Federal Independent Agencies
Here's a look at documents from federal independent agencies
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National Museum of African American History and Culture Marks the Return of a Sao Jose Ship Timber to South Africa After a Decade of Stewardship
WASHINGTON, March 13 -- The Smithsonian Institution National Museum of African American History and Culture issued the following news release:
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National Museum of African American History and Culture Marks the Return of a Sao Jose Ship Timber to South Africa After a Decade of Stewardship
Object Returns Following the Conclusion of a Long-Planned Loan for Conservation
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Following the conclusion of a 10-year loan to the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), wooden artifacts, including ship timber, from the Sao Jose slave shipwreck will return home
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WASHINGTON, March 13 -- The Smithsonian Institution National Museum of African American History and Culture issued the following news release:
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National Museum of African American History and Culture Marks the Return of a Sao Jose Ship Timber to South Africa After a Decade of Stewardship
Object Returns Following the Conclusion of a Long-Planned Loan for Conservation
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Following the conclusion of a 10-year loan to the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), wooden artifacts, including ship timber, from the Sao Jose slave shipwreck will return hometo South Africa for long-term conservation and continued stewardship. Since the museum's opening in 2016, the object has been on view in the "Slavery and Freedom" exhibition, thanks to a collaborative partnership and loan from the Iziko Museums of South Africa. Completing this loan is part of the museum's broader collaboration with partners in South Africa, including the upcoming opening of the traveling exhibition "In Slavery's Wake" at the Iziko South African National Gallery in May 2026.
"The millions of visitors who have learned more about the Middle Passage through this loan from Iziko Museums have benefited in immeasurable ways," said Shanita Brackett, acting director of NMAAHC. "This transition reflects the museum's commitment to ethical care, transparency and the enduring power of historical evidence."
While the Sao Jose timber will no longer be on view starting March 23, its story remains central to the Middle Passage within the "Slavery and Freedom" exhibition, where ballast blocks, historical voices and documentary evidence continue to bear witness to the lived realities of transatlantic slavery. The timber's return supports long-term conservation and continued study. Wood recovered from underwater sites is extremely fragile and requires specialized care to ensure it can be preserved for future generations. In place of the timber, the gallery will feature a graphic reproduction of the ship's original manifest documenting the ship's cargo, including ballast blocks, significant to the trade process. For more information about the museum's collection and conservation efforts, visit the Collection Care website.
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About the Sao Jose
In 1794, the Sao Jose, a Portuguese slave ship, wrecked near the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. Destined for Brazil, the ship was carrying more than 500 enslaved individuals from Mozambique when it struck a rock and began to sink. The crew and some of those enslaved were able to make it safely to shore, but tragically, more than half of the enslaved people aboard died in the rough waters. Those Mozambican captives who survived were sold into slavery on the Western Cape. The wreck was identified and studied through the Slave Wrecks Project. This collaborative research effort led to one of the first archaeologically confirmed identifications of a slave ship associated with the transatlantic slave trade that was carrying enslaved people aboard.
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About the Slave Wrecks Project
The Slave Wrecks Project (SWP) is an international network of researchers and institutions hosted by the museum. Using maritime archaeology, historical research, and the study of sunken slave ships, the Slave Wrecks Project takes a distinct approach to the study of global African enslavement and the history of the African diaspora. Current global partners, in addition to local and regional partners in Africa, the Caribbean, and North and South America, include The George Washington University (co-convening partner), CAIRIM - Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Diving With a Purpose, Iziko Museums of South Africa, Instituto AfrOrigens, URICA - Universite Cheikh Anta Diop and U.S. National Park Service-Submerged Resources Center.
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About "In Slavery's Wake"
"In Slavery's Wake: Making Black Freedom in the World" is a collaborative international exhibition that explores the history and legacies of slavery, colonialism and Black freedom-making. Featuring objects and stories from around the world, including items connected to the story of the Sao Jose, it combines historical scholarship from curators on four continents with contemporary art and oral histories from the "Unfinished Conversations" archive. The exhibition includes 190 objects, 250 images and 10 multimedia interactives and films. "In Slavery's Wake" opens at the Iziko South African National Gallery in May 2026 before traveling to Dakar, Senegal, in 2027.
