USDA Invests in Bison Purchase Pilot Incorporating Indian Country Bison for Tribal Feeding Programs
WASHINGTON, Oct. 12, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing partnerships for a new, interagency pilot project aimed at offering more localized ground bison meat for tribal communities through the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR). The pilot will look at changes to how USDA purchases bison to better support buying the meat from local, small, and mid-sized bison herd managers and delivering it directly to their local tribal communities.
EPA and State of New Jersey Propose Settlement with Stepan Company for Cleanup of Maywood Chemical Company Superfund Site
NEW YORK – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposed settlement with Stepan Company to address contaminated soil at the Maywood Chemical Company Superfund Site in Bergen County, New Jersey. Under the proposed agreement, Stepan Company, a potentially responsible party for the site, will be required to remove and dispose of contaminated soil from several non-residential properties that are part of the site, at an estimated cost of $8.6 million. EPA first noticed Stepan Company of its potential liability for site-related contamination in 1987 because Stepan Company owns site property, produces specialty chemicals on portions of the site, and is a successor to Maywood Chemical Company. In addition to agreeing to perform this work, Stepan recently completed the successful cleanup and restoration of several residential properties in the area.
“This settlement holds polluters like Stepan Company responsible for cleaning up the chemical contamination, which is work needed to address the risks posed to people’s health and the environment,” said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “EPA is working with our state partners and to clean and restore Superfund sites in New Jersey and across the country.”
Stepan Company has agreed to carry out EPA’s chosen cleanup plan for a part of the site known as Operable Unit 1 (OU1). This plan aims to address the soil contamination by various chemicals and waste, such as metals, VOCs and SVOCs, at several site properties. Under the plan, the company will:
Remove and properly dispose of about 19,690 cubic yards of contaminated soil.
Place site use restrictions to prevent future exposure to the remaining contamination.
Pay $362,800 to EPA for past cleanup costs and reimbursing EPA for future oversight costs.
Stepan Company has already completed the cleanup work for several residential properties within OU1. Under EPA’s supervision, the company removed and properly disposed of about 18,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil from around the properties and restored the properties to their original condition.
The proposed consent decree also resolves payment for costs of initial response work incurred by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and provides for payment of NJDEP’s future oversight costs.
The proposed consent decree, which has been lodged in the U. S. federal district court for the district of New Jersey, is subject to 60-day public comment periods once notice is published in the Federal Register and New Jersey Register. The Federal Register notice was published on October 6, 2023, and the New Jersey Register notice is forthcoming. At the close of the comment periods, the United States and NJDEP will evaluate the comments and decide whether to proceed and then, if appropriate, seek final approval by the court.
For more information, and to view the proposed consent decree and to give comments, please visit this page: https://www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees
Visit the Maywood Chemical Co. Superfund site profile page for additional background and site documents.
Follow EPA Region 2 on X and visit our Facebook page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.
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“This settlement holds polluters like Stepan Company responsible for cleaning up the chemical contamination, which is work needed to address the risks posed to people’s health and the environment,” said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “EPA is working with our state partners and to clean and restore Superfund sites in New Jersey and across the country.”
Stepan Company has agreed to carry out EPA’s chosen cleanup plan for a part of the site known as Operable Unit 1 (OU1). This plan aims to address the soil contamination by various chemicals and waste, such as metals, VOCs and SVOCs, at several site properties. Under the plan, the company will:
Remove and properly dispose of about 19,690 cubic yards of contaminated soil.
Place site use restrictions to prevent future exposure to the remaining contamination.
Pay $362,800 to EPA for past cleanup costs and reimbursing EPA for future oversight costs.
Stepan Company has already completed the cleanup work for several residential properties within OU1. Under EPA’s supervision, the company removed and properly disposed of about 18,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil from around the properties and restored the properties to their original condition.
The proposed consent decree also resolves payment for costs of initial response work incurred by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and provides for payment of NJDEP’s future oversight costs.
The proposed consent decree, which has been lodged in the U. S. federal district court for the district of New Jersey, is subject to 60-day public comment periods once notice is published in the Federal Register and New Jersey Register. The Federal Register notice was published on October 6, 2023, and the New Jersey Register notice is forthcoming. At the close of the comment periods, the United States and NJDEP will evaluate the comments and decide whether to proceed and then, if appropriate, seek final approval by the court.
For more information, and to view the proposed consent decree and to give comments, please visit this page: https://www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees
Visit the Maywood Chemical Co. Superfund site profile page for additional background and site documents.
Follow EPA Region 2 on X and visit our Facebook page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.
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EPA Region 7 Presents $3M Check to City of Kansas City, Missouri, After Selection for Brownfields Funding
Kansas City, Missouri Mayor Quinton Lucas and EPA Region 7 Regional Administrator Meg McCollister pose with a $3 million dollar novelty big check after an award ceremony at the Buck O'Neil Education and Research Center, Oct. 12, 2023. The $3 million presented is an additional award, made available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. (Photo credit U.S. EPA)LENEXA, KAN. (OCT. 12, 2023) – Today, at the Buck O’Neil Education and Research Center, EPA Region 7 Administrator Meg McCollister presented a $3 million ceremonial check to the City of Kansas City, Missouri, for its selection to receive additional funding for its Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RLF). McCollister was joined by Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas.
“This funding is a shining example of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law at work in our Heartland communities,” McCollister said. “EPA and the City of Kansas City, Missouri, have partnered for over 20 years to clean up the city’s contaminated properties. With this investment, we are creating a cleaner and more robust economy for underserved areas within one of our region’s largest cities.”
Kansas City, Missouri, was previously awarded nearly $8.5 million for their RLF. The $3 million presented today is an additional award, made available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The city’s RLF program has successfully made loans or subgrants to 11 cleanup projects that are either completed or in progress. Potential Bipartisan Infrastructure Law-funded projects include additional phases of cleanup and preparation for redevelopment at the Hardesty Federal Complex, as well as funding for additional cleanups in the most underserved areas of the city.
“As we create more vibrant, healthy, and clean neighborhoods, I am proud Kansas City received additional vital funding from the EPA to allow us to remove dangerous contaminants, including asbestos and lead-based paint, from vacant lots and aging buildings to make them suitable for building affordable homes or other opportunities to enrich neighborhoods and improve economic prosperity across our city,” Lucas said. “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is continuing to make transformational impacts in our community, and I thank the EPA and Congressman Cleaver for our continued, strong partnership to improve the lives of Kansas Citians.”
