Excavation efforts mark new milestone in Hidden Lane Landfill Superfund remediation
PHILADELPHIA (Feb. 15, 2024) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it will begin excavation and off-site disposal of the trichloroethylene (TCE) source area next week as part of a remediation phase at the Hidden Lane Landfill Superfund site in Sterling, Virginia.
The excavation, scheduled to start Feb. 20, is the first phase in removing the TCE source area and marks a significant milestone in EPA’s efforts to restore the contaminated site and deliver on the agency’s commitment to protect human health and the environment.
"We're thrilled to begin this next step in the remediation process and bring this site one step closer to being a clean and safe asset for the community," said EPA Mid-Atlantic Region Superfund and Emergency Management Division Director Paul Leonard. "This advancement reflects the hard work and determination of our EPA teammates and our valuable partners' commitment to environmental stewardship. This milestone demonstrates the strength of collaboration and a whole-of-government approach to protect our communities and leave a lasting impact for future generations."
EPA has partnered with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) throughout the investigation and remedy selection process. EPA will continue to oversee the activities and coordinate with local and state agencies to minimize short-term impacts on the community and ensure that environmental and work safety standards are met for a successful and safe cleanup effort.
The excavation phase is expected to be completed later this year.
The Hidden Lane Superfund site is one of many nationwide to receive funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), which invested $3.5 billion in environmental remediation at Superfund sites on the National Priorities List.
BIL funding will also connect a public waterline to more than 100 properties for safe drinking water in the nearby Broad Runs Farm community. Construction on the waterline is projected to begin later this year.
Once the excavation phase is complete, EPA will advance to the next phase, which includes using a below-ground treatment technology known as in-situ bioremediation and chemical reduction of the source material in groundwater.
EPA will continue to host public meetings to provide updates on the cleanup process and address any questions or concerns from the public.
Community members are encouraged to email r3-hidden.lane@epa.gov with any questions or concerns that they may have regarding the Superfund site cleanup process.
Visit the Hidden Lane Landfill Superfund site page for more information.
The excavation, scheduled to start Feb. 20, is the first phase in removing the TCE source area and marks a significant milestone in EPA’s efforts to restore the contaminated site and deliver on the agency’s commitment to protect human health and the environment.
"We're thrilled to begin this next step in the remediation process and bring this site one step closer to being a clean and safe asset for the community," said EPA Mid-Atlantic Region Superfund and Emergency Management Division Director Paul Leonard. "This advancement reflects the hard work and determination of our EPA teammates and our valuable partners' commitment to environmental stewardship. This milestone demonstrates the strength of collaboration and a whole-of-government approach to protect our communities and leave a lasting impact for future generations."
EPA has partnered with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) throughout the investigation and remedy selection process. EPA will continue to oversee the activities and coordinate with local and state agencies to minimize short-term impacts on the community and ensure that environmental and work safety standards are met for a successful and safe cleanup effort.
The excavation phase is expected to be completed later this year.
The Hidden Lane Superfund site is one of many nationwide to receive funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), which invested $3.5 billion in environmental remediation at Superfund sites on the National Priorities List.
BIL funding will also connect a public waterline to more than 100 properties for safe drinking water in the nearby Broad Runs Farm community. Construction on the waterline is projected to begin later this year.
Once the excavation phase is complete, EPA will advance to the next phase, which includes using a below-ground treatment technology known as in-situ bioremediation and chemical reduction of the source material in groundwater.
EPA will continue to host public meetings to provide updates on the cleanup process and address any questions or concerns from the public.
Community members are encouraged to email r3-hidden.lane@epa.gov with any questions or concerns that they may have regarding the Superfund site cleanup process.
Visit the Hidden Lane Landfill Superfund site page for more information.
USDA Releases Updated Equity Action Plan
WASHINGTON, Feb. 14, 2024 – Today, as we near the first anniversary of President Biden’s Executive Order on Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support to Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the release of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Updated Equity Action Plan.
USDA Releases Updated Equity Action Plan
WASHINGTON, Feb. 14, 2024 – Today, as we near the first anniversary of President Biden’s Executive Order on Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support to Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the release of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Updated Equity Action Plan.
Biden-Harris Administration Invests $20M for Indigenous Communities to Access Emerging Climate Markets as part of Investing in America Agenda
WASHINGTON, Feb. 14, 2024 — Agriculture Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small announced today that the Biden-Harris Administration is investing $20 million to support federally recognized Tribes and Alaska Native corporations and villages as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda.
Biden-Harris Administration Invests $20M for Indigenous Communities to Access Emerging Climate Markets as part of Investing in America Agenda
WASHINGTON, Feb. 14, 2024 — Agriculture Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small announced today that the Biden-Harris Administration is investing $20 million to support federally recognized Tribes and Alaska Native corporations and villages as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda.
