EPA Press Office:

Biden-Harris Administration Announces $775 Million Investment in America for Clean Water Infrastructure Upgrades

Nearly half of funding available as grants, forgivable loans for critical water infrastructure projects that will help underserved communities across the country

WASHINGTON (April 3, 2023) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced over $775 million from the 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act for states, Tribes, and territories through this year’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF). The funding will help communities upgrade essential wastewater and stormwater systems to protect public health and treasured water bodies across the nation. Nearly half of this funding will be available as grants or principal forgiveness loans, which will help underserved communities across America invest in water infrastructure while creating good-paying jobs.

“Too many communities across the country are facing challenges with water infrastructure – from climate impacts like drought vulnerability, to a lack of basic wastewater services that everyone deserves,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda is getting unprecedented investments in clean water to communities that need them most. This funding paired with this historic funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will support local economies while advancing projects in communities to help ensure clean, safe water for residents.”

Administrator Regan announced the $775 million investment on the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America tour in Clayton, North Carolina with Congressman Wiley Nickel, highlighting the President’s historic funding for water infrastructure upgrades. President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is growing the American economy from the bottom up and middle-out – from rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure, to creating a manufacturing and innovation boom powered by good-paying jobs that don’t require a four-year degree, to building a clean-energy economy that will combat climate change and make our communities more resilient.

“Today's announcement by Administrator Regan and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will enable millions in federal funding through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to support priority water infrastructure projects and upgrades here in North Carolina and throughout the country,” said Representative Wiley Nickel (NC-13). “This transformational federal investment in America’s water infrastructure will create good-paying jobs, spur economic growth, and ensure our communities can access clean water.”

This announcement builds on the second wave of $2.4 billion EPA announced for clean water infrastructure upgrades through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in February. Over $3.2 billion will be provided to the CWSRF when combined with Fiscal Year 2023 funding available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This investment reflects the Biden Administration’s commitment to strengthening the nation’s wastewater and stormwater systems, while providing significant resources for mitigating nonpoint source pollution and improving energy and water efficiency. It also addresses key challenges, including climate change and emerging contaminants like per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

See the state-by-state allocation of 2023 CWSRF funding.
See a breakdown of EPA CWSRF funding available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Background

The CWSRFs have been the foundation of water infrastructure investments for more than 30 years, providing low-cost financing for local projects across America. Under the Clean Water programs, EPA provides funding to all 50 states and Puerto Rico to capitalize on SRF loan programs. For the base programs, the states and Puerto Rico contribute an additional 20 percent to match the federal grants. The 51 SRF programs function like infrastructure banks by providing low-interest loans to eligible recipients for clean water infrastructure projects. As the loan principal and interest are repaid over time, it allows the state’s CWSRF to be recycled or “revolve.” As money is returned to the state’s revolving loan fund, the state makes new loans to other eligible recipients. These funds can also be combined with Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding and EPA’s Water Infrastructure and Finance Innovation Act (WIFIA) loans to create a powerful, innovative financing solution for major infrastructure projects.

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

 EPA Press Office:

EPA Grants Waivers for California’s On-highway Heavy-duty Vehicle and Engine Emission Standards

WASHINGTON (March 31, 2023) — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing a decision that grants two requests for waivers of preemption regarding four California Air Resource Board (CARB) regulations related to California’s heavy-duty vehicle and engine emission standards.

Under the Clean Air Act, California is afforded broad discretion to adopt emissions requirements to meet their significant air quality challenges, but they must seek waivers from EPA for new motor vehicle emission standards. In this instance, CARB requested two waivers for regulations relating to heavy duty vehicles and engines. After reviewing the technical information provided by CARB, reviewing comments submitted by the public, and applying the limited authority for review under section 209 of the Clean Air Act, EPA determined it appropriate to grant the waiver and authorization requests. 

“Under the Clean Air Act, California has longstanding authority to address pollution from cars and trucks. Today’s announcement allows the state to take additional steps in reducing their transportation emissions through these new regulatory actions,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan.

These waivers of preemption address the following California programs:

• The 2018 Heavy-duty 2018 Warranty Amendments, which extend the emissions warranty periods for 2022 and subsequent model year on-road heavy-duty diesel engines and for 2022 and subsequent model year diesel vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating exceeding 14,000 pounds powered by such engines.
• The Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) Regulation, which requires that manufacturers produce and sell increasing quantities of medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) and near zero emission vehicles (NZEVs) in California. This waiver request also includes two additional regulations:
  • The Zero Emission Airport Shuttle Bus (ZEAS) Regulation, which establishes steadily increasing zero-emission airport shuttle fleet composition requirements for airport shuttle fleet owners who service the 13 largest California airports.
  • The Zero Emission Powertrain (ZEP) Certification Regulation, which establishes certification requirements and optional emission standards for 2021 and subsequent model year medium- and heavy-duty ZEVs and the zero-emission powertrains installed in such vehicles. 

