2019 Region 4 Annual Report

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Publication number: 904R20001

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
SOUTHEAST REGION OVERVIEW	4
FROM THE REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR	5
GOAL 1 - A Cleaner Healthier Environment	6
1.1	Improve Air Quality	6
1.2	Provide for Clean and Safe Water	9
1.3	Revitalize Land and Prevent Contamination	13
GOAL 2 - More Effective Partnerships	19
2.1: Enhanced Shared Accountability	19
2.2: Increase Transparency and Public Participation	25
GOAL 3 - Greater Certainty, Compliance, and Effectiveness	29
3.1: Compliance with the Law	29
3.2: Create Consistency and Certainty	32
3.3: Prioritize Robust Science	32
3.4	Streamline and Modernize	32
LOOKING FORWARD: 2020	34
2019 REGION 4 ANNUAL REPORT

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THE SOUTHEAST - PEOPLE AND ENVIRONMENT
The population of the eight southeastern
states that make up Region 4 is growing,
with much of that growth concentrated
in our cities and along our coasts.
According to the 2015 census data,
Region 4 has a population of almost 67
million people, making the Southeast the
largest region with 20% of the nation's
population.
Region 4 makes up approximately 11%
of the U.S. land area, and contains 14%
of the U.S. watersheds and the most
miles of rivers in the continental U.S. The
region is characterized by a diverse and
significant amount of the nation's natural
resources. When Region 4 is viewed as a
portion of the continental U.S., we have one-third of the existing wetlands, mostly in coastal areas.
We also have one -third of the estuaries and one-third of the continental U.S. coastline. Inland, we
have the expansive Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee and Savannah River systems. Both agriculture and
forestry are also dominant features of our landscape. Greater than 32% of the land in Region 4 is
used for agricultural production, though forests alone occupy the majority of our land.
Scattered throughout the region are a number of well-known, diverse landscapes. The region
contains approximately 40 million acres of the Appalachian Mountains, including 5 million acres
of the Smoky Mountain National Forest - the largest contiguous tract of public land in the eastern
U.S. Region 4 is also home to the 1.5 million acre Everglades National Park, the largest subtropical
wilderness in the U.S.
Because of our abundant and varied ecosystems, the region provides habitat for a diverse array of
both plant and animal species. This diversity can be seen in the fact that the Southeast is home to
98% of the nation's commercial marine species, provides habitat for more amphibians and reptiles
than anywhere else in continental North America, and serves as the resting grounds and the winter
habitat for migratory birds flying along both the Mississippi and Atlantic flyways.
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A WORD FROM THE REGION 4 ADMINISTRATOR
Eight states and six federally recognized tribes make
up the vast and diverse Southeast region. From the
rolling green pastures of Kentucky, to the mountains
of the Eastern Cherokee, to the Goid Coast of
Florida, and continuing on to the rich Gulf Coast, the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 4 has
a little of everything. Being an Alabama native, I've
long called the Southeast home and am honored
and humbled to work alongside the hundreds of
Region 4 employees dedicated to protecting our
environment.
This year in particular marks an important milestone:
the EPA will celebrate its 50th anniversary on
December 2, 2020. Across the agency we are
reflecting on our progress as we have worked
to fulfill our mission of protecting human health
and the environment. This report presents our
accomplishments over the past calendar year
(January 1 to December 31, 2019) - work
improving the air, water and land across the
Southeast to provide a cleaner, healthier
environment for all who live and work in the region.
Protecting the Southeast environment is important work, and work that we cannot do alone. I hope you
will be inspired by our successes and join us in continuing to build on our progress for future generations.
Mary S. Walker
EPA Region 4 Administrator
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GOAL 1: A CLEANER HEALTHIER ENVIRONMENT
Objective 1.1 Improve Air Quality
Air Quality
100%
175
80
64
1.5M
0
Region 4 states in
attainment with air quality
standards for small
particulates (PM25), lead,
nitrogen dioxide and
carbon monoxide
Timely reviewed
permitting actions
Local partners attended
permit meeting in Atlanta
State implementation
Plans (SIP) finalized;
44 within the statutory
timeframe
People now enjoy
improved air quality in
two areas of Florida
redesignated from
nonattainment to
attainment for lead
and sulfur dioxide
An Atlanta-area
SIP revision led
to the removal
of federal Reid
Vapor Pressure
requirements,
which will help
consumers save
money at the
gas pump.
A North Carolina
SIP revision allows
for the removal of
vehicle inspection
and maintenence
(l/M) requirements
for 26 counties
and provides
more flexibility for
the remaining 22
counties with 1/M
requirements.
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Smoke Summit IV
In February 2019, Region 4 co-hosted the Southeast
Prescribed Fire and Smoke Management Summit
IV. Now in its seventh year, this biannual meeting
of prescribed fire managers, air quality regulatory
agencies and others advances prescribed fire smoke
management by identifying solutions to meet air quality
and prescribed fire goals. The collaborators have
substantially increased protection of human health
from smoke impacts while meeting the needs of forest
managers to use prescribed fire as a means of reducing
wildfires and promoting healthy forest ecosystems. This
year's Summit was notable because it was the best
attended to date and all eight state forestry and air
quality agencies were in attendance.
Atlanta Rail & Port Sensor Project
In collaboration with the Georgia Environmental
Protection Division (GA EPD) and local stakeholders,
Region 4 staff implemented the Atlanta Rail and Port
Sensor (RAPS) Project. RAPS is a pilot air monitoring
study to evaluate the utility of lower-cost air sensor
technology to assess near-source exposure from rail
yards and ports. The data will be used as proof of
concept for measuring air quality patterns near rail
yards, ports or other similar sources with commercially
available, lower-cost air sensors. Ten air sensors that
measure fine particulates and two meteorological
stations were co-located at GA EPD's South DeKalb air
monitoring site. Minute-by-minute measurements will
produce over four million data values for analysis of
local-scale fine particulate matter concentrations.
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Rubbertown Next Generation Emission
Measurement Demonstration Project
Louisville, Kentucky
This collaborative effort between Region 4, EPA's
Office of Research and Development and the Louisville
Metro Air Pollution Control District tested Next
Generation Emission Measurement technology to
provide information regarding fugitive emissions in the
Rubbertown area. Hie project team conducted a year-
long demonstration field study of selected technology
prototypes developed by EPA researchers and other
groups. The data generated wili assist in evaluating and
improving approaches to help industrial facilities and
regulators in minimizing emissions and protecting public
health in surrounding communities.
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GOAL 1: A CLEANER HEALTHIER ENVIRONMENT
Objective 1.2 Provide for Clean and Safe Water
Water Quality

