EPA awards nearly $100,000 to student team at the University of Alabama in Huntsville for safer drinking water research
ATLANTA (September 11, 2023) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as part of its People, Prosperity and the Planet (P3) Program, announced $99,998 in research grant funding to the University of Alabama in Huntsville to develop a low-cost household water filter that removes PFAS. This project will help promote clean drinking water supplies, particularly in small, rural, Tribal and disadvantaged communities.
“These students are leading the way when it comes to developing cutting-edge research to address PFAS, which is a top priority for our Agency and country,” said Chris Frey, Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Research and Development. “I’m excited to see how EPA’s P3 funding can support this potential solution to help ensure clean drinking water especially among our disadvantaged communities.”
“PFAS and other emerging contaminants in drinking water are a challenge for communities across the Southeast region and beyond,” said Acting EPA Region 4 Administrator, Jeaneanne Gettle “We congratulate the University of Alabama’s student team in Huntsville on their project to develop a low-cost household water filter that removes PFAS. This promising research supports our goal of making sure everyone – including our most vulnerable populations – can access clean, safe drinking water.”
The funding announced today will support students from the University of Alabama in Huntsville as they study the use of a hybrid bio-based adsorbent technology for the point-of-use (POU) removal of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in homes and offices. Given the widespread contamination of drinking water sources by PFAS, POU treatment can represent an inexpensive and immediate solution which may be particularly useful for small, rural, Tribal, and disadvantaged communities.
This award is part of EPA’s two-phase P3 grant competition for college students that offers hands-on experience that brings their classroom learning to life, while also allowing them to promote tangible changes in their communities. Phase I serve as a “proof of concept,” where teams are awarded a one-year grant of up to $25,000 to develop their idea. These teams are then eligible to compete for a Phase II grant of up to $100,000 to implement their design in a real-world setting.
The winning project from the team at the University of Alabama in Huntsville is one of five total P3 Phase II awards that were made under the same funding announcement. The other four winning projects were announced in 2022.
To learn more about the winners, visit: www.epa.gov/P3/16th-annual-p3-grant-recipients
For more information on the P3 Program, visit: www.epa.gov/P3
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“These students are leading the way when it comes to developing cutting-edge research to address PFAS, which is a top priority for our Agency and country,” said Chris Frey, Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Research and Development. “I’m excited to see how EPA’s P3 funding can support this potential solution to help ensure clean drinking water especially among our disadvantaged communities.”
“PFAS and other emerging contaminants in drinking water are a challenge for communities across the Southeast region and beyond,” said Acting EPA Region 4 Administrator, Jeaneanne Gettle “We congratulate the University of Alabama’s student team in Huntsville on their project to develop a low-cost household water filter that removes PFAS. This promising research supports our goal of making sure everyone – including our most vulnerable populations – can access clean, safe drinking water.”
The funding announced today will support students from the University of Alabama in Huntsville as they study the use of a hybrid bio-based adsorbent technology for the point-of-use (POU) removal of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in homes and offices. Given the widespread contamination of drinking water sources by PFAS, POU treatment can represent an inexpensive and immediate solution which may be particularly useful for small, rural, Tribal, and disadvantaged communities.
This award is part of EPA’s two-phase P3 grant competition for college students that offers hands-on experience that brings their classroom learning to life, while also allowing them to promote tangible changes in their communities. Phase I serve as a “proof of concept,” where teams are awarded a one-year grant of up to $25,000 to develop their idea. These teams are then eligible to compete for a Phase II grant of up to $100,000 to implement their design in a real-world setting.
The winning project from the team at the University of Alabama in Huntsville is one of five total P3 Phase II awards that were made under the same funding announcement. The other four winning projects were announced in 2022.
To learn more about the winners, visit: www.epa.gov/P3/16th-annual-p3-grant-recipients
For more information on the P3 Program, visit: www.epa.gov/P3
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Anaerobic Digestion on the Farm Conference Registration Now Open
LENEXA, KAN. (SEPT. 11, 2023) – Today, U.S. EPA Region 7, Iowa State University, and the University of Iowa announced that registration is now open for the upcoming conference titled Anaerobic Digestion on the Farm – Optimizing Environmental and Economic Outcomes for Rural Communities and Beyond.
EPA and the universities will host the conference Nov. 6-8, 2023, at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. A full conference agenda and registration information are available on EPA’s conference webpage.
