The REC Review of Legislative & Regulatory Actions, published by the Navy Regional Environmental Coordination Office, highlights environmental and energy related developments for DoD/Navy leaders and Installation staff. Covering 20 states in Federal Regions 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, the REC Review gives early notice of legislative and regulatory activities relevant to DoD interests. See attached.

Monthly environmental news for DoD facilities in EPA Regions 1, 2 & 3.

Monthly environmental news for DoD facilities in EPA Regions 1, 2 & 3.

Monthly environmental news for DoD facilities in EPA Regions 1, 2 & 3.

Monthly environmental news for DoD facilities in EPA Regions 1, 2 & 3.

A settlement between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Navy will help reduce potentially harmful discharges of ozone-depleting substances and ensure the safe storage and disposal of hazardous waste at the Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia, where EPA alleges environmental violations occurred. Under the settlement, the Navy will pay an $83,900 penalty for violations of the Clean Air Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today launched season two of "Better Buildings Challenge SWAP," featuring the U.S. Naval Academy and U.S. Air Force Academy. Both military operations swap energy teams to improve the energy efficiency of each one's campus.

The Department of Defense's National Defense Center for Energy and Environment (NDCEE) is excited to announce the opening of proposals for demonstrations of environmental, safety, occupational health, and energy technologies from March 1st to April 1st. They welcome submissions from all DoD Services, inviting innovative technologies, processes, and strategies that enhance energy security, Warfighter protection, military operations efficiency, or reduce environmental impacts. NDCEE wants your help shaping the future of defense through initiatives that bolster national security, safeguard our planet, and contribute to a more robust, greener, and secure tomorrow.

The National Defense Center for Energy and Environment (NDCEE) Program has published the Summer/Fall 2009 NDCEE Newsletter.

The National Defense Center for Energy and Environment (NDCEE) Program has published the Winter/Spring 2009 NDCEE Newsletter.

This is a searchable online database that provides a gateway to climate information for the Eastern US. It summarizes needs for climate information as articulated in publications; identifies available data, products and services; and captures planned and on-going projects. The goal is to offer a tool to search for regionally relevant climate information, and to facilitate collaborative opportunities across the network of climate-focused programs and partners in the Eastern US.

April 23, 2024 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM (Eastern) April 24, 2024 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Eastern) April 25, 2024 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Eastern) The National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC) will convene an in-person public meeting with a virtual option (hybrid). The meeting is free and open to all members of the public. The meeting discussions will focus on several topics including, but not limited to, workgroup updates, final recommendations for council consideration, presentations, panels, and discussions on protentional charges with various EPA national program offices. Read the draft agenda (https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2024-04/draft-nejac-public-meeting-agenda-april-23-25-2024.pdf)

Developed by CEQ and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP), this handbook that provides advice to Federal agencies, applicants, project sponsors, and consultants on how to take advantage of existing regulatory provisions to align the NEPA process and the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) Section 106 review process. The handbook explains how to align NEPA and NHPA Section 106 processes for maximum efficiency and public input, and provides a series of roadmaps for coordination of the two statutes.

Offered by Utah State University, this is a 12-credit graduate level Certificate that can be completed as a stand-alone Certificate or as part of a graduate degree. The NEPA Certificate Program was designed to prepare natural resource and environmental professionals to meet the challenges of complying with the act and working effectively on NEPA documents. The program can be completed using either short-courses offered in various locations across the country, or online using webinars developed in the short-course format, or a combination of short-courses and webinars.

Learn about environmental impact analysis, cultural resource management, and historic preservation responsibilities and relationships. Assess practical applications for effectively integrating the analyses required by the National Environmental Policy Act, related environmental regulations, and the National Historic Preservation Act.

This document will help GSA staff, contractors, and other GSA associates carry out the requirements of NEPA in accordance with the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations (40 CFR 1500-1508) and GSA Order ADM 1095.1F (Environmental Consideration in Decisionmaking).

This is now the "new" NEPA. New regulations implementing NEPA were published in July 2020 and became effective in September 2020. Serious changes have been made to the NEPA practice whether we call these an update, streamlining, modernization, or clarification. This course will encompass all these changes. If you have attended this course before, it's time for your own update!

A web-based mapping tool developed for Federal agencies to facilitate more efficient and effective environmental reviews and project planning. The tool is part of an initiative developed by the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and it draws information from publicly available federal, state, and local datasets, allowing NEPA practitioners, stakeholders and the public to view information about environmental conditions within the area of a proposed project quickly and easily at early stages of project development.

Developed by the EPA's National Estuary Program (NEP), NEPmap contains more than a decade's worth of NEP habitat data and provides a large set of data layers to enable viewing of NEP habitat information in a wider environmental context. The NEPmap allows users to view water quality conditions in their estuary and surrounding watershed alongside NEP habitat projects. NEPmap users can also generate and print maps and reports, change map scales, turn on and off background layers and interact with information points to provide a greater level of detail than a traditional static map.

