Firestone Polymers Agrees to Settle Multiple Environmental Claims at its Sulfur, La., Rubber Manufacturing Plant

 U.S. EPA News Release:

Firestone Polymers Agrees to Settle Multiple Environmental Claims at its

Sulfur, La., Rubber Manufacturing Plant

 

Media contacts: Jennah Durant at r6press@epa.gov or 214 665-2200

 

DALLAS – (September 30, 2021) The Department of Justice (DOJ), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) announced Firestone Polymers, LLC (Firestone) has agreed to resolve alleged violations of the Clean Air Act and several other federal and state environmental laws at the company’s synthetic rubber manufacturing facility in Sulfur, Louisiana. The company will also pay a total of $3.35 million in civil penalties.

 

The settlement requires several actions from Firestone, including meeting emissions limits, operating and maintenance requirements, equipment controls, limiting hazardous air pollutants from facility dryers, conducting inspections of heat exchangers, installing controls and monitors on covered flares, and installing flaring instrumentation and monitoring systems. After being notified of the violations but prior to the consent decree being lodged, Firestone took other compliance measures, including installing and operating a regenerative thermal oxidizer system to receive waste gases from dryers, reducing n-hexane solvent concentrations, and inspecting and testing heat exchangers.

 

DOJ, on behalf of EPA and co-plaintiff LDEQ, filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana. The complaint alleges that the facility emitted excess amounts of pollutants including nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, and hazardous air pollutants including 1,3-butadiene, n-hexane, styrene, formaldehyde, methanol, and others and failed to comply with requirements related to equipment such as dryers, cooling towers, and flares; leak detection and repair; mechanical integrity; and monitoring and reporting.  The complaint also asserts violations of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act; the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act; the Pollution Prevention Act; and Louisiana state air pollution control requirements.

 

“This settlement will ensure cleaner air for the citizens of Louisiana and the communities near Firestone’s plant,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “It also enforces the company’s obligation to inform local communities of potential chemical hazards to aid state and local efforts to control accidental releases.”

 

“Businesses such as Firestone Polymers have a sacred obligation to protect Louisiana’s environment and to use our natural resources wisely,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook for the Western District of Louisiana. “This settlement sends a clear message that those who don’t honor this obligation will be held accountable.” 

 

“The Clean Air Act is vital to protecting people’s health, and the Sulfur Firestone facility violated these protections as Louisiana’s highest emitter of three types of hazardous air pollutants,” said Acting Regional Administrator David Gray of the EPA. “EPA’s legal and enforcement team, working with DOJ and LDEQ, held the company accountable for reducing emissions, and won additional benefits for environmental justice communities in Southwest Louisiana with improved air monitoring systems. I congratulate our team for their hard work on behalf of the people of Louisiana.” 

 

“The violations detailed in the complaint represent Firestone’s disregard for the Clean Air Act, which is an underlying authority for environmental regulation in the United States” said Secretary Dr. Chuck Carr Brown of LDEQ. “LDEQ and our federal partner, EPA, will vigorously pursue any violators of the CAA. These penalties and the beneficial environmental project under the consent decree are the result of our efforts. The beneficial environmental project’s funds will be used to support additional ambient air monitoring in the Westlake and southwest Louisiana areas, which will assist LDEQ’s efforts to improve air quality for these communities.”

 

As part of the consent decree, Firestone will pay a civil penalty of $2,098,678.50 to the United States and $1,251,321.50 to LDEQ for a total of $3,350,000. Firestone will also complete a Beneficial Environmental Project in Louisiana by funding ambient air monitoring system upgrades in several locations in Southwest Louisiana.

 

The consent decree was lodged with the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana and is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval. A copy of the decree will be available on the Department of Justice website at: www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees.

For more about the Clean Air Act: https://www.epa.gov/laws-regulations/summary-clean-air-act

 

Connect with EPA Region 6:

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Activities in EPA Region 6: https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/epa-region-6-south-central

 

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EPA awards $1.2 million to Delaware to control polluted runoff, restore water quality

 U.S. EPA News Release:

EPA awards $1.2 million to Delaware
to control polluted runoff, restore water quality
 

PHILADELPHIA (September 30, 2021) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced a $1,233,200 grant to the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control to improve water quality in rivers and streams throughout the state.

The grant is part of EPA's Nonpoint Source Implementation Grant Program, as outlined in Section 319 of the Clean Water Act, to control water pollution.

“With this funding, EPA supports the preservation and protection of Delaware’s water resources for communities throughout the state,” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Acting Regional Administrator Diana Esher. “By working in partnership with Delaware, we can reduce nonpoint source pollution and help ensure that all Delaware residents have clean water.”

Nonpoint source pollution is caused when rainfall or snowmelt, moving over and through the ground, picks up and carries natural and human-made pollutants, depositing them into lakes, rivers, wetlands, coastal waters and groundwater.

