Release date: 04/26/2010

Contact Information: Latisha Petteway, petteway.latisha@epa.gov, 202-564-3191, 202-564-4355

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today awarded more than $1 million in grants to 14 college teams across the country who participated in the 6^th Annual National Sustainable Design Expo on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The P3 award competition and National Sustainable Design Expo was held at EPA’s 40^th anniversary celebration of Earth Day, April 23-26. Winners of the EPA’s People, Prosperity and the Planet (P3) awards developed sustainable projects and ideas that protect the environment, encourage economic growth and use natural resources more efficiently.

“Sustainable innovations like the ones created by our P3 Award winners are the environmental and economic future of our nation. In fields from agriculture to architecture to energy production, sustainability is the true north on the path ahead,” said Paul T. Anastas, assistant administrator for the EPA’s Office of Research and Development. “Innovations like these keep our country competitive and healthy. Congratulations to our winners, and to everyone who participated, for their efforts to create scientific and technological innovations that will lead us into a sustainable future.”

The national P3 award competition encourages college students to create sustainable solutions to worldwide environmental problems through technological innovation. Each P3 award winner receives up to $75,000 to further develop a design, implement it in the field, or move it to the marketplace.

Winners of this year’s awards are Harvard University, Clemson University, Texas A&M University, Humboldt State University, Appalachian State University, Clarkson University (two teams), Cornell University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Roger Williams University, Virginia Tech, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and Drexel University.

The P3 award competition and National Sustainable Design Expo was held at EPA’s 40^th anniversary celebration of Earth Day, April 23-26. Each year, the expo showcases innovative, cutting-edge technologies designed by student teams along with sustainable policies and technologies developed and implemented by government and state agencies, businesses, and nonprofit organizations.

Support for the competition includes more than 40 partners in the federal government, industry, and scientific and professional societies. This year’s expo was co-sponsored by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE).

More information on the P3 Award competition: http://www.epa.gov/P3

More information on EPA’s sustainability research program: http://www.epa.gov/sustainability

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Release date: 04/23/2010

Contact Information: Dale Kemery kemery.dale@epa.gov 202-564-7839 202-564-4355
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 23, 2010

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that renovations and repairs of pre-1978 housing must now be conducted using safe practices to protect children and pregnant women from exposure to lead-based paint. Almost a million children have elevated blood lead levels as a result of exposure to lead hazards, which can lead to lower intelligence, learning disabilities, and behavior issues. Adults exposed to lead hazards can suffer from high blood pressure and headaches. Children under six years old are most at risk.

“Our lead-safe program will protect children and families from lead-based paint hazards associated with renovation and repair activities in houses built before 1978,” said Steve Owens, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. “This rule requires contractors to follow some simple and effective lead-safe work practices to prevent children’s exposure to dangerous levels of lead. Lead poisoning is completely preventable.”

EPA proposed the Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule, which requires contractors to be trained and certified in lead-safe work practices, in 2006. In 2008, EPA finalized the rule and set April 22, 2010 as the implementation date. To date, EPA has certified 204 training providers who have conducted more than 6,900 courses, training an estimated 160,000 people in the construction and remodeling industries to use lead-safe work practices.

EPA will continue to provide support and assistance to states, industry and communities on all aspects of implementing this rule. Recognizing the large number of contractors and homes subject to the rule, EPA is increasing its outreach efforts and providing guidance to facilitate compliance and ease the transition period following the rule’s effective date. This guidance can be obtained at: http://www.epa.gov/lead. EPA has an 800 number to respond to inquiries about the new requirements: 1-800-424-LEAD (5323).

In addition to the rule becoming effective, EPA has issued three additional actions:

• • A final rule to apply lead-safe work practices to all pre-1978 homes, effectively closing an exemption that was created in 2008. The rule will become effective 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.
  • A notice of proposed rulemaking to require dust-wipe testing after most renovations and provide the results of the testing to the owners and occupants of the building. For some of these renovations, the proposal would require that lead dust levels after the renovation be below the regulatory hazard standards. EPA will take comment on the proposal for 60 days. The agency expects to finalize the rule by July 2011.
  • An advance notice of proposed rulemaking to announce EPA’s intention to apply lead-safe work practices to renovations on public and commercial buildings. The advance notice also announces EPA’s investigation into lead-based paint hazards that may be created by renovations on the interior of these public and commercial buildings. If EPA determines that lead-based paint hazards are created by interior renovations, EPA will propose regulations to address the hazards.