These investments are part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda to grow the American economy from the bottom up and middle-out – from rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure, to driving over $470 billion in private-sector manufacturing and clean energy investments in the United States, to creating a manufacturing and innovation boom powered by good-paying jobs that don’t require a four-year degree, to building a clean energy economy that will combat climate change and make our communities more resilient.
“I will never get tired of supporting check presentations for federal investments made in our own backyard,” Cleaver said. “This is what Investing in America looks like – making clean energy investments, creating good-paying jobs, and restoring infrastructure in communities across America. I am grateful for the Biden-Harris Administration for the concerted effort to strengthen communities like ours, and for the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to continue positively shaping Missouri’s Fifth District.”
Background
EPA has selected organizations to receive funding to address and support the reuse of brownfield sites. EPA anticipates making all the recently announced awards, once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied.
EPA’s Brownfields Program began in 1995 and has provided nearly $2.37 billion in Brownfields Grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse. EPA’s investments in addressing brownfield sites have leveraged over $36 billion in cleanup and redevelopment. Over the years, the relatively small investment of federal funding has leveraged nearly 260,000 jobs from both public and private sources. Communities that previously received Brownfields Grants used these resources to fund assessments and cleanups of brownfields, and successfully leveraged an average of 10.6 jobs per $100,000 of EPA Brownfield Grant funds spent and $19.78 for every dollar.
· Learn more about Brownfields Grants
· Learn more about EPA’s Brownfields Program
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Learn more about EPA Region 7
“This funding is a shining example of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law at work in our Heartland communities,” McCollister said. “EPA and the City of Kansas City, Missouri, have partnered for over 20 years to clean up the city’s contaminated properties. With this investment, we are creating a cleaner and more robust economy for underserved areas within one of our region’s largest cities.”
Kansas City, Missouri, was previously awarded nearly $8.5 million for their RLF. The $3 million presented today is an additional award, made available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The city’s RLF program has successfully made loans or subgrants to 11 cleanup projects that are either completed or in progress. Potential Bipartisan Infrastructure Law-funded projects include additional phases of cleanup and preparation for redevelopment at the Hardesty Federal Complex, as well as funding for additional cleanups in the most underserved areas of the city.
“As we create more vibrant, healthy, and clean neighborhoods, I am proud Kansas City received additional vital funding from the EPA to allow us to remove dangerous contaminants, including asbestos and lead-based paint, from vacant lots and aging buildings to make them suitable for building affordable homes or other opportunities to enrich neighborhoods and improve economic prosperity across our city,” Lucas said. “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is continuing to make transformational impacts in our community, and I thank the EPA and Congressman Cleaver for our continued, strong partnership to improve the lives of Kansas Citians.”
These investments are part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda to grow the American economy from the bottom up and middle-out – from rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure, to driving over $470 billion in private-sector manufacturing and clean energy investments in the United States, to creating a manufacturing and innovation boom powered by good-paying jobs that don’t require a four-year degree, to building a clean energy economy that will combat climate change and make our communities more resilient.
“I will never get tired of supporting check presentations for federal investments made in our own backyard,” Cleaver said. “This is what Investing in America looks like – making clean energy investments, creating good-paying jobs, and restoring infrastructure in communities across America. I am grateful for the Biden-Harris Administration for the concerted effort to strengthen communities like ours, and for the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to continue positively shaping Missouri’s Fifth District.”
Background
EPA has selected organizations to receive funding to address and support the reuse of brownfield sites. EPA anticipates making all the recently announced awards, once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied.
EPA’s Brownfields Program began in 1995 and has provided nearly $2.37 billion in Brownfields Grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse. EPA’s investments in addressing brownfield sites have leveraged over $36 billion in cleanup and redevelopment. Over the years, the relatively small investment of federal funding has leveraged nearly 260,000 jobs from both public and private sources. Communities that previously received Brownfields Grants used these resources to fund assessments and cleanups of brownfields, and successfully leveraged an average of 10.6 jobs per $100,000 of EPA Brownfield Grant funds spent and $19.78 for every dollar.
· Learn more about Brownfields Grants
· Learn more about EPA’s Brownfields Program
# # #
Learn more about EPA Region 7
Rutgers University to Receive Almost $800K to Help Small Businesses Across NJ Reduce Hazardous Waste
NEW YORK- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has chosen Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey to receive nearly $800,000 in funding under EPA’s Environmental Justice in Communities program to assist NJ small businesses in cutting the hazardous waste that they generate. The Rutgers project, led by the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy and the New Jersey Climate Change Resource Center, is a partnership with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). The funding, which was made possible by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is to develop and adopt practices that prevent pollution at the source in local communities. Rutgers is one of 24 recipients across the country that were selected to collectively receive nearly $16 million in pollution prevention grants.
“There are often relatively simple and low-cost steps businesses can take to reduce the hazardous materials that they use and generate and at the same time help their financial bottom line,” said Lisa F. Garcia, EPA Regional Administrator. “But small businesses may not know where to start or how to identify those steps. This federal funding, available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will support Rutgers program to provide the technical assistance needed to these businesses.”
EPA has selected Rutgers University to receive $787,527 to provide technical assistance to small businesses that lack information and resources to reduce the hazardous substances that they generate. Technical assistance will include establishing a working group that will provide on-site assistance led by the NJDEP and includes an important community assistance component that will be led by community-based collaboratives that will receive financial support from Rutgers. Working with the state and communities, Rutgers’ project will focus on reducing facilities’ use, generation, and release of hazardous substances in communities traditionally overburdened by pollution. These communities will be identified using EPA’s EJ SCREEN and Rutgers’ NJADAPT suite of data tools.
“This initiative contributes to New Jersey’s efforts to advance community-led solutions to minimize hazards that are exacerbated by changing climate conditions,” said Jeanne Herb, Executive Director of the Bloustein School Environmental Analysis & Communications Group and Co-Director of the New Jersey Climate Change Resource Center at Rutgers University. “Reducing exposures to hazardous materials that may be used, generated or transported in flood-prone areas, especially in environmental justice communities, is a win-win for communities and businesses both.”
“Bringing environmental equity to and improving the health of people who live and work in our overburdened communities is of the highest priority to the Murphy Administration,” said New Jersey Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette. “My DEP colleagues and I wish to express our gratitude to Administrator Garcia and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for providing this funding to Rutgers University to help small businesses reduce or eliminate the hazardous substances they use. The Department of Environmental Protection looks forward to working closely with Rutgers and community organizations to provide the technical assistance that will make these goals a reality.”