The EPA is taking final action on the technology review conducted on the Miscellaneous Coating Manufacturing (MCM) source category regulated under the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP). These final amendments include provisions for inorganic hazardous air pollutant (HAP) standards for process vessels. This final rule is effective 22 February 2023. POC is Ms. Angie Carey, Sector Policies and Programs Division (E143-01), Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, EPA, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711; teler: (919) 541-2187 and email:carey.angela@epa.gov. (Federal Register 22 February 2023 [Rule] pages 10842-10851)

The EPA is proposing amendments to the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for the Commercial Sterilization Facilities source category. The EPA is proposing decisions concerning the risk and technology review (RTR), including proposing amendments pursuant to the technology review for certain point source emissions and proposing amendments pursuant to the risk review to specifically address ethylene oxide (EtO) emissions from point source and room air emissions from all commercial sterilization facilities. The EPA is also proposing amendments to correct and clarify regulatory provisions related to emissions during periods of startup, shutdown, and malfunction (SSM), including removing general exemptions for periods of SSM and adding work practice standards for periods of SSM where appropriate. Lastly, the EPA is proposing to revise monitoring and performance testing requirements and to add provisions for electronic reporting of performance test results and reports, performance evaluation reports, and compliance reports. Comments must be received on or before 12 June 2023. For questions about this proposed action, contact Jonathan Witt, Sector Policies and Programs Division (E143–05), Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, EPA, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; tele: (919) 541– 5645; and email: witt.jon@ epa.gov. (Federal Register 13 April 2023 [Proposed Rule] Pages 22790-22857)

This action finalizes the residual RTR conducted for the Commercial Sterilization Facilities source category regulated under NESHAP under the CAA. The EPA is finalizing decisions concerning the RTR, including definitions for affected sources, emission standards for previously unregulated sources, amendments pursuant to the risk review to address ethylene oxide (EtO) emissions from certain sterilization chamber vents (SCVs), aeration room vents (ARVs), chamber exhaust vents (CEVs), and room air emissions, and amendments pursuant to the technology review for certain SCVs and ARVs. In addition, we are taking final action to correct and clarify regulatory provisions related to emissions during periods of SSM, including removing exemptions for periods of SSM. We are also taking final action to require owners and operators to demonstrate compliance through the use of EtO CEMS, with exceptions for very small users of EtO; add provisions for electronic reporting of performance test results and other reports; and include other technical revisions to improve consistency and clarity. We estimate that these final amendments will reduce EtO emissions from this source category by approximately 21 tons per year (tpy). This final rule is effective on 5 April 2024. POC is Jonathan Witt, tele: (919) 541-5645 and email:witt.jon@epa.gov. (Federal Register 5 April 2024 [Rule] Pages 24090-24203)

EPA finalized the residual risk and technology review (RTR) conducted for the Ethylene Production source category, which is part of the Generic Maximum Achievable Control Technology Standards NESHAP. Amendments to the Petroleum Refinery Sector NESHAP were most recently finalized on 4 February 2020. Subsequently, the EPA received and granted various petitions for reconsideration on these NESHAP for, among other things, the provisions related to the work practice standards for pressure relief devices (PRDs), emergency flaring, and degassing of floating roof storage vessels. This action finalizes proposed amendments to remove the force majeure exemption for PRDs and emergency flaring, incorporate clarifications for the degassing requirements for floating roof storage vessels, and address other corrections and clarifications. This final action is effective on 4 April 2024. POC is Michael Cantoni, Sector Policies and Programs Division, Mail Drop: E143-01, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, P.O. Box 12055, RTP, North Carolina 27711; tele: (919) 541-5593; and email: cantoni.michael@epa.gov. (Federal Register 4 April 2024 [Rule] Pages 23840-23873)

The EPA is proposing amendments to the NESHAP for Gasoline Distribution facilities and the Standards of Performance for Bulk Gasoline Terminals. The EPA is proposing to revise NESHAP requirements for storage tanks, loading operations, and equipment leaks to reflect cost-effective developments in practices, process, or controls. The EPA is also proposing New Source Performance Standards to reflect best system of emissions reduction for loading operations and equipment leaks. In addition, the EPA is proposing revisions related to emissions during periods of startup, shutdown, and malfunction; to add requirements for electronic reporting of performance test results, performance evaluation reports, and compliance reports; to revise monitoring and operating requirements for control devices; and to make other minor technical improvements. We estimate that these proposed amendments would reduce emissions of hazardous air pollutants from this source category by 2,220 tons per year (tpy) and would reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds by 45,400 tpy. Comments must be received on or before 9 August 2022. POC is Mr. Neil Feinberg, Sector Policies and Programs Division (E143-01), Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, EPA, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711; tel: (919) 541-2214 and email: feinberg.stephen@epa.gov. (Federal Register 10 June 2022 [Proposed Rule] pages 35608-35642).

