EPA Announces Community Meeting Oct. 26 to Discuss Environmental Concerns in Verona, Missouri
LENEXA, KAN. (OCT. 18, 2022) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 will hold a Public Availability Session and Community Meeting at the Verona High School on Wednesday, Oct. 26. The session will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by the meeting with a presentation at 7 p.m. Following the presentation by the attending agencies, EPA will facilitate a question-and-answer session until 9 p.m.
“We are following through on our commitment to the city of Verona by bringing together federal, state, and local partners who are vital for protecting public health and the environment,” said EPA Region 7 Administrator Meg McCollister. “EPA and our partner agencies will be available to share information and answer community and individual questions in Verona on Oct. 26.”
At the Public Availability Session, representatives from EPA, Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MoDNR), Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (MDHSS), and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will be available for one-on-one discussions and questions.
The purpose of the session and meeting is to provide an update on EPA’s ongoing community air monitoring efforts, and to allow partner agencies to provide updates on their work regarding the BCP Ingredients Inc. facility in Verona. EPA will also provide an update on the Syntex Facility Superfund Site, the boundary of which encompasses the BCP facility.
The Community Meeting follows a December 2021 Public Meeting where EPA provided an update on air pollution and groundwater contamination in Verona. In 2019, EPA held additional meetings with the city of Verona and general public to inform them about health risks associated with ethylene oxide emissions, and to provide an update on the groundwater investigation at the Syntex Facility Superfund Site.
Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022
Public Availability Session: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
(Break from 6:30 to 7 p.m.)
Community Meeting: 7 to 9 p.m.
The session and meeting will be held at:
Verona Senior High School
101 E. Ella Street
Verona, Missouri
EPA is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. For reasonable accommodations at the Public Availability Session and Community Meeting, please contact Euleashia Embry at: embry.euleashia@epa.gov.
# # #
Learn more about EPA Region 7
View all Region 7 news releases
Connect with EPA Region 7 on Facebook: www.facebook.com/eparegion7
Follow us on Twitter: @EPARegion7
“We are following through on our commitment to the city of Verona by bringing together federal, state, and local partners who are vital for protecting public health and the environment,” said EPA Region 7 Administrator Meg McCollister. “EPA and our partner agencies will be available to share information and answer community and individual questions in Verona on Oct. 26.”
At the Public Availability Session, representatives from EPA, Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MoDNR), Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (MDHSS), and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will be available for one-on-one discussions and questions.
The purpose of the session and meeting is to provide an update on EPA’s ongoing community air monitoring efforts, and to allow partner agencies to provide updates on their work regarding the BCP Ingredients Inc. facility in Verona. EPA will also provide an update on the Syntex Facility Superfund Site, the boundary of which encompasses the BCP facility.
The Community Meeting follows a December 2021 Public Meeting where EPA provided an update on air pollution and groundwater contamination in Verona. In 2019, EPA held additional meetings with the city of Verona and general public to inform them about health risks associated with ethylene oxide emissions, and to provide an update on the groundwater investigation at the Syntex Facility Superfund Site.
Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022
Public Availability Session: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
(Break from 6:30 to 7 p.m.)
Community Meeting: 7 to 9 p.m.
The session and meeting will be held at:
Verona Senior High School
101 E. Ella Street
Verona, Missouri
EPA is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. For reasonable accommodations at the Public Availability Session and Community Meeting, please contact Euleashia Embry at: embry.euleashia@epa.gov.
# # #
Learn more about EPA Region 7
View all Region 7 news releases
Connect with EPA Region 7 on Facebook: www.facebook.com/eparegion7
Follow us on Twitter: @EPARegion7
2023 TRB Annual Meeting: Neil J. Pedersen W.N. Carey, Jr. Award Recipient
In recognition of his outstanding service to TRB, Neil J. Pedersen is the 2022 recipient of the W.N. Carey, Jr., Distinguished Service Award. Mr. Pedersen will be retiring this fall as Executive Director of the Transportation Research Board, a position he has held since February 1, 2015. Pedersen is recognized for his more than 40 years of leadership service to TRB—30 plus years as a TRB volunteer and more than 10 years as a member of TRB’s staff--and for his integrity and continual pursuit of technical ...
USDA Formalizes Big Game Conservation Partnership with State of Wyoming
WASHINGTON, Oct. 17, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the state of Wyoming are formalizing a partnership to support the voluntary conservation of private working lands and migratory big game populations in Wyoming.
