April 21, 2023

VICKSBURG, Miss.– (April 21, 2023) The U.S Department of the Army (Army) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will host community sessions on May 4-5,2023, to present and receive feedback on their joint recommended preferred approach to flood risk reduction in the Yazoo Backwater Area (YBA). These community sessions are part of a five month commitment by the Army and EPA in January 2023 to identify flood risk reduction solutions for the YBA. Representatives from the U.S. Department of the Interior will be present with Army, EPA, and other federal agencies to answer questions about how their available programs can help reduce flood risk and support comprehensive recovery in the YBA.

During these sessions, the agencies will present the recommended preferred approach for YBA flood risk reduction to residents and other interested parties and obtain feedback about this approach and the impact on the YBA. The EPA and Army are continuing to collect information, including public feedback received during this two-day stakeholder engagement, and will present their preferred approach(es) for flood risk reduction within the YBA in June. Subsequently, the Army will work expeditiously to develop a report on YBA flood risk reduction solution(s), including a plan for completion of any necessary documentation for compliance with the Clean Water Act and all other applicable laws and regulations.

Each session will begin with an overview of the recommended preferred approach, and an open house will follow for attendees to talk with federal agency representatives. The sessions on Thursday, May 4, will occur from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. CDT. The session on Friday, May 5, will be held from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. CDT. Sessions will be conducted at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Vicksburg District Office located at 4155 Clay Street, Vicksburg, MS 39183.

There will be an additional session conducted on May 4 from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. CDT at the Theodore Roosevelt National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center to provide residents of Rolling Fork and surrounding communities an opportunity to stop by and ask questions about the recommended preferred approach to flood risk reduction in the YBA. The Visitor Center is located on Hwy 61N, 1.5 miles south of Onward, Mississippi.

Information on the recommended preferred approach will be made available at: https://www.mvk.usace.army.mil/Missions/Programs-and-Project-Management/Yazoo-Backwater/. The public will have an opportunity to submit comments on the approach through this website following these community sessions for one month.

Originally Appeared Here

City of Van Buren/Deer Run Reorganized Common Sewer District project in Missouri receives honorable mention

April 20, 2023

LENEXA, KAN. (APRIL 20, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized 20 clean water infrastructure projects for innovation, including the City of Hastings, Nebraska, through EPA’s George F. Ames Performance and Innovation in the SRF (State Revolving Fund) Creating Environmental Success (PISCES) 2022 national recognition program.

Hastings is being recognized for Excellence in Problem Solving for their Aquifer Storage and Restoration project that was conducted using funds allocated through the Nebraska Clean Water SRF. The innovative project decreased nitrate contaminant levels and provided an economical engineering solution for providing treated drinking water to the city’s residents.

“Clean water is essential, and we applaud the City of Hastings for their innovative engineering solution that increased water quality, while removing the need for a costly new water treatment plant,” said EPA Region 7 Administrator Meg McCollister. “We look forward to seeing more projects like this throughout the Heartland, thanks to the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law investments in clean water.”

PISCES celebrates innovative clean water state revolving fund programs implemented by assistance recipients. Twenty projects by state or local governments, public utilities, and private entities were recognized by the PISCES 2022 program.

The City of Van Buren/Deer Run Reorganized Common Sewer District (Deer Run Development) received a PISCES 2022 honorable mention for its wastewater treatment project, which was conducted using funds allocated through the Missouri Clean Water SRF.

See the full list of recognized projects and learn more about the PISCES program.

Background

The state revolving funds (SRFs) are EPA-state partnerships that provide communities with a permanent, independent source of low-cost financing for a wide range of water quality and drinking water infrastructure projects. EPA’s SRFs have provided more than $216 billion in financial assistance to over 46,000 water quality infrastructure projects and over 18,000 drinking water projects across the country.

With the passing of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in November 2021, over $43 billion in funding will be provided to the SRFs over five years for communities’ water infrastructure improvement projects. This historic funding will help address the most pressing water challenges of today, especially in disadvantaged communities, and make more water infrastructure projects possible.

