Biden-Harris administration announces availability of $32M in grant funding to tackle air pollution at schools and deliver cleaner air for America’s children
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday announced the availability of up to $32 million to address indoor air pollution in schools as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. The funding opportunity, which is made possible by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act and available through EPA’s Grant Funding to Address Indoor Air Pollution at Schools Program, will protect children’s health by providing resources to organizations that help K-12 schools in low-income, disadvantaged, and Tribal communities develop and adopt comprehensive indoor air quality management plans to reduce indoor air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in schools.
“Every student should be able to learn and thrive in a healthy school environment,” said EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe. “Through President Biden’s historic investment in America, EPA is working with our partners to equip schools in overburdened communities with resources to develop and implement plans that improve air quality and energy efficiency, ensuring that students and staff are breathing cleaner and healthier air in school every day.”
"Thanks to this critical EPA funding, made possible by Democrats' Inflation Reduction Act, schools across the country will now be able to improve air quality for our students,” said House Minority Whip Katherine Clark. “Currently, too many kids do not have access to clean air, and this funding will enhance their overall health and academic performance. This is what Democrats’ agenda is all about – giving communities the resources they need to ensure every child has a great future.”
“At a time when their lungs are still developing, children exposed to unsafe air can develop lifelong health problems, including serious respiratory illnesses,” said Congressman Paul Tonko (NY-20), Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials Subcommittee. “That is why we prioritized funding to address air pollution in our schools in the Inflation Reduction Act. I’m thrilled that EPA is taking vital steps through this announcement that will build upon their decades of work to help schools across the country develop strategies to ensure that as children attend school, learn, and grow, they are breathing clean, healthy air.”
Air pollution has been linked to asthma and other conditions that harm students’ health and can cause them to miss school or reduce normal activities. Children face risks from indoor air pollutants like radon, asbestos, mold, methane, and pollution, such as particulate matter from vehicle exhaust, that gets into classrooms from the outdoors. There are also serious risks to children from greenhouse gas pollution, like more frequent exposure to heat waves and wildfire smoke. Helping schools to develop comprehensive plans to tackle air pollution will help prevent respiratory illnesses in children and staff working in schools, while improving student attendance, performance, and comfort, particularly for vulnerable students with asthma.
This program advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to deliver 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.
The Grant Funding to Address Indoor Air Pollution at Schools Program
EPA anticipates awarding four to six grants of $5 million to $8 million to support five years of school indoor air quality and energy efficiency activities. Eligible projects to benefit schools include indoor air quality and greenhouse gas reduction capacity building, training and education campaigns, and research and demonstration projects.
Nonprofit organizations, state governments, and other eligible entities with experience administering national, regional, or multi-state indoor air quality programs that have achieved positive impacts in communities (especially with schools and Tribal entities) are encouraged to apply. The deadline to apply for the competitive grants is March 19, 2024. EPA estimates that the grants will be awarded by fall 2024.
For more information on this funding opportunity, including details on informational webinars, visit the Grant Funding to Address Indoor Air Pollution at Schools webpage.
Background
EPA studies of human exposure to air pollutants indicate that indoor levels of pollutants may be two to five times — and occasionally more than 100 times — higher than outdoor levels. Often, indoor air quality is poor because indoor sources of air pollution, like asbestos, radon, mold, methane, and particulates, are not controlled and the pollutant levels can become concentrated without adequate ventilation of fresh outdoor air. These levels of indoor air pollutants are of concern because most people spend about 90 percent of their time indoors. Indoor pollution in schools is a particular concern because children’s developing bodies breathe more air in proportion to their body weight than adults.
Indoor air problems can increase long- and short-term health effects for students and staff, increase absenteeism, reduce academic performance, and shorten the lifespan and effectiveness of facility systems and equipment. Examples of the health effects of indoor air pollution include coughing, respiratory diseases, allergic reactions, cancer and aggravated asthma.
In addition to indoor air problems that children face at schools, EPA and the broader scientific community have also identified significant risks to children’s health and the environment from climate change. These risks include exposure to extreme heat, worsened air quality, wildfire smoke, and other climate impacts, in school, the playground, and beyond. Implementing energy efficiency measures while simultaneously improving indoor air quality in schools can help mitigate climate and reduce pollution while providing long-term savings for schools through lower energy consumption.
“Every student should be able to learn and thrive in a healthy school environment,” said EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe. “Through President Biden’s historic investment in America, EPA is working with our partners to equip schools in overburdened communities with resources to develop and implement plans that improve air quality and energy efficiency, ensuring that students and staff are breathing cleaner and healthier air in school every day.”
