Latest news with #NationalPrioritiesList
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Funding uncertainty could delay contamination prevention tech in homes near Area B
Federal funding uncertainties could delay the U.S. Army's plans to install technology in planned homes next to Fort Detrick's Area B to prevent health risks from contaminated groundwater. During a meeting Wednesday for Area B's Restoration Advisory Board (RAB), which is overseeing the land's remediation, Army officials said that moving the project forward depends on receiving enough money from the federal government. Area B, a 399-acre parcel of land between Kemp Lane and Shookstown Road, separate from the main Fort Detrick campus, was used as a test site for the Army's biological warfare program in the mid-20th century. After the program was ended in 1969, scientists disposed of hazardous waste in unlined trenches and pits within Area B, leading to groundwater contamination. Army scientists have spent decades studying the contamination and the extent to which it has spread. In 2009, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency designated the groundwater at Area B as a National Priorities List Superfund site. A Superfund site is a location that has been contaminated with hazardous waste that poses risks to the environment and human health. The EPA designates Superfund sites and places them on the National Priorities List. Contaminated groundwater from Area B has made its way to the land next to the parcel, which is where the company Rocky Gorge Development is building a residential community called Gambrill Glenn. Gambrill Glenn will have about 300 residential units. The Army has detected levels of trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene in the Gambrill Glenn area. Trichloroethylene is a known carcinogen, meaning it can cause cancer. Tetrachloroethylene is likely to be a carcinogen. More than 50 Gambrill Glenn homes are at some risk for vapor intrusion, according to a map showing where the highest contamination levels on the residential development were detected. Vapor intrusion is the process by which vapors from volatile chemicals migrate from contaminated groundwater through soil and into the basements and foundations of buildings. The vapors can pose health risks to people who inhale them and degrade indoor air quality. The health risks can vary depending on the types of chemicals in the vapors, levels of chemicals found, the length of exposure and the health of the exposed individuals. Symptoms can include eye irritation, nausea, headaches and respiratory irritation, according to the EPA. Low-level exposure to chemicals over several years can increase the lifetime risk of chronic disease or cancer. The Army plans to install protective technology against vapor intrusion in the homes that could be impacted. Cost analysis During the RAB meeting on Wednesday, Joseph Gortva, chief of Fort Detrick's environmental division, said none of the homes that need the protective technology are being built yet. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has prepared an engineering evaluation and cost analysis for various vapor intrusion protection systems. The analysis was presented to Fort Detrick's RAB in December. Based on the engineering evaluation and cost analysis, the Army plans to install a vapor barrier and a sub-slab depressurization system under the townhouses' foundations. A sub-slab depressurization system uses a powered fan to create a vacuum under a slab foundation, venting vapors from the slab out through the roof, according to the presentation. The vapor barrier would be installed as an extra layer of protection to keep groundwater vapors out of the homes. The Army has to host a public meeting on this analysis and plans to hold it in 2025. After this meeting, the Army can sign an action memorandum and legally be allowed to start installing the protective technology. The analysis has been reviewed by the Maryland Department of the Environment and the EPA and has been revised based on their comments. Additionally, the Army is in ongoing discussions with the Gambrill Glenn developers about preparing to install the technology. Moving the project forward depends on the completion of those discussions, any environmental covenants, public notice and the availability of funding, according to Eric Kauffman, a contracted consultant supporting Fort Detrick. He said the funding profile for the Army is 'grim,' and this project may have to be carried out in the coming federal fiscal year. 'We really don't have an update on that, other than it's a hurry-up-and-wait situation,' he said. 'A budget nightmare' Gortva said that without secured funding, the Army can't move forward with the next step of this project, which is hosting the public information session on the engineering evaluation and cost analysis. 'Even if tomorrow, [the lawyers] concluded all the negotiations, we still need that funding,' he said. 