Baltimore bridge collision involving Maersk-chartered ship shuts port
The closure of the fifth-busiest container port on the US East Coast could put pressure on container lines as they divert vessel calls.
EPA Administrator Regan and USAID Administrator Power Formalize Partnership to Advance Environmental Protection Around the World
WASHINGTON – Today, March 26, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael S. Regan and U.S. Agency for International Development Administrator Samantha Power signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that formalizes the leaders’ joint commitment to cooperate in tackling the challenges of climate change, air and water pollution, lead poisoning, and recycling of materials from plastics and electronic waste, and encouraging the responsible management of critical minerals. The meeting occurred after Administrator Regan’s recent Mission to Africa where he reinforced EPA’s commitment to partner with leaders, young people, and advocates to address many of these same challenges.
“EPA greatly values our long history of environmental cooperation with USAID,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Administrator Power is a true champion for environmental protection across the world. Under her leadership, EPA is proud to work alongside USAID to work with developing countries to achieve high public health standards, strengthen environmental governance, and advance the values of environmental justice and equity.”
Globally, approximately 1 in 3 children have elevated blood lead levels, and lead poisoning kills at least 1.6 million people each year with the vast majority of these deaths in low- and middle- income countries. Administrator Power is advocating for a global drive to support low- and middle-income countries in rolling out and enforcing binding regulations to curtail lead in consumer goods like paint, spices, and cosmetics. In January, USAID joined EPA in supporting the global partnership to eliminate lead paint.
Administrator Regan recently returned from Africa, where he met with national leaders, young people and advocates to develop shared solutions to environmental challenges, including air and water pollution, management of plastic waste and electronic waste recycling. EPA will be working with USAID to share appropriate U.S. best practices in low- and medium-income countries.
Another shared priority is the responsible and sustainable management of critical minerals. As the world transitions to green energy sources and we scale clean energy supply chains, demand for critical minerals that power these technologies could benefit millions through inclusive, sustainable economic growth, if mined responsibly. EPA and USAID are collaborating to advance strong standards and safeguards for the sustainable mining of critical minerals around the world.
EPA and USAID have a history of effective collaboration on some of the world’s biggest environmental issues. Together, USAID and EPA are ready to build on our history of collaboration, bringing together EPA’s wealth of knowledge and technical expertise and USAID’s international leadership and in-country presence and programs to build capacity to protect health and the environment and advance a freer and more equitable world.
“EPA greatly values our long history of environmental cooperation with USAID,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Administrator Power is a true champion for environmental protection across the world. Under her leadership, EPA is proud to work alongside USAID to work with developing countries to achieve high public health standards, strengthen environmental governance, and advance the values of environmental justice and equity.”
Globally, approximately 1 in 3 children have elevated blood lead levels, and lead poisoning kills at least 1.6 million people each year with the vast majority of these deaths in low- and middle- income countries. Administrator Power is advocating for a global drive to support low- and middle-income countries in rolling out and enforcing binding regulations to curtail lead in consumer goods like paint, spices, and cosmetics. In January, USAID joined EPA in supporting the global partnership to eliminate lead paint.
Administrator Regan recently returned from Africa, where he met with national leaders, young people and advocates to develop shared solutions to environmental challenges, including air and water pollution, management of plastic waste and electronic waste recycling. EPA will be working with USAID to share appropriate U.S. best practices in low- and medium-income countries.
Another shared priority is the responsible and sustainable management of critical minerals. As the world transitions to green energy sources and we scale clean energy supply chains, demand for critical minerals that power these technologies could benefit millions through inclusive, sustainable economic growth, if mined responsibly. EPA and USAID are collaborating to advance strong standards and safeguards for the sustainable mining of critical minerals around the world.
EPA and USAID have a history of effective collaboration on some of the world’s biggest environmental issues. Together, USAID and EPA are ready to build on our history of collaboration, bringing together EPA’s wealth of knowledge and technical expertise and USAID’s international leadership and in-country presence and programs to build capacity to protect health and the environment and advance a freer and more equitable world.
EPA Honors 2024 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year Award Winners in Missouri
LENEXA, KAN. (MARCH 26, 2024) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 is honoring three ENERGY STAR® partners for their outstanding leadership in support of the clean energy transition. ENERGY STAR award winners represent the program’s top partners and will be recognized at an event in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, April 25.
Copeland and Emerson in St. Louis and True Manufacturing in O’Fallon have been selected for 2024 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year program awards.
“Public-private partnerships such as ENERGY STAR are essential to enabling us to meet the historic opportunity that the President’s Inflation Reduction Act provides,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “I congratulate this year’s ENERGY STAR award winners for their innovation and leadership in delivering cost-effective, energy-efficient solutions that create jobs, protect the climate, and contribute to a healthier environment for everyone.”
“We congratulate our 2024 ENERGY STAR Partners of the Year for their leadership in reducing emissions by operating in more energy-efficient ways,” said EPA Region 7 Administrator Meghan A. McCollister. “These awardees demonstrate practices and implement climate solutions that benefit our communities here in the Heartland.”
Today’s awards recognize leaders among the thousands of industrial, commercial, utility, state, and local organizations – including nearly 40% of the Fortune 500® – that partner with EPA through the ENERGY STAR program. For every dollar EPA spends to administer ENERGY STAR, these partners collectively add $230 of their own investment. The result is millions of ENERGY STAR-certified products, homes, apartments, buildings, and industrial plants across the nation; utility rebate programs reaching 95% of American households; 4 billion tons of greenhouse gas reductions; and $500 billion in cost savings.
Here are a few examples of how Region 7’s 2024 ENERGY STAR award winners are leading the way for energy efficiency:
Copeland in St. Louis, a smart thermostat vendor, achieved an 11% year-over-year increase in sales dollars from ENERGY STAR smart thermostats, driven by a 20% increase in certified product models. Copeland has been an ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award winner for three years.
Emerson in St. Louis, a global technology and software company, employed ENERGY STAR tools and guidance to expand its energy management program, reaching an energy intensity reduction of 37% compared with a 2018 baseline.
