LENEXA, KAN. (12 DE JULIO DE 2023) – Hoy, en el Centro John Bardo en el campus de la Universidad Estatal de Wichita (WSU), la Administradora de la Región 7 de la EPA, Meg McCollister, se unió a funcionarios de WSU y socios del Centro de Asistencia Técnica de Comunidades Prósperas de Justicia Ambiental (EJ TCTAC) para celebrar la apertura del EJ TCTAC de la Región 7. El nuevo centro servirá a las comunidades en toda la Región 7 de la EPA, que incluye a Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska y Nueve Naciones Tribales.

WSU es uno de los 17 EJ TCTAC, anunciados en asociación con el Departamento de Energía de los Estados Unidos (DOE), que recibirán un total combinado de $177 millones para ayudar a las comunidades desatendidas y sobrecargadas de todo el país a acceder a fondos de la agenda Invertir en EE. UU. del presidente Biden, incluidas inversiones históricas para promover la justicia ambiental. Cada uno de los TCTAC recibirá al menos $10 millones para eliminar barreras y mejorar la accesibilidad para las comunidades con problemas de justicia ambiental.

“La justicia ambiental está en el corazón de todo lo que hacemos en la Región 7 de la EPA”, comentó McCollister. “Junto con la Universidad Estatal de Wichita, podemos proporcionar el tipo de asistencia técnica, orientación y capacitación necesarias para navegar el proceso de subvenciones federales y garantizar que nuestras comunidades desatendidas tengan acceso a las oportunidades históricas de financiamiento de la EPA”.

“Esta subvención de la EPA es una oportunidad notable para que la Universidad Estatal de Wichita impulse la prosperidad de las comunidades rurales y desatendidas que, desafortunadamente, sufren una parte desproporcionada de la contaminación y los peligros ambientales”, indicó el presidente de la Universidad Estatal de Wichita, Dr. Rick Muma. “Esperamos tener la oportunidad de promover la justicia ambiental en nuestra región y fomentar un crecimiento saludable para Kansas y sus vecinos del Medio Oeste”.

Durante la celebración, los socios de justicia ambiental del EJ TCTAC discutieron sus conexiones existentes con la justicia ambiental y la justicia energética. Los socios también proporcionaron una breve descripción de los servicios que prestarán como parte del proyecto. Estos socios fueron seleccionados porque han compartido experiencias con muchas de las comunidades sobrecargadas y desatendidas de la Región 7 de la EPA y estarán en una posición única para conectarse con estas comunidades y proporcionar asistencia técnica que se adapte a sus necesidades. Los socios del EJ TCTAC incluyen: el Heartland Environmental Justice Center, el Consejo Ambiental de Iowa, el Centro para Asuntos Rurales y Metropolitan Congregations United.

Los EJ TCTAC aportarán capacitación y otra asistencia para desarrollar la capacidad de navegar por los sistemas de solicitud de subvenciones federales, escribir propuestas de subvenciones sólidas y administrar eficazmente los fondos de subvenciones. Además, estos centros proporcionarán orientación sobre la participación de la comunidad, la facilitación de reuniones y los servicios de traducción e interpretación para participantes con un dominio limitado del inglés, eliminando así las barreras y mejorando la accesibilidad para las comunidades con problemas de justicia ambiental. Cada uno de los centros de asistencia técnica también creará y administrará canales de comunicación para garantizar que todas las comunidades tengan acceso directo a los recursos y la información. 

La EPA entregará estos recursos en colaboración con el DOE, cuyo financiamiento permite a los EJ TCTAC brindar apoyo a fin de identificar oportunidades comunitarias para la transición de energía limpia y opciones de financiamiento, incluidas asociaciones públicas-privadas que apoyen la demostración de energía limpia, la implementación, el desarrollo de la fuerza laboral y las oportunidades de divulgación que promueven los objetivos de justicia energética.

La formación de los EJ TCTAC es una respuesta directa a los comentarios de las comunidades y los líderes de justicia ambiental que durante mucho tiempo han pedido asistencia técnica y apoyo a fin de desarrollar capacidades para las comunidades y sus socios mientras trabajan para acceder a recursos federales críticos. Los 17 centros proporcionarán cobertura integral para todo Estados Unidos a través de una red de más de 160 socios, incluidas organizaciones comunitarias, instituciones académicas adicionales y Centros de Finanzas Ambientales, para que más comunidades puedan acceder a oportunidades de financiamiento federal como las disponibles a través de la Ley de Reducción de la Inflación del presidente Biden y la Ley Bipartidista de Infraestructura.

Además, la EPA ha seleccionado a tres EJ TCTAC nacionales que proporcionarán asistencia adicional en todo el país, con capacidad particular para ayudar a las tribus, incluyendo:

• Asociación Internacional de Administración de Ciudades/Condados
• Instituto para Comunidades Sostenibles
• Junta Nacional de Salud Indígena

El programa de EJ TCTAC forma parte de la Red Federal Interagencial de Comunidades Prósperas y cumple con la Iniciativa Justice40 de la administración Biden-Harris para garantizar que el 40% de los beneficios de ciertas inversiones federales fluyan a las comunidades desventajadas. Los nuevos centros de asistencia técnica ayudarán a garantizar que las comunidades con preocupaciones de justicia ambiental puedan acceder a las inversiones históricas del presidente Biden en Estados Unidos para abordar la desinversión generacional, la contaminación heredada, los desafíos de infraestructura y construir una economía de energía limpia que reduzca los costos de energía, fortalezca nuestra seguridad energética y cumpla con nuestros objetivos climáticos.

• Conozca más sobre los seleccionados, sus socios y el programa de EJ TCTAC.
• Conozca más sobre justicia ambiental en la EPA.
• Conozca más sobre el EJ TCTAC en WSU.

# # #

Conozca más sobre la Región 7 de la EPA

LENEXA, KAN. (JULY 12, 2023) – Today, at the John Bardo Center on the Wichita State University (WSU) Innovation Campus, EPA Region 7 Administrator Meg McCollister joined WSU officials and Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center (EJ TCTAC) partners to celebrate the opening of the Region 7 EJ TCTAC. The new center will serve communities throughout EPA Region 7, which consists of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and nine tribal nations.

WSU is one of 17 EJ TCTACs, announced in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), that will receive a combined $177 million to help underserved and overburdened communities across the country access funds from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, including historic investments to advance environmental justice. Each of the TCTACs will receive at least $10 million to remove barriers and improve accessibility for communities with environmental justice concerns.

“Environmental justice is at the heart of everything we do at EPA Region 7,” McCollister said. “Together with Wichita State University, we can provide the kind of technical assistance, guidance, and training necessary to navigate the federal grants process and ensure that our underserved communities get access to EPA’s historic funding opportunities.”

"This grant from the EPA is a remarkable opportunity for Wichita State University to drive prosperity for rural and underserved communities who, unfortunately, carry a disproportional share of pollution and environmental hazards,” said Wichita State University President Dr. Rick Muma. “We look forward to the opportunity to advance environmental justice in our region and promote healthy growth for Kansas and its Midwestern neighbors."

During the celebration, EJ TCTAC environmental justice partners discussed their existing connections to environmental justice and energy justice. Partners also provided a brief overview of the services they will provide as part of the project. These partners were selected because they have shared experiences with many of EPA Region 7’s overburdened and underserved communities and will be uniquely positioned to connect with these communities and provide technical assistance that is tailored to their needs. EJ TCTAC partners include: Heartland Environmental Justice Center, Iowa Environmental Council, Center for Rural Affairs, and Metropolitan Congregations United.

EJ TCTACs will provide training and other assistance to build capacity for navigating federal grant application systems, writing strong grant proposals, and effectively managing grant funding. In addition, these centers will provide guidance on community engagement, meeting facilitation, and translation and interpretation services for limited English-speaking participants, thus removing barriers and improving accessibility for communities with environmental justice concerns. Each of the technical assistance centers will also create and manage communication channels to ensure that all communities have direct access to resources and information.

EPA will deliver these resources in collaboration with DOE, whose funding allows the EJ TCTACs to provide support for identifying community opportunities for clean energy transition and financing options, including public-private partnerships supporting clean energy demonstration, deployment, workforce development, and outreach opportunities that advance energy justice objectives.