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Original text here: https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/releases/national-museum-african-american-history-and-culture-marks-return-sao-jose-ship
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine: Integrating Data and Computing Into K-12 Education Is Critical and Requires Coordinated Approach To Be Effective, Says New Report
WASHINGTON, March 13 (TNSrep) -- The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine issued the following news release:
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Integrating Data and Computing into K-12 Education Is Critical and Requires Coordinated Approach To Be Effective, Says New Report
While computing and data shape nearly every aspect of modern life, efforts to expand data and computing education in K-12 settings have grown rapidly but unevenly, says a new report (https://www.nationalacademies.org/publications/29303) from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, which offers a road map for
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WASHINGTON, March 13 (TNSrep) -- The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine issued the following news release:
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Integrating Data and Computing into K-12 Education Is Critical and Requires Coordinated Approach To Be Effective, Says New Report
While computing and data shape nearly every aspect of modern life, efforts to expand data and computing education in K-12 settings have grown rapidly but unevenly, says a new report (https://www.nationalacademies.org/publications/29303) from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, which offers a road map forstate and local education agencies to integrate data and computing into school curricula and courses in a consistent manner. Integration of this content into existing courses, the report says, provides a mechanism for adding new subject matter and for enhancing student learning in existing subjects such as science and mathematics.
The report includes 14 recommendations to guide program and curriculum designers, schools, districts, and states as they work to respond to the increasing demand for greater attention to computing and data to prepare students to navigate an increasingly complex and technological world.
New standards, courses, and initiatives for data and computing have emerged, often focused on specific areas such as computer science or data science. However, these efforts are frequently developed independently and lack consistency across states, districts, and schools. Many students encounter data and computing only through short-term or isolated experiences, especially in elementary school.
In selecting curricula, school districts should prioritize materials that make explicit connections among data, computing, and other school subjects, and that provide a progression of experiences starting in kindergarten that gradually build more sophisticated knowledge. Both digital and "unplugged" experiences play an important role, particularly in grades K-8, where unplugged activities can strengthen conceptual understanding. Students should also have opportunities to take stand-alone courses on data and computing and in middle and high school, and all students should learn about the possibilities, limitations, risks, and ethical considerations associated with artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.
"At a time when computational tools and systems have become even more powerful, data are everywhere, and sophisticated artificial intelligence models are now omnipresent, we need a road map to integrate data and computing into education in an effective way, and that's what our report offers," said Nicholas Horton, Beitzel Professor of Technology and Society, Department of Statistics, Amherst College, and chair of the committee that wrote the report. "Kids are deeply curious about the world around them, and computation and data can build on this curiosity and allow students to flourish."
Drawing on existing conceptual frameworks and standards in computer science, data science, mathematics, statistics, science, and engineering, the report also identifies seven foundational competencies for data and computing to be incorporated across K-12 curricula:
* problem posing and problem-solving processes
* producing and working with data
* abstraction, algorithmic thinking, and automation
* probabilistic and inferential reasoning
* models and representations
* technology and society
* data and computing systems
Many educators have had limited opportunities to develop familiarity with the foundational competencies for data and computing and may need additional content knowledge and pedagogical skills to integrate these competencies into instruction. The report recommends that professional development providers design teacher experiences that use the foundational competencies within the disciplines they teach and in the context of the curricula they are expected to implement. Additionally, leaders of teacher preparation programs should expand preservice preparation pathways and strengthen partnerships between schools of education and departments such as computer science and statistics.
The report also calls for increased coordination across professional societies to elevate the foundational competencies within their frameworks and for sustained investment in curriculum development, professional learning, and research.
The study -- undertaken by the Committee on Developing Competencies for the Future of Data and Computing: The Role of K-12 (https://www.nationalacademies.org/projects/DBASSE-BOSE-23-04#organizers) -- was sponsored by the National Science Foundation.
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The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine are private, nonprofit institutions that provide independent, objective analysis and advice to the nation to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions related to science, engineering, and medicine. They operate under an 1863 congressional charter to the National Academy of Sciences, signed by President Lincoln.
