Latest News

SAN FRANCISCO – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a compliance agreement with the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation (CUC) to resolve claims of Clean Air Act violations at its bulk chlorine storage site in Saipan. Under this agreement, within one year the CUC must meet requirements including updating the facility’s Risk Management Plan (RMP) and addressing all areas of concern identified through prior EPA inspections.

“The CUC needs improvements in its plan for managing potential chemical accidents, to both prevent dangerous chlorine releases and – should an accident happen – be in a position to effectively respond,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. “Today’s action will safeguard public health, protecting nearby residents and businesses against potential releases of a very dangerous chemical.”

The storage site was constructed in 2018 in response to a 2009 Stipulated Order to ensure the CUC’s wastewater and drinking water systems were compliant with the Clean Water Act. The facility stores over 2,500 pounds of chlorine gas in 150-lb. metal cylinders that are used for water treatment. Facilities that store 2,500 pounds or more of chlorine must comply with Risk Management Program requirements.

EPA conducted two inspections, one in 2021 and one in 2023, that identified several areas of concern. These included, but were not limited to, failure to:

• Register the new storage site’s Risk Management Plan (RMP) with EPA and update the plan once the facility was operational.
• Maintain the storage site adequately, to include ensuring effective cooling so that the chlorine was stored correctly and putting into place sealed doors to secure chlorine during an accidental release.
• Train personnel on proper use of the chlorine emergency kits and coordinate emergency response with local responders to help minimize releases if they do occur.
• Calibrate and fix chlorine sensors.
• Test effectiveness of the scrubber media used to filter chlorine during an accidental release.

Section 112(r) of the Clean Air Act requires development and implementation of RMPs to address risks from accidental releases of regulated toxic substances, including chlorine. Chlorine is a gas with a very irritating odor used in the production of thousands of products and for water disinfection. Exposure to low levels of chlorine can result in nose, throat, and eye irritation. At higher levels, breathing chlorine gas may result in changes in breathing rate and coughing, lung damage and potentially even death.

Legally mandated RMPs must identify the potential effects of a chemical accident, steps the facility is taking to prevent an accident, and emergency response procedures should an accident occur. These plans also provide valuable information to local emergency response personnel to prepare for and respond to chemical emergencies in their community.

Read more about the Clean Air Act Section 112 (r) Risk Management Program (RMP) Rule.

Learn about the National Enforcement and Compliance Initiative on reducing risks of accidental releases at industrial and chemical facilities.

Learn about EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region. Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and X.

LOWELL, Mass. (June 10, 2024) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, met with Congresswoman Lori Trahan, the town leaders of Clinton, Lawrence and Lowell, other stakeholders, to celebrate their awards from the pot of $34,646,400 in grant awards from President Biden's Investing in America agenda to expedite the assessment and cleanup of brownfield sites in Massachusetts while advancing environmental justice.

The town of Clinton received $500,000, the City of Lawrence received $1 million, and the City of Lowell received $5.5 million.

"Brownfields grants are gamechangers—they turn polluted, abandoned sites into thriving community spaces. This isn't just about cleaning up the environment; it's about revitalizing neighborhoods, creating good jobs, and ensuring healthier living for everyone—it's a win-win-win-win-win-win," said EPA Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "This additional funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is helping to transform contaminated properties into valuable community assets, making a real difference for Massachusetts families, especially in the areas that need it most."

"I'm over the moon that we'll be able to invest in our communities, create jobs, and clean up sites across the Commonwealth with this funding," said U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren. "This is a great win for our environment, our communities, and our kids who are going to reap the benefits for generations to come."

"It's simple—we know that Brownfields grants unlock vital funding to free our towns and cities from dangerous pollution and toxic contamination," said U.S. Senator Edward Markey. "This historic investment will bring cleaner water, land, and air to communities across the Commonwealth and deliver a more livable future with green spaces to work, live, and play."

“I voted for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to make long overdue improvements in communities large and small across the Commonwealth," said Congresswoman Lori Trahan. "This federal funding will give Lowell, Lawrence, Clinton, and the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission the resources necessary to complete revitalization projects that will improve life for hardworking families, create good-paying jobs, and strengthen our local economy for years to come."

“The industrial legacy in the Merrimack Valley has resulted in many sites with contaminated soil and groundwater – especially in historically overburdened areas,” said Undersecretary Stephanie Cooper of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. “The Healey-Driscoll Administration is grateful to President Biden and the EPA for providing Massachusetts with increased funding for brownfield cleanups and redevelopments, which will have a transformative benefit in these disadvantaged communities.”

“We are thrilled to announce that the City of Lawrence has been chosen to receive a $1 million dollar grant through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for a Comprehensive Brownfields Multipurpose project,” said Lawrence Mayor Brian A. DePeña. “This grant will enable us to undertake crucial environmental assessments and cleanups, including at important sites like the Bennington Triangle and Florence Street Garage. We are indebted to all our partners and the community for their support and look forward to making this vision a reality."

The Town of Clinton has been selected to receive $500,000 for a Brownfields Cleanup Grant funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Grant funds will be used to clean up the Rockbestos-Surprenant Cable Corp. facility located at 172 Sterling Street. The 8.4-acre cleanup site operated as a mill until the 1910s and then as a wire manufacturing facility until 2006 and is currently unoccupied. It is contaminated with petroleum, heavy metals, chlorinated solvents, and inorganic contaminants. Grant funds also will be used to conduct community engagement activities.

The City of Lawrence has been selected to receive $1 million for a Brownfields Multipurpose Grant funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Grant funds will be used to conduct six Phase I and four Phase II environmental site assessments, prepare four cleanup plans, and conduct community engagement activities. Grant funds also will be used to clean up four sites, including the Bennington Triangle and Florence Street Garage priority sites. The target area for this project is the area surrounding the Lawrence Manchester Rail Corridor in downtown Lawrence, a 1.4-mile former railroad line slated for redevelopment into a rail trail.

The City of Lowell has been selected to receive $500,000 for a Brownfields Assessment Grant and $5 million for a Brownfields Cleanup Grant funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law:

The Brownfields Community-wide Assessment Grant funds will be used to conduct four Phase I and five Phase II environmental site assessments, develop five cleanup plans and five reuse plans, and conduct community engagement activities. Assessment activities will focus on the City of Lowell's JAM Urban Renewal Plan Area and Hamilton Canal Innovation District. Priority sites include five parcels comprised of former mill and manufacturing sites ranging from .5 to 2.4 acres.

The Brownfields Cleanup Grant will be used to clean up the Veterans of Foreign War Highway at the Beaver Brook site at 644 Aiken, 650 Aiken, and 432 W. Sixth Streets. The 5.7-acre cleanup site consists of three contiguous parcels that include a riverfront, vegetated land with a paved pathway, and a single-story vacant building. Historical information indicates the site was built up with contaminated fill to build a flood control system. The site is contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, extractable petroleum hydrocarbons, heavy metals, and coal ash. Grant funds also will be used to conduct community engagement activities.

EPA selected 13 communities in Massachusetts to receive 14 grants totaling $25,646,400 in competitive EPA Brownfields funding through the Multipurpose, Assessment, and Cleanup (MAC) Grant programs. In addition, the agency is announcing $9 million in supplemental funding to four existing, high-performing Brownfields RLF Grant Programs to help expedite their continued work at sites in Massachusetts.

