Keating School Cleanup Project:  llan Salzberg, 720-935-9500, ilansalzberg@gmail.com 

Pueblo, Colo. (May 25, 2023) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced the Keating School in Pueblo, Colorado, will receive a $1 million Brownfields Cleanup Grant funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.  

The EPA funds will be used to clean up the former Keating Junior High School at 215 Orman Avenue, which operated as a public school and education center from the late 1920s to 2009 and is contaminated with asbestos, mercury and other hazardous materials. EPA’s award to the Keating School is among six Brownfields grants totaling nearly $4.78 million announced today for cleanup and revitalization projects in communities across Colorado.  

“The Keating School has put together an inspiring vision for cleaning up and reviving a vacant historic building in the heart of the Bessemer neighborhood,” said EPA Regional Administrator KC Becker. “EPA is proud to support the property’s redevelopment as a theatre and new housing to complement growing investments in the community.” 

“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is helping clean up and revitalize communities across Colorado,” said U.S. Senator Michael Bennet. “With this funding, Buena Vista, Pueblo, Telluride, Silverton, San Luis and Trinidad can make sure these sites are safe for the families living near them and restore them in ways that meet the communities’ needs.” 

The EPA Brownfields funds are part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda to expedite the assessment and cleanup of brownfield sites while advancing environmental justice through the Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (MARC) Grant programs. Thanks to the historic boost from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this funding is the largest ever awarded in the history of the EPA’s Brownfields MARC Grant programs. 

“Receiving this million-dollar grant from the EPA is a major step in the reuse of the beautiful and historic Keating School that has been sitting empty for over a decade,” said Corinne Koehler. “The school was built in 1927 and it still has of the original features that will be saved and restored in the renovation. This building holds many wonderful memories for the thousands of Puebloans who attended school there over the many decades. Thank you to the EPA for seeing the need to save this historic building in the heart of Pueblo.” 

The Keating School will use the EPA funds to complete a full cleanup of the building and prepare it for safe reuse. A recent environmental assessment of the property identified significant volumes of asbestos-containing material, much in poor condition, various building materials in need of disposal and polyurethane flooring containing hazardous levels of mercury. 

The heart of the school building features a well-preserved, vaulted theater space that once seated hundreds from the local community. The restoration of this space will enable its reuse as a theater with additional space offering an opportunity for new and much-needed apartments and townhomes. 

Other Brownfields grants in Colorado include: 

• Watershed NP, Inc.: Buena Vista, $979,222 

• The Town of San Luis: $500,000 

• The Town of Silverton: $800,000 

• Mt. Carmel Wellness and Community Center, Trinidad: $998,700  

• San Miguel County: $500,000 

Background 

Thanks to the historic $1.5 billion boost from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA’s Brownfields Program is helping more communities than ever begin to address the economic, social and environmental challenges caused by brownfields and stimulate economic opportunity and environmental revitalization in historically overburdened communities.  

EPA’s Brownfields Program also advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative to direct 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities. Approximately 84% of the MARC program applications selected to receive funding proposed to work in areas that include historically underserved communities. 

EPA’s Brownfields Program began in 1995 and has provided nearly $2.37 billion in Brownfield Grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse. EPA’s investments in addressing brownfield sites have leveraged more than $36 billion in cleanup and redevelopment. Communities that previously received Brownfields Grants used these resources to fund assessments and cleanups of brownfields, and successfully leverage an average of 10.6 jobs per $100,000 of grant funds spent and $19.78 for every dollar. 

More on Brownfields Grants.  

More on EPA’s Brownfields Program. 

Mt. Carmel Wellness & Community Center: Tim Lamb, 719-575‐7107, tlamb@phillong.com 

Trinidad, Colo. (May 25, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced the Mt. Carmel Wellness and Community Center will receive a $998,770 Brownfields Cleanup Grant, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, to clean up and restore the former Holy Trinity Convent and School at 237 Church Street in Trinidad, Colorado. The property is contaminated with asbestos, lead paint, inorganic contaminants and heavy metals.  

EPA’s award to Mt. Carmel Wellness and Community Center is among six Brownfields grants totaling nearly $4.78 million announced today for cleanup and revitalization projects in communities across Colorado.   

“This Brownfields cleanup project will remove harmful contaminants and restore a vital property in historic downtown Trinidad,” said EPA Regional Administrator KC Becker. “We look forward to the redevelopment of the site as new housing, hotel and restaurant space, contributing to the vitality of the community.” 

“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is helping clean up and revitalize communities across Colorado,” said U.S. Senator Michael Bennet. “With this funding, Buena Vista, Pueblo, Telluride, Silverton, San Luis and Trinidad can make sure these sites are safe for the families living near them and restore them in ways that meet the communities’ needs.” 

The EPA funds are part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda to expedite the assessment and cleanup of brownfield sites in while advancing environmental justice through the Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (MARC) Grant programs. Thanks to the historic boost from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this funding is the largest ever by the EPA’s Brownfields MARC Grant programs. 

“Our mission at Mt. Carmel Wellness and Community Center is to provide integrated healthcare, wellness and community spirit and to promote and create social and cultural opportunities in Las Animas County and the City of Trinidad through partners,” said Gerald D. Cimino, Founder and Chairman of the Board Mt. Carmel Wellness and Community Center. “The EPA is one such partner. We are so thankful and excited to receive this grant. Workforce housing is a necessary component to building a stronger community and in promoting growth in southeastern Colorado. Thank you again from all of us at Mt. Carmel Wellness and Community Center, the City of Trinidad, Las Animas County and southeastern Colorado.” 

Former Holy Trinity Convent and School in Trinidad, Colo.

Mt. Carmel Wellness and Community Center will use the EPA grant to clean up the 53,477‐square‐foot vacant building, which operated as a school starting in 1873 and later as both a school and convent until it closed in 2004. Once cleanup is completed the building will be restored as apartments and a hostel and bar/restaurant, including more than 30 new guest rooms. The plan will create a vibrant, mixed‐use building on a currently abandoned site. 

Image file: TrinidadImage_6055 

Other Brownfields grants announced in Colorado today include: 

• Watershed NP, Inc.: Buena Vista, $979,222 

• The Keating School: Pueblo, $1 million 

• The Town of San Luis: $500,000 

• San Miguel County: $500,000 

• The Town of Silverton: $500,000 

• San Miguel County, $500,000 

• The Town of Silverton, $800,000 

Background 

Thanks to the historic $1.5 billion boost from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA’s Brownfields Program is helping more communities than ever before begin to address the economic, social and environmental challenges caused by brownfields and stimulate economic opportunity and environmental revitalization in historically overburdened communities.  

EPA’s Brownfields Program also advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative to direct 40% of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments to disadvantaged communities. Approximately 84% of the MARC program applications selected to receive funding proposed to work in areas that include historically underserved communities. 

EPA’s Brownfields Program began in 1995 and has provided nearly $2.37 billion in Brownfield Grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse. EPA’s investments in addressing brownfield sites have leveraged more than $36 billion in cleanup and redevelopment. Communities that previously received Brownfields Grants used these resources to fund assessments and cleanups of brownfields, and successfully leverage an average of 10.6 jobs per $100,000 of grant funds spent and $19.78 for every dollar. 

More on Brownfields Grants.  

More on EPA’s Brownfields Program. 

City of Rawlins: Pam Thayer, 307-328-6001, pthayer@rawlinswy.gov   

Rawlins, Wyo. (May 25, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced the City of Rawlins will receive a $500,000 Brownfields Assessment grant to conduct environmental assessments and develop cleanup plans at more than 20 high-priority properties. The target area for the grant is the Interstate 80 Corridor, including abandoned motel properties, a former gas station, a five-structure vacant apartment complex and a former bar.  

