Trade News Snapshot – Volume 6, Issue 1
EAC's Message
We’ve kicked off the year with active engagement across key areas: strengthening trade compliance, enhancing industry collaboration, and fostering innovation. This issue offers a snapshot of those initiatives and our…
We’ve kicked off the year with active engagement across key areas: strengthening trade compliance, enhancing industry collaboration, and fostering innovation. This issue offers a snapshot of those initiatives and our…
QB 24-113 USMCA Agriculture Canada
Commodities:
Agricultural products described in Chapter 98, Subchapter XXIII, U.S. Note 1 thru U.S. Note 10 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS)
Quota Period:
January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024
Opening Date:
Tuesday, January 2, 2024…
Agricultural products described in Chapter 98, Subchapter XXIII, U.S. Note 1 thru U.S. Note 10 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS)
Quota Period:
January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024
Opening Date:
Tuesday, January 2, 2024…
EPA and DOE announce intent to fund projects to reduce methane emissions from the oil and natural gas sectors as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced a Notice of Intent (NOI) today to make funds available to help measure and reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas sectors as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. Methane is a climate “super pollutant” that is more potent than carbon dioxide and responsible for approximately one third of the warming from greenhouse gases occurring today.
This funding from the Inflation Reduction Act will help oil and natural gas sector operators cut methane emissions and transition to innovative methane emissions reduction technologies, while also supporting partnerships to improve emissions measurement and provide accurate, transparent data to impacted communities. Through a combination of technical and financial assistance, the Methane Emissions Reduction Program will help reduce inefficiencies in U.S. oil and gas operations, create new jobs in energy and disadvantaged communities, improve public health, and realize near-term emission reductions—helping reach the nation’s ambitious climate and clean air goals.
“We know the adoption of cleaner and smarter ways to monitor and reduce wasteful methane emissions is critical to addressing climate change,” said Jennifer Macedonia, EPA Deputy Assistant Administrator in the Office of Air and Radiation. “Through these historic investments from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, EPA and DOE will invest in American innovation and contribute to the Biden-Harris Administration’s ambitious goal of reducing climate pollution while improving public health and protecting communities.”
“As part of a whole of government approach, DOE and EPA are coordinating our efforts to address methane emissions throughout the oil and natural gas supply chain,” said Ryan Peay, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Resource Sustainability in DOE's Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management. “Together we are supporting innovative solutions that will address these harmful emissions at a large scale across the nation, while also developing region-specific assistance that will result in environmental, health, and safety benefits for local communities.”
If released, the corresponding funding opportunity would focus on three areas:
Mitigating methane emissions and reducing other air pollution associated with existing wells and infrastructure. Funds would be provided to mitigate and monitor methane emissions from low-producing wells and other oil and natural gas assets, that are owned and/or operated by small producers/operators, through a small number of awards, which would each fund a selected lead entity such as an organization that represents oil and natural gas producers, a non-governmental research institution, university, or Tribal organization. The intent would be for these organizations to manage and optimize the effective distribution of these funds to owners/operators with relevant oil and natural gas assets, including one award focused on mitigating methane emissions from oil and natural gas assets on Tribal lands. This area is anticipated to complement efforts currently being undertaken by states through recently announced formula grants.
Accelerating the deployment of innovative methane reduction solutions for reducing emissions from petroleum and natural gas systems. This may include efforts to support the field demonstration of near-commercial solutions that can effectively address emissions from difficult-to-mitigate sources on a large scale, to accelerate the implementation of innovative methane emissions reduction technology solutions.
Characterizing and quantifying methane emissions from oil and natural gas operations across multiple, large geographical regions through the creation of regional methane emissions measurement and monitoring consortia. Activities may include, but are not limited to, methane emissions data collection and acquisition; development of annual emissions estimates at equipment-, facility-, and basin-levels; and training on data and technology usage for workers in the oil and gas industry and communities with environmental justice concerns. The intent would be to develop region-specific collaborative partnerships among oil and natural gas owners and operators, universities, environmental justice organizations, community leaders, workers, technology developers, Tribes, state regulatory agencies, non-governmental research organizations, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers, and DOE’s National Laboratories.