The conference will feature presentations, exhibits, and discussion panel sessions covering a variety of anaerobic digestion topics. The conference will also include virtual tours of anaerobic digestion facilities and a poster session. EPA, Iowa State University, and the University of Iowa are accepting submissions for the poster session until Sept. 22, 2023. Please see the conference webpage for details.
Several keynote speakers, including Jamie Burr, Marcelo Mena-Carrasco, and Rudi Roeslein, will headline the conference. Additional keynote speakers may be announced in the future.
Jamie Burr is the chief sustainability officer for the National Pork Board. He has served on several state and national policy workgroups and industry committees, including EPA’s Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Federal Advisory Committee. Burr is currently a commissioner with the Natural Resources Division of the Arkansas Department of Agriculture.
Marcelo Mena-Carrasco is CEO of the Global Methane Hub, an international alliance for developing and implementing global methane reduction solutions. In 2021, he launched the Global Methane Pledge with over 110 countries, including the U.S., signing on to reduce methane emissions by more than 30% by 2030. Previously, Mena-Carrasco served as climate change advisor and practice manager for the World Bank, as minister and vice minister for the environment in Chile, and as co-chair for the Climate and Clean Air Coalition.
Rudi Roeslein is founder and CEO of Roeslein & Associates (1990) and sister company Roeslein Alternative Energy (2012). Roeslein and RAE develop and operate renewable energy production facilities that convert agricultural and industrial wastes, along with renewable biomass feedstocks, into renewable natural gas and sustainable co-products.
Anaerobic digestion is the natural process in which microorganisms break down organic materials in a sealed reactor without oxygen. Organic inputs may include a variety of materials, such as animal manure, dedicated grassy biomass, food waste, and wastewater biosolids. Outputs include methane-rich biogas and digestate, which may be used to make a variety of products, such as soil amendments, fertilizer, animal bedding, electricity, heat, and vehicle fuel.
Additional information regarding the upcoming conference is available on EPA’s webpage.
# # #
Learn more about EPA Region 7
View all Region 7 news releases
Connect with EPA Region 7 on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter: @EPARegion7
EPA and the universities will host the conference Nov. 6-8, 2023, at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. A full conference agenda and registration information are available on EPA’s conference webpage.
The conference will feature presentations, exhibits, and discussion panel sessions covering a variety of anaerobic digestion topics. The conference will also include virtual tours of anaerobic digestion facilities and a poster session. EPA, Iowa State University, and the University of Iowa are accepting submissions for the poster session until Sept. 22, 2023. Please see the conference webpage for details.
Several keynote speakers, including Jamie Burr, Marcelo Mena-Carrasco, and Rudi Roeslein, will headline the conference. Additional keynote speakers may be announced in the future.
Jamie Burr is the chief sustainability officer for the National Pork Board. He has served on several state and national policy workgroups and industry committees, including EPA’s Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Federal Advisory Committee. Burr is currently a commissioner with the Natural Resources Division of the Arkansas Department of Agriculture.
Marcelo Mena-Carrasco is CEO of the Global Methane Hub, an international alliance for developing and implementing global methane reduction solutions. In 2021, he launched the Global Methane Pledge with over 110 countries, including the U.S., signing on to reduce methane emissions by more than 30% by 2030. Previously, Mena-Carrasco served as climate change advisor and practice manager for the World Bank, as minister and vice minister for the environment in Chile, and as co-chair for the Climate and Clean Air Coalition.
Rudi Roeslein is founder and CEO of Roeslein & Associates (1990) and sister company Roeslein Alternative Energy (2012). Roeslein and RAE develop and operate renewable energy production facilities that convert agricultural and industrial wastes, along with renewable biomass feedstocks, into renewable natural gas and sustainable co-products.
Anaerobic digestion is the natural process in which microorganisms break down organic materials in a sealed reactor without oxygen. Organic inputs may include a variety of materials, such as animal manure, dedicated grassy biomass, food waste, and wastewater biosolids. Outputs include methane-rich biogas and digestate, which may be used to make a variety of products, such as soil amendments, fertilizer, animal bedding, electricity, heat, and vehicle fuel.
Additional information regarding the upcoming conference is available on EPA’s webpage.
