EPA Settlement Sets Stage for $2.4 Million Cleanup at Olean Well Field Superfund Site in Olean, New York
NEW YORK (May 14, 2024) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced a final legal agreement with Kyocera AVX Components Corp. (KAVX) to clean up contaminated soil that was under the former AVX manufacturing building at the Olean Well Field Superfund Site in Olean, New York. The cleanup work has an estimate value of about $2.4 million. Under the agreement, the company will also pay some past and all future EPA oversight costs. The site includes several former industrial facilities that left the soil and groundwater contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs). EPA has overseen work to cleanup soil and groundwater throughout the site.
“This settlement allows us to address an important source of contamination and it ensures that the polluter is being held responsible for cleaning up contamination in this community,” said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia.
On September 27, 2023, EPA finalized a cleanup plan for the portion of the site owned by KAVX. The plan will address soil contamination located under and near a former manufacturing building on the KAVX property.
Under the plan, KAVX will:
Demolish and remove the concrete slab floor and foundation.
Dig out the polluted soil that is above the water table.
Take the dug-out material off-site for disposal in appropriate facilities.
Restore the area with clean fill.
The Olean Well Field site is an approximately 1.5 square-mile area in Cattaraugus County that contains various wells, homes, and manufacturing facilities. Earlier industrial operations at the AVX property, as well as at three other facilities that EPA considers sources of site contamination, resulted in the contamination of soil and groundwater with trichloroethylene, 1,4-dioxane, and other volatile organic compounds. As a result of the contamination at all four facilities, EPA added the site to the Superfund list in 1983. Since that time, EPA has taken steps to ensure clean public drinking water and to cleanup the four source facilities impacting soil and groundwater. Most of the work is being carried out by parties responsible for contamination at the site.
Before being finalized, the agreement, in the form of a judicial consent decree, was made available for a required 30-day public comment period. No comments were received on the agreement.
Visit the Olean Well Field Superfund site profile page for additional background and site documents.
Follow EPA Region 2 on X and visit our Facebook page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.
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“This settlement allows us to address an important source of contamination and it ensures that the polluter is being held responsible for cleaning up contamination in this community,” said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia.
On September 27, 2023, EPA finalized a cleanup plan for the portion of the site owned by KAVX. The plan will address soil contamination located under and near a former manufacturing building on the KAVX property.
Under the plan, KAVX will:
Demolish and remove the concrete slab floor and foundation.
Dig out the polluted soil that is above the water table.
Take the dug-out material off-site for disposal in appropriate facilities.
Restore the area with clean fill.
The Olean Well Field site is an approximately 1.5 square-mile area in Cattaraugus County that contains various wells, homes, and manufacturing facilities. Earlier industrial operations at the AVX property, as well as at three other facilities that EPA considers sources of site contamination, resulted in the contamination of soil and groundwater with trichloroethylene, 1,4-dioxane, and other volatile organic compounds. As a result of the contamination at all four facilities, EPA added the site to the Superfund list in 1983. Since that time, EPA has taken steps to ensure clean public drinking water and to cleanup the four source facilities impacting soil and groundwater. Most of the work is being carried out by parties responsible for contamination at the site.
Before being finalized, the agreement, in the form of a judicial consent decree, was made available for a required 30-day public comment period. No comments were received on the agreement.
Visit the Olean Well Field Superfund site profile page for additional background and site documents.
Follow EPA Region 2 on X and visit our Facebook page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.
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BC port foreman contract talks stall as government delays rail strike threat
Maritime employers along Canada’s West Coast have filed a complaint asking the federal government to further intervene in stalled talks with the union representing longshore foremen.
Concluding local talks lays path for coastwide ILA contract
The International Longshoremen’s Association and its maritime employers are highlighting amicable outcomes to previous contract talks as they get ready to restart coastwide negotiations.
Biden-Harris Administration Partners with States to Conserve 168,000 Acres of Private Forestlands as part of Investing in America agenda
CLE ELUM, Wash., May 13, 2024 — Today, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Xochitl Torres Small announced that the USDA Forest Service is partnering with States to conserve nearly 168,000 acres of economically and ecologically significant forestlands across the nation as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda.
EPA and New York State Breaks Ground on Project to Ensure Clean Drinking Water for Hicksville, N.Y. Households
Hicksville, N.Y. (May 13, 2024) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the State of New York broke ground on a pivotal drinking water infrastructure project in Hicksville, N.Y. System operators will install a system to safeguard the community’s drinking water from PFAS chemicals, also known as ‘forever chemicals.’ The project received water infrastructure investments under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the New York State Water Infrastructure Improvement grant program.
