EPA Press Office:

GT Metals & Salvage pays Clean Water Act penalty

The company agreed to pay a $50,300 penalty for stormwater pollution violations

Contact: Meshach A. Padilla EPA Region 10, 206-553-2762, padilla.meshach@epa.gov

SEATTLE (March 31, 2022) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today that GT Metals & Salvage LLC of Longview, Washington has agreed to pay a $50,300 penalty for repeated Clean Water Act violations.

EPA found the company failed to comply with Washington’s Industrial Stormwater General Permit which resulted in regular discharges of stormwater into ditches that eventually reach the Columbia River. Industrial stormwater from sites like GT Metals may include metals, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), fuel oil, hydraulic oil, brake fluids, lead acid, and lead oxides. These pollutants and other debris can harm aquatic life and affect water quality.

During inspections on February 2020, EPA found that the company failed to:

• develop a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP);
• implement best management practices;
• conduct required sampling of discharges;
• conduct monthly visual inspections; and
• complete, submit, and maintain records.

“Despite compliance assistance provided by state and local agencies, along with numerous enforcement actions over the past 10 years, it seems the company was unwilling to reach compliance,” said Ed Kowalski, director of EPA Region 10’s Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division. “EPA works to protect public health and the environment by limiting pollution in runoff from industrial activities. When companies comply with permits, they’re better equipped to prevent and reduce potential discharge of industrial pollution.”

In an EPA order, GT Metals also agreed to develop a SWPPP, implement best management practices, begin monitoring stormwater discharges, improve site conditions, and submit reports to EPA demonstrating effective implementation of the requirements of the Industrial Stormwater General Permit.

Additional GT Metals settlement details can be found in the consent agreement and final order filed February 16, 2022.

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U.S. EPA penalizes Southern California refinery for violating oil spill prevention requirements, endangering Los Angeles waterways

 U.S. EPA News Release:

U.S. EPA penalizes Southern California refinery for violating oil spill prevention requirements, endangering Los Angeles waterways

 

SOUTH GATE (March 30, 2022) - Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a settlement with Lunday-Thagard Company dba World Oil Refining (World Oil) for alleged violations of the Clean Water Act and its implementing regulations related to oil pollution prevention at the company’s South Gate, Calif. refinery and storage facility. Under the settlement, World Oil will pay a $112,673 penalty.

“This enforcement action reflects EPA’s continued commitment to ensuring facilities like World Oil refinery comply with federal clean water laws and prevent unnecessary oil spills,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. “Actions like this are key to protecting our waterways and surrounding communities.”

The facility is located near the Rio Hondo Channel and the Los Angeles River, which flow to the Long Beach Harbor and the Pacific Ocean, as well as the Golden Shore Marine Reserve, an environmentally sensitive site that is of the “highest concern for protection” according to the Los Angeles/Long Beach Area Contingency Plan developed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife as a way to prepare for major oil spills. EPA alleges that the company violated the Clean Water Act's Oil Pollution Prevention Regulations after EPA inspections at the facility on March 31 and April 16, 2021 found that World Oil failed to:

• Implement tank and facility inspections according to the written procedures in the Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure Plan;
• Inspect and conduct integrity tests on tanks in accordance with industry standards;
• Promptly correct visible discharges which result in a loss of oil from containers; and
• Develop an adequate Facility Response Plan (FRP) to respond to oil spills.

 

World Oil took the following steps to come into compliance:

• developed and began implementation of an updated tank testing and inspection schedule;
• implemented a revised oil spill prevention training program; and
•  updated its FRP.

EPA’s Oil Pollution Prevention Regulations aim to prevent oil from reaching navigable waters and adjoining shorelines and to ensure containment of oil discharges in the event of a spill. Specific prevention measures include developing and implementing spill prevention plans, training staff, and installing physical controls to contain and clean up oil spills.

The requirement to develop an FRP applies to facilities that could reasonably be expected to cause “substantial harm” to the environment by discharging oil into or on navigable waters. FRPs demonstrate a facility’s preparedness to respond to a worst-case oil discharge. FRPs also help local and regional response authorities better understand potential hazards and response capabilities in their area.

View the public notice.

Learn more about the EPA’s oil spill prevention program. 

Learn more about the Los Angeles/Long Beach Area Contingency Plan.

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

EPA settlements with Crescent Point Energy and EP Energy resolve Clean Air Act violations in Utah

 U.S. EPA News Release:

EPA settlements with Crescent Point Energy and EP Energy resolve Clean Air Act violations in Utah   

Agreements reflect efforts to secure compliance with clean air requirements in Ozone Nonattainment Area  

Contact: Richard Mylott, mylott.richard@epa.gov

Salt Lake City (March 30, 2022) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced settlements with Canadian-based Crescent Point Energy U.S. Corp. (Crescent Point) and Houston, Texas-based EP Energy E & P Company, L.P. (EP Energy) resolving alleged violations of the federal Clean Air Act at oil and gas production facilities in Utah’s Uinta Basin.  

The Crescent Point settlement requires the company to pay a civil penalty of $3 million for violations of requirements to control volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from storage tanks at 30 previously owned oil and gas production facilities. The EP Energy settlement resolves similar violations across 246 production facilities and requires the company to pay a civil penalty of $700,000, take extensive measures to ensure future compliance, and implement a $1.2 million mitigation project to install pollution controls at facilities that are not otherwise subject to control requirements.  

