Issued: Mar 14, 2024 (3:41pm EDT)

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EPA announces most energy-efficient manufacturing plants of 2023

America's most energy-efficient manufacturing plants show the way for a lower carbon future

WASHINGTON – Today, March 14, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recognized 103 U.S. manufacturing plants that earned the agency's ENERGY STAR certification in 2023, a designation reserved for manufacturing plants in the top 25% of energy efficiency in their sector. Together, these plants prevented more than 8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to the emissions from the electricity use of more than 1.5 million American homes.

"President Biden's Investing in America agenda is breathing new life into energy efficient domestic manufacturing, and industry partners like those recognized today are leading the way," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. "These ENERGY STAR certified plants demonstrate that cutting the embodied carbon of our industrial products through energy efficiency doesn't just make environmental sense, it makes economic sense." 

The industrial sector accounts for 30% of U.S. greenhouse emissions, primarily from energy use in manufacturing plants. ENERGY STAR certified plants have reduced their energy use through a variety of energy efficiency projects and management practices. For example:

• Ardagh's Houston, Texas, container glass facility operated a highly efficient furnace, used recycled glass, and installed energy-efficient lighting fixtures, among other initiatives.

• Bimbo Bakeries USA installed advanced controls and high-efficiency burners in ovens, oxidizers, and boilers and expanded investments in metering systems, enabling real-time monitoring and control of energy usage.
• Ash Grove's Seattle, Wash., cement plant saved energy by increasing the amount of limestone in its Portland Limestone cement, thereby reducing energy needed for clinker production, and improving equipment automation.
• GCC's Rapid City, S.D., cement plant upgraded its preheater and improved kiln combustion efficiency. This plant and GCC's Pueblo, Colo., cement plant integrated alternative fuels, lowering carbon dioxide emissions while maintaining high levels of energy efficiency.
• J.R. Simplot Company's Helm, Calif., nitrogenous fertilizer plant commissioned an on-site, one-megawatt solar photovoltaic project, reducing source energy consumption and avoiding greenhouse gas emissions.
• Koch Fertilizer's Beatrice, Neb., fertilizer plant reduced steam use and the number of continuously running pumps, while the Enid, Okla., plant improved steam utilization and implemented advanced process controls.
• Marathon Petroleum Corporation's Anacortes, Wash., refinery reduced steam trap failures by more than 20% by equipping operators with handheld trap-testing devices to instantly identify leaks. The St. Paul Park, Minn., refinery completed a three-year effort to reinforce insulation across the entire site, cutting carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions by close to 16,000 metric tons per year.

• Nissan North America, Inc., replaced more than 20,000 light fixtures with LEDs across all U.S. manufacturing sites and conducted a combination of energy treasure hunts and third-party assessments targeting energy efficiency.

Manufacturing plants use the EPA's ENERGY STAR energy performance indicators or, in the case of petroleum refineries, the Solomon Associates Energy Intensity Index scoring system, to assess their energy performance. Plants that score at least 75 out of 100 — indicating that they are more energy efficient than 75% of similar facilities nationwide — are eligible to earn ENERGY STAR certification. ENERGY STAR certification is available for 21 manufacturing sectors, from cement and steel to glass and commercial bakeries. More than 270 plants have achieved ENERGY STAR certification since 2006.

All ENERGY STAR certified manufacturing plants in 2023:

*Denotes first time certified plant

Alabama:

Georgia-Pacific Brewton Containerboard (integrated paper mill)

Honda Development & Manufacturing of America, Lincoln (automobile engine)

Hunt Refining Company, Tuscaloosa (petroleum refining)*

Tuscaloosa Organic Baking Co. (commercial bread and roll baking)

Arkansas:

Flowers Baking Co. of Batesville (commercial bread and roll baking)

Arizona:

Bimbo Bakeries USA, Inc., Phoenix (commercial bread and roll baking)

Bristol Myers Squibb, Phoenix (pharmaceutical)*

CalPortland Company, Rillito (cement manufacturing)

Drake Cement, Paulden (cement manufacturing)

Holsum Bakery of Tolleson (commercial bread and roll baking)

Mesa Organic Baking Co., Mesa (commercial bread and roll baking)

Salt River Materials Group, Clarkdale (cement manufacturing)

California:

Bimbo Bakeries USA, Inc., Escondido (commercial bread and roll baking)

Bimbo Bakeries USA, Inc., San Luis Obispo (commercial bread and roll baking)

