Top Stories Archive

Superfund Program Considers Future of $600 Million in Stimulus Money
March 13 - The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 appropriated $600 million to clean up land contaminated by hazardous waste. EPA's Superfund Program plans to use the funds to start long-term cleanup projects and to accelerate ongoing construction projects at sites listed on the National Priorities List. more...

EPA Announces New Action to Prevent Coal Ash Releases
March 9 - In response to last year's coal ash spill in Kingston, Tennessee, EPA has issued Information Request Letters to electric utilities that have surface impoundments or similar units that contain coal combustion residuals. The letters request information to assist EPA in evaluating the structural integrity of these management units. more...

Brownfields Program Develops Plans for $100 Million in Stimulus Money
March 9 - EPA's Brownfields Program has received $100 million under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and is developing plans for the distribution of that money. Information about the Brownfields Program's actions relating to the Recovery Act is now available online.

EPA Makes Plans for $200 Million Appropriated to Clean Up Leaking Underground Storage Tanks
March 5 - $200 million of the money distributed under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 has been devoted to cleaning up petroleum links from underground storage tanks. The money is being distributed as part of EPA's effort to implement the Recovery Act in a manner that will create jobs and address environmental challenges. more...

EPA Awards $2.6 Million for Brownfields Environmental Job Training
January 15 - Thirteen communities in 12 states will share $2.6 million in job training grants geared toward cleaning up contaminated properties and turning them into productive community assets. The grants will teach environmental assessment and cleanup job skills to individuals living in areas near brownfields sites in Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Oregon, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. more...

Manufacturers, Retails Boost Consumer Electronics Recycling
January 9 - Plug-In to eCycling partners expanded their electronics recycling programs and collected andrecycled more than 66.5 million pounds of used electronics in 2008, nearly a 30 percent increase from the previous year. Plug-In To eCycling is a partnership between EPA and leading consumer electronics manufacturers and retailers that fosters opportunities for consumers to donate or recycle their used electronics. more...

$1.75 Million Grant to Strengthen Tribal Partnerships
December 3 - Northern Arizona University's Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals received a $1.75 million grant to support a steering committee of tribal co-regulators to work with EPA on solid and hazardous waste cleanup issues. EPA is also releasing a tribal strategy to advance the protection and restoration of land in Indian country. more...

OSWER AA Susan Bodine America Recycles Day Celebrates Recycling Progress, Seeks Further Gains
November 14 - November 15 is the 11th Annual America Recycles Day, an opportunity to encourage increased recycling through eduction and public events. Americans recycled more in 2007 than they did in 2006, and EPA's Green Scenes video podcast series recently discussed ways to recycle even more in 2008. more...

New Plan Will Improve Cleanup of Petroleum-Contaminated Sites
November 3 - EPA is bolstering efforts to clean up petroleum-contaminated brownfields sites through the development of the Petroleum Brownfields Action Plan (PDF) (11 pp, 161K, About PDF). This plan will help build partnerships and expand technical assistance to assist Brownfields cleanups, which increase jobs and revitalize communities.

EPA Powers Up Contaminated Sites into Renewable Energy
September 23 – In a novel approach to returning land to productive use, EPA has identified thousands of properties that could potentially host solar, wind or biomass energy production facilities. EPA pinpointed these energy assets using Google Earth and has listed each property’s attributes for energy redevelopment. more...

Annual Conference Provides Training for Emergency Responders
September 19 – Preparations are underway for the 2008 EPA Emergency Preparedness and Prevention and Hazmat Spills Conference , which will be held from October 26-29 in Richmond, Virginia. Emergency response personnel from a variety of fields, including federal, state, and local government personnel, are encouraged to attend.

EPA Funds New Round of Brownfields Training, Research and Technical Assistance Grants
September 3 - EPA is providing $1.5 million of funding for new Brownfields Training, Research, and Technical Assistance Grants. This money will provide information, training, tools, and technical assistance to brownfields stakeholders. more...

Less Lead in Wheel Weights Means Less Lead in the Environment
August 29 - Tire companies, big box stores, and the government are putting the brakes on the use of lead wheel weights. Through EPA's National Lead-Free Wheel Weight Initiative, partners have agreed to phase-in the use of lead-free alternative wheel weights and reduce the amount of lead released into the environment by 2011. more...

New Web Area Aides Safe Storage of Ethanol and Biodiesel Fuels
July 23 - EPA recently introduced the Underground Storage Tank Biofuels Compendium, which provides underground storage tank stakeholders with information about safe storage of ethanol and biodiesel fuels. These pages were created in response to the increased presence of alternative fuels, which have characteristics significantly different than gasoline and diesel.