"Thanks to this critical EPA funding, made possible by Democrats' Inflation Reduction Act, schools across the country will now be able to improve air quality for our students,” said House Minority Whip Katherine Clark. “Currently, too many kids do not have access to clean air, and this funding will enhance their overall health and academic performance. This is what Democrats’ agenda is all about – giving communities the resources they need to ensure every child has a great future.”
“At a time when their lungs are still developing, children exposed to unsafe air can develop lifelong health problems, including serious respiratory illnesses,” said Congressman Paul Tonko (NY-20), Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials Subcommittee. “That is why we prioritized funding to address air pollution in our schools in the Inflation Reduction Act. I’m thrilled that EPA is taking vital steps through this announcement that will build upon their decades of work to help schools across the country develop strategies to ensure that as children attend school, learn, and grow, they are breathing clean, healthy air.”
Air pollution has been linked to asthma and other conditions that harm students’ health and can cause them to miss school or reduce normal activities. Children face risks from indoor air pollutants like radon, asbestos, mold, methane, and pollution, such as particulate matter from vehicle exhaust, that gets into classrooms from the outdoors. There are also serious risks to children from greenhouse gas pollution, like more frequent exposure to heat waves and wildfire smoke. Helping schools to develop comprehensive plans to tackle air pollution will help prevent respiratory illnesses in children and staff working in schools, while improving student attendance, performance, and comfort, particularly for vulnerable students with asthma.
This program advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to deliver 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.
The Grant Funding to Address Indoor Air Pollution at Schools Program
EPA anticipates awarding four to six grants of $5 million to $8 million to support five years of school indoor air quality and energy efficiency activities. Eligible projects to benefit schools include indoor air quality and greenhouse gas reduction capacity building, training and education campaigns, and research and demonstration projects.
Nonprofit organizations, state governments, and other eligible entities with experience administering national, regional, or multi-state indoor air quality programs that have achieved positive impacts in communities (especially with schools and Tribal entities) are encouraged to apply. The deadline to apply for the competitive grants is March 19, 2024. EPA estimates that the grants will be awarded by fall 2024.
For more information on this funding opportunity, including details on informational webinars, visit the Grant Funding to Address Indoor Air Pollution at Schools webpage.
Background
EPA studies of human exposure to air pollutants indicate that indoor levels of pollutants may be two to five times — and occasionally more than 100 times — higher than outdoor levels. Often, indoor air quality is poor because indoor sources of air pollution, like asbestos, radon, mold, methane, and particulates, are not controlled and the pollutant levels can become concentrated without adequate ventilation of fresh outdoor air. These levels of indoor air pollutants are of concern because most people spend about 90 percent of their time indoors. Indoor pollution in schools is a particular concern because children’s developing bodies breathe more air in proportion to their body weight than adults.
Indoor air problems can increase long- and short-term health effects for students and staff, increase absenteeism, reduce academic performance, and shorten the lifespan and effectiveness of facility systems and equipment. Examples of the health effects of indoor air pollution include coughing, respiratory diseases, allergic reactions, cancer and aggravated asthma.
In addition to indoor air problems that children face at schools, EPA and the broader scientific community have also identified significant risks to children’s health and the environment from climate change. These risks include exposure to extreme heat, worsened air quality, wildfire smoke, and other climate impacts, in school, the playground, and beyond. Implementing energy efficiency measures while simultaneously improving indoor air quality in schools can help mitigate climate and reduce pollution while providing long-term savings for schools through lower energy consumption.
EPA Administrator Reappoints Leaders from Lincoln, Nebraska, and Willow Springs, Missouri, to National Advisory Committee
LENEXA, KAN. (JAN. 11, 2024) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the appointments of 16 new members to the Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC), as well as the reappointments of 13 existing members.
For the first time in the committee’s history, the membership will have a female majority, including all members of the committee’s leadership.
The LGAC is comprised of elected and appointed officials from across the nation, who provide independent policy advice to the EPA Administrator on issues affecting local governments.
Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird of Lincoln, Nebraska, will continue as the LGAC’s chair. Mayor Pro Tem Kimberly Rich of Willow Springs, Missouri, will continue as a member on the LGAC’s Small Communities Advisory Subcommittee (SCAS).
“The Biden-Harris administration has made a commitment to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility across the federal government,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Today’s announcement is the latest example of this commitment in action. In addition to a majority of female members, this important committee is comprised of individuals from across the country, representing the diversity of America, so we can reflect a range of input as we craft regulations impacting their communities.”
