United States Files Court Settlement for Cleanup and Reimbursement of Costs at Iowa-Nebraska Light & Power Company Superfund Site in Norfolk, Nebraska
LENEXA, KAN. (NOV. 8, 2024) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the filing of a settlement agreement with three parties requiring the cleanup of contamination at the Iowa-Nebraska Light & Power Company Superfund Site in Norfolk, Nebraska.
The settlement was filed in the United States District Court of the District of Nebraska and is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval. The public comment period ends Dec. 9, 2024.
Under the terms of the settlement, the parties – Brightspeed Kansas Holdings LLC, Nebraska Public Power District, and Black Hills-Nebraska Gas LLC – will complete a cleanup action that was approved by EPA in 2022.
The cleanup activity will include in-place treatment of contamination, accompanied by environmental monitoring, to ensure that the cleanup meets its goals and is protective of human health and the environment. All work at the site will be subject to EPA review and approval. The settling parties will be responsible for reimbursing EPA for costs incurred in reviewing the work.
The Iowa-Nebraska Light & Power Company Superfund Site includes areas where a manufactured gas plant operated until the 1940s. Generally, these types of plants produced fuel by heating coal. Soil and groundwater contamination at the site has included coal tars, compounds found in motor oils, and metals. EPA has been overseeing investigation and cleanup at the site since the 1990s.
Information about how to submit a public comment is available on the Federal Register.
Read more about the Iowa-Nebraska Light and Power Company Superfund Site.
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The settlement was filed in the United States District Court of the District of Nebraska and is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval. The public comment period ends Dec. 9, 2024.
Under the terms of the settlement, the parties – Brightspeed Kansas Holdings LLC, Nebraska Public Power District, and Black Hills-Nebraska Gas LLC – will complete a cleanup action that was approved by EPA in 2022.
The cleanup activity will include in-place treatment of contamination, accompanied by environmental monitoring, to ensure that the cleanup meets its goals and is protective of human health and the environment. All work at the site will be subject to EPA review and approval. The settling parties will be responsible for reimbursing EPA for costs incurred in reviewing the work.
The Iowa-Nebraska Light & Power Company Superfund Site includes areas where a manufactured gas plant operated until the 1940s. Generally, these types of plants produced fuel by heating coal. Soil and groundwater contamination at the site has included coal tars, compounds found in motor oils, and metals. EPA has been overseeing investigation and cleanup at the site since the 1990s.
Information about how to submit a public comment is available on the Federal Register.
Read more about the Iowa-Nebraska Light and Power Company Superfund Site.
# # #
Learn more about EPA Region 7
View all Region 7 news releases
Visit the Region 7 Media page
Connect with EPA Region 7 on Facebook and Instagram
Follow us on X: @EPARegion7
EPA Announces $48,763,746 of Clean Ports Investments in Georgia Ports Authority
SAVANNAH, Ga. (Nov. 8,2024) - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Acting Regional Administrator Jeaneanne Gettle along with Savannah Mayor Van R. Johnson, Chatham County Chairman Chester Ellis and GPA President and CEO Griff Lynch held a press event highlighting the announcement of the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) as a recipient of nearly $48,763,746 through EPA’s Clean Ports Program for the deployment of zero-emission port equipment and infrastructure.
GPA plans to upgrade the Port of Savannah and the Port of Brunswick with vessel shore power systems. These systems will allow ships to ‘plug-in’ to electric grid power and turn off auxiliary diesel engines while at port. In addition, the project includes the scrappage and replacement of diesel terminal tractors with new electric terminal tractors and the installation of electric charging infrastructure. GPA plans to engage with communities through their community advisory network and conduct classroom and on the job training for workers related to shore power, zero-emission vehicles, and charging stations.
The grants are funded by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act — the largest investment in combating climate change and promoting clean energy in history— and will advance environmental justice by reducing diesel air pollution from U.S. ports and near surrounding communities while promoting good-paying and union jobs that help America’s ports thrive.
“Our goal is to build a foundation for the port sector to transition over time to fully zero-emissions operations,” said Acting Regional Administrator Jeaneanne Gettle. “EPA is positioning ports to serve as a catalyst for transformational change across the freight sector.”
