EPA Press Office:

EPA Finalizes Cleanup Plan for Welsbach & General Gas Mantle Superfund Site (Camden Radiation) at Gloucester Marine Terminal in New Jersey

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

Gloucester City and Camden, N.J. (Jan. 16, 2025) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has finalized changes that add measures to its cleanup plan to address radiological contamination at the former Welsbach Facility at the Welsbach & General Gas Mantle (Camden Radiation) Superfund Site. The former Welsbach Facility is located within the footprint of the Gloucester Marine Terminal in Gloucester City and Camden, New Jersey. These changes adapt the original plan to address some additional radioactive material that was found at the site, while minimizing disruptions to the port facility’s operations.

“This updated cleanup plan highlights EPA’s ongoing commitment to protecting public health and ensuring a safe environment for the port communities,” said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “We continuously assess conditions and adapt our strategies to ensure the cleanup remains scientifically sound while accommodating the ongoing operations at the Gloucester Marine Terminal.”

The amended cleanup plan focuses on addressing radiological contamination at the former Welsbach Facility. The plan adds key actions that include:

• Removal of radiologically contaminated soil and waste material from selected areas at the Gloucester Marine Terminal, including under buildings, to a depth of approximately 10 feet.
• Disposal of excavated material at an off-site, licensed, and EPA-approved facility.
• Backfilling of excavated areas with clean soil to restore the site.
• Restoring paved areas to their previous condition.
• Implementing institutional controls, such as deed restrictions, to limit access to remaining contaminated areas.

EPA’s changes to the original cleanup plan are necessary after EPA found a greater volume and depth of soil contamination than initially assessed, including radiologically contaminated materials beneath structures at the port facility. Removing these materials would significantly increase the original cleanup costs, delay the project, and cause major disruptions to port operations. EPA’s study on current site conditions confirms that the amended cleanup plan will protect public health and the safety of port workers, even with some contamination remaining at depth and under certain structures after the cleanup is completed. Removal of contaminated material under structures would only be completed if and when the property owner demolishes those structures.

EPA added the Welsbach & General Gas Mantle (Camden Radiation) site to the federal Superfund list in 1996. Because of the nature, size and complexity of the site, EPA divided the investigation and cleanup into multiple phases. In 1999, EPA selected a plan for the first phase of the cleanup, which included the excavation and off-site disposal of radiologically contaminated soil and building materials, and backfilling of the areas with clean soil. To date, EPA has removed more than 200,000 cubic yards of radiologically contaminated soil and building materials from more than 90 properties in the Gloucester City and Camden areas and has investigated more than 900 properties.

Additional background and the proposed amended cleanup plan will be available at the Welsbach & General Gas Mantle (Camden Radiation) Superfund site profile page.

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 EPA Press Office:

EPA Releases Draft Risk Assessment to Advance Scientific Understanding of PFOA and PFOS in Biosolids

WASHINGTON – Today, Jan. 14, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released a draft risk assessment, or scientific evaluation of the potential human health risks associated with the presence of toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) chemicals in biosolids, also known as sewage sludge.

 

The findings for the draft risk assessment show that there may be human health risks associated with exposure to the “forever chemicals” PFOA or PFOS with all three methods of using or disposing of sewage sludge – land application of biosolids, surface disposal in landfills, or incineration. Once finalized, the assessment will help EPA and its partners understand the public health impact of forever chemicals in biosolids and inform any potential future actions to help reduce the risk of exposure.

 

“EPA under President Biden’s leadership has taken unprecedented actions to advance research and science on PFAS and to protect people from these dangerous forever chemicals,” said EPA Acting Administrator Jane Nishida. “This draft assessment provides important information to help inform future actions by federal and state agencies as well as steps that wastewater systems, farmers and other stakeholders can take to protect people from PFAS exposure, while ensuring American industry keeps feeding and fueling our nation.” 

 

Defining Biosolids

Wastewater produced by households and businesses, and sometimes industrial dischargers, is conveyed to a wastewater treatment plant, and ultimately treated. These treatment processes also produce a semi-solid, nutrient-rich product known as “sewage sludge” or “biosolids.” EPA typically uses the term “biosolids” to mean sewage sludge that has been treated to meet regulatory standards and is thereby suitable to be land applied as a soil conditioner or fertilizer. In turn, biosolids can be beneficially reused as land applied fertilizer on agricultural fields or on nonagricultural lands to promote plant health and productivity.