In addition, EPA is working with the Ad Council on a public-outreach campaign that will raise awareness among parents and caregivers of young children about the dangers of childhood lead poisoning from paint. EPA is jointly sponsoring the Ad Council campaign with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the non-profit Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning. The campaign has developed a series of public service announcements in English and Spanish for use in radio, TV and print publications.

The federal government banned lead-based paint from housing in 1978. If a home was built before 1978, there is a likelihood that it contains lead-based paint. The 2008 rule requires contractors working in pre-1978 housing and child-occupied facilities to take the proper precautions to work lead-safe, including minimizing dust, containing the work area, and conducting a thorough cleanup to reduce the potential exposure associated with disturbing lead-based paint.

More information on the rule: http://www.epa.gov/lead
More information on the lead outreach campaign: http://www.leadfreekids.org

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Release date: 04/20/2010

Contact Information: Emily Smith, 919-541-5556, 919-328-0490 (cell), smith.emily@epa.gov

(ATLANTA – April 20, 2010) On Thursday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day on its Research Triangle Park campus. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., a visionary environmental business leader, author and advocate, will be the keynote speaker.

Kennedy serves as senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council and was named one of TIME magazine’s “Heroes for the Planet” for his success in helping Riverkeeper, a nonprofit environmental organization, lead the fight to restore the Hudson River. He is a clinical professor at Pace University School of Law’s Environmental Litigation Clinic. Among Kennedy’s published books are the New York Times bestseller Crimes Against Nature (2004) and The Riverkeepers (1997).

Other speakers at the celebration include Jim Turner, president and CEO of Duke Energy’s U.S. franchised electric and gas business. Turner will participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new solar panels installed at EPA’s childcare center. The EPA has partnered with Duke Energy to install solar photovoltaic panels atop our child care center. These panels serve as a small power plant producing electricity which will be sent back to the electrical grid. Additional speakers at the Earth Day festivities include EPA Assistant Administrators for the agency’s Office of Research and Development; the Office of Administration and Resources Management; and Acting Regional Administrator for Region 4 of the EPA. More than 1,000 scientists and staff from EPA and the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), along with 36 students from local high schools, are expected to join the festivities.

WHO: Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., environmental business leader, author and advocate; Paul Anastas, EPA Assistant Administrator, Office of Research and Development; Craig E. Hooks, EPA Assistant Administrator, Office of Administration and Resources Management; Stan Meiburg, EPA Acting Regional Administrator, EPA Region 4; Jim Turner, president and CEO of Duke Energy’s U.S. franchised electric and gas business; and Students from Southern, Northern, Jordan and Hillside high schools in Durham
WHAT: 40th Earth Day celebration at EPA’s RTP campus with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

WHEN: Thursday, April 22, 2010, 10:00 to 11:30 a.m.

WHERE: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 109 T.W. Alexander Dr., Research Triangle Park, N.C. Campus directions: www.epa.gov/rtp/campus/location/location.htm

*** Please note: Visitors will need to show a government I.D. (license) to receive a visitor’s parking pass at the front gate. If entering our buildings, visitors will need to go through a security check point, similar to those used at airports.

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Release date: 04/19/2010

Contact Information: Latisha Petteway, petteway.latisha@epa.gov,202-564-3191,202-564-4355, Enesta Jones, jones.enesta@epa.gov, 202-564-7873, 202-564-4355; Contacto en español; Lina Younes, younes.lina@epa.gov, 202-564-9924, 202-564-4355

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that it has selected $78.9 million in brownfields grants to communities in 40 states, four tribes, and one U.S. Territory. This funding will be used for the assessment, cleanup and redevelopment of brownfields properties, including abandoned gas stations, old textile mills, closed smelters, and other abandoned industrial and commercial properties.

