EPA Press Office:

Top EPA Regional Official Visits Farms to Mark Connection Between EPA Priorities and Farming

Contact: Nikita Joshi, 934-210-9347, joshi.nikita@epa.gov

Orange County, N.Y. (March 14, 2025) - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regional Administrator Michael Martucci traveled to Orange County, New York to tour local farms and honor National Agriculture Day and Week. During his visit, he discussed the important contributions of farmers, ranchers, and the EPA, as well as the connection between clean land, air, water and agriculture.

“We don’t have food without farms, and we can’t have farms without clean land, water, and air,” said Regional Administrator Michael Martucci. “I’m so excited to come to these farms that I have known all my life in this new role as Regional Administrator. Uplifting farmers and business owners with all the resources EPA has to offer is important.”

Regional Administrator Martucci toured Peaceful Valley Dairy, a dairy farm in Westtown, New York. He also toured R & G Produce, a vegetable farm and produce packing facility, in Pine Island, New York. In both places, he discussed EPA's commitment to helping farmers and small business owners.

“I appreciate Mike Martucci and his team coming down to talk to us about the EPA issues and concerns,” said co-owner of R & G Produce, Gary Glowaczewski.

In line with Pillar 1 of the “Powering the Great American Comeback” initiative, EPA is providing clean land, air, and water to all Americans. The agency is especially committed to its statutory work to protect the air, water, and land upon which all farms rely. EPA supports agricultural practices that protect the environment while ensuring a vibrant and productive agricultural system.

Earlier this week, EPA announced that it will address the uncertainty over the definition of Waters of the United States under the Clean Water Act, or the so-called WOTUS definition. In making the announcement, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said, “We want clean water for all Americans supported by clear and consistent rules for all states, farmers, and small businesses. Our goal is to protect America’s water resources consistent with the law of the land while empowering American farmers, landowners, entrepreneurs, and families to help Power the Great American Comeback.”

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 EPA Press Release:

EPA Helps NJ and NY Businesses and Municipalities Meet Environmental Goals

Contact: Stephen McBay, 929-243-0417, mcbay.stephen@epa.gov

New York, N.Y. (March 12, 2025) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s regional office helps businesses and municipalities across New York and New Jersey protect human health, improve local infrastructure and foster strong economic growth by offering direct technical assistance. From helping businesses navigate complex environmental regulations to supporting local governments in critical infrastructure upgrades, EPA’s proactive approach is making a tangible difference across the region – preventing costly violations and delivering cleaner air and safer water.

“EPA is about more than being the ‘stick.’ We also work hand-in-hand with businesses and communities to help them meet environmental requirements in a way that benefits both human health and economic growth,” said EPA Regional Administrator Mike Martucci. “Through compliance assistance, we pave the way for entities to comply with statutes while reducing risks, fostering innovation, and building strong partnerships that keep our communities safe and our economies strong.”

Below are five success stories demonstrating how EPA has helped businesses and municipalities navigate regulations and improve environmental compliance.

Helping Businesses Stay Safe and Compliant

K&N’s Foods USA (Fulton, NY) – Ensuring Public Safety Through Risk Management

EPA worked closely with K&N’s Foods USA, a food processing company in Fulton, NY, to safely remove ammonia from its operations and de-register their Risk Management Plan. The EPA coordinated with county emergency responders and local planners to enhance public safety.

“The EPA team provided advice and clarifications on what was required for K&N’s Foods USA LLC to be in compliance with safety regulations starting with the creation of our Risk Management Plan until the final decision to de-register our facility,” said K&N General Manager Jon McDonald. “We are a small business and their advice, willingness to facilitate coordination with local responders, and quick responses to our emails made them an invaluable resource.”

“The EPA was recently able to assist the city of Fulton, NY along with its affiliate stakeholders to incentivize local industry to move towards compliance with local, state and federal guidelines,” said City of Fulton Fire Chief Randy Ketcham. “This was done discreetly, professionally and in a timely manner while keeping public safety and economic implications at the forefront in terms of our efforts. The Fulton, New York Fire Department appreciates the assistance in these matters.”

South Jersey Industries – Supporting Renewable Natural Gas Compliance

South Jersey Industries, a leader in the renewable natural gas sector, partnered with EPA to better understand safety requirements and ensure its facilities met Risk Management Program standards. Through EPA’s technical guidance, the company was able to navigate regulations, maintain safe operations, and continue producing cleaner energy.

“SJI Renewable Energy Ventures was proud to partner with the EPA Region 2 as we commissioned our facility,” said Kyle Nolan, Vice President, and COO, SJI Renewable Energy Ventures. “Aligning our organization with our regulatory agencies leads to the outcomes we collectively desire in delivering safe, reliable, and cleaner energy,”

Smash Bros Renovation Corp. (Bronx, NY) – Supporting Lead Abatement Compliance

Smash Bros Renovation Corp., a small abatement company in the Bronx, received hands-on support from EPA to understand and comply with lead abatement regulations. EPA provided step-by-step guidance on recordkeeping, reporting, and notification requirements, ensuring the company is prepared to follow federal rules and can safely continue operations. 

