EPA announces inaugural Artist-in-Residence Program in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts in New York and New Jersey
NEW YORK - 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 Passaic River and Bronx/Harlem Rivers Urban Waters Federal Partnerships hosted within the New York-New Jersey Harbor and Estuary Program are jointly 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.”
“EPA is proud to engage with our partners in developing innovative ways to link the arts and our precious waters,” said Lisa F. Garcia, Regional Administrator. “New Jersey and New York are centers for the arts of all kinds. This exciting new effort will fuse multiple creative disciplines in highlighting our community’s relationship to our shared waters.”
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 arts are an essential way for people to see and feel their waterways, and can help ensure that communities are engaged in decisions about their future” said Robert Pirani, Director of the New York – New Jersey Harbor & Estuary Program. “We are thrilled to be working with EPA, NEA, and our local collaborators in the Bronx & Harlem and the Lower Passaic Urban Waters Federal Partnerships to make these pilot projects happen.”
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.
Follow EPA Region 2 on X and visit our Facebook page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.
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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 Passaic River and Bronx/Harlem Rivers Urban Waters Federal Partnerships hosted within the New York-New Jersey Harbor and Estuary Program are jointly 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.”
“EPA is proud to engage with our partners in developing innovative ways to link the arts and our precious waters,” said Lisa F. Garcia, Regional Administrator. “New Jersey and New York are centers for the arts of all kinds. This exciting new effort will fuse multiple creative disciplines in highlighting our community’s relationship to our shared waters.”
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 arts are an essential way for people to see and feel their waterways, and can help ensure that communities are engaged in decisions about their future” said Robert Pirani, Director of the New York – New Jersey Harbor & Estuary Program. “We are thrilled to be working with EPA, NEA, and our local collaborators in the Bronx & Harlem and the Lower Passaic Urban Waters Federal Partnerships to make these pilot projects happen.”
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.
Follow EPA Region 2 on X and visit our Facebook page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.
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EPA Region 7 Invites Public to Attend Virtual Environmental Justice Community Stakeholder Meeting
LENEXA, KAN. (JAN. 31, 2024) – EPA Region 7’s Environmental Justice (EJ) Program invites the public to join a new quarterly Community Stakeholder Meeting that is open to all community members in Region 7, which includes Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and nine tribal nations.
EPA will hold the virtual meeting on Thursday, Feb. 22, from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Environmental justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.
During this meeting, EPA officials will provide information on:
EJ Implementation Plan
Meaningful Involvement Policy
Policy on Consultation with Indian Tribes
Environmental and Climate Justice Grant Programs
Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center (TCTAC)/Heartland Environmental Justice Center
The outreach event will also allow attendees to speak with EJ program staff and ask questions, highlight concerns, and learn more about EJ program updates. Hearing from community members will help EPA better understand and more effectively serve local communities. This meeting will also provide an opportunity to network with other community members and organizations engaged in similar work.
EPA staff may not be able to answer all questions during the virtual meeting, but we will track questions and refer them to the most appropriate subject matter expert within EPA Region 7. Spanish-language interpretation and other interpretive services may be provided if requested during the registration process through the link below.
Register to attend the meeting here.
Individuals are encouraged to submit suggested topics of discussion or questions, at any time, to R7-EJ-Stakeholders@epa.gov.
For any other questions, please call EPA Region 7’s customer service line at 1-800-223-0425 and ask for Monica Espinosa.
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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 will hold the virtual meeting on Thursday, Feb. 22, from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Environmental justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.
During this meeting, EPA officials will provide information on:
EJ Implementation Plan
Meaningful Involvement Policy
Policy on Consultation with Indian Tribes
Environmental and Climate Justice Grant Programs
Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center (TCTAC)/Heartland Environmental Justice Center
The outreach event will also allow attendees to speak with EJ program staff and ask questions, highlight concerns, and learn more about EJ program updates. Hearing from community members will help EPA better understand and more effectively serve local communities. This meeting will also provide an opportunity to network with other community members and organizations engaged in similar work.
