Tuesday, June 18, 2024

EPA Marks National Pollinator Week, Emphasizing Commitment to Protecting Pollinators

EPA Press Release:

EPA Marks National Pollinator Week, Emphasizing Commitment to Protecting Pollinators

WASHINGTON – Yesterday, June 17, 2024, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael S. Regan issued a proclamation announcing June 17-23, 2024, as National Pollinator Week. This year’s proclamation underscores EPA’s commitment to protecting pollinators from pesticides, including through mitigation measures for several pesticides and the upcoming issuance of the final Herbicide Strategy to protect over 900 federally threatened and endangered species, including pollinators.

“Pollinators are essential to human and ecological survival, with more than 150 food crops depending on pollinators in the United States alone,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “They also help plants reproduce, which in turn helps keep the air we breathe clean, purifies the water we drink, and prevents erosion of the soils, protecting us from climate disasters. Now more than ever, we must act to protect them.”

EPA has taken many steps to address the potential effects of pesticides on pollinators. The agency proposed to register four new pesticide active ingredients that include protections for federally listed threatened or endangered species and for pollinators. EPA has also implemented measures to protect listed species and their critical habitats from the effects of three organophosphate insecticides. Those measures also help to protect pollinators.

This year, EPA expects to finalize the Herbicide Strategy, which will describe whether, how much, and where mitigations are needed to protect listed plant species and those listed species that depend on plants, including pollinators, from agricultural uses of most herbicides. EPA will use this strategy to proactively adopt mitigations as part of the registration of new herbicides and the reevaluation of currently registered herbicides – often years before EPA is required to adopt those mitigations under the Endangered Species Act.

In 2024, EPA also plans to release the first draft of its Insecticide Strategy focused on minimizing impacts to listed insect species, including many pollinators, for most insecticides.

Pollinator protection is everyone’s job. EPA remains committed to protecting pollinators from the effects of pesticides, and will continue working with our federal, state, and tribal partners, non-governmental organizations, and the public to support pollinator health and habitat.

Learn more about EPA’s pollinator protection efforts and how you can help pollinators by visiting Protecting Bees and Other Pollinators from Pesticides.

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

Monday, June 17, 2024

EPA Awards $1.5 million to Support Promoting Readiness and Enhancing Proficiency to Advance Reporting and Data Program

EPA Press Office:

EPA Awards $1.5 million to Support Promoting Readiness and Enhancing Proficiency to Advance Reporting and Data Program

EPA also seeks applications for second round funding opportunity for up to $2 million total over three years

WASHINGTON –Today June 17, US Environmental Protection Agency is announcing it recently awarded $1.5 million to three organizations through the Promoting Readiness and Enhancing Proficiency to Advance Reporting and Data (PREPARED) program. This will provide technical assistance to help enhance EPA grant recipients’ ability to generate data and information necessary to evaluate program outcomes and improve the ability to understand impacts for communities.

Currently, the agency is also seeking additional proposals to further support and enhance the data, reporting and evidence-building capacity of EPA grant recipients representing small, underserved and Tribal communities. Data, reporting and evidence-building are vitally important elements for EPA grant programs. However, a number of EPA grant recipients face capacity challenges in engaging in these activities. Many small, underserved communities and Tribes that are eligible for EPA grants sometimes choose not to apply for funding opportunities in part because of these capacity challenges. Through PREPARED program cooperative agreements, EPA seeks to fund technical assistance providers to equip communities with strategies, tools and training that enhance their capacity for data, reporting and evidence-building.

To support these efforts, EPA recently awarded:

$500,000 to the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth project will build community capacity on evidence-based approaches to advance data dissemination, reporting, and integration of lived community experiences for EPA and State Revolving Fund (Clean and Drinking Water Programs) applicants and grantees.
$500,000 to Palmetto Futures. The Palmetto Futures project will provide comprehensive capacity-building support to community-based organizations in the Gullah Geechee Corridor. Palmetto Futures’ initiative will focus on bolstering local organizations' capabilities to manage EPA projects by improving data proficiency and project reporting. Additionally, this project will conduct community engagement with organizations in the Gullah Geechee Corridor in coordination with their partner organization, the Gullah Geechee Chamber Foundation.
$500,000 to New Growth Innovation Network. The New Growth Innovation Network project will build individual, organizational, and collective capacity for would-be recipients of EPA funds in small, underserved, and/or Tribal Communities on data, reporting and evidence-building so that they are equipped to apply for future or current EPA grant opportunities.