True Manufacturing (True Food Service Equipment) in O’Fallon, Missouri, a U.S. manufacturer and global supplier of commercial, residential, and lab-grade refrigeration equipment and ice-making refrigeration systems, led the industry in advancing energy efficiency through ENERGY STAR in combination with the adoption of low-global warming potential refrigerants. True Manufacturing has been an ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award winner for one year.
Read more about the ENERGY STAR awards and all 2024 ENERGY STAR award winners’ achievements.
About ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR® is the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency, providing simple, credible, and unbiased information that consumers and businesses rely on to make well-informed decisions. Thousands of industrial, commercial, utility, state, and local organizations rely on their partnership with EPA to deliver cost-saving, energy efficiency solutions. Since 1992, ENERGY STAR and its partners have helped American families and businesses avoid over $500 billion in energy costs and achieve over 4 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas reductions. More background information about ENERGY STAR’s impacts can be found online.
# # #
Learn more about EPA Region 7
View all Region 7 news releases
Connect with EPA Region 7 on Facebook and Instagram
Follow us on X: @EPARegion7
Copeland and Emerson in St. Louis and True Manufacturing in O’Fallon have been selected for 2024 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year program awards.
“Public-private partnerships such as ENERGY STAR are essential to enabling us to meet the historic opportunity that the President’s Inflation Reduction Act provides,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “I congratulate this year’s ENERGY STAR award winners for their innovation and leadership in delivering cost-effective, energy-efficient solutions that create jobs, protect the climate, and contribute to a healthier environment for everyone.”
“We congratulate our 2024 ENERGY STAR Partners of the Year for their leadership in reducing emissions by operating in more energy-efficient ways,” said EPA Region 7 Administrator Meghan A. McCollister. “These awardees demonstrate practices and implement climate solutions that benefit our communities here in the Heartland.”
Today’s awards recognize leaders among the thousands of industrial, commercial, utility, state, and local organizations – including nearly 40% of the Fortune 500® – that partner with EPA through the ENERGY STAR program. For every dollar EPA spends to administer ENERGY STAR, these partners collectively add $230 of their own investment. The result is millions of ENERGY STAR-certified products, homes, apartments, buildings, and industrial plants across the nation; utility rebate programs reaching 95% of American households; 4 billion tons of greenhouse gas reductions; and $500 billion in cost savings.
Here are a few examples of how Region 7’s 2024 ENERGY STAR award winners are leading the way for energy efficiency:
Copeland in St. Louis, a smart thermostat vendor, achieved an 11% year-over-year increase in sales dollars from ENERGY STAR smart thermostats, driven by a 20% increase in certified product models. Copeland has been an ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award winner for three years.
Emerson in St. Louis, a global technology and software company, employed ENERGY STAR tools and guidance to expand its energy management program, reaching an energy intensity reduction of 37% compared with a 2018 baseline.
True Manufacturing (True Food Service Equipment) in O’Fallon, Missouri, a U.S. manufacturer and global supplier of commercial, residential, and lab-grade refrigeration equipment and ice-making refrigeration systems, led the industry in advancing energy efficiency through ENERGY STAR in combination with the adoption of low-global warming potential refrigerants. True Manufacturing has been an ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award winner for one year.
Read more about the ENERGY STAR awards and all 2024 ENERGY STAR award winners’ achievements.
About ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR® is the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency, providing simple, credible, and unbiased information that consumers and businesses rely on to make well-informed decisions. Thousands of industrial, commercial, utility, state, and local organizations rely on their partnership with EPA to deliver cost-saving, energy efficiency solutions. Since 1992, ENERGY STAR and its partners have helped American families and businesses avoid over $500 billion in energy costs and achieve over 4 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas reductions. More background information about ENERGY STAR’s impacts can be found online.
# # #
Learn more about EPA Region 7
View all Region 7 news releases
Connect with EPA Region 7 on Facebook and Instagram
Follow us on X: @EPARegion7
EPA Honors 2024 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year Award Winners in Iowa
LENEXA, KAN. (MARCH 26, 2024) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 is honoring two ENERGY STAR® partners for their outstanding leadership in support of the clean energy transition. ENERGY STAR award winners represent the program’s top partners and will be recognized at an event in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, April 25.
Des Moines Public Schools and Principal Real Estate in Des Moines have been selected for 2024 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year program awards.
“Public-private partnerships such as ENERGY STAR are essential to enabling us to meet the historic opportunity that the President’s Inflation Reduction Act provides,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “I congratulate this year’s ENERGY STAR award winners for their innovation and leadership in delivering cost-effective, energy-efficient solutions that create jobs, protect the climate, and contribute to a healthier environment for everyone.”
“We congratulate our 2024 ENERGY STAR Partners of the Year for their leadership in reducing emissions by operating in more energy-efficient ways,” said EPA Region 7 Administrator Meghan A. McCollister. “These awardees demonstrate practices and implement climate solutions that benefit our communities here in the Heartland.”
Today’s awards recognize leaders among the thousands of industrial, commercial, utility, state, and local organizations – including nearly 40% of the Fortune 500® – that partner with EPA through the ENERGY STAR program. For every dollar EPA spends to administer ENERGY STAR, these partners collectively add $230 of their own investment. The result is millions of ENERGY STAR-certified products, homes, apartments, buildings, and industrial plants across the nation; utility rebate programs reaching 95% of American households; 4 billion tons of greenhouse gas reductions; and $500 billion in cost savings.
Here are a couple examples of how Region 7’s 2024 ENERGY STAR award winners are leading the way for energy efficiency:
Des Moines Public Schools in Des Moines, Iowa, a public school district in Iowa, achieved ENERGY STAR certification at 34 schools and increased the district’s average ENERGY STAR score to nearly 75. Des Moines Public Schools have been an ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award winner for 11 years.
Principal Real Estate in Des Moines, Iowa, a real estate investment company, continued to integrate ENERGY STAR programs and resources into its energy management and investment strategies, and has maintained a corporate commitment to advancing its decarbonization goals. Principal Real Estate has been an ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award winner for seven years.
Read more about the ENERGY STAR awards and all 2024 ENERGY STAR award winners’ achievements.
About ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR® is the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency, providing simple, credible, and unbiased information that consumers and businesses rely on to make well-informed decisions. Thousands of industrial, commercial, utility, state, and local organizations rely on their partnership with EPA to deliver cost-saving, energy efficiency solutions. Since 1992, ENERGY STAR and its partners have helped American families and businesses avoid over $500 billion in energy costs and achieve over 4 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas reductions. More background information about ENERGY STAR’s impacts can be found online.
# # #
Learn more about EPA Region 7
View all Region 7 news releases
Connect with EPA Region 7 on Facebook and Instagram
Follow us on X: @EPARegion7
Des Moines Public Schools and Principal Real Estate in Des Moines have been selected for 2024 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year program awards.
“Public-private partnerships such as ENERGY STAR are essential to enabling us to meet the historic opportunity that the President’s Inflation Reduction Act provides,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “I congratulate this year’s ENERGY STAR award winners for their innovation and leadership in delivering cost-effective, energy-efficient solutions that create jobs, protect the climate, and contribute to a healthier environment for everyone.”
“We congratulate our 2024 ENERGY STAR Partners of the Year for their leadership in reducing emissions by operating in more energy-efficient ways,” said EPA Region 7 Administrator Meghan A. McCollister. “These awardees demonstrate practices and implement climate solutions that benefit our communities here in the Heartland.”
Today’s awards recognize leaders among the thousands of industrial, commercial, utility, state, and local organizations – including nearly 40% of the Fortune 500® – that partner with EPA through the ENERGY STAR program. For every dollar EPA spends to administer ENERGY STAR, these partners collectively add $230 of their own investment. The result is millions of ENERGY STAR-certified products, homes, apartments, buildings, and industrial plants across the nation; utility rebate programs reaching 95% of American households; 4 billion tons of greenhouse gas reductions; and $500 billion in cost savings.
Here are a couple examples of how Region 7’s 2024 ENERGY STAR award winners are leading the way for energy efficiency:
Des Moines Public Schools in Des Moines, Iowa, a public school district in Iowa, achieved ENERGY STAR certification at 34 schools and increased the district’s average ENERGY STAR score to nearly 75. Des Moines Public Schools have been an ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award winner for 11 years.
Principal Real Estate in Des Moines, Iowa, a real estate investment company, continued to integrate ENERGY STAR programs and resources into its energy management and investment strategies, and has maintained a corporate commitment to advancing its decarbonization goals. Principal Real Estate has been an ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award winner for seven years.
Read more about the ENERGY STAR awards and all 2024 ENERGY STAR award winners’ achievements.
About ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR® is the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency, providing simple, credible, and unbiased information that consumers and businesses rely on to make well-informed decisions. Thousands of industrial, commercial, utility, state, and local organizations rely on their partnership with EPA to deliver cost-saving, energy efficiency solutions. Since 1992, ENERGY STAR and its partners have helped American families and businesses avoid over $500 billion in energy costs and achieve over 4 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas reductions. More background information about ENERGY STAR’s impacts can be found online.
# # #
Learn more about EPA Region 7
View all Region 7 news releases
Connect with EPA Region 7 on Facebook and Instagram
Follow us on X: @EPARegion7
EPA Analysis shows 2022 increase of toxic chemical releases in Maine
BOSTON (MAR. 26, 2024) — Recently, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released its 2022 Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) National Analysis showing that environmental releases of TRI chemicals from facilities covered by the program were 21% lower in 2022 compared to 2013. This includes a 26% decrease in air releases. During this 10-year period, releases from manufacturing facilities decreased by 9% while the value added to the U.S. economy from manufacturing increased by 14%. While overall releases increased by 1% from 2021 to 2022, there was a 6.5% increase in the number of pollution prevention activities reported under the TRI program compared to 2021.
In Maine, the reporting data shows that over the last 10 years, air emissions from have decreased from 4.3 million pounds to 2.0 million pounds due to air emission reductions and reduced production from paper mills. Additionally, overall releases (including discharges to water and solid waste to landfills) decreased by 40% over the last ten years. However, from 2021 overall releases of pollutants to the environment (including discharges to water and solid waste to landfills) increased by 10% from the previous reporting year (2021) due to increases in waste sent to landfills.
The 2022 TRI National Analysis summarizes environmental releases of TRI chemicals, and how facilities managed their waste. In 2022, facilities reported managing 88.5% of their TRI chemical waste through preferred practices such as recycling, energy recovery and treatment, while releasing 11.5% of their TRI chemical waste into the environment.
"A big part of how we do our part of protecting the environment and serving our communities is the gathering and analysis of crucial scientific data, which we use to inform and guide our processes moving forward. TRI reporting is one of many ways we do this, and it provides more insight into where pollution may be harming communities and the environment," said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "We know that that transparency is key, especially for those locations that have been overburdened by environmental issues and concerns. By releasing this information out to the public, we can empower our communities and give guidance on how to proceed with being equipped with this latest environmental data."
EPA, states, and Tribes receive TRI data from facilities in sectors such as manufacturing, mining, hazardous waste management and electric utilities. More than 21,000 facilities submitted reports on 522 of the 827 chemicals and chemical categories for which TRI reporting is required. The remaining 305 chemicals either were not manufactured, processed, or used by facilities required to report to TRI or were not manufactured, processed, or used in amounts large enough to trigger reporting.
The 2022 TRI National Analysis features visualizations and analytical tools to make data more useful and accessible to communities. Readers can view data by state, Tribe, metropolitan area, EPA region and watershed using the "Where You Live"mapping tool. This tool also allows readers to view facility locations overlayed with demographic data to identify potential exposure to TRI chemical releases in communities, including overburdened communities. Community groups, policymakers and other stakeholders can use this information, along with other environmental data, to better understand which communities may be experiencing a disproportionate pollution burden and take action at the local level.
Additionally, the 2022 TRI National Analysis highlights trends and changes in waste management practices for specific sectors and chemicals in the Sector Profile and Chemical Profile sections. This year, the 2022 TRI National Analysis highlights the primary metals manufacturing sector alongside the standard profiles for electric utilities, chemical manufacturing and metal mining.
EPA is holding a public webinar on Thursday, April 4, 2024, at 2 p.m. ET to provide an overview of the 2022 TRI National Analysis. Register for the webinar.