“No matter where people live, they should feel confident about the water coming out of the faucet,” said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “This new system—along with other improvements under way and planned for this project—will give that assurance to the people of Hicksville.”
EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia joined U.S. Representative Tom Suozzi, New York State Department of Health Executive Deputy Commissioner Johanne Morne and New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation Director of Program Management Máire Cunningham in front of Hicksville Water District’s Plant 6 where construction is already underway. Nassau County Legislator Rose Marie Walker, Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino and Hicksville Water District Chairman Karl Schweitzer also joined the celebration.
This portion of the efforts to improve the Hicksville system is funded by a $2 million Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Emerging Contaminants grant through the New York Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program and a $3 million New York State Water Infrastructure Improvement grant. The new treatment system is designed to meet the EPA’s new final PFAS standards. In addition to the $5 million in grants for the project breaking ground today, New York State has awarded the Hicksville Water District $31 million in New York State grants to date to install treatment systems that remove emerging contaminants at their water supply well sites.
“Our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is supercharging the effort to clean-up our drinking water even while it creates good-paying jobs and boosts the Long Island economy. I’m proud that the EPA is putting $2 million in Infrastructure Law funding forward to help Hicksville Water District and New York build a water treatment system to more effectively screen out dangerous 1,4 Dioxane, PFOS, PFOA and other toxins from residents’ drinking water. This is just the beginning, and I will continue to advocate for more funding and safety improvements across Long Island,” said U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
“All New Yorkers deserve to have access to safe, reliable drinking water, yet far too many are still exposed to dangerous PFAS chemicals that are infiltrating New York water supplies,” said Senator Gillibrand. “I am thrilled to see work begin on this critical water infrastructure project that will remove PFAS chemicals from the drinking water supply for Hicksville area residents. I am proud to have helped secure the federal funding for this project by fighting to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and will continue fighting for the resources needed to enhance public health and provide New Yorkers with access to safe drinking water.”
"I fought for the bipartisan infrastructure bill so we could get funding to places like the Hicksville Water District. We will need more money to protect our drinking water without raising taxes," said U.S. Representative Tom Suozzi (NY-3). "I will continue fight to bring more money back to water districts here on Long Island and in Queens."
“Today’s groundbreaking in Hicksville represents the continued commitment of both New York State and the Environmental Protection Agency to ensure our communities have access to clean drinking water, as this is a fundamentally important element to good health,”
New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald. “We thank our partners for their collaborative leadership and investments in protecting the drinking water here in Hicksville and throughout New York State.”
“EFC is proud to have provided critical grants to the Hicksville Water District since 2017 in support of vital projects that safeguard drinking water for thousands of residents in Nassau County. This financial assistance is projected to save local ratepayers over $57 million in costs the water district would have incurred if it had financed these projects on its own,” said New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation President and CEO Maureen A. Coleman. “Under the leadership of Governor Hochul, EFC and our partners in federal, state, and local government continue working to ensure that communities large and small receive the support they need to undertake projects that are vital to their residents’ public health and quality of life.”
“Thanks to the U.S. EPA under the leadership of Administrator Regan and Regional Administrator Garcia, New York State is advancing efforts to remove emerging contaminants like PFAS from drinking water in Hicksville, and communities across Long Island,” said New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar. “DEC continues to work closely with our local, state, and federal partners to upgrade critical water infrastructure statewide with significant investments thanks to the Biden Administration, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and New York State’s Clean Water Infrastructure Act and Environmental Bond Act.”
“I look forward to working together to address the remediation of emerging contaminants so that we can continue to provide safe drinking water in our communities,” said Nassau County Legislator Rose Marie Walker. “Our water districts cannot do this alone. They need all government agencies to work together so that the financial burden does not fall on the rate payers alone.”
“All over this region, we’re fighting contamination from corporations of the past where taxpayers are forced to clean up the mess. We thank the Federal and State government for allocating funds to this project and commend the Hicksville Water District for all they are doing to protect water at the tap,” stated Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino. “In Town government, we will continue doing everything we can to shine a light on the polluters who contaminated our soils and groundwater while demanding they be held accountable for the cleanup of their environmental mess.”