The formation of the EJ TCTACs is in direct response to feedback from communities and environmental justice leaders who have long called for technical assistance and capacity-building support for communities and their partners as they work to access critical federal resources. The 17 centers will provide comprehensive coverage for the entire United States through a network of over 160 partners including community-based organizations, additional academic institutions, and Environmental Finance Centers, so that more communities can access federal funding opportunities like those made available through President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

In addition, EPA has selected three national EJ TCTACs that will provide additional assistance across the country, with particular capacity to assist tribes, including:

• International City/County Management Association
• Institute for Sustainable Communities
• National Indian Health Board

The EJ TCTAC program is part of the Federal Interagency Thriving Communities Network and delivers on the Biden-Harris administration’s Justice40 Initiative to ensure that 40% of the benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities. The new technical assistance centers will help ensure that communities with environmental justice concerns can access President Biden’s historic investments in America to address generational disinvestment, legacy pollution, infrastructure challenges, and build a clean energy economy that will lower energy costs, strengthen our energy security, and meet our climate goals.

• Learn more about the selectees, their partners, and the EJ TCTAC program
• Learn more about environmental justice at EPA
• Learn more about the WSU EJ TCTAC

# # #

Learn more about EPA Region 7

View all Region 7 news releases

Connect with EPA Region 7 on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter: @EPARegion7

WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposal to strengthen requirements for the removal of lead-based paint hazards in pre-1978 buildings and child care facilities, known as abatement activities, to better protect children and communities from the harmful effects of exposure to dust generated from lead paint, advancing President Biden’s whole-of-government approach to protecting families and children from lead exposure. If finalized, this rule is estimated to reduce the lead exposures of approximately 250,000 to 500,000 children under age six per year.

Aligning with the Federal Action Plan on reducing lead exposure to children, these stronger standards would go further to protect children from the dangers of lead exposure, in support of the Biden-Harris Administration’s historic investment to reduce lead exposure and EPA’s strategy to address the significant disparities in lead exposure along racial, ethnic and socioeconomic lines.

EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe, EPA Assistant Administrator for Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Michal Freedhoff and EPA Region 2 Administrator Lisa Garcia announced the proposal alongside elected officials and community leaders in Newark, New Jersey, one of the nation’s leading cities in reducing lead exposure.

“The Biden-Harris Administration is taking a whole-of-government approach to ensuring that the most vulnerable among us — our children — are protected from exposure to lead,” said EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe. “This proposal to safely remove lead paint along with our other efforts to deliver clean drinking water and replace lead pipes will go a long way toward protecting the health of our next generation of leaders. I am proud to stand alongside the City of Newark, New Jersey, and all our partners across the United States in our critical efforts to reduce childhood lead exposures.”

“There is no safe level of lead. Even low levels are detrimental to children’s health, and this proposal would bring us closer to eradicating lead-based paint hazards from homes and child care facilities across the U.S once and for all,” said Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Michal Freedhoff.

“The City of Newark is honored to be selected by the EPA as the location for their important announcement of these new actions to protect Americans everywhere – and especially children – from the dangers of lead in paint,” said Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka. “We moved mountains in Newark to remove lead from every water line throughout the city because we value the health and wellbeing of every resident and understand that no amount of lead exposure is acceptable. We are grateful to the EPA and the Biden Administration for strengthening regulations for lead removal we’re committed to supporting their efforts.”

If finalized, the proposed rule would strengthen EPA’s regulations under section 402 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) by revising the dust-lead hazard standards (DLHS), which identify hazardous lead in dust on floors and window sills, and the dust-lead clearance levels (DLCL), the amount of lead that can remain in dust on floors, window sills and window troughs after lead removal activities.

Today’s proposal would reduce the DLHS from 10 micrograms per square foot (µg/ft2) for floors and 100 µg/ft2 for window sills to any reportable level greater than zero in recognition of the fact that there is no level of lead in dust that has been found to be safe for children. Today’s proposal would lower the DLCL from 10 µg/ft2 to 3 µg/ft2 for floors, from 100 µg/ft2 to 20 µg/ft2 for window sills, and from 400 µg/ft2 to 25 µg/ft2 for window troughs, which are the lowest post-abatement dust-lead levels that the Agency believes can be reliably and effectively achieved.

Property owners, lead-based paint professionals and government agencies use the DLHS to identify dust-lead hazards in residential and childcare facilities built before 1978. If a lead-based paint activity such as abatement is performed, EPA's Lead-Based Paint Activities Program requires individuals and firms performing the abatement to be certified and follow specific work practices. Following such an abatement, testing is then required to ensure dust lead levels are below the DLCL before an abatement can be considered complete.

Historically, EPA’s DLHS and DLCL have been set at the same levels. This action proposes to decouple the DLHS and the DLCL, which were last updated in 2019 and 2021, respectively. This is being done in accordance with a May 2021 Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals opinion, which explains that DLHS must be based solely on health factors, while the DLCL must consider the additional factors of safety, effectiveness and reliability. Today’s proposal aligns the DLHS and DLCL with the best available science, further strengthening EPA’s efforts to protect children from lead hazards.

Although the federal government banned lead-based paint for residential use in 1978, it is estimated that 31 million pre-1978 houses still contain lead-based paint, and 3.8 million of them have one or more children under the age of 6 living there, creating health and developmental risks for children. Lead-contaminated dust is one of the most common causes of elevated blood lead levels in children. Lead dust commonly occurs when lead-based paint deteriorates or is disturbed. Due to normal behaviors such as crawling and hand-to-mouth activities, young children are particularly at risk of higher exposure to ingesting lead-containing dust. Lead exposure can pose a significant health and safety threat to children and can cause irreversible and life-long health effects, including behavioral problems, lower IQ, slowed growth and more.

Communities of color and those of lower socioeconomic status are often at greater risk of lead exposure because deteriorated lead-based paint is more likely to be found in lower-income areas. Additionally, communities of color can also face greater risk due to the legacy of redlining, historic racial segregation in housing, and reduced access to environmentally safe and affordable housing. Eliminating lead-based paint and the proposal announced today reflect EPA’s commitment to advancing environmental justice.

EPA will accept public comments on the proposal for 60 days following publication via docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2023-0231 at www.regulations.gov.

Learn more about EPA’s dust-lead hazard standards and clearance levels.

What they are saying about EPA’s proposal

“When children are exposed to lead, their health can be irreversibly affected through impacts to their brain and nervous systems and delays in their growth and development,” said U.S. Senator Robert Menendez. “This is why I have fought tirelessly to ensure children across the U.S., and all Americans, are further protected from the dangers of lead exposure, especially those in underserved communities that are more likely to find lead-based paint and dust in their homes and neighborhoods. I applaud the Biden-Harris Administration for strengthening these critical health and safety standards to complement our historic investment of $4 billion to protect children from exposure to lead, and secure a healthier and happier future for them.”

“New Jersey families should not have to worry about lead exposure in their homes and childcare facilities harming their children,” said U.S. Senator Cory Booker. Lead exposure is an environmental injustice that threatens the health and development of children, often in low-income, Black and Brown communities like mine in Newark. I am grateful to the EPA for taking important steps to keep our children safe.”

“No child in Newark, the Eighth Congressional District, or anywhere in our country should be at risk of lead exposure because of residential and commercial buildings that pre-date modern lead paint regulations,” said U.S. Representative Rob Menendez. “As Newark continues to grow, the EPA’s new lead paint standards will help working families be assured that the homes they live in and the child care facilities they utilize are safe from lead hazards. I applaud the Biden Administration’s commitment to the public health of our communities and our children.”

“I am proud to hear the EPA is taking direct action to protect children from dangerous exposure to lead paint,” said U.S. Representative Donald M. Payne, Jr. “Lead exposure is one of the greatest threats to children’s health across the country. I have been a strong advocate for efforts to reduce children’s exposure to lead, especially in drinking water. I introduced the Test for Lead Act to make sure states had a plan to deal with lead contamination in school drinking water to be eligible for federal drinking water funds. These new standards show that the Biden-Harris Administration has stepped up to reduce children’s lead paint exposure, especially in low-income areas. American families should be able to send their children to schools or childcare facilities that are clean and free of lead contamination.”       

“Lead-based paint poses the greatest risk of lead exposure, especially in our most vulnerable communities, where lead-based paint is often found in older or deteriorating buildings,” said Sean Moriarty, Deputy Commissioner for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. “The NJDEP commends and supports the USEPA for this proposal, which in addition to the federal and state investment in Lead Service Line replacement, will go a long way toward protecting the health and safety of New Jersey’s residents.”

“There is no level of blood lead that is safe for children.  Lead exposure disproportionately affects young children, causing serious medical and behavioral issues into adulthood. We know that low-income communities and communities of color are most at risk from lead exposure due to systemic inequities,” said Debbie Mans, co-chair, Steering Committee, Lead-Free NJ. “We applaud the USEPA for taking this important step in reducing lead exposure in homes across New Jersey, bringing us closer to ensuring our children are free from lead poisoning.”

