The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced a yearly funding of $50.4 million to assist communities that have difficulty accessing clean, safe drinking water. This crucial funding will primarily benefit small, underserved, and disadvantaged communities across states and territories, empowering them to improve their water infrastructure and adhere to the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).
According to Radhika Fox, the EPA Assistant Administrator for Water, a significant number of communities nationwide have been grappling with water quality issues. She expressed that these grants are designed to rectify this problem by enabling infrastructure enhancements, bolstering water reliability, and delivering safe drinking water to those most in need.
Fox emphasized that this initiative, combined with other funding from President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, aims to fortify our nation's water infrastructure and guarantee everyone's right to clean, safe water.
This funding will offer a wide range of solutions to help communities address their drinking water concerns. Among these solutions are household water quality testing and monitoring for unregulated drinking water contaminants. Furthermore, the funding can also support capacity-building initiatives, focusing on enhancing the technical, financial, and managerial abilities of a water system's operations and staff. Infrastructure projects that are instrumental in improving drinking water quality—such as transmission, distribution, and storage—are also eligible for grant funding.
The funding is part of the Small, Underserved, and Disadvantaged Community grant program, established under the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act. This program awards funds to states and territories in a non-competitive manner. The EPA uses an allocation formula to distribute funds, taking into account the population living below the poverty line, small water systems, and underserved communities. A 10% Tribal allotment is also included.
Among the states and territories, Texas and California are set to receive the largest sums, with allocations of $3,692,000 and $3,304,000 respectively. Other states with sizeable allotments include Florida, New York, and Pennsylvania. On the other end of the scale, territories like the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands will receive smaller amounts, considering their smaller populations.
This funding signifies a decisive step towards addressing water quality issues, especially in communities that have been historically overlooked. Ensuring clean, safe drinking water for everyone is not just a fundamental right but also a critical foundation for public health and well-being.
For more detailed information about the allocations per state or territory and the WIIN SUDC Grant program, interested readers are encouraged to visit the WIIN SUDC Grant website.
The proposed rule will phase down the manufacturing, processing, and distribution of PCE for all consumer uses and many industrial and commercial uses over the next 24 months. The uses proposed for prohibition represent less than 20% of the annual production volume of PCE. For most of these uses, alternative products with similar costs and efficacy to PCE are reasonably available.
The EPA is proposing a 10-year phaseout for the use of PCE in dry cleaning. This phaseout period will provide dry cleaners, many of which are small businesses, time to transition to an alternative process. The EPA has noted a year-to-year decline in the use of PCE in dry cleaning, indicating that the industry is already moving towards safer alternatives.
For the industrial manufacturing, industrial processing, and other uses of PCE that the EPA is not proposing to prohibit, the EPA is proposing a workplace chemical protection program with a strict inhalation exposure limit and requirements to prevent skin exposure.
The EPA is inviting the public to read and comment on the proposed rule. In the coming weeks, the EPA will host a public webinar to discuss the proposed program. The EPA will accept public comments on the proposed rule for PCE for 60 days following publication in the Federal Register.
In an important step towards safeguarding communities from childhood lead exposure, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Biden-Harris Administration has announced a series of free educational sessions. These sessions aim to raise awareness about the dangers of lead and provide information on how to reduce and prevent lead exposure. The initiative aligns with the Administration's commitment to environmental justice and protecting vulnerable communities.
Every year, millions of individuals and corporations around the globe make considerable investments in real estate. Whether it’s purchasing a home, acquiring a commercial property, or developing a tract of land, real estate investments generally come with their share of taxes, such as property taxes. But there’s another “tax” that is often overlooked and misunderstood — environmental due diligence.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently announced a new framework for managing per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a group of man-made chemicals that have been a cause for environmental and health concerns. This new plan aims to ensure that any new PFAS, or new uses of existing PFAS, undergo a thorough evaluation to confirm they pose no harm to human health or the environment before they are allowed into commerce.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced a yearly funding of $50.4 million to assist communities that have difficulty accessing clean, safe drinking water. This crucial funding will primarily benefit small, underserved, and disadvantaged communities across states and territories, empowering them to improve their water infrastructure and adhere to the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).
Report highlights progress in reducing air pollution and promoting clean air for allThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently unveiled its annual report on air pollution, titled "Our Nation's Air: Trends Through 2022." This interactive report provides valuable insights into the health and environmental impacts of air pollution, tracks trends in air quality and emissions data, showcases efforts to improve visibility in national parks, and examines community-level health impacts of air toxics emissions.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently proposed a ban on most uses of perchloroethylene (PCE), a chemical known to pose serious health risks, including neurotoxicity and cancer. This move is part of the EPA's ongoing efforts to protect public health under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).
In a move that marks a significant step towards environmental justice, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced a whopping $315 million investment. This funding, part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda, is aimed at accelerating the assessment and cleanup of brownfield sites across the country. But what does this mean for everyday folks? Let's break it down.
The City of Honolulu is inviting residents to experience the new rail system, with free rides offered during the opening weekend. The inaugural rail ride will depart from the Kapolei station at 2 p.m., with Halawa/Aloha Stadium serving as the final stop for the time being. This new public transport option marks the culmination of tireless efforts from a broad array of stakeholders, dedicated to creating a future-proof, environmentally-friendly mobility solution for Honolulu.
Hawaii's representatives in Congress are seeking asubstantial sum of $247 million to address a serious public health concern inKaneohe Bay. The local Marine Corps Base's wastewater treatment plant, whichhas been operating for many years, needs significant upgrades. Last year, thebase was fined almost $250,000 for releasing excessively high levels of fecalbacteria into the bay.
In response to fuel spills in 2021 that contaminated drinking water for over 90,000 households, the Department of Defense (DOD) has put forth a new, accelerated timeline for emptying the Red Hill underground fuel storage facility in Hawaii. This initiative, known as the "defueling process," is set to begin on October 16th, 2023.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed significant amendments to the regulations guiding its review of new chemicals. The proposed changes aim to enhance the safety assessment process, offering better protection for public health and the environment from potentially harmful substances such as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) and other persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT) chemicals.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released “A Year of Progress Under EPA’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap,” which underscores key actions taken by the agency during the first year of implementing the PFAS Roadmap. EPA is implementing a whole-of-agency approach, advancing science, and following the law to safeguard public health, protect the environment, and hold polluters accountable.
From press release put out by EPA Press Office: "The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to remove 12 chemicals identified as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from the current list of inert ingredients approved for use in pesticide products to better protect human health and the environment."
Contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) is a term used to describe chemicals that are not yet federally regulated but are known or suspected of causing harm to human health or the environment
A Discussion of Soil Management in the Critical Path of Hawaii Construction Projects
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Kim is a Registered Professional Geologist, Certified Industrial Hygienist, Certified Safety Professional, and the Founder & Principal at K2 Environmental Professionals. With over 15 years of experience practicing geology in Hawaii, she has made a career out of exceeding expectations and helping clients navigate the complex interplay of science, regulation, and business.
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