"The Hicksville Water District has spent the last several years aggressively planning and pursuing the most state-of-the-art treatment technology available as we treat for 1,4-dioxane and forever chemicals. Our community deserves the highest-quality drinking water possible, and we are proud to say that our efforts have been successful in doing so,” said Hicksville Water District Chairman Karl Schweitzer. “On behalf of the Hicksville community, we thank the EPA and New York State for the grant funding that has allowed us to do this work at a reduced cost to our residents."
Serving nearly 48,000 Nassau County residents, the Hicksville Water District has detected PFOA, PFOS and 1,4-dioxane in fourteen of their public water supply wells, including in the two wells at Plant No. 6 which supply 15 percent of Hicksville’s drinking water. Although levels of PFOA and PFOS at Plant No. 6 are less than the current state standard of 10 parts per trillion, they have exceeded the new federal maximum contaminant level of 4 parts per trillion. The 1,4-dioxane levels at the plant are nearing the state’s limit of 1 part per billion.
The Hicksville Water District has been proactively blending the well water at the plant as a short-term measure to ensure that the water that comes from the tap meets water quality standards. As a long-term solution to address emerging contaminants at Plant No. 6, the Hicksville Water District will install treatment to remove PFOA, PFOS and 1,4-dioxane. The project enhances proactive public health protection with the goal of producing treated water free from detectable PFOS, PFOA and 1,4-dioxane.
Hicksville Water District has successfully completed the pre-construction phase for the new treatment building, which involved critical modifications to site piping and the placement of the electrical transformer. The project is currently on track for a June 2025 finish.
On April 10 of this year, the Biden-Harris Administration issued the first-ever national, legally enforceable drinking water standard to protect communities from exposure to harmful per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Exposure to PFAS has been linked to deadly cancers, impacts to the liver and heart, and immune and developmental damage to infants and children.
Follow EPA Region 2 on X and visit our Facebook page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.
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“No matter where people live, they should feel confident about the water coming out of the faucet,” said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “This new system—along with other improvements under way and planned for this project—will give that assurance to the people of Hicksville.”
EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia joined U.S. Representative Tom Suozzi, New York State Department of Health Executive Deputy Commissioner Johanne Morne and New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation Director of Program Management Máire Cunningham in front of Hicksville Water District’s Plant 6 where construction is already underway. Nassau County Legislator Rose Marie Walker, Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino and Hicksville Water District Chairman Karl Schweitzer also joined the celebration.
This portion of the efforts to improve the Hicksville system is funded by a $2 million Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Emerging Contaminants grant through the New York Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program and a $3 million New York State Water Infrastructure Improvement grant. The new treatment system is designed to meet the EPA’s new final PFAS standards. In addition to the $5 million in grants for the project breaking ground today, New York State has awarded the Hicksville Water District $31 million in New York State grants to date to install treatment systems that remove emerging contaminants at their water supply well sites.
“Our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is supercharging the effort to clean-up our drinking water even while it creates good-paying jobs and boosts the Long Island economy. I’m proud that the EPA is putting $2 million in Infrastructure Law funding forward to help Hicksville Water District and New York build a water treatment system to more effectively screen out dangerous 1,4 Dioxane, PFOS, PFOA and other toxins from residents’ drinking water. This is just the beginning, and I will continue to advocate for more funding and safety improvements across Long Island,” said U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
“All New Yorkers deserve to have access to safe, reliable drinking water, yet far too many are still exposed to dangerous PFAS chemicals that are infiltrating New York water supplies,” said Senator Gillibrand. “I am thrilled to see work begin on this critical water infrastructure project that will remove PFAS chemicals from the drinking water supply for Hicksville area residents. I am proud to have helped secure the federal funding for this project by fighting to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and will continue fighting for the resources needed to enhance public health and provide New Yorkers with access to safe drinking water.”
"I fought for the bipartisan infrastructure bill so we could get funding to places like the Hicksville Water District. We will need more money to protect our drinking water without raising taxes," said U.S. Representative Tom Suozzi (NY-3). "I will continue fight to bring more money back to water districts here on Long Island and in Queens."
“Today’s groundbreaking in Hicksville represents the continued commitment of both New York State and the Environmental Protection Agency to ensure our communities have access to clean drinking water, as this is a fundamentally important element to good health,”
New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald. “We thank our partners for their collaborative leadership and investments in protecting the drinking water here in Hicksville and throughout New York State.”
