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
EPA enforcement action leads to settlement with school bus transportation company for alleged Clean Air Act violations
BOSTON (March 26, 2024) – Recently, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reached a settlement with First Student, a company that owns, operates, and stores school buses throughout the United States, including in Connecticut. EPA alleges that the company violated federal clean air standards by allowing buses in two Connecticut locations to idle for excessive periods of time. Working cooperatively with EPA, First Student reached a settlement agreement and has developed a compliance program that is intended to reduce excessive idling of school buses.
"EPA works hard to ensure that communities can enjoy clean air each and every day. Companies that operate fleets of vehicles have an obligation to follow regulations to limit engine idling. Fumes from idling engines can aggravate health conditions like asthma for people living nearby, as well as emitting pollutants that degrade air quality over a wider area, and cause climate change," said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "Clean Air Act settlements, like this one, showcase our continued dedication to protecting people's health and our environment including in communities that have suffered from a disproportionate burden of environmental pollution."
EPA inspected First Student's Weston, Conn. location and its West Harford, Conn. facility, which is in an environmentally overburdened area. EPA's inspections revealed the operation of school bus motors that went over the state's three-minute idling maximum, contained in the federally enforceable Connecticut State Implementation Plan.
Under the terms of the settlement the company has agreed to pay a penalty of $96,223 , and will implement various compliance measures, some of which apply in Connecticut and others that apply in additional jurisdictions where First Student operates. These measures include posting signage, training, and coaching. Also, First Student will conduct both ongoing assessments of their operations data, and consistent observations of their bus lots, in order to correct instances of excessive school bus idling.
Background
Idling diesel engines emit pollutants that can cause or aggravate a variety of health conditions, including asthma and other respiratory diseases. The fine particles in diesel exhaust are a likely carcinogen. Diesel exhaust not only contributes to area-wide air quality problems, but more direct exposure can cause lightheadedness, nausea, sore throat, coughing, and other symptoms. Drivers, school children riding on the buses, facility workers, neighbors and bystanders are all vulnerable. Idling also wastes fuel, contributing to carbon dioxide emissions that affect climate change.
The Clean Air Act is the law that defines EPA's responsibilities for protecting and improving the nation's air quality and the stratospheric ozone layer. The last major change in the law, the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, was enacted by Congress in 1990. Legislation passed since then has made several minor changes.
More information:
EPA School Bus Idle Reduction
"EPA works hard to ensure that communities can enjoy clean air each and every day. Companies that operate fleets of vehicles have an obligation to follow regulations to limit engine idling. Fumes from idling engines can aggravate health conditions like asthma for people living nearby, as well as emitting pollutants that degrade air quality over a wider area, and cause climate change," said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "Clean Air Act settlements, like this one, showcase our continued dedication to protecting people's health and our environment including in communities that have suffered from a disproportionate burden of environmental pollution."
EPA inspected First Student's Weston, Conn. location and its West Harford, Conn. facility, which is in an environmentally overburdened area. EPA's inspections revealed the operation of school bus motors that went over the state's three-minute idling maximum, contained in the federally enforceable Connecticut State Implementation Plan.
Under the terms of the settlement the company has agreed to pay a penalty of $96,223 , and will implement various compliance measures, some of which apply in Connecticut and others that apply in additional jurisdictions where First Student operates. These measures include posting signage, training, and coaching. Also, First Student will conduct both ongoing assessments of their operations data, and consistent observations of their bus lots, in order to correct instances of excessive school bus idling.
Background
Idling diesel engines emit pollutants that can cause or aggravate a variety of health conditions, including asthma and other respiratory diseases. The fine particles in diesel exhaust are a likely carcinogen. Diesel exhaust not only contributes to area-wide air quality problems, but more direct exposure can cause lightheadedness, nausea, sore throat, coughing, and other symptoms. Drivers, school children riding on the buses, facility workers, neighbors and bystanders are all vulnerable. Idling also wastes fuel, contributing to carbon dioxide emissions that affect climate change.
The Clean Air Act is the law that defines EPA's responsibilities for protecting and improving the nation's air quality and the stratospheric ozone layer. The last major change in the law, the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, was enacted by Congress in 1990. Legislation passed since then has made several minor changes.
More information:
EPA School Bus Idle Reduction
Biden-Harris Administration Announces More Than $35 million to Selectees to Fund Environmental Justice Projects Across the Great Lakes
WASHINGTON – Today, March 26, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the selection of four applicants to receive more than $35 million to fund projects that advance environmental justice in underserved and overburdened communities across the Great Lakes. Through EPA’s newly created Great Lakes Environmental Justice Grant Program, made possible by President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda, each selectee will develop and oversee their own subgrant competition that will fund environmental protection and restoration projects that safeguard our nation’s largest fresh surface water resources and benefit underserved and overburdened communities throughout the Great Lakes Basin.
“Thanks to President Biden’s historic investments in America, we are taking another critical step to protect our treasured Great Lakes and advance environmental justice,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Together, with the partners we’re announcing today, we will continue our work to remove barriers for communities that have been left behind while preserving the rich cultural, economic, and environmental role of the Great Lakes in communities across the Great Lakes Basin.”
The Great Lakes Environmental Justice Grant Program is part of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), the largest investment in the Great Lakes in two decades, which received $1 billion in funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The following organizations have been selected to receive funding through today’s announcement.