Controlling nonpoint source pollution is especially important since one in three Americans get their drinking water from public systems that rely on seasonal and rain-dependent streams.

The projects funded with this grant focus on watersheds with water quality impairments caused by polluted run-off from nonpoint sources. Nonpoint source implementation projects include structural and non-structural best management practices, watershed planning, monitoring, technology demonstrations, and a variety of education/outreach programs.

Learn more about successful nonpoint source reduction projects at: https://www.epa.gov/nps

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EPA awards $1.8 million to West Virginia to control polluted runoff, restore water quality

 U.S. EPA News Release:

EPA awards $1.8 million to West Virginia
to control polluted runoff, restore water quality
 

PHILADELPHIA (September 30, 2021) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced a $1,855,200 grant to the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection to improve water quality in rivers and streams throughout the state.

The grant is part of EPA's Nonpoint Source Implementation Grant Program, as outlines in Section 319 of the Clean Water Act, to control water pollution.

“With this funding, EPA supports the preservation and protection of West Virginia’s water resources for communities throughout the state,” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Acting Regional Administrator Diana Esher. “By working in partnership with West Virginia, we can reduce nonpoint source pollution and help ensure that all West Virginian’s have clean water.”

Nonpoint source pollution is caused when rainfall or snowmelt, moving over and through the ground, picks up and carries natural and human-made pollutants, depositing them into lakes, rivers, wetlands, coastal waters and groundwater.

Controlling nonpoint source pollution is especially important since one in three Americans get their drinking water from public systems that rely on seasonal and rain-dependent streams.

The projects funded with this grant focus on watersheds with water quality impairments caused by polluted run-off from nonpoint sources. Nonpoint source implementation projects include structural and non-structural best management practices, watershed planning, monitoring, technology demonstrations, and a variety of education/outreach programs.

Learn more about successful nonpoint source reduction projects at: https://www.epa.gov/nps

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EPA Finalizes Plan to Address Potential Contamination at Properties near the Facet Enterprises, Inc., Superfund Site in Elmira Heights, New York

 U.S. EPA News Release:

EPA Finalizes Plan to Address Potential Contamination at Properties near the Facet Enterprises, Inc., Superfund Site in Elmira Heights, New York

Contact: Mike Basile, (716) 551-4410, basile.michael@epa.gov

               Stephen McBay, (212) 637-3672, mcbay.stephen@epa.gov

NEW YORK (October 29, 2021) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized its plan to address vapor intrusion at certain residential and commercial properties as part of the cleanup of the Facet Enterprises, Inc., Superfund site in Elmira Heights, New York. The final decision, in the form of a Record of Decision (ROD), calls for the installation of vapor mitigation systems to vent hazardous vapors that rise through the soil which can potentially affect indoor air quality and harm human health.

“EPA’s decision will protect residents and workers from dangerous vapors that can potentially enter buildings through places such as cracks in the foundation and openings for utility lines,” said Acting Regional Administrator Walter Mugdan. “It is important to note that the systems to vent these vapors will be installed at no cost to the owners. Meanwhile, because the contamination at the site remains, EPA will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the systems and remain in close contact with property owners.”

To date, 264 residential and commercial properties have been sampled for vapor intrusion of volatile organic compounds, primarily trichloroethylene (known as TCE). EPA has already installed 60 mitigation systems to direct any potential vapors from under the property to the outside air and plans to install seven more systems at properties identified during recent sampling. The NYSDEC is installing an additional 11 systems. EPA will continue to sample properties in the study area and anticipates that up to an additional 75 properties could be identified as requiring mitigation.

The Facet Enterprises, Inc., facility, a 31-acre parcel of land, is in the Village of Elmira Heights. The facility previously made products such as bicycle parts, automobile engine components and small arms for the military. The facility is currently operated by Motor Components LLC for the manufacture of electric fuel pumps.

EPA selected a remedy in September 1992 to address the contaminated soil, sediment, and groundwater at the facility property. Purolator Products, Inc., a potentially responsible party, entered into an agreement with EPA to perform the 1992 cleanup activities. These activities included excavating contaminated soil and sediments, installing wells to extract contaminated groundwater from the aquifer at the facility property and installing a treatment system to treat the extracted groundwater using an air stripper. The groundwater pump and treat system located at the facility property has been operational since 1997.

On July 22, 2021, EPA proposed this plan to the public and held an in-person and virtual public meeting on July 28, 2021, to explain the plan and take comments. The Record of Decision released today, which has the support of New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, addresses the comments received and formalizes EPA’s selected cleanup plan.

EPA’s Record of Decision and the agency’s responses to public comments will be available at www.epa.gov/superfund/facet-enterprises.

Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter at http://twitter.com/eparegion2 and visit our Facebook page, http://facebook.com/eparegion2

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EPA to Hold Community Meeting on Ethylene Oxide Emissions in Westlake, LA

 U.S. EPA News Release:

EPA to Hold Community Meeting on Ethylene Oxide Emissions in Westlake, LA

 

(DALLAS – Sept. 29, 2021) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will hold a virtual community meeting to provide residents of Westlake, Louisiana, with information about ethylene oxide (EtO) and its health effects. EPA staff will present information specific to the Westlake area, including risk levels associated with EtO and information about actions taken by industrial facilities to control or reduce EtO emissions. Participants will be able to provide feedback and ask questions.

 

Members of the media are invited to attend. Please RSVP to R6Press@epa.gov.

 

WHO:             U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

   

WHAT:          Ethylene Oxide Community Meeting for Westlake, Louisiana

 

WHERE:       Zoom link: https://usepa.zoomgov.com/j/1611621581 

                        Meeting ID: 161 162 1581

 

WHEN:          Thursday, September 30

 

 

 

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Denver's Water Research Foundation awarded nearly $1.5 million for research on potential risks from pollutants found in biosolids from wastewater treatment

 U.S. EPA News Release:

Denver's Water Research Foundation awarded nearly $1.5 million for research on

potential risks from pollutants found in biosolids from wastewater treatment

 

DENVER (Sept. 28, 2021) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $5,976,976 in funding to four institutions for research to support states, municipalities, and utilities in determining the potential risks to human health and the environment from pollutants found in biosolids, also known as treated sewage sludge. Results from this research may inform the development of standards and policies for biosolids management.

“It is important that municipalities and utilities have the information they need to treat and manage biosolids,” said Wayne Cascio, acting assistant administrator for science in EPA’s Office of Research and Development. “These grants will help us leverage resources and knowledge to ensure the latest science is being used to protect public health and the environment.”

Biosolids are created during the wastewater treatment process. When biosolids are applied to land, they add nutrients, improve soil structure, and enhance moisture retention. Applying biosolids to land has economic and waste management benefits since it saves space in landfills, recycles a waste product, and reduces demand for synthetic fertilizers.

However, biosolids can also contain a variety of pollutants. Utilities and states need information on these pollutants to ensure that they are processed, handled, and used in a way that minimizes potential harm. To address these needs, the researchers receiving these grants will seek new information on the occurrence, fate, and transport of chemicals in land-applied biosolids, as well as the impact of various treatment and management processes on chemical levels in biosolids.

The following institutions are receiving research grants:

• Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md. – to use analytical, toxicological, and risk sciences tools to identify previously unknown biosolids-associated organic contaminants, trace their fate through multiple environmental media, and prioritize them for future decision-making.
• Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich. – to improve knowledge of occurrence, transport, fate, plant uptake, livestock, and human exposure to pollutants in land-based biosolids including pharmaceuticals, personal care product residues and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
• Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Gloucester Point, Va. – to evaluate the influence of wastewater source and treatment choice on pollutants in sludge to improve strategies for monitoring sludge-related pollutants, select optimal treatment processes and reduce contaminate levels in U.S. biosolids and receiving soils.
• The Water Research Foundation, Denver, Colo. – to conduct studies and use the data to evaluate fate and transport models in risk assessments, leading to recommended best practices to reduce or manage potential risks of unregulated organic chemicals in biosolids-amended fields.

More information on these awards: https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncer_abstracts/index.cfm/fuseaction/recipients.display/rfa_id/675/records_per_page/ALL

More information on EPA research grants: https://www.epa.gov/research-grants

 From EPA Press Office:

Issued: Sep 27, 2021 (5:17pm EDT)

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EPA Now Hosting Biweekly National Environmental Justice Community Engagement Calls

WASHINGTON (Sept. 27, 2021) —  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites Environmental Justice (EJ) advocates and the public to participate in the agency’s National Environmental Justice Community Engagement Calls, now happening biweekly, to discuss and receive feedback on all aspects of EJ at EPA with partners and communities.

“The voice of communities is what centers and drives our efforts to advance environmental justice at EPA,” said Office of Environmental Justice Director Matthew Tejada. “Our mission to protect the health and environments of everyone in the United States can only be achieved if we listen to and engage with communities who have not received the same level of protection. Given the historic mandate of the Biden-Harris Administration and Administrator Regan’s leadership, these calls are a direct line for EPA to hear from communities.”

By increasing the community engagement calls from quarterly to biweekly, EPA will further encourage an open dialogue with EJ leaders and advocates. These meetings not only serve as an opportunity to give an update on EPA’s EJ work and its resources, but also to listen and learn from communities, partners, and stakeholders. Additionally, the biweekly community engagement calls speak to the agency’s commitment to Justice40, an initiative announced by President Joe Biden, to deliver 40 percent of the overall benefits of relevant federal investments to disadvantaged communities.

The next national EJ community engagement call is Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/epa-national-environmental-justice-community-engagement-call-sep-28-2021-registration-173740832507.

