EPA Press Office:

EPA Requires Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority to Upgrade Sewage Infrastructure Under Modified Agreement

Agreement Will Reduce Sewage and Wastewater Pollution and Protect Public Health Across the Island

WASHINGTON (July 10, 2023) – Pursuant to a settlement modification with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Justice, the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA) has agreed to make major improvements and upgrades to the island’s sanitary collection system and wastewater treatment plants. These upgrades will allow the water utility to focus its resources on a reduced number of better-operated and more efficient facilities; meet certain revised schedules for specified wastewater infrastructure projects; and execute 17 new wastewater projects, which, on their own, are estimated to cost $534 million. PRASA has also agreed to increase transparency with the public regarding the occurrence of Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs).

 

This modification updates and expands upon several obligations contained in a 2016 Consent Decree.  EPA and DOJ agreed to modify the 2016 agreement in consideration of damages caused by hurricanes Irma and Maria, as well as changed financial circumstances that made it difficult for PRASA to comply with certain requirements and deadlines. The improvements will supplement projects that are currently being implemented and part of PRASA's Capital Improvement Program.

"The people of Puerto Rico deserve access to clean water and major improvements to their water infrastructure are overdue,” said Larry Starfield, Acting Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “This revised agreement requires PRASA to improve the collection and treatment of domestic sewage and wastewater, which is key to public health.”

The injunctive relief in the Consent Decree and this modification is estimated to amount to over $1.2 billion of infrastructure projects, including consolidation of several facilities that were affected by the hurricanes into more resilient plants, and construction or improvement of sanitary sewer infrastructure at underserved communities to address environmental justice concerns. The agreement ensures the decommissioning of antiquated and ineffective wastewater treatment plants at Arecibo and Camuy along with the diversion of the wastewater to the Barceloneta Wastewater Treatment Plant, a secondary and more efficient treatment facility. 

Certain of PRASA’s previous obligations remain unchanged, including its obligation to undertake a comprehensive operation and maintenance program in the Puerto Nuevo sanitary sewer system and a comprehensive analysis of the system to determine whether further investments must be made to ensure that the system is brought into legal compliance, and to conduct immediate repairs at specific areas of concern. For the Puerto Nuevo sewer system, the public will be provided with information on PRASA’s website concerning where CSOs occur within the system, and there will be extensions of time to complete reconnaissance and cleaning activities for priority areas of concern identified within the sewer system.

The settlement, lodged on June 29, 2023 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, is subject to a 30-day public comment period and subsequent approval by the federal court. Read the settlement on the Department of Justice website.

EPA Announces Nearly $500,000 in Grant Funding for High-Risk Houston Communities

 USEPA News Release:

EPA Announces Nearly $500,000 in Grant Funding for High-Risk Houston Communities

DALLAS, TEXAS (July 10th, 2023) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that the Houston Health Department will receive grant funding to support community monitoring of hazardous air pollutants in high-risk areas and promote air quality providing information to regulators and residents. Under the Biden-Harris Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act, the grant of $499,982 will go toward community air monitoring projects in the Houston area.

“The Inflation Reduction Act has continued to fund critical projects that improve public health and assist in overcoming environmental challenges,” said Regional Administrator Dr. Earthea Nance. “Together with this grant funding we are proud to see communities, representatives and environmental groups unite in supporting a healthy environment for all. I would like to thank all the groups and individuals who helped support this project and for keeping our communities safe and healthy.”  

“I’m proud of these nearly $500,000 that will enhance the air quality monitoring in high-risk environmental justice communities in my district,” said Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia. “This will help improve the Houston area’s local air quality and educate residents on the hazards of air pollutants. This is a direct result of President Biden’s Investing in America act.”

“This grant will enhance air quality monitoring in communities that have long experienced disproportionate impacts from air pollution and other environmental injustices throughout the 18^th Congressional district, such as Fifth Ward, Galena Park, Pleasantville & Sunnyside,” said Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. Many individuals in these communities are unaware of the quality of air that they are breathing in, which can have long term and life-threatening health impacts.”

