.m. en el Centro de Bellas Artes Municipal, Adrian Rosado Guzman in Villalba.

La Administradora Regional de la EPA Región 2 Lisa F. García; El director de Aire del Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales; el alcalde de Villalba, Luis Javier Hernández se unirán al personal de la EPA para discutir los riesgos potenciales asociados con las emisiones de la instalación de Medtronics ubicada en la carretera 149 KM. 56.3, Villalba.

El óxido de etileno es un carcinógeno humano emitido por algunos esterilizadores comerciales. Las emisiones de EtO de los esterilizadores comerciales pueden contribuir a un riesgo elevado de cáncer para las comunidades cercanas por exposición a largo plazo

El análisis de la EPA indica que el aire cerca de las instalaciones de Villalba no excede los puntos de referencia de salud a corto plazo. Sin embargo, la preocupación es que una exposición a lo largo de la vida a las emisiones de EtO podría producir impactos en la salud a largo plazo si no se reducen los niveles de riesgo. La EPA está trabajando con instalaciones como esta para tomar las medidas adecuadas destinadas a reducir las emisiones. Más adelante este año, la EPA espera proponer una regulación acerca de la contaminación del aire para proteger la salud pública al exigir más controles en cuanto a las emisiones de EtO de los esterilizadores comerciales.

"La EPA quiere asegurarse de que estamos dando a las comunidades la mejor información sobre los riesgos que representa el EtO y sobre qué medidas pueden estar ya en marcha o planificadas para reducir los riesgos en estas instalaciones", comentó Lisa F. García, administradora regional de la EPA. "También queremos involucrar al público a medida que desarrollamos nueva reglamentación basada en la ventaja de nuestra comprensión actual del riesgo que representa el EtO".

Detalles de la reunión:

Reunión comunitaria el martes, 24 de enero de 2023; a las 5:00 pm

Para inscribirse en la reunión del 24 de enero y obtener más información sobre esta instalación.

La EPA continúa actuando significativamente para abordar el EtO y avanzar en la investigación crucial del EtO. Las acciones incluyen:

• Revisar la reglamentación de la Ley Federal de Aire Limpio para las industrias que emiten EtO al aire, particularmente las directrices para controlar las emisiones tóxicas al aire de los esterilizadores comerciales y las instalaciones que fabrican productos químicos, con el objetivo de hacer que esta reglamentación proteja más la salud.
• Trabajar con agencias ambientales locales para reducir las emisiones de EtO, lo antes posible.
• Ampliar los requisitos de presentación de informes ambientales para las instalaciones de esterilización.
• Utilizar acciones de cumplimiento, según corresponda.
• Reevaluar la manera en que se utiliza el EtO dentro de las instalaciones de esterilización con el objetivo de reducir los riesgos para los trabajadores que manejan EtO y aquellos que están expuestos de otras maneras.
• Realizar investigaciones para comprender y medir mejor el EtO.

Para obtener más información sobre los esfuerzos de la EPA destinados a abordar el óxido de etileno.

Siga a la Región 2 de la EPA en Twitter y en Facebook. Para obtener más información sobre la Región 2 de la EPA, visite nuestro sitio web.

23-000

 

 

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Issued: Jan 10, 2023 (12:45pm EST)

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Biden-Harris Administration Announces Availability of $100 Million through Inflation Reduction Act for Environmental Justice Grants

Historic grant funding for environmental justice will support projects in communities overburdened by pollution and historic underinvestment

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

WASHINGTON (Jan. 10, 2023) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of approximately $100 million for projects that advance environmental justice in underserved and overburdened communities across the country. This funding, made possible through President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act, marks the largest amount of environmental justice grant funding ever offered by the Agency. EPA has published two Requests for Applications for this funding through the Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving (EJCPS) Cooperative Agreement Program and the Environmental Justice Government-to-Government (EJG2G) Program. 

"Since day one, President Biden pledged to prioritize environmental justice and equity for all, and EPA is at the heart of delivering on that mission," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. "Last year, we announced EPA's first-ever national program office dedicated to advancing environmental justice, memorializing our commitment to this critical work. I couldn't be prouder to now be announcing an unprecedented level of funding thanks to President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act for community-based solutions that support underserved and overburdened communities. This is a key step that will help build strong partnerships with communities across the country and move us closer to realizing a more just and equitable future for all."

