EPA Issues Explanation of Significant Differences for PCE Southeast Contamination Superfund Site in York, Nebraska
LENEXA, KAN. (FEB. 2, 2024) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 has issued an Explanation of Significant Differences (ESD) for Operable Unit (OU) 1 of the PCE Southeast Contamination Superfund Site in York, Nebraska.
Per the ESD, EPA Region 7 plans to demolish a vacant building at the northeast corner of West 7th Street and North Platte Avenue. This is a change to EPA’s original Remedial Alternative, issued in the 2018 Record of Decision (ROD), but necessary to safely complete the installation of the in-situ thermal remediation system at the site.
This remediation system is responsible for heating the soil; ensuring the soil is heated properly with the support of temperature sensors; and capturing and treating contaminated vapors within the extraction wells to remove tetrachloroethylene (PCE). A vapor system will take the extracted, contaminated vapors from the thermal system, clean the contamination from the vapors, and discharge clean air into the atmosphere.
EPA estimates remedial action at OU1 to be completed by fall 2025. EPA anticipates no impacts to people’s health and the environment, based on the new work required for OU1.
The issuance of the ESD is unrelated to the supply chain delay that is impacting Operable Unit 2 of the site.
Read the Explanation of Significant Differences for OU1.
Learn more about the PCE Southeast Contamination Superfund Site in York, Nebraska.
# # #
Learn more about EPA Region 7
View all Region 7 news releases
Connect with EPA Region 7 on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter: @EPARegion7
Per the ESD, EPA Region 7 plans to demolish a vacant building at the northeast corner of West 7th Street and North Platte Avenue. This is a change to EPA’s original Remedial Alternative, issued in the 2018 Record of Decision (ROD), but necessary to safely complete the installation of the in-situ thermal remediation system at the site.
This remediation system is responsible for heating the soil; ensuring the soil is heated properly with the support of temperature sensors; and capturing and treating contaminated vapors within the extraction wells to remove tetrachloroethylene (PCE). A vapor system will take the extracted, contaminated vapors from the thermal system, clean the contamination from the vapors, and discharge clean air into the atmosphere.
EPA estimates remedial action at OU1 to be completed by fall 2025. EPA anticipates no impacts to people’s health and the environment, based on the new work required for OU1.
The issuance of the ESD is unrelated to the supply chain delay that is impacting Operable Unit 2 of the site.
Read the Explanation of Significant Differences for OU1.
Learn more about the PCE Southeast Contamination Superfund Site in York, Nebraska.
# # #
Learn more about EPA Region 7
View all Region 7 news releases
Connect with EPA Region 7 on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter: @EPARegion7
EPA Administrator Regan Wraps up Successful Mission to Africa, Reaffirms Commitment to Partnerships in Mozambique and Ghana
WASHINGTON — EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan returned from Africa this week after completing a successful mission to Mozambique and Ghana, where he reinforced EPA’s commitment to partnering with leaders, young people, and advocates to develop shared solutions to environmental challenges. Administrator Regan participated in a range of activities, from meetings with national leaders, to touring innovative facilities addressing pollution, to engaging with youth advocates to learn first-hand about local environmental challenges and how young people are leading the way to healthier communities.
Administrator Regan’s mission to Africa came in response to President Biden’s call to action at the 2022 U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit to expand substantive and meaningful partnerships with African countries, institutions, and people across the continent.
“I’ve returned from Africa invigorated by the people of Mozambique and Ghana – especially the young people I met along the way – whose work to develop solutions to tackle pollution in their communities is incredibly inspiring,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Thanks to President Biden’s vision for leaders across his cabinet to engage the continent in a meaningful way, EPA now has stronger partnerships with leaders and advocates on the ground to tackle our most pressing environmental challenges together.”
Here are some highlights from Administrator Regan’s trip:
Mozambique
Administrator Regan joined U.S. Ambassador to Mozambique Peter H. Vrooman at a ceremony to announce a new air quality monitor at the U.S. Embassy in Maputo. Maputo has now joined nearly 80 U.S. embassies and consulates across the world to monitor air quality and display it on EPA’s AirNow website – empowering communities to make informed decisions about their health and safety.
The Administrator also announced that EPA will work with Mozambican government officials to provide technical assistance surrounding the use of its AERMOD Air Modeling software, which uses state-of-the-art technology for air quality modeling.
Administrator Regan unveiling the new U.S. embassy air quality monitor. January 22, 2024During a meeting with his counterpart in Mozambique, Ivete Joaquim Maibaze, Minister of Land and Environment, the two leaders discussed the impact of mining operations on the environment and local communities. EPA announced that it will provide technical assistance and guidance to help the Mozambican government and civil society more meaningfully engage in public processes around responsible mining operations.
Administrator Regan with Ivete Joaquim Maibaze, Minister of Land and Environment. January 22, 2024 Administrator Regan met with youth activists from Geração Consciente leading clean-up efforts on Fisherman’s Beach, to hear how they are raising awareness of environmental issues, mangrove restoration, and trash cleanup from their beaches.
Administrator Regan at Fisherman’s Beach meeting with youth activists. January 23, 2024During a visit at Macaneta Beach, Administrator Regan met with members from the community and learned from local leaders about efforts to address worsening coastal erosion, including by placing old tires along the shoreline. EPA experts will partner with U.S. Geological Society counterparts to host a webinar with a community in Mozambique that is struggling with the impacts of coastal erosion.
Administrator Regan at Macaneta Beach witnessing efforts to address coastal erosion. January 23, 2024While in Mozambique, Administrator Regan met with local advocates and business leaders that have developed advanced ideas to use clean energy to power critical services, as well as address pollution challenges from plastics and waste.
