La EPA anuncia el primer Programa de Artistas en Residencia en asociación con el Fondo Nacional para las Artes
WASHINGTON — La administradora adjunta para el agua de la Agencia de Protección Ambiental (EPA, por sus siglas en inglés), Radhika Fox, anunció el martes el Programa Inaugural de Artistas en Residencia de la EPA en colaboración con el Fondo Nacional para las Artes. Curar, tender puentes, prosperar: Cumbre sobre las artes y la cultura en nuestras comunidades(en inglés), que fue organizado conjuntamente por la Casa Blanca y el Fondo Nacional para las Artes a fin de reconocer el profundo impacto que tienen las artes y la cultura en la formación de nuestras vidas, comunidades y nación. Con el lanzamiento de este programa, la EPA está invirtiendo en las artes y la cultura para impulsar el compromiso, la concienciación y la participación en los desafíos críticos del agua, que van desde el envejecimiento de la infraestructura hasta los impactos climáticos como inundaciones y marejadas ciclónicas, pasando por la inversión en agua potable segura.
“En todo Estados Unidos, la EPA está trabajando mano a mano con socios locales para garantizar que el agua potable sea segura y para restaurar y mantener los océanos, las cuencas hidrográficas y sus ecosistemas acuáticos. La incorporación de estrategias artísticas y culturales en nuestro trabajo puede revelar nuevas ideas, hacer surgir oportunidades y ayudarnos a encontrar soluciones nuevas y duraderas a los desafíos apremiantes del agua”, comentó Fox, administradora adjunta para el agua de la EPA. “A través de esta asociación con el Fondo Nacional para las Artes, los líderes locales del agua, desde Puget Sound hasta el Estuario de la Bahía de San Juan y la cuenca del río Delaware, tendrán nuevas herramientas y recursos para apoyar la restauración del agua y la resiliencia climática”.
El agua es esencial, pero los desafíos del agua a los que nos enfrentamos hoy en día son generalizados y van en aumento. Muchas comunidades sufren de mala calidad del agua, demasiada o muy poca agua y una infraestructura de agua envejecida que necesita ser reemplazada urgentemente. Los sistemas hídricos sobrecargados se ven aún más afectados por el cambio climático: condiciones meteorológicas impredecibles, aumento del nivel del mar e inundaciones. Estos desafíos requieren compromiso en todos los niveles. Los líderes del agua recurren cada vez más a artistas y portadores de la cultura para ayudar a dar visibilidad a los problemas del agua, crear procesos de planificación más inclusivos y aprovechar las inversiones en infraestructura para ofrecer beneficios adicionales a las comunidades a las que sirven.
La EPA está estableciendo un Programa de Artistas en Residencia para continuar ampliando estos esfuerzos en el sector del agua. En 2024, la EPA apoyará a artistas y portadores de cultura en seis lugares con asociaciones de larga data de Estuarios Nacionales y Aguas Urbanas que están realizando un trabajo crucial en la restauración del agua y la resiliencia climática.
“Creo que la integración de las artes y la cultura puede ayudar a fortalecer muchos aspectos de nuestras vidas y comunidades, por lo que estoy entusiasmada con el programa de artistas en residencia de la Agencia de Protección Ambiental”, señaló María Rosario Jackson, PhD, presidenta del Fondo Nacional para las Artes. “Esta es una oportunidad para que la EPA profundice su participación con la comunidad y, al mismo tiempo, amplíe la comprensión de cómo los artistas pueden contribuir en múltiples sectores”.
La Iniciativa de Artistas en Residencia de la EPA se desarrolló en respuesta a la Orden Ejecutiva sobre las Artes y Humanidades (en inglés) del Presidente Biden, diseñada para estimular la inversión y la alineación de las artes y la cultura en todo el gobierno federal, hacer que el arte sea más accesible para las personas de comunidades desatendidas, elevar nuevas voces a través de las artes y las humanidades, y ampliar las oportunidades para artistas y académicos.