These grant programs further the goals of President Biden's Justice40 Initiative and Executive Order, Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad, which directed that 40% of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments flow to overburdened communities that face disproportionately high and adverse health and environmental impacts.

"Today, historic environmental justice funding I fought to secure in the Inflation Reduction Act is being made available," said U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer. "This call for applications ensures money can flow directly to communities that need it most by splitting the funding between community based non-profits as well as the states, localities, tribes, and territories that usually receive federal grants. Helping these non-profits who know their communities better than anyone was central to my mission when fighting for environmental justice priorities in the Inflation Reduction Act and this is only the beginning. I will continue to fight for environmental justice and working with communities across New York to get this money where it is needed most."

"Every American deserves access to clean air and water—no matter their zip code, the color of their skin or the size of their paycheck," said Senator Tammy Duckworth. "That's why, as co-founder of the Senate's Environmental Justice Caucus, I'm proud to announce today's grant funding, which will help deliver results for environmental justice communities that have been ignored for too long. Access to clean air and clean water isn't 'only' an environmental issue—it's a matter of health and safety, systemic racism and persistent discrimination against those in low-income communities. I'm hopeful that today, we're making important advances toward ending this crisis."

"I'm grateful for the Biden administration's commitment to ensuring those disproportionately impacted by pollution and climate change are given the opportunity to have a healthier, more equitable future," said Congressman Raúl Grijalva (AZ-07). "The grants announced today and other investments from the Inflation Reduction Act will advance environmental justice in underrepresented communities and help ensure every person has access to pure air, clean water and an environment that allows them to thrive. In Congress, we will continue our legislative efforts to provide greater public health protections for vulnerable communities, strengthen the Civil Rights Act and improve federal agencies' environmental justice work."

"I've learned over the last two decades of working on environmental justice at the community-level how the proper support and funding can turn good ideas and hard work into something truly impactful," said Catherine Coleman Flowers, Founding Director of the Center for Rural Enterprise and Environmental Justice. "I'm confident that this historic investment from the EPA and Biden Administration is going to yield some incredible solutions to the crisis of environmental injustice, especially in Rural communities that are under-resourced and overburdened."

The Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving Program (EJCPS) Cooperative Agreement Program

The EJCPS Program will provide an estimated $30 million in funding directly to community-based nonprofit organizations (and partnerships of these organizations), with $5 million reserved for small community-based nonprofit organizations with five or fewer full-time employees. In total, the Agency anticipates funding approximately 50 awards of $500,000 and 30 awards of $150,000.

EPA's EJCPS Cooperative Agreement Program provides financial assistance to eligible organizations working on or planning to work on projects to address local environmental and/or public health issues in their communities. The program assists recipients in building collaborative partnerships with other stakeholders (e.g., local businesses and industry, local government, medical service providers, academia, etc.) to develop solutions that will significantly address environmental and/or public health issues at the local level.

The Environmental Justice Government-to-Government (EJG2G) Program 

The EJG2G Program (formerly known as the State Environmental Justice Cooperative Agreement program) will provide an estimated $70 million in funding. Of this, $20 million will be for State governments to be used in conjunction with Community-Based Organization (CBO) partners, $20 million will be for local government with CBO partners, $20 million will be for Federally Recognized Tribal Nations with CBO partners, and $10 million will be for U.S. territories and remote tribes with limited access to CBO partners. In total the Agency anticipates funding approximately 70 projects of up to $1 million each for a 3-year project. 

The EJG2G Program works to support and/or create model state activities that lead to measurable environmental or public health results in communities disproportionately burdened by environmental harms and risks. These models should leverage or utilize existing resources or assets of state agencies to develop key tools and processes that integrate environmental justice considerations into state governments and government programs.

Under both EJCPS and EJG2G programs, EPA will be giving special consideration to the following focus areas:

• Projects addressing climate change, disaster resiliency, and/or emergency preparedness 
• Projects located in and/or benefitting rural areas 
• Projects conducting Health Impact Assessments (HIA)  

Applicants interested must submit proposal packages on or before April 10, 2023, to be considered for the available funding. Applicants should plan for projects to begin on October 1, 2023.

This funding builds on additional funding from the American Rescue Plan. In December 2021, EPA selected 154 organizations to receive a total of approximately $18.4 million in environmental justice grant funding.