# # #
Learn more about EPA Region 7
View all Region 7 news releases
Connect with EPA Region 7 on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter: @EPARegion7
SSA aims for US Gulf, Southeast port growth as Ceres deal closes: CEO
The head of terminal operator SSA Marine says ports along the US Gulf and Southeast have a strong cost advantage over the West Coast that is fueling their growth, with that gap only expected to widen.
Statement by Secretary Vilsack Regarding India’s Reduction In Tariffs on Agricultural Products
WASHINGTON, Sept. 8, 2023 – U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack issued the following statement today in response to the announcement by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) that India has agreed to reduce tariffs on key U.S. agricultural products:
QB 23-301 2024 Refined Sugar
Commodity:
Refined Sugar provided for in Chapter 17, Additional U.S. Note 5
Quota Period:
October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024
Opening Date:
Monday, October 2, 2023 at 12:00 PM Eastern Time (ET).
This Quota is Expected to Oversubscribe…
Refined Sugar provided for in Chapter 17, Additional U.S. Note 5
Quota Period:
October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024
Opening Date:
Monday, October 2, 2023 at 12:00 PM Eastern Time (ET).
This Quota is Expected to Oversubscribe…
EPA New England Awards Over $1.28M to New England Tribes for Comprehensive, Economy-wide Climate Mitigation Planning
BOSTON (Sept. 8, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Region 1 has awarded a total of $1,285,120 million from the agency's Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) program to seven New England tribes.
The awards will fund the development of plans and innovative strategies to cut climate pollution and build clean energy economies for Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, Mohegan Tribe, Passamaquoddy Tribe at Indian Township, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, Narragansett Indian Tribe, Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head Aquinnah, and the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians which is working in partnership with Mi'kmaq Nation and Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant Point. Working in tandem with other programs also funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, CPRG provides flexible planning resources to local governments, states, Tribes and territories for climate solutions that protect communities from pollution and advance environmental justice.
"Congratulations to the seven of our 10 federally-recognized Tribes in New England for receiving almost $1.3 million to develop comprehensive strategies to address climate change, reduce local air pollution, and build clean energy economies in their Tribal lands," said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, and the Biden-Harris Administration's Investing in America agenda, our Tribal nations will be meaningfully engaged to ensure they benefit from the creation of good jobs, lower energy costs, and cleaner air through the climate pollution mitigation measures planned through these grants."
A total of $25 million was made available to tribes and tribal consortia across the country. This funding for climate planning will be followed later this year by a national grant competition for $4.6 billion in implementation grant funding that will support the expeditious implementation of investment-ready policies, programs and projects outlined in the CPRG planning grants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the near term.About the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program
On March 1, EPA announced the availability of these funds, which are the first series of climate pollution funding opportunities for states, local governments, territories and Tribes under Section 60114 of the Inflation Reduction Act. The CPRG planning grants will support states, territories, Tribes, municipalities, and air agencies, in the creation of comprehensive, innovative strategies for reducing pollution and ensuring that investments maximize benefits, especially for low-income and disadvantaged communities. Through the CPRG program, EPA will support the development and deployment of technologies and solutions that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and harmful air pollution, as well as transition America to a clean energy economy that benefits all Americans.
Climate plans will include:
Greenhouse gas emissions inventories.
Emissions projections and reduction targets.
Economic, health, and social benefits, including to low-income and disadvantaged communities.
Plans to leverage other sources of federal funding, including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act.
Workforce needs to support decarbonization and a clean energy economy.
Future government staffing and budget needs.
More information
Climate Pollution Reduction Grants
CPRG Planning Grant Program Guidances
Sign up for notifications about the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants
If you have questions about the CPRG program, please contact your EPA regional representative or email CPRG@epa.gov.
The awards will fund the development of plans and innovative strategies to cut climate pollution and build clean energy economies for Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, Mohegan Tribe, Passamaquoddy Tribe at Indian Township, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, Narragansett Indian Tribe, Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head Aquinnah, and the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians which is working in partnership with Mi'kmaq Nation and Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant Point. Working in tandem with other programs also funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, CPRG provides flexible planning resources to local governments, states, Tribes and territories for climate solutions that protect communities from pollution and advance environmental justice.