The 37-member LGAC will have 24 females and 13 males, including 13 people of color, and representation from 27 different states. The Administrator also appointed sixnew and 15 returning members to the LGAC’s SCAS. Read about the members and the communities they represent on EPA’s LGAC Members page.
Mayor Lucy Vinis of Eugene, Oregon, will continue as the LGAC’s vice chair. Administrator Regan also appointed Mayor Katie Rosenberg of Wausau, Wisconsin, to join Ann Mallek, supervisor of Albemarle County, Virginia, as co-chairs of the SCAS.
“I am grateful to Administrator Regan for reappointment as chair of the Local Government Advisory Committee,” Baird said. “Members of the LGAC have a historic opportunity to shape the implementation of EPA policies so that they best serve the diverse interests and concerns of the residents we represent.”
In 2024, the LGAC will provide input on the proposed Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, the draft Strategy for Reducing Plastic Pollution, EPA’s efforts to develop a cumulative impact framework, and improving community-level communication and engagement on climate change issues.
Members were chosen from a pool of over 60 highly qualified candidates. Selections for the one- and two-year terms were based on the applicant pool and in accordance with the LGAC charter to achieve balance and diversity in terms of geographic location, gender, ethnicity, and stakeholder perspective.
Background
Chartered in 1993 under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC) is comprised of elected and appointed officials at local, state, tribal, and territorial governments within the U.S., who provide independent policy advice to the EPA Administrator on a broad range of issues affecting local governments.
The Small Community Advisory Subcommittee (SCAS) was established by EPA in 1996 to advise the Administrator on environmental issues of concern to the residents of smaller communities. New members are recruited every fall.
Learn more about the LGAC and SCAS.
# # #
Learn more about EPA Region 7
View all Region 7 news releases
Connect with EPA Region 7 on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter: @EPARegion7
For the first time in the committee’s history, the membership will have a female majority, including all members of the committee’s leadership.
The LGAC is comprised of elected and appointed officials from across the nation, who provide independent policy advice to the EPA Administrator on issues affecting local governments.
Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird of Lincoln, Nebraska, will continue as the LGAC’s chair. Mayor Pro Tem Kimberly Rich of Willow Springs, Missouri, will continue as a member on the LGAC’s Small Communities Advisory Subcommittee (SCAS).
“The Biden-Harris administration has made a commitment to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility across the federal government,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Today’s announcement is the latest example of this commitment in action. In addition to a majority of female members, this important committee is comprised of individuals from across the country, representing the diversity of America, so we can reflect a range of input as we craft regulations impacting their communities.”
The 37-member LGAC will have 24 females and 13 males, including 13 people of color, and representation from 27 different states. The Administrator also appointed sixnew and 15 returning members to the LGAC’s SCAS. Read about the members and the communities they represent on EPA’s LGAC Members page.
Mayor Lucy Vinis of Eugene, Oregon, will continue as the LGAC’s vice chair. Administrator Regan also appointed Mayor Katie Rosenberg of Wausau, Wisconsin, to join Ann Mallek, supervisor of Albemarle County, Virginia, as co-chairs of the SCAS.
“I am grateful to Administrator Regan for reappointment as chair of the Local Government Advisory Committee,” Baird said. “Members of the LGAC have a historic opportunity to shape the implementation of EPA policies so that they best serve the diverse interests and concerns of the residents we represent.”
In 2024, the LGAC will provide input on the proposed Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, the draft Strategy for Reducing Plastic Pollution, EPA’s efforts to develop a cumulative impact framework, and improving community-level communication and engagement on climate change issues.
Members were chosen from a pool of over 60 highly qualified candidates. Selections for the one- and two-year terms were based on the applicant pool and in accordance with the LGAC charter to achieve balance and diversity in terms of geographic location, gender, ethnicity, and stakeholder perspective.
Background
Chartered in 1993 under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC) is comprised of elected and appointed officials at local, state, tribal, and territorial governments within the U.S., who provide independent policy advice to the EPA Administrator on a broad range of issues affecting local governments.
The Small Community Advisory Subcommittee (SCAS) was established by EPA in 1996 to advise the Administrator on environmental issues of concern to the residents of smaller communities. New members are recruited every fall.
Learn more about the LGAC and SCAS.
# # #
Learn more about EPA Region 7
View all Region 7 news releases
Connect with EPA Region 7 on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter: @EPARegion7
Statement by Agriculture Secretary Vilsack in Celebration of National Milk Day
HARRISBURG, PA, January 10, 2024 – Today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack offered the following statement in support of America’s dairy industry, in advance of National Milk Day, which will be celebrated on Thursday, January 11. Agriculture Secretary Vilsack today visited the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg, Pa., which is the nation’s largest indoor agricultural event.