 “Sunnyside, a historically Black neighborhood in Houston founded over 100 years ago, has endured environmental discrimination throughout its existence. It became the location for a garbage incinerator, multiple landfills and various industrial plants that serviced the city. After rightful protestations and determined efforts, significant improvements have been made in Sunnyside. One notable groundbreaking project that received federal funding, I was able to secure, is helping to transform a closed landfill into a Solar Farm,” said Congressman Al Green. “However, the air quality in Sunnyside remains a concern. In 2021 alone, the Houston Health Department received over 40 air pollution complaints from the area’s ZIP codes. EPA’s 2014 data indicates a known cancer risk in this area and the risk has increased by 218%. I am gratified that this project aims to enhance air quality monitoring in the area, educating the community accordingly, and generating sustainable solutions for air quality concerns. I thank the Environmental Protection Agency for taking these steps to address the environmental discrimination Sunnyside has experienced for far too long.”

This project will allow the Health Department alongside community members, to gather information about the sources and levels of the toxic air pollution in this community,” said Dr. Loren Hopkins, Chief Environmental Science Officer of the Houston Health Department. “We will use that information to inform changes in regulation to improve the health of individuals in these communities.

The City of Houston’s community monitoring will target four hazardous air pollutants that potentially pose risk to communities which are 1,3-butadiene, benzene, formaldehyde, and ethylene oxide. The project has three components, monitoring, education, and action, each to be carried out in partnership with the City of Houston Health Department and community partners. Secondly, a community-focused mobile air monitoring platform approach will be utilized by the community to monitor for air toxic emissions. Lastly, a third monitoring approach will monitor for concentrations of formaldehyde for one year at or in the vicinity of the Milby Park fixed site monitor. Additional areas of focus will include areas such as Meadowbrook/Allendale, Park Place, and Pecan Park and neighborhoods containing the ZIP codes 77012 and 77017. With these goals in mind, each component is crafted to be jointly led by the health department and community partnership as a team.  

This project has shown support from local environmental and grassroots groups such as the Air Alliance Houston, Houston Wilderness, Community Lattice and neighborhood group Botanic Gardens. Several school districts and a city council member have shown support such as the Milby and Chavez High School and Council Member Robert Gallegos. The partnership between these groups and the Houston Health Department will assist with reducing harmful air pollutants in the air and strive to educate the public on the dangers of toxic air emissions.  

The grant is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s historic funding packages to invest in and strengthen our nation’s communities.

EPA and Congressmembers to Present the Houston Health Department with Grant Funds

 USEPA Media Advisory:

EPA and Congressmembers to Present the Houston Health Department with Grant Funds

(DALLAS, TEXAS – July 10th, 2023) On Monday, officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Houston Health Department and U.S. Congressmembers will gather at the Houston Botanic Garden to announce EPA’s nearly $500,000 grant to the Houston Health Department for air monitoring in environmental justice communities. The grant is funded through the Inflation Reduction Act, part of President Bidens’ Investing in America agenda.

WHAT:               Announcing Air Monitoring Grant for Houston Communities  

 

WHO:                EPA Regional Administrator Dr. Earthea Nance

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, US Congress, TX-18

Rep. Al Green, US Congress, TX-9

Rep. Sylvia Garcia, US Congress, TX-29

Dr. Loren Hopkins, Chief Environmental Science Officer, Houston Health Department

                            

 

 

WHERE:             Houston Botanic Garden, 1 Botanic Lane Houston, TX 77017

 

WHEN:               Monday, July 10^th

                             11:00 AM-11:45 AM (CST)

                         

 

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 EPA Press Office:

EPA Seeks Public Comment on Plan to Clean Up Contaminated Sediment at Quanta Resources Superfund Site in Edgewater, NJ

Contact: Stephen McBay, (212)-637-3672, mcbay.stephen@epa.gov

 

NEW YORK (July 7, 2023) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking public input on its proposed cleanup plan to address contaminated sediment and surface water at the Quanta Resources Superfund site in Edgewater, New Jersey. A 30-day public comment period for the proposed plan begins July 7, 2023. EPA will host a public meeting at the Edgewater Community Center Gymnasium at 1167 River Road Edgewater, New Jersey, 07020, on July 25, 2023, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. to explain the new cleanup proposal.

“EPA’s proposed cleanup plan will target a contaminated area of the Hudson River in Edgewater, where past industrial activities on the land have polluted the water and sediment,” said Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “Community input is key to our work on Superfund sites. EPA invites the public to join our meeting and get informed about the Quanta site and our proposed plan.”