Thanks to the historic $1.5 billion boost from President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA's Brownfields Program is helping more communities than ever before begin to address the economic, social, and environmental challenges caused by brownfields and stimulate economic opportunity, and environmental revitalization in historically overburdened communities.

To see the list of all FY 2024 Multipurpose, Assessment and Cleanup applicants selected for funding, visit EPA's FY 2024 Multipurpose, Assessment and Cleanup Applicants webpage.

Additional Background:

EPA's Brownfields Program began in 1995 and has provided nearly $2.7 billion in Brownfield Grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse. Prior to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this program made approximately $60 million available each year. Thanks to the President's historic investments in America through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA has now increased that yearly investment nearly 400 percent. More than half of the funding available for this grant cycle (approximately $160 million) comes from the historic $1.5 billion investment from President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This investment has also allowed the MAC grants' maximum award amounts to increase significantly from $500,000 to a new maximum of $5 million per award.

For more information on EPA's Brownfields Program, visit EPA's Brownfields webpage.

CHICAGO – Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the selection of Alliance for the Great Lakes to receive $5,597,824 to fund projects advancing environmental justice in underserved and overburdened communities in the Chicago River region of Chicago, and Calumet regions of northwest Indiana. Through EPA’s newly created Great Lakes Environmental Justice Grant Program, made possible by President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda, Alliance for the Great Lakes will develop and oversee its own subgrant competition to fund environmental protection and restoration projects that safeguard our nation’s largest fresh surface water resources.  

“These new grant programs will ease administrative barriers and help underserved communities in Illinois and Indiana more effectively access federal funding for local projects,” said EPA Region 5 Administrator Debra Shore. “Thanks to an all-of-government approach and the unprecedented federal funding from the Biden Administration’s Investing in America agenda, we are one step closer to creating a cleaner Lake Michigan for all.”

“An investment of this magnitude with a new focus on environmental justice is not just humbling -- but empowering. Over $5.5 million in Great Lakes restoration funding will reduce pollution and restore lands and waters for historically disinvested communities in the Southern Lake Michigan basin. Community-based organizations and agencies will have more resources they need to expand their critical work. For that, the Alliance is grateful and excited to begin implementation with our partners,” said Joel Brammeier, President, and CEO of Alliance for the Great Lakes. 

Using funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Alliance for the Great Lakes will work in a coalition with four regional advocacy organizations: the Calumet Collaborative, Friends of the Chicago River, Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission and Faith in Place. Together, Alliance for the Great Lakes and its coalition partners will establish an environmental justice grant program in the southern Lake Michigan watershed. The grant program will include outreach to environmental justice organizations to identify needs and will provide technical and managerial support to potential applicants throughout the granting process. 

The Alliance for the Great Lakes joins the four applicants who previously received more than $35 million to fund projects advancing environmental justice in underserved and overburdened communities across the Great Lakes.  

EPA anticipates finalizing all the awards once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied. Funding opportunities are expected to be made available to communities within the first year of selectees receiving the funds announced today. 

Many communities in the Great Lakes Basin lack the resources needed to apply for, obtain, and oversee the implementation of federal grant projects.  Cities, states, Tribes and nonprofit organizations representing underserved communities will be able to apply directly to the selected grant programs to fund a range of environmental protection and restoration projects in underserved communities that will further the goals of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. These programs will also provide technical assistance to organizations in underserved communities to increase their organizational capacity. This investment will also encourage even greater environmental, economic, health, and recreational benefits for underserved Great Lakes communities. 

EPA’s Great Lakes Environmental Justice Grant Program was created under President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which invests $1 billion in the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to accelerate Great Lakes restoration and protection. The program also delivers on the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 Initiative, which set the goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. 

Additional Background 
Since 2010, EPA’s Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has funded more than 8,000 restoration and protection projects totaling more than $4 billion. 
Read more about the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. 

Sign up for the Great Lakes News email list to get information about funding opportunities to support Great Lakes environmental work and get updates about Great Lakes environmental projects.  

###

EPA Region 7 Administrator Meg McCollister provides remarks at the SuperJTI graduation ceremony for the Tri-State Mining District in Joplin, Missouri, on June 6, 2024. SuperJTI graduates (front) Steven Schiernbeck, (back from left) Bryan Fetters, Lawrence Haflich, and Patrick Landis look on. (Photo by U.S. EPA)

LENEXA, KAN. (JUNE 7, 2024) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 Administrator Meg McCollister joined county officials to congratulate 10 graduates of the EPA Superfund Job Training Initiative (SuperJTI) program for the Tri-State Mining District. The graduation ceremony was held at the Joplin Elks Lodge #501 on Thursday evening, June 6.

“I am honored to celebrate these graduates of the Superfund Job Training Initiative here in Joplin,” McCollister said. “These graduates are now empowered with the certifications and skills needed to perform environmental remediation at Superfund sites across the country, and here locally in the Tri-State Mining District.”

SuperJTI is a job readiness program that provides training and employment opportunities for people living in communities affected by Superfund sites.

Graduates of the SuperJTI program in the Tri-State Mining District (TSMD) underwent a training program to prepare for environmental contracting jobs in their community. The courses were tailored to the cleanup needs at sites within the TSMD and included 40-hour Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) training and EPA Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) certification.

Background

The Tri-State Mining District spans 2,500 square miles across Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma and was one of the world’s leading zinc and lead mining areas, producing over 400 million tons of crude ore between 1850 and 1970.

In EPA Region 7, the TSMD contains three Superfund sites on EPA’s National Priorities List: Cherokee County Site in Kansas; and Newton County Mine Tailings and Oronogo-Duenweg Mining Belt sites in Missouri.

EPA Region 7 also works to remediate waterways in the TMSD watershed, which includes the Neosho and Spring rivers.

Learn more about the Tri-State Mining District.

# # #

Learn more about EPA Region 7

Connect with EPA Region 7 on Facebook and Instagram

Follow us on X: @EPARegion7

CHARLOTTE, NC – Thursday, June 6, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Deputy Regional Administrator Cesar Zapata joined Senior Advisor to President Biden and White House Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Tom Perez and local officials for an event to celebrate the award of 2024 rebate funding to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg County School District from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 2023 Clean School Bus Program rebate competition, funded by President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. 

In total, through 2023, Clean School Bus Program awards of $8.6 million in rebates to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District will replace 52 diesel-powered buses, which will result in reduced air emissions and fuel savings of over 70,000 gallons of diesel fuel.

"We thank the EPA for granting CMS funds for clean and quiet electric buses. This grant program is a demonstration of government partnerships at their best and allows CMS to do our part to preserve the environment for many generations," states Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education Vice Chair, Gregory "Dee" Rankin.

“The reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from these bus replacements will help to address the outsized role of the transportation sector in fueling the climate crisis. The CSB program will save school districts money as they upgrade school bus fleets and freeing up needed resources for schools,” said Deputy Regional Administrator Cesar Zapata. “More importantly, phasing out these diesel engines will ensure cleaner air for students, bus drivers, and school staff working near the bus loading areas, and the communities through which the buses drive each day.”

“The Board of County Commissioners is steadfast in its commitment to environmental stewardship, which is why it continues to be one of the top five investment priorities. A major component of our commitment as outlined in our Environmental Justice Action framework is lowering our carbon footprint. For our fiscal year, Mecklenburg County committed 2.2 million for 90 additional electric vehicle charging stations and 2.9 million for 64 additional electric vehicles,” said Vice Chair of the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners Mark Jerrell. “However, despite our efforts, there's still much work to be done and today's announcement is a step closer in the right direction.”

