The EPA Blog

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By Douglas BeneventoAssociate Deputy AdministratorIn May 1995, EPA and the states entered into a joint agreement to establish the National Environmental Performance Partnership System (NEPPS) and committed to direct resources to improve environmental results, allow for greater flexibility, enhance accountability, and measure progress. Now celebrating its 25th successful year, NEPPS continues to serve as the leading example for fostering the EPA, state, and tribal partnership.Since its inception, NEPPS has made a critical impact toward strengthening the partnerships that serve as the cornerstone of the success in protecting our nation’s environment. These partnerships are reliant upon continued consultation, collaboration, and shared accountability among all parties to provide the most effective use of resources and innovation.A great example of this partnership can be seen in EPA Region 1, comprised of the six New England states. For over 23 years, EPA Region 1 has negotiated Performance Partnership Agreements (PPAs) with all the New England state environmental agencies, using Performance Partnership Grants (PPGs) as the funding vehicle. With support from the Regional Administrator, Deputy Regional Administrator, and senior leadership team, Region 1 has worked with the New England states to streamline grant processes, reduce reporting burden, maintain fiscal accountability, and enhance EPA/State collaboration.The New England states needed to address budget shortfalls for environmental efforts. A request by the state of New Hampshire for help in eliminating waste through “lean” processes led to improvements and efficiencies in environmental work across New England. As a result of the lean events, a more streamlined process was implemented for PPA development and all six New England States expressed interest in piloting a new, two-year work plan process, jointly negotiated between EPA and State staff using SharePoint for further efficiency to implement changes in 2015.Vincent Perelli of the NH Department of Environmental Services was a leader in convening all six New England states to commit to trying this new approach. The state partners worked with EPA Region 1 to design a new SharePoint site, which now serves as the E-Enterprise platform to conduct real-time, state work plan negotiations and provide the opportunity to spur program dialogue in a new way to allow codification of negotiated 2-year agreements in a single document. This was the first time that EPA New England used SharePoint for this type of E-Enterprise collaboration on such a large scale with external users. This involved significant time, effort and coordination within EPA and with state information technology offices to resolve issues as they emerged.Despite the technical challenges of creating this new E-Enterprise approach, it has been very successful. A high level of interest has been shown nationally for using this model to improve joint strategic planning by EPA and states. Such collaboration will save time and resources and produce measurable environmental results by streamlining work plan negotiations, ultimately strengthening oversight and management of the Performance Partnership Grant progress for New England state partners. Having this online platform has also proven extremely useful during the current global pandemic, making it possible to complete our negotiations on time while folks are working remotely – both at EPA and in our New England states.Strengthening the federal-state-tribal relationships in priority setting and measuring environmental progress is vital to our nation’s success in protecting health and the environment. The only way to fully realize our environmental goals is for states, tribes, and EPA to continue working together in the spirit of a mutual partnership.About the author: Doug Benevento is EPA’s Associate Deputy Administrator and he is the President’s nominee to be the Deputy Administrator for EPA. Prior to his nomination as Deputy Administrator, Mr. Benevento was the Regional Administrator for EPA’s Region 8 office in Denver, Colorado, which comprises much of the mountain west. Mr. Benevento previously served as the Director of Environmental Programs and subsequently, the Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Read more.Editor's Note: The views expressed here are intended to explain EPA policy. They do not change anyone's rights or obligations. You may share this post. However, please do not change the title or the content, or remove EPA’s identity as the author. If you do make substantive changes, please do not attribute the edited title or content to EPA or the author. EPA's official web site is www.epa.gov. Some links on this page may redirect users from the EPA website to specific content on a non-EPA, third-party site. In doing so, EPA is directing you only to the specific content referenced at the time of publication, not to any other content that may appear on the same webpage or elsewhere on the third-party site, or be added at a later date. EPA is providing this link for informational purposes only. EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of non-EPA information provided by any third-party sites or any other linked site. EPA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies, internet applications or any policies or information expressed therein. By Alexandra Dapolito DunnAssistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution PreventionBusinesses are the backbone of the American economy and play a crucial role in protecting our environment for generations to come. This year marks EPA’s 50th anniversary and the 30th anniversary of the Pollution Prevention (P2) Act. During this time, we’ve worked with businesses to find ways to stop pollution before it is even created, the very heart of P2 and sustainability practices.P2 focuses attention on reducing the amount of pollution through cost-effective changes in production, operation, and use of raw material, resulting in less waste, economic growth, and protection of public health. The combined effect of all this is a healthier environment and stronger, more sustainable businesses that are innovative and resilient.For the past 30 years, we’ve partnered with states and tribes through our P2 grants to support U.S. businesses seeking information about P2 and source reduction opportunities. Our grantees have helped thousands of businesses identify, develop, and adopt P2 approaches which have significantly reduced the use and release of hazardous materials into the environment and saved businesses over $1.5 billion.These savings can help businesses gain a competitive advantage by reducing operation and maintenance costs and increasing profits and community recognition of their environmental stewardship and, in so doing, can help the U.S. economy grow.One great way to get a sense of how businesses are working to reduce pollution is to take a look at our Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) pollution prevention pages. The TRI Program collects information to track industry progress in reducing waste generation and moving toward safer waste management alternatives. Many facilities provide descriptions of measures they have taken to prevent pollution and reduce the amount of chemicals entering the environment. For example, in 2018, a total of 3,120 new source reduction activities were implemented by 1,270 facilities.This week, during P2 Week, I’d like to encourage you to take actions that foster a prosperous and sustainable future. Citizens, communities, and companies have a wide range of options to reduce pollution at its source. Whether we reduce the use of pesticides applied to our gardens, become more energy efficient at work, or explore the TRI data available for our community, there are all kinds of good practices that can help us advance economic growth and increase sustainability at the same time.Check out the resources provided below for information on P2 Week activities. Additionally, you can look through our new P2 timeline to learn about all the P2 progress we’ve made over the last 30 years!P2 Website: www.epa.gov/p230 Year Timeline for Pollution Prevention: https://www.epa.gov/p2/pollution-prevention-timelineP2 Webinar Page: https://www.epa.gov/p2/epa-pollution-prevention-webinar-seriesAbout the author: Alexandra Dapolito Dunn is the Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. Prior to that she served as the Regional Administrator for EPA Region 1, and her responsibilities included overseeing the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont and ten tribal nations. Read more.Editor's Note: The views expressed here are intended to explain EPA policy. They do not change anyone's rights or obligations. You may share this post. However, please do not change the title or the content, or remove EPA’s identity as the author. If you do make substantive changes, please do not attribute the edited title or content to EPA or the author. EPA's official web site is www.epa.gov. Some links on this page may redirect users from the EPA website to specific content on a non-EPA, third-party site. In doing so, EPA is directing you only to the specific content referenced at the time of publication, not to any other content that may appear on the same webpage or elsewhere on the third-party site, or be added at a later date. EPA is providing this link for informational purposes only. EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of non-EPA information provided by any third-party sites or any other linked site. EPA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies, internet applications or any policies or information expressed therein. By Ted StanichAssociate Administrator, Office of Homeland SecurityAs we remember the events of September 11, and mark the 19th anniversary and Patriot Day last week, I am reminded of the mood in Washington, D.C. in October 2001— “first 9/11, and now this?” The fear was real and we heard so many rumors about potential new threats that when there was anthrax in the mail it wasn’t necessarily a shock.For all of us in EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division (CID) we felt a responsibility to support whatever EPA was asked to do. It was an “all-hands on deck” moment. We were assisting the EPA Region 3 On Scene Coordinators (OSCs) with sampling in Capitol Hill buildings (Dirksen and Hart) when the FBI called requested our assistance to collect evidence.The FBI told us they needed help to collect mail on Capitol Hill. This meant donning personal protective equipment (PPE). But we were prepared to deal with this kind of biological threat. We worked with our agency colleagues, obtained the proper PPE, and knew the science of the threat. Rumors were flying in the media about “weaponized anthrax spores,” but hard data was hard to come by. We received much needed data from the FBI, which helped inform our decisions and helped keep us safe.Our first job was to retrieve the mail in the Capitol Hill complex and search for additional letters contaminated with anthrax. After the mail was collected, we constructed a containment facility at a General Services Administration warehouse in Springfield, Virginia and a sampling operation was developed. We were under the gun to see if there was another anthrax-laced letter. We worked with Region 3 OSCs to build a safe and effective containment area for sampling the contaminated mail. All personnel were trained to sample the mail which had been placed in over 600 large trash bags of mail stored in over 280 55-gallon drums.As we cycled agents in from all over the country, a sense of camaraderie developed across EPA programs that was amazing during those long days. Ultimately, after several days of sampling we found the second letter sent to Congress, the “Leahy letter.”The incident highlighted the importance of professional relationships and trust in the emergency response community and the critical nature of accurate data. EPA stepped up during this emergency, worked as a team and supported the FBI’s criminal investigation while completing our mission of protecting human health and the environment.About the author: Ted Stanich is the Associate Administrator of U.S. EPA Office of Homeland Security. Prior to that, he served as the Deputy Director of EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division in the Office of Criminal Enforcement, Forensics, and Training and was a special agent there for more than 27 years. Read more.Editor's Note: The views expressed here are intended to explain EPA policy. They do not change anyone's rights or obligations. You may share this post. However, please do not change the title or the content, or remove EPA’s identity as the author. If you do make substantive changes, please do not attribute the edited title or content to EPA or the author. EPA's official web site is www.epa.gov. Some links on this page may redirect users from the EPA website to specific content on a non-EPA, third-party site. In doing so, EPA is directing you only to the specific content referenced at the time of publication, not to any other content that may appear on the same webpage or elsewhere on the third-party site, or be added at a later date. EPA is providing this link for informational purposes only. EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of non-EPA information provided by any third-party sites or any other linked site. EPA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies, internet applications or any policies or information expressed therein. By Anne L. AustinPrincipal Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Office of Air and RadiationOzone layer protection in the United States reaches an important milestone in 2020. For 30 years the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been helping to protect and heal the Earth’s stratospheric ozone layer by phasing out ozone-depleting substances (ODS). This year marks the start of the final phaseout stage for certain ODS: hydrochlorofluorocarbons, otherwise known as HCFCs. To date, we have reduced production and import of ODS by over 99.5 percent. And, by the end of this decade, we will complete this historic phaseout.I am proud that our country’s actions under the Clean Air Act (CAA) and global action under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (Montreal Protocol) mean that the ozone layer is expected to recover to pre-1980 levels. With leadership from the Reagan Administration, the world agreed to the Montreal Protocol on September 16, 1987. This achievement was followed by the 1990 CAA Amendments that included provisions on Stratospheric Ozone Protection, which President George H. W. Bush signed into law. Over the past 30 years, the United States has made remarkable progress in phasing out production of ODS, reducing emissions of ODS, and transitioning to safer alternatives through the EPA’s Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program. Now more than ever, we are supporting a smooth and seamless transition for consumers and industry.Under President Trump’s leadership, EPA has revised the SNAP regulations to increase the acceptable charge limit for certain refrigerants to provide more flexibility for equipment designs by industry, expanded the list of acceptable alternatives, and supported adoption into industry standards. At the same time, we issued regulations to ensure the final phaseout of HCFCs while allowing for the continued use for servicing a broader range of existing equipment.This phaseout is largely due to American companies’ innovative approaches to solving a global problem, which is a key tenet fostered under the Trump Administration. U.S. industry has led the way, at every stage, by developing next generation technologies even while the use of air-conditioning and refrigeration has steadily grown. The EPA has joined with companies to further reduce harmful emissions by establishing two partnership programs: the Responsible Appliance Disposal (RAD) program and the GreenChill Advanced Refrigeration Partnership. The RAD program works with stakeholders to dispose of old refrigerated appliances using the best environmental practices, and GreenChill works with the supermarket industry to reduce refrigerant emissions. Both voluntary programs help to reduce emissions and build strong partnerships in our communities. In the last several years, RAD and GreenChill have gained new partners contributing to the continued success of the programs– demonstrating that what is good for the environment is good for business.But why is ozone layer protection so important? Stratospheric ozone is our defense against harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. When ODS are emitted to the atmosphere, they destroy ozone molecules and thin the ozone layer, allowing more UV radiation to reach the Earth’s surface. Overexposure to UV radiation can cause a range of serious health effects, from skin cancer and cataracts to suppression of our immune systems. UV radiation can also damage sensitive crops, which reduces crop yields, and harm marine phytoplankton with potentially profound effects on the food chain.In a recently released report, the EPA estimates that the full implementation of the Montreal Protocol will prevent approximately 443 million cases of skin cancer and 63 million cases of cataracts in the United States alone. We can also take simple steps to reduce health risks by being smart and safe in the sun. Together with the National Weather Service and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the EPA provides the UV Index, a daily UV forecast to help protect the public from overexposure to UV radiation. Anyone can download the free UV Index smartphone app in English or Spanish and quickly and easily access important information to help plan how to enjoy the outdoors safely.You may not have known that ozone layer protection is part of our everyday life. I invite you to learn more by viewing the resources we developed for this milestone year. Visit our website for highlights on the many achievements made possible by ozone protection policies and explore Strat City, an interactive webpage where you can see how ozone layer protection affects the many aspects of our daily living.About the author: Anne L. Austin is Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation. Read more.Editor's Note: The views expressed here are intended to explain EPA policy. They do not change anyone's rights or obligations. You may share this post. However, please do not change the title or the content, or remove EPA’s identity as the author. If you do make substantive changes, please do not attribute the edited title or content to EPA or the author. EPA's official web site is www.epa.gov. Some links on this page may redirect users from the EPA website to specific content on a non-EPA, third-party site. In doing so, EPA is directing you only to the specific content referenced at the time of publication, not to any other content that may appear on the same webpage or elsewhere on the third-party site, or be added at a later date. EPA is providing this link for informational purposes only. EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of non-EPA information provided by any third-party sites or any other linked site. EPA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies, internet applications or any policies or information expressed therein. By Paul KudarauskasDeputy Associate Administrator, EPA Office of Homeland SecurityHomeland security is part of our overall national security in the United States. Dating back before 9/11, homeland security officials from all departments and agencies worked to support national preparedness in various forms. Over time, the scope of potential threats to prepare for has expanded beyond large-scale terrorist attacks to also include cyber-attacks, pandemics and catastrophic natural disasters. The evolution of threats that pose the greatest risk to the security of the Nation required us to take a broader, more integrated approach to preparedness.Over the years, we have strengthened the security and resilience of the United States using systematic preparation, which is an integrated, national-level, capabilities-based approach to preparedness. Within