He visited the site of a project funded in part by USAID to harness solar energy to power a water tower that can provide reliable water to up to 8,000 people in the surrounding area.
Administrator Regan during a community visit near the PRONASAR Solar-Powered Water Tower which has brought water to homes in Marracuene, Mozambique. January 22, 2024 The Administrator also visited a “Glass House” made of bottles that have been picked up from the nearby beach, helping to educate and inspire children about the impact of marine litter.
Administrator Regan and U.S. Ambassador to Mozambique, Peter Vrooman at the Glass House in Macaneta Beach. January 23, 2024The Administrator visited a woman-owned biomedical manufacturing company called BioMec that repurposes plastic collected from Mozambique's shores to create custom prosthetics.
Administrator Regan at BioMec Factory in Manhiça, Mozambique where young researchers are upcycling plastics like fish nets and bottles into medical prosthetics to address the plastic pollution. January 23, 2024 While in Vilankulo, the Administrator met with waste collectors who have removed over 500 tons of waste and turned it into bricks for infrastructure projects.
Administrator Regan takes a turn preparing new bricks made of waste collected at a nearby beach. January 24, 2024At a visit to the ParCo facility in Vilankulo, the Administrator learned about how innovative solutions to remove waste from the ocean can have a profound impact on improving the lives of children and all people.
Administrator Regan meeting with youth ambassadors, school kids, and members of the community at ParCo to hear how they are addressing plastic washing up on their beaches. January 23, 2024Ghana
While in Ghana, Administrator Regan was joined by NAACP President and CEO, Derrick Johnson. On their first day together, the two leaders visited the home and final resting place of Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois, and they both laid wreaths in his honor and paid their respects to the civil rights icon.
Administrator Regan and NAACP President Derrick Johnson tour the home and final resting place of renowned American scholar and NAACP founder, W.E.B Du Bois. January 26, 2024
NAACP President Derrick Johnson lays a wreath and Administrator Regan pays his respects at the tomb of NAACP founder and renowned American scholar W.E.B Du Bois in Accra, Ghana. January 26, 2024Administrator Regan and President Johnson also visited Cape Coast Castle, where they laid wreaths at the site that once served as a holding facility for enslaved Africans before they were transported to the Americas. While at Cape Coast, the leaders met with Cape Coast paramount chief Osabarima Kwesi Atta II and discussed an array of issues, including climate change and impact it has had on the community over the years.
During his visit to Cape Coast Castle, Administrator Regan reflects and shares a solemn moment of silence. January 28, 2024.
Administrator Regan lays a wreath in the dungeons to honor the enslaved people held at Cape Coast Castle.
January 28, 2024 Administrator Regan visited Electro Recycling Ghana, which has developed an innovative approach to refurbish, reuse, and recycle electronic waste. At the same time, EPA announced it will help build capacity for e-waste management by featuring Ghana at an upcoming International E-Waste Management Network Webinar and by providing support for an e-waste technical expert from the Government of Ghana to participate in the annual IEMN meeting.
Electro Recycling Ghana’s Co-Founders lead Administrator Regan on a tour where he observed innovative approaches to refurbish, reuse, and recycle electronic waste. January 26, 2024While also in Ghana, Administrator Regan took a tour of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Cookstove Lab, and there he announced that EPA provided financial support for the lab director to attend a conference for lab and field research on cookstoves, as well as provide technical assistance to the lab.
Administrator Regan and President Johnson toured the community of Jamestown with her excellency, The Second Lady of Ghana, Samira Bawumia, to meet with mothers who are using cleaner, more efficient cookstoves to put food on the table and provide for their families.
To view the video visit Administrator Regan’s Instagram account
Administrator Regan and Her Excellency, The Second Lady of the Republic of Ghana, Samira Bawumia, film a recap of their day in a video posted to social media. January 27, 2024
During their visit to the Jamestown community, Administrator Regan, President Johnson, and Her Excellency, The Second Lady of the Republic of Ghana, Samira Bawumia connected with women facing challenges due to unclean cooking methods. January 27, 2024
Administrator Regan, President Johnson, US Ambassador Virginia Palmer, and Her Excellency, The Second Lady of the Republic of Ghana, Samira Bawumia walk the streets and greet members of the Jamestown community in Accra, Ghana. January 27, 2024On his last day in Ghana, the Administrator visited Environment 360 to meet with young activists and entrepreneurial women that are uplifting their communities.
While in Dodowa, Administrator Regan and President Johnson meet with young students involved in a Green Generation Ambassador Program at a local non-profit. January 29, 2024
Administrator Regan’s mission to Africa came in response to President Biden’s call to action at the 2022 U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit to expand substantive and meaningful partnerships with African countries, institutions, and people across the continent.
“I’ve returned from Africa invigorated by the people of Mozambique and Ghana – especially the young people I met along the way – whose work to develop solutions to tackle pollution in their communities is incredibly inspiring,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Thanks to President Biden’s vision for leaders across his cabinet to engage the continent in a meaningful way, EPA now has stronger partnerships with leaders and advocates on the ground to tackle our most pressing environmental challenges together.”
Here are some highlights from Administrator Regan’s trip:
Mozambique
Administrator Regan joined U.S. Ambassador to Mozambique Peter H. Vrooman at a ceremony to announce a new air quality monitor at the U.S. Embassy in Maputo. Maputo has now joined nearly 80 U.S. embassies and consulates across the world to monitor air quality and display it on EPA’s AirNow website – empowering communities to make informed decisions about their health and safety.
The Administrator also announced that EPA will work with Mozambican government officials to provide technical assistance surrounding the use of its AERMOD Air Modeling software, which uses state-of-the-art technology for air quality modeling.