Restore America’s Estuaries was selected to receive $19,999,976 to develop and implement a Great Lakes Environmental Justice Grant Program that, with the support of Great Lakes partners, will serve the entire Great Lakes Basin.
Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper, Inc. was selected to receive $5,633,581 to develop and implement the Western New York Environmental Justice Grant Program for underserved communities in Lake Erie and Niagara River’s watershed.
Ohio Lake Erie Commission was selected to receive $5,805,006 to develop and implement the Lake Erie Environmental Justice Grant Program for underserved communities in Ohio’s Lake Erie watershed.
Southeast Michigan Council of Governments was selected to receive $4,200,000 to develop and implement the Advancing Environmental Quality of Life in Underserved Communities grant program for underserved communities in Southeast Michigan.
“There’s no exaggerating the importance of protecting and restoring the Great Lakes. They provide our drinking water, fuel our economy, offer us spaces for recreation, and harbor vital resources for many Tribes,” said EPA Region 5 Administrator and Great Lakes National Program Manager Debra Shore. “Thanks to additional funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA and our partners are making more progress than ever before and with today’s announcement we are ensuring that some of our most vulnerable Great Lakes communities will benefit from these historic investments.”
“Our Great Lakes make up 20% of the fresh water on Earth. It’s why I have long fought for under resourced communities across our Great Lakes Region, especially in the Western Basin of Lake Erie, to receive the adequate resources they deserve to preserve our most precious resources. And, it’s why I delivered funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and the creation and funding of the Great Lakes Authority,” said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development. “I am thrilled to see more than $5.8 million in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law come back to Ohio as part of the EPA’s Great Lakes Environmental Justice Grant Program to help underserved communities in the Lake Erie Watershed. This new initiative will ease administrative barriers and help underserved communities in our region more effectively access federal funding for important local projects.”
“The climate crisis is having a real impact on our everyday lives, and we know that historically underserved communities are disproportionately hurt,” said Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06). “As a co-chair of the Great Lakes Task force, I have seen just how critically important The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative is to protecting our greatest natural treasures and the communities that depend on them. These grant programs will prioritize those who have been overlooked for too long, and I will continue to work in Congress and with the Biden Administration to ensure we’re focused on environmental justice as we make historic investments in combating the climate crisis.”
“Restore America’s Estuaries is looking forward to working with the Great Lakes National Program Office on the Great Lakes Environmental Justice Grant Program,” said Daniel Hayden, President and CEO of Restore America’s Estuaries (RAE). “RAE is excited to create a grant program and training programs for the Great Lakes Region and to partner with organizations committed to protecting our waterways. These funds will be utilized in the region’s underserved communities with the aim of ensuring cleaner waterways suitable for both recreational and commercial purposes.”
“Investment in Southeast Michigan’s green infrastructure network is critical for the health and well-being of our region, and this is especially true for communities which have been historically underserved,” said Amy O’Leary, Executive Director of SEMCOG, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments. “SEMCOG is thrilled to receive this funding from the Great Lakes National Program Office and looks forward to working with environmental justice communities on managing stormwater runoff and improving water quality.”
“The Ohio Lake Erie Commission is very excited to partner with the Black Environmental Leaders and Rural Action to bring more Great Lakes restoration projects to historically overburdened and underserved communities in Ohio’s Lake Erie watershed,” said Ohio Lake Erie Commission Executive Director, Joy Mulinex. “This work will enhance Ohio’s efforts to protect and restore Lake Erie in communities that have not had the capacity to undertake this work.”
“Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper has spent decades mobilizing our community and advocating for our local environment in order to correct mistakes and clean up after generations of poor decisions,” said Jill Jedlicka, Executive Director. “Western New York is home to numerous underserved communities who are faced with a disproportionate burden of environmental stressors and injustices, and it is the primary goal of this project to empower local communities and increase their capacity to implement solutions. With USEPA’s support, Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper’s leadership team and our partners will have the combined skills, shared vision, and community relationships to help break down barriers, address these ongoing challenges, and bring an innovative watershed funding partnership model to the lower Great Lakes. We are grateful for the trust and investment by USEPA-GLNPO that will allow us to dedicate federal dollars towards local projects in the communities that need it the most, while simultaneously creating a model for sustainable funding and collaboration into the future.”
Many communities in the Great Lakes Basin lack the resources needed to apply for, obtain, and oversee the implementation of federal grant projects. These new grant programs will ease these administrative barriers and help underserved communities more effectively access federal funding for important local projects. EPA anticipates finalizing all the awards once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied. Funding opportunities are expected to be made available to communities within the first year of selectees receiving the funds announced today.
Cities, states, Tribes and nonprofit organizations representing underserved communities will be able to apply directly to the selected Grant programs to fund a range of environmental protection and restoration projects in underserved communities that will further the goals of the GLRI. These programs will also provide technical assistance to organizations in underserved communities to increase their organizational capacity. This investment will also encourage even greater environmental, economic, health, and recreational benefits for underserved Great Lakes communities.
EPA’s Great Lakes Environmental Justice Grant Program was created under President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which invests $1 billion in the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) to accelerate Great Lakes restoration and protection. The program also delivers on the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 Initiative which set the goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.
Additional Background
Since 2010, EPA’s Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) has funded more than 7,500 restoration and protection projects totaling more than $3.7 billion. Read more about the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.
Sign up for the Great Lakes News email list to get information about funding opportunities to support Great Lakes environmental work and get updates about Great Lakes environmental projects.