 

Draft Risk Assessment

This draft risk assessment focuses on a specific and narrow population of people that EPA considers most likely to be exposed to PFOA or PFOS from the land application of biosolids or through consumption of products from land where biosolids were used as fertilizer. The draft risk assessment scientifically models hypothetical human health risks for people living on or near sites impacted by PFOA or PFOS or for people relying primarily on those sites’ products (e.g., food crops, animal products or drinking water). The preliminary findings of the draft risk assessment indicate that there can be human health risks exceeding EPA’s acceptable thresholds, sometimes by several orders of magnitude, for some scenarios where the farmer applied biosolids containing 1 part per billion (ppb) of PFOA or PFOS (which is near the current detection limit for these PFAS in biosolids). These modeled scenarios include farms with one application of biosolids at a rate of 10 dry-metric-tons per hectare and 40 consecutive years of biosolids land application at this same rate. The modeling in this assessment also finds human health risks exceeding the EPA’s acceptable thresholds in some scenarios where biosolids containing 1 ppb of PFOA or PFOS are placed in an unlined or clay-lined surface disposal unit. Once finalized, EPA will use the risk assessment to help inform future risk management actions for PFOA and PFOS in sewage sludge. For the incineration scenario, risk is not quantified due to significant data gaps.

 

EPA’s analysis does not suggest that the general food supply is impacted by the use of biosolids that contain PFOA or PFOS. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration are monitoring for PFAS in the food supply broadly and have taken protective actions to address impacted products from domestic and imported sources. Based on the best available data, biosolids account for less than one percent of the fertilized acreage of productive agricultural land in the United States per year. EPA recognizes that certain “hot spots” and specific farming operations may have higher levels of PFOA or PFOS if contaminated sludge was applied, and that further collaboration with impacted operations and other federal agencies will be important to fully understand risks and support impacted farmers.

 

EPA’s analysis finds that the risks of exposure to PFOA and PFOS through biosolids increases proportionally with the amount of those chemicals in the biosolids. This means that if you lower the concentration of PFOA or PFOS in biosolids or the amount of biosolids applied to agricultural land, you lower the risk. The actual risks from exposure to PFOA or PFOS will vary at farms that land-apply biosolids or at biosolids disposal sites based on the amount of PFOA or PFOS applied, as well as geography, climate, soil conditions, the types of crops grown and their nutrient needs and other factors. Where smaller amounts of PFAS-contaminated biosolids have been spread, or fewer applications have been made over time, or lower concentrations of PFOA and PFOS were in the biosolids, the risk will be reduced.

 

The findings of the draft risk assessment underscore the importance of proactive federal and state policies to control and remove PFAS at their source. Under EPA’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap, the agency has provided tools to restrict PFAS from entering the environment and to hold polluters accountable, including increasing reviews of new PFAS before they enter commerce and encouraging states to use their Clean Water Act permitting authorities and industrial pretreatment programs to require industrial dischargers of PFAS to remove them before sending their effluent to the environment or to wastewater treatment plants. Moving forward, EPA is working to set technology-based limits on discharges from several industrial categories—including PFAS manufacturers, electro- and chrome-platers and landfills—under the agency’s Effluent Limitations Guidelines program.

 

Forever Chemicals in Wastewater

PFOA and PFOS get into sewage sludge via the wastewater that enters municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), which do not intentionally use or add these substances in their treatment processes. WWTPs may receive PFOA or PFOS from manufacturers and other facilities that currently use, or historically have used, these PFAS and release contaminated wastewater to WWTPs. Households and businesses can also be sources, as PFAS from consumer products (e.g., cookware, clothing or cosmetics that may contain certain PFAS) are washed down drains and make their way to a WWTP.

 

EPA and State Actions on Forever Chemicals

Under EPA’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap, the agency has made historic progress in advancing the science and establishing standards to protect communities from PFAS pollution. These actions include finalizing the nation’s first drinking water standards for PFAS, holding polluters accountable to clean up PFAS across the country and declaring PFOA and PFOS hazardous substances under the Superfund law. By releasing this draft risk assessment, EPA is providing stakeholders with a rigorous, data and science-driven report that, once finalized it may help the agency determine whether regulating PFOA and PFOS in sewage sludge under the Clean Water Act is appropriate.

 

Several states have begun monitoring for PFAS in sewage sludge and published reports and data that are publicly available. EPA’s draft risk assessment document provides an overview of PFOA and PFOS occurrence data from peer-reviewed literature and state reports in Section 2.4 and Appendix A. Some states continue to collect additional sewage sludge PFAS monitoring data.

 

EPA’s draft risk assessment document, Draft Sewage Sludge Risk Assessment for Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid (PFOS), will be available for public comment for 60 days following announcement in the Federal Register. Learn more about the draft risk assessment and how to comment on it. Also read about other recent EPA actions to help address PFAS in Biosolids.