Administrator Regan unveiling the new U.S. embassy air quality monitor. January 22, 2024During a meeting with his counterpart in Mozambique, Ivete Joaquim Maibaze, Minister of Land and Environment, the two leaders discussed the impact of mining operations on the environment and local communities. EPA announced that it will provide technical assistance and guidance to help the Mozambican government and civil society more meaningfully engage in public processes around responsible mining operations.
Administrator Regan with Ivete Joaquim Maibaze, Minister of Land and Environment. January 22, 2024 Administrator Regan met with youth activists from Geração Consciente leading clean-up efforts on Fisherman’s Beach, to hear how they are raising awareness of environmental issues, mangrove restoration, and trash cleanup from their beaches.
Administrator Regan at Fisherman’s Beach meeting with youth activists. January 23, 2024During a visit at Macaneta Beach, Administrator Regan met with members from the community and learned from local leaders about efforts to address worsening coastal erosion, including by placing old tires along the shoreline. EPA experts will partner with U.S. Geological Society counterparts to host a webinar with a community in Mozambique that is struggling with the impacts of coastal erosion.
Administrator Regan at Macaneta Beach witnessing efforts to address coastal erosion. January 23, 2024While in Mozambique, Administrator Regan met with local advocates and business leaders that have developed advanced ideas to use clean energy to power critical services, as well as address pollution challenges from plastics and waste.
He visited the site of a project funded in part by USAID to harness solar energy to power a water tower that can provide reliable water to up to 8,000 people in the surrounding area.
Administrator Regan during a community visit near the PRONASAR Solar-Powered Water Tower which has brought water to homes in Marracuene, Mozambique. January 22, 2024 The Administrator also visited a “Glass House” made of bottles that have been picked up from the nearby beach, helping to educate and inspire children about the impact of marine litter.
Administrator Regan and U.S. Ambassador to Mozambique, Peter Vrooman at the Glass House in Macaneta Beach. January 23, 2024The Administrator visited a woman-owned biomedical manufacturing company called BioMec that repurposes plastic collected from Mozambique's shores to create custom prosthetics.
Administrator Regan at BioMec Factory in Manhiça, Mozambique where young researchers are upcycling plastics like fish nets and bottles into medical prosthetics to address the plastic pollution. January 23, 2024 While in Vilankulo, the Administrator met with waste collectors who have removed over 500 tons of waste and turned it into bricks for infrastructure projects.
Administrator Regan takes a turn preparing new bricks made of waste collected at a nearby beach. January 24, 2024At a visit to the ParCo facility in Vilankulo, the Administrator learned about how innovative solutions to remove waste from the ocean can have a profound impact on improving the lives of children and all people.
Administrator Regan meeting with youth ambassadors, school kids, and members of the community at ParCo to hear how they are addressing plastic washing up on their beaches. January 23, 2024Ghana
While in Ghana, Administrator Regan was joined by NAACP President and CEO, Derrick Johnson. On their first day together, the two leaders visited the home and final resting place of Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois, and they both laid wreaths in his honor and paid their respects to the civil rights icon.
Administrator Regan and NAACP President Derrick Johnson tour the home and final resting place of renowned American scholar and NAACP founder, W.E.B Du Bois. January 26, 2024
NAACP President Derrick Johnson lays a wreath and Administrator Regan pays his respects at the tomb of NAACP founder and renowned American scholar W.E.B Du Bois in Accra, Ghana. January 26, 2024Administrator Regan and President Johnson also visited Cape Coast Castle, where they laid wreaths at the site that once served as a holding facility for enslaved Africans before they were transported to the Americas. While at Cape Coast, the leaders met with Cape Coast paramount chief Osabarima Kwesi Atta II and discussed an array of issues, including climate change and impact it has had on the community over the years.
During his visit to Cape Coast Castle, Administrator Regan reflects and shares a solemn moment of silence. January 28, 2024.
Administrator Regan lays a wreath in the dungeons to honor the enslaved people held at Cape Coast Castle.
January 28, 2024 Administrator Regan visited Electro Recycling Ghana, which has developed an innovative approach to refurbish, reuse, and recycle electronic waste. At the same time, EPA announced it will help build capacity for e-waste management by featuring Ghana at an upcoming International E-Waste Management Network Webinar and by providing support for an e-waste technical expert from the Government of Ghana to participate in the annual IEMN meeting.
Electro Recycling Ghana’s Co-Founders lead Administrator Regan on a tour where he observed innovative approaches to refurbish, reuse, and recycle electronic waste. January 26, 2024While also in Ghana, Administrator Regan took a tour of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Cookstove Lab, and there he announced that EPA provided financial support for the lab director to attend a conference for lab and field research on cookstoves, as well as provide technical assistance to the lab.
Administrator Regan and President Johnson toured the community of Jamestown with her excellency, The Second Lady of Ghana, Samira Bawumia, to meet with mothers who are using cleaner, more efficient cookstoves to put food on the table and provide for their families.
To view the video visit Administrator Regan’s Instagram account
Administrator Regan and Her Excellency, The Second Lady of the Republic of Ghana, Samira Bawumia, film a recap of their day in a video posted to social media. January 27, 2024
During their visit to the Jamestown community, Administrator Regan, President Johnson, and Her Excellency, The Second Lady of the Republic of Ghana, Samira Bawumia connected with women facing challenges due to unclean cooking methods. January 27, 2024
Administrator Regan, President Johnson, US Ambassador Virginia Palmer, and Her Excellency, The Second Lady of the Republic of Ghana, Samira Bawumia walk the streets and greet members of the Jamestown community in Accra, Ghana. January 27, 2024On his last day in Ghana, the Administrator visited Environment 360 to meet with young activists and entrepreneurial women that are uplifting their communities.
