Federal Independent Agencies
Here's a look at documents from federal independent agencies
Featured Stories
NASA, Aerospace Corporation Study Sharpens Focus on Ammonia Emissions
PASADENA, California, Nov. 21 (TNSres) -- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory issued the following news:
* * *
NASA, Aerospace Corporation Study Sharpens Focus on Ammonia Emissions
The pungent gas contributes to fine airborne particulate pollution, which endangers human health when inhaled and absorbed in the bloodstream.
*
A recent study led by scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California and the nonprofit Aerospace Corporation shows how high-resolution maps of ground-level ammonia plumes can be generated with airborne sensors, highlighting a way to better track the gas.
... Show Full Article
PASADENA, California, Nov. 21 (TNSres) -- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory issued the following news:
* * *
NASA, Aerospace Corporation Study Sharpens Focus on Ammonia Emissions
The pungent gas contributes to fine airborne particulate pollution, which endangers human health when inhaled and absorbed in the bloodstream.
*
A recent study led by scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California and the nonprofit Aerospace Corporation shows how high-resolution maps of ground-level ammonia plumes can be generated with airborne sensors, highlighting a way to better track the gas.A key chemical ingredient of fine particulate matter -- tiny particles in the air known to be harmful when inhaled -- ammonia can be released through agricultural activities such as livestock farming and geothermal power generation as well as natural geothermal processes. Because it's not systematically monitored, many sources of the pungent gas go undetected.
Published (https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/25/11935/2025/) in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics in October, the study focuses on a series of 2023 research flights that covered the Imperial Valley to the southeast of the Salton Sea in inland Southern California, as well as the Eastern Coachella Valley to its northwest. Prior satellite-based research has identified the Imperial Valley as a prolific source of gaseous ammonia. In the study, scientists employed an airborne sensor capable of resolving ammonia plumes with enough detail to track their origins: Aerospace Corporation's Mako instrument is an imaging spectrometer that observes long-wave infrared light emitted by areas of Earth's surface and atmosphere 6 feet (2 meters) across.
Using the instrument, which can detect ammonia's chemical signature by the infrared light it absorbs, the authors found elevated levels of the gas near several sources, including agricultural fields, livestock feedlots, geothermal plants, and geothermal vents. Measurements in parts of the Imperial Valley were 21/2 to eight times higher than in Coachella Valley's Mecca community, which had ammonia concentrations closer to background levels.
Though not toxic on its own in low concentrations, ammonia is a precursor to particulate matter, also known as aerosol or particle pollution. It reacts with other gases to form solid ammonium salt particles small enough to penetrate the bloodstream from the lungs. Particles under 2.5 micrometers in diameter -- also known as PM2.5 -- are associated with elevated rates of asthma, lung cancer, and cardiovascular disease, among other negative health outcomes.
"Historically, more attention has focused on primary sources of PM2.5, such as auto emissions. But with significant reductions in those emissions and increasingly stringent air quality standards, there is growing interest in understanding secondary sources that form particles in the air from precursor gases," said Sina Hasheminassab, lead author of the paper and a research scientist at JPL. "As an important precursor to PM2.5, ammonia plays a key role, but its emissions are poorly characterized and undermonitored."
Rising ammonia
Previous satellite-based studies have shown rising levels of atmospheric ammonia, both globally and in the continental United States. That research revealed broad trends, but with spatial resolution on the order of tens of miles, the measurements were only sufficient to identify variation over areas of hundreds of square miles or more.
The chemical behavior of ammonia also poses a particular monitoring challenge: Once emitted, it only stays in the atmosphere for hours before reacting with other compounds. In contrast, carbon dioxide can remain in the air for centuries.
Planes and satellites can provide an overview of sources and the geographic distribution of emissions at a given moment. Although satellites offer wider and more recurrent coverage, airborne instruments, being closer to the source, produce higher-resolution data and can focus on specific locations at designated times.
Those proved to be the right capabilities for the recent study. Researchers flew Mako over the Imperial and Eastern Coachella valleys on the mornings and afternoons of March 28 and Sept. 25, 2023, and took concurrent measurements on the ground with both a fixed monitoring station in Mecca operated by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) and a mobile spectrometer developed at the University of California, Riverside.
"The goal was to show that this technique was capable of delivering data with the required accuracy that aerosol scientists and potentially even air quality regulatory bodies could use to improve the air quality in those regions," said David Tratt, a senior scientist at Aerospace Corporation and coauthor of the paper. "We ended up with maps that identify multiple sources of ammonia, and we were able to track the plumes from their sources and observe them coalescing into larger clouds."