More information on each awardee is available on the PREPARED website.

EPA is committed to implementing strategies designed to help small and underserved communities address data and reporting requirements for EPA grants. Consistent with longstanding agency policy for working with Tribal communities, EPA is committed to working with federally recognized Tribes in enhancing capacity to carry out program responsibilities affecting Tribal communities and the health and welfare of the populace, including capacity for data, reporting and evidence-building.

EPA intends to award up to an additional $2 million over three years to as many as four recipients. The Notice of Funding Opportunity is now posted on the grants.gov website under Funding Opportunity Announcement EPA-I-R-OCFO-02. Applications are due July 29, 2024, by 11:59 PM Eastern Time. More information about this funding opportunity is also available on the PREPARED website.

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

Friday, June 14, 2024

EPA awards $730k to support water quality monitoring and protect beachgoers in PNW, Alaska

EPA Press Office:

EPA awards $730k to support water quality monitoring and protect beachgoers in PNW, Alaska

SEATTLE – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced $9.75 million in grant funding to help coastal and Great Lakes communities protect the health of beachgoers. The funding will assist many states, Tribes, and territories in conducting water quality monitoring and public notification programs for their beaches.

“Every summer Americans flock to oceanside and Great Lakes beaches to enjoy recreation time with family and friends, making these important destinations as well as economic and tourism engines for our economy,” said Acting EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Bruno Pigott. “Protecting water quality at beaches is a priority for EPA and with these grants we are helping our state, Tribal, and local partners monitor water quality to ensure it is safe for residents and visitors.”

Under the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act, the EPA awards grants to eligible state, Tribal, and territorial applicants to help them and their local government partners monitor water quality at coastal and Great Lakes beaches. When bacteria levels are too high for safe swimming, these agencies notify the public by posting beach advisories or closings.

Since 2001, the EPA has awarded nearly $230 million in BEACH Act grants to test beach waters for illness-causing bacteria, identify the sources of pollution problems, and help notify the public. Three factors influenced the EPA’s allocations for the 2024 grant amounts: (1) the length of the beach season, (2) the number of miles of shoreline, and (3) the populations of coastal counties.

To be eligible for BEACH Act grants, states, Tribes, and territories must have coastal and Great Lakes recreational waters adjacent to beaches or similar points of access used by the public. They must also have a water quality standards program and EPA-approved numeric recreational water quality standards for coastal waters. Additionally, eligible entities must meet 11 performance criteria for implementing monitoring, assessment, and notification components of the beach program.

In Region 10, the EPA’s 2024 BEACH Act grant funding will be allocated to the following states, Tribes, and territories contingent upon their meeting the eligibility requirements:

Alaska $161,029

Oregon $235,103
Washington $280,192
Swinomish Indian Tribal Community $53,676

Learn more about the BEACH Act grants.

Check the relevant state, Tribal or territorial beach program website for closing or advisory information at a particular beach.

EPA Makes a Splash with Award of $315,000 to New York to Support Water Quality Monitoring at Beaches to Protect Public Health

EPA Press Office:

EPA Makes a Splash with Award of $315,000 to New York to Support Water Quality Monitoring at Beaches to Protect Public Health

NEW YORK (June 13, 2024) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $315,000 in grant funding to help New York's coastal and Great Lakes communities protect the health of beachgoers. The funding will assist New York in conducting water quality monitoring and public notification programs for their beaches.

“This funding helps keep beaches and coastal waters clean so that people can have fun, relax and enjoy all the beauty that New York coastlines have to offer,” said Lisa F. Garcia, Regional Administrator. “EPA funding is vital for successful beach monitoring and notification programs.”