The cleanup outlined in today’s proposed plan will address the sediment and surface water contamination in an area of the site called Operable Unit 2 (OU2). Sediment in OU2 is contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), highly concentrated tar-like material referred to as non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL), and arsenic. Under the proposed plan, EPA would oversee work to:

• Demolish the 115 River Road pier structure and remove other pilings and structures within the contaminated area.
• Remove contaminated sediment to depths ranging from 10 to 30 feet and take it to a licensed facility off-site for disposal.
• Place a cap over less contaminated areas of the river bottom to lock in residual contamination.
• Establish “institutional” controls such as navigational restrictions, signs prohibiting swimming, wading or fishing, and other use restrictions to protect the cap.
• Monitor sediment and surface water long-term to assess the effectiveness of the cleanup in preventing the migration of contaminants from sediment to surface water and maintaining the cap as needed.

Written comments on the EPA’s new proposed plan may be mailed or emailed to Thomas Dobinson, Remedial Project Manager, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 290 Broadway – 19th Floor, New York, NY 10007, Email: Dobinson.Thomas@epa.gov.

For additional background and to see the proposed cleanup plan, visit the Quanta Resources Superfund site profile page.

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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 EPA Press Office:

EPA announces nearly $4 million for water systems in underserved communities across PNW and Alaska

SEATTLE (June 30, 2023) – This week the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced nearly $4 million in grant funds to disadvantaged communities in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington to support access to clean and safe drinking water. 

“We’re proud to partner with state and local governments to bring drinking water to underserved communities across the Pacific Northwest and Alaska,” said EPA Region 10 Administrator Casey Sixkiller. “By working together we are expanding access and ensuring that the water coming out of the faucet is safe for you and your family.” 

Funds will support projects and activities in underserved, small, and disadvantaged communities. These projects will promote access to safe drinking water, invest in water infrastructure and improve compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act.   

The grant is part of an overall $50.4 million in annual funding that EPA is providing to states and territories nationwide.  

EPA will allocate funds to applicable state agencies in the following amounts:  

• Alaska - $1,157,000 
• Idaho - $642,000 
• Oregon - $826,000 
• Washington - $1,165,000 

The funding is provided by the Small, Underserved, and Disadvantaged Community grant program, established under the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act.  

States and territories may apply for and receive grants on a non-competitive basis. EPA awards funding to states that are eligible based on factors that include populations below the poverty level, small water systems, and underserved communities. 

States that apply for the grant will be able to use funds to help communities address drinking water concerns. Activities may include testing household water quality, monitoring for unregulated drinking water contaminants, and infrastructure improvement projects. Other efforts may help build technical, financial, and managerial abilities of water system operations and staff. Communities interested in this grant may contact staff with their state’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program. 

For more information, visit the WIIN SUDC Grant website.  

Contact Information: R10 Press Team (r10_press_team@epa.gov) 206-900-4344

 EPA Press Office:

EPA Announces New Framework to Prevent Unsafe New PFAS from Entering the Market

WASHINGTON (June 29, 2023) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its framework for addressing new and new uses of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The framework outlines EPA’s planned approach when reviewing new PFAS and new uses of PFAS to ensure that, before these chemicals are allowed to enter into commerce, EPA will undertake an extensive evaluation to ensure they pose no harm to human health and the environment. The framework supports the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to address the impacts of these forever chemicals and advances EPA’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap to confront the human health and environmental risks of PFAS pollution.

 

“For decades, PFAS have been released into the environment without the necessary measures in place to protect people’s health – but with this framework, EPA is working to reduce the risk posed by these persistent contaminants,” said Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Michal Freedhoff. “EPA’s new framework will ensure that before any new PFAS enter the market, these chemicals are extensively evaluated and pose no risk to people’s health or the environment.” 

 

Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) section 5, EPA is required to review new chemicals, including new PFAS and new uses of PFAS, within 90 days, assess the potential risks to human health and the environment of the chemical, and make one of five possible risk determinations. When potential risks are identified, EPA must take action to mitigate those risks before the chemical can enter commerce.