Tomorrow: EPA to Hold Open Houses and Community Meetings for Memphis Residents about Health Risks from Ethylene Oxide
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (October 17, 2022) - On October 18, 2022, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will host two open houses and community meetings at the Monumental Baptist Church at 704 S Pkwy E, Memphis, Tenn. to provide residents an opportunity to learn more about commercial sterilizers that release high levels of a chemical called ethylene oxide (EtO) into the air, including Sterilization Services of TN (SST) located at 2396 Florida Street in Memphis
EPA is sharing this information because communities have a right to know about emissions that could affect their health and well-being. EPA will host two open houses and community meetings at the following times:
Open House: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Community Meeting: 11:15 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.
Call in number: (883) 435-1820
Webinar ID: 1614966124
Open House: 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Community Meeting 7:15p.m. 8:45 p.m.
Call in number: (883) 568-8864
Webinar ID: 1617052397
Attend in person or register for the virtual meeting here: https://bit.ly/3DnGFTQ
***5:30 p.m. - Press Availability*** Interested credentialed media should e-mail an RSVP to region4press@epa.gov. Please include your name, media affiliation and contact information.
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EPA is sharing this information because communities have a right to know about emissions that could affect their health and well-being. EPA will host two open houses and community meetings at the following times:
Open House: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Community Meeting: 11:15 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.
Call in number: (883) 435-1820
Webinar ID: 1614966124
Open House: 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Community Meeting 7:15p.m. 8:45 p.m.
Call in number: (883) 568-8864
Webinar ID: 1617052397
Attend in person or register for the virtual meeting here: https://bit.ly/3DnGFTQ
***5:30 p.m. - Press Availability*** Interested credentialed media should e-mail an RSVP to region4press@epa.gov. Please include your name, media affiliation and contact information.
###
EPA Region 7 Announces Finalization of Climate Adaptation Implementation Plan
LENEXA, KAN. (OCT. 17, 2022) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 has released its Climate Adaptation Implementation Plan, as part of the Agency’s response to President Biden’s Executive Order 14008: Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad.
EPA Region 7’s Climate Adaptation Implementation Plan outlines the priority actions the Region will undertake to align with the five EPA-wide climate adaption priorities laid out in the 2021 EPA Climate Adaptation Action Plan. These priority actions will be essential to protecting human health and the environment in the nation’s agricultural heartland.
“Tackling the climate crisis presents an important opportunity to bolster our economy, put people back to work, and build a healthier, more equitable environment for all communities across our nation’s heartland,” said EPA Region 7 Administrator Meg McCollister. “Our Climate Adaptation Implementation Plan commits Region 7 to meet our partners where they are – in our rural communities and metropolitan areas – to address our region’s climate challenges with actions that build climate resilience and protect our most vulnerable communities from the impacts of climate change.”
The release of EPA Region 7’s Climate Adaptation Implementation Plan coincides with the release of other plans developed by the Agency’s major offices, including national program offices and all 10 regional offices. These Implementation Plans reaffirm the strong commitments made in EPA’s 2021 Climate Adaptation Action Plan to address the devastating impacts of climate change on communities across the nation, while advancing environmental justice and equity. These Implementation Plans are dynamic documents that will be updated as new data becomes available and new actions are defined.
“Traveling across the country, I’ve seen firsthand the devastating impacts that climate change is having on millions of Americans. We need to take actions to ensure a safe, resilient, and equitable future,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “The Biden-Harris administration is confronting the climate crisis through a whole-of-government approach. The release of the Implementation Plans today marks significant progress in EPA’s efforts to ensure we are doing everything we can to protect human health and the environment.”
The Climate Adaptation Implementation Plans build upon the historic investments made by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act by providing a roadmap for the specific actions the Agency will take in the years ahead to ensure it continues to protect human health and the environment event as the climate changes, and to partner with states, tribes, territories, local governments, and communities of all sizes to strengthen their ability to anticipate, prepare for, adapt to, and recover from the impacts of climate change.
These plans include over 400 commitments to ensure clean air, water, land, and chemical safety even as the climate changes. They also identify strategies that deliver co-benefits for mitigation of greenhouse gases and other pollution, public health, economic growth, national security, equity, and environmental justice – all central to building a more resilient future.
The Implementation Plans recognize that climate disruption often hits already overburdened communities and people the hardest. The plans also consider the disproportionate impacts on those who are already overburdened and underserved in our society, including low-income communities and communities of color, children, the elderly, tribes, and indigenous people. EPA is already engaging and will continue to engage with underserved and vulnerable communities to ensure that actions taken follow the principles of environmental justice and equity.