Maine: Total On and offsite disposal and releases
During 2022, 78 facilities reported that approximately 7.3 million pounds were released on and off site to the air, water and land (such as landfills), compared to 6.6 million pounds released in 2021 (an increase of 0.7 million pounds). In 2022, approximately 2.0 million pounds were released to the air and 2.2 million pounds were released to surface water. The major pollutants released to the air were methanol at 33% of total air releases and an additional 33% of air releases were ammonia. The major pollutant released to the water were nitrate compounds (at 85% of all releases to water) which can promote algal growth in surface waters. From 2013, on-site releases decreased from 9.1 million pounds in 2012 to 5.7 million pounds in 2022.
Maine: Total Production Related Waste
During 2022, 78 facilities reported that approximately 50.5 million pounds of total production related waste was managed, compared to 79 facilities and 51.5 million pounds managed in 2021 (a decrease of 2.7 million pounds). During 2013, 90 facilities reported approximately 79 million pounds of total production related waste was managed. Total production related waste includes chemicals released directly to the environment, waste that is recycled offsite, waste that is sent offsite for treatment (such as to an incinerator or wastewater treatment system), and waste sent to landfills.
Maine: Top Five Companies
The companies in Maine with the greatest releases included four paper mills and one food processor. The food processor has remailed the same, one paper mill has left, and another has taken its place over the last ten years. The current 5 facilities produced 86% of the releases in the state of Maine.
Each year, EPA makes publicly available TRI data reported by industries throughout the United States regarding chemical releases to air, water and land by power plants, manufacturers and other facilities which employ ten or more workers, and which exceed thresholds for chemicals. Reporting includes information on chemicals released at a company's facility, as well as those transported to disposal facilities off site. TRI data do not reflect the relative toxicity of the chemicals emitted or potential exposure to people living in a community with reported releases.
Reporting under TRI does not indicate illegal discharges of pollutants to the environment. EPA works closely with states to provide regulatory oversight of facilities that generate pollution to the nation’s air, land, and water. Effective review and permitting programs work to ensure that the public and the environment are not subjected to unhealthful levels of pollution, even as agencies work to further reduce emissions of chemicals to the environment. Enforcement efforts by EPA and states ensure that facilities that violate their environmental permits are subject to penalties and corrective action. Yearly releases by individual facilities can vary due to factors such as power outages, production variability, lulls in the business cycle, etc., that do not reflect a facility's pollution prevention program(s).
View the 2022 TRI National Analysis, including local data from Maine.
PFAS Reporting
The TRI National Analysis includes reporting on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as required by the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). A provision of the NDAA outlines criteria for additional PFAS to be automatically added for TRI reporting. For reporting year 2022, four PFAS met the criteria and were added to the reporting requirements for a total of 180 PFAS tracked by the TRI program. During 2022, 50 facilities managed 1.2 million pounds of these chemicals as waste, which represents an 8% decrease compared to 2021.
For reporting year 2024, TRI will no longer have a reporting exemption for facilities that use PFAS in small, or de minimis, concentrations as a result of EPA’s recently published final rule. This rule will improve the quality and quantity of publicly available data on PFAS, as many materials used at facilities contain PFAS in low concentrations. Facilities that make or use these products will no longer be able to rely on the de minimis exemption to avoid their responsibility to disclose PFAS releases and other waste management of these chemicals.
Pollution Prevention
Facilities implemented 3,589 total pollution prevention activities in 2022 with the most common being process and equipment modifications, followed by changes to operating practices and training. Through both existing programs and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA offers grant opportunities to state and Tribal technical assistance providers to help prevent pollution.
Industry professionals can view TRI reporting on pollution prevention to learn about best practices implemented at other facilities.
Key Expansions to TRI Reporting
Important expansions to TRI reporting went into effect for reporting year 2022. Some contract sterilization facilities, which are contracted to sterilize products or equipment for hospitals and other facilities, were required to report to TRI for the first time on their management of ethylene oxide and ethylene glycol as waste. These facilities managed 6.3 million pounds of ethylene oxide waste, nearly all of which was treated.
Reporting year 2022 was also the first year of expanded reporting for the natural gas processing sector. The 305 facilities in this sector that reported to TRI managed 115 million pounds of TRI chemicals in waste and disposed of 81% of TRI chemicals in underground injection wells.
In Maine, the reporting data shows that over the last 10 years, air emissions from have decreased from 4.3 million pounds to 2.0 million pounds due to air emission reductions and reduced production from paper mills. Additionally, overall releases (including discharges to water and solid waste to landfills) decreased by 40% over the last ten years. However, from 2021 overall releases of pollutants to the environment (including discharges to water and solid waste to landfills) increased by 10% from the previous reporting year (2021) due to increases in waste sent to landfills.
The 2022 TRI National Analysis summarizes environmental releases of TRI chemicals, and how facilities managed their waste. In 2022, facilities reported managing 88.5% of their TRI chemical waste through preferred practices such as recycling, energy recovery and treatment, while releasing 11.5% of their TRI chemical waste into the environment.
"A big part of how we do our part of protecting the environment and serving our communities is the gathering and analysis of crucial scientific data, which we use to inform and guide our processes moving forward. TRI reporting is one of many ways we do this, and it provides more insight into where pollution may be harming communities and the environment," said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "We know that that transparency is key, especially for those locations that have been overburdened by environmental issues and concerns. By releasing this information out to the public, we can empower our communities and give guidance on how to proceed with being equipped with this latest environmental data."
EPA, states, and Tribes receive TRI data from facilities in sectors such as manufacturing, mining, hazardous waste management and electric utilities. More than 21,000 facilities submitted reports on 522 of the 827 chemicals and chemical categories for which TRI reporting is required. The remaining 305 chemicals either were not manufactured, processed, or used by facilities required to report to TRI or were not manufactured, processed, or used in amounts large enough to trigger reporting.
The 2022 TRI National Analysis features visualizations and analytical tools to make data more useful and accessible to communities. Readers can view data by state, Tribe, metropolitan area, EPA region and watershed using the "Where You Live"mapping tool. This tool also allows readers to view facility locations overlayed with demographic data to identify potential exposure to TRI chemical releases in communities, including overburdened communities. Community groups, policymakers and other stakeholders can use this information, along with other environmental data, to better understand which communities may be experiencing a disproportionate pollution burden and take action at the local level.