“This federal investment in New Jersey will empower small businesses to improve health and the environment across our state,” said U.S. Senator Cory Booker. “I’m proud to see Rutgers University receive this funding so that it can provide small businesses with the technical assistance to reduce the harmful impact of hazardous substances in disadvantaged communities.”
“Today, more transformational funding to prevent toxic pollution is on its way to New Jersey from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” said U.S. Representative Frank Pallone (NJ-06). “The Pollution Prevention Grants to Advance Environmental Justice Program breaks down barriers to resources and access to information so facilities can more easily reduce hazardous substances that harm public health. I congratulate Rutgers University for receiving a grant to carry out this important work for New Jerseyans and thank President Biden for his partnership in prioritizing environmental justice.
The Environmental Justice in Communities grant program will provide pollution prevention technical assistance to businesses to improve human health and the environment in disadvantaged communities. The Environmental Justice Through Safer and More Sustainable Products grant program will assist businesses to increase the supply, demand, and use of safer and more sustainable products, such as those certified by EPA’s Safer Choice program, or that conform to EPA’s Recommendations for Specifications, Standards and Ecolabels for Federal Purchasing.
EPA’s Pollution Prevention Grant Program advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to deliver 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.
Ensuring greater availability and use of safer and more sustainable products can reduce harmful chemical exposures and their human health and the environmental impacts in disadvantaged communities and create a more sustainable and accessible marketplace. These efforts will continue to benefit businesses and communities across the nation by capturing what works and what can be adjusted in other communities. Recipients will share successful practices that are new or not widely known, as well as lessons learned, so that future businesses and communities can continue to innovate.
EPA anticipates awarding the grants once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied.
Background:
The United States generates millions of tons of pollution each year and spends billions of dollars per year controlling this pollution. Once in our environment, this pollution harms human and environmental health, which disproportionally impacts underserved communities. Preventing pollution at the source, also known as P2 or source reduction, rather than managing waste after it is produced, is an important part of the solution landscape, and advances a sustainable infrastructure that supports local economies while better protecting public health and the environment. P2 practices can reduce exposure to toxic chemicals, conserve natural resources, and reduce cleanup and financial costs for businesses, particularly for waste management and environmental liability. Practicing P2 is essential for protecting public health and improving environmental conditions in and around disadvantaged communities that have long been overburdened by pollution.
Between 2011-2021, EPA’s Pollution Prevention program has issued nearly 500 grants totaling more than $50 million, which have helped businesses identify, develop and adopt P2 approaches. These approaches have resulted in eliminating 19.8 million metric tons of greenhouse gases, saving 49 billion gallons of water, reducing 917 million pounds of hazardous materials and pollutants, and saving more than $2.2 billion for business.
President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is boosting these efforts by providing a historic $100 million to support the program’s continued efforts. Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, state and Tribal programs that are awarded grants will not be required to provide matching funds, which has helped expand access to these resources and broadened the applicant pool.
For more information about EPA’s Pollution Prevention Grant: Environmental Justice Program, visit EPA's P2 website.
For more information about EPA’s tools for identifying communities that face disproportionate burdens, visit EPA’s EJ Screen page.
Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter and visit our Facebook page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.
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“There are often relatively simple and low-cost steps businesses can take to reduce the hazardous materials that they use and generate and at the same time help their financial bottom line,” said Lisa F. Garcia, EPA Regional Administrator. “But small businesses may not know where to start or how to identify those steps. This federal funding, available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will support Rutgers program to provide the technical assistance needed to these businesses.”
EPA has selected Rutgers University to receive $787,527 to provide technical assistance to small businesses that lack information and resources to reduce the hazardous substances that they generate. Technical assistance will include establishing a working group that will provide on-site assistance led by the NJDEP and includes an important community assistance component that will be led by community-based collaboratives that will receive financial support from Rutgers. Working with the state and communities, Rutgers’ project will focus on reducing facilities’ use, generation, and release of hazardous substances in communities traditionally overburdened by pollution. These communities will be identified using EPA’s EJ SCREEN and Rutgers’ NJADAPT suite of data tools.
“This initiative contributes to New Jersey’s efforts to advance community-led solutions to minimize hazards that are exacerbated by changing climate conditions,” said Jeanne Herb, Executive Director of the Bloustein School Environmental Analysis & Communications Group and Co-Director of the New Jersey Climate Change Resource Center at Rutgers University. “Reducing exposures to hazardous materials that may be used, generated or transported in flood-prone areas, especially in environmental justice communities, is a win-win for communities and businesses both.”
“Bringing environmental equity to and improving the health of people who live and work in our overburdened communities is of the highest priority to the Murphy Administration,” said New Jersey Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette. “My DEP colleagues and I wish to express our gratitude to Administrator Garcia and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for providing this funding to Rutgers University to help small businesses reduce or eliminate the hazardous substances they use. The Department of Environmental Protection looks forward to working closely with Rutgers and community organizations to provide the technical assistance that will make these goals a reality.”
“This federal investment in New Jersey will empower small businesses to improve health and the environment across our state,” said U.S. Senator Cory Booker. “I’m proud to see Rutgers University receive this funding so that it can provide small businesses with the technical assistance to reduce the harmful impact of hazardous substances in disadvantaged communities.”
“Today, more transformational funding to prevent toxic pollution is on its way to New Jersey from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” said U.S. Representative Frank Pallone (NJ-06). “The Pollution Prevention Grants to Advance Environmental Justice Program breaks down barriers to resources and access to information so facilities can more easily reduce hazardous substances that harm public health. I congratulate Rutgers University for receiving a grant to carry out this important work for New Jerseyans and thank President Biden for his partnership in prioritizing environmental justice.
The Environmental Justice in Communities grant program will provide pollution prevention technical assistance to businesses to improve human health and the environment in disadvantaged communities. The Environmental Justice Through Safer and More Sustainable Products grant program will assist businesses to increase the supply, demand, and use of safer and more sustainable products, such as those certified by EPA’s Safer Choice program, or that conform to EPA’s Recommendations for Specifications, Standards and Ecolabels for Federal Purchasing.
EPA’s Pollution Prevention Grant Program advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to deliver 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.
Ensuring greater availability and use of safer and more sustainable products can reduce harmful chemical exposures and their human health and the environmental impacts in disadvantaged communities and create a more sustainable and accessible marketplace. These efforts will continue to benefit businesses and communities across the nation by capturing what works and what can be adjusted in other communities. Recipients will share successful practices that are new or not widely known, as well as lessons learned, so that future businesses and communities can continue to innovate.
EPA anticipates awarding the grants once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied.