In keeping with the Biden-Harris Administration’s goal to ensure the clean energy transition benefits all, this program also advances the Justice40 Initiative – which set the goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal climate and clean energy investments flow to disadvantaged communities, facilitates broader energy prosperity, and supports the equitable creation and retention of good-paying jobs. Guidance on specific application and reporting requirements will be included in the program funding opportunity announcement (FOA).
This NOI is issued to give applicants ample time to prepare their proposals and form partnerships (if necessary) in anticipation of the upcoming issuance of the FOA. More information, including anticipated eligibility criteria for this NOI, can be found at the FedConnect MERP NOI website.
Visit EPA and DOE websites for more information about the Methane Emissions Reduction Program.
This funding from the Inflation Reduction Act will help oil and natural gas sector operators cut methane emissions and transition to innovative methane emissions reduction technologies, while also supporting partnerships to improve emissions measurement and provide accurate, transparent data to impacted communities. Through a combination of technical and financial assistance, the Methane Emissions Reduction Program will help reduce inefficiencies in U.S. oil and gas operations, create new jobs in energy and disadvantaged communities, improve public health, and realize near-term emission reductions—helping reach the nation’s ambitious climate and clean air goals.
“We know the adoption of cleaner and smarter ways to monitor and reduce wasteful methane emissions is critical to addressing climate change,” said Jennifer Macedonia, EPA Deputy Assistant Administrator in the Office of Air and Radiation. “Through these historic investments from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, EPA and DOE will invest in American innovation and contribute to the Biden-Harris Administration’s ambitious goal of reducing climate pollution while improving public health and protecting communities.”
“As part of a whole of government approach, DOE and EPA are coordinating our efforts to address methane emissions throughout the oil and natural gas supply chain,” said Ryan Peay, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Resource Sustainability in DOE's Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management. “Together we are supporting innovative solutions that will address these harmful emissions at a large scale across the nation, while also developing region-specific assistance that will result in environmental, health, and safety benefits for local communities.”
If released, the corresponding funding opportunity would focus on three areas:
Mitigating methane emissions and reducing other air pollution associated with existing wells and infrastructure. Funds would be provided to mitigate and monitor methane emissions from low-producing wells and other oil and natural gas assets, that are owned and/or operated by small producers/operators, through a small number of awards, which would each fund a selected lead entity such as an organization that represents oil and natural gas producers, a non-governmental research institution, university, or Tribal organization. The intent would be for these organizations to manage and optimize the effective distribution of these funds to owners/operators with relevant oil and natural gas assets, including one award focused on mitigating methane emissions from oil and natural gas assets on Tribal lands. This area is anticipated to complement efforts currently being undertaken by states through recently announced formula grants.
Accelerating the deployment of innovative methane reduction solutions for reducing emissions from petroleum and natural gas systems. This may include efforts to support the field demonstration of near-commercial solutions that can effectively address emissions from difficult-to-mitigate sources on a large scale, to accelerate the implementation of innovative methane emissions reduction technology solutions.
Characterizing and quantifying methane emissions from oil and natural gas operations across multiple, large geographical regions through the creation of regional methane emissions measurement and monitoring consortia. Activities may include, but are not limited to, methane emissions data collection and acquisition; development of annual emissions estimates at equipment-, facility-, and basin-levels; and training on data and technology usage for workers in the oil and gas industry and communities with environmental justice concerns. The intent would be to develop region-specific collaborative partnerships among oil and natural gas owners and operators, universities, environmental justice organizations, community leaders, workers, technology developers, Tribes, state regulatory agencies, non-governmental research organizations, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers, and DOE’s National Laboratories.
In keeping with the Biden-Harris Administration’s goal to ensure the clean energy transition benefits all, this program also advances the Justice40 Initiative – which set the goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal climate and clean energy investments flow to disadvantaged communities, facilitates broader energy prosperity, and supports the equitable creation and retention of good-paying jobs. Guidance on specific application and reporting requirements will be included in the program funding opportunity announcement (FOA).
This NOI is issued to give applicants ample time to prepare their proposals and form partnerships (if necessary) in anticipation of the upcoming issuance of the FOA. More information, including anticipated eligibility criteria for this NOI, can be found at the FedConnect MERP NOI website.
Visit EPA and DOE websites for more information about the Methane Emissions Reduction Program.
