Read the full story at Route 50.
Small and midsize localities tend to lack the dedicated grant-writing teams and expertise that bigger towns use to score federal dollars. A new–and free–initiative aims to get them onto more equal footing competing for the funding.
Read the full story at Bloomberg Law.
3M Co., confronting regulatory pressure and lawsuits that threaten billions of dollars in damages, will stop making so-called forever chemicals and aim to discontinue their use in products by the end of 2025.
The announcement marks a historic break with an entire class of chemicals — consisting of thousands of variations on the carbon-fluorine bond — that were first created as part of World War II-era atomic bomb research. The company developed a variety of products with them over more than 70 years, including Scotchgard, and they were used in hundreds of other companies’ products such as firefighting foams and waterproof and stainproof textiles.
Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a revision to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) risk determination for trichloroethylene (TCE), finding that TCE, as a whole chemical substance, presents an unreasonable risk of injury to human health when evaluated under its conditions of use. The next step in the process is to develop a risk management rulemaking to identify and require the implementation of measures to manage these risks.
Uses and Risks Associated with TCE
TCE is a volatile organic compound used mostly in industrial and commercial processes. Consumer uses include cleaning and furniture care products, arts and crafts, spray coatings and automotive care products like brake cleaners.
In the revised risk determination based on the 2020 risk evaluation, EPA found that TCE presents unreasonable risk to the health of workers, occupational non-users (workers nearby but not in direct contact with this chemical), consumers, and bystanders. EPA identified risks for adverse human health effects not related to cancer, including neurotoxicity and liver effects, from acute and chronic inhalation and dermal exposures to TCE. EPA also identified risks for cancer from chronic inhalation and dermal exposures to TCE.
EPA used the whole chemical risk determination approach for TCE in part because there are benchmark exceedances for multiple conditions of use (spanning across most aspects of the chemical life cycle from manufacturing (import), processing, commercial use, consumer use and disposal) for health of workers, occupational non-users, consumers, and bystanders, and because the health effects associated with TCE exposures are severe and potentially irreversible (including developmental toxicity, reproductive toxicity, liver toxicity, kidney toxicity, immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity and cancer).
Overall, EPA determined that 52 of the 54 conditions of use EPA evaluated drive the unreasonable risk determination. Two out of 54 conditions of use do not drive the unreasonable risk: consumer use of TCE in pepper spray and distribution in commerce. The revised risk determination supersedes the condition of use-specific no unreasonable risk determinations that were previously issued by order under section 6(i) of TSCA in the 2020 TCE risk evaluation.
The revised risk determination for TCE does not reflect an assumption that workers always and appropriately wear personal protective equipment (PPE), even though some facilities might be using PPE as one means to reduce workers’ exposure. This decision should not be viewed as an indication that EPA believes there is widespread non-compliance with applicable Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards. In fact, EPA has received public comments from industry respondents about occupational safety practices currently in use at their facilities and will consider these comments, as well as other information on use of PPE, engineering controls and other ways industry protects its workers as potential ways to address unreasonable risk during the risk management process. The consideration of this information will be part of the risk management process.
EPA understands there could be occupational safety protections in place at some workplace locations. However, not assuming use of PPE in its baseline exposure scenarios reflects EPA’s recognition that certain subpopulations of workers exist that may be highly exposed because:
As EPA moves forward with a risk management rulemaking for TCE, the agency will strive for consistency with existing OSHA requirements or best industry practices when those measures would address the identified unreasonable risk. EPA will propose occupational safety measures in the risk management process that would meet TSCA’s statutory requirement to eliminate unreasonable risk of injury to health and the environment.
Next Steps for TCE
EPA is now moving forward on risk management to address the unreasonable risk presented by TCE. While the risk evaluation included a description of the more sensitive endpoint (fetal heart malformations), it was not relied on to determine whether there is unreasonable risk from TCE because of direction not to do so that was provided by the previous political leadership. Unreasonable risks were nevertheless identified for most uses of TCE, but the magnitude of the risk from exposures to TCE would have been greater had EPA relied upon the fetal cardiac defect (CHD) endpoint that had been used in previous EPA peer-reviewed assessments. Therefore, EPA developed existing chemical exposure limits based on both the immune endpoint and the CHD endpoint in support of risk management, and the public will have an opportunity to comment on these in the forthcoming proposed regulatory action.
Note that in taking this action, EPA has not conducted a new scientific analysis on this chemical substance and the risk evaluation continues to characterize risks associated with individual conditions of use in the risk evaluation of TCE in order to inform risk management.