'The question mark is, is this going to be FY25 or is it going to be FY26? I don't have an answer to that right now.' Right now, the Army is trying to conserve money any way it can, such as moving all future RAB meetings to being virtual for the foreseeable future. In the past, people have been able to attend meetings in-person in a rented meeting room at the Hampton Inn on Opossumtown Pike or online. RAB member Jen Peppe Hahn asked Gortva if the Army could provide a list of how federal funding cuts are directly affecting local things, such as the restoration of Area B. Gortva said he doesn't know if that's possible, because right now, 'almost everything' could be affected, and it's a case-by-case basis depending on what does or doesn't get funding. To his understanding, he said, Congress sets aside a certain amount of money for the U.S. Department of Defense to use for restoration activities. That money is allocated by the Army Environmental Command. Because there was not a set fiscal year 2025 budget, they were operating on a fiscal 2024 continuing resolution and using the same budget they had for the prior year. At the same time, not all of the money for projects is available from the start — instead, money for programs is coming in chunks. 'If you have something you have to pay for that is more than what funding is coming in, you can't exactly pay for it at that time unless you save up money for it,' Gortva said. 'Because of that, how funding is coming in different blocks, it affects the entire program as a whole. Things become disjointed.' He told Hahn that Fort Detrick would try to get the vapor intrusion protection technology funded in whole, and it's a high priority for the garrison. But the garrison can't control whether or not the Army Environmental Command picks Fort Detrick to get project funds. 'In the past, we've always been fortunate that our projects have been well described, that they have an outcome that's easy to understand of what we're trying to achieve, and the projects are put together well so that they get funded,' Gortva said. '... We hope that we continue our ability to get the funding that we need to do the program ... but there's no guarantees for anyone here.' RAB member Roberta Huber succinctly described what the Army is dealing with: 'A budget nightmare.'
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
$2 million in funds announced by Governor Morrisey for environmental cleanup in part of Fayette County
CHARLESTON, WV (WVNS) — $2 million in funds for the start of an environmental cleanup in Fayette County was announced by Governor Patrick Morrisey. According to a press release, the $2 million in funds announced by Governor Morrisey will go towards starting an environmental cleanup of the Arbuckle Creek Superfund Site, also known as the former Shaffer Equipment Company property, in the Minden area of Fayette County. Milton man reels in record-setting blue catfish This cleanup is a long-overdue investment in the health and safety of Minden residents. Thanks to the collaboration among federal, state, and local partners, we are taking meaningful steps to protect West Virginians from dangerous chemicals. Governor Morrisey West Virginia House of Delegates member and representative for District 50, Elliott Pritt told 59News that, while some residents may remain skeptical after similar promises from public figures in recent years, the development is a positive step on the path forward for the area. I think anything that we can do for these people is positive. I know that some of them feel like all the different cleanups that have happened over the past few years have been unsuccessful and they may have somewhat of a 'well, we'll see' attitude. But I do think ultimately this is good for them. Elliott Pritt The press release stated that the contamination at the site came from damaged transformers placed by Shaffer Equipment Company between 1970 and 1984 that caused polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) to seep into Arbuckle Creek and soil in the area. The press release also mentioned that studies showed that exposure to PCBs can be connected to a higher risk of cancer and reproductive issues. MAP: State-owned shooting ranges that are open to the public in West Virginia According to the press release, although cleanup efforts began in the 1980s and early 2000s, continuous concerns resulted in U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) assessments in 2017, and the location was added to the EPA's National Priorities List (NPL) in 2019, which helped it qualify for Superfund resources. The press release stated that the $2 million in funding was secured by Governor Morrisey's office and the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP), and that in April 2025 a formal contract was completed between EPS Region 3 and the WVDEP. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
State commits funding to Superfund site cleanup
West Virginia officials have secured $2 million in funding to complement federal monies for a phase of environmental cleanup at a Superfund site in Minden. In a May 19 press release from Gov. Patrick Morrisey's office, the state announced the funding for the environmental cleanup of the Arbuckle Creek Superfund site in Fayette County. According to the release, the federally-matched funds were provided for as part of the 2025 budget and will go toward cleaning up decades-old contamination stemming from industrial activity at the former Shaffer Equipment Company property. 'This cleanup is a long-overdue investment in the health and safety of Minden residents,' said Morrisey. 