The brownfields program encourages redevelopment of America’s estimated 450,000 abandoned and contaminated waste sites. As of March 2010, EPA’s brownfields assistance has leveraged more than $14 billion in cleanup and redevelopment funding, and 61,277 jobs in cleanup, construction, and redevelopment. These investments and jobs target local, under-served and economically disadvantaged neighborhoods – places where environmental cleanups and new jobs are most needed. Cleaning up our communities is one of EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson’s priorities, which leads not only to health and environmental benefits but also economic development and prosperity.

“To strengthen our economy, we must first strengthen our communities,” said Administrator Jackson. “Cleaning up and revitalizing these contaminated sites opens doors to new businesses, new homes and new jobs for American workers while making our environment cleaner and the community healthier. This shows that what is right for the environment is right for the economy.”

In total, EPA is selecting 304 grants through the Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Grants programs:

· 188 assessment grants, totaling $42.56 million, will conduct site assessment and planning for cleanup at one or more brownfields sites as part of a community-wide effort.

· 17 revolving loan fund grants, totaling $17 million, will provide loans and subgrants for communities to begin cleanup activities at brownfields sites. Revolving loan funds are generally used to provide low interest loans for brownfields cleanups. · 99 cleanup grants, totaling $19.36 million, will provide funding for grant recipients to carryout cleanup activities at brownfield sites they own.

Since the beginning of the brownfields program in 1995, EPA has awarded 1,702 assessment grants totaling $401 million, 262 revolving loan fund grants totaling more than $256.7 million, and 655 cleanup grants totaling $129.4 million. As part of Administrator Jackson’s commitment to this program, the 2011 proposed budget includes an increase to $215 million for brownfields with a focus on planning, cleanup, job training and redevelopment.

In 2002, the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act was passed. The brownfields law expanded the definition of what is considered a brownfield, so communities may now focus on mine-scarred lands, sites contaminated by petroleum, or sites contaminated as a result of manufacturing and distribution of illegal drugs (e.g. meth labs). More information on the FY 2010 grant recipients: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/

More information on EPA’s brownfields program: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/

Brownfields success stories: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/success/index.htm

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Release date: 04/14/2010

Contact Information: Beth Totman (212) 637-3662, totman.elizabeth@epa.gov

(New York, NY) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that the Research Foundation of the State University of New York in Buffalo and the Workforce Investment Board of Herkimer, Madison and Oneida Counties, New York have each been selected to receive $200,000 in federal grant funds to train local community members in environmental job skills. The two $200,000 job training grants are being awarded under EPA’s brownfields program. Brownfields are abandoned or underused industrial or commercial sites at which redevelopment or expansion is hampered by environmental contamination. Both organizations will recruit students from among unemployed and underemployed residents in local areas, and provide them with the skills they need to find environmental jobs cleaning up contaminated sites in their communities.

“Brownfields job training grants provide resources to help people in economically struggling communities acquire the skills they need to land jobs performing environmental cleanups,” said EPA Regional Administrator Judith Enck. “The appeal of the brownfields job training program is that it provides essential training for people seeking employment, and opportunities to use the new skills to improve communities.”

In 2002, the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act was adopted by Congress to help states and communities around the country clean up and revitalize brownfields sites. Under this law, EPA provides financial assistance to eligible applicants through four competitive grant programs: assessment grants, revolving loan fund grants, cleanup grants, and job training grants. EPA’s Brownfields Program encourages redevelopment of America’s estimated 450,000 abandoned and contaminated waste sites.

Since 1998, EPA has awarded more than $33 million in brownfields job training funds. The program prepares workers for employment and ensures that the economic benefits derived from brownfields redevelopment remain in the affected communities. As of February 2010, more than 5,300 individuals have been trained through the Brownfields Job Training Grant Program, and 3,400 have been placed in full-time employment in the environmental field with an average starting hourly wage of $14.65.