To see the calendar for upcoming calls, register for upcoming calls, and view meeting materials for past calls, please visit: https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/national-environmental-justice-community-engagement-calls. You can also follow the EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice on Twitter (@EPAEnvJustice) and subscribe to the EPA’s EJ listserv by sending a blank email to join-epa-ej@lists.epa.gov.

EPA Names Two DC-Based Trade Associations 2021 Safer Choice Partners of the Year

 U.S. EPA News Release:

EPA Names Two DC-Based Trade Associations 2021 Safer Choice Partners of the Year

WASHINGTON (Sept. 24, 2021) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is recognizing 33 Safer Choice Partner of the Year award winners across 16 states and the District of Columbia for achievement in the design, manufacture, selection, and use of products with safer chemicals, as part of Pollution Prevention Week. Among the winners were the American Cleaning Institute of Washington, D.C., and the Household and Commercial Products Association, also of Washington, D.C.

Now in its 7^th year, the Safer Choice Partner of the Year award helps consumers and purchasers for facilities, such as schools and office buildings, find products that perform and are safer for human health and the environment. This year’s awardees have all shown a commitment to pollution prevention by reducing, eliminating or preventing pollution at its source prior to recycling, treatment, or disposal. 

“Today, we recognize the leadership and accomplishments of Safer Choice partners and stakeholders for their work helping consumers and commercial buyers identify products with safer chemical ingredients, without sacrificing quality or performance,” said Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Michal Freedhoff. “Additionally, I’m excited to see that the work done by many of this year’s awardees support the Biden-Harris Administration’s goals of addressing climate change and advancing environmental justice.”

American Cleaning Institute, Washington, D.C.

American Cleaning Institute (ACI) is recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice Supporter.  ACI is a trade organization that represents the U.S. cleaning product supply chain. In 2020, ACI contributed toxicological reviews that resulted in eight chemicals being added to EPA’s Safer Chemical Ingredients List (SCIL) and was the first non-manufacturer to do so. ACI’s news media coverage featuring the Safer Choice program generated a total potential reach of 11.2 million people in 2020 and highlighted that “Adding chemicals to SCIL encourages innovation and growth in safer products, increases markets for manufacturers and helps protect people and the environment.”

“Many ACI member companies have products and chemistries that are recognized by the EPA Safer Choice program. The SCIL allows manufacturers the ability to offer best-in-class safer chemicals to the market that carry the robust third-party verification of the EPA,” said Melissa Hockstad, ACI’s President & CEO. “ACI is proud to have supported the program for the last decade through ongoing work with EPA staff, including the advocacy of science-based principles for ingredient and product criteria.”

ACI also partnered with the Good Housekeeping Institute to host their first-ever cleaning summit, which included a panel on ingredient transparency that discussed how the Safer Choice program helps consumers find products with safer ingredients. Good Housekeeping shared the Summit with its more than 782,000 newsletter subscribers. Safer Choice commends ACI for their dedication to supporting the SCIL and the Safer Choice program.

 

Household & Commercial Products Association, Washington, D.C.

The Household & Commercial Products Association (HCPA) is recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice Supporter. HCPA is a trade association representing companies that manufacture and sell products used for cleaning, protecting, maintaining and disinfecting homes and commercial environments. In 2020, HCPA continued its support of the Safer Choice program by bringing stakeholders together from across HCPA’s membership virtually to strengthen Safer Choice, encourage more HCPA members to get their products certified by Safer Choice, and engage in discussions with Safer Choice staff about improvements to the program. For example, HCPA convened aerosol product manufacturers and suppliers to discuss how aerosol propellant technology fits into the Safer Choice Standard. Safer Choice commends HCPA for its commitment to educating its membership and the public about safer chemical ingredients.

 

“HCPA is extremely proud to be recognized as an EPA Safer Choice Partner of the Year – and for the sixth time in seven years,” said Steve Caldeira, President & CEO, HCPA. “The Safer Choice program has been, and continues to be, an invaluable resource for the household and commercial products industry by working with companies to develop innovative products that possess an excellent environmental, health, and safety profile. With climate change and environmental justice emerging as top priorities for the EPA this year, HCPA is excited to facilitate productive dialogue between industry and the Agency to achieve these and other public policy goals.”

Applicants for this year’s awards were encouraged to show how their work with safer chemistry promotes environmental justice, bolsters resilience to the impacts of climate change, results in cleaner air or water, or improves drinking water quality. The work of many of the organizations being recognized today addressed climate change, including by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, several awardees have worked to increase access to products with safer chemical ingredients in underserved communities. In the coming year, EPA hopes to build on this work by expanding the Safer Choice program to make products containing safer chemicals increasingly available to underserved communities, including communities of color and low-income communities.