Region 4's unique terrain and geography gives way to
ample waterbodies that span across our eight states.
Many of these waterbodies are threatened and are
experiencing poor water quality, directly impacting the
sustainability of the many communities and ecosystems
that depend on them.
In 2019, Region 4 approved the first Water Quality
Standards (WQS) from the Eastern Band of Cherokee
Indians (EBCI). WQS are intended to control pollutants
entering waterways and protect water body health. The
EBCI's WQS will protect the water quality of 237 miles
of streams.
Region 4 also approved 7 WQS submissions to protect
10 lakes across the Southeast. Additionally, Region 4
approved 3 restoration plans and 17 Total Maximum
Daily Loads (TMDLs) addressing 239 pollutants and
restoring waters in 5 states. A TMDL identifies the
maximum amount of a pollutant that a body of water
can receive and still meet WQS standard.
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State Revolving Fund Infrastructure
Improvements
In 2019, EPA awarded over $390 million in new federal grant funding under the Clean Water State
Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) programs to the eight
states in Region 4. The State Revolving Funds require state match, loan repayments and interest that
flows back to the funds. This funding can be used for a wide range of drinking water and wastewater
infrastructure projects, including modernizing aging service lines, pollution controls, implementing
water reuse and recycling, and addressing stormwater. This year, the 8 Region 4 states received
requests for 540 projects totaling more than $1,825 billion in potential infrastructure improvements
across the Southeast.
>$200M
CWSRF
>$190M
DWSRF
>300
CWSRF
Projects
319 Grants
Nonpoint sources of pollution continue to be recognized as the nation's iargest remaining cause
of surface water quality impairments. Nonpoint sources of pollution include agricultural and urban
runoff, abandoned mine drainage, failing on-site disposal systems and pollution caused by changes
to natural stream channels. It can contribute to problems like harmful algal blooms, erosion and
bacteria contamination of surface and groundwater. Through Section 319 of the Clean Water Act,
EPA provides states with grant funding to implement their nonpoint source programs and improve
water quality. In 2019, Region 4 managed 678 nonpoint source 319 grant projects. This includes
$317 million in federal funds - and leveraging $112 million in state and local funds - to achieve
nitrogen and phosphorus load reductions of 582,000 and 145,000 ibs per year, respectively. Five
states documented restoration and improvement of over 26 miles of impaired waters and 102 square
miles of impaired watersheds.
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Nutrient Reduction
In 2019, Region 4 continued to reduce nutrient pollution and promote restoration with
$539,039 in competitive grant funding to address seagrass and prevent harmful algal
blooms (HABs). Three wastewater treatment optimization assessments and two trainings were
conducted in Alabama, Georgia and Kentucky this year. Annually, these are expected to
reduce nitrogen loads by 19,500 pounds, electricity consumption by 315,000 kilowatt hours
and operational costs by at least $48,000. In addition, EPA created the Nutrient Task Force
in 2019 through which a toolbox of resources to reduce nutrient pollution is being made
available. This includes 46 fact sheets summarizing resources and best management practices
from EPA and other federal agencies that can be leveraged.
1,1 "
~	j