Organizations selected to receive brownfields job training grants are:

The Research Foundation of the State University of New York, Buffalo, NY
$200,000

The foundation plans to train students in skills including, asbestos abatement work and construction safety, as well as environmental sampling, remediation technology and an overview of brownfields. Students will be recruited from the cities of Buffalo, Niagara Falls, and Lackawanna and Niagara County. The region has several contaminated facilities and properties that need to be cleaned up.

Workforce Investment Board of Herkimer, Madison, and Oneida Counties, NY
$200,000

The Board plans to train students in health and safety training, lead and asbestos abatement, sustainable construction, fork lift operator training, and energy efficiency training. The program will recruit students from the city of Utica to participate in this job training. There are 11 brownfields in the assessment or cleanup phase within one mile of the city’s urban center, and the need for trained workers trained with environmental skills is crucial to restoring the city.

For more information on EPA’s Brownfields program, visit: http://www.epa.gov/region02/brownfields/.

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Release date: 04/13/2010

Contact Information: Francisco Arcaute, (213) 244-1815, Cell (213) 798-2804, arcaute.francisco@epa.gov
(4/13/10) SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today advanced its environmental justice program in National City, Calif., with the distribution of a $1 million Brownfields revolving loan to National City.

EPA also awarded a $300,000 Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) grant to the Environmental Health Coalition for work in Barrio Logan and National City, and provided resources to assist with the Westside Affordable Housing Transit Oriented Development in National City.

In addition to providing funds, EPA is collaborating with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Transportation – via the Interagency Partnership for Sustainable Communities – in helping National City meet its sustainability goals to generate affordable housing and transportation while simultaneously protecting the environment, promoting equitable development, and addressing the challenges of climate change.

“We are very excited to provide this $1.3 million in grants to help improve the lives and environmental health of National City’s residents,” said Jared Blumenfeld, Regional Administrator for EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region. “EPA is committed to continuing our work with this overburdened yet vibrant community to reduce exposure to pollution and promote greener, healthier development.”

“Unjust land use plans have allowed pollution to burden the health of our communities for too long,” said Diane Takvorian, Executive Director of Environmental Health Coalition. “We applaud EPA’s commitment to environmental justice and will use these funds to create community plans that lead to cleaner, healthier neighborhoods.”

“National City is an older city with an old industrial base that presents a myriad of challenges,” said Mayor Ron Morrison. “EPA has been a long time strong partner in National City’s continuing effort to revitalize our community. We are gratified and excited about having this strong support as well as the depth of EPA’s experience, resources and knowledge both in Brownfields redevelopment and Smart Growth principles to assist with challenging projects such as the Transit Oriented Development for Westside.”

The funds will be distributed as follows:

· $1 million National City Brownfields revolving loan

EPA selected National City for a 2009 Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund Grant, including $800,000 for hazardous substances and $200,000 for petroleum. These funds will be used to capitalize a revolving loan fund from which National City will provide loans and subgrants to support cleanup activities for sites contaminated with petroleum and hazardous substances.

EPA also awarded a $200,000 Brownfields Assessment grant to National City in 2007 to conduct Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments on properties located within the Westside Neighborhood; a similar Assessment Grant for the Harbor District was awarded in 2003. The EPA Brownfields has provided approximately $1.4 million in direct funds and $75,000 in contract support to assist National City in developing green building standards and establishing a viable reuse plan for a site in the Harbor District.

· $300,000 CARE grant to the Environmental Health Coalition

As part of EPA’s CARE program, the agency awarded a two year, $300,000 grant to the Environmental Health Coalition to address port and stationary source emissions in Barrio Logan and National City. The Environmental Health Coalition builds grassroots campaigns that confront the consequences of toxic pollution, discriminatory land use, and unsustainable energy policies. Through leader development, organizing and advocacy, EHC improves the health of children, families, neighborhoods and the natural environment.

· EPA- HUD-DOT to provide resources to Westside Affordable Housing Transit Oriented Development

National City requested assistance in creating and implementing a sustainability plan and financial strategy for a 14-acre brownfield seen as a catalyst for neighborhood change. The sustainability plan will assist National City in leveraging resources to clean up the site, form a link to a nearby light rail station, create an open space, improve the tidal creek, and create a 201-unit affordable housing project.