# # #

Learn more about EPA Region 7

View all Region 7 news releases

Connect with EPA Region 7 on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter: @EPARegion7

Originally Appeared Here

April 20, 2023

NEW YORK – On April 26, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold a training session in Mayaguez for people who conduct inspections of construction sites in Puerto Rico. These inspectors must ensure that construction projects have proper coverage from an EPA general permit and take certain steps to protect local waters. EPA recently released the Spanish language version of its Construction Inspection Training Course for operators. Construction site operators are required to get coverage under EPA’s Clean Water Act (CWA) 2022 Construction General Permit (CGP) and are now required to ensure that any individual conducting construction site inspections is properly qualified. This means they must receive specific training and pass an exam.

The 2022 CGP includes new requirements for people that receive permit coverage after February 17, 2023. Now, training is required and people who inspect these sites must pass the exam or meet other requirements.

“EPA has strengthened Construction General Permit Inspector Training requirements for personnel to ensure that only qualified persons conduct such inspections,” said Lisa F. Garcia, EPA Regional Administrator. “Construction operators that are not conducting adequate inspections and documenting their findings could face hefty fines.”

EPA’s construction inspection training is provided at no cost to the public and covers the content of five training modules.

For more information and to access the course, visit: https://www.epa.gov/npdes/construction-general-permit-inspector-training

(English) and https://www.epa.gov/npdes/curso-de-capacitacion-sobre-la-inspeccion-de-las-construcciones

(Spanish).

EPA’s Upcoming Training on Clean Water Act Construction Permit

For the benefit of engineers, construction operators, landowners, professional organizations, communities, and other interested parties, EPA and the Institute of Environmental Engineers of the Puerto Rico Engineers’ Association will host a training on the Clean Water Act’s (CWA) National Pollutant Elimination Systems (NPDES) 2022 Construction General Permit for Stormwater Discharges on April 26, 2023, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Casa Capitular of the Engineers’ Association in Mayaguez.  For more information on this training, please contact the Institute of Environmental Engineers at 787-758-2250 or [email protected].

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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Originally Appeared Here

April 20, 2023

NUEVA YORK – La Agencia Federal de Protección Ambiental (EPA, por sus siglas en inglés) llevará a cabo un evento de capacitación en Mayagüez para ingenieros y personas que llevan a cabo inspecciones de lugares de construcción en Puerto Rico. Estos inspectores deben asegurarse de que los proyectos de construcción tengan la cobertura adecuada de un permiso general de la EPA y tomar ciertas medidas para proteger los cuerpos de aguas locales. La EPA lanzó recientemente la versión en español de su Curso de Capacitación en Inspección de Construcción para operadores. Los operadores de proyectos y/o lugares de construcción deben obtener cobertura bajo el Permiso General de Construcción (CGP, por sus siglas en inglés) de la Ley de Agua Limpia (CWA) de 2022 de la EPA y ahora deben garantizar que cualquier persona que realice inspecciones del lugar o proyecto de construcción esté debidamente calificada. Esto significa que deben recibir una formación específica y aprobar un examen.

El CGP 2022 incluye nuevos requisitos para las personas que reciben la cobertura del permiso después del 17 de febrero de 2023. Ahora, se requiere capacitación y las personas que inspeccionan estos sitios deben aprobar el examen o cumplir con otros requisitos.

“La EPA ha fortalecido los requisitos de Capacitación para inspectores de permisos generales de construcción para el personal a fin de garantizar que solo personas calificadas realicen dichas inspecciones”, dijo Carmen Guerrero, directora de la División de Protección Ambiental del Caribe de la EPA. “Los operadores de construcciones que no lleven a cabo las inspecciones adecuadas y no documenten sus hallazgos podrían enfrentar multas y sanciones.”

La capacitación de inspección de construcción de la EPA se brinda sin costo para el público y cubre el contenido de cinco módulos de capacitación.

Para obtener más información y acceder al curso, visite: https://www.epa.gov/npdes/construction-general-permit-inspector-training (inglés) y https://www.epa.gov/npdes/curso-de-capacitacion-sobre-la-inspeccion-de-las-construcciones (español).

Próxima sesión de capacitación de la EPA sobre el Permiso de Construcción de la Ley de Agua Limpia

Para el beneficio de ingenieros, operadores de construcción, terratenientes, organizaciones profesionales, comunidades y otras partes interesadas, la EPA y el Instituto de Ingenieros Ambientales de la Asociación de Ingenieros de Puerto Rico realizarán una capacitación sobre la Eliminación Nacional de Contaminantes de la Ley de Agua Limpia (CWA). Systems (NPDES) 2022 Permiso General de Construcción para Descargas de Aguas Pluviales el 26 de abril de 2023, de 9:00 am a 4:00 pm en la Casa Capitular del Colegio de Ingenieros en Mayagüez. Para obtener más información sobre esta capacitación, comuníquese con el Instituto de Ingenieros Ambientales al 787-758-2250 o [email protected].

