April 2016 version of the quarterly publication of "The Corps Environment" newsletter published by the USACE Environmental Community of Practice. The purpose of this newsletter is to provide information about USACE and Army environmental actions, issues, policies and technologies.

April 2018 version of the quarterly publication of "The Corps Environment" newsletter published by the USACE Environmental Community of Practice. The purpose of this newsletter is to provide information about USACE and Army environmental actions, issues, policies and technologies.

August 2019 version of the quarterly publication of "The Corps Environment" newsletter published by the USACE Environmental Community of Practice. The purpose of this newsletter is to provide information about USACE and Army environmental actions, issues, policies and technologies. This edition highlights how the Corps employs an open and transparent process, in support of Environmental Operating Principle #7. In the spirit of transparency, this issue provides insight into the valuable role the Corps' National Program Managers (NPMs) play in championing environmental activities across the enterprise. It also includes content from some of the NPMs on the programs they support as well as highlights from the field.

February 2019 version of the quarterly publication of "The Corps Environment" newsletter published by the USACE Environmental Community of Practice. The purpose of this newsletter is to provide information about USACE and Army environmental actions, issues, policies and technologies. This edition focuses on risk management and NEPA.

January 2016 version of the quarterly publication of "The Corps Environment" newsletter published by the USACE Environmental Community of Practice. The purpose of this newsletter is to provide information about USACE and Army environmental actions, issues, policies and technologies.

January 2017 version of the quarterly publication of "The Corps Environment" newsletter published by the USACE Environmental Community of Practice. The purpose of this newsletter is to provide information about USACE and Army environmental actions, issues, policies and technologies.

November 2019 version of the quarterly publication of "The Corps Environment" newsletter published by the USACE Environmental Community of Practice. The purpose of this newsletter is to provide information about USACE and Army environmental actions, issues, policies and technologies. This edition highlights how the Corps fosters sustainability as a way of life, in support of Environmental Operating Principle #1. Content includes commentary from Col. Isaac Manigault, Commander of U.S. Army Environmental Command, about setting conditions for Army readiness. This edition also highlights a variety of projects and initiatives from across the Army enterprise that are setting conditions for a sustainable future.

This edition highlights fostering sustainability as a way of life, in support of Environmental Operating Principle #1. Content includes commentary from Mr. Pete Perez, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Engineering and Construction Division chief, discussing how USACE is engineering solutions to address a changing climate. This issue also features initiatives from across the Army environmental community that are providing sustainable solutions that support our environment and the global communities we serve.

EPA seeking applications through the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to bring solar to millions of homes in low-income and disadvantaged communities, funded by the President's Inflation Reduction Act. Residential distributed solar energy will lower energy costs for families, create good-quality jobs in communities that have been left behind, advance environmental justice, and tackle the climate crisis. The Solar for All competition, which was created by the Inflation Reduction Act's Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF), will expand the number of low-income and disadvantaged communities primed for residential solar investment by awarding up to 60 grants to states, territories, Tribal governments, municipalities, and eligible nonprofits to create and expand low-income solar programs that provide financing and technical assistance, such as workforce development, to enable low-income and disadvantaged communities to deploy and benefit from residential solar. The deadline to apply to this competitive grant competition is 26 September 2023. Eligible applicants to Solar for All include states, territories, Tribal governments, municipalities, and eligible nonprofit recipients.

EPA is recognizing landmark green chemistry technologies developed by industrial pioneers and leading scientists that turn climate risk into business opportunities, spurring innovation and economic development. The Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards are presented in five categories: academic, small business, greener synthetic pathways, greener reaction conditions and designing greener chemicals.

EPA has released its 19th annual report of overall U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, showing a 3.4 percent decrease in 2012 from 2011. The Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks presents a national-level overview of annual greenhouse gas emissions since 1990.

EPA announced the launch of two Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) for $20 billion across two grant competitions under the historic $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, an Inflation Reduction Act program central to President Biden's Investing in America Agenda and environmental justice goals. The $14 billion National Clean Investment Fund will provide grants to support two-to-three national clean financing institutions, enabling them to partner with the private sector to provide accessible, affordable financing for tens of thousands of clean technology projects nationwide. The $6 billion Clean Communities Investment Accelerator will provide grants to support up to seven hub nonprofit organizations, enabling them to provide funding and technical assistance to public, quasi-public, not-for-profit, and non-profit community lenders working in communities with environmental justice concerns--supporting the goal that every community in the country has access to the resources they need to fund clean technology projects. Please find the National Clean Investment Fund NOFO here and the Clean Communities Investment Accelerator NOFO here.

Agenda for the Inter-Agency Forum on Climate Change Impacts & Adaptations meeting will be held on June 28, 2012, from 1:00-4:15pm at NASA HQ building in Washington DC.

This report is EPA's summary and interpretation of the most recent data on toxic chemical releases and pollution prevention activities at more than 20,000 U.S. industrial facilities. In the National Analysis, you'll find local- and national-level data on toxic chemical releases to air, water and land, and information about what companies are doing to prevent these releases. With the report's integrated mapping features, you can take a closer look at this information for specific geographic locations. For the first time, the TRI National Analysis is available through its own dedicated website, allowing you will to more easily identify and navigate to information of interest. In support of the new website, a webinar about the 2014 report will also be offer on January 26 (see http://www.epa.gov/trinationalanalysis/2014-national-analysis-overview-webinar.)

