EPA Press Office:

Biden-Harris Administration Announces $41 million in Available Grants to Upgrade Stormwater and Sewer Infrastructure

Under President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda, EPA offers grant assistance at no cost to small and financially distressed communities

WASHINGTON – Today, May 9, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of nearly $41 million in funding through the Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grant program to help communities address stormwater and sewer infrastructure needs. Safely managing stormwater is critical to preventing contaminants, including untreated sewage, from polluting waterways. EPA’s grant funding is available to states to support projects in cities and towns that will strengthen their stormwater collection systems to be more resilient against increasingly intense rain events made worse by the climate crisis.

“Our nation’s waterways are vital to healthy communities. They provide sources of drinking water, support farming, power economic opportunity, and give us opportunities to swim and to fish. Keeping our waterways clean and safe is essential, and stormwater runoff is one of the biggest pollution challenges facing our water ecosystems,” said EPA Acting Assistant Administrator for Water Bruno Pigott. “Under President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, EPA is making grant funds available for stormwater solutions. Because it does not have to be paid back, this funding is especially effective in helping disadvantaged communities protect their waterways.”

When rain and floodwaters overrun sewer and stormwater systems, they bypass treatment and transport pollution and sewage directly into creeks, streams, and rivers. These untreated discharges threaten human health, economic prosperity, and ecological function. Stormwater management is a complex challenge for communities across the country. Through changes made by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this grant program will prioritize stormwater infrastructure projects in small and/or financially distressed and disadvantaged communities and prevent cost share requirements from being passed on to these communities.

Additional funding for stormwater and wastewater upgrades is available through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and EPA’s Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program. Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA is providing $11.7 billion to states to upgrade wastewater infrastructure through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. Additionally, the seventh round of EPA’s WIFIA financing is available—with $6.5 billion through WIFIA and $1 billion through SWIFIA. EPA is currently accepting letters of interest for WIFIA and SWIFIA, a loan program exclusively for State infrastructure financing authority borrowers. Learn more about submitting a letter of interest for a WIFIA loan.

These programs advance President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which sets a goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal climate, clean energy, affordable and sustainable housing, and other investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. 

Learn more about the Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grant program.

Background

Stormwater can be a significant source of water pollution and a public health concern. Stormwater can collect various pollutants including trash, chemicals, oils, and dirt/sediment and convey them to nearby waterways. When mixed with domestic and industrial wastewater in combined sewers, stormwater can also contribute to combined sewer overflows during heavy storm events.

EPA is working with local and state partners to leverage the resources of the federal government to meet the needs of these communities. In the past, states and communities shared a fixed portion of the costs associated with all projects funded through the Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grant program. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law changed the program so that 25% of Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grant program funds go to available projects in small and/or financially distressed communities; it also limited states’ abilities to pass on the burden of cost sharing to these communities. To encourage investment in these critical projects, EPA modified the Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grant program so that state grantees are not required to contribute cost share money for Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grant program projects located in small or financially distressed communities. However, grant portions that go to communities other than small or financially distressed communities will include a cost share requirement.

For further information: press@epa.gov

 EPA Press Office:

EPA announces $3.5M for Nampa wetlands stormwater treatment projects, community engagement

NAMPA, Idaho – Today, Environmental Protection Agency Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe announced a Columbia River Basin Restoration Program Toxics Reduction Lead Grant for $3.5 million to the City of Nampa, a project funded by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.  

The grant is for a stormwater treatment project to improve water quality, reduce toxics and protect salmon.  

“Funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is enhancing our local partnership with the City of Nampa to help restore the Columbia River Basin, protect public health, improve water quality, and support salmon threatened by harmful pollution,” said EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe. “EPA is committed to investing in innovative infrastructure to reduce toxic contaminants, improve watershed health, respect Tribal treaty rights, and ensure that the Basin can remain a vital economic engine that supports a wide range of recreational activities.” 

In partnership with regional stakeholders, the City of Nampa’s Columbia River Basin Tributaries Water Quality Improvements Project will use a free water surface wetland to capture and treat stormwater runoff. This innovative, constructed wetland will improve water quality, reduce runoff, and promote citizen engagement through the process of “Measure – Treat – Implement – Educate.”  