Published in August 2010, this report presents an assessment and planning process to examine military installations for net zero energy potential. Net Zero Energy Installation (NZEI) assessment offers a systematic framework to analyze energy projects at installations while balancing other site priorities such as mission, cost, and security. This report is the result of a joint initiative formed between DoD and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in 2008 to address military energy use led to a task force to examine the potential for net zero energy military installations, which would produce as much energy on-site from renewable energy generation, or through the on-site use of renewable fuels, as they consume in buildings, facilities, and fleet vehicles.

A web-based electronic reporting tool that Clean Water Act National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitted facilities can use to submit their monthly discharge monitoring reports (DMR). These reports certify whether permit holders are in compliance with their discharge standards.

This document is a draft Strategic Plan for NIOSH Nanotechnology Research.

Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and the Environment Katherine Hammack has issued a new policy memorandum to improve high-performance green buildings standards for the Army. The memo, "Memorandum for Sustainable Design and Development Policy Update (Environmental and Energy Performance) (Revision)", includes requirements for the planning, programming, budgeting, design and building stages that will strengthen the Army's sustainability, energy security, and energy independence through more responsible consumption and planning.

EPA is announcing the availability of reporting instructions for entities required to report on their use of asbestos under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). In July 2023, EPA finalized a rule that requires comprehensive reporting on all six fiber types of asbestos as the agency continues its work to address exposure to this known carcinogen and strengthen the evidence that will be used to further protect people from this dangerous chemical. Importantly, the rule also covers asbestos-containing products (including products that contain asbestos as an impurity, such as asbestos-containing talc) and asbestos that is present as a component of a mixture. Manufacturers (including importers) and processors subject to the rule must submit all required information to EPA during the three-month data submission period beginning February 24, 2024, and ending 24 May 2024. Reporters must use the asbestos section 8(a)(1) reporting tool on EPA's Central Data Exchange (CDX) to submit information. EPA will not accept paper submissions or electronic media. EPA has released a detailed set of instructions to help potential reporters determine if they need to report and how to use the CDX-based tool to submit their data. While the submission period doesn't begin until February, EPA encourages entities that are required to report or who believe they may be required to report to read the instructions as soon as possible and register with CDX if necessary.

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EPA has announced the first 10 chemicals it will evaluate for potential risks to human health and the environment under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). They are: 1,4-Dioxane, 1-Bromopropane, Asbestos, Carbon Tetrachloride, Cyclic Aliphatic Bromide Cluster, Methylene Chloride, N-methylpyrrolidone, Pigment Violet 29, Tetrachloroethylene (also known as perchloroethylene), and Trichloroethylene.

FedCenter has added a new topic to its program area lineup - Climate Change Adaptation. This area includes the latest guidance and information resources to help Federal agencies facilitate climate adaptation planning.

The Global Electronics Council recently announced Climate Criteria for its EPEAT ecolabel. Starting in late 2023, products that have been verified to meet these criteria will be listed as Early Adopters on the EPEAT Registry. All products will have to meet the Climate Criteria by December 31, 2025. EPA coordinated comments from federal agencies for the new criteria which includes requirements for public disclosure of climate pollutants, use of renewable energy and energy reduction within the supply chain and during a product's use. The EPEAT label was developed with support from an EPA grant and federal purchasers are required to procure EPEAT registered electronics.

This 2013 pamphlets highlights the advantages of using alternative refrigerants as well as Clean Air Act Requirements and MVAC Services Best Practices.

This new SFTool section is dedicated to integrative design and collaborative construction practices. Construction project teams using integrative design approaches and collaborative practices save time and money by reducing the number of hand-offs between the design team and builder, creating a sense of mutual trust among the project team, and increasing stakeholder partnerships throughout the project. The new section presents real-world examples from GSA capital construction projects featuring four project role perspectives and how they used collaborative strategies to deliver high-performance buildings on time and on budget.

The Commerce Department's Economics and Statistics Administration has issued two new reports on the green economy. The first, "Measuring the Green Economy," presents definitions and estimates of the size of the green economy. The report finds that the green economy makes up about 1 to 2 percent of the total economy and is poised for strong growth. The second report, "U.S. Carbon Dioxide Emissions and Intensities Over Time: A Detailed Accounting of Industries, Government and Households," analyzes energy-related CO2 emissions and intensities for 349 industries, the government, and households for the 1998 to 2006 period. This report shows how energy efficiency has changed over the past decade across industry sectors, indicating that some areas of the economy have shown substantial decreases in their CO2 emissions while others have made less progress. The methodology of the report provides a way to measure changes in energy efficiency over time as policies change.