EPA has also conducted a public comment process regarding CARB’s Heavy-Duty Omnibus Low NOx Regulation which establishes criteria pollutant exhaust emission standards for nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) as well as other emission-related requirements for new 2024 and subsequent model year on-road medium- and heavy-duty engines and vehicles. CARB has asked EPA for additional time before the Agency acts on the waiver request for this regulation. EPA expects to act upon this waiver request as appropriate.

EPA conducted a virtual public hearing on June 28, 2022, which covered all three proposed actions. The written comment period for these actions closed on August 2, 2022.

More information on the California waiver program.  

More information on California Waiver Requests for Heavy-Duty Vehicle Emissions Regulations.

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

 EPA Press Office:

Biden-Harris Administration Announces $24+ million investment for Clean Water Infrastructure upgrades in EPA Region 8 states

Funding for critical water infrastructure projects in Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming

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

DENVER — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $,000 from the 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act for states, Tribes, and territories through this year's Clean Water State Revolving Funds (CWSRF) in the states of Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming. The funding will help communities upgrade essential wastewater and stormwater systems to protect public health and treasured water bodies across the nation.

"Too many communities across the country are facing challenges with water infrastructure – from climate impacts like drought vulnerability, to a lack of basic wastewater services that everyone deserves," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. "President Biden's Investing in America Agenda is getting unprecedented investments in clean water to communities that need them most. This funding paired with this historic funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will support local economies while advancing projects in communities to help ensure clean, safe water for residents."

EPA has announced the following:

• Colorado will receive $6,000,000
• Montana will receive $3,683,000
• North Dakota will receive $3,683,000
• South Dakota will receive $3,683,000
• Utah will receive $3,952,000
• Wyoming will receive $3,683,000

Administrator Regan announced the funding as part of a $775 million investment on the Biden-Harris Administration's Investing in America tour in Clayton, North Carolina with Congressman Wiley Nickel, highlighting the President's historic funding for water infrastructure upgrades. President Biden's Investing in America agenda is growing the American economy from the bottom up and middle-out – from rebuilding our nation's infrastructure, to creating a manufacturing and innovation boom powered by good-paying jobs that don't require a four-year degree, to building a clean-energy economy that will combat climate change and make our communities more resilient.

Today's announcement builds on the second wave of $2.4 billion EPA announced for clean water infrastructure upgrades through President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in February. Over $3.2 billion will be provided to the CWSRF when combined with Fiscal Year 2023 funding available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This investment reflects the Biden Administration's commitment to strengthening the nation's wastewater and stormwater systems, while providing significant resources for mitigating nonpoint source pollution and improving energy and water efficiency. It also addresses key challenges, including climate change and emerging contaminants like per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). In February, EPA also announced additional funding made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act to Region 8 states for clean water infrastructure upgrades.

See the state-by-state allocation of 2023 CWSRF funding.

See a breakdown of EPA CWSRF funding available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Background

The CWSRFs have been the foundation of water infrastructure investments for more than 30 years, providing low-cost financing for local projects across America. Under the Clean Water programs, EPA provides funding to all 50 states and Puerto Rico to capitalize on SRF loan programs. For the base programs, the states and Puerto Rico contribute an additional 20 percent to match the federal grants. The 51 SRF programs function like infrastructure banks by providing low-interest loans to eligible recipients for clean water infrastructure projects. As the loan principal and interest are repaid over time, it allows the state's CWSRF to be recycled or "revolve." As money is returned to the state's revolving loan fund, the state makes new loans to other eligible recipients. These funds can also be combined with Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding and EPA's Water Infrastructure and Finance Innovation Act (WIFIA) loans to create a powerful, innovative financing solution for major infrastructure projects.

 EPA Press Office:

Biden-Harris Administration Announces Almost $78 Million for Clean Water Infrastructure Upgrades in Pacific Southwest

Biden-Harris Administration Announces Almost $78 Million for Clean Water Infrastructure Upgrades in Pacific Southwest

 

Contact Information: John Senn, 415-972-3999, senn.john@epa.gov 

SAN FRANCISCO (March 31, 2023) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced almost $78 million from the 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act for states, Tribes, and territories in the Pacific Southwest through this year’s Clean Water State Revolving Funds (CWSRF). The funding will help communities upgrade essential wastewater and stormwater systems to protect public health and treasured water bodies across the nation.