While in Dodowa, Administrator Regan and President Johnson meet with young students involved in a Green Generation Ambassador Program at a local non-profit. January 29, 2024
EPA to Host Turner Station Community Meeting to Share Information on Efforts to Improve Sparrows Point and Bear Creek
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Mid-Atlantic Region is hosting a public meeting to discuss the proposed cleanup plan for the Bear Creek Superfund Site and important efforts EPA is making to address environmental justice concerns in the Turner Station community.
“Turner Station is an important community, and one that has faced many challenges due to historical pollution,” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. “We are working hand-in-hand with the community leaders to tackle these challenges head on. Examples include cleaning up the former Bethlehem Steel site at Bear Creek, providing technical assistance to the community throughout the cleanup process, funding an air monitoring program in Turner Station, and investing a total of more than $537M in Baltimore County water infrastructure to date. Through our partnership with the community, we are committed to drive meaningful change and continue the advancement of environmental justice”.
Ortiz said that EPA is focused on investing in communities that have historically experienced environmental stressors. He has prioritized implementing a coordinated approach between EPA and its partners to connect community groups with the tools and resources that lead to tangible improvements and change.
“Turner Station Conservation Teams Inc. (TSCT) has fought for 20 years to honor our past, engage residents, grow resources and advocate on behalf of the best interests of the largest historic African American community in Baltimore County,” said Turner Station Conservation Teams President Gloria E. Nelson. “The nearby Bear Creek Superfund site is the toxic legacy of 100 years of steelmaking and shipbuilding at Bethlehem Steel that is thankfully being addressed by the EPA. We look forward to the upcoming public meeting for our residents to have a voice in determining the clean-up plan for this site. It will be a giant step toward obtaining environmental justice and equity for our residents now and in the years to come. We greatly appreciate the relationship that we have developed.”
The in-person public meeting will take place at the Sollers Point Multi-Purpose Center at 323 Sollers Point Road, Dundalk, MD 21222 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Tuesday, February 6th at which time the EPA will explain the benefits and entertain questions from the community on the proposed cleanup strategy that will remove legacy pollution of hazardous materials from the Bear Creek Superfund site. A public comment period for the Bear Creek cleanup plan is currently open until March 10, 2024. To find more information about the public comment period and to read the cleanup plan, please visit: www.epa.gov/superfund/Bearcreek.
Bear Creek is a tidal surface water body adjacent to the 3,100-acre Sparrows Point peninsula, which was the site of steelmaking and ship building industries. The Bethlehem Steel Corporation (BSC) was the primary owner and operator for much of the Sparrows Point operational history, and sediments in Bear Creek were contaminated primarily by the migration of hazardous substances from the steel making process and the wastewater discharges from process wastewater and stormwater that discharged to Bear Creek.
EPA’s proposed cleanup plan will include removing contaminated soil from the near-shore areas and disposing of it at an approved off-site facility. Contaminated soil farther from shore will be capped to contain the contamination and prevent it from polluting the water.
Visit the EPA website to learn more about the agency’s environmental justice efforts.
“Turner Station is an important community, and one that has faced many challenges due to historical pollution,” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. “We are working hand-in-hand with the community leaders to tackle these challenges head on. Examples include cleaning up the former Bethlehem Steel site at Bear Creek, providing technical assistance to the community throughout the cleanup process, funding an air monitoring program in Turner Station, and investing a total of more than $537M in Baltimore County water infrastructure to date. Through our partnership with the community, we are committed to drive meaningful change and continue the advancement of environmental justice”.
Ortiz said that EPA is focused on investing in communities that have historically experienced environmental stressors. He has prioritized implementing a coordinated approach between EPA and its partners to connect community groups with the tools and resources that lead to tangible improvements and change.
“Turner Station Conservation Teams Inc. (TSCT) has fought for 20 years to honor our past, engage residents, grow resources and advocate on behalf of the best interests of the largest historic African American community in Baltimore County,” said Turner Station Conservation Teams President Gloria E. Nelson. “The nearby Bear Creek Superfund site is the toxic legacy of 100 years of steelmaking and shipbuilding at Bethlehem Steel that is thankfully being addressed by the EPA. We look forward to the upcoming public meeting for our residents to have a voice in determining the clean-up plan for this site. It will be a giant step toward obtaining environmental justice and equity for our residents now and in the years to come. We greatly appreciate the relationship that we have developed.”
The in-person public meeting will take place at the Sollers Point Multi-Purpose Center at 323 Sollers Point Road, Dundalk, MD 21222 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Tuesday, February 6th at which time the EPA will explain the benefits and entertain questions from the community on the proposed cleanup strategy that will remove legacy pollution of hazardous materials from the Bear Creek Superfund site. A public comment period for the Bear Creek cleanup plan is currently open until March 10, 2024. To find more information about the public comment period and to read the cleanup plan, please visit: www.epa.gov/superfund/Bearcreek.
Bear Creek is a tidal surface water body adjacent to the 3,100-acre Sparrows Point peninsula, which was the site of steelmaking and ship building industries. The Bethlehem Steel Corporation (BSC) was the primary owner and operator for much of the Sparrows Point operational history, and sediments in Bear Creek were contaminated primarily by the migration of hazardous substances from the steel making process and the wastewater discharges from process wastewater and stormwater that discharged to Bear Creek.
EPA’s proposed cleanup plan will include removing contaminated soil from the near-shore areas and disposing of it at an approved off-site facility. Contaminated soil farther from shore will be capped to contain the contamination and prevent it from polluting the water.
Visit the EPA website to learn more about the agency’s environmental justice efforts.
Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Visits Minnesota to Highlight Biden-Harris Administration’s Investments in Clean Energy Infrastructure in Rural America
St. Charles, Minnesota, February 1, 2024 – Today, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack visited St. Charles, Minnesota, where he highlighted the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to lower energy costs, generate new income and create jobs in rural communities. These investments – combined with historic funding for rural America under President Biden’s Investing in America agenda – ensure that rural Americans have the fullest opportunity to find success in their hometowns.
EPA Region 7 Presents $458K Check to Cornerstones of Care for Brownfields Job Training Grant in KCMO
EPA Region 7 Administrator Meg McCollister (right) presents a $458,358 check to Cornerstones of Care President and CEO Merideth Rose and Build Trybe Director Theo Bunch during a ceremony in Kansas City, Missouri, on Feb. 1, 2024. (Photo by U.S. EPA)LENEXA, KAN. (FEB. 1, 2024) – Today, EPA Region 7 Administrator Meg McCollister presented a $458,358 ceremonial check to Cornerstones of Care for a Brownfields Job Training Grant.
McCollister joined Cornerstones of Care President and CEO Merideth Rose and Build Trybe Director Theo Bunch at the Kansas City, Missouri, ceremony.
Through its Build Trybe training program, Cornerstones of Care plans to train 50 students and place at least 25 in environmental jobs. Their training program includes 180 hours of instruction with 40 Hours of Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER), Eco-Community Build Action, Forestry Restoration, Landscape Restoration, Environmental Data Analysis, Eco-Community Build Engagement, Conservation Job Readiness, and General Industry. Students who complete the training will earn up to two federal certifications.
“The Brownfields Job Training Program is a life-changing experience for students, providing the skills, certifications, and experience necessary to gain meaningful employment,” McCollister said. “This program is a win-win for the Kansas City area, as graduates will not only gain employment, but go to work cleaning up their own neighborhoods where they live, work, and raise families.”
“Developing marketable skills is crucial as young people transition into adulthood,” Rose said. “Through this EPA grant, Build Trybe will provide those marketable skills while benefitting our environment.”
“As President Biden continues the important work of revitalizing communities nationwide through his Investing in America Agenda, he isn’t just creating good-paying green jobs, he’s training the next generation of environmental leaders to help fill them,” said U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver II (MO-5). “I’m proud to have supported President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which made this grant funding possible, and I’ll continue working with the Biden Administration to bring these investments back to Missouri’s Fifth District, clean up our communities, and create local jobs in the process!”
Cornerstones of Care partners with children, young adults, and families to improve safety and health through three key service areas: youth and family support, foster care and adoption, and education and training. Cornerstones of Care is dedicated to helping children and families wherever they are. Their team provides in-home and in-community services throughout the region.
The Build Trybe utilizes a mentorship community that builds health and independence and empowers youth with employable skills. It bridges youth who lack a stable support system to opportunity. Their team of trade experts and community partners introduce and connect youth to three skill-based career paths: culinary, construction, and horticulture (includes brownfields job training).
These grants will provide funding to organizations working to create a skilled workforce in communities where assessment, cleanup, and preparation of brownfield sites for reuse activities are taking place. Individuals completing a job training program funded by EPA often overcome various barriers to employment, and many are from historically underserved neighborhoods or reside in areas that are affected by environmental justice issues.
High-quality job training and workforce development are essential to the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to advancing economic opportunities and addressing environmental justice issues in underserved communities. All of the selected FY 2024 Brownfields Job Training Program applications have proposed to work in areas that include disadvantaged communities, as defined by the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool, delivering on President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to deliver at least 40% of the benefits of certain government investments to underserved and overburdened communities.
For more information on the selected Brownfields Job Training Grant recipients, including past recipients, check out EPA’s Brownfields Grant Fact Sheet Tool.
Learn more about this and other types of Brownfields Grants.
# # #
Learn more about EPA Region 7
View all Region 7 news releases
Connect with EPA Region 7 on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter: @EPARegion7
McCollister joined Cornerstones of Care President and CEO Merideth Rose and Build Trybe Director Theo Bunch at the Kansas City, Missouri, ceremony.
Through its Build Trybe training program, Cornerstones of Care plans to train 50 students and place at least 25 in environmental jobs. Their training program includes 180 hours of instruction with 40 Hours of Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER), Eco-Community Build Action, Forestry Restoration, Landscape Restoration, Environmental Data Analysis, Eco-Community Build Engagement, Conservation Job Readiness, and General Industry. Students who complete the training will earn up to two federal certifications.
“The Brownfields Job Training Program is a life-changing experience for students, providing the skills, certifications, and experience necessary to gain meaningful employment,” McCollister said. “This program is a win-win for the Kansas City area, as graduates will not only gain employment, but go to work cleaning up their own neighborhoods where they live, work, and raise families.”
“Developing marketable skills is crucial as young people transition into adulthood,” Rose said. “Through this EPA grant, Build Trybe will provide those marketable skills while benefitting our environment.”
“As President Biden continues the important work of revitalizing communities nationwide through his Investing in America Agenda, he isn’t just creating good-paying green jobs, he’s training the next generation of environmental leaders to help fill them,” said U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver II (MO-5). “I’m proud to have supported President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which made this grant funding possible, and I’ll continue working with the Biden Administration to bring these investments back to Missouri’s Fifth District, clean up our communities, and create local jobs in the process!”
Cornerstones of Care partners with children, young adults, and families to improve safety and health through three key service areas: youth and family support, foster care and adoption, and education and training. Cornerstones of Care is dedicated to helping children and families wherever they are. Their team provides in-home and in-community services throughout the region.
The Build Trybe utilizes a mentorship community that builds health and independence and empowers youth with employable skills. It bridges youth who lack a stable support system to opportunity. Their team of trade experts and community partners introduce and connect youth to three skill-based career paths: culinary, construction, and horticulture (includes brownfields job training).