“EFC is proud to have provided critical grants to the Hicksville Water District since 2017 in support of vital projects that safeguard drinking water for thousands of residents in Nassau County. This financial assistance is projected to save local ratepayers over $57 million in costs the water district would have incurred if it had financed these projects on its own,” said New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation President and CEO Maureen A. Coleman. “Under the leadership of Governor Hochul, EFC and our partners in federal, state, and local government continue working to ensure that communities large and small receive the support they need to undertake projects that are vital to their residents’ public health and quality of life.”
“Thanks to the U.S. EPA under the leadership of Administrator Regan and Regional Administrator Garcia, New York State is advancing efforts to remove emerging contaminants like PFAS from drinking water in Hicksville, and communities across Long Island,” said New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar. “DEC continues to work closely with our local, state, and federal partners to upgrade critical water infrastructure statewide with significant investments thanks to the Biden Administration, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and New York State’s Clean Water Infrastructure Act and Environmental Bond Act.”
“I look forward to working together to address the remediation of emerging contaminants so that we can continue to provide safe drinking water in our communities,” said Nassau County Legislator Rose Marie Walker. “Our water districts cannot do this alone. They need all government agencies to work together so that the financial burden does not fall on the rate payers alone.”
“All over this region, we’re fighting contamination from corporations of the past where taxpayers are forced to clean up the mess. We thank the Federal and State government for allocating funds to this project and commend the Hicksville Water District for all they are doing to protect water at the tap,” stated Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino. “In Town government, we will continue doing everything we can to shine a light on the polluters who contaminated our soils and groundwater while demanding they be held accountable for the cleanup of their environmental mess.”
"The Hicksville Water District has spent the last several years aggressively planning and pursuing the most state-of-the-art treatment technology available as we treat for 1,4-dioxane and forever chemicals. Our community deserves the highest-quality drinking water possible, and we are proud to say that our efforts have been successful in doing so,” said Hicksville Water District Chairman Karl Schweitzer. “On behalf of the Hicksville community, we thank the EPA and New York State for the grant funding that has allowed us to do this work at a reduced cost to our residents."
Serving nearly 48,000 Nassau County residents, the Hicksville Water District has detected PFOA, PFOS and 1,4-dioxane in fourteen of their public water supply wells, including in the two wells at Plant No. 6 which supply 15 percent of Hicksville’s drinking water. Although levels of PFOA and PFOS at Plant No. 6 are less than the current state standard of 10 parts per trillion, they have exceeded the new federal maximum contaminant level of 4 parts per trillion. The 1,4-dioxane levels at the plant are nearing the state’s limit of 1 part per billion.
The Hicksville Water District has been proactively blending the well water at the plant as a short-term measure to ensure that the water that comes from the tap meets water quality standards. As a long-term solution to address emerging contaminants at Plant No. 6, the Hicksville Water District will install treatment to remove PFOA, PFOS and 1,4-dioxane. The project enhances proactive public health protection with the goal of producing treated water free from detectable PFOS, PFOA and 1,4-dioxane.
Hicksville Water District has successfully completed the pre-construction phase for the new treatment building, which involved critical modifications to site piping and the placement of the electrical transformer. The project is currently on track for a June 2025 finish.
On April 10 of this year, the Biden-Harris Administration issued the first-ever national, legally enforceable drinking water standard to protect communities from exposure to harmful per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Exposure to PFAS has been linked to deadly cancers, impacts to the liver and heart, and immune and developmental damage to infants and children.
Follow EPA Region 2 on X and visit our Facebook page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.
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EPA Announces $39 million to Modernize Infrastructure in Illinois with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law from the Biden-Harris Administration
CHICAGO – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a $39 million Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan to Bloomington and Normal Water Reclamation District in central Illinois. This WIFIA loan will help finance the district’s Wastewater System Modernization and Rehabilitation Program, which will provide essential public health and environmental protections while supporting economic growth.
“Investing in water infrastructure is one of the best bets we can make to help our communities grow and thrive,” said EPA Acting Assistant Administrator for Water Bruno Pigott. “Through our WIFIA program and historic funding delivered by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA is investing in communities across the country to provide clean and safe water that is essential to residents, schools, and businesses. I’m excited that Bloomington, Illinois, has secured a $39 million WIFIA loan to upgrade wastewater treatment and better protect residents and the local environment.”
