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Closing Soon: Clean School Bus Grant Funding
EPA Marks One Year of Progress Under President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act
Issued: Aug 16, 2023 (8:24am EDT)
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EPA Marks One Year of Progress Under President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act
WASHINGTON (Aug. 16, 2023) — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) marks one year of progress implementing President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act, the most ambitious climate law in U.S. history and a core pillar of Bidenomics and the President's Investing in America Agenda. Since the legislation was signed into law, EPA has moved swiftly to put a historic $41 billion dollars to work to reduce emissions, build a clean economy, lower energy costs for American households and businesses, create good-paying union jobs, and advance environmental justice across the country.
"President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act is the game-changer America needed for climate action," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. "The EPA team has been hard at work designing innovative programs to cut emissions in every sector of our economy, while empowering communities across the country with the resources to take decisive action. We are centering environmental justice in everything we do, ensuring communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis are benefiting from the public health, resilience, and economic opportunities unleashed by this transformative legislation. This is Bidenomics in action – achieving our ambitious climate and clean energy goals while investing directly in the wellbeing and prosperity of hard-working Americans."
EPA's Inflation Reduction Act programs are helping meet President Biden's goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 50-52% below 2005 levels in 2030 and achieving net zero emissions by no later than 2050. Along with cutting emissions, these programs are advancing President Biden's Justice40 Initiative to direct at least 40% of the overall benefits of these investments in climate and clean energy to disadvantaged communities to combat decades of underinvestment and address disproportionate environmental burden.
Year One in Review
In just one year, EPA has made tremendous progress designing and implementing new Inflation Reduction Act programs. In November 2022, EPA was the first federal agency to award Inflation Reduction Act dollars by announcing more than $30 million to expand community air monitoring in 37 states, followed by an additional $25 million in clean air grants to improve air quality across the country.
At the same time, from day one, EPA has prioritized robust stakeholder engagement, listening to states, municipalities, and Tribal governments, environmental justice and climate nonprofits, labor unions, and community-based organizations to inform the development of new programs. These perspectives will ensure EPA's Inflation Reduction Act programs meet the unique needs of stakeholders and maximize the results of this historic funding for communities and the environment.
EPA first-year Inflation Reduction Act highlights include:
Designed and launched competitions for a national-scale clean energy financing network. The Inflation Reduction Act authorized EPA to implement the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, a historic $27 billion investment to mobilize financing and private capital to combat the climate crisis and bolster the clean financing market. EPA has opened all three grant competitions under the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund including the $7 billion Solar for All competition, the $14 billion National Clean Investment Fund, and the $6 billion Clean Communities Investment Accelerator. All three of the competitive grant opportunities are designed to mobilize private capital into clean technology projects, strengthen the market for project deployment, create good-paying clean energy jobs, and lower energy costs for American families, while cutting harmful pollution to protect people's health and tackle the climate crisis. These first-of-their-kind programs also support the President's commitment to ensuring all communities can participate in the clean energy transition, with over two-thirds of the funds from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund dedicated to low-income and disadvantaged communities.
Catalyzing innovative strategies to cut climate pollution and deploy clean energy solutions nationwide. EPA's $5 billion Climate Pollution Reduction Grant program, created by the Inflation Reduction Act, is enabling states, municipalities, Tribes, and territories to develop community-driven solutions to dramatically cut climate pollution, transition key sectors, and position communities to be more resilient and sustainable. In year one of implementation, EPA made $250 million dollars available to fund the development of climate action plans, and nearly all states, plus major cities in all 50 states, have opted in to receive these flexible planning resources. In the coming weeks, EPA will announce a $4.6 billion grant competition to fund select initiatives developed under the first phase of the program. Together, these grants will catalyze transformative local climate solutions, enable communities to chart a path toward unprecedented emissions reductions, and create good-paying jobs across the country.
Building the framework for the largest investment in environmental justice in U.S. history.
