PHILADELPHIA (Oct. 12, 2023) - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced West Virginia University has been selected to receive a $800,000 pollution prevention grant through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, a key pillar of Bidenomics. The funding is made possible by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and will go to develop and adopt practices that prevent pollution at the source in local communities.

West Virginia University’s proposed project will provide technical assistance to industrial facilities in disadvantaged communities in the state to encourage businesses to promote reducing and preventing pollution at the source.  Technical assistance will include onsite and remote assessments and assistance with pollution prevention (P2) recommendations, training, and development of P2 best practices, toolkits, training videos, self‐guided modules, and interactive media. The proposed project will improve human health and the environment in disadvantaged communities by improving energy efficiency, minimizing waste streams, and reducing air pollution and the facilities’ carbon footprint.

“Achieving lasting environmental justice requires community-driven solutions boosted by federal resources,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “President Biden has secured historic levels of funding to address environmental harms in vulnerable communities under his Investing in America agenda. These dollars have supercharged our ability to empower a wide range of businesses from across the country to deploy solutions that prevent pollution while strengthening economic growth.”  

“This funding to West Virginia University is yet another investment the Biden-Harris Administration is making to improve the health and future of communities across the Mountain State,” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. “Getting businesses committed to reducing pollution and shrinking their carbon footprint will help create healthier, stronger and more sustainable communities.”  

The Environmental Justice in Communities grant program will provide pollution prevention technical assistance to businesses to improve human health and the environment in disadvantaged communities.

EPA’s Pollution Prevention Grant Program advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to deliver 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.

West Virginia University continues to make our state proud with innovative projects that strengthen environmental and public health,” said Senator Joe Manchin, Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “The funding announced today will assist West Virginia businesses in adopting cost-effective pollution reduction strategies, improving their energy efficiency and reducing waste. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continues to deliver meaningful investments for the Mountain State, and I will continue advocating for resources that enhance the health and well-being of our communities.”

EPA anticipates awarding the grants once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied. 

Background:

The United States generates millions of tons of pollution each year and spends billions of dollars per year controlling this pollution. Once in our environment, this pollution harms human and environmental health, which disproportionally impacts underserved communities. Preventing pollution at the source, also known as P2 or source reduction, rather than managing waste after it is produced, is an important part of the solution landscape, and advances a sustainable infrastructure that supports local economies while better protecting public health and the environment. P2 practices can reduce exposure to toxic chemicals, conserve natural resources, and reduce cleanup and financial costs for businesses, particularly for waste management and environmental liability. Practicing P2 is essential for protecting public health and improving environmental conditions in and around disadvantaged communities that have long been overburdened by pollution.

Between 2011-2021, EPA’s Pollution Prevention program has issued nearly 500 grants totaling more than $50 million, which have helped businesses identify, develop and adopt P2 approaches. These approaches have resulted in eliminating 19.8 million metric tons of greenhouse gases, saving 49 billion gallons of water, reducing 917 million pounds of hazardous materials and pollutants, and saving more than $2.2 billion for business.

President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure is boosting these efforts by providing a historic $100 million to support the program’s continued efforts. Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, state and Tribal programs that are awarded grants will not be required to provide matching funds, which has helped expand access to these resources and broadened the applicant pool.

Read more about P2 and the P2 Grant Program.