The 2021 Partner of the Year award winners represent a wide variety of leadership organizations from each of the 10 EPA regions. These include businesses, comprising small- and medium-sized companies and women-owned companies; state and local governments; non-governmental organizations; associations; and others.

More information about all the 2021 Safer Choice Partner of the Year award winners and summaries of their accomplishments is available at: http://www.eap.gov/saferchoice/safer-choice-partner-year-awards.

 From EPA Press Office:

Issued: Sep 22, 2021 (2:10pm EDT)

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EPA Announces 2021 Safer Choice Partner of the Year Award Winners

WASHINGTON (Sept. 22, 2021) — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is recognizing 33 Safer Choice Partner of the Year award winners across 16 states and the District of Columbia for achievement in the design, manufacture, selection, and use of products with safer chemicals, as part of Pollution Prevention Week. The Safer Choice program helps consumers and purchasers for facilities, such as schools and office buildings, find products that perform and are safer for human health and the environment. This year’s awardees have all shown a commitment to pollution prevention by reducing, eliminating, or preventing pollution at its source prior to recycling, treatment, or disposal. 

 

“Today, we recognize the leadership and accomplishments of Safer Choice partners and stakeholders for their work helping consumers and commercial buyers identify products with safer chemical ingredients, without sacrificing quality or performance,” said Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Michal Freedhoff. “Additionally, I’m excited to see that the work done by many of this year’s awardees support the Biden-Harris Administration’s goals of addressing climate change and advancing environmental justice.”

 

Applicants for this year’s awards were encouraged to show how their work with safer chemistry promotes environmental justice, bolsters resilience to the impacts of climate change, results in cleaner air or water, or improves drinking water quality. The work of many of the organizations being recognized today addressed climate change, including by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, several awardees have worked to increase access to products with safer chemical ingredients in underserved communities. In the coming year, EPA hopes to build on this work by expanding the Safer Choice program to make products containing safer chemicals increasingly available to underserved communities, including communities of color and low-income communities.

 

The 2021 Partner of the Year award winners represent a wide variety of leadership organizations from each of the 10 EPA regions. These include businesses, comprising small- and medium-sized companies and women-owned companies; state and local governments; non-governmental organizations; associations; and others. The following organizations are being recognized this year:

• Albertsons Companies, Boise, Idaho
• American Cleaning Institute, Washington, DC
• Apple, Cupertino, Calif.
• The Ashkin Group, Channel Islands Harbor, Calif.
• BASF Home Care and I&I Cleaning Solutions, Florham Park, N.J.
• Bona, Englewood, Colo.
• Case Medical, Bloomfield, N.J.
• Church & Dwight Co., Inc., Ewing, N.J.
• The Clorox Company, Oakland, Calif.
• Defunkify, Eugene, Ore.
• Dirty Labs Inc., Portland, Ore.
• ECOS, Cypress, Calif.
• Grove Collaborative, San Francisco, Calif.
• Hazardous Waste Management Program, King County, Wash.
• The Home Depot, Atlanta, Ga.
• Household & Commercial Products Association, Washington, DC
• Jelmar, LLC, Skokie, Ill.
• Lake Monroe Sailing Association, Bloomington, Ind.
• Lemi Shine, Austin, Texas
• LightHouse For The Blind And Visually Impaired, San Francisco, Calif.
• LSI, Morristown, N.J.
• Novozymes North America, Raleigh, N.C.
• Oregon Department of Environmental Quality-Toxics Use Reduction Program, Ore.
• The Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, Ohio
• PurposeBuilt Brands, Gurnee, Ill.
• Roger McFadden and Associates, LLC, Canby, Ore.
• Rust-Oleum Corporation, Vernon Hills, Ill.
• Sea Mar Community Health Centers, Seattle, Wash.
• Sensitive Home, Greenbrae, Calif.
• Seventh Generation, Burlington, Vt.
• University of Washington Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Continuing Education Programs, Seattle, Wash.
• Wegmans Food Markets, Rochester, N.Y.
• Wexford Labs, Inc., Kirkwood, Mo.

 

More information on the 2021 Safer Choice Partner of the Year award winners and summaries of their accomplishments are available at: http://www.epa.gov/saferchoice/safer-choice-partner-year-awards.

Seven California Companies recognized as 2021 U.S. EPA Safer Choice Partners

 U.S. EPA News Release:

Seven California Companies recognized as 2021 U.S. EPA Safer Choice Partners

SAN FRANCISCO –Today, as part of Pollution Prevention (P2) week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is recognizing 33 nationwide Safer Choice Partner of the Year award winners for achievements in the design, manufacturing, selection and use of products with safer chemicals. In 2021, California leads the way with more awardees than any other state.

“EPA recognizes the leadership and accomplishments of Safer Choice partners for their work helping industry find products with safer chemical ingredients, without sacrificing quality or performance,” said U.S. EPA Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Assistant Administrator Michal Freedhoff. “This year’s awardees have all shown a commitment to reducing, eliminating, or preventing pollution at its source.”