From day one of his administration, President Biden has made achieving environmental justice a top priority. The Inflation Reduction Act created a new Environmental and Climate Justice Program that EPA will launch this fall to provide more than $2 billion in grants and $200 million in technical assistance to community-based organizations to address community climate priorities. EPA's Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights has conducted months of extensive public engagement to inform the design of this program, including with the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council, White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council, and hundreds of individuals from frontline communities. Under this program, disadvantaged communities will be able to apply for funding to support a vast array of community-driven priorities, from extreme heat mitigation to climate resilience to zero-emissions technologies and workforce development to expand pathways into high-quality jobs.
EPA launched competitions and will soon award funding for three new and expanded environmental justice grant programs totaling $650 million, including a $550 million Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program, a $70 million Government-to-Government Program, and a $30 million Collaborative Problem-Solving Program.
These Inflation Reduction Act activities build on EPA's existing and ongoing commitment to underserved communities. Over the last year, EPA has launched and expanded innovative programs to provide more support than ever before to communities that unjustly bear the burdens of environmental harm and pollution. One highlight includes the $177 million for the creation of 16 Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers (EJ TCTACs) to remove barriers to federal resources and help communities pursue funding opportunities like those made available through President Biden's Investing in America Agenda.
Looking Ahead to Year Two
EPA made significant progress in the first year of implementing the historic Inflation Reduction Act and has laid a strong foundation to continue delivering robust results in year two. In the coming months, the agency will award billions in additional funding to states, cities, Tribal governments, community-based organizations, and other grassroots leaders on the front lines of combatting climate change and build a stronger, cleaner economy for all Americans. EPA will launch numerous additional cutting-edge Inflation Reduction Act programs to curb harmful methane emissions, reduce air pollution at ports and in surrounding communities, promote low-carbon construction materials, improve air quality at schools, and put more clean vehicles on America's roads. EPA will remain steadfastly committed to delivering on President Biden's Justice40 Initiative to ensure every community benefits from progress under the Inflation Reduction Act.
Americans are already witnessing how the Inflation Reduction Act is spurring private sector investment, accelerating state and local action, and delivering concrete evidence of clean energy progress across the country. Together, these investments will generate economic growth, contribute to the revitalization of American manufacturing, and create good paying union jobs that strengthen America's middle class. This has been a historic year, and EPA will keep its pace in the second year of implementation to continue delivering on the vision and opportunities for people and the planet established by President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act.
Learn more about EPA's implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act.
Contact: EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov)
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U.S. EPA Announces NEW Environmental Education Grant Recipients
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EPA Selects Educational Organizations to Receive Over $3.1 Million to Support Environmental Projects Nationwide |
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| The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is announcing the selection of 33 organizations to receive over $3.1 million in funding for projects under the Environmental Education Grants Program. Among the grant recipients are four Minority Serving Institutions. "We know that climate change is one of the greatest environmental challenges of our time, and it demands bold and innovative solutions," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. "This year's grant recipients represent some of the brightest minds from across the country, and they demonstrate what it means to couple the power of environmental education with a commitment to creating a future with clean air, clean water, and a healthy planet for all." The funding will range from $50,000 to $100,000, to organizations that provide environmental education activities and programs. This year's grantees will conduct project activities in 27 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Learn more about this year's winners by reading the recently published press release. |
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EPA Invites Public Input on Proposed Cleanup Plan for Battery Recycling Company Superfund Site in Arecibo, Puerto Rico (Spanish Version Below)
Issued: Aug 15, 2023 (1:18pm EDT)
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EPA Invites Public Input on Proposed Cleanup Plan for Battery Recycling Company Superfund Site in Arecibo, Puerto Rico (Spanish Version Below)
Contact: Stephen McBay, (212)-637-3672, mcbay.stephen@epa.gov
NEW YORK (August 15, 2023) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is encouraging the pubic to comment on its proposed cleanup plan to address lead-contaminated soil and groundwater at the Battery Recycling Company Superfund Site in Arecibo, Puerto Rico. A 30-day public comment period for the proposed plan begins August 15, 2023. EPA will host a public meeting at Casa Ulanga, Calle Gonzalo Marin #7, Arecibo on Tuesday, August 29 at 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. to explain the cleanup proposal.
