RSS feed source: EPA--Energy

SEATTLE (April 5, 2024) – State and federal agencies and departments in Oregon and Washington have agreed to collaborate on addressing the escalating wildfire crisis by increasing use of prescribed fire and other forest fuel management strategies at larger geographic scales while also increasing outreach to nearby communities as these strategies are deployed. These strategies reduce forest fuels on the ground and allow for strategic burning that minimizes community and public health impacts relative to impacts from uncontrolled wildfires.

“Every community across the Pacific Northwest is experiencing the impacts of a longer, smokier wildfire season. One of the best tools we have for making our forests more resilient against catastrophic wildfires is controlled burning,” said EPA Region 10 Administrator Casey Sixkiller. “These prescribed fires target hazardous fuels and allow for healthier forests. The agreement we’re announcing today will help to ensure federal and state

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RSS feed source: EPA--Energy

NEW YORK (April 5, 2024) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced a series of Environmental Justice listening sessions to support and enhance meaningful engagement with communities with environmental justice concerns. The events support DEC and EPA’s ongoing efforts to promote and enhance existing state and federal Environmental Justice programs to better serve the community, build relationships between the agencies and community members, and help prioritize future outreach efforts for public participation.

“Communities speak for themselves, and EPA is here to listen. We are honored to kick off our EJ Listening Tour in Western New York with DEC to better understand the unique challenges and aspirations of communities affected by the cumulative impacts of legacy pollution, climate change, and historic disinvestment,” Regional EPA Administrator Lisa F. Garcia said. “Our goal is to

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RSS feed source: EPA--Energy

NEW YORK – Today, April 4, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced its selections for $20 billion in grant awards under two competitions within the historic $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF), which was created under the Inflation Reduction Act as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. The three selections under the $14 billion National Clean Investment Fund and five selections under the $6 billion Clean Communities Investment Accelerator will create a national clean financing network for clean energy and climate solutions across sectors, ensuring communities have access to the capital they need to participate in and benefit from a cleaner, more sustainable economy. By financing tens of thousands of projects, this national clean financing network will mobilize private capital to reduce climate and air pollution while also reducing energy costs, improving public health, and creating good-paying clean energy jobs in communities

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RSS feed source: EPA--Energy

WASHINGTON – Today, April 2, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is announcing the launch of a new website, epa.gov/permits, a centralized web-based platform for information about federal environmental permitting. It highlights EPA’s permitting and environmental review programs and shares information on related statutes and environmental justice initiatives. In support of EPA’s commitments under Title 41 of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST-41), it also displays the status of EPA permits for large scale infrastructure projects covered by this statute. The website is a resource for the public, permit applicants and federal agency partners.

“EPA’s new website is making it easier for the public and stakeholders to learn about the agency’s permitting process and our programs,” said EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe. “This new, comprehensive website provides a one-stop portal for the public, permit applicants and colleagues from other federal, state and local agencies

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