USDA Announces Enhanced Resources to Support Businesses Interested in Procurement Opportunities
WASHINGTON, June 24, 2024 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced resource enhancements designed to simplify and streamline access to contracting information for businesses interested in selling their products and services to USDA.
EAPA Case 7902: Global Natural Ingredients, LLC (Notice of Initiation of Investigation and Interim Measures, June 17, 2024)
EAPA Action: Notice of Initiation and Interim Measures for EAPA Case 7902 – Xanthan Gum from China
WASHINGTON— On June 17, 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued the notice of initiation of investigation and interim measures…
WASHINGTON— On June 17, 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued the notice of initiation of investigation and interim measures…
TUESDAY: EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan Hosts Leaders from Canada and Mexico at Commission for Environmental Cooperation’s 31st Annual Council Session
Contact: EPA Region 4 Press Office - (404) 562-8400, region4press@epa.gov
WILMINGTON, N.C. — On Tuesday, June 25, EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan will join senior EPA leadership, including Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe, at the Commission for Environmental Cooperation’s (CEC) 31st annual Council Session and Joint Public Advisory Committee (JPAC) Public Forum, held between June 24-26, 2024, in Wilmington, North Carolina. Under the theme “Strengthening Environmental Justice through Community Empowerment,” Administrator Regan will deliver remarks and participate in several key events, including a youth panel, environmental justice roundtable, and the official opening ceremony.
This year’s session brings together North America’s top environmental officials and the public to engage with environmental justice advocates, Indigenous and community leaders, experts, youth, activists and others. The 2024 session also marks the CEC’s 30th anniversary, providing an opportunity to reflect on three decades of regional environmental cooperation.
Events Involving EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan
Tuesday, June 25, 2024:
2:35 p.m. EDT - Youth Panel
EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan will provide welcoming remarks
Location: Convention Center, Ballroom ABC TAB 9
Attendees: Council representatives and delegations, Dr. Benjamin Chavis, Professor La’Meshia Whittington, CEC Executive Director and staff, JPAC Members, TEKEG Members, Youth representatives, GELP winners, and the public.
4:00 p.m. EDT - Experts Roundtable on Environmental Justice
EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan will provide opening remarks
Location: Convention Center, Ballroom ABC TAB 11
Attendees: Delegations, CEC Executive Director and staff, Dr. Benjamin Chavis, Kenneth Martin (EPA/OITA), Deborah McGregor (York University), Octavio Rosas Landa (UNAM/CONACYT), JPAC Members, TEKEG Members, Youth representatives, GELP winners, and the public.
6:15 p.m. EDT - Official Opening Ceremony of the Council Session
EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan will provide opening remarks
Attendees: Council Members and delegations, Mayor of Wilmington, CEC Secretariat Executive Director and staff, Youth panelists, GELP winners, JPAC members, TEKEG members, public, and registered press.
Register for the Conference (virtual or in-person) here.
For more information about this event, visit the CEC website.
WILMINGTON, N.C. — On Tuesday, June 25, EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan will join senior EPA leadership, including Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe, at the Commission for Environmental Cooperation’s (CEC) 31st annual Council Session and Joint Public Advisory Committee (JPAC) Public Forum, held between June 24-26, 2024, in Wilmington, North Carolina. Under the theme “Strengthening Environmental Justice through Community Empowerment,” Administrator Regan will deliver remarks and participate in several key events, including a youth panel, environmental justice roundtable, and the official opening ceremony.
This year’s session brings together North America’s top environmental officials and the public to engage with environmental justice advocates, Indigenous and community leaders, experts, youth, activists and others. The 2024 session also marks the CEC’s 30th anniversary, providing an opportunity to reflect on three decades of regional environmental cooperation.
Events Involving EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan
Tuesday, June 25, 2024:
2:35 p.m. EDT - Youth Panel
EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan will provide welcoming remarks
Location: Convention Center, Ballroom ABC TAB 9
Attendees: Council representatives and delegations, Dr. Benjamin Chavis, Professor La’Meshia Whittington, CEC Executive Director and staff, JPAC Members, TEKEG Members, Youth representatives, GELP winners, and the public.