Three Shipments Yield Fake Luxury Merchandise and Jewelry with an MSRP of over $1.2 Million
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in the San Juan Field Office intercepted and seized three shipments containing counterfeit luxury brand merchandise, including jewelry and sunglasses, with a combined Manufacturer’s…
EPA to Review Effectiveness of Cleanups at 14 Privately-Owned California Superfund Sites in 2024
SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will perform comprehensive five-year reviews this year of 14 National Priorities List Superfund privately-owned sites in California where cleanup remedies have been implemented. The sites will undergo a legally required review to ensure that previous remediation efforts continue to protect public health and the environment. Once the five-year reviews are complete, the findings will be posted to each Superfund site’s web page.
“Reviewing the cleanup work that has occurred at these Superfund sites across California is critical to ensuring that public health and the environment are protected,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Superfund and Emergency Management Division Director Mike Montgomery. “These reviews also serve as important ways to deliver information to the public about Superfund sites where pollution remains and additional work could be needed.”
The California privately-owned Superfund sites where EPA will conduct five-year reviews in 2024 are:
Advanced Micro Devices (Building 915) in Sunnyvale
Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation South San Jose Plant
Industrial Waste Processing in Fresno
Middlefield-Ellis-Whisman (MEW) Study Area in Mountain View, which comprises three Superfund sites: the Fairchild Semiconductor Corp.-Mountain View site, the Raytheon Company site, and the Intel Corp.-Mountain View site as well as portions of the Naval Air Station Moffett Field Superfund site.
Palos Verdes Shelf portion of the Montrose Chemical Corp. site in Torrence
Teledyne and Spectra-Physics sites in Mountain View (joint cleanup and review)
Triple Site in Sunnyvale, which comprises the following Superfund sites: the Advanced Micro Devices 901-902 Thompson Place site, the TRW Microwave site, and the Signetics site. The Signetics site is not part of the five-year review because it is not on the National Priorities List.
Valley Wood Preserving, Inc. in Turlock
Waste Disposal, Inc. in Santa Fe Springs
Background
Throughout the process of designing and constructing a cleanup at a hazardous waste site, EPA's primary goal is to make sure the remedy will be protective of public health and the environment. At many sites, where the remedy has been constructed, EPA continues to ensure it remains protective by requiring reviews of cleanups every five years. It is important for EPA to regularly check on these sites to ensure the remedy is working properly. These reviews identify issues (if any) that may affect the protectiveness of the constructed remedy and, if necessary, recommend action(s) necessary to address them.
There are many phases of the Superfund cleanup process including considering future use and redevelopment at sites and conducting post cleanup monitoring of sites. EPA must ensure the remedy is protective of public health and the environment and any redevelopment will uphold the protectiveness of the remedy into the future.
The Superfund program, a federal program established by Congress in 1980, investigates and cleans up the most complex, uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites in the country and endeavors to facilitate activities to return them to productive use. In total, there are 135 Superfund sites across the EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region.
Learn more about Superfund and other cleanup sites in the Pacific Southwest.
Learn more about EPA's Superfund program.
Learn more about EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region. Connect with us on Facebook and on X.
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“Reviewing the cleanup work that has occurred at these Superfund sites across California is critical to ensuring that public health and the environment are protected,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Superfund and Emergency Management Division Director Mike Montgomery. “These reviews also serve as important ways to deliver information to the public about Superfund sites where pollution remains and additional work could be needed.”
The California privately-owned Superfund sites where EPA will conduct five-year reviews in 2024 are:
Advanced Micro Devices (Building 915) in Sunnyvale
Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation South San Jose Plant
Industrial Waste Processing in Fresno
Middlefield-Ellis-Whisman (MEW) Study Area in Mountain View, which comprises three Superfund sites: the Fairchild Semiconductor Corp.-Mountain View site, the Raytheon Company site, and the Intel Corp.-Mountain View site as well as portions of the Naval Air Station Moffett Field Superfund site.
Palos Verdes Shelf portion of the Montrose Chemical Corp. site in Torrence
Teledyne and Spectra-Physics sites in Mountain View (joint cleanup and review)
Triple Site in Sunnyvale, which comprises the following Superfund sites: the Advanced Micro Devices 901-902 Thompson Place site, the TRW Microwave site, and the Signetics site. The Signetics site is not part of the five-year review because it is not on the National Priorities List.