El Programa inaugural de Artistas en Residencia de la EPA se centrará en las oportunidades para avanzar en los objetivos de los programas de larga data del Programa Nacional de Estuarios y de la Asociación Federal de Aguas Urbanas (en inglés) que han restaurado y protegido cuerpos de agua preciados en todo Estados Unidos.
Los seis lugares que participarán en el programa son:
El río Duwamish en Seattle
El río Grande en Nuevo México
El Estuario de la Bahía de San Juan en Puerto Rico
Los ríos Passaic, Bronx y Harlem
La cuenca del río Delaware en la región metropolitana de Filadelfia
La cuenca del río Mystic en Boston
La participación pública y comunitaria, la divulgación y la educación son componentes vitales de los programas de NEP y Aguas Urbanas. La incorporación de estrategias artísticas y culturales en los programas específicos del lugar que fomenta la EPA apoyará enfoques innovadores y creará un impacto duradero.
“En todo Estados Unidos, la EPA está trabajando mano a mano con socios locales para garantizar que el agua potable sea segura y para restaurar y mantener los océanos, las cuencas hidrográficas y sus ecosistemas acuáticos. La incorporación de estrategias artísticas y culturales en nuestro trabajo puede revelar nuevas ideas, hacer surgir oportunidades y ayudarnos a encontrar soluciones nuevas y duraderas a los desafíos apremiantes del agua”, comentó Fox, administradora adjunta para el agua de la EPA. “A través de esta asociación con el Fondo Nacional para las Artes, los líderes locales del agua, desde Puget Sound hasta el Estuario de la Bahía de San Juan y la cuenca del río Delaware, tendrán nuevas herramientas y recursos para apoyar la restauración del agua y la resiliencia climática”.
El agua es esencial, pero los desafíos del agua a los que nos enfrentamos hoy en día son generalizados y van en aumento. Muchas comunidades sufren de mala calidad del agua, demasiada o muy poca agua y una infraestructura de agua envejecida que necesita ser reemplazada urgentemente. Los sistemas hídricos sobrecargados se ven aún más afectados por el cambio climático: condiciones meteorológicas impredecibles, aumento del nivel del mar e inundaciones. Estos desafíos requieren compromiso en todos los niveles. Los líderes del agua recurren cada vez más a artistas y portadores de la cultura para ayudar a dar visibilidad a los problemas del agua, crear procesos de planificación más inclusivos y aprovechar las inversiones en infraestructura para ofrecer beneficios adicionales a las comunidades a las que sirven.
La EPA está estableciendo un Programa de Artistas en Residencia para continuar ampliando estos esfuerzos en el sector del agua. En 2024, la EPA apoyará a artistas y portadores de cultura en seis lugares con asociaciones de larga data de Estuarios Nacionales y Aguas Urbanas que están realizando un trabajo crucial en la restauración del agua y la resiliencia climática.
“Creo que la integración de las artes y la cultura puede ayudar a fortalecer muchos aspectos de nuestras vidas y comunidades, por lo que estoy entusiasmada con el programa de artistas en residencia de la Agencia de Protección Ambiental”, señaló María Rosario Jackson, PhD, presidenta del Fondo Nacional para las Artes. “Esta es una oportunidad para que la EPA profundice su participación con la comunidad y, al mismo tiempo, amplíe la comprensión de cómo los artistas pueden contribuir en múltiples sectores”.
La Iniciativa de Artistas en Residencia de la EPA se desarrolló en respuesta a la Orden Ejecutiva sobre las Artes y Humanidades (en inglés) del Presidente Biden, diseñada para estimular la inversión y la alineación de las artes y la cultura en todo el gobierno federal, hacer que el arte sea más accesible para las personas de comunidades desatendidas, elevar nuevas voces a través de las artes y las humanidades, y ampliar las oportunidades para artistas y académicos.
El Programa inaugural de Artistas en Residencia de la EPA se centrará en las oportunidades para avanzar en los objetivos de los programas de larga data del Programa Nacional de Estuarios y de la Asociación Federal de Aguas Urbanas (en inglés) que han restaurado y protegido cuerpos de agua preciados en todo Estados Unidos.