“The EPA’s compliance assistance has helped my firm avoid any future issues. It has also educated my firm in certain fields that were possibly overlooked,” said Owner Sady Maquilon. “The service EPA has provided has helped my firm with growth.”

Strengthening Local Infrastructure and Public Health

Village of Florida, NY – Securing Clean Drinking Water for Residents

The Village of Florida, NY, faced ongoing issues with its drinking water system due to high levels of disinfection byproducts, or contaminants that form when chemicals used to clean the water react with natural organic matter such as decaying leaves. EPA worked with local and state agencies to find solutions and find a path to upgrade the village’s water treatment plant. These improvements will provide cleaner drinking water for residents.

“The Village of Florida is pleased to work with the EPA and other agencies to upgrade and enhance our drinking water quality for our users,” said Village of Florida Mayor Daniel Harter, Jr. “We are happy to say the project should be completed this year. We are proud to be proactive in upgrading outdated technologies and equipment forging ahead to improve water quality for the future.”

Town of Phillipsburg, NJ – Upgrading Sewer Infrastructure for Environmental Protection

EPA worked with the Town of Phillipsburg, NJ, to resolve aging sewer infrastructure that caused overflows during heavy rainstorms. With EPA’s guidance, the town is investing $10 million to upgrade its sewer system, including moving a pump station out of a flood zone. Local officials praised EPA’s role in ensuring the project moved forward smoothly.

“Town of Phillipsburg express our appreciation for the time EPA took to attend our Sewer Utility meeting and to answer questions from the Town Council,” said Council President Peter Marino. “EPA was able to explain the commitment and need to invest in the Town’s sewer system. This is helpful as we plan and make decisions on how to best fund and invest in the Town’s sewer infrastructure.”

EPA Region 2: A Partner in Compliance

EPA remains committed to helping businesses and municipalities meet environmental standards while fostering economic growth and protecting human health. Through training, technical guidance, and case-by-base problem solving, EPA works as a partner – not just a regulator – to keep communities safe and businesses thriving across New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Learn more about EPA’s Environmental Compliance and available resources.

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Garden Presentations, Slow Wake Up, Plant Dieback, Root Flare, Grafting ...

 EPA Press Office:

EPA Takes a Step Forward in Environmental Progress with Removal of Mercury Refining Superfund Site from Superfund National Priorities List

Contact: Stephen McBay, 929-243-0417, mcbay.stephen@epa.gov

Colonie and Guilderland, N.Y. (March 5, 2025) – Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is taking a step forward by announcing the deletion of the Mercury Refining Superfund site in the towns of Colonie and Guilderland, New York, from the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL). EPA added the site to the NPL in 1983 due to mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) contamination. The site has since undergone extensive cleanup, with long-term monitoring in place to safeguard public health and the environment moving forward.

“After a successful cleanup and years of thorough monitoring, EPA is confident that the site does not pose a risk to people or the surrounding environment,” said EPA Deputy Regional Administrator, Alyssa Arcaya. “This Superfund site deletion reflects years of hard work and collaboration with state and local partners to restore the site.”

From 1956 to 1998, Mercury Refining Company, Inc. operated an industrial facility that recovered mercury from various materials, which left the soil, groundwater and sediment contaminated with toxic mercury and PCBs. Over the years, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and later, EPA oversaw the cleanup.  Work included the removal of approximately 5,700 tons of mercury-contaminated soil and sediment, and the solidification and stabilization of remaining contaminated soil including soil and groundwater below the water table. The EPA worked with the site owner to allow continued and safe use of the property during and after cleanup. The Mercury Refining Company currently uses an on-site building as an office and to process materials containing precious metals.

EPA completed all cleanup actions at the site in 2014. Since then, the site has been subject to long-term monitoring, including regular reviews of groundwater, surface water, sediment and fish tissue sampling, ensuring that the cleanup continues to protect the community and the environment. The EPA will continue to monitor the site every five years to ensure the ongoing protection of public health and the environment.

Background

The National Priorities List (NPL) includes the nation’s most contaminated hazardous waste sites and poses the most risk to human health and the environment. EPA deletes sites or parts of sites from the NPL when no further cleanup is required to protect human health or the environment. Years, and sometimes decades, of complex investigation and cleanup work have gone into getting these sites to where they are today.

Visit the Mercury Refining Superfund site profile page for additional background and site documents.

For a copy of the pre-publication notice and more information and more information about EPA’s NPL deletions, visit EPA’s Deleted National Priorities List webpage.

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