Background:
The United States generates millions of tons of pollution each year and spends billions of dollars per year controlling this pollution. Once in our environment, this pollution harms human and environmental health, which disproportionally impacts underserved communities. Preventing pollution at the source, also known as P2 or source reduction, rather than managing waste after it is produced, is an important part of the solution landscape, and advances a sustainable infrastructure that supports local economies while better protecting public health and the environment. P2 practices can reduce exposure to toxic chemicals, conserve natural resources, and reduce cleanup and financial costs for businesses, particularly for waste management and environmental liability. Practicing P2 is essential for protecting public health and improving environmental conditions in and around disadvantaged communities that have long been overburdened by pollution.
Between 2011-2021, EPA’s Pollution Prevention program has issued nearly 500 grants totaling more than $50 million, which have helped businesses identify, develop and adopt P2 approaches. These approaches have resulted in eliminating 19.8 million metric tons of greenhouse gases, saving 49 billion gallons of water, reducing 917 million pounds of hazardous materials and pollutants, and saving more than $2.2 billion for business.
President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is boosting these efforts by providing a historic $100 million to support the program’s continued efforts. Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, state and Tribal programs that are awarded grants will not be required to provide matching funds, which has helped expand access to these resources and broadened the applicant pool.
For more information about EPA’s Pollution Prevention Grant: Environmental Justice Program, visit EPA's P2 website.
For more information about EPA’s tools for identifying communities that face disproportionate burdens, visit EPA’s EJ Screen page.
Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter and visit our Facebook page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.
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EPA Selects Curators of the University of Missouri to Receive Over $850K Pollution Prevention Grant to Advance Environmental Justice
LENEXA, KAN. (OCT. 12, 2023) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the selection of the Curators of the University of Missouri to receive a total of $857,744 in Pollution Prevention (P2) Grants with funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) will work with the University of Alaska Fairbanks on a proposed project to improve human health and the environment in disadvantaged communities by reducing air pollution and mining wastes in communities affected by significant mining-intensive activities in Missouri and Alaska.
The universities will provide technical assistance to the critical minerals mining industry to prevent dust generation, enhance mining efficiency, and reduce the generation of mining waste. Technical assistance will include on‐site assistance, training materials, three workshops, and two P2 case studies.
“We are thrilled with the selection of the Curators of the University of Missouri for this grant,” said EPA Region 7 Administrator Meg McCollister. “As a state with vast areas of historically contaminated lead mining sites, Missouri is no stranger to the human health and environmental dangers associated with mining. With this grant, Missouri S&T will provide needed technical assistance to help reduce the negative impacts of mining.”
The EPA Environmental Justice in Communities Grant program will provide pollution prevention technical assistance to businesses to improve human health and the environment in disadvantaged communities. The Environmental Justice Through Safer and More Sustainable Products Grant program will assist businesses in increasing the supply, demand, and use of safer and more sustainable products, such as those certified by EPA’s Safer Choice program, or that conform to EPA’s Recommendations of Specifications, Standards and Ecolabels for Federal Purchasing.
EPA’s Pollution Prevention Grant 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.
Ensuring greater availability and use of safer and more sustainable products can reduce harmful chemical exposures and their human health and the environmental impacts in disadvantaged communities and create a more sustainable and accessible marketplace. These efforts will continue to benefit businesses and communities across the nation by capturing what works and what can be adjusted in other communities. Recipients will share successful practices that are new or not widely known, as well as lessons learned so that future businesses and communities can continue to innovate.
EPA anticipates awarding the grants once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied.
Background
The United States generates millions of tons of pollution each year and spends billions of dollars per year controlling this pollution. Once in our environment, this pollution harms human and environmental health, which disproportionally impacts underserved communities. Preventing pollution at the source, also known as P2 or source reduction, rather than managing waste after it is produced, is an important part of the solution landscape. This work advances a sustainable infrastructure that supports local economies while better protecting public health and the environment.
P2 practices can reduce exposure to toxic chemicals, conserve natural resources, and reduce cleanup and financial costs for businesses, particularly for waste management and environmental liability. Practicing P2 is essential for protecting public health and improving environmental conditions in and around disadvantaged communities that have long been overburdened by pollution.
Between 2011 and 2021, EPA’s Pollution Prevention program has issued nearly 500 grants totaling more than $50 million, which have helped businesses identify, develop, and adopt P2 approaches. These approaches have resulted in eliminating 19.8 million metric tons of greenhouse gases, saving 49 billion gallons of water, reducing 917 million pounds of hazardous materials and pollutants, and saving over $2.2 billion for business.
President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is boosting these efforts by providing a historic $100 million to support the program’s continued efforts. Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, state and tribal programs that are awarded grants will not be required to provide matching funds, which has helped expand access to these resources and broadened the applicant pool.
Read more about P2 and the P2 Grant Program.
# # #
Learn more about EPA Region 7
The Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) will work with the University of Alaska Fairbanks on a proposed project to improve human health and the environment in disadvantaged communities by reducing air pollution and mining wastes in communities affected by significant mining-intensive activities in Missouri and Alaska.
The universities will provide technical assistance to the critical minerals mining industry to prevent dust generation, enhance mining efficiency, and reduce the generation of mining waste. Technical assistance will include on‐site assistance, training materials, three workshops, and two P2 case studies.
“We are thrilled with the selection of the Curators of the University of Missouri for this grant,” said EPA Region 7 Administrator Meg McCollister. “As a state with vast areas of historically contaminated lead mining sites, Missouri is no stranger to the human health and environmental dangers associated with mining. With this grant, Missouri S&T will provide needed technical assistance to help reduce the negative impacts of mining.”
The EPA Environmental Justice in Communities Grant program will provide pollution prevention technical assistance to businesses to improve human health and the environment in disadvantaged communities. The Environmental Justice Through Safer and More Sustainable Products Grant program will assist businesses in increasing the supply, demand, and use of safer and more sustainable products, such as those certified by EPA’s Safer Choice program, or that conform to EPA’s Recommendations of Specifications, Standards and Ecolabels for Federal Purchasing.
EPA’s Pollution Prevention Grant 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.
Ensuring greater availability and use of safer and more sustainable products can reduce harmful chemical exposures and their human health and the environmental impacts in disadvantaged communities and create a more sustainable and accessible marketplace. These efforts will continue to benefit businesses and communities across the nation by capturing what works and what can be adjusted in other communities. Recipients will share successful practices that are new or not widely known, as well as lessons learned so that future businesses and communities can continue to innovate.
EPA anticipates awarding the grants once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied.