Additionally, the 2022 TRI National Analysis highlights trends and changes in waste management practices for specific sectors and chemicals in the Sector Profile and Chemical Profile sections. This year, the 2022 TRI National Analysis highlights the primary metals manufacturing sector alongside the standard profiles for electric utilities, chemical manufacturing and metal mining.
EPA is holding a public webinar on Thursday, April 4, 2024, at 2 p.m. ET to provide an overview of the 2022 TRI National Analysis. Register for the webinar.
Maine: Total On and offsite disposal and releases
During 2022, 78 facilities reported that approximately 7.3 million pounds were released on and off site to the air, water and land (such as landfills), compared to 6.6 million pounds released in 2021 (an increase of 0.7 million pounds). In 2022, approximately 2.0 million pounds were released to the air and 2.2 million pounds were released to surface water. The major pollutants released to the air were methanol at 33% of total air releases and an additional 33% of air releases were ammonia. The major pollutant released to the water were nitrate compounds (at 85% of all releases to water) which can promote algal growth in surface waters. From 2013, on-site releases decreased from 9.1 million pounds in 2012 to 5.7 million pounds in 2022.
Maine: Total Production Related Waste
During 2022, 78 facilities reported that approximately 50.5 million pounds of total production related waste was managed, compared to 79 facilities and 51.5 million pounds managed in 2021 (a decrease of 2.7 million pounds). During 2013, 90 facilities reported approximately 79 million pounds of total production related waste was managed. Total production related waste includes chemicals released directly to the environment, waste that is recycled offsite, waste that is sent offsite for treatment (such as to an incinerator or wastewater treatment system), and waste sent to landfills.
Maine: Top Five Companies
The companies in Maine with the greatest releases included four paper mills and one food processor. The food processor has remailed the same, one paper mill has left, and another has taken its place over the last ten years. The current 5 facilities produced 86% of the releases in the state of Maine.
Each year, EPA makes publicly available TRI data reported by industries throughout the United States regarding chemical releases to air, water and land by power plants, manufacturers and other facilities which employ ten or more workers, and which exceed thresholds for chemicals. Reporting includes information on chemicals released at a company's facility, as well as those transported to disposal facilities off site. TRI data do not reflect the relative toxicity of the chemicals emitted or potential exposure to people living in a community with reported releases.
Reporting under TRI does not indicate illegal discharges of pollutants to the environment. EPA works closely with states to provide regulatory oversight of facilities that generate pollution to the nation’s air, land, and water. Effective review and permitting programs work to ensure that the public and the environment are not subjected to unhealthful levels of pollution, even as agencies work to further reduce emissions of chemicals to the environment. Enforcement efforts by EPA and states ensure that facilities that violate their environmental permits are subject to penalties and corrective action. Yearly releases by individual facilities can vary due to factors such as power outages, production variability, lulls in the business cycle, etc., that do not reflect a facility's pollution prevention program(s).
View the 2022 TRI National Analysis, including local data from Maine.
PFAS Reporting
The TRI National Analysis includes reporting on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as required by the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). A provision of the NDAA outlines criteria for additional PFAS to be automatically added for TRI reporting. For reporting year 2022, four PFAS met the criteria and were added to the reporting requirements for a total of 180 PFAS tracked by the TRI program. During 2022, 50 facilities managed 1.2 million pounds of these chemicals as waste, which represents an 8% decrease compared to 2021.
For reporting year 2024, TRI will no longer have a reporting exemption for facilities that use PFAS in small, or de minimis, concentrations as a result of EPA’s recently published final rule. This rule will improve the quality and quantity of publicly available data on PFAS, as many materials used at facilities contain PFAS in low concentrations. Facilities that make or use these products will no longer be able to rely on the de minimis exemption to avoid their responsibility to disclose PFAS releases and other waste management of these chemicals.
Pollution Prevention
Facilities implemented 3,589 total pollution prevention activities in 2022 with the most common being process and equipment modifications, followed by changes to operating practices and training. Through both existing programs and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA offers grant opportunities to state and Tribal technical assistance providers to help prevent pollution.
Industry professionals can view TRI reporting on pollution prevention to learn about best practices implemented at other facilities.
Key Expansions to TRI Reporting
Important expansions to TRI reporting went into effect for reporting year 2022. Some contract sterilization facilities, which are contracted to sterilize products or equipment for hospitals and other facilities, were required to report to TRI for the first time on their management of ethylene oxide and ethylene glycol as waste. These facilities managed 6.3 million pounds of ethylene oxide waste, nearly all of which was treated.
Reporting year 2022 was also the first year of expanded reporting for the natural gas processing sector. The 305 facilities in this sector that reported to TRI managed 115 million pounds of TRI chemicals in waste and disposed of 81% of TRI chemicals in underground injection wells.
EPA Honors 2024 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year Award Winner in Kansas
LENEXA, KAN. (MARCH 26, 2024) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 is honoring one Kansas ENERGY STAR® partner for its outstanding leadership in support of the clean energy transition. ENERGY STAR award winners represent the program’s top partners and will be recognized at an event in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, April 25.
Koch Industries in Wichita has been selected for a 2024 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year program award.
“Public-private partnerships such as ENERGY STAR are essential to enabling us to meet the historic opportunity that the President’s Inflation Reduction Act provides,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “I congratulate this year’s ENERGY STAR award winners for their innovation and leadership in delivering cost-effective, energy-efficient solutions that create jobs, protect the climate, and contribute to a healthier environment for everyone.”
“We congratulate our 2024 ENERGY STAR Partners of the Year for their leadership in reducing emissions by operating in more energy-efficient ways,” said EPA Region 7 Administrator Meghan A. McCollister. “These awardees demonstrate practices and implement climate solutions that benefit our communities here in the Heartland.”
Today’s awards recognize leaders among the thousands of industrial, commercial, utility, state, and local organizations – including nearly 40% of the Fortune 500® – that partner with EPA through the ENERGY STAR program. For every dollar EPA spends to administer ENERGY STAR, these partners collectively add $230 of their own investment. The result is millions of ENERGY STAR-certified products, homes, apartments, buildings, and industrial plants across the nation; utility rebate programs reaching 95% of American households; 4 billion tons of greenhouse gas reductions; and $500 billion in cost savings.
