EPA Press Office:

Biden-Harris Administration Proposes to Strengthen the Lead and Copper Rule to Protect All Communities in America from Lead in Drinking Water

EPA proposal would accelerate progress toward achieving President Biden’s goal of removing 100% of lead pipes

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposal to strengthen its Lead and Copper Rule that would require water systems across the country to replace lead service lines within 10 years. EPA is also proposing additional improvements to protect public health, such as lowering the lead action level and improving sampling protocols utilized by water systems. Today’s proposed action significantly advances President Biden’s commitment to remove every lead service line in America to protect children and vulnerable populations from the negative impacts of lead in drinking water, particularly those living in disadvantaged communities.

The Biden-Harris Administration is using every tool available to help communities and water systems Get the Lead Out—including investing a historic $15 billion through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to replace lead service lines, providing technical assistance to communities, and supporting the development of a national inventory of lead service lines. The Lead and Copper Rule Improvements are central to the whole of government approach detailed in the Administration’s Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan.

“Lead in drinking water is a generational public health issue, and EPA’s proposal will accelerate progress towards President Biden’s goal of replacing every lead pipe across America once and for all,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “With collaboration and the focused actions proposed today, EPA is delivering on our charge to protect all Americans, especially communities of color, that are disproportionately harmed by lead in drinking water systems.”

“EPA’s proposed Lead and Copper rule is grounded in the best available science and successful practices utilized by drinking water systems to protect children and adults from lead in drinking water,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox. “Cities like Newark, NJ, Benton Harbor, MI, and Green Bay, WI have all successfully gotten the lead out of their water systems. Our proposed rule applies the lessons learned to scale these successes to every corner of the country,”

The science is clear: there is no safe level of lead exposure. In children, it can severely harm mental and physical development—slowing down learning and damaging the brain. In adults, lead can cause increased blood pressure, heart disease, decreased kidney function, and cancer.

The proposed Lead and Copper Rule Improvements are a major advancement in protecting children and adults from these significant, and irreversible, health effects from lead in drinking water. Key provisions in the proposal include:

• Achieving 100% Lead Pipe Replacement within 10 years.
• Locating legacy lead pipes.
• Improving tap sampling.
• Lowering the Lead Action Level.
• Strengthening protections to reduce exposure.

The proposal would also require water systems to communicate more frequently and proactively with consumers about lead service lines and the system’s plans for replacing the lines.

“President Biden and Vice President Harris believe that everyone should be able to turn on the tap and know that the glass of water they pour is safe to drink,” said White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory. “Today’s announcement from EPA represents a major advancement in protecting children and families from lead and builds on our actions across the government to help achieve President Biden and Vice President Harris’s vision of removing all lead pipes across the country.”

“President Biden and Vice President Harris believe that no family, no child, no American should have to worry about lead exposure – from the water they drink or air they breathe,” said Assistant to the President and White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi. “That’s why the President and Vice President have made replacing every lead pipe in America a centerpiece of their agenda, mobilizing tens of billions of dollars of investment and putting the full throw-weight of the federal government behind this push. EPA’s latest action bolsters this historic effort and implements a key element of the Biden-Harris Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan – more than 10 agencies stepping forward with dozens of bold actions to take on and tackle this public health crisis and this staggering source of environmental injustice.”

“Here in Newark, New Jersey, our community persevered through a lead crisis and I’m proud of the work we did removing all 23,000 lead pipes in the city in under three years,” said Kareem Adeem, Director of the Newark Department of Water and Sewer Utilities. “EPA’s new proposed rule will prompt more communities across the country to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water. This action is commendable and represents a positive step forward toward safeguarding the health and well-being of current and future generations.”

“A game changer for kids and communities, EPA's proposed new lead and copper rule would help ensure that we will never again see the preventable tragedy of a city, or a child, poisoned by their pipes,” said Mona Hanna-Attisha, Flint, Michigan pediatrician and Associate Dean for Public Health at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. I am thrilled that this rule centers our children and their potential - and listens to parents and pediatricians who have been advocating for this for decades.”