4:00 p.m. EDT - Experts Roundtable on Environmental Justice
EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan will provide opening remarks
Location: Convention Center, Ballroom ABC TAB 11
Attendees: Delegations, CEC Executive Director and staff, Dr. Benjamin Chavis, Kenneth Martin (EPA/OITA), Deborah McGregor (York University), Octavio Rosas Landa (UNAM/CONACYT), JPAC Members, TEKEG Members, Youth representatives, GELP winners, and the public.
6:15 p.m. EDT - Official Opening Ceremony of the Council Session
EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan will provide opening remarks
Attendees: Council Members and delegations, Mayor of Wilmington, CEC Secretariat Executive Director and staff, Youth panelists, GELP winners, JPAC members, TEKEG members, public, and registered press.
Register for the Conference (virtual or in-person) here.
For more information about this event, visit the CEC website.
EPA Recommends that People in the Great Lakes Region Prepare Now to Avoid Potential Exposure this Summer to Wildfire Smoke
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is encouraging residents in the Great Lakes region to be prepared for wildfire smoke this summer. EPA advises everyone to stay informed about local air quality and put plans in place to reduce their exposure to wildfire smoke and protect their health.
“Although big wildfires may be hundreds-- if not thousands-- of miles away, recent years have taught us that we need to be ready for severe smoke in the Great Lakes region,” said EPA Regional Administrator Debra Shore. “Knowing what you can do to reduce smoke exposure helps families breathe easier and stay healthy.”
Summer wildfires in the United State and Canada are becoming bigger and more frequent. Last summer, Canada experienced a record number of wildfires, producing smoke that caused unhealthy air quality and led to widespread health advisories across the Great Lakes region and the United States.
Everyone can take the following steps to safeguard themselves from smoke and air pollution during a wildfire:
If you do not have an air conditioner and it is too warm to stay indoors with closed windows, seek shelter with friends or relatives, or at a local public building with air conditioning such as a movie theater, mall, library, or local clean air shelter.
Keep a supply of N95 or P100 respirators to wear if you go outside when air quality is unhealthy. Respirators can help prevent the inhalation of soot and fine particles in smoke.
Consider buying a portable air cleaner (avoid technologies that generate ozone) or make a DIY air cleaner.
Learn how to adjust your HVAC system or air conditioner to keep smoke out, and consider buying a high-efficiency (e.g., MERV-13) HVAC filter.
Replace filters according to manufacturer recommendations, typically every 60-90 days or earlier if they are heavily soiled.
Ensure children, older adults, pregnant people, and people with asthma or other lung or heart conditions have at least 5 days’ worth of medication and food on hand to avoid going outside.
People with asthma or other lung or heart conditions may consider developing a medical action plan in consultation with a healthcare provider along with an evacuation plan if heavy smoke persists for several days.
EPA offers free resources for the public to monitor air quality conditions and forecasts in real time. The AirNow Fire and Smoke map provides information on fire locations, smoke plumes, near real-time air quality and protective actions to take. Air quality alerts can be accessed through EnviroFlash, the AirNow website , and the AirNow app. Check out your state’s air websites and social media accounts for detailed local information and forecasts.
Wildfire smoke can cause air quality to deteriorate rapidly and become unhealthy, especially for children, older adults, pregnant people, and people with heart or lung diseases. Wildfire smoke is a mix of gases and fine particulate matter that are released from burning wood and other organic materials. Fine particulate matter from wildfire smoke is the greatest health concern because it can irritate the eyes and the respiratory system worsening worsen symptoms of chronic cardiovascular disease and respiratory diseases such as COPD and asthma.
Since poor air quality affects everyone, EPA encourages the public to modify outdoor activities and protect their air quality indoors too. Individuals and businesses can help by driving less, cutting energy usage and avoiding vehicle idling and outdoor fires this summer.
More tools and information are available on EPA’s website, Air Quality Alerts from EnviroFlash, AirNow and AirNow Fire and Smoke Map.
“Although big wildfires may be hundreds-- if not thousands-- of miles away, recent years have taught us that we need to be ready for severe smoke in the Great Lakes region,” said EPA Regional Administrator Debra Shore. “Knowing what you can do to reduce smoke exposure helps families breathe easier and stay healthy.”
