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Finalizes Standards for Passenger , Paving Way for a Future
https://go.usa.gov/xezqd
WASHINGTON (Dec. 20, 2021) – Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing the most ambitious federal greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards for passenger cars and light trucks ever. The final standards, for Model Years (MY) 2023 through 2026, leverage advances in clean car technology to unlock $190 billion in net benefits to Americans, including reducing climate pollution, improving public health, and saving drivers money at the pump. The final rule also delivers more net benefits to consumers than the proposed rule showcasing how zero-emission vehicles are more affordable and more efficient for consumers.
Announces Nationwide Monitoring Effort to Better Understand Extent of in
https://go.usa.gov/xezqX
WASHINGTON (Dec. 20, 2021) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized the Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5) to establish nationwide monitoring for 29 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and lithium in drinking water. This action is essential to addressing the public health and environmental risks of PFAS in drinking water and marks a significant milestone in EPA's PFAS Strategic Roadmap.
H.R. 6168. Future Generations Protection Act (Draft)
https://go.usa.gov/xetGk
A bill to amend the Clean Air Act to prohibit the emission of any greenhouse gas in any quantity from any new electric utility steam generating unit. (Congressional Record 7 December 2021 [House] Pages H7260-H7262)
Review of the National Primary Drinking Water Regulation: Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (Final)
https://go.usa.gov/xeMe9
On 16 June 2021, EPA published decision to delay the effective and compliance dates of the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations: Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR), published on 15 January 2021, to allow time for EPA to review the rule in accordance with Presidential directives issued on 20 January 2021, to the heads of Federal agencies to review certain regulations, and conduct important consultations with affected parties. EPA has completed its review. The agency's review included virtual public engagements to hear directly from a diverse set of stakeholders. This document describes the comments conveyed by stakeholders, EPA's decision to proceed with a proposed rule that would revise certain key sections of the LCRR while allowing the rule to take effect, and other non-regulatory actions that EPA and other Federal agencies can take to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water. The effective date of the LCRR published on 16 June 2021, in the Federal Register (86 FR 31939), continues to be 16 December 2021, and the compliance date continues to be 16 October 2024. Primacy revision applications are due on 18 December 2023. POC is Jeffrey Kempic, Standards and Risk Management Division, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, EPA, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Mail Code 4607M, Washington, DC 20460; tel: (202) 564-4880; email address:
[email protected]. (Federal Register 17 December 2021 [Rule] Pages 71574-71582).
DOE Announces $13 Million For Energy Efficiency Technologies at Federal Buildings
https://go.usa.gov/xeMTp
The DOE announced $13 million in funding for 17 projects to implement energy and water efficiency, renewable energy, and climate resilience technologies at federal facilities across the country. These projects will lower energy costs and enhance resilience to climate events of all federal energy-management systems. The projects will use energy performance contracts at no additional up-front cost to the government and will lower energy and water utility bills by more than $30 million annually while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by over 200,000 metric tons. As the single largest energy consumer in the nation, reducing the carbon footprint of the federal government is critical to achieving President Biden’s goal of a net zero-emission economy by 2050.
Artificial Intelligence in Federal Procurement (Web-based, On Demand)
https://go.usa.gov/xeMTy
GSA's IT Acquisition University (ITAU) offers an Artificial Intelligence in Federal Procurement video. This training provides an overview of artificial intelligence (AI) and what to consider when procuring emerging technologies that include AI.
EPA Announces $14.1 Million to Fund 133 Environmental Justice Grants
https://go.usa.gov/xeMTm
The EPA announced $14.1 million in EJ grant funding for 133 grants selected through the Environmental Justice Small Grants (EJSG) and Collaborative Problem-Solving Cooperative Agreement (EJCPS) programs. Ninety-nine EJ Small Grant recipients have been selected to receive up to $75,000 each, and 34 EJCPS grant recipients have been selected to receive up to $200,000 each, following successful completion of the award process. These ninety-nine projects cover a wide array of environmental justice issues including the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, air monitoring, indoor/outdoor air quality, food access, community planning, water treatment training, community agriculture, green jobs and infrastructure, emergency preparedness and planning, toxic exposures, water quality, and healthy homes projects.
Evaluating Air Quality Resource Concerns (Web-based)
https://go.usa.gov/xeFcS
January 22, 2022
2:00-3:00 PM (Eastern)
During this webinar, air quality resource concerns and resource concern components will be highlighted. The NRCS air quality resource concerns can be broadly categorized as particulate matter (such as dust or smoke) and gases that create particles in the atmosphere, greenhouse gases, odors, airborne reactive nitrogen, and ozone precursors (gases that form smog). These emissions can be produced by common agricultural sources, such as livestock and their activity; tillage, harvesting, and other field operations; irrigation engines and other combustion devices; nitrogen fertilizer use; and others. There will be an overview of the air quality resource concerns and their components, discussion of how to evaluate each component to determine if a resource concern exists, identification of the conservation practices available for addressing each resource concern component, and strategies for ensuring that air quality resource concerns are adequately addressed.
U.S. Departments of Energy and Transportation Launch Joint Effort to Build Out Nationwide Electric Vehicle Charging Network
https://go.usa.gov/xeFxc
U.S. Secretary of Energy and U.S. Secretary of Transportation signed a memorandum of understanding to create a Joint Office of Energy and Transportation to support the deployment of $7.5 billion from the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to build out a national electric vehicle charging network that can build public confidence, with a focus on filling gaps in rural, disadvantaged, and hard-to-reach locations. This is a critical component of the President’s plan to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles, address the climate crisis and support domestic manufacturing jobs. President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law directs both agencies to collaborate on new programs and initiatives, including the new joint office, that will support the transition of the nation’s transportation systems, which currently accounts for 29% of all U.S. carbon pollution, to electric vehicles and other zero-carbon technologies.
Best Practices for Site Characterization Throughout the Remediation Process (Atlanta, GA)
https://go.usa.gov/xeHtd
March 15-17, 2022
Atlanta, GA
Best Practices for Site Characterization Throughout the Remediation Process is based on best management practices (BMP) implemented by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), partnership organizations, federal and state partners, and consultants. Participants will learn how to streamline projects in a legal, technically sound, and cost-effective manner.
Remedial Process (San Francisco, CA)
https://go.usa.gov/xeHtf
April 25-29, 2022
San Francisco, CA
Remedial Process is a beginner-level training course that provides a comprehensive examination of the technical and regulatory issues that Remedial Project Managers (RPM) must address as they oversee remedial response efforts at Superfund sites.
Hazard Ranking System (Atlanta, GA)
https://go.usa.gov/xeHtG
May 10 – 13, 2022
Atlanta GA
Hazard Ranking System (HRS) is a 4-day training course designed for personnel who are required to compile, draft and review preliminary assessments (PA), site inspections (SI), and HRS documentation records and packages submitted for sites proposed for the National Priorities List (NPL). This course is open to EPA, federal, state, tribal and contractor personnel who support site investigation programs. The HRS course provides a detailed review of the HRS model and how the model is applied to various site conditions. The course is intended to enable staff to prepare HRS packages for the National Priorities List (NPL) and to plan and implement preliminary assessments (PA) and site inspections (SI) to address future HRS scoring issues.