Siga la Región 2 de la EPA en Twitter y visite nuestra página de Facebook. Para obtener más información sobre la Región 2 de la EPA, visite nuestro sitio web.

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Originally Appeared Here

This loan is part of a $37 billion investment in water infrastructure through WIFIA

April 20, 2023

WASHINGTON (April 20, 2023) — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a $191 million Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan to the City of Wichita, Kansas to support its Biological Nutrient Removal Improvements Program. This WIFIA loan will help the City of Wichita upgrade two critical wastewater facilities, advancing technologies for water reuse and reducing the nutrient loads in the Arkansas River and Mississippi River Basin, which will help improve water quality for Wichita and many other communities.  

“EPA is proud to partner with the City of Wichita on this project that will create jobs and strengthen water quality that supports residents, businesses, agriculture, and recreation,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox. “An investment in water infrastructure is an investment in our communities. That’s why EPA is partnering with states and local leaders to accelerate water infrastructure investments through the WIFIA program and with $50 billion under President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.”

“Our water utilities are our most important resource,” said Wichita Public Works and Utilities Director Gary Janzen. “We are so thankful for the EPA for the strong partnership to help us move forward with securing our water infrastructure for generations to come.”

The City of Wichita and the Department of Public Works & Utilities staff have been preparing for Wichita’s water future through an ongoing planning process, which includes the Biological Nutrient Removal Improvements Program. With this WIFIA loan, the City of Wichita will modernize its wastewater treatment facility to improve its reliability and resiliency. Specifically, it will help to reduce the City’s nutrient contribution to the Arkansas River and Mississippi River Basin, address local odor concerns, meet growing demand with anticipated population growth, and update aging infrastructure. This program also supports compliance with future regulatory requirements and aligns with regional and national water quality objectives, including the Kansas Nutrient Reduction strategy and nutrient reduction in the Gulf Hypoxia zone.

The WIFIA program will allow the City to take advantage of low interest rates and will save Wichita approximately $89 million, ultimately saving community ratepayers money. Not only is it an investment in Wichita’s infrastructure, but the construction and operation are estimated to create approximately 1,250 jobs. This helps to deliver on the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to investing in water infrastructure and creating good-paying jobs.

Background 

Established by the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014, the WIFIA program is a federal loan program administered by EPA. The WIFIA program’s aim is to accelerate investment in the nation’s water infrastructure by providing long-term, low-cost supplemental credit assistance for regionally and nationally significant projects. The WIFIA program has an active pipeline of pending applications for projects that will result in billions of dollars in water infrastructure investment and thousands of jobs. The City of Wichita was awarded a WIFIA loan in 2020 for a Water Treatment Facility.

EPA is currently accepting letters of interest for WIFIA and SWIFIA loans. Learn more about submitting a letter of interest for a WIFIA or SWIFIA loan.

Originally Appeared Here

April 18, 2023

CHICAGO (April 18, 2023) – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s largest research vessel, the  Lake Guardian, has begun its annual spring sampling survey of water quality and biological life in the Great Lakes. This year marks the 40th anniversary of EPA’s spring and summer water quality surveys in the Great Lakes. In 1983, EPA started annual sampling in Lakes Michigan, Huron, and Erie; Lakes Ontario and Superior were added to the annual survey thereafter.
 

The Lake Guardian conducts sampling surveys on all five Great Lakes in the spring, when the water is cold and well-mixed, and in the summer, when the surface waters are warm and the lakes are stratified. Samples of water, sediment and lower food-web organisms are collected at designated stations throughout Lakes Michigan, Huron, Erie, Ontario and Superior. Since 1983, the surveys have provided the only existing set of data with 40 years-worth of water quality sampling information across all five Great Lakes. This dataset helps EPA identify Great Lakes ecosystem trends over the 40-year timeframe.

The Lake Guardian docked at Chicago’s Navy Pier. Photo courtesy of U.S. EPA.

During this spring survey, scientists will study nutrient concentrations, algae, and zooplankton communities, as well as the diversity of the Great Lakes microbial community.