Both settlements were filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah yesterday simultaneously with complaints that the two companies’ oil and gas production operations in the Uinta Basin violated requirements to control VOC emissions from storage tanks. The State of Utah is a co-Plaintiff in both actions. 

“These settlements reflect our commitment to protecting Utah’s air quality and the health and well-being of communities across the Uinta Basin, an area that does not meet federal clean air standards,” said EPA Regional Administrator KC Becker.  “These actions will secure compliance at hundreds of tank facilities, reduce hundreds of tons of ozone-forming pollutants every year, and fund significant clean air projects across the state. EPA will continue to work with the State of Utah and the Ute Indian Tribe to ensure oil and gas production sources are operating within the law to improve air quality and community health.”  

VOCs are a key component in the formation of ground-level ozone, a pollutant that irritates the lungs, exacerbates diseases such as asthma, and can increase susceptibility to respiratory illnesses, such as pneumonia and bronchitis. The production facilities covered by this settlement are in the Uinta Basin, an area that does not meet National Ambient Air Quality Standards established under the Clean Air Act for ground-level ozone. The emission reductions achieved through these settlements will directly benefit air quality and residents in rural and tribal communities throughout the Basin. 

The $3 million Crescent Point civil penalty will be split evenly between the United States and the State of Utah. Crescent Point has agreed to deposit $1.2 million of the $1.5 million civil penalty owed to Utah into the State’s Environmental Mitigation and Response Fund for air quality-related projects across the state.  

The $700,000 EP Energy civil penalty will be split evenly between the United States and the State of Utah. EP Energy has agreed to deposit $280,000 of the $350,000 owed to Utah, with interest, into the State’s Environmental Mitigation and Response Fund for air quality-related projects across the state. EP Energy emerged from bankruptcy on October 1, 2020, and the United States and Utah previously resolved alleged violations subject to a proof of claim in the bankruptcy court for $100,000.  

Under the Consent Decree, EP Energy will implement extensive design, operation, and maintenance improvements at 246 oil and gas production facilities. EP Energy will also spend $1.2 million to mitigate past excess emissions by installing pollution controls at 36 uncontrolled facilities. This project will reduce VOC emissions by approximately 370 tons per year as a result of installing emission control devices at uncontrolled facilities. The Consent Decree requires EP Energy to post verifications of facility design, required certifications, and the final mitigation report on its website.   

The Stipulations of Settlement and Order and Consent Decrees are available for viewing at: https://www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees

 EPA Press Office:

EPA Announces Appointment of Senior Advisor for Equity to Help Advance Environmental Justice and Embed Equity in EPA Work

Contact: Mary Mears, (212) 637-3673 or mears.mary@epa.gov

NEW YORK (March 30, 2022) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced that Olivia C. Glenn will join EPA as Senior Advisor for Equity and Chief of Staff to EPA’s Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. Ms. Glenn will be helping to guide EPA Region 2’s efforts to embed environmental justice and diversity goals into all of its work and will serve as all-around Chief of Staff. She most recently served as Deputy Commissioner of Environmental Justice and Equity for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

“I am so delighted to have Olivia join me at EPA to help guide and support the talented team here at EPA Region 2 as we all work toward a healthy environment for everyone – with a focus on improving quality of life for communities that are underserved and often overburdened with pollution,” said Lisa F. Garcia, EPA Region 2 Administrator. “Olivia brings with her a wealth of experience and a proven track record of advancing EJ principles in governmental policies and programs.”

A longtime advocate of ensuring underserved communities have access to the outdoors, Olivia believes all people have a right to experience and enjoy the benefits of nature.

“This is a time when environmental justice and equity issues are among those at the forefront of the nation’s priorities,” said Olivia Glenn. “It is such a privilege to join EPA’s Region 2 as Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor for Equity, ensuring the furtherance of this critical work with our communities and tiers of government in support of Administrator Regan and the Biden-Harris Administration. I look forward to working alongside the knowledgeable and passionate team in Region 2, following the lead of Regional Administrator Garcia to advance equity as an agency-wide imperative.”

“New Jersey is the better for Olivia Carpenter Glenn’s environmental leadership, and my colleagues and I are proud that the broader region will now have the benefit of her expertise, compassion, and dedication to equity and justice,” said Shawn M. LaTourette, the State’s Commissioner of Environmental Protection. “From her stewardship of our state parks and forests, to her work furthering the promise of environmental justice, Olivia has left an indelible mark on New Jersey and will be an asset to Administrator Michael S. Regan, Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia, and their teams as EPA advances critical efforts to protect and improve the environment and public health across our region and the nation.”

Olivia previously led the DEP’s Division of Parks and Forestry, appointed in 2018 as its director and managing its 450,000 acres of natural and historic resources. From 2003 to 2009, she worked as the Division’s Urban Initiatives and Outreach Coordinator and subsequently served as special assistant to the DEP Deputy Commissioner. Olivia later was a member of the DEP’s Environmental Justice Advisory Council, leading its efforts in outreach, education and land management.