this national preparedness system, we’re using a series of integrated national planning frameworks that covers: prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery.ASPECT Team members process the day s data from overflights of BP Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Left to right, Paul Kudarauskas, John Cardarelli, Bob Kroutil, Tim Curry, and Team Leader, Mark Thomas. USEPA Photo by Eric VanceThese frameworks are adaptable, with coordinating structures to align key roles and responsibilities to deliver the necessary capabilities. They are coordinated under a national, unified system that uses common terminology and approaches; builds upon basic plans that support an all-hazards approach to preparedness; and utilizes functional or incident annexes to describe any unique requirements for threats or scenarios as needed. Each one describes how actions taken in that specific framework are coordinated with relevant actions described in the other frameworks across the preparedness spectrum.The term “Homeland Security” has changed over the years. At EPA, we are also focusing on new impacts to homeland and national security, such as “Insider Threats,” theft of intellectual property by foreign adversaries, and other counter-intelligence issues. We need to support our partners in the water sector teaming up with them to reinforce their cybersecurity, to ensure clean water and continuously operating systems. Historically, we haven’t included these other focus areas in our homeland security program, however with the evolution of threats, we cannot afford to overlook them today. As we look at our homeland security program in 2020, we see a more agile and resilient program using a risk-based approach to prioritize preparedness under the five national planning frameworks.About the author: Paul Kudarauskas is the Deputy Associate Administrator for Homeland Security in the Administrator’s Office. Paul has spent 23 years in the Federal Government supporting environmental management, emergency response and homeland security programs at the Department of Transportation and at EPA, in both field and senior leadership positions.Editor's Note: The views expressed here are intended to explain EPA policy. They do not change anyone's rights or obligations. You may share this post. However, please do not change the title or the content, or remove EPA’s identity as the author. If you do make substantive changes, please do not attribute the edited title or content to EPA or the author. EPA's official web site is www.epa.gov. Some links on this page may redirect users from the EPA website to specific content on a non-EPA, third-party site. In doing so, EPA is directing you only to the specific content referenced at the time of publication, not to any other content that may appear on the same webpage or elsewhere on the third-party site, or be added at a later date. EPA is providing this link for informational purposes only. EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of non-EPA information provided by any third-party sites or any other linked site. EPA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies, internet applications or any policies or information expressed therein. By Alexandra Dapolito DunnAssistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution PreventionLike many things in life, the way we work to ensure chemical safety is a process. I’m proud to say we’ve taken some big steps in that process over the past several weeks by issuing our first two final risk evaluations for methylene chloride and 1-bromopropane. Now we’re taking the next step in the process by moving to risk management. This is where we develop a plan to protect public health from the unreasonable risks we found in our final risk evaluations.What can you expect from us as we take this next step? You can expect transparent, proactive, and meaningful education, outreach, and engagement with our many stakeholders. We need your input, expertise, and feedback now, early in the process, to help shape the ways we’re going to address the unreasonable risks we’ve found.This will include public webinars as well as one-on-one meetings with stakeholders. In fact, we’re working to schedule our first two public webinars for September and expect to announce the details soon. We’ll also be holding formal consultations with state and local governments, tribes, environmental justice communities, and small businesses.We’ll be using these different opportunities to educate the public and our stakeholders on what we found in our final risk evaluations, the risk management process required by TSCA, which options are available to us for managing unreasonable risk, and what that means for all of you moving forward. We’ll also be seeking input on potential risk management approaches, their effectiveness, and any impacts those approaches might have on businesses.We all have a shared purpose in this effort – to protect workers and consumers from any unreasonable risks while ensuring businesses continue to grow and thrive.That’s why we’re embarking upon this outreach effort. We want workable solutions that protect the health of people who work with and use chemicals every day. We need to know about how any potential risk management approaches could impact business operations, in both positive and negative ways. Then we can use that feedback to develop proposed regulations that are both protective and practical.There are several actions we can take to address the unreasonable risks we’ve found including banning or phasing out certain uses of a chemical, requiring warning labels and other special instructions on how a chemical can be used, recordkeeping/testing, and requiring manufacturers to notify distributors of any unreasonable risks.I’d like to encourage all of you to take advantage of these engagement opportunities as they come up. Your feedback is an integral part of the work we do. We’re relying on you to ask questions, raise concerns, bring things to our attention that we may not have considered, and to provide us with information we may not already have. I assure you, we will be listening to you as we all work together to advance chemical safety.More information on our risk management process and opportunities for engagement will be posted at https://www.epa.gov/assessing-and-managing-chemicals-under-tsca/current-chemical-risk-management-activities. We’ll also be improving this page and others to make sure points of contact and other key information is easy to find.About the author: Alexandra Dapolito Dunn is the Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. Prior to that she served as the Regional Administrator for EPA Region 1, and her responsibilities included overseeing the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont and ten tribal nations. Read more.Editor's Note: The views expressed here are intended to explain EPA policy. They do not change anyone's rights or obligations. You may share this post. However, please do not change the title or the content, or remove EPA’s identity as the author. If you do make substantive changes, please do not attribute the edited title or content to EPA or the author. EPA's official web site is www.epa.gov. Some links on this page may redirect users from the EPA website to specific content on a non-EPA, third-party site. In doing so, EPA is directing you only to the specific content referenced at the time of publication, not to any other content that may appear on the same webpage or elsewhere on the third-party site, or be added at a later date. EPA is providing this link for informational purposes only. EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of non-EPA information provided by any third-party sites or any other linked site. EPA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies, internet applications or any policies or information expressed therein. Agriculture Advisor to Administrator WheelerAs EPA recognizes our many partners as part of EPA’s 50th anniversary celebration, it is vital to highlight partners who touch our lives every day: our agriculture community. Now more than ever, Americans are appreciating the critical role that farmers have in our society. Farmers and ranchers are invaluable partners in fulfilling our mission to protect human health and the environment. We at EPA, with the leadership of Administrator Wheeler, have focused on working hard to enhance and strengthen our partnership with farmers and ranchers.One of the Trump Administration’s priorities is to engage more effectively with the agriculture community. Last year, we welcomed over 650 farmers and ranchers from across the country to visit EPA Headquarters — many for the first time. We have also launched the Smart Sectors program in all 10 of our regional offices to hear from a variety of sectors, including the agriculture community. We know the importance of hearing firsthand from producers on the issues impacting their day-to-day life.As EPA’s Agriculture Advisor, I look forward to meeting with members of the agriculture community, but I know it takes more than meetings to constitute meaningful change in our communities. One of the Administrator Wheeler’s priorities for EPA has been to restore trust for our agency among agricultural stakeholders and rural communities. To truly understand what’s going on at farms and in fields across the country, Administrator Wheeler reinstated the Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Committee in 2020 with full membership. This committee will provide valuable input on how EPA’s decisions impact rural America. Reinstating this committee, is another step toward restoring that trust and strengthening the voice of American agriculture at EPA.We are also cultivating partnerships with the next generation of farmers. In 2019, Administrator Wheeler signed EPA’s first-ever agreement in the agency’s history with the National FFA Organization. This MOU reflects the importance of agricultural practices in promoting environmental stewardship and will help expand environmental education courses taught to FFA’s 670,000 student members.We have made great strides at strengthening our relationship and restoring trust with the agriculture community, and we look forward to continuing to build on our partnership. EPA’s goal has always been and will continue to be promoting environmental stewardship, through working cooperatively with the public and this must include the agriculture community. As we reflect on EPA at 50, we celebrate our partnership with farmers and ranchers and our commitment to protecting the land, water and air, and recognize the continued work by American agriculture and rural America to protect our natural resources.I’d like to invite you to reach out to our team of agricultural liaisons at EPA. Contact your Regional Ag Advisor or email us at Headquarters ruraloutreach@epa.gov.About the Author: Carrie Vicenta Meadows is the Agriculture Advisor to Administrator Wheeler. The role of the Agriculture Advisor’s Office is acting as a primary advocate and liaison for U.S. agriculture at EPA. Before coming to EPA, Carrie is a 16-year veteran of Capitol Hill where she worked extensively on agricultural policy.Editor's Note: The views expressed here are intended to explain EPA policy. They do not change anyone's rights or obligations. You may share this post. However, please do not change the title or the content, or remove EPA’s identity as the author. If you do make substantive changes, please do not attribute the edited title or content to EPA or the author. EPA's official web site is www.epa.gov. Some links on this page may redirect users from the EPA website to specific content on a non-EPA, third-party site. In doing so, EPA is directing you only to the specific content referenced at the time of publication, not to any other content that may appear on the same webpage or elsewhere on the third-party site, or be added at a later date. EPA is providing this link for informational purposes only. EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of non-EPA information provided by any third-party sites or any other linked site. EPA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies, internet applications or any policies or information expressed therein. By Alexandra Dapolito DunnAssistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution PreventionI am a strong believer that the future depends on what we do in the present. The 2016 Lautenberg Act amendments to the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) set the stage for EPA’s work over the past four years to build a new regulatory program from the ground up, informed by the past and inspired by the future.Under the Trump Administration, we have set up the processes, policies, and resources to review over 40,000 existing chemicals in the marketplace and any new chemicals that companies want to bring to market. We’ve taken the necessary time to do this in a way that increases transparency, produces high quality work using sound science, and ensures that Americans are protected from unreasonable risks. We’re learning from our experiences and adapting as we move forward; our goal is to transparently carry out a chemical safety program for our nation. We know our work will benefit public health and the environment, as well as facilitate innovation in the chemistry for years to come.Other examples of how we’ve been working towards a safer, heathier future under TSCA include:Banning consumer sales of methylene chloride paint removers and safeguarding the public against discontinued asbestos products, to ensure consumers won’t have access to these dangerous products in the future.Increasing transparency in the new chemicals program, including a new chemicals status tracker where visitors can view monthly updates for any active new chemicals case, so the public can understand how we review and assess any potential risks from chemicals that may be available for sale in the future.In support of Administrator Wheeler’s directive, we’re working to reduce animal testing, including finalizing a strategy to promote the development and use of alternative test methods in the TSCA program, so our program uses advanced scientific techniques while minimizing future impacts on animals.With these and many more important accomplishments under our belt, we intend to focus the second half of 2020 on:Finalizing the remaining nine risk existing chemical risk evaluations, so we know where to focus future risk management rulemaking efforts to reduce risks from these chemicals.Issuing final scope documents for the next 20 risk evaluations, so the public knows which uses our future risk evaluations of these chemicals will cover.Issuing restrictions on five persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic chemicals, to ensure future generations won’t have to deal with the consequences of these chemicals that build up and persist in the environment.Finalizing our proposal to strengthen lead regulations, to protect children from the health effects of lead exposure and help them achieve their full future potential.Gathering important, best available scientific evidence on the next 20 chemicals, and others on the 2014 TSCA work plan, so that when we begin work on a chemical, we have a complete set of information on exposure and hazards.Looking back over the past few years and looking ahead to the future, I think it’s important to focus on our common goals. I know we’re all working on TSCA to protect public health and the planet – right now and for the future. What do you do TSCA “4”?About the author: Alexandra Dapolito Dunn is the Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. Prior to that she served as the Regional Administrator for EPA Region 1, and her responsibilities included overseeing the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont and ten tribal nations. Read more.Editor's Note: The views expressed here are intended to explain EPA policy. They do not change anyone's rights or obligations. You may share this post. However, please do not change the title or the content, or remove EPA’s identity as the author. If you do make substantive changes, please do not attribute the edited title or content to EPA or the author. EPA's official web site is www.epa.gov. Some links on this page may redirect users from the EPA website to specific content on a non-EPA, third-party site. In doing so, EPA is directing you only to the specific content referenced at the time of publication, not to any other content that may appear on the same webpage or elsewhere on the third-party site, or be added at a later date. EPA is providing this link for informational purposes only. EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of non-EPA information provided by any third-party sites or any other linked site. EPA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies, internet applications or any policies or information expressed therein. By Alexandra Dapolito DunnAssistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution PreventionWhen you think about how the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention supports EPA’s mission to protect human health and the environment, the first thing that might come to mind is our work to review the safety of pesticides and other chemicals. Another important aspect of our work is finding ways to stop pollution before it starts—pollution prevention—and encouraging the development of environmentally friendly products and technologies through green chemistry.One way we do this is through the Green Chemistry Challenge Awards. For 24 years, these awards have recognized innovation by American businesses and researchers that redesign chemical products and processes to reduce or eliminate the use and manufacture of hazardous substances. These innovations help keep businesses globally competitive, prevent pollution at its source, and protect human health and the environment.This year’s awards have special meaning because it’s also the 30th anniversary of the Pollution Prevention Act, which focuses industry, government, and public attention on reducing the amount of pollution through cost-effective changes in production, operation, and raw materials use. Green chemistry and pollution prevention work hand-in-hand to stop pollution at its source, resulting in less waste, economic growth, and protection of public health.Our efforts to recognize, encourage, and speed the adoption of green chemistry have produced real results. Through 2019, Green Chemistry Challenge Award winning technologies have provided big opportunities for pollution prevention, including:Eliminating 826 million pounds of hazardous chemicals and solvents each year—enough to fill almost 3,800 railroad tank cars or a train nearly 47 miles long.Saving 21 billion gallons of water each year—the amount used by 820,000 people annually.Eliminating the release of 7.8 billion pounds of carbon dioxide equivalents to air each year—equal to taking 810,000 automobiles off the road.These results are proof that the combination of green chemistry and pollution prevention can produce powerful results for public health, the environment, and the economy.For more information on this year’s Green Chemistry Challenge Award winners, visit: www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-announces-winners-2020-green-chemistry-challenge-awards.Learn more about green chemistry and pollution prevention at: www.epa.gov/greenchemistry and www.epa.gov/p2.About the author: Alexandra Dapolito Dunn is the Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. Prior to that she served as the Regional Administrator for EPA Region 1, and her responsibilities included overseeing the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont and ten tribal nations. Read more.Editor's Note: The views expressed here are intended to explain EPA policy. They do not change anyone's rights or obligations. You may share this post. However, please do not change the title or the content, or remove EPA’s identity as the author. If you do make substantive changes, please do not attribute the edited title or content to EPA or the author. EPA's official web site is www.epa.gov. Some links on this page may redirect users from the EPA website to specific content on a non-EPA, third-party