"Lead is a toxic metal that can cause damage to a child's ability to learn and a range of health problems in adults," said Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. "EPA first addressed the most serious risks posed by this site years ago, and now we are focused on finalizing a full-scale clean-up of the site to protect public health well into the future. EPA's proposed plan for the site is to remove the remaining contaminated soil and monitor and restrict groundwater that could pose a risk to public health. We encourage the public to join our meeting, ask questions and share their views on the proposed plan."
The cleanup outlined in today's proposed plan will address remaining contaminated soil and groundwater on and off the property that is the source of the site contamination. Under the proposed plan, EPA would remove contaminated soil for on-site treatment and containment. Treated soil would be stored in a secure and restricted area at the source property, the former operations of The Battery Recycling Company, Inc. (BRC). EPA would also monitor the groundwater and limit the public's access to groundwater through existing Puerto Rico laws and regulations as well as notifications to local governments and ensure future land use does not conflict with long-term cleanup goals.
The main property at the site was operated as a secondary lead smelter and battery recycling operation until 2014. Prior to the secondary lead smelting operation, the site was used for the manufacture of organic chemicals to produce fumaric acid and phthalic acid. These activities left behind high levels of lead and other contaminants in the soil and groundwater. The lead in soil presented an immediate risk to human health. In 2011, EPA entered into an order with then-operator, BRC, to clean areas of lead contamination at the source property under EPA oversight. However, when the company failed to finish the work, EPA took over the cleanup and removed lead contamination from employee's homes, vehicles, and nearby pastures. EPA also decontaminated the source property to limit the further spread of lead. EPA added the site to the Superfund National Priorities List in 2017 and commenced a cleanup investigation of the site. EPA finished its early cleanup activities in 2022. The cleanup investigation along with an analysis of cleanup alternatives, led to the proposed cleanup plan announced today.
Written comments on the proposed plan may be mailed or emailed to Zolymar Luna Díaz, Remedial Project Manager, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 2, Caribbean Environmental Protection Division #48 Rd, PR-165 Km 1.2 Citi View Plaza II, Suite 7000 Guaynabo, P.R. 00968-8069, Email: Luna.Zolymar@epa.gov.
For additional background and to see the proposed cleanup plan, visit the Battery Recycling Company Superfund site profile page.
Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter and visit our Facebook page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.
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# # # Spanish Translation # # #
La EPA invita al público a opinar sobre el plan de limpieza propuesto para el sitio Superfund de Battery Recycling Company en Arecibo, Puerto Rico
Contacto: Brenda Reyes, (787)-977-5869, Reyes.Brenda@epa.gov
NUEVA YORK (15 de agosto de 2023) - La Agencia de Protección Ambiental de Estados Unidos (EPA, por sus siglas en inglés) exhorta al público a comentar sobre su plan de limpieza propuesto para abordar el suelo contaminado con plomo y el agua subterránea en el Sitio Superfondo de Battery Recycling Company en Arecibo, Puerto Rico. El periodo de comentarios públicos de 30 días para el plan propuesto comienza el 15 de agosto de 2023. La EPA organizará una reunión pública en Casa Ulanga, Calle Gonzalo Marín #7, Arecibo el martes, 29 de agosto de 2023 entre 5-7 pm para explicar la nueva propuesta de limpieza.
"El plomo es un metal tóxico que puede causar daño a la capacidad de aprendizaje de un niño y una variedad de problemas de salud en los adultos", señaló la administradora regional Lisa F. García. "La EPA abordó hace años por primera vez los riesgos más graves planteados por este sitio, y ahora estamos enfocados en finalizar una limpieza a gran escala del sitio para proteger la salud pública en el futuro. El plan propuesto por la EPA para el sitio es eliminar el suelo contaminado restante y monitorear y restringir el acceso a las aguas subterráneas que podrían representar un riesgo a la salud pública. Alentamos al público a unirse a nuestra reunión, hacer preguntas y comunicar sus puntos de vista sobre el plan propuesto".
La limpieza descrita en el plan propuesto hoy atenderá el suelo contaminado restante y el agua subterránea dentro y fuera de la propiedad del sitio. Según el plan propuesto, la EPA eliminará el suelo contaminado que se encuentran fuera y dentro del sitio para su tratamiento y contención. El suelo tratado fuera y dentro del sitio se almacenaría en un área segura y restringida en la antigua instalación. La EPA también monitoreará las aguas subterráneas y limitará el acceso a éstas a través de leyes y regulaciones existentes en Puerto Rico, al igual que con notificaciones a los gobiernos locales y asegurar que el uso futuro de los terrenos no conflija con las metas de limpieza a largo plazo.