“We have the ability to change lives at this moment in time. We have the ability to have clean air at this moment in time. We have the ability to change the disparities that we have in our community into something that's opportunity for every part of our community,” said Mayor Vi Lyles.

This year, EPA has selected approximately 530 school districts spanning nearly every state, Washington, D.C., and several Tribes and U.S. territories to receive nearly $900 million to replace older, diesel fueled school buses that have been linked to asthma and other conditions that harm the health of students and surrounding communities.   

“There has never been a wider scale and scope of opportunity to make a difference in so many ways in this community as a result of the President's Invest in America agenda and the remarkable partnership with the President, Governor Cooper, Mayor Lyles, your school board, your private sector, all of the partners. As we invest in levels unprecedented in my lifetime, we want to make sure that every community benefits. We want to make sure that zip code never determines destiny,” said White House Senior Advisor Tom Perez. “Having electric school buses is part of the broader strategy to make sure that from the moment you leave home to the moment you come home, you are breathing clean air, you are in a safe place. That's what the Investment America agenda is all about. And this will result in clean air, healthier air for many of the 25,000,000 children who rely on school buses every day.”

Attendees and reporters were invited to join a “ride along” in an electric school bus prior to the speaking program. 

For more information on the Clean School Bus Program: https://www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus

###

SEATTLE (June 6, 2024) – Today, the U.S. Environmental protection Agency announced East Side Plating, Inc. of Portland, Oregon, will pay $139,505 for violations of the Clean Air Act. 

During 2022 inspections, EPA found East Side Plating failed to comply with Clean Air Act requirements applicable to electroplating operations at the facility.    

Specifically, East Side Plating violated the following requirements: 

• Failed to install covers on its nickel-plating tanks 
• Failed to implement good housekeeping practices that reduce emissions 
• Failed to keep records of fume suppressant chemical additions to electroplating tanks 
• Failed to measure the amount of electricity used by individual electroplating tanks 

Electroplating is a type of metal finishing operation that changes the surface properties of a metal part to make it stronger, shinier and corrosion-resistant. Electroplating operations can produce emissions of hazardous air pollutants, including heavy metals like cadmium, lead, manganese, and nickel. While federal, state and local regulations limit the amount of emissions from electroplating shops, dangerous releases of toxic air pollutants can occur if an electroplating shop is out of compliance.  

East Side Plating corrected all issues identified by EPA. 

“Businesses need to comply with the law,” said EPA Region 10 Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Director Ed Kowalski. “By evaluating and improving work practices, shops can decrease emissions, reduce production costs, and protect employee and public health.” 

This action is part of a national enforcement and compliance initiative Reducing Air Toxics.  

Additional details can be found in the Consent Agreement and Final Order. 

NUEVA YORK – Hoy, en una importante inversión para mejorar la infraestructura de agua en Puerto Rico, la Agencia Federal de Protección Ambiental de Estados Unidos (EPA), junto con las autoridades locales, anunciaron fondos para comenzar mejoras en la Planta de Tratamiento de Aguas Sanitarias de Bayamón. Las mejoras de $22.7 millones, financiadas por la Ley Bipartidista de Infraestructura (BIL), modernizará la instalación con tecnología avanzada para asegurar el tratamiento efectivo de las aguas usadas para las comunidades atendidas por la segunda planta de tratamiento de aguas sanitarias más grande de Puerto Rico.

“La modernización de la Planta de Tratamiento de Aguas Residuales de Bayamón, posible gracias a la Ley Bipartita de Infraestructura, no es sólo una mejora de las instalaciones; es una inversión en la salud y el futuro de más de 260.000 residentes,” señaló la subadministradora de la EPA, Janet McCabe. “Este proyecto de 22,7 millones de dólares, que incluye mejoras cruciales para el funcionamiento de la planta, refleja el compromiso de la Administración Biden-Harris y de la EPA para salvaguardar la salud medioambiental y reforzar la economía.”  

“El compromiso de la EPA de proteger la salud ambiental se extiende por todo el país, incluyendo los ecosistemas vitales de Puerto Rico”, señaló la administradora regional Lisa F. García. “Los fondos para estas mejoras a la planta de Bayamón son un testimonio de nuestra dedicación y trabajo en equipo con los gobiernos locales para proporcionar a las comunidades servicios de agua limpia que sean confiables.”

La subadministradora de la EPA, Janet McCabe, y la administradora regional, Lisa F. García, anunciaron los fondos en una ceremonia con la presidente de la Autoridad de Acueductos y Alcantarillados de Puerto Rico (AAA), Doriel Pagán, y la secretaria del Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales (DRNA), Anaïs Rodríguez. Los funcionarios se reunieron en el lugar donde se llevarán del proyecto de modernización, que promete mejorar significativamente las operaciones de la planta.

El proyecto, financiado por una inversión de $22.7 millones de la Ley Bipartidista de Infraestructura (BIL) y administrado por el DRNA a través del Fondo Rotatorio Estatal de Agua Limpia, incluye la sustitución de pasarelas, rejillas y seis bombas de entrada que dan acceso para el mantenimiento y las inspecciones. Además, se actualizarán o reemplazarán seis bombas de entrada, cruciales para el movimiento de agua dentro de la planta. También habrá mejoras en el edificio de cribado, las cribas mecánicas, el sistema de cinta transportadora y otras partes clave de la instalación. Se espera que estas mejoras beneficien a aproximadamente 260 mil residentes en el Municipio de Bayamón.

La Planta de Tratamiento de Aguas Sanitarias de Bayamón, que opera desde mayo de 1983, está diseñada para tratar un promedio de 40 millones de galones por día (MGD), con una capacidad máxima de 68 MGD. Es la segunda planta de tratamiento de aguas residuales más grande de Puerto Rico y sirve a los municipios de Bayamón, Guaynabo, Cataño, Toa Baja y Toa Alta.  Los residuos tratados se fusionan con los productos de otras plantas regionales antes de ser liberados en el Océano Atlántico, lo que enfatiza la importancia de la planta y de este proyecto de mejora. Este proyecto forma parte de una iniciativa más amplia según la Ley Bipartidista de Infraestructura, que refleja un enfoque renovado en las inversiones en infraestructura crítica en los Estados Unidos y Puerto Rico. Las mejoras no solo trabajarán con la contaminación, sino que también mejorarán la calidad de vida de los residentes y crearán oportunidades de empleo.

Siga a la Región 2 de la EPA en X y visite nuestra página en Facebook. Para obtener más información sobre la Región 2 de la EPA, visite nuestro sitio web.

24-045-SP

NEW YORK – Today, in a significant investment to improve water infrastructure in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), alongside local authorities, announced funding to begin a major upgrade project at the Bayamon Wastewater Treatment Plant. The $22.7 million upgrade, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will modernize the facility with advanced technology to ensure the effective treatment of wastewater for the communities served by the second largest wastewater treatment plant in Puerto Rico.

"The modernization of the Bayamon Wastewater Treatment Plant, made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is not just an upgrade of facilities; it’s an investment in the health and future of over 260,000 residents," said EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe. "This $22.7 million project, which includes crucial upgrades to the plant’s operations, reflects the commitment of the Biden-Harris Administration and EPA to safeguarding environmental health and bolstering the economy."