“The City of Rawlins has put together a strategic vision for assessing, cleaning up and revitalizing blighted properties along the I-80 corridor,” said EPA Regional Administrator KC Becker. “We look forward to seeing these projects bring new assets and business opportunities to the Rawlins community.”  

The EPA funds are part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda to expedite the assessment and cleanup of brownfield sites while advancing environmental justice through the Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (MARC) Grant programs. Thanks to the boost from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this funding is the largest ever awarded by the EPA’s Brownfields MARC Grant program.  

"The City of Rawlins is very excited and honored to be selected for a Brownfield Assessment Grant which will provide our community technical assistance to develop a plan with vacant or underutilized properties that may be environmentally contaminated and has redevelopment potential, thus transforming them into viable businesses," said Mayor Terry Weickum.  

Many of the priority sites identified by the city are boarded up and vacant due to contamination concerns related to asbestos, lead, mold, metals, petroleum compounds, and other hazardous materials posing human health concerns and preventing redevelopment.   

Targeted sites include the former Express Inn, Sunset Motel, the Wyoming Bar and  abandoned gas station and auto service properties on East Cedar and 6th Streets.  

Reuse plans for these properties include new assisted living centers, affordable homes and apartments and viable, tax-generating businesses serving residents and tourists.  

Background  

Thanks to the historic $1.5 billion boost from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA’s Brownfields Program is helping more communities than ever begin to address the economic, social and environmental challenges caused by brownfields and stimulate economic opportunity and environmental revitalization in historically overburdened communities.  

EPA’s Brownfields Program also advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative to direct 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities. Approximately 84% of the MARC program applications selected to receive funding proposed to work in areas that include historically underserved communities. 

EPA’s Brownfields Program began in 1995 and has provided nearly $2.37 billion in Brownfield Grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse. EPA’s investments in addressing brownfield sites have leveraged more than $36 billion in cleanup and redevelopment. Communities that previously received Brownfields Grants used these resources to fund assessments and cleanups of brownfields, and successfully leverage an average of 10.6 jobs per $100,000 of grant funds spent and $19.78 for every dollar. 

More on Brownfields Grants.   

More on EPA’s Brownfields Program.  

Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians: Ray Reed, Brownfields Coordinator, 701-477-8337, reed_627@hotmail.com  

Belcourt, N.D. (May 25, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians will receive a $1 million Brownfields Cleanup Grant funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The EPA funds will be used to clean up the main hospital located on 14 acres of the 600-acre San Haven complex in the City of Dunseith, North Dakota.  

“Turtle Mountain has an established track record of putting EPA Brownfields funds to productive use,” said EPA Regional Administrator KC Becker. “We look forward to seeing the cleanup of the main hospital building in Dunseith and its revitalization for the use of the community.” 

“Remediating sites contaminated by hazardous substances and returning them to productive use is a win-win for our communities,” said U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer. “These bipartisan infrastructure law grants will help create new opportunities at currently unusable locations.” 

These funds are part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda to expedite the assessment and cleanup of brownfield sites while advancing environmental justice through the Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (MARC) Grant programs. Thanks to the historic boost from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this funding is the largest ever awarded by EPA’s Brownfields MARC Grant programs.   

“We are grateful for the EPA Brownfields grant to address the main hospital building at the former San Haven Sanitarium,” said TMBCI Chairman Jaime Azure. “San Haven is one of our most critical safety and environmental hazards. We look forward to cleaning this challenging property and reusing it as a heritage park in the near future.”  

Abandoned hospital building in Dunseith, N.D.

The Tribe will use the EPA funds to clean up the abandoned main hospital complex at the San Haven Complex which is contaminated with asbestos, lead and polychlorinated biphenyls, which affect building materials, soil and water. The buildings have been severely vandalized and salvaged and are in poor condition with extensive asbestos and loose lead-based paint commingled with debris. The currently vacant site operated as a tuberculosis sanitarium and state hospital from 1909 through 1987 and is contaminated with various hazardous substances.  

After the buildings have been cleaned up, demolished and properly recycled and disposed,   the Tribe plans to redevelop the San Haven site as new housing and an RV park and campground for tourists.  

 The grant to the Tribe is among three grants totaling $3.5 million EPA is awarding to grantees in North Dakota today. Other grantees include: 

• McKenzie County: $500,000 

• The Fargo Housing and Redevelopment Authority: $2 million 

Background  

Thanks to the historic $1.5 billion boost from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA’s Brownfields Program is helping more communities than ever begin to address the economic, social and environmental challenges caused by brownfields and stimulate economic opportunity and environmental revitalization in historically overburdened communities.  

EPA’s Brownfields Program also advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative to direct 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities. Approximately 84% of the MARC program applications selected to receive funding proposed to work in areas that include historically underserved communities. 

EPA’s Brownfields Program began in 1995 and has provided nearly $2.37 billion in Brownfield Grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse. EPA’s investments in addressing brownfield sites have leveraged more than $36 billion in cleanup and redevelopment. Communities that previously received Brownfields Grants used these resources to fund assessments and cleanups of brownfields, and successfully leverage an average of 10.6 jobs per $100,000 of grant funds spent and $19.78 for every dollar. 

More on Brownfields Grants.   

More on EPA’s Brownfields Program.  

Town of Silverton:  Gloria Kaasch-Bueger, 970-880-4087, gkaasch-buerger@silverton.co.us 

Silverton, Colo. (May 25, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced the Town of Silverton will receive an $800,000 Brownfields Multipurpose Grant funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. EPA’s award to Silverton is among six Brownfields grants totaling nearly $4.78 million announced today for cleanup and revitalization projects in communities across Colorado. 

The Town of Silverton will use the EPA funds to complete environmental cleanup actions and site assessments, develop a brownfields inventory and conduct related community engagement activities at properties in town and along recreational corridors. Addressing contamination at these sites will create opportunities for new affordable housing, water quality improvements and recreational amenities. 

“Silverton has developed a comprehensive plan to assess, clean up and revitalize key properties in town and in key recreational areas surrounding the community,” said EPA Regional Administrator KC Becker. “EPA is proud to support these efforts to improve health and develop new amenities for the community with funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.” 

“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is helping clean up and revitalize communities across Colorado,” said U.S. Senator Michael Bennet. “With this funding, Buena Vista, Pueblo, Telluride, Silverton, San Luis and Trinidad can make sure these sites are safe for the families living near them and restore them in ways that meet the communities’ needs.” 

The EPA funds are part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda to expedite the assessment and cleanup of brownfield sites in while advancing environmental justice through the Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (MARC) Grant programs. Thanks to the historic boost from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this funding is the largest ever awarded in the history of the EPA’s Brownfields MARC Grant programs. 

"Silverton is grateful for the continued support from our federal partners,” said Gloria Kaasch-Buerger, Town Administrator, Town of Silverton. “This grant is a great step forward in our ability to manage our community's natural assets while we grow and thrive." 

The target area for the EPA grant funds includes the Town Core, the Animas River Corridor and the Cement Creek Corridor, all within Silverton. Priority sites include the Zanoni site on Keystone Street, the Lackawanna Mill site on 468 County Road 20 and the Cement Creek site on County Road 110.   

The Town of Silverton will use the funds to focus on former mining sites and ancillary operations, like smelters, where remnant features, abandoned facilities and tailings piles remain today. Many of these operations were concentrated along the waterbody corridors that frame the town, resulting in adverse impacts to water quality. Additionally, mine wastes with elevated metal concentrations were often used as fill and grading materials at these sites, which limit their potential for redevelopment. Contaminants of concern include arsenic, cadmium, copper, silver, zinc and lead. 