“Thanks to President Biden’s historic investments in America, we are taking another critical step to protect our treasured Great Lakes and advance environmental justice,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Together, with the partners we’re announcing today, we will continue our work to remove barriers for communities that have been left behind while preserving the rich cultural, economic, and environmental role of the Great Lakes in communities across the Great Lakes Basin.”
The Great Lakes Environmental Justice Grant Program is part of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), the largest investment in the Great Lakes in two decades, which received $1 billion in funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The following organizations have been selected to receive funding through today’s announcement.
Restore America’s Estuaries was selected to receive $19,999,976 to develop and implement a Great Lakes Environmental Justice Grant Program that, with the support of Great Lakes partners, will serve the entire Great Lakes Basin.
Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper, Inc. was selected to receive $5,633,581 to develop and implement the Western New York Environmental Justice Grant Program for underserved communities in Lake Erie and Niagara River’s watershed.
Ohio Lake Erie Commission was selected to receive $5,805,006 to develop and implement the Lake Erie Environmental Justice Grant Program for underserved communities in Ohio’s Lake Erie watershed.
Southeast Michigan Council of Governments was selected to receive $4,200,000 to develop and implement the Advancing Environmental Quality of Life in Underserved Communities grant program for underserved communities in Southeast Michigan.
“There’s no exaggerating the importance of protecting and restoring the Great Lakes. They provide our drinking water, fuel our economy, offer us spaces for recreation, and harbor vital resources for many Tribes,” said EPA Region 5 Administrator and Great Lakes National Program Manager Debra Shore. “Thanks to additional funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA and our partners are making more progress than ever before and with today’s announcement we are ensuring that some of our most vulnerable Great Lakes communities will benefit from these historic investments.”
“Our Great Lakes make up 20% of the fresh water on Earth. It’s why I have long fought for under resourced communities across our Great Lakes Region, especially in the Western Basin of Lake Erie, to receive the adequate resources they deserve to preserve our most precious resources. And, it’s why I delivered funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and the creation and funding of the Great Lakes Authority,” said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development. “I am thrilled to see more than $5.8 million in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law come back to Ohio as part of the EPA’s Great Lakes Environmental Justice Grant Program to help underserved communities in the Lake Erie Watershed. This new initiative will ease administrative barriers and help underserved communities in our region more effectively access federal funding for important local projects.”
“The climate crisis is having a real impact on our everyday lives, and we know that historically underserved communities are disproportionately hurt,” said Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06). “As a co-chair of the Great Lakes Task force, I have seen just how critically important The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative is to protecting our greatest natural treasures and the communities that depend on them. These grant programs will prioritize those who have been overlooked for too long, and I will continue to work in Congress and with the Biden Administration to ensure we’re focused on environmental justice as we make historic investments in combating the climate crisis.”
“Restore America’s Estuaries is looking forward to working with the Great Lakes National Program Office on the Great Lakes Environmental Justice Grant Program,” said Daniel Hayden, President and CEO of Restore America’s Estuaries (RAE). “RAE is excited to create a grant program and training programs for the Great Lakes Region and to partner with organizations committed to protecting our waterways. These funds will be utilized in the region’s underserved communities with the aim of ensuring cleaner waterways suitable for both recreational and commercial purposes.”
“Investment in Southeast Michigan’s green infrastructure network is critical for the health and well-being of our region, and this is especially true for communities which have been historically underserved,” said Amy O’Leary, Executive Director of SEMCOG, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments. “SEMCOG is thrilled to receive this funding from the Great Lakes National Program Office and looks forward to working with environmental justice communities on managing stormwater runoff and improving water quality.”
“The Ohio Lake Erie Commission is very excited to partner with the Black Environmental Leaders and Rural Action to bring more Great Lakes restoration projects to historically overburdened and underserved communities in Ohio’s Lake Erie watershed,” said Ohio Lake Erie Commission Executive Director, Joy Mulinex. “This work will enhance Ohio’s efforts to protect and restore Lake Erie in communities that have not had the capacity to undertake this work.”
“Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper has spent decades mobilizing our community and advocating for our local environment in order to correct mistakes and clean up after generations of poor decisions,” said Jill Jedlicka, Executive Director. “Western New York is home to numerous underserved communities who are faced with a disproportionate burden of environmental stressors and injustices, and it is the primary goal of this project to empower local communities and increase their capacity to implement solutions. With USEPA’s support, Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper’s leadership team and our partners will have the combined skills, shared vision, and community relationships to help break down barriers, address these ongoing challenges, and bring an innovative watershed funding partnership model to the lower Great Lakes. We are grateful for the trust and investment by USEPA-GLNPO that will allow us to dedicate federal dollars towards local projects in the communities that need it the most, while simultaneously creating a model for sustainable funding and collaboration into the future.”
Many communities in the Great Lakes Basin lack the resources needed to apply for, obtain, and oversee the implementation of federal grant projects. These new grant programs will ease these administrative barriers and help underserved communities more effectively access federal funding for important local projects. EPA anticipates finalizing all the awards once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied. Funding opportunities are expected to be made available to communities within the first year of selectees receiving the funds announced today.
Cities, states, Tribes and nonprofit organizations representing underserved communities will be able to apply directly to the selected Grant programs to fund a range of environmental protection and restoration projects in underserved communities that will further the goals of the GLRI. These programs will also provide technical assistance to organizations in underserved communities to increase their organizational capacity. This investment will also encourage even greater environmental, economic, health, and recreational benefits for underserved Great Lakes communities.