Once the proposed rule is published in the Federal Register, EPA will accept comments for 60 days. The agency will also hold a virtual public hearing on January 16, 2024, at which time the public will be invited to provide EPA with verbal comments. For more information about the proposed rule, including a pre-publication version of the proposal, fact sheets, and directions for submitting comment and registering for the public hearing, visit the proposed rule webpage.

Background

EPA is taking a comprehensive approach to getting the lead out, including:

• Regulatory Framework. EPA’s proposed Lead and Copper Rule Improvements follow the science and EPA’s authority under the Safe Drinking Water Act to strengthen regulatory requirements to address lead in drinking water.
• Funding. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $50 billion to support upgrades to the nation’s drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. This includes $15 billion dedicated to lead service line replacement and $11.7 billion of general Drinking Water State Revolving Funds that can also be used for lead service line replacement. To date, EPA has awarded over $3.5 billion in funding for lead service line replacement across the country.   
• Technical Assistance. EPA’s water technical assistance (WaterTA), including the recently launched Get the Lead Out Initiative which will partner with 200 underserved communities nationwide, helps communities identify lead services lines, develop replacement plans, and apply for funding to get the lead out.
• Practical Implementation Tools. Through training, tools, webinars, and case studies, EPA provides support to drinking water systems to reduce lead exposure.

Contact Information
U.S. EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov)

 EPA Press Office:

EPA Region 3 Awards Over $77M for Clean Water and Drinking Water Infrastructure Upgrades in Delaware

Made possible by President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda, new funding will help ensure communities have access to clean waterways and safe drinking water

PHILADELPHIA (November 30, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded Delaware $77,341,000 to support clean water efforts and to better deliver safe drinking water across the state. Most of this funding, $68,621,000, came from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) which is the largest federal investment in water infrastructure in our nation’s history. This BIL funding will supplement the $8,720,000 in FY 23 funding appropriated to Delaware’s Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (SRFs).

“These awards show that EPA is not just a regulator – but is a funder and partner,” said EPA’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law ensures communities most in need and those grappling with emerging contaminants such as PFAS have access to funding that will deliver cleaner and safer water for generations to come.”

“As the single-largest water infrastructure investment in our nation’s history, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is helping deliver clean water access in Delaware,” said U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. “When crafting this law, we had projects in mind that were woefully in need of repair, including connecting, repairing, and replacing old sewer and water lines in New Castle, Kent, and Sussex Counties that local governments cannot afford to do on their own. Today’s infrastructure investment will not only help make Delaware more attractive to businesses but will also help us protect our waterways and natural beauty that make Delaware a great place to live and raise a family.”

“Clean water is a necessity for healthy, functional societies, and thanks to President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Delawareans can be confident they’ll always have access to this fundamental need,” said U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.). “I fought so hard as a key negotiator for the BIL because I knew this historic funding would provide so many Delawareans peace of mind when they turned on their taps.”

“One of the most fundamental responsibilities of government is to ensure access to clean water – a top priority of mine since coming to Congress,” said U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) “I’m proud to join the Biden Administration and Senators Carper and Coons in announcing this transformational funding for Delaware, made possible through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, that will strengthen the First State’s ability to deliver on our shared commitment to providing safe and clean water to our communities.”

EPA awards grants to states annually to capitalize the State Revolving Funds (SRFs) which provide low or no interest loans for water infrastructure projects. Delaware will use this money to help communities across the state fund necessary water projects that some borrowers may not have been able to afford otherwise.

“Every Delawarean deserves access to clean water,” said Josette Manning, Cabinet Secretary of the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, which oversees the state’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. “We are grateful for these investments under President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to deliver safe drinking water across our state. We look forward to working on upgrades to Delaware’s water infrastructure with the municipalities and water companies who completed the application process for these funds through the Division of Public Health.”

“The BIL and base SRF funding from EPA will spur along Delaware’s initiative to provide sewer capabilities and drinking water to communities in need,” said the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “These projects – which were already submitted and approved through our State Revolving Fund process – also signify environmental benefits by helping clean up our rivers, streams and bays in Delaware. It’s much-needed funding that will be directed in large portion to our state’s municipalities, counties and low-income and underserved communities.”