Summer wildfires in the United State and Canada are becoming bigger and more frequent. Last summer, Canada experienced a record number of wildfires, producing smoke that caused unhealthy air quality and led to widespread health advisories across the Great Lakes region and the United States.
Everyone can take the following steps to safeguard themselves from smoke and air pollution during a wildfire:
If you do not have an air conditioner and it is too warm to stay indoors with closed windows, seek shelter with friends or relatives, or at a local public building with air conditioning such as a movie theater, mall, library, or local clean air shelter.
Keep a supply of N95 or P100 respirators to wear if you go outside when air quality is unhealthy. Respirators can help prevent the inhalation of soot and fine particles in smoke.
Consider buying a portable air cleaner (avoid technologies that generate ozone) or make a DIY air cleaner.
Learn how to adjust your HVAC system or air conditioner to keep smoke out, and consider buying a high-efficiency (e.g., MERV-13) HVAC filter.
Replace filters according to manufacturer recommendations, typically every 60-90 days or earlier if they are heavily soiled.
Ensure children, older adults, pregnant people, and people with asthma or other lung or heart conditions have at least 5 days’ worth of medication and food on hand to avoid going outside.
People with asthma or other lung or heart conditions may consider developing a medical action plan in consultation with a healthcare provider along with an evacuation plan if heavy smoke persists for several days.
EPA offers free resources for the public to monitor air quality conditions and forecasts in real time. The AirNow Fire and Smoke map provides information on fire locations, smoke plumes, near real-time air quality and protective actions to take. Air quality alerts can be accessed through EnviroFlash, the AirNow website , and the AirNow app. Check out your state’s air websites and social media accounts for detailed local information and forecasts.
Wildfire smoke can cause air quality to deteriorate rapidly and become unhealthy, especially for children, older adults, pregnant people, and people with heart or lung diseases. Wildfire smoke is a mix of gases and fine particulate matter that are released from burning wood and other organic materials. Fine particulate matter from wildfire smoke is the greatest health concern because it can irritate the eyes and the respiratory system worsening worsen symptoms of chronic cardiovascular disease and respiratory diseases such as COPD and asthma.
Since poor air quality affects everyone, EPA encourages the public to modify outdoor activities and protect their air quality indoors too. Individuals and businesses can help by driving less, cutting energy usage and avoiding vehicle idling and outdoor fires this summer.
More tools and information are available on EPA’s website, Air Quality Alerts from EnviroFlash, AirNow and AirNow Fire and Smoke Map.
United States Announces Settlement with Westchester County Drinking Water Provider and Three Municipalities for Violating Safe Drinking Water Act
WASHINGTON – Today, June 24, the Environmental Protection Agency, along with the Department of Justice and the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced a settlement with the Westchester Joint Water Works (WJWW), the town/village of Harrison, the village of Mamaroneck, and the town of Mamaroneck (collectively, the defendants) for violation of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) in 2019 due to the presence of contaminants that are known to threaten public health in the public water system in excess of the level set by EPA. Thereafter, WJWW violated an EPA administrative order requiring the construction of a water filtration plant by specified deadlines.
“Everyone living in the United States deserves safe drinking water,” said Assistant Administrator David M. Uhlmann of EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “Today’s agreement requires Westchester Joint Water Works to construct a new filtration system to prevent contaminated drinking water and to protect the quality of water for a water system that serves multiple communities, including at least one that has been overburdened by environmental impacts. Westchester residents should expect nothing less.”
“Today’s agreement kickstarts a path to ensuring a reliable and healthy source of water for 120,000 residents of Westchester County. The building of a much-needed water filtration plant will address the source of the Safe Drinking Water Act violations and will help secure the area’s long-term needs,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division.
“Public water systems have the critical responsibility of ensuring that our communities have safe drinking water. Thanks to today’s settlement, Westchester Joint Water Works will finally construct a long-delayed drinking water filtration facility to protect the Westchester County communities it serves,” said United States Attorney Damian Williams.
