In a news release, the EPA announced it moved further and faster than ever in 2023 to deliver on its mission to protect human health and the environment by tackling climate change, advancing environmental justice, and protecting the health and safety of communities across the country.
“President Biden believes every person in this country deserves clean air to breathe, clean water to drink and the opportunity to lead a healthy life, and EPA is central to making that belief a reality. After a year of significant unparalleled accomplishments, I couldn’t be prouder of EPA’s driven and dedicated workforce,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan in the news release. “From standing up rules to cut harmful pollution and bring clean, reliable energy to communities that need it most, to deploying billions of dollars in resources, EPA has never been in a stronger position to make people’s lives better and we’re not slowing down now.”
Some of the EPA’s 2023 accomplishments highlighted in the news release include:
- “EPA’s final rule on methane is set to prevent the equivalent of more than a billion tons of carbon emissions, marking a major step in combating climate change, while reducing other harmful pollution.
- The agency introduced new technology standards for power plants and the transportation sector, representing some of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S.
- The agency proposed the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements and a rule to regulate six PFAS in drinking water, demonstrating its leadership in safeguarding drinking water.
- The EPA delivered the largest single investment in environmental justice in history, launched the Thriving Justice Grantmakers Program, and developed Environmental Justice Technical Guidelines.
- EPA made significant progress implementing the 2016 amendments to strengthen our nation’s chemical safety law after years of mismanagement and delay, advancing rules to better protect communities from harmful chemicals like TCE and methylene chloride.
- The EPA enhanced its consultation policy with Indian Tribes and agreed with Canada and the Ktunaxa Nation to develop a joint initiative to tackle transboundary water pollution, showcasing its commitment to collaborative environmental solutions.
- The agency deployed $1 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to expedite Superfund cleanup activities at 100 Superfund sites and began cleanup of 22 additional Superfund sites.
- The EPA’s 24th consecutive clean financial audit opinion highlights the agency’s commitment to responsible and transparent financial management.
- EPA made significant contributions in PFAS research, air quality standards and climate adaptation strategies, underlining the agency’s role in leading environmental science.
- Enforcement has been revitalized, with significant increases in on-site inspections, new criminal investigations, civil settlements and cleanup enforcement.
- EPA carried out emergency response efforts across the country, including East Palestine, Ohio and on Maui, Hawaii.
- Administrator Regan established a first-of-its-kind National Environmental Youth Advisory Council.”
Additionally, last year, Regan traveled to communities in all 10 EPA regions to meet with residents, interested parties, and elected leaders. Agency officials also signed more than 50 rules and “delivered more than $16 billion in investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and more than $41 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act to reduce pollution, build a clean energy economy, lower costs for American households and businesses, create good-paying jobs, and advance environmental justice across the country.”