EPA’s Great Lakes Environmental Justice Grant Program was created under President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which invests $1 billion in the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) to accelerate Great Lakes restoration and protection. The program also delivers on the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 Initiative which set the goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.
Additional Background
Since 2010, EPA’s Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) has funded more than 7,500 restoration and protection projects totaling more than $3.7 billion. Read more about the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.
Sign up for the Great Lakes News email list to get information about funding opportunities to support Great Lakes environmental work and get updates about Great Lakes environmental projects.
U.S. EPA Honors 2024 ENERGY STAR® Partners of the Year Award Winners in New York and New Jersey
NEW YORK - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 2 is honoring 28 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.
“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 EPA through the ENERGY STAR program. For every $1 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 2024 ENERGY STAR Award Winners in Region 2 are taking action:
(New York, NY) BGO, a global real estate investment firm, has maintained a long-standing commitment to energy efficiency, promoting its ENERGY STAR partnership to internal and external stakeholders, and pursuing its decarbonization goals. Sustained Excellence winner for 14 years.
(Princeton, NJ) Bristol Myers Squibb, a global biopharmaceutical company, leveraged ENERGY STAR tools and resources to strengthen its energy program, including earning ENERGY STAR certification for two pharmaceutical manufacturing plants, and amplified its promotion of ENERGY STAR to strategic suppliers. Sustained Excellence winner for 6 years.
(Melville, NY) Canon USA Inc., a consumer, business, and industrial imaging solutions manufacturer, improved the energy efficiency of its ENERGY STAR certified products by up to 15% through improved toners and power management technologies. Sustained Excellence winner for 7 years.
(Poughkeepsie, NY) Central Hudson Gas & Electric, a utility in New York, demonstrated the effectiveness of working with distributors to offer instant discounts on ENERGY STAR certified heat pump water heaters through affiliate contract networks, leading to this program approach becoming available to other utilities in New York. Sustained Excellence winner for 3 years.
(New York, NY) Clarion Partners, a real estate investment firm, leveraged ENERGY STAR resources to grow its comprehensive energy management program with a focus on internal and external stakeholder engagement, and achieved ENERGY STAR certification for 115 properties.
(New York, NY) CodeGreen Solutions, a real estate sustainability and energy management company, used ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager to benchmark 100% of its clients’ properties and produce analyses and roadmaps for compliance with New York City’s Local Law 97. Sustained Excellence winner for 6 years.
(New York, NY) Colgate-Palmolive Company, a consumer products company, leveraged ENERGY STAR Treasure Hunts at four facilities to identify more than 5,700 MMBtu in savings. Sustained Excellence winner for 12 years.
(New York, NY) Columbia Property Trust, a publicly listed real estate investment trust, leveraged ENERGY STAR resources to grow its comprehensive energy management program, with a focus on engagement with its tenants around energy efficiency. Sustained Excellence winner for 2 years.
(Corning, NY) Corning Incorporated, a manufacturer of specialty glass, ceramics, and advanced optical products, advanced energy management by leveraging ENERGY STAR tools and resources across domestic and global operations and reinforcing identification of energy projects by all employees. Sustained Excellence winner for 8 years.
(New York, NY) Empire State Realty Trust, a real estate investment trust, demonstrated an ongoing commitment to energy management and ENERGY STAR, leveraging its partnership to promote best practices and undertaking several new initiatives as it executes its decarbonization strategy. Sustained Excellence winner for 1 year.
(Englewood Cliffs, NY) LG Electronics, Inc., a home appliance, consumer electronics, and mobile communications manufacturer, offered 437 ENERGY STAR certified models, up from 388 in 2022, across multiple product categories, with their sales representing 84% of total 2023 revenues. Excellence winner for 9 years.
(New York, NY) Link Logistics Real Estate, an owner-operated firm of supply chain real estate, used an innovative campaign to acquire tenant data to more than double the number of its properties benchmarking in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager and certifying 51 properties as ENERGY STAR. Sustained Excellence winner for 1 year.
(Mount Laurel, NJ) MaGrann Associates, a home energy rating company, certified nearly 1,700 homes as ENERGY STAR in 2023, for a total of more than 57,000 homes since 1997. Sustained Excellence winner for 5 years.
(Rahway, NJ) Merck & Co., Inc., a global pharmaceutical company, employed ENERGY STAR strategies and resources to support the company’s 2023 commitment to the Science Based Targets initiative and its achievement of Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions reductions. Sustained Excellence winner for 17 years.
(New York, NY) MetLife, Inc., a global financial services company, demonstrated ongoing dedication to corporate sustainability, leveraging the ENERGY STAR program to achieve its energy efficiency and decarbonization goals and engaging internal and external stakeholders on energy management best practices. Sustained Excellence winner for 4 years.
(Trenton, NJ) New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, a regulatory agency overseeing the state’s Clean Energy Program, incentivized more than 3,900 ENERGY STAR certified homes and apartments, for a total of more than 92,000 residential units since joining the program in 2001. Sustained Excellence winner for 12 years.
(New York, NY) Nuveen Real Estate, a real estate investment management firm, demonstrated outstanding energy management across its portfolio, expanded on its decarbonization planning, and maintained its dedication to ENERGY STAR. Sustained Excellence winner for 15 years.