EPA and DOE have released the 2016 Fuel Economy Guide, which gives consumers important information about estimated fuel costs and mileage standards for model year 2016 vehicles.

The White House has announced the winners of the 2016 GreenGov Presidential Awards, honoring those who have gone above and beyond to implement innovative sustainability projects within the government. Senior Administration officials will recognize the 12 individuals and team winners September 8, 2016 in a ceremony at the White House. Winners include EPA, NASA, DHHS, VA, and USACE.

This report is EPA's summary and interpretation of the most recent data on chemical releases and pollution prevention activities at more than 21,000 U.S. industrial facilities. It shows a continued decline in the releases of TRI chemicals through the implementation of pollution reduction activities. In the National Analysis, you'll find local and national data on TRI chemical releases to air, water and land, and information about what companies are doing to prevent these releases. With the reports integrated mapping features, you can take a closer look at this information for specific geographic locations, including your community.

EPA recognizes the efforts of federal facilities that took steps to improve efficiency, save resources and reduce costs as part of the Federal Green Challenge (FGC). Through their involvement, FGC participants reduced the federal government's environmental impact by reducing fuel oil consumption by more than 500K gallons, sending 310 tons of end-of-life electronics to third-party recyclers, saving 9.2 million gallons of industrial water, and diverting over 336K tons of waste from landfills. FGC awards are offered in two categories – data driven and narrative. Data driven awards, given in the six target areas of Waste, Electronics, Purchasing, Energy, Water and Transportation, are based on the greatest percentage of change over the previous year. Narrative awards are self-nominating and are given in the categories of Innovation, Education and Outreach, and Leadership.

The Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) sponsors the annual Federal Energy and Water Management Awards to recognize individuals and organizations for significant contributions to energy and water efficiency within the federal government. Winners come from the Air Force, Army, Navy, VA, DOE, CDC, DHHS, DOI, and multiple other agencies.

EPA released preliminary Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) data about chemical releases, waste management, and pollution prevention activities that took place during 2019 at more than 20,000 federal and industrial facilities across the country. EPA plans to publish a revised snapshot of the TRI dataset in October 2020, which will be used to develop the 2019 TRI National Analysis. The agency expects to publish the 2019 TRI National Analysis in early 2021.

Register now for the U.S. Department of Energy's annual Better Buildings, Better Plants Summit taking place May 17-20, 2021. This engaging, interactive virtual symposium brings together energy, finance, and sustainability professionals in the commercial, public, industrial, and residential building sectors. Industry leaders who partner with DOE will share their insights, expertise, and approaches for achieving organizational goals around energy efficiency, resilience, workforce development, low-carbon targets, and more.

October 13-15, 2021 The Climate Leadership Conference is excited to welcome EPA Administrator, Michael Regan, to its virtual stage to explore the intersection of environment, economy and equity and share why the Biden Administration's commitment to environmental justice is crucial to addressing climate change and how it paves the way for economic revitalization, job creation, and healthier communities. He will be joined in a moderated discussion with Ebony Thomas, Racial Equity and Economic Opportunity Initiatives Executive at Bank of America. The annual Climate Leadership Conference is North America's premier event dedicated to addressing the climate crisis through policy, innovation, and business solutions.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has published its 2021 U.S. Geothermal Power Production and District Heating Market Report, which highlights areas where the geothermal power sector is primed for technological innovation. The report identifies significant opportunities for expanding power production through cutting-edge enhanced geothermal systems technology development; new power plant operational paradigms such as hybridization and thermal energy storage; and harnessing vast co-production potential from existing oil and gas infrastructure. Increasing the use of geothermal energy for U.S. heating and cooling can significantly contribute to the Biden-Harris Administration's decarbonization goals to cut U.S. emissions in half by 2030 and achieve a carbon pollution-free electric sector by 2035.

EPA and DOE announced the winners of the 2022 ENERGY STAR Awards. These 210 organizations, which represent the top ENERGY STAR partners, are making important contributions in support of America's clean energy transition.

Join EPA on September 19, 2023, at 2:00 PM (Eastern) to announce and celebrate the 2023 Regional Pollution Prevention Recognition Awards. These awards recognize the pollution prevention (P2) best practices of companies that have worked with EPA P2 grantees to implement P2 projects at their facilities. The awards highlight P2 successes that other companies can consider implementing as part of their business to help save money and protect human health and the environment.

This year's Safer Choice Partner of the Year award winners come from 15 states and the District of Columbia. They were recognized for achievements in the design, manufacture, and the selection and use of cleaners, detergents and other products with safer chemicals. Applicants for this year's awards were encouraged to show how their work promotes environmental justice, bolsters resilience to the impacts of climate change, results in cleaner air or water, improves drinking water quality or advances innovation in packaging.

The Chief Acquisition Officers Council is still accepting submissions for the 2024 Acquisition Excellence Awards. The deadline for nominations is 31 July 2024. These prestigious awards recognize outstanding achievements in federal acquisition, honoring individuals and teams for their excellence, innovation, and best practices. Don't miss this chance to showcase exemplary work and contributions to the acquisition community.