EPA is planning to announce an additional environmental justice grant competition, making extensive use of IRA resources, in early 2023 to establish a network of grant-makers across the United States to facilitate awarding assessment, planning, and project development grants to communities and their partners.

Pre-application Assistance Webinars

EPA will host pre-application assistance webinars to answer prospective applicant questions about the EJ grant process.

To attend the first webinar on January 24, 2023 focused on EJCPS, register here.

To attend the second webinar on January 26, 2023 focused on EJG2G, register here.

Learn more information about environmental justice grant funding.

Learn more information about the Inflation Reduction Act.

 

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Issued: Jan 10, 2023 (12:35pm EST)

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Biden-Harris Administration Announces Availability of $100 Million through Inflation Reduction Act for Environmental Justice Grants

Historic grant funding for environmental justice will support projects in communities overburdened by pollution and historic underinvestment

WASHINGTON (Jan. 10, 2023) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of approximately $100 million for projects that advance environmental justice in underserved and overburdened communities across the country. This funding, made possible through President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act, marks the largest amount of environmental justice grant funding ever offered by the Agency. EPA has published two Requests for Applications for this funding through the Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving (EJCPS) Cooperative Agreement Program and the Environmental Justice Government-to-Government (EJG2G) Program.

"Since day one, President Biden pledged to prioritize environmental justice and equity for all, and EPA is at the heart of delivering on that mission," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. "Last year, we announced EPA's first-ever national program office dedicated to advancing environmental justice, memorializing our commitment to this critical work. I couldn't be prouder to now be announcing an unprecedented level of funding thanks to President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act for community-based solutions that support underserved and overburdened communities. This is a key step that will help build strong partnerships with communities across the country and move us closer to realizing a more just and equitable future for all."

These grant programs further the goals of President Biden's Justice40 Initiative and Executive Order, Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad, which directed that 40% of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments flow to overburdened communities that face disproportionately high and adverse health and environmental impacts.

"Today, historic environmental justice funding I fought to secure in the Inflation Reduction Act is being made available," said U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer. "This call for applications ensures money can flow directly to communities that need it most by splitting the funding between community based non-profits as well as the states, localities, tribes, and territories that usually receive federal grants. Helping these non-profits who know their communities better than anyone was central to my mission when fighting for environmental justice priorities in the Inflation Reduction Act and this is only the beginning. I will continue to fight for environmental justice and working with communities across New York to get this money where it is needed most."

"Every American deserves access to clean air and water—no matter their zip code, the color of their skin or the size of their paycheck," said Senator Tammy Duckworth. "That's why, as co-founder of the Senate's Environmental Justice Caucus, I'm proud to announce today's grant funding, which will help deliver results for environmental justice communities that have been ignored for too long. Access to clean air and clean water isn't 'only' an environmental issue—it's a matter of health and safety, systemic racism and persistent discrimination against those in low-income communities. I'm hopeful that today, we're making important advances toward ending this crisis."

"I'm grateful for the Biden administration's commitment to ensuring those disproportionately impacted by pollution and climate change are given the opportunity to have a healthier, more equitable future," said Congressman Raúl Grijalva (AZ-07). "The grants announced today and other investments from the Inflation Reduction Act will advance environmental justice in underrepresented communities and help ensure every person has access to pure air, clean water and an environment that allows them to thrive. In Congress, we will continue our legislative efforts to provide greater public health protections for vulnerable communities, strengthen the Civil Rights Act and improve federal agencies' environmental justice work."

"I've learned over the last two decades of working on environmental justice at the community-level how the proper support and funding can turn good ideas and hard work into something truly impactful," said Catherine Coleman Flowers, Founding Director of the Center for Rural Enterprise and Environmental Justice. "I'm confident that this historic investment from the EPA and Biden Administration is going to yield some incredible solutions to the crisis of environmental injustice, especially in Rural communities that are under-resourced and overburdened."

The Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving Program (EJCPS) Cooperative Agreement Program

The EJCPS Program will provide an estimated $30 million in funding directly to community-based nonprofit organizations (and partnerships of these organizations), with $5 million reserved for small community-based nonprofit organizations with five or fewer full-time employees. In total, the Agency anticipates funding approximately 50 awards of $500,000 and 30 awards of $150,000.