Upcoming Lead-Based Paint Virtual Workshop

EPA and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) are also planning a virtual public workshop for October to hear stakeholder perspectives on specific topics related to low levels of lead in existing paint, including the potential health effects, the relationship between lead-based paint and dust-lead, possible exposure pathways, and technologies for detection, measurement, and characterization of low levels of lead in paint. EPA and HUD are also interested in any available information on lead-based paint characteristics and medical evidence related to low levels of lead in paint. EPA and HUD will use information shared during the workshop to inform their joint effort to revisit the federal definition of lead-based paint and revise it, if necessary.

Additional information on the Lead-Based Paint Virtual Workshop

BOSTON (July 12, 2023) – New England state air quality forecasters are predicting air quality that is unhealthy for sensitive groups, due to elevated ground-level ozone. The areas that are predicted to exceed the Federal air quality standard for ozone on Wednesday, July 12 are: 

Rhode Island (statewide), Southeastern Massachusetts, and coastal areas of Connecticut

These locations are subject to change, so please refer to EPA New England's AQI Air Quality Index (AQI) for current air quality conditions and forecasts across New England.

With hot, summery weather, EPA and state air quality forecasters predict areas of unhealthy air quality in several areas of New England tomorrow.  EPA and the medical community advise people to limit any strenuous outdoor activity when poor air quality is expected. Also, everyone can take steps to keep air emissions down during air quality alert days.  As climate change increases the probability of warmer weather, these kinds of air quality events are predicted to increase in frequency.  Of course, those communities already vulnerable and overburdened will be most impacted by these kinds of events."

Ground-level ozone forms when volatile organic compounds and oxides of nitrogen (ozone precursors) interact in the presence of strong sunshine. Cars, trucks, and buses emit most of the pollution that creates ozone. Emissions from gasoline stations, print shops, household products, like paints and some cleaners, as well as lawn and garden equipment also add to the ozone formation.

Exposure to elevated ozone levels can cause breathing problems, aggravate asthma, and other pre-existing lung diseases, and make people more susceptible to respiratory infection. When ozone levels are elevated, people should refrain from strenuous outdoor activity, especially sensitive populations such as children and adults with respiratory problems.

When ozone is forecast to be unhealthy for sensitive groups, members of the public are encouraged to help limit emissions and reduce ozone formation by:

• using public transportation, if possible;
• combining errands and carpooling to reduce driving time and mileage; and
• avoiding the use of small gasoline-powered engines, such as lawn mowers, string trimmers, chain saws, power-washers, air compressors, and leaf blowers on unhealthy air days.

During poor air quality events, it is also important to reduce household energy usage, such as setting air conditioners to a higher temperature, turning off unnecessary lights, equipment, and appliances. EPA's ENERGY STAR Program also provides trusted guidance and online tools to help homeowners make smart decisions about improving the energy efficiency of their existing homes.

The current ozone standard is 0.070 parts per million (ppm).

More information:

Real-time ozone data and air quality forecasts New England Air Quality Index

National real-time air quality data (free iPhone and Android apps) AirNow 

Air Quality Alerts  EnviroFlash 

EPA's ENERGY STAR Program

LENEXA, KAN. (12 DE JULIO DE 2023) – Hoy, en el Centro John Bardo en el campus de la Universidad Estatal de Wichita (WSU), la Administradora de la Región 7 de la EPA, Meg McCollister, se unió a funcionarios de WSU y socios del Centro de Asistencia Técnica de Comunidades Prósperas de Justicia Ambiental (EJ TCTAC) para celebrar la apertura del EJ TCTAC de la Región 7. El nuevo centro servirá a las comunidades en toda la Región 7 de la EPA, que incluye a Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska y Nueve Naciones Tribales.

WSU es uno de los 17 EJ TCTAC, anunciados en asociación con el Departamento de Energía de los Estados Unidos (DOE), que recibirán un total combinado de $177 millones para ayudar a las comunidades desatendidas y sobrecargadas de todo el país a acceder a fondos de la agenda Invertir en EE. UU. del presidente Biden, incluidas inversiones históricas para promover la justicia ambiental. Cada uno de los TCTAC recibirá al menos $10 millones para eliminar barreras y mejorar la accesibilidad para las comunidades con problemas de justicia ambiental.

“La justicia ambiental está en el corazón de todo lo que hacemos en la Región 7 de la EPA”, comentó McCollister. “Junto con la Universidad Estatal de Wichita, podemos proporcionar el tipo de asistencia técnica, orientación y capacitación necesarias para navegar el proceso de subvenciones federales y garantizar que nuestras comunidades desatendidas tengan acceso a las oportunidades históricas de financiamiento de la EPA”.

“Esta subvención de la EPA es una oportunidad notable para que la Universidad Estatal de Wichita impulse la prosperidad de las comunidades rurales y desatendidas que, desafortunadamente, sufren una parte desproporcionada de la contaminación y los peligros ambientales”, indicó el presidente de la Universidad Estatal de Wichita, Dr. Rick Muma. “Esperamos tener la oportunidad de promover la justicia ambiental en nuestra región y fomentar un crecimiento saludable para Kansas y sus vecinos del Medio Oeste”.

Durante la celebración, los socios de justicia ambiental del EJ TCTAC discutieron sus conexiones existentes con la justicia ambiental y la justicia energética. Los socios también proporcionaron una breve descripción de los servicios que prestarán como parte del proyecto. Estos socios fueron seleccionados porque han compartido experiencias con muchas de las comunidades sobrecargadas y desatendidas de la Región 7 de la EPA y estarán en una posición única para conectarse con estas comunidades y proporcionar asistencia técnica que se adapte a sus necesidades. Los socios del EJ TCTAC incluyen: el Heartland Environmental Justice Center, el Consejo Ambiental de Iowa, el Centro para Asuntos Rurales y Metropolitan Congregations United.

Los EJ TCTAC aportarán capacitación y otra asistencia para desarrollar la capacidad de navegar por los sistemas de solicitud de subvenciones federales, escribir propuestas de subvenciones sólidas y administrar eficazmente los fondos de subvenciones. Además, estos centros proporcionarán orientación sobre la participación de la comunidad, la facilitación de reuniones y los servicios de traducción e interpretación para participantes con un dominio limitado del inglés, eliminando así las barreras y mejorando la accesibilidad para las comunidades con problemas de justicia ambiental. Cada uno de los centros de asistencia técnica también creará y administrará canales de comunicación para garantizar que todas las comunidades tengan acceso directo a los recursos y la información. 

La EPA entregará estos recursos en colaboración con el DOE, cuyo financiamiento permite a los EJ TCTAC brindar apoyo a fin de identificar oportunidades comunitarias para la transición de energía limpia y opciones de financiamiento, incluidas asociaciones públicas-privadas que apoyen la demostración de energía limpia, la implementación, el desarrollo de la fuerza laboral y las oportunidades de divulgación que promueven los objetivos de justicia energética.

La formación de los EJ TCTAC es una respuesta directa a los comentarios de las comunidades y los líderes de justicia ambiental que durante mucho tiempo han pedido asistencia técnica y apoyo a fin de desarrollar capacidades para las comunidades y sus socios mientras trabajan para acceder a recursos federales críticos. Los 17 centros proporcionarán cobertura integral para todo Estados Unidos a través de una red de más de 160 socios, incluidas organizaciones comunitarias, instituciones académicas adicionales y Centros de Finanzas Ambientales, para que más comunidades puedan acceder a oportunidades de financiamiento federal como las disponibles a través de la Ley de Reducción de la Inflación del presidente Biden y la Ley Bipartidista de Infraestructura.

Además, la EPA ha seleccionado a tres EJ TCTAC nacionales que proporcionarán asistencia adicional en todo el país, con capacidad particular para ayudar a las tribus, incluyendo:

• Asociación Internacional de Administración de Ciudades/Condados
• Instituto para Comunidades Sostenibles
• Junta Nacional de Salud Indígena

El programa de EJ TCTAC forma parte de la Red Federal Interagencial de Comunidades Prósperas y cumple con la Iniciativa Justice40 de la administración Biden-Harris para garantizar que el 40% de los beneficios de ciertas inversiones federales fluyan a las comunidades desventajadas. Los nuevos centros de asistencia técnica ayudarán a garantizar que las comunidades con preocupaciones de justicia ambiental puedan acceder a las inversiones históricas del presidente Biden en Estados Unidos para abordar la desinversión generacional, la contaminación heredada, los desafíos de infraestructura y construir una economía de energía limpia que reduzca los costos de energía, fortalezca nuestra seguridad energética y cumpla con nuestros objetivos climáticos.

• Conozca más sobre los seleccionados, sus socios y el programa de EJ TCTAC.
• Conozca más sobre justicia ambiental en la EPA.
• Conozca más sobre el EJ TCTAC en WSU.

