Learn the Issues
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National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)
Metadata for National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
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EPA Announces Next Steps to Protect Endangered Species from Chlorpyrifos
EPA has appointed a new chair and two new members and reappointed two current members to serve on the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP).
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EPA announces $48 million for southeastern states to repair water systems impacted by Hurricane Helene
EPA announces $48 million for southeastern states to repair water systems impacted by Hurricane Helene
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Using The Air Quality Index (AQI) to Plan Daily Activities
Importance of the Air Quality Index for knowing when to alter activity due to wildfire smoke
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Popular Resources for Pennsylvania
Portal for news and information about EPA's efforts in Pennsylvania
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Does EPA Invalidate RINs?
No. The EPA has no process to “invalidate” RINs. Rather, the EPA alleges that RINs are not valid according to the standards in 40 C.F.R. §§ 80.1131 or 80.1431. As we stated in our March 2012 Interim Enforcement Response Policy: The EPA intends to notify the regulated community that it has alleged…
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Does EPA have a role in ensuring the validity of Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs)?
The Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) regulations are clear that invalid RINs may not be used for compliance. EPA does not certify or otherwise validate RINs. In providing regulated parties with the flexibility of purchasing RINs to meet RFS requirements, EPA stated that the buyer must beware.
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What is a Notice of Violation (NOV) Letter?
A Notice of Violation or “NOV” letter one step in the EPA’s investigation and enforcement of violations of EPA statutes and regulations. A NOV notifies the recipient that the EPA believes the recipient has committed one or more violations and provides instructions for coming into compliance with the statutes and…
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Do obligated parties and renewable fuel exporters that used invalid Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) in a given year need to replace all of those invalid RINs with valid RINs of the same year?
The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) regulations provide a limited flexibility to carry a RIN deficit. Obligated parties that used invalid RINs may be able to show that they meet their Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) by: carrying a deficit forward in accordance with the limitations at 40 C.F.R. § 80.1427(b) and…
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What should a company do if they believe they currently own invalid RINs or retired invalid RINs to meet its RVO?
Follow the regulations at 40 C.F.R. § 80.1431(b) (excerpted below) and, as needed, contact the EPA’s Fuels Compliance Center of the Office of Transportation and Air Quality (OTAQ) via the Fuels Programs Support Line (EPAFuelsPrograms@epa.gov or 1-800-385-6164). “In the case of RINs that are invalid, the following provisions apply: Upon…
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What help does EPA provide regulated parties in identifying and addressing potential Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) problems?
The EPA’s Moderated Transaction System (EMTS) provides several tools that can help RIN buyers avoid buying, selling and using RINs from questionable sources. If a RIN buyer has concerns about the validity of RINs it has purchased, the EPA's system allows it to “lock” those RINs and not have…
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EPA Finalizes Groundwater Cleanup Plan at Former Sherwin-Williams Site in Gibbsboro, NJ
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized its plan to clean up contaminated groundwater associated with the Former Manufacturing Plant area of the Sherwin-Williams/Hilliards Creek Superfund Site in Gibbsboro, Camden County, New Jersey.
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What Waters are Included in the National Aquatic Resource Surveys?
Each of the National Aquatic Resource Surveys (NARS) focuses on a specific water resource type - coastal, lakes, rivers & streams and wetlands.
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National Rivers and Streams Assessment 2008-2009 Technical Report
PDF of the NRSA 2008-2009 technical report
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National Rivers and Streams Assessment 2013-2014 Technical Support Document
PDF of the NRSA 2013-2014 technical support document
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National Wetland Condition Assessment 2021 Site Evaluation Guidelines
National Wetland Condition Assessment 2021 Site Evaluation Guidelines
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What is cost recovery?
Cost recovery is the action that the federal government, states, and private parties may take to recover what they spent on cleanup activities at a site. If the EPA does the cleanup work using Superfund money, it will try to recover those costs from responsible parties. More information is available…
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What is the role of the EPA's cleanup enforcement program?
The EPA's cleanup enforcement program protects human health and the environment by getting those responsible for contamination to either clean up or reimburse the EPA for its cleanup. The EPA uses several cleanup authorities independently and in combination to address specific cleanup situations. For more information on various cleanup enforcement…
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How does the EPA enforce Superfund cleanups?
The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (commonly referred to as Superfund) provides the EPA with enforcement authorities to clean up sites by finding the companies or people responsible for contamination at a site, and negotiating with them to do the clean up themselves, or to pay for the…
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Who can be a potentially responsible party at a hazardous waste site?
There are four classes of Superfund liable parties: Current owners and operators of a facility, Past owners and operators of a facility at the time hazardous substances were disposed, Parties that arranged for the disposal or transport of the hazardous substances, and Transporters of hazardous substances that selected the site…