News and reports from the Environmental Protection Agency.

On September 25, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s GreenChill Program honored nine leaders in supermarket and commercial refrigeration for their efforts to reduce environmental impacts. The recognition took place at the FMI – The Food Industry Association’s Energy and Store Development Conference in Baltimore.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Chickasaw Nation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on the sustainable management of water, land, and air resources. This agreement aims to establish a framework for technical cooperation and coordination.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized national discharge standards to control pollutants and invasive species from approximately 85,000 vessels operating in U.S. waters. The standards, issued through the EPA’s Vessel Incidental Discharge National Standards of Performance final rule, address discharges that occur during the normal operation of large vessels.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the winners of the 2024 Safer Choice Partner of the Year awards, recognizing organizations in Oregon and Washington for their contributions to promoting safer chemical products. The awards honor efforts in designing, manufacturing, promoting, selecting, and using products that are safer for human health and the environment.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the winners of the 2024 Safer Choice Partner of the Year awards. A total of 43 awardees from 20 states and the District of Columbia were recognized for their contributions to safer chemical design, manufacture, promotion, selection, and use in various products.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced proposed settlement agreements with Paramount Builders, Inc. and Continental Transport Corporation over Clean Water Act violations on Tutuila Island, American Samoa.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has initiated the sewer design project for the Wahikuli Subdivision, located north of Lahaina Town, Maui. The EPA's Wahikuli Sewer Design Team will participate in the Weekly Disaster Recovery Community Update Meeting on September 25, 2024, to provide an overview of the project and explain how the public can offer input.

On September 23, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a final rule to establish a new program aimed at better managing, recycling, and reusing hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). This initiative is part of the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act. The new Emissions Reduction and Reclamation (ER&R) program seeks to reduce leaks from large refrigeration and air conditioning equipment while promoting clean solutions to address these heat-trapping emissions.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a settlement with Gulfstream Aerospace Services Corp., an aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility located at 6400 Curtis Steinberg Dr, Cahokia, Illinois, for alleged Clean Air Act violations. Under the terms of the settlement, Gulfstream will pay a civil penalty exceeding $156,000 and will replace three diesel ground power units with electric ground power units as a supplemental environmental project. This replacement is estimated to cost at least $540,060.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is honoring two California organizations as part of its 2024 Regional Pollution Prevention (P2) Recognition Program during Pollution Prevention Week. Zero Waste San Diego and Western Digital Technologies in Fremont are being recognized for their efforts to reduce, eliminate, or prevent pollution at its source before recycling, treatment, or disposal. In 2023, these organizations collectively reduced the equivalent of 1,357 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a collaboration with the city of Three Rivers, Michigan, to identify and replace drinking water lead pipes as part of the Get the Lead Out Initiative. This initiative is funded by the Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, aiming for 100% lead service line replacement nationwide. The program will provide technical assistance to approximately 200 communities across the country.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has commenced the cleanup of contaminated sediment and riverbank soil along a 2.4-mile section of the Kalamazoo River upstream of the Trowbridge Dam in Allegan, Michigan. This area is part of the Allied Paper Inc./Portage Creek/Kalamazoo River Superfund site.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a settlement with Akron Steel Treating Co. to resolve alleged hazardous waste violations at the company’s facility located at 336 Morgan Ave. in Akron, Ohio. As part of the settlement, the company will address the alleged violations and pay a civil penalty of $105,855 to the federal government. Akron Steel Treating Co. specializes in treating carbon and stainless steel parts with heat to remove scale.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced partnerships with six Massachusetts cities—Chelsea, Fall River, Malden, Melrose, Revere, and Taunton—to identify and replace lead pipes used for delivering drinking water. This initiative is part of the EPA's Get the Lead Out (GLO) Initiative, funded by the Biden-Harris Administration's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is honoring two Arizona organizations as part of its 2024 Regional Pollution Prevention (P2) recognition program during Pollution Prevention Week. The recognized entities are Salem Boys Auto in Tempe and PAS Technologies in Phoenix, acknowledged for their efforts to reduce, eliminate, or prevent pollution at the source before recycling, treatment, or disposal.