CalPortland Company, Redding (cement manufacturing)

J.R. Simplot Company, Helm (nitrogenous fertilizer)

Colorado:

Canyon Bakehouse, Johnstown (commercial bread and roll baking)*

GCC, Pueblo (cement manufacturing)

Rocky Mountain Bottle Company, Wheat Ridge (container glass manufacturing)

Delaware:

AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, Newark (pharmaceutical)

Florida:

Titan America LLC, Medley (cement manufacturing)

Georgia:

Honda Development & Manufacturing of America, Tallapoosa (automobile transmission)

Flowers Bakery of Suwanee (commercial bread and roll baking)*

Iowa:

Iowa Fertilizer Company, LLC, Wever (nitrogenous fertilizer)

Illinois:

ExxonMobil Joliet Refinery, Channahon (petroleum refining)

Marathon Petroleum Corporation, Robinson (petroleum refining)

TreeHouse Foods, Inc., South Beloit (cookie & cracker baking)

Indiana:

CountryMark Refining & Logistics, Mount Vernon (petroleum refining)*

General Motors Fort Wayne Assembly (automobile assembly)

Honda Development & Manufacturing of America, Greensburg (automobile assembly)

Kansas:

CHS Inc, McPherson (petroleum refining)*

Kentucky:

Bardstown Bourbon Company Distillery, Bardstown (distilling)*

Bimbo Bakeries USA, Inc., London (commercial bread and roll baking)

Heaven Hill Bernheim Distillery, Louisville (distilling)*

MGP/Luxco Distillery, Bardstown (distilling)*

Heaven's Door Distillery, LLC, Pleasureville (distilling)*

Rabbit Hole Distillery, Louisville (distilling)*

TreeHouse Foods, Inc., Princeton (cookie & cracker baking)

Louisiana:

ExxonMobil Baton Rouge Refinery (petroleum refining)

Marathon Petroleum Corporation, Garyville (petroleum refining)

Massachusetts:

Bristol Myers Squibb, Devens (pharmaceutical)*

Maine:

Lepage Bakeries Park Street, Lewiston (commercial bread and roll baking)

Michigan:

AbbVie, Wyandotte (pharmaceutical)

General Motors Flint Assembly (automobile assembly)

Minnesota:

Bimbo Bakeries USA, Inc., Fergus Falls (commercial bread and roll baking)

Flint Hills Resources, Pine Bend (petroleum refining)

Lamb Weston/RDO Frozen, Park Rapids (frozen fried potato processing)

Marathon Petroleum Corporation, Saint Paul Park (petroleum refining)

Missouri:

Buzzi Unicem USA, Festus (cement manufacturing)

Mississippi:

Georgia-Pacific, New Augusta (pulp mill)

Nissan North America, Canton (automobile assembly)

Nebraska:

Koch Fertilizer, Beatrice (nitrogenous fertilizer)

New Jersey:

AbbVie, Branchburg (pharmaceutical)

North Carolina:

Bimbo Bakeries USA, Inc., Gastonia (commercial bread and roll baking)

Nevada:       

Flowers Baking Co. of Henderson (commercial bread and roll baking)

New York:

Bimbo Bakeries USA, Inc., Auburn (commercial bread and roll baking)

Bimbo Bakeries USA, Inc., Olean (commercial bread and roll baking)

TreeHouse Foods, Inc., Tonawanda (cookie & cracker baking)

Ohio:

Bimbo QSR Ohio, Airport, Zanesville (commercial bread and roll baking)

Bimbo QSR Ohio, Eastpointe, Zanesville (commercial bread and roll baking)

Honda Development & Manufacturing of America, Anna (automobile engine)

Honda Development & Manufacturing of America, East Liberty (automobile assembly)

Honda Development & Manufacturing of America, Marysville (automobile assembly)

Honda Development & Manufacturing of America, Russells Point (automobile transmission)

Klosterman Baking Company, Springboro (commercial bread and roll baking)

Klosterman Baking Company, Cincinnati (commercial bread and roll baking)

Marathon Petroleum Corporation, Canton (petroleum refining)

Oklahoma:

Koch Fertilizer, Enid (nitrogenous fertilizer)

Pennsylvania:

Bimbo Bakeries USA, Inc., Reading (commercial bread and roll baking)

Puerto Rico:

AbbVie, Barceloneta (pharmaceutical)*

Merck & Co., Inc., Las Piedras (pharmaceutical)

South Dakota:

GCC, Rapid City (cement manufacturing)

Tennessee:

Brown Forman's Jack Daniel Distillery, Lem Motlow Prop., Inc., Lynchburg (distilling)*

Buzzi Unicem USA, Chattanooga (cement manufacturing)

Crown Bakeries, Nashville (commercial bread and roll baking)

Crown Bakeries, Dickson (commercial bread and roll baking)

Nissan North America, Decherd (automobile engine)

Nissan North America, Smyrna (automobile assembly)

Primient, Loudon (corn refining)

Texas:

AbbVie, Waco (pharmaceutical)

Ardagh Glass Inc., Houston (container glass manufacturing)*

Barcel USA, Coppell (cookie & cracker baking)

CITGO Petroleum Corp., Corpus Christi (petroleum refining)

ExxonMobil Beaumont Complex (petroleum refining)

Flowers Baking Co. of Houston (commercial bread and roll baking)

Flowers Baking Co. of Tyler (commercial bread and roll baking)

Flowers Baking Co. of El Paso (commercial bread and roll baking)

Heaven Hill's Deep Eddy Vodka Distillery, Buda (distilling)*

Leeland Baking Co., Houston (commercial bread and roll baking)*

PEMEX, Deer Park (petroleum refining)*

Utah:

Bimbo Bakeries USA, Inc., Salt Lake City (commercial bread and roll baking)

TreeHouse Foods, Inc., Odgen (cookie and cracker baking)

Virginia:

Lynchburg Organic Baking Co. (commercial bread and roll baking)

Flowers Baking Co. of Norfolk (commercial bread and roll baking)

Roanoke Cement Company LLC, a subsidiary of Titan America LLC, Troutville (cement manufacturing)

Washington:

Ash Grove Cement, Seattle (cement manufacturing)

Marathon Petroleum Corporation, Anacortes (petroleum refining)

Par Pacific, Tacoma (petroleum refining)*

Westland Whiskey Distillery, South Seattle (distilling)*

Wisconsin:

Bimbo Bakeries USA, Inc., Oconomowoc (commercial bread and roll baking)

Bimbo Bakeries USA, Inc., La Crosse (commercial bread and roll baking)

Wyoming:

J.R. Simplot Company, Rock Springs (nitrogenous fertilizer)

Par Pacific, Newcastle (petroleum refining)*

About ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR® is the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency, providing simple, credible, and unbiased information that consumers and businesses rely on to make well-informed decisions. Thousands of industrial, commercial, utility, state, and local organizations — including nearly 40% of the Fortune 500® — rely on their partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to deliver cost-saving energy efficiency solutions. Since 1992, ENERGY STAR and its partners helped American families and businesses avoid more than $500 billion in energy costs and achieve 4 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas reductions.

For more information, see: 

ENERGY STAR program impacts

ENERGY STAR plant certification

ENERGY STAR Certified Building and Plant Locator

 

For further information: press@epa.gov

 

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Final rule to slash toxic emissions of ethylene oxide and reduce cancer risk.

The final amendments to the air toxics standards for ethylene oxide commercial sterilization facilities put in place the strongest measures