# # #

Conozca más sobre la Región 7 de la EPA

LENEXA, KAN. (JULY 12, 2023) – Today, at the John Bardo Center on the Wichita State University (WSU) Innovation Campus, EPA Region 7 Administrator Meg McCollister joined WSU officials and Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center (EJ TCTAC) partners to celebrate the opening of the Region 7 EJ TCTAC. The new center will serve communities throughout EPA Region 7, which consists of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and nine tribal nations.

WSU is one of 17 EJ TCTACs, announced in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), that will receive a combined $177 million to help underserved and overburdened communities across the country access funds from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, including historic investments to advance environmental justice. Each of the TCTACs will receive at least $10 million to remove barriers and improve accessibility for communities with environmental justice concerns.

“Environmental justice is at the heart of everything we do at EPA Region 7,” McCollister said. “Together with Wichita State University, we can provide the kind of technical assistance, guidance, and training necessary to navigate the federal grants process and ensure that our underserved communities get access to EPA’s historic funding opportunities.”

"This grant from the EPA is a remarkable opportunity for Wichita State University to drive prosperity for rural and underserved communities who, unfortunately, carry a disproportional share of pollution and environmental hazards,” said Wichita State University President Dr. Rick Muma. “We look forward to the opportunity to advance environmental justice in our region and promote healthy growth for Kansas and its Midwestern neighbors."

During the celebration, EJ TCTAC environmental justice partners discussed their existing connections to environmental justice and energy justice. Partners also provided a brief overview of the services they will provide as part of the project. These partners were selected because they have shared experiences with many of EPA Region 7’s overburdened and underserved communities and will be uniquely positioned to connect with these communities and provide technical assistance that is tailored to their needs. EJ TCTAC partners include: Heartland Environmental Justice Center, Iowa Environmental Council, Center for Rural Affairs, and Metropolitan Congregations United.

EJ TCTACs will provide training and other assistance to build capacity for navigating federal grant application systems, writing strong grant proposals, and effectively managing grant funding. In addition, these centers will provide guidance on community engagement, meeting facilitation, and translation and interpretation services for limited English-speaking participants, thus removing barriers and improving accessibility for communities with environmental justice concerns. Each of the technical assistance centers will also create and manage communication channels to ensure that all communities have direct access to resources and information.

EPA will deliver these resources in collaboration with DOE, whose funding allows the EJ TCTACs to provide support for identifying community opportunities for clean energy transition and financing options, including public-private partnerships supporting clean energy demonstration, deployment, workforce development, and outreach opportunities that advance energy justice objectives.

The formation of the EJ TCTACs is in direct response to feedback from communities and environmental justice leaders who have long called for technical assistance and capacity-building support for communities and their partners as they work to access critical federal resources. The 17 centers will provide comprehensive coverage for the entire United States through a network of over 160 partners including community-based organizations, additional academic institutions, and Environmental Finance Centers, so that more communities can access federal funding opportunities like those made available through President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

In addition, EPA has selected three national EJ TCTACs that will provide additional assistance across the country, with particular capacity to assist tribes, including:

• International City/County Management Association
• Institute for Sustainable Communities
• National Indian Health Board

The EJ TCTAC program is part of the Federal Interagency Thriving Communities Network and delivers on the Biden-Harris administration’s Justice40 Initiative to ensure that 40% of the benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities. The new technical assistance centers will help ensure that communities with environmental justice concerns can access President Biden’s historic investments in America to address generational disinvestment, legacy pollution, infrastructure challenges, and build a clean energy economy that will lower energy costs, strengthen our energy security, and meet our climate goals.

• Learn more about the selectees, their partners, and the EJ TCTAC program
• Learn more about environmental justice at EPA
• Learn more about the WSU EJ TCTAC

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BOSTON (July 12, 2023) – New England state air quality forecasters are predicting air quality that is unhealthy for sensitive groups, due to elevated ground-level ozone. The areas that are predicted to exceed the Federal air quality standard for ozone on Wednesday, July 12 are: 

Rhode Island (statewide), Southeastern Massachusetts, and coastal areas of Connecticut

These locations are subject to change, so please refer to EPA New England's AQI Air Quality Index (AQI) for current air quality conditions and forecasts across New England.

With hot, summery weather, EPA and state air quality forecasters predict areas of unhealthy air quality in several areas of New England tomorrow.  EPA and the medical community advise people to limit any strenuous outdoor activity when poor air quality is expected. Also, everyone can take steps to keep air emissions down during air quality alert days.  As climate change increases the probability of warmer weather, these kinds of air quality events are predicted to increase in frequency.  Of course, those communities already vulnerable and overburdened will be most impacted by these kinds of events."

Ground-level ozone forms when volatile organic compounds and oxides of nitrogen (ozone precursors) interact in the presence of strong sunshine. Cars, trucks, and buses emit most of the pollution that creates ozone. Emissions from gasoline stations, print shops, household products, like paints and some cleaners, as well as lawn and garden equipment also add to the ozone formation.

Exposure to elevated ozone levels can cause breathing problems, aggravate asthma, and other pre-existing lung diseases, and make people more susceptible to respiratory infection. When ozone levels are elevated, people should refrain from strenuous outdoor activity, especially sensitive populations such as children and adults with respiratory problems.

When ozone is forecast to be unhealthy for sensitive groups, members of the public are encouraged to help limit emissions and reduce ozone formation by:

• using public transportation, if possible;
• combining errands and carpooling to reduce driving time and mileage; and
• avoiding the use of small gasoline-powered engines, such as lawn mowers, string trimmers, chain saws, power-washers, air compressors, and leaf blowers on unhealthy air days.

During poor air quality events, it is also important to reduce household energy usage, such as setting air conditioners to a higher temperature, turning off unnecessary lights, equipment, and appliances. EPA's ENERGY STAR Program also provides trusted guidance and online tools to help homeowners make smart decisions about improving the energy efficiency of their existing homes.

The current ozone standard is 0.070 parts per million (ppm).

More information:

Real-time ozone data and air quality forecasts New England Air Quality Index

National real-time air quality data (free iPhone and Android apps) AirNow 

Air Quality Alerts  EnviroFlash 

EPA's ENERGY STAR Program

For Immediate Release

Contact: R3press@epa.gov
 

EPA Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz Statement on Bay Settlement

PHILADELPHIA, (July 12, 2023) – In a court filing today, EPA and plaintiffs asked for dismissal of a 2020 lawsuit in which plaintiffs claim EPA violated the Clean Water Act by failing to hold Pennsylvania accountable for not meeting commitments to reduce pollution to the Chesapeake Bay.

On July 10, all the parties executed the final settlement agreement resolving all claims brought by the plaintiffs. 

The plaintiffs include five governmental parties (Delaware, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, and Anne Arundel Co., MD), two citizens groups (Chesapeake Bay Foundation and Maryland Watermen’s Association), and two individual plaintiffs who own livestock in Virginia (Robert Whitescarver and Jeanne Hoffman).

EPA Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz has issued this statement:

“This settlement closes a chapter of division and allows EPA, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and other parties involved to continue giving our full attention to the work needed to accelerate restoration of the Chesapeake Bay and its vast watershed.  We’re all in this together and, thanks to the Biden Administration, will seize the momentum we have with unprecedented funding going to Pennsylvania and other Bay states and building on the strong partnership we now have with Pennsylvania’s agricultural leaders and farming community.   The opportunities in front of us set the Chesapeake Bay Program partnership up for success as we emerge stronger in this next chapter.”

WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposal to strengthen requirements for the removal of lead-based paint hazards in pre-1978 buildings and child care facilities, known as abatement activities, to better protect children and communities from the harmful effects of exposure to dust generated from lead paint, advancing President Biden’s whole-of-government approach to protecting families and children from lead exposure. If finalized, this rule is estimated to reduce the lead exposures of approximately 250,000 to 500,000 children under age six per year.

Aligning with the Federal Action Plan on reducing lead exposure to children, these stronger standards would go further to protect children from the dangers of lead exposure, in support of the Biden-Harris Administration’s historic investment to reduce lead exposure and EPA’s strategy to address the significant disparities in lead exposure along racial, ethnic and socioeconomic lines.

EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe, EPA Assistant Administrator for Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Michal Freedhoff and EPA Region 2 Administrator Lisa Garcia announced the proposal alongside elected officials and community leaders in Newark, New Jersey, one of the nation’s leading cities in reducing lead exposure.

“The Biden-Harris Administration is taking a whole-of-government approach to ensuring that the most vulnerable among us — our children — are protected from exposure to lead,” said EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe. “This proposal to safely remove lead paint along with our other efforts to deliver clean drinking water and replace lead pipes will go a long way toward protecting the health of our next generation of leaders. I am proud to stand alongside the City of Newark, New Jersey, and all our partners across the United States in our critical efforts to reduce childhood lead exposures.”

