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November—December 2019 Newsletter

Yosemite National Park in Winter
Serving Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Pacific Islands, 148 Tribal Nations

America Recycles Week

EPA Region 9 Regional Administrator Mike Stoker stands with representative of the Chumash Nation holding an award.
Regional Administrator Mike Stoker (left) and Chairman of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, Kenneth Kahn

To mark the 2019 commemoration of America Recycles Week, November 10-17, EPA’s Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Mike Stoker visited a Southern California Tribe and two businesses to celebrate their accomplishments in landfill diversion, plastic recycling, and reducing food waste.

  • Santa Ynez Valley News: Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Recognized by EPA for Zero Waste, Recycling
  • Recycling Road Trip (video)
  • America Recycles

Reducing Diesel Emissions

EPA awarded millions of dollars in Diesel Emissions Reduction Act grants to Tribal, public and private partners in California, Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii and the Pacific Islands. The grants will be combined with matching funds to retrofit and replace old, polluting diesel vehicles and equipment, including school buses, fire engines, heavy-duty trucks, tractors, and port and construction equipment. There is now a new Request for Applications open for grants to be awarded in 2020.

  • Big Island Now: Hawaii Awarded Grant Money to Reduce Diesel Emissions
  • KTAR News: Phoenix Gets $1M Federal Grant to Buy Low-emissions Garbage Trucks
  • West Coast Collaborative: 2020 Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) Request for Applications

Job Training for Redevelopment

Workers wearing hard hats receiving training at residential property
Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training with Pittsburg Power Company's Future Build

EPA’s Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training program provided $200,000 to the Pittsburg Power Company's Future Build program in California. The funds will be used to train unemployed and underemployed Contra Costa County residents in construction, building trades, solar installation and hazardous waste removal.

  • The East Bay 100: EPA Awards Future Build $200,000
  • Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training Program
 
Enforcement Update

Preventing Air Pollution

Kern Oil will pay a $500,000 penalty to address the refinery’s failures to comply with emissions monitoring and leak reporting requirements under the Clean Air Act and toxic chemical release reporting requirements under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act . The oil refinery will spend an additional $200,000 to comply with the requirements of the settlement.

  • The Bakersfield Californian: Refinery Near Bakersfield Agrees to Pay $500,000 to Settle Alleged Environmental Violations
  • Overview of the Clean Air Act and Air Pollution
  • Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act
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EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region serves Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, the Pacific Islands, and 148 Tribal Nations.

Environmental Education Grants

Environmental Education Grants provide financial support for projects that design, demonstrate and disseminate environmental education practices, methods or techniques. The due date for applications is January 6, 2020!
  • Learn More

Annual Environmental Justice Report

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Executive Order to address environmental justice in minority and low-income populations.

Read the  FY2019 Environmental Justice Progress Report (pdf) (4.68 MB)

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Regional Tribal Operations Committee Meeting
February 11-13, 2020
Reno, Nevada

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Last updated on March 11, 2025
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