Olivia also has worked with the New Jersey Conservation Foundation, making outdoor spaces and trails more readily available to Greater Philadelphia residents, especially people living in Camden. In 2018, the Camden Collaborative Initiative honored her with the Camden Environmental Hero Award. As an NJDEP Deputy Commissioner, Olivia was responsible for advancing state environmental justice and diversity, equity and inclusion goals.

Olivia earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from Dartmouth College. She holds a master’s degree from the Yale School of the Environment, where she wrote her master's thesis on park revitalization in Camden. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors, as well as singing and playing the flute, piano and bassoon. Olivia is married and has three children.

EPA expects that Ms. Glenn will begin in her post at EPA on April 18.

Follow EPA on Twitter and Facebook. For more information about EPA Region 2 visit our website.

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 EPA News Release:

EPA Releases Final Strategic Plan to Protect Public Health, Address Climate Change, and Advance Environmental Justice and Equity

WASHINGTON (March 28, 2022) – Today, the Environmental Protection Agency published its final Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-2026 EPA Strategic Plan to accompany EPA's FY 2023 President’s Budget. The Strategic Plan provides a roadmap to achieve EPA’s and the Biden-Harris Administration’s environmental priorities over the next four years.

 

This Strategic Plan furthers the agency's commitment to protecting human health and the environment for all people, with an emphasis on historically overburdened and underserved communities. For the first time, EPA’s final Plan includes a strategic goal focused exclusively on addressing climate change, as well as an unprecedented strategic goal to advance environmental justice and civil rights. At the foundation of the Plan is a renewed commitment to the three principles articulated by EPA’s first Administrator, William Ruckelshaus — follow the science, follow the law, and be transparent – while adding an additional fourth principle: advance justice and equity.

 

“This final strategic plan is the result of tireless work across EPA to develop a comprehensive strategy that delivers on our mission to protect all people from pollution,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “I’m confident that our plan meets the moment. Our solutions are designed to confront the challenges in front of us, where achieving justice and equity are central to addressing climate change and environmental protection.” 

 

The Strategic Plan outlines seven goals and four cross-agency strategies. The strategies articulate essential ways of working to accomplish EPA’s goals and mission outcomes. The Plan also includes a suite of measures that will help the Agency monitor progress and ensure accountability for achieving its priorities to protect human health and the environment for all Americans.

 

More information on EPA’s Strategic Plans can be found at: Strategic Plan. 

 EPA Press Office:

Statement by EPA Administrator Regan on the President’s Fiscal Year 2023 Budget

The President’s Fiscal Year 2023 budget requests $11.881 billion for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s essential work to protect people from pollution.

WASHINGTON (March 28, 2022) –The Biden-Harris Administration today submitted to Congress the President’s Budget for fiscal year 2023. The President’s Budget details his vision to expand on the historic progress our country has made over the last year and deliver the agenda he laid out in his State of the Union address—to build a better America, reduce the deficit, reduce costs for families, and grow the economy from the bottom up and middle out.  

The Budget makes historic investments to advance key priorities in the FY 2022-2026 EPA Strategic Plan, including tackling the climate crisis, advancing environmental justice, protecting air quality, upgrading the Nation’s aging water infrastructure, and rebuilding core functions at the Agency.

“The President’s budget request for EPA reflects this Administration’s unwavering commitment to protect people from pollution, especially those living in overburdened and underserved communities across America. It funds a broad suite of transformational programs enacted by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and it will enable us to implement the President’s historic Justice40 commitment, among other key priorities,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Almost half of the Budget announced today, $5.7 billion, will support Tribes, states, and localities, reaffirming EPA’s commitment to work in concert with our partners and local communities to tackle the climate crisis and ensure that no American family has to worry about the air they breathe, the water they drink, or the environmental safety of their homes and workplaces.”

The Budget makes critical investments in the American people that will help lay a stronger foundation for shared growth and prosperity for generations to come. At the EPA, the Budget invests in:

