EPA Awards $6 Million to Research Potential Environmental Impacts of PFAS Substances in Waste Streams The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced approximately $6 million to fund research by eight organizations to expand the understanding of the environmental risks posed by per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in waste streams and identify practical approaches to manage the potential impacts as PFAS enters the environment. Taking concrete actions to address PFAS is one of EPA's highest priorities. EPA's recently released PFAS Action Plan identifies both short-term solutions for addressing PFAS chemicals and long-term strategies that will help provide the tools and technologies states, tribes and local communities need to clean up sites and provide clean, safe drinking water to their residents. The eight recipients receiving this funding through EPA's Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Program include: • New York State Department of Health - Health Research Inc., Menands, N.Y. • North Carolina State University, Raleigh, N.C • University of Florida, Gainsville, Fla. • Clemson University, Clemson, S.C. • Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind • Texas A&M AgriLife Research, College Station, Texas • Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas . • University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, N.D. PFAS are a group of synthetic chemicals that have been in use since the 1940s. PFAS are found in a wide array of consumer and industrial products. Due to widespread use and persistence in the environment, most people in the United States have been exposed to PFAS. EPA continues to evaluate the potential risk of these compounds to human health and the environment, but there is evidence that chronic exposure above specific levels to certain PFAS may lead to adverse health effects. PFAS have been found in solid waste, landfills and surrounding environmental media (soil, groundwater), leachates, landfill gas, wastewater effluents, and biosolids. However, current treatment options are limited, as many conventional treatment methods are ineffective. In funding these projects, EPA is specifically supporting research to identify or develop innovative methods to treat or manage PFAS before it enters the environment to minimize its risks to humans and ecosystems. The resulting data will help researchers understand the occurrence, fate and transport of PFAS and identify methods or technologies to better manage PF AS-containing waste. For further information contact: Tayler Covington (212)637-3662 covington. tavler@epa.gov DO YOU HAVE ARTICLES FOR THE SMALLBIZfa)EPA NEWSLETTER? FORWARD TO: ELNORA THOMPSON AT: THOMPSON.ELNORA(o}EPA.GOV ------- https://www.epa.gov/resources-small-businesses EPA Clears the Way for Much Needed Funds for Water and Sewer Repairs in Puerto Rico The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA) announced the restructuring of more than 200 delinquent loans—totaling approximately $571 million in principal—owed to Puerto Rico's clean water and drinking water State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs. This restructuring clears the way for the commonwealth's idled SRF programs to once again provide critically needed funding to improve Puerto Rico's water and sewer systems, create local jobs, and ensure that the people of Puerto Rico have safe and clean water. PRASA provides drinking water to 97% of Puerto Rico's 3.2 million people and sewer service to more than half of the Island's communities. The lack of access to funding from the SRF programs has been a major obstacle to making water infrastructure repairs and improvements across the commonwealth. After many years of successful repayment, PRASA was unable to meet its SRF loan repayment obligations as of July 1, 2016. Since then, the loans have been in forbearance while EPA and key Puerto Rican authorities have worked in good faith with PRASA to develop a restructuring agreement for PRASA's debt. EPA's SRF experts played a key role in facilitating the discussion and resolution. The fmalization of the restructuring agreement will ensure the repayment of PRASA's SRF loans, and PRASA will be eligible to apply for financial assistance from the Puerto Rico SRFs, which will help ensure the continued protection of public health and the environment for the residents of Puerto Rico. The sound management of the state programs has ensured that the SRFs remain at the forefront of funding innovative solutions for treating wastewater, providing safe drinking water, addressing stormwater runoff, tackling non-point source pollution, and addressing a multitude of other environmental and public health issues facing this nation. For further information contact: Tayler Covington (212)-637-3662 covin gton. tavl er@epa. gov EPA, OSDBU, Asbestos and Small Business Ombudsman - Washington, DC 20460 - Phone: 1-800-368-5888 ------- https://www.epa.gov/resources-small-businesses Oklahoma DEQ Takes on Permitting Timelines The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality's (DEQ) strategic plan, Leading the Way, is designed to transform the agency to be more efficient and customer-friendly while continuing its primary responsibility of environmental protection. One of the chief complaints from DEQ customers is the length of time it can take to obtain permits or other authorizations. This especially impacts small businesses who may need those permits and authorizations but do not have financial means to navigate a lengthy and difficult process. As part of Leading the Way, DEQ has undertaken a project to evaluate and streamline processes to achieve an agency average 25% reduction in the length of time to obtain permits and authorizations. Achieving this goal will positively impact businesses across Oklahoma without sacrificing environmental protection. For more information, contact Jon Roberts, Senior Manager of DEQ's Office of External Affairs at jon.roberts@deq.ok.gov. EPA Approves New Mexico's Plan to Regulate Emissions from Landfills The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently approved revisions to New Mexico's plan to regulate methane and other emissions from municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills. The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) submitted the revisions for the state plan to EPA, as well as another set of revisions on behalf of the city of Albuquerque-Bernalillo County for landfills under the city-county jurisdiction. EPA determined both sets of revisions were consistent with emissions guidelines under the federal Clean Air Act. The emissions guidelines require the state to develop plans to reduce air emissions from all affected MSW landfills within its jurisdiction. EPA's approval allows NMED and the city of Albuquerque-Bernalillo County to regulate methane and other non-methane organic gas emissions from existing MSW landfills. The approval meets a court-ordered deadline for EPA to act on state plan submittals for MSW landfills. Landfill gas is produced when organic material in landfills decomposes. It is composed of about 50% methane, 50% carbon dioxide (C02) and a small amount of non-methane organic compounds. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas 28 to 36 times more effective than C02 at trapping heat in the atmosphere over a 100-year period. Municipal solid waste landfills are the third largest source of human-related methane emissions in the United States, accounting for approximately 14.1% of these emissions in 2017. For more information contact, Jennah Durant or Joe Hubbard at r6press@epa.gov or 214 665-2200 EPA, OSDBU, Asbestos and Small Business Ombudsman - Washington, DC 20460 - Phone: 1-800-368-5888 ------- https://www.epa.gov/resources-small-businesses EPA's Overview of the Surface Coating Regulatory Actions Webinar training was held on September 4, 2019 EPA provided an overview of the Surface Coating Regulatory Rules. The webinar was for small businesses to hear what the rules were addressing, who will be impacted, and the nature of those impacts. EPA also briefly discussed some recent updates made to the CEDRI reporting system. After hearing these changes/updates, small businesses had an opportunity to request further engagement, if so desired. The Agenda Included: 1. Short discussion of why EPA is amending these rules now, and a general explanation of a residual risk and technology review. 2. Overview provided of the surface coating rules that were recently published (limited to metal parts and plastic parts). This should include: a. The name of the rule b. What the rule changes are c. Identify any potential small business impacts (as in what will they have to do) d. What we see as the magnitude of these impacts. 3. Overview provided what electronic reporting is, how you get started if you have never done it before, and recent updates to the CEDRI system. This was a high-level overview of the upcoming changes and expected timeframe they should expect to see these changes. To learn more information regarding the two regulatory actions: Surface Coating of Miscellaneous Metal Parts and Products: National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) - https://www.epa.gov/stationarv-sources-air-pollution/surface-coating-miscellaneous-metal-parts-and- products-national. _Surface Coating of Plastic Parts and Products: National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) https://www.epa.gov/stationary-sources-air-pollution/surface- coating-plastic-parts-and-products-national-emission EPA, OSDBU, Asbestos and Small Business Ombudsman - Washington, DC 20460 - Phone: 1-800-368-5888 ------- https://www.epa.gov/resources-small-businesses Small Business Environmental Assistance Program Question: I am a new collision repair shop owner with six employees. Our local Small Business Administration (SBA) office recommended I reach out to the state SBEAP for FREE help with environmental compliance. What is the SBEAP and how can I learn more about the services it provides? Answer: Congratulations on your new small business. Read on to learn more about SBEAP and how it serves small businesses. SBEAP is the acronym for Small Business Environmental Assistance Program, a service initiated in each state under the Clean Air Act Amendment of 1990. In short, this program exists in every state and is designed to help small businesses by providing free, confidential, environmental compliance assistance. Collision repair shops such as yours generate hazardous waste and are subject to certain air quality regulations such as the NESHAP HHHHHH and possibly stormwater regulations. Your state SBEAP professional can help you determine which environmental rules apply and how to navigate state or federal permitting requirements. Typically, if your state SBEAP doesn't have the answer, they know where to find them. To contact your state SBEAP, simply go to our national map and click on your state. Then call or email us with your questions and we will be happy to assist you.. .no strings attached. If you want to learn more about why SBEAP is a federally mandated program under the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, simply visit our website "About us" page and read further. If you prefer to call, use our hotline number at 800-578-8898 or email us at nlarson@ksu.edu. EPA, OSDBU, Asbestos and Small Business Ombudsman - Washington, DC 20460 - Phone: 1-800-368-5888 ------- https://www.epa.gov/resources-small-businesses EPA FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES SUBJECT: Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Reformulated Gasoline and Conventional Gasoline: Requirements for Refiners, Oxygenate Blenders, and Importers of Gasoline; Requirements for Parties in the Gasoline Distribution Network (Renewal) SUBJECT: Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Virginia; Source-Specific Reasonably Available Control Technology Determinations for 2008 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard http://www.epa. go v/dockets/contacts .htm Federal Register: Vol 84, No. 148, Thursday, August 1, 2019/Proposed Rules AGENCY: EPA ACTION: Proposed Rule SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve three state implementation plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the Commonwealth of Virginia. These revisions address reasonably available control technology (RACT) requirements under the 2008 ozone national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) for three facilities in Northern Virginia through source- specific determinations. This action is being taken under the Clean Air Act (CAA). Written comments must be received on or before September 3, 2019. For further information contact: Emlyn Ve'lez- Rosa, (215)814-2038 email at vel ezrosa. eml yn@epa. gov http: //ww w. e p a. u o v/do c k e ts/c o n ta et s. h tin 1 Federal Register: Vol. 84, No. 147, Wednesday, August 20, 2019/Notices AGENCY: EPA ACTION: Notice SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency is planning to submit an information collection request (ICR), "Reformulated Gasoline and Conventional Gasoline: Requirements for Refiners, Oxygenate Blenders, and Importers of Gasoline; Requirements for Parties in the Gasoline Distribution Network" (EPA ICR No. 1591.27, OMB Control No. 2060-0277) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 etseq.). Before doing so, EPA is soliciting public comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described below. This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently approved through 5/31/2020. An Agency may not conduct, or sponsor and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. For further information contact: Jose Solar (202) 343-9027 email at solar.jose@epa.gov. EPA, OSDBU, Asbestos and Small Business Ombudsman - Washington, DC 20460 - Phone: 1-800-368-5888 ------- |