Déle nueva vida a su viejo teléfono celular—en inglés y español
July 8 - En un discurso hoy ante la convención anual de la Liga de Ciudadanos Latinoamericanos Unidos (LULAC, por sus siglas en inglés), el administrador Johnson anunció la campaña en español diseñada para fomentar el reciclaje de teléfonos celulares. La campaña incluye anuncios impresos de servicio público y podcasts en español que destacan la conveniencia y los beneficios tanto ambientales como sociales del reciclaje de teléfonos celulares. more... (English version)
Recicle sus teléfonos Greenscene
Recicle sus teléfonos Podcast

EPA Recognizes Leadership in Beneficial Uses of Industrial Materials
July 3 - EPA's Coal Combustion Products Partnership (C2P2) is presenting 20 organizations and individuals with awards for safely increasing the use of coal combustion products. Some of the achievements recognized include finding new uses for coal combustion products and developing a web-based educational tool that teaches civil engineering students about the benefits and uses of these products. more...

Amendment Encourages the Production of Lighter, More Fuel-Efficient Cars
May 30 - EPA has amended the F019 hazardous waste listing to encourage the use of aluminum in automobiles, light trucks, and utility vehicles. Aluminum parts are lighter than parts made of other metals, which in turn increases gas mileage and decreases exhaust air emissions, including greenhouse gas emissions. more...

Brownfields National Conference Brings Environmentalists Together
May 5 - Detroit is hosting the National Brownfields 2008 Conference May 5 - 7 at Detroit's Cobo Center. More than 6,000 environmental and economic development officials, risk managers, planners, engineers, and students are expected to attend. more...

EPA Earth Day Celebrations Continue
April 23 – Earth Day may be over, but EPA's Earth Day celebrations are still going strong! Download the EPA Earth Day Podcasts, view the results of EPA's Earth Day photo contest, and learn about what you can do to help the environment on EPA's Earth Day Web site.

New Resource Promotes Environmentally Friendly Site Cleanup
April 22 - EPA is making it easier for developers and other site decision makers to use environmentally friendly cleanup techniques with the Green Remediation Primer, a new document produced by EPA's Brownfields and Land Revitalization Technology Support Center. more...

EPA and Partners Kick Off Lifecycle Green Building Design Challenge 2
April 15 - EPA is taking action to promote building techniques that encourage material adaptation and reuse, minimize waste, and cut greenhouse gas emissions. The Lifecycle Green Building Design Challenge 2 is seeking designs and ideas that support cost-effective disassembly and anticipate the future use of building materials. In conjunction with the Challenge, EPA has published the Lifecycle Construction Resource Guide (PDF) (72pp, 1.3MB, About PDF), which discusses opportunities and challenges related to lifecycle construction. more...

EPA Issues $74 million in Brownfields Grants
April 7 - Communities in 43 states, 2 Tribal Nations, and 2 territories will share over $74 million in EPA Brownfields grants to help revitalize former industrial and commercial sites, turning them from problem properties to productive community use. Since the beginning of the Brownfields program, EPA has awarded 1255 assessment grants totaling $298.6 million, 230 revolving loan fund grants totaling $217.7 million, and 426 cleanup grants totaling $78.7 million. more...

$2.5 Million for Brownfields Environmental Job Training
March 6 - Thirteen communities in 10 states will share more than $2.5 million in job training grants geared toward cleaning up contaminated properties and turning them into productive community assets. EPA's Brownfields Initiative is awarding grants of up to $200,000 each to teach environmental assessment and cleanup job skills to individuals living in low-income areas near brownfields sites. more...

One Millionth Mercury-Containing Switch Removed from Car
February 29 - The National Vehicle Mercury Switch Recovery Program (NVMSRP) has collected its millionth mercury-containing automotive switch, representing more than one ton of mercury that has been removed from the environment. The goal of the NVMSRP is to capture 80 to 90 percent of available vehicle mercury switches by 2017. more...

Don't Throw Out That Old TV!
February 20 - Beginning in February 2009, all full-power television stations will switch to digital broadcasts. Many people won't be affected by this change, and those who are can take simple steps to continue using their old TV. EPA's Digital Television Transition page provides information about extending the life or your old TV and recycling TVs that don't end up making the switch. more…

Cell Phones Cell Phone Recycling is an Easy Call
January 8 - The nation's leading cell phone makers, service providers, and retailers have teamed up with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to answer America's call for easy cell phone recycling. As part of EPA's Plug-In to eCycling program, partners supporting the cell phone recycling campaign include AT&T Wireless, Best Buy, LG Electronics, Motorola, Nokia, Office Depot, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Sprint, Staples, and T-Mobile. more…

More Information About State Delivery Prohibition Programs Now Available Online
December 18 – EPA is making more information about underground storage tank delivery prohibition programs available online with our new Underground Storage Tank Delivery Prohibition Web Area. more…

What Did You Recycle Today?
November 15 - EPA is joining people across the country today to celebrate America Recycles Day. On this day, EPA works with our partners to raise awareness about the benefits of recycling and encourages Americans to expand their recycling activities. EPA is proud to be one of the co-founders of this event now celebrating a decade dedicated to improving recycling nationwide. more...