The Town will reuse many of these brownfields sites including the Zanoni site in the Town Core area, an ideal location for much-needed new affordable housing. Another priority is the 27-acre Lackawanna Mill site in the Animas River Corridor, which includes an abandoned historic mill, remnant mining buildings, waste piles and equipment that impact the river and nearby recreation. In addition, the Cement Creek site is a roughly five-acre property comprised of exposed mine tailings with steep sided slopes leading to the creek. The site is a priority for assessment and cleanup to address hazards. Potential reuse opportunities include open space, pedestrian infrastructure and art and signage that would enhance this gateway area to town. 

Other Brownfields grants announced in Colorado today include: 

• Watershed NP, Inc.: Buena Vista, $979,222 

• The Keating School, Pueblo: $1 million 

• The Town of San Luis: $500,000 

• San Miguel County: $500,000 

• Mt. Carmel Wellness and Community Center, Trinidad: $998,700  

Background

Thanks to the historic $1.5 billion boost from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA’s Brownfields Program is helping more communities than ever begin to address the economic, social and environmental challenges caused by brownfields and stimulate economic opportunity and environmental revitalization in historically overburdened communities.  

EPA’s Brownfields Program also advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative to direct 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities. Approximately 84% of the MARC program applications selected to receive funding proposed to work in areas that include historically underserved communities. 

EPA’s Brownfields Program began in 1995 and has provided nearly $2.37 billion in Brownfield Grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse. EPA’s investments in addressing brownfield sites have leveraged more than $36 billion in cleanup and redevelopment. Communities that previously received Brownfields Grants used these resources to fund assessments and cleanups of brownfields, and successfully leverage an average of 10.6 jobs per $100,000 of grant funds spent and $19.78 for every dollar. 

More on Brownfields Grants.  

More on EPA’s Brownfields Program. 

Big Sky Economic Development Authority: Thom McLean, thom@bigskyeda.com, 406-869-8407  

Billings, Mont. (May 25, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced the Big Sky Economic Development Authority will receive a $1 million Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grant, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, to conduct cleanup and revitalization at several properties in downtown Billings, Montana. Targeted properties include an aging industrial area characterized by rail distribution facilities, building supply companies and automotive service centers.   

“This EPA Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding is supporting critical cleanup projects that will address known health concerns and revive historic locations in the City of Billings’ Downtown Core,” said EPA Regional Administrator KC Becker. “We look forward to seeing these efforts transform blighted properties into new community assets.”  

“As a third-generation farmer, I understand the challenges rural America is facing, including the lasting impacts of toxic waste,” said U.S. Senator Jon Tester. “Cleaning up and revitalizing Montana’s remaining Brownfield sites breathes new life into our communities by creating some real opportunities for economic development. That’s why I am proud to have secured this funding in my Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for cleanup projects across Big Sky Country to spur economic growth and improve the quality of life for folks from Glendive to Kalispell.” 

EPA’s award to Big Sky Economic Development is among six grants announced today totaling more than $5.7 million for cleanup and revitalization projects in communities across Montana. These funds are part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda to expedite the assessment and cleanup of brownfield sites while advancing environmental justice through the Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (MARC) Grant programs. Thanks to the historic boost from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this funding is the largest ever awarded by the EPA’s Brownfields MARC Grant programs.  

“Outstanding! This will be a tremendous tool to support the community’s redevelopment goals,” said Steve Arveschoug, Executive Director, Big Sky Economic Development. “The Big Sky Economic Development team has had successful experience providing Brownfields assessments for development projects, now totaling over $1.5 million. This new loan program allows us to move these assessments to cleanup projects that facilitate new private investment in the heart of our community.”  

Big Sky Economic Redevelopment will use the EPA funds to address several priority sites for cleanup, including historic buildings in downtown Billings and former industrial locations with potential for renovation into affordable housing, commercial space and recreational uses. These sites include the 1.3-acre Stockton Oil Company property, a former 28,000-square-foot Masonic Temple, the former City Hall, the 92,000-square-foot Billings Gazette building and the 75-acre coal-fired Corette Power Plant, which was decommissioned in 2015. Contaminants of concern at these properties include petroleum compounds, asbestos, lead-based paints, fly ash waste and metals.   

Billings City Hall building

Reuse plans for these properties include opportunities for the creation of new businesses, jobs and greenspace. The Masonic Temple, City Hall and the Billings Gazette building are located within two blocks of each other in the historic downtown center. These iconic buildings have generated strong community interest in their reuse, with significant potential as affordable, high-density housing with ground-level retail and office space. These three properties represent a unique opportunity to create a connected, walkable community with housing, commerce, entertainment and job opportunities. In addition, the former Stockton Oil Company Property offers a prime opportunity for mixed-use industrial and commercial redevelopment due to its central location.  

The cleanup of the 75-acre Corette Power Plant property on the western bank of the Yellowstone River offers an opportunity to transform the large site into greenspace and a community park, linking downtown to the riverfront and providing community gathering and recreational opportunities for the Billings community.   

Other Brownfields grants announced today in Montana include:  

• Sweet Grass Development Corporation, north-central Montana: $1 million 

• Montana West Economic Development Foundation Inc., Flathead County: $500,000  

• Great Falls Development Authority, Inc:  $500,00  

• Great Northern Development Corporation, Glendive: $2,250,00  

• Beartooth Resource Conservation and Development Area, Stillwater, Carbon and Big Horn Counties and the Northern Cheyenne and Crow Indian Reservations: $460,000  

Background  

Thanks to the historic $1.5 billion boost from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA’s Brownfields Program is helping more communities than ever begin to address the economic, social and environmental challenges caused by brownfields and stimulate economic opportunity and environmental revitalization in historically overburdened communities.  

EPA’s Brownfields Program also advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative to direct 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities. Approximately 84% of the MARC program applications selected to receive funding proposed to work in areas that include historically underserved communities. 

EPA’s Brownfields Program began in 1995 and has provided nearly $2.37 billion in Brownfield Grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse. EPA’s investments in addressing brownfield sites have leveraged more than $36 billion in cleanup and redevelopment. Communities that previously received Brownfields Grants used these resources to fund assessments and cleanups of brownfields, and successfully leverage an average of 10.6 jobs per $100,000 of grant funds spent and $19.78 for every dollar. 

More on Brownfields Grants.   

More on EPA’s Brownfields Program.  

Montana West Economic Development Foundation:  Christy Cummings Dawson, President, 406-257-7711, ext 4; christy@dobusinessinmontana.com  

Kalispell, Mont. (May 25, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced the Montana West Economic Development Foundation will receive a $500,000 Brownfields Assessment Grant to develop cleanup and reuse plans, complete environmental site assessments and conduct community engagement activities. 

The EPA grant will focus on nearly two dozen properties in Flathead County. Priority sites include a 22-acre property used as an auto recycling and salvage yard, a dilapidated and vacant former Kmart building, a former elementary school and a former wood treatment and wood post manufacturing business. 

“Montana West Economic Development has put together a comprehensive strategy to assess, clean up and restore contaminated properties throughout Flathead County,” said EPA Regional Administrator KC Becker. “We look forward to seeing these projects bring new community assets and business opportunities to the residents of Columbia Falls, Evergreen, Kalispell and Whitefish.”  

“As a third-generation farmer, I understand the challenges rural America is facing, including the lasting impacts of toxic waste,” said U.S. Senator Jon Tester. “Cleaning up and revitalizing Montana’s remaining Brownfield sites breathes new life into our communities by creating some real opportunities for economic development. That’s why I am proud to have secured this funding in my Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for cleanup projects across Big Sky Country to spur economic growth and improve the quality of life for folks from Glendive to Kalispell.” 

EPA’s award to Montana West Economic Development is among six grants announced today totaling more than $5.7 million for cleanup and revitalization projects in communities across Montana. These funds are part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda to expedite the assessment and cleanup of brownfield sites while advancing environmental justice through the Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (MARC) Grant programs. Thanks to the historic boost from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this funding is the largest ever awarded by the EPA’s Brownfields MARC Grant programs.   

