Secretaries Vilsack and Haaland Applaud President Biden’s Designation of the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument
WASHINGTON, Aug. 8, 2023 — Today, President Biden established the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni - Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument in northern Arizona, an area considered sacred by many Tribal Nations in the Southwest and renowned for its natural, cultural, economic, scientific and historic resources and broad recreation opportunities.
Trade News Snapshot – Volume 5, Issue 5
EAC's Message
Summer is supposed to be a slow time in Washington, DC, but it’s been another busy season at the Office of Trade! On July 31, we celebrated the 234th anniversary of the U.S. Customs Service. Much has changed since the…
Summer is supposed to be a slow time in Washington, DC, but it’s been another busy season at the Office of Trade! On July 31, we celebrated the 234th anniversary of the U.S. Customs Service. Much has changed since the…
Shop Smart this School Season: Business, Law Enforcement Team Up to Educate Americans to Identify, Avoid Counterfeit Goods
WASHINGTON — As students and educators across America gear up to return to campus, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce are on a mission to educate the public. The lesson? To teach students, parents, teachers, and…
United States Orders Mewbourne Oil Company to Pay $5.5 Million and Reduce Unlawful Air Pollution from Oil and Gas Wells in New Mexico and Texas, Eliminating More than 11,000 Tons of Harmful Air Pollutants Annually
WASHINGTON (Aug. 8, 2023) – Mewbourne Oil Company (Mewbourne) has agreed to pay a $5.5 million penalty and undertake projects expected to cost at least $4.6 million to ensure 422 of its oil and gas well pads in New Mexico and Texas comply with state and federal clean air regulations and offset past illegal emissions.
These terms are in settlement of claims alleged in a civil complaint – filed jointly by the United States, on behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) – which alleges that, at more than 100 of its oil and gas production operations in New Mexico and Texas, Mewbourne failed to obtain required state and federal permits; failed to capture and control air emissions from storage vessels; and failed to comply with inspection, monitoring and recordkeeping requirements. EPA and NMED identified the alleged violations through field investigations and repeated flyover surveillance conducted in 2019, 2020, and 2022. Mewbourne’s actions taken pursuant to the deal will eliminate more than 11,000 tons of harmful pollutants from the air each year.
“Today’s settlement will eliminate 11,000 tons of harmful air pollutants annually and ensure that Mewbourne complies with the Clean Air Act,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator Larry Starfield of EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “The result will be cleaner, healthier air for communities in New Mexico and Texas.”
“Good air quality is essential to the health of our communities, and we need to ensure that oil and gas facilities are properly designed, maintained, and monitored in order to meet national standards,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “We will continue to work to improve air quality and public health, including holding oil and gas production operations, like Mewbourne, accountable for their violations of federal and state law.”
“Compliance with air quality regulations is essential to ensure the health of our people and the protection of our environment,” said NMED Cabinet Secretary, James Kenney. “We will continue to conduct oil and gas investigations and aggressively enforce violations.”
In addition to paying a $5.5 million fine – to be shared equally by the United States and the State of New Mexico – the consent decree, filed together with the complaint, requires the company to take numerous steps to ensure that 422 well pads covered by the Decree and located in New Mexico and Texas are operated lawfully. New Mexico’s portion of the fines will be sent to the State of New Mexico’s general fund.
Mewbourne will spend at least $3.6 million to implement extensive design, operation, maintenance, and monitoring improvements, including installing new tank pressure monitoring systems that will provide advance notification of potential emissions and allow for immediate response action by the company.
Mewbourne’s compliance with the consent decree will result in annual reductions of more than 9,900 tons of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and 1,300 tons of methane. VOCs are a key component in the formation of ground-level ozone, a pollutant that irritates the lungs, exacerbates diseases such as asthma, and can increase susceptibility to respiratory illnesses, such as pneumonia and bronchitis.
In addition, as a co-benefit of these reductions, the consent decree will result in significant reductions of greenhouse gas emissions, including reducing methane – a powerful greenhouse gas. 1,300 tons of annual methane reductions equates to more than 33,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2). Eliminating the release of this amount of methane per year is similar to eliminating the annual use of 3.4 million gallons of gasoline. Greenhouse gases from human activities are a primary cause of climate change and global warming. This enforcement effort furthers EPA’s commitment to deliver public health protections against climate-impacting pollution and other pollutants for communities across America and helps deliver on EPA’s top commitment in its strategic plan, which is to tackle the climate crisis.