“Too many communities across the country are facing challenges with water infrastructure – from climate impacts like drought vulnerability, to a lack of basic wastewater services that everyone deserves,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda is getting unprecedented investments in clean water to communities that need them most. This funding paired with this historic funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will support local economies while advancing projects in communities to help ensure clean, safe water for residents.”

EPA has announced the following:

• Arizona will receive $5,118,000
• California will receive $54,191,000
• Hawaii will receive $5,868,000
• Nevada will receive $3,720,000
• American Samoa will receive $4,119,000
• Guam will receive $2,980,000
• The Northern Marianas Islands will receive $1,914,000

Administrator Regan announced the funding as part of a $775 million investment on the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America tour in Clayton, North Carolina with Congressman Wiley Nickel, highlighting the President’s historic funding for water infrastructure upgrades. President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is growing the American economy from the bottom up and middle-out – from rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure, to creating a manufacturing and innovation boom powered by good-paying jobs that don’t require a four-year degree, to building a clean-energy economy that will combat climate change and make our communities more resilient.

Today’s announcement builds on the second wave of $2.4 billion EPA announced for clean water infrastructure upgrades through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in February. Over $3.2 billion will be provided to the CWSRF when combined with Fiscal Year 2023 funding available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This investment reflects the Biden Administration’s commitment to strengthening the nation’s wastewater and stormwater systems, while providing significant resources for mitigating nonpoint source pollution and improving energy and water efficiency. It also addresses key challenges, including climate change and emerging contaminants like per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

See the state-by-state allocation of 2023 CWSRF funding.

See a breakdown of EPA CWSRF funding available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

 

Background

The CWSRFs have been the foundation of water infrastructure investments for more than 30 years, providing low-cost financing for local projects across America. Under the Clean Water programs, EPA provides funding to all 50 states and Puerto Rico to capitalize on SRF loan programs. For the base programs, the states and Puerto Rico contribute an additional 20 percent to match the federal grants. The 51 SRF programs function like infrastructure banks by providing low-interest loans to eligible recipients for clean water infrastructure projects. As the loan principal and interest are repaid over time, it allows the state’s CWSRF to be recycled or “revolve.” As money is returned to the state’s revolving loan fund, the state makes new loans to other eligible recipients. These funds can also be combined with Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding and EPA’s Water Infrastructure and Finance Innovation Act (WIFIA) loans to create a powerful, innovative financing solution for major infrastructure projects.

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

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 EPA Press Office:

Biden-Harris Administration Announces $126,864,000 Investment for Clean Water Infrastructure Upgrades in New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands

NEW YORK (March 31, 2023) - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced over $126,864,000 from the 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act for states, Tribes, and territories through this year’s Clean Water State Revolving Funds (CWSRF) in the states of New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The funding will help communities upgrade essential wastewater and stormwater systems to protect public health and treasured water bodies across the nation.

“Too many communities across the country are facing challenges with water infrastructure – from climate impacts like drought vulnerability, to a lack of basic wastewater services that everyone deserves,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda is getting unprecedented investments in clean water to communities that need them most. This funding paired with this historic funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will support local economies while advancing projects in communities to help ensure clean, safe water for residents.”

“This major investment translates into replacing or repairing aging wastewater infrastructure, implementing water reuse and recycling, as well as addressing stormwater,” said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “EPA is committed to getting these critical water resources to underserved and disadvantaged communities.”

EPA has announced the following:

• New York will receive $83,628,000
• New Jersey will receive $30,963,000
• Puerto Rico will receive $9,883,000
• U.S. Virgin Islands will receive $2,390,000

Administrator Regan announced the funding as part of a $775 million investment on the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America tour in Clayton, North Carolina with Congressman Wiley Nickel, highlighting the President’s historic funding for water infrastructure upgrades. President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is growing the American economy from the bottom up and middle-out – from rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure, to creating a manufacturing and innovation boom powered by good-paying jobs that don’t require a four-year degree, to building a clean-energy economy that will combat climate change and make our communities more resilient.

Today’s announcement builds on the second wave of $2.4 billion EPA announced for clean water infrastructure upgrades through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in February. Over $3.2 billion will be provided to the CWSRF when combined with Fiscal Year 2023 funding available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This investment reflects the Biden Administration’s commitment to strengthening the nation’s wastewater and stormwater systems, while providing significant resources for mitigating nonpoint source pollution and improving energy and water efficiency. It also addresses key challenges, including climate change and emerging contaminants like per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

See the state-by-state allocation of 2023 CWSRF funding.

