Archive: March 21, 2022

EPA announces LSU College of the Coast & Environment as 1st Place 2019 Gulf Guardian Winner

Media contacts: Jennah Durant or Joe Hubbard, [email protected] or 214 665-2200

DALLAS – (Sept. 26, 2019) Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Gulf of Mexico Division announced the Louisiana State University (LSU) College of the Coast & Environment as a 2nd Place Gulf Guardian winner for its EnvironMentors program to encourage interest in environmental stewardship and science careers among high school participants.

“The Gulf Guardian winners have shown a remarkable commitment to protecting a unique part of our nation that so many communities rely upon,” said Regional Administrator Ken McQueen.  “By watching over a vital ecological, recreational, and economic hub, the EnvironMentors program at LSU’s College of the Coast & Environment is a guardian in every sense of the word.”

“Plentiful marine resources, pristine beaches and economic vitality make the Gulf of Mexico a national treasure worthy of protection and preservation,” said Acting Gulf of Mexico Division Director, Lakeshia Robertson. “The Gulf Guardian winners embody environmental stewardship; their efforts are creating a healthy and resilient Gulf for residents and tourists alike.”

Through EnviroMentors, LSU student volunteers mentor high schoolers on a year-long scientific research project. The program focuses on underprivileged young people who are typically underrepresented in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields. Students who complete the program increase their likelihood of graduating from high school and pursuing higher education, and their projects address real-world issues. Recent topics include effects of human impacts on plankton species, pathogens in oysters, and removing phosphorus from LSU’s University Lake.

The Gulf of Mexico Program initiated the Gulf Guardian awards in 2000 to recognize and honor the businesses, community groups, individuals, and agencies that are taking positive steps to keep the Gulf healthy, beautiful and productive. First, second and third place awards are given in seven categories: individual, business/industry, youth environmental education, civic/nonprofit organizations, cultural diversity/environmental justice, partnership and bi-national efforts.

The Gulf of Mexico Program began in 1988 to protect, restore, and maintain the health and productivity of the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem in economically sustainable ways. The Gulf of Mexico Program is underwritten by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and is a non-regulatory, inclusive consortium of state and federal government agencies and representatives of the business and agricultural community, fishing industry, scientists, environmentalists, and community leaders from all five Gulf States. The Gulf Program seeks to improve the environmental health of the Gulf in concert with economic development.

For more information about the U.S. EPA Gulf of Mexico Division go to: https://www.epa.gov/gulfofmexico.

Connect with EPA Region 6:

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eparegion6 

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/EPAregion6

About EPA Region 6: https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/epa-region-6-south-central  

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EPA announces The Oyster Bed of Hammond, La., as 2nd Place 2019 Gulf Guardian Winner

Media contacts: Jennah Durant or Joe Hubbard, [email protected] or 214 665-2200

DALLAS – (Sept. 26, 2019) Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Gulf of Mexico Division announced The Oyster Bed LLC as a 2nd Place Gulf Guardian winner for its work to promote stewardship of gulf resources and oyster shell recycling through community outreach and education.

“These winners are true guardians, demonstrating a remarkable commitment to protecting a unique part of our nation that so many communities rely upon,” said Regional Administrator Ken McQueen, “They show the innovation and teamwork it takes to safeguard the Gulf of Mexico as a vital ecological, recreational, and economic hub.”

“Plentiful marine resources, pristine beaches and economic vitality make the Gulf of Mexico a national treasure worthy of protection and preservation,” said Acting Gulf of Mexico Division Director, Lakeshia Robertson. “The Gulf Guardian winners embody environmental stewardship; their efforts are creating a healthy and resilient Gulf for residents and tourists alike.”

“We are so grateful for the seafood that comes from our coastal estuaries that it’s an easy decision to support conservation efforts that protect them,” said Oyster Bed co-owner and U.S. Marine veteran Tommy Waller.

Through its business selling oyster and seafood cookware, the Oyster Bed works with restaurants and community groups to promote the importance of oyster reefs and oyster shell recycling. The company’s cookware allows restaurants and home cooks to use oysters that have been pre-shucked at warehouse facilities, where the shells are routinely recycled and used to build new oyster reefs in the Gulf. They also partner with and donate to conservation groups to help raise awareness about how healthy oyster populations benefit the Gulf ecosystem as a whole.