“Senator Warnock and I continue working to upgrade Georgia’s port infrastructure and establish Georgia as the national leader in advanced energy technology. Today we are delivering new resources through the EPA's Clean Ports program to upgrade the Port of Savannah and the Port of Brunswick with vessel shore power systems and install new electric charging infrastructure,” said Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA). “This is a win-win for our economy and for local communities. I thank President Biden, Vice President Harris, and EPA Administrator Regan for their assistance and support."
“As a son of coastal Georgia, I know the importance of Georgia’s ports and its workers to our state and national economies. As we continue moving toward a clean energy economy, it is critical Georgia and its workers remain on the frontlines of these federal investments and reap the benefits of our hard work in Washington, which is why I was proud to champion this award for the Georgia Ports Authority,” said Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA). “Senator Ossoff and I will continue delivering investments for Georgia’s ports to keep our state at the forefront of the nation’s clean energy economy.”
Ports are vital to the U.S. economy and are responsible for moving goods and people throughout the country. The funds announced today will improve air quality at ports across the country by installing clean, zero-emission freight and ferry technologies along with associated infrastructure, eliminating more than 3 million metric tons of carbon pollution, equivalent to 391,220 homes' energy use for one year.
In February 2024, EPA announced two separate funding opportunities for U.S. ports – a Zero-Emission Technology Deployment Competition to directly fund zero-emission equipment and infrastructure to reduce mobile source emissions and a Climate and Air Quality Planning Competition to fund climate and air quality planning activities. The competitions closed in May 2024 with over $8 billion in requests from applicants across the country seeking to advance next-generation, clean technologies at U.S. ports.
After a thorough and rigorous grant application review process, EPA selected 55 applications in total to receive this historic investment. Applications to the Clean Ports Program were evaluated in part on their workforce development efforts, to ensure that projects will expand access to high-quality jobs. Grant selections also align with the Administration’s national goal for a zero-emission freight sector, the National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization and the ‘all-of government’ National Zero-Emission Freight Corridor Strategy.
Selected projects cover a wide range of human operated and human maintained equipment used at and around ports, with funds supporting the purchase of battery-electric and hydrogen-powered equipment, including over 1,500 units of cargo handling equipment, 1,000 drayage trucks, 10 locomotives, and 20 vessels, as well as shore power systems, battery-electric and hydrogen vehicle charging and fueling infrastructure, and solar power generation.
Initial estimates of tailpipe reductions from this new equipment are estimated to be over 3 million metric tons of CO2, 12 thousand short tons of NOx, and 200 short tons of PM2.5 in the first 10 years of operation. These estimates are based on initial counts of proposed zero-emission equipment and shore power installations and do not consider benefits from retiring older vehicles, among other factors. These simplified estimates were prepared using national default emissions and activity factors and will be refined over time with more detailed information from selectees.
In addition to protecting human health and the environment, the program will protect and grow good-paying and union port jobs, create new good-paying and union jobs in the domestic clean energy sector, and enhance U.S. economic competitiveness through the innovation, installation, maintenance, and operation of zero-emissions equipment and infrastructure. The program’s historic investment in zero-emission port technology will also help promote and ensure the U.S. position as a global leader in clean technologies.
EPA’s Clean Ports Program advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to deliver 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. Disadvantaged communities will benefit from cleaner air and access to high quality jobs that will be created to operate zero emissions technologies at ports.
EPA ensured that near-port community engagement and equity considerations were at the forefront of the Clean Ports Program’s design, including by evaluating applications on the extent and quality of their projects’ community engagement efforts. The program will also help to ensure that meaningful community engagement and emissions reduction planning become a part of port industry standard practices by building on the successes of EPA’s Ports Initiative and the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act programs. These programs have previously invested over $196 million to implement 207 diesel emissions reduction projects at ports with an additional $88 million to multi-sector projects that involve ports and have encouraged strong community-port collaboration.
The agency anticipates making awards once all legal, statutory, and administrative requirements are satisfied. Selectees will work with EPA over the coming months to finalize project plans before receiving final awards and moving into the implementation phase. Project implementation will occur over the next three to four years depending on the scope of each project.
To learn more about the Clean Ports Program tentatively selected applications, please visit the Clean Ports Program Selections webpage.