“WJWW will build a drinking water filtration plant that will ensure clean and safe drinking water for 120,000 people in Westchester County, immediately pay a $600,000 civil penalty to the federal government and implement a $900,000 Supplemental Environmental Project to improve source water quality through decreased stormwater discharge into the Rye Lake section of the Kensico Reservoir,” said EPA Region 2 Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “We are happy to partner with the State of New York to address this long-standing violation of the Safe Drinking Water Act and protect public health.”
According to the complaint filed along with the consent decree, the defendants failed to ensure that the drinking water they supply to approximately 120,000 Westchester County residents complies with federal limits on potentially cancer-causing disinfection byproducts resulting from water treatment. Specifically, the defendants own and/or operate a public water system.
In 2019, WJWW violated the SDWA and its Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule because it supplied water exceeding legal limits for certain chemicals resulting from the disinfection process — specifically, five regulated haloacetic acids known as HAA5. Epidemiological studies have supported a potential association between disinfection byproduct exposure and bladder cancer and suggested an association with colon and rectal cancers. Additionally, exposure to chlorinated drinking water or disinfection byproducts may cause adverse developmental or reproductive health effects.
Although WJWW has taken certain short-term measures to mitigate risk to its consumers, defendants have failed to implement necessary corrective actions — including WJWW’s failure to construct and operate a filtration plant required by an EPA administrative order and the Surface Water Treatment Rule of the SDWA.
The consent decree establishes various interim deadlines for the drinking water filtration plant construction project and requires WJWW to continue to implement measures to ensure the safety of its water supply until the filtration plant is operational. The consent decree also requires WJWW to pay a $600,000 civil penalty to the United States. In addition, WJWW agreed to spend at least $900,000 on a supplemental environmental project to modify an extended detention basin in the Rye Lake portion of the Kensico Reservoir and manage invasive species in the area. This supplemental environmental project is expected to improve source water quality in the reservoir by decreasing natural organic material and turbidity. Compliance with the SDWA is not only a public health necessity but also a matter of environmental justice. At least one of the municipalities relying on defendants’ drinking water is overburdened and underserved, facing disproportionate environmental impacts and other burdens.
Increasing compliance with Drinking Water Standards is part of EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance National Enforcement and Compliance Initiative for Fiscal Years 2024-2027. This initiative seeks to ensure that the approximately 50,000 regulated drinking water systems that provide water to residents year-round (referred to as Community Water Systems or CWSs) comply with the SDWA. In FY 2022, 18,282 CWSs had at least one SDWA violation, and 2,854 of those systems had a health-based violation. Many overburdened communities, including those in Indian country, often face challenges meeting their obligations under SDWA.
The State of New York is contemporaneously joining the lawsuit to assert its own claims under state law and a previously entered state court judgment requiring the construction and operation of a filtration plant. The consent decree resolves claims by New York to enforce a previous state judgment against WJWW for violating separate regulations requiring the implementation of filtration. In addition to the construction of the filtration facility, the defendants will pay New York a $650,000 civil penalty and spend at least $6.8 million on two state water quality benefit projects.
The consent decree is subject to public comment and approval by the court. Notice of the proposed consent decree will be published in the Federal Register, and the public will have the opportunity to submit comments on the consent decree for a period of at least 30 days before the parties seek the court’s approval.
For more information about the settlement, please visit the Westchester Joint Water Works settlement page.
“Everyone living in the United States deserves safe drinking water,” said Assistant Administrator David M. Uhlmann of EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “Today’s agreement requires Westchester Joint Water Works to construct a new filtration system to prevent contaminated drinking water and to protect the quality of water for a water system that serves multiple communities, including at least one that has been overburdened by environmental impacts. Westchester residents should expect nothing less.”
“Today’s agreement kickstarts a path to ensuring a reliable and healthy source of water for 120,000 residents of Westchester County. The building of a much-needed water filtration plant will address the source of the Safe Drinking Water Act violations and will help secure the area’s long-term needs,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division.
“Public water systems have the critical responsibility of ensuring that our communities have safe drinking water. Thanks to today’s settlement, Westchester Joint Water Works will finally construct a long-delayed drinking water filtration facility to protect the Westchester County communities it serves,” said United States Attorney Damian Williams.