 

EPA will hold a public webinar on Wednesday, January 15, 2025 at 12:00pm ET. Register for the webinar using the webinar registration link.

 

Background

EPA risk assessments follow a scientific process to characterize the nature and magnitude of health risks to children, adults, and the environment from pollutants based on modeled exposure scenarios. An environmental risk assessment considers three primary factors: 1) presence (i.e., how much of a pollutant is present in the environment), 2) exposure (i.e., how much contact a human or wildlife has with the pollutant), and 3) the toxicity of the pollutant (i.e., the health effects the pollutant causes in humans or wildlife) (see EPA’s Risk Assessment Basics).

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

 EPA Press Office:

EPA Finalizes Protections for Workers and Communities from Cancer-Causing Ethylene Oxide Pollution

WASHINGTON – Today, Jan. 14, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released the Interim Decision for Ethylene Oxide (EtO) – a pesticide used on 50 percent of all sterilized medical devices in the United States and on approximately 30 percent of dried herbs and spices. EtO is known to cause cancer, including lymphocytic leukemia, breast cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma in people.  Workers who use EtO and people who work, live, or go to school or daycare near facilities that use EtO may breathe in emissions at levels that can increase cancer risk. The greatest risk is for people who work for their entire careers at facilities directly handling EtO with insufficient worker protections in place.

 

The Interim Decision includes mitigation measures that, in addition to the measures included in the 2024 EtO National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP), will reduce exposure to workers and nearby communities. Together, these two EPA actions provide a comprehensive approach to addressing EtO pollution concerns, including cancer risk, that will increase safety in communities and for workers while supporting ongoing supply chain needs for sterilized medical equipment. This decision advances President Biden’s commitment to ending cancer as we know it as part of the Cancer Moonshot, as well as the Administration’s commitment to securing environmental justice and protecting public health, including for communities that are most exposed to toxic chemicals.

 

“EPA continues to make important strides to protect people from dangerous chemicals like ethylene oxide,” said Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Michal Freedhoff. “These protections will reduce EtO exposures to workers and communities, while also ensuring that the chemical remains available to provide sterile life-saving medical supplies.”

 

Ethylene Oxide

 

EPA regulates EtO’s use as a pesticide under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). EtO has both antimicrobial uses, such as sterilization of medical devices, and conventional uses, such as fumigation of dried herbs and spices. In some instances, such as with sterilization of medical devices like surgical kits, EtO is the only available option, making it essential for protecting human health. Every 15 years, EPA evaluates potential human health and environmental effects associated with the use of a pesticide through the registration review process. As part of EtO’s registration review, the agency assessed cancer risk from working in sterilization and health care facilities that use EtO, living in communities near EtO facilities, and consuming dried herbs and spices treated with EtO.  

 

After a 75-day public comment period with over 60 stakeholder meetings with industry, other federal agencies, unions, and nonprofit organizations, EPA identified a broad set of protections under FIFRA that aim to reduce exposure to all EtO sterilization facility workers and to others who work, live, or go to school near sterilization facilities. Specifically, the Decision includes a reduced EtO concentration rate limit for new medical device sterilization cycles to reduce levels of exposure for workers; a lowered worker exposure limit of 0.5 ppm after three years, 0.25 ppm after five years, and 0.1 ppm after 10 years (compared to the current Occupational Safety and Health Administration standard of 1 ppm);  phased cancellation of the use of EtO on specific dried herbs and spices; and cancellation of the use of EtO when safer and effective alternatives are available.

 

Interim Decision

 

Some of the highlights of the Interim Decision include:

 

Commercial Sterilizers

• Lowered worker exposure limit of 0.5 ppm by 2028, 0.25 ppm by 2030, and 0.1 ppm by 2035, as compared to the 1984 OSHA limit of 1 ppm. Any workers who could be exposed to concentrations of EtO above these limits would need to wear additional respiratory protection.
• Finalizing the ban of use for museum, library and archival materials; cosmetics; musical instruments; and beekeeping equipment.
• Immediate cancellation of the use of EtO for specific dried herbs and spices for which its use is not considered critical for food safety, and phased cancellation for specific dried herbs and spices for which EtO use is considered critical for food safety but have potential alternatives to EtO.
• Establishing a concentration limit of 600 mg/L for new medical device sterilization cycles within 10 years. If a device requires a concentration of EtO greater than 600 mg/L due to the device design, the facility must maintain records to justify the increased application rate.
• Separation of HVAC systems for areas where EtO is used and areas where EtO is not used, to reduce EtO exposure in areas such as offices.
• Requiring respirators to protect workers involved in certain high EtO exposure tasks, such as connecting and disconnecting EtO containers from sterilization process equipment.
• Continuous EtO concentration monitoring throughout sterilization facilities, including on-site storage facilities.
• Data requirements to monitor breathing zone worker exposure to EtO within commercial sterilization facilities and warehouses that store sterilized materials, both on and off-site.

