EPA Celebrates the 2024 Winners of the President’s Environmental Youth Award and the Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators
WASHINGTON – Today, August 1, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in partnership with the White House Council on Environmental Quality, celebrated the 2024 President’s Environmental Youth Award (PEYA) and the Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators (PIAEE) Awards Ceremony. This ceremony marks an annual recognition of outstanding youth who are dedicated to environmental stewardship and impressive teachers who have contributed significantly to environmental education.
“Educators and students across our country make remarkable contributions every day to protect the environment, and it’s an honor to celebrate them today,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “These awardees set the gold standard for environmental education as they implement innovative approaches to protect human health and tackle climate change.”
“Environmental stewardship often begins in the classroom with young people and educators who are taking our planet’s most pressing climate change and environmental justice challenges head on,” said White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory. “This year’s awardees represent passionate and dedicated leaders who are tackling the climate crisis, improving public health, and delivering a more equitable future for all.”
Since 1971, the President of the United States has joined with EPA to recognize young people for protecting our nation's air, water, land, and ecology. The PEYA program recognizes outstanding environmental stewardship projects developed by K-12 youth. This program honors and brings to light a wide variety of projects developed by these young students, school classes and clubs, youth camps, and youth organizations to promote environmental awareness and action in their schools and communities. The PEYA program promotes awareness of our nation's natural resources and encourages positive community involvement.
Established by the 1990 National Environmental Education Act, the PIAEE program supports, encourages, and nationally honors outstanding educators who integrate environmental and place-based, experiential learning into school curricula and school facility management across the country. The PIAEE program supports the outstanding environmental projects performed by these innovative teachers who go beyond textbook instruction to incorporate methods and materials that utilize creative experiences and enrich student learning. The program recognizes elementary and secondary (K-12) education teachers, school administrators and their local education agencies, and provides funding to help support those educators in their environmental education work.
To read about the winning projects in detail, visit: President’s Environmental Youth Award winners and Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators winners.
“Educators and students across our country make remarkable contributions every day to protect the environment, and it’s an honor to celebrate them today,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “These awardees set the gold standard for environmental education as they implement innovative approaches to protect human health and tackle climate change.”
“Environmental stewardship often begins in the classroom with young people and educators who are taking our planet’s most pressing climate change and environmental justice challenges head on,” said White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory. “This year’s awardees represent passionate and dedicated leaders who are tackling the climate crisis, improving public health, and delivering a more equitable future for all.”
Since 1971, the President of the United States has joined with EPA to recognize young people for protecting our nation's air, water, land, and ecology. The PEYA program recognizes outstanding environmental stewardship projects developed by K-12 youth. This program honors and brings to light a wide variety of projects developed by these young students, school classes and clubs, youth camps, and youth organizations to promote environmental awareness and action in their schools and communities. The PEYA program promotes awareness of our nation's natural resources and encourages positive community involvement.
Established by the 1990 National Environmental Education Act, the PIAEE program supports, encourages, and nationally honors outstanding educators who integrate environmental and place-based, experiential learning into school curricula and school facility management across the country. The PIAEE program supports the outstanding environmental projects performed by these innovative teachers who go beyond textbook instruction to incorporate methods and materials that utilize creative experiences and enrich student learning. The program recognizes elementary and secondary (K-12) education teachers, school administrators and their local education agencies, and provides funding to help support those educators in their environmental education work.
To read about the winning projects in detail, visit: President’s Environmental Youth Award winners and Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators winners.
EPA Settles with All American Asphalt Over Failure to Accurately Report Chemical Releases
SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reached a settlement with All American Asphalt over claims that the company failed to provide complete and accurate reports of its releases of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs), potentially toxic chemicals that can harm human health, from its asphalt manufacturing plant located in Irvine, California, during 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021. These releases to the air have been deemed permitted releases but, under federal environmental law, must still be reported accurately. The company will pay a $53,115 penalty.
"Communities have a right to know about chemical releases in their neighborhood," said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. “These are not simple paperwork issues. The health and safety of communities where these types of businesses operate depend on a company’s compliance with these requirements, particularly when toxic chemicals such as PACs are involved.”