USDA Partners with Pennsylvania to Award More Than $26 Million to Strengthen Food Supply Chain Infrastructure
WASHINGTON, January 10, 2024 – U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has entered a cooperative agreement with Pennsylvania under the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI). Through this agreement, USDA and Pennsylvania are working together to offer more than $26 million in competitive grant funding for projects to build resilience across the middle of the supply chain.
USDA Partners with Pennsylvania to Award More Than $24 Million to Strengthen Food Supply Chain Infrastructure
WASHINGTON, January 10, 2024 – U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has entered a cooperative agreement with Pennsylvania under the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI). Through this agreement, USDA and Pennsylvania are working together to offer more than $24 million in competitive grant funding for projects to build resilience across the middle of the supply chain.
EPA Announces Appointments from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and North Carolina to Local Government Advisory Committee
ATLANTA (Jan. 10, 2024) – In a historic moment, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the appointment of 16 new members to the Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC), as well as 13 reappointments of members. For the first time in the Agency’s history an advisory committee’s membership will be predominately female, including all members of the committee’s leadership.
The 37-member LGAC will have 24 females and 13 males, including 13 people of color, and representation from 27 different states. The Administrator also appointed 6 new and 15 returning members to the LGAC’s Small Communities Advisory Subcommittee (SCAS). The LGAC and SCAS appointments include nine new, reappointed or continuing members from across the Southeast.
Newly appointed members from Region 4 states include: Chandra Farley, Chief Sustainability Officer of the City of Atlanta; La’Meshia Whittington, of North Carolina’s Water Treatment Facility Operator Certification Board; and Kyle Shipp, the Mayor of Pittsboro, North Carolina.
“We are very pleased to have such excellent representation from the Southeast on these influential committees,” said Region 4 Administrator Jeaneanne Gettle. “These appointments reflect EPA’s commitment to foster better relations with local governments and small communities, including the many areas across Region 4 with environmental justice concerns.”
In 2024 the Committee will provide input on the proposed Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, the draft Strategy for Reducing Plastic Pollution, developing a cumulative impact framework, and improving community-level communication and engagement on climate change issues.
Members were chosen from a pool of more than 60 highly qualified candidates. Selections for the one- and two-year terms were made based on the applicant pool and in accordance with the LGAC charter to achieve balance and diversity in terms of geographic location, gender, ethnicity, and stakeholder perspective. Read more about the members and the communities they represent here.
The new, reappointed (denoted with *), and continuing (denoted with ^) LGAC members representing Region 4 and their affiliations are:
Ms. Chandra Farley, Chief Sustainability Officer, Atlanta, GA
The Honorable Deana Holiday Ingraham, Mayor, East Point, GA^
Mr. Whitford Remer, Sustainability and Resilience Officer, Tampa, FL*
Ms. La’Meshia Whittington, Water Treatment Facility Operator Certification Board, NC
The new, reappointed (denoted with *), and continuing (denoted with ^) SCAS members representing Region 4 and their affiliations are:
The Honorable Velma Jenkins, Mayor, Shuqualak, MS*
The Honorable James Perkins, Mayor, Selma, AL*
The Honorable Hattie Portis-Jones, Mayor Pro Tem, Fairburn, GA*
The Honorable Kyle Shipp, Mayor, Pittsboro, NC
Mr. Kevin Shropshire, Pretreatment Coordinator, Rockledge, FL*
Background Chartered in 1993 under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Local Government Advisory Committee is comprised of elected and appointed officials at local, state, tribal and territorial governments within the U.S., who provide independent policy advice to the EPA Administrator on a broad range of issues affecting local governments. The Small Community Advisory Subcommittee was established by EPA in 1996 to advise the Administrator on environmental issues of concern to the residents of smaller communities. New members are recruited every fall.
For more information about the LGAC, please visit https://www.epa.gov/ocir/local-government-advisory-committee-lgac.
For more information about the SCAS, please visit: https://www.epa.gov/ocir/small-community-advisory-subcommittee-scas
The 37-member LGAC will have 24 females and 13 males, including 13 people of color, and representation from 27 different states. The Administrator also appointed 6 new and 15 returning members to the LGAC’s Small Communities Advisory Subcommittee (SCAS). The LGAC and SCAS appointments include nine new, reappointed or continuing members from across the Southeast.