Background
The United States generates millions of tons of pollution each year and spends billions of dollars per year controlling this pollution. Once in our environment, this pollution harms human and environmental health, which disproportionally impacts underserved communities. Preventing pollution at the source, also known as P2 or source reduction, rather than managing waste after it is produced, is an important part of the solution landscape. This work advances a sustainable infrastructure that supports local economies while better protecting public health and the environment.
P2 practices can reduce exposure to toxic chemicals, conserve natural resources, and reduce cleanup and financial costs for businesses, particularly for waste management and environmental liability. Practicing P2 is essential for protecting public health and improving environmental conditions in and around disadvantaged communities that have long been overburdened by pollution.
Between 2011 and 2021, EPA’s Pollution Prevention program has issued nearly 500 grants totaling more than $50 million, which have helped businesses identify, develop, and adopt P2 approaches. These approaches have resulted in eliminating 19.8 million metric tons of greenhouse gases, saving 49 billion gallons of water, reducing 917 million pounds of hazardous materials and pollutants, and saving over $2.2 billion for business.
President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is boosting these efforts by providing a historic $100 million to support the program’s continued efforts. Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, state and tribal programs that are awarded grants will not be required to provide matching funds, which has helped expand access to these resources and broadened the applicant pool.
Read more about P2 and the P2 Grant Program.
# # #
Learn more about EPA Region 7
U.S. Virgin Islands Government to Receive Almost $700K to Help Reduce Food Service Industry Waste
NEW YORK (Oct. 12, 2023) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has chosen the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources (VIDPNR) to receive nearly $700,000 in funding under EPA’s Environmental Justice in Communities program to assist restaurants, bars, food trucks and other food service companies cut waste. The funding, which was made possible by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will help develop and adopt practices that prevent pollution at the source in local communities. VIDPNR is one of 24 recipients across the country that were selected to collectively receive nearly $16 million in pollution prevention grants.
“The U.S. Virgin Islands has a rich tapestry of excellent food – whether it be from neighborhood restaurants, food trucks or places geared toward tourists. But these businesses sometimes use single-use plastics and other food containers or implements to serve food that unnecessarily fill up the U.S. Virgin Islands’ landfills,” said Lisa F. Garcia, EPA Regional Administrator. “This federal funding, available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will support a program to give these businesses the help they need to find alternatives and reduce the waste they generate.”
EPA has selected the US Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources to receive $699,000 to provide technical assistance to VI businesses in the food service industry. This includes restaurants, bars, food trucks, concessions, marinas, charter boats, and other distributors. The project will expand on the existing VI Clean Coasts program, which focuses on significantly reducing the use and disposal of single-use plastics, polystyrene, and other pollution. The VIDPNR will conduct site visits and help develop source reduction plan and evaluate facility results. The project also will engage stakeholders and gather community input. Information will be taken in part from a literature review of tourism and food service pollution prevention. The proposed project reduces people’s exposure to harmful chemicals and waste, especially in historically marginalized, underserved, and overburdened communities across the Virgin Islands.
"The VI Clean Coasts program was implemented in 2018 with the intended goal of assisting small businesses with eliminating the use of expanded polystyrene. We are proud that six years later it has become an invaluable tool for the territory in ridding our islands from single use plastics and other harmful pollutants,” said U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources Commissioner Jean-Pierre L. Oriol. “With the expansion made possible with this grant we are excited to continue this work for the health of our people and environment.”
“I am pleased to join the Environmental Protection Agency in announcing this consequential investment. The Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources will receive $699,000 from the EPA’s Pollution Prevention Grants to Advance Environmental Justice, which will provide pollution prevention technical assistance to businesses in the Virgin Islands in order to improve human health and the environment in disadvantaged communities,” said Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett. “I am grateful for EPA Administrator Michael Regan’s support and to the Biden-Harris Administration for their commitment to the Justice40 Initiative, which aims to deliver 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. This funding will go towards improving the resiliency and infrastructure of our community, enabling us to take a proactive approach towards pollution prevention.”
The Environmental Justice in Communities grant program will provide pollution prevention technical assistance to businesses to improve human health and the environment in disadvantaged communities. The Environmental Justice Through Safer and More Sustainable Products grant program will assist businesses to increase the supply, demand, and use of safer and more sustainable products, such as those certified by EPA’s Safer Choice program, or that conform to EPA’s Recommendations for Specifications, Standards and Ecolabels for Federal Purchasing.
EPA’s Pollution Prevention Grant Program advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to deliver 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.
Ensuring greater availability and use of safer and more sustainable products can reduce harmful chemical exposures and their human health and the environmental impacts in disadvantaged communities and create a more sustainable and accessible marketplace. These efforts will continue to benefit businesses and communities across the nation by capturing what works and what can be adjusted in other communities. Recipients will share successful practices that are new or not widely known, as well as lessons learned, so that future businesses and communities can continue to innovate.
EPA anticipates awarding the grants once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied.
Background:
The United States generates millions of tons of pollution each year and spends billions of dollars per year controlling this pollution. Once in our environment, this pollution harms human and environmental health, which disproportionally impacts underserved communities. Preventing pollution at the source, also known as P2 or source reduction, rather than managing waste after it is produced, is an important part of the solution landscape, and advances a sustainable infrastructure that supports local economies while better protecting public health and the environment. P2 practices can reduce exposure to toxic chemicals, conserve natural resources, and reduce cleanup and financial costs for businesses, particularly for waste management and environmental liability. Practicing P2 is essential for protecting public health and improving environmental conditions in and around disadvantaged communities that have long been overburdened by pollution.
Between 2011-2021, EPA’s Pollution Prevention program has issued nearly 500 grants totaling more than $50 million, which have helped businesses identify, develop and adopt P2 approaches. These approaches have resulted in eliminating 19.8 million metric tons of greenhouse gases, saving 49 billion gallons of water, reducing 917 million pounds of hazardous materials and pollutants, and saving more than $2.2 billion for business.
President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is boosting these efforts by providing a historic $100 million to support the program’s continued efforts. Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, state and Tribal programs that are awarded grants will not be required to provide matching funds, which has helped expand access to these resources and broadened the applicant pool.
For more information about EPA’s Pollution Prevention Grant: Environmental Justice Program, visit EPA's P2 website.
For more information about EPA’s tools for identifying communities that face disproportionate burdens, visit EPA's EJ Screen page.
Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter and visit our Facebook page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.