site. In doing so, EPA is directing you only to the specific content referenced at the time of publication, not to any other content that may appear on the same webpage or elsewhere on the third-party site, or be added at a later date. EPA is providing this link for informational purposes only. EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of non-EPA information provided by any third-party sites or any other linked site. EPA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies, internet applications or any policies or information expressed therein. By Scott MasonDuring my tenure at the United States EPA, I have had the pleasure of meeting with many tribes across this beautiful country. I’ve listened carefully to the views, concerns and plans of tribal leaders, and on these visits, I’ve witnessed first-hand the majestic mountains, coastal plains and rugged mesas – to name a few of the geographical features that make up Indian country. As we mark EPA’s 50th anniversary, our commitment to protect human health and the environment in Indian country remains unyielding.As a proud citizen and enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation, I am aware of the unique challenges that individual tribes face. Moreover, we recognize the COVID-19 crisis is disproportionately impacting tribal communities. Tribes are grappling with the difficult task of implementing environmental programs on their tribal lands, while alleviating the impacts from the pandemic. EPA, under the Trump Administration, is continuing our commitment to help tribes protect public health and the environment.This year, as we celebrate EPA’s 50th anniversary, I am pleased to highlight the important environmental progress tribes have made over time with EPA’s assistance, especially when considering the unique issues with which they are confronted.Since joining the EPA, I have always kept in mind that tribal governments and environmental agencies do not exist as adjuncts to the federal government. The relationship with tribes 50 years ago, at the creation of our agency, was very different. Today, tribes have greater experience building environmental programs and are more sophisticated and robust than ever before. Over the years, EPA has aimed to create a legacy of respectful, government-to-government interaction with tribes. Under the Trump Administration, we are focused on making this legacy as successful as it has ever been.Additionally, in some areas of the country where tribal communities are economically distressed, President Trump has led efforts to vitalize these previously forgotten places. I’m proud of the work that our agency is doing in conjunction with the White House to ensure that tribes located in Opportunity Zones are able to multiply the impact of President Trump’s tax reform package and attract more economic development.For years, American Indian nations have taken on a greater role in environmental protection on their own lands, including through our process for delegating regulatory authority to tribes, called Treatment in a Similar Manner as a State (TAS). This delegation process provides tribes essentially the same authority in Indian country that states have within their respective borders. I’m especially proud that since January 2017 there has been a 100% increase in regulatory program delegation approvals when compared to the previous four-year period.EPA salutes the progress tribal nations have made and recognizes the importance of our continued commitment to improving access to safe drinking water and other environmental protections in Indian country, which are all the more important amid the current pandemic.These accomplishments are just a few of the EPA-Tribal milestones realized in the last 50 years. We owe these achievements to the dedicated work of EPA and tribal professionals across the country as these tangible results demonstrate the success of the EPA-Tribal partnerships. Together, we are building a cleaner and healthier environment for Indian country.About the author: Scott Mason is Director of the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s American Indian Environmental Office (AIEO). AIEO lead efforts across the Agency to protect human health and the environment in Indian country. Before coming to EPA, Scott was a vice president and the executive director of federal programs at The University of Oklahoma (OU), where he led state and federal relations for all three of the university’s campuses. Prior to joining OU, Scott served on the staff of Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin, as well as on her gubernatorial transition team. Scott is a proud citizen and enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation and is 5th generation western Oklahoman.Editor's Note: The views expressed here are intended to explain EPA policy. They do not change anyone's rights or obligations. You may share this post. However, please do not change the title or the content, or remove EPA’s identity as the author. If you do make substantive changes, please do not attribute the edited title or content to EPA or the author. EPA's official web site is www.epa.gov. Some links on this page may redirect users from the EPA website to specific content on a non-EPA, third-party site. In doing so, EPA is directing you only to the specific content referenced at the time of publication, not to any other content that may appear on the same webpage or elsewhere on the third-party site, or be added at a later date. EPA is providing this link for informational purposes only. EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of non-EPA information provided by any third-party sites or any other linked site. EPA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies, internet applications or any policies or information expressed therein. By Dana AunkstCritter of the Month – the Snowberry clearwing. (Photo by Will Parson, Chesapeake Bay Program)It’s Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week – a good time to learn more about our nation’s largest estuary and the commitment by EPA and its partners to restore it.There’s a variety of information online – from quizzes for students to captivating videos for everyone.  Here’s a selection of offerings:Bay 101 – a series of videos from around 64,000-square-mile Chesapeake Bay watershed highlighting the issues, practices, critters and people important to Bay restoration.A Field Guide featuring more than 250 species of birds, fish, insects, invertebrates, mammals, plants, reptiles and amphibians that live in the Chesapeake Bay region, including the Critter of the Month – the snowberry clearwing (a type of hummingbird moth).An Ecosystem page that showcases the connection of the Bay, its habitats, plants and animals.And for some fun student activities to learn more about the broader environment, check out these EPA games, quizzes and videos.While it’s a week to become more aware of the Bay and its natural wonders, it’s also Effective Partnerships Month as part of EPA’s 50th Anniversary celebration.EPA is working with six states, the District of Columbia and sister federal agencies, among other partners, to restore the Chesapeake Bay and the local rivers and streams that connect to it.  You can learn more about that partnership here and pick up some good tips on how you can help in the restoration effort.About the Author: Dana Aunkst is the director of the Chesapeake Bay Program Office.Editor's Note: The views expressed here are intended to explain EPA policy. They do not change anyone's rights or obligations. You may share this post. However, please do not change the title or the content, or remove EPA’s identity as the author. If you do make substantive changes, please do not attribute the edited title or content to EPA or the author. EPA's official web site is www.epa.gov. Some links on this page may redirect users from the EPA website to specific content on a non-EPA, third-party site. In doing so, EPA is directing you only to the specific content referenced at the time of publication, not to any other content that may appear on the same webpage or elsewhere on the third-party site, or be added at a later date. EPA is providing this link for informational purposes only. EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of non-EPA information provided by any third-party sites or any other linked site. EPA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies, internet applications or any policies or information expressed therein. By Christopher GrundlerThis May, as EPA celebrates “Improving the Nation’s Air” Month, we salute the resounding success story of the Acid Rain Program (ARP). Since its inception in 1995, the ARP has earned widespread acclaim due to dramatic reductions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOX) emissions from fossil fuel-fired power plants, extensive environmental and human health benefits, and far lower-than-expected costs. The ARP’s SO2 cap and trade program, the first nationwide experiment in emissions trading, has been a victory for policy innovation, stakeholder collaboration, and human health and the environment.Congress created the ARP in Title IV of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments, in response to deterioration of ecosystem health in lakes, streams, and forests across the United States and Canada, particularly in northeastern North America. To achieve this goal, the SO2 program set a permanent cap on the total amount of SO2 that can be emitted by power plants in the contiguous U.S. and allows emissions trading so sources can choose their preferred method of compliance. The final cap for SO2 emissions was set at a very ambitious target in 2010: 8.95 million tons, or about half of the 1980 level of 17.26 million tons. The ARP also required NOx emission reductions under a more traditional rate-based regulatory program, representing about a 27% reduction from 1990 levels. Just five years into ARP implementation in 2000, SO2 emissions were already down to 11.2 million tons and NOx emissions reductions had exceeded their target.Bean Pond, a Long-Term Monitoring site in Somerset Co., Maine, is one of twenty-six lakes in the New England region that shows improving sulfate trends from 1990-2018.EPA is proud of the successes of the ARP and its subsequent interstate emission reduction programs and the marked progress those programs have achieved in cleaning up SO2 and NOx. In 2019, annual SO2 emissions measured only 0.97 million tons, a 94% reduction from 1990 levels. Annual NOX emissions measured 0.88 million tons, a reduction of 86% from 1990 levels. While market forces in the power sector – including significant increases in the availability of low-cost natural gas – have put downward pressure on emissions, by 2019, 82% of coal-fired power plants had installed advanced SO2 controls and 68% had installed advanced NOX controls.For those of you who don’t have memories of the 1980s, allow the data to explain how the ecosystem and air quality have improved over the last 40 years. The national average of SO2 annual ambient concentrations decreased 93% between 1980 and 2018. Wet sulfate deposition – a common indicator of acid rain – decreased 86% reduction from 2000-2002 to 2016-2018. During that same time period, data from EPA’s Long-Term Monitoring program showed an 81% improvement in the number of monitored streams and lakes that experienced critical load exceedances, an indicator that reveals when acid deposition levels are causing harmful effects.The human health benefits have been just as significant. A 2011 analysis of the benefits and costs of the 1990 Clean Air Act estimated that adult mortality risk decreased significantly due to the improved air quality, with up to 230,000 premature deaths avoided in 2020 as a result of lowered SO2 and NOx pollution levels.Emissions trading programs have evolved over time to address changing industry and environmental challenges. These programs have been successful, producing near-perfect compliance, along with emissions and operations data at an unprecedented level of accuracy and detail. Annual Progress Reports and numerous tools enable anyone from power plant operators to students to access and analyze data to provide insights from the national level to our own backyards. EPA just posted the latest data, for the first quarter of 2020.The core principles of accountability, transparency, and results have characterized every iteration of our regulatory efforts since the ARP started it all. By using ARP as a model, these foundational elements should and will guide EPA’s programs as they continue to fulfill the Agency’s primary mission of protecting human health and the environment.About the author: Christopher Grundler is the Director of the Office of Atmospheric Programs. He has held multiple senior leadership positions during his forty years of service with the agency, including his recent tenure as the Director of the Office of Transportation and Air Quality.Editor's Note: The views expressed here are intended to explain EPA policy. They do not change anyone's rights or obligations. You may share this post. However, please do not change the title or the content, or remove EPA’s identity as the author. If you do make substantive changes, please do not attribute the edited title or content to EPA or the author. EPA's official web site is www.epa.gov. Some links on this page may redirect users from the EPA website to specific content on a non-EPA, third-party site. In doing so, EPA is directing you only to the specific content referenced at the time of publication, not to any other content that may appear on the same webpage or elsewhere on the third-party site, or be added at a later date. EPA is providing this link for informational purposes only. EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of non-EPA information provided by any third-party sites or any other linked site. EPA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies, internet applications or any policies or information expressed therein. By Joanne AmorosiEarth Day comes and goes, but for me, I can say I have had some memorable and exceptional celebrations as a result of my 26 years at the EPA.25th Earth Day celebration at the National Zoo with Flossie Fluorescent, Green Lights Program.When I came to work at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, one of the first things I was asked to do was to create an environmental character that could help to promote the use of compact fluorescent light bulbs. I came up with the idea for creating Flossie Fluorescent, a 6 ft. 3 in. light bulb with long eyelashes and lightning bolts on her high-top tennis shoes.After being trained on how to interact with children while wearing a costume, to do the princess wave, and talk about lighting efficiency, I was ready to assume this new persona and jumped right into appearing at Earth Day events and in elementary school classrooms.During the 25th Earth Day anniversary I had the opportunity to appear as Flossie at the National Zoo, and on the Georgetown waterfront with Dennis Weaver, a famous actor and environmentalist supporting our agency’s efforts.Over the years I have dressed up as the Garbage Gremlin, talking about landfills and waste prevention while I threw fast food containers that were attached to my fur costume on the floor. I donned the Pandy Pollution Panda costume and simply waved, as characters with their faces covered are not supposed to talk, but I usually did.There were years spent in a humble tent on the National Mall battling severe rainstorms common to Washington, D.C., in the springtime, trying to prevent our handouts from getting wet while eating soggy hot dogs. However, a spring storm couldn’t dampen our enthusiasm and mission to spread the word about Earth Day!Some of my most memorable Earth Day events on the National Mall were the amazing people who turned out for the occasion. I was thrilled to hear James Taylor perform, but had to hold back my daughter from rushing the stage when Leonardo DiCaprio spoke! It was always nice and a great learning experience to have my daughter attend and help me at these events.Some years the events were smaller, held primarily for EPA employees and tourists that passed by our display tables outside EPA’s Headquarters building.40th Anniversary on the National Mall as Slim Bin, EPA’s recycling environmental character.I particularly loved being Slim Bin, a happy go lucky recycling bin. Probably my fondest memory was during the 40th anniversary. EPA had a large tent and presence on the National Mall. I spent most days in the hot sun dressed up as a recycling bin competing with Woodsie the Owl for attention. But when the characters from the Avatar movie showed up on stilts, and they posed for photos with both me and Woodsie, I knew the little recycling bin had finally made the big time!No matter when or how I celebrated Earth Day, I never forgot its purpose in encouraging environmental stewardship and highlighting EPA’s efforts to protect the environment! Although this year’s Earth Day celebration looks different than in years past, I am so encouraged by EPA employees who have stepped up to keep our tradition going by sharing their at-home celebrations online. Earth Day has even given me the opportunity to share my own backyard environment with the world! I hope everyone takes time this Earth Day to pause and reflect on the past 50 years and all the progress that has been made for our planet.About the author: Joanne Amorosi is the Communications Director for the Office of the Chief Financial Officer. She has worked at the EPA for 26 years in eight of its program offices and for The Chesapeake Bay Program in Region 3.  