News from EPA: 2 Funding Grant Awards, Supressed PSFAs Study,

News Releases from Region 09

U.S. EPA awards $5 million grant to the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality

Funds are part of a two-year grant for more than $19 million

06/07/2018

Contact Information: 

Margot Perez-Sullivan (perezsullivan.margot@epa.gov)

415-947-4149

SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) a $5 million grant to help the state fund programs that protect human health and the environment throughout the state.

“EPA is committed to working with states to address today’s environmental and public health challenges,” said EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. “This grant will enable Arizona to improve environmental protections and safeguard its natural resources, while being able to prioritize the most pressing issues.”

“This grant affords Arizona the flexibility to tackle the state’s unique environmental challenges and set priorities to accomplish their goals,” said EPA Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest Mike Stoker.
“ADEQ very much appreciates the grant award. We would also like to extend a sincere thank you to EPA Region 9 staff for collaborating with ADEQ to produce a streamlined and flexible process,” said ADEQ Director Misael Cabrera.


The grant was announced today during a meeting between Mr. Stoker and Mr. Cabrera. This funding is the first installment of an expected $19.1 million grant that will fund Arizona’s environmental work through 2020. ADEQ will use the resources for solid waste management programs, air quality monitoring and drinking water improvements.
As part of the funding agreement, Arizona will contribute nearly $10 million.
Unlike traditional grants for specific categories, Performance Partnership Grants allow recipients to use EPA funding with greater flexibility, prioritize environmental problems, streamline paperwork and accounting procedures to reduce administrative costs, and try cross-program initiatives and approaches.
Learn more about EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region.
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News Releases from Region 09

U.S. EPA Announces New Funding for Water Infrastructure Projects

Funding will leverage public and private investments to keep lead and other contaminants out of drinking water and upgrade aging water infrastructure

04/04/2018

 

Contact Information: 

Margot Perez-Sullivan (perezsullivan.margot@epa.gov)

415-947-4149

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SAN FRANCISCO –Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of funding that could provide as much as $5.5 billion in loans, which could leverage over $11 billion in water infrastructure projects through the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program.

Prospective borrowers seeking WIFIA credit assistance must submit a letter of interest (LOI) by July 6, 2018.

“Thanks to the President’s leadership, this WIFIA funding will spark new investments to repair our nation’s crumbling water infrastructure,” said EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. “EPA will play a key role in the President's infrastructure efforts by incentivizing states, municipalities, and public-private partnerships to protect public health, fix local infrastructure problems, create jobs, and provide clean water to communities."

The WIFIA program received $63 million in funding in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018, which was signed into law by President Donald Trump on March 23, 2018. This more than doubles the program’s funding from 2017.

Leveraging private capital and other funding sources, these projects could support $11 billion in water infrastructure investment and create more than 170,000 jobs.

This year’s Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) highlights the importance of protecting public health including reducing exposure to lead and other contaminants in drinking water systems and updating the nation’s aging infrastructure.  

“These funds create opportunities for local communities to address crucial water infrastructure needs,” said Alexis Strauss, Acting Regional Administrator for the EPA’s Pacific Southwest office. “Partnering with states and local communities to provide these low interest loans helps leverage the funding needed to protect public health and the environment.”

The WIFIA program will play an important part in making vital improvements to the nation’s water infrastructure and implementing the President’s Infrastructure Plan, which calls for increasing the program’s funding authorization and expanding project eligibility.

Background

Established by the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014, the WIFIA program is a federal loan and guarantee program at EPA that aims to accelerate investment in the nation’s water infrastructure by providing long-term, low-cost supplemental loans for regionally and nationally significant projects.

WIFIA credit assistance can be used for a wide range of projects, including:

• drinking water treatment and distribution projects
• wastewater conveyance and treatment projects
• enhanced energy efficiency projects at drinking water and wastewater facilities
• desalination, aquifer recharge, alternative water supply, and water recycling project
• drought prevention, reduction, or mitigation projects

EPA will evaluate proposed projects described in the LOIs using WIFIA’s statutory and regulatory criteria as described in the NOFA. Through this competitive process, EPA will select projects that it intends to fund and invite them to continue to the application process.

Suppressed Study: The EPA Underestimated Dangers of Widespread Chemicals

The CDC has quietly published a controversial review of perfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, that indicates more people are at risk of drinking contaminated water than previously thought.

by Abrahm Lustgarten, Lisa Song and Talia Buford June 20, 4:54 p.m. EDT

 

Toxicological Profile for Perfluoroalkyls

Draft for Public Comment
Comments may be submitted via the Federal eRulemaking Portal here.
Comments must be submitted by July 23, 2018.

 

Toxicological Profile Information

The ATSDR toxicological profile succinctly characterizes the toxicology and adverse health effects information for the toxic substance described therein. Each peer-reviewed profile identifies and reviews the key literature that describes a substance's toxicological properties.

A useful two page information sheet, the ToxFAQs™, is also available.

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Toxicological Profile Access

In order to access the ATSDR toxicological profile PDF files below, you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader. You may download that program free from Adobe Adobe

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Complete Profile

Preface/Table of Contents

1. Relevance to Public Health

2. Health Effects

3. Toxicokinetics, Susceptible Populations, Biomarkers, Chemical Interactions

4. Chemical and Physical Information

5. Potential for Human Exposure

6. Adequacy of the Database

7. Regulations and Advisories

8. References

Appendices

Support Document

 

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Regulatory Developments - EPA Publishes Final Reporting Requirements for TSCA Mercury Inventory

Bergeson & Campbell PC

USA June 25 2018

On June 22, 2018, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency published a prepublication version of the final rule regarding reporting requirements for applicable persons to provide information to assist in the preparation of an “inventory of mercury supply, use, and trade in the United States,” where “mercury” is defined as “elemental mercury” and “a mercury compound” (mercury). Section 8(b)(10)(B) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), as amended by the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act (Lautenberg Act), directs that “[n]ot later than April 1, 2017, and every 3 years thereafter, the Administrator shall carry out and publish” in the Federal Register such an inventory. The final rule applies to any person who manufactures (including imports) mercury or mercury-added products, or otherwise intentionally uses mercury in a manufacturing process (including processes traditionally not subject to TSCA, such as for the manufacture of pharmaceuticals and pesticides). EPA will use data from the 2018 reporting year for the 2020 mercury inventory. . .

Read more >> https://www.lexology.com