(WASHINGTON, April 22, 2024) The Department of Defense (DoD) announced the nine winners of the 2024 Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards. The awards have honored installations, teams, and individuals each year since 1962 for outstanding achievements in DoD environmental programs. These accomplishments include outstanding conservation activities, innovative environmental practices, and partnerships that improve quality of life and promote efficiencies without compromising DoD's mission success.

The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) is excited to announce the opening of the application period for the 2025 National Public Lands Day Department of Defense (DOD) Awards. This grant opportunity will provide up to $15,000 to selected installations for National Public Lands Day projects. For projects to be considered, they must clearly state how they support the military mission. In addition, they must state how they support the installation's goals and objectives by doing at least one of the following: Improving pollinator habitats; Enhancing installation resilience; Restoring ecosystems; and Managing natural and historic resources. Projects must begin on or around this year's National Public Lands Day on 27 September 2025. The deadline to apply is 20 June 2025.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Pollution Prevention Act, September 20 - 26, 2010 has been declared National Pollution Prevention Week.

40th Anniversary of National Environmental Policy Act Presidential Proclamation 8469 declares January 1, 2010 as the 40th Anniversary of the National Environmental Policy Act.

The report "Acid Rain and Related Program: 2008 Highlights" was released December 2009. The report documents that emissions from sources in the Acid Rain Program fell by 52 percent compared with 1990 levels and are already below the statutory annual emission cap of 8.95 million tons set for compliance in 2010.

The Chief Acquisition Officers Council is accepting nominations for the Acquisition, Program Management and Small Business Excellence Awards until 30 June 2022. These awards recognize acquisition professionals who have contributed to improvements in acquisition, particularly for efforts responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nominations are being solicited for Federal employees engaged in team or individual activities that led to excellent results. See website for award categories. The awards will be presented at Imagine Nation ELC 2022, 15-23 October.

EPA has signed a final decision document to address contamination near the "L Range" at the Massachusetts Military Reservation (MMR) on Cape Cod. The decision addresses both the groundwater contamination and its source.

EPA announced over $2.4 billion from President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for states, Tribes, and territories through this year's Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF). The funding will support communities in upgrading essential water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure that protects public health and treasured water bodies across the nation. Nearly half of this funding will be available as grants or principal forgiveness loans helping underserved communities across America invest in water infrastructure, while creating good-paying jobs. The $2.4 billion is the second wave of funding made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and builds on the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to invest in America. In May 2022, EPA announced the initial allotment of $1.9 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to states, Tribes and territories through the CWSRF. That money is supporting hundreds of critical water infrastructure projects around the country.

Environmental Protection Agency announced the availability of nearly $24 million in grants to support states, U.S. territories, and Tribes in providing technical assistance to businesses to develop and adopt pollution prevention practices. The funding is available through two Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) for EPA's Pollution Prevention program, with approximately $14 million in grants available at no cost share/match requirement, thanks to funding made possible by President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

The Administration, through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), announced $250 million in funding from President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help federal agencies implement net-zero building projects and set an example in sustainability as the nation works to transition to clean energy and combat climate change. More energy efficient buildings will also save taxpayers money. The funding program--Assisting Federal Facilities with Energy Conservation Technologies (AFFECT)--is part of the Administration's Investing in America agenda that is addressing the climate crisis in a way that creates good-paying jobs, grows industries, and makes the country more economically competitive.

The Administration announced $600 million for 11 selected Grantmakers under EPA's Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking program, created by President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act, the largest investment in climate action in history. This new grant program, which will make it easier for small community-based organizations to access federal environmental justice funding, responds to community feedback about the need to reduce barriers to federal funds and improve the efficiency of the awards process to ensure communities that have long faced underinvestment can access the benefits of the largest climate investment in history. Communities will be able to apply to a Grantmaker for a subgrant to fund a range of different environmental project activities, including (but not limited to) small local clean ups, local emergency preparedness and disaster resiliency programs, environmental workforce development programs for local jobs reducing greenhouse gas emissions, fenceline air quality and asthma related projects, healthy homes programs, and projects addressing illegal dumping.

The Administration is announcing a new goal to cut methane emissions from the oil and gas sector by 40 - 45 percent from 2012 levels by 2025, and a set of actions to put the U.S. on a path to achieve this ambitious goal.

The Biden-Harris Administration announced more than two-thirds of Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure Deployment Plans from states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have been approved ahead of schedule under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program. With this early approval, these states can now unlock more than $900 million in NEVI formula funding from FY22 and FY23 to help build EV chargers across approximately 53,000 miles of highway across the country. The NEVI formula funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which makes $5 billion available over five years, will help build a convenient, reliable, and affordable EV charging network across the country. Faster adoption of electric vehicles is a critical part of the nation's climate goals as transportation currently accounts for more than a quarter of all emissions.