Newly appointed members from Region 4 states include: Chandra Farley, Chief Sustainability Officer of the City of Atlanta; La’Meshia Whittington, of North Carolina’s Water Treatment Facility Operator Certification Board; and Kyle Shipp, the Mayor of Pittsboro, North Carolina.
“We are very pleased to have such excellent representation from the Southeast on these influential committees,” said Region 4 Administrator Jeaneanne Gettle. “These appointments reflect EPA’s commitment to foster better relations with local governments and small communities, including the many areas across Region 4 with environmental justice concerns.”
In 2024 the Committee will provide input on the proposed Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, the draft Strategy for Reducing Plastic Pollution, developing a cumulative impact framework, and improving community-level communication and engagement on climate change issues.
Members were chosen from a pool of more than 60 highly qualified candidates. Selections for the one- and two-year terms were made based on the applicant pool and in accordance with the LGAC charter to achieve balance and diversity in terms of geographic location, gender, ethnicity, and stakeholder perspective. Read more about the members and the communities they represent here.
The new, reappointed (denoted with *), and continuing (denoted with ^) LGAC members representing Region 4 and their affiliations are:
Ms. Chandra Farley, Chief Sustainability Officer, Atlanta, GA
The Honorable Deana Holiday Ingraham, Mayor, East Point, GA^
Mr. Whitford Remer, Sustainability and Resilience Officer, Tampa, FL*
Ms. La’Meshia Whittington, Water Treatment Facility Operator Certification Board, NC
The new, reappointed (denoted with *), and continuing (denoted with ^) SCAS members representing Region 4 and their affiliations are:
The Honorable Velma Jenkins, Mayor, Shuqualak, MS*
The Honorable James Perkins, Mayor, Selma, AL*
The Honorable Hattie Portis-Jones, Mayor Pro Tem, Fairburn, GA*
The Honorable Kyle Shipp, Mayor, Pittsboro, NC
Mr. Kevin Shropshire, Pretreatment Coordinator, Rockledge, FL*
Background Chartered in 1993 under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Local Government Advisory Committee is comprised of elected and appointed officials at local, state, tribal and territorial governments within the U.S., who provide independent policy advice to the EPA Administrator on a broad range of issues affecting local governments. The Small Community Advisory Subcommittee was established by EPA in 1996 to advise the Administrator on environmental issues of concern to the residents of smaller communities. New members are recruited every fall.
For more information about the LGAC, please visit https://www.epa.gov/ocir/local-government-advisory-committee-lgac.
For more information about the SCAS, please visit: https://www.epa.gov/ocir/small-community-advisory-subcommittee-scas
United States and California Announce Diesel Engine Manufacturer Cummins Inc. Agrees to Pay a Record $1.675 Billion Civil Penalty in Vehicle Test Cheating Settlement
WASHINGTON – The Justice Department, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the California Attorney General’s office today released the details of a proposed settlement with diesel engine maker Cummins Inc. for alleged violations of the Clean Air Act and California law. Beyond agreeing to pay a $1.675 billion civil penalty – the largest ever assessed in a Clean Air Act case – Cummins has agreed to spend more than $325 million to remedy the violations, which included the use of software “defeat devices” that circumvented emissions testing and certification requirements.
Under the settlement, Cummins must complete a nationwide vehicle recall to repair and replace the engine control software in hundreds of thousands of RAM 2500 and RAM 3500 pickup trucks equipped with the company’s diesel engines. Cummins will also extend the warranty period for certain parts in the repaired vehicles, fund and perform projects to mitigate excess ozone-creating nitrogen oxides (NOx) emitted from the vehicles and employ new internal procedures designed to prevent future emissions cheating. In total, the settlement is valued at more than $2 billion.
NOx pollution contributes to the formation of harmful smog and fine particulate matter in air. Children, older adults, people who are active outdoors, and people with heart or lung diseases are particularly at risk for health effects related to smog or particulate matter exposure. Nitrogen dioxide formed by NOx emissions can aggravate respiratory diseases, particularly asthma, and may also contribute to asthma development in children.
“Today’s landmark settlement is another example of the Biden-Harris administration working to ensure communities across the United States, especially those that have long been overburdened by pollution, are breathing cleaner air,” said EPA Administrator Michael Regan. “Today we’ve reaffirmed that EPA’s enforcement program will hold companies accountable for cheating to evade laws that protect public health.”
“The Justice Department is committed to vigorously enforcing environmental laws that protect the American people from harmful pollutants,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The types of devices we allege that Cummins installed in its engines to cheat federal environmental laws have a significant and harmful impact on people’s health and safety. This historic agreement makes clear that the Justice Department will be aggressive in its efforts to hold accountable those who seek to profit at the expense of people’s health and safety.”