Reduced
electricity
inwf	,
usage by
315,000kWh
311? ; A '



2019 REGION 4 ANNUAL REPORT
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Trash Free Waters Initiative
The world's waters are becoming choked with trash arid this causes extensive ecological, human
health and economic damage. The EPA Trash Free Waters Initiative is a national program that
develops actions and projects that significantly reduce or eliminate the volume of trash, litter and
illegally dumped tires entering our watersheds and our aquatic eco-systems.
Mississippi Sound
Region 4 and its partners are working together to
characterize and reduce the impacts of marine debris
in the Mississippi Sound, a priceless recreational and
fishing resource along the southern coasts of Alabama
and Mississippi. Through an incentive program, the
fishing community is being encouraged to properly
dispose of marine debris. Additionally, 20 commercial
fishing crews are being trained to collect information
on marine debris abundance, distribution and
economic impact on the commercial fishing industry. In 2019, this partnership resulted in 269 derelict
traps recycled from Mississippi Sound.
Proctor Creek Watershed in
Atlanta, Georgia
Regional Highlights
The Proctor Creek Watershed, a historically prominent
watershed which primarily serves low-income/
minority populations, has long been a dumping site
for trash and tires. The influx of trash and debris is
causing poor water quality and contributes to public
health issues for the community. In partnership with the
Coca Cola Company, the National Recreation and
Parks Association, the City of Atlanta, the West Atlanta
Watershed Alliance, Groundworks Atlanta and Park
Pride, Region 4 implemented a project in 2019 that aims to reduce and eliminate the flow of trash
and plastics into the creek. Through education and outreach activities, as well as hands-on projects,
this community-driven partnership will provide jobs, clean up the creek and provide information to
improve the overall health of the waterway.
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GOAL 1: A CLEANER HEALTHIER ENVIRONMENT
Objective 1.3 Revitalize Land and Prevent Contamination
Brownfields
In 2019, the Region 4 Brownfields program continued to lead the nation in several programmatic areas.
The highest number of assessments
in the nation; which help determine
whether contamination is present at a
given site.
First in the nation for returning land
for beneficial reuse, exceeding the
target by 108%. Such sites present
economic development opportunities
for communities.
Region 4 communities leveraged
over $561M in public and private
investments to assess, cleanup and
redevelop Brownfields sites.
Ranked first in the nation four out of
the last five years for leveraging, with
over $500M leveraged each year.
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Brownfields Project Highlights:
In 2019, Region 4 awarded over $7 million in assessment and cleanup funding to 19 communities
across the Southeast, followed by an additional $1.2 million under the Brownfields Clean-up Loan Fund
program and over $340,000 in environmental job training grants.
Heritage Park in Sanford, Florida
The city of Sanford received a $400,000 Brownfields Assessment grant in 2015 to conduct
environmental assessments and develop cleanup plans. Since that time, the city has received an
additional $52,000 in funding for assessment and reuse, using this seed money as a catalyst for a
major downtown development, Heritage Park. In early 2019, the City broke ground on the $50 million
downtown development which included relocating and upgrading stormwater and sanitary sewers and
the electrical lines. Heritage Park will be home to a three-block downtown, waterfront live, work and
play community.
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Food Waste Recovery Efforts
Region 4 is a leader in the sustainable management
of food waste. The region has active partnerships
throughout the Southeast. In particular, many Atlanta-
area organizations are taking actions to minimize or
divert food waste.
In February 2019 during Superbowl Llll, Region 4
partnered with Second Helpings Atlanta, a local
nonprofit, to rescue over 17^000 pounds of high
quality, healthy, and nutritious food, which would
have otherwise gone to a landfill. By foregoing landfill
disposal, local community charities were able to provide
over 14,000 meals to those in need.
In April, Region 4 again partnered with Second
Helpings on Earth Day and rescued 920 pounds of fresh
food from local Trader Joe's supermarkets, including
fruits, vegetables and salads. The food was diverted
from waste to benefit families in need.
Notably, in 2019, Region 4 partnered with a group of
key stakeholders to successfully co-host the Georgia
Food Paths: Partnering for a Sustainable Food System
Summit, which featured a series of open discussions
aimed at identifying ways to reach EPA's national food
waste reduction goals.
In September, Region 4 was a key participant in the
Food Waste Audit at Parkside Elementary School in
Atlanta. The audit was conducted using the methods
described in the Guide to Conducting Student Food
Waste Audits, developed by EPA, the U.S. Department
of Agriculture and the University of Arkansas. The guide,
for students and school personnel concerned about
the abundance of food waste generated in cafeterias,
provides information on why and how to do a food
waste audit, what to do with the data collected, and
food waste prevention ideas.
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Cleanup and Reuse Planning for the
Former Manufacturing Facility In
Columbus, Mississippi
Cleanup efforts at the Site have removed
contaminated soil, treated groundwater and
addressed stormwater ditches. Surface soil
was sampled for dioxins and furans at 40
private properties in 2019, with completion
of cleanup anticipated in 2020. In addition,
the expedited cleanup of shallow soils at
the Site is almost finished and will prepare
approximately 20-acres for reuse in 2020. The
Site is among EPA's list of 21 Superfund sites
nationally with the greatest redevelopment
potential, and the Site's Redevelopment
Planning Initiative continues to explore options
for the future that are community supported,
safe, beneficial and sustainable.
Region 4, the Greenfield Multistate Trust and
the Mississippi Department of Environmental
Quality (MDEQ) continue to work with the
City of Columbus and community members
on the cleanup of the Kerr-McGee Chemical
Corporation Superfund Site (the Site), a 31 -
acre former manufacturing facility, and plans
for reuse. The Multistate Trust, encouraged and
supported by EPA and MDEQ, is successfully
partnering with local business and stakeholders
to implement a fundamentally different model
for realizing our shared environmental and
economic goals for this undeserved community.
A "locals first" approach was adopted for the
investigation and cleanup activities at the Site.
This cost-effective approach achieves EPA's
cleanup goals while using local contractors and
resources to maximum extent practicable.
361 tons
of debris
removed
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Oil Spill Response & Remediation
in Shelby, North Carolina
Region 4 led the successful emergency response effort to address an approximate
3,000-gallon discharge of oil in Shelby, North Carolina. The impact of the discharge was
exacerbated due to Hurricane Florence's outer rain-bands, and a significant amount of
hazardous substances. These substances -- 800 pounds of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB)
waste, 7,425 gallons of PCB oil, 51,000 gallons of hazardous waste -- were identified as
a threat to the surrounding community and collected. These efforts ensured the protection
of Hickory Creek, a tributary of the Broad River, and the 10 residential properties within
proximity of the incident.
2,250
gallons of
unused oil
collected
300
tons of oil
contaminated
soil removed
3,575
gallons of
contaminated
water collected
¦ i 17
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Supporting Job Training and Cleanup
at Former Wood-Treating Site in
Jacksonville, Florida
Region 4 works collaboratively with a diverse
network of partners - affected communities, states,
tribal and local governments, nonprofits, private
sector organizations and other federal agencies
- to ensure the protection of public health and the
environment, in March 2019, 13 community members
completed EPA's Superfund Job Training Initiative
(SuperJTi) training at the Fairfax Street Wood
Treaters site. Through a partnership with Northwest
Jacksonville Community Development Corporation,
SuperJTi provided local job seekers with new skills
which included three certifications in field and safety
The accelerated cleanup effort resulted in a $7.9 million remedy and successfully achieved six-
months ahead of schedule. Region 4 completed the residential portion of the site's cleanup in July
2019. The remaining cleanup activities - removal and disposal of remaining impacted soil, removal
of concrete and pavement, and site grading and restoration - were completed in the fall of 2019.
Region 4's collaborative efforts with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection ensured
the protection of public health for several neighborhoods near the Site.
related courses.
•	Removal of 60,000 tons of contaminated soil and sediment.
•	Transport of contaminated materials to an appropriate disposal facility;
•	60,000 tons of clean backfill and top soil used to restore excavated areas;
•	Remediation of the 12.5-acre wood treated property and 51 residential
properties.
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GOAL 2: MORE EFFECTIVE PARTNERSHIPS
Objective 2.1: Enhanced Shared Accountability
National Estuary Program
EPA's National Estuary Program (NEP) is a non-regulatory program that improves the water, habitats
and living resources of 28 estuaries across the country. Each NEP develops and implements a long-term
plan, referred to as a Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan, based on local priorities to
guide their efforts. The NEPs involve community members in the decision-making process.