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law delivers more than $50 billion to EPA to improve our nation’s drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure - the single largest investment in water that the federal government has ever made. Learn more  about the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

For more information on intended projects for the Clean Water SRF funding in Delaware, please visit:  https://dnrec.delaware.gov/environmental-finance/revolving-fund/.

For more on the Drinking Water SRF funding in Delaware, please visit: https://dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dph/hsp/dwsrfintendeduseplans.html.

For further information: r3press@epa.gov

 EPA Press Office:

Biden-Harris Administration Proposes to Strengthen the Lead and Copper Rule to Protect All Communities in America from Lead in Drinking Water

EPA proposal would accelerate progress toward achieving President Biden’s goal of removing 100% of lead pipes

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposal to strengthen its Lead and Copper Rule that would require water systems across the country to replace lead service lines within 10 years. EPA is also proposing additional improvements to protect public health, such as lowering the lead action level and improving sampling protocols utilized by water systems. Today’s proposed action significantly advances President Biden’s commitment to remove every lead service line in America to protect children and vulnerable populations from the negative impacts of lead in drinking water, particularly those living in disadvantaged communities.

The Biden-Harris Administration is using every tool available to help communities and water systems Get the Lead Out—including investing a historic $15 billion through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to replace lead service lines, providing technical assistance to communities, and supporting the development of a national inventory of lead service lines. The Lead and Copper Rule Improvements are central to the whole of government approach detailed in the Administration’s Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan.

“Lead in drinking water is a generational public health issue, and EPA’s proposal will accelerate progress towards President Biden’s goal of replacing every lead pipe across America once and for all,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “With collaboration and the focused actions proposed today, EPA is delivering on our charge to protect all Americans, especially communities of color, that are disproportionately harmed by lead in drinking water systems.”

“EPA’s proposed Lead and Copper rule is grounded in the best available science and successful practices utilized by drinking water systems to protect children and adults from lead in drinking water,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox. “Cities like Newark, NJ, Benton Harbor, MI, and Green Bay, WI have all successfully gotten the lead out of their water systems. Our proposed rule applies the lessons learned to scale these successes to every corner of the country,”

The science is clear: there is no safe level of lead exposure. In children, it can severely harm mental and physical development—slowing down learning and damaging the brain. In adults, lead can cause increased blood pressure, heart disease, decreased kidney function, and cancer.

The proposed Lead and Copper Rule Improvements are a major advancement in protecting children and adults from these significant, and irreversible, health effects from lead in drinking water. Key provisions in the proposal include:

• Achieving 100% Lead Pipe Replacement within 10 years.
• Locating legacy lead pipes.
• Improving tap sampling.
• Lowering the Lead Action Level.
• Strengthening protections to reduce exposure.

The proposal would also require water systems to communicate more frequently and proactively with consumers about lead service lines and the system’s plans for replacing the lines.

“President Biden and Vice President Harris believe that everyone should be able to turn on the tap and know that the glass of water they pour is safe to drink,” said White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory. “Today’s announcement from EPA represents a major advancement in protecting children and families from lead and builds on our actions across the government to help achieve President Biden and Vice President Harris’s vision of removing all lead pipes across the country.”

“President Biden and Vice President Harris believe that no family, no child, no American should have to worry about lead exposure – from the water they drink or air they breathe,” said Assistant to the President and White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi. “That’s why the President and Vice President have made replacing every lead pipe in America a centerpiece of their agenda, mobilizing tens of billions of dollars of investment and putting the full throw-weight of the federal government behind this push. EPA’s latest action bolsters this historic effort and implements a key element of the Biden-Harris Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan – more than 10 agencies stepping forward with dozens of bold actions to take on and tackle this public health crisis and this staggering source of environmental injustice.”

“Here in Newark, New Jersey, our community persevered through a lead crisis and I’m proud of the work we did removing all 23,000 lead pipes in the city in under three years,” said Kareem Adeem, Director of the Newark Department of Water and Sewer Utilities. “EPA’s new proposed rule will prompt more communities across the country to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water. This action is commendable and represents a positive step forward toward safeguarding the health and well-being of current and future generations.”

