News and reports from the Environmental Protection Agency.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the recipients of the 2024 Indoor AirPlus Leader Awards, honoring nine home builders and three home raters for their contributions to healthier indoor air quality. These awards recognize organizations that have excelled in promoting safer and more comfortable indoor environments through the Indoor AirPlus program.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced an extension of the public comment period for its third review of the cleanup efforts on PCB-contaminated sediment in the Upper Hudson River. The deadline, initially set for October 8, 2024, has been moved to November 7, 2024.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has allocated a total of $498,801 in research funding to five college teams to advance their innovative technologies addressing environmental and public health challenges. Among the recipients is the University of Missouri team, which received $100,000 to combat PFAS contamination in drinking water.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed to expand the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) by adding 16 individual per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and 15 PFAS categories, representing over 100 individual PFAS. These chemicals would be designated as chemicals of special concern, necessitating more stringent reporting requirements, including for small concentrations.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a settlement with 3M Co. regarding alleged violations of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) at the company's facility in Cordova, Illinois. The agreement includes a $125,900 civil penalty and mandates corrective actions to enhance worker safety.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized a rule to restore the pesticide Application Exclusion Zone (AEZ) requirements under the 2015 Agricultural Worker Protection Standard (WPS). The AEZ is an area around outdoor pesticide application equipment where people are prohibited while pesticides are applied. This move aligns with the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to environmental justice and aims to protect farmworkers, pesticide handlers, their families, and agricultural communities.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is honoring eight truck carriers and freight shippers in Iowa, Missouri, and Nebraska with its annual SmartWay Excellence Awards for their contributions to supply chain, environmental, and energy efficiency.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has launched a new website to support communities affected by Hurricane Helene. This online resource will provide real-time updates on the EPA's response and recovery efforts in regions most impacted, including Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Tennessee.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that Venoil, LLC, a used oil bulk storage and processing facility located in Anacortes, Washington, will pay a penalty of $57,800. This fine is for violations related to the Clean Water Act's Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) regulations.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized its plan to address contamination at the Meeker Avenue Plume Superfund Site in Brooklyn, New York. The site spans over 190 acres across several city blocks in the Greenpoint and East Williamsburg areas.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a settlement with Argos Puerto Rico Corp. regarding violations of the Clean Air Act. The company, which operates a Portland cement manufacturing plant in Dorado, Puerto Rico, will pay a $111,000 fine and invest over $200,000 in Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEP). These projects involve installing solar energy systems at a nearby school and a center for children facing issues related to abuse and neglect.

Argos Puerto Rico Corp. has agreed to settle Clean Air Act violations by paying a $111,000 penalty and investing over $200,000 in Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEPs). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the settlement today, which includes installing solar energy systems at a school and a childcare facility.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Mid-Atlantic Region, alongside U.S. Representative Bobby Scott (VA-03), organized a roundtable at Norfolk State University to address environmental justice concerns in Norfolk. The meeting brought together around 20 experts and focused on strategies to tackle the city's pressing environmental challenges.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a settlement with J.R. Simplot Company regarding violations of federal environmental and public health laws at its fertilizer manufacturing facility in Lathrop, California. The EPA found that the company breached the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, and the Clean Air Act’s Risk Management Program. As part of the settlement, J.R. Simplot will pay a civil penalty of $363,700.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the availability of $4 million in Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding to support phosphorus reduction efforts in the western Lake Erie basin. The funds will be used for farmer outreach and technical assistance, with applications being accepted until November 22, 2024.