See a breakdown of EPA CWSRF funding available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Background

The CWSRFs have been the foundation of water infrastructure investments for more than 30 years, providing low-cost financing for local projects across America. Under the Clean Water programs, EPA provides funding to all 50 states and Puerto Rico to capitalize on SRF loan programs. For the base programs, the states and Puerto Rico contribute an additional 20 percent to match the federal grants. The 51 SRF programs function like infrastructure banks by providing low-interest loans to eligible recipients for clean water infrastructure projects. As the loan principal and interest are repaid over time, it allows the state’s CWSRF to be recycled or “revolve.” As money is returned to the state’s revolving loan fund, the state makes new loans to other eligible recipients. These funds can also be combined with Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding and EPA’s Water Infrastructure and Finance Innovation Act (WIFIA) loans to create a powerful, innovative financing solution for major infrastructure projects.

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

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For further information: Contact: Carlos Vega, (212)-637-3662, vega.carlos@epa.gov

 EPA Press Office:

EPA releases 2021 Toxic Release Inventory data for Mid-Atlantic Region

Releases remained below Pre-Pandemic levels, including a decrease of nearly 40 percent in production-related waste releases since 2020

PHILADELPHIA (March XX, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released its 2021 Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) National Analysis, which shows that environmental releases of TRI chemicals from facilities across the nation covered by the program remained below pre-pandemic levels and releases in 2021 are 10% lower than 2012 releases, even with an 8% increase from 2020 to 2021.

In 2021, facilities also managed more than 89% of their TRI chemical waste through preferred practices such as recycling, energy recovery and treatment, while reporting that they released 11% of their TRI chemical waste into the environment.

“This TRI report clearly shows progress in reducing pollution in the Mid-Atlantic Region,” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. “This data not only provides a clear picture of how toxic materials are being handled in our region, but more importantly it displays the transparency our agency wants to have with our communities.”

The report also reveals that the EPA Mid-Atlantic Region, which includes Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and 7 Tribal Nations, has seen long-term decline in production related waste. In 2021, facilities in the EPA Mid-Atlantic Region reported managing 4.6 billion pounds of production related waste and releasing 120.4 million pounds of TRI chemicals into the environment. From 2012 to 2021, releases decreased by 39.7% from 200 million pounds and the recycling rates have tripled from 1.3 billion pounds to 3.9 billion pounds.

In 2021, the releases in the Mid-Atlantic Region were primarily driven by the electric utility sector (24.9%) and primary metal manufacturing sector (15.8%). From 2020 to 2021, there was in an increase in 21% of facilities that implemented new source reduction activities from 119 to 149, primarily in process and equipment modification and operating practices and training. Among the sectors with the highest source reduction reporting rates were chemicals and fabricated metals.

The 2021 TRI National Analysis summarizes TRI chemical waste management activities, including releases, that occurred during calendar year 2021. More than 21,000 facilities submitted reports on 531 chemicals requiring TRI reporting that they released into the environment or otherwise managed as waste. EPA, states and tribes receive TRI data from facilities in sectors such as manufacturing, mining, electric utilities and commercial hazardous waste management.

The 2021 Analysis features updated visualizations and analytical tools to make data more useful and accessible to communities, including the option to view data by region and watershed. EPA has also updated demographic information in the “Where You Live” mapping tool and in the Chemical Profiles section. Readers can view facility locations with overlayed demographic data to identify potential exposure to TRI chemical releases in vulnerable communities. Community groups, policymakers, and other stakeholders can use this data, along with other environmental data, to better understand which communities may experience a disproportionate pollution burden and act at the local level.

In addition, this year the TRI National Analysis Sector Profiles highlights the plastic products manufacturing sector alongside the standard profiles for electric utilities, chemical manufacturing, and metal mining. This allows readers to learn about releases and waste management of TRI chemicals, as well as greenhouse gas emissions, from facilities in these sectors.

EPA is holding a public webinar on March 28, 2023, to give an overview of the 2021 TRI National Analysis. Register for the webinar.

To view local data and analysis, 2021 TRI National Analysis

Notable Trends in 2021

The National Analysis shows a 24% increase in the number of new pollution reduction activities facilities initiated from 2020 to 2021—a strong rebound after the decrease seen from 2019 to 2020. These activities include facilities implementing strategies like replacing TRI chemicals with less hazardous alternatives or reducing the amount of scrap they produce. Through both existing programs and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA offers grant opportunities to state and tribal technical assistance providers to help prevent pollution.