On 11 January 2017, EPA's 2017 Construction General permit (CGP) was issued. It will take effect on 16 February 2017. The 2012 CGP will expire at midnight on February 16, 2017. During this time, web content for each permit will be online. Web content for the 2017 CGP will include the new permit and factsheet initially with supporting documents added soon. Web content for the 2012 CGP will remain posted online until the 2012 permit expires.

FedCenter has developed a page at https://www.fedcenter.gov/covid19 that consolidates federal, agency-specific, and non-federal environmentally-related guidance and recommendations with respect to COVID-19 (Coronavirus). The page provides up-to-date, currently available COVID-19 information as it pertains to the environment to help organizations who may be planning on developing additional guidance.

The Joint Office of Energy and Transportation announced a $1.5 million award to National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) that will foster collaboration in the development and deployment of a national electric vehicle (EV) charging network that will benefit all Americans. The partnership will convene stakeholders across local, state, and federal government to ensure that EV charging station infrastructure investments are made in a strategic, coordinated, efficient, and equitable manner with public and private-sector partners. The work will be critical to the Joint Office's role in EV infrastructure investments made under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

At the request of the federal community, FedCenter has added a new topic to its program area lineup - Cultural Resources. The Cultural Resources Program Area addresses the background and available tools and resources for the management of cultural and historic resources. This includes: preservation of historic properties, archaeological sites, gravesites, repatriation of Native American objects, and curation of collections.

In the U.S. District Court for South Carolina Judge David C. Norton issued an injunction against the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers' "Suspension Rule" that delayed the effective date of the Clean Water Rule for 2 years. The result of this injunction is to essentially reinstate the Clean Water Rule (26 June 2015, Federal Register) in 26 states; the remaining states are subject to district court injunctions currently blocking implementation of the Clean Water Rule.

This new search identifies instances when industrial facilities and sewage treatment plants discharge wastewater pollution in exceedance of their Clean Water Act (CWA) permit effluent limits. The results from this new search feature allow users to identify and sort effluent exceedances. These results are displayed on a webpage and are also sortable (e.g., descending order of facilities with highest effluent exceedances, most pollutant amount over effluent limits - "load over limit"). These results can be downloaded to a user's computer for additional sorting and review. The DMR Pollutant Loading Tool, including this new search, is updated weekly with DMR data from industrial facilities and sewage treatment plants. States authorized to administer the CWA permit program collect these monitoring data and share these data with EPA's national database (ICIS-NPDES).

This Fact Sheet provides general information on e-Manifest; implementation of actual response is based on cleanup authorities applicable to the site.

The new EO, signed 28 March 2017, is titled "Promoting Energy Independence and Economic Growth." The EO details how the current administration plans to achieve the policy stated in Section 1 of the EO to "promote clean and safe development of our Nation's vast energy resources, while at the same time avoiding regulatory burdens that unnecessarily encumber energy production, constrain economic growth, and prevent job creation." This EO will not be numbered until it is officially published in the Federal Register.

Effective in September 2011, these products must be 40 percent more efficient than conventional models in order to qualify for the Energy Star label.

As directed by President Biden's executive order, the Justice Department and EPA developed a strategy that positions the Biden-Harris Administration to leverage all available legal tools to secure protections for communities that have been overburdened by pollution and environmental injustices. This includes restoring Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEPs), which EPA's enforcement program has used to provide environmental and/or public health benefits to communities harmed by environmental violations. In the development of this strategy, EPA and the Justice Department engaged in listening sessions to hear directly from impacted communities and other stakeholders. This feedback was critical in shaping today's EJ announcements. A Supplemental Environmental Project is an enforcement tool that EPA used for more than 30 years until the previous administration brought it to a halt. SEPs are local projects that defendants can agree to undertake as part of an enforcement case settlement to help rectify environmental violations. SEPs help to fulfill the goals of the underlying statutes being enforced and can provide important environmental and public health benefits to communities that have been harmed by environmental violations.

New Executive Order Regarding Efficient Federal Operations was signed by President Trump on 17 May 2018. This EO affirms "that agencies shall meet such statutory requirements in a manner that increases efficiency, optimizes performance, eliminates unnecessary use of resources, and protects the environment." Section 8 of the new EO revokes EO 13693 of March 19, 2015 (Planning for Federal Sustainability in the Next Decade). Visit the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Office of Federal Sustainability (OFS) website for details. Click here for the Federal Register listing. A fact sheet is also available.

FedCenter has released a new tool combining its former EPA Enforcement Focus feature with Compliance Assistance information. Here you'll find the latest information being disseminated by EPA, national and regional, that affects your facilities today.

EPA has issued guidance on the handling of PCB-containing fluorescent light ballasts in schools. While directed at schools, it applies to any other building owner or operator as well.