Los seis lugares que participarán en el programa son:
El río Duwamish en Seattle
El río Grande en Nuevo México
El Estuario de la Bahía de San Juan en Puerto Rico
Los ríos Passaic, Bronx y Harlem
La cuenca del río Delaware en la región metropolitana de Filadelfia
La cuenca del río Mystic en Boston
La participación pública y comunitaria, la divulgación y la educación son componentes vitales de los programas de NEP y Aguas Urbanas. La incorporación de estrategias artísticas y culturales en los programas específicos del lugar que fomenta la EPA apoyará enfoques innovadores y creará un impacto duradero.
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.
Oil Companies to Pay $7.4 Million in Civil Penalties to Resolve U.S. Claims for Pipeline Spill on Allotted Tribal Land
WASHINGTON – Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Justice Department announced that Holly Energy Partners-Operating L.P. and Osage Pipe Line Company LLC have agreed to pay $7.4 million in Clean Water Act civil penalties and implement corrective measures to settle claims stemming from a pipeline rupture and crude oil spill from the Osage pipeline onto land owned by members of the Sac and Fox Nation in Oklahoma. In addition to payment of the civil penalties, the settlement requires that the two companies complete the cleanup and remediation of the impacted area and take additional steps to prepare for and prevent future spills.
“The pipeline spill in this case dumped nearly 300,000 gallons of crude oil, contaminating Skull Creek and severely hampering water quality and the aquatic environment in the creek,” said Assistant Administrator David M. Uhlmann of EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “EPA and its federal partners are requiring the oil companies who caused the spill to restore Skull Creek, operate safely, and take steps to prevent future spills.”
“Oil companies have a responsibility to prevent harmful oil spills, and today’s settlement demonstrates that those who violate this duty will be held accountable under the law,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “We appreciate the Sac and Fox Nation’s steady involvement in monitoring the cleanup efforts for environmental, natural resource, and cultural resource impacts and respect the Nation’s efforts to be caring stewards of lands owned by its members.”
“The Sac and Fox Nation is a strong partner in conserving and protecting the environment and natural resources. EPA worked closely with the Nation to keep its environmental staff and leadership updated during the response and cleanup of the Osage Pipeline spill,” said EPA Region 6 Administrator Dr. Earthea Nance. “Today’s settlement is an important step in holding the company accountable for the impacts to Skull Creek and other potential effects.”
“Safeguarding Oklahoma’s natural resources is of the utmost importance for future generations,” said U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester for the Western District of Oklahoma. “My office remains committed to furthering environmental justice by ensuring those responsible for oil spills remediate and rectify the impacts to our communities and tribal partners.”
The United States filed its Complaint today in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma along with the notice of lodging of a Consent Decree to resolve the case. In the Complaint, the United States alleges that the two related Dallas-based companies are liable under the Clean Water Act for the crude oil spill that occurred on July 8, 2022. Osage Pipe Line Company owns the 135-mile-long, 20-inch-diameter pipeline that transports crude oil from a tank farm in Cushing, Oklahoma, to the HollyFrontier refinery in El Dorado, Kansas. Holly Energy Partners-Operating is the operator of the pipeline.
The Complaint alleges the spill occurred when a segment of the pipeline ruptured adjacent to Skull Creek about five miles north of Cushing. From the point of the discharge, Skull Creek flows about three more miles before entering the Cimarron River. The pipeline was operating at the time of the rupture and discharged about 300,000 gallons (7,110 barrels) of crude oil into the creek. The land where the rupture occurred, and the adjacent downstream parcel that the creek runs through, are both allotment lands owned by members of the Sac and Fox Nation.
The companies, the EPA, the Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Sac and Fox Nation responded to the rupture and spill. The companies are continuing cleanup work in Skull Creek under the oversight of the EPA, and the pipeline was returned to operation at reduced pressure under the oversight of PHMSA through its corrective action authority. The Sac and Fox Nation deployed tribal monitors to observe the companies’ work at the spill site and monitor for impacts to natural and cultural resources.