View as a webpage / Share EPA Announces Final Rule to Slash Toxic Emissions of Ethylene Oxide and Reduce Cancer Risk Today the EPA announced a rule that will reduce lifetime cancer risks for people living near commercial sterilization facilities across the country. The final amendments to the air toxics standards for ethylene oxide commercial sterilization facilities put in place the strongest measures in U.S. history to reduce emissions of EtO, one of the most potent cancer-causing chemicals. Through the installation of proven and achievable air pollution controls, commercial sterilizers will reduce emissions by more than 90%. This final rule advances President Biden's commitment to ending cancer as we know it as part of the Cancer Moonshot, while also advancing the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to environmental justice by protecting communities that are most exposed to toxic chemicals. EtO can be particularly harmful to children and communities that are already overburdened by pollution.  In finalizing this rule, EPA considered the latest data and science, while taking into account the importance of a safe and reliable supply of medical sterilization devices for patients and hospitals. EPA worked closely with partners across the Biden-Harris Administration, including at the Department of Health and Human Services, to develop a final rule that centers on public health. This final rule provides sufficient time and flexibility for facilities to come into compliance, simultaneously affording strong public health protection for nearby communities while minimizing any potential impacts to the medical device supply chain. "This final rule to sharply cut toxic emissions of ethylene oxide responds to the ambition set forth by President Biden's Cancer Moonshot," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. "We have followed the science and listened to communities to fulfill our responsibility to safeguard public health from this pollution – including the health of children, who are particularly vulnerable to carcinogens early in life. We've arrived at a historically strong rule that will protect the most exposed communities from toxic air pollution while also ensuring that there will be a process that safeguards our nation's critical supply of sterilized medical equipment." "For years, I have called for environmental justice, urging protections for workers and fenceline communities from the dangers of EtO pollution," said Xavier Becerra, United States Secretary of Health and Human Services. "We will continue to work together with EPA to achieve our shared goals of lowering EtO exposure while also mitigating potential risks of medical device shortages." In developing the final rule, EPA conducted extensive outreach to communities and stakeholders to ensure meaningful and extensive participation during the public comment period. EPA conducted public hearings, national webinars, and public meetings hosted by regional EPA offices. The considerable feedback received from the three days of public hearings, as well as the more than 40,000 comments submitted to the rulemaking docket, both informed the final rule and demonstrated the strong need to issue these vital health protections. Based on this input, EPA improved the risk assessment and strengthened the standards to ensure risk reductions for surrounding communities. "I commend the EPA for finalizing regulations in a way that will reduce EtO emissions by more than 90% at facilities across the country," said U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider (IL-10). "I appreciate that the EPA followed the science to keep Americans safe while also ensuring safe, reliable supply chains for hospitals, physicians and patients. I have long fought for sensible regulations to address EtO air emissions and assist impacted communities. Today's regulations will rightly require continuous air monitoring to assure communities that the air they breathe is safe, as well as provide an on-ramp for facilities to comply so that we do not have to choose between safe air and a stable supply of medical products. I will continue to be an outspoken advocate for air monitoring in communities where sterilization facilities are present, and I will always fight to prevent harmful toxins from entering our air." The final rule will address emissions at nearly 90 commercial sterilization facilities that are owned and operated by approximately 50 companies. Based on extensive input and review, EPA is finalizing the following amendments to the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants that: Establish standards for currently unregulated emissions, such as building leaks ("room air emissions") and chamber exhaust vents, to reduce cancer risk and account for technological developments in pollution control. Strengthen standards that are on the books for sources such as sterilization chamber vents  and aeration room vents. Require continuous emissions monitoring and quarterly reporting for most commercial sterilizers that will provide communities, states, Tribes, and local governments, and EPA with data to ensure EtO emissions are not entering the outdoor air. Ensure that sterilizers are subject to emission standards during periods of startup, shutdown, and malfunction so there is continuous clean air protection. Other clarifying items including electronic reporting and technical revisions. The Biden-Harris Administration believes securing our supply of medical devices is essential. To prevent unintended consequences and ensure orderly implementation, the Clean Air Act has long provided backstop authority allowing the President to provide a two-year compliance exemption to assist a facility with achieving compliance with National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants in carefully delimited special circumstances — if the technology to implement the standard is not available and it is in the national security interest to provide additional time to comply. EPA has confirmed that the President is prepared to exercise this authority, if necessary to protect the medical supply chain and a commercial sterilizer is working in good faith to come into compliance with the rule. This final rule for commercial sterilizers is one of a series of coordinated actions that EPA is taking to reduce exposure to EtO. Under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs is also working on a comprehensive set of new mitigation measures for EtO to reduce exposure for workers who use EtO to sterilize products. EPA has been working to support alignment of today's Clean Air Act rule with the action being taken under FIFRA.  EPA is also working to strengthen standards to reduce EtO and other toxic pollutants from chemical plants. Other actions to address EtO emissions and advance EtO research include: Investigating additional sources of EtO (e.g., stand-alone warehouses) and opportunities for emissions controls. Enforcing existing regulations as appropriate. Conducting research to better understand and measure EtO. For more information, visit EPA's Final Amendments to Strengthen Air Toxics Standards for Ethylene Oxide Commercial Sterilizers webpage. Learn more about Children's Health and Healthy School Environments.

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Issued: Mar 14, 2024 (9:00am EDT)

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EPA announces final rule to slash toxic emissions of ethylene oxide and reduce cancer risk

WASHINGTON – Today, March 14, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a rule that will reduce lifetime cancer risks for people living near commercial sterilization facilities across the country. The final amendments to the air toxics standards for ethylene oxide commercial sterilization facilities put in place the strongest measures in U.S. history to reduce emissions of EtO, one of the most potent cancer-causing chemicals. Through the installation of proven and achievable air pollution controls, commercial sterilizers will reduce emissions by more than 90%.