• Upgrading Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Nationwide. The Budget provides approximately $4 billion to advance efforts to upgrade drinking water and wastewater infrastructure nationwide, with a focus on underserved communities. The Budget funds 20 new targeted water grant programs authorized in the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act (DWWIA). In total, more than $940 million in new resources are provided to implement DWWIA in FY 2023. The Budget also supports water infrastructure with an increase of $160 million in grants to reduce lead in drinking water and an increase of $240 million for the Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse grant program. The Budget proposes a new $25 million water sector cybersecurity grant program. The Budget also maintains funding for the State Revolving Funds, which will complement the $23.4 billion provided for the traditional SRF programs over five years in the recently enacted Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
• Ensuring Clean and Healthy Air for All Communities. The Budget allocates $1.1 billion to improve air quality and reduce localized pollution, reduce exposure to radiation, and improve indoor air for communities across the country. This includes $152 million to support the development and implementation of national emission standards to reduce air pollution from vehicles, engines and fuels. The Budget also supports $299 million to assist air pollution control agencies in the development, implementation, and evaluation of programs for the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and to establish standards for reducing air toxics.
• Tackling the Climate Crisis. The Budget prioritizes funding for tackling the climate crisis and invests an additional $100 million in grants to Tribes and states that will support on-the-ground efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase resiliency in the Nation’s infrastructure. The Budget proposes an additional $35 million to implement the American Innovation in Manufacturing Act to continue phasing out potent greenhouse gases known as hydrofluorocarbons and invests an additional $13 million in wildfire prevention and readiness.
• Advancing Environmental Justice. The Administration is committed to increasing efforts to deliver environmental justice in communities across the Nation. The Budget supports the President’s Justice40 commitment to ensure at least 40 percent of the benefits of federal investments in climate and clean energy reach historically overburdened and underserved communities. The Budget invests more than $1.45 billion across the Agency’s programs that will help create good-paying jobs, clean up pollution, advance racial equity, and secure environmental justice for all communities. To elevate environmental justice as a top Agency priority, EPA has proposed a new national environmental justice program office, to coordinate and maximize the benefits of the Agency’s programs and activities for underserved communities. 
• Protecting Communities from Hazardous Waste and Environmental Damage. Preventing and cleaning up environmental damage that harms communities and poses a risk to public health and safety continues to be a top priority for the Administration. The Budget provides $1.15 billion for EPA’s Superfund programs to continue cleaning up some of the Nation’s most contaminated land and respond to environmental emergencies. The Budget also includes $215 million for EPA’s Brownfields programs to provide technical assistance and grants to communities, including overburdened and underserved communities, so they can safely clean up and reuse once contaminated properties. The Budget supports additional Community Development Specialists to manage land revitalization projects and works with Tribal, rural, and overburdened and underserved communities to address brownfields.
• Strengthening Our Commitment and Ability to Successfully Implement Toxic Substances and Control Act (TSCA). The Budget provides $124 million and 449 FTE for TSCA efforts to deliver on the promises made to the American people by the bipartisan Lautenberg Act. These resources will support EPA-initiated chemical risk evaluations and protective regulations in accordance with statutory timelines. 
• Tackling Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Pollution. PFAS are a group of man-made chemicals that threaten the health and safety of communities across the Nation. As part of the President’s commitment to tackling PFAS pollution, the Budget provides approximately $126 million in FY 2023 for EPA to increase its understanding of human health and ecological effects of PFAS, restrict uses to prevent PFAS from entering the air, land, and water, and remediate PFAS that have been released into the environment. EPA will continue to act on the Agency’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap to safeguard communities from PFAS contamination. 
• Enforcing and Assuring Compliance with the Nation’s Environmental Laws. The Budget provides $213 million for civil enforcement efforts, which includes increasing enforcement efforts in communities with high pollution exposure and to prevent the illegal importations and use of hydrofluorocarbons in the U. S. The Budget also includes $7 million to operate a coal combustion residuals compliance program, $148 million for compliance monitoring efforts, and $69 million for criminal enforcement efforts, including the development of a specialized criminal enforcement task force to address environmental justice issues in partnership with the Department of Justice.
• Restoring Critical Capacity to Carry Out EPA’s Core Mission. The Budget includes more than 1,900 new Full Time Equivalents (FTEs) relative to current levels, for a total of more than 16,200 FTEs, to help rebuild the Agency’s capacity. Restoring staffing capacity across the Agency will facilitate and expedite EPA’s work to reduce air, water, and climate pollution and advance environmental justice. The Budget continues to strengthen the Agency’s ability to recruit, hire, develop, promote, and retain top talent and remove barriers to equal opportunity at the management and staff levels in order to strengthen and advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.

The Budget makes these smart investments while also reducing deficits and improving our country’s long-term fiscal outlook.

For more information on the President’s FY 2023 Budget, please visit: President’s Budget.

 EPA Press Office:

EPA grants $20 million to Alaska for drinking water, wastewater infrastructure improvements

State estimates $94 million for wastewater, $57 million for drinking water projects

SEATTLE -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it will help fund Alaska’s $57.1 million plan for key drinking water projects and $93.7 million plan to improve wastewater infrastructure.

 

In addition to this round of funding, Congress recently passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act /Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which will inject another $65 million into Alaska’s two State Revolving Fund programs in 2022.

 

“Clean and safe water is a basic right, but at the same time something we can’t take for granted” said EPA Region 10’s Water Division Director Dan Opalski. “EPA is proud to invest along with our state partners in these projects that will benefit the health of Alaska’s communities.”

 

The EPA’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program provides below-market rate loans for the construction of drinking water treatment facilities and other projects and activities vital to ensuring the delivery of clean and safe drinking water at the tap. The loans help communities keep water rates more affordable while addressing local water infrastructure challenges. Similarly, the Clean Water State Revolving Fund helps states fund large wastewater and other water quality projects.

 

Some of the projects to be funded in the state’s 2021-2022 drinking water plan include:

 

• $509,167 to the city of Homer to extend the water distribution system to provide piped public water to 27 central business district zoned properties, all of which currently are served by hauled water from city watering points.
• $1,600,00 to the Ketchikan Gateway Borough to design and construct a 100,000-gallon storage tank and booster pump station.
• $5,000,000 to the city of Nome to construct a building to support both the drinking water and sewer utilities. 

 

The state’s list of wastewater projects to be funded include:

 

• $1,450,000 to the city of Fairbanks to construct a new 10-inch water main to the Wastewater Treatment Facility and replace the failing process water system within the facility. 
• $2,000,000 to the city of Cordova to remove 135 creosote pilings in the South Harbor and install a marine sewage pump station.
• $3,900,000 to the Skagway Borough to extend sanitary sewer to an unserved area.
• $5,600,00 to the city of Homer to extend piped wastewater service to unserved properties in five separate project areas. 
• $44,125 to the city of Dillingham to design utility upgrades to the waterfront area. 