'Thanks to the collaboration among federal, state and local partners, we are taking meaningful steps to protect West Virginians from dangerous chemicals.' Contamination on the site stemmed from damaged transformers placed by Shaffer Equipment Company between 1970 and 1984, resulting in polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) leaking into the surrounding soil and Arbuckle Creek. According to the release, exposure to PCBs has been linked through numerous studies to a heightened cancer risk and reproductive issues. While initial cleanup actions were taken in the 1980s and early 2000s, ongoing concerns led to further assessments by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2017. In 2019, the site was added to the EPA's National Priorities List (NPL), making it eligible for Superfund resources. Over the years, Minden residents and others have voiced concerns with the health effects of the PCBs on local residents and the environment, as well as the effectiveness of earlier remediation efforts. 'Community input is critical to the Superfund cleanup process and is always welcomed,' said an EPA spokesperson. 'Feedback from residents helps shape the EPA's cleanup plans, ensuring they meet community needs, protect the land, air and water, and support meaningful site reuse that drives economic growth and revitalizes communities. 'Formal public comment periods throughout the Superfund process allow communities to provide input. For the first phase of the cleanup at this site, there was a public comment period from March 13-April 12, 2023 and a public meeting on March 21, 2023.' That allowed the public to comment on the proposed plan for cleaning up the soil at the Shaffer Equipment Company property. 'We are expecting to have another public comment period and public meeting towards the end of 2025 to allow the public to comment on the proposed plan for the second phase of cleanup that will address the remaining contaminated soil and sediment areas,' the EPA spokesperson said. 'The EPA prioritizes community input and welcomes it at any time.' Bi-monthly community updates are provided, the spokesperson said. Morrisey's office, in coordination with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP), successfully secured the required $2 million state match. A formal contract between WVDEP and EPA Region 3 was finalized in April 2025, the release noted. According to the agency spokesperson, the state funds will be utilized for construction/cleanup activities for the first phase, which will address soil contamination of the former Shaffer property. 'This requires an intricate design planning phase that takes time to implement; however, the goal is to complete the plan and begin activities in about two years.' Minden resident Steve Hayslette Monday said that he, for one, has largely abandoned hope in the fight to get complete PCB remediation or satisfaction in the form of an opportunity to be awarded funds to be able to move away from Minden, which several years ago was incorporated into the City of Oak Hill. He said that, to his knowledge, most of the community's residents were in favor of a hoped-for buyout by federal officials so they could relocate out of the damaged area. 'From Day 1, they said EPA don't buy out people,' said Hayslette, a former Oak Hill city councilman and the owner of Hayslette Towing and Recovery. 'It never was on the table.' 'The EPA rarely relocates residents and does not consider relocation unless the environmental data supports it,' the agency's spokesperson said. 'At this time, the environmental data/risk does not show that relocation is an appropriate response action. 'Permanent relocation is only considered in cases where contamination poses an immediate threat that cannot be mitigated or remediated, implementation of remedial measures would require the destruction of homes, or the cleanup requires residents to be temporarily relocated for over one year.' On its website, the EPA highlights, among other things, the history of the Shaffer Equipment property, various abatement efforts, community involvement opportunities, testing sampling and information on future cleanup or other activity. According to the timeline, a fourth removal action was initiated in October 2019 and was completed in February 2020. That featured excavation of soil from an area adjacent to a capped area and minor repairs to the capped area. Since the Minden site was added to the NPL, EPA officials have been working with the WVDEP to review data, engage with community members and local officials and conduct remedial investigation (RI), according to the website. A second phase of RI sampling occurred from July 2021 through September 2022. That effort included the installation of monitoring wells in addition to collection of soil, sediment, surface water and groundwater samples. In March 2023, a proposed cleanup plan to address soil contamination on the former Shaffer site was released for public review and comment. A Record of Decision was filed in July 2024. Officials are currently determining if there are additional areas requiring cleanup. 'The EPA sampled the site from 2019 through 2022 as part of the Remedial Investigation phase of the Superfund process,' the spokesperson said. 'After collecting enough data to establish an understanding of the nature and extent of contamination, our team was ready to advance in the Superfund process. We shifted our focus to planning the first phase of cleanup at the former Shaffer Equipment Company property, which was proposed in 2023.' According to the EPA website, sampling results to date 'show that there is no immediate threat to human health. Accordingly, no immediate action is necessary.' Hayslette, who lives one row of houses removed from Arbuckle Creek, says he is one of several Minden residents who signed up for a potential flood buyout involving the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the process for which was initiated in the fall of 2023. That program was not related to the PCB situation. A lifelong local resident, the 55-year-old said it's doubtful the toxic chemicals of the past can be completely eradicated from local soil and waterways. 