La propiedad principal en el sitio operaba como una instalación de fundición secundaria de plomo y reciclaje de baterías hasta 2014. Antes de la operación de fundición secundaria de plomo, el sitio se utilizó para fabricar productos químicos orgánicos para producir ácido fumárico y ácido ftálico. Estas actividades dejaron altos niveles de plomo y otros contaminantes en el suelo y las aguas subterráneas que presentaban un riesgo inmediato para la salud humana. En 2011, la EPA formalizó una orden con Battery Recycling Company Inc. para limpiar las áreas de contaminación por plomo en el sitio; sin embargo, cuando la compañía no pudo terminar el trabajo, la EPA se hizo cargo de la limpieza y eliminó la contaminación por plomo de los hogares, vehículos y praderas cerca de los empleados. La EPA también descontaminó la instalación para evitar una mayor propagación del plomo. La EPA agregó el sitio a la Lista Nacional de Prioridades en 2017 y terminó sus primeras actividades de limpieza en 2022.
Los comentarios escritos sobre el plan propuesto pueden enviarse por correo postal a Zolymar Luna Díaz, gerente de proyectos de recuperación, Agencia de Protección Ambiental de Estados Unidos Región 2, División de Protección Ambiental del Caribe #48 Rd, PR-165 Km 1.2 Citi View Plaza II, Suite 7000 Guaynabo, P.R. 00968-8069, correo electrónico: Luna.Zolymar@epa.gov.
Para obtener información adicional y ver el plan de limpieza propuesto, visite la página de perfil del sitio Superfondo de Battery Recycling Company.
Siga a la Región 2 de la EPA en Twitter y visite nuestra página en Facebook. Para obtener más información sobre la Región 2 de la EPA, visite nuestro sitio web.
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EPA Extends Comment Period on Proposed Plan to Clean Up New Cassel/Hicksville Groundwater Contamination Superfund Site
Issued: Aug 11, 2023 (2:51pm EDT)
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EPA Extends Comment Period on Proposed Plan to Clean Up New Cassel/Hicksville Groundwater Contamination Superfund Site
NEW YORK (August 11, 2023) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has extended the public comment period for its proposed cleanup plan to address contaminated groundwater at a portion of the New Cassel/Hicksville Groundwater Contamination Superfund site in Nassau County, New York to September 22, 2023. The original public comment period was scheduled to end on August 23rd. EPA held a public meeting at the East Meadow Public Library on August 10, 2023, to explain the cleanup proposal to the public.
EPA's proposed plan will prevent people from potentially being exposed to the contaminated groundwater in the future, help minimize the potential for the contaminated groundwater to migrate further and treat the groundwater to meet strict federal and state standards for drinking water.
The cleanup plan proposes installing a network of wells and underground pipes in a residential neighborhood and parkland to move contaminated groundwater to a new water treatment facility. Options for how the treated water will be released will be evaluated during the design of the cleanup plan. The potential options outlined in the proposed plan include that treated water can be returned back to the ground, released to surface water or a recharge basin, or released into the sewer.
Once the cleanup plan is finalized, EPA will decide where the wells and water treatment facility will be built and where the treated water will go. The plan also requires long-term monitoring of the groundwater treatment program and relies on existing county and state restrictions on groundwater use to ensure that public drinking water wells are not installed on site without a permit.
Written comments on the proposed plan may be mailed or emailed by September 22, 2023 to Aidan Conway, Remedial Project Manager, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 290 Broadway – 19th Floor, New York, NY 10007, Email: conway.aidan@epa.gov.
For additional background and to see the proposed cleanup plan, visit the New Cassel/Hicksville Groundwater Contamination Superfund site profile page.
Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter and visit our Facebook page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.