EPA's EJCPS Cooperative Agreement Program provides financial assistance to eligible organizations working on or planning to work on projects to address local environmental and/or public health issues in their communities. The program assists recipients in building collaborative partnerships with other stakeholders (e.g., local businesses and industry, local government, medical service providers, academia, etc.) to develop solutions that will significantly address environmental and/or public health issues at the local level.

The Environmental Justice Government-to-Government (EJG2G) Program

The EJG2G Program (formerly known as the State Environmental Justice Cooperative Agreement program) will provide an estimated $70 million in funding. Of this, $20 million will be for State governments to be used in conjunction with Community-Based Organization (CBO) partners, $20 million will be for local government with CBO partners, $20 million will be for Federally Recognized Tribal Nations with CBO partners, and $10 million will be for U.S. territories and remote tribes with limited access to CBO partners. In total the Agency anticipates funding approximately 70 projects of up to $1 million each for a 3-year project.

The EJG2G Program works to support and/or create model state activities that lead to measurable environmental or public health results in communities disproportionately burdened by environmental harms and risks. These models should leverage or utilize existing resources or assets of state agencies to develop key tools and processes that integrate environmental justice considerations into state governments and government programs.

Under both EJCPS and EJG2G programs, EPA will be giving special consideration to the following focus areas:

• Projects addressing climate change, disaster resiliency, and/or emergency preparedness 
• Projects located in and/or benefitting rural areas 
• Projects conducting Health Impact Assessments (HIA)  

Applicants interested must submit proposal packages on or before April 10, 2023, to be considered for the available funding. Applicants should plan for projects to begin on October 1, 2023.

This funding builds on additional funding from the American Rescue Plan. In December 2021, EPA selected 154 organizations to receive a total of approximately $18.4 million in environmental justice grant funding.

EPA is planning to announce an additional environmental justice grant competition, making extensive use of IRA resources, in early 2023 to establish a network of grant-makers across the United States to facilitate awarding assessment, planning, and project development grants to communities and their partners.

Pre-application Assistance Webinars

EPA will host pre-application assistance webinars to answer prospective applicant questions about the EJ grant process.

To attend the first webinar on January 24, 2023 focused on EJCPS, register here.
To attend the second webinar on January 26, 2023 focused on EJG2G, register here.
Learn more information about environmental justice grant funding.
Learn more information about the Inflation Reduction Act.

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

 

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Issued: Jan 6, 2023 (10:40am EST)

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EPA Proposes to Strengthen Air Quality Standards to Protect the Public from Harmful Effects of Soot

New Standards Demonstrate President Biden's Leadership to Reduce Air Pollution that Threatens Communities

WASHINGTON (Jan. 6, 2023) — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a proposal to strengthen a key national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) for fine particle pollution, also known as PM_2.5, to better protect communities, including those most overburdened by pollution. Fine particles, sometimes called soot, can penetrate deep into the lungs and can result in serious health effects that include asthma attacks, heart attacks and premature death – disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations including children, older adults, those with heart or lung conditions, as well as communities of color and low-income communities throughout the United States. These particles may be emitted directly from a source, such as construction sites, unpaved roads, fields, smokestacks, or fires; other particles form in the atmosphere as a result of complex reactions of chemicals such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which are pollutants emitted from power plants, industrial facilities, and vehicles.

EPA's proposal will specifically take comment on strengthening the primary (health-based) annual PM_2.5 standard from a level of 12 micrograms per cubic meter to a level between 9 and 10 micrograms per cubic meter, reflecting the latest health data and scientific evidence; the Agency is also taking comment on the full range (between 8 and 11 micrograms per cubic meter) included in the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee's (CASAC) latest report.

"Our work to deliver clean, breathable air for everyone is a top priority at EPA, and this proposal will help ensure that all communities, especially the most vulnerable among us, are protected from exposure to harmful pollution," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. "This proposal to deliver stronger health protections against particulate matter is grounded in the best available science, advancing the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to scientific integrity and a rigorous scientific process."

"As a physician who's passionate about oncology and dedicated to enhancing the health equity that's so often needed in Black communities and other communities of color, I am grateful for the Biden Administration's commitment to advancing equity and justice for all," said Dr. Doris Browne, former President of the National Medical Association. "No one should be sickened by the environment they live in, and EPA's proposal marks the start of changes that will have lasting impacts in communities all over, especially Black and brown communities that often experience increased PM pollution. Harmful air pollution can have lasting and devastating impacts on people's health, but by strengthening air quality standards, we can ensure healthier, more sustainable communities across this country."