'How are you going to find all that and clean it up?' he asked. The ongoing project 'may remediate the site.' Giving residents a financial way out would be a better remedy, he said. 'This is an exciting moment for West Virginia and the Minden community, marking continued progress in the cleanup of the Shaffer Equipment/Arbuckle Creek Area Superfund site,' the spokesperson said. 'The EPA looks forward to working alongside WVDEP and local residents to fulfill our commitment to provide clean air, land and water for all Americans.' To learn more about the Arbuckle Creek Superfund Site, visit
Fox News
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
LEE ZELDIN: Why we're shutting down Biden's EPA museum
The mission to identify waste and abuse of taxpayer dollars spent in the name of pet projects that bolster "environmental justice" or climate change fanaticism has resulted in a long list of atrocious spending amounting to over $22 billion by the Biden administration that I have since terminated for immediate savings. As part of our continued commitment to transparency and responsible spending, the latest efficiency I have identified is the closure of the Biden administration's scarcely visited Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) museum. This cost a whopping $4 million taxpayer dollars to build in accordance with Smithsonian standards and more than $600,000 annually to operate. The museum itself is about the size of an apartment, at barely 1,600 square feet, tucked inside the ground floor of EPA headquarters in Washington, D.C. It had less than 2,000 external visitors between May 2024-February 2025. To put that in perspective, even the lowest visited Smithsonian Museum has eight times the visitors in a one-year period. The millions of dollars spent to build this one-room, little-trafficked, so-called "museum" inside EPA with hundreds of thousands of dollars in operational costs annually is yet another example of waste by the Biden administration that could have been spent on providing clean air, land and water to forgotten communities. EPA staff amounted to more than 40% of visitors and while the museum was free, the cost to taxpayers per external visitor amounted to nearly $315 per person. Other annual costs at the expense of the American taxpayer included more than $123,000 on cleaning and landscaping, more than $207,000 for security guards, $54,000 on magnetometer and X-ray maintenance, more than $54,000 on storage, and nearly $40,000 for maintenance of AV equipment. This museum exemplifies a broader pattern we've uncovered – resources being diverted from the agency's core mission to fund initiatives that advance partisan ideologies under the guise of environmental stewardship. Imagine the progress EPA could have made by funding the replacement of lead pipes, or cleanup of superfund sites languishing on the National Priorities List, or state and local efforts to boost air monitoring and other efforts to improve air quality. While you may expect the history of the agency – which was started under President Richard Nixon – and its mission of protecting human health and the environment to be nonpartisan, the Biden administration chose to curate the museum with a massive gap of recognition between 2014 and Jan. 20, 2021. There is also a higher priority placed on Democrat administrations' work compared to Republican administrations. Biden's EPA favored the incorporation of a slew of "environmental justice" and climate change content to proliferate the fearmongering tactics of the radical left instead of focusing on the statutory work EPA does daily to deliver clean air, land and water to Americans. One exhibit on "Today's EPA," reads, "The EPA protects human heath and the environment by developing and carrying out economic protections; advancing environmental justice, equity, and civil rights compliance…" Another touts the Biden EPA's establishment of an EJ office, EJ programs, and their Journey to Justice Tour. There is no mention of the significant accomplishments of the first Trump EPA, including a drop in combined emissions of criteria pollutants and their precursors, the first ever comprehensive nationwide action plan to address PFAS, or the first update to the Lead and Copper Rule in nearly 30 years. I'd bet the record-breaking emergency response to the catastrophic wildfires in Los Angeles thanks to the leadership of President Donald Trump would never earn a moment in the spotlight. The largest wildfire hazardous materials cleanup in the history of the EPA was projected to take months but was finished in 28 days. These are the accomplishments that should be celebrated – not through expensive museum exhibits paid for by taxpayers, but through cleaner communities and healthier citizens. The foundation of effective environmental stewardship isn't found in self-congratulatory displays or ideologically driven initiatives, it's built through practical, cost-effective programs that deliver measurable improvements to environmental quality and human health. The Biden administration lost sight of these fundamental principles and diverted taxpayer resources to serve political narratives. Under President Trump's leadership, our new direction is clear. Every taxpayer dollar spent