The EPA has announced the availability of $30 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for restoration projects that advance environmental justice in underserved and overburdened communities across the Great Lakes. Thanks to President Biden's Investing in America Agenda, EPA has published a request for applications for the newly created Great Lakes Environmental Justice Grant Program that will fund implementation of environmental protection and restoration projects that will further the goals of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) in communities with environmental justice concerns. Many communities in the Great Lakes Basin lack the resources needed to apply for, obtain, and oversee the implementation of federal grant projects. EPA's new Great Lakes Environmental Justice Grant Program will ease these administrative barriers by funding "principal recipients" who will help underserved communities effectively access federal funding for important local projects. In addition, this investment will encourage even greater environmental, economic, health, and recreational benefits for underserved Great Lakes communities, including those near severely degraded sites, known as "areas of concern." EPA's Great Lakes Environmental Justice Grant Program was made possible by President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which invests $1 billion in the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) to accelerate Great Lakes restoration and protection.

EPA released the draft "National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution" for public comment, a significant step forward in the Administration's efforts to reduce pollution and build a circular economy for all. EPA's draft strategy includes ambitious actions to eliminate the release of plastic and other waste from land-based sources into the environment by 2040. This is a domestic strategy that identifies strategic objectives and voluntary actions that all U.S. organizations can implement to reduce, reuse, collect, and prevent plastic and other waste from entering the environment.?The actions are not limited to EPA's authority or jurisdiction but are actions where EPA can work collaboratively with entities – non-governmental organizations, governments, tribes, and others – to address plastic pollution. The strategy targets post-consumer materials, especially those items that are expected to make their way through the municipal solid waste stream but are leaked or littered, such as single-use plastics. Additionally, the strategy recognizes the harmful impacts associated with the production, manufacture and transport of plastic products on communities from air and water pollution associated with those processes. The proposed actions under each objective create opportunities for all to reduce the amount of plastic and other pollution in communities, parks, waterways and oceans.

Funding from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Supports Energy Conservation Measures at 31 Facilities, Saving Taxpayers $29 Million in the First Year and Drastically Reducing the Federal Carbon Footprint. DOE announced $104 million for energy conservation and clean energy projects at 31 Federal facilities--the latest step in President Biden's strategy to reestablish the Federal Government as a sustainability leader. The funding represents the first of three disbursements from the historic $250 million in funding for the program in President's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

The Administration is launching coordinated actions to develop new floating offshore wind platforms, an emerging clean energy technology that will help the United States lead on offshore wind. This action will position the U.S. to lead the world on floating offshore wind technology. Globally, only 0.1 GW of floating offshore wind has been deployed to date, compared with over 50 GW of fixed-bottom offshore wind. America will seize this opportunity to be a frontrunner on floating offshore wind technologies, as part of President Biden's plan for a clean energy economy built by American workers.

EPA announced the latest efforts to protect communities and the environment from the health risks posed by certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). PFAS are widely used, long-lasting chemicals that break down very slowly over time, and they have been used in many different consumer, commercial and industrial products. Scientific studies show that some PFAS exposure is linked to harmful health effects. EPA is proposing two rules that would add to the agency's comprehensive approach to tackling PFAS pollution across the country. EPA is proposing to modify the definition of hazardous waste as it applies to cleanups at permitted hazardous waste facilities. This modification would assure that EPA's regulations clearly reflect EPA's and authorized states' authority to require cleanup of the full range of substances that the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) intended. Currently, the regulations do not clearly and accurately reflect the full authorities granted to EPA by Congress. EPA is also proposing to amend its RCRA regulations to add multiple PFAS compounds as hazardous constituents. These PFAS would be added to the list of substances identified for consideration in facility assessments and, where necessary, further investigation and cleanup through the corrective action process at hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal facilities.

The Administration, through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), announced a new proposed rule to electrify and cut emissions from new or newly renovated federal buildings. Beginning in 2025, these facilities will be required to reduce their on-site emissions associated with the energy consumption of the building by 90% relative to 2003 levels. In 2030, the standard will fully decarbonize the on-site emissions in new federal buildings and major renovations. These measures will help advance the adoption of cleaner technologies for buildings that are necessary to achieving President Biden's goal of net-zero emissions in all federal buildings by 2045.

EPA finalized a ban on most uses of methylene chloride, a dangerous chemical known to cause liver cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, brain cancer, cancer of the blood, and cancer of the central nervous system, as well as neurotoxicity, liver harm and even death. Ending most uses of methylene chloride will save lives and complements the President's Cancer Moonshot, a whole-of-government initiative to end cancer as we know it. EPA's final action, also known as a risk management rule under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), will protect people from health risks while allowing key uses to continue safely with a robust new worker protection program. This is the second risk management rule to be finalized using the process created by the 2016 TSCA amendments.

EPA announced a final rule to prohibit ongoing uses of chrysotile asbestos, the only known form of asbestos currently used in or imported to the United States. The ban on ongoing uses of asbestos is the first rule to be finalized under the 2016 amendments to the nation's chemical safety law, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), which received near-unanimous support in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate. The action marks a major milestone for chemical safety after more than three decades of inadequate protections and serious delays during the previous administration to implement the 2016 amendments. Exposure to asbestos is known to cause lung cancer, mesothelioma, ovarian cancer, and laryngeal cancer, and it is linked to more than 40,000 deaths in the U.S. each year.