Editor's Note: The views expressed here are intended to explain EPA policy. They do not change anyone's rights or obligations. You may share this post. However, please do not change the title or the content, or remove EPA’s identity as the author. If you do make substantive changes, please do not attribute the edited title or content to EPA or the author. EPA's official web site is www.epa.gov. Some links on this page may redirect users from the EPA website to specific content on a non-EPA, third-party site. In doing so, EPA is directing you only to the specific content referenced at the time of publication, not to any other content that may appear on the same webpage or elsewhere on the third-party site, or be added at a later date. EPA is providing this link for informational purposes only. EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of non-EPA information provided by any third-party sites or any other linked site. EPA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies, internet applications or any policies or information expressed therein. By Alexandra Dapolito DunnAssistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution PreventionIt’s important to get as many facts as you can when making a decision. It’s no different for us in the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. When we make a decision about whether or not a chemical poses unreasonable risks to public health or the environment, it’s imperative that we consider all kinds of facts like the effects of the chemical on humans or the environment, the severity of the hazard, who is exposed (including any sensitive subpopulations like children), and how people or the environment are exposed under the uses of the chemical.We also must follow the law. The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) requires EPA to determine whether chemicals in the marketplace present unreasonable risks to health or the environment. It also requires that our risk evaluations are transparent and include a robust systematic review of the available science.EPA is working as quickly as possible to develop and issue our risk evaluations in accordance with the law. The 2016 amendments to TSCA and its implementing regulations set new, higher standards for EPA to follow when evaluating the potential risks from existing chemicals. Ensuring that our risk evaluations meet the highest standards will help expedite any necessary future risk management actions.While we’re only in the beginning stages of our risk evaluation efforts, the fact is that the findings we’ve made so far may change. After publishing a draft risk evaluation, we get comments from the public and through our scientific peer review process and then we issue a final risk evaluation. This final risk evaluation may differ from the draft as we account for the peer review and public input. After completing the final risk evaluation, the law gives us up to two years to issue regulations to address identified unreasonable risks.You also might be wondering, why doesn’t EPA just ban some chemicals immediately. TSCA does allow us to place restrictions on chemicals that are an imminent hazard, meaning the chemical could cause widespread injury to human health or the environment. The fact is, the information we’ve reviewed for the draft risk evaluations we’ve completed so far, doesn’t indicate that this action is necessary.It is worth noting however, we did take decisive action in March 2019, when we banned consumer sales of paint and coating removal products containing methylene chloride to protect public health.Another fact is that if you’re concerned about using any chemicals, there are things you can do right now to limit your exposure. We strongly recommend that users carefully follow all instructions on the product’s label/safety data sheet. To the extent that consumers want to avoid exposure to certain chemicals, they should consider not using products that contain those chemicals. But the fact remains, that because all our risk findings to date are still preliminary, the public and regulated community are not required to take any action based on our draft risk evaluations.And, the last fact I’ll share with you is that the health and safety of people and the planet is always at the heart of our decision-making and we look forward to continuing the dialogue as our chemicals continue to go through these risk evaluations.About the author: Alexandra Dapolito Dunn is the Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. Prior to that she served as the Regional Administrator for EPA Region 1, and her responsibilities included overseeing the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont and ten tribal nations. Read more.Editor's Note: The views expressed here are intended to explain EPA policy. They do not change anyone's rights or obligations. You may share this post. However, please do not change the title or the content, or remove EPA’s identity as the author. If you do make substantive changes, please do not attribute the edited title or content to EPA or the author. EPA's official web site is www.epa.gov. Some links on this page may redirect users from the EPA website to specific content on a non-EPA, third-party site. In doing so, EPA is directing you only to the specific content referenced at the time of publication, not to any other content that may appear on the same webpage or elsewhere on the third-party site, or be added at a later date. EPA is providing this link for informational purposes only. EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of non-EPA information provided by any third-party sites or any other linked site. EPA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies, internet applications or any policies or information expressed therein. West Virginia Cattle Operation (Courtesy Will Parson, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay)By Cosmo ServidioMarch 27, 2020: This Week is National Ag Week – an opportunity for us to celebrate our farmers and ranchers for all that they do to ensure our food remains safe and plentiful for consumers.Farmers produce food for our local communities – and the world – while being responsible stewards of the land. I always say that farmers and ranchers were the first environmentalists. They know that healthy farms depend on clean water and clean water depends on healthy, well-managed farms. The conservation practices they put on their land improve farm efficiency, the health of our soils, and the health of our local streams.Every year, $15.6 billion of agricultural products are sold in the Mid-Atlantic region from over 135,000 farms and 21 million acres of cropland. Pennsylvania is number 1 in the country in mushroom production and number 2 for certified organic sales. The Delmarva Peninsula is home to many Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia farmers and a top chicken-producing region in the country. And West Virginia has the highest percentage of family-owned farms in the nation – with poultry and beef being a big part of their sales. Agriculture is a vital part of our region, our culture, and our economy.Over the past year I have had the wonderful opportunity to meet with over 1,000 farmers throughout Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware. There is nothing like being out on a farm, talking to farm families, and seeing firsthand how farmers are stewards of the land, true innovators, and resilient in the face of many challenges.During National Ag Week we want to show our gratitude to farmers and ranchers, and all those who are part of the food supply chain, for all that they do to put food on our tables and protect our land and water. Our federal family will continue to support their efforts to achieve those essential goals. About the author: Cosmo Servidio is the Regional Administrator for EPA’s Mid-Atlantic Region.Editor's Note: The views expressed here are intended to explain EPA policy. They do not change anyone's rights or obligations. You may share this post. However, please do not change the title or the content, or remove EPA’s identity as the author. If you do make substantive changes, please do not attribute the edited title or content to EPA or the author. EPA's official web site is www.epa.gov. Some links on this page may redirect users from the EPA website to specific content on a non-EPA, third-party site. In doing so, EPA is directing you only to the specific content referenced at the time of publication, not to any other content that may appear on the same webpage or elsewhere on the third-party site, or be added at a later date. EPA is providing this link for informational purposes only. EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of non-EPA information provided by any third-party sites or any other linked site. EPA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies, internet applications or any policies or information expressed therein. By Alexandra Dapolito DunnAssistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution PreventionInnovation is essential to our everyday lives. It allows our economy to grow and thrive. It creates efficiencies and increased value for businesses. And, for all of us, a lot of products like smart phones, detergents, and automobiles keep getting better because companies develop new chemical substances that improve the performance of materials and products.In the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, part of our job is working with stakeholders to bring new chemistries to market in a way that balances the safety of public health and the environment without stifling innovation and ensuring the right level of information transparency. We are committed to providing the public with information on chemicals, including how they are used, any potential risks, and steps we’re taking to prevent those risks. Over the past year, we’ve taken unprecedented steps to ensure we’re meeting our legal requirements while increasing the amount of information made publicly available on new chemicals.Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) – our nation’s primary chemical management law – we’re required to review and decide on new chemical submissions within 90 days of receipt. TSCA gave us an aggressive goal to strive towards, and I’m proud to say we’re making great progress. Our new chemicals statistics reflect a significant improvement from just one year ago:38% decrease in cases over 180 days (229 current; 370 one year ago)76% decrease in cases over 90 days (32 current; 131 one year ago)We have worked diligently to improve the quality and quantity of chemical information shared with and available to the public, including posting all new chemical determinations on our website, developing a new status tracker for individual cases, and implementing process changes to expedite the publishing of information related to new chemical notices.Starting in May 2019, we began new chemicals submissions in EPA s ChemView tool. This includes the original submission and any updates and attachments submitted to EPA, including health and safety studies, safety data sheets, and confidential business information (CBI) substantiation documents. We have committed to publishing the submissions within 45 days of receipt and have consistently done so since May 30, 2019.We’re also working hard to ensure that the information companies claim as CBI meets the legal criteria laid out in TSCA. This is an important issue because we’re legally obligated to keep some information confidential, and we must ensure that we’re complying with those requirements. Last December, we published information on all the final CBI determinations we’ve made under TSCA and committed to updating this information quarterly. The information on CBI determinations published in December 2019, included the results of CBI determinations on 262 new chemicals submissions.I’m proud of the work our dedicated expert staff have done to enhance transparency around our processes for approving new chemicals. More information is available online on new chemicals today than ever before, and it’s our goal to continue to improve processes, increase efficiency, and keep this trend going.Learn more about our new chemicals program at https://www.epa.gov/reviewing-new-chemicals-under-toxic-substances-control-act-tsca.About the author: Alexandra Dapolito Dunn is the Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. Prior to that she served as the Regional Administrator for EPA Region 1, and her responsibilities included overseeing the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont and ten tribal nations. Read more.Editor's Note: The views expressed here are intended to explain EPA policy. They do not change anyone's rights or obligations. You may share this post. However, please do not change the title or the content, or remove EPA’s identity as the author. If you do make substantive changes, please do not attribute the edited title or content to EPA or the author. EPA's official web site is www.epa.gov. Some links on this page may redirect users from the EPA website to specific content on a non-EPA, third-party site. In doing so, EPA is directing you only to the specific content referenced at the time of publication, not to any other content that may appear on the same webpage or elsewhere on the third-party site, or be added at a later date. EPA is providing this link for informational purposes only. EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of non-EPA information provided by any third-party sites or any other linked site. EPA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies, internet applications or any policies or information expressed therein. By Dana AunkstEPA provides significant funding to help Chesapeake Bay states do their part in cleaning up their local waters, thereby helping to improve Bay health.  It’s important to us that the funds are used in the most timely and efficient ways.That’s why EPA recently redirected funds within Pennsylvania that weren’t being spent quickly enough.As a result, communities and organizations are now sharing $2.4 million for 14 stream restoration projects, and new state employees will be hired to assist with stream improvements in Pennsylvania’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.The $2.4 million that EPA redirected to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) for the restoration projects is being leveraged with $3.4 million in local matching funds for a total impact of nearly $6 million.Three of the larger projects involve stabilizing streambanks and planting vegetation alongside streams to prevent sediment and excess nutrient pollution from entering the waterways during storms.  And each of these projects involves a substantial local match to a $200,000 EPA grant through NFWF.  Here are the Big 3:The Conservation Foundation of Lancaster County will establish native vegetation and stabilize streambanks in the Little Cocalico Creek and Cocalico Creek watershed. ($1.02 million)West Lampeter Township will create 4.4 acres of riparian habitat on a streambank of Big Spring Run on Groff Farm. ($922,649)Manheim Borough will plant riparian buffers and stabilize streambank on a 3,000 linear foot section of Chiques Creek. ($1.14 million)A full list of the funded projects is available here.At the same time, EPA redirected $464,200 in grant funds to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission to hire eight employees to assist with stream improvement projects, largely in the Susquehanna River Basin.The grant funds will be used to employ eight staff in the Commission’s Stream Habitat Section. The full-time, part-time and seasonal employees will provide technical assistance to conservation districts and landowners to plan, design and install stream protection features on their properties.For EPA, it’s a priority to help Pennsylvania advance its plans to improve Pennsylvania streams and, at the same time, meet its commitment to Bay restoration. About the author: Dana Aunkst is the Director of the Chesapeake Bay Program Office.Editor's Note: The views expressed here are intended to explain EPA policy. They do not change anyone's rights or obligations. You may share this post. However, please do not change the title or the content, or remove EPA’s identity as the author. If you do make substantive changes, please do not attribute the edited title or content to EPA or the author. EPA's official web site is www.epa.gov. Some links on this page may redirect users from the EPA website to specific content on a non-EPA, third-party site. In doing so, EPA is directing you only to the specific content referenced at the time of publication, not to any other content that may appear on the same webpage or elsewhere on the third-party site, or be added at a later date. EPA is providing this link for informational purposes only. EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of non-EPA information provided by any third-party sites or any other linked site. EPA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies, internet applications or any policies or information expressed therein. By Alexandra Dapolito DunnAssistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution PreventionFebruary is National Pesticide Safety Education Month, a good reminder about the importance of safely and appropriately using pesticides like insect repellents, weed killers, and many household cleaning products.Since pesticides are meant to keep pests away, we need to be careful when using them in and around our homes. EPA assesses the risks and benefits of all pesticides before we allow them to be sold or distributed in the United States, and EPA requires instructions on each pesticide label for how to use the pesticide safely.One of the most important steps you can take to ensure pesticide safety at home is to only use pesticides when necessary. Pesticides are designed to address different problems, so one important approach is to consider integrated pest management.  Under “IPM”, your pesticide choices are informed by an effective and environmentally-sensitive approach to pest management that relies on a combination of common-sense practices, using pesticides only as needed.If you do choose to use a pesticide, reading the pesticide label and following instructions is key. Even if you use the same pesticide often, be sure to read the label each time. This is important because EPA routinely re-evaluates pesticides to ensure they are safe and the instructions for safe use may have changed.Here are a few other tips for using pesticides safely in and around your home:Use the amount specified on the label. Using more will not be more effective and may harm you, your loved ones and the environment.Keep pesticides away from food and dishes.Don’t let children and pets enter sprayed areas while they are still wet.Store pesticides out of the reach of children and pets, preferably locked up.Store pesticides in their original containers with proper labels.Wash hands with soap and water after using a pesticide.Wash clothes that have been in contact with pesticides immediately and separately from other items.Tell us how you keep yourself safe when using a pesticide by sharing a photo or tip on our Twitter account @EPAChemSafety .About the author: Alexandra Dapolito Dunn is the Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. Prior to that she served as the Regional Administrator for EPA Region 1, and her responsibilities included overseeing the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont and ten tribal nations. Read more.Editor's Note: The views expressed here are intended to explain EPA policy. They do not change anyone's rights or obligations. You may share this post. However, please do not change the title or the content, or remove EPA’s identity as the author. If you do make substantive changes, please do not attribute the edited title or content to EPA or the author. EPA's official web site is www.epa.gov. Some links on this page may redirect users from the EPA website to specific content on a non-EPA, third-party site. In doing so, EPA is directing you only to the specific content referenced at the time of publication, not to any other content that may appear on the same webpage or elsewhere on the third-party site, or be added at a later date. EPA is providing this link for informational purposes only. EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of non-EPA information provided by any third-party sites or any other linked site. EPA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies, internet applications or any policies or information expressed therein. By Andrew WheelerU.S. EPA AdministratorAmerica has a long-standing commitment to conservation and stewardship. As a nation, we are blessed with abundant resources; and we are all looking for ways to maximize the inherent value of those resources so that future generations can continue to enjoy and benefit from them for many years to come.We also understand that recycling is one of the most widely available ways for each and every one of us to have a long-term impact on the environment. From a child in pre-school, to a mom in a small town, to urbanites in the big cities, to Fortune 500 companies, we can all do our part to conserve valuable materials and keep them from filling up our Nation’s landfills.When EPA was established in 1970, the national recycling rate was less than 10 percent. In 1980, the first curbside recycling program was launched in Woodbury, New Jersey. And today, recycling programs can be found in communities big and small across the country, and the national recycling rate has grown to more than 35 percent.Under President Trump, we have made it a priority to engage with stakeholders and work together to address environmental challenges such as recycling. In doing so, we can reduce the roughly $9 billion of materials Americans throw away each year.As much as we have increased the amount we recycle, there is much room to grow. That is why last year at EPA, we held our first America Recycles Summit, which brought together stakeholders from across the recycling system to sign the America Recycles Pledge. Signatories of the Pledge are committed to working with EPA in identifying solutions to improve the nation’s recycling system.EPA has brought some of the most innovative, forward thinking organizations to the table to solve some key challenges in the recycling system. In addition to keeping valuable materials out of landfills, recycling is an important economic driver that provides more than 757,000 jobs and $36.6 billion in wages. Together we are working to turn billions of dollars of waste into products that can drive our economy and protect our environment.Our role at EPA has always been to help develop best practices, provide data the public needs to monitor their recycling efforts, and incentivize action through our programs. But we need to