Category Archives: EPA News

EPA News: EPA P3 Grant

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How to Apply for an EPA P3 Grant

Jan. 11, 2018

2 – 3 p.m. EST

Informational Webinar

Presentation will be livestreamed as a webinar via Adobe Connect.

Register now, as spaces are limited!

Meeting Information

Join us for an informational webinar on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 15th Annual P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet (P3) Request for Applications (RFA). Learn about EPA’s P3 program, topics in this year’s funding opportunity, and how to apply. EPA P3 program experts will be available to answer questions during a question & answer (Q&A) session following the presentation. A copy of the webinar presentation will be available at www.epa.gov/P3 for those unable to participate in the scheduled webinar.

Webinar Objectives:

  • Learn about the P3 Program
  • Review topics of open 2017-2018 P3 Phase I RFA
  • Learn how to apply for a P3 grant
  • Share frequently asked questions

2017-2018 P3 Research Topic Areas:

  • Improve Air Quality
  • Provide Clean and Safe Water
  • Prevent Contamination of Land, and
  • Ensure Safety of Chemicals in the Marketplace

EPA P3 Program

Through EPA’s P3 program, college students can benefit people, promote prosperity, and protect the planet by designing environmental solutions that move us toward a sustainable future. This year’s P3 Phase I RFA is open until Feb. 7, 2018.

The P3 award competition is a two-phase team contest. For the first phase, interdisciplinary student teams compete for $15,000 grants to research and develop their design projects during the academic year. In the spring, the teams have the opportunity to attend the National Sustainable Design Expo (NSDE) to showcase their research projects. Phase II grants are then awarded to student teams through a competitive process based on their Phase I projects. This final award is an opportunity for grant funding up to $75,000 to further the project design and/or implement in the field.

This research is supported by EPA’s Sustainable and Healthy Communities (SHC) Research Program, which provides useful science and tools for decision makers at all levels to help communities advance sustainability as well as achieve regulatory compliance.

EPA News: 2017-2018 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase 1 Solicitation

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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I Solicitation Now Open Through Dec. 19, 2017

Open: Oct. 31, 2017 Close: Dec. 19, 2017

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announces the release of its 2017-2018 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I Solicitation to develop innovative technologies that will help protect human health and the environment.

EPA is calling for small businesses to apply for Phase I awards up to $100,000 to demonstrate proof of concept in the following topic areas: air quality, manufacturing, clean and safe water, land revitalization, homeland security, and building construction materials. See the full solicitation posted on FedConnect to learn more about these topic areas, view specific subtopics for each area, and access instructions on how to apply.

EPA is one of 11 federal agencies that participate in the SBIR program enacted in 1982 to strengthen the role of small businesses in federal research and development, create jobs, and promote U.S. technical innovation from idea conception to commercialization. EPA’s SBIR funding boosts local economies by creating jobs and promoting collaborations among communities and small businesses. This funding also supports technologies aimed at creating cleaner manufacturing materials and better infrastructure in communities. Successful Phase I companies are eligible to apply for Phase II funding, which awards up to $300,000 for two years with a commercialization option of up to $100,000, to further develop and commercialize their technologies.

All applications must be submitted through FedConnect.  For more information on eligibility, application process and the SBIR program, visit the EPA SBIR website at www.epa.gov/sbir.

Missed the Sept. 28, 2017, informational webinar on how to apply for the 2017-2018 EPA SBIR Phase I Solicitation? View the presentation at https://www.epa.gov/sbir/us-epa-2017-2018-small-business-innovation-research-sbir-solicitation-webinar.

The EPA SBIR Program is part of EPA’s Sustainable and Healthy (SHC) research program.

EPA to hold five public meetings in Idaho focusing on IDEQ seeking water quality permitting program

