EPA settles with Maine-based rail transportation company over alleged Clean Water Act violations
BOSTON (June 12, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently reached an agreement with a railroad transportation company headquartered in Bangor, Maine, resolving alleged Clean Water Act violations for fuel oil discharges into waters of the United States from two separate derailments of company-owned freight train cars.
Central Maine & Quebec Railway US Inc. is a railroad transportation company and subsidiary of Canadian Pacific Kansas City ("Canadian Pacific"). Canadian Pacific, headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, operates over 12,500 miles of track, spanning several networks of cities and areas.
"Transportation companies using, storing or handling fuel oils have responsibilities to prevent spills and contamination of the environment," said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "This settlement highlights EPA’s commitment to protecting America’s waterways and ensures communities, including Tribal communities and the natural resources they depend on, are protected from hazardous substances that can harm human health or the environment."
On two separate occasions in October 2022 and April 2023, the Canadian Pacific freight trains derailed in La Grange, Maine, and in the Sandwich Academy Grant Township near Brassua, Maine. Both derailments resulted in a total of nearly 15,000-gallons of oil being spilled from the trains into local waterways, which ultimately flow into the Atlantic Ocean. These derailments occurred due to flood water erosion undermining railroad track beds, which led to the accumulation of spilled oil on the shoreline, and a fuel oil sheen on surface waters. The company reported the oil spills to the National Response Center as required by law and have been paying for the environmental and emergency response costs in both of these areas.
Under the terms of the settlement, Canadian Pacific paid a penalty of $16,544, in addition to completing a supplemental environmental project (SEP) in the form of an equipment donation. The SEP required the company to purchase and donate emergency equipment, including an off-road response vehicle, for the local fire department that first responded to the Sandwich Academy Grant Township derailment incident. This equipment will help protect the community and surrounding environment from any future oil spill or other release of pollutants.
Background:
Oil discharged into the environment can harm habitats such as wetlands and shell bed reef. Habitat losses may alter migration patterns and disrupt life cycles of animals. Additionally, oil discharges can have an impact to local economies and recreation. Oil spills can result in closures of beaches, parks, waterways, and recreational and commercial fisheries. There may also be restrictions on hunting and boating. As a result, local economies may be severely impacted, both in the short and long term.
Additionally, oil spills can harm animal and plant life, endanger public health, harm drinking water, devastate natural resources, and disrupt the economy. Oils have toxic properties and produce harmful physical effects and pose threats to public health and the environment.
More information:
Clean Water Act
EPA water enforcement
Supplemental Environmental Projects
Central Maine & Quebec Railway US Inc. is a railroad transportation company and subsidiary of Canadian Pacific Kansas City ("Canadian Pacific"). Canadian Pacific, headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, operates over 12,500 miles of track, spanning several networks of cities and areas.
"Transportation companies using, storing or handling fuel oils have responsibilities to prevent spills and contamination of the environment," said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "This settlement highlights EPA’s commitment to protecting America’s waterways and ensures communities, including Tribal communities and the natural resources they depend on, are protected from hazardous substances that can harm human health or the environment."
On two separate occasions in October 2022 and April 2023, the Canadian Pacific freight trains derailed in La Grange, Maine, and in the Sandwich Academy Grant Township near Brassua, Maine. Both derailments resulted in a total of nearly 15,000-gallons of oil being spilled from the trains into local waterways, which ultimately flow into the Atlantic Ocean. These derailments occurred due to flood water erosion undermining railroad track beds, which led to the accumulation of spilled oil on the shoreline, and a fuel oil sheen on surface waters. The company reported the oil spills to the National Response Center as required by law and have been paying for the environmental and emergency response costs in both of these areas.
Under the terms of the settlement, Canadian Pacific paid a penalty of $16,544, in addition to completing a supplemental environmental project (SEP) in the form of an equipment donation. The SEP required the company to purchase and donate emergency equipment, including an off-road response vehicle, for the local fire department that first responded to the Sandwich Academy Grant Township derailment incident. This equipment will help protect the community and surrounding environment from any future oil spill or other release of pollutants.