 

The sources of funding for Alaska’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund Intended Use Plan include a $9.5 million grant from EPA, $1.9 million in state matching funds, along with $114.6 million in interest earnings and repayments from previous CWSRF loans.

 

Similarly, the sources of funding for projects on Alaska’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Intended Use Plan include a $11 million grant from EPA (of which $7.3 million will be used directly for project-related loans), and $2.2 million in state matching funds. An additional $87 million in interest earnings and repayments from previous DWSRF loans will also be available to fund project loans. 

 

A full list of Alaska’s CWSRF and DWSRF projects to be funded can be found at: 

https://dec.alaska.gov/water/technical-assistance-and-financing/state-revolving-fund/intended-use-plans/

 

For more information about EPA’s State Revolving Fund Programs go to: 

https://www.epa.gov/dwsrf

https://www.epa.gov/cwsrf

 EPA Press Office:

EPA grants $52 million to Washington for drinking water, wastewater infrastructure improvements

State estimates $253.5 million available for wastewater, $22 million for drinking water

SEATTLE -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it will help fund Washington’s $22 million plan for key drinking water projects and $253.5 million plan to improve wastewater infrastructure. 

 

In addition to this round of funding, Congress recently passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act /Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which will inject another $152 million into Washington’s two State Revolving Fund programs in 2022.

 

“Clean and safe water is a basic right, but at the same time something we can’t take for granted” said EPA Region 10’s Water Division Director Dan Opalski. “EPA is proud to invest along with our state partners in these projects that will benefit the health of Washington’s communities.”

 

The EPA’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program provides below-market rate loans for the construction of drinking water treatment facilities and other projects and activities vital to ensuring the delivery of clean and safe drinking water at the tap. The loans help communities keep water rates more affordable while addressing local water infrastructure challenges. Similarly, the Clean Water State Revolving Fund helps states fund large wastewater and other water quality projects.

 

Some of the projects to be funded in the state’s 2021-2022 drinking water plan include:

 

• $2,455,000 to the Kitsap Public Utility District #1 to fund the consolidation of the Bill Point water system and address aging infrastructure. 
• $2,012,546 to the city of Omak to install arsenic treatment at the Julia Maley Park Well.  The treatment will also remove high levels of iron.
• $5,050,000 to Skagit County Public Utility District #1 to help fund the Judy Reservoir to Mount Vernon Transmission Line, Phase II project.  This project will replace the five-mile-long primary transmission main that is undersized and failing.  
• $1,234,500 to The Kiona West Heights Association to replace the community’s only well.  The project includes drilling a new well, constructing a new well house, and installing chlorination.  The community qualifies for disadvantaged assistance, so half of the loan amount will be forgiven.  

 

The state’s list of wastewater projects to be funded include:

 

• $3,126,183 to City of Brewster for infrastructure within the collection system and at the wastewater treatment plant that are not operating with reliability. The community qualifies for disadvantaged assistance.
• $1024,090 to Chelan County Public Utilities District for improvements to the Dryden wastewater treatment facility. The improvements will benefit the Wenatchee river. The community qualifies for disadvantaged assistance.
• $424,250 to the city of Harrington for modification of the city of Harrington wastewater plant. The modifications will eliminate leaks from treatment lagoons, prevent nearby water contamination, eliminate the odors from sludge, and reduce operation costs. The community qualifies for disadvantaged assistance.
• $9,004,053 to the city of Stevenson Public Works for two projects. The first is upgrades and expansion of the wastewater treatment plant and pump stations. The second is an addition of approximately 900 linear feet of the collection system. The community qualifies for disadvantaged assistance.
• $242,666 to Yakima County Public Services Department for Buena wastewater treatment facility improvements. The project will upgrade the wastewater treatment facility and provide hardware to improve facility monitoring and reliability. The community qualifies for disadvantaged assistance.

 

The sources of funding for projects on Washington’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Intended Use Plan include a $24.5 million grant from EPA (of which $7.6 million will be used for non-project related activities), and $4.9 million in state matching funds.  

 

Similarly, the sources of funding for Washington’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund Intended Use Plan include a $27.6 million grant from EPA, $5.5 million in state matching funds, along with $86.5 million in interest earnings and repayments from previous CWSRF loans.

 

A full list of Washington’s DWSRF projects to be funded can be found at: 

https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/4200/IUP%20EPA%20Year%2025%20Final.pdf

 

A full list of Washington’s CWSRF projects to be funded can be found at: 

https://apps.ecology.wa.gov/publications/SummaryPages/2110025.html 

 

For more information about EPA’s State Revolving Fund Programs go to: 

https://www.epa.gov/dwsrf

https://www.epa.gov/cwsrf

 EPA Press Office:

EPA grants $32 million to Oregon for drinking water, wastewater infrastructure improvements

State estimates $70 million for wastewater, $70 million for drinking water projects

SEATTLE -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it will help fund Oregon’s $70 million plan for key drinking water projects and $70 million plan to improve wastewater infrastructure.

 

In addition to this round of funding, Congress recently passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act /Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which will inject another $92 million into Oregon’s two State Revolving Fund programs in 2022.