“A game changer for kids and communities, EPA's proposed new lead and copper rule would help ensure that we will never again see the preventable tragedy of a city, or a child, poisoned by their pipes,” said Mona Hanna-Attisha, Flint, Michigan pediatrician and Associate Dean for Public Health at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. I am thrilled that this rule centers our children and their potential - and listens to parents and pediatricians who have been advocating for this for decades.”

Once the proposed rule is published in the Federal Register, EPA will accept comments for 60 days. The agency will also hold a virtual public hearing on January 16, 2024, at which time the public will be invited to provide EPA with verbal comments. For more information about the proposed rule, including a pre-publication version of the proposal, fact sheets, and directions for submitting comment and registering for the public hearing, visit the proposed rule webpage.

Background

EPA is taking a comprehensive approach to getting the lead out, including:

• Regulatory Framework. EPA’s proposed Lead and Copper Rule Improvements follow the science and EPA’s authority under the Safe Drinking Water Act to strengthen regulatory requirements to address lead in drinking water.
• Funding. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $50 billion to support upgrades to the nation’s drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. This includes $15 billion dedicated to lead service line replacement and $11.7 billion of general Drinking Water State Revolving Funds that can also be used for lead service line replacement. To date, EPA has awarded over $3.5 billion in funding for lead service line replacement across the country.   
• Technical Assistance. EPA’s water technical assistance (WaterTA), including the recently launched Get the Lead Out Initiative which will partner with 200 underserved communities nationwide, helps communities identify lead services lines, develop replacement plans, and apply for funding to get the lead out.
• Practical Implementation Tools. Through training, tools, webinars, and case studies, EPA provides support to drinking water systems to reduce lead exposure.

For further information: U.S. EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov)

 EPA Press Office:

EPA Region 3 Awards Nearly $387M for Clean Water and Drinking Water Infrastructure Upgrades in Pennsylvania

Made possible by President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda, new funding will help ensure communities have access to clean waterways and safe drinking water

 

PHILADELPHIA (November 29, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded Pennsylvania $386,932,000 to support clean water efforts and to better deliver safe drinking water across the state. Most of this funding, $340,612,000, came from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) which is the largest federal investment in water infrastructure in our nation’s history. This BIL funding will supplement the $46,320,000 in FY 2023 funding appropriated to Pennsylvania’s Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (SRFs).  

 

“These awards show that EPA is not just a regulator – but is a funder and partner,” said EPA’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law ensures communities most in need and those grappling with emerging contaminants such as PFAS have access to funding that will deliver cleaner and safer water for generations to come.” 

 

EPA awards grants to states annually to capitalize the State Revolving Funds (SRFs) which provide low or no interest loans for water infrastructure projects. Pennsylvania will use this money to help communities across the state fund necessary water projects that some borrowers may not have been able to afford otherwise.  

 

“Pennsylvania’s water will always be a top priority for the PA Department of Environmental Protection,” said DEP Interim Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley.  “This funding will support infrastructure projects that enhance clean water efforts across the state, further providing recreation opportunities and protecting drinking water.” 

 

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law delivers more than $50 billion to EPA to improve our nation’s drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure - the single largest investment in water that the federal government has ever made. Learn more about the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.  

 

For more information on intended projects for this funding in Pennsylvania, please visit:  https://www.dep.pa.gov/Business/Water/CleanWater/InfrastructureFinance/Pages/State-Revolving-Fund.aspx.  

 EPA Press Office:

EPA Begins to Demolish Manufacturing Facility at the Allen Street Development Site in Jamestown, New York

NEW YORK (November 27, 2023) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that it has started to demolish the former Crawford Furniture manufacturing facility at the Allen Street Development site in Jamestown, New York. The manufacturing facility was destroyed by a fire in November 2022. EPA will demolish what remains of the structures and remove asbestos-containing debris from the site.

"For over a year, the EPA has been working closely with the City of Jamestown to address the serious environmental and public health risks at 1061 Allen Street," said Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. "EPA will continue to take action to safely demolish and remove the asbestos-laden debris that remains on the site. Once the site is cleaned up and safe, EPA will support efforts by Jamestown to redevelop the site for the benefit of the community."