Here's how the 2024 ENERGY STAR award winner from Kansas is leading the way for energy efficiency:
Koch Industries in Wichita is a private company engaged in the diverse industries of petroleum refining, chemicals, forest and consumer products, fertilizers, polymers and fibers, process and pollution control equipment and technologies, electronic components, commodity trading, minerals, energy, glass, and investments. The company supported ENERGY STAR partners and industries by sharing best energy management practices and promoting plant benchmarking using ENERGY STAR tools within its industrial sectors. Koch Industries has been an ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award winner for two years.
Read more about the ENERGY STAR awards and all 2024 ENERGY STAR award winners’ achievements.
About ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR® is the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency, providing simple, credible, and unbiased information that consumers and businesses rely on to make well-informed decisions. Thousands of industrial, commercial, utility, state, and local organizations rely on their partnership with EPA to deliver cost-saving energy efficiency solutions. Since 1992, ENERGY STAR and its partners have helped American families and businesses avoid over $500 billion in energy costs and achieve over 4 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas reductions. More background information about ENERGY STAR’s impacts can be found online.
# # #
Learn more about EPA Region 7
View all Region 7 news releases
Connect with EPA Region 7 on Facebook and Instagram
Follow us on X: @EPARegion7
Koch Industries in Wichita has been selected for a 2024 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year program award.
“Public-private partnerships such as ENERGY STAR are essential to enabling us to meet the historic opportunity that the President’s Inflation Reduction Act provides,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “I congratulate this year’s ENERGY STAR award winners for their innovation and leadership in delivering cost-effective, energy-efficient solutions that create jobs, protect the climate, and contribute to a healthier environment for everyone.”
“We congratulate our 2024 ENERGY STAR Partners of the Year for their leadership in reducing emissions by operating in more energy-efficient ways,” said EPA Region 7 Administrator Meghan A. McCollister. “These awardees demonstrate practices and implement climate solutions that benefit our communities here in the Heartland.”
Today’s awards recognize leaders among the thousands of industrial, commercial, utility, state, and local organizations – including nearly 40% of the Fortune 500® – that partner with EPA through the ENERGY STAR program. For every dollar EPA spends to administer ENERGY STAR, these partners collectively add $230 of their own investment. The result is millions of ENERGY STAR-certified products, homes, apartments, buildings, and industrial plants across the nation; utility rebate programs reaching 95% of American households; 4 billion tons of greenhouse gas reductions; and $500 billion in cost savings.
Here's how the 2024 ENERGY STAR award winner from Kansas is leading the way for energy efficiency:
Koch Industries in Wichita is a private company engaged in the diverse industries of petroleum refining, chemicals, forest and consumer products, fertilizers, polymers and fibers, process and pollution control equipment and technologies, electronic components, commodity trading, minerals, energy, glass, and investments. The company supported ENERGY STAR partners and industries by sharing best energy management practices and promoting plant benchmarking using ENERGY STAR tools within its industrial sectors. Koch Industries has been an ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award winner for two years.
Read more about the ENERGY STAR awards and all 2024 ENERGY STAR award winners’ achievements.
About ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR® is the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency, providing simple, credible, and unbiased information that consumers and businesses rely on to make well-informed decisions. Thousands of industrial, commercial, utility, state, and local organizations rely on their partnership with EPA to deliver cost-saving energy efficiency solutions. Since 1992, ENERGY STAR and its partners have helped American families and businesses avoid over $500 billion in energy costs and achieve over 4 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas reductions. More background information about ENERGY STAR’s impacts can be found online.
# # #
Learn more about EPA Region 7
View all Region 7 news releases
Connect with EPA Region 7 on Facebook and Instagram
Follow us on X: @EPARegion7
EPA Announces 2024 ENERGY STAR Awards for Outstanding Contributions to Energy Efficiency and a Clean Future
WASHINGTON – Today, March 26, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is announcing the winners of the 2024 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year Awards. These 211 organizations, which represent the top ENERGY STAR program partners, are making significant contributions in support of the clean energy transition. They come from 38 states and localities, representing multiple economic sectors. The winners will be recognized at an event in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, April 25.
“Public-private partnerships such as ENERGY STAR are essential to enabling us to meet the historic opportunity that the President’s Inflation Reduction Act provides,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “I congratulate this year’s ENERGY STAR award winners for their innovation and leadership, in delivering cost-effective energy efficient solutions that create jobs, protect the climate, and contribute to a healthier environment for everyone.”
Today’s awards recognize leaders among the thousands of industrial, commercial, utility, state, and local organizations—including nearly 40% of the Fortune 500®—that partner with the EPA through the ENERGY STAR program. For every $1 the EPA spends to administer ENERGY STAR, these partners collectively add $230 of their own investment. The result is: millions of ENERGY STAR certified products, homes, apartments, buildings, and industrial plants across the nation; utility rebate programs reaching 95% of American households; 4 billion tons of greenhouse gas reductions; and $500 billion in cost savings.
Among today’s ENERGY STAR award winners, 160 partners have demonstrated an ongoing, year after year commitment to energy efficiency. These award winners are being recognized through the program’s highest honor: ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Award.
Here are a few examples of how 2024 ENERGY STAR Award Winners are taking action:
• (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) A.O. Smith, a manufacturer of water heating and water treatment products, launched a new website design that highlights ENERGY STAR products for homeowner and trade professional audiences and features a heat pump water heater product page banner to promote the latest innovations in energy efficiency.
• (Charlotte, North Carolina) Atrium Health, a healthcare organization, significantly improved energy efficiency and increased the average ENERGY STAR score of its portfolio of hospitals, medical office buildings and more by almost 5% in 2023.
• (Richfield, Minnesota), Best Buy Co. Inc., a seller of electronics and appliances, demonstrated its dedication to ENERGY STAR by holistically using ENERGY STAR as a key strategy to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions and drive consumer adoption of efficient products by stocking more than 4,150 different models of ENERGY STAR certified products across stores nationwide.