“EPA has been collaborating with the City of Nampa for years on stormwater management with the goal of improving water quality in the Columbia River Basin,” said EPA Region 10 Administrator Casey Sixkiller. “This grant will support our project partners as they advance innovative strategies to reduce toxics.” 

This permanent project will serve as a pilot to help determine viable treatment options for all of Canyon County through the development of a regional online repository titled “One Water, One People.” Partners include the City of Caldwell, Idaho Transportation Department and Idaho Department of Environmental Quality. 

“The City of Nampa is excited for the opportunity to utilize this ground for the Karcher Wetland Project and greatly appreciate EPA's support through Columbia River Basin grant funds,” said Nampa Mayor Debbie Kling. “This innovative project will improve water quality on Indian Creek and is another example of Nampa's good stewardship of our environmental resources." 

Treating stormwater before it reaches area waterways is essential for improving water quality and environmental health for the local community, as well as those downstream in the Columbia River Basin. This project will focus on improvements that contribute to water quality in Indian and Mason creeks in Nampa. 

Background on the Columbia River Basin 

The Columbia River Basin covers 260,000 square miles, 16 federally recognized tribes, across seven states including Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. The Basin provides benefits including commercial fisheries, agriculture, forestry, recreation, and electric power generation. Human activities have contributed toxic contaminants to the environment and throughout the Basin, fish species have accumulated contaminant levels that are harmful to people and wildlife. Toxics in fish are a primary health concern for Columbia River Basin tribal people and other high fish consumers. 

Congress amended the Clean Water Act in 2016 by adding Section 123, establishing a Columbia River Basin Restoration Program to develop a voluntary, competitive grant program for eligible entities to fund environmental protection and restoration programs throughout the Basin. In 2020, EPA awarded $2,053,903 in 14 grants throughout the Basin to tribal and state governments, municipalities, NGOs, universities, and other entities. These grant projects are implementing and developing monitoring, promoting agricultural best practices, building green infrastructure, and increasing pollution prevention and public engagement and education.  

In 2022, the EPA Columbia River Basin Program received $79 million over five years from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This funding provides EPA the ability to grow the Columbia River Basin Restoration Program and significantly increase competitive grants throughout the Basin to reduce toxics.  

Last September, President Biden issued a Memorandum on Restoring Healthy and Abundant Salmon, Steelhead, and Other Native Fish Populations in the Columbia River Basin. In the memo, the President called for “a sustained national effort to restore healthy and abundant native fish populations in the Basin.”   

The Columbia River Basin Restoration Program is focused on engaging tribal and underserved communities in efforts to identify and reduce threats to their environment and community health. EPA’s commitment to reducing toxics in fish and water in the Columbia River Basin is key to EPA’s ongoing trust responsibility to tribal governments. Toxics reduction will support climate resilience for the Columbia River Basin ecosystem by reducing aquatic ecosystem and human health stressors in an environment stressed by severe climatic events. 

For further information: EPA Region 10 Public Affairs (r10_press_team@epa.gov)

 EPA Press Office:

EPA, FDA and USDA Issue Updates to the Joint Regulatory Plan for Biotechnology

WASHINGTON – Today, May 8, 2024, in response to President Biden’s Executive Order 14081, “Advancing Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Innovation for a Sustainable, Safe, and Secure American Bioeconomy,” the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture have developed a plan to update, streamline and clarify their regulations and oversight mechanisms for products of biotechnology.

The plan helps meet the President’s goals of ensuring public confidence in the biotechnology regulatory system and improving its transparency, predictability, coordination and efficiency. Through engagement with developers and stakeholders, as well as horizon scanning for novel biotechnology products, the agencies worked collaboratively to develop a cohesive plan. The plan incorporates processes and timelines to implement regulatory reform, such as identifying guidance and regulations to update, streamline, or clarify, and identifying the potential need for new guidance or regulations. The plan supports a whole-of-government approach to the regulation of biotechnology products.