“We are proud to see a number of California companies recognized for their leadership in producing and promoting safer products,” said U.S. EPA Pacific Southwest Region Land and Chemicals Division Director Jeff Scott. “Their commitment to Safer Choice makes it easier for consumers and businesses to find effective products that are also safer for their employees, families, and communities.”

In support of EPA and Biden Administration goals, this year’s applicants were encouraged to show how their work with safer chemistry promotes environmental justice, boosts resilience to the impacts of climate change, results in cleaner air or water, or improves drinking water quality. The Safer Choice program helps consumers and purchasers for facilities, such as schools and office buildings, find products that perform well and are safer for human health and the environment.

The following California organizations are being awarded:

• Apple (Cupertino, CA), for continued promotion of chemicals meeting Safer Choice criteria in its manufacturing supply chain. Through its Safer Cleaner program, based on the Safer Choice criteria, Apple assessed 54 new cleaners in 2020, bringing the total to more than 80 safer cleaner and degreaser alternatives approved for use by more than 80,000 employees in the supply chain.

• The Ashkin Group (Oxnard, CA), for its commitment to educating and protecting frontline cleaning personnel. In 2020, the Ashkin Group included Safer Choice in training programs for more than 30,000 frontline cleaning workers to date, the majority of whom are from underserved communities.

• The Clorox Company (Oakland, CA), for continuing to promote the Safer Choice program and manufacture products with safer ingredients. A Safer Choice Partner since 2007, Clorox updated 10 formulations and added one new product to their offering of Safer Choice- and DfE-certified products in 2020, spanning 19 retail and 18 industrial and institutional products. More than 70% of their certified products bear the Safer Choice label prominently on the front of the package.

• ECOS (Cypress, CA), for its ongoing commitment to producing and promoting Safer Choice products. A partner since 2008, ECOS added four new products, renewed four products, and updated 11 product formulations in 2020. ECOS offers more than 150 Safer Choice-certified products, representing 79% of all ECOS product offerings.

• Grove Collaborative (San Francisco, CA), for their commitment to developing products with safer chemical ingredients and sustainable packaging. In 2020, Grove certified their entire liquid laundry and dishwasher detergent collections to Safer Choice, while also creating an “EPA Safer Choice Spotlight Store” on their website to help customers find safer products.

• LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired (San Francisco, CA), for their ongoing commitment to creating and promoting Safer Choice products to benefit the visually impaired. In 2020, Lighthouse posted record sales for their Safer Choice products, securing a contract with the US Navy and working with the National Institute for the Blind to sell their Safer Choice line to federal agencies across the United States.

• Sensitive Home (Greenbrae, CA), as an outstanding product manufacturer of Safer Choice products. All of Sensitive Home’s 14 dish, laundry, and surface cleaners became Safer Choice-certified in 2020. Sensitive Home, proudly displays the Safer Choice label on the front of every product as well as on the brand’s homepage, product listing pages, and printed marketing collateral.

More information on the 2021 Safer Choice Partner of the Year award winners and summaries of their accomplishments is available at: http://www.eap.gov/saferchoice/safer-choice-partner-year-awards.

Learn more about EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region. Connect with us on Facebook and on Twitter.

Colorado-based Bona US recognized as one of EPA’s 2021 Safer Choice Partners of the Year

 U.S. EPA News Release:

Colorado-based Bona US recognized as one of EPA’s 2021 Safer Choice Partners of the Year

 

Englewood, Colo. (Sept. 22, 2021) — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized Bona US of Englewood, Colorado, as one of 33 Safer Choice Partner of the Year award winners. Winners span across 16 states and the District of Columbia and are being recognized for achievement in the design, manufacture, selection, and use of products with safer chemicals, as part of Pollution Prevention Week. The Safer Choice program helps consumers and purchasers for facilities, such as schools and office buildings, find products that perform and are safer for human health and the environment. This year’s awardees have all shown a commitment to pollution prevention by reducing, eliminating, or preventing pollution at its source prior to recycling, treatment, or disposal.

“Today, we recognize the leadership and accomplishments of Safer Choice partners and stakeholders for their work helping consumers and commercial buyers identify products with safer chemical ingredients, without sacrificing quality or performance,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Michal Freedhoff. “I’m excited to see that the work done by many of this year’s awardees support the Biden-Harris Administration’s goals of addressing climate change and advancing environmental justice.”

“At Bona we are proud to work with the U.S. EPA Safer Choice program to guide our development of floor care products and are delighted with the recognition as a Safer Choice Partner of the Year,” said John Schierlmann, director of research and development at Bona. “The EPA Safer Choice program offers a high level of scrutiny relative to the health impacts of raw materials. This, in turn, guides our R&D team to review and test the safest raw materials for our products so that we can deliver the safest and highest performing products for people, pets, and the environment.”