Distinct plumes
During the flights, the team collected data over the southeastern coast of the Salton Sea, which straddles Riverside and Imperial counties. There, Mako revealed small plumes coming from geothermal fumaroles venting superheated water and steam that react with nitrogen-bearing compounds in the soil, releasing ammonia.
Farther to the southeast, the results showed several geothermal power plants emitting ammonia, primarily from their cooling towers, as part of their normal operations.
Farther southeast still, the researchers spotted ammonia emissions, a byproduct of animal waste, from cattle farms in the Imperial Valley. During the March 28 flight, a plume from the largest facility in the study area measured up to 1.7 miles (2.8 kilometers) wide and extended up to 4.8 miles (7.7 kilometers) downwind of the source.
'Very large puzzle'
As part of the study, AQMD's Mecca monitoring station recorded seasonal changes in ammonia concentrations. Given the few sources in the area, the researchers surmised that winds during certain months tend to blow the gas from Imperial Valley to the Coachella Valley.
The study underscores the benefits of detailed spatial information about ammonia emissions, and it partly informed the agency's decision in July to expand its ammonia-monitoring network and extend the life of the Mecca station.
As a precursor to PM2.5, ammonia is "one piece of a very large puzzle" that, for Coachella Valley residents, includes vehicle emissions, desert dust, and agricultural activities, said Payam Pakbin, manager of the Advanced Monitoring Technologies Unit at AQMD and a paper coauthor.
"These communities want to know the contributions of these sources to the air quality they're experiencing," he added. "Findings like these help our agency better prioritize which sources require the most attention and ultimately guide our focus toward those that are the highest priority for achieving emission reductions in this community."
* * *
Original text here: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasa-aerospace-corporation-study-sharpens-focus-on-ammonia-emissions/
More Than 100 Glass Pieces To Go on View at the National Museum of the American Indian in New York
WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 -- The Smithsonian Institution National Museum of the American Indian issued the following news release on Nov. 20, 2025:
* * *
More Than 100 Glass Pieces To Go on View at the National Museum of the American Indian in New York
The Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian in New York will host the traveling exhibition "Clearly Indigenous: Native Visions Reimagined in Glass," Nov. 28 through May 29, 2026. The exhibition features approximately 120 glass art objects created by 29 Native American and First Nations artists as well as leading glass artist Dale Chihuly,
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 -- The Smithsonian Institution National Museum of the American Indian issued the following news release on Nov. 20, 2025:
* * *
More Than 100 Glass Pieces To Go on View at the National Museum of the American Indian in New York
The Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian in New York will host the traveling exhibition "Clearly Indigenous: Native Visions Reimagined in Glass," Nov. 28 through May 29, 2026. The exhibition features approximately 120 glass art objects created by 29 Native American and First Nations artists as well as leading glass artist Dale Chihuly,who first introduced glass art to Indian Country as an instructor at the Institute of American Indian Arts. Many of these artists are widely known for their work in other media as well. In addition, two Yolnu (Aboriginal Australian) artists and two Maori artists who have collaborated with Native American artists are also featured, for a total of 33 artists, plus Chihuly.
The art in the exhibition embodies the intellectual content of Native traditions, newly illuminated by the unique properties that can only be achieved by working with glass. Whether reinterpreting traditional stories and designs in the medium of glass or expressing contemporary issues affecting tribal societies, Native glass artists have created a content-laden body of work. These artists have melded the aesthetics and properties inherent in glass art with their cultural ways of knowing. The result is a groundbreaking exhibition featuring an impressive body of artworks.
"This exhibition underscores one path of evolution for Indigenous artists that breaks beyond media considered traditional for their respective cultures," said Michelle Delaney, associate director for museum scholarship. "Through their work in glass, these artists have expanded into unexpected ways of expressing Native perspectives."
"Clearly Indigenous: Native Visions Reimagined in Glass" was originated by the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where it was curated by Letitia Chambers, former CEO of the Heard Museum in Phoenix, Arizona, and artist and museum consultant Cathy Short (Potawatomi). The traveling exhibition was curated by Chambers and is toured by International Arts & Artists. After its presentation at the National Museum of the American Indian in New York, "Clearly Indigenous" will travel to San Diego and Spokane, Washington.
Tour Schedule
* June 10, 2023-Sept. 17, 2023: Wichita Art Museum, Wichita, Kan.