Mewbourne will also spend at least $1 million to offset the harm caused by the alleged violations by replacing over 2,000 pollutant-emitting pneumatic devices with non-emitting devices on an accelerated schedule. This offset project will reduce VOC emissions over 15 years by approximately 4,500 tons beyond that required by existing regulation.
The Clean Air Act (CAA) requires the EPA to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for criteria pollutants that are considered harmful to public health and the environment. Ozone is a criteria pollutant that is created when oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and VOC react in the atmosphere. VOC and NOx are emitted by oil and gas production facilities, such as those operated by Mewbourne. During the timeframes of Mewbourne’s alleged violations, air quality monitors in the relevant counties in New Mexico registered rising ozone concentrations exceeding 95% of the NAAQS for ozone. In counties where ozone levels reach 95% of the NAAQS, NMED is required by New Mexico state statute to take action to reduce ozone pollution.
Mewbourne is an independent oil and gas producer engaged in the exploration, development, production and acquisition of oil and natural gas resources in the United States. The company is a large producer in the Permian Basin, which is a shale oil and gas producing area located in southeast New Mexico and West Texas.
This settlement is part of EPA’s National Enforcement and Compliance Initiative, Creating Cleaner Air for Communities by Reducing Excess Emissions of Harmful Pollutants.
The consent decree is available for public viewing on the Department of Justice website. The United States will publish a notice of the consent decree’s lodging with the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico in the Federal Register and will accept public comment for 30 days after the notice is published. The Federal Register notice will also include instructions for submitting public comment.
These terms are in settlement of claims alleged in a civil complaint – filed jointly by the United States, on behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) – which alleges that, at more than 100 of its oil and gas production operations in New Mexico and Texas, Mewbourne failed to obtain required state and federal permits; failed to capture and control air emissions from storage vessels; and failed to comply with inspection, monitoring and recordkeeping requirements. EPA and NMED identified the alleged violations through field investigations and repeated flyover surveillance conducted in 2019, 2020, and 2022. Mewbourne’s actions taken pursuant to the deal will eliminate more than 11,000 tons of harmful pollutants from the air each year.
“Today’s settlement will eliminate 11,000 tons of harmful air pollutants annually and ensure that Mewbourne complies with the Clean Air Act,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator Larry Starfield of EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “The result will be cleaner, healthier air for communities in New Mexico and Texas.”
“Good air quality is essential to the health of our communities, and we need to ensure that oil and gas facilities are properly designed, maintained, and monitored in order to meet national standards,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “We will continue to work to improve air quality and public health, including holding oil and gas production operations, like Mewbourne, accountable for their violations of federal and state law.”
“Compliance with air quality regulations is essential to ensure the health of our people and the protection of our environment,” said NMED Cabinet Secretary, James Kenney. “We will continue to conduct oil and gas investigations and aggressively enforce violations.”
In addition to paying a $5.5 million fine – to be shared equally by the United States and the State of New Mexico – the consent decree, filed together with the complaint, requires the company to take numerous steps to ensure that 422 well pads covered by the Decree and located in New Mexico and Texas are operated lawfully. New Mexico’s portion of the fines will be sent to the State of New Mexico’s general fund.
Mewbourne will spend at least $3.6 million to implement extensive design, operation, maintenance, and monitoring improvements, including installing new tank pressure monitoring systems that will provide advance notification of potential emissions and allow for immediate response action by the company.
Mewbourne’s compliance with the consent decree will result in annual reductions of more than 9,900 tons of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and 1,300 tons of methane. VOCs are a key component in the formation of ground-level ozone, a pollutant that irritates the lungs, exacerbates diseases such as asthma, and can increase susceptibility to respiratory illnesses, such as pneumonia and bronchitis.
In addition, as a co-benefit of these reductions, the consent decree will result in significant reductions of greenhouse gas emissions, including reducing methane – a powerful greenhouse gas. 1,300 tons of annual methane reductions equates to more than 33,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2). Eliminating the release of this amount of methane per year is similar to eliminating the annual use of 3.4 million gallons of gasoline. Greenhouse gases from human activities are a primary cause of climate change and global warming. This enforcement effort furthers EPA’s commitment to deliver public health protections against climate-impacting pollution and other pollutants for communities across America and helps deliver on EPA’s top commitment in its strategic plan, which is to tackle the climate crisis.
