Archive: June 20, 2022

DALLAS – (April 30, 2020) Recently, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a grant to the Texas Department of Agriculture for $73,056. The funds will be used to support a variety of pesticide training and inspection programs. EPA is providing the funding as a multipurpose grant under a cooperative agreement.

“EPA relies on state partners to carry out the many responsibilities of pesticide training and ensuring these products are applied safely, according to their labelled use,” said Regional Administrator Ken McQueen. “We are pleased to continue supporting the Texas Department of Agriculture in their important work.”

Under the cooperative agreement, the grant will fund activities that complement and support existing environmental program grants. The Department of Agriculture will use the funds to update pesticide permit holders, applicators and other stakeholders on new federal certification and training regulations, and how those changes will affect state of Texas regulations. The Department of Agriculture will also use the funds to train pesticide inspectors on new policies and procedures.

EPA regulates pesticides under the Federal Fungicide, Insecticide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). All pesticides distributed or sold in the United States must be registered by EPA. Registration applicants must show that using the pesticide according to specifications will not generally cause unreasonable adverse effects on the environment. FIFRA also covers requirements to protect pesticide workers, crops, and vulnerable species from exposure to pesticides.

More on EPA’s work in Texas: https://www.epa.gov/tx

More on EPA and pesticides: https://www.epa.gov/pesticides

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: [email protected]
 

EPA Provides Grant Funding to Support Environmental Justice Communities Impacted by COVID-19

DENVER (April 30, 2020)—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is working to improve the environment and public health conditions of low-income and minority communities through our daily efforts to ensure all Americans have clean air, safe water, and access to information to make decisions to protect personal and public health. In response to the COVID-19 public health emergency, EPA is making $1 million in grant funding available to states to help local environmental justice communities address COVID-19 concerns faced by low-income and minority communities.

Through the State Environmental Justice Cooperative Agreement Program, EPA will provide funds to states, local governments, tribes and U.S. territories to work collaboratively with environmental justice communities to understand, promote and integrate approaches to provide meaningful and measurable improvements to public health and the environment.

“Environmental justice grants aim to support public education, training, and emergency planning for communities across the country impacted by COVID-19, regardless of their zip code,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “These grants are part of EPA’s effort to actively fight the COVID-19 pandemic that is having a disproportionate impact on low-income and minority communities.”

The grant funding will be used to support public education, training, and emergency planning for communities impacted by COVID-19. Projects could include sharing information related to EPA-approved disinfectants to combat COVID-19; addressing increased exposure of residents to in-home pollutants and healthy housing issues; and training community health workers.

EPA anticipates awarding five grants of approximately $200,000 each for up to a two-year funding period. The agency encourages applicants to develop innovative plans and processes to conduct effective outreach to underserved communities, especially in places where Internet access may not be readily available to all residents.

Interested applicants must submit proposal packages on or before June 30, 2020 to be considered for the available funding.

To apply for funding: https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/state-environmental-justice-cooperative-agreement-program#tab-2

For more information on EPA’s Environmental Justice program: http://epa.gov/environmentaljustice/state-environmental-justice-cooperative-agreement-program