Left to right: Chatham County Chairman Chester Ellis, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Acting Regional Administrator Jeaneanne Gettle, Savannah Mayor Van R. Johnson, and GPA President and CEO Griff Lynch.
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GPA plans to upgrade the Port of Savannah and the Port of Brunswick with vessel shore power systems. These systems will allow ships to ‘plug-in’ to electric grid power and turn off auxiliary diesel engines while at port. In addition, the project includes the scrappage and replacement of diesel terminal tractors with new electric terminal tractors and the installation of electric charging infrastructure. GPA plans to engage with communities through their community advisory network and conduct classroom and on the job training for workers related to shore power, zero-emission vehicles, and charging stations.
The grants are funded by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act — the largest investment in combating climate change and promoting clean energy in history— and will advance environmental justice by reducing diesel air pollution from U.S. ports and near surrounding communities while promoting good-paying and union jobs that help America’s ports thrive.
“Our goal is to build a foundation for the port sector to transition over time to fully zero-emissions operations,” said Acting Regional Administrator Jeaneanne Gettle. “EPA is positioning ports to serve as a catalyst for transformational change across the freight sector.”
“Senator Warnock and I continue working to upgrade Georgia’s port infrastructure and establish Georgia as the national leader in advanced energy technology. Today we are delivering new resources through the EPA's Clean Ports program to upgrade the Port of Savannah and the Port of Brunswick with vessel shore power systems and install new electric charging infrastructure,” said Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA). “This is a win-win for our economy and for local communities. I thank President Biden, Vice President Harris, and EPA Administrator Regan for their assistance and support."
“As a son of coastal Georgia, I know the importance of Georgia’s ports and its workers to our state and national economies. As we continue moving toward a clean energy economy, it is critical Georgia and its workers remain on the frontlines of these federal investments and reap the benefits of our hard work in Washington, which is why I was proud to champion this award for the Georgia Ports Authority,” said Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA). “Senator Ossoff and I will continue delivering investments for Georgia’s ports to keep our state at the forefront of the nation’s clean energy economy.”
Ports are vital to the U.S. economy and are responsible for moving goods and people throughout the country. The funds announced today will improve air quality at ports across the country by installing clean, zero-emission freight and ferry technologies along with associated infrastructure, eliminating more than 3 million metric tons of carbon pollution, equivalent to 391,220 homes' energy use for one year.
In February 2024, EPA announced two separate funding opportunities for U.S. ports – a Zero-Emission Technology Deployment Competition to directly fund zero-emission equipment and infrastructure to reduce mobile source emissions and a Climate and Air Quality Planning Competition to fund climate and air quality planning activities. The competitions closed in May 2024 with over $8 billion in requests from applicants across the country seeking to advance next-generation, clean technologies at U.S. ports.
After a thorough and rigorous grant application review process, EPA selected 55 applications in total to receive this historic investment. Applications to the Clean Ports Program were evaluated in part on their workforce development efforts, to ensure that projects will expand access to high-quality jobs. Grant selections also align with the Administration’s national goal for a zero-emission freight sector, the National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization and the ‘all-of government’ National Zero-Emission Freight Corridor Strategy.
Selected projects cover a wide range of human operated and human maintained equipment used at and around ports, with funds supporting the purchase of battery-electric and hydrogen-powered equipment, including over 1,500 units of cargo handling equipment, 1,000 drayage trucks, 10 locomotives, and 20 vessels, as well as shore power systems, battery-electric and hydrogen vehicle charging and fueling infrastructure, and solar power generation.
Initial estimates of tailpipe reductions from this new equipment are estimated to be over 3 million metric tons of CO2, 12 thousand short tons of NOx, and 200 short tons of PM2.5 in the first 10 years of operation. These estimates are based on initial counts of proposed zero-emission equipment and shore power installations and do not consider benefits from retiring older vehicles, among other factors. These simplified estimates were prepared using national default emissions and activity factors and will be refined over time with more detailed information from selectees.
In addition to protecting human health and the environment, the program will protect and grow good-paying and union port jobs, create new good-paying and union jobs in the domestic clean energy sector, and enhance U.S. economic competitiveness through the innovation, installation, maintenance, and operation of zero-emissions equipment and infrastructure. The program’s historic investment in zero-emission port technology will also help promote and ensure the U.S. position as a global leader in clean technologies.