EPA is taking another step in its efforts to protect people from the health risks posed by exposure to "forever chemicals" in communities across the country. Exposure to per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has been linked to cancers, impacts to the liver and heart, and immune and developmental damage to infants and children. This final rule will designate two widely used PFAS chemicals, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), also known as Superfund, and will help ensure that polluters pay to clean up their contamination. This final action will address PFOA and PFOS contamination by enabling investigation and cleanup of these harmful chemicals and ensuring that leaks, spills, and other releases are reported. In addition to the final rule, EPA is issuing a separate CERCLA enforcement discretion policy that makes clear that EPA will focus enforcement on parties who significantly contributed to the release of PFAS chemicals into the environment, including parties that have manufactured PFAS or used PFAS in the manufacturing process, federal facilities, and other industrial parties.

The Administration issued the first-ever national, legally enforceable drinking water standard to protect communities from exposure to harmful per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as forever chemicals. Exposure to PFAS has been linked to deadly cancers, impacts to the liver and heart, and immune and developmental damage to infants and children. This final rule represents the most significant step to protect public health under EPA's PFAS Strategic Roadmap. The final rule will reduce PFAS exposure for approximately 100 million people, prevent thousands of deaths, and reduce tens of thousands of serious illnesses.

EPA issued a final rule that will significantly reduce toxic air pollution from chemical plants, including ethylene oxide and chloroprene. EPA's action will advance the President's commitment to environmental justice by slashing more than 6,200 tons of toxic air pollution each year, dramatically reducing the number of people with elevated cancer risk due to toxic air pollution in communities surrounding plants covered by the rule. Once implemented, the rule will reduce both EtO and chloroprene emissions from covered processes and equipment by nearly 80%. A requirement for these facilities to conduct fence line monitoring for key toxic chemicals is included, and EPA will make the data publicly available to better inform and safeguard nearby communities.

EPA announced a suite of final rules to reduce pollution from fossil fuel-fired power plants in order to protect all communities from pollution and improve public health without disrupting the delivery of reliable electricity. These rules, finalized under separate authorities including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, will significantly reduce climate, air, water, and land pollution from the power sector, delivering on the Administration's commitment to protect public health, advance environmental justice, and confront the climate crisis.

The Administration announced a $51 million Ride and Drive Electric funding opportunity through President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to accelerate the electrification of the nation's transportation sector and spur private sector investments in clean transportation. The administration also announced the launch of the National Charging Experience Consortium to advance rapid, on-the-ground solutions that ensure a convenient, reliable, equitable, and easy-to-use charging experience for all Americans with chargers that are made in America. The Joint Office of Energy and Transportation (Joint Office) will administer the Ride and Drive Electric program and has funded DOE's Idaho National Laboratory to lead the National Charging Experience Consortium. Managed by the DOE and DOT, the Joint Office was created through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to build a national electric vehicle charging network that will spark public confidence in EV adoption and fill charging gaps in rural, disadvantaged, and hard-to-reach locations. The announcements support President Biden's Investing in America agenda to grow the American economy from the bottom up and middle out--rebuilding our nation's infrastructure, creating good paying jobs, and building a clean energy economy that will combat climate change and make our communities more resilient.

EPA announced $19 million in new grant funding that will work to improve the climate resilience of the nation's water infrastructure. EPA's Drinking Water System Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability grant program will support drinking water systems in underserved, small and disadvantaged communities that are working to prepare for and reduce vulnerability to impacts from climate change ranging from extreme flooding to extreme drought.

The Administration, through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), launched new initiatives to connect families to more reliable clean energy, lower electricity bills, and create good-paying jobs in the domestic solar industry. DOE, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), announced that five states and Washington, D.C. will support the pilot of the Community Solar Subscription Platform to connect families to solar energy and lower electricity bills through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and other low-income assistance programs. DOE also announced $10 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to jump-start solar energy careers in underserved communities.

EPA proposed amendments to the regulations that govern the Agency's review of new chemicals under the TSCA to improve efficiency and align with the 2016 bipartisan TSCA amendments under the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act. Under TSCA, EPA plays an important gatekeeper role by reviewing the potential risks of new chemicals before they can enter U.S. commerce and, when necessary, putting safeguards in place to protect human health and the environment. Today's proposal also eliminates eligibility for exemptions from the full safety review process for new per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and other persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT) chemicals.

EPA announced a proposal to strengthen its Lead and Copper Rule that would require water systems across the country to replace lead service lines within 10 years. EPA is also proposing additional improvements to protect public health, such as lowering the lead action level and improving sampling protocols utilized by water systems. The Administration is using every tool available to help communities and water systems Get the Lead Out--including investing a historic $15 billion through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to replace lead service lines, providing technical assistance to communities, and supporting the development of a national inventory of lead service lines. The Lead and Copper Rule Improvements are central to the whole of government approach detailed in the Administration's Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan. Once the proposed rule is published in the Federal Register, EPA will accept comments for 60 days. The agency will also hold a virtual public hearing on 16 January 2024, at which time the public will be invited to provide EPA with verbal comments. For more information about the proposed rule visit the proposed rule webpage.