 

New PFAS present a challenge for EPA to evaluate because there is often insufficient information to quantify the risk they may pose and consequently to make effective decisions about how to regulate them. Many PFAS are known to persist and bioaccumulate (i.e., build up) in the environment and people and pose potential risks not only to those who directly manufacture, process, distribute, use, and dispose of the chemical substance but also to the public, including communities who may be exposed to PFAS pollution or waste and already overburdened communities. This framework will be used to qualitatively assess PFAS that are likely persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) chemicals.

 

The New Framework

Under the framework, EPA expects that some PBT PFAS will not result in worker, general population or consumer exposure and are not expected to result in releases to the environment, such as when PFAS are used in a closed system with occupational protections as is generally the practice in the manufacture of some semiconductors and other electronic components. In such a negligible exposure and environmental release scenario, if EPA can ensure that such PBT PFAS can be disposed of properly and no consumer exposure is expected, EPA generally expects to allow the PFAS or the new use of a PFAS to enter commerce after receiving basic information, such as physical-chemical property data, about the substance.  If the initial data cause concern, then EPA will require additional testing and risk mitigation before moving forward.

 

For PBT PFAS that are expected to have a low - but greater than negligible - potential for release and environmental exposure, EPA generally expects to require test data in addition to physical chemical properties, such as toxicokinetic data, before allowing manufacturing to commence. If initial test results cause concern, then EPA will require additional testing and risk mitigation before moving forward.

 

For PBT PFAS that are expected to lead to exposure and environmental releases, and absent a critical use or military need for the substance that necessitates limited and restricted manufacture while testing is ongoing, EPA generally expects that the substance would not be allowed to enter commerce before extensive testing is conducted on physical/chemical properties, toxicity and fate. For example, use of PFAS in spray-applied stain guards inherently involves releases to the environment.   If the test results cause concern, then EPA could require additional testing and risk mitigation before moving forward, or could prevent the substance from being manufactured at all.

 

By distinguishing uses that could result in environmental releases and those with expected worker, community, or consumer exposure, from those that won’t, as well as requiring upfront testing for many PFAS, the application of the Framework will help ensure that any new PFAS won’t harm human health and the environment. At the same time, it also will allow certain PFAS to be used when exposures and releases can be mitigated, and where such use is critical for important sectors like semiconductors. These policy changes are aligned with the EPA PFAS Strategic Roadmap and help prevent any unsafe new PFAS from entering the environment or harming human health.

 

The data EPA will obtain on physical/chemical properties for any new PBT PFAS under this Framework and more extensive toxicity and fate data for PFAS with potential exposures or releases will also support EPA’s efforts under the National PFAS Testing Strategy and advance the Agency’s understanding of PFAS more broadly.

 

The Framework will apply to new PFAS or new use notices that are currently under EPA review, as well as any that EPA may receive in the future. This summer, EPA will offer a public webinar about the Framework. The date, time, and registration information will be announced soon.

Learn more about the Framework.

 EPA Press Office:

EPA and Congresswoman Velázquez Announce $7 Billion Solar for All Grant Competition at Community Workshop in Brooklyn, New York

EPA seeking applications through the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to deploy residential solar in low-income and overburdened communities

Contact: Stephen McBay, (212)-637-3672, mcbay.stephen@epa.gov

NEW YORK (June 29, 2023) - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) joined Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez and New York State leaders at a community workshop in Brooklyn, New York, to discuss the $7 billion grant competition through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to support millions of low-income households across the country in accessing affordable, resilient, and clean solar energy, and advance environmental justice.

“This is a game-changing moment for environmental justice and solar energy in America,” said Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “EPA is unleashing a massive wave of solar investments that will give millions of low-income households access to clean and resilient energy, save money on their bills, and creating jobs in their communities, providing everyone a fair share of the clean energy economy.”

“The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund grants coming out of the Inflation Reduction Act are giving our country an opportunity to ensure environmental justice and clean energy can become a reality,” said Congresswoman Velázquez. “With this $7 billion Solar for All competitive grant funding, we will not only make significant progress towards providing clean solar energy to millions of working families, but we will also help create jobs and new economic opportunities in our communities.”

The Solar for All competition, which was created by the Inflation Reduction Act’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF), will expand the number of low-income and disadvantaged communities primed for residential solar investment by awarding up to 60 grants to states, territories, Tribal governments, municipalities, and nonprofits to create and expand low-income solar programs that provide financing and market-building technical assistance, such as workforce development, to enable residential solar deployment in underserved communities. 