“The Flathead Valley has seen tremendous growth in recent years and these EPA Brownfields Assessment funds will help to facilitate redevelopment of blighted and underused areas, taking advantage of existing Infrastructure and preserving open space,” said Christy Cummings Dawson, President/CEO of Montana West Economic Development. “This is a great tool for incentivizing redevelopment by taking some of the uncertainty and risk out of the process. We want to build upon the work of the Flathead County Economic Development Authority, the City of Kalispell and others that have done brownfields work locally to foster targeted redevelopment throughout Flathead County.”  

Montana West Economic Development will use the EPA funds for projects at several properties as potential candidates for assessment, cleanup and redevelopment, including Wisher's Wrecking Yard in Kalispell, the Evergreen Kmart, Larry's Post & Pole, the Glacier Gateway School Buildings in Columbia Falls and the Soroptimist Building in Whitefish. Reuse opportunities for these sites include transformation into affordable housing, which will substantially increase the inventory of apartments and homes for low- and moderate-income residents. These efforts will increase downtown populations and allow workers to live close to new businesses and restaurants.     

Wisher’s Wrecking Yard in the south end of Kalispell is a 22.4-acre property currently used as an auto recycling and salvage yard.  The property is surrounded by residential subdivisions and is an ideal location for new housing development following the evaluation of contamination concerns.    

The Evergreen Kmart is located on Highway 2 on the south end of Evergreen within the 100-year floodplain. The 8.5-acre property is covered in asphalt and includes a large 92,000 square-foot building with hazardous building materials that are delaying demolition and redevelopment. Once assessed and cleaned up, the site is a prime candidate for more than 40 multi-bedroom rental units for low-income families.  

The Glacier Gateway School Buildings in Columbia Falls are vacant former elementary and junior high school buildings with potential reuse as more than 50 new senior housing units and community recreation areas.   

The Soroptimist Building in downtown Whitefish is operating as a thrift store and has been slated for renovation into affordable housing units. Cleanup planning and assessment of the building is needed prior to redevelopment.    

Larry’s Post and Pole in Columbia Falls is a 6.7-acre wood treatment and post manufacturing business. Further investigation of the property, including the presence of wood preservatives, pentachlorophenol and penetrating oil and diesel, is needed prior to sale and redevelopment as affordable housing.   

The Whitefish Thrift Haus plans to relocate to another location while creating multi-family housing units in the former Soroptimist building for low- to moderate-income families.   

Other Brownfields grants announced in Montana today include:  

• Sweetgrass Development Corporation, north-central Montana: $1 million   

• Great Falls Development Authority, Inc: $500,000 

• Big Sky Economic Development: Billings, $1 million  

• Great Northern Development Corporation: Glendive, $2,250,000  

• Beartooth Resource Conservation and Development, Stillwater, Carbon and Big Horn Counties and the Northern Cheyenne and Crow Indian Reservations: $460,000 

Background  

Thanks to the historic $1.5 billion boost from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA’s Brownfields Program is helping more communities than ever begin to address the economic, social and environmental challenges caused by brownfields and stimulate economic opportunity and environmental revitalization in historically overburdened communities.  

EPA’s Brownfields Program also advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative to direct 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities. Approximately 84% of the MARC program applications selected to receive funding proposed to work in areas that include historically underserved communities. 

EPA’s Brownfields Program began in 1995 and has provided nearly $2.37 billion in Brownfield Grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse. EPA’s investments in addressing brownfield sites have leveraged more than $36 billion in cleanup and redevelopment. Communities that previously received Brownfields Grants used these resources to fund assessments and cleanups of brownfields, and successfully leverage an average of 10.6 jobs per $100,000 of grant funds spent and $19.78 for every dollar. 

More on Brownfields Grants.   

More on EPA’s Brownfields Program.  

Beartooth Resource Conservation & Development Area, Inc:  

Jacy Head, Economic Development Director, 406-962-3914, jhead@beartooth.org ; Nan Knight, nknight@beartooth.org  

Joliet, Mont. (May 25, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced the Beartooth Resource Conservation and Development Area (Beartooth RC&D), Inc., will receive a $460,000 Brownfields Assessment Grant.  

Beartooth RC&D will conduct environmental site assessments, develop cleanup plans and complete a brownfield site inventory to advance the cleanup and revitalization of properties in rural communities in south-central Montana. Target areas will be entrances to small farming and ranching communities and flood-prone properties along the Yellowstone River and its tributaries in Stillwater, Carbon and Big Horn Counties and the Northern Cheyenne and Crow Indian Reservations. Priority sites include The Sports Hut in Columbus, the Rocky Fork Inn in Red Lodge and Johnson’s Lumberyard in Lodge Grass.  

“Our partners at Beartooth RC&D continue to find opportunities to assess, clean up and restore properties in south-central Montana,” said EPA Regional Administrator KC Becker. “These assessment projects will revive blighted properties and create new assets in rural communities along the Yellowstone River.”  

“As a third-generation farmer, I understand the challenges rural America is facing, including the lasting impacts of toxic waste,” said U.S. Senator Jon Tester. “Cleaning up and revitalizing Montana’s remaining Brownfield sites breathes new life into our communities by creating some real opportunities for economic development. That’s why I am proud to have secured this funding in my Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for cleanup projects across Big Sky Country to spur economic growth and improve the quality of life for folks from Glendive to Kalispell.” 

EPA’s award to Beartooth RC&D is among six Brownfields grants totaling nearly $5.7 million for cleanup and revitalization projects in communities across Montana. These funds are part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda to expedite the assessment and cleanup of brownfield sites while advancing environmental justice through the Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (MARC) Grant programs. Thanks to the historic boost from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this funding is the largest ever awarded by the EPA’s Brownfields MARC Grant programs.  

“Beartooth RC&D is beyond thrilled to receive the EPA Brownfields Assessment funding since it will establish our Brownfields Program that can serve our region’s rural communities,” said Jacy Head, Economic Development Director, Beartooth RC&D. “Beartooth RC&D is grateful to EPA for this opportunity to invest these critical funds into our local communities and projects.”    

The Sports Hut in Columbus, a former bar and casino, has been vacant since 2020 when an environmental assessment found asbestos and a groundwater plume of petroleum on the property. Following cleanup, the property is well-positioned for reuse as a business or greenspace.   

The Johnson’s Lumber and Hardware property in Lodge Grass is on the Crow Reservation and was previously used as a tire shop, store and lumberyard. Following cleanup, the City of Lodge Grass intends to purchase the property from Big Horn County and redevelop the site as new housing.  

The Rocky Fork Inn in Red Lodge was previously a service station before it was converted into a bed and breakfast. It sustained significant flood damage in 2022, creating concerns associated with potential contamination from underground storage tanks, damages caused by the flooding and asbestos.  Cleanup of the site will allow the community to reuse a flood-prone property at a key location at the entrance to the town. Removing debris, eliminating potential contamination, connecting two segments of a recreational trail and safe reuse of the waterfront are among the main priorities for cleanup and redevelopment.   

Other Brownfields grants announced in Montana today include:  

• Sweet Grass, north-central Montana: $1 million 

• Montana West Economic Development Foundation, Inc:  Kalispell, Flathead County, $500,000  

• Big Sky Economic Development: Billings, $1 million  

• Great Falls Development Authority Inc: $500,00  

• Great Northern Development Corporation: Glendive, $2,250,000  

Background  

Thanks to the historic $1.5 billion boost from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA’s Brownfields Program is helping more communities than ever begin to address the economic, social and environmental challenges caused by brownfields and stimulate economic opportunity and environmental revitalization in historically overburdened communities.  

EPA’s Brownfields Program also advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative to direct 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities. Approximately 84% of the MARC program applications selected to receive funding proposed to work in areas that include historically underserved communities. 

