January—March 2024 Newsletter
Supporting Green Jobs in a Community Affected by Pollution
The EPA Brownfields Job Training program, which now has additional funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, supports nonprofits, local governments, and other organizations in recruiting, training, and placing unemployed and under-employed residents of areas affected by the presence of brownfield sites. Through the Brownfields Job Training Program, graduates develop the skills needed to secure full-time, sustainable employment in various aspects of hazardous substances, pollutants, contaminants, and petroleum products within the larger environmental field, including sustainable cleanup and reuse, and chemical safety. These green jobs reduce environmental contamination and build more sustainable futures for communities.
EPA Support for Job Training (video)
The Cypress Mandela Training Center received a grant of $500,000 in 2023 to train 205 students and place at least 160 in environmental jobs. The Center targeted students in Oakland, California, and the surrounding area, specifically unemployed, underemployed, low-income, and at-risk individuals, minorities, and residents with justice-system involvement. EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman celebrated at a graduation event with program participants who recently completed the jobs training program.
EPA has a history of supporting Cypress Mandela and the organization has trained and mentored thousands of community members who have found careers that allow them to support not just themselves, but their families and communities as well. Within Cypress Mandela’s training program, EPA funds support courses in hazardous waste operations, environmental site assessments, asbestos and mold awareness, underground storage tank leak prevention, and more, equipping graduates with the knowledge they need to work safely as they clean up environmental contaminants, prevent wildfires, and build much needed infrastructure.
- Cypress Mandela Training Center
- About the EPA Job Training Grant for Cypress Mandela
- EPA’s Brownfield Programs
Building Environmental and Climate Justice through Community Engagement
EPA’s Community, Equity and Resiliency Initiative is helping communities nationwide navigate new Inflation Reduction Act investments and other funding opportunities made possible by the Investing in America agenda. The agency is hosting regional roadshow events to provide community leaders with unique opportunities to engage with their peers, develop or leverage community-based partnerships, and learn how to effectively access funding and technical assistance to implement local climate and environmental justice solutions. Regional Administrator Martha Guzman recently joined the roadshow in San Bernardino, California. “EPA is committed to ensuring that the unprecedented investments from President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act reach those most impacted by climate and environmental harms," said Guzman. "We are proud to be hosting here in California the EPA’s second Community, Equity and Resiliency roadshow, which represents the next stage of our work to make sure that communities historically excluded from federal funding opportunities will now have the resources, information, and support they need." This roadshow event was such a success that plans are already being made for future events.
- BNN Breaking: A Beacon of Hope for Environmental Justice (this story is no longer available online)
- EPA’s Community, Equity and Resiliency Initiative
- EPA and the Inflation Reduction Act
Responding to the Wildfires on Maui
EPA personnel have been on Maui since August 2023 working with federal, state, and local government partners on response and recovery efforts. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) tasked EPA with addressing hazardous material removal, water infrastructure technical assistance, and sustainability assistance during the recovery process. The EPA hazardous material removal team completed its work in December 2023. EPA has deployed Water Emergency Team members to provide on-the-ground guidance and technical assistance for stormwater, wastewater, and drinking water for the County of Maui. EPA continues to actively support the County’s Departments of Public Works, Environmental Management, and Water Supply. EPA also received a mission assignment, from FEMA, for a long-term recovery Sustainability Advisor to assist in rebuilding communities and restoring watersheds with the aim of building resilience to future climate change impacts and disasters. The Sustainability Advisor is collaborating with local and state departments and federal agencies to understand local priorities and identify potential funding sources for long-term recovery.
Enforcement Update
Protecting People from Hazardous Waste
EPA has ordered Chiquita Canyon LLC to take immediate steps to protect human health and the environment at its municipal solid waste landfill in Castaic, California. The order requires Chiquita to mitigate off-site community impacts caused by noxious odors and hazardous waste leachate and to contain and reduce the smoldering or reaction event occurring at the landfill.
#ICYMI - EPA in the Pacific Southwest is now on Instagram!
Check out EPA in the Pacific Southwest on Instagram, for pictures and video (including more about the job training graduation) and follow our account for breaking news on our work and environmental issues in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Tribal Lands, and the Pacific Islands. Also, find us on X and Facebook!
Investing in the Pacific Southwest
President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is making progress in critical priorities around the nation and in the Pacific Southwest. Funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has recently been announced to support more clean school buses and water infrastructure.
- KNXV-TV—ABC15 Arizona: More electric buses rolling out across Arizona school districts
- Las Vegas Review-Journal: Nevada’s water infrastructure to receive a $44M upgrade
- Investing in America
Protecting Air Quality
EPA is strengthening a key national air quality standard for soot pollution, one of the most widespread and health-threatening air pollutants. This will result in significant public health benefits for American communities.
The stronger standard will yield up to $46B in net health benefits, save lives, and build healthier communities, while supporting economic growth across America.
Public Involvement
EPA in the Pacific Southwest encourages public engagement in addressing environmental issues through public meetings, events and other opportunities for public participation.
Public Notices, Meetings and Events