“The old Crawford Furniture Factory was once a beating heart for Jamestown’s economy, but for too long, this crumbling building sat as an eyesore, and as last year’s fire showed, its continued presence would only put our public health and environment at risk. That is why I personally came to Jamestown to push the EPA to demolish this dangerous site, and why I am proud to announce that cleanup begins today for Jamestown” said Senator Chuck Schumer, Majority Leader of the United States Senate. “This federal cleanup is a win-win-win: knocking down the crumbling walls which were devastated by the fire, removing toxic contaminants like asbestos from our community, all while taking the burden off our local taxpayers in Jamestown. The EPA has been a tremendous partner and I thank them for their dedicated work to knock down this deteriorating building so that it can be transformed into a place of new opportunity. It is critical to return these marred sites of the past into productive workplaces that will shape the economic future, and I will continue to fight to deliver the resources needed to breathe new life into Jamestown’s manufacturing legacy for the next generation.”

The Allen Street Development site was once a furniture manufacturing facility that went bankrupt in March 2012. Allen Street Development, LLC bought the property and used part of it to store airplane parts and other items for potential resale. The company also leased some of the space to other tenants over the years. However, the facility was not well maintained, and some areas had begun to collapse before the fire in 2022. EPA became involved with the site in June 2021 after receiving a request from the City of Jamestown to assess the deteriorating facility for the presence of hazardous substances.

During the demolition activities, expected to begin this week, EPA will evaluate and properly dispose of hazardous substances and have them shipped to regulated landfill and disposal facilities. EPA will monitor the air quality at the site and surrounding neighborhood during demolition to ensure that the public and workers are safe during all demolition activities.

Visit the Allen Street Development site response page for additional background and future updates.

Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter now known as X and visit our Facebook page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.

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For further information: Contact: Michael Basile, basile.michael@epa.gov, 646-369-0055

 EPA Press Office:

Biden-Harris Administration Announces $2 Billion to Fund Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants as Part of Investing in America Agenda

EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights announces the largest single investment in environmental justice in history, funded by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act

WASHINGTON — Today, the Biden-Harris administration announced approximately $2 billion in funding available to support community-driven projects that deploy clean energy, strengthen climate resilience, and build capacity for communities to tackle environmental and climate justice challenges. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Community Change Grants are the single largest investment in environmental justice going directly to communities in history, and will advance collaborative efforts to achieve a healthier, safer, and more prosperous future for all. These funds, part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, are made possible by the President’s Inflation Reduction Act—the biggest-ever investment in clean energy and climate action.

“Throughout my Journey to Justice tour, I’ve heard from residents and advocates calling for resources to support local solutions in communities that have long been overlooked and forgotten,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Today, thanks to President Biden’s commitment to investing in communities that have long struggled to access federal funding, we are delivering on these calls to action. This historic, unprecedented funding has the promise to turn disadvantaged and overburdened areas into healthy, resilient, and thriving communities for current and future generations.”

“For far too long, communities that have borne the brunt of power plant and industrial pollution have been left out and left behind,” said John Podesta, Senior Advisor to the President for Clean Energy Innovation and Implementation. “The Inflation Reduction Act and President Biden’s Justice40 initiative change that by bringing new investment, clean energy, and good-paying jobs to disadvantaged communities.”

“President Biden is leading a whole-of-government effort to confront longstanding environmental injustices and inequities,” said White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory. “Thanks to this historic funding covered under the President’s Justice40 Initiative, we are investing in locally-driven solutions to make a positive difference for communities that have suffered from pollution, underinvestment, and decades of disproportionate environmental impacts. Investments like these show how we are delivering on the President’s ambitious environmental justice agenda and his commitment to build more equitable and resilient communities for generations to come.”

The Community Change Grants deliver on President Biden's historic commitment to advance equity and justice, including his Justice40 Initiative.

The Community Change Grants will deliver 100 percent of the benefits of this program to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. This program also dedicates $200 million of Inflation Reduction Act funding to provide technical assistance to applicants and grant recipients, which will enhance the ability of disadvantaged communities to access resources for environmental and climate justice activities.