Since EPA completed its last review of the PM NAAQS in 2012, thousands of new scientific studies have demonstrated the dangers of soot exposure. Strengthening the primary annual PM_2.5 standard is expected to address disparities and would result in significant public health benefits. EPA estimates that if finalized, a strengthened primary annual PM_2.5 standard at a level of 9 micrograms per cubic meter, the lower end of the proposed range, would prevent:

• up to 4,200 premature deaths per year;
• 270,000 lost workdays per year;
• result in as much as $43 billion in net health benefits in 2032.

EPA will work closely with state, local, and Tribal air agencies to implement the revised primary annual PM_2.5 standard when finalized. Today's proposal is the latest in a broader suite of programs under President Biden's leadership to reduce air pollution that threatens communities.  These programs include the proposed Good Neighbor Plan to address smog that affects downwind states, rules to address air pollution from oil and gas operations, including methane pollution, and other critical rules to reduce emissions from power plants and the transportation sector, such as the recently finalized Clean Trucks Rule that will slash smog- and soot-forming pollution from heavy-duty trucks. Additionally, funding from the President's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act aimed at cutting pollution from school buses and trucks, port operations, and electricity generation are also expected to reduce soot and other harmful air pollutants.

EPA is also proposing to revise other aspects related to the PM standards – such as monitoring requirements and the Air Quality Index (AQI) – that will help states and Tribal Nations meet the revised standards while making significant strides toward protecting the health of all people, including at-risk populations. The Agency is proposing to retain the primary 24-hour PM_2.5 standard of 35 micrograms per cubic meter, while taking comment on revising this level to as low as 25 micrograms per cubic meter.

In June 2021, EPA announced it would reconsider the previous administration's December 2020 decision to retain the 2012 PM_2.5 standards, because available scientific evidence and technical information indicated that the standards may not be adequate to protect public health and welfare. In developing today's proposal, EPA considered the best available science and technical information, including an Integrated Science Assessment and updated Policy Assessment that were made available for public comment and for expert review by the Agency's Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) and CASAC PM expert panel. EPA carefully evaluated the recommendations of the CASAC in developing the proposed rule.

EPA will accept public comment for 60 days after the proposal is published in the Federal Register. EPA will also conduct a virtual public hearing over several days for this proposed rulemaking, with the hearing beginning at 11:00 am Eastern Time and concluding at 7:00 pm ET each day.  EPA will begin pre-registering speakers for the hearing upon publication of the announcement of the public hearings in the Federal Register.  Additional information will also be made available on the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for PM webpage.

After reviewing comments, the Agency plans to issue final standards later this year.

More information on particulate matter.
More information on the NAAQS review process and other documents related to this reconsideration.

Background
The Clean Air Act requires EPA to set two types of NAAQS: health-based standards, called primary standards, and standards to protect public welfare, called secondary standards. Based on the scientific evidence and technical information, EPA has set two primary standards for PM_2.5, which work together to protect public health: the annual standard, which EPA is proposing to revise, and a 24-hour standard, which the Agency is proposing to retain. EPA also is proposing to retain the current primary 24-hour standard for PM₁₀, which provides protection against coarse particles. In addition, the Agency is proposing to retain the secondary standards for both PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ at this time.

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

 

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Issued: Jan 5, 2023 (1:29pm EST)

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EPA Releases New PFAS Analytic Tools

Provides Information on PFAS Sources Across the U.S.

WASHINGTON (Jan. 5, 2023) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a new interactive webpage, called the "PFAS Analytic Tools," which provides information about per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) across the country. This information will help the public, researchers, and other stakeholders better understand potential PFAS sources in their communities. The PFAS Analytic Tools bring together multiple sources of information in one spot with mapping, charting, and filtering functions, allowing the public to see where testing has been done and what level of detections were measured.

"EPA's PFAS Analytic Tools webpage brings together for the first time data from multiple sources in an easy to use format," said John Dombrowski, Director of EPA's Office of Compliance. "This webpage will help communities gain a better understanding of local PFAS sources."