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“The U.S. Virgin Islands has a rich tapestry of excellent food – whether it be from neighborhood restaurants, food trucks or places geared toward tourists. But these businesses sometimes use single-use plastics and other food containers or implements to serve food that unnecessarily fill up the U.S. Virgin Islands’ landfills,” said Lisa F. Garcia, EPA Regional Administrator. “This federal funding, available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will support a program to give these businesses the help they need to find alternatives and reduce the waste they generate.”
EPA has selected the US Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources to receive $699,000 to provide technical assistance to VI businesses in the food service industry. This includes restaurants, bars, food trucks, concessions, marinas, charter boats, and other distributors. The project will expand on the existing VI Clean Coasts program, which focuses on significantly reducing the use and disposal of single-use plastics, polystyrene, and other pollution. The VIDPNR will conduct site visits and help develop source reduction plan and evaluate facility results. The project also will engage stakeholders and gather community input. Information will be taken in part from a literature review of tourism and food service pollution prevention. The proposed project reduces people’s exposure to harmful chemicals and waste, especially in historically marginalized, underserved, and overburdened communities across the Virgin Islands.
"The VI Clean Coasts program was implemented in 2018 with the intended goal of assisting small businesses with eliminating the use of expanded polystyrene. We are proud that six years later it has become an invaluable tool for the territory in ridding our islands from single use plastics and other harmful pollutants,” said U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources Commissioner Jean-Pierre L. Oriol. “With the expansion made possible with this grant we are excited to continue this work for the health of our people and environment.”
“I am pleased to join the Environmental Protection Agency in announcing this consequential investment. The Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources will receive $699,000 from the EPA’s Pollution Prevention Grants to Advance Environmental Justice, which will provide pollution prevention technical assistance to businesses in the Virgin Islands in order to improve human health and the environment in disadvantaged communities,” said Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett. “I am grateful for EPA Administrator Michael Regan’s support and to the Biden-Harris Administration for their commitment to the Justice40 Initiative, which aims to deliver 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. This funding will go towards improving the resiliency and infrastructure of our community, enabling us to take a proactive approach towards pollution prevention.”
The Environmental Justice in Communities grant program will provide pollution prevention technical assistance to businesses to improve human health and the environment in disadvantaged communities. The Environmental Justice Through Safer and More Sustainable Products grant program will assist businesses to increase the supply, demand, and use of safer and more sustainable products, such as those certified by EPA’s Safer Choice program, or that conform to EPA’s Recommendations for Specifications, Standards and Ecolabels for Federal Purchasing.
EPA’s Pollution Prevention Grant Program advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to deliver 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.
Ensuring greater availability and use of safer and more sustainable products can reduce harmful chemical exposures and their human health and the environmental impacts in disadvantaged communities and create a more sustainable and accessible marketplace. These efforts will continue to benefit businesses and communities across the nation by capturing what works and what can be adjusted in other communities. Recipients will share successful practices that are new or not widely known, as well as lessons learned, so that future businesses and communities can continue to innovate.
EPA anticipates awarding the grants once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied.
Background:
The United States generates millions of tons of pollution each year and spends billions of dollars per year controlling this pollution. Once in our environment, this pollution harms human and environmental health, which disproportionally impacts underserved communities. Preventing pollution at the source, also known as P2 or source reduction, rather than managing waste after it is produced, is an important part of the solution landscape, and advances a sustainable infrastructure that supports local economies while better protecting public health and the environment. P2 practices can reduce exposure to toxic chemicals, conserve natural resources, and reduce cleanup and financial costs for businesses, particularly for waste management and environmental liability. Practicing P2 is essential for protecting public health and improving environmental conditions in and around disadvantaged communities that have long been overburdened by pollution.
Between 2011-2021, EPA’s Pollution Prevention program has issued nearly 500 grants totaling more than $50 million, which have helped businesses identify, develop and adopt P2 approaches. These approaches have resulted in eliminating 19.8 million metric tons of greenhouse gases, saving 49 billion gallons of water, reducing 917 million pounds of hazardous materials and pollutants, and saving more than $2.2 billion for business.
President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is boosting these efforts by providing a historic $100 million to support the program’s continued efforts. Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, state and Tribal programs that are awarded grants will not be required to provide matching funds, which has helped expand access to these resources and broadened the applicant pool.
For more information about EPA’s Pollution Prevention Grant: Environmental Justice Program, visit EPA's P2 website.
For more information about EPA’s tools for identifying communities that face disproportionate burdens, visit EPA's EJ Screen page.
Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter and visit our Facebook page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.
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EPA Celebrates Historic Brownfields Investments with Greater Pittsburgh Area Grantees
PITTSBURGH (October 12, 2023) - Following a May announcement that over $14 million in Brownfields funding was being awarded in Pennsylvania, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz joined local environmental and community leaders in Pittsburgh today to celebrate the historic investment.
Awarded through the Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund and Cleanup (MARC) Grant Program, the North Side Industrial Development Company (NSIDC) and the Young Preservationists Association of Pittsburgh (YPA) will collectively invest $1 million in the Greater Pittsburgh area to conduct 30 Phase I and 23 Phase II environmental site assessments, prepare seven cleanup plans, and conduct community outreach and engagement activities that will help transform sites back into safe and productive reuse.
“EPA’s Brownfields grants have transformed neighborhoods across the country, and thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Allegheny County is seeing more money than ever invested in assessing and cleaning up abandoned properties,” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. “These assessment grants are often the first step towards cleaner, greener, and safer spaces and EPA is proud to play a role in that.”
Announced at a site on Perrysville Avenue in the Perry Hilltop Neighborhood of the City, EPA joined leaders from NSIDC and YPA, along with city, county, and local stakeholders to celebrate this investment and look towards the future. The site, while presently vacant, is expected to one day be a community center and day care. As part of the Urban Development Authority’s Avenues of Hope program, Perrysville Avenue will also leverage federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars to transform the corridor into a vibrant, safe, diverse, and culture-rich hub.
"Our team at NSIDC is very excited to continue our economic development work utilizing this $500,000 EPA Brownfield Assessment Grant throughout the Pittsburgh region. It's these types of investments from the Federal Government that allows forgotten communities to be a part of equitable growth of the economy," said Juan Garrett, Executive Director, North Side Industrial Development Company.
As part of President’s Biden’s Investing in America Agenda to grow the American economy from the bottom up and middle out – EPA’s Brownfields Program is helping more communities than ever before begin to address the economic, social, and environmental challenges caused by brownfields and stimulate economic opportunity and environmental reutilization in historically overburdened communities.