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For further information: Contact: Carlos Vega, (646) 988-2996, vega.carlos@epa.gov
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EPA Extends Public Comment Period on Re-evaluation of the Cleanup Plan for Woodbrook Road Dump Superfund Site
Issued: Aug 9, 2023 (4:08pm EDT)
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EPA Extends Public Comment Period on Re-evaluation of the Cleanup Plan for Woodbrook Road Dump Superfund Site
Contact: Stephen McBay, (212)-637-3672, mcbay.stephen@epa.gov
NEW YORK (August 9, 2023) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has extended the public comment period for its proposed changes to address contaminated soil and debris at the Woodbrook Road Dump Superfund site in South Plainfield, New Jersey to September 13-, 2023. EPA held a public meeting at the South Plainfield Township Courtroom on July 27, 2023, to explain the proposed changes to the public.
The proposed changes that are being announced today document that the estimated cost of the selected cleanup rose from $45.4 million in 2018 to $70 million in 2023 due in part to inflation and increased construction costs. In addition, in 2021, New Jersey created the Peter J. Barnes III Wildlife Preserve which includes the Woodbrook Road Dump site.
In 2020, EPA reviewed the selected cleanup plan for the site. The results of EPA's review, carried out in coordination with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, confirmed that the 2013 selected cleanup plan remains the best option.
EPA's cleanup plan for the site was originally documented in a 2013 Record of Decision and modified in a 2018 Explanation of Significant Differences. The cleanup plan includes:
- Removing an estimated 4,000 cubic yards of soil and debris that contains capacitors, capacitor parts and PCB-contaminated soil and debris with PCB concentrations greater than 100 parts per million (ppm) to an approved off-site disposal facility.
- Removing an estimated 143,000 cubic yards of soil and debris that contains PCBs at concentrations greater than 1.1 ppm to an approved off-site disposal facility.
Written comments on the proposed Explanation of Significant Differences may be mailed or emailed to Diane Salkie Sharkey, Remedial Project Manager, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 290 Broadway – 18th Floor, New York, NY 10007, Email: salkie.diane@epa.gov.
For additional background and to see all of the changes in the proposed Explanation of Significant Differences, visit the Woodbrook Road Dump Superfund site profile page.
Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter and visit our Facebook page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.
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EPA Finalizes Cleanup Plan to Address Newly Discovered Contamination at the Matlack Inc. Superfund Site in NJ
Issued: Aug 8, 2023 (4:33pm EDT)
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EPA Finalizes Cleanup Plan to Address Newly Discovered Contamination at the Matlack Inc. Superfund Site in NJ
NEW YORK (July 8, 2023) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized the update to its original cleanup plan for the Matlack, Inc. Superfund site in Woolwich Township, New Jersey. The update to the plan will address a newly discovered source of contamination at the site and will ensure a comprehensive and effective cleanup.
"Following the public meeting and hearing directly from the community, EPA has finalized its cleanup decision for the Matlack, Inc. Superfund site," said Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. "This updated plan will address an additional source of contamination found at the site and will bring us closer to being able to complete the cleanup."
As a result of past truck maintenance and tanker washing operations at the site, as well as on-site disposal of drums, the soil, sediment, surface water and groundwater are contaminated with volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds, which can potentially harm people's health.
EPA's finalized plan for cleaning up the drum disposal area involves a technology called in-situ thermal treatment. In situ (or in place) thermal treatment methods remove harmful chemicals in soil and groundwater using heat. The chemicals move through soil and groundwater toward wells, where they are collected and piped to the ground surface to be treated using other cleanup methods. Some chemicals are destroyed underground during the heating process.
This method is separate from and in addition to EPA's original 2017 cleanup plan.
On March 29, 2023, EPA proposed this cleanup plan to the public and held a virtual public meeting on April 12, 2023, to explain the plan and take comments. The Record of Decision Amendment released today addresses the comments received and formalizes EPA's selected cleanup plan for the drum disposal area.
Visit the Matlack, Inc. Superfund site profile page for additional background and site documents.
Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter and visit our Facebook page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.
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EPA Releases Environmental Justice Toolkit for Lead Paint Enforcement Programs
| The Toolkit provides strategies, examples, and other information for federal, state, Tribal and local government enforcement practitioners.. |
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