July—August 2019 Pacific Southwest Newsletter
Revitalizing a Rural Town
This year the town of Lovelock, Nevada, once a way-station on the Humboldt Trail to California and later a stop on the Central Pacific Railroad, joined a coalition of rural communities in the state to revitalize historic downtowns, as well as formerly mined lands. A $600,000 Brownfields grant to Lovelock, which has a population of 2,000, is supporting the environmental and financial analyses needed to revitalize the rural town for success in today’s economic market.
- KTVN News: Lovelock Grant (video)
- Brownfields
Support for the U.S.-Mexico Border
EPA, in coordination with the North American Development Bank, has released a Request for Proposals (RFP) through the Border 2020 Program. The RFP is seeking environmental and public health project proposals in the Arizona, Sonora, California and Baja California border region.
- U.S.-Mexico Border 2020 Funding Opportunity
- Border 2020 Request for Proposals / Solicitud de propuestas de Frontera 2020
- North American Development Bank
Protecting San Francisco Bay
EPA has given a $218 million Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan to Silicon Valley Clean Water to finance wastewater infrastructure upgrades that will protect public health and the San Francisco Bay. The funds will support wastewater infrastructure improvements in the Bay Area while creating well-paying environmental infrastructure jobs.
- WaterWorld Magazine: EPA Issues $218 Million in WIFIA Funding to Silicon Valley Clean Water
Preventing Oil Spills
EPA has reached a settlement with U.S. Lubricants Inc. for Clean Water Act violations. Under the agreement, the company will pay a $196,314 penalty. EPA and the company also reached a separate agreement under which the company will take steps to reduce the risk of oil spills from their petroleum storage facility in Commerce, California, to the Los Angeles River.
- O.C. Breeze: EPA requires U.S. Lubricants Inc. to Protect Los Angeles Waterways from Oil Spills
- Oil Spills Prevention and Preparedness Regulations
Small Business Innovation Research
EPA awarded Small Business Innovation Research contracts to more than 20 small businesses nationwide, including in Arizona and California, to develop technologies that provide sustainable solutions for environmental issues. These recipients are creating technologies that improve water infrastructure, air quality and homeland security.