The Gulf of Mexico Program initiated the Gulf Guardian awards in 2000 to recognize and honor the businesses, community groups, individuals, and agencies that are taking positive steps to keep the Gulf healthy, beautiful and productive. First, second and third place awards are given in seven categories: individual, business/industry, youth environmental education, civic/nonprofit organizations, cultural diversity/environmental justice, partnership and bi-national efforts.

The Gulf of Mexico Program began in 1988 to protect, restore, and maintain the health and productivity of the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem in economically sustainable ways. The Gulf of Mexico Program is underwritten by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and is a non-regulatory, inclusive consortium of state and federal government agencies and representatives of the business and agricultural community, fishing industry, scientists, environmentalists, and community leaders from all five Gulf States. The Gulf Program seeks to improve the environmental health of the Gulf in concert with economic development.

For more information about the U.S. EPA Gulf of Mexico Division go to: https://www.epa.gov/gulfofmexico.

Connect with EPA Region 6:

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eparegion6 

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/EPAregion6

About EPA Region 6: https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/epa-region-6-south-central  

Contact: [email protected]                   

EPA awards grants to support pollutant reduction plan tied to Conowingo reservoir infill                              

PHILADELPHIA – (September 26, 2019) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced awards totaling nearly $600,000 for three projects to further a joint Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) to compensate for the loss of pollutant trapping capacity in the Conowingo Dam reservoir.

The reservoir has become filled with sediment and is almost at capacity. During large storms and severe floods, the fast-moving flows of the Susquehanna River move sediment and attached nutrients over the dam and downstream into the Chesapeake Bay.

The Chesapeake Bay Program’s six watershed states (Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia), the District of Columbia and the Chesapeake Bay Commission agreed to develop a collaborative WIP that will include actions and commitments jurisdictions will take to best account for the additional pollutant loads.

EPA is funding three activities to fulfill the Chesapeake Bay Program’s commitment to address the Conowingo Dam infill:

• An award to the Center for Watershed Protection to facilitate development and implementation of the Conowingo WIP and associated two-year milestones of progress.

• An award to the Chesapeake Bay Trust to develop a comprehensive that will involve public, nonprofit and private funds to achieve the greatest level of pollutant reduction per dollar while maximizing economic development.

• An award to the Chesapeake Conservancy to track, verify and report implementation of the Conowingo WIP and two-year milestones.

“These awards are part of EPA’s continuing financial and technical assistance to the states and the District of Columbia to help restore and protect the health of the Chesapeake Bay and local waters,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “The award recipients have the background and experience to help us meet the challenge posed by the additional pollutant loads stemming from the Conowingo Dam infill.”

“We appreciate EPA’s support of multi-state progress on the Conowingo watershed plan and congratulate the impressive awardees and their partners,” said Maryland Governor Larry Hogan. “We all benefit from innovative partnerships to protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay.”

EPA Regional Administrator Cosmo Servidio said the financing strategy is expected to identify a variety of funding sources, which will help farmers and local governments in Pennsylvania and across the watershed implement clean water practices.

The watershed states and the District of Columbia each have developed their own WIPs to meet the pollutant reduction goals of the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (Bay TMDL).  The final Phase III WIPs were submitted to EPA on August 23 and are currently under review.

The Conowingo WIP is independent of these plans and is focused specifically on offsetting the additional load due to the Conowingo reservoir infill.  A Chesapeake Bay Program steering committee was formed to oversee development and implementation of the Conowingo WIP along with EPA.  A total of $200,000 of the awards funding comes from EPA’s Chesapeake Bay grants to the watershed states and the District.

The Chesapeake Bay Program estimates that an additional reduction of 6 million pounds of nitrogen and 0.26 million pounds of phosphorus is needed to mitigate the infill-related water quality impacts.

Quotes from the Grantees:

Center for Watershed Protection, Bryan Seipp, Project Manager:
“Addressing the increasing nutrient and sediment loads to the Chesapeake Bay as a result of Conowingo Dam reaching dynamic equilibrium is a complex and challenging task.  Like all watershed planning efforts success in reducing pollutant loading to streams, rivers, and the Chesapeake Bay will require innovative solutions, dedicated stakeholders, and consistent, open communication.”

Chesapeake Bay Trust, Jana Davis, Executive Director:
“The Chesapeake Bay Trust is excited to work with the University of Maryland and a large number of other partners on the incredibly challenging but rewarding financing component of this project.  We hope the ideas and financing mechanisms developed here will have wide application across the watershed.”