“Cummins installed illegal defeat devices on more than 600,000 RAM pickup trucks, which exposed overburdened communities across America to harmful air pollution,” said David M. Uhlmann, Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “This record-breaking Clean Air Act penalty demonstrates that EPA is committed to holding polluters accountable and ensuring that companies pay a steep price when they break the law.”
“Today’s agreement, which includes the largest-ever Clean Air Act civil penalty, stands as notice to manufacturers that they must comply with our nation’s laws, which protect human health and the health of our environment,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “We appreciate the work of our partners, the EPA and the State of California, in helping us reach this significant settlement.”
“Cummins knowingly harmed people’s health and our environment when they skirted state emissions tests and requirements,” said California Attorney General Rob Bonta. “Today’s settlement sends a clear message: If you break the law, we will hold you accountable. I want to thank our federal and state partners for their collective work on this settlement that will safeguard public health and protect consumers across the country.”
“The collaboration between California and its federal partners makes it clear that companies will be held accountable for violating essential environmental laws that are in place to provide the clean air that communities across California and the nation want and deserve,” said CARB Executive Officer Dr. Steven Cliff. “California’s air quality regulations protect public health and are backed by a world-class emissions testing laboratory that ensures CARB's enforcement efforts are rigorously supported with data and science, which CARB was pleased to contribute to this landmark case.”
Background
As in prior cases against other manufacturers, EPA discovered defeat devices in Cummins engines used in RAM pickup trucks through testing at the agency’s National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory. That testing of RAM trucks was done as follow-up on a 2015 EPA warning to manufacturers that the agency planned to conduct special testing to identify defeat devices using driving cycles and conditions that were non-standard, but still reflected normal vehicle operation and use.
The terms of the proposed settlement with Cummins are spelled out in two consent decrees that the United States and California filed today with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. In a related set of complaints filed today, the United States and California allege that nearly a million model year 2013-2023 RAM 2500 and RAM 3500 pickup trucks with Cummins diesel engines utilized undisclosed engine control software features, and more than 630,000 of those trucks made in model years 2013-2019 had illegal emissions control software defeat device features. Those software defeat devices helped the trucks pass standard EPA emissions tests, but they artificially reduced the effectiveness of the emission controls – and increased NOx emissions – during normal driving outside of the standard test conditions.
Recall and Repair Program
Cummins sought all EPA and CARB emission certifications for the RAM trucks equipped with its engines, even though the trucks were sold by the RAM truck division of Fiat Chrysler and its dealers. The settlement requires Cummins to work with Fiat Chrysler and its dealers on a vehicle recall and repair program that will remove all defeat devices from the affected 2013-2019 RAM trucks free of charge and bring the vehicles into compliance with applicable emissions standards under the Clean Air Act. The repair only involves software updates. Cummins has already started the recall and repair program required by the settlement.
Cummins must repair at least 85% of the 2013-2019 RAM trucks equipped with defeat devices within three years. The company must offer a special extended warranty covering emission control system parts on 2013-2019 RAM trucks that receive the replacement software. Cummins also must test some of the repaired trucks over a number of years to ensure that the trucks continue to meet emissions standards over time.
Mitigation Programs
As another requirement of the settlement, Cummins must fully offset the excess NOx emissions from the 2013-2019 RAM trucks that were equipped with defeat devices. For California, Cummins will make a lump sum payment to CARB of slightly more than $175 million to fund mitigation actions or projects that reduce NOx emissions in California through CARB mitigation programs. For the rest of the country, Cummins will secure offsetting NOx reductions by working with railroad locomotive owners on two types of locomotive emission reduction projects. First, Cummins will finance and ensure the replacement of 27 old, high-emitting diesel locomotive engines with new, low-emitting diesel or electric engines. Second, Cummins will fund and complete 50 projects that will reduce idling time for diesel-powered switch locomotives to reduce fuel usage and emissions of NOx, particulate matter, volatile organic compounds and carbon dioxide.
Public Information and Public Comment
This EPA website offers additional information concerning the settlement: https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/2024-cummins-inc-vehicle-emission-control-violations-settlement.
The complaints and the proposed consent decrees in the related cases filed by the Justice Department’s Environment Enforcement Section and the State of California can be viewed on the Justice Department’s website at www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees. The proposed consent decree in the case filed by the United States is subject to a 30-day public comment period.