This final rule advances President Biden's commitment to ending cancer as we know it as part of the Cancer Moonshot, while also advancing the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to environmental justice by protecting communities that are most exposed to toxic chemicals. EtO can be particularly harmful to children and communities that are already overburdened by pollution. 

In finalizing this rule, EPA considered the latest data and science, while taking into account the importance of a safe and reliable supply of medical sterilization devices for patients and hospitals. EPA worked closely with partners across the Biden-Harris Administration, including at the Department of Health and Human Services, to develop a final rule that centers on public health. This final rule provides sufficient time and flexibility for facilities to come into compliance, simultaneously affording strong public health protection for nearby communities while minimizing any potential impacts to the medical device supply chain.

"This final rule to sharply cut toxic emissions of ethylene oxide responds to the ambition set forth by President Biden's Cancer Moonshot," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. "We have followed the science and listened to communities to fulfill our responsibility to safeguard public health from this pollution – including the health of children, who are particularly vulnerable to carcinogens early in life. We've arrived at a historically strong rule that will protect the most exposed communities from toxic air pollution while also ensuring that there will be a process that safeguards our nation's critical supply of sterilized medical equipment."

"For years, I have called for environmental justice, urging protections for workers and fenceline communities from the dangers of EtO pollution," said Xavier Becerra, United States Secretary of Health and Human Services. "We will continue to work together with EPA to achieve our shared goals of lowering EtO exposure while also mitigating potential risks of medical device shortages."

In developing the final rule, EPA conducted extensive outreach to communities and stakeholders to ensure meaningful and extensive participation during the public comment period. EPA conducted public hearings, national webinars, and public meetings hosted by regional EPA offices. The considerable feedback received from the three days of public hearings, as well as the more than 40,000 comments submitted to the rulemaking docket, both informed the final rule and demonstrated the strong need to issue these vital health protections. Based on this input, EPA improved the risk assessment and strengthened the standards to ensure risk reductions for surrounding communities.

"I commend the EPA for finalizing regulations in a way that will reduce EtO emissions by more than 90% at facilities across the country," said U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider (IL-10). "I appreciate that the EPA followed the science to keep Americans safe while also ensuring safe, reliable supply chains for hospitals, physicians and patients. I have long fought for sensible regulations to address EtO air emissions and assist impacted communities. Today's regulations will rightly require continuous air monitoring to assure communities that the air they breathe is safe, as well as provide an on-ramp for facilities to comply so that we do not have to choose between safe air and a stable supply of medical products. I will continue to be an outspoken advocate for air monitoring in communities where sterilization facilities are present, and I will always fight to prevent harmful toxins from entering our air."

The final rule will address emissions at nearly 90 commercial sterilization facilities that are owned and operated by approximately 50 companies. Based on extensive input and review, EPA is finalizing the following amendments to the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants that:

• Establish standards for currently unregulated emissions, such as building leaks ("room air emissions") and chamber exhaust vents, to reduce cancer risk and account for technological developments in pollution control.
• Strengthen standards that are on the books for sources such as sterilization chamber vents  and aeration room vents.
• Require continuous emissions monitoring and quarterly reporting for most commercial sterilizers that will provide communities, states, Tribes, and local governments, and EPA with data to ensure EtO emissions are not entering the outdoor air.
• Ensure that sterilizers are subject to emission standards during periods of startup, shutdown, and malfunction so there is continuous clean air protection.
• Other clarifying items including electronic reporting and technical revisions.

The Biden-Harris Administration believes securing our supply of medical devices is essential. To prevent unintended consequences and ensure orderly implementation, the Clean Air Act has long provided backstop authority allowing the President to provide a two-year compliance exemption to assist a facility with achieving compliance with National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants in carefully delimited special circumstances — if the technology to implement the standard is not available and it is in the national security interest to provide additional time to comply. EPA has confirmed that the President is prepared to exercise this authority, if necessary to protect the medical supply chain and a commercial sterilizer is working in good faith to come into compliance with the rule.

This final rule for commercial sterilizers is one of a series of coordinated actions that EPA is taking to reduce exposure to EtO. Under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs is also working on a comprehensive set of new mitigation measures for EtO to reduce exposure for workers who use EtO to sterilize products. EPA has been working to support alignment of today's Clean Air Act rule with the action being taken under FIFRA. 