In addition to payment of the civil penalties in the Consent Decree, the companies will be required to complete the cleanup and remediation of the impacted area, improve their pipeline integrity management program, provide additional training for all their control room operators, and expand their spill notification efforts for tribal governments with land interests within the footprint of the pipeline. The penalties and remedial measures required by the Consent Decree are in addition to the costs the companies have incurred to clean up the oil spill.
Section 311(b) of the Clean Water Act makes it unlawful to discharge oil or hazardous substances into or upon the navigable waters of the United States or adjoining shorelines, the contiguous zone, or in connection with activities under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act in quantities that may be harmful to the environment or public health. The penalties for this spill will be deposited in the federal Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund managed by the National Pollution Funds Center. The Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund is used to pay for federal response activities and to compensate victims for damages when there is a discharge or substantial threat of discharge of oil or hazardous substances.
The Justice Department’s Environmental Enforcement Section lodged the consent decree with the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma. The proposed Consent Decree is subject to a 30-day public comment period and court review and approval. A copy of the Consent Decree is available on the Department of Justice website.
“The pipeline spill in this case dumped nearly 300,000 gallons of crude oil, contaminating Skull Creek and severely hampering water quality and the aquatic environment in the creek,” said Assistant Administrator David M. Uhlmann of EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “EPA and its federal partners are requiring the oil companies who caused the spill to restore Skull Creek, operate safely, and take steps to prevent future spills.”
“Oil companies have a responsibility to prevent harmful oil spills, and today’s settlement demonstrates that those who violate this duty will be held accountable under the law,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “We appreciate the Sac and Fox Nation’s steady involvement in monitoring the cleanup efforts for environmental, natural resource, and cultural resource impacts and respect the Nation’s efforts to be caring stewards of lands owned by its members.”
“The Sac and Fox Nation is a strong partner in conserving and protecting the environment and natural resources. EPA worked closely with the Nation to keep its environmental staff and leadership updated during the response and cleanup of the Osage Pipeline spill,” said EPA Region 6 Administrator Dr. Earthea Nance. “Today’s settlement is an important step in holding the company accountable for the impacts to Skull Creek and other potential effects.”
“Safeguarding Oklahoma’s natural resources is of the utmost importance for future generations,” said U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester for the Western District of Oklahoma. “My office remains committed to furthering environmental justice by ensuring those responsible for oil spills remediate and rectify the impacts to our communities and tribal partners.”
The United States filed its Complaint today in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma along with the notice of lodging of a Consent Decree to resolve the case. In the Complaint, the United States alleges that the two related Dallas-based companies are liable under the Clean Water Act for the crude oil spill that occurred on July 8, 2022. Osage Pipe Line Company owns the 135-mile-long, 20-inch-diameter pipeline that transports crude oil from a tank farm in Cushing, Oklahoma, to the HollyFrontier refinery in El Dorado, Kansas. Holly Energy Partners-Operating is the operator of the pipeline.
The Complaint alleges the spill occurred when a segment of the pipeline ruptured adjacent to Skull Creek about five miles north of Cushing. From the point of the discharge, Skull Creek flows about three more miles before entering the Cimarron River. The pipeline was operating at the time of the rupture and discharged about 300,000 gallons (7,110 barrels) of crude oil into the creek. The land where the rupture occurred, and the adjacent downstream parcel that the creek runs through, are both allotment lands owned by members of the Sac and Fox Nation.
The companies, the EPA, the Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Sac and Fox Nation responded to the rupture and spill. The companies are continuing cleanup work in Skull Creek under the oversight of the EPA, and the pipeline was returned to operation at reduced pressure under the oversight of PHMSA through its corrective action authority. The Sac and Fox Nation deployed tribal monitors to observe the companies’ work at the spill site and monitor for impacts to natural and cultural resources.