EPA releases 2023 update to Equity Action Plan, outlines new commitments to advance equity
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday released the 2023 update to its Equity Action Plan, as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s whole-of-government equity agenda. This Equity Action Plan is part of EPA’s efforts to implement the President’s Executive Order on “Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through The Federal Government,” which reaffirmed the Administration’s commitment to ensure equity and build an America in which all can participate, prosper, and reach their full potential.
“Equity is at the heart of all that we do at EPA. Striving for equity makes it possible for us to deliver on our mission to protect public health and provide a clean environment for all,” said EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe. “The progress that we have made and this update to our Equity Action Plan show our continued commitment to uplifting everyone, and we are proud to be a part of this work.”
Following robust engagement with community stakeholders, EPA identified eight priority strategies, which include four previously identified priorities carried forward from the 2022 Equity Action Plan and four newly identified strategies to support communities that have been historically underserved, as well as all communities across our Nation, these eight priority strategies are:
Improve access for Communities to Federal Assistance.
Reduce Cumulative Impacts and Health Disparities.
Strengthen our Civil Rights Compliance Program.
Protect Children from Exposures to Environmental Harms.
Address Inequitable Access to Resources for Rural Communities.
Ensure Public Access to EPA Programs and Address Environmental Harms for People with Disabilities.
Strengthening Community-Based Participatory Science to Achieve Environmental Equity.
Improve Data and Analytic Capacity to Better Identify and Remove Barriers.
Since the release of its first-ever Equity Action Plan in 2022, EPA has:
Selected 11 Environmental Justice Thriving Community Technical Assistance Centers to receive a total of $600 million dollars through the Inflation Reduction Act to reduce barriers when accessing federal grant funding and will make approximately 2,000 subawards directly impacting and addressing issues at the community level.
Created a robust technical assistance program to help eligible organizations access the $2 billion dollars available through the Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program.
Awarded over $11 billion to date in clean water investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law under the State Revolving Funds, with at least 49% of this funding to go to disadvantaged communities.
As the backbone of work at EPA under the Biden-Harris Administration, the focus remains on ensuring no one is left behind because of the color of their skin or the zip code where they reside.
As this work continues, updates will be posted on EPA’s Equity Action Plan webpage. Learn more about the Administration’s equity work and check out all Federal Equity Action Plans.
To follow stories and posts across agencies, follow the hashtags #GovEquity and #GovDelivers on social media.
“Equity is at the heart of all that we do at EPA. Striving for equity makes it possible for us to deliver on our mission to protect public health and provide a clean environment for all,” said EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe. “The progress that we have made and this update to our Equity Action Plan show our continued commitment to uplifting everyone, and we are proud to be a part of this work.”
Following robust engagement with community stakeholders, EPA identified eight priority strategies, which include four previously identified priorities carried forward from the 2022 Equity Action Plan and four newly identified strategies to support communities that have been historically underserved, as well as all communities across our Nation, these eight priority strategies are:
Improve access for Communities to Federal Assistance.
Reduce Cumulative Impacts and Health Disparities.
Strengthen our Civil Rights Compliance Program.
Protect Children from Exposures to Environmental Harms.
Address Inequitable Access to Resources for Rural Communities.
Ensure Public Access to EPA Programs and Address Environmental Harms for People with Disabilities.
Strengthening Community-Based Participatory Science to Achieve Environmental Equity.
Improve Data and Analytic Capacity to Better Identify and Remove Barriers.
Since the release of its first-ever Equity Action Plan in 2022, EPA has:
Selected 11 Environmental Justice Thriving Community Technical Assistance Centers to receive a total of $600 million dollars through the Inflation Reduction Act to reduce barriers when accessing federal grant funding and will make approximately 2,000 subawards directly impacting and addressing issues at the community level.
Created a robust technical assistance program to help eligible organizations access the $2 billion dollars available through the Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program.
Awarded over $11 billion to date in clean water investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law under the State Revolving Funds, with at least 49% of this funding to go to disadvantaged communities.
As the backbone of work at EPA under the Biden-Harris Administration, the focus remains on ensuring no one is left behind because of the color of their skin or the zip code where they reside.
As this work continues, updates will be posted on EPA’s Equity Action Plan webpage. Learn more about the Administration’s equity work and check out all Federal Equity Action Plans.
To follow stories and posts across agencies, follow the hashtags #GovEquity and #GovDelivers on social media.
EPA to hold webinars on final rule to reduce methane from oil and natural gas operations
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will hold several public webinars in February and March on the agency’s final rule that will sharply reduce methane and other harmful air pollutants from the oil and natural gas industry, including from hundreds of thousands of existing sources nationwide, promote the use of cutting-edge methane detection technologies, and deliver significant economic and public health benefits.
Oil and natural gas operations are the nation’s largest industrial source of methane, a climate “super pollutant” that is many times more potent than carbon dioxide and is responsible for approximately one third of the warming from greenhouse gases occurring today. Sharp cuts in methane emissions are among the most critical actions the United States can take in the short term to slow the rate of climate change.