work together with our partners to move beyond our current recycling rate of 35 percent and really make a positive impact on recycling in the United States.I’m pleased to say that over the past year, through our coordinated efforts we’ve taken many important steps to increase recycling and reduce the amount of waste that ends up in the landfills. We are working closely with our government partners and private companies to reduce the amount of food waste across the country; our list of signatories to the recycling pledge has more than tripled from 45 to more than 160; and we have a wealth of efforts underway to enhance public education and outreach, increase our investment in recycling infrastructure, develop markets for recycled materials, and improve measurement and data collection.On this America Recycles Day, I challenge you to do your part, by taking steps to reduce the amount of food we waste, the amount of garbage we put in the trash, and the amount of contaminated materials that end up in the recycle bins. Other ways to improve on our nation’s recycling challenges is to learn more about recycling in your community; to look for opportunities to recycle beyond the bin, such as used electronics drop-off events or store collection bins; and to buy American-made products made with recycled content.Together we can build a stronger, more resilient recycling system that provides needed materials to fuel our economy, creates jobs, and most importantly conserves our precious natural resources while also protecting our environment.About the author: Andrew Wheeler is the U.S. EPA Administrator. The U.S. Senate confirmed him as the fifteenth Administrator of the agency on February 28, 2019. President Donald J. Trump announced his appointment as the acting EPA Administrator on July 5, 2018. Wheeler was previously confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the EPA Deputy Administrator on April 12, 2018. Read more.Editor's Note: The views expressed here are intended to explain EPA policy. They do not change anyone's rights or obligations. You may share this post. However, please do not change the title or the content, or remove EPA’s identity as the author. If you do make substantive changes, please do not attribute the edited title or content to EPA or the author. EPA's official web site is www.epa.gov. Some links on this page may redirect users from the EPA website to specific content on a non-EPA, third-party site. In doing so, EPA is directing you only to the specific content referenced at the time of publication, not to any other content that may appear on the same webpage or elsewhere on the third-party site, or be added at a later date. EPA is providing this link for informational purposes only. EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of non-EPA information provided by any third-party sites or any other linked site. EPA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies, internet applications or any policies or information expressed therein. Conservation/TecH2O Manager Anai Padilla and Chief Technical Officer Gilbert Trejo give EPA’s Jeff Lape a tour of El Paso Water’s TecH2O Learning Center. (Photo by Carlos A. Briano)By Jeff LapeNational Program Leader for Water Reuse, U.S. EPAAs I write this blog post, I am currently on a water reuse mission in New Mexico and Texas, learning about the array of opportunities with agriculture, industry, academia, and others to consider how water reuse can expand our portfolio of water sources. Promoting the reuse of water for beneficial purposes instead of treating it as waste has been a priority in EPA’s Office of Water. Under the direction of Assistant Administrator for Water, Dave Ross, I’m now just a few days into my newly minted role—serving as EPA’s first National Program Leader for Water Reuse.With 80 percent of states anticipating some freshwater shortages in the next decade, all levels of government have a responsibility to ensure that Americans have access to reliable sources of clean and safe water. Water reuse has become a rapidly expanding means of improving our water portfolio and has already shown how communities, farmers, and industry can benefit in achieving environmental and public health protection, as well as assuring the security, resiliency, and sustainability of the nation’s water resources.That’s why EPA and our federal partners facilitated development and recently released the draft National Water Reuse Action Plan in close collaboration with communities, utilities, industry, agriculture, and others. The draft Action Plan identifies priority actions and the leadership and collaboration that is needed between governmental and nongovernmental organizations to implement these actions. Our draft Action Plan, which we are seeking comment on by December 16, 2019 (https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=EPA-HQ-OW-2019-0174), embraces a holistic approach and, when issued in February 2020, will include clear commitments and milestones for actions that will further water reuse.It’s encouraging to see water reuse already becoming integrated into our agency’s water resource efforts. For instance, just last month, EPA invited 38 new projects in 18 states to apply for a Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan. Eight of the selected applicants represented water reuse or recycling projects.In my new role, I will work to finalize the Water Reuse Action Plan and then launch its implementation with support and contributions from our water sector stakeholders. I will also work across EPA to ensure our agency’s contributions and commitments are compelling and robust. And, I plan to identify ways to institutionalize water reuse in EPA’s culture so it becomes an enduring priority.I’m excited for the challenge ahead, given that addressing future water resource challenges will necessitate more holistic thinking that embraces the “convergence of water” through more integrated action.Read more about EPA’s water reuse efforts: https://www.epa.gov/waterreuse/water-reuse-action-planAbout the author: Jeff Lape has served as Deputy Director of the Office of Science and Technology in EPA’s Office of Water since 2010 and is now on detail as EPA’s National Program Leader for Water Reuse.Editor's Note: The views expressed here are intended to explain EPA policy. They do not change anyone's rights or obligations. You may share this post. However, please do not change the title or the content, or remove EPA’s identity as the author. If you do make substantive changes, please do not attribute the edited title or content to EPA or the author. EPA's official web site is www.epa.gov. Some links on this page may redirect users from the EPA website to specific content on a non-EPA, third-party site. In doing so, EPA is directing you only to the specific content referenced at the time of publication, not to any other content that may appear on the same webpage or elsewhere on the third-party site, or be added at a later date. EPA is providing this link for informational purposes only. EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of non-EPA information provided by any third-party sites or any other linked site. EPA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies, internet applications or any policies or information expressed therein. By Alexandra Dapolito DunnAssistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution PreventionRecently, EPA has been accused of wavering in its commitment to protect the people in our country from asbestos. This is certainly not the case. In April 2019, for the first time in 30 years, EPA strengthened safeguards related to asbestos. EPA’s new rule creates a legal framework by which EPA can restrict the use of more asbestos products or prohibit them entirely. This means that no manufacturer can revive discontinued asbestos products without first consulting EPA, which can then restrict or prohibit that use.Prior to our April rule, asbestos products that were no longer on the market could come back without any EPA review, without any EPA restrictions, and without any opportunity for EPA to prohibit that use. In other words, previous administrations failed to take steps to ensure that certain dangerous asbestos products would not be reintroduced into the market.Our April 2019 rule closed this dangerous loophole in the law and made sure that these products could not come back on the market without EPA review and the opportunity to restrict or prohibit use of the products. Combined with our ongoing risk evaluation of a few remaining industrial uses of asbestos, EPA is using our full suite of authorities to protect public health from domestic and imported asbestos products and ensuring we can prohibit dormant asbestos products from reentering the market.EPA is not allowing new uses of asbestos under this rule. Quite the contrary. Those who are subject to the rule are required to notify EPA at least 90 days before commencing any manufacturing, importing, or processing of asbestos or asbestos-containing products covered under the rule. These uses are absolutely prohibited until EPA conducts a thorough review of the notice and puts in place any necessary restrictions, including prohibiting use.Certain uses of asbestos that were prohibited in 1989 remain banned. Some people say that EPA should immediately ban all remaining asbestos products. Under TSCA, as revised by a bipartisan Congress in 2016, EPA can’t do that in one simple step. By law, with public input and scientific peer review, EPA must evaluate the risk of remaining asbestos uses before it can restrict or ban these products. And that’s exactly what we’re doing for asbestos. EPA included asbestos as one of the first 10 chemicals to undergo this risk evaluation process. This process will be open and transparent, will be available for public comment as well as for scientific peer review and will follow the timetable established by Congress.If the Agency determines there is unreasonable risk to health or the environment from any conditions of use of asbestos we are evaluating, we are compelled by statute to take actions necessary and authorized by TSCA to ensure the use of asbestos no longer presents an unreasonable risk. These actions would be proposed within one year and finalized within two years.EPA is covering ALL bases to be able to protect people’s health from asbestos exposure. Addressing asbestos risk remains a priority and I’m proud of the strides EPA has made in protecting the American public from asbestos exposure.About the author: Alexandra Dapolito Dunn is the Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. Prior to that she served as the Regional Administrator for EPA Region 1, and her responsibilities included overseeing the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont and ten tribal nations. Read more.Editor's Note: The views expressed here are intended to explain EPA policy. They do not change anyone's rights or obligations. You may share this post. However, please do not change the title or the content, or remove EPA’s identity as the author. If you do make substantive changes, please do not attribute the edited title or content to EPA or the author. EPA's official web site is www.epa.gov. Some links on this page may redirect users from the EPA website to specific content on a non-EPA, third-party site. In doing so, EPA is directing you only to the specific content referenced at the time of publication, not to any other content that may appear on the same webpage or elsewhere on the third-party site, or be added at a later date. EPA is providing this link for informational purposes only. EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of non-EPA information provided by any third-party sites or any other linked site. EPA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies, internet applications or any policies or information expressed therein. By Alexandra Dapolito DunnAssistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution PreventionOctober is Children’s Health Month, making it a perfect time to highlight the steps we’re taking in EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP) to protect their health, particularly at home. Children are more sensitive to environmental hazards than adults. We have an important responsibility to keep their home environment healthy and pest-fee, while also preventing children from being exposed to potential harmful products, including pesticides.Some common household pesticides include rodent bait, mothballs, insect repellents, weed killers, and bath and kitchen disinfectants. While they are helpful in keeping your home free of pests, if used or stored improperly, pesticide products can potentially harm you or your children.Before registering a pesticide, EPA evaluates the product to ensure that, when used according to label directions, no unreasonable adverse effects on human health or the environment will occur. The Agency develops human health and ecological risk assessments, researches alternative pesticides that are already registered, and determines if any measures or label specifications are needed to reduce risk.Consider these tips to keep children safe from household pesticides:Always read the product label and follow all directions when using pesticides.Never store pesticides in containers that may be mistaken for food or drink.Store pesticide products out of the reach of children.Use child-resistant packaging properly by closing the container tightly after use.Safely use rodent bait products by placing them only in locations where children cannot access them and keeping them in the bait stations in which they are sold.Avoid illegal household pesticide products, including unregistered mothballs that can easily be mistaken for candy.In case of accidental poisoning, keep the number for the Poison Control Center’s national helpline number readily available (1-800-222-1222).In addition to following best practices to poison-proof your home, be mindful of the products you select. Products with EPA registration numbers have been reviewed by scientists at EPA. For products used on pests of significant public health importance, such as ticks and mosquitoes, EPA requires data that shows the product works on that pest and works effectively as claimed on the label. EPA is working to make more options available to choose from. For example, after thoroughly reviewing the science, we recently proposed to register a new rodent poison called alphachloralose to control house mice. It acts by putting mice to sleep and is not harmful to children when used according to the label.To further protect children at home, you can also consider different approaches to pest management. Integrated Pest Management, or IPM, focuses on pest prevention and using pesticides only when needed. IPM is better for the environment and saves money in pesticide treatment and energy costs by improving insulation as a result of sealing cracks and adding door sweeps.Whether at home or out in the world, let’s work to create healthy environments for all children!About the author: Alexandra Dapolito Dunn is the Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. Prior to that she served as the Regional Administrator for EPA Region 1, and her responsibilities included overseeing the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont and ten tribal nations. Read more.Editor's Note: The views expressed here are intended to explain EPA policy. They do not change anyone's rights or obligations. You may share this post. However, please do not change the title or the content, or remove EPA’s identity as the author. If you do make substantive changes, please do not attribute the edited title or content to EPA or the author. EPA's official web site is www.epa.gov. Some links on this page may redirect users from the EPA website to specific content on a non-EPA, third-party site. In doing so, EPA is directing you only to the specific content referenced at the time of publication, not to any other content that may appear on the same webpage or elsewhere on the third-party site, or be added at a later date. EPA is providing this link for informational purposes only. EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of non-EPA information provided by any third-party sites or any other linked site. EPA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies, internet applications or any policies or information expressed therein. by Tom Damm To appreciate how the Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund is helping communities improve their local waters and lands – and ultimately the Bay – all you need is a quick look at the list of project summaries:Assistance to seven townships in Pennsylvania with barnyard improvements, stream-side buffers and manure storage to manage agriculture runoff.Outdoor classroom construction in Prince George’s County, Maryland, engaging teachers, students and building supervisors in stormwater management.Eastern oyster restoration in Western Branch of the Lynnhaven River in Virginia.Throughout the list of 47 projects, you can see how the Stewardship Fund is engaging farmers, homeowners, churches, businesses and municipalities in efforts to improve water quality and restore habitat across the Chesapeake Bay watershed.The Stewardship Fund is a partnership between EPA and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF).   EPA provided $9.7 million of the nearly $12.7 million awarded in 2019, attracting almost $21 million in matching contributions.Those gathered for the recent announcement of this year’s grants got to see the benefits of the program up close.  