(Pearl River, NY) Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc., a gas and electric utility in New York, made it easier to purchase ENERGY STAR certified heat pump water heaters by adding discounts at point of sale to their incentive program, saving an estimated 700 MMBtu and more than doubling the savings achieved in 2022.
(Newark, NJ) Panasonic Eco Systems North America, a provider of sustainable technology solutions, including ventilation and indoor air quality solutions, put ENERGY STAR certification front and center in its education on healthy homes and indoor air quality, while leading the industry with 99% of its 2023 sales consisting of ENERGY STAR certified models. Sustained Excellence winner for 12 years.
(New York, NY) Paramount Group, Inc., a real estate investment trust, demonstrated a commitment to energy management and ENERGY STAR, leveraging ENERGY STAR tools, resources, and recognition opportunities to promote best practices to internal and external audiences. Sustained Excellence winner for 1 year.
(Newark, NJ) PSE&G, a gas and electric utility in New Jersey, enhanced program offerings for its instant discount ENERGY STAR heating and cooling program, resulting in the sale of 7,900 certified products and energy savings of more than 1,900 MWh and 580,000 therms. Sustained Excellence winner for 4 years.
(Springfield, NJ) ReVireo, a home energy rating company, certified nearly 400 homes as ENERGY STAR in 2023, for a total of more than 8,000 homes since 2011.
(Uniondale, NY) RXR, a real estate owner, investor, and operator, integrated ENERGY STAR into several aspects of its energy management program and promoted ENERGY STAR recognition and energy performance metrics to its tenants and internal stakeholders..
(Ridgefield Park, NJ) Samsung Electronics, a manufacturer of home appliance, consumer electronics, and mobile communications, increased its ENERGY STAR certified product offerings by 15% to 549 products and those product efficiency improvements have helped consumers avoid more than 350 million metric tons of CO2 emissions, which is equivalent to taking more than 77 million cars off the road for a year. Sustained Excellence winner for 12 years.
(New York, NY) SL Green Realty Corp., a fully integrated real estate investment trust, promoted ENERGY STAR tools and best practices to internal and external stakeholders, and advanced its decarbonization initiatives. Sustained Excellence winner for 12 years.
(New York, NY) Tishman Speyer, a real estate owner, developer, and operator, maintained its robust energy management plan across its portfolio, advanced its decarbonization planning, and implemented internal education programs that leverage ENERGY STAR tools and resources. Sustained Excellence winner for 8 years.
(Basking Ridge, NJ) Verizon, a telecommunications company, increased the average ENERGY STAR score and reduced its source energy use intensity by 2.9% across 1,378 properties since 2022. Sustained Excellence winner for 10 years.
(New York, NY) Vornado Realty Trust, a fully integrated real estate investment trust, maintained its robust energy management program, advanced its decarbonization strategy, and consistently promoted ENERGY STAR and energy efficiency programs throughout its organization and to its tenants. Sustained Excellence winner for 9 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 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (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. More background information about ENERGY STAR’s impacts can be found at www.energystar.gov/impacts
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“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 EPA through the ENERGY STAR program. For every $1 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 2024 ENERGY STAR Award Winners in Region 2 are taking action:
(New York, NY) BGO, a global real estate investment firm, has maintained a long-standing commitment to energy efficiency, promoting its ENERGY STAR partnership to internal and external stakeholders, and pursuing its decarbonization goals. Sustained Excellence winner for 14 years.
(Princeton, NJ) Bristol Myers Squibb, a global biopharmaceutical company, leveraged ENERGY STAR tools and resources to strengthen its energy program, including earning ENERGY STAR certification for two pharmaceutical manufacturing plants, and amplified its promotion of ENERGY STAR to strategic suppliers. Sustained Excellence winner for 6 years.
(Melville, NY) Canon USA Inc., a consumer, business, and industrial imaging solutions manufacturer, improved the energy efficiency of its ENERGY STAR certified products by up to 15% through improved toners and power management technologies. Sustained Excellence winner for 7 years.
(Poughkeepsie, NY) Central Hudson Gas & Electric, a utility in New York, demonstrated the effectiveness of working with distributors to offer instant discounts on ENERGY STAR certified heat pump water heaters through affiliate contract networks, leading to this program approach becoming available to other utilities in New York. Sustained Excellence winner for 3 years.
(New York, NY) Clarion Partners, a real estate investment firm, leveraged ENERGY STAR resources to grow its comprehensive energy management program with a focus on internal and external stakeholder engagement, and achieved ENERGY STAR certification for 115 properties.
(New York, NY) CodeGreen Solutions, a real estate sustainability and energy management company, used ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager to benchmark 100% of its clients’ properties and produce analyses and roadmaps for compliance with New York City’s Local Law 97. Sustained Excellence winner for 6 years.
(New York, NY) Colgate-Palmolive Company, a consumer products company, leveraged ENERGY STAR Treasure Hunts at four facilities to identify more than 5,700 MMBtu in savings. Sustained Excellence winner for 12 years.
(New York, NY) Columbia Property Trust, a publicly listed real estate investment trust, leveraged ENERGY STAR resources to grow its comprehensive energy management program, with a focus on engagement with its tenants around energy efficiency. Sustained Excellence winner for 2 years.
(Corning, NY) Corning Incorporated, a manufacturer of specialty glass, ceramics, and advanced optical products, advanced energy management by leveraging ENERGY STAR tools and resources across domestic and global operations and reinforcing identification of energy projects by all employees. Sustained Excellence winner for 8 years.