Region 4 National
Estuary Programs
80,540

67
Acres restored or
protected by Region 4
NEPs
Region 4 restored or
protected 67% of all
NEP acres
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NEP Highlights:
Mobile National Estuary Program
Region 4 funded the Mobile Bay National
Estuary Program (MNEP) to reduce the amount
of stormwater-borne trash and litter by at least
4,800 pounds by installing prototype trash
traps, or "Litter Gitters," at 10 strategically
located stormwater outfalls in the Three Mile
Creek watershed. MNEP has utilized the
Escaped Trash Assessment Protocol at each Litter
Gitter site to assess the condition of water quality
and habitat and analyze constituent materials
in collected trash and litter to determine weight,
volume and probable sources. With this
information, MNEP is working with partners to
implement a trash reduction campaign targeting
five businesses determined to be sources of
excessive trash and litter.
Mangrove Restoration in Sarasota Bay
Region 4 is funding a unique project with the
New College of Florida (NCF) to restore the
most extensive intact mangrove habitat on
Tidy Island in the Sarasota Bay an estuary of
national significance. These mangroves provide
valuable ecosystem services, however, drainage
ditches constructed in the past to suppress the
mosquito population now harbor exotic woody
plants that are impossible to control without
altering interconnected terrestrial and marine
services. NCF will evaluate how alternative
methods for exotic deadwood disposal alter
mangrove carbon cycling, fish communities and
native revegetation.
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EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND SUPPORT ACTIVITIES
Support to State and Tribal Partners:
Responding to natural disasters is a core component
of Region 4's response program. During 2019, the
region continued to provide critical response support
to state partners following Hurricane Dorian, a
Category 5 hurricane. Notably, Region 4's vast
water and wastewater technical expertise was
utilized to conduct infrastructure assessments, as well
as to ensure the secure delivery and service of a
mobile laboratory, generators, and other equipment
and supplies necessary for effective 24-hour mobile
laboratory operations.
Region 4's role under Emergency Support Function
(ESF) 3 expanded significantly during the hurricane
season. Regional staff were embedded at the ESF 3
desks in the state Emergency Response Operation
Centers. In addition, regional staff were embedded
in the ESF 3 desk in the National Response
Coordination Center to assist in the overall federal
planning and response - a first for the Region,
During Superbowl Llll, Region 4 co-deployed EPA air monitoring equipment with local government
agencies and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security at the Mercedes Benz Stadium and
associated event locations in Atlanta, Georgia. Initial operations began out of EPA's Regional
Emergency Operations Center located in the Atlanta Federal Center in order to service and
troubleshoot EPA air monitoring equipment in preparation for the event. Regional staff then
integrated into the All Hazards Incident Command (AHIC) at the State Emergency Operations
Center in Atlanta where EPA air monitoring data was reviewed remotely and displayed for federal,
state and local agencies in the AHIC.
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FARMER TO FARMER
Farmer to Farmer grants support projects to improve
water quality, habitat arid environmental education
through farmer-led or farm-focused organizations
in the upper and lower Mississippi River basins.
Since 2018, EPA has awarded over $9.5 million to
projects with a variety of partners to show nutrient
reduction progress in the Mississippi-Atchafalaya
River Basin. In 2019, the Gulf of Mexico Program
awarded over $7.5 million to seven recipients
in Arkansas, Florida, Iowa and Mississippi. The
projects will center around innovative monitoring
systems that will measure and report field scale
water and nutrient dynamics to farmers in support of
informed crop management decisions.
Project Highlight:
Mississippi State University
Multistate Collaboration to Improve Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico Water Quality
Through Farmer-Led Initiatives and Farmer-Driven Data
This muitistate collaborative project will decrease nutrient loss to multiple water bodies within the
Mississippi River Basin. Using the robust SERA-46 Cooperative Extension network, members will
work directly with farmers to educate and implement Natural Resources Conservation Service
and university recommended agricultural conservation practices proven to improve water quality.
Farmer-led demonstrations will facilitate information and technology transfer of conservation
practices between farmers at multiple scales using a transparent and measurable approach.
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AGRICULTURE
Agriculture is ranked as one of the top industries in
every Region 4 state and the region continues to build
our program by implementing a robust outreach and
engagement strategy with agricultural stakeholders.
In 2019, Region 4 had meaningful engagements with
Agricultural Commissioners, Farm Bureau Presidents,
numerous commodity associations, representatives
from academia, U.S. Department of Agriculture and
producers. As a result of the more direct outreach
approach, Region 4 has been prominently featured
at several conferences and stakeholder meetings.
Moving forward, the region has numerous collaborative
opportunities planned for 2020 with our agriculture
partners.
Region 4 agricultural products sold range from $3
billion (South Carolina) to $12 billion (North Carolina)
with a regional total of $53.3 billion. Over 32% of land
in Region 4 is agricultural production, with over 381,100
farms spanning -75 million acres. The top commodities
by market value produced in Region 4 are: poultry/
eggs, livestock (cattle, equine, hogs), crops (vegetables,
tobacco, corn, beans, cotton, grains, hay), nursery,
greenhouse and aquaculture.
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TRAINING
EPA has placed an emphasis on working with state and local partners to improve the effectiveness of
environmental programs and better leverage resources. Region 4 and the states increased their focus
on collaboration efforts especially in the areas of training and inspector readiness; capacity building