The agencies have identified five major areas of biotechnology product regulation where these actions will focus:

1. Modified plants
2. Modified animals
3. Modified microorganisms
4. Human drugs, biologics and medical devices
5. Cross-cutting issues

EPA, the FDA and USDA intend to implement the following joint efforts:

• Clarify and streamline regulatory oversight for genetically engineered plants, animals and microorganisms;
• Update and expand their information sharing through an MOU to improve and broaden communication and coordination of oversight of modified microbes; and
• Undertake a pilot project focused on modified microbes to explore and consider the feasibility and costs of developing a web-based tool that informs developers about which agency may regulate a given product category.

The federal government established the Coordinated Framework for the Regulation of Biotechnology in 1986 and most recently updated it in 2017. It describes the comprehensive federal regulatory policy for ensuring the safety of biotechnology products, including how EPA, the FDA and USDA share responsibility for regulating many of the products of biotechnology in the United States. The Executive Order directs the three agencies to improve how they implement the Coordinated Framework.   

In response to the Executive Order, the three regulatory agencies, in consultation with the Office of Science and Technology Policy, issued a Request for Information to the public to solicit information on regulatory ambiguities, gaps, uncertainties or inefficiencies in the Coordinated Framework. The agencies received 88 distinct public comments, including a sign-on letter from over 6,000 members from biotechnology developers, producers, manufacturers, non-governmental organizations and academia. The agencies will continue to engage with all interested stakeholders as they implement the plan.

Visit the Unified Website for Biotechnology Regulation for additional information on modernizing the regulatory system for biotechnology products and Executive Order 14081.

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

 EPA Press Office:

EPA Announces $9M in Grants Available for Tribes and Eligible US Territories to Replace Diesel Equipment and Reduce Harmful Emissions

WASHINGTON — Today, May 7,  the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the availability of grant funding available to Tribal governments and eligible territories to implement projects aimed at reducing diesel emissions from older diesel engines. Legacy diesel engines emit large amounts of NOx and PM2.5, which contribute to serious public health problems, including asthma, lung disease, and various other cardiac and respiratory diseases. Through the 2024 Diesel Emissions Reduction Act Tribal and Territory Grants Notice of Funding Opportunity, EPA anticipates awarding approximately $9 million in total DERA funding to eligible applicants, subject to the availability of funds.

“EPA is pleased to support the air quality goals of Tribes and territories as they work to improve public health,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation Joseph Goffman. “Replacing older, more polluting diesel vehicles and equipment with cleaner new alternatives will reduce harmful diesel exhaust in nearby communities while supporting local economies.” 

A total of $8 million will be made available to federally recognized Tribal governments, intertribal consortia, and Alaska Native Villages, and $1 million will be made available to territories, including government agencies of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Matching funds are not required for eligibility to the program. These grants are specifically tailored to expand access to diesel emission reduction projects to those Tribes and territories with more limited resources. The DERA program has worked with Tribes to tailor the DERA Tribal competition to meet their specific needs since 2014 and opened the program to territories (formerly known as insular areas) in 2021. This allows for Tribes and territories to pursue more robust and impactful projects.

Nearly 8 million legacy diesel engines are in use in the United States and emissions from these engines are a significant source of health problems. The DERA program prioritizes projects in areas that face challenging air quality issues, especially those projects that benefit underserved communities or populations that have faced or are facing environmental health or environmental justice disparities.

Application packages must be submitted electronically to EPA through Grants.gov by Friday, December 6, at 11:59 p.m. EST to be considered for funding. Although funding for both Tribes and territories is being announced under this single Notice of Funding Opportunity, the applications for each group will be reviewed separately.

EPA will host several information sessions regarding this funding opportunity. Webinar links and dial-in information for the information sessions can be found on the Tribal and Territory Grants: Diesel Emissions Reduction Act webpage.

More than 73,700 engines, vehicles, or other pieces of equipment were replaced or retrofitted to run cleaner with DERA funds during fiscal years 2008 to 2018, according to the DERA Fifth Report to Congress.

For more information and to access the Notice of Funding Opportunity, visit the Tribal and Territory Grants: Diesel Emissions Reduction Act webpage. For general information on the DERA Program, visit the DERA Program webpage.