Bloomington and Normal Water Reclamation District’s modernization and rehabilitation program will upgrade the wastewater system that serves over 130,000 residents. The district will rehabilitate its wastewater treatment plant and conveyance systems to comply with environmental regulations, increase system resiliency, and reduce combined sewer overflows. By converting backup generators from diesel fuel to natural gas and generating solar power, the district will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy costs, while improving air quality. Additionally, the district will conduct a study to identify sources of PFAS and recommend strategies to reduce discharges of these “forever chemicals” to local waters.
“The district’s primary mission is the long-term protection of public health and the environment. Borrowing through the WIFIA program enables the accelerated renovation of aged facilities and construction of new facilities to meet and/or exceed NPDES permit standards,” said Tim Ervin, Executive Director of the Bloomington-Normal Water Reclamation District. “Through the strong support of Senator Duckworth and Senator Durbin of this EPA program, the construction and installation of this infrastructure will preserve and improve the water quality of Sugar and Little Kickapoo Creek for future generations in Central Illinois.”
With this loan, the district expects to save $10 million and create about 250 jobs. It is the first Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loan under a Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act master agreement that will commit $157 million accelerate rehabilitating the district’s wastewater system.
Since its creation, EPA’s Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act program has announced over $20 billion in financing to support over $43 billion in water infrastructure projects that are strengthening drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure while creating over 140,000 jobs.
EPA’s WIFIA loans are an important piece of the Biden-Harris Administration’s work Investing in America this Infrastructure Week. President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, signed in November of 2021, provides $50 billion to invest in water infrastructure. Today, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law-funded projects are breaking ground nationwide while tackling legacy pollution, upgrading drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, and making communities more resilient to the effects of climate change.
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 aims 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 in its 7th selection round for WIFIA financing. In this round, EPA is offering $6.5 billion through WIFIA, and $1 billion through SWIFIA, which is a loan program exclusively for State infrastructure financing authority borrowers. EPA is currently accepting letters of interest for WIFIA and SWIFIA loans. Learn more about submitting a letter of interest for a WIFIA loan.
In addition to WIFIA loans, there are many federal funding resources available for communities and utilities to improve vital water and wastewater resources. President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is a once-in-a-generation investment in our nation’s infrastructure and competitiveness. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides a historic $50 billion investment in upgrading critical water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure.
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“Investing in water infrastructure is one of the best bets we can make to help our communities grow and thrive,” said EPA Acting Assistant Administrator for Water Bruno Pigott. “Through our WIFIA program and historic funding delivered by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA is investing in communities across the country to provide clean and safe water that is essential to residents, schools, and businesses. I’m excited that Bloomington, Illinois, has secured a $39 million WIFIA loan to upgrade wastewater treatment and better protect residents and the local environment.”
Bloomington and Normal Water Reclamation District’s modernization and rehabilitation program will upgrade the wastewater system that serves over 130,000 residents. The district will rehabilitate its wastewater treatment plant and conveyance systems to comply with environmental regulations, increase system resiliency, and reduce combined sewer overflows. By converting backup generators from diesel fuel to natural gas and generating solar power, the district will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy costs, while improving air quality. Additionally, the district will conduct a study to identify sources of PFAS and recommend strategies to reduce discharges of these “forever chemicals” to local waters.
“The district’s primary mission is the long-term protection of public health and the environment. Borrowing through the WIFIA program enables the accelerated renovation of aged facilities and construction of new facilities to meet and/or exceed NPDES permit standards,” said Tim Ervin, Executive Director of the Bloomington-Normal Water Reclamation District. “Through the strong support of Senator Duckworth and Senator Durbin of this EPA program, the construction and installation of this infrastructure will preserve and improve the water quality of Sugar and Little Kickapoo Creek for future generations in Central Illinois.”
With this loan, the district expects to save $10 million and create about 250 jobs. It is the first Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loan under a Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act master agreement that will commit $157 million accelerate rehabilitating the district’s wastewater system.
Since its creation, EPA’s Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act program has announced over $20 billion in financing to support over $43 billion in water infrastructure projects that are strengthening drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure while creating over 140,000 jobs.
EPA’s WIFIA loans are an important piece of the Biden-Harris Administration’s work Investing in America this Infrastructure Week. President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, signed in November of 2021, provides $50 billion to invest in water infrastructure. Today, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law-funded projects are breaking ground nationwide while tackling legacy pollution, upgrading drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, and making communities more resilient to the effects of climate change.