Tribal OSWER Enhances Tribal Web Areas
October 10 - The Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER) is pleased to announce two new enhancements to our online information about EPA programs in Indian Country: the Office of Underground Storage Tanks (OUST) in Indian Country site has a new look and new information, and the brand new OSWER Tribal Programs pages collect information about all of OSWER's tribal programs in one easy-to-use area. more...

More than $2 Million Goes to Revitalizing Properties
July 26 - Nine state or local governments are receiving supplemental grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to help return problem properties to productive use. Approximately $2.2 million is being awarded to brownfields revolving loan funds grantees. more...

EPA Awards $71 Million to Help Brownfields Bloom into Productivity
May 14 - Communities in 38 states will receive brownfields grants to help revitalize former industrial and commercial sites, turning them from problem properties to productive community use. Two territories and five tribal nations also will share the $70.7 million from the EPA. more...

Cherry Blossoms EPA Helps Keep the Cherry Blossom Festival Beautiful with Recycle On the Go Program
March 29 - EPA and the National Park Service are teaming up to collect recyclables at this year’s National Cherry Blossom Festival. Festival attendees will be encouraged to recycle their bottles and cans in recycling bins on the National Mall as part of EPA's Recycle on the Go program. more...

EPA Announces Nation-wide Effort to Remove Chemicals from Schools
March 23 - In a national kickoff, EPA announced its Schools Chemical Cleanout Campaign to help schools prevent chemical accidents. Under this program, EPA, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Education and industry groups, will help schools safely manage chemicals. more...

EPA Encourages Production of Light-Weight, Fuel Efficient Vehicles Through F019 Amendment
January 11 - EPA is amending the F019 hazardous waste listing to facilitate the use of lightweight aluminum parts in cars, which produces vehicles capable of decreased exhaust air emissions and increased gas mileage. more...

EPA Supports Electronics Recycling
January 10 - Retailers and electronics manufacturers voluntarily recycled more than 34 million pounds of electronics in 2006 as part of their commitment to the Environmental Protection Agency's Plug-In To eCycling program. The program is a voluntary partnership between EPA and electronics manufacturers and retailers to offer consumers more opportunities to donate or recycle their used electronics. more...

Milestone Reached Moving Hazardous Waste Sites to Productive Use
November 20 - EPA has reached a major milestone: the completion of construction at the 1000th Superfund site. more...

Communities in Ten States Share $2.34 Million in Brownfields Job Training Grants
November 13 - EPA has selected twelve communities in ten states to share a total of $2.34 million in brownfields job training grants. Grants of up to $200,000 each will go to non-profit organizations and local governments to teach environmental-cleanup job skills to individuals living in low-income areas near brownfields sites. more...

Former Superfund Site Becomes Part of the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge
October 13 - More than 7,000 acres of land at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal Superfund site have been officially transferred from the U.S. Army to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The land will become part of the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, causing the Refuge to more than double in size. more...

Five final, six proposed Superfund sites announced
September 26 - Five hazardous waste sites that pose risks to human health and the environment were added to the National Priorities List for cleanup, bringing the total list to 1,246. EPA has also proposed six other sites for the list. more...

EPA removes Rocky Mountain Arsenal's Internal Parcel from Superfund list
July 31 – The Environmental Protection Agency today announced the removal of 11.5 square miles of the Rocky Mountain Arsenal from the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL). This action will enable the U.S. Army to transfer the property to the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, more than doubling its size to approximately 19 square miles. more…

Pittsburgh All-Stars Homer for Recycling
July 11 – Fans at the All-Star baseball game "Recycle on the Go" by depositing their cans and bottles in stadium area bins. Recycling partners such as the City of Pittsburgh encourage people to recycle wherever they go by making recycling easy and convenient. more...

$70 Million in Grants Brings Blighted Property Back to Life
May 12 – Communities in 44 states and two territories, as well as three tribes will share $69.9 million in grants to help transform community eyesores into community gems. The grants, which are distributed by EPA’s Brownfields Program, promote the redevelopment of abandoned and contaminated or potentially contaminated waste sites. In all, 209 applicants were selected to receive 292 grants for assessment or cleanup of properties. more…

OSWER Action Plan Unveiled
March 21 – The Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response outlines its plan for protecting human health and the environment in the new OSWER Action Plan. The Plan identifies OSWER priorities and emphasizes achieving results through accountability, innovation, collaboration, and the use of the best available science.