• (Irvine, California) Bosch Home Appliances, a residential kitchen and laundry appliances manufacturer, revamped its offerings of highly efficient appliances to meet new ENERGY STAR requirements and significantly enhanced its marketing and media focus on energy efficiency and ENERGY STAR, earning billions of impressions.
• (Southfield, Michigan) Grede Holdings, a manufacturer of ductile, gray and specialty iron castings, built a comprehensive industrial energy program using ENERGY STAR energy management guidance and achieved a 5% reduction in energy intensity over 2022.
• (Anaheim, California) Greenlite, a manufacturer of lighting products, expanded its offerings through one utility implementer’s programs by over 15 million ENERGY STAR certified bulbs, resulting in over $60 million in energy savings for consumers.
• (Malibu, California) Green Econome, an energy-efficiency consulting and construction firm, helped to benchmark more than 1,200 of its clients’ properties in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager®.
• (Prescott, Arizona) Mandalay Homes, a regional home builder, constructed nearly 150 ENERGY STAR certified homes in 2023, for a total of over 1,400 since joining the program in 2013, and launched a maintenance program to help new and re-sale buyers ensure that their ENERGY STAR certified homes continue to perform well.
• (Greenbelt, Maryland) National Asphalt Pavement Association, a trade association representing asphalt mixture producers and paving contractors, increased the visibility of the ENERGY STAR program and championed energy efficiency as key strategies to reduce the embodied carbon of the industry’s products at industry events and in trade press.
• (Boston, Massachusetts) Rockhill Management LLC, a property management company, achieved ENERGY STAR Certification for 17 properties, and demonstrated innovation through its Property Playoff campaign, a friendly competition that trained 100% of property managers on how to benchmark in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager and led to a 2% overall energy reduction across its portfolio from September to November.
• (Streetsboro, Ohio) Softlite Windows & Doors, a window and door manufacturer, demonstrated its strong support of ENERGY STAR by offering 156 product lines, with 100% having an ENERGY STAR certified option, while actively improving the current product lines to meet new, more stringent ENERGY STAR criteria.
• (Irving, Texas) U.S. EcoLogic, a home energy rating company, certified more than 3,600 homes as ENERGY STAR in 2023, for a total of nearly 60,000 since 2002, and developed new software to enhance its ENERGY STAR certification process with exception reporting to identify data anomalies, reporting archives, photos, timestamps, and geolocations.
• (Denver, Colorado) Xcel Energy-Colorado, an electric utility and natural gas company, supported the construction of more than 1,800 ENERGY STAR certified homes and hosted meetings with the community, builders, and energy rating companies to answer questions about rebuilding, energy efficiency and available incentives.
Read more about the ENERGY STAR Awards and Award Winners’ achievements.
About ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR® is the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency, providing simple, credible, and unbiased information that consumers and businesses rely on to make well-informed decisions. Thousands of industrial, commercial, utility, state, and local organizations rely on their partnership with the EPA to deliver cost-saving energy efficiency solutions. Since 1992, ENERGY STAR and its partners helped American families and businesses avoid more than $500 billion in energy costs and achieve more than 4 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas reductions. Please see more background information about ENERGY STAR’s impacts.
“Public-private partnerships such as ENERGY STAR are essential to enabling us to meet the historic opportunity that the President’s Inflation Reduction Act provides,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “I congratulate this year’s ENERGY STAR award winners for their innovation and leadership, in delivering cost-effective energy efficient solutions that create jobs, protect the climate, and contribute to a healthier environment for everyone.”
Today’s awards recognize leaders among the thousands of industrial, commercial, utility, state, and local organizations—including nearly 40% of the Fortune 500®—that partner with the EPA through the ENERGY STAR program. For every $1 the EPA spends to administer ENERGY STAR, these partners collectively add $230 of their own investment. The result is: millions of ENERGY STAR certified products, homes, apartments, buildings, and industrial plants across the nation; utility rebate programs reaching 95% of American households; 4 billion tons of greenhouse gas reductions; and $500 billion in cost savings.
Among today’s ENERGY STAR award winners, 160 partners have demonstrated an ongoing, year after year commitment to energy efficiency. These award winners are being recognized through the program’s highest honor: ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Award.
Here are a few examples of how 2024 ENERGY STAR Award Winners are taking action:
• (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) A.O. Smith, a manufacturer of water heating and water treatment products, launched a new website design that highlights ENERGY STAR products for homeowner and trade professional audiences and features a heat pump water heater product page banner to promote the latest innovations in energy efficiency.
• (Charlotte, North Carolina) Atrium Health, a healthcare organization, significantly improved energy efficiency and increased the average ENERGY STAR score of its portfolio of hospitals, medical office buildings and more by almost 5% in 2023.
• (Richfield, Minnesota), Best Buy Co. Inc., a seller of electronics and appliances, demonstrated its dedication to ENERGY STAR by holistically using ENERGY STAR as a key strategy to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions and drive consumer adoption of efficient products by stocking more than 4,150 different models of ENERGY STAR certified products across stores nationwide.
• (Irvine, California) Bosch Home Appliances, a residential kitchen and laundry appliances manufacturer, revamped its offerings of highly efficient appliances to meet new ENERGY STAR requirements and significantly enhanced its marketing and media focus on energy efficiency and ENERGY STAR, earning billions of impressions.
• (Southfield, Michigan) Grede Holdings, a manufacturer of ductile, gray and specialty iron castings, built a comprehensive industrial energy program using ENERGY STAR energy management guidance and achieved a 5% reduction in energy intensity over 2022.
• (Anaheim, California) Greenlite, a manufacturer of lighting products, expanded its offerings through one utility implementer’s programs by over 15 million ENERGY STAR certified bulbs, resulting in over $60 million in energy savings for consumers.
• (Malibu, California) Green Econome, an energy-efficiency consulting and construction firm, helped to benchmark more than 1,200 of its clients’ properties in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager®.
• (Prescott, Arizona) Mandalay Homes, a regional home builder, constructed nearly 150 ENERGY STAR certified homes in 2023, for a total of over 1,400 since joining the program in 2013, and launched a maintenance program to help new and re-sale buyers ensure that their ENERGY STAR certified homes continue to perform well.