The new program will fund projects to expand existing low-income solar programs and develop and implement new Solar for All programs nationwide. Solar for All programs ensure low-income households have equitable access to residential rooftop and residential community solar power, often by providing financial support and incentives to communities that were previously locked out of investments. In addition, these programs guarantee low-income households receive the benefits of distributed solar including household savings, community ownership, energy resiliency, and other benefits. 

Residential solar generation cuts home energy bills and provides families with resilient and secure power. By investing in residential solar, the program will reduce the pollution produced from powering our homes to improve air quality and public health outcomes, all while creating good-paying jobs in the clean energy economy.

The Solar for All program advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to ensure that 40% of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved, and overburdened by pollution. The program will also help meet the President’s goal of achieving a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035 and net zero emissions economy by no later than 2050.

This investment was made possible by President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, which is growing the American economy from the bottom up and middle-out – from rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure, to driving over $470 billion in private sector manufacturing and clean energy investments in the United States, to creating good paying jobs and building a clean-energy economy that will combat climate change and make our communities more resilient.

Solar for All Eligibility and Application Information

The deadline to apply to this competitive grant competition is September 26, 2023. Eligible applicants to Solar for All include states, territories, Tribal governments, municipalities, and eligible nonprofit recipients. Coalitions, led by an eligible lead applicant, are also eligible to apply to this competition. Additional detail on eligibility can be found in Section III of the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

EPA intends to make up to 60 awards under this competition with three award options for applicants. These award options will include:

1. State and Territory Programs: Awards for programs that serve a specific state or territory geography
2. American Indian and Alaska Native Programs: Awards for programs that serve American Indian and Alaska Native communities
3. Multi-state Programs: Awards for programs that serve similar communities that face similar barriers to residential distributed solar deployment in multiple states

EPA anticipates issuing awards of varying amounts, calibrated to the number of households the applicant intends the program to serve. Applicants for all three award options can apply for a small-sized program ($25 - $100 million), a medium-sized program ($100 - $250 million), or a large-sized program ($250 - $400 million). Applicants to Solar for All can submit separate applications to one or multiple of the three options. The final quantity of awards will be determined by the number and quality of the applications as well as the optimal combination of awards across the three award options to achieve maximum geographic coverage and benefits of the Solar for All competition.

EPA has published the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for this competitive grant competition on grants.gov.

To compete in this competition, all applicants are required to submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) to apply to this competition. The deadline for the NOI differs by applicant type and are:

• July 31, 2023, for states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico;
• August 14, 2023, for territories (specifically, The Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands), municipalities, and eligible nonprofit recipients; or
• August 28, 2023, for Tribal governments and Intertribal Consortia.

Public Briefing

EPA’s Solar for All competition will host a public briefing on the NOFO release tomorrow, June 29^th, 2023, 3:00pm – 3:15pm ET (Register Here). The post-release briefing will be recorded and posted on EPA’s GGRF webpage.

Informational Webinar

EPA’s Solar for All competition will host at least one informational webinar to provide information on the Solar for All grant competition and the application process on July 12^th, 2023, 1:00pm – 3:00pm ET (Register Here). The webinar will be recorded and posted on EPA’s GGRF webpage.

Tools and resources for prospective grantees, including webinar links and helpful templates, can be found on EPA’s GGRF webpage.

Additional Background:

The President’s Inflation Reduction Act authorized the EPA to create and implement the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, a historic $27 billion investment to combat the climate crisis by mobilizing financing and private capital for greenhouse gas- and air pollution-reducing projects in communities across the country. In addition to the $7 billion Solar for All competition, EPA will also launch a $14 billion National Clean Investment Fund (NCIF) grant competition to expand deployment of clean technologies at a national scale and a $6 billion Clean Communities Investment Accelerator (CCIA) grant competition to build local clean financing capacity through community lenders. EPA plans to release the NOFOs for these two competitions in the coming weeks.

Together, the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund’s National Clean Investment Fund, the Clean Communities Investment Accelerator, and Solar for All competitions will spur the deployment of residential solar energy to lower energy bills for millions of Americans, provide resilient and clean power to communities, and catalyze transformation in markets serving low-income and disadvantaged communities. Each of these competitions advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative while expanding good-paying job opportunities in domestic industries.

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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