The activities to be performed under the grants are expected to fall under the following categories:

• Climate resiliency and adaptation.
• Mitigating climate and health risks from urban heat islands, extreme heat, wood heater emissions, and wildfire events.
• Community-led air and other (including water and waste) pollution monitoring, prevention, and remediation.
• Investments in low- and zero-emission and resilient technologies and related infrastructure.
• Workforce development that supports the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants.
• Reducing indoor toxics and indoor air pollution.
• Facilitating the engagement of disadvantaged communities in state and federal advisory groups, workshops, rulemakings, and other public processes.

The Community Change Grants Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), administered through the Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights (OEJECR), has several unique characteristics to advance environmental and climate justice, many of which are responsive to feedback and input the agency has heard from communities. These include: 

• Rolling Applications: The NOFO will be open for a year, closing on November 21, 2024, and EPA will review applications on a rolling basis. This allows applicants to utilize technical assistance and possibly resubmit a new application if not initially selected. EPA encourages applicants to apply as early as possible.
• Two-track Submission Processes: Applications can be submitted under two separate tracks depending on the project scope and funding requested.
  • Track I, Community-Driven Investments for Change, is expected to award approximately $1.96 billion for 150 projects for $10-20 million each.
  • Track II, Meaningful Engagement for Equitable Governance, is expected to award approximately $40 million for 20 projects for $1-3 million each.
• Oral Presentations: Track I applicants may also be invited to participate in an oral presentation. These oral presentations will enable EPA reviewers to hear directly from the applicants and their partners to learn more about community priorities, desired outcomes, and plans for long-term sustainability. This new format is responsive to community requests to engage with EPA in more accessible ways.
• Target Investment Areas: Out of the $2 billion in funding, EPA has identified five Target Investment Areas (TIA) to help ensure that communities with unique circumstances, geography, and needs can equitably compete for funding. These are:
  • Tribes in Alaska: $150 million for projects benefitting Indian Tribes in Alaska including funds for cleanup of contaminated lands.
  • Tribes: $300 million for projects benefitting Tribal communities in the other states. 
  • Territories: $50 million for projects benefitting disadvantaged communities in the United States’ territories of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
  • Disadvantaged Unincorporated Communities: $50 million for projects benefitting small and rural areas that lack fixed, legally determined geographic boundaries, such as Colonias.
  • U.S.-Southern Border Communities: Consistent with EPA’s longstanding commitment to addressing transborder pollution challenges, $100 million for projects benefitting non-Tribal disadvantaged communities within 100 kilometers north of the U.S.-Mexico border.
• Technical Assistance: The $200 million for technical assistance is available in direct response to feedback from communities and environmental justice leaders who have long called for capacity building support for communities and their partners as they work to access critical federal resources. With this funding, there are two TA programs dedicated for the Community Change Grants. Applicants can learn more about, and express interest in, the technical assistance on EPA’s Community Change Grants Technical Assistance webpage.

Read the Community Change Grants NOFO.

OEJECR will also host multiple informational webinars while the NOFO is open, with the first being held on December 7, 2023. These webinars will address questions, and some may facilitate the formation of partnerships and information sharing. More information on upcoming webinars can be found on EPA’s Inflation Reduction Act Community Change Grants Program webpage.

Learn more about environmental justice at EPA

Learn more about Inflation Reduction funding at EPA

For up-to-date information about the NOFO, including information on the webinars, subscribe to the Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights’ listserv by sending a blank email to: join-epa-ej@lists.epa.gov. Follow OEJECR on X (formerly Twitter): @EPAEnvJustice

Background

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) created the Environmental and Climate Justice Program, the largest investment in environmental and climate justice in U.S. history when it was signed into law by President Biden on August 16, 2022. Under this program, EPA was provided $3 billion to award grants and fund related technical assistance to benefit disadvantaged communities. 

Earlier in 2023, EPA issued a Request for Information held a dedicated consultation with EPA’s National Environmental Justice Advisory Council, and hosted multiple webinars to gain public input on innovative strategies and approaches for competition design, community engagement, equitable distribution of financial resources, grantee eligibility for funding, capacity-building and outreach, and more. This feedback was crucial in designing key elements of the Community Change Grants and this NOFO, including the Target Investment Areas, incorporating oral presentations, the rolling application period, and more. EPA thanks everyone for their incredibly valuable time and input, which ensured the creation of a more inclusive and accessible grant program.