Information about the webinars is below. All webinars are free and open to the public; however, presentations are geared toward specific audiences.
Overview Training Webinars
These webinars will provide overviews of the final rule, with a focus on the audiences listed below. Note: All times are listed in Eastern time. Please adjust for your time zone as needed:
Tuesday, Feb. 27: 2:30-5 p.m. for small businesses and industry.
Wednesday, Feb. 28: 2:30-5 p.m. for Tribal Nations and Tribal environmental professionals.
Thursday, Feb. 29: 6-8:30 p.m. for communities.
Alternative Test Method - Advanced Methane Detection Technology Webinar
This webinar will focus on the options in the final rule for using advanced methane detection technologies, like satellite monitoring, aerial surveys, and continuous monitors, to find leaks or super-emitter events. It will include details on the process for applying to use alternative test methods and what needs to be included in the application. The webinar will be from 1-4 p.m. Tuesday, March 19.
Learn more and register to attend the webinars.
Oil and natural gas operations are the nation’s largest industrial source of methane, a climate “super pollutant” that is many times more potent than carbon dioxide and is responsible for approximately one third of the warming from greenhouse gases occurring today. Sharp cuts in methane emissions are among the most critical actions the United States can take in the short term to slow the rate of climate change.
Information about the webinars is below. All webinars are free and open to the public; however, presentations are geared toward specific audiences.
Overview Training Webinars
These webinars will provide overviews of the final rule, with a focus on the audiences listed below. Note: All times are listed in Eastern time. Please adjust for your time zone as needed:
Tuesday, Feb. 27: 2:30-5 p.m. for small businesses and industry.
Wednesday, Feb. 28: 2:30-5 p.m. for Tribal Nations and Tribal environmental professionals.
Thursday, Feb. 29: 6-8:30 p.m. for communities.
Alternative Test Method - Advanced Methane Detection Technology Webinar
This webinar will focus on the options in the final rule for using advanced methane detection technologies, like satellite monitoring, aerial surveys, and continuous monitors, to find leaks or super-emitter events. It will include details on the process for applying to use alternative test methods and what needs to be included in the application. The webinar will be from 1-4 p.m. Tuesday, March 19.
Learn more and register to attend the webinars.
EPA Fines Clean Harbors for Alleged Hazardous Waste Violations at Kimball, Nebraska, Facility
LENEXA, KAN. (FEB. 14, 2024) – Clean Harbors Environmental Services Inc. will pay $270,412 in civil penalties to resolve alleged violations of the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Nebraska regulations governing hazardous waste management, and the terms of its Hazardous Waste Management Facility Permits.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the company operates as a hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal facility in Kimball, Nebraska. EPA inspections between 2021 and 2023 revealed the following alleged violations:
Failure to adequately manage hazardous waste containers.
Failure to minimize releases of hazardous waste to the environment.
Failure to maintain air emission controls.
Failure to maintain and operate a building as tested.
Failure to transmit waste from its facility within required time frames.
Failure to obtain a hazardous waste permit for areas not covered by the facility’s permits.
“Mismanagement of hazardous waste leads to human exposure and environmental contamination,” said David Cozad, director of EPA Region 7’s Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division. “This penalty action involving one of the largest hazardous waste disposal facilities in the country demonstrates EPA’s commitment to protecting communities and leveling the playing field for companies that comply with the law.”
EPA says that Clean Harbors has a lengthy history of environmental law violations and has been subject to numerous enforcement actions with EPA and the state of Nebraska. Some of the violations at issue are repeat findings from prior inspections and enforcement actions. EPA further reports that since the recent EPA inspections, the company has corrected the violations.
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act creates the framework for the proper management of hazardous and non-hazardous solid waste.
# # #
Learn more about the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
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
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the company operates as a hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal facility in Kimball, Nebraska. EPA inspections between 2021 and 2023 revealed the following alleged violations:
Failure to adequately manage hazardous waste containers.
Failure to minimize releases of hazardous waste to the environment.
Failure to maintain air emission controls.
Failure to maintain and operate a building as tested.
Failure to transmit waste from its facility within required time frames.
Failure to obtain a hazardous waste permit for areas not covered by the facility’s permits.
“Mismanagement of hazardous waste leads to human exposure and environmental contamination,” said David Cozad, director of EPA Region 7’s Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division. “This penalty action involving one of the largest hazardous waste disposal facilities in the country demonstrates EPA’s commitment to protecting communities and leveling the playing field for companies that comply with the law.”
EPA says that Clean Harbors has a lengthy history of environmental law violations and has been subject to numerous enforcement actions with EPA and the state of Nebraska. Some of the violations at issue are repeat findings from prior inspections and enforcement actions. EPA further reports that since the recent EPA inspections, the company has corrected the violations.
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act creates the framework for the proper management of hazardous and non-hazardous solid waste.
# # #
Learn more about the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
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