Nineteen Cleaned-up Superfund Sites Find New Uses
March 20 - EPA has announced plans to help communities reuse nineteen cleaned-up Superfund sites. These once-hazardous sites, located in thirteen states, will put formerly vacant land to use, resulting in increased property values, a higher tax base, and protected open space. more...

EPA Offers $2.7M to Reduce Risk of Toxic Exposure
February 13 – EPA will award roughly $2.7 million in cooperative agreements to reduce toxic risk in local communities. The agreements will be issued through EPA’s the Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) program. more...

EPA Issues Guidance for Protective Cleanups of Perchlorate
January 26 - EPA issued new protective guidance for cleaning up perchlorate contamination today, recommending a preliminary clean-up goal of 24.5 parts per billion in water. This guidance is based on the 2005 recommendations and conclusions of the National Academy of Sciences, the nation's foremost science advisory committee. more...

New Assistant Administrator for the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response
January 3 - Susan P. Bodine began work as Assistant Administrator for EPA's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. Prior to joining EPA, Ms. Bodine served as Staff Director and Senior Counsel for the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure in the U.S. House of Representatives. The U.S. Senate confirmed Ms. Bodine in the position of Assistant Administrator on December 17, 2005. more...

$2 Million in Brownfields Job Training Grants Announced
December 22 - The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) The EPA today announced the selection of twelve communities to share a total of $2 million in brownfields job training grants. Grants of up to $200,000 each will go to non-profit organizations, educational institutions, community colleges, tribes, and state and local governments. For more information, visit our Brownfields Grant Announcements Web page.

Superfund Celebrates 25th Anniversary
December 12 - On December 11, 1980, President Jimmy Carter signed legislation creating the Superfund program to clean up the country's hazardous waste sites. This week marks the program's 25th Anniversary. more...

EPA Surpasses Two Environmental Indicators Goals
December 12 - The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Corrective Action Program has exceeded its Environmental Indicator goals related to the cleanup of 1,714 highest priority contaminated sites. more...

Energy Policy Act Contains Changes to Underground Storage Tank Program
November 21 - The Energy Policy Act of 2005 has important implications for federal and state underground storage tank programs. Gas station owners and operators, as well as other non-marketers who own underground storage tanks, will be affected by the changes to these programs. more...

New Rule Will Accelerate Brownfields Development
November 2 - Stephen L. Johnson, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, announced the All Appropriate Inquiries rule on November 2 at this year's Brownfields Conference in Denver, Colo. The new rule establishes clear standards for environmental due diligence that will encourage more urban redevelopment. more...

One Cleanup Program Issues Report on Long-Term Stewardship of Revitalized Sites
November 1 – The Long-Term Stewardship Task Force, a subgroup of the One Cleanup Program, has completed a report examining the issues and challenges relating to the long-term protection of revitalized sites. more…

OSWER Assistant Administrator Tom Dunne Issues a Message on EPA’s Response to the Gulf Coast Hurricanes
October 12 – OSWER Assistant Administrator Tom Dunne sent a message to OSWER employees and branch offices drawing attention to EPA’s ongoing response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. more…

Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response Takes Active Role in Hurricane Katrina Cleanup
September 23 – Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER) staff are taking a central role in EPA’s response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Working with state, local, and other federal officials, OSWER’s Emergency Response staff is addressing releases and potential releases of hazardous materials and oil associated with hurricane damage. More...

EPA to Establish New Cooperative Agreements with Communities
September 23 - EPA is now reviewing applications for its Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) program, a new EPA initiative that provides funding to community-based organizations working to reduce the level of toxics in their environment. Level I agreements are funded at around $75,000, and Level II agreements are funded at levels closer to $300,000. More...

Superfund Information Now Available on the Web in Spanish
September 20 - EPA recently launched a new Spanish Web site, Superfund en Español, which offers Spanish speakers a wide variety of information on the Superfund program. Through this site, EPA hopes to provide Hispanics with the necessary information and tools that will enable them to meaningfully participate in the Superfund cleanup process. more…

EPA Finalizes Rule to Cut Mercury, Lead and Other Air Emissions from Hazardous Waste Combustors
September 9 – The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking action to remove mercury, lead, and other hazardous pollutants from the environment. By reducing air pollutants from hazardous waste combustors, the National Emission Standards for Hazardous air Pollutants achieves significant long-term ecological and human health benefits while making compliance easier for hazardous waste combustors. more…

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