Read EPA Region 7’s Climate Adaptation Implementation Plan.
Read more information on EPA’s 2021 Climate Adaptation Action Plan.
View all 20 Climate Adaptation Implementation Plans that were developed by EPA’s major offices.
Read President Biden’s Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad.
# # #
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 Region 7’s Climate Adaptation Implementation Plan outlines the priority actions the Region will undertake to align with the five EPA-wide climate adaption priorities laid out in the 2021 EPA Climate Adaptation Action Plan. These priority actions will be essential to protecting human health and the environment in the nation’s agricultural heartland.
“Tackling the climate crisis presents an important opportunity to bolster our economy, put people back to work, and build a healthier, more equitable environment for all communities across our nation’s heartland,” said EPA Region 7 Administrator Meg McCollister. “Our Climate Adaptation Implementation Plan commits Region 7 to meet our partners where they are – in our rural communities and metropolitan areas – to address our region’s climate challenges with actions that build climate resilience and protect our most vulnerable communities from the impacts of climate change.”
The release of EPA Region 7’s Climate Adaptation Implementation Plan coincides with the release of other plans developed by the Agency’s major offices, including national program offices and all 10 regional offices. These Implementation Plans reaffirm the strong commitments made in EPA’s 2021 Climate Adaptation Action Plan to address the devastating impacts of climate change on communities across the nation, while advancing environmental justice and equity. These Implementation Plans are dynamic documents that will be updated as new data becomes available and new actions are defined.
“Traveling across the country, I’ve seen firsthand the devastating impacts that climate change is having on millions of Americans. We need to take actions to ensure a safe, resilient, and equitable future,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “The Biden-Harris administration is confronting the climate crisis through a whole-of-government approach. The release of the Implementation Plans today marks significant progress in EPA’s efforts to ensure we are doing everything we can to protect human health and the environment.”
The Climate Adaptation Implementation Plans build upon the historic investments made by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act by providing a roadmap for the specific actions the Agency will take in the years ahead to ensure it continues to protect human health and the environment event as the climate changes, and to partner with states, tribes, territories, local governments, and communities of all sizes to strengthen their ability to anticipate, prepare for, adapt to, and recover from the impacts of climate change.
These plans include over 400 commitments to ensure clean air, water, land, and chemical safety even as the climate changes. They also identify strategies that deliver co-benefits for mitigation of greenhouse gases and other pollution, public health, economic growth, national security, equity, and environmental justice – all central to building a more resilient future.
The Implementation Plans recognize that climate disruption often hits already overburdened communities and people the hardest. The plans also consider the disproportionate impacts on those who are already overburdened and underserved in our society, including low-income communities and communities of color, children, the elderly, tribes, and indigenous people. EPA is already engaging and will continue to engage with underserved and vulnerable communities to ensure that actions taken follow the principles of environmental justice and equity.
Read EPA Region 7’s Climate Adaptation Implementation Plan.
Read more information on EPA’s 2021 Climate Adaptation Action Plan.
View all 20 Climate Adaptation Implementation Plans that were developed by EPA’s major offices.
Read President Biden’s Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad.
# # #
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 Releases 2021 Data Collected under Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program
WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released 2021 greenhouse gas (GHG) data collected under the EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP). There has been an overall long-term decreasing trend in industry GHG emissions since 2011, primarily driven by a decrease in emissions from power plants. In 2021, reported emissions from large industrial sources were approximately 4% higher than in 2020, reflecting an increase in economic activity following the economic slowdown and decrease in emissions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As the United States makes strides to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address the climate crisis, good data are more important than ever,” said Joseph Goffman, Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation. “The Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program is supporting these efforts by providing high-quality, long-term data for the largest emitters, and contributing important insights into greenhouse gas emissions trends.”
More than 8,100 industrial facilities reported greenhouse gas emissions in 2021 to EPA. The data show that in 2021:
Power plants were the largest stationary source of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, with 1,326 facilities reporting approximately 1.6 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions. While reported power plant emissions increased by 6.3% between 2020 and 2021, they have fallen 28.5% since 2011, reflecting the long-term shifts in power sector fuel-stock from coal to natural gas.
Petroleum and natural gas systems were the second largest stationary source of emissions, reporting 312 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. Reported emissions for 2021 were 0.7% lower than in 2020, but 12.8% higher than 2016. (2016 is the earliest year of comparable data for this sector, as new industry segments began reporting that year.)