* Dec. 15, 2023-April 7, 2024: Cincinnati Art Museum, Cincinnati
* May 18, 2024-Aug. 25, 2024: Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, Kalamazoo, Mich.
* Oct. 25, 2024-Jan. 10, 2025: Huntsville Museum of Art, Huntsville, Ala.
* Feb. 7, 2025-May 18, 2025: Minnetrista Museum & Gardens, Muncie, Ind.
* June 13, 2025-Sept. 14, 2025: Chrysler Museum of Art; Norfolk, Va.
* Nov. 28, 2025-May 29, 2026: National Museum of the American Indian, New York City
* June 27, 2026-Sept. 20, 2026: Mingei International Museum, San Diego
* Oct. 16, 2026-Jan. 8, 2027: Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, Spokane, Wash.
Exhibition Catalog
A companion book published by the Museum of New Mexico Press features most of the artworks in the exhibition. It was authored by Chambers, Short and the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture.
* * *
About the Museum
In partnership with Native peoples and their allies, the National Museum of the American Indian fosters a richer shared human experience through a more informed understanding of Native peoples. The museum in New York is located at 1 Bowling Green. For additional information, including hours and directions, visit AmericanIndian.si.edu. Follow the museum via social media @SmithsonianNMAI.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/releases/more-100-glass-pieces-go-view-national-museum-american-indian-new-york
El Salvador to Modernize Its International Airport With IDB Support
WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release:
* * *
El Salvador to Modernize Its International Airport with IDB Support
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Board of Executive Directors has approved a $195 million loan to finance the modernization of El Salvador International Airport (AIES).
This operation, approved under the Specific Investment Loan (ESP) modality, will boost the country's economic development, tourism, and air connectivity for passengers using the San Oscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdamez International Airport.
The plan aims
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release:
* * *
El Salvador to Modernize Its International Airport with IDB Support
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Board of Executive Directors has approved a $195 million loan to finance the modernization of El Salvador International Airport (AIES).
This operation, approved under the Specific Investment Loan (ESP) modality, will boost the country's economic development, tourism, and air connectivity for passengers using the San Oscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdamez International Airport.
The plan aimsto improve the quality of airport services and strengthen institutional capacity for planning, operating, and managing air transport.
This IDB-supported program is part of its America en el Centro initiative and contributes to implementing the productivity and economic integration pillar through the development of sustainable regional infrastructure. It will directly benefit 7.7 million passengers expected to use the new airport infrastructure annually by 2030 and generate benefits for more than 518,000 people directly or indirectly linked to tourism, as well as for over 1.8 million people indirectly.
Currently, El Salvador has opportunities to improve its air connectivity, which, if strengthened, would enhance competitiveness and boost tourism growth. A modern, efficient, and well-connected airport system would open new possibilities to fully leverage the economic and social benefits offered by this sector.
The country's air connectivity is concentrated almost entirely at AIES, which currently handles 99.8% of operations and all international flights. This scenario represents a valuable opportunity to strengthen the quality of airport services and enhance the planning, management, and operational capacities of the Autonomous Port Executive Commission (CEPA), thus driving more dynamic and sustainable development of air transport in the country.
The program includes the construction of the second phase of the passenger terminal expansion, as well as the expansion of the aircraft apron at AIES. It will also include the construction of a Foxtrot taxiway, a vehicle parking building, and a Rescue and Firefighting Service (RFFS) building.
The $195 million loan has a repayment term of 23 years, a grace period of 7.5 years, and an interest rate based on SOFR.
* * *
About the IDB
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), a member of the IDB Group, is devoted to improving lives across Latin America and the Caribbean. Founded in 1959, the Bank works with the region's public sector to design and enable impactful, innovative solutions for sustainable and inclusive development. Leveraging financing, technical expertise, and knowledge, it promotes grow and well-being in 26 countries. Visit our website: https://www.iadb.org/en.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.iadb.org/en/news/el-salvador-modernize-its-international-airport-idb-support
NASA Cassini Study Finds Organics 'Fresh' From Ocean of Enceladus
PASADENA, California, Nov. 20 (TNSres) -- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory issued the following news:
* * *
NASA Cassini Study Finds Organics 'Fresh' From Ocean of Enceladus
Researchers dove deep into information gathered from the ice grains that were collected during a close and super-fast flyby through a plume of Saturn's icy moon.