Participating scientists are from:

• EPA Great Lakes National Program Office
• U.S. Geological Survey
• Cornell University
• Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota Duluth
• Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education
• Michigan Tech Research Institute
• University of Chicago
• Cleveland State University
• Purdue University

 
The Great Lakes National Program Office’s water quality and biology monitoring surveys help EPA fulfill its monitoring and assessment commitments as specified in the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement between Canada and the United States and in the U.S. Clean Water Act. The Lake Guardian is funded by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, launched in 2010 to accelerate efforts to protect and restore the world’s largest system of fresh surface water.
 

Read more about EPA’s Great Lakes monitoring programs.

Originally Appeared Here

EPA’s Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers include a network of over 160 partners to provide resources to unlock access to President Biden’s historic investments in America

April 17, 2023

BOSTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the Montpelier, Vermont-based Institute for Sustainable Communities has been selected to serve as an “Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center” (EJ TCTAC) which will each receive at least $10 million to help communities across the United States access funds from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. This includes historic investments to advance environmental justice.

From day one of his administration, President Biden made achieving environmental justice a top priority. Through the Investing in America agenda, the Biden-Harris Administration will continue to support and strengthen communities that for too long were left out and left behind. Administrator Regan announced the technical assistance centers on the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America tour.

“We know that so many communities across the nation have the solutions to the environmental challenges they face. Unfortunately, many have lacked access or faced barriers when it comes to the crucial federal resources needed to deliver these solutions,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Today we’re taking another step to break down these barriers. Establishing these Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers across the nation will ensure all communities can access benefits from the President’s historic agenda, which includes groundbreaking investments in clean air, clean water, and our clean energy future.”

 “For far too long, overburdened, underserved, and rural communities have lacked the resources and technical assistance they need from the federal government to overcome barriers critical to their energy needs and create new, long-lasting economic opportunities,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “Thanks to President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, DOE now has historic levels of new funding to pull from to help revitalize disadvantaged communities across the nation and ensure they’re not left behind in our transition to a clean energy future.”

The Institute for Sustainable Communities is among 17 Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers (EJ TCTACs) announced by EPA to receive a total of more than $177 million to remove barriers and improve accessibility for communities with environmental justice concerns. Institute for Sustainable Communities will be a resource for communities throughout the country, including New England, with particular capacity to assist Tribes. EPA also selected the University of Connecticut (UCONN) which will work exclusively with organizations addressing environmental justice concerns in the six New England states.

“Ensuring that EPA fully considers the needs of historically underserved and overburdened communities is an integral part of our work to protect people’s health and our environment,” said David W. Cash, Regional Administrator of EPA’s New England regional office. “We are very pleased to have two exceptional New England organizations stepping up to assist communities with environmental justice concerns and assure that they will have access to the once-in-a-generation environment and energy funding.”

“When historic legislation is passed in Congress, the last thing the American people need is unnecessary bureaucratic red tape keeping them from accessing those historic investments – especially when it comes to addressing the urgent and existential environmental injustices in our country,” said U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders. “That’s why I am glad to see the EPA has selected Vermont’s Institute for Sustainable Communities to receive at least $10 million to help communities access the investments from the Inflation Reduction Act. From air pollution clean-up to safe and reliable drinking water, these funds will go a long way for communities that have been historically most burdened by climate change and environmental hazards.”

“We took a historic step forward to fight climate change and protect our environment by passing the Inflation Reduction Act. As we look towards implementation, we must make certain that our underserved communities—which have long borne the brunt of pollution from manufacturing and fossil fuel use—are at the forefront of that work,” said U.S. Senator Peter Welch. “The Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers will empower communities with environmental justice concerns by giving them tools to advocate for themselves. That’s essential to making sure the IRA and other environmental policies work for everyone, not just the privileged few. I’m grateful to EPA Administrator Regan and the staff at EPA for making this possible, and I congratulate the Institute for Sustainable Communities on this exciting new chapter.”

“Environmental justice means cleaner and greener communities for everyone,” said Congresswoman Becca Balint. “I’m proud that Vermont will play a role in ensuring New England continues to address climate change with equitable and values-based investments.”

With this critical investment, these centers will provide training and other assistance to build capacity for navigating federal grant application systems, writing strong grant proposals, and effectively managing grant funding. In addition, these centers will provide guidance on community engagement, meeting facilitation, and translation and interpretation services for limited English-speaking participants, thus removing barriers and improving accessibility for communities with environmental justice concerns. Each of the technical assistance centers will also create and manage communication channels to ensure all communities have direct access to resources and information.