EPA has created a new Office of Sustainable Communities to encourage communities to take an integrated approach in making environmental, housing and transportation decisions.

EPA released a new report that finds that President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act – the largest climate investment ever – spurs major carbon dioxide (CO2) emission reductions from the U.S. electricity sector and across the economy. The report, "Electricity Sector Emissions Impacts of the Inflation Reduction Act: Assessment of projected CO2 emissions reductions from changes in electricity generation and use," relies upon results from state-of-the-art models to assess how the Inflation Reduction Act's investments in clean electricity and other climate solutions across sectors will reduce emissions. Since taking office, the Biden-Harris Administration has delivered on the most ambitious climate agenda in history, which is lowering energy costs for families, creating jobs across the country, and protecting lands and waters for future generations. This report is consistent with, and incorporates results from, recent reports issued by the Department of Energy and National Renewable Energy Laboratory, as well as results from a peer-reviewed analysis conducted by external, independent, energy and emissions modeling experts. The reports all show accelerated and significant reductions in U.S. carbon dioxide emissions with the implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act.

This study was commissioned to estimate the groundwater recharge benefits from application of small storm retention practices on new development and redevelopment nationwide. The study focuses on areas in the United States where groundwater is a significant contributor to urban and agricultural uses and where water shortages may occur in the future under different climate change scenarios. The results suggest that over time the use of green infrastructure can save hundreds of millions of dollars in groundwater resources when only applying the practices to new development and redevelopment. If retrofitting or increased retention were to occur, the groundwater benefits would be even more significant.

(WASHINGTON, 10/06/2016) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today launched a new online portal that will provide local leaders in the nation's 40,000 communities with information and tools to increase resilience to climate change. Using a self-guided format, the Adaptation Resource Center (ARC-X) provides users with information tailored specifically to their needs, based on where they live and the particular issues of concern to them.

WASHINGTON (November 16, 2009) – Home owners, buyers and renters have a new resource for going green indoors and outdoors. EPA's new Green Homes Web site will help people make their homes greener with tips on reducing energy consumption, carbon footprints, waste generation and water usage, as well as improving indoor air quality.

On June 24, 2014, DoD, GSA, and NASA issued an interim rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement changes in the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT®) registry beyond personal computer products to cover imaging equipment (i.e., copiers, digital duplicators, facsimile machines, mailing machines, multifunction devices, printers, and scanners) and televisions and modify the existing FAR requirements to recognize the revised standard applicable to computer products. For more information, click here.

This new EO creates the Federal Leadership Committee for the Chesapeake Bay which will be chaired by the Environmental Protection Agency. The EO calls for EPA and six other federal agencies to coordinate and expand federal tools and resources to help speed cleanup of the nation's largest estuary. The EO can be found here.

This EO, dated 15 August 2017, addresses changing the way the Federal Government, as a whole, processes environmental reviews and authorization decisions. Additionally, it revokes Executive Order 13690 of 30 January 2015, Establishing a Federal Flood Risk Management Standard and a Process for Further Soliciting and Considering Stakeholder Input.

The new EO, titled "Planning for Federal Sustainability in the Next Decade," revokes multiple prior EOs and memorandum including EO 13423 and EO 13514. The new EO outlines forward-looking goals for federal agencies in the area of energy, climate change, water use, vehicle fleets, construction, and acquisition.

A new feature in the ECHO Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR) Pollutant Loading Tool will provide easier access and analysis of toxic pollutant releases to sewage treatment facilities, as reported under EPA's Toxics Release Inventory (TRI). This new feature provide better integration with TRI indirect release data (i.e., TRI releases to sewage treatment facilities) with Clean Water Act DMR data. The main way to access these data is though the Loading Tool "EZ Search" and "Advanced Search" as well as the "Indirect Industrial Discharger Report" on the "Everyday Search" tab. The Loading Tool now makes it easy to see identify facilities that release TRI chemicals to sewage treatment plants. The ECHO DMR Pollutant Loading Tool is updated weekly with DMR data from industrial facilities and sewage treatment plants. States authorized to administer the CWA permit program collect these monitoring data and share these data with EPA's national database (ICIS-NPDES). ECHO provides integrated compliance and enforcement information for about 800,000 regulated facilities nationwide.

FedCenter has added 2 new program areas to its lineup of environmental topics. The newly released Environmental Justice program area includes information on federal efforts to integrate environmental justice into all policies, programs, and activities. PFAS Resources consolidates information on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) for federal agencies. This page includes information from federal, state, local and tribal governments, and non-governmental and private organizations, regarding health effects on people, regulatory actions being taken, scientific research being conducted, and its effects on the environment.