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EPA NEWS RELEASE. www.epa.gov/newsroom
CONTACT: macIntyre.mark@epa.gov
EPA to hold five public meetings in Idaho focusing on IDEQ seeking water quality permitting program
Meetings will offer presentation, Q&A, followed by hearing to accept testimony and comments
Seattle (September 7, 2017) –
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is accepting public comments on the State of Idaho’s application to assume the role of writing, administering and enforcing water quality discharge permits in the state. Until now, the job of writing wastewater and stormwater discharge permits, performing facility inspections and otherwise enforcing the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (part of the federal Clean Water Act) has been the sole responsibility of federal authorities at EPA. The public comment period will close on Wednesday, October 11, 2017.
Beginning on Monday, September 11, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will hold five public meetings in cities across the state, each featuring a presentation and question and answer session, followed by a public hearing to accept comment and testimony on Idaho’s application to assume regulatory authority for administering the Clean Water Act permitting program in Idaho. EPA will continue to write and enforce NPDES permits for discharges to tribal waters within Idaho’s state borders.
The NPDES permit program, a key part of the federal Clean Water Act, controls water pollution by regulating sources that discharge pollutants to waters in the United States. EPA officials underscored that while today’s Public Notice triggers a 60-day public comment period on Idaho’s program proposal, any final action by EPA to approve the program and transfer permitting authority is slated for July of next year.
By seeking authorization for the NPDES program, Idaho’s Department of Environmental Quality would gain the authority to write wastewater discharge permits for municipalities, businesses and industry, as well as enforce those permits to insure permit compliance with all the conditions required by the permit.
As part of the authorization agreement, EPA retains:
Oversight of State’s program;
  • Right to review permit consistent with the Memorandum of Understanding between EPA and IDEQ;
  • To object to permits that are inconsistent with the Clean Water Act and federal NDPES regulations;
  • The right to federalize a State permit if the State does not adequately address EPA’s objection(s);
  • Retains enforcement authority over all dischargers;
  • Reserves the right to withdraw Idaho’s IPDES authorization if the State is not meeting Clean Water Act requirements and/or federal NDPES regulations; and
  • Right to conduct periodic program reviews
Following the close of the comment period, EPA will review all documents and decide whether IDEQ’s program meets federal requirements, Idaho’s authority to over discharge permits would be phased-in over four years for different types of permits.  EPA will continue to write permits within the phases that Idaho has yet to assume. Permits previously issued by EPA will remain in effect and become State IPDES permits, administered and enforced by the IDEQ.
Idaho plans to phase-in the permit program as follows:
Phase I (Upon delegation): Domestic Wastewater Facilities and the Pretreatment Program
Phase II (One year after delegation): Industrial Wastewater Facilities
Phase III (Two years after delegation): General Permit (non-Stormwater)
Phase IV (Three years after delegation): All Stormwater Permits and the Biosolids Program
Upcoming Public Meeting and Hearings locations and schedule:
Informational Meeting and Public Hearing City/Location/Address/Phone Number
Upcoming Public Meeting and Hearings locations and schedule:
Informational Meeting and Public Hearing City/Location/Address/Phone Number
Date and Time
Idaho Falls
Central Public Library
457 W Broadway St
Idaho Falls, ID 83402
(208) 612-8460
Monday, September 11, 2017:  Duration: 4:00 p.m. until no later than 8:00 p.m. (MT)
Information meeting at 4:00 p.m. until 5:30 p.m.
Hearing will begin promptly at 6:00 p.m., until testimony is complete.
Twin Falls
Twin Falls Public Library
201 Fourth Avenue East
Twin Falls, ID 83301
(208) 733-2964
September 12, 2017:  Duration: 4:00 p.m. until no later than 8:00 p.m. (MT)
Information meeting at 4:00 p.m. until 5:30 p.m.
Hearing will begin promptly at 6:00 p.m., until testimony is complete.
Boise
Boise Public Library
715 S Capitol Blvd
Boise, ID 83702
(208) 972-8200
September 13, 2017:  Duration: 4:00 p.m. until no later than 8:00 p.m. (MT)
Information meeting at 4:00 p.m. until 5:30 p.m.
Hearing will begin promptly at 6:00 p.m., until testimony is complete.
Lewiston
Lewiston Community Center
1424 Main St
Lewiston, ID 83501
(208) 746-2313
September 14, 2017:  Duration: 4:00 p.m. until no later than 8:00 p.m. (PT)
Information meeting at 4:00 p.m. until 5:30 p.m.
Hearing will begin promptly at 6:00 p.m., until testimony is complete.
Coeur d’Alene
Coeur d’Alene Public Library
702 E Front Ave
Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814
(208) 769-2315
September 15, 2017:  Duration: 2:00 p.m. until no later than 6:00 p.m. (PT)
Information meeting at 2:00 p.m. until 3:30 p.m.
Hearing will begin promptly at 4:00 p.m., until testimony is complete.
#  #  #
For more information and access to the Federal Register notice, visit EPA’s NPDES page: https://www.epa.gov/npdes-permits/idaho-npdes-program-authorization

For more about Idaho’s IPDES Program development: http://www.deq.idaho.gov/water-quality/ipdes/

EPA NEWS: FY 2017 Grant Announcement: FY 2017 Source Reduction Assistance Grant Program

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Request For Proposals

2017 Pollution Prevention (P2) Source Reduction Assistance Grant Request for Proposal for EPA Region 1

RFP# EPA-Region10-P2-2017-001

Open Date: June 16, 2017

Closing Date: Wednesday July 26, 2017, 11:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time (8:59pm Pacific Daylight Time)

P2 Source Reduction Assistance (SRA) awards support pollution prevention through source reduction and resource conservation work. You can read a description of SRA awards in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) 66.717.

