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New Grants Champion State Efforts in Innovation

Release Date: 04/22/2004
Contact Information:


Contact: Enesta Jones 202-564-7873 / [email protected]

(Washington, D.C. -- April 22, 2004) EPA is awarding $1.6 million in grants to help States explore innovative approaches to environmental permitting. Ten states (Maine, Vt., R.I., S.C., Minn., Wis., Mich., Ind., Wyo., and Ore.) will receive grants of up to $200,000 each. Some of the business sectors that could benefit from the permitting improvements include automotive body and automotive repair; retail gasoline sales; printing; and dry cleaning. EPA Acting Deputy Administrator Stephen L. Johnson announced the grant recipients on April 19 at the spring meeting of the Environmental Council of the States in Hot Springs, Ark. Johnson also unveiled a new report that describes the Agency’s progress in advancing innovative approaches since the release of a comprehensive innovation strategy in April 2002. The report entitled, “Innovating for Better Environmental Results: A Report on EPA Progress from the Innovation Action Council” highlights innovative approaches being used to improve water quality, address the funding gap for water infrastructure, and reduce smog and greenhouse gas emissions. The report also describes how Environmental Management Systems, market-based incentives, tailored strategies for specific industry sectors, and other innovative tools are being developed to create more options for environmental problem-solving. More information about the grants and the Innovation Report is available at: https://www.epa.gov/innovation .