All American Asphalt, with headquarter offices located in Corona, California, has agreed to submit to the EPA fully complete and accurate Toxic Chemical Release Inventory Forms as part of an agreement to resolve claimed violations of the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act. The company has also permanently shut down the Irvine facility.
The Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act created the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI), which requires regulated facilities to document and report the quantity of toxic chemicals released annually and is an important tool for understanding potential environmental health concerns. PACs can remain in the environment for a very long time and may build up or accumulate in the human body. TRI reports allow community members, including planners and emergency responders, to access information about pollutants in their communities. By failing to properly report pollution releases to the EPA, a facility is depriving its community members of timely and accurate data about the environmental health of their community.
Learn more about the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act.
Help protect our environment by identifying and reporting environmental violations.
Learn about EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region. Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
"Communities have a right to know about chemical releases in their neighborhood," said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. “These are not simple paperwork issues. The health and safety of communities where these types of businesses operate depend on a company’s compliance with these requirements, particularly when toxic chemicals such as PACs are involved.”
All American Asphalt, with headquarter offices located in Corona, California, has agreed to submit to the EPA fully complete and accurate Toxic Chemical Release Inventory Forms as part of an agreement to resolve claimed violations of the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act. The company has also permanently shut down the Irvine facility.
The Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act created the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI), which requires regulated facilities to document and report the quantity of toxic chemicals released annually and is an important tool for understanding potential environmental health concerns. PACs can remain in the environment for a very long time and may build up or accumulate in the human body. TRI reports allow community members, including planners and emergency responders, to access information about pollutants in their communities. By failing to properly report pollution releases to the EPA, a facility is depriving its community members of timely and accurate data about the environmental health of their community.
Learn more about the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act.
Help protect our environment by identifying and reporting environmental violations.
Learn about EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region. Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
EPA Region 7 Completes Oversight of Removal Activities at C6-Zero Site in Marengo, Iowa
LENEXA, KAN. (AUG. 1, 2024) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 has completed oversight of removal operations by the potentially responsible party at the C6-Zero Site in Marengo, Iowa.
After the explosion and fire on-site on Dec. 8, 2022, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) maintained the site through an emergency order while providing oversight to contractors, hired by C6-Zero Iowa LLC, to perform the cleanup.
EPA began oversight of removal operations in May 2023 after receiving a request for federal assistance from IDNR in April 2023. C6-Zero and EPA Region 7 entered into an Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent for Removal Action to formalize response and removal operations with defined time frames and deliverables.
As a result of the explosion and subsequent fire, the primary contaminants of concern associated with the C6-Zero Site included tetrachloroethylene (PCE), cis-1,2-dichlorothene (DCE), naphthalene and related chemicals, lead, and petroleum products, among others.
Removal operations at the site included the categorization, bulking, and disposal of all waste generated on-site, such as contaminated liquids and solids.
After the removal of these materials, contractors operating on behalf of C6-Zero excavated additional areas of the site where bulking and disposal shipping took place. EPA received the final excavation report, and final report for removal activities, after confirmation sampling indicated that no additional soil excavation at the site was warranted.
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Learn more about EPA Region 7
View all Region 7 news releases
Connect with EPA Region 7 on Facebook and Instagram
Follow us on X: @EPARegion7
After the explosion and fire on-site on Dec. 8, 2022, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) maintained the site through an emergency order while providing oversight to contractors, hired by C6-Zero Iowa LLC, to perform the cleanup.
EPA began oversight of removal operations in May 2023 after receiving a request for federal assistance from IDNR in April 2023. C6-Zero and EPA Region 7 entered into an Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent for Removal Action to formalize response and removal operations with defined time frames and deliverables.
As a result of the explosion and subsequent fire, the primary contaminants of concern associated with the C6-Zero Site included tetrachloroethylene (PCE), cis-1,2-dichlorothene (DCE), naphthalene and related chemicals, lead, and petroleum products, among others.
Removal operations at the site included the categorization, bulking, and disposal of all waste generated on-site, such as contaminated liquids and solids.