“EPA’s commitment to safeguarding environmental health spans across the nation, including the vital ecosystems of Puerto Rico,” said Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “The funding for these enhancements to the Bayamon plant are a testament to our dedication to partnering with local governments to provide communities with reliable and clean water services.”

EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe and Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia announced the funding at a ceremony with Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA) President Doriel Pagán and Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER) Secretary Anais Rodriguez. The officials gathered at the site of the modernization project, which promises to significantly improve the plant’s operations.

The project, funded by a $22.7 million investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and administered by the DNER through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, includes the replacement of catwalks, gratings, and six inflowing pumps which provide access for maintenance and inspections, will be replaced. Additionally, six inflowing pumps, crucial for water movement within the plant, will be upgraded or replaced. There will also be upgrades to the screening building, the mechanical screens, belt conveyor system and other key parts of the facility. These improvements are expected to benefit approximately 260,000 residents in the Municipality of Bayamon.

The Bayamon Wastewater Treatment Plant, operational since May 1983, is designed to treat an average of 40 million gallons per day (MGD), with a peak capacity of 68 MGD. It is the second largest wastewater treatment plant in Puerto Rico and serves the municipalities of Bayamon, Guaynabo, Cataño, Toa Baja, and Toa Alta.  The treated waste merges with outputs from other regional plants before being released into the Atlantic Ocean, emphasizing the importance of the plant and this upgrade project. This project is part of a broader initiative under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, reflecting a renewed focus on critical infrastructure investments across the United States and Puerto Rico. The upgrades will not only address pollution but also enhance the quality of life for residents and create job opportunities.

Follow EPA Region 2 on X and visit our Facebook page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.

24-045

WASHINGTON — Today, June 6, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that Lucia Lammers, a senior at Harrison High School in Harrison, New York, has won EPA’s 2024 Patrick H. Hurd Sustainability Award at the 2024 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair in Los Angeles, CA. Lucia’s project, “Spectroscopic and Colorimetric Analysis of Textiles Dyed with Local Invasive Plant Species and Waste-Derived Mordants,” explored eco-friendly textile dyes to help mitigate the negative environmental impact of local invasive plant species, municipal wastes, and synthetic dyes.

“Congratulations to Lucia Lammers and all the finalists at the International Science and Engineering Fair,” said Chris Frey, Assistant Administrator for the Office of Research and Development. “Lucia's project shows great potential for making a difference that will positively impact our environment. I commend all the participants for their curiosity, drive and dedication, and encourage them to continue to pursue their passions.”

As part of her project, Lucia connected with local land conservation experts to identify highly invasive plant species impacting biodiversity. She paired dyes from these invasive plants using substances sourced from readily available waste materials, allowing them to bind to textiles. Her innovative approach produced dyes of a wide variety of saturated colors that were successfully applied to textiles and are both safer and healthier for the environment when compared to synthetic dyes. Additionally, by using a Life Cycle Assessment, Lucia was able to identify the most cost-effective and safe combination of materials. She hopes to use her passion for environmental stewardship to create more eco-friendly textiles and fashion.

Honorable mention went to Sarah Gao, a junior at Canyon Crest Academy in San Diego, California, for her project, “From Trash to Treasure: Fighting Desertification with Sustainable Soil Amending Hydrogels Synthesized from Food Waste.” After observing how quickly soil dries out after rainfall, Sarah reflected on her kindergarten science fair project exploring the absorbency of diapers. She began exploring if the liquid holding properties of diapers could be translated in an environmentally sustainable way to improve moisture retention of soil in regions experiencing or at risk of drought. Sarah converted agricultural waste in the form of peels from locally available fruit into water absorbing hydrogels for farmers and gardeners to use to sustain soil moisture. She used bioinformatics to predict fruits with peels that could be made into hydrogels, synthesized hydrogels, and demonstrated their water-retaining abilities in soil.

EPA’s Patrick H. Hurd Sustainability Award provides the funds necessary for the winning student to attend and participate in the following years’ EPA National Student Design Expo. The Expo features the university and college student teams of our P3: People, Prosperity and the Planet program which also encourages innovative designs applying Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) to address an environmental challenge.

Lucia and Sarah were finalists at Regeneron® International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), the world’s largest international pre-college science competition, a program of the Society for Science. Since 2009, EPA has participated in the ISEF, recognizing projects that demonstrate a commitment to environmental sustainability and stewardship. This year, ISEF brought together 1,699 high school students from 67 countries, regions and territories, who presented their independent research in competition for over $9 million in awards and scholarships.

• Visit Patrick H. Hurd Sustainability Award for more information about EPA’s participation in the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair and to see past winners.
• Visit International Science and Engineering Fair for more information about the event.
• Check out EPA’s People, Prosperity, and the Planet Student Design Competition for more details about the program.

SEATTLE (June 6, 2024) –The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today a determination that Alaska’s water quality standards need to be updated to more accurately reflect the amount of fish Alaskans consume.  This action requires Alaska to revise its limits on toxic pollutants in the state’s waters to ensure that eating fish supports healthy people and communities. EPA’s determination sets the agency on a path to issuing a federal backstop in the event that Alaska does not strengthen the state’s water quality standards to protect residents.

“EPA continues to engage closely with the state of Alaska to ensure its communities, many of which rely on fish and shellfish for subsistence, are safer from pollution,” said EPA Acting Assistant Administrator for Water Bruno Pigott. “Alaskans eat more salmon and other fish and shellfish than the average American. That’s why it’s important to update the science and analyses that underpin federal and state standards that protect water quality and ensure that it’s safe to eat fish.”

This Determination stems from long-standing concerns that the fish consumption rate used in Alaska's existing human health criteria does not reflect the fish consumption patterns of Alaska residents, including rural and Tribal consumers. Alaska’s existing water quality standards, which were last updated in 2003, are based on the national default fish consumption rate at that time of approximately seven ounces per month. Data from several sources indicate that actual fish consumption rates for Alaska residents, including Alaska Native and rural subsistence consumers, likely range from 7-14 ounces per day. Updated water quality standards in Alaska will reflect the latest scientific information, including a more accurate fish consumption rate and toxicity of various pollutants. 

If the state does not submit revised water quality standards, EPA plans to propose new and revised standards for Alaska that will take this updated data into account and protect those who eat salmon and other fish and shellfish from the state’s waters. EPA will seek input from the public on the proposed rule and will consider all comments received before proceeding to the final rule stage.  

Water quality standards define the water quality goals for a waterbody and provide a regulatory basis for many actions under the Clean Water Act, including reporting on water quality conditions and status; developing water quality-based effluent limits in discharge permits for point-sources; and setting pollution targets for a state’s water bodies. 

To learn more about the effort to update Alaska’s water quality standards to better protect human health go to: https://www.epa.gov/wqs-tech/water-quality-standards-protect-human-health-alaska

BOSTON (June 6, 2024) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently reached a settlement with a Connecticut-based property management company and two property owners for alleged violations of the Lead Disclosure Rule. Under the terms of the settlement, Idoni Management, LLC, Clebridge, LLC and 34 Hulse, LLC agreed to pay a combined penalty of $39,449.

"Tenants have a right to know if their unit has lead-based paint hazards, especially in areas that have historically been underserved or overburdened by other environmental issues," said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "Property management companies and property owners also have a duty to keep their tenants informed of potential hazards where they live and play. Cases like this one happen far too often, and I’m hopeful that this settlement will warn other companies to do their due diligence to protect residents and their families."