Chesapeake Conservancy, Jeffrey Allenby, Director of Conservation Technology:
“We are excited to partner with some of the leading organizations in the watershed. We have a large challenge ahead, but more importantly a large opportunity to usher in the future of data driven restoration.”

EPA Awards Louisiana Dept. of Health Over $1 Million for
Safe Drinking Water Programs

Media contacts: Jennah Durant or Joe Hubbard, [email protected] or 214 665-2200

DALLAS – (Sept. 26, 2019) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced a grant to the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) for $1,042,627 for safe drinking water programs. These programs ensure compliance with the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act.

“Making sure that the water we drink is safe is at the heart of EPA’s mission,” said Regional Administrator Ken McQueen. “The Louisiana Department of Health and the many drinking water systems in the state continue to be effective partners in bringing safe drinking water to communities throughout Louisiana.”

The funding will support a variety of activities in LDH’s public water system supervision program, including developing drinking water regulations, maintaining an inventory of drinking water systems, and managing information on public water systems. The grant will also provide technical assistance to public water systems and assistance in enforcing drinking water regulations. EPA previously awarded LDH $242,373 for drinking water programs, bringing the total to $1,285,000 for this fiscal year.

Background:

The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) is the federal law that protects public drinking water supplies throughout the nation. Under the SDWA, EPA sets standards for drinking water quality and with its partners implements various technical and financial programs to ensure drinking water safety. In Louisiana, EPA has delegated the authority for SDWA programs to the Louisiana Department of Health.

For more about the Safe Drinking Water Act: https://www.epa.gov/sdwa

For more about EPA’s work in Louisiana: https://www.epa.gov/la

Connect with EPA Region 6:

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eparegion6 

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/EPAregion6

About EPA Region 6: https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/epa-region-6-south-central  

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Contact: Lisa McClain-Vanderpool, 303-312-6077, [email protected]

EPA awards North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality $3.8 million to improve water quality and watershed health

EPA partners with the state and agriculture industry to protect and restore watersheds

BISMARCK, N.D.  (September 26, 2019) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded $3,799,000 to the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality (NDDEQ) to improve water quality in streams, rivers and lakes. The funding comes through a Nonpoint Source Program Clean Water Act (Section 319) grant, which is given to states to implement programs that address various sources of pollution in surface and groundwater to meet and maintain water quality standards.

“EPA is partnering with NDDEQ to restore water quality throughout five watersheds in the state,” said EPA Regional Administrator Gregory Sopkin. “Water quality across the West is a high priority and by working together on these projects, our impact is that much greater.”

“The Section 319 grants provide a unique opportunity for local resource managers and other organizations to secure additional funds,” said Greg Sandness, North Dakota’s NPS Pollution Management Program Coordinator. “The funds help with implementing water quality educational programs and delivering assistance to residents, landowners and agricultural producers to address local water quality improvement priorities.”

Given the size of the agricultural industry in North Dakota, most of the state’s Section 319 funds are directed toward projects promoting voluntary nonpoint source (NPS) pollution control on agricultural lands. This grant continues those efforts by providing financial assistance to reduce NPS pollution and improve water quality in the predominantly agricultural watersheds of the Painted Woods Creek, Sheyenne River, Goodman Creek, English Coulee, and Upper Spring Creek.

Best management practices (BMPs) are being used to address NPS pollutants such as nitrogen, phosphorus, sediments, and/or E. coli bacteria. These BMPs may include rotational grazing systems, riparian buffer strips, manure management systems, cover crops and conservation tillage, and alternative water supplies for livestock. Each watershed project has a local coordinator who works with various partners to achieve project goals and garner local support and funds. The grant provides seed money that is matched by state and local funding, bringing together local landowners and a variety of government agencies, all working toward a common goal of improved water quality.

Also funded by the grant is the statewide Livestock Pollution Prevention Program (LP3) and five educational projects. The LP3 provides technical and financial assistance to livestock producers for the design and installation of systems that improve manure management and reduce the transport of pollutants from livestock feeding areas. The educational projects include Project WET (Water Education for Teachers); The Regional Environmental Education Series (TREES); Rancher Mentoring and Outreach Program; Livestock Nutrient Management Education Program; and the Soil Conservation and Watershed Leadership Academy.

For more information regarding EPA’s Nonpoint Source grant program visit: https://www.epa.gov/nps/319-grant-program-states-and-territories

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