EPA’s Brownfields Program began in 1995 and has provided nearly $2.37 billion in Brownfield Grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse. EPA’s investments in addressing brownfield sites have leveraged more than $36 billion in cleanup and redevelopment. Communities that previously received Brownfields Grants used these resources to fund assessments and cleanups of brownfields, and successfully leverage an average of 10.6 jobs per $100,000 of grant funds spent and $19.78 for every dollar. 

More on Brownfields Grants.   

More on EPA’s Brownfields Program.  

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced more than $315 million from President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda to expedite the assessment and cleanup of brownfield sites across the country while advancing environmental justice.

EPA selected 262 communities to receive 267 grants totaling more than $215 million in competitive EPA Brownfields funding through the Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (MARC) Grant programs. Thanks to the historic boost from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this is the largest ever funding awarded in the history of the EPA’s Brownfields MARC Grant programs. In addition, the agency is announcing $45 million in non-competitive supplemental funding to 22 successful existing Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grant programs to help expedite their continued work at sites across the country by extending the capacity of the program to provide more funding for additional cleanups. EPA is also announcing selections of five Brownfields Technical Assistance Providers and three recipients of Brownfields Research Grants, who are receiving $55 million to strengthen technical assistance.

These investments totaling $315 million are part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda to grow the American economy from the bottom up and middle-out – from rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure, to driving over $470 billion in private sector manufacturing and clean energy investments in the United States, to creating a manufacturing and innovation boom powered by good paying jobs that don’t require a four-year degree, to building a clean-energy economy that will combat climate change and make our communities more resilient.

“We’re working across the country to revitalize what were once dangerous and polluted sites in overburdened communities into more sustainable and environmentally just places that serve as community assets. Thanks to President Biden’s historic investments in America, we’re moving further and faster than ever before to clean up contaminated sites, spur economic redevelopment, and deliver relief that so many communities have been waiting for,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “This critical wave of investments is the largest in Brownfields history and will accelerate our work to protect the people and the planet by transforming what was once blight into might.”

EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan announced the brownfields funding for communities with U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (WI) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where the EPA has selected the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Milwaukee (RACM) to receive $5.5 million in funds as part of the MARC Grant program for brownfields assessment and clean up. Administrator Regan and Senator Baldwin visited one of the sites that will be cleaned up thanks to today’s investment. The cleanup of this site will complement other EPA investments in the 30th Street Industrial Corridor, which is a key area disproportionately impacted by legacy pollution. 

“I voted for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to fix our nation’s infrastructure, create good paying jobs, and build a cleaner, safer, and more resilient environment for the next generation. This funding will allow communities across Wisconsin to address legacy pollution that prevents these sites from being redeveloped into affordable housing, new businesses, or green spaces,” said Senator Tammy Baldwin. “By cleaning up legacy pollution, we can attract businesses to invest in and develop these sites, increase the tax base for cities like Milwaukee, spur job creation, and revitalize our neighborhoods.

“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is transforming brownfields into areas of growth and promise,” said Representative Gwen Moore. “I am so proud to support these investments in Milwaukee, which will support healthier communities and lift up the well-being of my constituents.”

Many communities that are under economic stress, particularly those located in areas that have experienced long periods of disinvestment, lack the resources needed to initiate brownfield cleanup and redevelopment projects. As brownfield sites are transformed into community assets, they attract jobs, promote economic revitalization and transform communities into sustainable and environmentally just places.

Thanks to the historic $1.5 billion boost from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA’s Brownfields Program is helping more communities than ever before begin to address the economic, social, and environmental challenges caused by brownfields and stimulate economic opportunity, and environmental revitalization in historically overburdened communities.

EPA’s Brownfields Program also advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative to direct 40% of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments to disadvantaged communities. The Brownfields Program strives to meet this commitment and advance environmental justice and equity considerations into all aspects of its work. Approximately 84% of the MARC and RLF Supplemental program applications selected to receive funding proposed to work in areas that include historically underserved communities.

Funding Breakdown:

Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (MARC) Grant Program Selection

EPA announced 262 communities that have been selected to receive 267 grants totaling more than $215 million in competitive EPA Brownfields funding through the Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (MARC) Grant Programs. This represents the highest funding level ever announced in the history of the Brownfields Program.

You can read more about this year’s MARC selectees.

Non-competitive Supplemental Funding Through the Existing Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grant Program

The Agency is announcing $45 million in non-competitive supplemental funding to 22 successful existing Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grant programs that have already achieved success in their work to clean up and redevelop brownfield sites. RLF Grants provide funding for recipients to offer loans and subgrants to carry out cleanup activities at brownfield sites. The funding announced today will help communities continue to address the economic, social, and environmental challenges caused by brownfield sites.

Read more about this year’s RLF recipients.

Brownfields Technical Assistance Providers and Research Grants

EPA is also announcing funding selection for two Brownfields technical assistance opportunities. The Technical Assistance to Brownfields (TAB) selectees provide specialized technical knowledge, research, and training to help stakeholders understand brownfields-related subject matter, and guide them through the brownfield assessment, clean-up, and revitalization process. This assistance is a key part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to advance economic opportunities and address environmental justice issues in underserved communities. This technical assistance is available to all stakeholders and comes at no cost to communities. The two funding opportunities announced today come entirely from the historic $1.5 billion investment from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and include the following:

1. EPA selected five Technical Assistance Providers for a total of $53 million in grants to provide training and technical assistance to communities across the country under the Technical Assistance to Brownfields (TAB) Program. This investment will fund non-profit technical assistance providers in all ten EPA regions. Read more about this year’s TAB selectees.
2. EPA is also expanding the scope of its technical assistance offerings under the Brownfields and Land Revitalization Program to include three new subject-specific grants totaling $2 million in three areas, including providing technical assistance to nonprofits seeking to reuse Brownfields; provide research, outreach, and guidance on minimizing displacement resulting from brownfields redevelopment; and providing outreach and guidance on land banking tactics for brownfields revitalization. Read more on the Brownfields Technical Assistance and Research cooperative agreement recipients. 

More information about Brownfields Technical Assistance and Research.

Additional Background:

EPA has selected these organizations to receive funding to address and support the reuse of brownfield sites. EPA anticipates making all the awards announced today once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied. 

EPA’s Brownfields Program began in 1995 and has provided nearly $2.37 billion in Brownfield Grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse. EPA’s investments in addressing brownfield sites have leveraged more than $36 billion in cleanup and redevelopment. Over the years, the relatively small investment of federal funding has leveraged, from both public and private sources, nearly 260,000 jobs. Communities that previously received Brownfields Grants used these resources to fund assessments and cleanups of brownfields, and successfully leverage an average of 10.6 jobs per $100,000 of EPA Brownfield Grant funds spent and $19.78 for every dollar.

The next National Brownfields Training Conference will be held on August 8-11, 2023, in Detroit, Michigan. Offered every two years, this conference is the largest gathering of stakeholders focused on cleaning up and reusing former commercial and industrial properties. EPA co-sponsors this event with the International City/County Management Association (ICMA).

• More on Brownfields Grants.
• More on EPA’s Brownfields Program.

WASHINGTON — Today, in response to the Supreme Court decision in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan issued the following statement:

“As a public health agency, EPA is committed to ensuring that all people, regardless of race, the money in their pocket, or community they live in, have access to clean, safe water. We will never waver from that responsibility.

I am disappointed by today’s Supreme Court decision that erodes longstanding clean water protections. The Biden-Harris Administration has worked to establish a durable definition of ‘waters of the United States’ that safeguards our nation’s waters, strengthens economic opportunity, and protects people’s health while providing the clarity and certainty that farmers, ranchers, and landowners deserve. These goals will continue to guide the agency forward as we carefully review the Supreme Court decision and consider next steps.

In 1972, an overwhelming bipartisan majority in Congress passed the Clean Water Act, giving EPA and Army Corp implementation responsibilities. In doing so, our leaders recognized that protecting our nation’s waters is vital to ensuring a thriving economy and agricultural sector, to sustaining diverse ecosystems, and to protecting the water our children drink. 