 

Healthcare Facilities

• Require abatement devices for healthcare facilities that use more than 10 lbs. of EtO/year by comparison – c commercial sterilizers typically release tons of EtO annually.
• Ventilation of EtO through exterior ventilation stacks to reduce exposure to healthcare facility workers. Exposure to communities from EtO used in healthcare facilities is expected to be minimal because the amount of EtO used at healthcare facilities is orders of magnitude lower than at commercial sterilization facilities.

Next Steps

EPA expects that registrants will submit label amendments that include the changes outlined in the Interim Decision within 60 days after publication. The agency plans to quickly review the label amendments so that products sold and distributed by registrants will include the changes outlined in the Interim Decision. The timing for implementation for individual mitigation measures ranges from two years to 10 years, taking into consideration the costs, technology availability, potential impacts to the medical device supply chain and other logistical elements. Additionally, EPA will issue a Data Call-In (DCI) to gather information on worker exposure. Specifically, the DCI will require submission of worker exposure data for commercial sterilizers and warehouses in order to understand the worker exposure impacts of complying with EPA’s Clean Air Act EtO commercial sterilization NESHAP and implementing the mitigation measures identified in this Interim Decision. EPA will reevaluate this Interim Decision within eight years, earlier than the typical 15-year cycle, based on the submitted worker exposure data, in order to identify further opportunities to reduce EtO exposures.

To view all documents related to EtO’s registration review, visit docket EPA-HQ-OPP-2013-0244.

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

 EPA Press Office:

EPA Announces $2.4 million in Funding to 24 Small Businesses for the Development of Environmental Technologies

WASHINGTON - Today, Jan. 13, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced $2,400,000 for 24 small businesses to develop technologies to address public health and environmental challenges. These companies are using innovative approaches that include treating PFAS in biosolids, reducing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions from building materials, and developing chemical alternatives that are safer for our environment.

 "Congratulations to these small businesses for their dedication to driving innovation and tackling today’s environmental challenges," said Maureen Gwinn, Acting Assistant Administrator in EPA's Office of Research and Development. "Their groundbreaking ideas not only address critical needs but also pave the way for a healthier planet and a stronger, more sustainable economy."

 These awards are part of EPA's Small Business Innovation Research program, an annual, two-phase competition for small businesses to develop and commercialize environmental technologies that help address the agency’s mission of protecting human health and the environment. The 24 small businesses below are receiving $100,000 of Phase I funding for six months for "proof of concept" of their proposed technology. Companies that complete Phase I can then apply to receive Phase II funding of up to $400,000 to further develop and commercialize their technology.

SBIR Phase I winners and their proposed technologies are below:

Acadian Research & Development, LLC, Laramie, Wyoming, to create an innovative low-cost method to use strength enhancing biochar-derived graphene to lower embodied carbon in concrete.