EPA, with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Transportation, will assist National City in developing a plan to address the former brownfield focusing on green building and energy-efficient redevelopment plans that incorporate stormwater and flood control management.

EPA’s Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) is a competitive grant program that offers an innovative way for a community to organize and take action to reduce toxic pollution in its local environment. For more information, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/care/

Region 9’s Brownfields Program works to clean up and redevelop of potentially contaminated lands in the Pacific Southwest region, making it easier for such lands to become vital, functioning parts of their communities. For more information, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/region09/brownfields/

Through the Interagency Partnership for Sustainable Communities, EPA is working with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Transportation to ensure ensuring that housing and transportation goals are met while simultaneously protecting the environment, promoting equitable development, and helping to address the challenges of climate change. For more information on the Partnership for Sustainable Communities, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/partnership

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Release date: 04/10/2010

Contact Information: Latisha Petteway, petteway.latisha@epa.gov, 202-564-3191, 202-564-4355

WASHINGTON – Today in New Orleans, La., the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa P. Jackson announced that EPA is awarding more than $2 million in job training grants for environmental cleanups in communities across the country. The agency’s Brownfields Job Training Program helps train people for jobs in the assessment, cleanup and redevelopment of brownfields properties, including abandoned gas stations, old textile mills, closed smelters, and other abandoned industrial and commercial properties. These investments target under-served and economically disadvantaged neighborhoods – places where environmental cleanups and new jobs are most needed.

“By recruiting, training and employing local residents to clean up the community, we get the best of both worlds: new jobs and a cleaner community,” said EPA Administrator Jackson. “Transforming abandoned and contaminated sites sets the stage for bustling business centers, new parks and other developments. It shows that the right thing to do for the environment is the right thing to do for the economy.”

Twelve governmental entities and non-profit organizations in 10 states are receiving up to $200,000 each to train people in the cleanup of these abandoned and possibly polluted properties, while also providing training in other environmental skills, such as green building design, energy efficiency, weatherization, solar installation, green construction, and native plant revegetation. In New Orleans, Administrator Jackson presented the award to Limitless Vistas, Inc., a training program that teaches inner-city youth job skills in environmental assessment and improvement, as well as the value of community service. Graduates are placed in environmental work-related jobs and their success is tracked for one year. Cleaning up our communities is one of EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson’s priorities, leading not only to health and environmental benefits but also economic development.

The brownfields job training grants will help recruit, train, and employ residents living near brownfields sites in California, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Washington.

Since 1998, EPA has awarded more than $33 million in brownfields job training funds. The program prepares workers for employment in the new green economy, and ensures that the economic benefits derived from brownfields redevelopment remain in the affected communities. As of February 2010, more than 5,300 individuals have been trained through the Brownfields Job Training Grant Program, and 3,400 have been placed in full-time employment in the environmental field with an average starting hourly wage of $14.65.

In 2002, the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act was passed. The brownfields law expanded the definition of what is considered a brownfield, so communities may now focus on mine-scarred lands, sites contaminated by petroleum, or sites contaminated as a result of the manufacturing and distribution of illegal drugs (e.g. meth labs). EPA’s Brownfields Program encourages redevelopment of America’s estimated 450,000 abandoned and contaminated waste sites.

As part of Administrator Jackson’s commitment to this program, the 2011 proposed budget includes an increase of $215 million for brownfields with increases for planning, cleanup, job training and redevelopment.

More information on brownfields job training grants: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/job.htm

More information on EPA’s Brownfields Program: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/

Brownfields success stories: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/success/index.htm

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Release date: 04/08/2010

Contact Information: Cathy Milbourn milbourn.cathy@epa.gov 202-564-7849 202-564-4355

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is hosting a month-long online discussion to expand the conversation on acid rain. Acid rain is a serious environmental problem that affects large parts of the United States and is particularly damaging to lakes, streams, and forests and the plants and animals that live in these ecosystems. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), the pollutants that form acid rain, can cause serious respiratory illnesses and premature death.