• (Greenbelt, Maryland) National Asphalt Pavement Association, a trade association representing asphalt mixture producers and paving contractors, increased the visibility of the ENERGY STAR program and championed energy efficiency as key strategies to reduce the embodied carbon of the industry’s products at industry events and in trade press.
• (Boston, Massachusetts) Rockhill Management LLC, a property management company, achieved ENERGY STAR Certification for 17 properties, and demonstrated innovation through its Property Playoff campaign, a friendly competition that trained 100% of property managers on how to benchmark in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager and led to a 2% overall energy reduction across its portfolio from September to November.
• (Streetsboro, Ohio) Softlite Windows & Doors, a window and door manufacturer, demonstrated its strong support of ENERGY STAR by offering 156 product lines, with 100% having an ENERGY STAR certified option, while actively improving the current product lines to meet new, more stringent ENERGY STAR criteria.
• (Irving, Texas) U.S. EcoLogic, a home energy rating company, certified more than 3,600 homes as ENERGY STAR in 2023, for a total of nearly 60,000 since 2002, and developed new software to enhance its ENERGY STAR certification process with exception reporting to identify data anomalies, reporting archives, photos, timestamps, and geolocations.
• (Denver, Colorado) Xcel Energy-Colorado, an electric utility and natural gas company, supported the construction of more than 1,800 ENERGY STAR certified homes and hosted meetings with the community, builders, and energy rating companies to answer questions about rebuilding, energy efficiency and available incentives.
Read more about the ENERGY STAR Awards and Award Winners’ achievements.
About ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR® is the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency, providing simple, credible, and unbiased information that consumers and businesses rely on to make well-informed decisions. Thousands of industrial, commercial, utility, state, and local organizations rely on their partnership with the EPA to deliver cost-saving energy efficiency solutions. Since 1992, ENERGY STAR and its partners helped American families and businesses avoid more than $500 billion in energy costs and achieve more than 4 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas reductions. Please see more background information about ENERGY STAR’s impacts.
EPA Regional Administrator kicks off 2024 Pennsylvania Brownfields Conference in State College, PA
PHILADELPHIA (March 26, 2024) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) joined the Engineers’ Society of Western Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP), state and local partners, grantees, consultants, and industry leaders to help kick off the 2024 Pennsylvania Brownfields Conference in State College, Pennsylvania. Offering remarks during the opening plenary, EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz spoke to conference attendees on the importance of partnerships, priorities, and perseverance.
Juan Garrett from the North Side Industrial Development Company in Pittsburgh stands with EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz at the conference.“Brownfields programs hold significant power, and we know these remediation, restoration, and revitalization efforts change lives and communities all across the Commonweatlh,” said Ortiz. “When we come together, align our priorities and goals, and commit to seeing projects through, we’re telling our present and future communities that they’re worth it.”
Thanks to additional funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA in 2023 awarded a total of $14 million to 19 grantees across Pennsylvania for assessments, cleanups, and revolving loan funds. EPA currently has 50 open Brownfields grants across 35 grantees in the Commonwealth.
During his remarks, Ortiz congratulated two Pennsylvania entities – North Side Industrial Development Company in Pittsburgh and the Housing and Redevelopment Authority of Cumberland County in Carlisle – on being selected to receive $500,000 each in Brownfields Job Training grants.
“Pennsylvania has a rich industrial history with thousands of revitalized Brownfields sites and many more sites across the Commonwealth are currently undergoing the cleanup process," said DEP Acting Executive Deputy Ramez Ziadeh. “Brownfield projects can both restore the environment and contribute to greater economic development for businesses and communities. The success of our Brownfield Redevelopment program would not be possible without our collaborative partnerships with US EPA and other state agencies. DEP is committed to connecting communities and transforming sites into places where people want to live, work and visit through brownfield redevelopment.”
Provided to nonprofit organizations and other eligible entities, these grants are used to recruit and train unemployed and underemployed residents from communities affected by environmental pollution, and economic disinvestment, and place them in environmental jobs. Since the program was created in 1998, EPA has funded 371 job training grants totaling over $79 million through the Brownfields Job Training program. A total of 20,341 individuals have been trained and 15,168 individuals have been placed in full-time careers related to land remediation and environmental health and safety.
To learn more about EPA’s Brownfields program, visit www.epa.gov/brownfields
Juan Garrett from the North Side Industrial Development Company in Pittsburgh stands with EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz at the conference.“Brownfields programs hold significant power, and we know these remediation, restoration, and revitalization efforts change lives and communities all across the Commonweatlh,” said Ortiz. “When we come together, align our priorities and goals, and commit to seeing projects through, we’re telling our present and future communities that they’re worth it.”
Thanks to additional funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA in 2023 awarded a total of $14 million to 19 grantees across Pennsylvania for assessments, cleanups, and revolving loan funds. EPA currently has 50 open Brownfields grants across 35 grantees in the Commonwealth.
During his remarks, Ortiz congratulated two Pennsylvania entities – North Side Industrial Development Company in Pittsburgh and the Housing and Redevelopment Authority of Cumberland County in Carlisle – on being selected to receive $500,000 each in Brownfields Job Training grants.
“Pennsylvania has a rich industrial history with thousands of revitalized Brownfields sites and many more sites across the Commonwealth are currently undergoing the cleanup process," said DEP Acting Executive Deputy Ramez Ziadeh. “Brownfield projects can both restore the environment and contribute to greater economic development for businesses and communities. The success of our Brownfield Redevelopment program would not be possible without our collaborative partnerships with US EPA and other state agencies. DEP is committed to connecting communities and transforming sites into places where people want to live, work and visit through brownfield redevelopment.”
Provided to nonprofit organizations and other eligible entities, these grants are used to recruit and train unemployed and underemployed residents from communities affected by environmental pollution, and economic disinvestment, and place them in environmental jobs. Since the program was created in 1998, EPA has funded 371 job training grants totaling over $79 million through the Brownfields Job Training program. A total of 20,341 individuals have been trained and 15,168 individuals have been placed in full-time careers related to land remediation and environmental health and safety.
To learn more about EPA’s Brownfields program, visit www.epa.gov/brownfields