• Agtec Innovations Inc, Los Altos, California, for a cost-effective, non-polluting phosphate fertilizer alternative that helps prevent runoff.  
• AxNano, LLC, Greensboro, North Carolina, to create a novel, field deployable treatment process for removing PFAS from biosolids allowing beneficial reuse.
• BetR-blok, LLC, Tempe, Arizona, to produce a building block alternative made from waste biomass and recycled materials.
• Bold Reuse, Portland, Oregon, to create a novel inventory management system to transition to reusable packaging.
• Circle Concrete Tech, Inc., Gilbert, Arizona, to design an engineered recycled steel fiber product that replaces rebar for concrete reinforcement with a significantly lower carbon footprint.
• Design Interactive Inc., Orlando, Florida, for a comprehensive, AI-powered training simulation to enhance disaster response preparedness.
• Dynamo.AI LLC, Saratoga Springs, New York, to develop a technology that leverages biochar to extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables to reduce food waste.
• EcoaTEX, LLC., Hull, Georgia, to create a technology that converts agricultural waste into high-performance biodegradable fibers.
• ENF Products, LLC, Edmond, Oklahoma, to design a filter kit to be used with existing air filters to improve indoor air quality.
• Enzymatic Holdings Corporation, Manati, Puerto Rico, to create an enzyme-based technology that enhances durability and self-healing properties of concrete.
• Huma, Inc., Gilbert, Arizona, to create a novel urea/humate enhanced-efficiency fertilizer designed to optimize nitrogen uptake and reduce environmental impacts.
• KLAW Industries LLC, Binghamton, New York, to develop a new paving material utilizing waste glass to replace high-embodied carbon materials.
• Mainstream Engineering Corporation, Rockledge, Florida, to create a scalable point-of-use water treatment system to remove cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins.
• Nativo Inc., Pompano Beach, Florida, to create a novel method to remove installed ceramic tiles without damaging them through vibration technology allowing for reuse of materials.
• Pacific Reclaimed Lumber & Supply, Sebastopol, California, to design a cutting-edge web-based platform that facilitates the reduction of embodied carbon through the purchase of reclaimed lumber and building materials.
• PAGE Technologies, Inc., Boulder, Colorado, to develop low-cost, handheld printable sensors for real-time measurement of water quality parameters.
• Phospholutions, Inc., State College, Pennsylvania, to create an activated metal oxide technology to mitigate the environmental impact of phosphorus runoff into water bodies and enhance crop productivity.
• Prospect Growth, Inc., New Haven, Connecticut, to develop a novel nanoparticle-based phosphorous fertilizer with exceptional nutrient uptake efficiency.
• Sustainable Water Infrastructure Group, Seattle, Washington, to develop a nature-based absorbent technology to remove PFAS, pathogens and other contaminants from water.
• Symmetry Wood, PBC, Los Angeles, California, to create a method of upcycling food waste into high-performance wood.
• Talon/LPE, Ltd., Amarillo, Texas, to develop a sustainable method to treat PFAS in biosolids using biochar.
• Tetramer Technologies LLC, Pendleton, South Carolina, to create a bio-renewable high-performance tire rubber additive to replace the standard use of 6PPD and alleviate its associated ecotoxicity.
• VerdeTerra LLC., Atlanta, Georgia, to develop an air purification system which uses microbes to reduce CO2 and other indoor pollutants. 

Learn more about the winning companies.

Learn more about EPA's SBIR program.

Learn more about the government wide SBIR program.

 

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

 EPA Press Office:

Boulder company among 24 small businesses receiving a total of $2.4M to develop innovative environmental technologie

PAGE Technologies, Inc. to develop sensors for real-time measurement of water quality

Contact: Pedro Ayala (ayala.pedro@epa.gov)

DENVER (January 13,2025) - Today, the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Boulder, Colo.-based PAGE Technologies, Inc. is among 24 small businesses receiving a total of $2.4 million in EPA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program funding to develop technologies to address public health and environmental challenges. These companies are using innovative approaches that include treating PFAS in biosolids, reducing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions from building materials, and developing chemical alternatives that are safer for our environment. 

“EPA congratulates PAGE Technologies on receiving this grant award,” said EPA Regional Administrator KC Becker “The company’s development of low-cost, handheld printable sensors for water quality monitoring will deliver an innovative, new tool for safeguarding water quality and public health.

These awards are part of EPA's (SBIR) program, an annual, two-phase competition for small businesses to develop and commercialize environmental technologies that help address the Agency’s mission of protecting human health and the environment. The 24 small businesses below are receiving $100,000 of Phase I funding for six months for "proof of concept" of their proposed technology. Companies that complete Phase I can then apply to receive Phase II funding of up to $400,000 to further develop and commercialize their technology.

Other SBIR Phase I winners and their proposed technologies are below:

• Acadian Research & Development, LLC, Laramie, Wyoming, to create an innovative low-cost method to use strength enhancing biochar-derived graphene to lower embodied carbon in concrete.
• Agtec Innovations Inc, Los Altos, California, for a cost-effective, non-polluting phosphate fertilizer alternative that helps prevent runoff.          
• AxNano, LLC, Greensboro, North Carolina, to create a novel, field deployable treatment process for removing PFAS from biosolids allowing beneficial reuse.
• BetR-blok, LLC, Tempe, Arizona, to produce a building block alternative made from waste biomass and recycled materials.
• Bold Reuse, Portland, Oregon, to create a novel inventory management system to transition to reusable packaging.
• Circle Concrete Tech, Inc., Gilbert, Arizona, to design an engineered recycled steel fiber product that replaces rebar for concrete reinforcement with a significantly lower carbon footprint.

• Design Interactive Inc., Orlando, Florida, for a comprehensive, AI-powered training simulation to enhance disaster response preparedness.