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

 EPA Press Office:

EPA Announces ENERGY STAR® NextGen™ Certification for New Homes and Apartments

WASHINGTON—Today, May 7, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency officially announced the launch of ENERGY STAR® NextGen™ Certified Homes and Apartments, a voluntary, leading-edge certification program for the nation’s residential new construction sector. Developed with funding from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, ENERGY STAR NextGen will increase national energy and emissions savings by accelerating the building industry’s adoption of advanced, energy-efficient technologies.

“President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act is addressing climate challenges head-on and accelerating the adoption of clean, affordable technologies,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “By collaborating with developers and home builders nationwide, ENERGY STAR NextGen is set to act as a catalyst for the construction of new, energy-efficient homes and apartment buildings. Strategic partnerships like this are not just cutting costs for American families and greenhouse gas emissions — they’re paving the way for a clean energy future for current and future generations.”

Building on the 30-year legacy of the EPA’s ENERGY STAR program, the ENERGY STAR NextGen certification will recognize homes and apartments with increased energy efficiency; reduced on-site emissions through heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, electric cooking appliances; and residential electric vehicle charging. Compared to typical code-level construction, homes earning the ENERGY STAR NextGen certification will be 20% more efficient and help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40%–80%.

Across the country, several early adopters have already begun to build to the ENERGY STAR NextGen specification:

• Beazer Homes (Maryland)
• GreenSmith Builders (Minnesota)
• New Tradition Homes (Washington)
• Quantum Equities, LLC (Washington)
• Thrive Home Builders (Colorado)

Additionally, several utilities have announced early incentives for builders to adopt the specification:

• EmPOWER Maryland, including Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE), Potomac Electric Power Company (Pepco), and Potomac Edison (PE) (Maryland)
• Snohomish County Public Utility District No. 1 (Washington)
• Utah Clean Energy (Utah)
• Xcel Energy (Minnesota)
• Xcel Energy (Colorado)

Energy used in commercial and residential buildings accounts for one-third of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. An EPA study last fall estimated that these same buildings have the potential to cut their emissions by up to 63% by 2030 and up to 70% by 2035. By encouraging efficient, electric technologies, the new ENERGY STAR NextGen certification can play an important role in achieving this goal.

Learn more about the ENERGY STAR NextGen certification.

About ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR® is the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency, providing simple, credible, and unbiased information that consumers and businesses rely on to make well-informed decisions. Thousands of industrial, commercial, utility, state, and local organizations rely on their partnership with EPA to deliver cost-saving energy efficiency solutions. Since 1992, ENERGY STAR and its partners helped American families and businesses avoid more than $500 billion in energy costs and achieve more than 4 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas reductions. Nearly 2.5 million energy-efficient new homes and apartments have earned ENERGY STAR certification to date, and about 10% of all U.S. homes built in America earned the ENERGY STAR label last year.

Learn more:

ENERGY STAR Residential New Construction Program

Federal Tax Credits for Builders of Energy-Efficient Homes

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

 EPA Press Office:

More Than 200 Tribes and Four Territories Prepare Climate Action Plans with Support from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act

Key milestone reached as part of $5B Climate Pollution Reduction Grants Program

WASHINGTON – Today, May 6, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that more than 200 Tribes, plus American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, have published climate action plans with financial support made possible by President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. The planning process is supported by EPA’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program, which offers a unique opportunity for Tribal and territorial governments to develop strategies to reduce harmful pollution and address environmental justice concerns, while building the infrastructure, industry, and competitive economy for a clean energy future. EPA received 81 plans in total from Tribes and Tribal consortia representing more than 200 Tribes, along with four plans from territories.

“Climate change is an issue that affects Tribes disproportionately,” said Kenneth Martin, Director of EPA’s American Indian Environmental Office. “An unprecedented number of Tribes and intertribal partnerships worked with EPA to create Priority Climate Action Plans to remediate climate pollution in their communities. Thanks to President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, this is the first time that climate planning on this scale has been accomplished across Tribes. The measures proposed in these plans reflect an incredible opportunity to fight the climate crisis and benefit this and future generations.”

The Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program created under the Inflation Reduction Act — the largest climate investment in U.S. history — is enabling community-driven solutions to the climate crisis and helping accelerate America’s clean energy transition. The program is covered under President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which set the goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal climate, clean energy, and other investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. 