Reported direct emissions from other large sources in the industrial and waste sectors were a combined 807 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions in 2021, up 1.8% from 2020, and down 7.7% since 2011.
With this year’s data publication, GHGRP is releasing a new National Federal Lands mapping layer to EPA’s user-friendly online tool for presenting GHGRP data, the Facility Level Information on Greenhouse gases Tool (FLIGHT). The mapping layer will allow users to view GHGRP reporting facilities in proximity to National Federal Lands, or any land other than tribal lands that are controlled or owned by the United States. Additionally, EPA has updated the demographic mapping layer in FLIGHT, using census tract information drawn from EPA’s EJScreen 2.0. Although the emissions reported to EPA by reporting facilities are global pollutants, many of these facilities also release pollutants that have a more direct and local impact in the surrounding communities.
EPA will be holding an informational webinar to demonstrate its internet-based greenhouse gas data publication tools, including new features and a tutorial on common searches, on October 19, 2022. For more information, and to register for the webinar visit EPA’s GHGRP webpage.
This is the twelfth year of data collection for most sectors under the GHGRP. As directed by Congress, EPA collects annual, facility-level emissions data from major industrial sources, including power plants, oil and gas production, iron and steel mills, and landfills. GHGRP also collects activity data from upstream fossil fuel and industrial gas suppliers. More than 8,100 direct emitters and suppliers report GHG data to GHGRP.
A complete accounting of total U.S. GHG emissions is available through a separate EPA report, the Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks.
View the new data directly in FLIGHT.
Learn more about climate change.
“As the United States makes strides to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address the climate crisis, good data are more important than ever,” said Joseph Goffman, Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation. “The Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program is supporting these efforts by providing high-quality, long-term data for the largest emitters, and contributing important insights into greenhouse gas emissions trends.”
More than 8,100 industrial facilities reported greenhouse gas emissions in 2021 to EPA. The data show that in 2021:
Power plants were the largest stationary source of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, with 1,326 facilities reporting approximately 1.6 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions. While reported power plant emissions increased by 6.3% between 2020 and 2021, they have fallen 28.5% since 2011, reflecting the long-term shifts in power sector fuel-stock from coal to natural gas.
Petroleum and natural gas systems were the second largest stationary source of emissions, reporting 312 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. Reported emissions for 2021 were 0.7% lower than in 2020, but 12.8% higher than 2016. (2016 is the earliest year of comparable data for this sector, as new industry segments began reporting that year.)
Reported direct emissions from other large sources in the industrial and waste sectors were a combined 807 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions in 2021, up 1.8% from 2020, and down 7.7% since 2011.
With this year’s data publication, GHGRP is releasing a new National Federal Lands mapping layer to EPA’s user-friendly online tool for presenting GHGRP data, the Facility Level Information on Greenhouse gases Tool (FLIGHT). The mapping layer will allow users to view GHGRP reporting facilities in proximity to National Federal Lands, or any land other than tribal lands that are controlled or owned by the United States. Additionally, EPA has updated the demographic mapping layer in FLIGHT, using census tract information drawn from EPA’s EJScreen 2.0. Although the emissions reported to EPA by reporting facilities are global pollutants, many of these facilities also release pollutants that have a more direct and local impact in the surrounding communities.
EPA will be holding an informational webinar to demonstrate its internet-based greenhouse gas data publication tools, including new features and a tutorial on common searches, on October 19, 2022. For more information, and to register for the webinar visit EPA’s GHGRP webpage.
This is the twelfth year of data collection for most sectors under the GHGRP. As directed by Congress, EPA collects annual, facility-level emissions data from major industrial sources, including power plants, oil and gas production, iron and steel mills, and landfills. GHGRP also collects activity data from upstream fossil fuel and industrial gas suppliers. More than 8,100 direct emitters and suppliers report GHG data to GHGRP.
A complete accounting of total U.S. GHG emissions is available through a separate EPA report, the Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks.
View the new data directly in FLIGHT.
Learn more about climate change.
EPA Issues Air Quality Advisory for Western Washington Reservations
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 10, has issued an Air Quality Advisory through midnight Thursday for Indian Reservations in Western Washington due to smoke from fires in the Cascade Mountains.
Reservations included in the advisory are the Nooksak, S’Klallam, Suquamish, Nisqually, Chehalis, Squaxin, Skokomish, Puyallup, Muckleshoot, Tulalip, Stillaguamish, Sauk-Suiattle, Upper Skagit, and Lummi Reservations.