EPA staff may not be able to answer all questions during the virtual meeting, but we will track questions and refer them to the most appropriate subject matter expert within EPA Region 7. Spanish-language interpretation and other interpretive services may be provided if requested during the registration process through the link below.
Register to attend the meeting here.
Individuals are encouraged to submit suggested topics of discussion or questions, at any time, to R7-EJ-Stakeholders@epa.gov.
For any other questions, please call EPA Region 7’s customer service line at 1-800-223-0425 and ask for Monica Espinosa.
# # #
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 Launches “Be EPA” Recruitment Week: New Video Aims to Expand and Diversify Environmental Workforce and Inspire Next Generation of Environmental Leaders
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the launch of “Be EPA” Recruitment Week and new recruitment video, a dynamic recruitment campaign designed to inspire and attract the next generation of environmental professionals.
EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan kicked off the campaign with a video message for all who care about protecting health and the environment.“EPA’s mission is not just a responsibility; it’s a sacred duty to our planet and future generations. In 2024, we’re setting a new benchmark. Our aim is to bring on board more than 1,000 new employees, including 350 interns, to tackle some of the most pressing environmental issues of our time,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “From scientists to writers to program managers, we’re hiring for roles that reflect our commitment to expanding and diversifying the environmental workforce. Today, I am calling on the innovators, the visionaries, the changemakers to join us in this crucial fight to protect people and the planet here at EPA.”
Focus on Youth and Diversity
EPA’s plan includes a substantial increase in internship opportunities. Doubling our intern intake is just the beginning. We’re looking for young, energetic minds to infuse new ideas and perspectives into our work. The agency emphasizes the recruitment of graduates from diverse backgrounds, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other minority-serving institutions, to build a workforce reflective of America’s diverse population.
Hiring Webinar and Recruitment Drive
A key element of the campaign is EPA’s hiring webinar on Feb. 7, 2024, facilitated by Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe, designed to demystify the federal hiring process, and highlight the array of career paths within EPA. The agency is also conducting a nationwide recruitment drive, targeting colleges, universities, and professional networks.
EPA’s Mission and Impact
The “Be EPA” campaign supports EPA’s critical role in implementing President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act. These laws charge EPA with unprecedented resources and opportunities to advance environmental justice, climate action, and sustainable infrastructure. EPA’s ongoing projects under the laws include initiatives in greenhouse gas reduction, pollution control, and renewable energy development.
This campaign reinforces EPA’s long-standing commitment to environmental leadership. The agency’s staff, recognized globally for their contributions, continue to push the boundaries of environmental science and policy. The “Be EPA” campaign is a testament to this enduring legacy, inviting dedicated individuals to be part of a significant environmental mission.
About the Environmental Protection Agency
For more than 50 years, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has been at the forefront of environmental science, research, and education, committed to safeguarding human health and the environment. Learn more about EPA, the “Be EPA” campaign, and EPA Careers.
EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan kicked off the campaign with a video message for all who care about protecting health and the environment.“EPA’s mission is not just a responsibility; it’s a sacred duty to our planet and future generations. In 2024, we’re setting a new benchmark. Our aim is to bring on board more than 1,000 new employees, including 350 interns, to tackle some of the most pressing environmental issues of our time,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “From scientists to writers to program managers, we’re hiring for roles that reflect our commitment to expanding and diversifying the environmental workforce. Today, I am calling on the innovators, the visionaries, the changemakers to join us in this crucial fight to protect people and the planet here at EPA.”
Focus on Youth and Diversity
EPA’s plan includes a substantial increase in internship opportunities. Doubling our intern intake is just the beginning. We’re looking for young, energetic minds to infuse new ideas and perspectives into our work. The agency emphasizes the recruitment of graduates from diverse backgrounds, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other minority-serving institutions, to build a workforce reflective of America’s diverse population.
Hiring Webinar and Recruitment Drive
A key element of the campaign is EPA’s hiring webinar on Feb. 7, 2024, facilitated by Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe, designed to demystify the federal hiring process, and highlight the array of career paths within EPA. The agency is also conducting a nationwide recruitment drive, targeting colleges, universities, and professional networks.