EPA proposed to designate five chemicals as High-Priority Substances for risk evaluation under the nation's chemical safety law, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). If EPA finalizes these designations as proposed, the agency would immediately move forward with the risk evaluation process. This step is consistent with a commitment from the Administration to understand and address environmental and toxic exposures to ensure that every community has access to clean air and water, supports the Cancer Moonshot's mission to end cancer as we know it, and bolsters the Administration's efforts to make progress on delivering environmental justice and tackling plastic pollution. The five chemical substances EPA is proposing to designate as High-Priority Substances are: Vinyl Chloride (CASRN 75-01-4), Acetaldehyde (CASRN 75-07-0), Acrylonitrile (CASRN 107-13-1), Benzenamine (CASRN 62-53-3), and 4,4'-methylene bis(2-chloroaniline) (MBOCA) (CASRN 101-14-4).

The General Services Administration (GSA) has made available the "Advanced Methodology Commuter Survey" tool for federal agencies to use to quantify scope 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated from employee commuter activities. GSA is currently accepting scheduling requests for agencies that would like to use this advanced tool, which gives agencies greater insight into the commuting habits and preferences of their Federal employees. The tool provides all the information required to report on commuting emissions in the FEMP reporting tool, as well as additional information that may be valuable in designing strategies to reduce GHG emissions from employee commuting.

EPA released its annual Automotive Trends Report, which provides the public with a single source of information about new light-duty vehicle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, fuel economy, technology data, and auto manufacturers' performance in light of the agency's GHG emissions standards. This annual report is part of EPA's commitment to provide the public with information about new light-duty vehicle GHG emissions, fuel economy, technology data, and auto manufacturers' performance in meeting the agency's GHG emissions standards.

GSA announced a new MOU between GSA and Southern Company to develop carbon pollution-free electricity (CFE) options for federal facilities in Southern Company's service territories. The MOU documents the intent of GSA and Southern Company to collaborate on development of a roadmap that, when executed, will lead to federal agencies in that region buying more CFE and achieving reliability and resiliency objectives outlined in Executive Order 14057.

Through the Sentinel Landscapes partnership, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) and Department of Defense (DOD) will work together near military installations to help farmers and ranchers make improvements to the land that benefit their operation, enhance wildlife habitat, and enable DOD's training missions to continue.

AIA's Committee on the Environment (COTE) has announced its Top Ten awardees for sustainable design in 2020. The 2020 COTE® Top Ten program highlights projects that meet the AIA Committee on the Environment's rigorous criteria for social, economic, and ecological value. The COTE® Top Ten Plus designation denotes projects with exemplary performance data and post occupancy lessons.

A team of Air Force and scientific experts announced the environmental cleanup program at Dix will meet or exceed Air Force standards. The Dix environmental program is on track for early compliance with the Air Force goal of implementing "Remedy-in-Place" by 2012.

The U.S. Air Force 611th Air Support Group has closed banned motor vehicle waste wells at 3 Alaska sites and paid $45,000 as part of a separate settlement with EPA to resolve the violations.

AFMSA is winning the ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year recognition for successfully using ENERGY STRA resources as the foundation to meet its target of reducing energy intensity by 30 percent by 2015. AFMSA of the Air Force Medical Service provides facility management services to 17 million square ft of healthcare facilities worldwide.

Two Air Force Space Command installations, Buckley Air Force Base, Colo., and Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., including Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, will be the initial beneficiaries of this effort to identify, communicate, manage and take action regarding encroachment issues ranging in scope from local to federal that impact the installations' missions. Encroachment is defined as any actions that impair or are likely to impair the current or future operational capability of an installation complex, or have or are likely to have a significant adverse effect on nearby communities.

Beginning January 22, 2025, Large and Small Quantity Generators (LQGs and SQGs) are required to register and maintain an account in RCRAInfo (https://rcrainfo.epa.gov/rcrainfoprod/action/secured/login) to meet the new regulatory changes made by the e-Manifest Third Final Rule. For instructions on how to register visit the e-Manifest User Registration webpage (https://www.epa.gov/e-manifest/e-manifest-user-registration) For a list of LQGs and SQGs without a Site Manager or Certifier, please visit the e-Manifest Third Rule Compliance Check (https://rcrapublic.epa.gov/rcra-public-export/?outputType=CSV) to download the list. https://www.epa.gov/e-manifest/final-rule-integrating-e-manifest-exports-and-other-manifest-related-reports-pcb

The All-Hazards Waste Management Planning Tool is an interactive tool to assist emergency managers and planners for all communities (state, local, Tribal, and territorial), and large industrial and municipal facilities, such as airports and stadiums. The tool helps these parties create or update a comprehensive pre-incident plan for managing materials and wastes generated from manmade and natural disasters.

"As we approach the 18th America Recycles Day, it is important to recognize the contribution that recycling makes to protecting our environment, conserving natural resources and helping our economy. As described in the President's America Recycles Day Proclamation, this is a day for all Americans to renew their commitment and to look for new opportunities to reduce waste and conserve resources."

Mathy Stanislaus, Assistant Administrator
Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response
US Environmental Protection Agency

U.S. Energy Information Administration has released its online analysis of 2012 energy-related carbon dioxide emissions. It indicates U.S. carbon dioxide emissions from the consumption of fossil fuels were 5,290 million metric tons carbon dioxide in 2012, a decrease of almost 4 percent from the 2011 level.