The DOE is publishing this final rule to implement provisions in the Energy Conservation and Production Act (ECPA) that require DOE to update the baseline Federal energy efficiency performance standards for the construction of new Federal commercial and multi-family high-rise residential buildings. This rule updates the baseline Federal commercial standard to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 90.1-2019. This rule is effective 6 June 2022. POC is Nicolas Baker, DOE, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, FEMP, Mailstop EE-5F, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-8215, Email: nicolas.baker@ee.doe.gov. (Federal Register 7 April 2022 [Rule] Pages 20267-20295)

This new site intends to help agencies close gaps between potential energy savings and actual performance. Specifically, it shows agencies how to use institutional change to meet their energy- and water-reduction goals. Institutional change integrates technology, policy, and behavior to make new sustainability practices and perspectives become "business as usual" at an agency.

FedCenter has added a new topic to its program area lineup - Greenhouse Gases. This area includes the latest guidance and information resources to aid Federal facilities in managing greenhouse gas emissions. This encompasses current guidance, policies, and trends related to climate change/global warming, calculation of carbon footprints, GHG inventories, and the application of offsets to reduce carbon footprints.

Lighting accounts for over 20% of the energy used by commercial buildings. Research out of the General Services Administration (GSA) Office of Federal High Performance Green Buildings demonstrates how to save energy through integrated lighting and daylighting strategies. The research, conducted by GSA and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) at the Fort Carson Army Base near Colorado Springs, CO, evaluated opportunities for Fort Carson buildings to provide superior lighting with minimal energy use. Learn strategies - including the "layers of light" approach - to save energy through strategic use of daylighting and lighting.

In this June 2018 study GSA compares 100 GSA high-performance buildings to 100 GSA legacy stock buildings looking at actual performance data in five key metrics from the last three years. The comparison found that high-performance buildings save energy, save water, cost less to operate, produce less waste, and have more satisfied occupants compared with typical buildings.

Imagine if a federal agency could more easily find and buy products that are cheaper and better for the environment. That's exactly what's happening through a collaboration between GSA and the Department of Defense's Sustainable Technology Evaluation and Demonstration program, called STED. The STED program, led by Director David Asiello of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy Installations and Environment, helps to streamline the GSA acquisition process. STED connects innovative manufacturers and their products with potential users at military installations. There, users can test products and estimate their likely demand. STED then shares relevant demand and pricing data with GSA's acquisition teams, who can eventually award a Schedule contract. And, in some cases, GSA's acquisition teams can assign a National Stock Number for even faster ordering. More info....

"The Analysis of Hydraulic Fracturing Fluid Data from the FracFocus Chemical Registry 1.0." is a peer-reviewed analysis built on more than two years of data provided by organizations that manage FracFocus, the Ground Water Protection Council and the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission. Operators disclosed information on individual oil and gas production wells hydraulically fractured between January 2011 and February 2013 and agency researchers then compiled a database from more than 39,000 disclosures. Researchers reviewed and analyzed this information to identify the chemicals and better understand the amounts of water used for hydraulic fracturing.

EPA's IRIS database provides crucial information on ways human health is impacted by exposure to chemical substances in air, water, and land both from contaminated sites and from products. Combined with specific exposure information, government and private entities use IRIS to help characterize public health risks of chemical substances in a site-specific situation and thereby support risk management decisions designed to protect public health.

Addressing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the environment continues to be an active and ongoing priority for the EPA. The agency is announcing two important steps to address PFAS. First, EPA issued a memorandum detailing an interim National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting strategy for addressing PFAS in EPA-issued wastewater permits. Second, EPA released information on progress in developing new analytical methods to test for PFAS compounds in wastewater and other environmental media. Together, these actions help ensure that federally enforceable wastewater monitoring for PFAS can begin as soon as validated analytical methods are finalized.

New Mexico State water quality officials announced that they approved a settlement agreement with the U.S. Defense Department over groundwater violations at Cannon Air Force Base in eastern New Mexico. The agreement addresses a compliance order that was issued over Cannon's lack of a groundwater discharge permit. The base also was accused of not providing state environmental regulators with information about chemicals left behind by past military firefighting activities. The state Environment Department had initially fined the Air Force almost $1.7 million for failing to monitor the contaminants discharged at Cannon and for letting its permit expire.

FedCenter has compiled a topical index of Federally-sponsored and non-profit mobile applications that may be of interest to the Federal environmental community. Mobile applications are those tools and information resources that have been specifically developed for your mobile devices, such as smartphone, tablet, or other Internet-connected hand-held device. The directory will be maintained daily to keep you abreast of any new and useful mobile applications the federal community releases.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced that Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida, has been designated a national center for ocean energy research and development. This new Southeast National Marine Renewable Energy Center joins centers in the Pacific Northwest and in Hawaii that also work to advance the operational readiness of ocean energy technologies.