Valley Wood Preserving, Inc. in Turlock
Waste Disposal, Inc. in Santa Fe Springs
Background
Throughout the process of designing and constructing a cleanup at a hazardous waste site, EPA's primary goal is to make sure the remedy will be protective of public health and the environment. At many sites, where the remedy has been constructed, EPA continues to ensure it remains protective by requiring reviews of cleanups every five years. It is important for EPA to regularly check on these sites to ensure the remedy is working properly. These reviews identify issues (if any) that may affect the protectiveness of the constructed remedy and, if necessary, recommend action(s) necessary to address them.
There are many phases of the Superfund cleanup process including considering future use and redevelopment at sites and conducting post cleanup monitoring of sites. EPA must ensure the remedy is protective of public health and the environment and any redevelopment will uphold the protectiveness of the remedy into the future.
The Superfund program, a federal program established by Congress in 1980, investigates and cleans up the most complex, uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites in the country and endeavors to facilitate activities to return them to productive use. In total, there are 135 Superfund sites across the EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region.
Learn more about Superfund and other cleanup sites in the Pacific Southwest.
Learn more about EPA's Superfund program.
Learn more about EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region. Connect with us on Facebook and on X.
###
EPA and Partners to Host Open House on Milwaukee Floodplains Cleanup
CHICAGO (Feb. 8, 2024) — Next week, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Great Lakes Legacy Act project partners will host an open house in Milwaukee to update the community on the Milwaukee Estuary Area of Concern cleanup, with a focus on the Milwaukee River floodplains. Soil samples from the Milwaukee River floodplains indicate the presence of contaminants on the east and west sides of the river between the former Estabrook Dam and the former North Avenue Dam. EPA and its state and local partners will discuss next steps for the ongoing river cleanup efforts and be available to answer questions.
WHO: EPA
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Milwaukee County Parks
WHAT: Open house to learn about next steps for Milwaukee River floodplains
cleanup
WHEN: Thursday, February 15
5–7 p.m.
30-minute presentation at 6 p.m.
WHERE: Shorewood Public Library
3920 N. Murray Ave.
Shorewood, Wisconsin
The floodplains project is part of a larger initiative to clean up the Milwaukee Estuary Area of Concern. Learn more about this initiative and register for the community meeting at www.mkewaterwaypartners.org.
WHO: EPA
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Milwaukee County Parks
WHAT: Open house to learn about next steps for Milwaukee River floodplains
cleanup
WHEN: Thursday, February 15
5–7 p.m.
30-minute presentation at 6 p.m.
WHERE: Shorewood Public Library
3920 N. Murray Ave.
Shorewood, Wisconsin
The floodplains project is part of a larger initiative to clean up the Milwaukee Estuary Area of Concern. Learn more about this initiative and register for the community meeting at www.mkewaterwaypartners.org.
EPA finalizes changes to strengthen implementation of Toxic Substances Control Act, improve chemical reviews
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized amendments to the 2018 Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Fees Rule that will strengthen the agency’s ability to successfully implement the law in a sustainable way, will improve the efficiency of EPA’s chemical reviews, and ensure these reviews result in necessary health and safety protections. The amendments update how EPA will recover authorized costs of the law’s implementation and ensure that collected fees provide the Agency with 25% of authorized costs consistent with direction from Congress.
The 2016 amendments to TSCA greatly increased EPA’s authority and responsibility to protect people and the environment from toxic chemicals. While Congress provided EPA with new authority to collect fees to offset up to 25% of authorized TSCA implementation costs, the 2018 TSCA Fees Rule resulted in collection of less than half of the costs EPA had the authority to collect, adding to implementation challenges caused by insufficient resources.
“Under the Biden-Harris Administration, we’ve made incredible progress implementing our nation’s chemical safety law, and today is another major step forward as we work to build a more sustainable, efficient program that protects public health,” said Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Michal Freedhoff. “This final rule will provide more resources, allowing EPA to review more chemicals more efficiently which means better and faster protections for communities from dangerous chemicals and robust support for American innovation of new chemistries.”
Reports from EPA’s Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Government Accountability Office note EPA’s lack of resources for the TSCA program and the impact it has had on implementing the 2016 law, as well as the need for better cost estimates. Additionally, EPA’s October 2022 report to Congress on the agency’s capacity to implement the 2016 law acknowledges compounding failures on the EPA’s part in the first few years following enactment to adequately assess its resource needs early and to establish fees that capture the updated cost of EPA’s TSCA work.