Background:
Oil discharged into the environment can harm habitats such as wetlands and shell bed reef. Habitat losses may alter migration patterns and disrupt life cycles of animals. Additionally, oil discharges can have an impact to local economies and recreation. Oil spills can result in closures of beaches, parks, waterways, and recreational and commercial fisheries. There may also be restrictions on hunting and boating. As a result, local economies may be severely impacted, both in the short and long term.
Additionally, oil spills can harm animal and plant life, endanger public health, harm drinking water, devastate natural resources, and disrupt the economy. Oils have toxic properties and produce harmful physical effects and pose threats to public health and the environment.
More information:
Clean Water Act
EPA water enforcement
Supplemental Environmental Projects
The Environmental Protection Agency announces a public comment period for the Anniston PCB Site Operable Unit 4 Proposed Plan
ANNISTON, Ala. (June 12, 2024) – On June 1, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a 60-day public comment period for the Proposed Plan with cleanup alternatives for Operable Unit 4 (OU4) for the Anniston PCB Site (the Site) in Anniston, Alabama. The public comment period will begin June 1, 2024, and end July 30, 2024.
Public meetings to explain the Proposed Plan will be offered on June 18 and July 23, 2024, from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at the Oxford Civic Center, 401 McCullars Lane, Oxford, AL.
Informal Open House sessions will be offered on June 22, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at the Anniston Meeting Center, 1615 Noble St, Anniston, AL and July 20, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at the Lincoln City Center, 140 Jones St, Lincoln, AL.
The Proposed Plan presents the EPA’s preferred cleanup actions to address contamination at the Site. These proposed activities will address contaminated soil and sediment, in OU4 to provide long-term effectiveness and protect surface water, fish, animal and plant life.
The EPA plans to publish a pre-recorded presentation that provides details of the Proposed Plan. Once final, it can be accessed through EPA’s site webpage: https://www.epa.gov/superfund/anniston-pcb-site. The public is encouraged to view the presentation and submit comments on the Proposed Plan.
Comments on the Proposed Plan may be submitted verbally at one of the public meetings offered on June 18 or July 23, 2024. Comments may also be submitted by U.S. postal mail or through email using the information below. Submissions must be postmarked by postal mail or received via email by July 30, 2024.
Mail: U.S. EPA Region 4; Attn: Pam Scully, 61 Forsyth St SW, Atlanta, GA 30303.
Email: Written comments may be e-mailed to EPA’s Remedial Project Manager at Scully.Pam@epa.gov. Please write Public Comment in the Subject Line.
For further information, please contact Angela Miller, EPA Community Involvement Coordinator, via email at miller.angela@epa.gov or by phone at (678) 575-8132.
###
Public meetings to explain the Proposed Plan will be offered on June 18 and July 23, 2024, from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at the Oxford Civic Center, 401 McCullars Lane, Oxford, AL.
Informal Open House sessions will be offered on June 22, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at the Anniston Meeting Center, 1615 Noble St, Anniston, AL and July 20, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at the Lincoln City Center, 140 Jones St, Lincoln, AL.
The Proposed Plan presents the EPA’s preferred cleanup actions to address contamination at the Site. These proposed activities will address contaminated soil and sediment, in OU4 to provide long-term effectiveness and protect surface water, fish, animal and plant life.
The EPA plans to publish a pre-recorded presentation that provides details of the Proposed Plan. Once final, it can be accessed through EPA’s site webpage: https://www.epa.gov/superfund/anniston-pcb-site. The public is encouraged to view the presentation and submit comments on the Proposed Plan.
Comments on the Proposed Plan may be submitted verbally at one of the public meetings offered on June 18 or July 23, 2024. Comments may also be submitted by U.S. postal mail or through email using the information below. Submissions must be postmarked by postal mail or received via email by July 30, 2024.
Mail: U.S. EPA Region 4; Attn: Pam Scully, 61 Forsyth St SW, Atlanta, GA 30303.
Email: Written comments may be e-mailed to EPA’s Remedial Project Manager at Scully.Pam@epa.gov. Please write Public Comment in the Subject Line.
For further information, please contact Angela Miller, EPA Community Involvement Coordinator, via email at miller.angela@epa.gov or by phone at (678) 575-8132.