 

“Clean and safe water is a basic right, but at the same time something we can’t take for granted” said EPA Region 10’s Water Division Director Dan Opalski. “EPA is proud to invest along with our state partners in these projects that will benefit the health of Oregon’s communities.”

 

The EPA’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program provides below-market rate loans for the construction of drinking water treatment facilities and other projects and activities vital to ensuring the delivery of clean and safe drinking water at the tap. The loans help communities keep water rates more affordable while addressing local water infrastructure challenges. Similarly, the Clean Water State Revolving Fund helps states fund large wastewater and other water quality projects.

 

Some of the projects to be funded in the state’s 2021-2022 drinking water plan include:

• $20,000 for the Round Lake Mobile Home Park feasibility study. This project will identify solutions for water system improvements as well as evaluate the adequacy of long-term water supply for this water system.
• $19,587 to the city of Gates to replace outdated monitoring equipment and alleviate drinking water quality concerns. Gates will also receive $30,000 from Oregon’s DWSRF Drinking Water Source Protection Fund (DWSPF).  These funds will be used to install temporary monitoring equipment, collect samples, and then analyze and share the data to gain a better understanding of post fire impacts on sources of drinking water.  
• $100,000 to the Rhododendron Water Association for the purchase of a Riparian Management Area and conservation easement on privately owned timber land to protect the system’s drinking water intake from clear-cut logging activity that could have created water quality issues.  
• $862,145 to Crescent Water Supply and Improvement District will be used for water master planning and well construction.  
• $1,660,761 to Christmas Valley Domestic Water Supply District for distribution system improvements. The project will result in replacement of approximately three miles of distribution piping to help address water loss due to aging steel distribution pipe failure.   

The state’s list of wastewater projects to be funded include:

• $30,056,061 to the city of Sweet Home to help the wastewater treatment plant achieve Clean Water Act compliance. The city of Sweet Home project affects a disadvantaged community. 
• $1,2500,000 to the city of Bend to address city climate action goals through a collections system master plan update.
• $2,000,000 to the Lone Pine Irrigation District for modernization of the of the irrigation system. The Lone Pine Irrigation District qualifies as a disadvantaged community.
• $2,313,231 to the city of Madras to a wastewater collection expansion, allowing residences currently on septic to connect to the city sewer. The city of Madras qualifies as a disadvantaged community. 

 

The sources of funding for Oregon’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Intended Use Plan include a $14.4 million grant from EPA, $2.8 million in state matching funds, along with $58 million in interest earnings and repayments from previous DWSRF loans.  

 

Similarly, the sources of funding for Oregon’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund Intended Use Plan include a $17.9 million grant from EPA, $3.6 million in state matching funds, along with $52.5 million in interest earnings and repayments from previous CWSRF loans.

 

A full list of Oregon’s DWSRF projects to be funded can be found at: 

https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/HEALTHYENVIRONMENTS/DRINKINGWATER/SRF/Documents/IUP-PN.pdf

 

A full list of Oregon’s CWSRF projects to be funded can be found at: 

Proposed Intended Use Plan State Fiscal Year 2018 (oregon.gov)

 

For more information about EPA’s State Revolving Fund Programs go to: 

https://www.epa.gov/dwsrf

https://www.epa.gov/cwsrf

 EPA Press Release:

New EPA Tool Provides the Public with Customized Updates on Local Enforcement and Compliance Activities

WASHINGTON (March 22, 2022) – Today, EPA announced the release of a new web tool, called “ECHO Notify,” that empowers members of the public to stay informed about important environmental enforcement and compliance activities in their communities.  Through ECHO Notify, users can signup to receive weekly emails when new information is available within the selected geographic area, such as when a violation or enforcement action has taken place at a nearby facility. 

“EPA is committed to empowering communities with the information they need to understand and make informed decisions about their health and the environment,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan.  “We’ve also seen that increased transparency leads to stronger deterrence of environmental violations. As more people play an active role in protecting their neighborhoods from pollution, EPA has developed ECHO Notify so that finding updates on environmental enforcement and compliance activities is as easy as checking your email.”

ECHO Notify provides information on all EPA enforcement and compliance activities as well as activities of state and local governments under the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and the Safe Drinking Water Act.  

You can find ECHO Notify on EPA’s website at ECHO Notify, as shown below. 

 

This is a screenshot of ECHO Notify on EPA's website. 

 

 

Visitors to the ECHO Notify homepage who wish to receive email updates only need to take a few simple steps: 

• Create an account, if you don’t have one already;
• Select a geographic area and/or facility ID(s);
• Choose the type of compliance and enforcement information of interest;
• Enter an email address; and
• Click “subscribe.”

Once subscribed, the user will receive an automated email (typically on Sunday) containing new information from the prior weeklong period. If no new information is available, no email will be sent. Email notifications include links for users to view additional information on ECHO, including a link to each facility’s Detailed Facility Report. Users can easily update their notification selections or unsubscribe at any time.

EPA has prepared a video that provides an overview of ECHO Notify and explains how to use it.  The video can be seen here, ECHO Tutorial: Intro to ECHO Notify

 

 

For further information: EPA Press Office, press@epa.gov

New interactive tool details investments made in communities across the country.