"Congratulations to the seven of our 10 federally-recognized Tribes in New England for receiving almost $1.3 million to develop comprehensive strategies to address climate change, reduce local air pollution, and build clean energy economies in their Tribal lands," said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, and the Biden-Harris Administration's Investing in America agenda, our Tribal nations will be meaningfully engaged to ensure they benefit from the creation of good jobs, lower energy costs, and cleaner air through the climate pollution mitigation measures planned through these grants."
A total of $25 million was made available to tribes and tribal consortia across the country. This funding for climate planning will be followed later this year by a national grant competition for $4.6 billion in implementation grant funding that will support the expeditious implementation of investment-ready policies, programs and projects outlined in the CPRG planning grants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the near term.About the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program
On March 1, EPA announced the availability of these funds, which are the first series of climate pollution funding opportunities for states, local governments, territories and Tribes under Section 60114 of the Inflation Reduction Act. The CPRG planning grants will support states, territories, Tribes, municipalities, and air agencies, in the creation of comprehensive, innovative strategies for reducing pollution and ensuring that investments maximize benefits, especially for low-income and disadvantaged communities. Through the CPRG program, EPA will support the development and deployment of technologies and solutions that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and harmful air pollution, as well as transition America to a clean energy economy that benefits all Americans.
Climate plans will include:
Greenhouse gas emissions inventories.
Emissions projections and reduction targets.
Economic, health, and social benefits, including to low-income and disadvantaged communities.
Plans to leverage other sources of federal funding, including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act.
Workforce needs to support decarbonization and a clean energy economy.
Future government staffing and budget needs.
More information
Climate Pollution Reduction Grants
CPRG Planning Grant Program Guidances
Sign up for notifications about the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants
If you have questions about the CPRG program, please contact your EPA regional representative or email CPRG@epa.gov.
EPA Calls for Nominations for 2024 Green Chemistry Challenge Awards
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it is now accepting nominations for the 2024 Green Chemistry Challenge Awards from companies or institutions that have developed a new green chemistry process or product that helps protect human health and the environment. EPA's efforts to speed the adoption of this revolutionary and diverse discipline have led to significant environmental benefits, innovation, and a strengthened economy. The awards program highlights green chemistry that helps prevent pollution before it is even created, making it a preferred approach for providing solutions to some of the nation's most significant environmental challenges.
“Green Chemistry continues to be a leading and innovative field that demonstrates how cutting-edge technologies can be used to prevent pollution at its source,” said EPA Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Deputy Assistant Administrator for Pollution Prevention Jennie Romer. “New this year, an award category was added to recognize technology that promotes circularity through green chemistry and design of greener chemicals and materials which can be readily recycled or reused. We are excited to recognize innovation in avoiding plastics added to landfills after just one use, considering how challenging and costly they are to reuse or recycle.”
Nominations are due to EPA by Dec. 8, 2023. An independent panel of technical experts convened by the American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute will formally judge the 2024 nominations and make recommendations to EPA for the 2024 winners. EPA anticipates giving awards to outstanding green chemistry technologies in six categories in fall 2024.
Additionally, EPA is announcing a webinar to be held on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023, from 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. EDT, to educate stakeholders on the Green Chemistry Challenge Awards and the nomination process. Register for the webinar.
Since the inception of the awards more than a quarter century ago, EPA has received more than 1,800 nominations and presented awards for 133 technologies that decrease hazardous chemicals and resources, reduce costs, protect human health, and spur economic growth. Winning technologies are responsible for annually reducing the use or generation of hundreds of millions of pounds of hazardous chemicals, saving billions of gallons of water, and eliminating billions of pounds of carbon dioxide equivalents.
More information on past award winners and how to submit entries can be found on EPA’s Green Chemistry website.
“Green Chemistry continues to be a leading and innovative field that demonstrates how cutting-edge technologies can be used to prevent pollution at its source,” said EPA Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Deputy Assistant Administrator for Pollution Prevention Jennie Romer. “New this year, an award category was added to recognize technology that promotes circularity through green chemistry and design of greener chemicals and materials which can be readily recycled or reused. We are excited to recognize innovation in avoiding plastics added to landfills after just one use, considering how challenging and costly they are to reuse or recycle.”
Nominations are due to EPA by Dec. 8, 2023. An independent panel of technical experts convened by the American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute will formally judge the 2024 nominations and make recommendations to EPA for the 2024 winners. EPA anticipates giving awards to outstanding green chemistry technologies in six categories in fall 2024.