In 2023, under the first phase of the $5 billion program, EPA provided $250 million in grants to 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, 82 metropolitan statistical areas, four territories, and more than 200 Tribes (including Tribal consortia) to develop ambitious climate action plans that address greenhouse gas emissions across their communities and economies.

As a key deliverable of the initial $250 million planning phase of the program, EPA provided grantees with resources to develop and submit Priority Climate Action Plans focused on high-priority, implementation-ready activities to reduce GHG emissions. Plans developed by Tribes and territories were due on April 1, and plans developed by states and large metropolitan areas were due on March 1.

Each grantee has the opportunity of aligning its PCAP with its own priorities and interests, while also prioritizing measures that benefit low-income and disadvantaged communities. For many Tribes and territories, PCAPs are their first climate action plans. For others, the PCAPs build on existing climate and energy planning work undertaken over many years.

In addition to addressing climate pollution, these grants can also support efforts to:

• Ensure Tribes and territories are included in climate discussions at all levels of government, are part of the process to identify community-driven solutions, and benefit from their implementation.
• Improve public health through the simultaneous reduction of criteria and toxic air pollutants.
• Help businesses capitalize on new economic opportunities, spur financial growth and create jobs by supporting new industries and developing training programs to prepare workers. 

PCAPs submitted to EPA lay the groundwork for the second phase of the CPRG program: $4.6 billion in competitive implementation grants, available specifically to planning grant recipients and other eligible entities, to fund GHG reduction measures contained within the PCAPs. In addition to the $4.3 billion general competition, Tribes and territories were eligible to apply for a $300 million Tribe and territory competition. PCAPs also help prepare Tribes and territories to access a broader set of funding opportunities, including other programs under President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. The deadline for the CPRG Implementation Grants Tribes and Territories Competition was May 1.

Over the coming months, all planning grant recipients will develop Comprehensive Climate Action Plans, which will include a broader suite of GHG reduction measures from all primary emitting sectors – electric power, transportation, commercial, and residential buildings, industry, agriculture/natural and working lands, and waste and materials management. The comprehensive plans will contain GHG emissions projections and reduction targets, air quality and health benefits information, and workforce planning assessments. EPA is committed to providing grant recipients with technical support, tools, and other resources throughout these planning processes.

Together, the CPRG planning grants and competitive implementation funding will support the deployment of technologies to reduce GHG emissions and other harmful pollution across the country, facilitate the transition to a low-carbon economy, promote Tribal sovereignty, and advance environmental justice by prioritizing public health and environmental benefits to overburdened communities. 

View the Priority Climate Action Plans from CPRG planning grantees

More information on the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants

CPRG Training, Tools and Technical Assistance

Sign up for notifications about the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program

For further information: press@epa.gov

 EPA Press Office:

Biden-Harris Administration Announces Final Rule to Cut Methane Emissions, Strengthen and Update Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reporting for the Oil and Gas Sector

Revisions to EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program authorized by Congress will bring greater transparency and accountability for methane emissions from oil and natural gas facilities, one of the major drivers of climate change

WASHINGTON – Today, May 6, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a final rule to strengthen, expand, and update methane emissions reporting requirements for petroleum and natural gas systems under EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program, as required by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act. The final revisions will ensure greater transparency and accountability for methane pollution from oil and natural gas facilities by improving the accuracy of annual emissions reporting from these operations. Oil and natural gas facilities are the nation’s largest industrial source of methane, a climate “super pollutant” that is many times more potent than carbon dioxide and is responsible for approximately one third of the warming from greenhouse gases occurring today.

EPA’s latest action complements the Biden-Harris Administration’s whole-of-government initiative to slash methane emissions from every sector of the economy under the U.S. Methane Emissions Reduction Plan. In 2023 alone, the Administration took nearly 100 actions, with coordination by the White House Methane Task Force, to bolster methane detection and reduce methane pollution from oil and gas operations, landfills, abandoned mines, agriculture, industry, and buildings.