“There is no safe level of lead. Even low levels are detrimental to children’s health, and this proposal would bring us closer to eradicating lead-based paint hazards from homes and child care facilities across the U.S once and for all,” said Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Michal Freedhoff.

“The City of Newark is honored to be selected by the EPA as the location for their important announcement of these new actions to protect Americans everywhere – and especially children – from the dangers of lead in paint,” said Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka. “We moved mountains in Newark to remove lead from every water line throughout the city because we value the health and wellbeing of every resident and understand that no amount of lead exposure is acceptable. We are grateful to the EPA and the Biden Administration for strengthening regulations for lead removal we’re committed to supporting their efforts.”

If finalized, the proposed rule would strengthen EPA’s regulations under section 402 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) by revising the dust-lead hazard standards (DLHS), which identify hazardous lead in dust on floors and window sills, and the dust-lead clearance levels (DLCL), the amount of lead that can remain in dust on floors, window sills and window troughs after lead removal activities.

Today’s proposal would reduce the DLHS from 10 micrograms per square foot (µg/ft2) for floors and 100 µg/ft2 for window sills to any reportable level greater than zero in recognition of the fact that there is no level of lead in dust that has been found to be safe for children. Today’s proposal would lower the DLCL from 10 µg/ft2 to 3 µg/ft2 for floors, from 100 µg/ft2 to 20 µg/ft2 for window sills, and from 400 µg/ft2 to 25 µg/ft2 for window troughs, which are the lowest post-abatement dust-lead levels that the Agency believes can be reliably and effectively achieved.

Property owners, lead-based paint professionals and government agencies use the DLHS to identify dust-lead hazards in residential and childcare facilities built before 1978. If a lead-based paint activity such as abatement is performed, EPA's Lead-Based Paint Activities Program requires individuals and firms performing the abatement to be certified and follow specific work practices. Following such an abatement, testing is then required to ensure dust lead levels are below the DLCL before an abatement can be considered complete.

Historically, EPA’s DLHS and DLCL have been set at the same levels. This action proposes to decouple the DLHS and the DLCL, which were last updated in 2019 and 2021, respectively. This is being done in accordance with a May 2021 Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals opinion, which explains that DLHS must be based solely on health factors, while the DLCL must consider the additional factors of safety, effectiveness and reliability. Today’s proposal aligns the DLHS and DLCL with the best available science, further strengthening EPA’s efforts to protect children from lead hazards.

Although the federal government banned lead-based paint for residential use in 1978, it is estimated that 31 million pre-1978 houses still contain lead-based paint, and 3.8 million of them have one or more children under the age of 6 living there, creating health and developmental risks for children. Lead-contaminated dust is one of the most common causes of elevated blood lead levels in children. Lead dust commonly occurs when lead-based paint deteriorates or is disturbed. Due to normal behaviors such as crawling and hand-to-mouth activities, young children are particularly at risk of higher exposure to ingesting lead-containing dust. Lead exposure can pose a significant health and safety threat to children and can cause irreversible and life-long health effects, including behavioral problems, lower IQ, slowed growth and more.

Communities of color and those of lower socioeconomic status are often at greater risk of lead exposure because deteriorated lead-based paint is more likely to be found in lower-income areas. Additionally, communities of color can also face greater risk due to the legacy of redlining, historic racial segregation in housing, and reduced access to environmentally safe and affordable housing. Eliminating lead-based paint and the proposal announced today reflect EPA’s commitment to advancing environmental justice.

EPA will accept public comments on the proposal for 60 days following publication via docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2023-0231 at www.regulations.gov.

Learn more about EPA’s dust-lead hazard standards and clearance levels.

What they are saying about EPA’s proposal

“When children are exposed to lead, their health can be irreversibly affected through impacts to their brain and nervous systems and delays in their growth and development,” said U.S. Senator Robert Menendez. “This is why I have fought tirelessly to ensure children across the U.S., and all Americans, are further protected from the dangers of lead exposure, especially those in underserved communities that are more likely to find lead-based paint and dust in their homes and neighborhoods. I applaud the Biden-Harris Administration for strengthening these critical health and safety standards to complement our historic investment of $4 billion to protect children from exposure to lead, and secure a healthier and happier future for them.”

“New Jersey families should not have to worry about lead exposure in their homes and childcare facilities harming their children,” said U.S. Senator Cory Booker. Lead exposure is an environmental injustice that threatens the health and development of children, often in low-income, Black and Brown communities like mine in Newark. I am grateful to the EPA for taking important steps to keep our children safe.”

“No child in Newark, the Eighth Congressional District, or anywhere in our country should be at risk of lead exposure because of residential and commercial buildings that pre-date modern lead paint regulations,” said U.S. Representative Rob Menendez. “As Newark continues to grow, the EPA’s new lead paint standards will help working families be assured that the homes they live in and the child care facilities they utilize are safe from lead hazards. I applaud the Biden Administration’s commitment to the public health of our communities and our children.”

“I am proud to hear the EPA is taking direct action to protect children from dangerous exposure to lead paint,” said U.S. Representative Donald M. Payne, Jr. “Lead exposure is one of the greatest threats to children’s health across the country. I have been a strong advocate for efforts to reduce children’s exposure to lead, especially in drinking water. I introduced the Test for Lead Act to make sure states had a plan to deal with lead contamination in school drinking water to be eligible for federal drinking water funds. These new standards show that the Biden-Harris Administration has stepped up to reduce children’s lead paint exposure, especially in low-income areas. American families should be able to send their children to schools or childcare facilities that are clean and free of lead contamination.”       

“Lead-based paint poses the greatest risk of lead exposure, especially in our most vulnerable communities, where lead-based paint is often found in older or deteriorating buildings,” said Sean Moriarty, Deputy Commissioner for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. “The NJDEP commends and supports the USEPA for this proposal, which in addition to the federal and state investment in Lead Service Line replacement, will go a long way toward protecting the health and safety of New Jersey’s residents.”

“There is no level of blood lead that is safe for children.  Lead exposure disproportionately affects young children, causing serious medical and behavioral issues into adulthood. We know that low-income communities and communities of color are most at risk from lead exposure due to systemic inequities,” said Debbie Mans, co-chair, Steering Committee, Lead-Free NJ. “We applaud the USEPA for taking this important step in reducing lead exposure in homes across New Jersey, bringing us closer to ensuring our children are free from lead poisoning.”

Upcoming Lead-Based Paint Virtual Workshop

EPA and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) are also planning a virtual public workshop for October to hear stakeholder perspectives on specific topics related to low levels of lead in existing paint, including the potential health effects, the relationship between lead-based paint and dust-lead, possible exposure pathways, and technologies for detection, measurement, and characterization of low levels of lead in paint. EPA and HUD are also interested in any available information on lead-based paint characteristics and medical evidence related to low levels of lead in paint. EPA and HUD will use information shared during the workshop to inform their joint effort to revisit the federal definition of lead-based paint and revise it, if necessary.

Additional information on the Lead-Based Paint Virtual Workshop

NEW YORK - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites you to join a public session on the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) and protection priorities at the Rochester Museum and Science Center on Wednesday July 19, 2023, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

“The Great Lakes are a national treasure and a vital source of drinking water, recreation, and economic opportunity for millions of people,” said Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “Our team wants to hear from you on how we can work together to protect and restore this precious resource for current and future generations. Your input will help shape our work in the Great Lakes.”

The GLRI is the largest investment in the Great Lakes in two decades. It is a collaborative effort of 16 federal agencies, including EPA, to address the most significant environmental concerns in the Great Lakes ecosystem and to accelerate progress toward long-term goals.

EPA and its partners are developing an updated action plan for the GLRI, covering 2025-2029.

The action plan will guide restoration and protection activities for the next five years. As part of this process, EPA and its partners want to hear from you on:

• How to improve the action plan over previous versions
• What key priorities to include in the action plan
• How to better incorporate environmental justice and the impacts of climate change in the action plan

At the public session, you will have an opportunity to:

• Learn about the GLRI and its achievements
• Interact directly with EPA staff and ask questions
• Provide your comments and feedback

For more information on the GLRI, please visit the program’s website.

To learn more about the development of the GLRI Action Plan, please visit here.

For more information about this session please reach out to Michael Basile, EPA Public Affairs at (646)369-0055 or basile.michael@epa.gov.

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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LENEXA, KAN. (JULY 11, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 will hold a Public Availability Session and Community Meeting at Verona High School on Wednesday, July 19. Representatives from EPA and Missouri state agencies will be available for one-on-one discussions and questions regarding the results of the ethylene oxide air monitoring study conducted in Verona.

““We remain committed to keeping the city of Verona well-informed about issues affecting their community’s health and the environment,” said EPA Region 7 Administrator Meg McCollister. “EPA and our partners will be available to share information and answer questions in Verona on July 19.”