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 aims 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 in its 7th selection round for WIFIA financing. In this round, EPA is offering $6.5 billion through WIFIA, and $1 billion through SWIFIA, which is a loan program exclusively for State infrastructure financing authority borrowers. EPA is currently accepting letters of interest for WIFIA and SWIFIA loans. Learn more about submitting a letter of interest for a WIFIA loan.
In addition to WIFIA loans, there are many federal funding resources available for communities and utilities to improve vital water and wastewater resources. President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is a once-in-a-generation investment in our nation’s infrastructure and competitiveness. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides a historic $50 billion investment in upgrading critical water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure.
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EPA grant set to bring recycling transformation to Northern Shenandoah
Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz presented the Northern Shenandoah Valley Regional Commission with a $3.9 million Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling grant for new and expanded recycling infrastructure during a ceremony in Winchester, Virginia.
Joined by state and local officials, the EPA celebrated awarding the grant that will help re-establish curbside recycling, upgrade tire grinding operations, and purchase upgraded recycling receptacles, which will have an immediate impact on the region, including rural underserved communities that don't have easy access to recycling services, in support of the agency's commitment to advancing sustainability initiatives.
"The Biden-Harris Administration's Investing in America agenda is tackling environmental challenges across our nation, and this is another historic investment to address waste management issues in our local communities," said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. "We're proud to deliver these critical resources provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support recycling initiatives and environmental stewardship to build a more resilient, sustainable and cleaner future for the Northern Shenandoah Valley."
The NSVRC was one of 25 community organizations selected for the SWIFR grant.
This grant will support NSVRC’s plans for transforming recycling services to include:
Approximately 10,000 curbside recycling containers
63 recycling containers at convenience centers, landfills and other sites
Diverting more than 750 tons of tires from landfills
"We are honored to receive nearly $4 million in competitive funding from the EPA to enhance recycling infrastructure in the Northern Shenandoah Valley,” said Dennis Morris, Northern Shenandoah Valley Regional Commission chairman. “This award will be instrumental in upgrading our recycling facilities, meeting the goals of our solid waste management plan, and fostering sustainable waste management practices through collaborative efforts."
The EPA announced more than $100 million from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda in September 2023 to expand recycling infrastructure and waste management systems across the country.
This funding is part of the EPA’s most significant recycling investment in 30 years, thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The SWIFR grant also supports the agency’s National Recycling Strategy by enabling a “circular economy” to keep materials and products in use longer.
Visit the EPA website for more information on the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling grant program.
EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz and partners from the Northern Shenandoah Valley Regional Commission and County and Local Officials holding a ceremonial check.
EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz speaking at a podium.
EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz talking with Joe Wilder Dept. Director of Public Works for Frederick County.
Joined by state and local officials, the EPA celebrated awarding the grant that will help re-establish curbside recycling, upgrade tire grinding operations, and purchase upgraded recycling receptacles, which will have an immediate impact on the region, including rural underserved communities that don't have easy access to recycling services, in support of the agency's commitment to advancing sustainability initiatives.
"The Biden-Harris Administration's Investing in America agenda is tackling environmental challenges across our nation, and this is another historic investment to address waste management issues in our local communities," said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. "We're proud to deliver these critical resources provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support recycling initiatives and environmental stewardship to build a more resilient, sustainable and cleaner future for the Northern Shenandoah Valley."
The NSVRC was one of 25 community organizations selected for the SWIFR grant.
This grant will support NSVRC’s plans for transforming recycling services to include:
Approximately 10,000 curbside recycling containers
63 recycling containers at convenience centers, landfills and other sites
Diverting more than 750 tons of tires from landfills
"We are honored to receive nearly $4 million in competitive funding from the EPA to enhance recycling infrastructure in the Northern Shenandoah Valley,” said Dennis Morris, Northern Shenandoah Valley Regional Commission chairman. “This award will be instrumental in upgrading our recycling facilities, meeting the goals of our solid waste management plan, and fostering sustainable waste management practices through collaborative efforts."
The EPA announced more than $100 million from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda in September 2023 to expand recycling infrastructure and waste management systems across the country.
This funding is part of the EPA’s most significant recycling investment in 30 years, thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The SWIFR grant also supports the agency’s National Recycling Strategy by enabling a “circular economy” to keep materials and products in use longer.
Visit the EPA website for more information on the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling grant program.
EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz and partners from the Northern Shenandoah Valley Regional Commission and County and Local Officials holding a ceremonial check.
EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz speaking at a podium.
EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz talking with Joe Wilder Dept. Director of Public Works for Frederick County.
Puerto Rico to Get $28.6 Million for Lead Pipe Replacement to Advance Safe Drinking Water
NEW YORK – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced $28.6 million from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to help Puerto Rico identify and replace lead service lines to prevent exposure to lead in drinking water. Lead can cause a range of serious health impacts, including irreversible harm to brain development in children. To protect children and families, President Biden has committed to replacing every lead pipe in the country. Today’s announcement, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and available through EPA’s successful Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, takes another major step to advance this work and environmental justice, and bolsters the Administration’s Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan and EPA’s Get the Lead Out Initiative.
Working collaboratively, EPA and the State Revolving Funds are advancing the President’s Justice40 Initiative as lead exposure disproportionately affects communities of color and low-income families. The total funding announced through this program to date is expected to replace up to 1.7 million lead pipes nationwide, securing clean drinking water for countless families.
“The science is clear, there is no safe level of lead exposure, and the primary source of harmful exposure in drinking water is through lead pipes,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “President Biden understands it is critical to identify and remove lead pipes as quickly as possible, and he has secured significant resources for states and territories to accelerate the permanent removal of dangerous lead pipes once and for all.”
“Every Puerto Rican family deserves safe drinking water when they turn on their tap and this major injection of funding will further bolster the work to achieve that goal,” said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “For too long, the urgent need to improve our drinking water systems has far outweighed the available funding. This crucial Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding is helping close that gap.”
"The continued exposure to lead in drinking water is a serious health risk to individuals, especially children. I am pleased that Puerto Rico will be receiving $28.6 million in funding for lead water service line replacement under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This funding through the State Revolving Fund (SRF) helps us to move forward in addressing the pressing issue of aging infrastructure and safeguarding the health of our residents,” said U.S. Representative Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon. “By replacing these outdated lines, we are improving water quality and protecting our communities' well-being for generations to come. I am proud to have been part of the effort to craft and pass the BIL as a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. As we move forward, I remain dedicated to advocating for additional investments in Puerto Rico's infrastructure to address longstanding challenges and build a more resilient future for all."
President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law invests a historic $15 billion to identify and replace lead service lines. The law mandates that 49% of funds provided through the DWSRF General Supplemental Funding and DWSRF Lead Service Line Replacement Funding must be provided as grants and forgivable loans to disadvantaged communities, a crucial investment for communities that have been underinvested in for too long. EPA projects a national total of 9 million lead services lines across the country, based on data collected from the updated 7th Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey and Assessment. The funding announced today will be provided specifically for lead service line identification and replacement and will help every state and territory fund projects to remove lead pipes and reduce exposure to lead from drinking water. This Lead Service Line-specific formula allows states to receive financial assistance commensurate with their need as soon as possible, furthering public health protection nationwide. To ensure that funding is used for lead service line related activities, LSLR allotments are based on need — meaning that states with more projected lead service lines receive proportionally more.
Alongside the funding announced today, EPA is also releasing a memorandum that clarifies how states can use this and other funding to most effectively reduce exposure to lead in drinking water. Additionally, EPA has developed new outreach documents to help water systems educate their customers on drinking water issues, health impacts of lead exposure, service line ownership, and how customers can support the identification of potential lead service lines in their homes.
The Biden-Harris Administration’s ambitious initiative to remove lead pipes has already delivered significant results for families across the nation. Today’s latest funding will ensure more Puerto Rican families benefit from these unprecedented resources and support projects like these:
The Puerto Rico Department of Health’s project will utilize funds to further the health protection objectives of the Safe Drinking Water Act. This agreement will provide funds to replace lead drinking water service lines and help identify the planning, design and replacement of service lines of customer-owned and PRASA-owned service lines. The Department of Health will also use this funding to provide technical assistance to state program managers and small water system administrators.
To view more stories about how the unprecedented investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are transforming communities across the country, visit EPA’s Investing in America’s Water Infrastructure Story Map. To read more about some additional projects that are underway, see EPA’s recently released Quarterly Report on Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funded Clean Water and Drinking Water SRF projects and explore the State Revolving Funds Public Portal.
Today’s allotments are based on EPA’s updated 7th Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey and Assessment including an assessment of the one-time update submissions. To date, this is the best available data collected and assessed on service line materials in the United States. Later this summer, EPA will release an addendum to the 7th DWINSA Report to Congress, which will include the updated lead service line projections. EPA anticipates initiating data collection, which will include information on lead service lines, for the 8th DWINSA in 2025.