(New York, NY) Empire State Realty Trust, a real estate investment trust, demonstrated an ongoing commitment to energy management and ENERGY STAR, leveraging its partnership to promote best practices and undertaking several new initiatives as it executes its decarbonization strategy. Sustained Excellence winner for 1 year.
(Englewood Cliffs, NY) LG Electronics, Inc., a home appliance, consumer electronics, and mobile communications manufacturer, offered 437 ENERGY STAR certified models, up from 388 in 2022, across multiple product categories, with their sales representing 84% of total 2023 revenues. Excellence winner for 9 years.
(New York, NY) Link Logistics Real Estate, an owner-operated firm of supply chain real estate, used an innovative campaign to acquire tenant data to more than double the number of its properties benchmarking in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager and certifying 51 properties as ENERGY STAR. Sustained Excellence winner for 1 year.
(Mount Laurel, NJ) MaGrann Associates, a home energy rating company, certified nearly 1,700 homes as ENERGY STAR in 2023, for a total of more than 57,000 homes since 1997. Sustained Excellence winner for 5 years.
(Rahway, NJ) Merck & Co., Inc., a global pharmaceutical company, employed ENERGY STAR strategies and resources to support the company’s 2023 commitment to the Science Based Targets initiative and its achievement of Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions reductions. Sustained Excellence winner for 17 years.
(New York, NY) MetLife, Inc., a global financial services company, demonstrated ongoing dedication to corporate sustainability, leveraging the ENERGY STAR program to achieve its energy efficiency and decarbonization goals and engaging internal and external stakeholders on energy management best practices. Sustained Excellence winner for 4 years.
(Trenton, NJ) New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, a regulatory agency overseeing the state’s Clean Energy Program, incentivized more than 3,900 ENERGY STAR certified homes and apartments, for a total of more than 92,000 residential units since joining the program in 2001. Sustained Excellence winner for 12 years.
(New York, NY) Nuveen Real Estate, a real estate investment management firm, demonstrated outstanding energy management across its portfolio, expanded on its decarbonization planning, and maintained its dedication to ENERGY STAR. Sustained Excellence winner for 15 years.
(Pearl River, NY) Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc., a gas and electric utility in New York, made it easier to purchase ENERGY STAR certified heat pump water heaters by adding discounts at point of sale to their incentive program, saving an estimated 700 MMBtu and more than doubling the savings achieved in 2022.
(Newark, NJ) Panasonic Eco Systems North America, a provider of sustainable technology solutions, including ventilation and indoor air quality solutions, put ENERGY STAR certification front and center in its education on healthy homes and indoor air quality, while leading the industry with 99% of its 2023 sales consisting of ENERGY STAR certified models. Sustained Excellence winner for 12 years.
(New York, NY) Paramount Group, Inc., a real estate investment trust, demonstrated a commitment to energy management and ENERGY STAR, leveraging ENERGY STAR tools, resources, and recognition opportunities to promote best practices to internal and external audiences. Sustained Excellence winner for 1 year.
(Newark, NJ) PSE&G, a gas and electric utility in New Jersey, enhanced program offerings for its instant discount ENERGY STAR heating and cooling program, resulting in the sale of 7,900 certified products and energy savings of more than 1,900 MWh and 580,000 therms. Sustained Excellence winner for 4 years.
(Springfield, NJ) ReVireo, a home energy rating company, certified nearly 400 homes as ENERGY STAR in 2023, for a total of more than 8,000 homes since 2011.
(Uniondale, NY) RXR, a real estate owner, investor, and operator, integrated ENERGY STAR into several aspects of its energy management program and promoted ENERGY STAR recognition and energy performance metrics to its tenants and internal stakeholders..
(Ridgefield Park, NJ) Samsung Electronics, a manufacturer of home appliance, consumer electronics, and mobile communications, increased its ENERGY STAR certified product offerings by 15% to 549 products and those product efficiency improvements have helped consumers avoid more than 350 million metric tons of CO2 emissions, which is equivalent to taking more than 77 million cars off the road for a year. Sustained Excellence winner for 12 years.
(New York, NY) SL Green Realty Corp., a fully integrated real estate investment trust, promoted ENERGY STAR tools and best practices to internal and external stakeholders, and advanced its decarbonization initiatives. Sustained Excellence winner for 12 years.
(New York, NY) Tishman Speyer, a real estate owner, developer, and operator, maintained its robust energy management plan across its portfolio, advanced its decarbonization planning, and implemented internal education programs that leverage ENERGY STAR tools and resources. Sustained Excellence winner for 8 years.
(Basking Ridge, NJ) Verizon, a telecommunications company, increased the average ENERGY STAR score and reduced its source energy use intensity by 2.9% across 1,378 properties since 2022. Sustained Excellence winner for 10 years.
(New York, NY) Vornado Realty Trust, a fully integrated real estate investment trust, maintained its robust energy management program, advanced its decarbonization strategy, and consistently promoted ENERGY STAR and energy efficiency programs throughout its organization and to its tenants. Sustained Excellence winner for 9 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 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (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. More background information about ENERGY STAR’s impacts can be found at www.energystar.gov/impacts
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Vancouver hit by new round of rail congestion amid early year import surge
The port is struggling to relieve excessive rail container dwells on its docks caused by an unexpected jump in imports and what some stakeholders say is an inadequate supply of railcars.