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Original text here: https://www.nationalacademies.org/news/integrating-data-and-computing-into-k-12-education-is-critical-and-requires-coordinated-approach-to-be-effective-says-new-report
Ginnie Mae Mortgage-Backed Securities Portfolio Reached $2.909 Trillion in February
WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Ginnie Mae issued the following news release:
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Ginnie Mae Mortgage-Backed Securities Portfolio Reached $2.909 Trillion in February
Ginnie Mae's mortgage-backed securities (MBS) portfolio outstanding grew to $2.909 trillion as of February 2026. In addition, Ginnie Mae issued $39 billion in total MBS, resulting in net portfolio growth of $4.5 billion. Ginnie Mae facilitated the pooling and securitization of more than 101,000 loans for first-time homebuyers year to date.
Key highlights from the February issuance include:
* $38.4 billion in Ginnie Mae II MBS.
* $1.1
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WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Ginnie Mae issued the following news release:
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Ginnie Mae Mortgage-Backed Securities Portfolio Reached $2.909 Trillion in February
Ginnie Mae's mortgage-backed securities (MBS) portfolio outstanding grew to $2.909 trillion as of February 2026. In addition, Ginnie Mae issued $39 billion in total MBS, resulting in net portfolio growth of $4.5 billion. Ginnie Mae facilitated the pooling and securitization of more than 101,000 loans for first-time homebuyers year to date.
Key highlights from the February issuance include:
* $38.4 billion in Ginnie Mae II MBS.
* $1.1billion in Ginnie Mae I MBS, including $1 billion for multifamily housing loans.
* The pooling and securitization of loans for more than 113,000 American households, including over 43,000 first-time homebuyers.
For detailed information on monthly MBS issuance, unpaid principal balance, Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit (REMIC) issuance, and a broader analysis of global market trends, visit Ginnie Mae Disclosure (https://www.ginniemae.gov/data_and_reports/reporting/Pages/monthly_issuance_reports.aspx).
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About Ginnie Mae
Ginnie Mae is a wholly government-owned corporation that attracts global capital into the housing finance system to support homeownership for veterans and millions of homeowners throughout the country. Ginnie Mae MBS programs directly support housing finance programs administered by the Federal Housing Administration, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Office of Public and Indian Housing, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Housing Service. Ginnie Mae is the only MBS to carry the explicit full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. Additional information about Ginnie Mae is available at www.ginniemae.gov and on X, YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
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Original text here: https://www.ginniemae.gov/newsroom/Pages/PressReleaseDispPage.aspx?ParamID=373
NJ TRANSIT and Amtrak Prepare to Open First Track on New Portal North Bridge
WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Amtrak (National Railroad Passenger Corp.) issued the following news:
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NJ TRANSIT and Amtrak Prepare to Open First Track on New Portal North Bridge
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Ceremonial First Train Ride Over the New Bridge Marks Major Milestone For Service Reliability on Northeast Corridor; Second Track To Be Cutover in the Fall
KEARNY, NJ - New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill, NJ TRANSIT and Amtrak celebrated a major milestone at the Portal North Bridge in Kearny by riding a ceremonial train over the bridge, which will have one track officially go into passenger service on Monday, March
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WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Amtrak (National Railroad Passenger Corp.) issued the following news:
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NJ TRANSIT and Amtrak Prepare to Open First Track on New Portal North Bridge
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Ceremonial First Train Ride Over the New Bridge Marks Major Milestone For Service Reliability on Northeast Corridor; Second Track To Be Cutover in the Fall
KEARNY, NJ - New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill, NJ TRANSIT and Amtrak celebrated a major milestone at the Portal North Bridge in Kearny by riding a ceremonial train over the bridge, which will have one track officially go into passenger service on Monday, March16. This marks a historic moment in transferring service from the current 116-year-old swing bridge, which has long been a source of delays. The second and final track will be moved onto the new bridge in the fall, providing increased reliability to rail customers for generations to come.
"Today marks a historic step forward for New Jersey's transportation future. For decades, the old Portal Bridge has been a source of delays and frustration for the hundreds of thousands of commuters and travelers who rely on the Northeast Corridor every day," said New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill. "With the first train now crossing the new Portal North Bridge, we are delivering a modern, reliable piece of infrastructure that will strengthen our economy, improve the daily commute and support the entire Northeast Corridor."