Idoni Management, LLC is a property management company that manages 43 properties with 265 units in the Norwalk, Connecticut area. In September 2022, EPA reviewed seven lease transactions for properties owned by Clebridge, LLC and 34 Hulse, LLC and managed by Idoni Management, LLC.

Alleged disclosure rule violations were identified with respect to the leases at properties in Waterbury, Connecticut (owned by Clebridge LLC) and New Haven, Connecticut (owned by 34 Hulse, LLC). Both of these properties are located in environmental justice areas of concern. The following alleged Lead Disclosure Rule violations were identified in the leases for the two properties:

• failure to include a lead warning statement;
• failure to include a statement by the lessor disclosing the presence or indicate no knowledge of lead-based paint; and
• failure to include a statement by the lessee affirming receipt of the information and the lead hazard.

This inspection was part of EPA New England's Connecticut Geographic Initiative for lead-based paint.

Background

The Disclosure Rule requires sellers, landlords, and agents to provide potential buyers and renters of housing built before 1978 information about lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards in the residence prior to becoming obligated to buy or rent the housing and provides the opportunity for an independent lead inspection for buyers. Sellers, landlords, and agents are responsible for compliance.

More information:

Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Rule

Real Estate Disclosures for Lead Hazards

EPA Lead Enforcement

CHARLOTTE, NC – Tomorrow, Thursday, June 6, at 11:00 a.m. EDT, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Deputy Regional Administrator Cesar Zapata will join Senior Advisor to President Biden and White House Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Tom Perez and local officials for an event to celebrate the award of additional grant funding to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg County School District from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 2023 Clean School Bus Program rebate competition, funded by President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. 

This year, EPA has selected approximately 530 school districts spanning nearly every state, Washington, D.C., and several Tribes and U.S. territories to receive nearly $900 million to replace older, diesel fueled school buses that have been linked to asthma and other conditions that harm the health of students and surrounding communities.   

Reporters are invited to join a “ride along” in an electric school bus prior to the speaking program. To participate, please be sure to arrive by 10:45 a.m. EDT. 

Who:

• Tom Perez, White House Director of Intergovernmental Affairs
• Cesar Zapata, EPA Deputy Regional Administrator
• Vi Lyles, Mayor of Charlotte
• Mark Jerrell, Mecklenburg County Vice Chair 
• Gregory “Dee” Rankin, Charlotte-Mecklenburg County School District Vice Chair
• Lequisha Mercer, Charlotte-Mecklenburg County School District bus driver and parent

When: 

Thursday, June 6

• Presentations and Electric Bus Ride-a-Long: 11:00 a.m. EDT 
• Press Pull-Asides: 12:00 p.m. EDT

Where: 

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District Bus Depot
3101 Wilkinson Boulevard
Charlotte, NC 28208

RSVP: 

Media who wish to participate should RSVP via email to region4press@epa.gov to confirm your participation.

###

ATLANTA (June 5, 2024) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in partnership with the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), announced the selection of Rabbit Valley Farmers Market, Inc. in Ringgold, Georgia to receive technical assistance through the Local Foods, Local Places program. Together, EPA and the local community will engage with stakeholders to develop local foods systems while furthering sustainability goals.

“EPA is proud to partner with local communities to support local food initiatives that improve access to fresh foods, support and grow new business and protect the environment,” said Acting Region 4 Administrator Jeaneanne Gettle. “As a public health agency, EPA is committed to addressing the problem of food insecurity in the Southeast that can contribute to poor health in our communities.”

The Rabbit Valley Farmers Market, Inc. in Ringgold, Ga., has a vision for farmers’ markets as not only a place to purchase fresh local foods, support local agriculture, and promote healthier lifestyle, but also a community gathering place in which community members can socialize, celebrate and connect with each other. They seek to collaborate with a diverse set of local partners to improve community awareness about the farmer’s market. Related programs focus on childhood health, nutrition education, improved food access, utilizing SNAP benefits, and local environmental education initiatives on composting, water conservation, and community gardening.

“My hope for this project is to create a more community centered downtown and market, with a collective focus on health, well-being, environmental stewardship, and service to others,” said Samantha Leslie, Executive Director of the Rabbit Valley Farmers Market.

This year, ARC and EPA will also collaborate with the newly established U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Business Center for Appalachia, which supports underserved farmers and food businesses in the local food supply chain overcome market access barriers.

Since 2014, the Local Foods, Local Places program has aided 137 communities across the country. The assistance helps community groups, local governments and tribal governments increase their capacity to protect the environment and improve public health through better access to healthy foods and more active lifestyles, thereby improving overall quality of life, especially within overburdened communities. The program emphasizes sustainable food systems and expands economic opportunity, especially for local growers and value-added food processor entrepreneurs.

Learn more about the Local Foods, Local Places program.

###

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (June 5, 2024) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in partnership with the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), announced the selection of Spring City, Tennessee to receive technical assistance through the Local Foods, Local Places program. Together, EPA and the local community will engage with stakeholders to develop local foods systems while furthering sustainability goals.

“EPA is proud to partner with local communities to support local food initiatives that improve access to fresh foods, support and grow new business and protect the environment,” said Acting Region 4 Administrator Jeaneanne Gettle. “As a public health agency, EPA is committed to addressing the problem of food insecurity in the Southeast that can contribute to poor health in our communities.”

Spring City plans to combine the efforts of several local groups to improve fresh food availability with new community gardens and farmers market access to address priority health challenges such as obesity. The new community gardens will also contribute to downtown revitalization efforts as green infrastructure to mitigate flooding risks and to promote community gathering places.

“The Town of Spring City is proud to have been selected to be part of the Local Foods, Local Places program,” said City Manager Stephania Motes. “Our focus will be to create a farmers’ market and a community garden to help meet community needs as well as to boost our downtown revitalization efforts and Agri-tourism in the area.”

This year, ARC and EPA will also collaborate with the newly established U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Business Center for Appalachia, which helps underserved farmers and food businesses in the local food supply chain overcome market access barriers.

Since 2014, the Local Foods, Local Places program has aided 137 communities across the country. The assistance helps community groups, local governments and tribal governments increase their capacity to protect the environment and improve public health through better access to healthy foods and more active lifestyles, thereby improving overall quality of life, especially within overburdened communities. The program emphasizes sustainable food systems and expands economic opportunity, especially for local growers and value-added food processor entrepreneurs.

Learn more about the Local Foods, Local Places program.

###

WASHINGTON — Today, June 5, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is announcing the winners of the seventh annual National Federal Facility Excellence in Site Reuse Awards. These awards highlight the accomplishments of federal agencies, states, Tribes, local partners, communities and developers in restoring and reusing contaminated land at federal facilities.  

“This year’s winners demonstrate the importance of strong partnerships in transforming contaminated federal facilities into community assets,” said Cliff Villa, EPA’s Deputy Assistant Administrator of the Office of Land and Emergency Management. 