must be justified, every program must demonstrate value, and every initiative must contribute directly to our core mission. The museum closure represents just one step in our broader commitment to transparency and fiscal responsibility. We are committed to being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars. So far, our review and termination of wasteful programs has resulted in $22 billion in taxpayer savings. By eliminating wasteful spending and refocusing on providing clean air, land and water for all Americans, we're strengthening our ability to address environmental challenges. The museum's closure will save $600,000 annually – money that could support programs to deliver real environmental benefits to forgotten communities. This isn't about diminishing our commitment to environmental protection; it's about enhancing it through responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. The days of unchecked spending on monuments to the egos of the Left are over. Under our leadership, fiscal responsibility and mission focus will guide every decision. The American people deserve nothing less.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New study finds elevated cancer rates near toxic San Jacinto River waste pits
Texans living in a 250-square-mile area of Harris County that includes a hazardous Superfund site had abnormally high rates of certain types of cancer, according to a new assessment from the state's health department. The study, which was published earlier this month, analyzed cancer rates across 65 census tracts surrounding the San Jacinto River both upstream and downstream of the San Jacinto River Waste Pits Superfund Site, which is contaminated with carcinogenic waste. Between 2013 and 2021, the study found, people in the area had cancer rates above the expected range for cervix uteri cancer, leukemia, lung and bronchus cancer and lymphoma. The Superfund site near Houston is contaminated with dioxins, which the Environmental Protection Agency says are highly toxic and can cause cancer, reproductive and developmental problems, damage to the immune system, and can interfere with hormones. The Texas Department of State Health Services said the cancer assessment was not intended to determine the cause of the cancers or identify possible associations with any risk factors. But environmental advocates said the assement's findings renewed calls for the cleanup of the Superfund site, an effort which has faced several delays due to disputes over who is responsible. Jackie Medcalf, founder and CEO of the environmental nonprofit Texas Health and Environment Alliance, called the state's new study a wake-up call for state and federal officials. 'Our bodies are toxic soup and we cannot ignore that any longer,' Medcalf said Monday at a press conference at the San Jacinto Community Center. The study also reviewed seven types of childhood cancer. Results showed cancer cases were within the range of what is expected based on cancer rates in Texas. The site's pits were originally constructed in the 1960s to dispose of solid and liquid pulp and paper mill waste from the International Paper Co. and McGinnes Industrial Maintenance Corp. During this time the EPA didn't know the risk of such contamination. As much as 200,000 cubic yards of highly toxic waste was dumped into the pits and later eroded allowing for contaminants to leak into the San Jacinto River. In 2008, the site was added to the EPA's National Priorities List for cleanup under the Superfund program, which ranks 'the nation's most serious uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites.' For decades residents in the area say they unknowingly lived, swam, boated and fished near and on top of a hazardous waste site. Gene Hennigan is a long-time resident of Lynchburg, an unincorporated community located in east Harris County and near the waste site. At the press conference Hennigan said he knows many people in the community who have suffered from cancer, including his wife and son who died of cancer. 'The list goes on,' he said. 'We know the area is a cancer cluster by experience not by a study.' THEA and local residents requested the state to study the area's cancer rates. In 2011 temporary armored caps were installed to contain toxic sludge at the site. However, six years later Hurricane Harvey damaged the caps, exposing the waste. Environmentalists and lawyers have argued the temporary cap is an insufficient fix and continue to push for expedited removal of the waste to prevent further human and environmental harm. Full remediation of the site has a price tag of $115 million. Medcalf with THEA said she is frustrated that the EPA hasn't taken stronger action to clean up the site. The agency could take over the clean up. However, she's hoping the Trump administration will prioritize the cleanup of hazardous waste sites, as she said he did during the prior administration by creating a Superfund Task Force. THEA will be meeting with the state health department Tuesday and with the EPA later this week to discuss the cancer assessment's findings. We can't wait to welcome you to the 15th annual Texas Tribune Festival, Texas' breakout ideas and politics event happening Nov. 13–15 in downtown Austin. Step inside the conversations shaping the future of education, the economy, health care, energy, technology, public safety, culture, the arts and so much more. Hear from our CEO, Sonal Shah, on TribFest 2025. TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase.