This new analysis by the U.S. Energy Information Administration indicates U.S. carbon dioxide emissions from the consumption of fossil fuels were 5,406 million metric tons carbon dioxide in 2014, an increase of 1 percent from the 2013 level. U.S. energy-related carbon dioxide emissions remain about 10% below the 2005 level.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has finalized an agreement with Andersen Air Force Base (AAFB) in Guam requiring the base to update its oil spill prevention plan and address other spill prevention deficiencies at the base to better protect Guam's water resources. The Federal Facility Compliance Agreement (FFCA) between EPA and AAFB will require an updated Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) plan and changes to the facilities to comply with newer, more stringent oil spill prevention requirements. The new plan will include AAFB, the Navy Base, and the petroleum pipeline between the two facilities.

The Office of the Federal Environmental Executive and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2010 Federal Electronics Challenge (FEC) Awards. The 2010 FEC Awards will recognize 38 Federal facilities from ten different Federal Agencies for their leadership in Federal electronics stewardship during fiscal year 2009.

EPA recently published the annual U.S. Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions and Sinks, which presents a national-level overview of annual greenhouse gas emissions since 1990. The inventory shows a 9% drop in emissions since 2005, and a 1% increase in greenhouse gas emissions in 2014 from 2013 levels. By sector, power plants were the largest source of emissions, accounting for 30% of total U.S. greenhouse gas pollution. The transportation sector was the second largest source, at 26 percent.

This version serves as the EPA's regular update of the inventory that occurs approximately every 6 months. For the first time, this version includes a field designating which chemical substances were "active" in U.S. commerce based on the following: reporting from the 2012 and 2016 Chemical Data Reporting cycles; Notices of Commencement received by the agency since 21 June 2006; and Notice of Activity Form A's received by the agency through the 7 February 2018 deadline, per the TSCA Inventory Notification (Active-Inactive) rule.

This is a joint effort between EPA's Plug-In To eCycling program and leading cell phone manufacturers, retailers and service providers to increase national awareness about the importance of cell phone recycling. People can participate in this national event by donating or recycling their unwanted cell phones, PDAs and their accessories.

Learn more about the recent U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers jointly released proposed rule to clarify protection under the Clean Water Act for streams and wetlands that form the foundation of the nation's water resources. The webcast will provide a broad overview of the proposed rule and its costs and benefits. The webcast presentation will be posted in advance. Participants are eligible to receive a certificate for attending this webcast.

The April-May-June 2017 issue of the Public Works Digest, published by the U.S. Army Installation Management Command (IMCOM), focuses on environment and sustainability, including articles on the Secretary of the Army Environmental Awards and an article on the first recipient of the new Installation Management Command Environmental Officer Award. Check out commentaries by Lt. Gen. Gwen Bingham, the Army Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management, and by Lt. Gen. Todd Semonite, commanding general of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Other articles focus on the recent Directorate of Public Works workshop, the Army Reserve's environmental strategy, a Best-in-Class designation for the USACE Facilities Reduction Program, and how Career Program 18 (CP-18) provides opportunities.

U.S. Secretary of Energy announced the launch of the Advanced Research on Integrated Energy Systems (ARIES) platform at NREL. Advanced Research on Integrated Energy Systems (ARIES) is a research platform that can match the complexity of the modern energy system and conduct integrated research to support the development of groundbreaking new energy technologies.

In this issue, readers will learn about many examples of the adoption of technology and systems that are reducing the Army's environmental footprint. Working closely with industry, the Army is introducing more efficient turbine engines, hybrid electric power plants, alternative energy generating systems, cleaner manufacturing, virtual technologies and other innovations.

This year's Secretary of the Army Environmental Awards recognize the efforts of Army installations, teams and individuals to sustain and restore the natural and cultural resources found on Army lands throughout the U.S. and in Europe. The six installations, two teams and one individual selected as this year's winners represent the best of the Army's ongoing commitment to sustain its training lands through sound environmental stewardship. The winners are from Army installations in Arizona, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Italy.

Army Directive the establishes requirements for Army instalations in the Strategic Support Area to protect critical assets and ensure mission resilience against threats caused by changing climate and extreme weather.

The Army has released a list of installations that are participating in an energy-conserving pilot program to only use as much energy as they create by 2020. The initiative, called Net Zero, will focus on energy as well as water and waste usage procedures, explained Katherine Hammack, assistant secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment.

Public Works Digest is an unofficial publication of the U.S. Army Installation Management Command, under AR 360-1, The Army Public Affairs Program. The April/May/June edition covers various environment and sustainability news and activities throughout the Army. See attachment.

The Army announced the winners of the 2024 Secretary of the Army Environmental Awards Program. The successes outlined in the nominations of these winners are examples of the many environmental successes that can be found throughout the Army environmental program. Army environmental professionals are constantly striving for ways to ensure environmental quality, restoration and conservation that sustain the mission and support the future.

The Army Sustainability Report 2014 highlights progress in FY12 and FY 13 in land management, operational energy, community partnerships, and programs.

(Seattle – December 8, 2015) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reached a settlement with the U.S. Army for alleged violations of its hazardous waste permit at Fort Wainwright, Alaska. As part of the settlement, the Army has agreed to pay $59,220 in penalties for violations of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).