The backdrop for the speakers was one of the rain gardens installed with a 2017 grant at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish and School in Baltimore County, Maryland.Students from the school’s Environmental Club stood front and center for a photo opportunity at the end of the ceremony.The Gunpowder Valley Conservancy – the organization that worked with the school on the green infrastructure project – received another grant this year to expand its Clear Creeks Project.The $200,000 grant will allow the group to provide discount funding in Baltimore County for “Bay-Wise” practices that reduce stormwater into local waterways, such as rain barrels, rain gardens and stream cleanup events.At the announcement, EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program Office Director Dana Aunkst emphasized the importance of programs like the Stewardship Fund, saying “local projects by groups and communities will continue to be critical to our success in achieving clean water.”About the Author:  Tom Damm works in the Office of Public Affairs at EPA’s Mid-Atlantic Region, contributing strategic communications in support of EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program Office.Editor's Note: The views expressed here are intended to explain EPA policy. They do not change anyone's rights or obligations. You may share this post. However, please do not change the title or the content, or remove EPA’s identity as the author. If you do make substantive changes, please do not attribute the edited title or content to EPA or the author. EPA's official web site is www.epa.gov. Some links on this page may redirect users from the EPA website to specific content on a non-EPA, third-party site. In doing so, EPA is directing you only to the specific content referenced at the time of publication, not to any other content that may appear on the same webpage or elsewhere on the third-party site, or be added at a later date. EPA is providing this link for informational purposes only. EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of non-EPA information provided by any third-party sites or any other linked site. EPA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies, internet applications or any policies or information expressed therein. Senior Advisor for the Office of Public AffairsThis week is National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, and here at EPA, we’ve made tremendous progress on our part to help prevent childhood exposure to lead, both indoors and out.As a mom of three young children, I value EPA’s role in keeping America’s children safe and healthy. And as a mom who recently experienced a lead poisoning scare with my own toddler, the agency’s mission has never seemed more important.This spring, I took my youngest child for what I thought was a routine one-year well check. Fortunately, this included a routine blood lead level (BLL) screening, revealing a level of concern exceeding the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) 5 micrograms per deciliter. In the weeks and months that followed, my husband and I learned as much as we could, testing our home and water and remediating the “hot spots.” Today, we’re back to a non-detectible BLL.As scary as this was, knowing where to find credible information allowed us to act quickly to prevent any additional exposure and address the situation. EPA, the CDC, and the CDC’s Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry have loads of free information available online at https://www.epa.gov/lead, https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/default.htm, and https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/csem.asp?csem=34 po=8.Naturally, I gravitated to the things I could do immediately. Within a day, we identified the places in our home that most likely caused the exposure, thoroughly (and properly) wet cleaned the surrounding areas and toys, and selected foods for our daughter known to aid in lowering the BLL. Within a week, we added a fresh coat of paint to the areas of concern to encapsulate any remaining dust. These are all actions that anyone can take with very little out-of-pocket cost, whether you rent or own your home. We ultimately replaced four old windows, using EPA-certified lead abatement contractors (bonus: the new windows are energy efficient, saving us money).Exposure can happen in many places, so if you have children, are pregnant, or are thinking of having children in the future, read up and take action now. Prevention is always the best medicine.Editor's Note: The views expressed here are intended to explain EPA policy. They do not change anyone's rights or obligations. You may share this post. However, please do not change the title or the content, or remove EPA’s identity as the author. If you do make substantive changes, please do not attribute the edited title or content to EPA or the author. EPA's official web site is www.epa.gov. Some links on this page may redirect users from the EPA website to specific content on a non-EPA, third-party site. In doing so, EPA is directing you only to the specific content referenced at the time of publication, not to any other content that may appear on the same webpage or elsewhere on the third-party site, or be added at a later date. EPA is providing this link for informational purposes only. EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of non-EPA information provided by any third-party sites or any other linked site. EPA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies, internet applications or any policies or information expressed therein. By Alexandra Dapolito DunnAssistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution PreventionOne of our greatest responsibilities here at EPA and in the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP) is to protect public health, especially the health of those who are more vulnerable, such as children. We know that children are especially sensitive to the potential health effects of many hazards, particularly lead. For this year’s National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, I’d like to highlight how we’re working to protect those Americans that are most affected by the health impacts of lead exposure, specifically our efforts under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).This June, we announced a stronger, more protective standard for lead dust in homes and child-occupied facilities across the country – the first time in nearly two decades that EPA has strengthened these standards. We now are working on the lead dust clearance rule to make it consistent with the final revisions to the dust-lead hazard standards. To update the dust-lead clearance levels, EPA plans to take several steps such as conducting health, exposure, and economic analyses.In addition, EPA regularly conducts hundreds of compliance assistance and outreach activities that support abatement, risk assessment and inspection components of the Lead-Based Paint Program. The Agency also works to increase the number of certified renovation firms capable of providing lead-safe renovation, repair and painting services through outreach campaigns.Another important initiative we’re working on is a new educational curriculum on lead: Lead Awareness in Indian Country: Keeping our Children Healthy!. OCSPP collaborated with over 200 tribal partners this year to develop the curriculum to:Raise awareness about childhood lead exposures;Educate partners about potential impacts on children’s health and cultural practices; andEncourage actions to reduce and/or prevent lead exposures in Indian country.I am excited that this curriculum can be used by any community across the nation. The unique aspect of this curriculum is the design it is created in a manner to balance diverse community backgrounds, technical information, and localized knowledge by allowing community leaders an opportunity to plan and deliver their own messages. The format allows users the ability to adapt information to meet various needs and consists of four modules:Module 1: Understanding Lead – provides an overview of lead, its impacts, and actions that can be taken to reduce potential lead exposures and lead poisoning;Module 2: Effective Cleaning Techniques – explains and demonstrates recommended cleaning techniques for reducing household lead dust;Module 3: Personal Hygiene and Nutrition – focuses on the connection between personal hygiene and nutrition for children and potential exposures to lead; andModule 4: Hiring Certified Lead Professionals – emphasizes the importance of hiring a certified lead professional to follow lead-safe work practices to reduce exposures to lead.We anticipate publishing the curriculum in early 2020!Of course, our office’s work goes hand-in-hand with the incredible efforts across the EPA – particularly last week’s announcement of a proposed rule to reduce lead and copper in drinking water. EPA’s many efforts – and those of other federal agencies – are found in the Federal Action Plan to Reduce Childhood Lead Exposure.Moving forward, it’s important to remember that there’s still more to be done. I look forward to continuing to work with our federal, state, tribal, and local partners for increasing awareness about lead poisoning prevention to protect children’s health.About the author: Alexandra Dapolito Dunn is the Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. Prior to that she served as the Regional Administrator for EPA Region 1, and her responsibilities included overseeing the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont and ten tribal nations. Read more.Editor's Note: The views expressed here are intended to explain EPA policy. They do not change anyone's rights or obligations. You may share this post. However, please do not change the title or the content, or remove EPA’s identity as the author. If you do make substantive changes, please do not attribute the edited title or content to EPA or the author. EPA's official web site is www.epa.gov. Some links on this page may redirect users from the EPA website to specific content on a non-EPA, third-party site. In doing so, EPA is directing you only to the specific content referenced at the time of publication, not to any other content that may appear on the same webpage or elsewhere on the third-party site, or be added at a later date. EPA is providing this link for informational purposes only. EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of non-EPA information provided by any third-party sites or any other linked site. EPA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies, internet applications or any policies or information expressed therein. By Alexandra Dapolito DunnAssistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution PreventionPlease join me in celebrating Pollution Prevention Week, September 16-22, 2019! It’s been almost 30 years since Congress passed the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990, which established pollution prevention as a national policy in the United States.Pollution prevention is any practice that reduces, eliminates, or prevents pollution at its source. Because pollution prevention approaches are applied to the activities that generate pollution, everyone can be a part of the solution. Citizens, communities, and companies have a wide range of options to reduce pollution at its source. Whether we increase recycling or reduce our use or pesticides at home, or reduce societal use of chemicals and resources, there are all kinds of good practices that can help us advance economic growth and increase sustainability at the same time.By working together, we continue to come up with new approaches to pollution prevention and encourage adoption of those innovations. Between 2011 and 2016, EPA issued $36.9 million in grants to help American businesses identify, develop, and adopt pollution prevention approaches. These efforts, in turn, yielded $1.4 billion in savings to businesses; reduced the use of hazardous materials by 529 million pounds; and saved 25 billion gallons of water, among many other benefits.One great way to get a sense of how many efforts are underway is to take a look at EPA’s Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) pollution prevention pages. EPA’s TRI program collects information to track industry progress in reducing waste generation and moving toward safer waste management alternatives. Many facilities provide descriptions of measures they have taken to prevent pollution and reduce the amount of toxic chemicals entering the environment.EPA regularly celebrates the efforts of businesses, academic institutions, local governments, and non-profits across the county. It is amazing to see the diverse and creative ways pollution prevention is being advanced. For example, last year EPA recognized the University of Minnesota for its efforts to develop a new pollution prevention approach in the automotive repair industry. Researchers offered technical assistance to Minnesota-based auto repair shops to help them achieve low-cost transitions to greener products in their degreasing processes. As a result, auto repair businesses reduced the use of volatile organic compounds and the hazardous air pollutants by thousands of pounds over a two-year period. The new practices also improved air quality for auto repair shop workers.To take another example, the New England Environmental Finance Center at the University of Southern Maine is working with craft brewers on source reduction opportunities that can increase environmental, economic and social performance and can help the industry become more competitive in a water- and waste-intensive industry. The effort is becoming a model of sustainable operations practices for small breweries.(Check out other pollution prevention case studies here: https://www.epa.gov/p2/pollution-prevention-case-studies.)Three decades after passage of the Pollution Prevention Act, it’s clear there is always room to develop new and creative approaches that benefit our economy by protecting the environment. Please take a moment and visit our website to see how you can prevent pollution in your home, car, or garden.About the author: Alexandra Dapolito Dunn is the Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. Prior to that she served as the Regional Administrator for EPA Region 1, and her responsibilities included overseeing the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont and ten tribal nations. Read more.Editor's Note: The views expressed here are intended to explain EPA policy. They do not change anyone's rights or obligations. You may share this post. However, please do not change the title or the content, or remove EPA’s identity as the author. If you do make substantive changes, please do not attribute the edited title or content to EPA or the author. EPA's official web site is www.epa.gov. Some links on this page may redirect users from the EPA website to specific content on a non-EPA, third-party site. In doing so, EPA is directing you only to the specific content referenced at the time of publication, not to any other content that may appear on the same webpage or elsewhere on the third-party site, or be added at a later date. EPA is providing this link for informational purposes only. EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of non-EPA information provided by any third-party sites or any other linked site. EPA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies, internet applications or any policies or information expressed therein. With 80 percent of U.S. states anticipating some freshwater shortages in the next decade, diversifying the country’s water portfolio to meet the nation’s water needs is a top priority for the Trump Administration. With that in mind, Senior Administration Officials, including Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Assistant Administrator for Water David Ross, visited innovative water projects in Southern California that demonstrate the benefits of water reuse and desalination.Water reuse, or water recycling, can be used for a wide variety of applications, including drinking, agriculture, groundwater replenishment, industrial processes and environmental restoration. But for water reuse to make a real difference in maintaining the nation’s water needs, there must be collaboration between federal, state and water sector stakeholders to encourage the use and growth of innovative water reuse technologies.The Administration is committed to promoting this important effort, including through actions organized under the draft National Water Reuse Action Plan, which was announced at the 34th Annual WateReuse Symposium. The draft plan was announced during a panel discussion with federal partners including—the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Department of Energy, Department of the Interior, Department of Army for Civil Works, Bureau of Reclamation, and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ).  Detailing ways to use water reuse technology to address the nation’s water resource challenges, this draft plan is much more than an EPA plan, but instead a water-sector plan that was developed in collaboration with federal, state, local and industry partners from around the country. EPA is now requesting public comment on the plan and engaging with all stakeholders to identify the highest priority and most urgent actions to be included.Federal officials including CEQ Chairman Mary Neumayr, EPA Assistant Administrator for Water David Ross and U.S. Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Tim Petty tour Carlsbad desalination Plant.Administration officials visited the Carlsbad Desalination Plant and the City of San Diego’s Pure Water Demonstration Facility and Padre Dam Municipal Water District, showcasing the vital role of collaboration between federal and non-federal stakeholders as well as the importance of innovative projects in supplying safe and sufficient water to meet future demand.To highlight innovative water desalination projects that are already underway, officials toured the Carlsbad Desalination Plant, which is the largest seawater desalination plant in the nation.  The Carlsbad plant delivers over 50 million gallons of secure and high-quality drinking water to more than 400,000 Southern California residents every day. The plant uses reverse osmosis to provide the only water supply in San Diego County that is not dependent on snowpack in the Sierras or local rainfall. This plant is a great example of what is possible when the private and public sector work together to utilize the latest technologies in water treatment.Federal officials including EPA Assistant Administrator for Water David Ross and U.S. Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Tim Petty visit Pure Water San Diego.After Carlsbad, the group continued with a demonstration of advanced water reuse at Pure Water San Diego and the Padre Dam Municipal Water District. Pure Water San Diego is a phased, multi-year program that will use proven water purification technology to clean recycled water to produce safe, high-quality drinking water. Phase one of this multi-year program will provide 30 million gallons of clean, advanced-treated recycled water to San Diego-area residents starting in 2023.At the Padre Dam Municipal Water District the group discussed of one of the biggest challenges in the water sector— the aging workforce. Nationally, it is estimated that 37 percent of water utility workers will retire in the next 10 years. EPA Assistant Administrator for Water David Ross highlighted work EPA is doing with federal partners to recruit the next generation of water professionals.As EPA continues to work with federal, state, tribal and water sector stakeholders to address water challenges, federal collaboration will be invaluable for developing innovative technologies and partnerships that will promote water reuse and a sufficient and safe supply of water for our future.Editor's Note: The views expressed here are intended to explain EPA policy. They do not change anyone's rights or obligations. You may share this post. However, please do not change the title or the content, or remove EPA’s identity as the author. If you do make substantive changes, please do not attribute the edited title or content to EPA or the author. EPA's official web site is www.epa.gov. Some links on this page may redirect users from the EPA website to specific content on a non-EPA, third-party site. In doing so, EPA is directing you only to the specific content referenced at the time of publication, not to any other content that may appear on the same webpage or elsewhere on the third-party site, or be added at a later date. EPA is providing this link for informational purposes only. EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of non-EPA information provided by any third-party sites or any other linked site. EPA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies, internet applications or any policies or information expressed therein. By Alexandra Dapolito DunnAssistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution PreventionSummer is drawing to a close, and already in some parts of the United States our children, teachers, and administrators are back to school. In the United States, more than 53 million children and 6 million adults spend a good part of their day in more than 120,000 public and private schools.Without proper care, schools can harbor a lot of pests! Pests find homes in many places in and around schools. Cafeterias, classrooms, lockers, dumpsters, school grounds – all can attract pests, and often they can gain easy access through doors and windows. Rodents, cockroaches, and dust mites are often present in buildings and can cause or inflame allergic reactions and asthma attacks.None of us wants children and school staff exposed to chemicals, but we don’t like the idea of them being exposed to pests either! Using a smart, sensible, and sustainable approach can reduce pests and pesticide risks and create a healthier environment for our children. We call this approach Integrated Pest Management, or IPM. IPM is better for the environment and saves schools money in pesticide treatment and energy costs by improving insulation as a result of sealing cracks and adding door sweeps.IPM programs take advantage of all appropriate pest management strategies, including using pesticides when necessary. IPM isn’t a single pest control method. As the name suggests, it combines multiple control approaches based on obtaining site information through inspection, monitoring, and reporting. Schools design IPM programs based on the pest prevention goals and site-specific eradication needs.Do you know if your school uses IPM? Find out more about IPM in schools and talk to your school officials about the benefits of using IPM. Here are some resources you can use to educate yourself and share with your school administrators:Introduction to Integrated Pest ManagementInformation on Pests in Schools and Their ControlContact Us About Managing Pests in SchoolWebinars about Integrated Pest Management in SchoolsHope you and your family have a healthy and safe school year!About the author: Alexandra Dapolito Dunn is the Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. Prior to that she served as the Regional Administrator for EPA Region 1, and her responsibilities included overseeing the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont and ten tribal nations. Read more.Editor's Note: The views expressed here are intended to explain EPA policy. They do not change anyone's rights or obligations. You may share this post. However, please do not change the title or the content, or remove EPA’s identity as the author. If you do make substantive changes, please do not attribute the edited title or content to EPA or the author. EPA's official web site is www.epa.gov. Some links on this page may redirect users from the EPA website to specific content on a non-EPA, third-party site. In doing so, EPA is directing you only to the specific content referenced at the time of publication, not to any other content that may appear on the same webpage or elsewhere on the third-party site, or be added at a later date. EPA is providing this link for informational purposes only. EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of non-EPA information provided by any third-party sites or any other linked site. EPA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies, internet applications or any policies or information expressed therein. by Tom DammIn a park-like setting along the Susquehanna River in Marietta, Pennsylvania, picnic tables were arranged in a large rectangle to give speakers room to talk about how their new green streets grants would control stormwater and otherwise improve their communities.Some of the grantees came from hours away to share plans for their funding under the 2019 Green Streets, Green Towns, Green Jobs program, sponsored largely by EPA and the Chesapeake Bay Trust.With posters and flip charts held tightly against a breeze off the river, a dozen speakers relayed highlights of their winning projects to an attentive audience of their peers.We learned, for example, that in Baltimore, they’re turning hard vacant lots into absorbant green spaces.  