EPA based its November 2022 proposed rule on its comprehensive 2021 analysis that more adequately accounted for the anticipated costs of implementing the amended law based on data from the first several years of implementation.
In today’s final rule, EPA has reduced the total program cost estimate by over 19% to approximately $146.8 million (compared to approximately $181.9 million in the 2022 proposed rule) as a result of its comprehensive budget analysis. EPA has identified numerous efficiencies through its experience implementing TSCA that have brought down the estimated costs. Some of these efficiencies include more targeted data reviews and analyses refinement. In addition, EPA will likely need to spend less money gathering data on the next set of chemicals being prioritized for risk evaluation.
Specifically, the fees associated with EPA-initiated risk evaluations have been reduced from $5.1 million to $4.3 million, and the fees for review of a new chemical submissions have been reduced from $45,000 to $37,000.
The final rule will be effective 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.
Read the final rule.
Learn more about TSCA fees.
The 2016 amendments to TSCA greatly increased EPA’s authority and responsibility to protect people and the environment from toxic chemicals. While Congress provided EPA with new authority to collect fees to offset up to 25% of authorized TSCA implementation costs, the 2018 TSCA Fees Rule resulted in collection of less than half of the costs EPA had the authority to collect, adding to implementation challenges caused by insufficient resources.
“Under the Biden-Harris Administration, we’ve made incredible progress implementing our nation’s chemical safety law, and today is another major step forward as we work to build a more sustainable, efficient program that protects public health,” said Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Michal Freedhoff. “This final rule will provide more resources, allowing EPA to review more chemicals more efficiently which means better and faster protections for communities from dangerous chemicals and robust support for American innovation of new chemistries.”
Reports from EPA’s Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Government Accountability Office note EPA’s lack of resources for the TSCA program and the impact it has had on implementing the 2016 law, as well as the need for better cost estimates. Additionally, EPA’s October 2022 report to Congress on the agency’s capacity to implement the 2016 law acknowledges compounding failures on the EPA’s part in the first few years following enactment to adequately assess its resource needs early and to establish fees that capture the updated cost of EPA’s TSCA work.
EPA based its November 2022 proposed rule on its comprehensive 2021 analysis that more adequately accounted for the anticipated costs of implementing the amended law based on data from the first several years of implementation.
In today’s final rule, EPA has reduced the total program cost estimate by over 19% to approximately $146.8 million (compared to approximately $181.9 million in the 2022 proposed rule) as a result of its comprehensive budget analysis. EPA has identified numerous efficiencies through its experience implementing TSCA that have brought down the estimated costs. Some of these efficiencies include more targeted data reviews and analyses refinement. In addition, EPA will likely need to spend less money gathering data on the next set of chemicals being prioritized for risk evaluation.
Specifically, the fees associated with EPA-initiated risk evaluations have been reduced from $5.1 million to $4.3 million, and the fees for review of a new chemical submissions have been reduced from $45,000 to $37,000.
The final rule will be effective 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.
Read the final rule.
Learn more about TSCA fees.
EPA and New England Aquarium spotlight the sunken treasure of Blue Carbon in climate resilience
BOSTON (Feb. 8, 2024) - Yesterday, leaders from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the New England Aquarium gathered together to shine a spotlight on the critical carbon-capturing environments of seagrass meadows and salt marshes, known as Blue Carbon, in sequestering and storing carbon.
The largest quantities of sequestered carbon in New England can be found in salt marshes, which is a habitat type at great risk due to sea level rise and coastal development. The EPA report on "Blue Carbon Reservoirs from Maine to Long Island, NY" documents and maps the existence and status of blue carbon sequestering environments along the northeastern coastal areas of the United States. It is the result of collaboration between 29 different scientists from a host of different agencies, universities, and non-profits that made up the New England Blue Carbon Inventory Workgroup.
"These habitats accumulate large quantities of carbon, and can store it for centuries if left intact," said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "If we lose those habitats, and their capacity to remove carbon, we also lose our first line of defense against coastal flooding, which often affects disadvantaged communities first and worst. We are very excited that this new installation will help thousands of visitors to the New England Aquarium to learn about an important climate-protecting ecosystem right off our coastline."