Mewbourne will also spend at least $1 million to offset the harm caused by the alleged violations by replacing over 2,000 pollutant-emitting pneumatic devices with non-emitting devices on an accelerated schedule. This offset project will reduce VOC emissions over 15 years by approximately 4,500 tons beyond that required by existing regulation.
The Clean Air Act (CAA) requires the EPA to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for criteria pollutants that are considered harmful to public health and the environment. Ozone is a criteria pollutant that is created when oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and VOC react in the atmosphere. VOC and NOx are emitted by oil and gas production facilities, such as those operated by Mewbourne. During the timeframes of Mewbourne’s alleged violations, air quality monitors in the relevant counties in New Mexico registered rising ozone concentrations exceeding 95% of the NAAQS for ozone. In counties where ozone levels reach 95% of the NAAQS, NMED is required by New Mexico state statute to take action to reduce ozone pollution.
Mewbourne is an independent oil and gas producer engaged in the exploration, development, production and acquisition of oil and natural gas resources in the United States. The company is a large producer in the Permian Basin, which is a shale oil and gas producing area located in southeast New Mexico and West Texas.
This settlement is part of EPA’s National Enforcement and Compliance Initiative, Creating Cleaner Air for Communities by Reducing Excess Emissions of Harmful Pollutants.
The consent decree is available for public viewing on the Department of Justice website. The United States will publish a notice of the consent decree’s lodging with the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico in the Federal Register and will accept public comment for 30 days after the notice is published. The Federal Register notice will also include instructions for submitting public comment.
Genentech to Pay Penalty for Claims of Hazardous Waste Violations at South San Francisco Facility
SAN FRANCISCO – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a settlement with Genentech, a biopharmaceutical manufacturer based in South San Francisco, for claims of hazardous waste violations at three locations at its South San Francisco facility. Genentech will pay $158,208 in civil penalties.
In August 2021, EPA inspectors found that Genentech stored waste without a permit and did not meet requirements related to monitoring hazardous waste air emissions, failed to mark equipment and record it correctly, failed to perform required inspections of emissions control equipment, and failed to maintain overfill protection controls for a hazardous waste tank. EPA inspectors also identified hazardous waste manifests that failed to include all necessary federal waste codes.
“When a company fails to comply with hazardous waste storage and monitoring requirements, that company puts workers and communities at risk of harmful exposures,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. “EPA is committed to enforce the laws that keep people safe.”
Hazardous waste that is improperly managed seriously threatens human health and the environment. The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act passed in 1976, requires effective monitoring and control of air emissions from hazardous waste storage tanks, pipes, valves, and other equipment since these emissions can cause adverse health and environmental effects and contribute to climate change.
For more information on EPA enforcement of hazardous waste requirements, visit EPA’s Waste Enforcement webpage.
For more information on the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, visit the EPA’s Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Laws and Regulations webpage.
For more information on EPA’s National Enforcement and Compliance Initiative (NECI): Reducing Hazardous Air Emissions from Hazardous Waste Facilities, visit the webpage.
Learn more about EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.
In August 2021, EPA inspectors found that Genentech stored waste without a permit and did not meet requirements related to monitoring hazardous waste air emissions, failed to mark equipment and record it correctly, failed to perform required inspections of emissions control equipment, and failed to maintain overfill protection controls for a hazardous waste tank. EPA inspectors also identified hazardous waste manifests that failed to include all necessary federal waste codes.
“When a company fails to comply with hazardous waste storage and monitoring requirements, that company puts workers and communities at risk of harmful exposures,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. “EPA is committed to enforce the laws that keep people safe.”
Hazardous waste that is improperly managed seriously threatens human health and the environment. The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act passed in 1976, requires effective monitoring and control of air emissions from hazardous waste storage tanks, pipes, valves, and other equipment since these emissions can cause adverse health and environmental effects and contribute to climate change.
For more information on EPA enforcement of hazardous waste requirements, visit EPA’s Waste Enforcement webpage.
For more information on the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, visit the EPA’s Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Laws and Regulations webpage.
For more information on EPA’s National Enforcement and Compliance Initiative (NECI): Reducing Hazardous Air Emissions from Hazardous Waste Facilities, visit the webpage.
Learn more about EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.
EPA Finalizes Cleanup Plan to Address Newly Discovered Contamination at the Matlack Inc. Superfund Site in NJ
NEW YORK - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized the update to its original cleanup plan for the Matlack, Inc. Superfund site in Woolwich Township, New Jersey. The update to the plan will address a newly discovered source of contamination at the site and will ensure a comprehensive and effective cleanup.
