Environmental Protection News
Environmental Protection
The Biden-Harris administration has announced the allocation of $3 billion as part of the "Investing in America's Journey" initiative to facilitate the replacement of lead pipes and promote drinking water safety across the United States.According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), this funding is aimed at helping states and territories identify and replace lead-containing water supply pipes to prevent lead exposure in drinking water, which can have severe health impacts, especially on children's brain development.EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan emphasized...
Environmental Protection
Biden-Harris Administration Allocates Over $152 Million for Pennsylvania Lead Pipe Replacement
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today the allocation of over $152 million from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to aid Pennsylvania in identifying and replacing lead service lines, a crucial step in ensuring safe drinking water for the state's residents. This funding is part of the Biden administration's commitment to replacing every lead pipe in the nation, safeguarding public health and environmental justice.EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz highlighted the significance of the funding, stating, “Across our region,...
Environmental Protection
EPA Marks Asthma Awareness Month and Honors National Leader in the Fight Against Asthma Disparities
The EPA Administrator, Michael S. Regan, emphasized the importance of Asthma Awareness Month, stating, “Asthma is a public health issue, an economic issue, and an environmental issue that impacts the entire country, especially low-income and minority communities.” Regan highlighted the agency's commitment to reducing harmful pollution and raising awareness to help communities manage asthma and improve health.Asthma affects over 25 million Americans, including four million children, and has significant economic implications totaling more than $80 billion annually in direct...
Environmental Protection
EPA highlights Asthma Awareness Month by mitigating the problem in underserved communities
May marks Asthma Awareness Month, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is using this opportunity to highlight programs across the nation that are providing exceptional asthma care. It is estimated that 25 million Americans, including four million children, live with this condition.
Environmental Protection
EPA Partners with Energy Communities to Support Community-Driven Energy Transition and Economic Revitalization Goals
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced its partnership with two communities through the Energy Communities Technical Assistance Pilot program, aimed at supporting community-driven energy transition and economic revitalization goals. EPA Associate Administrator for Policy, Vicki Arroyo, highlighted the importance of programs like the Inflation Reduction Act in providing incentives for low-carbon and renewable energy generation.According to Arroyo, the Energy Communities pilot is designed to deliver assistance to communities to help bring their vision...
Environmental Protection
EPA Partners with Webster County to Support Community-Driven Energy Transition and Economic Revitalization Goals
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a partnership with Webster County, Kentucky, to provide technical assistance through the Energy Communities Technical Assistance Pilot program. This initiative aims to support community-driven energy transition and economic revitalization goals in Webster County and other recipient communities.Vicki Arroyo, EPA Associate Administrator for Policy, highlighted the significance of the Inflation Reduction Act in promoting low-carbon and renewable energy generation. Arroyo stated, "Our Energy Communities pilot is...
Environmental Protection
EPA to Host Public Forum in Africatown, Alabama to Discuss Environmental and Health Challenges, Solutions
Mobile, Ala. (April 30, 2024) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and local stakeholders will host a public forum on Saturday focused on advancing environmental justice and revitalizing Africatown, Alabama. The meeting is open to Africatown residents, non-profit organizations, local and state government, academia, churches, business owners, and others.According to the announcement, participants will have the opportunity to discuss community environmental concerns, including public health and air quality issues, and also learn about federal, state, and local...
Environmental Protection
EPA Highlights Biden-Harris Administration’s New National Security Memorandum on Critical Infrastructure
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe emphasized the critical nature of cybersecurity and climate change threats to the nation's water infrastructure. She stressed the urgency of coordinated action to protect public health and the environment in light of recent cyber attacks on water systems.McCabe highlighted the Biden-Harris Administration's comprehensive effort to secure the country's critical infrastructure, stating that the new National Security Memorandum (NSM) plays a vital role in safeguarding public health and the economy....
Environmental Protection
EPA Announces Start of Cleanup at the Velsicol Burn Pit Superfund Site in St. Louis, Michigan
CHICAGO (April 30, 2024) — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has officially commenced the cleanup operations at the Velsicol Burn Pit Superfund site located in St. Louis, Michigan. The funding for this crucial environmental initiative comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda.Debra Shore, the Region 5 Administrator, expressed gratitude for the support provided by the Biden-Harris Administration, stating, "Thanks to the resources provided by the Biden-Harris Administration, EPA can clean up these...
Environmental Protection
Biden-Harris Administration Finalizes Ban on Most Uses of Methylene Chloride, Protecting Workers and Communities from Fatal Exposure
WASHINGTON – The Biden-Harris Administration has taken a crucial step to protect workers and communities from the dangers of methylene chloride by finalizing a ban on most uses of the chemical. The decision, announced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on April 30, 2024, comes after years of advocacy and tragic incidents involving methylene chloride exposure.EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan emphasized the importance of the ban, stating, “Exposure to methylene chloride has devastated families across this country for too long, including some who saw loved ones go...