"As a Boston resident who lives close to the harbor and as avid scuba diver, I am keenly aware of the impacts that climate change has on our oceans," said Reverend Mariama White-Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy and Open Space for the City of Boston. "Our oceans are absorbing so much of the carbon that we put in the atmosphere, and it is causing great damage to our sea animals and plants. I am excited that both the EPA's report and the Aquarium's exhibit are working to engage us all in the effort to protect the oceans from additional damage."
EPA's Blue Carbon report spurred a new, temporary installation at the New England Aquarium, which showcases the collaborative research led by EPA to map coastal blue carbon habitats from Maine to New York. The installation provides an accessible and concise overview of important scientific research that documents critical habitat for New England coastal communities that also provides significant climate benefits by capturing and storing carbon.
"Blue carbon habitats have the power to help combat climate change, while serving as critical hubs for marine biodiversity. Preserving and restoring blue carbon habitats supports marine species like sea turtles, fish, and shellfish that rely on them for food sources or nurseries, while also naturally capturing carbon, reducing flooding, and providing other important benefits. The Aquarium is pleased to partner with the EPA to educate guests about blue carbon habitats and the need to protect them for future generations," said Dr. Letise LaFeir, Chief of Conservation and Stewardship at New England Aquarium.
Blue Carbon Facts:
Blue carbon is the term used to describe carbon stored in coastal and marine salt marshes, seagrass meadows, and mangrove forests. These aquatic habitats are much more efficient at accumulating and sequestering carbon than terrestrial habitats. An acre of forest on land will have less sequestered carbon in its soil than the equivalent acre of seagrass, salt marsh, or mangrove.
The Blue Carbon report indicates that the geographic area from Maine to Long Island has an estimated 218,222 acres of eelgrass meadows and salt marsh, which are estimated to provide a reservoir of 7,523,568 megagrams of blue carbon. Using the EPA greenhouse gas equivalency calculator, this quantity of stored carbon is equivalent to:
The emissions from 5,994,024 passenger vehicles driven in one year.
The burning of 30,521,000,000+ pounds of coal.
The emissions associated with the energy use of 3,474,000 homes for a year.
The emissions offset by the operation of 7,498 wind turbines for a year.
The quantity of carbon accumulated in one year in 32,646,000 acres of upland forest.
Background:
During the 2017 Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premier (pdf) (1.1 MB), the management of "blue carbon resources to preserve and enhance their existing carbon reservoirs" was identified as a possible regional climate change action to mitigate and reduce greenhouse gases.
In June 2020, EPA New England initiated an effort to establish a baseline of New England's blue carbon inventory. Working with New England state and federal (USGS and USDA) agencies, academic experts, and non-governmental organizations and utilizing a contract with the Northeast Regional Ocean Council (NROC), datasets of New England's current and historic eelgrass meadows and salt marsh habitats and marine soil cores were identified and entered into an interactive map on the Northeast Ocean Data Portal. Soil organic carbon stocks within these marine habitats were also used to calculate blue carbon stocks. The joint effort has been detailed in the "Blue Carbon Reservoirs from Maine to Long Island NY" Report (pdf) (2.5 MB).
Learn more:
Learn more about Blue Carbon in New England, including EPA's 2023 report on a multi-year study to document and map the existence and status of blue carbon sequestering environments along northeastern coastal areas of the United States: https://www.epa.gov/raine/blue-carbon-new-england
Follow along, and learn more about how we are protecting human health and the environment, funding opportunities in your community, regulatory actions, opportunities to #BeEPA and more on EPA New England’s newly launched Instagram account: @epa_newengland.
New England Aquarium President & CEO Vikki N. Spruill, EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash, and City of Boston Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space Reverend Mariama White-Hammond gathering at the New England Aquarium to highlight the significant role Blue Carbon plays in climate resilience. February 7, 2024.
The largest quantities of sequestered carbon in New England can be found in salt marshes, which is a habitat type at great risk due to sea level rise and coastal development. The EPA report on "Blue Carbon Reservoirs from Maine to Long Island, NY" documents and maps the existence and status of blue carbon sequestering environments along the northeastern coastal areas of the United States. It is the result of collaboration between 29 different scientists from a host of different agencies, universities, and non-profits that made up the New England Blue Carbon Inventory Workgroup.