Smoke levels may be variable, so check current air quality conditions at https://fire.airnow.gov/. Take advantage of better air quality for exercise or outdoor activities. As pollution levels increase, the EPA recommends that all residents begin to restrict activity and use N95 masks. To keep levels of smoke as low as possible indoors, create a clean room. For more safety tips visit https://www.airnow.gov/wildfires/when-smoke-is-in-the-air/.
People who are at greater risk from the effects of smoke include those with heart disease or lung disease, older adults, children, and pregnant people. These sensitive groups should avoid outdoor exertion and minimize exposure to smoke as much as possible.
For current air quality advisory/burn ban status on tribal lands, please call the EPA FARR Hotline at 1-800-424-4372, or visit https://www.epa.gov/farr/burn-bans-indian-reservations-id-or-and-wa#current-bans.
For burning restrictions in areas outside reservation boundaries, please contact your local clean air agency or fire department.
For smoke and fire information in Washington visit https://enviwa.ecology.wa.gov/home/text/426#BurnBans.
Reservations included in the advisory are the Nooksak, S’Klallam, Suquamish, Nisqually, Chehalis, Squaxin, Skokomish, Puyallup, Muckleshoot, Tulalip, Stillaguamish, Sauk-Suiattle, Upper Skagit, and Lummi Reservations.
Smoke levels may be variable, so check current air quality conditions at https://fire.airnow.gov/. Take advantage of better air quality for exercise or outdoor activities. As pollution levels increase, the EPA recommends that all residents begin to restrict activity and use N95 masks. To keep levels of smoke as low as possible indoors, create a clean room. For more safety tips visit https://www.airnow.gov/wildfires/when-smoke-is-in-the-air/.
People who are at greater risk from the effects of smoke include those with heart disease or lung disease, older adults, children, and pregnant people. These sensitive groups should avoid outdoor exertion and minimize exposure to smoke as much as possible.
For current air quality advisory/burn ban status on tribal lands, please call the EPA FARR Hotline at 1-800-424-4372, or visit https://www.epa.gov/farr/burn-bans-indian-reservations-id-or-and-wa#current-bans.
For burning restrictions in areas outside reservation boundaries, please contact your local clean air agency or fire department.
For smoke and fire information in Washington visit https://enviwa.ecology.wa.gov/home/text/426#BurnBans.
EPA Extends Air Quality Advisory for Cow Creek Umpqua Reservation
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 10, in coordination with the Cow Creek Umpqua Tribe, has maintained the Air Quality Advisory for the Cow Creek Umpqua Reservation through midnight Thursday due to continued smoke impacts from the Cedar Creek fire.
Smoke levels may be variable, so residents can check current air quality conditions at https://fire.airnow.gov/. As pollution levels increase, the EPA recommends that all residents begin to restrict activity and use N95 masks. To keep levels of smoke as low as possible indoors, create a clean room. For more safety tips visit https://www.airnow.gov/wildfires/when-smoke-is-in-the-air/.
People who are at greater risk from the effects of smoke include those with heart disease or lung disease, older adults, children, and pregnant people. These sensitive groups should avoid outdoor exertion and minimize exposure to smoke as much as possible.
For current air quality advisory/burn ban status on tribal lands, please call the EPA FARR Hotline at 1-800-424-4372, or visit https://www.epa.gov/farr/burn-bans-indian-reservations-id-or-and-wa#current-bans.
For burning restrictions in areas outside reservation boundaries, please contact your local clean air agency or fire department.
For smoke and fire information Oregon visit https://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/
Smoke levels may be variable, so residents can check current air quality conditions at https://fire.airnow.gov/. As pollution levels increase, the EPA recommends that all residents begin to restrict activity and use N95 masks. To keep levels of smoke as low as possible indoors, create a clean room. For more safety tips visit https://www.airnow.gov/wildfires/when-smoke-is-in-the-air/.
People who are at greater risk from the effects of smoke include those with heart disease or lung disease, older adults, children, and pregnant people. These sensitive groups should avoid outdoor exertion and minimize exposure to smoke as much as possible.
For current air quality advisory/burn ban status on tribal lands, please call the EPA FARR Hotline at 1-800-424-4372, or visit https://www.epa.gov/farr/burn-bans-indian-reservations-id-or-and-wa#current-bans.
For burning restrictions in areas outside reservation boundaries, please contact your local clean air agency or fire department.
For smoke and fire information Oregon visit https://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/