Over the past 50 years, we have made transformational progress — rivers that were once on fire have been restored and now sustain vibrant communities in every corner of the country. A common sense and science-based definition of ‘waters of the United States’ is essential to building on that progress and fulfilling our responsibility to preserve our nation’s waters — now and for future generations.”

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $10.6 million in grant funding to help coastal and Great Lakes communities protect the health of beachgoers this summer. The funding will assist many states, Tribes and territories in conducting water quality monitoring and public notification programs for their beaches.

“Many people spend time in the summer splashing, swimming, and playing at a favorite beach, which is why EPA is providing more than $10 million to help states and local partners monitor water quality,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox. “These grants help states, Tribes, and territories fund programs to ensure that our coastal waters are safe for swimming and recreation.”

Under the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act, EPA awards grants to eligible states, Tribal, and territorial applicants to help them and their local government partners monitor water quality at coastal and Great Lakes beaches. When bacteria levels are too high for safe swimming, these agencies notify the public and post beach warnings or closings.

Since 2001, EPA has awarded nearly $216 million in BEACH Act grants to test beach waters for illness-causing bacteria and help with public notification and identification of the problem. This program is essential for protecting the health of beachgoers across the country.

“With summer right around the corner, tens of millions of Americans are making plans to travel to our beautiful beaches in Delaware and around the country,” said Senator Carper (DE), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. “Fortunately, EPA is providing states and communities with the tools to ensure the safety of the water at our nation’s beaches, which are an integral part of our tourism economy and important ecosystems for wildlife and migratory birds.”

“New Jerseyans and visitors are ready to flock to the Jersey Shore this weekend, so it’s great to see that our state is receiving federal funding to help protect public health and give beachgoers the peace of mind they deserve,” said Congressman Pallone (NJ-06). “New Jersey’s beaches are a treasure, and this funding will help make sure they remain clean and safe. I’ve long advocated for federal funding to make sure our recreational waters for swimming, surfing, and fishing are safe, and I’ll continue to fight to deliver the resources New Jersey’s towns need.”

EPA’s 2023 BEACH Act grant funding will be allocated to the following states, Tribes, and territories contingent upon their meeting the eligibility requirements:

EPA Region 1
Connecticut $236,000
Maine $272,000
Massachusetts $275,000
New Hampshire $214,000
Rhode Island $228,000

EPA Region 2
New Jersey $300,000
New York $363,000
Puerto Rico $344,000
U.S. Virgin Islands $309,000

EPA Region 3
Delaware $223,000
Maryland $283,000
Pennsylvania $235,000
Virginia $291,000

EPA Region 4
Alabama $278,000
Florida $547,000
Georgia $301,000
Mississippi $270,000
North Carolina $327,000
South Carolina $317,000

EPA Region 5
Illinois $258,000
Indiana $222,000
Michigan $298,000
Minnesota $217,000
Ohio $242,000
Wisconsin $241,000
Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians $60,000
Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa $56,000

EPA Region 6
Louisiana $381,000
Texas $405,000

EPA Region 9
American Samoa $308,000
California $536,000
Guam $309,000
Hawaii $348,000
Northern Mariana Islands $313,000

EPA Region 10
Alaska $166,000
Makah Tribe of the Makah Indian Reservation $56,000

Oregon $247,000
Washington $287,000
Swinomish Indian Tribal Community $56,000

More information on BEACH Act grants.

Check the relevant state, Tribal, or territorial beach program website for closing or advisory information at a particular beach.

PHILADELPHIA (May 25, 2023) – Eastman Chemical Resins Inc. will pay a $2.4 million penalty for environmental violations at the sprawling 56-acre manufacturing facility in West Elizabeth, Pennsylvania, that is now owned and operated by Synthomer Jefferson Hills, LLC, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today.

“Compliance with our nation’s laws that protect the environment and the health of our communities is an obligation companies can’t take lightly,” said EPA Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. “The actions required by this settlement will help ensure that the facility operates in a manner that is protective of environmental resources and the health of nearby communities.”

“Pennsylvanians have a right enshrined in the state constitution to clean air and pure water, and we will always pursue operators that violate that right and hold polluters accountable,” said Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Acting Secretary Rich Negrin. “We were pleased to work with our federal partners to hold this polluter accountable.”

Along with the financial penalty being paid by Eastman, Synthomer has agreed to take actions to eliminate ongoing violations and prevent future violations. This includes conducting a comprehensive review of stormwater discharges and groundwater contamination and implementing initiatives to ensure compliance with environmental laws, including the Clean Water Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and parallel Pennsylvania laws.

Violations include:

• Chronic Clean Water Act violations including exceeding allowable limits for zinc, xylene and other pollutants that are discharged to the Monongahela River.
• Unpermitted discharges of oil and other pollutants.
• Failure to comply with operation and maintenance obligations of its Clean Water Act permit.
• Violations of the facility’s Clean Air Act risk management program.
• Numerous hazardous waste management violations.

The penalty will be divided equally between the United States and Pennsylvania, who are co-plaintiffs in this consent decree. Pennsylvania DEP assisted EPA in the investigation and litigation. The settlement addresses alleged federal and state environmental law violations that have occurred since 2017, which threaten to degrade receiving streams and impact public health and harm aquatic life and the environment.  

The chemical producing facility is bordered on the southeast by the Monongahela River and bisected by an unnamed tributary to that river.  The proposed consent decree, filed in the federal district court in Pittsburgh, is subject to a 30-day public comment period and approval by the federal court.

A copy of the consent decree with more specifics about the violations is available online at https://www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees.  

SAN FRANCISCO – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a settlement with Watts Regulator Company for alleged violations of federal law related to sale or distribution of misbranded water filtration devices and importation of pesticides into the United States. Watts, which is headquartered in Massachusetts, imported devices through a port of entry in Nogales, Arizona. Watts will pay $60,558 in civil penalties as part of the settlement.

EPA Region 9, which covers Arizona, conducted an investigation and determined that Watts was making claims that various water filtration products it was importing reduced water impurities, reduced parasitic cysts, killed microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and mold, and sterilized. The EPA concluded that Watts distributed misbranded devices, which included false and misleading claims on their labeling.  

“The sale of misbranded products that claim to sterilize or kill microorganisms is both unlawful and a clear risk to human health,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. “EPA is committed to enforcing laws that protect our communities.”

Watts failed to display EPA establishment numbers clearly and prominently on its labels and did not file all necessary importation requirements. Under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), EPA establishment numbers must appear on the labels of pesticide devices, and the importer of such devices must submit a Notice of Arrival of Pesticides and Devices form before the arrival of the shipment in the United States.

While pesticide devices are not required to be registered by the EPA, companies that sell or distribute them may not make any false or misleading claims, and scientific studies must support all public health claims.  

For more information visit EPA’s FIFRA website.

For more information visit EPA’s Importing and Exporting Pesticides and Devices website.

Learn more about EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region. Connect with us on Facebook and on Twitter.

Bulletin

Contact: David Piantanida (piantanida.david@epa.gov) 
(720) 661-7482                                                                                                      

DENVER (May 23, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Region 8 Office is previewing an upcoming grant competition for a Region 8 focused Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center (EJ TCTAC) to help Region 8 communities and other environmental justice stakeholders access federal technical assistance and resources to address environmental and energy justice concerns. EPA Region 8 includes the states of Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming and 28 Tribal Nations.  Region 8 hopes to issue the opportunity by July 13, 2023.

In April of this year, the agency announced $177 million in investments for the creation of 17 EJ TCTACs (national and regional EJ TCTACs) across the country to help underserved and overburdened communities access funds from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, including historic investments to advance environmental and energy justice. This new Region 8 grant opportunity will again partner with the U.S. Department of Energy to build upon and complement that effort by focusing on delivering technical assistance specifically within EPA Region 8.