EPA’s Clean Ports Program advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to deliver 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. Disadvantaged communities will benefit from cleaner air and access to high quality jobs that will be created to operate zero emissions technologies at ports.
EPA ensured that near-port community engagement and equity considerations were at the forefront of the Clean Ports Program’s design, including by evaluating applications on the extent and quality of their projects’ community engagement efforts. The program will also help to ensure that meaningful community engagement and emissions reduction planning become a part of port industry standard practices by building on the successes of EPA’s Ports Initiative and the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act programs. These programs have previously invested over $196 million to implement 207 diesel emissions reduction projects at ports with an additional $88 million to multi-sector projects that involve ports and have encouraged strong community-port collaboration.
The agency anticipates making awards once all legal, statutory, and administrative requirements are satisfied. Selectees will work with EPA over the coming months to finalize project plans before receiving final awards and moving into the implementation phase. Project implementation will occur over the next three to four years depending on the scope of each project.
To learn more about the Clean Ports Program tentatively selected applications, please visit the Clean Ports Program Selections webpage.
Left to right: Chatham County Chairman Chester Ellis, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Acting Regional Administrator Jeaneanne Gettle, Savannah Mayor Van R. Johnson, and GPA President and CEO Griff Lynch.
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India-USEC rates hit four-month low amid sagging cargo volumes: forwarders
Sources also noted that some recent sailings on the trade lane have had difficulty filling space at Nhava Sheva and Mundra in line with declared allocation plans.
Employer-labor tensions in North America disrupting more cargo
The disruptions coming out of disagreements during port work contract negotiations in North America have intensified, as seen currently in Western Canada and Montreal, and possibly again on the US East and Gulf coasts come mid-January.
EPA Further Extends Public Comment Period for Proposed Final Cleanup Plan at Newark’s Diamond Alkali Superfund Site, Lister Ave. Portion
Newark, N.J. - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has extended the public comment period for its proposal to finalize a cleanup plan for the 80-120 Lister Ave. portion of the Diamond Alkali Superfund Site in Newark, N.J. In response to community request, the deadline for submitting public comments has been extended from Nov. 12 to Nov. 26, 2024. The EPA held a public meeting on Sept. 19 to outline details of the plan and address questions from residents and stakeholders.
The proposed plan calls for continued operation of the existing remedy, with improvements including reinstalling and reactivating a total of seven groundwater pumps, upgrading the current groundwater treatment system, and making any necessary repairs to the existing cap covering contaminated materials. This approach builds on the previously completed work and would avoid the short-term risks associated with other options such as digging up and removing the contaminated material outright.
Written comments on the proposed plan may be submitted until Nov. 26, 2024, to Eugenia Naranjo, Remedial Project Manager, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 290 Broadway – 18th Floor, New York, NY 10007 or via email: Naranjo.eugenia@epa.gov.
For additional background and to see the proposed cleanup plan, visit the Diamond Alkali Superfund site page.
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The proposed plan calls for continued operation of the existing remedy, with improvements including reinstalling and reactivating a total of seven groundwater pumps, upgrading the current groundwater treatment system, and making any necessary repairs to the existing cap covering contaminated materials. This approach builds on the previously completed work and would avoid the short-term risks associated with other options such as digging up and removing the contaminated material outright.
Written comments on the proposed plan may be submitted until Nov. 26, 2024, to Eugenia Naranjo, Remedial Project Manager, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 290 Broadway – 18th Floor, New York, NY 10007 or via email: Naranjo.eugenia@epa.gov.
For additional background and to see the proposed cleanup plan, visit the Diamond Alkali Superfund site page.
Follow EPA Region 2 on X and visit our Facebook page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.
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EPA Issues Compliance Order to Baltimore Metal Shredding Operation to Address Air Violations
PHILADELPHIA (Nov. 07, 2024) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that it has issued an administrative order on consent to Sims ARG Inc., a scrap metal shedding and recycling facility located at 3000 Vera Street, in Baltimore, Maryland. The order alleged that the facility did not obtain the necessary permit required by the federal Clean Air Act and the Maryland State Air Permitting Program.