for state programs; and community and public engagement. In 2019, Region 4 conducted over 54
trainings reaching over 3,200 external stakeholders (state, federal, community, colleges/universities).
In addition, Region 4 developed and hosted 19 Brownfields webinars which reached over 1,400
participants across the Southeast and beyond.
INTERNATIONAL DELEGATIONS
Region 4 maintains strong relationships with our international partners which includes technical and
laboratory support, as well as opportunities to address environmental challenges impacting the
United States and other countries.
In 2019, the region hosted five international delegations from Brazil, Chile & Colombia, China, Japan
and Korea.
The Brazil delegation visit resulted from a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the
Brazilian Agency for Water and the U.S. Geological Survey to collaborate on a variety of water
quality issues.
The Chile-Colombia delegation visit was part of a two-year capacity building program managed by
the Solid Waste Association of North America, under a grant from the U.S. Department of State.
The China and Japan delegation visits are part of the collaborative activities under the existing MOUs
between EPA and the two countries.
Various topics were addressed including: water quality, municipal solid waste management,
hazardous waste management, financing mechanisms under enforcement requirements of the Clean
Water Act and Chemical Safety Management.
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GOAL 2: MORE EFFECTIVE PARTNERSHIPS
Objective 2.2: Increase Transparency and Public Participation
COLLEGE/UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY
PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM
College/Underserved Community Partnership Program (CUPP), a Region 4 initiative, is a creative
approach to delivering technical assistance to small underserved communities in partnership with
academic institutions, other federal agencies and state/local governments.
Helping to Address Sewage and
Associated Health Issues in the
Alabama Black Belt
Through CUPP, Region 4 and the Alabama
Department of Public Health, worked with Tuskegee
University, the University of South Alabama, Clemson
University, the Thriving Earth Exchange and Engineers
Without Boarders to develop recommendations to
address sewage and its associated health issues in the
Alabama Black Belt. The Alabama Black Belt region,
with its primarily minority population, is historically
known as the home to a rich, dark-soil, which was
used to grow cotton. Guided by the principles that
the recommendations must work to address the
problem and be cost-efficient, the four schools and
two nonprofits began working together in the fall of
2018. In 2019, the partners presented final recommendations based on the students' best ideas. The
recommendations, approved by the Department of Public Health, are currently being developed as a
pilot project for the Alabama Black Belt.
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TRIBAL ENGAGEMENT
Strengthening Government to
Government Relations
Region 4 continues to foster strong relationships with
our six federally-recognized tribes by engaging
regularly at both the senior leadership and staff levels.
These relationships have been key to supporting the
tribes' work with us to advocate for much needed
resources to meet tribal environmental needs, tell the
stories of their environmental success and streamline
processes for improved efficiency and implementation.
In 2019, Region 4 engaged with tribal governments at
the Regional Tribal Operations Committee meetings,
including an executive session with the EPA Region
4 Administrator and Tribal Environmental Directors.
Region 4 staff regularly provide technical assistance
and participate in informational meetings with the tribes. Additionally, the region helped recognize
the 50th Anniversary of the United South and Eastern Tribes' annual meeting, held at the Mississippi
Band of Choctaw Indians reservation.
A key component of Region 4's tribal programs is to provide financial assistance to aid environmental
planning through the issuance of six tribal Performance Partnership Grants and one direct General
Assistance Program grant. Tribes within Region 4 have strong environmental programs which lead to
impactful results for tribal members. In 2019, EPA provided over $2.3 million in grant awards to the
six Region 4 tribes across a range of EPA programs. These grants will be used to build capacity for
environmental programs, improve air quality, provide clean and safe water, revitalize the land, and
prevent contamination from pesticides and lead.
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ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
Region 4's comprehensive environmental justice (EJ) approach strives to ensure all communities have
access to clean air, water and land. Our programming aims to prepare these communities to be strong
and healthy.
Environmental Justice Academy
The Environmental Justice Academy (EJA) is the premier leadership development program
and curriculum for EJ community leaders. The EJA launched its first class in September 2015
and has graduated over 60 students. Overall, the EJA equips graduates with capacity-
building tools they can utilize in their community to comprehensively address the challenges
they face. In 2019, Region 4 implemented a pilot-modified approach, which included three
days of classroom instruction, five homework webinars and capstone presentations. This
approach was successfully tested by Atlanta Metropolitan State College and Tennessee
State University.
Appreciative Inquiry Workshop for
Port Communities
The Appreciative Inquiry (Al) process has become a widely used and highly successful method
of engaging and producing transformative change in many platforms, including communities,
business organizations, governments, religious institutions, academia, and non-governmental
organizations. In August 2019, Region 4 hosted a one-day Al workshop to support three low-
income and minority communities located near the Savannah, Georgia port area: Hudson Hill,
West Savannah and Woodville.
A total of 22 participants from these communities learned techniques to better understand current
stressors and successful collaborations to better engage one another and build core resilience.
Region 4 will use this workshop as a model to engage other communities on alternative methods
for implementation of comprehensive planning strategies development.
2019 REGION 4 ANNUAL REPORT