Industry professionals can also look at TRI reporting on pollution prevention to learn about best practices implemented at facilities.

Ethylene Oxide Reporting

TRI reporting also shows a 45% decrease in ethylene oxide releases from 2012 to 2021, driven by decreased air emissions. Although there was a 15% increase in releases compared to 2020, quantities of ethylene oxide released in 2021 are lower than pre-pandemic quantities from 2019. EPA also expanded reporting requirements for ethylene oxide and other chemicals to include additional facilities. Reporting from these facilities will appear for the first time in next year’s National Analyses.

PFAS Reporting

For the second time, the TRI National Analysis includes reporting on perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) following the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act. For Reporting Year 2021, 176 PFAS were reportable to TRI. Facilities reported managing 1.3 million pounds of these chemicals as waste. This is an increase from the 800,000 pounds in 2020 and is largely due to reporting on one PFAS, perfluorooctyl iodide, which EPA began requiring facilities to report in 2021. Most of the facilities that manage PFAS operate in the chemical manufacturing and hazardous waste management sectors. The hazardous waste management sector accounted for roughly 80% of the 108,334 pounds of PFAS released into the environment, primarily to regulated landfills.

Last December, EPA proposed a rule that would improve reporting on PFAS to TRI by eliminating an exemption that allows facilities to avoid reporting information on PFAS when those chemicals are used in small, or de minimis, concentrations. Because PFAS are used at low concentrations in many products, this rule would ensure covered industry sectors and federal facilities that make or use TRI-listed PFAS will no longer be able to rely on the de minimis exemption to avoid disclosing their PFAS releases and other waste management quantities for these chemicals.

To access the 2021 TRI Factsheets by region or state:

Fact sheets:

• 2021 TRI Factsheet for Region 3 | TRI Explorer | US EPA
• 2021 TRI Factsheet for Delaware | TRI Explorer | US EPA
• 2021 TRI Factsheet for District Of Columbia | TRI Explorer | US EPA
• 2021 TRI Factsheet for Maryland | TRI Explorer | US EPA
• 2021 TRI Factsheet for Pennsylvania | TRI Explorer | US EPA
• 2021 TRI Factsheet for Virginia | TRI Explorer | US EPA
• 2021 TRI Factsheet for West Virginia | TRI Explorer | US EPA

 EPA Press Office:

EPA and Colorado release final enforcement and compliance workplan to prioritize heavily polluted communities

DENVER (March 30, 2023) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 8 and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment released their final workplan to implement the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Advancing Environmental Justice through Enforcement and Compliance Assurance in Disproportionately Impacted Communities, which the agencies signed last year. The final workplan explains how the agencies will collaborate through enforcement and compliance to reduce pollution in communities overburdened by environmental and public health impacts.

“EPA is committed to doing more to reduce burdens in disproportionately impacted communities in Colorado by ensuring that enforcement actions result in tangible health and environmental benefits,” said Suzanne Bohan, director of EPA Region 8’s Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division. “We are looking forward to coordinating with CDPHE in our enforcement and compliance assurance work to reduce pollution and protect people’s health and quality of life.”

“We are going to leverage every tool we have to make sure that everyone has a healthy environment to be in,” said CDPHE Director of Environmental Health and Protection Trisha Oeth. “That means prioritizing areas that have more than their fair share of pollution to reduce negative environmental impacts.”

The focus areas of the final workplan include:

• Strategically targeting inspections in disproportionately impacted communities.
• Collaborating with state, local, and federal partners on enforcement and compliance assurance actions to reduce pollution burdens.
• Creating equitable opportunities for communities across Colorado to learn and engage with us about enforcement and compliance issues.

 

As an initial step in honoring the commitments outlined in the workplan, the EPA and CDPHE will host a virtual community engagement session on May 1^st at 5:30 PM to discuss the workplan in more detail and foster an open dialogue with Coloradans about holding regulated entities accountable for compliance with state and federal environmental laws. Community members can register here for the meeting and find meeting information on CDPHE’s upcoming community engagement opportunities calendar. The final workplan will help prioritize inspections and enforcement actions in communities of color and low-income communities.

Background

In Fall 2022, the two agencies sought community feedback before drafting the final workplan. The agencies received feedback on the draft workplan from more than 75 individuals, nonprofit organizations, and local governments. The EPA and CDPHE considered that feedback in the development of the final workplan. This effort is part of the broader Biden-Harris Administration priority of advancing environmental justice by engaging with and focusing on disproportionately impacted communities across the country.

For more information about environmental justice in Colorado visit:

•  CDPHE’s environmental justice webpage
•  EPA's Region 8 environmental justice webpage