The permit is required in order to limit emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) which can contribute to ground-level ozone that can be harmful to human health. The young, the elderly and those with respiratory conditions such as asthma are especially vulnerable to the effects of ground-level ozone pollution. Test data has shown that metal shredding operations emit VOCs at rates up to 200 pounds per hour.
“For far too long, metal shredding and recycling facilities have polluted the air, especially in underserved communities in urban areas,” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. “This action demonstrates that EPA will hold facilities accountable when they fail to take the actions necessary to meet health-based air quality standards.”
The order requires the company to submit a complete permit application to the State of Maryland within 60 days of the effective date of the order.
Get more information about reducing pollution from metal recycling facilities.
The permit is required in order to limit emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) which can contribute to ground-level ozone that can be harmful to human health. The young, the elderly and those with respiratory conditions such as asthma are especially vulnerable to the effects of ground-level ozone pollution. Test data has shown that metal shredding operations emit VOCs at rates up to 200 pounds per hour.
“For far too long, metal shredding and recycling facilities have polluted the air, especially in underserved communities in urban areas,” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. “This action demonstrates that EPA will hold facilities accountable when they fail to take the actions necessary to meet health-based air quality standards.”
The order requires the company to submit a complete permit application to the State of Maryland within 60 days of the effective date of the order.
Get more information about reducing pollution from metal recycling facilities.
EPA Emergency Order Compels Havasu Water Company to Act to Protect Public Health, Ensure Safe Drinking Water
SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued an Emergency Administrative Order under the authority of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) to the Havasu Water Company. The Order, based on EPA’s mission to protect human health, comes after frequent water outages that may endanger public health because of the high potential for bacteria or other disease-causing organisms to be introduced into the company’s water distribution system.
“Ensuring the safety and reliability of drinking water across all communities, regardless of their size or economic status, is a primary focus for our agency,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. "We will continue to use our full authority to protect public health and ensure compliance with drinking water standards."
The emergency order compels the Havasu Water Company to make alternative water available during any incident where EPA requires distribution of Boil Water Notices, such as water outages. Since March 2022, Havasu Water Company has been under a Boil Water Notice for approximately 300 days due to water line breaks, power outages, or other incidents causing water outages and loss of pressure.
The company must also develop standard operating procedures to appropriately respond to pressure loss incidents, have a third-party contractor assess the water distribution system and correct major deficiencies, and ensure certified personnel conduct essential operator duties.
The order also requires Havasu Water Company to issue EPA-approved Boil Water Notices in accordance with EPA regulations and during any loss of pressure incident. During four previous water outage incidents the company did not issue such a notice, even though there was a loss of pressure in the system. The company failed to issue a timely Boil Water Notice to all customers on both occasions where EPA explicitly required it. In several instances, the company distributed misinformation to customers by using language that nullified the purpose of the required notice and by physically covering a notice posted in a public place with a letter with misinformation, despite EPA providing a template and direction for the issuance of a Boil Water Notice.
This emergency action follows an administrative order issued by EPA to the Havasu Water Company on May 28, 2024, for violations of the SDWA’s National Primary Drinking Water Regulations. These violations included exceedance of the maximum contaminant level for total trihalomethanes, which are byproducts that may form during the disinfection process. The regulations set a maximum contaminant level for total trihalomethanes at 80 micrograms per liter. Long-term exposure to levels above that may lead to increased risk of cancer, along with liver, kidney, or central nervous problems. Additional Havasu Water Company violations included the company’s failure to have qualified personnel operate the water system, failure to provide required public notifications, failure to correct significant deficiencies with the system, and failure to report appropriate surface water treatment data.
The Havasu Water Company is a privately-owned community water system located along the western shore of Lake Havasu and within the boundaries of the Chemehuevi Indian Reservation. The system relies on surface water filtration treatment and chlorination to serve drinking water to approximately 361 people.
EPA can issue an Emergency Administrative Order to address public health endangerments concerning public water systems and underground sources of drinking water. For more information about this order and EPA’s actions, visit this website about regulatory oversight.
For more information on reporting possible violations of environmental laws and regulations, visit EPA’s enforcement reporting website.
Learn about EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region. Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
“Ensuring the safety and reliability of drinking water across all communities, regardless of their size or economic status, is a primary focus for our agency,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. "We will continue to use our full authority to protect public health and ensure compliance with drinking water standards."