EPA is also working to strengthen standards to reduce EtO and other toxic pollutants from chemical plants. Other actions to address EtO emissions and advance EtO research include:

• Investigating additional sources of EtO (e.g., stand-alone warehouses) and opportunities for emissions controls.
• Enforcing existing regulations as appropriate.
• Conducting research to better understand and measure EtO.

For more information, visit EPA's Final Amendments to Strengthen Air Toxics Standards for Ethylene Oxide Commercial Sterilizers webpage.

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

 

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Issued: Mar 13, 2024 (1:42pm EDT)

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Public meeting scheduled to update community on status of Scovill Industrial Landfill Superfund Site in Waterbury, Conn.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 1 - 5 Post Office Square, Suite 100, Boston MA 02109

Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont , and Ten Tribal Nations

 

For Immediate Release

Contact:       Dave Deegan (deegan.dave@epa.gov) (617) 918-1017 or R1_Press@epa.gov;

Public meeting scheduled to update community on status of Scovill Industrial Landfill Superfund Site in Waterbury, Conn.

WATERBURY, CONN. (March 12, 2024) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will host an informational public meeting at the Roberto Clemente International Dual Language School on Tuesday, March 19th from 6-8 p.m. to discuss upcoming site work at the Scovill Industrial Landfill Superfund Site made possible by funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Translation services are available upon request.

The community is invited to attend in person:

6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Roberto Clemente International Dual Language School

116 Beecher Ave

Waterbury, CT

Background

The Scovill Industrial Landfill Site was added to the Superfund "National Priorities List" (NPL) in 2000. The site is a 25-acre property located in Waterbury, Conn.

In December 2021, the Biden Administration announced that this site would receive prioritized funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to expedite cleanup activities.

The Scovill Manufacturing Company used the site from 1919 to the mid-1970s for disposal of ash, cinders, demolition debris and other wastes. Contaminants identified at the site and attributed to past site operations include: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), metals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

EPA has selected and designed a comprehensive cleanup remedy for the site. Funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is now ensuring that the needed – and previously unfunded – cleanup work will proceed. Future work at the site will include construction of a soil cap on the northern portion of the site (the Calabrese parcel); excavation and consolidation of soil under the new cap; and wetlands restoration.

In 1980, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, known as Superfund, was passed. The law gave EPA the authority and funds to hold polluters accountable for cleaning up the most contaminated sites across the country. When no viable responsible party is found or cannot afford the cleanup, funds appropriated by Congress are used. A tax on chemical and petroleum industries provided funds to the Superfund Trust fund for Superfund cleanups up until 1995. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law reinstates the chemical excise taxes and invests an additional $3.5 billion in environmental remediation at Superfund sites, making it one of the largest investments in American history to address the legacy pollution that harms the public health of communities and neighborhoods.

For general site information please visit www.epa.gov/superfund/scovill

Community members wishing to request translation services at the meeting should contact:

Ashlin Brooks, U.S. EPA Community Involvement Coordinator

brooks.ashlin@epa.gov

617-913-9140

or call toll-free 1-888-372-7341

#   #   #

 

Learn more about EPA Region 1: https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/epa-region-1-new-england

 

 

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Issued: Mar 13, 2024 (11:06am EDT)

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EPA Starts Process to Take the Rochester Embayment off List of Badly Polluted Areas in the Great Lakes

NEW YORK (March 13, 2024) - After decades of restoration and cleanup work, the Rochester Embayment Area of Concern (AOC) is no longer a polluted hotspot in the Great Lakes basin. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), Monroe County, and other partners have launched the official process to remove the Rochester Embayment from the list of Areas of Concern. These are regions in the Great Lakes that need special attention due to environmental degradation. The Rochester Embayment is a 35-square-mile bay on Lake Ontario's south shore, where the Genesee River meets the lake.

The Rochester Embayment, one of the 43 polluted hotspots in the Great Lakes Basin, faced many challenges that harmed its water quality and biodiversity. Decades of industrial and urban pollution in the watershed led to contaminated sediments, habitat loss, and fish and wildlife impairment. Thanks to a collaborative effort from all levels of government, the embayment has undergone a remarkable recovery. The restoration involved restoring habitats, improving land use practices, and addressing contamination sources through sediment dredging and capping projects.

"The Rochester Embayment has become a thriving ecosystem for wildlife and a valuable resource for Rochester residents," said Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. "This delisting will be a milestone for Rochester and the entire Great Lakes region. It demonstrates that we can reverse the environmental harm caused by decades of pollution if we collaborate across government, community, and business sectors."