  • Eligibility: The fifty states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, any territory or possession of the U.S., local governments, city or township governments, independent school district governments, state controlled institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (other than institutions of higher education), private institutions of higher education, community-based grassroots organizations, and federally-recognized tribes and intertribal consortia.
  • Match requirement: 5%
  • Range of possible award amounts: $20,000 – $95,000.
  • Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov “FY 2017 Source Reduction Assistance Grant Program for Region 10″
  • For more information, contact Robert Drake (drake.robert@epa.gov), 206-553-4803
Related information:

Ecology News: Opportunity to comment on the EPA Performance Partnership Agreement

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Ecology has a partnership with EPA that is revisited every two years. This year Ecology has requested $11 million from EPA for numerous environmental efforts. The partnership provides funds that support Ecology’s participation in the Task Force.The comment period for this partnership grant agreement with EPA ends on May 31st. 

Task Force members are encouraged to provide feedback for the drafting of this plan. To provide comment go to http://www.ecy.wa.gov/ppa.html 

 

 

EPA Announces Public Regulatory Reform Meetings on TSCA, TRI and Lead Exposure Reduction — May 1, 2017

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Consistent with Executive Order 13777, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP) is hosting two meetings on May 1, 2017, to solicit input on regulations promulgated under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) that could be repealed, replaced, or modified to make them less burdensome.

On February 24, 2017, President Donald Trump issued Executive Order 13777 on Enforcing the Regulatory Agenda. The Executive Order (EO) establishes the “policy of the United States to alleviate unnecessary regulatory burdens placed on the American people.” Among other things, it requires each agency to create a Regulatory Reform Task Force to evaluate existing regulations and to identify regulations that should be repealed, replaced, or modified.

OCSPP is holding two public meetings (both of which the public is invited to participate in person or via teleconference) on May 1, 2017 so that we can listen and learn from those directly impacted by our regulations.

The first meeting will be held from 9am to 12pm and will address regulations promulgated under TSCA Subchapters I (Control of Toxic Substances), II (Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response), VI (Formaldehyde Standards for Composite Wood Products), as well as EPCRA Subchapter II §11023 (Toxic chemical release forms), commonly referred to as the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI). These are regulations addressing chemical risk review and reduction programs including new and existing chemicals, polychlorinated biphenyls, asbestos, mercury and formaldehyde, as well as regulations implementing the TRI.

The second meeting will be held from 1pm to 2:30pm and will address regulations promulgated under TSCA Subchapter IV (Lead Exposure Reduction). These regulations address implementation of the Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program, Lead Abatement Program, Residential Lead-based Paint Disclosure Rule, and Residential Hazard Standards for Lead in Paint, Dust and Soil.

We invite you to provide input on these actions during the public meeting/teleconference or by submitting written comments to the EPA-wide docket using docket number: EPA-HQ-OA-2017-0190. The docket, which is accessible through www.regulations.gov,  will remain open through May 15, 2017. OCSPP will give equal consideration to input provided through either of these methods.

Additional information on joining the meetings (in person and via teleconference) and submitting written comments through the docket is below. For questions about this process, please contact Darlene Leonard at leonard.darlene@epa.gov. For more information about this effort, please visit https://www.epa.gov/laws-regulations/regulatory-reform.

Participating in the Meetings:

Persons interested in attending the meeting on TSCA Subchapters I, II and VI, and EPCRA Subchapter II §11023, either in person or remotely, may register at https://tsca-tri.eventbrite.com.

Those interested in participating in the meeting on TSCA Subchapter IV, either in person or remotely, may register at https://tsca-pb.eventbrite.com.

Participants must indicate their interest in speaking when registering. To attend the meeting in person or to receive remote access, please register no later than April 27, 2017.  While on-site registration will be available, seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis, with priority given to pre-registrants, until room capacity is reached. The Agency anticipates that approximately 150 people will be able to attend the meeting in person. For registrants not able to attend in person, the meeting will also provide remote access capabilities; registered participants will be provided information on how to connect to the meeting prior to its start.