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

Ingredion to Spend $8 Million in Settlement Over Violations Involving Emissions of Particulate Matter at Indianapolis Corn Wet Mill

 EPA Press Office 

Ingredion to Spend $8 Million in Settlement Over Violations Involving Emissions of Particulate Matter at Indianapolis Corn Wet Mill

WASHINGTON (Nov. 22, 2023) – Plant-based ingredient maker Ingredion Incorporated today agreed to a settlement with EPA and the U.S. Department of Justice, along with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) and the Indiana Attorney General’s Office, to settle claims that it violated the Clean Air Act (CAA) at its corn wet milling facility in Indianapolis. Ingredion will pay a civil penalty of $1,139,600 and implement measures at a cost of nearly $7 million to reduce and offset unpermitted emissions of particulate matter (PM) and to comply with lower future PM limits.

A complaint filed with the consent decree states that Ingredion violated CAA permit limits on PM emissions, including inhalable PMs with a diameter of 10 microns or less, and volatile organic compounds. The complaint also states that Ingredion did not operate and monitor certain equipment as required to minimize air emissions.

“This settlement requires Ingredion to lower its emissions of particulate matter, which can cause serious health problems, and also requires Ingredion to take steps to offset the unlawful emissions it released in the past,” said Assistant Administrator David M. Uhlmann of EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “To help ensure the Company’s future compliance, Ingredion must implement a compliance management system that is subject to an independent audit program.”

“Today’s settlement will not just bring Ingredion back into compliance with the Clean Air Act, it will hold it to more stringent air pollution standards going forward,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “This settlement will result in cleaner air for the residents of Indianapolis, particularly those who live in the overburdened community near the Ingredion facility.”

“IDEM is happy to be a part of this resolution that ensures responsible operations in compliance with the Clean Air Act,” said IDEM Commissioner Brian Rockensuess. “Good air quality is a shared resource that requires partnership between government entities, the public and industry. This settlement will benefit residents in Marion County and Hoosiers across Indiana.”

PM is composed of microscopic solids or liquid droplets. It can get deep into the lungs and cause serious health problems including coughing, aggravated asthma, chronic bronchitis and premature death in people with heart or lung disease.

The settlement requires Ingredion to install and operate new equipment to meet PM limits that are lower than the plant’s current permitted limits. The company completed installation and testing of the new system in advance of today’s filing. The settlement also requires Ingredion to implement a modernized compliance management system to address repeated operation and monitoring failures at the facility and hire an independent auditor to verify the effectiveness of the system. 

Under today’s settlement, Ingredion committed to mitigating the harm associated with past excess PM emissions by paving onsite unpaved and partially paved roads and parking areas to reduce PM emissions generated by vehicle traffic, which Ingredion completed in advance of today’s filing. The company will also replace aging railway locomotives at the facility with two modern locomotives that meet emissions standards. 

As a state supplemental environmental project, the settlement requires Ingredion to contribute $560,400 to the State of Indiana to support Brownfields redevelopment in and around Marion County, Indiana.

The EPA and IDEM are investigating the case.  Attorneys from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Environmental Enforcement Section and the Indiana Attorney General’s Office are handling the case.

The consent decree, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval. The consent decree will be available for viewing on the Department of Justice proposed consent decrees website.

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

 EPA Press Office:

Biden Administration Announces $2 Billion to Fund Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants as Part of Investing in America Agenda

EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights announces the largest single amount of environmental justice funding in history thanks to President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act.

WASHINGTON (November 21, 2023) — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced approximately $2 billion in funding available to support community-driven projects that deploy clean energy, strengthen climate resilience, and build capacity for communities to tackle environmental and climate justice challenges. Made possible by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, the Community Change Grants are the single largest investment in environmental justice in EPA’s history and will advance collaborative efforts to achieve a healthier, safer, and more prosperous future for all Americans.

“Throughout my Journey to Justice tour, I’ve heard from residents and advocates calling for resources to support local solutions in communities that have long been overlooked and forgotten,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Today, thanks to President Biden’s vision and leadership, EPA is delivering on these calls to action. This historic, unprecedented funding has the promise to turn disadvantaged and overburdened areas into healthy, resilient, and thriving communities for current and future generations.”