In Martinsburg, West Virginia, they’re designing green features to prevent flash flooding.  And on the Eastern Shore in Cambridge, Maryland, they’re redoing a parking area so that rain sinks in rather than runs off into sewers and waterways with pollutants in tow.You can get a full list of the projects and more information on the program here.Mayor Harold Kulman of the historic host community, Marietta, took to the podium during the official grant announcement ceremony to describe how stormwater improvements will create jobs, beautify the downtown area and reduce pollution to the Susquehanna – the largest source of freshwater to the Chesapeake Bay.EPA and the Chesapeake Bay Trust have been providing these “G3” grants for nine years, helping communities design and build projects that offer multiple environmental, economic and quality of life benefits.  The funds – nearly $9.4 million since the program’s inception – have been matched locally by about 2-1.This year’s grants alone are expected to support more than 200 green jobs and reinforce one of EPA’s top priorities – improving water infrastructure.About the Author:  Tom Damm works in the Office of Public Affairs at EPA’s Mid-Atlantic Region, contributing strategic communications in support of EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program Office.Editor's Note: The views expressed here are intended to explain EPA policy. They do not change anyone's rights or obligations. You may share this post. However, please do not change the title or the content, or remove EPA’s identity as the author. If you do make substantive changes, please do not attribute the edited title or content to EPA or the author. EPA's official web site is www.epa.gov. Some links on this page may redirect users from the EPA website to specific content on a non-EPA, third-party site. In doing so, EPA is directing you only to the specific content referenced at the time of publication, not to any other content that may appear on the same webpage or elsewhere on the third-party site, or be added at a later date. EPA is providing this link for informational purposes only. EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of non-EPA information provided by any third-party sites or any other linked site. EPA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies, internet applications or any policies or information expressed therein. by Kelly ShenkFarmer showing data to authorHave you ever heard of the “4R’s?”  It’s a new buzz in agriculture that’s all about farm efficiency and productivity.  4R’s stands for putting the RIGHT nutrient source on a crop, at the RIGHT application rate, at the RIGHT time, and in the RIGHT place.  Farmers often refer to the 4R principles as “precision agriculture.”  Whether you call it 4R’s or precision agriculture I call it “Getting it Right!”I had a great opportunity to see first-hand what all this means on a Delmarva farm.  I met Jonathan Quinn, a fourth-generation grain farmer in Kent County, Maryland.  Within minutes he took out his iPad and started showing me data – lots of data – weather patterns, crop yields, fertilizer application rates.  It was clear to me that every decision he makes on his farm is driven by this data.He told me about a technology he tested on his farm recently.  He used a drone to collect data on crop vigor which allowed him to determine what areas of the field needed additional nitrogen fertilizer.  He was able to spot an area in his field that had leftover nitrogen in the soil from a previous spinach crop.  Knowing this allowed him to adjust his nitrogen application rates.  When you talk to any farmer, they will tell you that they don’t want to waste fertilizer.  And any time they can save on fertilizers and increase their crop yields – it’s money in their pocket.Jonathan sees his work with precision agriculture going hand-in-hand with protecting the environment.  He told me, “I don’t want to waste any inputs as far as fertilizer and chemicals.  And I’m doing it to protect the Bay, protect the environment.  I like to fish and crab and I want it to be there for my kids and my grandchildren to be able to do the same thing I did.”  This is a sentiment I hear from so many Delmarva farmers who have grown up the Chesapeake Bay.When you boil it down, this Delmarva grain farmer is using technology and data to maximize farm efficiency, increase productivity and save money.  And guess what?  When farmers put fertilizers on the crop at the right rate, time, and place, it means less fertilizers are left over to run into our streams or leach into our groundwater.  So whether you call it the “4Rs” or “precision agriculture” or something else … I call it “Getting it Right!”About the author: Kelly Shenk is EPA Region III’s Agriculture Advisor.  She works with farmers to achieve healthy, well-managed farms and clean water.  EPA helps fund the Delaware-Maryland 4R Alliance’s precision agriculture work through National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grants.Editor's Note: The views expressed here are intended to explain EPA policy. They do not change anyone's rights or obligations. You may share this post. However, please do not change the title or the content, or remove EPA’s identity as the author. If you do make substantive changes, please do not attribute the edited title or content to EPA or the author. EPA's official web site is www.epa.gov. Some links on this page may redirect users from the EPA website to specific content on a non-EPA, third-party site. In doing so, EPA is directing you only to the specific content referenced at the time of publication, not to any other content that may appear on the same webpage or elsewhere on the third-party site, or be added at a later date. EPA is providing this link for informational purposes only. EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of non-EPA information provided by any third-party sites or any other linked site. EPA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies, internet applications or any policies or information expressed therein. by Kelly Shenk Riparian Restoration author s sonOn a foggy Saturday morning, my 12-year old son and I were on a cattle and cropland farm in Carroll County, Maryland.  We joined the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and its 60 volunteers to plant 1,200 trees and shrubs along a creek.  The creek flows to the Monocacy River and eventually to the Chesapeake Bay.  We worked beside some seasoned tree planters who told us they had been planting trees along streams for over a decade.  Within that decade, they said the trees have grown up, shaded the streams, and helped bring the fish and wildlife back.  Seeing results like that has motivated them to keep volunteering.   This project is part of the farmer’s long-term plan to plant 10 acres of “riparian forest buffer” to improve the water quality and wildlife habitat of his creek.  This buffer of trees and shrubs will help absorb nitrogen and phosphorus coming off his barnyard and his corn and soybean fields when it rains. Riparian RestorationAs we planted and talked, the creek water suddenly turned muddy.  We looked up the stream and saw that a cow had tromped down the streambank and was wading in the creek.  It was a perfect illustration of how cows with access to the creek can erode the streambank and cause sediment – another pollutant – in the creek.  The landowner is in the process of fencing his cattle out of the creek.  The Chesapeake Bay Foundation explained to the volunteers that excluding cows from the stream improves the cows’ health because they will be drinking cleaner water from a trough.  Healthier cows mean lower veterinary bills.  And cows drinking clean water gain weight faster which means more money in a cattleman’s pocket. I asked my son what he thought about the day.  I expected him to focus on all the cow patties we stepped in – after all he is 12 years old!  But he surprised me.  “It was pretty cool that we were all working together to help the farmer and the environment.”  His focus was on “together.”  We truly can have healthy farms and clean water by working together.  I’m looking forward to a day, 10 years from now, when I bring my son back to this farm and see how our work together has improved this farmer’s business and our local streams.   About the author: Kelly Shenk is EPA Region III’s Agriculture Advisor.  She works with farmers to achieve healthy, well-managed farms and clean water.  EPA is proud to be one of many partners who helped fund this work through a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Editor's Note: The views expressed here are intended to explain EPA policy. They do not change anyone's rights or obligations. You may share this post. However, please do not change the title or the content, or remove EPA’s identity as the author. If you do make substantive changes, please do not attribute the edited title or content to EPA or the author. EPA's official web site is www.epa.gov. Some links on this page may redirect users from the EPA website to specific content on a non-EPA, third-party site. In doing so, EPA is directing you only to the specific content referenced at the time of publication, not to any other content that may appear on the same webpage or elsewhere on the third-party site, or be added at a later date. EPA is providing this link for informational purposes only. EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of non-EPA information provided by any third-party sites or any other linked site. EPA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies, internet applications or any policies or information expressed therein. By Alexandra Dapolito DunnAssistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution PreventionMany Americans spend countless hours each year tending to their lawns and gardens. Nothing frustrates a gardener more than the destructive capabilities of unwanted pests. They come in many forms, like weeds, insects, animals, molds and fungi ̶ just to name a few. As you think about the best way to deal with pests in your garden or lawn, you may want to consider integrated pest management (IPM). IPM is a holistic, environmentally friendly, commonsense approach that focuses on pest prevention and only uses pesticides when necessary. IPM strategies allow you to manage pest damage using methods with the least possible hazard to people, property, and the environment.Try these helpful tips when managing your green spaces: Outcompete weeds. A healthy lawn can compete with most weeds.Develop healthy soilChoose a grass that thrives in your climateMow high, often and with sharp bladesWater deeply, but not oftenChoose pest-resistant plants. Many garden centers offer informa¬tion about pest-resistant plant variet¬ies. After the plants are established, they’ll save you time and money on pest control. And, some plants have their own pest resistant properties. For example, lavender is thought to help repel some mosquitoes, moths and other insects.Choose plants that grow well in your region based on the amount of sun, type of soil, and water available in your yard.Know your pests. Only about 5-15 % of the bugs in your yard are pests. “Good bugs,” like ladybugs and praying mantises, help control pests.If you do choose to use a pesticide, ensure that you use it with care to get the most benefit. Reduce any risks by first always reading and following label instructions. Use only the amount instructed on the label and avoid overuse. When you have a small problem area, treat just that area, not the entire yard. Share your photos of healthy lawns and gardens with us on Twitter @EPAChemSafety!About the author: Alexandra Dapolito Dunn is the Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. Prior to that she served as the Regional Administrator for EPA Region 1, and her responsibilities included overseeing the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont and ten tribal nations. Read more.Editor's Note: The views expressed here are intended to explain EPA policy. They do not change anyone's rights or obligations. You may share this post. However, please do not change the title or the content, or remove EPA’s identity as the author. If you do make substantive changes, please do not attribute the edited title or content to EPA or the author. EPA's official web site is www.epa.gov. Some links on this page may redirect users from the EPA website to specific content on a non-EPA, third-party site. In doing so, EPA is directing you only to the specific content referenced at the time of publication, not to any other content that may appear on the same webpage or elsewhere on the third-party site, or be added at a later date. EPA is providing this link for informational purposes only. EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of non-EPA information provided by any third-party sites or any other linked site. EPA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies, internet applications or any policies or information expressed therein. By Alexandra Dapolito DunnAssistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution PreventionEach year, we celebrate National Pollinator Week in an effort to spread awareness and educate each other about the importance of pollinators like bees, butterflies, birds, and bats. About one-third of the food we eat, like almonds, berries, and many other fruits and vegetables, depend on pollinators. And I’m pleased to say that at EPA we’re working to protect them from harmful pesticide exposure. EPA’s regulations for pesticides ensure that public health and the environment are protected. And the public can do its part by reading and closely following the label directions to ensure that they are being used safely and appropriately. At EPA, our goal is for growers to have products that protect their flowers and crops from pests while ensuring pollinators and their habitat, which are essential for gardens and farms to thrive, aren’t exposed to harmful levels of pesticides.EPA has been working with experts around the globe since 2006 to develop a cutting-edge pollinator risk assessment process. Through our regular reviews of pesticides, we’ve also updated data requirements to better assess potential risks to pollinators. In 2013, EPA changed many pesticide labels, prohibiting application when plants are in bloom. Since pollinators spend most of their days foraging for food, they’re usually not around when plants aren’t in bloom, which makes it a better time to apply pesticides. Building on these efforts, EPA brought together beekeepers, growers and state pesticide regulators to help inform our 2017 Policy to Mitigate the Acute Risk to Bees from Pesticide Products, and develop pollinator protection plans. The policy encourages states to develop their own pollinator protection plans and is a terrific example of our close working relationship. It also demonstrates how communication at the local level between beekeepers and farmers who apply pesticides can be a key to protecting bees. When beekeepers learn that farmers are planning to apply pesticides, they can take steps to protect their hives. In addition, EPA recently updated our “Residual Time to 25% Bee Mortality” (RT25) Data table.RT25 data help farmers and beekeepers know about how long a specific pesticide may remain toxic to bees and other insect pollinators following foliar application to crops.The Washington Post has also recently reported on some of our efforts, saying that “the Trump administration’s action [to protect pollinators] was welcome news to some environmentalists,” which demonstrates how united Americans are on this important issue.These are just a few steps that EPA has taken to protect pollinators, and we remain committed to protecting pollinators this week and every week! Wondering what you can do to protect pollinators? Growing different kinds of flowering plants to provide bees with pollen and nectar is one way that you can help. Another step you can take is reducing pesticide use. If you do need to use a pesticide, always read the label directions; they explain how to safely use it and ultimately protect our pollinators and our environment.Learn more about pollinator protection at https://www.epa.gov/pollinator-protection.About the author: Alexandra Dapolito Dunn is the Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. Prior to that she served as the Regional Administrator for EPA Region 1, and her responsibilities included overseeing the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont and ten tribal nations. Read more.Editor's Note: The views expressed here are intended to explain EPA policy. They do not change anyone's rights or obligations. You may share this post. However, please do not change the title or the content, or remove EPA’s identity as the author. If you do make substantive changes, please do not attribute the edited title or content to EPA or the author. EPA's official web site is www.epa.gov. Some links on this page may redirect users from the EPA website to specific content on a non-EPA, third-party site. In doing so, EPA is directing you only to the specific content referenced at the time of publication, not to any other content that may appear on the same webpage or elsewhere on the third-party site, or be added at a later date. EPA is providing this link for informational purposes only. EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of non-EPA information provided by any third-party sites or any other linked site. EPA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies, internet applications or any policies or information expressed therein. By Alexandra Dapolito DunnAssistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution PreventionToday we are proud to mark the third anniversary of the Lautenberg amendments to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the first major update to an environmental statute in 20 years. EPA is implementing the law in a way that ensures the safety of chemicals