EPA will deliver these resources in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy, whose funding allows the EJ TCTACs to provide support for identifying community opportunities for clean energy transition and financing options, including public-private partnerships supporting clean energy demonstration, deployment, workforce development and outreach opportunities that advance energy justice objectives.

The formation of the EJ technical assistance centers is in direct response to feedback from communities and environmental justice leaders who have long called for technical assistance and capacity building support for communities and their partners as they work to access critical federal resources. The 17 centers will provide comprehensive coverage for the entire United States through a network of over 160 partners including community-based organizations, additional academic institutions, and Environmental Finance Centers, so that more communities can access federal funding opportunities like those made available through President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Additional award information for each selectee will be announced in Summer 2023.

More information:

The EJ TCTAC program is part of the Federal Interagency Thriving Communities Network and delivers on the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 Initiative to ensure that 40% of the benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities. The new technical assistance centers will help ensure communities with environmental justice concerns can access President Biden’s historic investments in America to address generational disinvestment, legacy pollution, infrastructure challenges, and build a clean energy economy that will lower energy costs, strengthen our energy security, and meet our climate goals. 

Today’s announcement builds on the $100 million announced earlier this year under the Environmental Justice Government to Government Program and the Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving Cooperative Agreement Program, with applications due on April 14, 2023. EPA has also announced $550 million through the Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program, with applications due May 31, 2023.

Learn more about the selectees, their partners, and the EJ TCTAC program.

Learn more about environmental justice at EPA.

Originally Appeared Here

EPA’s Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers include a network of over 160 partners to provide resources to unlock access to President Biden’s historic investments in America

April 17, 2023

BOSTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that the University of Connecticut (UCONN) has been selected to serve as an “Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center” (EJ TCTAC) that will receive at least $10 million to help communities across the New England region and elsewhere access funds from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. This includes historic investments to advance environmental justice.

From day one of his administration, President Biden made achieving environmental justice a top priority. Through the Investing in America agenda, the Biden-Harris Administration will continue to support and strengthen communities that for too long were left out and left behind. Administrator Regan announced the technical assistance centers on the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America tour.

“We know that so many communities across the nation have the solutions to the environmental challenges they face. Unfortunately, many have lacked access or faced barriers when it comes to the crucial federal resources needed to deliver these solutions,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Today we’re taking another step to break down these barriers. Establishing these Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers across the nation will ensure all communities can access benefits from the President’s historic agenda, which includes groundbreaking investments in clean air, clean water, and our clean energy future.”

 “For far too long, overburdened, underserved, and rural communities have lacked the resources and technical assistance they need from the federal government to overcome barriers critical to their energy needs and create new, long-lasting economic opportunities,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “Thanks to President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, DOE now has historic levels of new funding to pull from to help revitalize disadvantaged communities across the nation and ensure they’re not left behind in our transition to a clean energy future.”

UCONN is among 17 Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers (EJ TCTACs) announced by EPA to receive a total of more than $177 million to remove barriers and improve accessibility for communities with environmental justice concerns. UCONN will work exclusively with organizations addressing environmental justice concerns in the six New England states.

“Ensuring that EPA fully considers the needs of historically underserved and overburdened communities is an integral part of our work to protect people’s health and our environment,” said David W. Cash, Regional Administrator of EPA’s New England regional office. “We are very pleased to have two exceptional New England organizations stepping up to assist communities with environmental justice concerns and assure that they will have access to the once-in-a-generation environment and energy funding.”

With this critical investment, these centers will provide training and other assistance to build capacity for navigating federal grant application systems, writing strong grant proposals, and effectively managing grant funding. In addition, these centers will provide guidance on community engagement, meeting facilitation, and translation and interpretation services for limited English-speaking participants, thus removing barriers and improving accessibility for communities with environmental justice concerns. Each of the technical assistance centers will also create and manage communication channels to ensure all communities have direct access to resources and information.

EPA will deliver these resources in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy, whose funding allows the EJ TCTACs to provide support for identifying community opportunities for clean energy transition and financing options, including public-private partnerships supporting clean energy demonstration, deployment, workforce development and outreach opportunities that advance energy justice objectives.