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Biden-Harris Administration Announces National Strategy to Reduce Food Loss and Waste and Recycle Organics
Biden-Harris Administration Announces National Strategy to Reduce Food Loss and Waste and Recycle Organics
Joint efforts will reduce waste, increase recycling of organics, reduce climate pollution, save families and businesses money, and support a circular economy for all
Contact: EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov)
WASHINGTON – Today, June 12, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, announced the “National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss and Waste and Recycling Organics” as part of President Biden’s whole-of-government approach to tackle climate change, feed people, address environmental justice, and promote a circular economy.
The strategy released today provides tangible goals that the U.S. government partners along with retailers and consumers can work toward to help further prevent the loss and waste of food, increase recycling of food and other organic materials to support a more circular economy for all, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save households and businesses money, and build cleaner, healthier communities. This strategy is also a deliverable in the Biden-Harris Administration’s National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, released in conjunction with the historic White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in September 2022.
“Each year, too much food produced in the United States ends up in landfills instead of on dining room tables. This hurts our economy by raising the cost of food and contributing to climate pollution,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “The National Strategy we are announcing today provides a comprehensive set of actions that the Biden-Harris Administration will take to reduce waste and protect our environment while improving food security and saving money for families and businesses.”
“USDA is committed to reducing food loss and waste, facilitating many programs and activities to assist farmers, producers, communities and businesses,” said U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “This National Strategy charts a course to reduce our nation's food loss and waste by 50% by 2030, and I am proud of the actions outlined for USDA and our Federal partners. Everyone has a role to play in reducing food loss and waste, and I hope that these federal commitments will inspire and catalyze action in the private sector and communities around the US.”
“The FDA is committed to completing the actions outlined in the National Strategy that incentivize and encourage food loss and waste prevention and organics recycling,” said FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf, M.D. “Along with the FDA, USDA and EPA efforts, U.S. consumers and retailers play an important role in meeting the National Strategy’s goal of reducing food loss and waste by 2030. As part of the release of this Strategy, the FDA has made important resources available to guide, support, and accelerate their food loss and waste activities including the 2022 Food Code, Tips to Reduce Food Waste and the Food Loss and Waste Social Media Toolkit. We encourage all stakeholders to take advantage of these resources as we work together to reduce food loss and waste.”
Recent EPA research shows that 58% of methane emissions released to the atmosphere from landfills are from food waste. Each year in the U.S., food loss and waste create potent greenhouse gas pollutants equal to the emissions of 60 coal-fired power plants. The strategy aims to prevent and divert organic waste from landfills to reduce GHG emissions and highlights opportunities, especially where there are environmental justice concerns, to build community-scale organics recycling infrastructure, reduce pollution and create jobs.
The strategy drives progress toward the National Food Loss and Waste Reduction Goal to reduce the loss and waste of food by 50% by 2030. In 2021, EPA updated its U.S. baseline to align the 2030 goal with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal Target 12.3, which aims to reduce the amount of food from food retail, food service, and households that has been removed from the human supply chain. In addition, this goal supports the U.S. Methane Emissions Reduction Action Plan. Because methane is both a powerful GHG and short-lived compared to carbon dioxide, achieving significant reductions to food loss and waste would have a rapid and significant effect on reducing GHG emissions.
The strategy highlights four objectives:
Objective 1: Prevent food loss.
Objective 2: Prevent food waste.
Objective 3: Increase the recycling rate for all organic waste.
Objective 4: Support policies that incentivize and encourage the prevention of food loss and waste and organics recycling.
For each objective, the strategy highlights actions that EPA, FDA, or USDA could take. Examples of specific EPA actions include:
Develop and lead a national consumer education and behavior change campaign.
Test innovative approaches to reducing food waste across the supply chain.
Support the development of additional organics recycling infrastructure through grants and other assistance for all communities, and especially those that are underserved.
Expand the market for products made from recycled organic waste.
Access the final strategy.
Background
In the U.S., more than one-third (nearly 100 million tons per year) of the municipal waste stream is organic waste, of which food is the majority. Wasting food impacts the climate, releases air pollutants, contributes to water scarcity and biodiversity loss, and degrades soil and water quality.