in the marketplace and protects human health and the environment. The Important TSCA milestones outlined below were achieved through the hard work and dedication of EPA staff.We’ve taken important steps to evaluate chemicals that are already in commerce: In November 2018, we issued the first draft risk evaluation for Pigment Violet 29 (PV29) under the new law. We will release draft risk evaluations for the remaining chemicals currently under review in the coming months. Earlier this year we banned sales to consumers of methylene chloride in paint removers and strengthened the regulation of asbestos to close a dangerous loophole and protect consumers.We just finished collecting public comments on the next substances we’re considering for risk evaluation – both high-priority chemicals to review promptly and low-priority chemicals. We’re pushing for increased transparency:For the first time in 40 years, we identified a comprehensive list of chemicals that are actively being manufactured, processed and imported. The result of tremendous effort by stakeholders and manufacturers, this information will help us focus EPA’s risk evaluation efforts on chemicals that are still on the market.After we released the draft PV29 risk evaluation, we worked with manufacturers to increase public accessibility to underlying studies and to refine our application of our systematic review framework. This framework is the way we select and review studies. We are holding the first public meeting of EPA’s Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals (SACC) this week. The committee will review the PV29 draft risk evaluation and EPA will use its scientific advice as well as public comments to inform the final risk evaluation.EPA is moving toward more real-time publication of information received regarding new chemical notices. Finally, we’re striving to be good public stewards:The TSCA fees rule allows EPA to collect fees from certain chemical manufacturers and importers for specific activities. We estimate that we will reduce taxpayer burden by an annual average of $20 million.We’re looking forward to the years ahead of better chemical management and protection of our health and environment. We have accomplished much in the three years since Lautenberg, and we’re just getting started.About the author: Alexandra Dapolito Dunn is the Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. Prior to that she served as the Regional Administrator for EPA Region 1, and her responsibilities included overseeing the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont and ten tribal nations. Read more.Editor's Note: The views expressed here are intended to explain EPA policy. They do not change anyone's rights or obligations. You may share this post. However, please do not change the title or the content, or remove EPA’s identity as the author. If you do make substantive changes, please do not attribute the edited title or content to EPA or the author. EPA's official web site is www.epa.gov. Some links on this page may redirect users from the EPA website to specific content on a non-EPA, third-party site. In doing so, EPA is directing you only to the specific content referenced at the time of publication, not to any other content that may appear on the same webpage or elsewhere on the third-party site, or be added at a later date. EPA is providing this link for informational purposes only. EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of non-EPA information provided by any third-party sites or any other linked site. EPA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies, internet applications or any policies or information expressed therein. by Tom DammOfficials celebrate progressIt was a day of celebration along the water’s edge in West Virginia.On a recent Friday afternoon, U.S. EPA, West Virginia officials and other partners marked early success in reviving a long-dead stretch of Muddy Creek in Preston County.Hours later and a few miles away, the local folk group, Meadow Run, struck up its first song to kick off the 25th Annual Cheat River Festival, a tribute to sustained efforts led by the non-profit, Friends of the Cheat, to restore the Cheat River and tributaries like Muddy Creek.The lower 3.4 miles of Muddy Creek had been ruined for decades by a pair of infamous mine blowouts and an orange tide of acidic pollution.But an innovative regulatory approach by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection and EPA is working to clean the troubled section and bring fish back to its waters.Speaking at an event in the shadow of a creek-side treatment plant that scrubs a steady flow of polluted mine water, EPA’s Kate McManus praised the state-federal cooperation that led to the improvements. “This is a great example of what we can accomplish when we work together and use common sense approaches,” said Kate, deputy director of EPA’s Mid-Atlantic Water Division.Cleaning the waterThe treatment plant is part of a strategy that includes a regulatory fix to treat mine water from all sources in the watershed. EPA approved a variance and worked with the state to develop a first-of-its-kind permit in West Virginia incorporating “in-stream” techniques to neutralize acidity and reduce metals. EPA also provided Clean Water Act funding for Muddy Creek improvements, as it did when the agency financed projects to help restore the Cheat River.Well before festival favorite, Stewed Mulligan, wrapped up the first day of the Cheat Fest, the crowd had been given the good news of improvements in the local waters, making the group’s “old backwoods sound with a string band tradition” that much sweeter.About the Author: Tom Damm has been with EPA since 2002 and now serves as communications coordinator for the region’s Water Division.Editor's Note: The views expressed here are intended to explain EPA policy. They do not change anyone's rights or obligations. You may share this post. However, please do not change the title or the content, or remove EPA’s identity as the author. If you do make substantive changes, please do not attribute the edited title or content to EPA or the author. EPA's official web site is www.epa.gov. Some links on this page may redirect users from the EPA website to specific content on a non-EPA, third-party site. In doing so, EPA is directing you only to the specific content referenced at the time of publication, not to any other content that may appear on the same webpage or elsewhere on the third-party site, or be added at a later date. EPA is providing this link for informational purposes only. EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of non-EPA information provided by any third-party sites or any other linked site. EPA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies, internet applications or any policies or information expressed therein. By Denise Benjamin SirmonsDirector of the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business UtilizationThere are 30 million small businesses in America employing nearly 59 million workers. These numbers keep growing as America’s economy is booming. From reduced taxes to providing regulatory certainty, American small businesses are thriving in the most business-friendly environment in decades. America’s economy is expanding along with small business opportunities in part because EPA is leveling the playing field for entrepreneurs by ensuring regulations are clear and consistent for businesses large and small. During the Trump Administration, EPA has committed to become an even stronger ally of small business. As part of National Small Business Week, EPA is honoring the contributions of small businesses in creating jobs, driving innovation and strengthening the national economy while also protecting the environment. We will do this by continuing our commitment to advancing the President’s policies that ensure we have a thriving economy and healthy environment.EPA will also present the Administrator’s Small Business Program awards to several EPA small business contractors on May 9, 2019. One small business that will receive an award for Outstanding Accomplishments by a Small Business Contractor is Green Technologies, LLC.. Green Technologies is a Florida-based company that is active in community environmental initiatives through its support of the St. Johns River Keepers and the Sierra Club. It sponsors educational outreach programs for public school science fairs and donates products for school beautification projects. Green Technologies contributes to local Earth Day Celebrations and sponsors charitable events for a range of not-for-profit organizations. EPA will also present an award to Environmental Compliance Office, Incorporated (ECO) for Outstanding Accomplishments by a Woman-Owned Small Business Contractor. In addition to these small business awards, EPA will recognize the Cambridge, Massachusetts-based company, Eastern Research Group, Inc. (ERG), for its outstanding contributions as a large EPA prime contractor. Thirty years ago, EPA named ERG as its Small Business Contractor of the Year. This week’s award to ERG as a large prime contractor, acknowledges ERG’s outstanding support to EPA’s small business subcontracting program. Over the past 35 years, ERG has served all of EPA’s major offices through more than 200 prime contracts. Based on its experience as a small business itself, ERG works efficiently and effectively with its small business partners—promptly paying subcontractors, establishing clear communication channels, and helping them understand EPA’s contracting requirements. ERG has built long-lasting relationships with small business suppliers across many different types of projects. In 2018, more than 80 of ERG’s subcontract awards under seven contracts went to small businesses. Under another EPA contract, nearly 90 percent of subcontracting dollars went to small businesses; more than 20 percent to small disadvantaged businesses, and more than 17 percent went to service-disabled veteran owned small businesses. About the author: Denise Benjamin Sirmons serves as the Director of the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, responsible for leading the EPA’s efforts to advance the business, regulatory and environmental compliance concerns of small and disadvantaged businesses. Read more.Editor's Note: The views expressed here are intended to explain EPA policy. They do not change anyone's rights or obligations. You may share this post. However, please do not change the title or the content, or remove EPA’s identity as the author. If you do make substantive changes, please do not attribute the edited title or content to EPA or the author. EPA's official web site is www.epa.gov. Some links on this page may redirect users from the EPA website to specific content on a non-EPA, third-party site. In doing so, EPA is directing you only to the specific content referenced at the time of publication, not to any other content that may appear on the same webpage or elsewhere on the third-party site, or be added at a later date. EPA is providing this link for informational purposes only. EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of non-EPA information provided by any third-party sites or any other linked site. EPA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies, internet applications or any policies or information expressed therein. By Dr. Cavin Ward-CavinessPrincipal Investigator (Computational Biologist); U.S. EPA, ORD, NHEERL, EPHD, CRBAir Quality Awareness Week, April 29-May 3, is a perfect time to think about how far we have come in understanding how air pollution affects the cardiovascular system. As a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) scientist studying heart disease, I am very excited about current and future research in this area. Though the burden of heart disease on our society remains high (see the American Heart Association 2018 Statistics on Heart Disease and Stroke), we have only to look at the promising lines of current, cutting-edge research to find reasons to be optimistic about the progress we are making in our understanding and treatment of heart disease.Perhaps the biggest reason for my optimism is that we are increasingly aware of heart disease risk factors and are working to lower those risks. Importantly, we are beginning to fully appreciate the role that a healthy environment plays in maintaining a healthy heart.The primary way air pollution impacts heart health is through cardiovascular complications. The EPA is a world leader in research designed to improve our understanding of the potential risk that air pollution poses to people with heart disease. I am optimistic that such research will lead to improved communication about environmental health and potentially even preventative treatment solutions.One of the many cutting-edge research areas at the EPA is the use of electronic health records for environmental studies. This research relies entirely on the anonymous participation of patients who decide to advance science by allowing their medical records to be used for research. While many may think that their participation could lead to a new drug being developed, it also informs the role that the environment plays in heart health, which is just as important for saving and improving lives.My lab has recently established the EPA Clinical and Archived records Research for Environmental Studies (CARES) resource to improve the EPA s efforts to work with healthcare providers to enable air pollution research using electronic health records. With ongoing projects into environmental risks for heart attack survivors and those with heart failure, we are beginning to answer important questions about environmental health and the causes of complications, hospitalizations, and even death for patient communities that many of us, or our loved ones, belong to.As we all use Air Quality Awareness Week to reflect on how we can improve heart health, let us focus our attention on how each of us can lead better, more heart healthy lives and our opportunities to contribute to life saving research. I am proud to be a part of the fight against heart and blood vessel disease. I am also truly optimistic about the heart health of our Nation as we better understand what makes a heart healthy environment and as we translate our understanding into actions and solutions for all Americans.About the author: EPA computational biologist Cavin Ward-Caviness helps determine which populations are most susceptible to air pollution. His research focuses on understanding the impact of environmental or neighborhood factors, such as living in a neighborhood with lower socioeconomic factors, on health, and the biological pathways that link exposures and health.Editor's Note: The views expressed here are intended to explain EPA policy. They do not change anyone's rights or obligations. You may share this post. However, please do not change the title or the content, or remove EPA’s identity as the author. If you do make substantive changes, please do not attribute the edited title or content to EPA or the author. EPA's official web site is www.epa.gov. Some links on this page may redirect users from the EPA website to specific content on a non-EPA, third-party site. In doing so, EPA is directing you only to the specific content referenced at the time of publication, not to any other content that may appear on the same webpage or elsewhere on the third-party site, or be added at a later date. EPA is providing this link for informational purposes only. EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of non-EPA information provided by any third-party sites or any other linked site. EPA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies, internet applications or any policies or information expressed therein. By Wayne E. CascioMD, FACC, Director, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyApril 29 – May 3 is Air Quality Awareness Week, and the research staff at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Research and Development are raising awareness about the relationship between air pollution and heart and blood vessel disease. As a public health organization, we at the EPA continue to study the effects of environmental quality on heart and blood vessel health.The most recent statistics on heart disease and stroke in the U.S. were published by the American Heart Association (AHA) on January 31, 2019. The statistics remind us once again that while tremendous progress has been made in reducing the impact of heart disease and stroke over the past five decades, it is still the leading cause of death in the United States. The AHA estimates that in 2018 over 90 million American adults (about 22% of the adult US population) had suffered a stroke or were living with a condition affecting the heart. And it’s concerning that obesity among American adults is increasing and diabetes, another risk factor for heart disease, affected almost 1 in 10 American adults as of 2018.So, while the prevention of heart disease is straightforward – don’t smoke, be active and get plenty of exercise, control blood pressure and cholesterol, make a heart healthy diet a habit, avoid obesity and treat diabetes – only 2% of American adults meet all of these ideal behaviors. Over the last year, research conducted by EPA scientists contributed important new knowledge about the relationship between air pollution and heart and blood vessel disease. We learned in a study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association in April 2018, that wildfire smoke can trigger heart attacks, strokes, heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms in people predisposed to heart conditions. Ozone and air particle pollution may affect the electrical properties of the heart and this might explain the association between air pollution and abnormal heart rhythms, as found in another study published in October 2018 in Particle and Fibre Toxicology. In other research, EPA discovered that air pollution can increase some types of cholesterol in a way that suggests a higher risk of developing heart disease and stroke. Importantly, we found that improved air quality and meeting the EPA’s outdoor air quality standards has decreased the risk of air pollution- related premature death in the U.S. Air Quality Awareness Week is an opportunity to bring attention to the research showing potential links between air pollution and health and recall the many members of our family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers who have been or are affected by heart disease and stroke. As scientists in the Office of Research and Development at EPA, we are proud of our contribution to the prevention of heart disease and stroke as we provide the scientific foundation for decisions made by states and communities to protect the environment, public health and heart health.Learn more about EPA’s Healthy Heart researchAbout the author: EPA Lab Director Dr. Wayne Cascio spent more than 25 years as a cardiologist helping people take care of their hearts. Now he is bringing a broader view of public health to EPA by leading research on the links between exposures to air pollution and maintaining a healthy heart.Editor's Note: The views expressed here are intended to explain EPA policy. They do not change anyone's rights or obligations. You may share this post. However, please do not change the title or the content, or remove EPA’s identity as the author. If you do make substantive changes, please do not attribute the edited title or content to EPA or the author. EPA's official web site is www.epa.gov. Some links on this page may redirect users from the EPA website to specific content on a non-EPA, third-party site. In doing so, EPA is directing you only to the specific content referenced at the time of publication, not to any other content that may appear on the same webpage or elsewhere on the third-party site, or be added at a later date. EPA is providing this link for informational purposes only. EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of non-EPA information provided by any third-party sites or any other linked site. EPA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies, internet applications or any policies or information expressed therein.

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