“Protecting the health of beachgoers from bacteria in our waters is of the utmost importance for New Yorkers to enjoy this summer swimming season,” said Senate Majority Leader Schumer. “This federal EPA funding will help ensure safe water at both downstate beaches and Great Lakes beaches by giving New York the resources needed to closely monitor water quality.”

“As thousands of beachgoers enjoy New York’s coastal and Great Lakes beaches this summer, they deserve to enjoy the waters without a threat to their health,” said Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. “This federal funding will help local authorities monitor beach water quality and ensure that swimmers know when the waters are safe. I am proud to see EPA making this critical investment and will continue to fight to ensure all can safely enjoy New York’s beaches.”

"I have always called the Long Island Sound our 'National Park.' Safeguarding and conserving the Sound and our coastal beach areas has consistently been a priority of mine throughout my decades-long career in public service. This grant funding from the EPA will significantly contribute to guaranteeing that the water quality at our local beaches remains safe for everyone to enjoy throughout the entire summer season," said Representative Tom Suozzi (NY-03).

“Water quality monitoring and public notification programs are crucial to protecting public health and I thank the EPA for awarding this funding, especially as New Yorkers hit the beaches for the summer,” said Representative Grace Meng (NY-06). “As New York's representative on the House of Representatives’ Regional Leadership Council – which works to promote and implement legislation signed by President Biden – I am glad that critical federal funding continues to flow to our state.”

“Ensuring the resiliency of Great Lakes communities is a key part of protecting our environment and providing recreational opportunities for our families,” said Representative Joe Morelle (NY-25). “I’m grateful to the Environmental Protection Agency and the Biden Administration for their ongoing commitment to investing in New York’s shoreline communities as both economic and recreational assets—including this latest $315,000 grant to support water quality monitoring and beach public notification programs. I look forward to continuing to work alongside the EPA to safeguard our Great Lakes for generations to come.”

“New York State is home to many beautiful beaches from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean, and we encourage people to get out and enjoy these areas this summer,” New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. “These BEACH Act grants through the Environmental Protection Agency will allow communities to keep their beaches safe for all New Yorkers, while allowing the Department and our partners to monitor beach water quality and share information with the public to ensure everyone can enjoy safe and healthy beach days.”

Under the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act, the EPA awards grants to eligible state, tribal, and territorial applicants to help them and their local government partners monitor water quality at coastal and Great Lakes beaches. When bacteria levels are too high for safe swimming, these agencies notify the public by posting beach advisories or closings.

More information on BEACH Act grants.

Check the relevant state, Tribal or territorial beach program website for closing or advisory information at a particular beach.

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

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EPA to Award $9.75 Million in Grants to Support Water Quality Monitoring and Protect the Health of Beachgoers

EPA Press Office:

EPA to Award $9.75 Million in Grants to Support Water Quality Monitoring and Protect the Health of Beachgoers

WASHINGTON – Today, June 13, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced $9.75 million in grant funding to help coastal and Great Lakes communities protect the health of beachgoers. The funding will assist many states, Tribes, and territories in conducting water quality monitoring and public notification programs for their beaches.

The EPA’s 2024 BEACH Act grant funding will be allocated to the following states, Tribes, and territories contingent upon their meeting the eligibility requirements:

EPA Region 1
Connecticut $206,000
Maine $254,000
Massachusetts $254,000
New Hampshire $194,000
Rhode Island $210,000

EPA Region 2
New Jersey $258,000
New York $315,000
Puerto Rico $319,000
U.S. Virgin Islands $302,000

EPA Region 3
Delaware $209,000
Maryland $258,000
Pennsylvania $214,000
Virginia $263,000

EPA Region 4
Alabama $260,000
Florida $478,000
Georgia $279,000
Mississippi $256,000
North Carolina $293,000
South Carolina $289,000

EPA Region 5
Illinois $232,000
Indiana $205,000
Michigan $260,000
Minnesota $203,000
Ohio $216,000
Wisconsin $220,000
Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians $50,000
Grand Portage Band of Minnesota Chippewa Tribe $50,000
Keweenaw Bay Indian Community $50,000

EPA Region 6
Louisiana $347,000
Texas $373,000

EPA Region 9
American Samoa $302,000
California $477,000
Guam $302,000
Hawaii $319,000
Northern Mariana Islands $303,000

EPA Region 10
Alaska $161,029
Oregon $235,103
Washington $280,192
Swinomish Indian Tribal Community $53,676

Learn more about the BEACH Act grants.