EPA’s Mission and Impact
The “Be EPA” campaign supports EPA’s critical role in implementing President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act. These laws charge EPA with unprecedented resources and opportunities to advance environmental justice, climate action, and sustainable infrastructure. EPA’s ongoing projects under the laws include initiatives in greenhouse gas reduction, pollution control, and renewable energy development.
This campaign reinforces EPA’s long-standing commitment to environmental leadership. The agency’s staff, recognized globally for their contributions, continue to push the boundaries of environmental science and policy. The “Be EPA” campaign is a testament to this enduring legacy, inviting dedicated individuals to be part of a significant environmental mission.
About the Environmental Protection Agency
For more than 50 years, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has been at the forefront of environmental science, research, and education, committed to safeguarding human health and the environment. Learn more about EPA, the “Be EPA” campaign, and EPA Careers.
City of Lynnwood pays $550,259 penalty for federal Clean Air Act violations
The United States Environmental Protection Agency announced today that the City of Lynnwood, Washington agreed to pay a penalty of $550,259 for violating the Clean Air Act at its wastewater treatment plant on 76th Avenue West.
Performance test results conducted by the city showed that, starting in 2020, the city’s sewage sludge incinerator was intermittently exceeding emission limits for particulate matter, carbon monoxide and hydrogen chloride, a hazardous air pollutant. EPA found that Lynnwood failed to adhere to federal requirements for conducting the source tests.
“The City of Lynnwood’s decision to use incineration to manage its domestic sewage sludge came with the responsibility to adhere strictly to the rules designed to reduce air pollutants and protect people’s health,” said Ed Kowalski, Director of EPA’s Region 10 Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division. “The city failed to meet that responsibility, committing significant Clean Air Act violations and earning significant penalties.”
EPA also found that the city failed to meet requirements for operating the incinerator, such as the requirement to run the incinerator at the proper temperature or maintain a specific minimum pH. These failures reduced the effectiveness of pollution reduction devices.
EPA’s penalty order follows its 2023 compliance order directing Lynnwood to come into compliance with Clean Air Act requirements by no later than May 31, 2024.
Performance test results conducted by the city showed that, starting in 2020, the city’s sewage sludge incinerator was intermittently exceeding emission limits for particulate matter, carbon monoxide and hydrogen chloride, a hazardous air pollutant. EPA found that Lynnwood failed to adhere to federal requirements for conducting the source tests.
“The City of Lynnwood’s decision to use incineration to manage its domestic sewage sludge came with the responsibility to adhere strictly to the rules designed to reduce air pollutants and protect people’s health,” said Ed Kowalski, Director of EPA’s Region 10 Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division. “The city failed to meet that responsibility, committing significant Clean Air Act violations and earning significant penalties.”
EPA also found that the city failed to meet requirements for operating the incinerator, such as the requirement to run the incinerator at the proper temperature or maintain a specific minimum pH. These failures reduced the effectiveness of pollution reduction devices.
EPA’s penalty order follows its 2023 compliance order directing Lynnwood to come into compliance with Clean Air Act requirements by no later than May 31, 2024.
La Región 7 de la EPA invita al público a asistir a una reunión virtual de partes interesadas de la comunidad sobre justicia ambiental
LENEXA, KAN. (31 DE ENERO DE 2024) – El Programa de Justicia Ambiental (EJ) de la Región 7 de la EPA invita al público a participar en una nueva reunión trimestral de partes interesadas de la comunidad que está abierta a todos los miembros de la comunidad en la Región 7, que incluye Iowa, Kansas, Misuri, Nebraska y nueve naciones tribales.
La EPA celebrará la reunión virtual el jueves 22 de febrero, de 6:30 a 8 p.m.
La justicia ambiental es el tratamiento igualitario y la participación significativa de todas las personas, sin tener en cuenta la raza, el color, la nacionalidad ni los ingresos, con respecto al desarrollo, la implementación y el cumplimiento de las leyes, reglamentaciones y políticas ambientales.