The 2024 Federal Facility Excellence in Site Reuse winners are: 

• Superfund National Priorities List Award: Oak Ridge Reservation, Tennessee (Department of Energy – Office of Environmental Management). This reservation, a former federal uranium enrichment operation using gaseous diffusion, operated until 1985 as part of the U.S. nuclear weapons program. Now, after years of cleanup, planning, and development efforts, the 2,200-acre former plant, renamed the East Tennessee Technology Park, has been revitalized into a multi-use industrial park, including Clean Energy businesses, a Manhattan Project National Historic Park, and a nature conservation area. 
• Base Realignment and Closure Award: Former Norton Air Force Base, California (Air Force). Under the Base Realignment and Closure Act, the former Air Force base closed in 1994. What was once Norton Air Force Base is now San Bernardino International Airport and a global logistics complex, employing nearly 18,000 people, exceeding the number and diversity of jobs when it was an operating base. Companies on site include Amazon, Kohl’s, Mattel, UPS, FedEx, Stater Brothers complex, and Pep Boys. This site demonstrates how successful partnerships between public and private entities and the local community can facilitate the transformation of a military facility with significant environmental issues into a multi-use area that is an asset to the community, while being a catalyst for revitalization of the surrounding area. 
• Superfund Non-National Priorities List Award: Tuba City Disposal Site, Arizona (Department of Energy – Office of Legacy Management). This site is leased from the Navajo Nation and located a mile from the Hopi Reservation. The site operated as a uranium mill from 1956 to 1966, contaminating approximately 300 acres of the Arizona desert. Congress passed the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act in 1978, and the U.S. Department of Energy remediated the site under the Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action Project. Remediation of the nearby groundwater continues today; a 51 kilowatts-direct current solar photovoltaic system provides renewable power for the operation of the groundwater remediation, and an additional 285 kilowatts-direct solar photovoltaic system is tied into the Arizona Public Service electrical grid, connecting it to the community and U.S. electrical grid. A cooperative agreement and partnerships between leaders from the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Reservation, and the Department of Energy is crucial to the site success.

Background

EPA created the National Federal Facility Excellence in Site Reuse award to recognize exceptional work remediating a federal site for its beneficial use and creating positive impacts to the community.  

EPA has ongoing cleanup and property transfer responsibilities at nearly 2,400 federal facility sites, including 175 federal facilities on the Superfund National Priorities List, which are some of the largest and most complex cleanup sites in the U.S. The agency promotes innovative, cost-effective cleanups at other federal facilities by working with federal agencies, state, Tribal, and local governments, communities, and developers to ensure that facilities meet environmental standards and undergo redevelopment for both public and private-sector reuse.

These awards are given to project teams who have demonstrated excellence in working cooperatively with EPA to ensure the reuse of a site complements the type of cleanup actions taken. Award winners have demonstrated excellence in:

1.           Working cooperatively and forming partnerships.

2.           Complementing redevelopment design with the selected remedy.

3.           Innovating beneficial use outcomes.

4.           Considering the impacts on and inputs from the local community.

5.           Creating jobs, fostering economic development or recreational opportunities, or sustaining mission support.

Learn more about the 2024 National Federal Facility Excellence in Site Reuse Awards.

Learn more about cleanups at federal facilities.

BOSTON (June 5, 2024) – The warmer weather is upon us here in New England; with that is the temptation to find a nice place to cool off and swim. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) wants to remind the public to use the Woonasquatucket River responsibly. Specifically, residents of North Providence, Johnston, and Providence in Rhode Island should keep in mind that contamination in and along the river may pose a health risk. Please remember the following Do's & Don'ts for the Woonasquatucket River:

• Don't eat fish, turtles, eels, other wildlife or plants from the Woonasquatucket River;
• Don't wade in the shallow water or swim in the river;
• Don't dig into the riverbanks; and
• Do obey the warning signs posted along the river.

With spring and summer weather in full force, the Woonasquatucket River is an appealing spot for all ages, especially children. While EPA has made progress in cleaning up dioxin contaminated areas, parents, teachers, and camp counselors should remain vigilant to ensure that children are protected from dioxin and other contaminants remaining in the water, sediment, and soil. Walking, running, or bike riding along the river, and paddling a canoe or kayak on the river, are ways to safely enjoy the river. However, people should wash thoroughly after any contact with the river water, sediment, or soil.

A lot of work is happening with the site being in the Remedial Action Phase of the cleanup. The responsible parties began implementation of the cleanup plan in 2019 under oversight of EPA and RIDEM. Recently, EPA released the 2022 Annual Report on the Centerdale Manor Restoration Project Superfund Site (site). The report, which can be found at the website below, goes over updates regarding the Source Area, Allendale Pond, Lyman Mill Stream Sediment and Floodplain Soil (Including Oxbow), and Lyman Mill Pond.

More information on the Woonasquatucket River and Centredale Manor cleanup: www.epa.gov/superfund/centredale

Learn more about the latest EPA news & events in New England: www.epa.gov/aboutepa/epa-region-1-new-england

WASHINGTON – Today, June 5, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a proposed rule under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) that would protect workers and consumers from exposure to the solvent n-methylpyrrolidone (NMP). EPA’s 2020 risk evaluation found that this chemical causes serious health effects, including miscarriages and reduced fertility, as well as damage to the liver, kidneys, immune system and nervous system. If finalized, the rule would limit the concentration of NMP that would be allowed in some consumer and commercial products, establish strict workplace health controls for many uses of NMP, and ban some uses that cannot safely continue and for which alternatives already exist.

“We’re making great strides in our efforts to protect people’s health from exposure to chemicals like NMP,” said Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Michal Freedhoff. “Our proposed commonsense worker protections would keep people safe while also ensuring that NMP could continue to be used, as needed.”

NMP is used to manufacture and produce many electronics, polymers, agricultural chemicals and petrochemical products. It is used in the production of specialized electronics, such as semi-conductors and magnet wire, as well as lithium-ion batteries used in a wide variety of applications, including aerospace vehicles and electronic devices. NMP also has numerous other industrial, commercial and consumer applications, including adhesives and sealants, paints and coatings, paint removers, lubricants, automotive care products, degreasers, cleaning and furniture care products.

To protect consumers from exposure to NMP in glues and adhesives, EPA is proposing a NMP concentration limit of no greater than 45%, as well as container size limits and labeling requirements for other types of consumer products so that they are not used in commercial settings where their more frequent use could pose risks.

EPA is also proposing a NMP Workplace Chemical Protection Program (WCPP) to protect workers from exposure to NMP for nearly all industrial and commercial uses. The WCPP would include requirements to prevent direct skin contact with NMP that would go into effect a year after the rule is finalized. EPA expects that many sectors, including the semiconductor and lithium-ion battery manufacturing sectors, have already implemented the types of exposure controls in their facilities that EPA would require. For example, semiconductor manufacturing fabrication machines, enclosed and automated tools, and clean rooms are some of the exposure controls already in place which EPA expects would meet the requirements of the rule. For several other occupational conditions of use of NMP (such as its use in paints, adhesives, inks, coatings and soldering materials), EPA proposes to require prescriptive workplace controls, including concentration limits and use of personal protective equipment.

EPA is proposing to ban the commercial use of NMP in automotive care products, cleaning and degreasing products, metal products and cleaning and furniture care products because EPA believes these uses cannot safely continue. EPA is also proposing to ban the use of NMP in antifreeze, de-icing products and lubricants because it believes these uses have already ceased. The proposed rule would also ban the commercial use of NMP in fertilizers and other agricultural chemical manufacturing processes because EPA does not currently have information demonstrating that they could be safely continued. For these uses, EPA believes that such information may exist, and EPA expects to conduct proactive outreach during the comment period to better understand industrial practices associated with these uses.