Under the settlement, Cummins must complete a nationwide vehicle recall to repair and replace the engine control software in hundreds of thousands of RAM 2500 and RAM 3500 pickup trucks equipped with the company’s diesel engines. Cummins will also extend the warranty period for certain parts in the repaired vehicles, fund and perform projects to mitigate excess ozone-creating nitrogen oxides (NOx) emitted from the vehicles and employ new internal procedures designed to prevent future emissions cheating. In total, the settlement is valued at more than $2 billion.
NOx pollution contributes to the formation of harmful smog and fine particulate matter in air. Children, older adults, people who are active outdoors, and people with heart or lung diseases are particularly at risk for health effects related to smog or particulate matter exposure. Nitrogen dioxide formed by NOx emissions can aggravate respiratory diseases, particularly asthma, and may also contribute to asthma development in children.
“Today’s landmark settlement is another example of the Biden-Harris administration working to ensure communities across the United States, especially those that have long been overburdened by pollution, are breathing cleaner air,” said EPA Administrator Michael Regan. “Today we’ve reaffirmed that EPA’s enforcement program will hold companies accountable for cheating to evade laws that protect public health.”
“The Justice Department is committed to vigorously enforcing environmental laws that protect the American people from harmful pollutants,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The types of devices we allege that Cummins installed in its engines to cheat federal environmental laws have a significant and harmful impact on people’s health and safety. This historic agreement makes clear that the Justice Department will be aggressive in its efforts to hold accountable those who seek to profit at the expense of people’s health and safety.”
“Cummins installed illegal defeat devices on more than 600,000 RAM pickup trucks, which exposed overburdened communities across America to harmful air pollution,” said David M. Uhlmann, Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “This record-breaking Clean Air Act penalty demonstrates that EPA is committed to holding polluters accountable and ensuring that companies pay a steep price when they break the law.”
“Today’s agreement, which includes the largest-ever Clean Air Act civil penalty, stands as notice to manufacturers that they must comply with our nation’s laws, which protect human health and the health of our environment,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “We appreciate the work of our partners, the EPA and the State of California, in helping us reach this significant settlement.”
“Cummins knowingly harmed people’s health and our environment when they skirted state emissions tests and requirements,” said California Attorney General Rob Bonta. “Today’s settlement sends a clear message: If you break the law, we will hold you accountable. I want to thank our federal and state partners for their collective work on this settlement that will safeguard public health and protect consumers across the country.”
“The collaboration between California and its federal partners makes it clear that companies will be held accountable for violating essential environmental laws that are in place to provide the clean air that communities across California and the nation want and deserve,” said CARB Executive Officer Dr. Steven Cliff. “California’s air quality regulations protect public health and are backed by a world-class emissions testing laboratory that ensures CARB's enforcement efforts are rigorously supported with data and science, which CARB was pleased to contribute to this landmark case.”
Background
As in prior cases against other manufacturers, EPA discovered defeat devices in Cummins engines used in RAM pickup trucks through testing at the agency’s National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory. That testing of RAM trucks was done as follow-up on a 2015 EPA warning to manufacturers that the agency planned to conduct special testing to identify defeat devices using driving cycles and conditions that were non-standard, but still reflected normal vehicle operation and use.
The terms of the proposed settlement with Cummins are spelled out in two consent decrees that the United States and California filed today with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. In a related set of complaints filed today, the United States and California allege that nearly a million model year 2013-2023 RAM 2500 and RAM 3500 pickup trucks with Cummins diesel engines utilized undisclosed engine control software features, and more than 630,000 of those trucks made in model years 2013-2019 had illegal emissions control software defeat device features. Those software defeat devices helped the trucks pass standard EPA emissions tests, but they artificially reduced the effectiveness of the emission controls – and increased NOx emissions – during normal driving outside of the standard test conditions.
Recall and Repair Program
Cummins sought all EPA and CARB emission certifications for the RAM trucks equipped with its engines, even though the trucks were sold by the RAM truck division of Fiat Chrysler and its dealers. The settlement requires Cummins to work with Fiat Chrysler and its dealers on a vehicle recall and repair program that will remove all defeat devices from the affected 2013-2019 RAM trucks free of charge and bring the vehicles into compliance with applicable emissions standards under the Clean Air Act. The repair only involves software updates. Cummins has already started the recall and repair program required by the settlement.
Cummins must repair at least 85% of the 2013-2019 RAM trucks equipped with defeat devices within three years. The company must offer a special extended warranty covering emission control system parts on 2013-2019 RAM trucks that receive the replacement software. Cummins also must test some of the repaired trucks over a number of years to ensure that the trucks continue to meet emissions standards over time.
