July—August 2020 Newsletter

Preparing for and Recovering from Natural Disasters

Wildfires, earthquakes, droughts, extreme heat – one or more of these disasters affects the Pacific Southwest every year. EPA often plays a role in responding to natural disasters. The agency also continually develops resources and data to support local organizations and communities in preparing for and recovering from disasters.

• AirNow’s Fire and Smoke Map
• Be Smoke-Ready (video)
• Disaster Debris Recovery Tool
• EPA’s Natural Disaster Resources

A PFAS Challenge

EPA is partnering with the Department of Defense, the Environmental Council of States, the Environmental Research Institute of the States, and others on a technical challenge to address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The challenge asks participants to submit plans for a non-thermal way of destroying PFAS in concentrated film forming foam, while creating the least amount of potentially harmful byproducts.

• Innovative Ways to Destroy PFAS Challenge
• Basic Information on PFAS
• EPA’s PFAS Action Plan

Partnering with Universities on Environmental Research

EPA has awarded nearly $800,000 in research funding to both the University of Nevada at Reno and the University of California at Riverside. The University of Nevada’s research team will focus on improving chemical safety. The University of California’s research team will focus on meeting air quality challenges.

• Nevada Today: EPA awards $800,000 to the School of Community Health Sciences
• Green Car Congress: EPA Awards $6M in Research Funding to Improve Air Quality Models