 EPA News Release:

EPA WIFIA Annual Report Celebrates over $5 Billion in Water Infrastructure Loans

New interactive tool details investments made in communities across the country.

WASHINGTON (March 24, 2022) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the 2021 Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) Annual Report. The report highlights the program’s 2021 investments in water infrastructure to protect public health and the environment, create good-paying jobs, and save communities money over alternative financing options.

“The WIFIA program has been an incredible success, providing more than $5 billion in water infrastructure funding in 2021 to save communities $1.5 billion while creating nearly 40,000 jobs,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “The WIFIA program, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the agency’s other water infrastructure funding programs are building a better America by securing clean and safe water for all.”

In 2021, the WIFIA program closed 31 loans totaling over $5 billion to support nearly $12 billion in water infrastructure projects. At the same time, borrowers saved $1.5 billion and created nearly 40,000 jobs. The WIFIA program continues to broaden its reach by increasing the number of loans to borrowers with lower-rated credit, small communities, and underserved communities. Looking forward, the program has nearly 90 projects requesting over $14 billion in funding.

Additionally, to provide real time information about the WIFIA program, EPA is launching the WIFIA Fund Facts dashboard. This interactive web-based tool includes graphics and facts about closed and pending loans. Users can filter the data to get information by loan size, project type, geographic location, and loan status.

For more information about the WIFIA program, visit: WIFIA.

To access the WIFIA Fund Facts dashboard, visit: WIFIA Fund Facts Dashboard.

Background 

Established by the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014, the WIFIA program is a federal loan and guarantee program administered by EPA. WIFIA’s aim is to accelerate investment in the nation’s water infrastructure by providing long-term, low-cost supplemental credit assistance for regionally and nationally significant projects. Since inception, EPA has closed 72 WIFIA loans that are investing approximately $13.3 billion in communities across the country to protect public health and the environment while creating over 81,000 jobs.

The WIFIA program has an active pipeline of pending applications for projects that will result in billions of dollars in water infrastructure investment and thousands of jobs.

 EPA News Release:

EPA Issues Emergency Orders to Four Mobile Home Parks in Thermal, Calif., to Ensure Drinking Water is Safe

THERMAL (March. 22, 2022) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued emergency orders under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) to four mobile home park water systems, requiring the mobile home park owners to comply with federal drinking water safety requirements and to identify and correct problems with their drinking water systems that present a danger to residents. The mobile home parks -- Arellano Mobile Home Park, Castro Ranch, Gonzalez Mobile Home Park, and Sandoval Mobile Home Park -- are all located on the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians’ Reservation in California.  None of the water systems were previously registered with EPA and will now be required to comply with SDWA regulations.

"These emergency orders support EPA’s larger effort in the Eastern Coachella Valley to ensure all drinking water systems comply with SDWA and provide safe drinking water,” said Martha Guzman, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. “Mobile home park owners and all levels of government must protect the health of residents and comply with federal law.”

Today’s announcement applies to four separate water systems, which EPA inspected and sampled in November 2021. The systems' current source of drinking water is groundwater that has naturally occurring arsenic. Arsenic is a known carcinogen and drinking high levels over many years can increase the chance of lung, bladder, and skin cancers, as well as heart disease, diabetes, and neurological damage. The regulatory Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for arsenic in drinking water is 10 parts per billion (ppb).

Based on the sample results, all the systems are currently serving water that exceed the arsenic MCL:

Arellano Mobile Home Park: The system serves approximately 26 residents and has arsenic levels ranging from 14 ppb to 16 ppb. 

Castro Ranch: The system serves approximately 40 residents and has arsenic levels ranging from 18 ppb to 19 ppb. 

Gonzalez Mobile Home Park: The system serves approximately 40 residents and has arsenic levels ranging from 28 ppb to 29 ppb.

Sandoval Mobile Home Park: The water system serves approximately 37 residents and has arsenic levels ranging from 15 ppb to 17 ppb.

Under the terms of EPA’s emergency orders, the owners of Arellano Mobile Home Park, Castro Ranch, Gonzalez Mobile Home Park, and Sandoval Mobile Home Park are required to:

• provide at least one gallon of drinking water per person per day at no cost for every individual served by the system;
• submit and implement an EPA-approved compliance plan to reduce arsenic below the MCL; and
• properly monitor the systems’ water and report findings to EPA.

 

EPA will continue to oversee the systems’ efforts to follow SDWA requirements and may levy civil penalties if the park owners fail to meet the compliance provisions in the emergency orders.

The Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians have no direct control or ownership of the water systems. EPA works closely with the Tribe and has consulted their leadership about the violations.

For more information on EPA's drinking water program, please visit: https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water.

 EPA Press Office:

New EPA Tool Provides the Public with Customized Updates on Local Enforcement and Compliance Activities

WASHINGTON (March 22, 2022) – Today, EPA announced the release of a new web tool, called “ECHO Notify,” that empowers members of the public to stay informed about important environmental enforcement and compliance activities in their communities.  Through ECHO Notify, users can signup to receive weekly emails when new information is available within the selected geographic area, such as when a violation or enforcement action has taken place at a nearby facility. 