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CHILDREN'S ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
Decreasing Lead Exposure in Children
in Florida
In 2019, Region 4 worked to implement a lead-based
paint program with the Florida Department of Health
to reduce lead exposure for vulnerable populations,
focusing on communities below the poverty line.
Initiated in the fall of 2018, the region has grown
the stakeholder group to more than 30 participants
representing government, healthcare and education.
As part of the initiative, Region 4 hosted a booth at
the Fall 2019 back to school Health Expo where they
interacted with 2,000 parents and children. Region 4
also held multiple stakeholder meetings and a series
of community workshops for families in the Liberty City
neighborhood in Miami, where over 62% of children
18 and under live below the poverty line.
Region 4's Asthma
Program
Region 4's asthma program is considered one of
the model programs across the Agency due to
its expansive outreach and prevention strategy.
The region maintains strong partnerships with
organizations such as the State Asthma Coalitions
in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and North Carolina,
including serving on the advisory board for the
Georgia Asthma Coalition. These relationships with the states allow the program to work on a broad
spectrum of projects such as: Boy Scouts outreach during Asthma Awareness Month, Recognizing
Asthma Friendly Schools in Georgia and working with the Region 4 Pediatric and Environmental
Health Specialty Unit on asthma and healthy homes initiatives. In 2019, with the help of these critical
partners and our other regional children's environmental health programs, Region 4 reached over
185,000 children, partnered with 37 school districts and provided awareness and prevention tips to
over 4,900 primary caregivers, teachers and medical professionals.
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2019 REGION 4 ANNUAL REPORT
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GOAL 3: GREATER CERTAINTY, COMPLIANCE,
AND EFFECTIVENESS
Objective 3.1: Compliance with the Law
State Authorization Backlog Reduction
In 2019, Region 4 focused on addressing the large state authorization backlog under the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). RCRA is the federal law that establishes the framework
for proper management of solid and hazardous waste. RCRA regulations protect communities by
ensuring safe management and cleanup of solid and hazardous waste and encouraging reduction of
pollution sources and beneficial reuse of formerly contaminated properties.
Through state authorization, EPA delegates the primary responsibility for implementing RCRA
to individual states in lieu of EPA. State RCRA programs must be at least as stringent as federal
requirements, but states can adopt more stringent requirements as well. Currently, 50 states and
territories have been granted authority to implement the base program. Many are also authorized to
implement additional parts of the RCRA program that EPA has since promulgated, such as corrective
action and land disposal restrictions. Working closely with state partners, Region 4 successfully
authorized six of eight states with updated regulations in 2019:
STATE
MOST RECENT UPDATE
PRIOR UPDATE
RESULT
AL
April 19, 2019
May 19,2017
Authorizes Alabama for 14 federal rules
promulgated between July 1, 1991 and
June 30, 2017
FL
May 10, 2019
December 8, 2014
Authorize Florida for 16 rules promulgated
between July 1, 1991 and June 30, 2017
GA
February 22, 2019
March 27, 2015
Authorizes Georgia for 8 federal rules
promulgated between July 1, 2005 and
June 30, 2017
KY
April 3, 2019
February 25, 2002
Authorizes the Commonwealth of Kentucky
for over 150 federal rules addressing all
federal RCRA regulations (and additional
state-specific provisions) through
June 30, 2017
MS
April 3, 2019
October 3, 2008
Authorizes Mississippi for 24 federal rules
promulgated between July 1, 2004 and
June 30, 2014
NC
October 10, 2019
October 23, 2015
Authorizes North Carolina for 18 federal
rules promulgated between July 1, 2004 and
June 30, 2017
2019 REGION 4 ANNUAL REPORT