The emergency order compels the Havasu Water Company to make alternative water available during any incident where EPA requires distribution of Boil Water Notices, such as water outages. Since March 2022, Havasu Water Company has been under a Boil Water Notice for approximately 300 days due to water line breaks, power outages, or other incidents causing water outages and loss of pressure.
The company must also develop standard operating procedures to appropriately respond to pressure loss incidents, have a third-party contractor assess the water distribution system and correct major deficiencies, and ensure certified personnel conduct essential operator duties.
The order also requires Havasu Water Company to issue EPA-approved Boil Water Notices in accordance with EPA regulations and during any loss of pressure incident. During four previous water outage incidents the company did not issue such a notice, even though there was a loss of pressure in the system. The company failed to issue a timely Boil Water Notice to all customers on both occasions where EPA explicitly required it. In several instances, the company distributed misinformation to customers by using language that nullified the purpose of the required notice and by physically covering a notice posted in a public place with a letter with misinformation, despite EPA providing a template and direction for the issuance of a Boil Water Notice.
This emergency action follows an administrative order issued by EPA to the Havasu Water Company on May 28, 2024, for violations of the SDWA’s National Primary Drinking Water Regulations. These violations included exceedance of the maximum contaminant level for total trihalomethanes, which are byproducts that may form during the disinfection process. The regulations set a maximum contaminant level for total trihalomethanes at 80 micrograms per liter. Long-term exposure to levels above that may lead to increased risk of cancer, along with liver, kidney, or central nervous problems. Additional Havasu Water Company violations included the company’s failure to have qualified personnel operate the water system, failure to provide required public notifications, failure to correct significant deficiencies with the system, and failure to report appropriate surface water treatment data.
The Havasu Water Company is a privately-owned community water system located along the western shore of Lake Havasu and within the boundaries of the Chemehuevi Indian Reservation. The system relies on surface water filtration treatment and chlorination to serve drinking water to approximately 361 people.
EPA can issue an Emergency Administrative Order to address public health endangerments concerning public water systems and underground sources of drinking water. For more information about this order and EPA’s actions, visit this website about regulatory oversight.
For more information on reporting possible violations of environmental laws and regulations, visit EPA’s enforcement reporting website.
Learn about EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region. Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
EPA Announces $254,000 in Grants to Help Businesses Prevent Pollution in NY as Part of Investing in America Agenda
Rochester, NY – (November 11, 2024) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has selected the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and the New York State Pollution Prevention Institute at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) to receive nearly $254,000 in grants to provide technical assistance to businesses to develop and adopt pollution prevention (P2) practices in local communities.
NYSDEC will partner with the New York State Pollution Prevention Institute at RIT to provide technical assistance to chemical manufacturing, processing, and formulation businesses. Using EPA’s Toxics Release Inventory, NYSDEC has identified businesses releasing toxic chemicals (e.g., xylene, toluene, methanol, heavy metals, nitrates) and will focus on green chemistry alternatives and training workers.
"By working collaboratively with NYSDEC and RIT, we are promoting sustainable practices in New York’s chemical industry,” said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia "This project not only fosters innovation but also prioritizes the health and well-being of communities that are often most affected by pollution."
The project will provide comprehensive technical assistance designed to improve environmental practices during product design, manufacturing, marketing, and distribution. Key components of the initiative include:
A series of workshops focused on green chemistry principles tailored for industry professionals.
An industry-specific green chemistry webinar will be offered to expand reach and accessibility.
Customized projects will be conducted at individual companies to implement green chemistry practices effectively.
This initiative will benefit NY communities by reducing the release of toxic chemicals into the air, water, and land. By applying green chemistry principles, participants will mitigate environmental hazards and enhance human health outcomes in these vulnerable areas.
The New York State Pollution Prevention Institute at RIT will foster sustainable practices in industries across New York through education, research, and technical assistance.
The application of green chemistry is crucial for reducing air, water, and land releases of toxic chemicals as reported under the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) program. This initiative will not only benefit industry stakeholders but also contribute to healthier communities and a cleaner environment.
In total, EPA announced 48 selectees across the country that will collectively receive nearly $19 million in grants to support states, Tribal Nations, and U.S. territories in providing technical assistance to businesses to develop and adopt pollution prevention (P2) practices in local communities. Thanks to President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, nearly half of the funds awarded this year were made available with no cost share/match requirement.