“I am thrilled that we will be opening this grant opportunity to have a Region 8-specific technical assistance resource center serving communities across our region and empowering them to tackle environmental justice concerns,” said Regional Administrator KC Becker. “We recognize that many of our communities have solutions to the environmental challenges they face but have lacked the resources needed to deliver these solutions – this Region 8 technical assistance center will help them build capacity and access federal funding to advance environmental justice across our Region and will complement the 17 environmental justice thriving communities technical assistance centers previously announced by the EPA Administrator in April.”

As noted above, EPA Region 8 hopes to issue a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) by July 13, 2023, soliciting applications from eligible entities interested in serving as the Region 8 EJ TCTAC. After the NOFO is issued, EPA Region 8 will hold at least two webinars to share information about the grant opportunity and answer questions potential applicants may have about it.  Further information about the webinars will be included in the NOFO and will also be posted at EPA Region 8 Mountains and Plains. Until a grant applicant is selected through this upcoming grant competition and begins providing technical assistance, communities and organizations within Region 8 will be able to access assistance through one of the designated national TCTACs.

Background
Once awarded, the EPA Region 8 EJ TCTAC will be part of the network of the other 17 EJ TCTACs providing technical assistance on a comprehensive nation-wide basis. With these critical investments, the EJ TCTACs will provide training and other technical assistance to community groups, nonprofits, local governments and others to build capacity for navigating federal, state and private grant application systems, writing strong grant proposals, and effectively managing grant funding.

In addition, these EJ TCTACs will provide guidance on engagement with governmental processes, community outreach, meeting facilitation, and translation and interpretation services for limited English-speaking participants, 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 the communities they serve have direct access to resources and information.

Process
EPA Region 8 anticipates issuing the NOFO for the Region 8 EJ TCTAC by July 13, 2023, and making the award around the end of the calendar year. The award amount will be approximately $10 million.

Eligible applicants who can compete under the NOFO will generally include:

• Public and private universities and colleges and other nonprofit institutions of higher education such as community colleges
• Public and private nonprofit institutions/organizations (including philanthropic organizations)
• Intertribal Consortia – a coalition between two or more Indian tribal governments authorized by the governing bodies of those tribes to apply for and receive assistance and participate in self-governance

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. For more information on the EJ TCTACs please click here: EJ Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers program.

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 EJ TCTACs will help ensure communities with environmental and energy 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 Environmental Justice at EPA.

NEW YORK – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has settled an administrative case against Newburg Egg Processing Corp. for allegedly failing to meet standards in the wastewater it treats and sends to a wastewater treatment plant. The company’s alleged failures led to excessive nitrogen and ammonia pollution that passed through the wastewater treatment plant and into Sandburg Creek in the Village of Woodridge, NY. The company will pay a penalty of $100,000 for not meeting the pollution limits and has already taken steps to address the cause of the violations.

“Newburg Egg and other companies must comply with all aspects of the Clean Water Act including properly treating their industrial wastewater,” said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “EPA will hold companies accountable when they violate critical laws that protect public health and the environment. We are glad that the company chose to cooperate and is investing in needed equipment.”

As an industrial source, the company must first treat its waste stream – a process referred to as pre-treatment -- before discharging it to the municipal wastewater treatment plant. This pre-treatment prevents excessive pollution levels, which can interfere with the effectiveness of the  wastewater treatment plant. In this case the pollution levels that Newburg Egg discharged caused the Woodbridge, NY treatment plant to exceed pollution limits set by a New York wastewater permit.

As a result of these violations, excessive amounts of nitrogen, ammonia, phosphorus and other materials were discharged into Sandburg Creek between January 2018 to June 2021. To prevent this from happening again, Newburg Egg has added additional capacity to hold their wastewater and properly pretreat it before discharging to the Woodridge wastewater treatment plant. Newburg Egg has separately agreed to install a new polymer mix and feed system to provide better treatment to remove contaminants like nitrogen, ammonia and phosphorus at its pretreatment plant. This will improve its process wastewater treatment prior to discharge to the village wastewater treatment plant.

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

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WASHINGTON — At an event in Ventura, California, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox today announced two Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loans totaling $173 million. With these loans, the City of Ventura will establish a new, local drought-resistant water supply to enhance the city’s resilience to climate change while creating good paying jobs.

“Here in Ventura, drought is a significant issue that threatens the security of this great community. The upgrades made possible by EPA’s $173 million WIFIA loans will help the city increase its water supply by an incredible 20 percent and strengthen the area’s economic vitality,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox. “This announcement demonstrates why water infrastructure investments are so central to President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. Thanks to programs like WIFIA and the historic $50 billion for water under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA is rebuilding essential water infrastructure to address community needs while creating good-paying jobs in the process.”

Due to local drought conditions, the City of Ventura is facing a projected water supply shortfall by 2035. EPA’s WIFIA loans totaling $173 million will support the city in designing and constructing projects to increase potable water supplies by 20% with a combination of purified local recycled water and groundwater. A new Advanced Water Purification Facility will produce up to 5,400 acre-feet of potable water per year. The project will upgrade the existing Ventura Water Reclamation Facility with up to six new groundwater injection and extraction wells, and an ocean outfall and discharge pipeline.

President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is rebuilding infrastructure and boosting U.S. competitiveness while creating good-paying jobs. In Ventura, EPA’s WIFIA loans will save the city approximately $53 million while construction and operation are estimated to create approximately 1,100 jobs. EPA is accelerating upgrades to critical drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure with a historic $50 billion investment provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

“Climate change has made access to clean water and the health of our waterways two of the most critical issues facing the Central Coast. That's why, as my colleagues and I have crafted laws like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act, Water Resources Development Act, and our recent federal budgets, we have made sure to include robust investments in the drought resiliency and environmental preservation efforts that will help our communities,” said U.S. Congressman Salud Carbajal. “I'm pleased to see those efforts result in more than $170 million for the City of Ventura exactly for these purposes: guaranteeing a reliable and drought-resistant water supply for our neighborhoods and protecting a key estuary and its habitats. As weather patterns continue to swing to heavier extremes – like we've seen with historic drought giving way to nearly three months of atmospheric rivers – the more we will need forward-looking investments in resiliency for the Central Coast.”

“In these unprecedented times, where we face more frequent and rapidly intensifying threats to our nation’s infrastructure, it is imperative that we continue to invest in climate-resilient projects and a clean-energy economy. As part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, the City of Ventura has secured critical funding to protect our water supply from persistent drought conditions and preserve an important environmental habitat, while creating good-paying local jobs,” said U.S. Congresswoman Julia Brownley. “In strong partnership with the Biden-Harris administration, I stand ready to deliver the federal resources our communities need to not only grow the American economy, but uplift America’s working families.”

Assistant Administrator Fox was joined at the event by Ventura Mayor Joe Schroeder, California Water Board Chair Joaquin Esquivel, and other local officials.

“We are grateful to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for awarding the City of Ventura a transformative $173 million WIFIA loan. This funding is a vital investment in our community's water infrastructure, ensuring the well-being and prosperity of our residents. With the EPA's support, we can now embark on crucial projects that will enhance our drinking water systems, improve wastewater treatment, and promote sustainable water practices,” said Ventura Mayor Joe Schroeder. “This partnership exemplifies the power of collaboration and sets us on a path towards a resilient, thriving future.”

“Adapting to California’s hotter, drier climate requires investing in local efforts to create water supplies that can withstand drought and other extreme conditions. By managing water more holistically and connecting the drops across our watersheds, solutions like Ventura’s advanced purification plant help ensure that people have access to clean water for the long-term,” said E. Joaquin Esquivel, Chair of the California Water Boards. “This federal investment goes a long way toward making water more affordable, especially when combined with California’s recent, historic water investments.”