Durante esta reunión, los funcionarios de la EPA proporcionarán información sobre lo siguiente:
Plan de implementación de EJ
Política de participación significativa
Política de consulta con las tribus indígenas
Programas de subvenciones en materia de justicia ambiental y climática
Centro de Asistencia Técnica para Comunidades Prósperas (TCTAC)/Heartland Environmental Justice Center
El evento de difusión también permitirá a los asistentes hablar con el personal del programa de EJ y formular preguntas, hacer hincapié en sus preocupaciones y obtener más información sobre las actualizaciones del programa de EJ. Escuchar a los miembros de la comunidad ayudará a la EPA a comprender mejor y ayudar más eficazmente a las comunidades locales. Esta reunión también brindará la oportunidad de establecer contactos con otros miembros de la comunidad y organizaciones que realizan un trabajo similar.
Es posible que el personal de la EPA no pueda responder a todas las preguntas durante la reunión virtual, pero haremos un seguimiento de las preguntas y las remitiremos al experto en la materia más adecuado dentro de la Región 7 de la EPA. Se ofrecerán servicios de interpretación al español y otros servicios de interpretación si se solicitan durante el proceso de inscripción a través del siguiente enlace.
Inscríbase para asistir a la reunión en: https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1613197500.
Se anima a las personas a enviar sugerencias de temas de debate o preguntas, en cualquier momento, a R7-EJ-Stakeholders@epa.gov.
Si tiene alguna otra pregunta, llame a la línea de atención al cliente de la Región 7 de la EPA al 1-800-223-0425 y pregunte por Monica Espinosa.
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Obtenga más información sobre la Región 7 de la EPA
La EPA celebrará la reunión virtual el jueves 22 de febrero, de 6:30 a 8 p.m.
La justicia ambiental es el tratamiento igualitario y la participación significativa de todas las personas, sin tener en cuenta la raza, el color, la nacionalidad ni los ingresos, con respecto al desarrollo, la implementación y el cumplimiento de las leyes, reglamentaciones y políticas ambientales.
Durante esta reunión, los funcionarios de la EPA proporcionarán información sobre lo siguiente:
Plan de implementación de EJ
Política de participación significativa
Política de consulta con las tribus indígenas
Programas de subvenciones en materia de justicia ambiental y climática
Centro de Asistencia Técnica para Comunidades Prósperas (TCTAC)/Heartland Environmental Justice Center
El evento de difusión también permitirá a los asistentes hablar con el personal del programa de EJ y formular preguntas, hacer hincapié en sus preocupaciones y obtener más información sobre las actualizaciones del programa de EJ. Escuchar a los miembros de la comunidad ayudará a la EPA a comprender mejor y ayudar más eficazmente a las comunidades locales. Esta reunión también brindará la oportunidad de establecer contactos con otros miembros de la comunidad y organizaciones que realizan un trabajo similar.
Es posible que el personal de la EPA no pueda responder a todas las preguntas durante la reunión virtual, pero haremos un seguimiento de las preguntas y las remitiremos al experto en la materia más adecuado dentro de la Región 7 de la EPA. Se ofrecerán servicios de interpretación al español y otros servicios de interpretación si se solicitan durante el proceso de inscripción a través del siguiente enlace.
Inscríbase para asistir a la reunión en: https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1613197500.
Se anima a las personas a enviar sugerencias de temas de debate o preguntas, en cualquier momento, a R7-EJ-Stakeholders@epa.gov.
Si tiene alguna otra pregunta, llame a la línea de atención al cliente de la Región 7 de la EPA al 1-800-223-0425 y pregunte por Monica Espinosa.
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Obtenga más información sobre la Región 7 de la EPA
QB 24-507 2024 Solar Cells and Modules
Commodity:
Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic (CSPV) Cells and Modules as specified in Presidential Proclamation 10339 of February 4, 2022.
Quota Period for CSPV Cells:
February 7, 2024, through February 6, 2025.
Restraint Level:
For CSPV cells,…
Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic (CSPV) Cells and Modules as specified in Presidential Proclamation 10339 of February 4, 2022.