The Community Change Grants deliver on President Biden’s commitment to advance equity and justice throughout the United States through his Justice40 initiative to ensure that 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments go to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.

The Community Change Grants Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), administered through the Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights (OEJECR), has several unique characteristics, many of which respond to requests the agency has heard from communities: 

• Rolling applications: The NOFO will be open for a year, closing on November XX, 2024, and EPA will review applications on a rolling basis. This allows applicants to utilize technical assistance and possibly resubmit a new application if not initially selected. EPA encourages applicants to apply as early as possible.
• Two track submission process: Applications can be submitted under two separate tracks depending on the project scope and funding requested.
  • Track I, Community-Driven Investments for Change, is expected to award approximately $1.96 billion for 150 projects for $10-20 million each.
  • Track II, Meaningful Engagement for Equitable Governance, is expected to award approximately $40 million for 20 projects for $1-3 million each.
• Oral presentations: Track I applicants may also be invited to present an oral presentation. These oral presentations will enable EPA reviewers to hear directly from the applicants and their partners to learn more about community priorities, desired outcomes, and plans for long-term sustainability. This new format is responsive to community requests to engage with EPA in more accessible ways.
• Target Investment Areas: Out of the $2 billion in funding, EPA has identified five Target Investment Areas (TIA) to help ensure that communities with unique circumstances, geography, and needs can equitably compete for funding.
  • This includes an estimated $150 million for projects benefitting Indian Tribes in Alaska, and an estimated $300 million for projects benefitting Tribal communities in the other states. 
  • In addition, OEJECR is estimating $50 million for projects benefitting disadvantaged communities in the United States’ territories of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands, with another estimated $50 million for projects benefitting disadvantaged unincorporated communities across the country.
  • Lastly, consistent with EPA’s longstanding commitment to addressing transborder pollution challenges, an estimated $100 million will be reserved for projects benefitting non-tribal disadvantaged communities within 100 kilometers north of the U.S.-Mexico border.
• Technical assistance: $200 million of Inflation Reduction Act funding was set aside to provide technical assistance to applicants. This technical assistance is in direct response to feedback from communities and environmental justice leaders who have long called for technical assistance and capacity building support for communities and their partners as they work to access critical federal resources. There are two TA programs dedicated for the Community Change Grants. Learn more about how to apply for technical assistance here: https://www.epa.gov/inflation-reduction-act/community-change-grants-technical-assistance.

Read the Community Change Grants NOFO here: https://www.epa.gov/inflation-reduction-act/inflation-reduction-act-community-change-grants-program.

OEJECR will also host over a dozen informational webinars while the NOFO is open, with the first being held on December 7, 2023. These webinars will address questions as well as facilitate the formation of partnerships and information sharing. More information the webinars can be found here:

To learn more about the Community Change Grants: https://www.epa.gov/inflation-reduction-act/inflation-reduction-act-community-change-grants-program

To learn more about environmental justice at EPA, visit: https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice

To learn more about IRA funding at EPA, visit: https://www.epa.gov/inflation-reduction-act  

For up-to-date information about the NOFO, including information on the webinars, subscribe to the Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights’ listserv by sending a blank email to: join-epa-ej@lists.epa.gov. Follow us on X (formerly Twitter): @EPAEnvJustice.

Background:

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) created the Environmental and Climate Justice Program, the largest investment in environmental and climate justice in U.S. history—when it was signed into law by President Biden on August 16, 2022. Under this program, EPA was provided $3 billion to award grants to help disadvantaged communities and technical assistance related to these grants. The Community Change Grants and associated technical assistance is delivering on this mission.

Earlier in 2023, EPA issued a Request for Information, held a dedicated consultation with EPA’s National Environmental Justice Advisory Council, and hosted multiple webinars to gain public input on new and innovative strategies and approaches for competition design, community engagement, equitable distribution of financial resources, grantee eligibility for funding, capacity-building and outreach, and more. This feedback was crucial in designing key elements of the Community Change Grants and this NOFO, including the Target Investment Areas, incorporating oral presentations, the rolling application period, and more. EPA thanks everyone for their incredibly valuable time and input, which ensured the creation of a more inclusive and accessible grant program.

Contact Information: EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov)

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