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Nouryon Functional Chemical
Settlement in Axis, Alabama
Nouryon is a sulfuric acid plant in Axis, Alabama with nearly two decades of
noncompliance which had resulted in increased emissions of sulfuric acid (S02) and
sulfuric acid mist (SAM) in violation of New Source Review provisions of the Clean Air
Act. The Consent Decree (CD), filed on September 11, 2019, requires Nouryon to spend
approximately $9.2 million on compliance measures that will significantly reduce emissions
at the facility. Installation of a peroxide scrubber and implementation of more stringent
emission limits has resulted in the facility starting to achieve emissions reductions of 2,340
tons per year (tpy) in S02 and 40 tpy in SAM. Nouryon was also required to pay a
$300,000 civil penalty, of which a portion went to the State of Alabama who joined EPA
as a co-plaintiff, and spend $ 150,000 on an environmental mitigation project that will
achieve additional emission reductions in the area. The S02 and SAM emission reductions
from the settlement are the largest S02 reductions and the largest SAM reductions from a
single Region 4 sulfuric acid NSR settlement.
Meridian Consent Decree
Meridian, Mississippi
On August 5, 2019, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi
entered a Consent Decree (CD) between the EPA, the Mississippi Department of
Environmental Quality and the City of Meridian to resolve violations of the Clean Water
Act in its wastewater collection and transmission system, including over 800 sanitary sewer
overflows and numerous violations of its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
permit. Meridian estimates that it will spend approximately $ 126 million over 19-years
to complete the injunctive relief required in the CD. Implementation of the CD is expected
to annually reduce more than 7,332 pounds of Total Suspended Solids, 7,018 pounds
of biological oxygen demand, 17,566 pounds of total nitrogen and 63 pounds of total
phosphorus. The settlement of these violations represents one of the most significant water
infrastructure settlements in Region 4.
2019 REGION 4 ANNUAL REPORT