Quota Period for CSPV Cells:
February 7, 2024, through February 6, 2025.
Restraint Level:
For CSPV cells,…
Public comment period opens on draft permit to bring the largest offshore wind farm project to Virginia’s coast
PHILADELPHIA (Jan. 30, 2024) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the opening of a 30-day public comment period on Jan. 29 for a draft Clean Air Act Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) air quality permit for Dominion Energy’s Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Commercial project located off the coast of Virginia Beach, Virginia.
EPA is seeking public comments on the draft permit, which proposes to authorize the construction and operation of the largest offshore wind project in the U.S., featuring up to 176 wind turbines located 26 to 38 nautical miles from the coast.
“This project alone will generate roughly 2,640 megawatts of renewable energy, enough to power 660,000 homes, and will make significant contributions to the Biden-Harris administration's goal of generating 30 gigawatts of clean, abundant energy from offshore wind by 2030,” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. “EPA plays a significant role in safeguarding our environment while enabling clean energy initiatives that build a sustainable future for the Mid-Atlantic Region.”
EPA's role is in concert with other federal agencies for the project, including the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management's role in issuing a Record of Decision. The draft OCS air permit includes requirements for the prevention of significant deterioration (PSD) permitting program. It also includes applicable Virginia Department of Environmental Quality regulations.
The draft permit, if finalized, will regulate air pollutants from the construction and operation of the wind farm. The draft permit includes pollutant limits for offshore air emissions only and includes air emission standards for all vessels used to construct and support the project while the vessels are within 25 nautical miles of the OCS source’s centroid.
The public comment deadline is Feb. 28.
The proposed permit, fact sheet, and all supporting materials are available for review on the Regulations.gov website.
Information about the permit and virtual public hearing can also be found here.
Visit the EPA website to learn more about Clean Air Act Permitting.
EPA is seeking public comments on the draft permit, which proposes to authorize the construction and operation of the largest offshore wind project in the U.S., featuring up to 176 wind turbines located 26 to 38 nautical miles from the coast.
“This project alone will generate roughly 2,640 megawatts of renewable energy, enough to power 660,000 homes, and will make significant contributions to the Biden-Harris administration's goal of generating 30 gigawatts of clean, abundant energy from offshore wind by 2030,” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. “EPA plays a significant role in safeguarding our environment while enabling clean energy initiatives that build a sustainable future for the Mid-Atlantic Region.”
EPA's role is in concert with other federal agencies for the project, including the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management's role in issuing a Record of Decision. The draft OCS air permit includes requirements for the prevention of significant deterioration (PSD) permitting program. It also includes applicable Virginia Department of Environmental Quality regulations.
The draft permit, if finalized, will regulate air pollutants from the construction and operation of the wind farm. The draft permit includes pollutant limits for offshore air emissions only and includes air emission standards for all vessels used to construct and support the project while the vessels are within 25 nautical miles of the OCS source’s centroid.
The public comment deadline is Feb. 28.
The proposed permit, fact sheet, and all supporting materials are available for review on the Regulations.gov website.
Information about the permit and virtual public hearing can also be found here.
Visit the EPA website to learn more about Clean Air Act Permitting.
EPA develops 6PPD-q water testing method for widespread use
SEATTLE (January 30, 2024) - On the heels of its November 2023 commitment to gather information on the common tire additive 6PPD -- and its chemical by-product 6PPD-quinone – that could be used to inform a subsequent regulatory action, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today the publication of a draft testing method (EPA Method 1634) that will enable government agencies, Tribes, and other groups to determine where and when 6PPD-quinone is present in local stormwater and surface waters. The 6PPD-quinone draft method is now available at https://www.epa.gov/cwa-methods.
“We heard from the Tribes and other governmental agencies that one of the highest priorities for the agency should be the rapid development of a test for 6PPD-quinone,” said Casey Sixkiller, Regional Administrator of the agency’s Region 10 office in Seattle. “In what seems like lightspeed, the agency has delivered. The faster we can identify where problems exist, the faster we can correct them. I’m quite proud of our team.”