In June 2021, EPA announced a path forward for the first 10 chemicals to undergo risk evaluation under TSCA to ensure the public is protected from unreasonable risks from these chemicals in a way that is supported by science and the law. The revised risk determination for TCE was developed in accordance with these policy changes, as well as the Biden-Harris Administration’s Executive Orders and other directives, including those on environmental justice, scientific integrity and regulatory review. EPA’s revisions ensure that the TCE risk determination better aligns with the objectives of protecting health and the environment under amended TSCA.
Separately, EPA is conducting a screening-level approach to assess risks from the air and water pathways for several of the first 10 chemicals, including TCE. The goal of the screening approach is to evaluate the surface water, drinking water, and ambient air pathways for TCE that were excluded from the 2020 risk evaluation, and to determine if there are risks that were unaccounted for in that risk evaluation. EPA expects to describe its findings regarding the chemical-specific application of this screening-level approach in its proposed risk management rule for TCE.
Additionally, EPA expects to focus its risk management action on the conditions of use that drive the unreasonable risk. However, EPA is not limited to regulating the specific activities found to drive unreasonable risk and may select from among a wide range of risk management requirements. As a general example, EPA may regulate upstream activities (e.g., processing, distribution in commerce) to address downstream activities (e.g., consumer uses) driving unreasonable risk, even if the upstream activities do not drive the unreasonable risk.
Source: U.S. EPA
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $275,000,000 total from Fiscal Year 2022 to Fiscal Year 2026 for grants authorized under the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act. Projects funded through the funding opportunity will:
The entities eligible to apply for this grant are federally recognized tribes, including Alaskan Native Villages as defined in Public Law 92-203, and former Indian reservations in Oklahoma, as determined by the Secretary of the Interior. Intertribal consortia, consistent with the requirements in Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Section 35.504(a) are also eligible to apply. Refer to the Eligible Applicants section of the Request for Applications (RFA) for the full details.
The total estimated funding for the currently available competitive opportunity is approximately $40,000,000. EPA anticipates awarding approximately 60 assistance agreements under this funding opportunity, with at least one award per each EPA Region. The minimum individual award floor is $100,000, and the maximum individual award ceiling is $1,500,000 for the grant period. This funding opportunity is in alignment with the Biden Administration’s Justice40 Initiative.
Applicants must submit applications through grants.gov. Applications should read the RFA for the full solicitation. The RFA includes a full description of the funding opportunity, award information, eligibility information, application and submission information, application review information, and award administration information.
EPA will hold four webinars about this funding opportunity. The first two webinars will be held on:
| Date | Time (Eastern) | Registration |
|---|---|---|
| January 19, 2023 | 3:00 – 4:00 pm | Register now |
| January 25, 2023 | 4:00 – 5:00 pm | Register now |
In these webinars, EPA will provide an overview of the request for applications, eligible entities, evaluation criteria, and the application process. They will cover the same material in both webinars. We will also answer questions.
The second two webinars will be held on:
| Date | Time (Eastern) | Registration |
|---|---|---|
| February 1, 2023 | 1:00 – 2:00 pm | Register now |
| February 7, 2023 | 4:00 – 5:00 pm | Register now |
EPA will cover procurement and subawards in these webinars. They will cover the same material in both webinars. We will also answer questions.
Find more information about this funding opportunity on EPA’s website.
Read the full story at Energy News Network.
A biodigester fueled by food waste in Chicago’s Auburn Gresham neighborhood is the centerpiece of a larger development to grow healthy food and economic opportunities.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced $8 million for six solar energy research projects across six states and the District of Columbia that will provide new economic opportunities for farmers, rural communities, and the solar industry. The funding supports agrivoltaics—the co-location of agricultural production and solar energy generation on the same land—and aims to reduce barriers to utility-and community-scale solar energy deployment while maximizing benefits for farmers and local communities. By increasing access to solar energy, the new projects reflect the Biden-Harris Administration’s continued commitment to ensuring that every community unlocks the public health and cost-saving benefits of a clean energy future and support President Biden’s goals to decarbonize the electricity sector by 2035 and achieve a net-zero emissions economy by 2050.
“DOE’s research into agrivoltaics provides an incredible opportunity to pair solar energy generation with safe and robust crop production—ensuring rural communities reap the full economic benefits of a clean energy future. With these exciting projects, we’re supporting sustainable agriculture and investing in the technologies that enable us to make our climate goals a reality—a win-win for our planet and hardworking farmers coast to coast.”