Additionally, EPA is announcing a webinar to be held on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023, from 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. EDT, to educate stakeholders on the Green Chemistry Challenge Awards and the nomination process. Register for the webinar.
Since the inception of the awards more than a quarter century ago, EPA has received more than 1,800 nominations and presented awards for 133 technologies that decrease hazardous chemicals and resources, reduce costs, protect human health, and spur economic growth. Winning technologies are responsible for annually reducing the use or generation of hundreds of millions of pounds of hazardous chemicals, saving billions of gallons of water, and eliminating billions of pounds of carbon dioxide equivalents.
More information on past award winners and how to submit entries can be found on EPA’s Green Chemistry website.
EPA Adds Oklahoma Site to Superfund National Priorities List
DALLAS, TEXAS (September 8, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it is finalizing adding Oklahoma’s Fansteel Metals/FMRI Superfund site to the National Priorities List (NPL). This list contains sites throughout the United States and its territories where releases of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants pose significant threats to human health and the environment.
“Finalizing the Fansteel Metals/FMRI site to the National Priorities List will help protect the people and environment of Muskogee,” said Regional Administrator Dr. Earthea Nance. “Part of the historic amounts of funding through the Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will now be available for remediation, outreach, and cleanup efforts at this site. I would like to thank our state partners and Muskogee residents for their patience as we continue to work together to remove the hazardous substances from this site.”
The Fansteel Metals/FMRI site in Muskogee, Oklahoma, encompasses 105 acres along the Arkansas River. This area is also within the historic boundaries of the Cherokee Nation land. The site operated between the years of 1956 to 1989, producing metals from uranium ore. The residue from these operations was disposed of in acidic ponds. Over the years, the groundwater near the facility became contaminated with metal residue. A water treatment system is in place, but funding for the system is expected to run out next year. The state of Oklahoma referred the site to EPA to ensure the water treatment system remains in place to prevent contaminated water from potentially leaking into the Arkansas River.
EPA is adding the following sites to the National Priorities List:
Federated Metals Corp Whiting in Hammond, Indiana.
Capitol Lakes in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Fansteel Metals/FMRI in Muskogee, Oklahoma.
EPA is proposing to add the following sites to the National Priorities List:
Former Exide Technologies Laureldale in Laureldale, Pennsylvania.
Acme Steel Coke Plant in Chicago, Illinois.
Exide Baton Rouge in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Lot 46 Valley Gardens TCE in Des Moines, Iowa.
Superfund sites disproportionately affect overburdened and underserved communities. All the sites being added or proposed to be added to the National Priorities List are in communities with potential environmental justice concerns based on income, demographic, education, linguistic, and life expectancy data from EJSCREEN. By adding sites to the National Priorities List, EPA is delivering protections to communities that need it the most.
Nationally there are thousands of contaminated sites, from landfills, to processing plants, to manufacturing facilities, due to hazardous waste being dumped, left out in the open, or otherwise improperly managed. The historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law accelerates EPA’s work to clean up this pollution with a $3.5 billion investment in the Superfund Remedial Program. The law also reinstates the Superfund chemical excise taxes, making it one of the largest investments in American history to address legacy pollution.
EPA typically proposes sites to the National Priorities List based on a scientific determination of risks to people and the environment, consistent with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act and the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan. The National Contingency Plan also allows each State to designate a single site as its top priority to be listed on the National Priorities List, without the need to apply a scientific determination. The State of Oklahoma is designating the Fansteel Metals/FMRI site its top-priority site.
Before EPA adds a site to the National Priorities List, a site must meet EPA’s requirements and be proposed for addition to the list in the Federal Register, subject to a 60-day public comment period. EPA will add the site to the National Priorities List if it continues to meet the listing requirements after the public comment period closes and the agency has responded to any comments.
Background:
The National Priorities List includes the nation’s most serious uncontrolled or abandoned releases of contamination. This list serves as the basis for prioritizing EPA Superfund cleanup funding and enforcement actions. Only releases at non-federal sites included on the National Priorities List are eligible to receive federal funding for long-term, permanent cleanup.
Superfund cleanups provide health and economic benefits to communities. The program is credited for significant reductions in both birth defects and blood-lead levels among children living near sites, and research has shown residential property values increase up to 24 percent within three miles of sites after cleanup.