• Dynamo.AI LLC, Saratoga Springs, New York, to develop a technology that leverages biochar to extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables to reduce food waste.
• EcoaTEX, LLC., Hull, Georgia, to create a technology that converts agricultural waste into high-performance biodegradable fibers.
• ENF Products, LLC, Edmond, Oklahoma, to design a filter kit to be used with existing air filters to improve indoor air quality.
• Enzymatic Holdings Corporation, Manati, Puerto Rico, to create an enzyme-based technology that enhances durability and self-healing properties of concrete.
• Huma, Inc., Gilbert, Arizona, to create a novel urea/humate enhanced-efficiency fertilizer designed to optimize nitrogen uptake and reduce environmental impacts.
• KLAW Industries LLC, Binghamton, New York, to develop a new paving material utilizing waste glass to replace high-embodied carbon materials.

• Mainstream Engineering Corporation, Rockledge, Florida, to create a scalable point-of-use water treatment system to remove cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins.
• Nativo Inc., Pompano Beach, Florida, to create a novel method to remove installed ceramic tiles without damaging them through vibration technology allowing for reuse of materials.
• Pacific Reclaimed Lumber & Supply, Sebastopol, California, to design a cutting-edge web-based platform that facilitates the reduction of embodied carbon through the purchase of reclaimed lumber and building materials.
• Phospholutions, Inc., State College, Pennsylvania, to create an activated metal oxide technology to mitigate the environmental impact of phosphorus runoff into water bodies and enhance crop productivity.
• Prospect Growth, Inc., New Haven, Connecticut, to develop a novel nanoparticle-based phosphorous fertilizer with exceptional nutrient uptake efficiency.
• Sustainable Water Infrastructure Group, Seattle, Washington, to develop a nature-based absorbent technology to remove PFAS, pathogens and other contaminants from water.
• Symmetry Wood, PBC, Los Angeles, California, to create a method of upcycling food waste into high-performance wood.
• Talon/LPE, Ltd., Amarillo, Texas, to develop a sustainable method to treat PFAS in biosolids using biochar.
• Tetramer Technologies LLC, Pendleton, South Carolina, to create a bio-renewable high-performance tire rubber additive to replace the standard use of 6PPD and alleviate its associated ecotoxicity. 

• VerdeTerra LLC., Atlanta, Georgia, to develop an air purification system which uses microbes to reduce CO2 and other indoor pollutants. 

 EPA Press Office:

EPA Adds Nine Additional PFAS to the Toxics Release Inventory

WASHINGTON — Today, Jan. 3, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the automatic addition of nine per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances to the list of chemicals covered by the Toxics Release Inventory.

TRI data is reported to EPA annually by facilities in designated industry sectors and federal facilities that manufacture, process, or otherwise use TRI-listed chemicals above set quantities. The data include quantities of such chemicals that were released into the environment or otherwise managed as waste. Information collected through TRI allows communities to learn how facilities in their area are managing listed chemicals. The data collected is available online and helps to support informed decision-making by companies, government agencies, non-governmental organizations and the public. Adding new chemicals to the TRI advances the Biden-Harris Administration’s environmental justice commitments by improving accountability and transparency for families, workers, and communities across the country.

“EPA continues to make strides in getting information on PFAS into the Toxics Release Inventory so the public can see if these chemicals are being released into their communities,” said Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Michal Freedhoff. “People have a right to know when facilities in their backyards are releasing toxic chemicals into the environment and with today’s action, we are providing important information about nine more.”

These nine PFAS were added to the TRI list pursuant to the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act, which provides the framework for the automatic addition of PFAS to TRI each year in response to specified EPA activities involving such PFAS. For TRI Reporting Year 2025 (reporting forms due by July 1, 2026), reporting is required for these nine additional PFAS, bringing the total PFAS subject to TRI reporting to 205.

Addition of PFAS with final toxicity values

The 2020 NDAA includes a provision that automatically adds PFAS to the TRI list upon the Agency’s finalization of a toxicity value. The nine PFAS were automatically added for Reporting Year 2025 due to EPA having finalized a toxicity value during 2024 and whose identity is not claimed as confidential business information. These nine PFAS are:

• Ammonium perfluorodecanoate (PFDA NH4) (3108-42-7)
• Sodium perfluorodecanoate (PFDA-Na) (3830-45-3)
• Perfluoro-3-methoxypropanoic acid (377-73-1)
• 6:2 Fluorotelomer sulfonate acid (27619-97-2)
• 6:2 Fluorotelomer sulfonate anion (425670-75-3)
• 6:2 Fluorotelomer sulfonate potassium salt (59587-38-1)
• 6:2 Fluorotelomer sulfonate ammonium salt (59587-39-2)
• 6:2 Fluorotelomer sulfonate sodium salt (27619-94-9)
• Acetic acid, [(γ-ω-perfluoro-C8-10-alkyl)thio] derivs., Bu esters (3030471-22-5)