One-third of all available food goes uneaten. (USDA)
24% of municipal solid waste in landfills is food waste. (EPA)
Globally, food loss and waste represent 8% of anthropogenic GHG emissions (4.4 gigatons of carbon dioxide equivalent annually). (United Nations)
58% of methane emissions released to the atmosphere from municipal solid waste landfills is from food waste. (EPA)
In the U.S., the average family of four spends $1,500 each year on food that ends up uneaten. (USDA)
In addition to the release of this national strategy, EPA is funding projects announced at the end of 2023 for nearly $200 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding through the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling program, as well as Recycling Education and Outreach grants, which is the largest federal investment in recycling in 30 years. Both of these programs advance the President’s Justice40 Initiative, which set the goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. Over $83 million of the new funding will support 72 projects that include organics recycling, composting, or anaerobic digestion. The activities outlined in these projects are critical in mitigating the effects of climate change.
Learn more about:
Sustainable management of food.
Food: material specific data.
EPA’s work to promote a circular economy.
USDA’s work about food loss and waste.
FDA’s work about food loss and waste.
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: Transforming U.S. Recycling and Waste Management.
White House National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health.
Joint efforts will reduce waste, increase recycling of organics, reduce climate pollution, save families and businesses money, and support a circular economy for all
Contact: EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov)
WASHINGTON – Today, June 12, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, announced the “National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss and Waste and Recycling Organics” as part of President Biden’s whole-of-government approach to tackle climate change, feed people, address environmental justice, and promote a circular economy.
The strategy released today provides tangible goals that the U.S. government partners along with retailers and consumers can work toward to help further prevent the loss and waste of food, increase recycling of food and other organic materials to support a more circular economy for all, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save households and businesses money, and build cleaner, healthier communities. This strategy is also a deliverable in the Biden-Harris Administration’s National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, released in conjunction with the historic White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in September 2022.
“Each year, too much food produced in the United States ends up in landfills instead of on dining room tables. This hurts our economy by raising the cost of food and contributing to climate pollution,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “The National Strategy we are announcing today provides a comprehensive set of actions that the Biden-Harris Administration will take to reduce waste and protect our environment while improving food security and saving money for families and businesses.”
“USDA is committed to reducing food loss and waste, facilitating many programs and activities to assist farmers, producers, communities and businesses,” said U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “This National Strategy charts a course to reduce our nation's food loss and waste by 50% by 2030, and I am proud of the actions outlined for USDA and our Federal partners. Everyone has a role to play in reducing food loss and waste, and I hope that these federal commitments will inspire and catalyze action in the private sector and communities around the US.”
“The FDA is committed to completing the actions outlined in the National Strategy that incentivize and encourage food loss and waste prevention and organics recycling,” said FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf, M.D. “Along with the FDA, USDA and EPA efforts, U.S. consumers and retailers play an important role in meeting the National Strategy’s goal of reducing food loss and waste by 2030. As part of the release of this Strategy, the FDA has made important resources available to guide, support, and accelerate their food loss and waste activities including the 2022 Food Code, Tips to Reduce Food Waste and the Food Loss and Waste Social Media Toolkit. We encourage all stakeholders to take advantage of these resources as we work together to reduce food loss and waste.”
Recent EPA research shows that 58% of methane emissions released to the atmosphere from landfills are from food waste. Each year in the U.S., food loss and waste create potent greenhouse gas pollutants equal to the emissions of 60 coal-fired power plants. The strategy aims to prevent and divert organic waste from landfills to reduce GHG emissions and highlights opportunities, especially where there are environmental justice concerns, to build community-scale organics recycling infrastructure, reduce pollution and create jobs.
The strategy drives progress toward the National Food Loss and Waste Reduction Goal to reduce the loss and waste of food by 50% by 2030. In 2021, EPA updated its U.S. baseline to align the 2030 goal with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal Target 12.3, which aims to reduce the amount of food from food retail, food service, and households that has been removed from the human supply chain. In addition, this goal supports the U.S. Methane Emissions Reduction Action Plan. Because methane is both a powerful GHG and short-lived compared to carbon dioxide, achieving significant reductions to food loss and waste would have a rapid and significant effect on reducing GHG emissions.
The strategy highlights four objectives:
Objective 1: Prevent food loss.
Objective 2: Prevent food waste.
Objective 3: Increase the recycling rate for all organic waste.
Objective 4: Support policies that incentivize and encourage the prevention of food loss and waste and organics recycling.
For each objective, the strategy highlights actions that EPA, FDA, or USDA could take. Examples of specific EPA actions include:
Develop and lead a national consumer education and behavior change campaign.