"The old Portal Bridge was completed just a few months after Mother Theresa was born. Infrastructure that old creates delays, delays ruin birthday parties, preclude family dinners, and create stress for someone just trying to get home after a long day at work. The growth of New Jersey relies on finishing projects like the Portal Bridge and the Gateway Tunnel. Because New Jersey will only keep growing if we keep moving," said Congresswoman Nellie Pou.
"Today's first train across the new Portal North Bridge is a major milestone for the Gateway Project and for New Jersey," said Congressman Rob Menendez. "This historic moment brings us closer to a stronger, more reliable rail network but more work remains. I look forward to working with our Congressional delegation, our partners in state and local government, and organized labor to ensure New Jersey is at the forefront of America's transit revival."
"This is a major milestone. After years of fighting to claw back federal infrastructure dollars for Jersey, we're finally seeing the results," said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). "The new Portal North Bridge will replace a more than 116-year-old bridge held together with band-aids that's caused constant delays and headaches for commuters. This project means faster, more reliable trains, good-paying union jobs, and a stronger economy."
"Thanks to President Donald J. Trump's investment, American families traveling along Amtrak's Northeast Corridor will experience smoother, faster rides with the opening of this new track," said Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Administrator David Fink. "Under Secretary Duffy, USDOT is focused on building big, beautiful infrastructure, and this certainly is one of Amtrak's largest projects. We look forward to the completion of Portal North Bridge later this year."
"Replacing the aging Portal Bridge with a modern structure will significantly improve reliability for the hundreds of trains that cross the Hackensack River every day," said NJ DOT Commissioner and NJ TRANSIT Board Chair Priya Jain. "This progress reflects years of collaboration between federal, state, and regional partners and brings us one step closer to delivering the resilient, 21st-century infrastructure our commuters, residents and businesses depend on."
"The segment of the Northeast Corridor between Newark and New York is the busiest stretch of rail in the country, carrying more than 400 trains and 200-thousand NJ TRANSIT and Amtrak riders every weekday," said NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kris Kolluri. "The first train over the new Portal North Bridge marks a major milestone toward completing one of the most consequential infrastructure projects in the nation and delivering the reliability our customers expect and deserve."
"The Portal North Bridge represents the first major bridge project cutover completed on the Northeast Corridor, and we're proud to celebrate this tremendous milestone with our partners at NJ TRANSIT, Governor Sherrill, and the US DOT," said Amtrak President Roger Harris. "You've heard about the benefits that this new bridge will bring for a more reliable trip, and starting Monday, it's finally time to start experiencing them."
The ceremonial first train was led by NJ TRANSIT's locomotive wrapped in graphics celebrating America's 250 th birthday.
On February 13, NJ TRANSIT and Amtrak began critical work to transfer one track of rail service from the old Portal Bridge to the new Portal North Bridge over the Hackensack River. The work required temporary service adjustments to NJ TRANSIT and Amtrak schedules.
On Sunday, March 15 th, regular NJ TRANSIT service schedules will resume. Customers are encouraged to consult the timetables for the latest schedules HERE.
Portal North Bridge - Project Background
The Portal North Bridge is a new modern two-track, high-level, fixed-span bridge that will improve service and capacity along this section of the Northeast Corridor. The new Portal North Bridge will rise 50 feet over the Hackensack River, doubling the height clearance and will allow marine traffic to pass underneath without interrupting rail traffic.
The project eliminates the 116-year-old swing bridge, which has been the enduring source of major service disruptions for NJ TRANSIT and Amtrak customers traveling on the Northeast Corridor. The new bridge will provide:
* Improved reliability and fewer bridge-related delays
* Increased operational resilience along the Northeast Corridor
* A modern structure designed to support future capacity growth
The project is being funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation, New Jersey, New York, and Amtrak. In January 2021, Governor Murphy announced the signing of a Full Funding Grant Agreement which secured $766.5 million in Federal Transit Administration funding to support the project's construction.
In October 2021, Governor Murphy and NJ TRANSIT announced the approval of a $1,559,993,000 construction contract awarded to Skanska/Traylor Bros PNB Joint Venture (STJV) for the construction of the new Portal North Bridge. The contract represents the single largest construction award in NJ TRANSIT's history.