The availability session will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by the community meeting and presentation at 7 p.m. After the presentation, EPA will facilitate a question-and-answer session with the attending agencies until 9:30 p.m.

The purpose of the meeting is to provide results from the ethylene oxide air monitoring study performed in Verona, and will also include a discussion of recent activities related to the BCP Ingredients Inc. facility in Verona. 

This meeting takes place following a Public Availability Session and Community Meeting in October 2022, where EPA provided an update on air pollution and groundwater contamination in Verona. EPA held additional meetings with the city of Verona in 2021 and 2019 to inform the general public about health risks associated with ethylene oxide emissions, and to provide an update on the groundwater investigation at the Syntex Facility Superfund Site.

Wednesday, July 19, 2023

Public Availability Session: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
(Break from 6:30 to 7 p.m.)
 
Community Meeting: 7 to 9:30 p.m.
 
Both sessions will be held at:
Verona R-7 High School Gymnasium
101 E. Ella Street
Verona, Missouri

EPA is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. For reasonable accommodations at the Public Availability Session and Community Meeting, please contact Euleashia Embry at: embry.euleashia@epa.gov.

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WASHINGTON — On October 17 and 18, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will hold a virtual public workshop to receive stakeholder input on the detection, measurement and characterization of lead-based paint to support efforts to reduce lead exposure. EPA and HUD will use information received during the workshop to inform their joint effort to revisit the federal definition of lead-based paint and propose and finalize a revised definition, if necessary.

The workshop will cover several topics related to low levels of lead in existing paint, including the potential health effects, the relationship between lead-based paint and dust-lead, possible exposure pathways (e.g., renovation and maintenance, deteriorating paint and direct ingestion), and emerging detection and measurement technologies used to quantify lead in paint. Additionally, EPA and HUD also seek any available new information on lead-based paint characteristics and medical evidence related to low levels of lead in paint to help with EPA and HUD’s reevaluation of the definition of lead-based paint. The information shared will increase awareness of exposure pathways that must be considered, inform models that examine the exposure to lead at various concentrations and provide greater context for the impacts a lower definition may have.

“Too many children are still at risk of lead exposure, particularly in underserved communities,” said EPA Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Assistant Administrator Michal Freedhoff. “As EPA and HUD work together to reduce childhood lead exposure, we need to follow the science to ensure our definition of lead-based paint works to protect our communities and children.” 

“With children spending so much of their time at home, a significant part of achieving environmental justice for American families is ensuring that the housing they live in is healthy and safe,” said Matthew Ammon, Director, HUD Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes. “Determining whether to revise the definition of residential lead-based paint is a critical part of achieving HUD’s lead safety goals.”

EPA and HUD define lead-based paint as paint with lead levels greater than or equal to one milligram per square centimeter (mg/cm²), or more than 0.5% by weight. Although lead-based paint was banned for residential use in 1978, many homes built before 1978 still contain lead-based paint, the most significant source of childhood lead exposure. EPA and HUD have prioritized addressing the dangers of childhood lead exposure through EPA’s 2022 Lead Strategy and HUD’s 2022-2026 Strategic Plan Focus Areas, both of which commit to reducing exposure to lead in homes with lead-based paint. EPA enforces the definition through its Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) program and Lead-Based Paint Activities (LBPA) program and HUD through its Lead-Safe Housing Rule (LSHR).

Register to present or attend

EPA and HUD are seeking presenters with specific expertise for this workshop, as noted above. Please review the abstract submission guidelines, which include potential presentation topics, before applying. Abstracts for 15 to 20-minute presentations will be accepted until August 4. To apply to present at the workshop, please email EPA-workshops@icf.com.

EPA and HUD encourage their state, local and Tribal regulatory partners; LBPA, RRP and LSHR experts and professionals; paint manufacturers; lead detection and measurement technology developers and manufacturers; lead test kit developers and users; environmental and community organizations; property owners and managers; real estate agents; testing firms and laboratories; academic institutions; and members of the public to attend the workshop. Attendees will have an opportunity to submit questions for the presenters and panelists. EPA will accept attendance registrations until September 29.

Visit EPA’s 2023 Lead-Based Paint Technical Workshop page for more information, including abstract submission guidelines and instructions for registering to attend the workshop.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Justice today announced a settlement with J.R. Simplot Company involving Simplot’s Don Plant manufacturing facility located near Pocatello, Idaho.

The settlement resolves allegations primarily under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) at the facility, including that Simplot failed to properly identify and manage certain waste streams as hazardous wastes. The settlement requires Simplot to implement process modifications designed to enable greater recovery and reuse of phosphate, a valuable resource. The settlement also requires Simplot to ensure that financial resources will be available when the time comes for environmentally sound closure of the facility. Simplot will also pay a civil penalty of $1.5 million.

“This is an important settlement which reduces the environmental impacts from one of the leading fertilizer manufacturers,” said Acting Assistant Administrator Larry Starfield of the EPA Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “This settlement advances EPA’s goals by creating environmentally beneficial waste management practices and ensures that the U.S. taxpayer will not be responsible for future costs associated with closure of this facility. Additionally, this settlement ensures that any future expansion of Simplot’s operations will be conducted according to strict requirements to minimize impacts to surrounding communities, including the Fort Hall Indian Reservation.” 

“After our 2020 settlement with Simplot’s phosphoric acid and fertilizer plant in Wyoming, we are pleased to reach this settlement with Simplot’s other major phosphoric acid and fertilizer operation at the Don Plant in Pocatello, Idaho,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “This proposed consent decree will comprehensively address the waste management, air emissions and reporting issues EPA identified with respect to the Don Plant’s operations.”

“This settlement will bring important benefits to Idaho and the communities that have been affected by the Don Plant’s operations,” said Josh Hurwit, U.S. Attorney for the District of Idaho. “We are grateful that our state partner, the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, helped formulate and will oversee work that Simplot will fund to mitigate the impacts of its phosphate operations on water quality and the environment along the Portneuf River, working in cooperation with both the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes and the City of Pocatello.”

Simplot’s Don Plant facility manufactures phosphate products for agriculture and industry, including phosphoric acid and phosphate fertilizer, through processes that generate large quantities of acidic wastewater and a solid material called phosphogypsum. The phosphogypsum is deposited in a large pile known as a gypstack, and acidic wastewater is discharged to the gypstack. The gypstack, which has a capacity to hold several billion gallons of acidic wastewater, was fully lined in 2017 in accordance with a previous consent orders Simplot entered into with the State of Idaho and the United States.

The settlement also resolves alleged violations of the Clean Air Act (CAA) that relate to fluoride emissions from the facility, and of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) that relate to reporting and notification requirements for hazardous substances and toxic chemicals.

Under the settlement, Simplot agrees to implement specific waste management measures it has valued at nearly $150 million. Significantly, these measures include extensive new efforts to recover and reuse the phosphate content within these wastes and avoid their disposal in the gypstack. Simplot will implement requirements that ensure gypstack stability and containment that will protect the environment even should climate change result in more severe weather events. The settlement also includes a detailed plan setting the terms for the future closure and long-term care of the gypstack. The settlement requires Simplot to immediately secure and maintain approximately $108 million in dedicated financing to ensure that funding will be available when the facility is eventually closed.

Simplot also agrees to cease operation of the facility’s cooling towers no later than June 27, 2026, and replace them with one or more newly constructed cooling ponds, which will significantly reduce fluoride emissions to the air. Additionally, Simplot agrees to submit revised Toxic Release Inventory forms for the years 2004-2013 that include estimates of certain metal compounds manufactured, processed or otherwise used at the facility.

In addition to paying the $1.5 million civil penalty, Simplot is providing $200,000 in funding for environmental mitigation work that will be administered by the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality in conjunction with the City of Pocatello and the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes. The mitigation work will address habitat degradation on the Portneuf River that has resulted in part from excess phosphorus releases, especially from the facility’s formerly unlined gypstack.

EPA previously required through judicial and administrative settlements at 14 phosphate fertilizer facilities across the U.S. extensive injunctive relief, requiring the companies to establish financial assurance and bring their operations into compliance with RCRA.

A consent decree formalizing the settlement was lodged today in the U.S. District Court for Idaho and is subject to a 30-day public comment period and approval by the federal court. Read the consent decree on the Department of Justice website.

LENEXA, KAN. (JULY 11, 2023) – Millenia Products LLC, doing business as La Palm Spa Products, will pay a $118,483 civil penalty for allegedly failing to properly label a pesticide product called “Hospital Disinfectant” and failing to register the product with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

EPA says that such failures are violations of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. The company is based in Wichita, Kansas, and distributes beauty, cosmetic, and personal care products nationwide.