These grants will provide funding to organizations working to create a skilled workforce in communities where assessment, cleanup, and preparation of brownfield sites for reuse activities are taking place. Individuals completing a job training program funded by EPA often overcome various barriers to employment, and many are from historically underserved neighborhoods or reside in areas that are affected by environmental justice issues.
High-quality job training and workforce development are essential to the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to advancing economic opportunities and addressing environmental justice issues in underserved communities. All of the selected FY 2024 Brownfields Job Training Program applications have proposed to work in areas that include disadvantaged communities, as defined by the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool, delivering on President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to deliver at least 40% of the benefits of certain government investments to underserved and overburdened communities.
For more information on the selected Brownfields Job Training Grant recipients, including past recipients, check out EPA’s Brownfields Grant Fact Sheet Tool.
Learn more about this and other types of Brownfields Grants.
# # #
Learn more about EPA Region 7
View all Region 7 news releases
Connect with EPA Region 7 on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter: @EPARegion7
EPA announces inaugural Artist-in-Residence Program in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts
BOSTON (Feb. 1, 2024) — The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox announced on Tuesday EPA's inaugural Artist-in-Residence Program in collaboration with the National Endowment for the Arts. Assistant Administrator Fox made the announcement at Healing, Bridging, Thriving: A Summit on Arts and Culture in our Communities, which was co-hosted by the White House and National Endowment for the Arts to recognize the profound impact that arts and culture play in shaping our lives, communities and nation.
By launching this program, EPA is investing in arts and culture to boost engagement, awareness and participation in critical water challenges ranging from aging infrastructure to climate impacts like flooding and storm surge to investment in safe drinking water. The Mystic River Watershed Urban Waters Federal Partnership and Massachusetts Bays National Estuary Partnership is one of the six chosen locations to participate in this first-of-its-kind program.
"Across America, EPA is working hand-in-hand with local partners to ensure drinking water is safe, and to restore and maintain oceans, watersheds and their aquatic ecosystems. Incorporating arts and cultural strategies into our work can reveal new ideas, unlock opportunities, and help us find new and enduring solutions to pressing water challenges," said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox. "Through this partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, local water leaders from the Puget Sound—to the San Juan Estuary—to the Delaware River watershed, will have new tools and resources to support water restoration and climate resilience."
"This new program spotlights the environmental connection to the arts and culture; it will bring greater awareness of unique challenges posed by climate impacts to our communities, especially those that are overburdened disproportionately." said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "We are thrilled that our region has been selected to have an Artist-in-Residence, via our partnerships with MassBays and MyRWA, and by doing so will empower our communities to use their voices and get active, and will reach and inspire future generations and leaders for environmental protection."
"This project will help connect communities to their rivers and estuaries – where the rivers meet the sea – in a whole new way. MassBays is thrilled to partner with the Mystic River Watershed Association and EPA to make it happen." said Pam DiBona, Director of the Massachusetts Bays National Estuary Partnership.
"As the most urban watershed in New England, it is so important to connect people with nature in their backyard," said Daria Clark, MyRWA Engagement Manager. "The opportunity to work with an Artist-in-Residence on community co-created projects is an exciting way to bring nature to the forefront of our cities and to spark conversation about the watershed ecosystem that we're a part of."
Water is essential, yet the water challenges faced today are pervasive and mounting. Many communities suffer from poor water quality, too much or too little water, and aging water infrastructure that is in urgent need of replacement. Overburdened water systems are further stressed by climate change—unpredictable weather, sea level rise and flooding. These challenges require engagement at every level. Water leaders are increasingly turning to artists and culture bearers to help bring visibility to water issues, create more inclusive planning processes, and leverage infrastructure investments to provide additional benefits to the communities they serve. EPA is establishing an Artist-in-Residence program to continue and expand these efforts in the water sector. In 2024, EPA will support artists and culture bearers in six long-standing National Estuary Program (NEP) and Urban Waters Federal Partnership locations that are doing critical work on water restoration and climate resilience.
"I believe that the integration of arts and culture can help to strengthen many aspects of our lives and communities, which is why I'm excited by the Environmental Protection Agency's artist in residence program," said Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD, chair of the National Endowment for the Arts. "This is an opportunity for EPA to deepen its community engagement while also expanding an understanding of how artists can contribute to multiple sectors."
EPA's Artist-in-Residence Initiative was developed in response to President Biden's Executive Order on Arts and Humanities, designed to spur investment and alignment of arts and culture across the federal government, make art more accessible to people from underserved communities, elevate new voices through the arts and humanities, and expand opportunities for artists and scholars.
EPA's inaugural Artist-in-Residence program will focus on opportunities to advance the goals of the National Estuary Program and the Urban Waters Federal Partnership, long standing programs that have restored and protected treasured water bodies across America.
The six locations that will participate in the program include:
The Passaic River and Bronx and Harlem River Urban Waters Federal Partnerships: New York-New Jersey Harbor and Estuary Program
The San Juan Estuary Partnership
The Greater Philadelphia Area/Delaware River Watershed Urban Waters Federal Partnership: Partnership for the Delaware Estuary
The Green-Duwamish Watershed Urban Waters Federal Partnership: Puget Sound Partnership
The Middle Rio Grande/Albuquerque Urban Waters Federal Partnership
The Mystic River Watershed Urban Waters Federal Partnership: Massachusetts Bays National Estuary Partnership
Public and community engagement, outreach, and education are vital components of both the NEP and Urban Waters programs. Incorporating arts and cultural strategies into EPA's place-based programs will support innovative approaches and create lasting impact.