After the removal of these materials, contractors operating on behalf of C6-Zero excavated additional areas of the site where bulking and disposal shipping took place. EPA received the final excavation report, and final report for removal activities, after confirmation sampling indicated that no additional soil excavation at the site was warranted.
# # #
Learn more about EPA Region 7
View all Region 7 news releases
Connect with EPA Region 7 on Facebook and Instagram
Follow us on X: @EPARegion7
Biden-Harris Administration Announces $2.6 Million for Clean School Buses in American Samoa as Part of Investing in America Agenda
HONOLULU – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proud to announce the selection of American Samoa’s Department of Education for a $2,555,000 Clean School Bus Program rebate, funded by President Biden’s Investing in America agenda.
This rebate will help the Department of Education purchase seven electric school buses for American Samoa. This investment is a crucial step in American Samoa’s journey towards improving children’s health, tackling harmful air pollution, and replacing older, diesel-fueled school buses linked to student and community health issues.
“EPA is proud to take another step in advancing the rollout of electric school buses in American Samoa, helping create a future where our children can breathe cleaner air,” said EPA’s Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. “I’ve seen firsthand the advantages of these electric buses, with the absence of noxious diesel emissions benefiting students, school staff, and neighboring communities. Thanks to these investments, more electric school buses will be on the road in American Samoa.”
“A long-term priority of mine in Congress has been achieving proportional equality with the states in federal funding, so we appreciate this support. Thank you to Administrator Regan and our Region 9 Administrator Martha Guzman, and congratulations to our hardworking local Department of Education. The 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which I supported, has directed millions in new funds to American Samoa in various ways each year since it was passed,” said Representative Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen.
Governor Lemanu P. S. Mauga stated, “American Samoa knows firsthand the effects of climate change. We face rising sea levels and increasingly powerful storms on a daily basis. While we cannot change the course alone, we can do what we can. To further our environmental efforts, American Samoa sought and will receive seven electric school buses thanks to a $2.5 million allocation from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law under the 2023 Clean School Bus Rebate program. These buses will provide safer, cleaner transportation for our students, significantly improving our territory's environmental quality. This funding signifies our ongoing efforts towards sustainable, zero-emission transportation, benefiting students, staff, and the community by reducing harmful diesel emissions and climate impact."
In September 2023, the EPA announced at least $500 million in available funding nationwide for its 2023 Clean School Bus rebates. After receiving an overwhelming number of applications from school districts nationwide, including from low-income communities, Tribal nations, and U.S. territories, the EPA doubled the initial available funding in this round to nearly $1 billion.
The rebates will help school districts nationwide purchase over 3,400 clean school buses—92% of which will be electric—to accelerate the transition to zero-emission vehicles and produce cleaner air in and around schools and communities. This third funding round will build on almost $2 billion in investment from the 2022 Rebates and 2023 Grants to improve air quality in and around schools, reduce greenhouse gas pollution fueling the climate crisis, and help accelerate America’s leadership in developing clean vehicles of the future. To ensure effective implementation, the EPA is partnering with other federal agencies through the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation to provide school districts with robust technical assistance.
The selections will provide funds to school districts in 47 states, Washington D.C., and several federally recognized Tribes and U.S. territories, including American Samoa. School districts in low-income, rural, and Tribal communities comprise approximately 45 percent of these projects and will receive nearly 67 percent of the total funding. This exceeds President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative goal that at least 40 percent of certain federal investments benefit disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved, and overburdened by pollution.
The EPA will also make selections through future funding rounds and other programs. For example, the EPA is accepting the 2024 Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program applications until 11:59 PM ET on July 25, 2024. The program offers up to $932 million, 70% of which the EPA anticipates awarding to help fund new, zero-emission Class 6 or 7 school buses.
About the Clean School Bus Program
Created by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the EPA Clean School Bus Program received $5 billion to transform the nation’s school bus fleet. The Program funds electric buses, which produce zero tailpipe emissions, and propane and compressed natural gas buses, which produce lower tailpipe emissions than their older diesel predecessors. The complete list of Clean School Bus Program awards is posted here.
Learn more about EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region on our Instagram, Facebook, X, and website.