EPA's PFAS Analytic Tools draws from multiple national databases and reports to consolidate information in one webpage. The PFAS Analytic Tools includes information on Clean Water Act PFAS discharges from permitted sources, reported spills containing PFAS constituents, facilities historically manufacturing or importing PFAS, federally owned locations where PFAS is being investigated, transfers of PFAS-containing waste, PFAS detection in natural resources such as fish or surface water, and drinking water testing results. The tools cover a broad list of PFAS and represent EPA's ongoing efforts to provide the public with access to the growing amount of testing information that is available.

Because the regulatory framework for PFAS chemicals is emerging, data users should pay close attention to the caveats found within the site so that the completeness of the data sets is fully understood. Rather than wait for complete national data to be available, EPA is publishing what is currently available while information continues to fill in. Users should be aware that some of the datasets are complete at the national level whereas others are not. For example, EPA has included a national inventory for drinking water testing at larger public water utilities. That information was provided between 2013-2016. To include more recent data, EPA also compiled other drinking water datasets that are available online in select states. For the subset of states and tribes publishing PFAS testing results in drinking water, the percentage of public water supplies tested varied significantly from state to state. Because of the differences in testing and reporting across the country, the data should not be used for comparisons across cities, counties, or states. 

To improve the availability of the data in the future, EPA has published its fifth Safe Drinking Water Act Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule to expand on the initial drinking water data reporting that was conducted in 2013-2016. Beginning in 2023, this expansion will bring the number of drinking water PFAS samples collected by regulatory agencies into the millions. EPA also significantly expanded the Toxics Release Inventory reporting requirements in recent years to over 175 PFAS substances — and more information should be received in 2023. Additionally, EPA's proposal to designate PFOA and PFOS as Hazardous Substances would also improve data on spill or release incidents reported to the Emergency Response Notification System. These reporting enhancements will be incorporated into future versions of the interactive webpage. EPA will continue working toward the expansion of data sets in the PFAS Analytic Tools as a way to improve collective knowledge about PFAS occurrence in the environment.

See the new PFAS Analytic Tools.

EPA is planning a demonstration of the tool for Tuesday, January 10, 2023, at 1pm EST. Register for the webinar.

Learn more about EPA's work to address PFAS.

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

 

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Issued: Jan 5, 2023 (1:01pm EST)

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PA Announces $500 Million Loan to Modernize Wastewater and Drinking Water Infrastructure in New Jersey

This is the first loan EPA is issuing through its new SWIFIA program

WASHINGTON (Jan. 5, 2023) — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a $500 million loan to the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank to modernize wastewater and drinking water systems serving over 10 million people throughout New Jersey. This is the first loan issued through the State Infrastructure Financing Authority Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (SWIFIA) program, which provides loans exclusively to state infrastructure financing authority borrowers, commonly known as state revolving fund programs.

"The EPA is thrilled to announce our first SWIFIA loan to New Jersey, a state that is making great strides in utilizing water infrastructure investments to improve access to clean, safe water for all residents," said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox. "With EPA's low-interest WIFIA loan, New Jersey will invest in over 90 communities across the Garden State and create about 16,000 jobs while saving approximately $62.5 million. The Biden Administration is proud to expand our successful WIFIA program to now offer dedicated loans to state infrastructure financing authorities."

Thanks to EPA's SWIFIA loan and funding from the New Jersey State Revolving Fund provided by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, over 90 communities across the Garden State will be able to implement critical water infrastructure projects — remediating contaminated groundwater, replacing lead service lines, and installing filtration systems to protect drinking water from PFAS contamination. These infrastructure investments will help communities maintain compliance with regulatory requirements, manage flooding, and improve climate change resiliency. Projects that will receive SWIFIA funding are located throughout the state, including in 36 small communities and 39 disadvantaged communities.

"From critical resilience projects to the replacement of lead service lines, New Jersey remains at the forefront of innovative water infrastructure solutions," said New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy. "The EPA's SWIFIA loan will further solidify New Jersey's status as a national model for water infrastructure, which serves as the foundation for healthy communities. In addition to helping our state secure safe, healthy, and efficient wastewater and drinking water systems for all New Jerseyans, the EPA's support will also help generate good-paying jobs in our expanding water workforce."

"Rebuilding New Jersey's aging water and wastewater infrastructure and expanding access to clean, safe water while creating good paying jobs is exactly the type of smart investment our communities and environment need," said Senator Bob Menendez. "I'm proud to have fought for many of the provisions in the bipartisan America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018, which created SWIFIA, and will benefit millions of New Jersey families up and down the state with essential funding for state revolving fund programs. I thank the Biden Administration for recognizing this critical opportunity and choosing New Jersey as the first state in the country to receive a SWIFIA loan, which will ultimately have positive life-changing impacts for communities throughout the Garden State."