The formation of the EJ technical assistance centers is in direct response to feedback from communities and environmental justice leaders who have long called for technical assistance and capacity building support for communities and their partners as they work to access critical federal resources. The 17 centers will provide comprehensive coverage for the entire United States through a network of over 160 partners including community-based organizations, additional academic institutions, and Environmental Finance Centers, so that more communities can access federal funding opportunities like those made available through President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

In addition to UCONN, which will work only with New England-based organizations, EPA also announced that Montpelier, Vermont-based Institute for Sustainable Communities is one of three national EJ TCTACs that will provide additional assistance across the country, with particular capacity to assist Tribes. The other two organizations selected in this capacity are the International City/County Management Association and the National Indian Health Board.

Additional award information for each selectee will be announced in Summer 2023.

More information:

The EJ TCTAC program is part of the Federal Interagency Thriving Communities Network and delivers on the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 Initiative to ensure that 40% of the benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities. The new technical assistance centers will help ensure communities with environmental justice concerns can access President Biden’s historic investments in America to address generational disinvestment, legacy pollution, infrastructure challenges, and build a clean energy economy that will lower energy costs, strengthen our energy security, and meet our climate goals. 

Today’s announcement builds on the $100 million announced earlier this year under the Environmental Justice Government to Government Program and the Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving Cooperative Agreement Program, with applications due on April 14, 2023. EPA has also announced $550 million through the Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program, with applications due May 31, 2023.

Learn more about the selectees, their partners, and the EJ TCTAC program.

Learn more about environmental justice at EPA.

What They Are Saying:

“The Biden Administration is investing billions of dollars in clean water, energy and air and I am thrilled that UConn has been selected to help connect underserved communities across Connecticut and the greater New England region to this transformative funding. Too many communities in our state are under resourced to tackle these pressing environmental and public health issues and this program will be instrumental in reversing and correcting this unacceptable inequity,” said U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal.

“I am so proud to see the University of Connecticut selected to serve as an Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center,” said Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro. “This center will be pivotal for our state — helping to ensure that every community now has access to federal grant application assistance, workforce development, the opportunity to explore environmental partnerships, and direct resources and communication. These centers are a response to environmental and municipal leaders, advocates, and families who have long called for more support in how they can access critical federal resources to protect our climate.”

“I am thrilled to see UConn selected by the Environmental Protection Agency to assist communities across New England access and utilize federal funding to advance environmental justice,” said U.S. Rep. John B. Larson. “I was proud to support new federal programs through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act to strengthen public health, unleash the power of American-made clean energy, and ensure our regional infrastructure is resilient to the effects of climate change. UConn is well-prepared to help ensure our towns and cities have access to the resources they need to alleviate existing environmental hazards and thrive in a clean energy future. I look forward to working with the Biden Administration and our partners at UConn to implement the environmental justice initiatives we enacted in Congress right here in Connecticut and across the region.”

“I applaud the Biden-Harris Administration for selecting the University of Connecticut as an Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center. By taking this step, the Administration is ensuring that families across the state now have the help they need to address the effects of climate change and prepare for a clean energy future,” said Congressman Joe Courtney. “This is particularly important in helping organizations unlock and use funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. Under President Maric’s highly skilled leadership and her strong background in energy sciences, the mission of the Assistance Center is in good hands.”

“Environmental justice is not a theoretical concept – I see it every day in my district when I look at communities that are located next to power plants and face higher rates of childhood asthma, or those on the coast that see disproportionate harm from climate events like Superstorm Sandy,” said Congressman Jim Himes. “Unlocking funding opportunities from the federal government can be a complicated and laborious process, so it is fantastic news that the University of Connecticut will be receiving this money to assist underserved communities in my district so the people who need it most can benefit from this Administration’s historic investments in environmental justice initiatives.”

Originally Appeared Here

April 17, 2023

PUERTO RICO — La Agencia Federal de Protección Ambiental de EE. UU. (EPA, por sus siglas en ingles anunció hoy que ha tomado acción contra Northshore Management Corporation y Luquillo Hotel Company, LLC por incumplimiento a los requisitos de notificación de permisos bajo la Ley de Agua Limpia. Las empresas pagarán una multa total de $30,000 por las violaciones, que estaban relacionadas con la construcción del proyecto Fairfield Inn and Suites Hotel & Casino en Luquillo, Puerto Rico.