The AOC covers parts of the towns of Webster, Irondequoit, Greece, and Parma, and the city of Rochester. The AOC also includes a six-mile stretch of the Genesee River, from the Lower Falls to the lake.

In 1993, the EPA and the NYSDEC identified 14 Beneficial Use Impairments (BUIs) in the AOC. These were environmental damages that affected the health and well-being of people and ecosystems. To begin the delisting process, all 14 BUIs had to be removed. The final BUI removed was "Loss of Fish and Wildlife Habitat," which was addressed by October 2023, following a review of habitat restoration projects that have occurred throughout the embayment. With all 14 BUIs now removed, the EPA, the NYSDEC, and Monroe County can now proceed with the delisting process.

The delisting process involves a comprehensive review of all the scientific data and documentation that support the removal of the BUIs. The process also includes an Indian Nation consultation period, a public comment period, and a review by the International Joint Commission, the binational organization that oversees the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. The final step is the approval by the U.S. State Department.

The recovery of the Rochester Embayment AOC is a testament to what we can achieve when we work together to address the environmental challenges in the Great Lakes. The EPA, the NYSDEC, Monroe County, and their partners have implemented several key projects that have contributed to the restoration of the embayment, such as:

• The Braddock Bay habitat restoration project, which restored 340 acres of wetland habitats and re-established a barrier beach to protect the bay and the habitats from erosion and wave action. The project also created a safe harbor for boats on Lake Ontario. The project was a partnership between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the EPA.
• The Buck Pond wetland restoration project, which removed invasive vegetation and restored native plants in a 205-acre marsh system. The project improved the habitat quality and diversity for wildlife, especially waterfowl.

The delisting process will mark the official recognition of this achievement and the end of a long journey of environmental restoration.

Visit EPA's Great Lakes Program Areas of Concern Website for the Rochester Embayment for additional background and site documents.

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

24-20

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

 

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Issued: Mar 12, 2024 (2:30pm EDT)

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Biden-Harris Administration announces latest action to better protect communities from treatment of waste explosives

EPA proposal would strengthen rules for open burning and open detonation to treat waste explosives, reducing environmental and public health impacts

WASHINGTON – Today, Mar. 12, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is announcing a rule to amend standards for facilities that use open burning and open detonation (OB/OD) to treat waste explosives such as munitions, fireworks, flares or airbag propellants. If finalized, the rule would strengthen existing regulatory requirements to use safe and available alternative technologies to treat waste explosives and provide new technical standards for open burning and open detonation designed to better protect communities and military families from pollution. EPA also proposed a framework for permitting mobile treatment units aimed to expand potential treatment options for waste explosives and reduce the use of open burning and open detonation.

"Open burning and open detonation of waste explosives like fireworks or munitions can have serious environmental and public health impacts, oftentimes in communities already overburdened by pollution," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. "In close coordination with federal, state and local partners, EPA's proposal will work to better protect local communities from environmental and health harm while ensuring facilities are supported in the transition to new alternative technologies that safely manage explosive wastes." 

Explosive wastes include a range of items, including munitions, propellants, fireworks, and flares and are often treated by OB/OD because historically, other safe modes of treatment have not been available. However, as described in 2019 reports by EPA and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, alternative technologies are now available to safely treat certain waste explosives.

Unlike treatment of other hazardous waste, OB/OD occurs in the open, and emissions are released directly into the environment. The proposed rule responds to community concerns, including the potential for exposure to pollutants released into the air, deposited into soil and surface water, and leached into groundwater after an OB/OD event. Communities raised additional concerns about noise and vibration from facilities using OB/OD to treat waste explosives.

If finalized, the proposal is expected to reduce existing disproportionate and adverse impacts on communities with environmental justice concerns. Specifically, more frequent evaluations of alternatives to OB/OD and new technical permitting standards for OB/OD may accelerate the implementation of cleaner, safer alternative technologies.

In 1980, due to the potential risks to human health and the environment, EPA prohibited open burning of hazardous waste under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) with one exception for waste explosives "which cannot safely be disposed of through other modes of treatment." Since that time, facilities have been required to determine whether alternatives are safe and available. EPA committed to monitoring the progress of ongoing development of safe alternatives, as this explosives exception from the ban on open burning of hazardous waste was not intended to be indefinite.