In addition to bolstering potable water supplies, this project will protect valuable habitat for numerous sensitive and native species and support compliance with a consent decree by diverting flows away from the Santa Clara Estuary to be treated at the new Advanced Water Purification Facility.

Learn more about EPA’s WIFIA Program and water infrastructure investments under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Background  

Established by the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014, the WIFIA program is a federal loan program administered by EPA. The WIFIA program’s aim is to accelerate investment in the nation’s water infrastructure by providing long-term, low-cost supplemental credit assistance for regionally and nationally significant projects. The WIFIA program has an active pipeline of pending applications for projects that will result in billions of dollars in water infrastructure investment and thousands of jobs.  

EPA is currently accepting letters of interest for WIFIA loans. Learn more about submitting a letter of interest for a WIFIA loan.

CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS (MAY 23, 2023) – This week, agencies from the federal government and the state of Texas will participate in a hurricane-preparedness exercise in and around Corpus Christi, Texas, from May 22-26. The agencies are part of the Natural Disaster Operational Workgroup (NDOW) formed to improve coordination and communication during responses to hurricanes or other large-scale emergencies.

The exercise will simulate a multi-agency response following a Category 4 hurricane impacting the Texas coast. Participants will set up three operations bases for activities including hazard evaluation, orphan container recovery, vessel assessment and recovery, oil spill assessment and recovery, water and wastewater system assessments, and air monitoring. This exercise will allow the agencies to practice unified response techniques and data sharing to help streamline joint field operations and communications during future large-scale events. Participants will also test protocols designed to assess air emissions and data sharing between agencies for environmental justice areas affected from the storm.

Residents of Corpus Christi should be aware that response officials and equipment could be visible to the public during this exercise, but their activities will be for training and preparedness purposes only.

Participating agencies include:

• U. S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 6
• U. S. Coast Guard
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security
• Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
• Texas General Land Office
• Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
• Texas Department of Public Safety
• Texas Civil Support Team
• National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration
• U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Background

The Natural Disaster Operational Workgroup (NDOW) was formed after Hurricane Ike in 2008. NDOW’s goal is to improve coordination between state and federal agencies involved in large-scale disaster response. NDOW seeks to establish an operational structure and common planning framework, including procedures, standardized data quality objectives, training and exercises for effective coordination of multi-agency response to man-made and natural disasters. In support of the National Incident Management System (NIMS), the NDOW framework engages existing state and federal resources and authorities to incorporate the full capabilities of all sectors. The NDOW intends to institutionalize and expand use of standardized procedures throughout all Gulf Coast Regional Response Team (RRT) agencies to ensure effective incident response in support of community recovery.

For more information on NDOW, please see: http://ndow.net/

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its annual interactive report tracking America’s progress in controlling air pollution. “Our Nation’s Air: Trends Through 2022” offers readers an opportunity to learn about the health and environmental impacts of air pollution; track trends in air quality and emissions data, explore efforts to improve visibility in treasured national parks; and explore community-level health impacts of air toxics emissions reported for 2020.

“This report highlights the crucial role EPA’s work – coupled with the unrelenting efforts of our state, tribal, community and industry partners – have played in improving air quality across the country,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Even as the economy grows, we continue to see dramatic long-term reductions in air emissions. This progress is encouraging, and we will continue to collaborate with our partners to protect public health and ensure clean air for all.”

EPA examines long-term trends to track the nation's progress toward clean air. The report released today shows that, between 1970 and 2022, the combined emissions of six key pollutants dropped by 78%, while the U.S. economy remained strong — growing 304% over the same time.

In addition, national average concentrations of harmful air pollutants decreased considerably across our nation between 1990 and 2022: 

• Carbon Monoxide (CO) 8-Hour,81%
• Lead (Pb) 3-Month Average,88% (from 2010)
• Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) Annual,60%
• Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) 1-Hour,54%
• Ozone (O3) 8-Hour,22%
• Particulate Matter 10 microns (PM10) 24-Hour,34%
• Particulate Matter 2.5 microns (PM2.5) Annual,42% (from 2000)
• Particulate Matter 2.5 microns (PM2.5) 24-Hour,42% (from 2000)
• Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) 1-Hour,90%

It is important to note that air quality concentrations can vary year to year, even as human-caused emissions continue to decline. In 2022, national average concentrations of lead and nitrogen dioxide increased slightly over 2021 levels. Variations in weather, and events such as dust storms and wildfires can have an impact on air quality in affected areas. Many environmental impacts associated with climate change can impact air quality particularly affecting the severity and timing of the wildfire season, including changes in temperature, precipitation, and drought.

The report spotlights the projects selected as part of EPA’s Enhanced Air Quality Monitoring Competitive Grants, providing information for each project as of November 2022 when selections were announced. These funds will enhance air quality monitoring in communities across the United States – particularly those that are underserved, historically marginalized, and overburdened by pollution.

The report includes interactive graphics that enable citizens, policymakers and stakeholders to view and download detailed information by pollutant, geographic location and year. 

Explore the report and download graphics and data.

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $2,499,579 in research grant funding to Texas Tech University for research on the behavior of perchlorate after fireworks events near water sources.

“Protecting our water resources and ensuring clean drinking water is one of EPA’s top priorities,” said Chris Frey, Assistant Administrator of EPA’s Office of Research and Development. “With this research grant, Texas Tech University will be able to provide states and utilities with further knowledge on how to protect drinking water from perchlorate contamination.”

Perchlorate is a chemical used in rocket propellants, explosives, flares and fireworks. Recent increases in the use of fireworks have caused concern over potential increases of perchlorate in ambient waters that serve as sources of drinking water. Perchlorate in drinking water sources can be a health concern because above certain exposure levels, perchlorate can interfere with the normal functioning of the thyroid gland. Prior research has investigated water contamination from fireworks; however, there are gaps in understanding the magnitude and extent of perchlorate contamination before, during, and after fireworks are discharged around drinking water sources.

The awarded researchers at Texas Tech University will evaluate the relative impacts of perchlorate from fireworks on six drinking water sources across the U.S. including a groundwater source. Observations from the sites will be integrated into the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), a public domain model, to expand its ability to assess the impact of firework-driven perchlorate emissions. Project results will provide states and utilities with data on the behavior of perchlorate after fireworks events which could be used to determine whether any actions are needed to reduce exposure via drinking water.

Learn more about the project.

Learn more about EPA research grants.

EPA Announces Completion of Groundwater Treatment Plant at

Chem Fab Superfund Site in Doylestown, Pennsylvania

Funding from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to Expedite Cleanup

PHILADELPHIA (May 19, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today the completion of the groundwater treatment system at the Chem Fab Superfund Site in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, thanks to $2.9 million under the Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) to expedite the cleanup.

“This historic funding boost from the BIL invests $3.5 billion in Superfund cleanups nationally, making a dramatic impact on EPA’s ability to address legacy pollution that threatens the health of communities across the country,” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. “By expediting these cleanups, we’re ensuring the protection of affected communities and moving these sites closer in the direction for potential redevelopment.”

The Chem Fab Superfund Site is located on North Broad Street in Doylestown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.  From the mid-1960s to the late 1970s, Chem Fab, Inc. operated an electroplating and metal etching facility which stored and disposed of processing chemicals on-site. 

Groundwater underlying the Site is contaminated with metals, volatile organic compounds, and per-and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS). The chemicals in the groundwater are commonly found in solvents and degreasers and associated with electroplating operations.  Volatile organic compounds were previously detected in two municipal and several residential wells.  

EPA also issued a proposed cleanup plan for public comment from May 10 through June 9 to address soil and sediment contamination on the site. This proposed cleanup plan is another step towards a final comprehensive long term site clean-up and demonstrates EPA’s ongoing commitment to the agency’s mission to protect human health and the environment.  

For more information visit: : https://www.epa.gov/superfund/chemfab