Bona is a family-owned company that supplies products for installing, renovating, maintaining and restoring premium floors. This year the company is recognized as an outstanding Safer Choice Formulator-Product Manufacturer. Bona collaborates with and educates suppliers to refine their formulations to ensure future products can attain Safer Choice certification as achieving the certification is a companywide objective. Since becoming a Safer Choice partner in 2020, Bona has certified 13 products and reformulated more than 90 percent of its current cleaner line for Safer Choice certification.

Applicants for this year’s awards were encouraged to show how their work with safer chemistry promotes environmental justice, bolsters resilience to the impacts of climate change, results in cleaner air or water, or improves drinking water quality. The work of many of the organizations being recognized today addressed climate change, including by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, several awardees have worked to increase access to products with safer chemical ingredients in underserved communities. In the coming year, EPA hopes to build on this work by expanding the Safer Choice program to make products containing safer chemicals increasingly available to underserved communities, including communities of color and low-income communities.

The 2021 Partner of the Year award winners represent a wide variety of leadership organizations from each of the 10 EPA regions. These include businesses, comprising small- and medium-sized companies and women-owned companies; state and local governments; non-governmental organizations; associations; and others.

More information on the 2021 Safer Choice Partner of the Year award winners and summaries of their accomplishments is available at: http://www.eap.gov/saferchoice/safer-choice-partner-year-awards.

EPA Announces Austin-Based Lemi Shine Among 2021 Safer Choice Partner of the Year Award Winners

 U.S. EPA News Release:

EPA Announces Austin-Based Lemi Shine Among 2021 Safer Choice Partner of the Year Award Winners

 

Media contact: Jennah Durant at r6press@epa.gov or 214 676-0655

 

DALLAS – (Sept. 22, 2021) Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is recognizing Austin, Texas-based Lemi Shine as one of 33 Safer Choice Partner of the Year award winners across 16 states and the District of Columbia for achievement in the design, manufacture, selection, and use of products with safer chemicals, as part of Pollution Prevention Week. The Safer Choice program helps consumers and purchasers for facilities, such as schools and office buildings, find products that perform and are safer for human health and the environment. This year’s awardees have all shown a commitment to pollution prevention by reducing, eliminating, or preventing pollution at its source prior to recycling, treatment, or disposal.  

“Today, we recognize the leadership and accomplishments of Safer Choice partners and stakeholders for their work helping consumers and commercial buyers identify products with safer chemical ingredients, without sacrificing quality or performance,” said Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Michal Freedhoff. “Additionally, I’m excited to see that the work done by many of this year’s awardees support the Biden-Harris Administration’s goals of addressing climate change and advancing environmental justice.”

“As a three-time Safer Choice Partner of the Year winner, Lemi Shine shows that household products can be effective while being safer for families who use them and the environment,” said Acting Regional Administrator David Gray. “I congratulate Lemi Shine on continuing to demonstrate environmental stewardship in their business practices and products.”

"What an honor and privilege it is to partner again with the most established and trusted authority for Safer ingredients," said Lemi Shine CEO Curtis Eggemeyer.  "EPA's Safer Choice program continues to gain momentum and consumer confidence as it provides guidance for all brands." 

Applicants for this year’s awards were encouraged to show how their work with safer chemistry promotes environmental justice, bolsters resilience to the impacts of climate change, results in cleaner air or water, or improves drinking water quality. The work of many of the organizations being recognized today addressed climate change, including by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, several awardees have worked to increase access to products with safer chemical ingredients in underserved communities. In the coming year, EPA hopes to build on this work by expanding the Safer Choice program to make products containing safer chemicals increasingly available to underserved communities, including communities of color and low-income communities.

The 2021 Partner of the Year award winners represent a wide variety of leadership organizations from each of the 10 EPA regions. These include businesses, comprising small- and medium-sized companies and women-owned companies; state and local governments; non-governmental organizations; associations; and others. The following organizations are being recognized this year:

• Albertsons Companies, Boise, Idaho
• American Cleaning Institute, Washington, DC
• Apple, Cupertino, Calif.
• The Ashkin Group, Channel Islands Harbor, Calif.
• BASF Home Care and I&I Cleaning Solutions, Florham Park, N.J.
• Bona, Englewood, Colo.
• Case Medical, Bloomfield, N.J.
• Church & Dwight Co., Inc., Ewing, N.J.
• The Clorox Company, Oakland, Calif.
• Defunkify, Eugene, Ore.
• Dirty Labs Inc., Portland, Ore.
• ECOS, Cypress, Calif..
• Grove Collaborative, San Francisco, Calif.
• Hazardous Waste Management Program, King County, Wash.
• The Home Depot, Atlanta, Ga.
• Household & Commercial Products Association, Washington, DC
• Jelmar, LLC, Skokie, Ill.
• Lake Monroe Sailing Association, Bloomington, Ind.
• Lemi Shine, Austin, Texas
• LightHouse For The Blind And Visually Impaired, San Francisco, Calif.
• LSI, Morristown, N.J.
• Novozymes North America, Raleigh, N.C.
• Oregon Department of Environmental Quality-Toxics Use Reduction Program
• The Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, Ohio
• PurposeBuilt Brands, Gurnee, Ill.
• Roger McFadden and Associates, LLC, Canby, Ore.
• Rust-Oleum Corporation, Vernon Hills, Ill.
• Sea Mar Community Health Centers, Seattle, Wash.
• Sensitive Home, Greenbrae, Calif.
• Seventh Generation, Burlington, Vt.
• University of Washington Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Continuing Education Programs, Seattle, Wash.
• Wegmans Food Markets, Rochester, N.Y.
• Wexford Labs, Inc., Kirkwood, Mo.

More information on the 2021 Safer Choice Partner of the Year award winners and summaries of their accomplishments are available at: http://www.eap.gov/saferchoice/safer-choice-partner-year-awards.

 

Connect with EPA Region 6:

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eparegion6 

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/EPAregion6

Activities in EPA Region 6: https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/epa-region-6-south-central

 

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EPA, WVDEP to Hold Public Meeting to Discuss Ethylene Oxide

 U.S. EPA News Release:

EPA, WVDEP to Hold Public Meeting to Discuss Ethylene Oxide

 

PHILADELPHIA (Sept. 21, 2021) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) will hold a virtual community meeting on September 23, starting at 6 p.m.

EPA and WVDEP will provide information about ethylene oxide (EtO) to members of the community, public officials, and leaders of community organizations and answer questions about EtO, known health effects, associated risks and how it is managed in Institute and South Charleston, W.V.

Due to the current pandemic, in lieu of an in-person meeting, EPA and WVDEP have opted to hold a virtual meeting to engage with the community.  This meeting will be held online and/or over the phone via Zoom Cloud Meeting Video and Call-in Conferencing.

The meeting address is: https://usepa.zoomgov.com/j/1607241585

Meeting ID: 160 724 1585

To dial in to the audio portion: US: +1 669 254 5252 or +1 646 828 7666 or +1 669 216 1590 or +1 551 285 1373 (Zoom does not charge long-distance fees; local mobile carrier fees may vary)

All ethylene oxide related questions can be sent to: R3EthyleneOxide@epa.gov 

All news media inquiries and RSVPs should be directed to

EPA Region 8 announces new Regional Pollution Prevention Award Program

 U.S. EPA News Release:

EPA Region 8 announces new Regional Pollution Prevention Award Program

Applications will be accepted through October 19, 2021  

 

DENVER (Sept. 20, 2021) –– The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Region 8 is announcing a new regional Pollution Prevention (P2) Award Program. EPA Region 8 will recognize organizations in Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming and tribal lands within the boundaries of Region 8 for demonstrated leadership in innovative P2 practices.

“EPA’s Pollution Prevention Award Program will recognize organizations that have taken the initiative to prevent pollution at the source,” said Debra H. Thomas, EPA Region 8 Acting Regional Administrator. “With our new regional awards program, we look forward to celebrating these forward-thinking organizations that have reduced their environmental impact, improved the quality of life in their communities, and often realized cost savings as an added benefit.”

P2, as defined in the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990, is any practice that reduces environmental releases of hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants prior to entering a waste stream for recycling, treatment or disposal. P2 conserves natural resources, including water and energy, by focusing industry, government and public attention on reducing pollution through the implementation of cost-effective changes in production, operation and the use of raw materials. EPA’s P2 program is voluntary and encourages stakeholders to seek innovative ways to prevent pollution from entering waste streams through a competitive grant process and the provision of technical assistance to businesses.

This is an annual, voluntary, and non-monetary award program. Those interested in applying or nominating an organization to be considered for an award should submit a complete application describing the nominee’s P2 efforts, activities, cost savings, pounds of hazardous chemicals reduced, energy conserved, or gallons of water saved, as well as the replicability of their approach. The application deadline is October 19, 2021. For information on how to apply, visit https://www.epa.gov/co/forms/2021-epa-region-8-pollution-prevention-p2-award-program.

This week is P2 Week, an annual event to celebrate the diverse and creative ways businesses, academic institutes, local governments and other organizations are working to prevent pollution. In support of the Pollution Prevention Act and P2 Week, EPA congratulates entities for the progress they have made and encourages them to renew P2 efforts to save resources and enhance sustainability through innovation, furthering EPA’s mission to protect public health and the environment.

For information on Pollution Prevention Technical Assistance in Region 8: https://www.epa.gov/p2/pollution-prevention-technical-assistance-epa-region-8

For more information on P2 and the P2 Grant: https://www.epa.gov/p2