“When pesticide producers and distributors fail to register and/or properly label products, consumers don’t know the product’s contents or how to safely use, store, or dispose of the product,” said Dave Cozad, director of EPA Region 7’s Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division. “This enforcement action demonstrates the Agency’s commitment to the safe use and distribution of pesticides.”

According to EPA, La Palm Spa Products sold an unregistered pesticide that used another company’s registration number without an agreement from the original company. The product’s label says, “for Use in Barber Shops, Equipment, Home, Office …” and was distributed mainly to spa and beauty supply companies. Further, EPA alleges that the labels on the “Hospital Disinfectant” did not include required safety information, including sufficient directions for use, danger warnings, and first aid information.

Under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, producers and distributors of pesticide products must register the products with EPA and must include required labeling on the products. Any product claiming to kill viruses and other pathogens (such as COVID-19) are considered “pesticides” under federal law. During the COVID-19 pandemic, EPA saw a significant increase in sales of unregistered disinfectant pesticides.

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WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the latest action to phase down the use of climate super-pollutant hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), issuing a final rule to implement a 40% reduction below historic levels from 2024 through 2028. The rule aligns with the bipartisan American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act’s goals to reduce the production and consumption of these climate-damaging chemicals by 85% by 2036 and help avoid up to 0.5 °C of global warming by 2100.

The final rule builds on the success of the 10% phasedown step implemented for 2022 and 2023, by establishing a similar allowance methodology to provide regulatory certainty to industry and stakeholders, ensuring the most efficient implementation under the ongoing phasedown. 

“This rulemaking is a critical next step in the Biden-Harris Administration’s ambitious plans to phase down climate super-pollutants and ensure the United States leads the way as countries around the world implement the Kigali Amendment,” said Joe Goffman, Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator of EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation. “The U.S. HFC phasedown program, bolstered by domestic innovation to develop alternative chemicals and equipment, is paving the way for the United States to tackle climate change and strengthen global competitiveness.”

“President Biden has brought together a broad coalition of American manufacturers to work on next-generation technologies across refrigeration, HVAC systems, and more – helping us cool without contributing more to global warming,” said Ali Zaidi, White House National Climate Advisor. “With today’s final rule, this Administration is continuing to deliver win-wins for climate action and U.S. manufacturing competitiveness while ensuring that American workers reap the benefits of a growing global market for HFC alternatives.”

“As an original co-author of the bipartisan AIM Act, I applaud this action by EPA, which moves us closer to our goal of an 85 percent reduction in HFCs by 2036,” said U.S. Senator Tom Carper (Del.), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. “By phasing down the use of these super pollutants, we can both address climate change and support domestic manufacturing — a win-win. I commend the Biden-Harris Administration for their work to ensure that our nation remains a global leader in the fight against climate change and production of the next generation of refrigerants.”

“Phasing down hydrofluorocarbons is a critical component of our national climate action strategy,” Congressman Paul Tonko said. “That’s why I was proud to help lead the bipartisan AIM Act to seize this powerful opportunity to spur economic growth, protect consumers, and address these climate super pollutants. I applaud the Biden Administration’s latest action to keep this program on track by providing HFC producers and users the certainty they need to navigate this next stage of the phasedown. And I encourage additional steps under the law to further position U.S. manufacturers as the worldwide leaders in the clean energy economy of the future.”

“The Alliance appreciates the prompt and timely completion of the HFC allowance rule for the 2024 through 2028 period,” said Kevin Fay, Executive Director of the Alliance for Responsible Atmospheric Policy, “as this allows continued US leadership in the efficient global phasedown of HFCs, and smooths the transition to low-global warming potential chemicals and user technologies here and around the globe. The industry is appreciative of the attention and support provided by the EPA and the Biden Administration in this cooperative effort.”

“This latest allocation rule is a critical step in the implementation of the AIM Act schedule for phasing down hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants,” said AHRI President & CEO Stephen Yurek. “Our industry appreciates the work of the EPA and the timely issuance of this rule, as we prepare for the next HFC reduction step-down next January.”

“This demonstrates EPA’s commitment to stay on track to deliver on the Kigali Amendment goals and protect our planet from destructive superpollutants,” said Avipsa Mahapatra, Climate Campaign Lead at the Environmental Investigation Agency. “The U.S. is demonstrating leadership not just at home but also in international discussions at the Montreal Protocol to prevent illegal trade and unnecessary emissions, through robust implementation and enforcement of the HFC phasedown.”

The United States began this historic phasedown on January 1, 2022, with a reduction of HFC production and imports to 10% below historic baseline levels. Since then, allowances are needed to import and produce HFCs. Starting in 2024 the phasedown will be 40% below historic levels, a significant decrease in the number of available production and consumption allowances compared to previous years. HFC allowances for calendar year 2024 will be allocated by September 29, 2023. The phasedown schedule under this program is consistent with the schedule laid out in the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, which the United States ratified in October 2022.

In addition to setting up an allowance allocation program, the HFC Phasedown Program has established robust enforcement mechanisms to ensure a level playing field for U.S. companies complying with the phasedown requirements. Since January 2022, the Interagency Task Force on Illegal HFC Trade, co-led by EPA and the Department of Homeland Security, has prevented illegal HFC shipments equivalent to more than 1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂) at the border, which is equivalent to the CO2 emissions from over 206,000 homes’ electricity use for one year.

EPA also applies administrative consequences, such as revocation and retirement of allowances, for noncompliance that can be in addition to any civil or criminal enforcement action. EPA has finalized administrative consequences retiring more than 6.5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) for calendar years 2022 and 2023 for companies that misreported data or imported HFCs without the requisite number of allowances.

EPA is planning two additional regulatory actions under the AIM Act in 2023. The first is a final rule placing restrictions on the use of HFCs in certain sectors to facilitate sector-based transitions to alternative chemicals, and the second is a proposed rule establishing certain requirements for the management of HFCs and HFC substitutes in equipment, such as air conditioners.

HFCs are a class of potent greenhouse gases commonly used in refrigeration and air conditioning, aerosols, and foam products. Their climate impact can be hundreds to thousands of times stronger than the same amount of carbon dioxide. 

Learn more about HFCs.

SAN FRANCISCO – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a settlement with Polypeptide Labs Inc. for claims of violations of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act tied to emissions at the company’s Torrance, California facility. Polypeptide has agreed to pay a $57,472 civil penalty and has certified it is now in compliance with the requirements of federal law.

“Failure to prevent emissions tied to hazardous waste and leaky equipment can pose a serious health risk to nearby communities. We won’t hesitate to enforce companies’ obligations to properly manage dangerous substances,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. “This settlement with Polypeptide will help protect workers, the community, and the environment in the greater Los Angeles region.”

Polypeptide Labs Inc. is a manufacturer of polypeptides (chains of amino acids that form proteins) for academic institutions, biotech companies, and large pharmaceutical companies, and is a large quantity generator of hazardous waste. The EPA determined that Polypeptide violated federal law by failing to comply with air emissions standards for equipment leaks and failing to comply with air emission control standards for tanks.

Hazardous waste that is improperly managed poses a serious threat to human health and the environment. The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, passed in 1976, was established to set up a framework for the proper management of hazardous waste. The act requires effective monitoring and control of air emissions from hazardous waste storage tanks, pipes, valves, and other equipment. These emissions can cause adverse health and environmental effects as well as contribute to climate change.

Learn more about the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.

Learn more about the EPA's enforcement program and how to report possible violations of environmental laws and regulations to the EPA.

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WASHINGTON — On October 17 and 18, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will hold a virtual public workshop to receive stakeholder input on the detection, measurement and characterization of lead-based paint to support efforts to reduce lead exposure. EPA and HUD will use information received during the workshop to inform their joint effort to revisit the federal definition of lead-based paint and propose and finalize a revised definition, if necessary.

The workshop will cover several topics related to low levels of lead in existing paint, including the potential health effects, the relationship between lead-based paint and dust-lead, possible exposure pathways (e.g., renovation and maintenance, deteriorating paint and direct ingestion), and emerging detection and measurement technologies used to quantify lead in paint. Additionally, EPA and HUD also seek any available new information on lead-based paint characteristics and medical evidence related to low levels of lead in paint to help with EPA and HUD’s reevaluation of the definition of lead-based paint. The information shared will increase awareness of exposure pathways that must be considered, inform models that examine the exposure to lead at various concentrations and provide greater context for the impacts a lower definition may have.

“Too many children are still at risk of lead exposure, particularly in underserved communities,” said EPA Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Assistant Administrator Michal Freedhoff. “As EPA and HUD work together to reduce childhood lead exposure, we need to follow the science to ensure our definition of lead-based paint works to protect our communities and children.” 

“With children spending so much of their time at home, a significant part of achieving environmental justice for American families is ensuring that the housing they live in is healthy and safe,” said Matthew Ammon, Director, HUD Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes. “Determining whether to revise the definition of residential lead-based paint is a critical part of achieving HUD’s lead safety goals.”