U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm
Agrivoltaics is defined as crop production, livestock grazing, and/or pollinator habitat under solar panels or between rows of solar panels. In the United States, less than 2% of solar energy projects are co-located with crops or pollinator habitats. In a recent report, researchers at DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory highlighted the ecological and agricultural benefits that could result from improving agrivoltaic practices. The Foundational Agrivoltaic Research for Megawatt Scale (FARMS) funding program seeks to develop replicable models for agrivoltaics that can provide new economic opportunities while potentially reducing land-use conflicts. DOE is focused on making agrivoltaic practices across the country easier to adopt, lowering the cost, and maximizing benefits for farmers, rural communities, and the solar industry.
The projects selected for FARMS build on ongoing DOE-funded research, which is focused on conducting research, analysis, and dissemination of agrivoltaics best practices. The six projects will examine multiple configurations of solar system design, crops and cultivation methods, and soil and environmental conditions. Researchers will work with agricultural extensions and develop resources to spread the best practices to farmers and communities.
By selecting awardees with large extension networks, DOE aims to enable more collaboration among farmers, rural communities, and the solar industry. The six projects will conduct robust outreach to and engage with regional rural and farming communities, including Hispanic, Tribal, and immigrant farmers. These investments will advance diversity, equity, and inclusion—supporting President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative to ensure that the clean energy economy benefits all Americans, especially those in underserved and underrepresented communities. DOE analysis estimates that the United States will need to quadruple the amount of solar energy installed per year by 2030 to achieve the Biden-Harris Administration’s goal of a 100% clean economy by 2050.
Explore DOE’s Solar Energy Technologies Office projects in the Solar Energy Research Database and learn more about DOE’s research into agrivoltaics.
Read the full story at Utility Dive.
It’s imperative that renewable energy developers, investors, buyers and producers don’t make things worse for the very communities already enduring the brunt of climate disasters.
ProFood World will recognize outstanding food and beverage processing and packaging innovation projects via the eighth annual Sustainability Excellence in Manufacturing Awards competition.
These annual peer-reviewed awards recognize manufacturing plants for their efforts in driving improved performance through sustainability, honoring those companies and individuals that seek to go beyond environmental compliance. Specifically, the awards focus on pollution prevention, enhanced environmental protection and stewardship, as well as compliance assurance.
Submissions are due March 1, 2023. Please be sure to submit your entry into the correct Program or Project Category and download the proper corresponding submission form. The Program Category is defined as an on-going program, company-wide or multi-facility program. The Project Category is defined by one-time project. (It may later be rolled out to other facilities after completion of project at one facility.)
Eligibility: Programs and projects must be completed and operational between November 2021 and December 2022.
Multiple awards will be named in the Program, Project, and Processor/Supplier Partnership categories, including reduction in water and energy, waste conservation, pollution prevention, packaging materials reductions and more.
“The 2022 AASHE Sustainability Award winners demonstrate an inspiring passion for progressing sustainability at their campus. They are raising the bar and evolving what sustainability in higher education looks like.”
AASHE Executive Director Meghan Fay Zahniser
The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) recently announced the 12 winners for the 2022 AASHE Sustainability Awards. The winners represent sustainability leadership from across the globe–Australia, Brazil, Canada, England, Fiji, Kenya, Switzerland, United States, and Wales.
The awards provide global recognition to the individuals and organizations leading the higher education sustainability movement. With the help of volunteer judges from the community, the awards program raises the visibility of high-impact sustainability projects and collaborations, pioneering research, and student leadership, helping to disseminate innovations and inspire continued progress toward environmental, social, and economic health.
About AASHE
AASHE empowers higher education administrators, faculty, staff and students to be effective change agents and drivers of sustainability innovation. AASHE enables members to translate information into action by offering essential resources and professional development to a diverse, engaged community of sustainability leaders. We work with and for higher education to ensure that our world’s future leaders are motivated and equipped to solve sustainability challenges. For more information, visit the AASHE website or follow AASHE on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Read the full story at The Hill.
A new proposed rule from the Biden administration would cut emissions from new federal buildings 90 percent from 2003 levels in the next two years.
Under the proposed rule, new or renovated federal buildings would be required to reduce emissions from the 2003 baseline by 90 percent beginning in 2025. Beginning in 2030, the rule would make new buildings and major renovations fully carbon-neutral, according to the Energy Department.
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