Check the relevant state, Tribal or territorial beach program website for closing or advisory information at a particular beach.

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

WaterSense Labeled Products Helped American Businesses and Homeowners Save Over a Trillion Gallons of Water in 2023

EPA Press Office:

WaterSense Labeled Products Helped American Businesses and Homeowners Save Over a Trillion Gallons of Water in 2023

WASHINGTON—Today, June 12, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense program has made it easy for consumers and businesses to save trillions of gallons of water. In 2023, alone WaterSense labeled products helped save 1.2 trillion gallons of water. Since the conception of the WaterSense label, EPA has helped save nearly 8.7 trillion gallons of water, which is the amount of water that is used by all U.S. households in a year.

“By reducing the energy associated with delivering, heating, and treating that water, EPA’s WaterSense program has also reduced a significant amount of greenhouse gas emissions,” said EPA Director of the Office of Wastewater Management Dr. Andrew Sawyers. “We’re proud to have helped American businesses and homes save over a trillion gallons of water in 2023 alone.”

WaterSense, a partnership program sponsored by EPA, is both a label for water-efficient products and a resource for helping you save water. WaterSense seeks to protect the future of the nation’s water supply by offering Americans a simple guide to use less water with water-efficient products, homes, and services. WaterSense labeled products are independently certified to use 20% less water and perform as well or better than standard models. The program was launched in 2006, and there are more than 45,900 labeled toilets, faucets, faucet accessories, showerheads, irrigation controllers, and spray sprinkler bodies; and more than 10,000 WaterSense labeled homes.

More than 2,200 utilities, communities, manufacturers, home builders, retailers, and other organizations have partnered with WaterSense to create and promote toilets, faucets, showerheads, spray sprinkler bodies, irrigation controllers, and homes that are independently certified to use less water while maintaining performance. With an easy-to-spot label, WaterSense makes it easy to save not just water but also energy and money on utility bills.

Since 2006, WaterSense labeled products have helped save 997 billion kilowatt hours of electricity in the United States—enough energy to supply a year’s worth of power to more than 92 million homes—and eliminated more than 379 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, which is the equivalent of removing more than 90 million cars from the roads for a year. Using WaterSense labeled products has also saved consumers $207 billion in water and energy bills over the past 17 years.

To make it easy to find plumbing and irrigation products that are certified to save water and perform well, consumers and businesses can search for WaterSense labeled products. Learn more about the 2023 WaterSense Accomplishments report.

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

Biden-Harris Administration Announces National Strategy to Reduce Food Loss and Waste and Recycle Organics

EPA Press Office:

Biden-Harris Administration Announces National Strategy to Reduce Food Loss and Waste and Recycle Organics  

Joint efforts will reduce waste, increase recycling of organics, reduce climate pollution, save families and businesses money, and support a circular economy for all 

WASHINGTON – Today, June 12, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, announced the “National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss and Waste and Recycling Organics” as part of President Biden’s whole-of-government approach to tackle climate change, feed people, address environmental justice, and promote a circular economy.

The strategy released today provides tangible goals that the U.S. government partners along with retailers and consumers can work toward to help further prevent the loss and waste of food, increase recycling of food and other organic materials to support a more circular economy for all, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save households and businesses money, and build cleaner, healthier communities. This strategy is also a deliverable in the Biden-Harris Administration’s National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, released in conjunction with the historic White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in September 2022.

“Each year, too much food produced in the United States ends up in landfills instead of on dining room tables. This hurts our economy by raising the cost of food and contributing to climate pollution,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “The National Strategy we are announcing today provides a comprehensive set of actions that the Biden-Harris Administration will take to reduce waste and protect our environment while improving food security and saving money for families and businesses.” 