“WJWW will build a drinking water filtration plant that will ensure clean and safe drinking water for 120,000 people in Westchester County, immediately pay a $600,000 civil penalty to the federal government and implement a $900,000 Supplemental Environmental Project to improve source water quality through decreased stormwater discharge into the Rye Lake section of the Kensico Reservoir,” said EPA Region 2 Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “We are happy to partner with the State of New York to address this long-standing violation of the Safe Drinking Water Act and protect public health.”
According to the complaint filed along with the consent decree, the defendants failed to ensure that the drinking water they supply to approximately 120,000 Westchester County residents complies with federal limits on potentially cancer-causing disinfection byproducts resulting from water treatment. Specifically, the defendants own and/or operate a public water system.
In 2019, WJWW violated the SDWA and its Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule because it supplied water exceeding legal limits for certain chemicals resulting from the disinfection process — specifically, five regulated haloacetic acids known as HAA5. Epidemiological studies have supported a potential association between disinfection byproduct exposure and bladder cancer and suggested an association with colon and rectal cancers. Additionally, exposure to chlorinated drinking water or disinfection byproducts may cause adverse developmental or reproductive health effects.
Although WJWW has taken certain short-term measures to mitigate risk to its consumers, defendants have failed to implement necessary corrective actions — including WJWW’s failure to construct and operate a filtration plant required by an EPA administrative order and the Surface Water Treatment Rule of the SDWA.
The consent decree establishes various interim deadlines for the drinking water filtration plant construction project and requires WJWW to continue to implement measures to ensure the safety of its water supply until the filtration plant is operational. The consent decree also requires WJWW to pay a $600,000 civil penalty to the United States. In addition, WJWW agreed to spend at least $900,000 on a supplemental environmental project to modify an extended detention basin in the Rye Lake portion of the Kensico Reservoir and manage invasive species in the area. This supplemental environmental project is expected to improve source water quality in the reservoir by decreasing natural organic material and turbidity. Compliance with the SDWA is not only a public health necessity but also a matter of environmental justice. At least one of the municipalities relying on defendants’ drinking water is overburdened and underserved, facing disproportionate environmental impacts and other burdens.
Increasing compliance with Drinking Water Standards is part of EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance National Enforcement and Compliance Initiative for Fiscal Years 2024-2027. This initiative seeks to ensure that the approximately 50,000 regulated drinking water systems that provide water to residents year-round (referred to as Community Water Systems or CWSs) comply with the SDWA. In FY 2022, 18,282 CWSs had at least one SDWA violation, and 2,854 of those systems had a health-based violation. Many overburdened communities, including those in Indian country, often face challenges meeting their obligations under SDWA.
The State of New York is contemporaneously joining the lawsuit to assert its own claims under state law and a previously entered state court judgment requiring the construction and operation of a filtration plant. The consent decree resolves claims by New York to enforce a previous state judgment against WJWW for violating separate regulations requiring the implementation of filtration. In addition to the construction of the filtration facility, the defendants will pay New York a $650,000 civil penalty and spend at least $6.8 million on two state water quality benefit projects.
The consent decree is subject to public comment and approval by the court. Notice of the proposed consent decree will be published in the Federal Register, and the public will have the opportunity to submit comments on the consent decree for a period of at least 30 days before the parties seek the court’s approval.
For more information about the settlement, please visit the Westchester Joint Water Works settlement page.
USDA Announces Approval of D-SNAP for Arkansas Disaster Areas
WASHINGTON, June 21, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that low-income Arkansas residents recovering from the severe storms and tornadoes beginning May 24, 2024, could be eligible for a helping hand from the USDA’s Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP).
USDA Announces Approval of D-SNAP for Iowa Disaster Areas
WASHINGTON, June 21, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that low-income Iowa residents recovering from the severe storms and tornadoes beginning April 26, 2024, could be eligible for a helping hand from the USDA’s Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP).
Directives and Handbooks
CBP publishes several Directives and Handbooks, which provide guidance to the public on a variety of trade-related matters.
Additionally, CBP has a number of Informed Compliance Publications (ICPs) in the "What Every Member of the Trade…
Additionally, CBP has a number of Informed Compliance Publications (ICPs) in the "What Every Member of the Trade…