The final rule updating the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program is a key component of the Inflation Reduction Act’s Methane Emissions Reduction Program, as designed by Congress to help states, industry, and communities implement recently finalized Clean Air Act methane standards and slash methane emissions from the oil and gas sector. The Biden-Harris Administration is also mobilizing over $1 billion in financial and technical assistance to accelerate the transition to no- and low- emitting oil and gas technologies, as part of broad efforts to cut wasteful methane emissions.

“As we implement the historic climate programs under President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, EPA is applying the latest tools, cutting edge technology, and expertise to track and measure methane emissions from the oil and gas industry,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Together, a combination of strong standards, good monitoring and reporting, and historic investments to cut methane pollution will ensure the U.S. leads in the global transition to a clean energy economy.”

Recent studies reveal that actual emissions from petroleum and natural gas systems are much greater than what has historically been reported to the GHGRP. This rule addresses that gap, including by facilitating the use of satellite data to identify super-emitters and quantify large emission events, requiring direct monitoring of key emission sources, and updating the methods for calculation. Together these changes support complete and accurate reporting and respond to Congress’s directive for the measurement of methane emissions to rely on empirical data.

Today’s announcement is EPA’s latest step in tackling methane emissions that are fueling climate change, building on the agency’s recently finalized Clean Air Act standards to sharply reduce methane and other harmful air pollutants from the oil and natural gas industry, promote the use of cutting-edge methane detection technologies, and deliver significant economic and public health benefits from methane emissions reductions. That rule established a Super-Emitter Program to help detect large leaks and releases, and today’s reporting rule will require owners and operators to quantify and report the emissions detected through that Program to help close the gap between observed methane emissions and reported emissions.

The final subpart W rule will dramatically improve the quality of emissions data reported from oil and natural gas operations, with provisions that improve the quantification of methane emissions, incorporate advances in methane emissions measurement technology, and streamline compliance with other EPA regulations. For the first time, EPA is allowing for the use of advanced technologies such as satellites to help quantify emissions in subpart W. In addition, EPA is finalizing new methodologies that allow for the use of empirical data for quantifying emissions, including options added in response to public comments on the proposed rule. The final rule also allows for the optional earlier use of empirical data calculation methodologies for facilities that prefer to use them to quantify 2024 emissions. These changes will improve transparency and expand the options for owners and operators to submit empirical data to demonstrate their effort to reduce methane emissions and identify whether a Waste Emissions Charge is owed, based on thresholds set by Congress.

Advanced measurement technologies, and their use for annual quantification of emissions, are evolving rapidly. EPA is committed to transparent and continual improvements to its programs to account for these advancements while ensuring reporting is accurate and complete. The agency intends to take the following steps to gather further information about advanced measurement technologies and to inform potential regulatory changes or other standard setting programs that encourage the use of more accurate and comprehensive measurement strategies:

• This summer, EPA will solicit input on the use of advanced measurement data and methods in subpart W by issuing a Request for Information and opening a non-regulatory docket, including specific questions and topics on which EPA seeks input from the public. EPA intends to use the feedback received to consider whether it is appropriate to undertake further rulemaking addressing the use of advanced measurement technologies in subpart W, beyond the role for these technologies that is already provided in today’s rule.
• EPA also seeks to continuously update its knowledge about new measurement and detection technologies, and to elicit input from stakeholders and experts about how such advances should inform EPA’s regulations. To keep pace with this dynamic field, EPA plans to undertake a solicitation or engagement for information about advanced measurement and detection technologies (in the form of a Request for Information, workshop, or similar mechanism) on at least a biennial basis. These engagements will enable EPA to learn about technological advances and the extent to which there is robust information about their accuracy, reliability, and appropriateness for use in a regulatory reporting program.

For more information about this action, please visit the GHG Reporting Program Rulemaking Resources webpage.

Background on the Methane Emissions Reduction Program in the Inflation Reduction Act

Methane is a climate “super pollutant” that is more potent than carbon dioxide and responsible for approximately one third of the warming from greenhouse gases occurring today. The oil and natural gas sector is the largest industrial source of methane emissions in the United States. Quick reduction of these methane emissions is one of the most important and cost-effective actions the United States can take in the short term to slow the rate of rapidly rising global temperatures.