Test innovative approaches to reducing food waste across the supply chain.
Support the development of additional organics recycling infrastructure through grants and other assistance for all communities, and especially those that are underserved.
Expand the market for products made from recycled organic waste.
Access the final strategy.
Background
In the U.S., more than one-third (nearly 100 million tons per year) of the municipal waste stream is organic waste, of which food is the majority. Wasting food impacts the climate, releases air pollutants, contributes to water scarcity and biodiversity loss, and degrades soil and water quality.
One-third of all available food goes uneaten. (USDA)
24% of municipal solid waste in landfills is food waste. (EPA)
Globally, food loss and waste represent 8% of anthropogenic GHG emissions (4.4 gigatons of carbon dioxide equivalent annually). (United Nations)
58% of methane emissions released to the atmosphere from municipal solid waste landfills is from food waste. (EPA)
In the U.S., the average family of four spends $1,500 each year on food that ends up uneaten. (USDA)
In addition to the release of this national strategy, EPA is funding projects announced at the end of 2023 for nearly $200 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding through the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling program, as well as Recycling Education and Outreach grants, which is the largest federal investment in recycling in 30 years. Both of these programs advance the President’s Justice40 Initiative, which set the goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. Over $83 million of the new funding will support 72 projects that include organics recycling, composting, or anaerobic digestion. The activities outlined in these projects are critical in mitigating the effects of climate change.
Learn more about:
Sustainable management of food.
Food: material specific data.
EPA’s work to promote a circular economy.
USDA’s work about food loss and waste.
FDA’s work about food loss and waste.
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: Transforming U.S. Recycling and Waste Management.
White House National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health.
EPA proposes update to cleanup plan for Durham Meadows Superfund Site in Durham, Conn.
DURHAM, CONN. (June 12, 2024) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed an update to the agency's plan to clean up the Durham Meadows Superfund Site in Durham, Connecticut. The proposed update, formally called an "Explanation of Significant Differences" (ESD), will not fundamentally change the scope, performance, or cost of EPA's plan to clean up the Durham Meadows site that was selected in 2005.
In 2005, EPA selected a remedy for the Durham Meadows Superfund Site to address risks to human health from groundwater contamination and contamination in soil and soil vapor. The 2005 remedy, as documented in a Record of Decision (ROD), defined the area where groundwater contamination exists and cannot be remediated, known as the "Technical Impracticability Zone." Groundwater data collected since has shown the extent of the groundwater contamination is further southwest than previously documented.
EPA is issuing an ESD to document the revised extent of the Technical Impracticability Zone. This change will not impact the cleanup work at the site, because the extent of groundwater contamination was fully documented prior to the initiation of the Durham waterline project. In addition, all contaminated wells within that zone have been eliminated and those properties were connected to the new water system, which was also extended to include properties close to the zone that could be impacted in the future. The State of Connecticut has reviewed and commented on the proposed update and concurs with its issuance.
The public can comment on the proposed update from Wednesday, June 12 through Tuesday, July 2, 2024 by following the steps listed below.
Background
The site is located in the Town of Durham, and includes an area of groundwater contamination generally centered on Main Street. The outer limits of the site are defined by the extent of the groundwater contamination. The site is centered around the two source areas: Durham Manufacturing Company, a currently operating manufacturing facility located at 201 Main Street; and the former location of Merriam Manufacturing Company at 281 Main Street. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) contamination has been detected in the soil and groundwater at these facilities. The groundwater contamination migrating from these facilities has impacted over 50 private drinking water wells. The major contaminant at the site is trichloroethylene (TCE), which continues to be detected in groundwater at concentrations at levels unsafe for consumption. The initial cleanup action, at the former Merriam Manufacturing Company, was completed in 2013. The installation of a new water system to provide clean water to the properties with contaminated water began in 2019 and became functional in 2022. EPA expects to begin the cleanup of contaminated soil at the Durham Manufacturing Company in 2025. The Durham Meadows Superfund Site received over $10.3 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to fund ongoing work to address legacy groundwater and soil contamination at the site.
The draft ESD and a fact sheet describing the proposed changes are available for review at: www.epa.gov/superfund/durham.