The NETI Training Bulletin announces upcoming EPA environmental enforcement training opportunities (E-Learning, Classroom, and Webinar courses) for federal, state, tribal and local government environmental enforcement professionals.

The DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy announced its intent to issue three sustainable transportation technologies funding opportunity announcements (FOAs) in Spring 2021. These potential funding opportunities seek innovative research, development, demonstration, and deployment (RDD&D) in the pursuit of technologies that will help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across the transportation sector, the highest source of emissions in the United States.

DOE has announced that there are four new agreements valued at a total of $52.5 million under its Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPC), which are designed to help the federal government save energy and water. The new "task orders" will result in energy-saving upgrades at the Bureau of Land Management, National Wildlife Center, and two General Services Administration (GSA) facilities.

EPA is opening a new public comment period to collect additional comments and suggestions for the Clean Water Act National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Electronic Reporting Rule. The proposed rule requires electronic reporting of NPDES information rather than paper-based reports from permitted facilities that discharge to waters of the United States. The new comment period is an opportunity for EPA to clarify any misunderstandings about the proposed rule and discuss possibilities for how EPA might modify the rule to address issues raised by stakeholders. Comments are due January 30, 2015.

On 5 December 2013 President Obama issued a new renewable energy goal of 20 percent by 2020. The memorandum further details priority actions, directions on accounting for renewable energy, and building performance and energy management.

EPA is hosting this webcast on 24 May 2011 which will introduce owners and operators of construction sites, members of the public, and State or Tribal permitting authorities to the new requirements of the proposed CGP. There will also be time dedicated to answering questions posed from the webcast participants.

The DOI, USDA, EPA, NOAA, and USACE have recognized three new collaborative landscape partnerships across the country. Federal agencies will focus there on efforts with partners to conserve and restore important lands and waters and make them more resilient to a changing climate. These include the California Headwaters, California's North-Central Coast and Russian River Watershed and Crown of the Continent.

EPA is proposing five separate actions under section 111 of the CAA addressing GHG emissions from fossil fuel-fired electric generating units (EGUs). The EPA is proposing revised new source performance standards (NSPS), first for GHG emissions from new fossil fuel-fired stationary combustion turbine EGUs and second for GHG emissions from fossil fuel-fired steam generating units that undertake a large modification, based upon the 8-year review required by the CAA. Third, the EPA is proposing emission guidelines for GHG emissions from existing fossil fuel-fired steam generating EGUs, which include both coal-fired and oil/gas-fired steam generating EGUs. Fourth, the EPA is proposing emission guidelines for GHG emissions from the largest, most frequently operated existing stationary combustion turbines and is soliciting comment on approaches for emission guidelines for GHG emissions for the remainder of the existing combustion turbine category. Finally, the EPA is proposing to repeal the Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) Rule. Comments must be received on or before 24 July 2023. POC is Christian Fellner, Sector Policies and Programs Division (D243–02), Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, EPA, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711; tele: (919) 541–4003; and email: fellner.christian@epa.gov. (Federal Register 23 May 2023 [Proposed Rule] Pages 33240-33420)

EPA is proposing amendments to the Standards of Performance for secondary lead smelters per the Agency's periodic review of the new source performance standards required by the CAA. In this action, they are proposing updates to the current NSPS for secondary lead smelters and proposing a new NSPS subpart that applies to affected sources constructed, reconstructed, or modified after the date of this proposed rule. For the current NSPS subpart, they are proposing to revise the definitions of blast furnace, reverberatory furnace, and pot furnace to more closely align with the equipment definitions used in the NESHAP for secondary lead smelting. They are also proposing requirements for periodic performance tests for PM and incorporating revised monitoring, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements, including electronic reporting of performance tests, to be more consistent with the NESHAP. Please read full text for additional subpart proposals. Comments must be received on or before 17 January 2023. POC is Tonisha Dawson, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, EPA, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711; tel: (919) 541-1454; and email: dawson.tonisha@epa.gov. (Federal Register 1 December 2022 [Proposed Rule] Pages 73708-73722)

EPA is finalizing amendments to the NSPS for secondary lead smelters pursuant to the periodic review required by the CAA. Specifically, the EPA is finalizing revisions to the NSPS that applies to affected secondary lead smelters constructed, reconstructed, or modified after 1 December 2022 (NSPS subpart La). The EPA is also finalizing amendments to the NSPS for secondary lead smelters constructed, reconstructed, or modified after 11 June 1973, and on or before 1 December 2022, (NSPS subpart L). In addition, we are finalizing the use of EPA Method 22 (Visual Determination of Fugitive Emissions from Material Sources and Smoke Emissions from Flares) as an alternative for demonstrating compliance with the opacity limit. This final rule is effective on 20 November 2023. POC is Amber Wright, Sector Policies and Programs Division (D243–02), Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, EPA, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, P.O. Box 12055, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711; tele: (919) 541–4680; email: wright.amber@epa.gov. (Federal Register 20 November 2023 [Rule] Pages 80594-80617)

Under the leadership of the U.S. EPA and USDA, the "Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators" has been released on 19 May 2015. Accompanying the Strategy document are the "Pollinator Research Action Plan,' and "Pollinator-Friendly Best Management Practices for Federal Lands."