Este acuerdo de multa es el último de una serie de acciones de cumplimiento tomadas por la agencia para abordar las violaciones en proyectos de construcción a través de toda la isla. La EPA considera prioridad asegurar el cumplimiento de la Ley de Agua Limpia debido al aumento de la actividad de construcción en todo Puerto Rico, especialmente en las áreas costeras.

“Las empresas deben cumplir con los requisitos de la Ley de Agua Limpia. El cumplimiento evita que nuestros cuerpos de agua se contaminen con la escorrentía de aguas de lluvia y los contaminantes asociados a las actividades de construcción,” dijo la Administradora Regional, Lisa F. García. “Es fundamental que los operadores de actividades de construcción que requieren cobertura de permisos soliciten y cumplan con los requisitos de dichos permisos para garantizar que los impactos ambientales en nuestros recursos naturales se minimicen de manera efectiva,” agregó García.

Según establecen la Ley de Agua Limpia y sus requisitos de implementación, los operadores de actividades de construcción que proponen descargar a cuerpos de agua deben obtener permisos y seguir los requisitos descritos en dichos permisos para reducir la escorrentía con contaminantes. No obtener un permiso o no seguir los requisitos de un permiso puede constituir una violación a esta ley federal.

En el caso de Northshore Management Corporation y Luquillo Hotel Company, las empresas no presentaron un Aviso de Intención para la cobertura de sus actividades de construcción en el proyecto bajo los requisitos de permisos de la EPA y no implementaron ni mantuvieron controles efectivos de erosión y aguas pluviales en el proyecto, según lo exige la reglamentación federal. Luquillo Hotel Company no solicitó a tiempo la cobertura del permiso de aguas de escorrentía para sus actividades de construcción en el proyecto y, como consecuencia, descargó contaminantes sin autorización en los humedales de la zona. Como parte del trabajo de la EPA con las empresas para abordar las infracciones, las dos empresas están implementando controles de erosión y sedimentos, así como estabilización del terreno en las áreas del proyecto. Como resultado, Northshore Management Corporation y Luquillo Hotel Company lograron un acuerdo por cumplimiento de los requisitos ambientales.

Para obtener información sobre el permiso general de construcción de la EPA, visite el programa de aguas de escorrentía industrial (NPDES) en https://www.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater-discharges-construction-activities.

Siga a la Región 2 de la EPA en Twitter y visite nuestra página de Facebook. Para obtener más información sobre la Región 2 de la EPA, visite nuestra página electrónica.

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Originally Appeared Here

April 17, 2023

PUERTO RICO – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it has taken an enforcement action against Northshore Management Corporation and Luquillo Hotel Company, LLC for failure to comply with permit notification requirements under the Clean Water Act. The companies will pay a total fine of $30,000 for the violations, which were related to the construction of the Fairfield Inn and Suites Hotel & Casino project in Luquillo, Puerto Rico.

This penalty settlement is the latest in a series of enforcement actions taken to address violations from construction sites throughout the island. EPA considers it a priority to assure compliance with the Clean Water Act due to increased construction activity across Puerto Rico, especially in coastal areas.

“Companies must comply with the Clean Water Act. Compliance prevents waterways from being contaminated by stormwater runoff and pollutants from construction activities” said Regional Administrator, Lisa F. Garcia. “It is critical that operators of construction activities requiring permit coverage apply for and adhere to permit requirements to ensure environmental impacts to our natural resources are effectively minimized,” added Garcia.

Under the CWA and implementing regulations, operators of construction activities that propose to discharge into water bodies are required to obtain permits and to follow the requirements outlined in those permits to reduce pollution runoff. Failure to obtain a permit or to follow the requirements of a permit may violate federal law.

The companies failed to submit a Notice of Intent for coverage of its construction activities at the project under EPA’s permit requirements and failed to implement and maintain effective stormwater and erosion controls at the project, as required by regulations. The Luquillo Hotel Company failed to timely apply for stormwater permit coverage for its construction activities at the project and accordingly, discharged pollutants without authorization into wetlands. As part of EPA working with the businesses to address the violations, the two companies have worked to implement erosion and sediment controls as well as soil stabilization in areas of the project. As a result, Northshore Management Corporation and Luquillo Hotel Company reached substantial compliance with the environmental requirements.

For information about the EPA construction general permit, visit NPDES stormwater program at https://www.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater-discharges-construction-activities.

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Originally Appeared Here