Learn the Issues
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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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Federalism Consultation for the Navigable Waters Protection Rule
Description of Federalism outreach efforts and links to document pages for all federalism letters received in response to 2017 Waters of the United States Rulemaking
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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…
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What is a CERCLA § 107(r) windfall lien?
Under section 107(r) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (commonly known as Superfund), a windfall lien is a statutory lien on a property for the increase in the fair market value of that property attributable to the EPA's cleanup efforts. It is not a lien for all…
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Who is responsible for enforcement of cleaning up leaks from underground storage tanks?
The underground storage tank program is primarily implemented by states and territories. The first point of contact is the state or territorial regulatory agency with jurisdiction where the USTs are physically located. See state and territorial UST program offices for a list of contacts. The EPA UST program provides answers…
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What are the main defenses against Superfund liability?
Defenses to Superfund liability are available only if the release was caused by: An act of God, Acts of war, Acts/omissions of a third party with whom a potentially responsible party has no contractual relationship. For more information visit EPA's Defenses and Exemptions to Superfund Liability Web page.
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Chemical Manufacturing Sector Information
Learn about environmental resources for the chemical manufacturing sector.
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Funding Sources for Drinking Water Systems in Wyoming and on Tribal Lands in EPA Region 8
This page describes Federal funding through the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality or from EPA Region 8.
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Key Components of Reducing Smoke Exposure
Public Health Impacts of Wildfire Smoke Exposure