Comments on the ESD should be submitted no later than midnight on July 2, 2024 to:
Ed Hathaway
U.S. EPA Region 1 Mail Code: 07-1
5 Post Office Square, Suite 100
Boston, MA 02109-3912
Or Hathaway.Ed@epa.gov
For more information on the public comment process, please contact: Darriel Swatts, EPA Community Involvement Coordinator, Swatts.Darriel@epa.gov, Office: (617) 918-1065.
In 2005, EPA selected a remedy for the Durham Meadows Superfund Site to address risks to human health from groundwater contamination and contamination in soil and soil vapor. The 2005 remedy, as documented in a Record of Decision (ROD), defined the area where groundwater contamination exists and cannot be remediated, known as the "Technical Impracticability Zone." Groundwater data collected since has shown the extent of the groundwater contamination is further southwest than previously documented.
EPA is issuing an ESD to document the revised extent of the Technical Impracticability Zone. This change will not impact the cleanup work at the site, because the extent of groundwater contamination was fully documented prior to the initiation of the Durham waterline project. In addition, all contaminated wells within that zone have been eliminated and those properties were connected to the new water system, which was also extended to include properties close to the zone that could be impacted in the future. The State of Connecticut has reviewed and commented on the proposed update and concurs with its issuance.
The public can comment on the proposed update from Wednesday, June 12 through Tuesday, July 2, 2024 by following the steps listed below.
Background
The site is located in the Town of Durham, and includes an area of groundwater contamination generally centered on Main Street. The outer limits of the site are defined by the extent of the groundwater contamination. The site is centered around the two source areas: Durham Manufacturing Company, a currently operating manufacturing facility located at 201 Main Street; and the former location of Merriam Manufacturing Company at 281 Main Street. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) contamination has been detected in the soil and groundwater at these facilities. The groundwater contamination migrating from these facilities has impacted over 50 private drinking water wells. The major contaminant at the site is trichloroethylene (TCE), which continues to be detected in groundwater at concentrations at levels unsafe for consumption. The initial cleanup action, at the former Merriam Manufacturing Company, was completed in 2013. The installation of a new water system to provide clean water to the properties with contaminated water began in 2019 and became functional in 2022. EPA expects to begin the cleanup of contaminated soil at the Durham Manufacturing Company in 2025. The Durham Meadows Superfund Site received over $10.3 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to fund ongoing work to address legacy groundwater and soil contamination at the site.
The draft ESD and a fact sheet describing the proposed changes are available for review at: www.epa.gov/superfund/durham.
Comments on the ESD should be submitted no later than midnight on July 2, 2024 to:
Ed Hathaway
U.S. EPA Region 1 Mail Code: 07-1
5 Post Office Square, Suite 100
Boston, MA 02109-3912
Or Hathaway.Ed@epa.gov
For more information on the public comment process, please contact: Darriel Swatts, EPA Community Involvement Coordinator, Swatts.Darriel@epa.gov, Office: (617) 918-1065.
Biden-Harris Administration Announces National Strategy to Reduce Food Loss and Waste and Recycle Organics
WASHINGTON – Today, June 12, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, announced the “National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss and Waste and Recycling Organics” as part of President Biden’s whole-of-government approach to tackle climate change, feed people, address environmental justice, and promote a circular economy.
The strategy released today provides tangible goals that the U.S. government partners along with retailers and consumers can work toward to help further prevent the loss and waste of food, increase recycling of food and other organic materials to support a more circular economy for all, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save households and businesses money, and build cleaner, healthier communities. This strategy is also a deliverable in the Biden-Harris Administration’s National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, released in conjunction with the historic White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in September 2022.
“Each year, too much food produced in the United States ends up in landfills instead of on dining room tables. This hurts our economy by raising the cost of food and contributing to climate pollution,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “The National Strategy we are announcing today provides a comprehensive set of actions that the Biden-Harris Administration will take to reduce waste and protect our environment while improving food security and saving money for families and businesses.”
“USDA is committed to reducing food loss and waste, facilitating many programs and activities to assist farmers, producers, communities and businesses,” said U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “This National Strategy charts a course to reduce our nation's food loss and waste by 50% by 2030, and I am proud of the actions outlined for USDA and our Federal partners. Everyone has a role to play in reducing food loss and waste, and I hope that these federal commitments will inspire and catalyze action in the private sector and communities around the US.”