“USDA is committed to reducing food loss and waste, facilitating many programs and activities to assist farmers, producers, communities and businesses,” said U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “This National Strategy charts a course to reduce our nation's food loss and waste by 50% by 2030, and I am proud of the actions outlined for USDA and our Federal partners. Everyone has a role to play in reducing food loss and waste, and I hope that these federal commitments will inspire and catalyze action in the private sector and communities around the US.”

“The FDA is committed to completing the actions outlined in the National Strategy that incentivize and encourage food loss and waste prevention and organics recycling,” said FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf, M.D. “Along with the FDA, USDA and EPA efforts, U.S. consumers and retailers play an important role in meeting the National Strategy’s goal of reducing food loss and waste by 2030. As part of the release of this Strategy, the FDA has made important resources available to guide, support, and accelerate their food loss and waste activities including the 2022 Food Code, Tips to Reduce Food Waste and the Food Loss and Waste Social Media Toolkit. We encourage all stakeholders to take advantage of these resources as we work together to reduce food loss and waste.”

Recent EPA research shows that 58% of methane emissions released to the atmosphere from landfills are from food waste. Each year in the U.S., food loss and waste create potent greenhouse gas pollutants equal to the emissions of 60 coal-fired power plants. The strategy aims to prevent and divert organic waste from landfills to reduce GHG emissions and highlights opportunities, especially where there are environmental justice concerns, to build community-scale organics recycling infrastructure, reduce pollution and create jobs.  

The strategy drives progress toward the National Food Loss and Waste Reduction Goal to reduce the loss and waste of food by 50% by 2030. In 2021, EPA updated its U.S. baseline to align the 2030 goal with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal Target 12.3, which aims to reduce the amount of food from food retail, food service, and households that has been removed from the human supply chain. In addition, this goal supports the U.S. Methane Emissions Reduction Action Plan. Because methane is both a powerful GHG and short-lived compared to carbon dioxide, achieving significant reductions to food loss and waste would have a rapid and significant effect on reducing GHG emissions. 

The strategy highlights four objectives: 

Objective 1: Prevent food loss.

Objective 2: Prevent food waste. 

Objective 3: Increase the recycling rate for all organic waste.  

Objective 4: Support policies that incentivize and encourage the prevention of food loss and waste and organics recycling.

For each objective, the strategy highlights actions that EPA, FDA, or USDA could take. Examples of specific EPA actions include:

Develop and lead a national consumer education and behavior change campaign. 
Test innovative approaches to reducing food waste across the supply chain. 
Support the development of additional organics recycling infrastructure through grants and other assistance for all communities, and especially those that are underserved. 
Expand the market for products made from recycled organic waste.

Access the final strategy. 

Background  

In the U.S., more than one-third (nearly 100 million tons per year) of the municipal waste stream is organic waste, of which food is the majority. Wasting food impacts the climate, releases air pollutants, contributes to water scarcity and biodiversity loss, and degrades soil and water quality.  
One-third of all available food goes uneaten. (USDA) 
24% of municipal solid waste in landfills is food waste. (EPA) 
Globally, food loss and waste represent 8% of anthropogenic GHG emissions (4.4 gigatons of carbon dioxide equivalent annually). (United Nations) 
58% of methane emissions released to the atmosphere from municipal solid waste landfills is from food waste. (EPA) 
In the U.S., the average family of four spends $1,500 each year on food that ends up uneaten. (USDA)

In addition to the release of this national strategy, EPA is funding projects announced at the end of 2023 for nearly $200 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding through the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling program, as well as Recycling Education and Outreach grants, which is the largest federal investment in recycling in 30 years. Both of these programs advance the President’s Justice40 Initiative, which set the goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. Over $83 million of the new funding will support 72 projects that include organics recycling, composting, or anaerobic digestion. The activities outlined in these projects are critical in mitigating the effects of climate change. 

Learn more about:

White House National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health.

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

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Tuesday, June 18, 2024