For more information, including state-by-state allotment of 2024 funding and a breakdown of EPA’s lead Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, please visit EPA’s Drinking Water website.
Follow EPA Region 2 on X and visit our Facebook page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.
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Working collaboratively, EPA and the State Revolving Funds are advancing the President’s Justice40 Initiative as lead exposure disproportionately affects communities of color and low-income families. The total funding announced through this program to date is expected to replace up to 1.7 million lead pipes nationwide, securing clean drinking water for countless families.
“The science is clear, there is no safe level of lead exposure, and the primary source of harmful exposure in drinking water is through lead pipes,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “President Biden understands it is critical to identify and remove lead pipes as quickly as possible, and he has secured significant resources for states and territories to accelerate the permanent removal of dangerous lead pipes once and for all.”
“Every Puerto Rican family deserves safe drinking water when they turn on their tap and this major injection of funding will further bolster the work to achieve that goal,” said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “For too long, the urgent need to improve our drinking water systems has far outweighed the available funding. This crucial Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding is helping close that gap.”
"The continued exposure to lead in drinking water is a serious health risk to individuals, especially children. I am pleased that Puerto Rico will be receiving $28.6 million in funding for lead water service line replacement under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This funding through the State Revolving Fund (SRF) helps us to move forward in addressing the pressing issue of aging infrastructure and safeguarding the health of our residents,” said U.S. Representative Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon. “By replacing these outdated lines, we are improving water quality and protecting our communities' well-being for generations to come. I am proud to have been part of the effort to craft and pass the BIL as a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. As we move forward, I remain dedicated to advocating for additional investments in Puerto Rico's infrastructure to address longstanding challenges and build a more resilient future for all."
President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law invests a historic $15 billion to identify and replace lead service lines. The law mandates that 49% of funds provided through the DWSRF General Supplemental Funding and DWSRF Lead Service Line Replacement Funding must be provided as grants and forgivable loans to disadvantaged communities, a crucial investment for communities that have been underinvested in for too long. EPA projects a national total of 9 million lead services lines across the country, based on data collected from the updated 7th Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey and Assessment. The funding announced today will be provided specifically for lead service line identification and replacement and will help every state and territory fund projects to remove lead pipes and reduce exposure to lead from drinking water. This Lead Service Line-specific formula allows states to receive financial assistance commensurate with their need as soon as possible, furthering public health protection nationwide. To ensure that funding is used for lead service line related activities, LSLR allotments are based on need — meaning that states with more projected lead service lines receive proportionally more.
Alongside the funding announced today, EPA is also releasing a memorandum that clarifies how states can use this and other funding to most effectively reduce exposure to lead in drinking water. Additionally, EPA has developed new outreach documents to help water systems educate their customers on drinking water issues, health impacts of lead exposure, service line ownership, and how customers can support the identification of potential lead service lines in their homes.
The Biden-Harris Administration’s ambitious initiative to remove lead pipes has already delivered significant results for families across the nation. Today’s latest funding will ensure more Puerto Rican families benefit from these unprecedented resources and support projects like these:
The Puerto Rico Department of Health’s project will utilize funds to further the health protection objectives of the Safe Drinking Water Act. This agreement will provide funds to replace lead drinking water service lines and help identify the planning, design and replacement of service lines of customer-owned and PRASA-owned service lines. The Department of Health will also use this funding to provide technical assistance to state program managers and small water system administrators.
To view more stories about how the unprecedented investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are transforming communities across the country, visit EPA’s Investing in America’s Water Infrastructure Story Map. To read more about some additional projects that are underway, see EPA’s recently released Quarterly Report on Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funded Clean Water and Drinking Water SRF projects and explore the State Revolving Funds Public Portal.
Today’s allotments are based on EPA’s updated 7th Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey and Assessment including an assessment of the one-time update submissions. To date, this is the best available data collected and assessed on service line materials in the United States. Later this summer, EPA will release an addendum to the 7th DWINSA Report to Congress, which will include the updated lead service line projections. EPA anticipates initiating data collection, which will include information on lead service lines, for the 8th DWINSA in 2025.
For more information, including state-by-state allotment of 2024 funding and a breakdown of EPA’s lead Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, please visit EPA’s Drinking Water website.
Follow EPA Region 2 on X and visit our Facebook page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.
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