EPA issued a final rule in December 2023 to sharply reduce methane emissions and other harmful air pollution from new and existing oil and gas operations.  In addition, EPA is working to implement the three-part framework of the Inflation Reduction Act’s Methane Emissions Reduction Program.

First, EPA is partnering with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to utilize resources provided by Congress in the Inflation Reduction Act to provide over $1 billion dollars in financial and technical assistance to accelerate the transition to technologies that reduce methane emissions and may  include funds for activities associated with marginal (i.e., low-producing) conventional wells, support for methane monitoring, and funding to help reduce methane emissions from oil and gas operations.

Second, with today’s announcement, as directed by Congress, EPA is updating subpart W of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program to ensure that reporting of methane emissions from oil and natural gas operations is based on empirical data and accurately reflects emissions.

Third, in January 2024 EPA proposed a rule to implement Congress’ requirement for a Waste Emissions Charge. To take advantage of near-term opportunities for methane reductions while EPA and states work toward full implementation of the final oil and gas rule, Congress directed EPA to collect a charge on methane emissions from large oil and gas facilities that are high-emitting and wasteful, based on data submitted under subpart W.

Background about Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program Requirements for Petroleum and Natural Gas Sector

The GHGRP requires reporting of greenhouse gas data and other relevant information from large GHG emission sources, fuel and industrial gas suppliers, and CO2 injection sites in the United States. Approximately 8,000 facilities are required to report their emissions annually, and the reported data are made available to the public in October of each year.

Under the GHGRP, owners or operators of facilities that contain petroleum and natural gas systems and emit 25,000 metric tons or more of GHGs per year (expressed as carbon dioxide equivalents) report GHG data to EPA. Owners or operators collect GHG data; calculate GHG emissions; and follow the specified procedures for quality assurance, missing data, recordkeeping, and reporting. Subpart W consists of emission sources in ten segments of the petroleum and natural gas industry.

Learn more about greenhouse gas reporting requirements for petroleum and natural gas systems.

For further information: press@epa.gov

 EPA Press Office:

EPA to host free, virtual environmental justice webinar for New England communities

Contact Information: Vikram Lakshmanan, lakshmanan.vikram@epa.gov, (617) 918-1064

BOSTON (May 6, 2024) — On Wednesday, May 8, EPA New England will host a free, virtual Environmental Justice resource fair for communities across New England from 1 to 4pm ET. This online forum will be a virtual event that showcases open competitive grant programs for eligible entities including the Inflation Reduction Act Community Change Grants and funding opportunities unique to New England, like the Healthy Communities Grant Program and the Southeast New England Program Opportunity to Advance Resilience. 
 
During the event, attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about the requirements and eligibility necessary to apply to these funding opportunities, get information about available technical assistance, and have a chance to network and connect with organizations in their respective states. This virtual resource fair will include time for multiple breakout rooms designed to encourage state-specific capacity and networking building, in addition to connecting with regional technical assistance for the Community Change Grants Program.  

Participation and advance registration are encouraged for community-based organizations throughout EPA Region 1, including those in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont, as well as Federally Recognized Tribal Nations and state recognized Tribes. 

 

More information:  

Register for: R1 Environmental Justice Virtual Fair on May 8th, 2024 from 1-4 pm ET 

EPA Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants (Community Change Grants) 

Healthy Communities Grant Program for New England 

Southeast New England Program Opportunity to Advance Resilience (SOAR) 

 EPA Press Office:

EPA reminds New Englanders to use free air quality monitoring tools this summer

Air Quality Awareness Week is May 6 - 10, 2024

Contact Information: R1_Press@epa.gov

BOSTON (May 6, 2024) – With the onset of warmer weather, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency urges New Englanders to be aware of the increased risk of ground-level ozone (often referred to as smog) and fine particle air pollution, when combined, and to take health precautions when air quality levels are predicted to be high. EPA and the New England states continue to offer free resources and tools for the public to monitor the latest air quality forecasts.

“The New England States have made great strides in reducing air emissions, but ozone air pollution continues to be a significant public health issue in our communities,” said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. “We also know that many historically underserved communities have suffered from exposure to more air pollution over the years and may also suffer from higher asthma rates. When air quality is poor, we can all take individual actions to reduce our emissions that contribute to air pollution, such as reducing energy use and driving less.”