"This historic infusion of federal funds will help New Jersey implement vital water infrastructure projects," said Senator Cory Booker. "I have championed programs to ensure every American has access to safe, clean drinking water. I am excited the EPA is issuing its first SWIFIA loan to New Jersey. This funding will create hundreds of jobs and advance water infrastructure projects to address contaminants in drinking water, install water filtration systems, and replace lead pipes across our state."

The SWIFIA program is housed within EPA's WIFIA program. SWIFIA loans allow state infrastructure finance authorities to offer additional low-cost financing to communities and accelerate important water infrastructure projects.

Learn about submitting a letter of interest for a WIFIA or SWIFIA loan.
Learn more about the SWIFIA program.

Background
Established by the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014, the WIFIA program is a federal loan and guarantee program administered by EPA. The WIFIA program's aim is to accelerate investment in the nation's water infrastructure by providing long-term, low-cost supplemental credit assistance for regionally and nationally significant projects.

The WIFIA program has an active pipeline of pending WIFIA and SWIFIA applications for projects that will result in billions of dollars in water infrastructure investment and thousands of jobs. With this loan closing, EPA's WIFIA program has announced 96 loans that are providing $17 billion in credit assistance to help finance $36 billion for water infrastructure while creating 122,000 jobs and saving ratepayers over $5 billion.

EPA is currently accepting letters of interest for WIFIA and SWIFIA loans. In June, EPA announced the availability of $5.5 billion under the 2022 WIFIA Notice of Funding Availability and an additional $1 billion under the SWIFIA program. Together, this newly available funding will support more than $13 billion in water infrastructure projects while creating more than 40,000 jobs.

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

 

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Issued: Jan 4, 2023 (3:54pm EST)

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EPA Issues Next Test Order Under National Testing Strategy for PFAS Used in Plastics, Chemical Manufacturing

WASHINGTON (Jan. 4, 2023) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued the next Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) test order requiring testing on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) under EPA's the National PFAS Testing Strategy. Today's action orders companies to conduct and submit testing on trifluoro(trifluoromethyl)oxirane (HFPO), a perfluoroalkyl substance used in making plastics. This is the second test order under the strategy and the latest action taken under EPA's PFAS Strategic Roadmap to confront contamination from forever chemicals nationwide.

The information EPA receives under this order will not only improve the Agency's understanding of human health effects of HFPO, but also the effects of dozens of PFAS that are structurally similar to HFPO and in the same Testing Strategy category of PFAS, improving the agency's overall data on PFAS.

"PFAS can pose a serious risk to communities, especially those overburdened with pollution, but many of these chemicals have limited or no toxicity data. That's why we're working quickly to establish stronger, more robust data on PFAS to better understand and ultimately reduce the potential risks," said Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Michal Freedhoff. "Communities deserve transparency from the companies that use or produce these substances and we'll continue to use our data-gathering tools to collect information on the potential environmental and human health impacts of PFAS like HFPO."

HFPO (CASRN 428-59-1) is used in making plastics and in organic chemical manufacturing. More than 1,000,000 pounds of HFPO are manufactured each year, according to TSCA Chemical Data Reporting rule reports.

After thoroughly examining existing hazard and exposure data, EPA has concluded that HFPO may present an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment. The potential hazards from exposure to this chemical could include neurotoxicity, reproductive effects and cancer. EPA also found there is insufficient information to determine the effects on human health from inhalation of HFPO (which is a gas at room temperature). This test order will address this data need.

The Chemours Company FC LLC, DuPont De Nemours Inc., E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, and 3M Company are the recipients of this test order. Prior to issuing the test order, EPA engaged in discussions with the recipient companies to encourage them to voluntarily submit existing data on HFPO to EPA. Based on information in existing studies provided by cooperating companies, EPA determined that certain data were no longer needed and thus excluded the relevant testing requirements from the issued order. EPA has made the data voluntarily provided by these companies publicly available in docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2021-0910 on www.regulations.gov.

EPA will continue to communicate with manufacturers and processors before issuing an order to encourage voluntary data submissions that could refine its categorization of PFAS included in the Testing Strategy, accelerate the availability of data to the Agency and the public, or eliminate the need for testing.