Mitigation Programs
As another requirement of the settlement, Cummins must fully offset the excess NOx emissions from the 2013-2019 RAM trucks that were equipped with defeat devices. For California, Cummins will make a lump sum payment to CARB of slightly more than $175 million to fund mitigation actions or projects that reduce NOx emissions in California through CARB mitigation programs. For the rest of the country, Cummins will secure offsetting NOx reductions by working with railroad locomotive owners on two types of locomotive emission reduction projects. First, Cummins will finance and ensure the replacement of 27 old, high-emitting diesel locomotive engines with new, low-emitting diesel or electric engines. Second, Cummins will fund and complete 50 projects that will reduce idling time for diesel-powered switch locomotives to reduce fuel usage and emissions of NOx, particulate matter, volatile organic compounds and carbon dioxide.
Public Information and Public Comment
This EPA website offers additional information concerning the settlement: https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/2024-cummins-inc-vehicle-emission-control-violations-settlement.
The complaints and the proposed consent decrees in the related cases filed by the Justice Department’s Environment Enforcement Section and the State of California can be viewed on the Justice Department’s website at www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees. The proposed consent decree in the case filed by the United States is subject to a 30-day public comment period.
EPA Selects Kansas State University to Receive $4 Million in Grant Funding to Provide Technical Assistance to Tribal Nations and Entities Addressing Brownfields
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the selection of Kansas State University to receive $4 million in grant funding over the course of five years to provide technical assistance and increase the capacity of Tribal Nations and entities to build sustainable brownfield programs, establish and enhance their Tribal Response Programs, and conduct and oversee brownfields assessment and cleanup activities.
This grant will enable Kansas State University to provide technical assistance to federally recognized Indian Tribes, Alaska Native Villages, Alaska Native Regional Corporations, Alaska Native Village Corporations, the Metlakatla Indian community, and Intertribal Consortia upon request.
“Under this new grant, EPA re-affirms its commitment to supporting Tribal Nations and entities addressing brownfields,” said Cliff Villa, EPA’s Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Office of Land and Emergency Management. “EPA is excited to continue working with Tribal entities to clean up and revitalize brownfield sites across the country."
Recognizing that each Tribe is an independent, sovereign nation, responsible for establishing environmental standards, policy, and managing environmental programs, EPA acknowledges that each Tribal Nation and entity faces unique challenges, many of which stem from similar environmental legacies. This cooperative agreement grant will support Tribal communities in their efforts to tackle the challenges of assessing, cleaning up and preparing brownfield sites for redevelopment.
Kansas State University will create deliverables that align with Tribal priorities, capacity, and goals, to address the following subject areas:
• Brownfields Finance and Planning Strategies for Tribal Nations and Entities.
• Science and Technology Relating to Brownfields Assessment, Remediation, and Site Preparation for Safe and Resilient Reuse.
• Assist Tribal Nations and Entities in Understanding and Building Tribal Response Programs.
• Facilitate Storytelling and Promote Collaboration About Brownfields Reuse.
• Integrated Approaches to Brownfields Cleanup and Reuse.
Visit EPA’s Brownfields Program website for more information.
This grant will enable Kansas State University to provide technical assistance to federally recognized Indian Tribes, Alaska Native Villages, Alaska Native Regional Corporations, Alaska Native Village Corporations, the Metlakatla Indian community, and Intertribal Consortia upon request.
“Under this new grant, EPA re-affirms its commitment to supporting Tribal Nations and entities addressing brownfields,” said Cliff Villa, EPA’s Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Office of Land and Emergency Management. “EPA is excited to continue working with Tribal entities to clean up and revitalize brownfield sites across the country."
Recognizing that each Tribe is an independent, sovereign nation, responsible for establishing environmental standards, policy, and managing environmental programs, EPA acknowledges that each Tribal Nation and entity faces unique challenges, many of which stem from similar environmental legacies. This cooperative agreement grant will support Tribal communities in their efforts to tackle the challenges of assessing, cleaning up and preparing brownfield sites for redevelopment.
Kansas State University will create deliverables that align with Tribal priorities, capacity, and goals, to address the following subject areas:
• Brownfields Finance and Planning Strategies for Tribal Nations and Entities.
• Science and Technology Relating to Brownfields Assessment, Remediation, and Site Preparation for Safe and Resilient Reuse.
• Assist Tribal Nations and Entities in Understanding and Building Tribal Response Programs.
• Facilitate Storytelling and Promote Collaboration About Brownfields Reuse.
• Integrated Approaches to Brownfields Cleanup and Reuse.
Visit EPA’s Brownfields Program website for more information.