EPA Announces $254,000 in Grants to Help Businesses Prevent Pollution in NY as Part of Investing in America Agenda

EPA Announces $254,000 in Grants to Help Businesses Prevent Pollution in NY as Part of Investing in America Agenda

November 7, 2024

Rochester, NY - (November 11, 2024) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has selected the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and the New York State Pollution Prevention Institute at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)to receive nearly $254,000 in grants to provide technical assistance to businesses to develop and adopt pollution prevention (P2) practices in local communities.

NYSDEC will partner with the New York State Pollution Prevention Institute at RIT to provide technical assistance to chemical manufacturing, processing, and formulation businesses. Using EPA's Toxics Release Inventory, NYSDEC has identified businesses releasing toxic chemicals (e.g., xylene, toluene, methanol, heavy metals, nitrates) and will focus on green chemistry alternatives and training workers.

"By working collaboratively with NYSDEC and RIT, we are promoting sustainable practices in New York's chemical industry," said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia "This project not only fosters innovation but also prioritizes the health and well-being of communities that are often most affected by pollution."

The project will provide comprehensive technical assistance designed to improve environmental practices during product design, manufacturing, marketing, and distribution. Key components of the initiative include:

• A series of workshops focused on green chemistry principles tailored for industry professionals.
• An industry-specific green chemistry webinar will be offered to expand reach and accessibility.
• Customized projects will be conducted at individual companies to implement green chemistry practices effectively.

This initiative will benefit NY communities by reducing the release of toxic chemicals into the air, water, and land. By applying green chemistry principles, participants will mitigate environmental hazards and enhance human health outcomes in these vulnerable areas.

The New York State Pollution Prevention Institute at RIT will foster sustainable practices in industries across New York through education, research, and technical assistance.

The application of green chemistry is crucial for reducing air, water, and land releases of toxic chemicals as reported under the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) program. This initiative will not only benefit industry stakeholders but also contribute to healthier communities and a cleaner environment.

In total, EPA announced 48 selectees across the country that will collectively receive nearly $19 million in grants to support states, Tribal Nations, and U.S. territories in providing technical assistance to businesses to develop and adopt pollution prevention (P2) practices in local communities. Thanks to President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, nearly half of the funds awarded this year were made available with no cost share/match requirement.

Pollution prevention, also known as P2 or source reduction, is any practice that reduces, eliminates, or prevents pollution at its source prior to recycling, treatment, or disposal. Preventing pollution at the source rather than managing waste afterwards is an important way to support American business' efforts to reduce costs, while protecting communities from exposure to toxic chemicals and conserving natural resources. The grants funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will be fully funded upon being awarded, with individual grant awards as high as $350,000. Grants that are a part of the traditional P2 grants program will be funded over a two-year funding cycle and require a cost share/match of fifty percent. EPA's Pollution Prevention Grant Program advances President Biden's Justice40 Initiative which set a goal to deliver 40% of the overall benefits from certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. The full list of selections can be found below, and the selected project summariescan be found on EPA's Pollution Prevention website.

Background

President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law made a historic $100 million investment in EPA's P2 Program, more than doubling the funding for P2 grants. The first round of 39 awards funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was announced in September 2022and the second round of 24 awards was announced October 2023.

The list of selections can be found below, and the selected project summariescan be found on EPA's Pollution Prevention website.

Read more about P2 and EPA's P2 Grant Program.

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