“The FDA is committed to completing the actions outlined in the National Strategy that incentivize and encourage food loss and waste prevention and organics recycling,” said FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf, M.D. “Along with the FDA, USDA and EPA efforts, U.S. consumers and retailers play an important role in meeting the National Strategy’s goal of reducing food loss and waste by 2030. As part of the release of this Strategy, the FDA has made important resources available to guide, support, and accelerate their food loss and waste activities including the 2022 Food Code, Tips to Reduce Food Waste and the Food Loss and Waste Social Media Toolkit. We encourage all stakeholders to take advantage of these resources as we work together to reduce food loss and waste.”
Recent EPA research shows that 58% of methane emissions released to the atmosphere from landfills are from food waste. Each year in the U.S., food loss and waste create potent greenhouse gas pollutants equal to the emissions of 60 coal-fired power plants. The strategy aims to prevent and divert organic waste from landfills to reduce GHG emissions and highlights opportunities, especially where there are environmental justice concerns, to build community-scale organics recycling infrastructure, reduce pollution and create jobs.
The strategy drives progress toward the National Food Loss and Waste Reduction Goal to reduce the loss and waste of food by 50% by 2030. In 2021, EPA updated its U.S. baseline to align the 2030 goal with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal Target 12.3, which aims to reduce the amount of food from food retail, food service, and households that has been removed from the human supply chain. In addition, this goal supports the U.S. Methane Emissions Reduction Action Plan. Because methane is both a powerful GHG and short-lived compared to carbon dioxide, achieving significant reductions to food loss and waste would have a rapid and significant effect on reducing GHG emissions.
The strategy highlights four objectives:
Objective 1: Prevent food loss.
Objective 2: Prevent food waste.
Objective 3: Increase the recycling rate for all organic waste.
Objective 4: Support policies that incentivize and encourage the prevention of food loss and waste and organics recycling.
For each objective, the strategy highlights actions that EPA, FDA, or USDA could take. Examples of specific EPA actions include:
Develop and lead a national consumer education and behavior change campaign.
Test innovative approaches to reducing food waste across the supply chain.
Support the development of additional organics recycling infrastructure through grants and other assistance for all communities, and especially those that are underserved.
Expand the market for products made from recycled organic waste.
Access the final strategy.
Background
In the U.S., more than one-third (nearly 100 million tons per year) of the municipal waste stream is organic waste, of which food is the majority. Wasting food impacts the climate, releases air pollutants, contributes to water scarcity and biodiversity loss, and degrades soil and water quality.
One-third of all available food goes uneaten. (USDA)
24% of municipal solid waste in landfills is food waste. (EPA)
Globally, food loss and waste represent 8% of anthropogenic GHG emissions (4.4 gigatons of carbon dioxide equivalent annually). (United Nations)
58% of methane emissions released to the atmosphere from municipal solid waste landfills is from food waste. (EPA)
In the U.S., the average family of four spends $1,500 each year on food that ends up uneaten. (USDA)
In addition to the release of this national strategy, EPA is funding projects announced at the end of 2023 for nearly $200 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding through the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling program, as well as Recycling Education and Outreach grants, which is the largest federal investment in recycling in 30 years. Both of these programs advance the President’s Justice40 Initiative, which set the goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. Over $83 million of the new funding will support 72 projects that include organics recycling, composting, or anaerobic digestion. The activities outlined in these projects are critical in mitigating the effects of climate change.
Learn more about:
Sustainable management of food.
Food: material specific data.
EPA’s work to promote a circular economy.
USDA’s work about food loss and waste.
FDA’s work about food loss and waste.
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: Transforming U.S. Recycling and Waste Management.
White House National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health.
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The strategy released today provides tangible goals that the U.S. government partners along with retailers and consumers can work toward to help further prevent the loss and waste of food, increase recycling of food and other organic materials to support a more circular economy for all, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save households and businesses money, and build cleaner, healthier communities. This strategy is also a deliverable in the Biden-Harris Administration’s National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, released in conjunction with the historic White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in September 2022.