Addition of PFAS no longer claimed as confidential business information

Under NDAA section 7321(e), EPA must review CBI claims before adding a PFAS to the TRI list if the chemical identity is subject to a claim of protection from disclosure under 5 U.S.C. 552(a). EPA previously identified Acetic acid, [(γ-ω-perfluoro-C8-10-alkyl)thio] derivs., Bu esters for addition to the TRI list based on the NDAA’s provision to include specific PFAS upon the NDAA’s enactment. However, due to CBI claims related to its identity, this PFAS was not added to the TRI list at that time. The identity of this chemical was subsequently declassified in an update to the Toxic Substances Control Act Inventory in May 2024. Because its identity is no longer confidential, it was added to the TRI list.

As of Jan. 1, facilities that are subject to reporting requirements for these chemicals should begin tracking their activities involving these PFAS as required by Section 313 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act. Reporting forms will be due by July 1, 2026.

These nine newly added PFAS, along with the previous 196 TRI-listed PFAS, are also subject to EPA’s action in October 2023 to classify all PFAS subject to TRI reporting as chemicals of special concern. Among other impacts, this removes the use of a reporting exemption that allowed facilities to avoid reporting information on PFAS when those chemicals were used in small concentrations.

Learn more about the addition of these PFAS to the Toxics Release Inventory

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

 EPA Press Office:

EPA and Department of Energy announce $345M to reduce methane pollution from the oil and gas sector in Colorado and Wyoming

Colorado State University, Pioneer Energy Inc, and Blue Mountain Operations among awardees receiving $850M nationwide

Contact Information

Richard Mylott (mylott.richard@epa.gov)

DENVER (December 23, 2024) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy today announced approximately $850 million for 43 projects, including seven projects in the EPA Region 8 states of Colorado and Wyoming, selected for negotiation that will help small oil and gas operators, Tribes, and other entities across the country to reduce, monitor, measure, and quantify methane emissions from the oil and gas sector as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. The funding builds on unprecedented action to dramatically reduce methane emissions, with agencies taking more than 100 actions since 2023, including the finalization of an EPA rule that is expected to reduce methane emissions from covered oil and gas sources by 80% from 2024 to 2038 compared to projected emissions without the rule.   

Today’s investment incentivizes companies’ near-term actions to conserve valuable energy resources for American consumers, improve operational efficiencies in a global market, and reduce methane emissions.   

Award recipients in EPA Region 8 include: 

Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado ($324.6 million across three unique projects) 

• Collaborative Approach to Reducing Emissions for Marginal Conventional Wells (MCWs) — Colorado State University intends to create a funding program where small operators of MCWs can enroll their MCW sites for methane emissions mitigation funding. Mitigation targets will be prioritized using on-site methane leak assessments and a regionally tuned marginal abatement cost curve analysis to maximize the cost-effectiveness of mitigation actions. The project team will identify solutions and services for operators to deploy at the operator sites. Wide community outreach will seek operator and solutions in disproportionately impacted communities for enrollment and incubation. Training programs will build capacity through community colleges and online classes. 

• Full Scale Validation and Field Deployment of Comprehensive Methane Reduction Solution for NG Pipeline Engine Compressor Sets — Colorado State University intends to develop an ultra-low methane emissions retrofit system for gas compression packages in the natural gas transmission and gathering sectors to reduce methane emissions from natural gas engines and eliminate normal compressor vent gas emissions. The project is expected to reduce engine methane emissions to less than 0.5% of the methane supplied in the fuel and eliminate normal compressor vent gas emissions. 

• North‐Central Methane Center — Colorado State University intends to develop consistent, accurate, granular, and transparent multi‐scale methane emission measurements focused on the region’s producing basins that will inform state and federal emission inventories for the North‐Central region, including a focused effort on gathering and transmission pipelines, distribution damage, and industrial meters. 

Pioneer Energy, Inc., Lakewood, Colorado ($17 million across three unique projects) 

• Zero-Emission Sweetening and Stabilization Production Facilities for Sour Sites — Pioneer Energy, Inc.  intends to address elimination of flaring and related emissions from oil and gas production through deployment of equipment that achieves better separation between gas and oil while eliminating nearly all emission sources. The approach is also intended to serve as a testbed for how to find, train, onboard, and support the underserved community of adults on the autism spectrum for jobs in the clean energy economy. 

• Methane Emission Mitigation through Onsite Methanol Synthesis — Pioneer Energy, Inc.  intends to eliminate flaring and related emissions from oil and gas production with a technology designed to use mass produced internal combustion engines as compressors and chemical reactors.  The project will also serve as a testbed for how to find, train, onboard and support the underserved community of adults on the autism spectrum for jobs in the clean energy economy. 