Warm summer temperatures aid in the formation of ground-level ozone. The current ozone standard, set in 2015, is 0.070 parts per million (ppm) on an 8-hour average basis. Air quality alerts are issued when ozone concentrations exceed, or are predicted to exceed, this level. EPA's New England office posts a list of exceedances of the ozone standard, by date and monitor location, at Current AQI in New England.

Although the number of unhealthy days varies from year to year due to weather conditions, New England has experienced a significant decrease in the number of unhealthy ozone days over the long term. For the 2015 ozone standard, New England had 118 unhealthy days in 1983, compared with 21 in 2023. This downward trend is mainly due to a reduction in emissions from powerplants, mobile sources, and other industrial facilities. Despite this progress, we continue to work in partnership with our states to reduce the number of unhealthy air quality days across New England, particularly in southern New England.

As climate change increases the probability of unseasonably warm weather and wildfires, poor air quality events are predicted to increase in frequency. Between March and September 2023, there were 12 days in which fine particulate matter (PM2.5) monitors recorded PM2.5 concentrations above levels to be considered healthy. In addition to hazy skies and reduced visibility, wildfires from Canada elevated the 24-hour PM2.5 concentrations for New England. PM2.5 are inhalable particles with diameters that are generally 2.5 micrometers and smaller. For reference the largest PM_2.5 particles are about 30-times smaller than a human hair. EPA and the U.S. Forest Service developed a map to give the public information on fire locations, smoke plumes, near real-time air quality and actions to take to protect your health in one place. The map is available at https://fire.airnow.gov.

Pollution sources that contribute to smog formation are diverse. They include cars, motorcycles, trucks, and buses; industrial sources; and fossil-fuel burning at electric generating stations, particularly on hot days. Smaller sources, such as gasoline stations and print shops, and household products, such as paints and cleaners, as well as gasoline-powered lawn and garden equipment, also contribute to the formation of smog.

Here are some of the actions everyone can take to reduce air pollution:

• Use public transportation, bike, or walk whenever possible.
• Combine errands and carpool to reduce driving time and mileage.
• Avoid using small gasoline-powered engines, such as lawn mowers, string trimmers, chain saws, power-washers, air compressors, and leaf blowers.
• Avoid outdoor burning, including leaf burning and use of firepits and campfires.

In addition, during poor air quality events, it is important to reduce household energy usage, such as setting air conditioners to a higher temperature, turning off unnecessary lights, equipment, and appliances. EPA's ENERGY STAR Program also provides trusted guidance and online tools to help homeowners make smart decisions about improving the energy efficiency of their homes.

In March 2023, EPA finalized federal plans that would cut pollution from power plants and industrial sources that significantly contribute to unhealthy levels of ground-level ozone, or smog, for millions of Americans who live downwind from those facilities. This "good neighbor" policy will help air quality in many areas of New England. Additionally, on March 20, 2024, EPA finalized standards to further reduce harmful air pollutant emissions from light-duty and medium-duty vehicles starting with model year 2027. On March 29, 2024, EPA also issued a final rule to revise existing standards to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from heavy-duty vehicles in model year 2027 and set new, more stringent standards for model years 2028 through 2032.These new vehicle standards will help ensure that air pollution levels improve over the years to come.

Poor air quality affects everyone, but those who are active outdoors and/or have respiratory diseases, such as asthma, are more sensitive. When air quality is predicted to be "unhealthy for sensitive groups," EPA and states announce an air quality alert for the affected areas. On these days, EPA recommends that people in these areas limit strenuous outdoor activity and asks that the public and businesses take actions to help reduce air pollution and protect public health.

Tools and information:  

Real-time ozone data and air quality forecasts for New England air quality: https://www3.epa.gov/region1/airquality/aqi.html

National real-time air quality data (free iPhone and Android apps)   

AirNow: https://www.airnow.gov/

Air Quality Alerts from EnviroFlash: https://www.enviroflash.info/

AirNow Fire and Smoke Map: https://fire.airnow.gov/ 

EPA’s ENERGY STAR Program: https://www.energystar.gov/

 

# # #