By launching this program, EPA is investing in arts and culture to boost engagement, awareness and participation in critical water challenges ranging from aging infrastructure to climate impacts like flooding and storm surge to investment in safe drinking water. The Mystic River Watershed Urban Waters Federal Partnership and Massachusetts Bays National Estuary Partnership is one of the six chosen locations to participate in this first-of-its-kind program.
"Across America, EPA is working hand-in-hand with local partners to ensure drinking water is safe, and to restore and maintain oceans, watersheds and their aquatic ecosystems. Incorporating arts and cultural strategies into our work can reveal new ideas, unlock opportunities, and help us find new and enduring solutions to pressing water challenges," said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox. "Through this partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, local water leaders from the Puget Sound—to the San Juan Estuary—to the Delaware River watershed, will have new tools and resources to support water restoration and climate resilience."
"This new program spotlights the environmental connection to the arts and culture; it will bring greater awareness of unique challenges posed by climate impacts to our communities, especially those that are overburdened disproportionately." said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "We are thrilled that our region has been selected to have an Artist-in-Residence, via our partnerships with MassBays and MyRWA, and by doing so will empower our communities to use their voices and get active, and will reach and inspire future generations and leaders for environmental protection."
"This project will help connect communities to their rivers and estuaries – where the rivers meet the sea – in a whole new way. MassBays is thrilled to partner with the Mystic River Watershed Association and EPA to make it happen." said Pam DiBona, Director of the Massachusetts Bays National Estuary Partnership.
"As the most urban watershed in New England, it is so important to connect people with nature in their backyard," said Daria Clark, MyRWA Engagement Manager. "The opportunity to work with an Artist-in-Residence on community co-created projects is an exciting way to bring nature to the forefront of our cities and to spark conversation about the watershed ecosystem that we're a part of."
Water is essential, yet the water challenges faced today are pervasive and mounting. Many communities suffer from poor water quality, too much or too little water, and aging water infrastructure that is in urgent need of replacement. Overburdened water systems are further stressed by climate change—unpredictable weather, sea level rise and flooding. These challenges require engagement at every level. Water leaders are increasingly turning to artists and culture bearers to help bring visibility to water issues, create more inclusive planning processes, and leverage infrastructure investments to provide additional benefits to the communities they serve. EPA is establishing an Artist-in-Residence program to continue and expand these efforts in the water sector. In 2024, EPA will support artists and culture bearers in six long-standing National Estuary Program (NEP) and Urban Waters Federal Partnership locations that are doing critical work on water restoration and climate resilience.
"I believe that the integration of arts and culture can help to strengthen many aspects of our lives and communities, which is why I'm excited by the Environmental Protection Agency's artist in residence program," said Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD, chair of the National Endowment for the Arts. "This is an opportunity for EPA to deepen its community engagement while also expanding an understanding of how artists can contribute to multiple sectors."
EPA's Artist-in-Residence Initiative was developed in response to President Biden's Executive Order on Arts and Humanities, designed to spur investment and alignment of arts and culture across the federal government, make art more accessible to people from underserved communities, elevate new voices through the arts and humanities, and expand opportunities for artists and scholars.
EPA's inaugural Artist-in-Residence program will focus on opportunities to advance the goals of the National Estuary Program and the Urban Waters Federal Partnership, long standing programs that have restored and protected treasured water bodies across America.
The six locations that will participate in the program include:
The Passaic River and Bronx and Harlem River Urban Waters Federal Partnerships: New York-New Jersey Harbor and Estuary Program
The San Juan Estuary Partnership
The Greater Philadelphia Area/Delaware River Watershed Urban Waters Federal Partnership: Partnership for the Delaware Estuary
The Green-Duwamish Watershed Urban Waters Federal Partnership: Puget Sound Partnership
The Middle Rio Grande/Albuquerque Urban Waters Federal Partnership
The Mystic River Watershed Urban Waters Federal Partnership: Massachusetts Bays National Estuary Partnership
Public and community engagement, outreach, and education are vital components of both the NEP and Urban Waters programs. Incorporating arts and cultural strategies into EPA's place-based programs will support innovative approaches and create lasting impact.
EPA announces first ENERGY STAR certified vehicle dealerships
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is recognizing eight vehicle dealerships for being the first to earn EPA’s ENERGY STAR certification for superior energy performance. Vehicle dealerships that earn the ENERGY STAR use significantly less energy — and contribute fewer greenhouse gas emissions — than their peers.
“Reducing energy use in commercial buildings is an essential part of the transition to a clean energy economy,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “I congratulate these businesses for demonstrating the power of energy efficiency to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in a cost-effective way at auto dealerships across the country.”
The first vehicle dealerships to earn EPA’s ENERGY STAR certification are:
Acura of Sherman Oaks, Sherman Oaks, California
Brandfon Honda, Branford, Connecticut
Coggin Honda Orlando, Orlando, Florida
DCH Tustin Acura, Tustin, California
Island Honda, Kahului, Hawaii
Marin Acura, Corte Madera, California
Thayer Honda, Bowling Green, Ohio
Ventura Toyota, Ventura, California
To earn the ENERGY STAR, these vehicle dealerships demonstrated that they are more energy efficient than at least 75% of other dealerships across the country. Using EPA’s online ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool, they benchmarked their energy efficiency based on 12 months of utility bills. The resulting 1–100 ENERGY STAR score, adjusted for weather and business activity, gives insight into a dealership’s energy performance. A score of 50 indicates median energy performance. A score of 75 indicates performance better than 75% of similar dealerships nationwide, making that dealership eligible for ENERGY STAR certification. To develop the 1–100 ENERGY STAR score for vehicle dealerships, EPA relied on 2019 data from an industry survey conducted by the National Automobile Dealers Association.