“Each year, too much food produced in the United States ends up in landfills instead of on dining room tables. This hurts our economy by raising the cost of food and contributing to climate pollution,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “The National Strategy we are announcing today provides a comprehensive set of actions that the Biden-Harris Administration will take to reduce waste and protect our environment while improving food security and saving money for families and businesses.”
“USDA is committed to reducing food loss and waste, facilitating many programs and activities to assist farmers, producers, communities and businesses,” said U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “This National Strategy charts a course to reduce our nation's food loss and waste by 50% by 2030, and I am proud of the actions outlined for USDA and our Federal partners. Everyone has a role to play in reducing food loss and waste, and I hope that these federal commitments will inspire and catalyze action in the private sector and communities around the US.”
“The FDA is committed to completing the actions outlined in the National Strategy that incentivize and encourage food loss and waste prevention and organics recycling,” said FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf, M.D. “Along with the FDA, USDA and EPA efforts, U.S. consumers and retailers play an important role in meeting the National Strategy’s goal of reducing food loss and waste by 2030. As part of the release of this Strategy, the FDA has made important resources available to guide, support, and accelerate their food loss and waste activities including the 2022 Food Code, Tips to Reduce Food Waste and the Food Loss and Waste Social Media Toolkit. We encourage all stakeholders to take advantage of these resources as we work together to reduce food loss and waste.”
Recent EPA research shows that 58% of methane emissions released to the atmosphere from landfills are from food waste. Each year in the U.S., food loss and waste create potent greenhouse gas pollutants equal to the emissions of 60 coal-fired power plants. The strategy aims to prevent and divert organic waste from landfills to reduce GHG emissions and highlights opportunities, especially where there are environmental justice concerns, to build community-scale organics recycling infrastructure, reduce pollution and create jobs.
The strategy drives progress toward the National Food Loss and Waste Reduction Goal to reduce the loss and waste of food by 50% by 2030. In 2021, EPA updated its U.S. baseline to align the 2030 goal with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal Target 12.3, which aims to reduce the amount of food from food retail, food service, and households that has been removed from the human supply chain. In addition, this goal supports the U.S. Methane Emissions Reduction Action Plan. Because methane is both a powerful GHG and short-lived compared to carbon dioxide, achieving significant reductions to food loss and waste would have a rapid and significant effect on reducing GHG emissions.
The strategy highlights four objectives:
Objective 1: Prevent food loss.
Objective 2: Prevent food waste.
Objective 3: Increase the recycling rate for all organic waste.
Objective 4: Support policies that incentivize and encourage the prevention of food loss and waste and organics recycling.
For each objective, the strategy highlights actions that EPA, FDA, or USDA could take. Examples of specific EPA actions include:
Develop and lead a national consumer education and behavior change campaign.
Test innovative approaches to reducing food waste across the supply chain.
Support the development of additional organics recycling infrastructure through grants and other assistance for all communities, and especially those that are underserved.
Expand the market for products made from recycled organic waste.
Access the final strategy.
Background
In the U.S., more than one-third (nearly 100 million tons per year) of the municipal waste stream is organic waste, of which food is the majority. Wasting food impacts the climate, releases air pollutants, contributes to water scarcity and biodiversity loss, and degrades soil and water quality.
One-third of all available food goes uneaten. (USDA)
24% of municipal solid waste in landfills is food waste. (EPA)
Globally, food loss and waste represent 8% of anthropogenic GHG emissions (4.4 gigatons of carbon dioxide equivalent annually). (United Nations)
58% of methane emissions released to the atmosphere from municipal solid waste landfills is from food waste. (EPA)
In the U.S., the average family of four spends $1,500 each year on food that ends up uneaten. (USDA)
In addition to the release of this national strategy, EPA is funding projects announced at the end of 2023 for nearly $200 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding through the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling program, as well as Recycling Education and Outreach grants, which is the largest federal investment in recycling in 30 years. Both of these programs advance the President’s Justice40 Initiative, which set the goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. Over $83 million of the new funding will support 72 projects that include organics recycling, composting, or anaerobic digestion. The activities outlined in these projects are critical in mitigating the effects of climate change.
Learn more about:
Sustainable management of food.
Food: material specific data.
EPA’s work to promote a circular economy.
USDA’s work about food loss and waste.
FDA’s work about food loss and waste.
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: Transforming U.S. Recycling and Waste Management.
White House National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health.
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