In addition to payment of the civil penalties in the Consent Decree, the companies will be required to complete the cleanup and remediation of the impacted area, improve their pipeline integrity management program, provide additional training for all their control room operators, and expand their spill notification efforts for tribal governments with land interests within the footprint of the pipeline. The penalties and remedial measures required by the Consent Decree are in addition to the costs the companies have incurred to clean up the oil spill.
Section 311(b) of the Clean Water Act makes it unlawful to discharge oil or hazardous substances into or upon the navigable waters of the United States or adjoining shorelines, the contiguous zone, or in connection with activities under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act in quantities that may be harmful to the environment or public health. The penalties for this spill will be deposited in the federal Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund managed by the National Pollution Funds Center. The Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund is used to pay for federal response activities and to compensate victims for damages when there is a discharge or substantial threat of discharge of oil or hazardous substances.
The Justice Department’s Environmental Enforcement Section lodged the consent decree with the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma. The proposed Consent Decree is subject to a 30-day public comment period and court review and approval. A copy of the Consent Decree is available on the Department of Justice website.
EPA penalizes a Massachusetts chemical company for violating chemical safety law
BOSTON (Jan. 30, 2024) – The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced an administrative penalty of $74,914 against Roberts Chemical Company, Inc. in Attleboro, Mass. regarding alleged violations of the Clean Air Act General Duty Clause.
"Hazardous chemicals need to be clearly labeled, and safely explained, stored, and moved to ensure the safety of workers, families in the area, and emergency responders if accidents occur," EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "We don't roll the dice on protecting public health and the environment. One lesson from this case is that companies transferring extremely hazardous chemicals should have excellent hose maintenance programs. In this case, approximately 5,000-gallons of sulfuric acid spilled from a ruptured transfer hose while a tank railcar was being unloaded."
The Consent Agreement and Final Order that details the summary of alleged violations and terms of the settlement is available upon request.
Description of Facility
Roberts Chemical repackages and stores multiple chemicals at its Attleboro, Massachusetts facility. The facility is supplied with bulk chemicals by tanker truck or railcar. Chemical unloading operations occur at dedicated tank truck and railcar unloading stations.
Several chemicals are stored in bulk at the Facility in aboveground storage tanks. After repackaging, finished products are primarily transferred into drums and totes for off-site shipments to customers. The Facility handles several chemicals that are considered "extremely hazardous substances" under the General Duty Clause, including sulfuric acid, nitric acid, aqueous ammonia, and cyanides.
The Facility is located in a 37-acre private industrial park approximately three miles southwest of downtown Attleboro. Industrial operators border the Facility to the south, and the Facility is bordered on the north and east by a rail line. The nearest residences are located approximately 0.10 miles northwest beyond the rail line.
For more information about chemical accident prevention, visit: www.epa.gov/rmp/chemical-accident-prevention-chemicals-your-community.
"Hazardous chemicals need to be clearly labeled, and safely explained, stored, and moved to ensure the safety of workers, families in the area, and emergency responders if accidents occur," EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "We don't roll the dice on protecting public health and the environment. One lesson from this case is that companies transferring extremely hazardous chemicals should have excellent hose maintenance programs. In this case, approximately 5,000-gallons of sulfuric acid spilled from a ruptured transfer hose while a tank railcar was being unloaded."
The Consent Agreement and Final Order that details the summary of alleged violations and terms of the settlement is available upon request.
Description of Facility
Roberts Chemical repackages and stores multiple chemicals at its Attleboro, Massachusetts facility. The facility is supplied with bulk chemicals by tanker truck or railcar. Chemical unloading operations occur at dedicated tank truck and railcar unloading stations.
Several chemicals are stored in bulk at the Facility in aboveground storage tanks. After repackaging, finished products are primarily transferred into drums and totes for off-site shipments to customers. The Facility handles several chemicals that are considered "extremely hazardous substances" under the General Duty Clause, including sulfuric acid, nitric acid, aqueous ammonia, and cyanides.
The Facility is located in a 37-acre private industrial park approximately three miles southwest of downtown Attleboro. Industrial operators border the Facility to the south, and the Facility is bordered on the north and east by a rail line. The nearest residences are located approximately 0.10 miles northwest beyond the rail line.