“Young Preservationists Association (YPA) is honored to stand with EPA as a conduit of these resources that will be of service to so many. Our sincerest thanks go to the Mayor of McKeesport, Mike Cherepko, and his team for their partnering with us on this important work and for their belief in our mission of economic development through historic preservation. In addition to our thanks to the EPA we would also like to thank our Board of Directors and the Allegheny Foundation for their kind and generous support," said Matthew Craig, Executive Director of the Young Preservationists Association of Pittsburgh.
"This monumental investment by the EPA in the Greater Pittsburgh area underscores the importance of collective action, converging government and community organizations, to revitalize and repurpose our brownfield sites. As we witness these funds coming into our communities, we are not just seeing the physical transformation of neglected spaces, but also sewing the seeds of opportunity, sustainability, and environmental justice into the very fabric of our neighborhoods. It is crucial that we continue to channel our energies and resources into initiatives like the MARC Grant Program, ensuring that all communities, especially those that have borne the brunt of economic and environmental disparities, are given the chance to flourish. The collaborative work we engage in today is paving the way for a greener, more equitable tomorrow for the people of Western Pennsylvania,” said U.S. Congresswoman Summer Lee.
Many communities that are under economic stress, particularly those located in areas that have experienced long periods of disinvestment, lack the resources needed to initiate brownfield cleanup and redevelopment projects. As brownfield sites are transformed into community assets, they attract jobs, promote economic revitalization and transform communities into sustainable and environmentally just places.
“The EPA Brownfields Program is a great example of what happens when government and non-profits work together to provide economic re-birth to neighborhoods and communities that have long been neglected. Thanks to the Biden Administration, who believe that stabilization and expansion of communities take place from the bottom up and middle out this initiative is possible. I can’t wait to see what develops through the initial investment by the North Side Industrial Develop Company (NSIDC) and Young Preservationists Association of Pittsburgh (YAA). Through reclaiming land and putting it to good use, we reclaim neighborhoods and residents,” said Mayor of Pittsburgh Ed Gainey.
You can read more about this year’s MARC Grant selectees in Pennsylvania and other states and Tribes MARC selectees.
From left to right: Joseph Nowak, EPA Region 3 Brownfields & Revitalization Branch; Matthew Craig, Executive Director of the Young Preservationists Association of Pittsburgh; Nancy Noszka, Perry Hilltop Citizens Council; Adam Ortiz, EPA Regional Administrator Region 3; Lateresa Blackwell; Juan Garrett, Executive Director, North Side Industrial Development Company & Nancy Shannon, EPA Region 3 Brownfields & Revitalization Branch.
Awarded through the Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund and Cleanup (MARC) Grant Program, the North Side Industrial Development Company (NSIDC) and the Young Preservationists Association of Pittsburgh (YPA) will collectively invest $1 million in the Greater Pittsburgh area to conduct 30 Phase I and 23 Phase II environmental site assessments, prepare seven cleanup plans, and conduct community outreach and engagement activities that will help transform sites back into safe and productive reuse.
“EPA’s Brownfields grants have transformed neighborhoods across the country, and thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Allegheny County is seeing more money than ever invested in assessing and cleaning up abandoned properties,” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. “These assessment grants are often the first step towards cleaner, greener, and safer spaces and EPA is proud to play a role in that.”
Announced at a site on Perrysville Avenue in the Perry Hilltop Neighborhood of the City, EPA joined leaders from NSIDC and YPA, along with city, county, and local stakeholders to celebrate this investment and look towards the future. The site, while presently vacant, is expected to one day be a community center and day care. As part of the Urban Development Authority’s Avenues of Hope program, Perrysville Avenue will also leverage federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars to transform the corridor into a vibrant, safe, diverse, and culture-rich hub.
"Our team at NSIDC is very excited to continue our economic development work utilizing this $500,000 EPA Brownfield Assessment Grant throughout the Pittsburgh region. It's these types of investments from the Federal Government that allows forgotten communities to be a part of equitable growth of the economy," said Juan Garrett, Executive Director, North Side Industrial Development Company.
As part of President’s Biden’s Investing in America Agenda to grow the American economy from the bottom up and middle out – EPA’s Brownfields Program is helping more communities than ever before begin to address the economic, social, and environmental challenges caused by brownfields and stimulate economic opportunity and environmental reutilization in historically overburdened communities.
“Young Preservationists Association (YPA) is honored to stand with EPA as a conduit of these resources that will be of service to so many. Our sincerest thanks go to the Mayor of McKeesport, Mike Cherepko, and his team for their partnering with us on this important work and for their belief in our mission of economic development through historic preservation. In addition to our thanks to the EPA we would also like to thank our Board of Directors and the Allegheny Foundation for their kind and generous support," said Matthew Craig, Executive Director of the Young Preservationists Association of Pittsburgh.
"This monumental investment by the EPA in the Greater Pittsburgh area underscores the importance of collective action, converging government and community organizations, to revitalize and repurpose our brownfield sites. As we witness these funds coming into our communities, we are not just seeing the physical transformation of neglected spaces, but also sewing the seeds of opportunity, sustainability, and environmental justice into the very fabric of our neighborhoods. It is crucial that we continue to channel our energies and resources into initiatives like the MARC Grant Program, ensuring that all communities, especially those that have borne the brunt of economic and environmental disparities, are given the chance to flourish. The collaborative work we engage in today is paving the way for a greener, more equitable tomorrow for the people of Western Pennsylvania,” said U.S. Congresswoman Summer Lee.
Many communities that are under economic stress, particularly those located in areas that have experienced long periods of disinvestment, lack the resources needed to initiate brownfield cleanup and redevelopment projects. As brownfield sites are transformed into community assets, they attract jobs, promote economic revitalization and transform communities into sustainable and environmentally just places.
“The EPA Brownfields Program is a great example of what happens when government and non-profits work together to provide economic re-birth to neighborhoods and communities that have long been neglected. Thanks to the Biden Administration, who believe that stabilization and expansion of communities take place from the bottom up and middle out this initiative is possible. I can’t wait to see what develops through the initial investment by the North Side Industrial Develop Company (NSIDC) and Young Preservationists Association of Pittsburgh (YAA). Through reclaiming land and putting it to good use, we reclaim neighborhoods and residents,” said Mayor of Pittsburgh Ed Gainey.
You can read more about this year’s MARC Grant selectees in Pennsylvania and other states and Tribes MARC selectees.
From left to right: Joseph Nowak, EPA Region 3 Brownfields & Revitalization Branch; Matthew Craig, Executive Director of the Young Preservationists Association of Pittsburgh; Nancy Noszka, Perry Hilltop Citizens Council; Adam Ortiz, EPA Regional Administrator Region 3; Lateresa Blackwell; Juan Garrett, Executive Director, North Side Industrial Development Company & Nancy Shannon, EPA Region 3 Brownfields & Revitalization Branch.
