EPA Administrator Regan to Join Senator Kelly, Representative Stanton and State, Local & Tribal Leaders for Rio Reimagined Visit; Highlight Build Back Better Agenda

 U.S. EPA Media Advisory:

EPA Administrator Regan to Join Senator Kelly, Representative Stanton and State, Local & Tribal Leaders for Rio Reimagined Visit; Highlight Build Back Better Agenda

TEMPE (Sept. 16, 2021) — On Friday, Sept. 17, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael S. Regan, Senator Mark Kelly and Representative Greg Stanton will tour the Rio Reimagined project site in Tempe, AZ and discuss how this successful initiative has revitalized more than 55 miles along the Salt and Gila Rivers that wind through six Phoenix-area cities and two Native American communities. Administrator Regan will highlight how this project embodies the promise of President Biden’s Build Back Better agenda, which will broaden the scope of powerful economic, climate, environmental, and health benefits for communities across the nation. Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, state and local officials, Tribal leaders, and Arizona State University representatives will join the tour and briefings.

Who:

EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan

U.S. Senator Mark Kelly

U.S. Representative Greg Stanton

Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego

What: Open-press tour of Rio Reimagined project site followed by an informal media availability.

When: Friday, September 17. Press should arrive at 9:00 AM MDT for 9:15 AM tour.

Where: Tempe, AZ. RSVP to press@kelly.senate.gov for location details.

NOTE: Consistent with CDC guidance, individuals are encouraged to wear a mask and follow social distancing guidelines at this event.

Background on Rio Reimagined: Last year, EPA gave the Rio Reimagined project special designation under the Urban Waters Federal Partnership to cut red tape, pave the way for more grants, and foster collaboration between federal agencies, local leaders, and community organizations to distribute the funding as they see fit.

Background on Senator Kelly and Representative Stanton leadership: Through his work on the recently-passed bipartisan infrastructure bill in the Senate, Kelly secured federal funding for a number of projects along the Gila and Salt Rivers. As part of the infrastructure water working group, Kelly secured funding for the EPA Brownfields program to help states, Tribes, and localities assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse contaminated properties. He also secured funding for the Hazardous Substance Superfund to allow for the EPA to fund shovel-ready cleanup projects at Superfund sites.

During his time as Phoenix mayor, Stanton worked with Sen. McCain, Rep. Ed Pastor other Valley mayors and Tribal leaders to rehabilitate the riverbed. Under Stanton’s leadership, Phoenix made many investments along the river, including funding a $120 million project to turn the swath of riverbed between 24th Street and 19th Avenue into a riparian area and restoring the Tres Rios Wetlands, a 700-acre wetland and tertiary water reclamation facility.

As the only Arizona member on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Stanton has continued his advocacy in Congress. In the 2020 Water Resources Development Act, Stanton successfully included a provision that directs the Corps of Engineers to expedite completion of a report necessary to continue construction of the Tres Rios ecosystem restoration project. This year, Stanton secured $1.8 million in Community Project Funding to support this critical report.