------- ------- TABLE OF CONTENTS Note from Our Regional Administrator Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Promoting Environmental Justice Improving Air Quality Ensuring Clean Water Cleaning Up Superfund Sites Revitalizing Brownfields Sites Sustainably Managing Wastes and Chemicals Celebrating Environmental Leaders and Awards Cover Photo Credit: Michael Mannino; Ithaca, New York EPA Publication #902F22001 ------- NOTE FROM OUR REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR I am honored to celebrate the first year of the Biden-Harris Administration by highlighting some of our Region's most recent projects and accomplishments. I only joined the EPA family in late November, but was immediately impressed with the work EPA Region 2 has already done to champion equitable access to a clean and healthy environment for all, from ensuring drinking water sources are safe and supporting communities as they tackle soiid waste management, to cleaning up contaminated properties and enforcing health based air emission standards. Amidst the ongoing global pandemic, Region 2 staff continued to support communities in New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands as well as our eight federally recognized Indian Nations, working to ensure that all residents have access to clean air, water, and soil free from toxins. As Regional Administrator, I also could not be more proud of the work EPA is doing to ensure that ail communities are prepared for ciimate change and resilient in the face of increased climate events, and I admire the talent and passion that Region 2 staff bring to work each day. I am pleased to present these highlights from 2021 and look forward to working together with the entire Region 2 family in the coming years to strive towards environmental justice and equitable climate solutions for our region, especially for our most underserved communities. tv-p Lisa F. Garcia Regional Administrator ------- BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW EPA is delivering a historic $60 billion investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in safe and healthy water, pollution cleanup and community revitalization, and healthier school buses for children. Funding provided through EPA's State Revolving Fund programs will create jobs while upgrading America's aging water infrastructure and addressing key challenges like lead in drinking water and per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination. Increased water infrastructure funding will provide more than $168 million in New lersev. $22 million in New York. $78 million in Puerto Rico and more than $31 million in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Lead service line replacement in Unimatic Manufacturing Albany, New York Superfund site in Fairfield. New Jersey A $1 billion investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is in place to initiate cleanup and clear the backlog of 49 previously unfunded Superfund sites and accelerate cleanup at dozens of other sites across the country including 7 in Newjersey, 3 in New York and 1 in Puerto Rico. EPA REGION 2 | 2021 YEAR IN REVIEW 05 ------- ADVANCING j§ u ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE Cleanup work on the Gowanus Canal Superfund site in Brooklyn, New York In 2.021, we continued to endeavor towards an environment free from hazards and equal access to decision-making for all people. We heard concerns directly from communities affected by pollution and worked to implement and enforce laws, regulations, and policies leading to healthy environments to live, learn, and work. Region 2 welcomed Administrator Regan to New Jersey and New York to participate in environmental justice roundtable discussions and tours in Newark, New Jersey and Albany, New York with Congressman Paul Tonko, Congressman Frank Pallone, and Senator Cory Booker. We continued our work to protect the community near the Limetree Bay Refinery in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. We took numerous enforcement actions, set up a community hotline, and monitored the air near the Limetree Bay refinery for sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide. EPA REGION 2 | 2.021 YEAR IN REVIEW 06 ------- Region 2 continued our work to reduce air emissions and keep residents safe from toxic contaminants. We strived to deliver results for all communities through reviewing permits, ensuring vehicle emissions compliance, or monitoring for harmful radiation levels. EPA worked closely with our government partners to ensure Clean Air Act compliance while providing lasting clean air benefits as highlighted by the $2.1 billion channel deepening at: the Port of New York and New lersev. We held a successful open house and public information session in Spanish regarding health risks from Ethylene Oxide and proposed emissions reduction efforts at the Edwards facility in Anasco, Puerto Rico. The Region advanced community mapping of radon :n Puerto Rico through an innovative student- run citizen science research project. EPA REGION 2 | 2.021 YEAR IN REVIEW 07 ------- ENSURING CLEAN WATER EPA worked closely with state, local, tribal and water sector partners to improve water quality in our region. Together, we made investments in communities across the region to improve drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, monitored water quality in our watersheds and wetlands, established limits for and enforced pollutant discharge, and protected habitats and estuaries, and coastal waters. EPA provided more than $345.9 million in grants for New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands to support communities with low-cost financing for various drinking water and clean water infrastructure projects through our