“Following the public meeting and hearing directly from the community, EPA has finalized its cleanup decision for the Matlack, Inc. Superfund site,” said Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “This updated plan will address an additional source of contamination found at the site and will bring us closer to being able to complete the cleanup.”
As a result of past truck maintenance and tanker washing operations at the site, as well as on-site disposal of drums, the soil, sediment, surface water and groundwater are contaminated with volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds, which can potentially harm people’s health.
EPA’s finalized plan for cleaning up the drum disposal area involves a technology called in-situ thermal treatment. In situ (or in place) thermal treatment methods remove harmful chemicals in soil and groundwater using heat. The chemicals move through soil and groundwater toward wells, where they are collected and piped to the ground surface to be treated using other cleanup methods. Some chemicals are destroyed underground during the heating process.
This method is separate from and in addition to EPA’s original 2017 cleanup plan.
On March 29, 2023, EPA proposed this cleanup plan to the public and held a virtual public meeting on April 12, 2023, to explain the plan and take comments. The Record of Decision Amendment released today addresses the comments received and formalizes EPA’s selected cleanup plan for the drum disposal area.
Visit the Matlack, Inc. Superfund site profile page for additional background and site documents.
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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“Following the public meeting and hearing directly from the community, EPA has finalized its cleanup decision for the Matlack, Inc. Superfund site,” said Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “This updated plan will address an additional source of contamination found at the site and will bring us closer to being able to complete the cleanup.”
As a result of past truck maintenance and tanker washing operations at the site, as well as on-site disposal of drums, the soil, sediment, surface water and groundwater are contaminated with volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds, which can potentially harm people’s health.
EPA’s finalized plan for cleaning up the drum disposal area involves a technology called in-situ thermal treatment. In situ (or in place) thermal treatment methods remove harmful chemicals in soil and groundwater using heat. The chemicals move through soil and groundwater toward wells, where they are collected and piped to the ground surface to be treated using other cleanup methods. Some chemicals are destroyed underground during the heating process.
This method is separate from and in addition to EPA’s original 2017 cleanup plan.
On March 29, 2023, EPA proposed this cleanup plan to the public and held a virtual public meeting on April 12, 2023, to explain the plan and take comments. The Record of Decision Amendment released today addresses the comments received and formalizes EPA’s selected cleanup plan for the drum disposal area.
Visit the Matlack, Inc. Superfund site profile page for additional background and site documents.
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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“Blue Carbon Reservoirs from Maine to Long Island NY” Report is now available
BOSTON (Aug. 8, 2023) - Today, EPA New England announced the release and availability of a report that maps "blue carbon” along the northeastern coast.
Blue carbon is the term used to describe carbon stored in coastal and marine salt marshes, seagrass, and mangroves. These aquatic habitats are much more efficient at accumulating/sequestering carbon than terrestrial habitats. An acre of forest will have less sequestered carbon in its soil than the equivalent acre of seagrass, salt marsh or mangrove.
"Healthy, growing seagrass and salt marshes are key to pulling carbon out of the atmosphere where we don't want it, and storing it in vibrant coastal ecosystems, where we do want," said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "These ecosystems are important nursery habitats for many commercial fish and shellfish species. They are also the first line of defense against coastal flooding, which often impacts disadvantaged communities first and worst. The findings from this effort and resulting map products can help inform land and coastal management policies, fisheries management, and climate change mitigation practices."
The findings from this effort and resulting map products can help inform land and coastal management policies, fisheries management, and climate change mitigation practices."
The goal of this effort was to produce a baseline database and map of both vegetated blue carbon habitat acreage and sequestered carbon. Due to data limitations (e.g., sediment core samples are only to a depth of 30 centimeters), the carbon stock estimate represents a mere fraction of the actual quantity of accumulated carbon in these habitats.
The target geographic area has an estimated 218,222 acres of eelgrass meadows and salt marsh, which are estimated to provide a reservoir of 7,523,568 megagrams of blue carbon. Using the EPA greenhouse gas equivalency calculator, this quantity of stored carbon is equivalent to:
The emissions from 5,994,024 passenger vehicles driven in one year.
The burning of 30,521,000,000+ pounds of coal.
The emissions associated with the energy use of 3,474,000 homes for a year.
The emissions offset by the operation of 7,498 wind turbines for a year.
The quantity of carbon accumulated in one year in 32,646,000 acres of upland forest.
Sequestered carbon in New England is predominately from salt marsh habitats, which is a habitat type at great risk due to sea level rise and coastal development.