"These habitats accumulate large quantities of carbon, and can store it for centuries if left intact," said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "If we lose those habitats, and their capacity to remove carbon, we also lose our first line of defense against coastal flooding, which often affects disadvantaged communities first and worst. We are very excited that this new installation will help thousands of visitors to the New England Aquarium to learn about an important climate-protecting ecosystem right off our coastline."
"As a Boston resident who lives close to the harbor and as avid scuba diver, I am keenly aware of the impacts that climate change has on our oceans," said Reverend Mariama White-Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy and Open Space for the City of Boston. "Our oceans are absorbing so much of the carbon that we put in the atmosphere, and it is causing great damage to our sea animals and plants. I am excited that both the EPA's report and the Aquarium's exhibit are working to engage us all in the effort to protect the oceans from additional damage."
EPA's Blue Carbon report spurred a new, temporary installation at the New England Aquarium, which showcases the collaborative research led by EPA to map coastal blue carbon habitats from Maine to New York. The installation provides an accessible and concise overview of important scientific research that documents critical habitat for New England coastal communities that also provides significant climate benefits by capturing and storing carbon.
"Blue carbon habitats have the power to help combat climate change, while serving as critical hubs for marine biodiversity. Preserving and restoring blue carbon habitats supports marine species like sea turtles, fish, and shellfish that rely on them for food sources or nurseries, while also naturally capturing carbon, reducing flooding, and providing other important benefits. The Aquarium is pleased to partner with the EPA to educate guests about blue carbon habitats and the need to protect them for future generations," said Dr. Letise LaFeir, Chief of Conservation and Stewardship at New England Aquarium.
Blue Carbon Facts:
Blue carbon is the term used to describe carbon stored in coastal and marine salt marshes, seagrass meadows, and mangrove forests. These aquatic habitats are much more efficient at accumulating and sequestering carbon than terrestrial habitats. An acre of forest on land will have less sequestered carbon in its soil than the equivalent acre of seagrass, salt marsh, or mangrove.
The Blue Carbon report indicates that the geographic area from Maine to Long Island has an estimated 218,222 acres of eelgrass meadows and salt marsh, which are estimated to provide a reservoir of 7,523,568 megagrams of blue carbon. Using the EPA greenhouse gas equivalency calculator, this quantity of stored carbon is equivalent to:
The emissions from 5,994,024 passenger vehicles driven in one year.
The burning of 30,521,000,000+ pounds of coal.
The emissions associated with the energy use of 3,474,000 homes for a year.
The emissions offset by the operation of 7,498 wind turbines for a year.
The quantity of carbon accumulated in one year in 32,646,000 acres of upland forest.
Background:
During the 2017 Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premier (pdf) (1.1 MB), the management of "blue carbon resources to preserve and enhance their existing carbon reservoirs" was identified as a possible regional climate change action to mitigate and reduce greenhouse gases.
In June 2020, EPA New England initiated an effort to establish a baseline of New England's blue carbon inventory. Working with New England state and federal (USGS and USDA) agencies, academic experts, and non-governmental organizations and utilizing a contract with the Northeast Regional Ocean Council (NROC), datasets of New England's current and historic eelgrass meadows and salt marsh habitats and marine soil cores were identified and entered into an interactive map on the Northeast Ocean Data Portal. Soil organic carbon stocks within these marine habitats were also used to calculate blue carbon stocks. The joint effort has been detailed in the "Blue Carbon Reservoirs from Maine to Long Island NY" Report (pdf) (2.5 MB).
Learn more:
Learn more about Blue Carbon in New England, including EPA's 2023 report on a multi-year study to document and map the existence and status of blue carbon sequestering environments along northeastern coastal areas of the United States: https://www.epa.gov/raine/blue-carbon-new-england
Follow along, and learn more about how we are protecting human health and the environment, funding opportunities in your community, regulatory actions, opportunities to #BeEPA and more on EPA New England’s newly launched Instagram account: @epa_newengland.
New England Aquarium President & CEO Vikki N. Spruill, EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash, and City of Boston Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space Reverend Mariama White-Hammond gathering at the New England Aquarium to highlight the significant role Blue Carbon plays in climate resilience. February 7, 2024.