This is the third annual sustainability report. Dated September 2011, the report describes the continued integration of sustainability into operations at all organizational levels.

With EPA support, the publication titled "The Indoor Air Quality Guide: Best Practices for Design, Construction and Commissioning" is available for download free of charge. The publication includes IAQ strategies, diagrams, case studies and more, aimed at architects, design engineers, contractors, commissioning agents, and all other professionals concerned with IAQ.

Presentations given at EPA's "Common Environmental Violations at Federal Facilities: Ask the EPA Inspector" webinar held October 27, 2010 are now available at http://www.fedcenter.gov/asktheepainspector.

Webinar presentations given at EPA's "Industrial Stormwater Requirements at Federal Facilities: Ask the Inspector" workshop held November 14, 2012 are now available at http://www.fedcenter.gov/industrialstormwaterreqtswebinar.

The Agency's 2024 assessment of the availability of capacity for the treatment and disposal of hazardous waste generation, as documented in the 2024 National Capacity Assessment Report, indicates that there exists adequate capacity nationwide through the year 2049. This report describes the data and analyses that provide the information needed for the capacity assurance. The focus of the assessment is on commercial management for land disposal, incineration, and energy recovery since these management types are often costly and difficult to permit.

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) released its final toxicological profile for several per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). There twelve perfluoroalkyl compounds discussed in the profile. The perfluoroalkyls discussed in the profile primarily consist of perfluorinated aliphatic carboxylic acids and perfluorinated aliphatic sulfonic acids.

The abstract deadline for this meeting is February 5. If you are actively participating in emerging contaminants research, education, or policy, please consider participating in this meeting.

This report describes the development of a method to assess battery energy storage system (BESS) performance that the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) and others can use to evaluate performance of deployed BESS or solar photovoltaic (PV) plus BESS systems. The proposed method is based on actual battery charge and discharge metered data to be collected from BESS systems provided by federal agencies participating in FEMP's performance assessment initiatives. Long-term (e.g., at least 1 year) time series (e.g., hourly) charge and discharge data are analyzed to provide approximate estimates of key performance indicators (KPIs).

The formation of battery recycling working sessions alongside experts from state governments, manufacturers, recyclers, and environmental groups. The entire working group session is presented. Speakers include EPA Senior Advisor for Implementation for the Office of Land and Emergency Management, and the Director of EPA's Resource Conservation and Sustainability Division they highlighted the Agency's leading role in battery recycling efforts.

In 2015 the Energy Department launched the Better Buildings Solution Center, an online tool, hosting hundreds of partner solutions that have been proven to accelerate energy savings in single buildings, and across entire building portfolios. As users browse the Solution Center they can easily find by topic the solutions partners implemented to help them to understand how leading organizations achieve significant energy savings. The department is excited to feature below the top-10 and most viewed solutions since May 2015, when the Solution Center first launched.

The Biden Administration through the EPA awarded $254.5 million in Brownfields grants to 265 communities. The grants are supported by President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provides a total of $1.5 billion to advance environmental justice, spur economic revitalization, and create jobs by cleaning up contaminated, polluted, or hazardous brownfield properties. Brownfield projects can range from cleaning up buildings with asbestos or lead contamination, to assessing and cleaning up abandoned properties that once managed dangerous chemicals. Once cleaned up, former brownfield properties can be redeveloped into productive uses such as grocery stores, affordable housing, health centers, museums, parks, and solar farms. The Brownfields Program advances President Biden's Justice40 Initiative, which aims to deliver at least 40 percent of the benefits of certain government programs to disadvantaged communities. Approximately 86 percent of the communities selected to receive funding as part of today's announcement have proposed projects in historically underserved areas.

(Washington, August 31, 2022) Today, the Biden Administration took a major step forward in achieving the goals of President Biden's Federal Sustainability Plan and Executive Order (E.O.) 14057 Catalyzing Clean Energy Industries and Jobs Through Federal Sustainability by issuing E.O. 14057 Implementing Instructions to Federal agencies.

Through President Biden's historic Executive Order 14057 Catalyzing Clean Energy Industries and Jobs Through Federal Sustainability the U.S. Federal Government leads the world by example again – transforming how it builds, buys, and manages to help make America's economy cleaner, more efficient, and more sustainable.

EPA announced the latest actions to phase down climate-damaging hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) under the bipartisan American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act, building on the Biden-Harris Administration's progress in accomplishing an initial 10% reduction and helping achieve an 85% reduction by 2036. The first new action is a final rule to accelerate the ongoing transition to more efficient and climate-safe technologies in new refrigeration, heating and cooling systems and other products by restricting the use of HFCs where alternatives are already available. The second action is a proposed rule to better manage and reuse existing HFCs, including by reducing wasteful leaks from equipment and supporting a growing American industry for HFC recycling and reclamation. Under the AIM Act, the Biden-Harris Administration is phasing down HFCs to achieve a 40% reduction of HFCs starting in 2024 and an 85% reduction by 2036. Today's actions will support the national phasedown, including through an additional $4.5 billion in estimated savings for industry and consumers, while supporting good-paying American manufacturing jobs to produce the next generation of equipment and HFC alternatives.