*
A new analysis of data from NASA's Cassini mission found evidence of previously undetected organic compounds in a plume of ice particles ejected from the ocean that lies under the frozen shell of Saturn's moon Enceladus. Researchers spotted not only molecules
... Show Full Article
PASADENA, California, Nov. 20 (TNSres) -- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory issued the following news:
* * *
NASA Cassini Study Finds Organics 'Fresh' From Ocean of Enceladus
Researchers dove deep into information gathered from the ice grains that were collected during a close and super-fast flyby through a plume of Saturn's icy moon.
*
A new analysis of data from NASA's Cassini mission found evidence of previously undetected organic compounds in a plume of ice particles ejected from the ocean that lies under the frozen shell of Saturn's moon Enceladus. Researchers spotted not only moleculesthey've found before but also new ones that lay a potential path to chemical or biochemical activity.
The ice grains studied were collected just 13 miles (21 kilometers) from the moon's surface and mark the first time scientists have observed this diversity of organics in fresh particles ejected from the subsurface water of Enceladus. Published Wednesday in Nature Astronomy, the findings signal an important step toward confirming active organic chemistry below the moon's surface. This is the kind of chemical activity that could support compounds that are important to biological processes and are an essential component of life on Earth.
Besides increasing the diversity of detected organics, the recent work added a new layer to earlier findings by analyzing particles that the Cassini spacecraft collected when it flew directly through a plume -- the next-best thing to diving directly into the moon's ocean.
"Previously, we detected organics in ice grains that were years old and potentially altered by the intense radiation environment surrounding them," said Nozair Khawaja of the Freie Universitat Berlin, lead author of the study. "These new organic compounds were just minutes old, found in ice that was fresh from the ocean below Enceladus' surface."
Scientists knew from previous Cassini data-mining that nitrogen- and oxygen-bearing organic compounds were present in particles from Saturn's E ring, a faint, wide outer band around the planet fed by the icy material that fans out from Enceladus' plumes. But the new research analyzed ice grains from a moon plume itself -- in other words, grains found closest to their subsurface origin.
"These molecules we found in the freshly ejected material prove that the complex organic molecules Cassini detected in Saturn's E ring are not just a product of long exposure to space, but are readily available in Enceladus' ocean," said coauthor Frank Postberg, also of Freie Universitat Berlin.
Fast and fruitful
The data was collected and sent to Earth in 2008, when ice particles impacted Cassini's Cosmic Dust Analyzer instrument. Besides being directly sourced from a plume, the ice grains had another thing going for them: They'd been smashed to smithereens as they struck the instrument during the spacecraft's fast fly-through at 11 miles per second (about 18 kilometers per second relative to the moon).
The energy of the impact vaporized the ice grains and ionized a substantial fraction of them. Those ions were then analyzed by the instrument's mass spectrometer, which examined their chemical makeup.
The study's authors were able to analyze the tiniest of fragments -- smaller than a thousandth of a millimeter, smaller even than a flu virus -- and identify organic compounds they hadn't seen before in plume particles.
The newly detected compounds included those from the aliphatic and cyclic ester and ether families, some with double bonds in their molecular structures. Together with the confirmed aromatic, nitrogen- and oxygen-bearing compounds, these compounds can form the building blocks to support chemical reactions and processes that could have led to more complex organic chemistry -- the kind that is of interest to astrobiology and narrows the focus of where we search for life in the solar system.
After flying through the plume, the spacecraft, managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, explored the complex Saturn system for nearly another decade.
More about Cassini
The Cassini-Huygens mission was a cooperative project of NASA, ESA (European Space Agency), and the Italian Space Agency. A division of Caltech in Pasadena, JPL managed the mission for NASA's Space Mission Directorate in Washington and designed, developed, and assembled the Cassini orbiter.
To learn more about Cassini, visit:
https://science.nasa.gov/mission/cassini/
* * *
Original text here: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasa-cassini-study-finds-organics-fresh-from-ocean-of-enceladus/
Jovanovic's First EXIM Board Action: Critical Minerals Expansion in Pennsylvania with Department of War
WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- The Export-Import Bank of the U.S. issued the following news release:
* * *
Jovanovic's First EXIM Board Action: Critical Minerals Expansion in Pennsylvania with Department of War
*
Washington, D.C. - The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) has approved a direct loan to Pennsylvania based 6K Additive LLC for an expansion project in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania that will support over 50 new American jobs. The $27 million financing includes the construction of four new buildings and the acquisition of advanced equipment to refine titanium, nickel, and alloy powders.