Starting today, EPA is posting daily blogs to inform and engage the public in an interactive Web discussion. Topics will include an overview of acid rain and its effects, a description of the Acid Rain Program’s cap and trade policy, an explanation of how EPA monitors power plant emissions, and how air and water quality monitoring data are used to measure environmental improvements.

EPA established the Acid Rain Program 20 years ago under the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments and it requires major emission reductions of sulfur dioxide SO2 and nitrogen oxide NOx from the electric power industry. The program sets a permanent cap on the total amount of SO2 that may be emitted by electric generating units in the United States, and includes provisions for trading and banking allowances. Since the first year of the program in 1995, SO2 and NOx emissions have each been cut by more than 60 percent.

For the kickoff Greenversations blog: http://blog.epa.gov/blog/

For the rest of the blog series: http://blog.epa.gov/acidrain/

To follow the series on Facebook and Twitter: www.facebook.com/EPAairmarkets and www.twitter.com/EPAairmarkets

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Release date: 04/07/2010

Contact Information: Latisha Petteway, petteway.latisha@epa.gov, 202-564-3191, 202-564-4355

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published the first edition of its Open Government Plan. The plan discusses publishing EPA information online, improving the quality of the information, and creating a culture of open government. This is in response to President Obama’s Open Government Directive, which outlines a plan for breaking down the barriers between the federal government and the public. Today, federal departments and agencies are putting forward concrete plans for making operations and data more transparent, and expanding opportunities for citizen participation, collaboration, and oversight. These steps will strengthen our democracy and promote efficiency and effectiveness across the government.

“EPA is very focused on ensuring public access and participation in our activities,” said Linda Travers, principal deputy assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Environmental Information. ”With our new plan, we’re not only meeting the objectives of the directive, but we’re also building on our culture of promoting openness.”

EPA’s flagship initiative, Community Engagement, is an over-arching theme that focuses on outreach to disadvantaged communities, expanding public awareness of the rulemaking process, and improving access to environmental information through the development of mobile applications. The agency is focused on working with communities in innovative ways, with the goal of sharing best practices and lessons learned for future efforts.

To address public comments and suggestions, EPA will continue the conversation in a series of blog posts for discussion on the plan and with a video town hall meeting in early summer 2010. EPA plans to review its Open Government Plan every six months as suggestions come in from the public.

More information on Open Government: http://www.epa.gov/open

More information on making public comments: http://www.openepa.ideascale.com/

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Release date: 04/06/2010

Contact Information: Latisha Petteway, petteway.latisha@epa.gov, 202-564-3191, 202-564-4355

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to add 16 chemicals to the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) list of reportable chemicals, the first expansion of the program in more than a decade. Established as part of the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA), TRI is a publicly available EPA database that contains information on toxic chemical releases and waste management activities reported annually by certain industries as well as federal facilities. The proposal is part of Administrator Lisa P. Jackson’s ongoing efforts to provide communities with more complete information on chemicals.

EPA has concluded, based on a review of available studies, that these chemicals could cause cancer in people. The purpose of the proposed addition to TRI reporting requirements is to inform the public about chemical releases in their communities and to provide the government with information for research and potential development of regulations.

Four of the chemicals are being proposed for addition to TRI under the polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) category. The PACs category includes chemicals that are persistent, bioaccumulative, toxic (PBT) and are likely to remain in the environment for a very long time. These chemicals are not readily destroyed and may build up or accumulate in body tissue.

The TRI, established as part of the EPCRA of 1986, contains information on nearly 650 chemicals and chemical groups from about 22,000 industrial facilities in the U.S. Congress enacted EPCRA to provide the public with additional information on toxic chemicals in their communities.

EPA will accept public comments on the proposal for 60 days after it appears in the Federal Register.

For a list of the 16 chemicals: http://www.epa.gov/tri/lawsandregs/ntp_chemicals/index.html

More information on TRI: http://www.epa.gov/tri

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