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RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
EMERGENCY PLANNING AND
COMMUNITY RIGHT-TO-KNOW ACT
Through its compliance and enforcement efforts, Region 4 made considerable
contributions to reducing the risk to human health and environment in the
Southeast from chemical accidents. Often such accidents occur in heavily
populated communities and the region actively works to ensure communities
can appropriately plan for emergencies.
In 2019, Region 4 finalized 17 administrative enforcement actions for sources
covered by the Risk Management Program regulations under Section 112(r)
of the Clean Air Act; resulting in $230,325 in civil penalties, $442,700 in
corrective action costs, and six supplemental environmental projects (SEPs)
valued at $486,887. These actions help decrease the likelihood of accidents
at the industrial and chemical facilities by ensuring that regulated entities
are adequately managing risk from extremely hazardous chemicals and
protecting surrounding communities from catastrophic accidents.
Region 4 also finalized 23 administrative enforcement actions for sources
covered by the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to- Know
Act. The resulting $616,697 in penalties and SEPs valued at $221,775,
will improve the capabilities of emergency management agencies and
local first responders to address accidental releases and emergencies
involving hazardous chemicals through improved reporting and enhanced
communications.

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GOAL 3: GREATER CERTAINTY, COMPLIANCE,
AND EFFECTIVENESS
Objective: 3.2: Create Consistency and Certainty
Objective 3.3: Prioritize Robust Science
Objective 3.4 Streamline and Modernize
Emerging Contaminants
Region 4's laboratory is one of the few EPA laboratories that is accredited under the
International Organization for Standardization for all environmental media and analyzes
over 6,000 samples annually. Our laboratory support is a critical tool available to states
without the resources to maintain a robust and expanded analytical program. Region 4
proudly continues to refine our analytical methods and protocols in concert with evolving
science. In 2019, Region 4 offered increased assistance to several states in analyzing
samples for emerging contaminants, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
and ethylene oxide.
" We are moving forward with several important actions, including the
maximum contaminant level process, that will help affected communities
better monitor, detect, and address PFAS."
-- EPA Administrator, Andrew Wheeler
2019 REGION 4 ANNUAL REPORT

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FIELD SAMPLING AND ANALYTICAL SUPPORT
The Region 4 laboratory provides laboratory analytical support and field services for the region's
media and enforcement programs. A few notable highlights include:
• •
#
#
#
#
#
Ambient water/sediment sampling, effluent sampling and contractor
sampling oversight/technical support
Support to regional programs to identify sources of per- and
polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Lake Weiss which ultimately serves
as a source of drinking water for the cities of Gadsden and Centre in
Alabama.
• •	Comprehensive sampling of both water and sediment in the Coosa Basin
from Looper's Bend to near the Alabama and Georgia state line.
Support to Region 4 states on ethylene oxide sampling analyses.
Environmental monitoring for PFAS is becoming increasingly requested
at Superfund remedial and removal sites. To address this increasing
demand for analytical support for PFAS, the Region 4 laboratory is
involved in a cross-EPA workgroup on method validation and exposure
focused on developing multi-laboratory validated methods for water
samples other than drinking water (surface, ground and waste water) for
24 PFAS compounds. To further meet the demand for PFAS support, the
Region 4 laboratory has developed the capability to analyze soils and
sediments as part of the routine analysis.
2019 REGION 4 ANNUAL REPORT
33

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LOOKING FORWARD: 2020
This report documents EPA Region 4's many successes in 2019 to protect and restore the
environment across the Southeast. In honor of 50 years of environmental protection, over the
next year, EPA will commemorate the agency's many achievements and continued progress,
culminating in a 50th anniversary celebration on December 2, 2020. EPA's 50th anniversary
themes is: "EPA at 50: Progress for a Stronger Future."
EPA was established on December 2, 1970, to consolidate into one agency a variety of federal
environmental responsibilities including research, monitoring, standard setting, and enforcement
activities to ensure environmental protection while simultaneously safeguarding human health.
The agency's first administrator, the late William Ruckelshaus, took the oath of office on
December 4, 1970.
For more on EPA's 50th anniversary, visit: www.epa.gov/50. You can also follow EPA's 50th
Anniversary celebration on social media using #EPAat50.
34
2019 REGION 4 ANNUAL REPORT

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