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- The Export-Import Bank of the U.S. issued the following news release:
* * *
Jovanovic's First EXIM Board Action: Critical Minerals Expansion in Pennsylvania with Department of War
*
Washington, D.C. - The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) has approved a direct loan to Pennsylvania based 6K Additive LLC for an expansion project in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania that will support over 50 new American jobs. The $27 million financing includes the construction of four new buildings and the acquisition of advanced equipment to refine titanium, nickel, and alloy powders.
The project is the latest approval under EXIM's Make More in America Initiative (MMIA), designed to revitalize U.S. manufacturing and secure critical supply chains and is the first deal in history conducted in coordination with the U.S. Department of War's Defense Production Act (DPA) Title III program.
This transaction also marks the first board meeting chaired by President and Chairman John Jovanovic, who signed off on the approval.
" This expansion is proof that American manufacturing is innovating and growing," said EXIM Chairman John Jovanovic. "My first Board action is about rebuilding America's industrial base, securing critical supply chains, and making sure America leads in the industries of the future. Partnering with the Department of War on this effort underscores EXIM's role as an economic tool to effectuate President Trump's agenda for revitalizing our domestic manufacturing and bringing supply chain security to America."
"This U.S. Export-Import Bank loan will scale domestic production capacity for advanced metals needed for defense applications and strategic economic sectors," said the Honorable Michael Cadenazzi, the Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy. "This loan also builds upon the Department of War's 2023 Defense Production Act Title III investment in 6K Additive and exemplifies the whole-of-government approach to building and scaling critical mineral capabilities."
"6K Additive has a unique ability to domestically produce a variety of materials critical for applications in the defense, hypersonic and aerospace markets," explained Frank Roberts, President of 6K Additive. "Expanding our production capacity with the help of Government funding like the $27M EXIM loan and the $23M DPA Title III grant ensures both our military and commercial customers get high-value powder, ingots and alloy additions like titanium, nickel, C-103/niobium and other refractory metals originating from a U.S.-based supply chain."
ABOUT EXIM:
As the United States government's official export credit agency, the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) supports American jobs by facilitating U.S. exports. As an independent agency, EXIM plays a critical role in supporting economic growth, securing critical supply chains, and ensuring American businesses are given a fighting chance. To achieve this mission, EXIM offers financing including export credit insurance, working capital guarantees, loan guarantees, and direct loans. Learn more at www.exim.gov.
***
Original text here: https://www.exim.gov/news/jovanovics-first-exim-board-action-critical-minerals-expansion-pennsylvania-department-war
Jovanovic's First EXIM Board Action: Critical Minerals Expansion in Pennsylvania with Department of War
WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- The Export-Import Bank of the United States Office of Inspector General issued the following news release:
* * *
Jovanovic's First EXIM Board Action: Critical Minerals Expansion in Pennsylvania with Department of War
*
Washington, D.C. - The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) has approved a direct loan to Pennsylvania based 6K Additive LLC for an expansion project in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania that will support over 50 new American jobs. The $27 million financing includes the construction of four new buildings and the acquisition of advanced equipment to refine
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- The Export-Import Bank of the United States Office of Inspector General issued the following news release:
* * *
Jovanovic's First EXIM Board Action: Critical Minerals Expansion in Pennsylvania with Department of War
*
Washington, D.C. - The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) has approved a direct loan to Pennsylvania based 6K Additive LLC for an expansion project in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania that will support over 50 new American jobs. The $27 million financing includes the construction of four new buildings and the acquisition of advanced equipment to refinetitanium, nickel, and alloy powders.
The project is the latest approval under EXIM's Make More in America Initiative (MMIA), designed to revitalize U.S. manufacturing and secure critical supply chains and is the first deal in history conducted in coordination with the U.S. Department of War's Defense Production Act (DPA) Title III program.
This transaction also marks the first board meeting chaired by President and Chairman John Jovanovic, who signed off on the approval.
" This expansion is proof that American manufacturing is innovating and growing," said EXIM Chairman John Jovanovic. "My first Board action is about rebuilding America's industrial base, securing critical supply chains, and making sure America leads in the industries of the future. Partnering with the Department of War on this effort underscores EXIM's role as an economic tool to effectuate President Trump's agenda for revitalizing our domestic manufacturing and bringing supply chain security to America."