EPA encourages members of the public and stakeholders to read and comment on the proposed rule. EPA has and will continue to engage with industry stakeholders on the proposed rule. The agency is especially interested in hearing perspectives from the public on the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed requirements for worker protections, including from workers and entities that would be required to implement the workplace protections or from entities that believe they can feasibly implement the workplace protections.

EPA will accept public comments on the proposed rule for NMP for 45 days following publication in the Federal Register via docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2020-0744.

EPA will host a public webinar to provide an overview of the proposal on Thursday, June 20, at 1:00 p.m. EDT. Registration is available here.

Learn more about today’s proposal.

CHICAGO—Today, June 4, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in partnership with the Appalachian Regional Commission, announced the City of Wellston, Ohio and five other communities will receive technical assistance through the Local Foods, Local Places program. This shared effort will develop local food systems to advance environmental protection, strengthen local economies and further sustainability goals. 

“Access to fresh, quality food is essential to good health, and supporting locally grown food options can help to reduce pollution, including greenhouse gas emissions,” said Vicki Arroyo, EPA Associate Administrator for Policy. “Our Local Foods, Local Places program provides technical assistance with proven strategies to help communities address their nutritional needs and economic development and environmental goals.” 

Through this assistance, each community will pursue their local project planning goals: 

• The City of Wellston, Ohio has proposed a centrally located downtown open-air market reutilizing a vacant city-owned lot. 
• Braxton County, West Virginia is working with the town of Sutton to expand plans for its farmers market and transform a two-acre Main Street space. 
• The city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania plans to engage residents and stakeholders to reimagine the Carrick Neighborhood Farmers Market. 
• Turner Station in Baltimore County, Maryland intends to create more opportunities for healthy food access through a Turner Station food access and aggregation plan. 
• The town of Spring City, Tennessee plans to improve access to local foods, with new community gardens and a farmers’ market to address priority health challenges such as obesity. 
• The Rabbit Valley Farmers Market, Inc. in Ringgold, Georgia intends to improve community awareness about the market and related food programs on childhood health, nutrition education, improved food access and more.  

More detailed descriptions of each community’s goals are included below. 

In all six communities, EPA’s Office of Community Revitalization will convene federal, state, regional and local partners for two-day in-person workshops. This assistance will improve public health by increasing access to healthy foods for families and create jobs while protecting the environment. EPA’s Local Foods, Local Places program also helps to integrate food-system assets into communities, boosting local revitalization efforts and encouraging more active lifestyles, thereby improving overall quality of life, especially within marginalized communities. The program emphasizes sustainable food systems and expands economic opportunity, especially for local growers and value-added food processor entrepreneurs. 

A pool of applicants from Appalachia was identified building upon a long-standing and productive relationship between EPA and ARC.

“Increasing the availability of locally grown foods not only provides healthy options for the residents of our Appalachian communities, but also spurs economic diversification across the region,” said Gayle Manchin, ARC Federal Co-Chair. “I’m heartened to know that ARC’s partnership with EPA will continue to support Appalachia’s longstanding agriculture industry and create new job opportunities.” 

Three communities that will receive Local Foods, Local Places technical assistance (Ringgold, Georgia; Wellston, Ohio; Turner Station in Baltimore County, Maryland) are also participating in an innovative new pilot program through EPA’s Superfund Redevelopment Program. The Superfund Redevelopment Program provides technical assistance to support holistic planning, reuse and redevelopment at or near Superfund sites. The program works with communities on project planning and design to utilize spaces outside Superfund site boundaries to address legacy environmental justice issues. This technical assistance will support communities seeking increased healthy food access, community connections and overall revitalization and economic recovery near designated Superfund sites.   

“Communities that have faced long-term impacts from local Superfund sites may be ideal candidates for participation in the Local Foods, Local Places program,” said Cliff Villa, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Land and Emergency Management. “These three pilot workshops will help communities learn how the program can help them provide healthy local foods and benefit the local economy.” 

Since 2014, the Local Foods, Local Places program has provided assistance to 137 communities across the country.  

Communities Selected for 2024 Local Foods, Local Places Program Technical Assistance 

EPA Region 5 

The City of Wellston, Ohio, has proposed a centrally located downtown open-air market. Reutilizing a vacant city-owned lot that was originally the industrial Milton Coal and Furnace Company site, the new market would improve residents’ access to healthy food options. It complements local efforts to develop more complete streets and bike path networks, an Ohio Department of Transportation grant for streetscape improvements to better accommodate people with disabilities, and renovation of the old train depot as a community center.

“This project will not only benefit the citizens of Wellston, but potentially the entirety of Jackson and Vinton Counties,” said Mindy Barry-Eisnaugle, Administrative Assistant for the City of Wellston. “This will assist in our downtown revitalization and tourism efforts, all while providing our residents with healthier access to healthier food options and recreational opportunities.” 

WASHINGTON—Today, June 4, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in partnership with the Appalachian Regional Commission, announced the selection of six communities that will receive technical assistance through the Local Foods, Local Places program. This shared effort will develop local food systems to advance environmental protection, strengthen local economies and further sustainability goals.  

“Access to fresh, quality food is essential to good health, and supporting locally grown food options can help to reduce pollution, including greenhouse gas emissions,” said Vicki Arroyo, EPA Associate Administrator for Policy. “Our Local Foods, Local Places program provides technical assistance with proven strategies to help communities address their nutritional needs and economic development and environmental goals.” 

Through this assistance, each community will pursue their local project planning goals: 

• Braxton County, West Virginia is working with the town of Sutton to expand plans for its farmers market and transform a two-acre Main Street space. 

• The city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania plans to engage residents and stakeholders to reimagine the Carrick Neighborhood Farmers Market. 
• Turner Station in Baltimore County, Maryland intends to create more opportunities for healthy food access through a Turner Station food access and aggregation plan. 
• The town of Spring City, Tennessee plans to improve access to local foods, with new community gardens and a farmers’ market to address priority health challenges such as obesity. 
• The Rabbit Valley Farmers Market, Inc. in Ringgold, Georgia intends to improve community awareness about the market and related food programs on childhood health, nutrition education, improved food access and more.  
• The City of Wellston, Ohio has proposed a centrally located downtown open-air market reutilizing a vacant city-owned lot.

More detailed descriptions of each community’s goals are included below. 

In all six communities, EPA’s Office of Community Revitalization will convene federal, state, regional and local partners for two-day in-person workshops. This assistance will improve public health by increasing access to healthy foods for families and create jobs while protecting the environment. EPA’s Local Foods, Local Places program also helps to integrate food-system assets into communities, boosting local revitalization efforts and encouraging more active lifestyles, thereby improving overall quality of life, especially within marginalized communities. The program emphasizes sustainable food systems and expands economic opportunity, especially for local growers and value-added food processor entrepreneurs. 

A pool of applicants from Appalachia was identified building upon a long-standing and productive relationship between EPA and ARC.

“Increasing the availability of locally grown foods not only provides healthy options for the residents of our Appalachian communities, but also spurs economic diversification across the region,” said Gayle Manchin, ARC Federal Co-Chair. “I’m heartened to know that ARC’s partnership with EPA will continue to support Appalachia’s longstanding agriculture industry and create new job opportunities.” 