EPA Begins Contaminated Soil Cleanup at Belanger Park in River Rouge, Michigan
CHICAGO (March 25, 2024) – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will soon start work to clean up contaminated soil in some areas of Belanger Park, located on the banks of the Detroit River at 2 Belanger Park Drive in River Rouge, Michigan. On April 1, the EPA will begin removing soil containing elevated levels of lead and cadmium and replacing it with clean soil. Work is expected to continue until mid-June.
Last fall, the EPA and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy completed soil sampling at three River Rouge parks. Results showed elevated levels of lead and cadmium above the EPA’s contact criteria in certain grassy areas of Belanger Park, which were then closed off by the city with temporary fencing until a cleanup could take place. Harsh Michigan winters typically leave parts of the ground frozen until springtime, making in-situ, or in-ground, construction projects difficult. As temperatures are now beginning to warm, the EPA can begin its cleanup of the park.
The cleanup will include excavation and removal of contaminated soil, which will be backfilled with clean soil and replanted with vegetation. Soil removed from the site will be sent to a regulated waste facility for proper disposal.
Access to the park will remain restricted but the boat launch and fishing pier will remain open for public use. When recreating in these areas, the public should obey all posted signage surrounding the construction area and watch for increased truck traffic until further notice.
To learn more, visit EPA’s website.
Last fall, the EPA and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy completed soil sampling at three River Rouge parks. Results showed elevated levels of lead and cadmium above the EPA’s contact criteria in certain grassy areas of Belanger Park, which were then closed off by the city with temporary fencing until a cleanup could take place. Harsh Michigan winters typically leave parts of the ground frozen until springtime, making in-situ, or in-ground, construction projects difficult. As temperatures are now beginning to warm, the EPA can begin its cleanup of the park.
The cleanup will include excavation and removal of contaminated soil, which will be backfilled with clean soil and replanted with vegetation. Soil removed from the site will be sent to a regulated waste facility for proper disposal.
Access to the park will remain restricted but the boat launch and fishing pier will remain open for public use. When recreating in these areas, the public should obey all posted signage surrounding the construction area and watch for increased truck traffic until further notice.
To learn more, visit EPA’s website.
EPA invites applications to serve on advisory council for Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Serving Institutions
WASHINGTON – Today, March 25, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it will be seeking applications to serve on the newly established Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Serving Institutions Advisory Council (HBCU-MSI AC). The HBCU-MSI Advisory Council will provide independent advice and recommendations to Administrator Michael S. Regan and future Administrators on how Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) can help identify any barriers to equal employment opportunity, nurture the next generation of environmental leaders, and ensure that these vital institutions of higher learning have the resources and support to thrive for generations to come.
"We are embarking on a transformative journey by establishing the first ever HBCU-MSI Advisory Council, a major step forward in our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion at EPA. By harnessing the unique insights and energy of students and faculty from HBCUs and MSIs, we are ensuring the future of environmental leadership is diverse and dynamic,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “This council will be instrumental in shaping our policies and priorities, keeping the voices of the next generation at the heart of our mission to protect the environment and public health. It’s a critical move towards building a workforce that truly reflects the diversity of America, and I am excited for the innovative solutions and fresh perspectives that will emerge from this collaboration."
Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) are institutions of higher education and include Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and Asian American and Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AAPISIs). This federal advisory committee is part of EPA’s comprehensive effort to advance equity in economic and educational opportunities for all Americans while protecting public health and the environment.
On June 21, 2021, President Biden signed Executive Order 14035 to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) in the Federal workforce. This Executive Order reaffirmed that the United States is at its strongest when our nation’s public servants reflect the full diversity of the American people. The HBCU-MSI AC furthers the work being done at EPA and across the administration to ensure all persons receive equal treatment under the law and that our federal workforce draws upon all parts of society because our greatest accomplishments are achieved when diverse perspectives are brought to bear to overcome our greatest challenges.
EPA is soliciting applications to fill 15-20 vacancies on the HBCU-MSI AC from a variety of sectors including, but not limited to, representatives from business and industry, academia, non-governmental organizations, and local, county, and Tribal governments that have experience working at or in partnership with HBCUs and/or MSIs. Selected applicants will be appointed by the Administrator to serve a 2-year term and contribute to a balance of perspectives, backgrounds, and experience of the council.
Applications to the HBCU-MSI AC are due by Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. ET. To apply for appointment, the below information is required:
Contact information
Resume OR CV
Statement of interest
Visit the EPA HBCU-MSI Advisory Council webpage for more information on the council and how to apply. EPA will host two virtual webinars to provide more information about this call for applications. These webinars will be a space for the public to ask their questions live to EPA staff.
These webinars will be on Zoom and will be hosted at the following time:
Tuesday, April 09, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. ET // Register here
Wednesday, April 24, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. ET // Register here
"We are embarking on a transformative journey by establishing the first ever HBCU-MSI Advisory Council, a major step forward in our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion at EPA. By harnessing the unique insights and energy of students and faculty from HBCUs and MSIs, we are ensuring the future of environmental leadership is diverse and dynamic,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “This council will be instrumental in shaping our policies and priorities, keeping the voices of the next generation at the heart of our mission to protect the environment and public health. It’s a critical move towards building a workforce that truly reflects the diversity of America, and I am excited for the innovative solutions and fresh perspectives that will emerge from this collaboration."
Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) are institutions of higher education and include Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and Asian American and Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AAPISIs). This federal advisory committee is part of EPA’s comprehensive effort to advance equity in economic and educational opportunities for all Americans while protecting public health and the environment.