For more information about chemical accident prevention, visit: www.epa.gov/rmp/chemical-accident-prevention-chemicals-your-community.
EPA Settles with Pan Pacific, Times Supermarket, Don Quijote, and Marukai Hawaii over Sale of Unregistered Disinfectants and Other Products
EPA Settles with Pan Pacific, Times Supermarket, Don Quijote, and Marukai Hawaii over Sale of Unregistered Disinfectants and Other Products
HONOLULU – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a settlement with Pan Pacific Retail Management (USA) Co. and its Hawaii-based subsidiaries Times Supermarket, Don Quijote (USA) Co. Ltd., and Marukai Hawaii Co. Ltd. regarding claims of distribution or sale of unregistered disinfectants and other products, including purported antimicrobials. Sale and distribution of such unregistered products violates the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Under the settlement, the companies will pay a $663,081 penalty.
During routine marketplace inspections, the EPA discovered various unregistered products at the relevant stores that made claims such as "effective against bacteria" and "antibacterial.” Products that make claims to kill or mitigate pests, including those of a microbial nature, must be registered before sale in the US.
“EPA protects the public by taking action against companies selling purported health products that are not effective, do not meet our safety standards, or make false claims,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. “Companies that sell illegal disinfectants and other such items will face significant fines.”
Public health claims for pesticide products, including disinfectants, can only be made following proper testing and registration with the EPA. The agency will not register such an item until it has been determined the product will not pose an unreasonable risk to human health or the environment when used according to the label directions. Unregistered products can be harmful to human health, cause adverse effects, and may not be effective against the spread of germs.
FIFRA registration and labeling requirements protect human health and the environment by ensuring these sorts of products are tested in accordance with specific guidelines and can be safely used for their intended purposes. The process of registering such a product is a scientific, legal, and administrative procedure through which EPA examines the ingredients of the item; the amount, frequency, and timing of its use; and storage and disposal practices.
For the most up-to-date list of EPA-registered disinfectant products.
For more information on pesticide registration.
For more information on reporting possible violations of environmental laws and regulations, visit EPA’s enforcement reporting website.
Learn more about EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region. Connect with us on Facebook and on X.
HONOLULU – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a settlement with Pan Pacific Retail Management (USA) Co. and its Hawaii-based subsidiaries Times Supermarket, Don Quijote (USA) Co. Ltd., and Marukai Hawaii Co. Ltd. regarding claims of distribution or sale of unregistered disinfectants and other products, including purported antimicrobials. Sale and distribution of such unregistered products violates the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Under the settlement, the companies will pay a $663,081 penalty.
During routine marketplace inspections, the EPA discovered various unregistered products at the relevant stores that made claims such as "effective against bacteria" and "antibacterial.” Products that make claims to kill or mitigate pests, including those of a microbial nature, must be registered before sale in the US.
“EPA protects the public by taking action against companies selling purported health products that are not effective, do not meet our safety standards, or make false claims,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. “Companies that sell illegal disinfectants and other such items will face significant fines.”
Public health claims for pesticide products, including disinfectants, can only be made following proper testing and registration with the EPA. The agency will not register such an item until it has been determined the product will not pose an unreasonable risk to human health or the environment when used according to the label directions. Unregistered products can be harmful to human health, cause adverse effects, and may not be effective against the spread of germs.
FIFRA registration and labeling requirements protect human health and the environment by ensuring these sorts of products are tested in accordance with specific guidelines and can be safely used for their intended purposes. The process of registering such a product is a scientific, legal, and administrative procedure through which EPA examines the ingredients of the item; the amount, frequency, and timing of its use; and storage and disposal practices.
For the most up-to-date list of EPA-registered disinfectant products.
For more information on pesticide registration.
For more information on reporting possible violations of environmental laws and regulations, visit EPA’s enforcement reporting website.
Learn more about EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region. Connect with us on Facebook and on X.
EPA announces inaugural Artist-in-Residence Program in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts
WASHINGTON — The Environmental Protection Agency’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.