Since taking office, the Biden-Harris Administration has followed through on updating the National Priorities List twice a year, as opposed to once per year. Today’s announcement is the second time EPA is updating the National Priorities List in 2023.
For information about Superfund and the National Priorities List, please visit our webpage. For Federal Register notices and supporting documents for the National Priorities List and proposed sites, please visit the New Proposed and New Superfund National Priorities List Sites
Connect with the Environmental Protection Agency Region 6 on Facebook, Twitter, or visit our homepage.
“Finalizing the Fansteel Metals/FMRI site to the National Priorities List will help protect the people and environment of Muskogee,” said Regional Administrator Dr. Earthea Nance. “Part of the historic amounts of funding through the Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will now be available for remediation, outreach, and cleanup efforts at this site. I would like to thank our state partners and Muskogee residents for their patience as we continue to work together to remove the hazardous substances from this site.”
The Fansteel Metals/FMRI site in Muskogee, Oklahoma, encompasses 105 acres along the Arkansas River. This area is also within the historic boundaries of the Cherokee Nation land. The site operated between the years of 1956 to 1989, producing metals from uranium ore. The residue from these operations was disposed of in acidic ponds. Over the years, the groundwater near the facility became contaminated with metal residue. A water treatment system is in place, but funding for the system is expected to run out next year. The state of Oklahoma referred the site to EPA to ensure the water treatment system remains in place to prevent contaminated water from potentially leaking into the Arkansas River.
EPA is adding the following sites to the National Priorities List:
Federated Metals Corp Whiting in Hammond, Indiana.
Capitol Lakes in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Fansteel Metals/FMRI in Muskogee, Oklahoma.
EPA is proposing to add the following sites to the National Priorities List:
Former Exide Technologies Laureldale in Laureldale, Pennsylvania.
Acme Steel Coke Plant in Chicago, Illinois.
Exide Baton Rouge in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Lot 46 Valley Gardens TCE in Des Moines, Iowa.
Superfund sites disproportionately affect overburdened and underserved communities. All the sites being added or proposed to be added to the National Priorities List are in communities with potential environmental justice concerns based on income, demographic, education, linguistic, and life expectancy data from EJSCREEN. By adding sites to the National Priorities List, EPA is delivering protections to communities that need it the most.
Nationally there are thousands of contaminated sites, from landfills, to processing plants, to manufacturing facilities, due to hazardous waste being dumped, left out in the open, or otherwise improperly managed. The historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law accelerates EPA’s work to clean up this pollution with a $3.5 billion investment in the Superfund Remedial Program. The law also reinstates the Superfund chemical excise taxes, making it one of the largest investments in American history to address legacy pollution.
EPA typically proposes sites to the National Priorities List based on a scientific determination of risks to people and the environment, consistent with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act and the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan. The National Contingency Plan also allows each State to designate a single site as its top priority to be listed on the National Priorities List, without the need to apply a scientific determination. The State of Oklahoma is designating the Fansteel Metals/FMRI site its top-priority site.
Before EPA adds a site to the National Priorities List, a site must meet EPA’s requirements and be proposed for addition to the list in the Federal Register, subject to a 60-day public comment period. EPA will add the site to the National Priorities List if it continues to meet the listing requirements after the public comment period closes and the agency has responded to any comments.
Background:
The National Priorities List includes the nation’s most serious uncontrolled or abandoned releases of contamination. This list serves as the basis for prioritizing EPA Superfund cleanup funding and enforcement actions. Only releases at non-federal sites included on the National Priorities List are eligible to receive federal funding for long-term, permanent cleanup.
Superfund cleanups provide health and economic benefits to communities. The program is credited for significant reductions in both birth defects and blood-lead levels among children living near sites, and research has shown residential property values increase up to 24 percent within three miles of sites after cleanup.
Since taking office, the Biden-Harris Administration has followed through on updating the National Priorities List twice a year, as opposed to once per year. Today’s announcement is the second time EPA is updating the National Priorities List in 2023.
For information about Superfund and the National Priorities List, please visit our webpage. For Federal Register notices and supporting documents for the National Priorities List and proposed sites, please visit the New Proposed and New Superfund National Priorities List Sites
Connect with the Environmental Protection Agency Region 6 on Facebook, Twitter, or visit our homepage.