On June 21, 2021, President Biden signed Executive Order 14035 to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) in the Federal workforce. This Executive Order reaffirmed that the United States is at its strongest when our nation’s public servants reflect the full diversity of the American people. The HBCU-MSI AC furthers the work being done at EPA and across the administration to ensure all persons receive equal treatment under the law and that our federal workforce draws upon all parts of society because our greatest accomplishments are achieved when diverse perspectives are brought to bear to overcome our greatest challenges.
EPA is soliciting applications to fill 15-20 vacancies on the HBCU-MSI AC from a variety of sectors including, but not limited to, representatives from business and industry, academia, non-governmental organizations, and local, county, and Tribal governments that have experience working at or in partnership with HBCUs and/or MSIs. Selected applicants will be appointed by the Administrator to serve a 2-year term and contribute to a balance of perspectives, backgrounds, and experience of the council.
Applications to the HBCU-MSI AC are due by Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. ET. To apply for appointment, the below information is required:
Contact information
Resume OR CV
Statement of interest
Visit the EPA HBCU-MSI Advisory Council webpage for more information on the council and how to apply. EPA will host two virtual webinars to provide more information about this call for applications. These webinars will be a space for the public to ask their questions live to EPA staff.
These webinars will be on Zoom and will be hosted at the following time:
Tuesday, April 09, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. ET // Register here
Wednesday, April 24, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. ET // Register here
Readout from state convening to discuss cybersecurity and the water sector
WASHINGTON – As a follow up to the letter from National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael S. Regan to Governors, on March 21, 2024, Anne Neuberger, Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technologies and Janet McCabe, EPA Deputy Administrator, met with state and local officials from across the United States to discuss cybersecurity of the water sector. The meeting highlighted the urgency of states’ acting to improve the cybersecurity of water systems to protect our nations’ water resources from potential cyberattacks by foreign governments and associated criminal entities.
“The nation’s water systems face cyber threats from criminals and countries alike,” said Anne Neuberger, Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technologies. “We must lock our digital doors to meet the threat. The Biden-Harris Administration has issued cybersecurity best practices and made available free tools and services to help companies operating critical infrastructure act quickly.”
“Cybersecurity is not the sole responsibility of one single water system, one single state, or the federal government. Instead, cybersecurity is a collective responsibility,” said Janet McCabe, EPA Deputy Administrator. “EPA has an important role, and it’s critical that we work together with our state partners to help set a course toward cyber-resilience that will deliver essential protections across the country.”
During the meeting, officials from several states outlined actions that they are currently taking to protect their water systems. There was discussion of current state programs in place and lessons learned from these experiences. Many states relayed challenges associated with cyber vulnerability including barriers such as finding the appropriate technical expertise. EPA and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) also shared information about existing state coordination and resources available to assist states in assessing and addressing vulnerabilities. States and federal partners will continue to work together to share best practices and facilitate connections to reduce barriers.
At the meeting, Deputy National Security Advisor Anne Neuberger requested that each state share a cybersecurity plan by May 20, 2024. The cybersecurity plans should include details for how states are working with both drinking water and wastewater systems to determine where they are vulnerable to cyberattacks and what actions they are taking to build in cybersecurity protections. DNSA Neuberger encouraged states to tap into EPA and CISA’s resources to support their work. For more information visit the Water and Wastewater Cybersecurity website.
Finally, EPA outlined actions being taken to establish a Water Sector Cybersecurity Task Force to identify near-term actions and strategies to reduce the risk of water systems nationwide to cyberattacks.
For information about EPA’s cybersecurity program, visit EPA’s Cybersecurity for the Water Sector website.
“The nation’s water systems face cyber threats from criminals and countries alike,” said Anne Neuberger, Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technologies. “We must lock our digital doors to meet the threat. The Biden-Harris Administration has issued cybersecurity best practices and made available free tools and services to help companies operating critical infrastructure act quickly.”
“Cybersecurity is not the sole responsibility of one single water system, one single state, or the federal government. Instead, cybersecurity is a collective responsibility,” said Janet McCabe, EPA Deputy Administrator. “EPA has an important role, and it’s critical that we work together with our state partners to help set a course toward cyber-resilience that will deliver essential protections across the country.”
During the meeting, officials from several states outlined actions that they are currently taking to protect their water systems. There was discussion of current state programs in place and lessons learned from these experiences. Many states relayed challenges associated with cyber vulnerability including barriers such as finding the appropriate technical expertise. EPA and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) also shared information about existing state coordination and resources available to assist states in assessing and addressing vulnerabilities. States and federal partners will continue to work together to share best practices and facilitate connections to reduce barriers.
At the meeting, Deputy National Security Advisor Anne Neuberger requested that each state share a cybersecurity plan by May 20, 2024. The cybersecurity plans should include details for how states are working with both drinking water and wastewater systems to determine where they are vulnerable to cyberattacks and what actions they are taking to build in cybersecurity protections. DNSA Neuberger encouraged states to tap into EPA and CISA’s resources to support their work. For more information visit the Water and Wastewater Cybersecurity website.
Finally, EPA outlined actions being taken to establish a Water Sector Cybersecurity Task Force to identify near-term actions and strategies to reduce the risk of water systems nationwide to cyberattacks.
For information about EPA’s cybersecurity program, visit EPA’s Cybersecurity for the Water Sector website.