Three communities that will receive Local Foods, Local Places technical assistance (Ringgold, Georgia; Wellston, Ohio; Turner Station in Baltimore County, Maryland) are also participating in an innovative new pilot program through EPA’s Superfund Redevelopment Program. The Superfund Redevelopment Program provides technical assistance to support holistic planning, reuse and redevelopment at or near Superfund sites. The program works with communities on project planning and design to utilize spaces outside Superfund site boundaries to address legacy environmental justice issues. This technical assistance will support communities seeking increased healthy food access, community connections and overall revitalization and economic recovery near designated Superfund sites.   

“Communities that have faced long-term impacts from local Superfund sites may be ideal candidates for participation in the Local Foods, Local Places program,” said Cliff Villa, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Land and Emergency Management. “These three pilot workshops will help communities learn how the program can help them provide healthy local foods and benefit the local economy.” 

Since 2014, the Local Foods, Local Places program has provided assistance to 137 communities across the country.  

Communities Selected for 2024 Local Foods, Local Places Program Technical Assistance 

EPA Region 3 

The County of Braxton, West Virginia is working with the town of Sutton to expand its farmers market and transform a two-acre Main Street space, identified through a Brownfields assessment, into a mixed-use community building. The revitalized site would connect Sutton’s downtown with a trailhead to the new Elk River Rail Trail. The project coordinates with other efforts, including the Sutton Main Street program, ARC Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization Initiative grants and EPA Brownfield grant resources for land revitalization planning.

“This award will enable Sutton and Braxton County to develop a stronger, more robust plan to create a farm-to-market strategy. It will strengthen our capacity to develop a community-based food market and to increase access to healthy foods for our citizens,” said Lisa Godwin, Braxton County Commission President. “Local Foods, Local Places will help us expand local agriculture production, foster community engagement and enhance economic opportunities." 

The city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is seeking assistance to engage residents and stakeholders to reimagine the Carrick Neighborhood Farmers Market, located in a neighborhood facing several social and economic challenges. Local Foods, Local Places assistance will help ensure the new market meets the needs of the community and yields greater participation of residents. The effort will improve neighborhood access to healthy foods, support local growers, and provide a safe urban green space for community gatherings. 

The site may also be utilized to support a local composting pilot program.

“The City of Pittsburgh is very excited for the opportunity to engage with EPA to wrap our arms around the Carrick Farmers Market and work with neighbors, our market vendors, and community partners to make this market a thriving asset in the community,” said Kathryn Vargas, Director, Department of Parks and Recreation. “We hope that this opportunity can serve as a model for community and stakeholder engagement for our other Neighborhood Farmers Markets.” 

Turner Station in Baltimore County, Maryland is a predominantly African American neighborhood impacted by the Bear Creek Sediments Superfund site and most recently the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse.  In partnership with the Turner Station Conservation Teams, the community seeks to create more opportunities for healthy food access through a Turner Station food access and aggregation plan. This includes redevelopment of Logan Village Shopping Center, which previously housed a neighborhood grocery store, and expanding food production by implementing a watering system for the Turner Station community garden. 

The effort aligns with a larger commitment to address community needs by elevating residents' voices to county and state leaders, a key goal even before the bridge collapse focused attention on the community.

“It has been almost 5 years since Turner Station lost our closest grocery store and the community was classified as food insecure,” said Gloria E. Nelson, President of Turner Station Conservation Teams, Inc. “Ensuring our residents have access to fresh, healthy food is imperative, so we are excited by the opportunities the partnership with EPA’s Local Foods, Local Places program will provide, in elevating resident voices and advocating for critical community infrastructure.” 

EPA Region 4 

The town of Spring City, Tennessee, plans to bring together several local groups to improve access to local foods, with new community gardens and a farmers’ market to address priority health challenges such as obesity. The work will be coordinated with downtown revitalization planning efforts to create community gardens as green infrastructure, to mitigate flooding risks and promote community gathering places.

“The Town of Spring City is proud to have been selected to be part of the Local Foods, Local Places program,” said Stephania Motes, City Manager. “Our focus will be to create a farmers market and a community garden to help meet community needs as well as to boost our downtown revitalization efforts and to Agri-tourism in the area.” 

The Rabbit Valley Farmers Market, Inc. in Ringgold, Georgia, envisions farmers markets not only as a place to purchase fresh local foods, support local agriculture and promote healthier lifestyles, but also as a community gathering place for socialization, celebration and connection. The farmer’s market is seeking to collaborate with a more diverse set of local partners to improve community awareness about the market and related food programs on childhood health, nutrition education, improved food access and utilizing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.

Other local environmental education initiatives include composting, water conservation and community gardening. “My hope for this project is to create a more community-centered downtown and market, with a collective focus on health, wellbeing, environmental stewardship and service to others,” said Samantha Leslie, Executive Director of the Rabbit Valley Farmers Market. 

EPA Region 5 

The City of Wellston, Ohio, has proposed a centrally located downtown open-air market. Reutilizing a vacant city-owned lot that was originally the industrial Milton Coal and Furnace Company site, the new market would improve residents’ access to healthy food options. It complements local efforts to develop more complete streets and bike path networks, an Ohio Department of Transportation grant for streetscape improvements to better accommodate people with disabilities, and renovation of the old train depot as a community center.

“This project will not only benefit the citizens of Wellston, but potentially the entirety of Jackson and Vinton Counties,” said Mindy Barry-Eisnaugle, Administrative Assistant for the City of Wellston. “This will assist in our downtown revitalization and tourism efforts, all while providing our residents with healthier access to healthier food options and recreational opportunities.” 

LEXINGTON, KY (June 4, 2024) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced a settlement with Thoroughbred Performance Products of Winchester, Kentucky (d/b/a Thoroughbred Diesel) in response to EPA claims that the company illegally sold thousands of aftermarket products that disable vehicles’ emissions control systems – known collectively as ‘defeat devices.’ As part of the settlement, Thoroughbred Diesel agreed to stop selling defeat devices and pay a civil penalty of $1,250,000.

“Cracking down on sellers of illegal defeat devices is a top enforcement priority for EPA,” said Acting EPA Region 4 Administrator Jeaneanne Gettle. “These illegal practices contribute to harmful air pollution and impede federal, state, and local efforts to implement air quality standards that protect public health. Emissions from mobile sources play an important role in EPA’s Southeastern region, and the use of these defeat devices hampers our ability to maintain compliance with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards.”

Thoroughbred Diesel also agreed to certify that it has stopped selling devices that disable vehicle emission controls and to remove from its webpages and social media accounts all advertisements, photos, videos, and information that relates to performing tampering and/or selling, offering to sell, and/or installing defeat devices.

EPA requires emission controls on vehicles to reduce the amount of air pollutants emitted and their harmful effects, but aftermarket defeat devices negate those controls. One EPA study found that known sales of defeat devices for certain diesel trucks between 2009 and 2020 resulted in more than 570,000 tons of excess nitrogen oxides (NOx) and 5,000 tons of excess particulate matter (PM) over the lifetime of the trucks. These are pollutants that have serious health effects and are known to trigger or exacerbate asthma attacks. Respiratory issues like asthma disproportionately affect families, especially children, living in underserved communities overburdened by pollution.

Stopping aftermarket defeat devices for vehicles and engines, like those sold by Thoroughbred Diesel, is a top priority for EPA.

Learn more: EPA’s efforts to stop the sale of illegal defeat devices

###