Used for more than six decades in tires, 6PPD is also found in other rubber products such as footwear, synthetic turf infill, and synthetic playground surfaces. 6PPD reacts with ozone in the air to form 6PPD-quinone, which EPA-funded research in 2020 found to be linked to the deaths of coho salmon in urban Puget Sound streams. Exposures occur when runoff containing the chemical is washed from parking lots and streets into streams and other bodies of water.
The agency is funding several research initiatives to fill data gaps on 6PPD-quinone, including the development of an analytical method.
Widespread availability of a draft EPA analytical method for 6PPD-quinone provides tribes and local governments with an important tool for better understanding stormwater and surface water quality, to inform how and where to put in place protections for sensitive salmon, trout, and other aquatic life from potentially dangerous runoff. The agency’s draft testing method is available for use now.
Additional research
EPA is continuing to fund and conduct research activities to expand its understanding of the impacts of 6PPD-quinone, and to fill data gaps. For instance:
The agency’s Office of Research and Development is investigating fate and transport of the chemicals in air and water, ecotoxicity, mitigation strategies including green infrastructure solutions for stormwater contamination, and measurement development research for multiple media (e.g., air and sediment).
EPA’s Office of Water is developing draft screening values for 6PPD-quinone and 6PPD in water that are protective of sensitive salmon and other aquatic life; the values can be used by many parties to evaluate monitoring results, and Tribes and states could also consider using the values in their water quality protection programs.
The agency is also coordinating with the National Science and Technology Council’s Joint Subcommittee on Environment, Innovation and Public Health on potential cross-governmental research on human health effects of 6PPD-quinone.
To learn more, visit EPA’s new 6PPD-quinone webpage developed to keep the public and stakeholders updated as research progresses, alternatives to 6PPD are identified, and ways to mitigate the effects of 6PPD-quinone on the environment are implemented.
“We heard from the Tribes and other governmental agencies that one of the highest priorities for the agency should be the rapid development of a test for 6PPD-quinone,” said Casey Sixkiller, Regional Administrator of the agency’s Region 10 office in Seattle. “In what seems like lightspeed, the agency has delivered. The faster we can identify where problems exist, the faster we can correct them. I’m quite proud of our team.”
Used for more than six decades in tires, 6PPD is also found in other rubber products such as footwear, synthetic turf infill, and synthetic playground surfaces. 6PPD reacts with ozone in the air to form 6PPD-quinone, which EPA-funded research in 2020 found to be linked to the deaths of coho salmon in urban Puget Sound streams. Exposures occur when runoff containing the chemical is washed from parking lots and streets into streams and other bodies of water.
The agency is funding several research initiatives to fill data gaps on 6PPD-quinone, including the development of an analytical method.
Widespread availability of a draft EPA analytical method for 6PPD-quinone provides tribes and local governments with an important tool for better understanding stormwater and surface water quality, to inform how and where to put in place protections for sensitive salmon, trout, and other aquatic life from potentially dangerous runoff. The agency’s draft testing method is available for use now.
Additional research
EPA is continuing to fund and conduct research activities to expand its understanding of the impacts of 6PPD-quinone, and to fill data gaps. For instance:
The agency’s Office of Research and Development is investigating fate and transport of the chemicals in air and water, ecotoxicity, mitigation strategies including green infrastructure solutions for stormwater contamination, and measurement development research for multiple media (e.g., air and sediment).
EPA’s Office of Water is developing draft screening values for 6PPD-quinone and 6PPD in water that are protective of sensitive salmon and other aquatic life; the values can be used by many parties to evaluate monitoring results, and Tribes and states could also consider using the values in their water quality protection programs.
The agency is also coordinating with the National Science and Technology Council’s Joint Subcommittee on Environment, Innovation and Public Health on potential cross-governmental research on human health effects of 6PPD-quinone.
To learn more, visit EPA’s new 6PPD-quinone webpage developed to keep the public and stakeholders updated as research progresses, alternatives to 6PPD are identified, and ways to mitigate the effects of 6PPD-quinone on the environment are implemented.