Environmental Protection
State of Washington, federal agencies agree on future of tank waste cleanup at Hanford Site
State of Washington, federal agencies agree on future of tank waste cleanup at Hanford Site Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (USDOE), Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology), and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have announced a significant agreement regarding the cleanup of radioactive and chemical waste at the Hanford Site. The proposed amendments to cleanup agreements will be open for a 60-day public comment period starting on May 30."We have alignment on a plan that lays out a realistic and achievable path forward for Hanford’s tank waste...
Environmental Protection
EPA Issues Consent Order to MAX Environmental Technologies for Compliance at Yukon, PA Facility
PHILADELPHIA (April 29, 2024) - Max Environmental Technologies, Inc. (MAX) has agreed to several actions to ensure compliance with federal and state hazardous waste safeguards at the company’s waste facility in Yukon, PA, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today. MAX owns and operates a 160-acre facility, surrounded by agricultural and residential properties, about 30 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, PA in Westmoreland County. According to EPA, this site is an area with potential environmental justice concerns.EPA officials inspected the facility in...
Environmental Protection
EPA Salutes Citizen Scientists' Water Quality Monitoring of the Merrimack
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently commended the efforts of citizen scientists involved in monitoring the water quality of the Merrimack River. EPA Regional Administrator David W. Cash praised the collaborative work, stating, "Without good science, how can we protect human health and the environment?"Senator Ed Markey emphasized the importance of citizen science in water quality monitoring, stating, "We can't manage what we don't measure, and we can't treat what we don't know." Markey expressed gratitude to all volunteers for their role in ensuring a...
Environmental Protection
EPA Celebrates Earth Week and Agency Efforts to Prevent Plastic Pollution
WASHINGTON – Today, April 26, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is wrapping up Earth Week by highlighting the work the agency is doing to prevent plastic pollution."Plastic waste is growing and so is the impact it has on public health and the environment," said Cliff Villa, EPA Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Office of Land and Emergency Management. "This Earth Week, I challenge everyone to do their part to reduce plastic waste to protect our health and ensure that future generations can continue to enjoy a safe and healthy planet."The agency's efforts...
Environmental Protection
EPA Settles with Rhode Island Corporation for Hazardous Waste Violations
Interplex Engineered Products, a manufacturer of electrical conductors located in East Providence, Rhode Island, has agreed to pay a fine of $59,044 as part of a settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for alleged violations of hazardous waste management laws. EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash emphasized the importance of proper hazardous waste management, stating, "Improper management of these wastes can lead to releases of dangerous chemicals – in this case cyanide waste."According to the EPA, Interplex Engineered Products, Inc....
Environmental Protection
EPA Awards Grant to Children’s Environmental Literacy Foundation for Environmental Justice Initiatives in Houston
DALLAS, TEXAS (April 25, 2024) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded a $425,616 grant to the Children’s Environmental Literacy Foundation (CELF) to support their efforts in promoting environmental justice and sustainability in the Greater Houston area. The grant will fund a project aimed at cultivating a new generation of environmental advocates equipped with Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) skills to address local environmental challenges through school-community collaboration.Regional Administrator Dr. Earthea Nance...
Environmental Protection
Biden-Harris Administration Implements Rules to Reduce Pollution from Fossil Fuel-Fired Power Plants
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a suite of final rules aimed at reducing pollution from fossil fuel-fired power plants to protect communities and improve public health. These rules, developed under various authorities including the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act, are part of the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to address climate change and environmental justice.EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan expressed the agency's dedication, stating, "Today, EPA is proud to make good on the Biden-Harris Administration’s vision to...
Environmental Protection
Biden-Harris Administration Announces Nearly $1 Billion in Grants to Invest in America’s Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicle Transition
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has unveiled a new grant program aimed at advancing the transition to clean heavy-duty vehicles in America. The Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program, funded through the Inflation Reduction Act under President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda, will allocate nearly $1 billion to support projects that reduce climate and air pollution from heavy-duty vehicles, create new job opportunities, and enhance air quality in communities across the nation."EPA’s Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program will slash climate and air...
Environmental Protection
EPA, CalEPA Joint Enforcement Plan Aims to Protect Overburdened California Communities
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) have unveiled a two-year action plan aimed at addressing environmental justice issues in California through collaborative enforcement efforts. The plan, which is part of a groundbreaking federal-state partnership initiated in 2021, focuses on protecting public health and the environment in overburdened communities across the state.Martha Guzman, the EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator, expressed pride in the ongoing partnership with CalEPA, stating, “We are...
Environmental Protection
EPA Strengthens Chemical Risk Evaluation Process to Safeguard Workers and Communities
On April 23, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a rule aimed at enhancing the process for conducting risk evaluations on chemicals under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The rule is designed to ensure that TSCA risk evaluations comprehensively assess the risks associated with chemicals and provide a solid foundation for protecting public health, particularly workers and communities, from toxic substances.Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, Michal Freedhoff, emphasized the importance of the...
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