Energy use in commercial and residential buildings accounts for one-third of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. A recent EPA report estimates these same buildings have the potential to cut their emissions by up to 63% by 2030 through a combination of energy efficiency, electrification, and clean energy, enabled by the Inflation Reduction Act.
ENERGY STAR certified buildings use an average of 35% less energy and are responsible for 35% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than typical buildings. To date, nearly 43,000 buildings and plants have earned the ENERGY STAR.
About ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR® is the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency, providing simple, credible, and unbiased information that consumers and businesses rely on to make well-informed decisions. Thousands of industrial, commercial, utility, state, and local organizations rely on their partnership with EPA to deliver cost-saving energy efficiency solutions. Since 1992, ENERGY STAR and its partners 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.
Learn more:
Impacts of EPA’s ENERGY STAR program.
Online registry of ENERGY STAR certified buildings and plants.
“Reducing energy use in commercial buildings is an essential part of the transition to a clean energy economy,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “I congratulate these businesses for demonstrating the power of energy efficiency to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in a cost-effective way at auto dealerships across the country.”
The first vehicle dealerships to earn EPA’s ENERGY STAR certification are:
Acura of Sherman Oaks, Sherman Oaks, California
Brandfon Honda, Branford, Connecticut
Coggin Honda Orlando, Orlando, Florida
DCH Tustin Acura, Tustin, California
Island Honda, Kahului, Hawaii
Marin Acura, Corte Madera, California
Thayer Honda, Bowling Green, Ohio
Ventura Toyota, Ventura, California
To earn the ENERGY STAR, these vehicle dealerships demonstrated that they are more energy efficient than at least 75% of other dealerships across the country. Using EPA’s online ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool, they benchmarked their energy efficiency based on 12 months of utility bills. The resulting 1–100 ENERGY STAR score, adjusted for weather and business activity, gives insight into a dealership’s energy performance. A score of 50 indicates median energy performance. A score of 75 indicates performance better than 75% of similar dealerships nationwide, making that dealership eligible for ENERGY STAR certification. To develop the 1–100 ENERGY STAR score for vehicle dealerships, EPA relied on 2019 data from an industry survey conducted by the National Automobile Dealers Association.
Energy use in commercial and residential buildings accounts for one-third of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. A recent EPA report estimates these same buildings have the potential to cut their emissions by up to 63% by 2030 through a combination of energy efficiency, electrification, and clean energy, enabled by the Inflation Reduction Act.
ENERGY STAR certified buildings use an average of 35% less energy and are responsible for 35% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than typical buildings. To date, nearly 43,000 buildings and plants have earned the ENERGY STAR.
About ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR® is the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency, providing simple, credible, and unbiased information that consumers and businesses rely on to make well-informed decisions. Thousands of industrial, commercial, utility, state, and local organizations rely on their partnership with EPA to deliver cost-saving energy efficiency solutions. Since 1992, ENERGY STAR and its partners 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.
Learn more:
Impacts of EPA’s ENERGY STAR program.
Online registry of ENERGY STAR certified buildings and plants.
EPA to Review Cleanup at Woodstock, Connecticut Superfund Site this Year
BOSTON (Feb. 1, 2024) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will conduct a comprehensive review of completed cleanup work at the Linemaster Switch Corporation National Priorities List (NPL) Superfund site in Woodstock, Connecticut this year.
Each individual site will undergo a legally required Five-Year Review to ensure that previous remediation efforts at the sites continue to protect public health and the environment. Once the Five-Year Review is complete, its findings will be posted to EPA's website in a final report.
"Every step of the process at a Superfund site is critical and reflects a commitment we make with local communities to be as thorough as possible. Cleaning up hazardous waste sites takes extensive time and effort, and these Five-Year Reviews allow EPA to ensure our cleanup efforts continue to protect public health and the environment, while keeping everyone informed and accountable, especially in those communities that have been overburdened by industrial pollution." said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "EPA continues to evaluate these cleanups, with the overarching mission to protect public health and the environment and ensuring that Connecticut communities will continue to be protected."
In 2024 EPA will conduct Five-Year Reviews at the below listed sites. The included web links provide detailed information on site status as well as past assessment and cleanup activity.
Five-Year Reviews of Superfund site in Connecticut to be completed in 2024:
Linemaster Switch Corp., Woodstock
More information:
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 EPA endeavors to facilitate activities to return them to productive use. In total, there are 123 Superfund sites across New England.
Superfund and other cleanup sites in New England (pdf)
(91.4 KB)
EPA's Superfund program
Each individual site will undergo a legally required Five-Year Review to ensure that previous remediation efforts at the sites continue to protect public health and the environment. Once the Five-Year Review is complete, its findings will be posted to EPA's website in a final report.
"Every step of the process at a Superfund site is critical and reflects a commitment we make with local communities to be as thorough as possible. Cleaning up hazardous waste sites takes extensive time and effort, and these Five-Year Reviews allow EPA to ensure our cleanup efforts continue to protect public health and the environment, while keeping everyone informed and accountable, especially in those communities that have been overburdened by industrial pollution." said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "EPA continues to evaluate these cleanups, with the overarching mission to protect public health and the environment and ensuring that Connecticut communities will continue to be protected."
In 2024 EPA will conduct Five-Year Reviews at the below listed sites. The included web links provide detailed information on site status as well as past assessment and cleanup activity.
Five-Year Reviews of Superfund site in Connecticut to be completed in 2024:
Linemaster Switch Corp., Woodstock
More information:
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 EPA endeavors to facilitate activities to return them to productive use. In total, there are 123 Superfund sites across New England.
Superfund and other cleanup sites in New England (pdf)
(91.4 KB)
EPA's Superfund program