Biden-Harris Administration Selects West Virginia University to Receive $800,000 Pollution Prevention Grant to Advance Environmental Justice
PHILADELPHIA (Oct. 12, 2023) - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced West Virginia University has been selected to receive a $800,000 pollution prevention grant through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, a key pillar of Bidenomics. The funding is made possible by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and will go to develop and adopt practices that prevent pollution at the source in local communities.
West Virginia University’s proposed project will provide technical assistance to industrial facilities in disadvantaged communities in the state to encourage businesses to promote reducing and preventing pollution at the source. Technical assistance will include onsite and remote assessments and assistance with pollution prevention (P2) recommendations, training, and development of P2 best practices, toolkits, training videos, self‐guided modules, and interactive media. The proposed project will improve human health and the environment in disadvantaged communities by improving energy efficiency, minimizing waste streams, and reducing air pollution and the facilities’ carbon footprint.
“Achieving lasting environmental justice requires community-driven solutions boosted by federal resources,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “President Biden has secured historic levels of funding to address environmental harms in vulnerable communities under his Investing in America agenda. These dollars have supercharged our ability to empower a wide range of businesses from across the country to deploy solutions that prevent pollution while strengthening economic growth.”
“This funding to West Virginia University is yet another investment the Biden-Harris Administration is making to improve the health and future of communities across the Mountain State,” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. “Getting businesses committed to reducing pollution and shrinking their carbon footprint will help create healthier, stronger and more sustainable communities.”
“West Virginia University continues to make our state proud with innovative projects that strengthen environmental and public health,” said Senator Joe Manchin, Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “The funding announced today will assist West Virginia businesses in adopting cost-effective pollution reduction strategies, improving their energy efficiency and reducing waste. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continues to deliver meaningful investments for the Mountain State, and I will continue advocating for resources that enhance the health and well-being of our communities.”
The Environmental Justice in Communities grant program will provide pollution prevention technical assistance to businesses to improve human health and the environment in disadvantaged communities.
EPA’s Pollution Prevention Grant Program advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to deliver 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.
EPA anticipates awarding the grants once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied.
Background:
The United States generates millions of tons of pollution each year and spends billions of dollars per year controlling this pollution. Once in our environment, this pollution harms human and environmental health, which disproportionally impacts underserved communities. Preventing pollution at the source, also known as P2 or source reduction, rather than managing waste after it is produced, is an important part of the solution landscape, and advances a sustainable infrastructure that supports local economies while better protecting public health and the environment. P2 practices can reduce exposure to toxic chemicals, conserve natural resources, and reduce cleanup and financial costs for businesses, particularly for waste management and environmental liability. Practicing P2 is essential for protecting public health and improving environmental conditions in and around disadvantaged communities that have long been overburdened by pollution.
Between 2011-2021, EPA’s Pollution Prevention program has issued nearly 500 grants totaling more than $50 million, which have helped businesses identify, develop and adopt P2 approaches. These approaches have resulted in eliminating 19.8 million metric tons of greenhouse gases, saving 49 billion gallons of water, reducing 917 million pounds of hazardous materials and pollutants, and saving more than $2.2 billion for business.
President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure is boosting these efforts by providing a historic $100 million to support the program’s continued efforts. Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, state and Tribal programs that are awarded grants will not be required to provide matching funds, which has helped expand access to these resources and broadened the applicant pool.
Read more about P2 and the P2 Grant Program.
West Virginia University’s proposed project will provide technical assistance to industrial facilities in disadvantaged communities in the state to encourage businesses to promote reducing and preventing pollution at the source. Technical assistance will include onsite and remote assessments and assistance with pollution prevention (P2) recommendations, training, and development of P2 best practices, toolkits, training videos, self‐guided modules, and interactive media. The proposed project will improve human health and the environment in disadvantaged communities by improving energy efficiency, minimizing waste streams, and reducing air pollution and the facilities’ carbon footprint.
“Achieving lasting environmental justice requires community-driven solutions boosted by federal resources,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “President Biden has secured historic levels of funding to address environmental harms in vulnerable communities under his Investing in America agenda. These dollars have supercharged our ability to empower a wide range of businesses from across the country to deploy solutions that prevent pollution while strengthening economic growth.”
“This funding to West Virginia University is yet another investment the Biden-Harris Administration is making to improve the health and future of communities across the Mountain State,” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. “Getting businesses committed to reducing pollution and shrinking their carbon footprint will help create healthier, stronger and more sustainable communities.”
“West Virginia University continues to make our state proud with innovative projects that strengthen environmental and public health,” said Senator Joe Manchin, Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “The funding announced today will assist West Virginia businesses in adopting cost-effective pollution reduction strategies, improving their energy efficiency and reducing waste. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continues to deliver meaningful investments for the Mountain State, and I will continue advocating for resources that enhance the health and well-being of our communities.”
The Environmental Justice in Communities grant program will provide pollution prevention technical assistance to businesses to improve human health and the environment in disadvantaged communities.
EPA’s Pollution Prevention Grant Program advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to deliver 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.
EPA anticipates awarding the grants once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied.
Background:
The United States generates millions of tons of pollution each year and spends billions of dollars per year controlling this pollution. Once in our environment, this pollution harms human and environmental health, which disproportionally impacts underserved communities. Preventing pollution at the source, also known as P2 or source reduction, rather than managing waste after it is produced, is an important part of the solution landscape, and advances a sustainable infrastructure that supports local economies while better protecting public health and the environment. P2 practices can reduce exposure to toxic chemicals, conserve natural resources, and reduce cleanup and financial costs for businesses, particularly for waste management and environmental liability. Practicing P2 is essential for protecting public health and improving environmental conditions in and around disadvantaged communities that have long been overburdened by pollution.
Between 2011-2021, EPA’s Pollution Prevention program has issued nearly 500 grants totaling more than $50 million, which have helped businesses identify, develop and adopt P2 approaches. These approaches have resulted in eliminating 19.8 million metric tons of greenhouse gases, saving 49 billion gallons of water, reducing 917 million pounds of hazardous materials and pollutants, and saving more than $2.2 billion for business.
President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure is boosting these efforts by providing a historic $100 million to support the program’s continued efforts. Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, state and Tribal programs that are awarded grants will not be required to provide matching funds, which has helped expand access to these resources and broadened the applicant pool.
Read more about P2 and the P2 Grant Program.