“EPA is committed to empowering communities with the information they need to understand and make informed decisions about their health and the environment,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan.  “We’ve also seen that increased transparency leads to stronger deterrence of environmental violations. As more people play an active role in protecting their neighborhoods from pollution, EPA has developed ECHO Notify so that finding updates on environmental enforcement and compliance activities is as easy as checking your email.”

ECHO Notify provides information on all EPA enforcement and compliance activities as well as activities of state and local governments under the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and the Safe Drinking Water Act.  

You can find ECHO Notify on EPA’s website at ECHO Notify, as shown below. 

Visitors to the ECHO Notify homepage who wish to receive email updates only need to take a few simple steps: 

• Create an account, if you don’t have one already;
• Select a geographic area and/or facility ID(s);
• Choose the type of compliance and enforcement information of interest;
• Enter an email address; and
• Click “subscribe.”

Once subscribed, the user will receive an automated email (typically on Sunday) containing new information from the prior weeklong period. If no new information is available, no email will be sent. Email notifications include links for users to view additional information on ECHO, including a link to each facility’s Detailed Facility Report. Users can easily update their notification selections or unsubscribe at any time.

EPA has prepared a video that provides an overview of ECHO Notify and explains how to use it.  The video can be seen here, ECHO Tutorial: Intro to ECHO NotifyEXITEXIT EPA WEBSITE.

 EPA Press Office:

Statement by EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan on National Agriculture Day

WASHINGTON (March 22, 2022) — In celebration of National Agriculture Day, EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan issued the following statement:

“The contributions of America’s farmers and ranchers to our economy, our national security and our daily lives are truly indispensable. Despite the increasing impacts of climate change, supply chain disruptions from the pandemic, and recent volatility in markets, our agricultural producers work tirelessly to put food on our tables. I am so grateful for those who wake up every day to ensure our country and the world has an abundant supply of food, feed, fuel, and fiber and I look forward to our continued partnership with the agricultural community to strengthen the productivity and resilience of our system while delivering on our mission to protect human health and the environment.

In support of this mission, I am pleased to announce that EPA has recently rechartered the Agency’s Farm, Ranch & Rural Communities Advisory Committee, which provides independent advice and recommendations on environmental issues important to our agriculture and rural communities. America’s farmers and ranchers find themselves on the front lines of the climate crisis, facing increasing impacts from extreme weather events like severe storms, widespread flooding, prolonged drought, and more frequent wildfires. That’s why today, I am issuing a new charge topic for the FRRCC to evaluate the Agency’s policies and programs at the intersection of agriculture and climate change. For the next two years, I am asking the committee to consider how EPA’s tools and programs can best advance the U.S. agriculture sector’s climate mitigation and adaptation goals, ensuring EPA can support farmers and ranchers in their efforts to reduce emissions and accelerate a more resilient food and agriculture system.”

For more information on EPA’s partnership with the agricultural community, click here.

 EPA Press Office:

EPA Seeks More Information from New Owners of Refinery on St. Croix to Determine Possible Permitting Requirements

Contact: Elias Rodriguez, (212) 637-3664, rodriguez.elias@epa.gov

NEW YORK (March 22, 2022) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today sent a letter to West Indies Petroleum Limited (WIPL) and Port Hamilton Refining and Transportation, LLLP (PHRT) – the new owners of the former Limetree Bay refinery on St. Croix – informing them that, based on the information currently available to EPA, there are strong indicators to suggest that the refinery must obtain a Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permit prior to any potential startup of refinery operations.

In the letter, EPA asks for additional information regarding past and future changes to processes and emission units at the refinery. The information will enable the Agency to evaluate this issue further, before making a final determination regarding the need for a PSD permit.

“As EPA continues to obtain additional information to reach a final decision on the need for this particular permit, we remain committed to ensuring that any potential restart of this facility would occur safely and in accordance with environmental laws,” said Lisa F. Garcia, EPA Regional Administrator. “Given the concerning incidents at this facility that previously endangered the health of the people who live and work in surrounding communities, we will carefully review the information we receive and any new plans before determining our next steps in the permitting process.”

A PSD permit applies to new major air pollution sources or major modifications at existing sources that result in an increase of certain pollutant emissions (for example, particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, or nitrogen oxide) where the area in which the source is located attains or meets EPA’s national air quality health standards. In its letter, EPA poses a series of questions to the new owners, seeking answers that will help determine whether the refinery needs to obtain a PSD permit. 

The purpose of the PSD permit program is to protect public health and welfare and ensure that new air pollution sources or changes at existing air pollution sources do not degrade air quality. PSD permits are complex and specific to a given facility. In general, they require the facility to meet emissions limits that would be achieved by using the best available air pollution control technology and perform an air quality impact analysis, with an opportunity for public review and comment. If such a permit is required for the refinery on St. Croix, it must be obtained prior to startup of that facility.

In May 2021, EPA ordered the owners at the time, Limetree Bay Refining, LLC and Limetree Bay Terminals, LLC, to stop refinery operations following a series of excess emissions incidents that included exceedances of limits for sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide, endangering the health and welfare of nearby communities. In response to these incidents, EPA ordered the refinery to pause all operations until the agency could be assured that this facility can operate safely and in accordance with laws that protect public health.

EPA’s letter to West Indies Petroleum Limited and Port Hamilton Refining and Transportation, LLLP is available at: https://www.epa.gov/vi/refinery-st-croix-us-virgin-islands

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

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