Pollution prevention, also known as P2 or source reduction, is any practice that reduces, eliminates, or prevents pollution at its source prior to recycling, treatment, or disposal. Preventing pollution at the source rather than managing waste afterwards is an important way to support American business’ efforts to reduce costs, while protecting communities from exposure to toxic chemicals and conserving natural resources. The grants funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will be fully funded upon being awarded, with individual grant awards as high as $350,000. Grants that are a part of the traditional P2 grants program will be funded over a two-year funding cycle and require a cost share/match of fifty percent. EPA’s Pollution Prevention Grant Program advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative which set a goal to deliver 40% of the overall benefits from certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. The full list of selections can be found below, and the selected project summaries can be found on EPA’s Pollution Prevention website.
Background
President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law made a historic $100 million investment in EPA’s P2 Program, more than doubling the funding for P2 grants. The first round of 39 awards funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was announced in September 2022 and the second round of 24 awards was announced October 2023.
The list of selections can be found below, and the selected project summaries can be found on EPA’s Pollution Prevention website.
Read more about P2 and EPA’s P2 Grant Program.
Follow EPA Region 2 on X and visit our Facebook page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.
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NYSDEC will partner with the New York State Pollution Prevention Institute at RIT to provide technical assistance to chemical manufacturing, processing, and formulation businesses. Using EPA’s Toxics Release Inventory, NYSDEC has identified businesses releasing toxic chemicals (e.g., xylene, toluene, methanol, heavy metals, nitrates) and will focus on green chemistry alternatives and training workers.
"By working collaboratively with NYSDEC and RIT, we are promoting sustainable practices in New York’s chemical industry,” said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia "This project not only fosters innovation but also prioritizes the health and well-being of communities that are often most affected by pollution."
The project will provide comprehensive technical assistance designed to improve environmental practices during product design, manufacturing, marketing, and distribution. Key components of the initiative include:
A series of workshops focused on green chemistry principles tailored for industry professionals.
An industry-specific green chemistry webinar will be offered to expand reach and accessibility.
Customized projects will be conducted at individual companies to implement green chemistry practices effectively.
This initiative will benefit NY communities by reducing the release of toxic chemicals into the air, water, and land. By applying green chemistry principles, participants will mitigate environmental hazards and enhance human health outcomes in these vulnerable areas.
The New York State Pollution Prevention Institute at RIT will foster sustainable practices in industries across New York through education, research, and technical assistance.
The application of green chemistry is crucial for reducing air, water, and land releases of toxic chemicals as reported under the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) program. This initiative will not only benefit industry stakeholders but also contribute to healthier communities and a cleaner environment.
In total, EPA announced 48 selectees across the country that will collectively receive nearly $19 million in grants to support states, Tribal Nations, and U.S. territories in providing technical assistance to businesses to develop and adopt pollution prevention (P2) practices in local communities. Thanks to President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, nearly half of the funds awarded this year were made available with no cost share/match requirement.
Pollution prevention, also known as P2 or source reduction, is any practice that reduces, eliminates, or prevents pollution at its source prior to recycling, treatment, or disposal. Preventing pollution at the source rather than managing waste afterwards is an important way to support American business’ efforts to reduce costs, while protecting communities from exposure to toxic chemicals and conserving natural resources. The grants funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will be fully funded upon being awarded, with individual grant awards as high as $350,000. Grants that are a part of the traditional P2 grants program will be funded over a two-year funding cycle and require a cost share/match of fifty percent. EPA’s Pollution Prevention Grant Program advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative which set a goal to deliver 40% of the overall benefits from certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. The full list of selections can be found below, and the selected project summaries can be found on EPA’s Pollution Prevention website.
Background
President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law made a historic $100 million investment in EPA’s P2 Program, more than doubling the funding for P2 grants. The first round of 39 awards funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was announced in September 2022 and the second round of 24 awards was announced October 2023.
The list of selections can be found below, and the selected project summaries can be found on EPA’s Pollution Prevention website.
Read more about P2 and EPA’s P2 Grant Program.
Follow EPA Region 2 on X and visit our Facebook page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.
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