Issued September 2009 by GSA, this 40-page guide to sustainable development will help you move beyond existing "green" and "high-performance" strategies that provide incremental improvements, to ones that will sustain the Government's operations within the scale of the Earth's closed system. The "Guide" and its four-section "Appendix" include concepts, tools and strategies for operationalizing sustainability that will simplify every-day decision-making and provide guidance for achieving long-term goals.

EPA released its 2020 Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) National Analysis, which shows that environmental releases of TRI chemicals by facilities covered by the program declined by 10% between 2019 and 2020. The 2020 TRI National Analysis summarizes TRI chemical waste management activities, including releases, that occurred during calendar year 2020. More than 21,000 facilities report annually on over 800 chemicals they release into the environment or otherwise manage as waste. EPA, states, and tribes receive TRI data from facilities in industry sectors such as manufacturing, mining, electric utilities, and commercial hazardous waste management. EPA is hosting a public webinar on 23 March 2022, highlighting the findings and trends from the 2020 TRI National Analysis and explaining the interactive features of the National Analysis website. Register for the webinar. (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/us-epa-2020-toxics-release-inventory-tri-national-analysis-tickets-277668523027)

EPA announces the release of How's My Waterway. How's My Waterway is a tool that assembles publicly available water quality data into a user-friendly package that provides information on water quality in our nation's waters. Map-centric and mobile-friendly, How's My Waterway works on all different screen sizes, from desktop computers and tablets to mobile phones

By user request, FedCenter has added a new topic to its program area lineup - Water Efficiency. This area provides tools, techniques, and approaches federal environmental managers and facility managers can use for improving water use efficiency for both potable and non-potable water resources. Stop back often for updates, or, if you are a FedCenter member, subscribe to receive e-mail notifications of new information posted to this topic area through our daily newsletter service.

Training Session by Sam Higuchi: How to Determine Physical Risks Using Climate Scenario Analysis; broadcast from NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX.

This website provides ready access to federally maintained geospatial data, services and applications. The website makes it possible for users to create customized maps using federal geospatial data and common geographic maps. They also can integrate their own data into the maps, and share the maps through Web browsers and mobile applications. The platform was developed by the Federal Geographic Data, an interagency committee chaired by the Secretary of the Interior. The panel also includes members from the Office of Management and Budget, Environmental Protection Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Examples include NexRad, Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite Radiometer Data, Sea Surface Temperatures Analysis, and others.

NGDS is a government-wide, Best-in-Class contract for domestic and international express small package delivery services, and domestic ground small package delivery services. The contract represents the Federal Government's acquisition approach to consolidate federal package delivery contracts into one government-wide contract under the purview of DoD's U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM), a specialized buyer of transportation services on a global scale. The contract is a result of collaborative efforts of an interagency team of DoD and executive agency representatives, working together to design a government-wide solution based on the principles of category management.

NHDES administers several loan and grant programs. NHDES programs also assist groups in obtaining funding for projects from myriad sources. Find a funding source for your project here.

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection offers a wide variety of funding opportunities for local governments and other types of organizations to fund numerous environmentally based projects. The individual descriptions of the funding available provide a summary of the programs, eligible entities, application procedure and deadlines, and contact information as well as links to the applications (where available) and other pertinent information.

This webinar focuses on single event/other violations on the quarterly National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Noncompliance Report (NNCR), which provides a comprehensive list of Clean Water Act violations and their resolutions to the public. The training focuses on when single event/other violations are generated, criteria for assigning Category I versus II noncompliance, resolution of single event/other violations, and a demonstration of searching and filtering single event/other violations on the quarterly NNCR. This training is an advanced training and assumes you have attended or watched a recording of the quarterly NNCR training before attending (https://echo.epa.gov/help/training#Series).

NOAA's "Sea Level Rise Technical Report" provides sea level rise projections for all U.S. states and territories. This multi-agency effort, representing the first update since 2017, offers projections out to the year 2150 and information to help communities assess potential changes in average tide heights and height-specific threshold frequencies as they strive to adapt to sea level rise.

U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research climate change program website.

Training is available upon request on topics such as: ArcGIS, Metadata, Managing Visitor Use in Coastal and Marine Protected Areas, The Coastal Zone Management Role in Managing Hazards. Understanding Marine Protected Areas Survival Skills for Managing Coastal Resources. This is not a complete listing of topics.