 Providing Input through the Docket:

Comments can be submitted to the public docket, EPA-HQ-OA-2017-0190, which is available at www.regulations.gov. The docket will be open until May 15, 2017.

Detailed instructions on how to submit comments to the docket are available at: https://www.regulations.gov/help. Also, EPA’s Tips for Effective Comments can be found at: https://www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets#tips.

We also recommend that you clearly include the subject area on which you are providing input at the beginning of your comment. The subject area could include, but is not limited to, a reference to any of the following:

  • Code of Federal Regulations regulatory cite or Part/Subpart;
  • Federal Register citation;
  • Regulatory program or rulemaking title;
  • Title of guidance document.

EPA NEWS: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is soliciting public comments on its evaluation of existing regulations per Executive Order 13777, “Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda.”

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All public comments will be accessible online in our docket on the regulations.gov website ( https://www.regulations.gov/?tab=search ) identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OA-2017-0190 at (https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=EPA-HQ-OA-2017-0190).
You may offer public comment regarding implementation of regulatory reforms to programs including the Superfund cleanup program. The EPA Headquarters office that oversees the Superfund program, the Office of Land and Emergency Management (OLEM) (https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/about-office-land-and-emergency-management), will host a public meeting to obtain public feedback on May 9, 2017, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time in Arlington, VA.  Additionally, the Office of Water (OW) (https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/about-office-water) will hold a virtual listening session for the public on May 2, 2017 from 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time.
For more information about the public participation in regulatory reform, please visit https://www.epa.gov/laws-regulations/regulatory-reform#Public 

EPA Launches New Program With $1 Billion in Loans Available for Water Infrastructure Projects

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 10, 2017

EPA Launches New Program With $1 Billion in Loans Available for Water Infrastructure Projects

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of approximately $1 billion in credit assistance for water infrastructure projects under the new Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program.

EPA’s WIFIA program will provide long-term, low-cost credit assistance in the form of direct loans and loan guarantees to creditworthy water projects. WIFIA provides another option for financing large infrastructure projects – generally at least $20 million – in addition to the State Revolving Funds and bond market. WIFIA is available to state, local, and tribal governments; private entities; partnerships; and State Revolving Fund programs. EPA estimates that funds appropriated to the WIFIA program can be leveraged at a ratio greater than 50 to one, which means the $17 million program budget could allow EPA to make approximately $1 billion in loans and stimulate about $2 billion in total infrastructure investment.

“The launch of the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act program marks a huge step forward for modernizing our nation’s aging water infrastructure,” said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. “WIFIA gives us a new opportunity to provide billions of dollars in low-interest loans to communities to build large infrastructure projects, significantly accelerating investments that benefit our nation’s public health and water security for generations to come.”

Some of the projects that WIFIA enables EPA to provide assistance for include:

  • 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 projects
  • drought prevention, reduction, or mitigation projects

EPA will evaluate projects using criteria such as the extent to which the project is nationally or regionally significant, helps maintain or protect public health or the environment, protects against extreme weather, and serves regions with significant water resource challenges. EPA will make selections on a competitive basis.

EPA estimates that the U.S. needs about $660 billion in investments for drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure over the next 20 years.

For more information, visit www.epa.gov/wifia

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IDAHO News: Final Rule Package Submittal to EPA – WQS/Fish Consumption Rates in Human Health Criteria, Docket No. 58-0102-1201

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Idaho has submitted their State adopted Human Health Water Quality Criteria (HHWQC) to EPA for approval.

Final Rule Package Submitted to EPA

This submittal also includes documents that exist as part of the rulemaking record and posted at www.deq.idaho.gov/58-0102-1201.

SRRTTF Sends Letter to Staff and Directors of the U.S. EPA and Other Parties Regarding TSCA

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The Spokane River Regional Toxics Task Force (SRRTTF) has sent a letter (via Ruckelshaus Center on December 9th, 2016)  to Staff and Directors at EPA as well as State legislators concerning the regulation of PCBs under the Toxic Substances Control Act and its link to Washington Water Quality Standards for PCBs recently submitted by EPA. The SRRTTF developed the letter(s), and agreed on the contents, by consensus.

Letter:
–  srrttf-letter-concerning-wa-wqs-and-tsca_12-9-16

Previous letter sent to EPA and their response:
–  SRRTTF Letter to EPA-Final-approved-10.23.13
–  EPA Response to SRRTTF Letter_pcbs_2.24.15