The companies subject to the test order may either conduct the tests as described in the order, including testing of physical-chemical properties and health effects following inhalation, or provide EPA with existing information that they believe EPA did not identify in its search. EPA encourages companies to jointly conduct testing to avoid unnecessary duplication of tests and will also consider possible combinations of tests that cover all required endpoints to diminish the amount of time, animal subjects and costs required.

The order employs a tiered testing process, as TSCA requires. The results of all the first-tier testing are required to be submitted to EPA within 415 days of the effective date of the order and will inform the decision as to which additional tests are necessary. The order and any data submitted in response to this order will be made publicly available on EPA's website and in the applicable docket on www.regulations.gov, subject to confidentiality considerations under TSCA section 14.

PFAS National Testing Strategy
In the National Testing Strategy, EPA assigned PFAS into smaller categories based on similarities in structure, physical-chemical properties and existing toxicity data. EPA is issuing test orders for PFAS in specific categories that lack toxicity data to inform EPA's understanding of the potential human health effects. The first test order issued in June 2022 was for 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonamide betaine, a PFAS used in commercial firefighting foam. As EPA continues to further develop the Strategy, refine its universe and categorization of PFAS and consider stakeholder feedback, the Agency also plans to increase the weight it places on the potential for exposures when identifying which specific PFAS to require testing on.

Section 4 Test Orders
Developing section 4 test orders is a complex and resource-intensive process involving many scientific and regulatory considerations, as explained in this Overview of Activities Involved in Issuing a TSCA Section 4 Order. Given the complexity of the testing requirements, a broad spectrum of experts across the agency worked to determine testing methodology and needs and address other details of drafting and issuing an order, such as assessing the economic burden of an order.

Additionally, one order often applies to multiple companies. EPA must identify these companies and their associated points of contacts. To improve the transparency of the process, EPA also works to resolve confidential business information claims that could prevent EPA from publicly connecting the company to the chemical substance prior to issuing test orders.

View the test order issued today and other section 4 test orders.

Learn more about the PFAS National Testing Strategy.

 

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Issued: Jan 4, 2023 (3:53pm EST)

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Biden-Harris Administration Announces Availability of $40 Million in Grants for Tribes and Intertribal Consortia to Improve Recycling Infrastructure

Grants funded by the largest recycling investment in 30 years under President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

WASHINGTON (Jan. 4, 2023) - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of $40 million in grants for recycling infrastructure projects for Tribes and intertribal consortia. EPA published a Request for Applications to solicit interest by Tribes and intertribal consortia for the third funding opportunity in the new Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) grant program funded by the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law invested $375 million in funding for new recycling, reuse and waste prevention programs and initiatives, the largest investment in recycling infrastructure to EPA in 30 years.

"EPA is committed to working collaboratively with Tribal Nations to protect public health and the environment in Indian country," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. "We know that our work is strongest and most effective when it's informed by people's lived experiences, and we are grateful for the strong participation from Tribes during our outreach. Our priority is helping Tribal Nations improve their recycling efforts, which is critical given that half of all greenhouse gas emissions come from the creation and production of materials. And, while we have made great strides over time, we can do much more to improve the state of recycling and protect our planet for all."

This SWIFR grant opportunity is specifically for federally recognized Tribes, Alaskan Native Villages, and intertribal consortia. It will fund selected projects to create new capacity for Tribes and facilitate greater access to source reduction, recycling, and composting opportunities. Projects may include developing or updating plans focused on improving post-consumer materials management, planning and construction of facilities, purchasing or leasing recycling equipment or supplies, activities focused on increasing collection, and development of end-markets for materials.

Applications are due by April 4, 2023, via www.grants.gov.

EPA is seeking projects that address environmental justice concerns such as the disproportionate and adverse health, environmental, economic, and climate-related impacts that affect Tribal and Indigenous populations. This grant opportunity aligns with the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to deliver justice and equity for all and is part of President Biden's Justice40 Initiative.

EPA encourages interested Tribes and intertribal consortia to obtain SAM.gov and Grants.gov identification numbers, which can take a month. Interested applicants can learn how to prepare for a grant application by visiting this webpage.

To access more information and learn how to apply.

Stay connected to learn about upcoming webinars for these grants.

Read more about the National Recycling Strategy and building a circular economy.

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

 

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