"This U.S. Export-Import Bank loan will scale domestic production capacity for advanced metals needed for defense applications and strategic economic sectors," said the Honorable Michael Cadenazzi, the Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy. "This loan also builds upon the Department of War's 2023 Defense Production Act Title III investment in 6K Additive and exemplifies the whole-of-government approach to building and scaling critical mineral capabilities."
"6K Additive has a unique ability to domestically produce a variety of materials critical for applications in the defense, hypersonic and aerospace markets," explained Frank Roberts, President of 6K Additive. "Expanding our production capacity with the help of Government funding like the $27M EXIM loan and the $23M DPA Title III grant ensures both our military and commercial customers get high-value powder, ingots and alloy additions like titanium, nickel, C-103/niobium and other refractory metals originating from a U.S.-based supply chain."
ABOUT EXIM:
As the United States government's official export credit agency, the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) supports American jobs by facilitating U.S. exports. As an independent agency, EXIM plays a critical role in supporting economic growth, securing critical supply chains, and ensuring American businesses are given a fighting chance. To achieve this mission, EXIM offers financing including export credit insurance, working capital guarantees, loan guarantees, and direct loans. Learn more at www.exim.gov.
***
Original text here: https://www.exim.gov/news/jovanovics-first-exim-board-action-critical-minerals-expansion-pennsylvania-department-war
EPA to host open house for update on the GE-Pittsfield/Housatonic River Superfund Site
WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
* * *
EPA to host open house for update on the GE-Pittsfield/Housatonic River Superfund Site
*
BOSTON (Nov. 20, 2025) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold an open house to inform residents and answer questions on an array of topics regarding the cleanup of the Housatonic River portion of the GE-Pittsfield/Housatonic River Superfund Site. The open house will focus on construction activities at the Upland Disposal Facility (the "UDF") located in Lee, Massachusetts.
Community members
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
* * *
EPA to host open house for update on the GE-Pittsfield/Housatonic River Superfund Site
*
BOSTON (Nov. 20, 2025) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold an open house to inform residents and answer questions on an array of topics regarding the cleanup of the Housatonic River portion of the GE-Pittsfield/Housatonic River Superfund Site. The open house will focus on construction activities at the Upland Disposal Facility (the "UDF") located in Lee, Massachusetts.
Community membersare invited to stop by at any point during the three-hour session, interact directly with EPA and General Electric (GE) staff, and ask questions about the Site. There will be no formal presentation.
What: GE-Pittsfield/Housatonic River Site Open House
When: December 3, 2025 from 5-8PM ET
Where: Lee Middle and High School Cafeteria
300 Greylock Street
Lee, Massachusetts 01238
To find out the latest information on the Site, please visit: https://www.epa.gov/ge-housatonic. The open house will have stations on the following topics:
* UDF Site Preparation Work
* UDF Construction Work in 2026
* Water Treatment/Hydraulic Dredging
* Recent Improvements to Reduce Truck Traffic in the Community
* General Site-Related Information
Site Background
Since the early 1900s, GE operated a large-scale industrial facility including the manufacturing and servicing of power transformers, defense and aerospace (ordnance) and plastics, and used numerous industrial chemicals at its Pittsfield facility. From 1932 through 1977, GE manufactured and serviced electrical transformers containing PCBs. Years of PCB and industrial chemical use, and improper disposal, led to extensive contamination around Pittsfield, Massachusetts as well as down the Housatonic River.
The Housatonic River is approximately 150 miles from its headwaters on the East Branch in Hinsdale, Massachusetts and flows through Connecticut into Long Island Sound.
Cleanup of PCBs and other hazardous substances in Pittsfield and the Housatonic River has progressed under an October 2000 Consent Decree entered into by EPA, Massachusetts, Connecticut, the City of Pittsfield, the GE Company, and the Pittsfield Economic Development Authority. Cleanup was required for 20 contaminated areas outside the river, five groundwater management areas, and three river segmentsthe Upper 1/2-Mile Reach, the 1 1/2 Mile Reach, and Rest of River.
The remediation of the 20 non-river cleanup areas and the first two miles of the Housatonic River are complete. GE is conducting all required post-cleanup site control activities, including inspection, monitoring, and maintenance activities.
Long-term monitoring is ongoing at three groundwater management areas (GMAs). At two of these areas, non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) recovery is ongoing and is anticipated to continue into the foreseeable future. GE is evaluating the treatment of groundwater at two GMAs.
The Rest of River cleanup is estimated to take 13 years of active remediation.
***
Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-host-open-house-update-ge-pittsfieldhousatonic-river-superfund-site