State Revolving Loan Program in Fiscal Year 21. We are also working to improve wastewater infrastructure at the Anguilla Wastewater Treatment Plant. Region 2 provided over $1 million in grant funding for Beach Water Quality Monitoring in New York, New Jersey, and the Caribbean. EPA REGION 2 | 2021 YEAR IN REVIEW 08 ------- ENSURING CLEAN WATER The agency celebrated water quality improvements in Long Island Sound resulting from almost 50 million pounds of nitrogen kept out of the Sound, due to New York and Connecticut state-led programs. We made strides towards delisting the Rochester Embayment Area of Concern, as habitat for mink and bottom-dwelling aquatic plants and animals has improved. Region 2 initiated a study to evaluate upstream sources of fecal pollution in the Raritan River in Newjerseyand determine if the fecal contamination is from human sources. The results of the study will be shared with regional, local and municipal partners to determine options to improve water quality. EPA REGION 2 | 2.021 YEAR IN REVIEW 09 ------- SUPERFUND SITES Cleanup work at the Sherwin Williams / Hilliards Creek Superfund site in southern New Jersey The Region coordinated with federal, state, and local partners to modify fieldwork timelines and continue site cleanup at the nation's most contaminated sites amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. While making progress on many emergency response and National Priorities List (NPL) sites across the region, we fully completed cleanup work at 2 sites, deleted 1 site from the NPL, and added or proposed 3 sites for addition to the NPL, over and complete the design plans for the Seawall Sector of the Raritan Bay Slag Superfund site in Old Bridge. New lersev. Began the final phase of treating the contaminated soil and groundwater at the Diaz Chemical Corp. Superfund site in Hollev. New York. EPA REGION 2 | 2021 YEAR IN REVIEW Finalized an interim cleanup plan for the upper nine miles of the Lower Passaic River Study Area of the Diamond Alkali Superfund site in New lersev. Finishing. Inc. site in Franklinville. New lersev to the National Priorities List. ------- REVITALIZING A BROWNFIELDS SITES A former abandoned and contaminated school redevelof^^^Q cfisenior living facility in the Town of North Hempstead, New York Region 2 creatively worked around the COVID-19 pandemic challenges to continue assessing, safely cleaning up, and sustainabiy reusing contaminated properties. As a result we completed 50 Brownfield site assessments, 2 cleanups, and made 12 properties ready for reuse. The work done through the regional Brownfields program also leveraged 206 jobs opportunities. FOR BROWNFIELDS CLEANUP AND ASSESSMENT OF 3 MUNICIPALITIES IN PUERTO RICO ^3 FOR BROWNFIELDS JOB TRAINING AT PUSH BUFFALO CLEANUP AND ASSESSMENT pro j ec* m JERSEY CLEANUP AND REDEVELOP CLEANUP AND REDEVELOP BROWNFIELDS SITES BROWNFIELDS SITES CLEANUP AND ASSESSMENT OF 5 PROJECTS IN NEW YORK'S MOHAWK VALLEY, CAPITAL DISTRICT $500K SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDS TO SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDS TO NIAGARA COUNTY NIAGARA COUNTY $2.8M FOR BROWNFIELDS EPA REGION 2 | 2.021 YEAR IN REVIEW ------- Region 2 continued our efforts to promote sustainable materials management and pollution prevention. Our regional enforcement program refused admission to over 150 Import shipments of illegal pesticides and pesticide devices, stopping 1,7 million pounds of unregistered/misbranded pesticides and pesticide devices. Additionally, we settled nine Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act enforcement cases resulting in nearly 6 million pounds of pollutants reduced. İFEMA oEPA Municipalities Mitigating for Future Disasters TODAY The infographic was a Joint effort between EPA and FEMA, developed in collaboration with HUD. USDA and DNER Small changes to mitigation planning can have big Impacts for Puerto Rico municipalities and their communities! Planning arc deveiop-ng a strong and resident solid waste infrastructure and management sjstem are necessary to mrogate possiWe Hazards resulting from the disaster deoris and municipal solid waste generated fn EPA worked with Federal and Puerto Rico Agencies to develop a guide to assist municipalities in integrating solid waste and disaster debris management into Hazard Mitigation Plans. We provided free Lead Renovation. Repair and Painting (RRP) training in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Trenton, New Jersey, as part of the Enhancing Lead-Safe Work Practices and Outreach Initiative to raise awareness about lead exposure and promote lead-safe work practices. Region 2 hosted a virtual public meeting for state and local health departments to share information on mosquito control strategies, after an uptick in mosquito populations and mosquito- borne illness in New York state. EPA REGION 2 | 2.021 YEAR IN REVIEW 12 ------- Griffiss Air Force Base named as one of the 2021 Federal Facility Excellence in Site Reuse Award Winners 2 Green Chemistry Challenge Award winners in Region 2 Newjersey High School student wins PEYA Young Environmental Leader Award Young Environmental Leader Award New York Ranks in Top 10 U.S. Cities with ENERGY STAR Certified Buildings 8 ENERGY STAR Partners of the Year Award Winners in Newjersey 1,000 high schoolers from Newjersey participated in our Emerging Leaders in Science Symposium during Earth Week. A 19 ENERGY STAR Partners of the Year Award Winners in CELEBRATING ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERS & AWARDS EPA Region 2 celebrates environmental accomplishments from budding leaders throughout the region ------- Learn more and stay connected with wEm REGION 2 https://www.epa.gov/perspectives/year-accomplishments-epa f # ------- |