“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.”
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 and Urban Waters 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 Duwamish River in Seattle
The Rio Grande in New Mexico
The San Juan Bay Estuary in Puerto Rico
The Passaic, Bronx and Harlem Rivers
The Delaware River Watershed in the Greater Philadelphia Region
The Mystic River Watershed in Boston
Public and community engagement, outreach and education are vital components of 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.
“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.”
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 and Urban Waters 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 Duwamish River in Seattle
The Rio Grande in New Mexico
The San Juan Bay Estuary in Puerto Rico
The Passaic, Bronx and Harlem Rivers
The Delaware River Watershed in the Greater Philadelphia Region
The Mystic River Watershed in Boston
Public and community engagement, outreach and education are vital components of 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 penalizes a Massachusetts chemical company for allegedly violating chemical safety law
BOSTON (Jan. 30, 2024) – The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced an administrative penalty of $74,914 against Roberts Chemical Company, Inc. in Attleboro, Mass. regarding alleged violations of the Clean Air Act General Duty Clause.
"Hazardous chemicals need to be clearly labeled, and safely explained, stored, and moved to ensure the safety of workers, families in the area, and emergency responders if accidents occur," EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "We don't roll the dice on protecting public health and the environment. One lesson from this case is that companies transferring extremely hazardous chemicals should have excellent hose maintenance programs. In this case, approximately 5,000-gallons of sulfuric acid spilled from a ruptured transfer hose while a tank railcar was being unloaded."
The Consent Agreement and Final Order that details the summary of alleged violations and terms of the settlement is available upon request.
Description of Facility
Roberts Chemical repackages and stores multiple chemicals at its Attleboro, Massachusetts facility. The facility is supplied with bulk chemicals by tanker truck or railcar. Chemical unloading operations occur at dedicated tank truck and railcar unloading stations.
Several chemicals are stored in bulk at the Facility in aboveground storage tanks. After repackaging, finished products are primarily transferred into drums and totes for off-site shipments to customers. The Facility handles several chemicals that are considered "extremely hazardous substances" under the General Duty Clause, including sulfuric acid, nitric acid, aqueous ammonia, and cyanides.
The Facility is located in a 37-acre private industrial park approximately three miles southwest of downtown Attleboro. Industrial operators border the Facility to the south, and the Facility is bordered on the north and east by a rail line. The nearest residences are located approximately 0.10 miles northwest beyond the rail line.
For more information about chemical accident prevention, visit: www.epa.gov/rmp/chemical-accident-prevention-chemicals-your-community.
"Hazardous chemicals need to be clearly labeled, and safely explained, stored, and moved to ensure the safety of workers, families in the area, and emergency responders if accidents occur," EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "We don't roll the dice on protecting public health and the environment. One lesson from this case is that companies transferring extremely hazardous chemicals should have excellent hose maintenance programs. In this case, approximately 5,000-gallons of sulfuric acid spilled from a ruptured transfer hose while a tank railcar was being unloaded."
The Consent Agreement and Final Order that details the summary of alleged violations and terms of the settlement is available upon request.
Description of Facility
Roberts Chemical repackages and stores multiple chemicals at its Attleboro, Massachusetts facility. The facility is supplied with bulk chemicals by tanker truck or railcar. Chemical unloading operations occur at dedicated tank truck and railcar unloading stations.
Several chemicals are stored in bulk at the Facility in aboveground storage tanks. After repackaging, finished products are primarily transferred into drums and totes for off-site shipments to customers. The Facility handles several chemicals that are considered "extremely hazardous substances" under the General Duty Clause, including sulfuric acid, nitric acid, aqueous ammonia, and cyanides.
The Facility is located in a 37-acre private industrial park approximately three miles southwest of downtown Attleboro. Industrial operators border the Facility to the south, and the Facility is bordered on the north and east by a rail line. The nearest residences are located approximately 0.10 miles northwest beyond the rail line.
For more information about chemical accident prevention, visit: www.epa.gov/rmp/chemical-accident-prevention-chemicals-your-community.