Background
During the 2017 Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premierhttps://www.northeastoceancouncil.orgs (pdf) (1.1 MB), the management of "blue carbon resources to preserve and enhance their existing carbon reservoirs" was identified as a possible regional climate change action to mitigate and reduce greenhouse gases.
In June 2020, Region 1 initiated an effort to establish a baseline of New England's blue carbon inventory. Working with New England state and federal (USGS and USDA) agencies, academic experts, and non-governmental organizations and utilizing a contract with the Northeast Regional Ocean Council (NROC), datasets of New England's eelgrass meadows and salt marsh habitats (current and historic) and marine soil cores were identified and entered into an interactive map on the Northeast Ocean Data Portal. Soil organic carbon stocks within these marine habitats were also used to calculate blue carbon stocks. The joint effort has been detailed in the "Blue Carbon Reservoirs from Maine to Long Island NY"
Blue carbon is the term used to describe carbon stored in coastal and marine salt marshes, seagrass, and mangroves. These aquatic habitats are much more efficient at accumulating/sequestering carbon than terrestrial habitats. An acre of forest will have less sequestered carbon in its soil than the equivalent acre of seagrass, salt marsh or mangrove.
"Healthy, growing seagrass and salt marshes are key to pulling carbon out of the atmosphere where we don't want it, and storing it in vibrant coastal ecosystems, where we do want," said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "These ecosystems are important nursery habitats for many commercial fish and shellfish species. They are also the first line of defense against coastal flooding, which often impacts disadvantaged communities first and worst. The findings from this effort and resulting map products can help inform land and coastal management policies, fisheries management, and climate change mitigation practices."
The findings from this effort and resulting map products can help inform land and coastal management policies, fisheries management, and climate change mitigation practices."
The goal of this effort was to produce a baseline database and map of both vegetated blue carbon habitat acreage and sequestered carbon. Due to data limitations (e.g., sediment core samples are only to a depth of 30 centimeters), the carbon stock estimate represents a mere fraction of the actual quantity of accumulated carbon in these habitats.
The target geographic area has an estimated 218,222 acres of eelgrass meadows and salt marsh, which are estimated to provide a reservoir of 7,523,568 megagrams of blue carbon. Using the EPA greenhouse gas equivalency calculator, this quantity of stored carbon is equivalent to:
The emissions from 5,994,024 passenger vehicles driven in one year.
The burning of 30,521,000,000+ pounds of coal.
The emissions associated with the energy use of 3,474,000 homes for a year.
The emissions offset by the operation of 7,498 wind turbines for a year.
The quantity of carbon accumulated in one year in 32,646,000 acres of upland forest.
Sequestered carbon in New England is predominately from salt marsh habitats, which is a habitat type at great risk due to sea level rise and coastal development.
Background
During the 2017 Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premierhttps://www.northeastoceancouncil.orgs (pdf) (1.1 MB), the management of "blue carbon resources to preserve and enhance their existing carbon reservoirs" was identified as a possible regional climate change action to mitigate and reduce greenhouse gases.
In June 2020, Region 1 initiated an effort to establish a baseline of New England's blue carbon inventory. Working with New England state and federal (USGS and USDA) agencies, academic experts, and non-governmental organizations and utilizing a contract with the Northeast Regional Ocean Council (NROC), datasets of New England's eelgrass meadows and salt marsh habitats (current and historic) and marine soil cores were identified and entered into an interactive map on the Northeast Ocean Data Portal. Soil organic carbon stocks within these marine habitats were also used to calculate blue carbon stocks. The joint effort has been detailed in the "Blue Carbon Reservoirs from Maine to Long Island NY"
Biden-Harris Administration Announces Availability of $206 Million in Funding for Local Projects to Restore Chesapeake Bay and Protect Underserved Communities
PHILADELPHIA, (Aug. 8, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the availability of up to $206 million in funding from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay and watershed, and advance environmental justice. EPA is seeking applications from eligible community-based organizations for two funding opportunities that will fund cooperative agreements for four years. Of the funding, $96 million will come from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law while another $110 million will come from regular EPA appropriations.
Organizations can apply for funding via two Requests for Applications (RFAs) issued by EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program Office; applications are due by mid-September. Both RFAs will fund the Innovative Nutrient and Sediment Reduction (INSR) Grant and Small Watershed Grant (SWG) programs for four years. As a result of the boost from the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the $206 million from both RFAs will mark the largest single investment in these grant programs since their creation in 1999. Both programs have been integral to progress made at restoring water quality in the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed and are advancing President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative to direct 40% of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments to disadvantaged communities.
“Thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration, we have unprecedented funding going to communities for on-the-ground projects that will improve their local environments and ultimately the health of the Chesapeake Bay,” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. “This historic funding, along with the great momentum and stronger cooperation among the many partners, is enabling us to accelerate our work to achieve clean waters and a healthier, more resilient and economically stronger Bay and watershed.”
This program will fund principal recipients to administer the INSR and SWG grant programs, including issuance of subgrants to local, regional, and state organizations, as well as individuals in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The RFAs will close mid-September. More information regarding these RFAs can be found at grants.gov at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=349633 and https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=349699 Questions regarding applying for these opportunities should be directed to Autumn Rose, EPA Chesapeake Bay Program Office, at rose.autumn@epa.gov.
Background:
The Chesapeake Bay Program is a regional partnership made up of six states (Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York, and West Virginia) and the District of Columbia; federal agencies; local governments; academic institutions and non-governmental organizations that lead and direct the restoration and protection of the Chesapeake Bay and its 64,000 square mile watershed. Guided by the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, Chesapeake Bay Program partners use 10 interrelated goals and 31 outcomes to collectively advance the protection and restoration of the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem.
The INSR program supports efforts within the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed that use innovative strategies to vastly accelerate sub-watershed and/or regional-scale implementation of nutrient and sediment reductions with approaches demonstrated to be successful. Since 2006, the INSR Program has provided more than $133 million to 229 projects that have reduced 22 million pounds of nitrogen, 4 million pounds of phosphorus, and 971,740 tons of sediment across the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
The SWG Program funds community-based efforts to protect and restore the diverse and vital habitats of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributary rivers and streams. The SWG Program has provided more than $109 million to 496 projects that have permanently protected 169,000 acres under conservation easement, restored more than 1,550 miles of riparian habitat and 14,000 acres of wetlands, and engaged more than 125,000 watershed residents in volunteer conservation and restoration efforts.
Organizations can apply for funding via two Requests for Applications (RFAs) issued by EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program Office; applications are due by mid-September. Both RFAs will fund the Innovative Nutrient and Sediment Reduction (INSR) Grant and Small Watershed Grant (SWG) programs for four years. As a result of the boost from the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the $206 million from both RFAs will mark the largest single investment in these grant programs since their creation in 1999. Both programs have been integral to progress made at restoring water quality in the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed and are advancing President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative to direct 40% of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments to disadvantaged communities.
“Thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration, we have unprecedented funding going to communities for on-the-ground projects that will improve their local environments and ultimately the health of the Chesapeake Bay,” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. “This historic funding, along with the great momentum and stronger cooperation among the many partners, is enabling us to accelerate our work to achieve clean waters and a healthier, more resilient and economically stronger Bay and watershed.”
This program will fund principal recipients to administer the INSR and SWG grant programs, including issuance of subgrants to local, regional, and state organizations, as well as individuals in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The RFAs will close mid-September. More information regarding these RFAs can be found at grants.gov at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=349633 and https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=349699 Questions regarding applying for these opportunities should be directed to Autumn Rose, EPA Chesapeake Bay Program Office, at rose.autumn@epa.gov.
Background:
The Chesapeake Bay Program is a regional partnership made up of six states (Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York, and West Virginia) and the District of Columbia; federal agencies; local governments; academic institutions and non-governmental organizations that lead and direct the restoration and protection of the Chesapeake Bay and its 64,000 square mile watershed. Guided by the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, Chesapeake Bay Program partners use 10 interrelated goals and 31 outcomes to collectively advance the protection and restoration of the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem.
The INSR program supports efforts within the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed that use innovative strategies to vastly accelerate sub-watershed and/or regional-scale implementation of nutrient and sediment reductions with approaches demonstrated to be successful. Since 2006, the INSR Program has provided more than $133 million to 229 projects that have reduced 22 million pounds of nitrogen, 4 million pounds of phosphorus, and 971,740 tons of sediment across the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
The SWG Program funds community-based efforts to protect and restore the diverse and vital habitats of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributary rivers and streams. The SWG Program has provided more than $109 million to 496 projects that have permanently protected 169,000 acres under conservation easement, restored more than 1,550 miles of riparian habitat and 14,000 acres of wetlands, and engaged more than 125,000 watershed residents in volunteer conservation and restoration efforts.