This rebate will help the Department of Education purchase seven electric school buses for American Samoa. This investment is a crucial step in American Samoa’s journey towards improving children’s health, tackling harmful air pollution, and replacing older, diesel-fueled school buses linked to student and community health issues.
“EPA is proud to take another step in advancing the rollout of electric school buses in American Samoa, helping create a future where our children can breathe cleaner air,” said EPA’s Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. “I’ve seen firsthand the advantages of these electric buses, with the absence of noxious diesel emissions benefiting students, school staff, and neighboring communities. Thanks to these investments, more electric school buses will be on the road in American Samoa.”
“A long-term priority of mine in Congress has been achieving proportional equality with the states in federal funding, so we appreciate this support. Thank you to Administrator Regan and our Region 9 Administrator Martha Guzman, and congratulations to our hardworking local Department of Education. The 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which I supported, has directed millions in new funds to American Samoa in various ways each year since it was passed,” said Representative Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen.
Governor Lemanu P. S. Mauga stated, “American Samoa knows firsthand the effects of climate change. We face rising sea levels and increasingly powerful storms on a daily basis. While we cannot change the course alone, we can do what we can. To further our environmental efforts, American Samoa sought and will receive seven electric school buses thanks to a $2.5 million allocation from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law under the 2023 Clean School Bus Rebate program. These buses will provide safer, cleaner transportation for our students, significantly improving our territory's environmental quality. This funding signifies our ongoing efforts towards sustainable, zero-emission transportation, benefiting students, staff, and the community by reducing harmful diesel emissions and climate impact."
In September 2023, the EPA announced at least $500 million in available funding nationwide for its 2023 Clean School Bus rebates. After receiving an overwhelming number of applications from school districts nationwide, including from low-income communities, Tribal nations, and U.S. territories, the EPA doubled the initial available funding in this round to nearly $1 billion.
The rebates will help school districts nationwide purchase over 3,400 clean school buses—92% of which will be electric—to accelerate the transition to zero-emission vehicles and produce cleaner air in and around schools and communities. This third funding round will build on almost $2 billion in investment from the 2022 Rebates and 2023 Grants to improve air quality in and around schools, reduce greenhouse gas pollution fueling the climate crisis, and help accelerate America’s leadership in developing clean vehicles of the future. To ensure effective implementation, the EPA is partnering with other federal agencies through the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation to provide school districts with robust technical assistance.
The selections will provide funds to school districts in 47 states, Washington D.C., and several federally recognized Tribes and U.S. territories, including American Samoa. School districts in low-income, rural, and Tribal communities comprise approximately 45 percent of these projects and will receive nearly 67 percent of the total funding. This exceeds President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative goal that at least 40 percent of certain federal investments benefit disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved, and overburdened by pollution.
The EPA will also make selections through future funding rounds and other programs. For example, the EPA is accepting the 2024 Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program applications until 11:59 PM ET on July 25, 2024. The program offers up to $932 million, 70% of which the EPA anticipates awarding to help fund new, zero-emission Class 6 or 7 school buses.
About the Clean School Bus Program
Created by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the EPA Clean School Bus Program received $5 billion to transform the nation’s school bus fleet. The Program funds electric buses, which produce zero tailpipe emissions, and propane and compressed natural gas buses, which produce lower tailpipe emissions than their older diesel predecessors. The complete list of Clean School Bus Program awards is posted here.
Learn more about EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region on our Instagram, Facebook, X, and website.
Newark port project to give MSC’s terminal more room to grow
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is looking to create more space for container operations with a multi-year project to move dry bulk operations from one port area to another.
Newark port project to give MSC’s terminal more room to grow
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is looking to create more space for container operations with a multi-year project to move dry bulk operations from one port area to another.
Two niche ocean carriers team up in trans-Pacific as rates remain high
SeaLead and TS Lines have a new vessel-sharing agreement within SeaLead’s recently launched Asia-US West Coast service, harkening back to the pandemic-era rush of new market entrants.
Two niche ocean carriers team up in trans-Pacific as rates remain high
SeaLead and TS Lines have a new vessel-sharing agreement within SeaLead’s recently launched Asia-US West Coast service, harking back to the pandemic-era rush of new market entrants.