• Zero-Emission Drop-In Replacement Production Facilities for Marginal Conventional Wells — Pioneer Energy, Inc. intends to advance a new well pad processing technology to achieve better separation between gas and oil, replacing existing equipment while eliminating nearly all emissions sources. The project is also intended to serve as a testbed for how to find, train, onboard, and support the underserved community of adults on the autism spectrum for jobs in the clean energy economy. 

Blue Mountain Operations, Rock Springs, Wyoming ($3.8 million) 

• Scaling Solar Compressors Deployment for Methane-Free Pneumatic Solutions — Blue Mountain Operations intends to deploy and monitor a compact, fully integrated and solar-powered technology for remote oil and gas sites without grid power, designed to eliminate methane emissions and other secondary emissions. The project will also focus on investments in the development of a skilled workforce as well as a reduction in local pollution.  

“Our region is home to some of the largest-producing oil and gas operations in the country, and unfortunately many of our neighboring communities are overburdened with polluted air,” said EPA Regional Administrator KC Becker. “These grants will ensure the reduction of harmful greenhouse gases and volatile organic compounds while allowing operators to upgrade equipment and employ an underserved workforce.” 

“The public health of our nation depends greatly on our ability to drastically reduce harmful pollution from America’s largest source of industrial methane – the oil and gas sector,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “This historic investment made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act is helping energy communities and deliver long-lasting health and environmental benefits across the country. At the same time, it will support small operators' ability to replace and upgrade old equipment, reducing emissions from marginal conventional wells, improving their supply chains to meet the growing market expectations for cleaner fuel sources.”  

“Colorado has been a national leader in addressing methane pollution from the oil and gas industry,” said Senator Michael Bennet. “This funding helps ensure Colorado will continue leading the way towards cutting dangerous air pollution, slowing the rate of climate change, and growing our clean energy economy.” 

“We are proud to be able to support deployment of innovative solutions to methane emissions that will support small operators, contribute to workforce development, and improve conditions for communities,” said Colorado State University Vice President for Research Cassandra Mosele. 

The selected projects funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, the largest climate investment in history, represent a significant step in addressing climate change and improving air quality. By mitigating legacy air pollution and supporting small oil and natural gas operators, the projects will help reduce methane emissions through available and innovative technologies. Additionally, they will create partnerships to enhance emissions measurement and provide transparent data to affected communities. One Tribal consortium, 11 universities, and 20 private companies were selected for projects across the Nation to deploy and test new and existing methane mitigation technologies. 

In total, EPA and DOE are partnering to provide $1.36 billion in financial and technical assistance as part of the Inflation Reduction Act’s Methane Emissions Reduction Program. DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory, under the purview of DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, will manage the selected projects. Learn more about the selected projects. Today’s selections build on the $350 million in grant funding to states that EPA and DOE announced in December 2023 to support industry efforts to voluntarily reduce emissions at low-producing wells, monitor emissions, and conduct environmental restoration at well pads. Together, these investments are a key step in implementing the Methane Emissions Reduction Program  

About the Methane Emissions Reduction Program  

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to approximately one-third of the global warming we are experiencing today. Over 100 years, one ton of emitted methane traps 28 times as much heat in the Earth’s atmosphere as one ton of emitted carbon dioxide. The oil and natural gas sector is the largest industrial source of methane emissions in the United States. A rapid reduction in methane emissions is one of the most important and cost-effective actions the United States can take in the short term to slow the rate of rapidly rising global temperatures.  

The Methane Emissions Reduction Program, created by the Inflation Reduction Act, directed EPA to take action to tackle wasteful methane emissions from the oil and gas sector. The financial and technical assistance, implemented through a partnership between EPA and DOE, work in concert both with the recently finalized Waste Emissions Charge and with Clean Air Act standards issued in March 2024 to limit methane emissions from new and existing oil and gas operations. The Methane Emissions Reduction Program also advances the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 Initiative which sets a goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal climate, clean energy, and other investments benefit disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.    

Combined, these actions will help position the United States as the most efficient producer of oil and natural gas in the world and ensure that the industry remains competitive in overseas markets that require a minimum level of emissions performance. Together, DOE and EPA’s methane actions will advance the adoption of cost-effective technologies, reduce wasteful practices, and yield significant economic, health, and environmental benefits, while driving continued innovation in methane detection, monitoring, and mitigation techniques.   

Visit the EPA website for more information about the Methane Emissions Reduction Program, and the EPA or DOE website for more information about financial assistance under the Methane Emissions Reduction Program.