EPA and HUD define lead-based paint as paint with lead levels greater than or equal to one milligram per square centimeter (mg/cm²), or more than 0.5% by weight. Although lead-based paint was banned for residential use in 1978, many homes built before 1978 still contain lead-based paint, the most significant source of childhood lead exposure. EPA and HUD have prioritized addressing the dangers of childhood lead exposure through EPA’s 2022 Lead Strategy and HUD’s 2022-2026 Strategic Plan Focus Areas, both of which commit to reducing exposure to lead in homes with lead-based paint. EPA enforces the definition through its Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) program and Lead-Based Paint Activities (LBPA) program and HUD through its Lead-Safe Housing Rule (LSHR).

Register to present or attend

EPA and HUD are seeking presenters with specific expertise for this workshop, as noted above. Please review the abstract submission guidelines, which include potential presentation topics, before applying. Abstracts for 15 to 20-minute presentations will be accepted until August 4. To apply to present at the workshop, please email EPA-workshops@icf.com.

EPA and HUD encourage their state, local and Tribal regulatory partners; LBPA, RRP and LSHR experts and professionals; paint manufacturers; lead detection and measurement technology developers and manufacturers; lead test kit developers and users; environmental and community organizations; property owners and managers; real estate agents; testing firms and laboratories; academic institutions; and members of the public to attend the workshop. Attendees will have an opportunity to submit questions for the presenters and panelists. EPA will accept attendance registrations until September 29.

Visit EPA’s 2023 Lead-Based Paint Technical Workshop page for more information, including abstract submission guidelines and instructions for registering to attend the workshop.

LENEXA, KAN. (JULY 11, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 will hold a Public Availability Session and Community Meeting at Verona High School on Wednesday, July 19. Representatives from EPA and Missouri state agencies will be available for one-on-one discussions and questions regarding the results of the ethylene oxide air monitoring study conducted in Verona.

““We remain committed to keeping the city of Verona well-informed about issues affecting their community’s health and the environment,” said EPA Region 7 Administrator Meg McCollister. “EPA and our partners will be available to share information and answer questions in Verona on July 19.”

The availability session will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by the community meeting and presentation at 7 p.m. After the presentation, EPA will facilitate a question-and-answer session with the attending agencies until 9:30 p.m.

The purpose of the meeting is to provide results from the ethylene oxide air monitoring study performed in Verona, and will also include a discussion of recent activities related to the BCP Ingredients Inc. facility in Verona. 

This meeting takes place following a Public Availability Session and Community Meeting in October 2022, where EPA provided an update on air pollution and groundwater contamination in Verona. EPA held additional meetings with the city of Verona in 2021 and 2019 to inform the general public about health risks associated with ethylene oxide emissions, and to provide an update on the groundwater investigation at the Syntex Facility Superfund Site.

Wednesday, July 19, 2023

Public Availability Session: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
(Break from 6:30 to 7 p.m.)
 
Community Meeting: 7 to 9:30 p.m.
 
Both sessions will be held at:
Verona R-7 High School Gymnasium
101 E. Ella Street
Verona, Missouri

EPA is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. For reasonable accommodations at the Public Availability Session and Community Meeting, please contact Euleashia Embry at: embry.euleashia@epa.gov.

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NEW YORK - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites you to join a public session on the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) and protection priorities at the Rochester Museum and Science Center on Wednesday July 19, 2023, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

“The Great Lakes are a national treasure and a vital source of drinking water, recreation, and economic opportunity for millions of people,” said Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “Our team wants to hear from you on how we can work together to protect and restore this precious resource for current and future generations. Your input will help shape our work in the Great Lakes.”

The GLRI is the largest investment in the Great Lakes in two decades. It is a collaborative effort of 16 federal agencies, including EPA, to address the most significant environmental concerns in the Great Lakes ecosystem and to accelerate progress toward long-term goals.

EPA and its partners are developing an updated action plan for the GLRI, covering 2025-2029.

The action plan will guide restoration and protection activities for the next five years. As part of this process, EPA and its partners want to hear from you on:

• How to improve the action plan over previous versions
• What key priorities to include in the action plan
• How to better incorporate environmental justice and the impacts of climate change in the action plan

At the public session, you will have an opportunity to:

• Learn about the GLRI and its achievements
• Interact directly with EPA staff and ask questions
• Provide your comments and feedback

For more information on the GLRI, please visit the program’s website.

To learn more about the development of the GLRI Action Plan, please visit here.

For more information about this session please reach out to Michael Basile, EPA Public Affairs at (646)369-0055 or basile.michael@epa.gov.

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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WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Justice today announced a settlement with J.R. Simplot Company involving Simplot’s Don Plant manufacturing facility located near Pocatello, Idaho.

The settlement resolves allegations primarily under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) at the facility, including that Simplot failed to properly identify and manage certain waste streams as hazardous wastes. The settlement requires Simplot to implement process modifications designed to enable greater recovery and reuse of phosphate, a valuable resource. The settlement also requires Simplot to ensure that financial resources will be available when the time comes for environmentally sound closure of the facility. Simplot will also pay a civil penalty of $1.5 million.

“This is an important settlement which reduces the environmental impacts from one of the leading fertilizer manufacturers,” said Acting Assistant Administrator Larry Starfield of the EPA Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “This settlement advances EPA’s goals by creating environmentally beneficial waste management practices and ensures that the U.S. taxpayer will not be responsible for future costs associated with closure of this facility. Additionally, this settlement ensures that any future expansion of Simplot’s operations will be conducted according to strict requirements to minimize impacts to surrounding communities, including the Fort Hall Indian Reservation.” 

“After our 2020 settlement with Simplot’s phosphoric acid and fertilizer plant in Wyoming, we are pleased to reach this settlement with Simplot’s other major phosphoric acid and fertilizer operation at the Don Plant in Pocatello, Idaho,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “This proposed consent decree will comprehensively address the waste management, air emissions and reporting issues EPA identified with respect to the Don Plant’s operations.”

“This settlement will bring important benefits to Idaho and the communities that have been affected by the Don Plant’s operations,” said Josh Hurwit, U.S. Attorney for the District of Idaho. “We are grateful that our state partner, the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, helped formulate and will oversee work that Simplot will fund to mitigate the impacts of its phosphate operations on water quality and the environment along the Portneuf River, working in cooperation with both the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes and the City of Pocatello.”

Simplot’s Don Plant facility manufactures phosphate products for agriculture and industry, including phosphoric acid and phosphate fertilizer, through processes that generate large quantities of acidic wastewater and a solid material called phosphogypsum. The phosphogypsum is deposited in a large pile known as a gypstack, and acidic wastewater is discharged to the gypstack. The gypstack, which has a capacity to hold several billion gallons of acidic wastewater, was fully lined in 2017 in accordance with a previous consent orders Simplot entered into with the State of Idaho and the United States.

The settlement also resolves alleged violations of the Clean Air Act (CAA) that relate to fluoride emissions from the facility, and of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) that relate to reporting and notification requirements for hazardous substances and toxic chemicals.

Under the settlement, Simplot agrees to implement specific waste management measures it has valued at nearly $150 million. Significantly, these measures include extensive new efforts to recover and reuse the phosphate content within these wastes and avoid their disposal in the gypstack. Simplot will implement requirements that ensure gypstack stability and containment that will protect the environment even should climate change result in more severe weather events. The settlement also includes a detailed plan setting the terms for the future closure and long-term care of the gypstack. The settlement requires Simplot to immediately secure and maintain approximately $108 million in dedicated financing to ensure that funding will be available when the facility is eventually closed.

Simplot also agrees to cease operation of the facility’s cooling towers no later than June 27, 2026, and replace them with one or more newly constructed cooling ponds, which will significantly reduce fluoride emissions to the air. Additionally, Simplot agrees to submit revised Toxic Release Inventory forms for the years 2004-2013 that include estimates of certain metal compounds manufactured, processed or otherwise used at the facility.

In addition to paying the $1.5 million civil penalty, Simplot is providing $200,000 in funding for environmental mitigation work that will be administered by the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality in conjunction with the City of Pocatello and the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes. The mitigation work will address habitat degradation on the Portneuf River that has resulted in part from excess phosphorus releases, especially from the facility’s formerly unlined gypstack.

EPA previously required through judicial and administrative settlements at 14 phosphate fertilizer facilities across the U.S. extensive injunctive relief, requiring the companies to establish financial assurance and bring their operations into compliance with RCRA.

A consent decree formalizing the settlement was lodged today in the U.S. District Court for Idaho and is subject to a 30-day public comment period and approval by the federal court. Read the consent decree on the Department of Justice website.