In developing this proposal, EPA engaged with Tribes, state regulators, communities, and operators of OB/OD facilities, including the Department of Defense, Department of Energy, and National Aeronautics and Space Administration. In June 2022, EPA also issued a policy memorandum to communicate existing requirements for OB/OD facilities and to provide guidance to EPA Regions, states, and territories for permitting OB/OD units under RCRA to protect human health and the environment.  

After publication in the Federal Register, EPA will take public comment for 60 days on the proposed rule.

• Review a prepublication copy of the proposed rule on our Revisions to Standards for the Open Burning / Open Detonation of Waste Explosives webpage.
• Learn about energetic hazardous waste.

For further information: press@epa.gov

 

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Issued: Mar 11, 2024 (2:23pm EDT)

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45 states, large metro areas submit climate action plans under President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act

Key milestone reached as part of $5B Climate Pollution Reduction Grants Program

WASHINGTON – Today, March 11, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a record 45 states, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and dozens of Metropolitan Statistical Areas have now developed climate action plans through investments made possible by President Biden's Investing in America agenda. The planning process is supported by EPA's Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program, which offers a unique opportunity to help state and local governments develop strategies to reduce harmful pollution and address environmental justice concerns, while building the infrastructure, industry, and competitive economy for a clean energy future. Together, over 96% of the U.S. population is covered by these plans.

The Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program created under the Inflation Reduction Act — the largest climate investment in history — is enabling community-driven solutions to the climate crisis and helping accelerate America's clean energy transition. The program is covered under President Biden's Justice40 Initiative, which set the goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal climate, clean energy, and other investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. 

In 2023, under the first phase of the $5 billion program, EPA made a total of $250 million in grants available to 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, 80 MSAs, four territories, and over 200 Tribes and Tribal consortia to develop ambitious climate action plans that address greenhouse gas emissions across their communities and economies.

"The diversity of ideas and ambitious initiatives from all across the country reflect the seriousness that states and metropolitan areas are bringing to the work of cutting pollution, acting on climate change, and meeting their local objectives," said Jennifer Macedonia, Deputy Assistant Administrator for EPA's Office of Air and Radiation. "These climate action plans demonstrate substantial progress for states and local governments, in coordination with their communities, to chart their path forward — building healthy communities and competitive local economies where climate solutions can thrive."

As part of the deliverables due under the initial $250 million planning phase of the program, grantees were provided resources to develop and submit Priority Climate Action Plans focused on high-priority, implementation-ready actions to reduce GHG emissions that were due for states and large metropolitan areas on March 1. Although Tribal and territory PCAPs are due April 1, EPA has already received 19 plans from Tribes.

Each grantee can align the measures selected for the PCAP with their jurisdiction's unique priorities and interests while prioritizing measures that can benefit low-income and disadvantaged communities. For many states and metro areas, PCAPs are their first climate action plans. For others, the PCAPs build on existing climate action plans and work undertaken over many years.

In addition to addressing climate pollution, these grants can also support efforts to:

• Help businesses capitalize on new opportunities, spur economic growth and create jobs by supporting new industries, and developing training programs to prepare workers. 
• Ensure communities, particularly low-income and disadvantaged communities, have a seat at the table, help define solutions, and benefit from their implementation.
• Gain substantial public health co-benefits through the simultaneous reduction of criteria.

The submitted PCAPs lay the groundwork for the second phase of the CPRG program: $4.6 billion in competitive implementation grants that planning grant recipients and other eligible entities can use to fund GHG reduction measures contained within the PCAPs. PCAPs also help prepare states and metro areas for accessing a broader set of funding opportunities, including other programs under the Investing in America agenda.

All planning grant recipients will also develop Comprehensive Climate Action Plans (due in the second half of 2025 for most grantees), which will include a broader suite of GHG reduction measures from all key emitting sectors – electric power, transportation, commercial and residential buildings, industry, agriculture/natural and working lands, and waste and materials management. The comprehensive plans will also contain GHG emissions projections and reduction targets, air quality and health benefits information, and workforce planning assessments. EPA is committed to providing grant recipients with technical support, tools, and other resources throughout the planning process.

Together, the CPRG planning grants and competitive implementation funding will support the deployment of technologies to reduce GHG emissions and other harmful pollution across the country, facilitate the transition to a low-carbon economy, and advance environmental justice by prioritizing benefits to communities. 

View the Priority Climate Action Plans from CPRG planning grantees

More information on the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants

CPRG Training, Tools and Technical Assistance

Sign up for notifications about the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program

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