The Portal North Bridge project spans 2.44 miles of the Northeast Corridor line and includes construction of retaining walls, deep foundations, concrete piers, structural steel bridge spans, rail systems, demolition of the existing bridge, and related incidental works. The project is a critical component of the larger Gateway Program, which will eventually double rail capacity between Newark and New York.
Estimated Materials Quantities:
* 45M LB (23K Tons) of Steel
* 219K CY of Concrete
* 185K LF (35+ Miles) of Pipe Piles
* 20K LF (3+ Miles) of Drilled Shafts
* 4,850 LF of Retaining Walls
* 3,289 LF of Construction Access Platforms
The current Portal Bridge is scheduled to be dismantled in 2027.
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Original text here: https://media.amtrak.com/2026/03/nj-transit-and-amtrak-prepare-to-open-first-track-on-new-portal-north-bridge/
IDB Group Announces Expansion of Its Office and Project Portfolio in Paraguay
WASHINGTON, March 12 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release:
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IDB Group Announces Expansion of Its Office and Project Portfolio in Paraguay
ASUNCION - The Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group) will expand its office in Paraguay, adding more staff and strengthening its operational capacity in the country. This expansion responds to the growth of the project portfolio, which is estimated at $2.7 billion over the next two years, with the private sector expected to receive three times as much as the public sector.
Of the new financing, approximately
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, March 12 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release:
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IDB Group Announces Expansion of Its Office and Project Portfolio in Paraguay
ASUNCION - The Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group) will expand its office in Paraguay, adding more staff and strengthening its operational capacity in the country. This expansion responds to the growth of the project portfolio, which is estimated at $2.7 billion over the next two years, with the private sector expected to receive three times as much as the public sector.
Of the new financing, approximately$2 billion will be channeled through IDB Invest, the private-sector arm of the IDB Group, while close to $700 million will be available for projects with the public sector.
The expansion also reflects Paraguay's progress in driving growth through private investment, supported by strong institutions and sound macroeconomic policies.
The IDB Group's program in Paraguay focuses on projects that mobilize private investment and support growth. This includes flagship private sector projects such as Paracel's sustainable forestry industrial hub and Atome's first green hydrogen-based fertilizer production and export project. The program also supports investments in infrastructure and connectivity, including the Bi-Oceanic Corridor and the expansion of Routes 2 and 7--the country's first Public-Private Partnership (PPP); the exploration of improvements to Route 1; and energy projects, strengthening the electrical grid and the resilience of the water and sanitation system in the Ypacarai Lake Basin.
"Paraguay is demonstrating that sustained growth is possible when there is stability, strong institutions, and a clear development vision. The IDB Group shares the country's priorities and supports this process. The expansion of our office in Asuncion reflects that commitment and will allow us to work even more closely with the country in its next stage of growth," said Ilan Goldfajn, President of the IDB Group.
The new package reinforces the development model that Paraguay has consolidated in recent years. Since 2023, IDB Invest has channeled $1.6 billion in financing to the country. Together with the new program announced today, total support from the private-sector arm of the IDB Group to Paraguay will reach around 7% of GDP.
The expansion in Paraguay also reflects the country's increasingly important role in regional initiatives of the IDB Group, such as South Connection, which promotes physical, digital, and energy connectivity in South America through coordinated investments in regional integration projects. It is also part of a broader IDB Group strategy to strengthen its presence in the region by bringing staff and decision-making closer to countries.
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About the IDB Group
The Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group) is the leading source of financing and knowledge for improving lives in Latin America and the Caribbean. It comprises the IDB, which works with the region's public sector and enables the private sector; IDB Invest, which directly supports private companies and projects; and IDB Lab, which spurs entrepreneurial innovation.
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Original text here: https://www.iadb.org/en/news/idb-group-announces-expansion-its-office-and-project-portfolio-paraguay
FHLBanks Will Not Issue a Global on March 11
WASHINGTON, March 12 -- The Federal Home Loan Bank System Office of Finance issued the following news release:
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FHLBanks Will Not Issue a Global on March 11
Today, the FHLBank System is announcing that no Global will be issued or reopened on the March 11 calendar date.
The next Global opportunity for the FHLBanks is April 7, 2026, per the Global calendar that is published and available on the Office of Finance website. On these predetermined dates, the FHLBanks have the option of issuing a new Global, reopening an existing Global, or deferring until the next scheduled opportunity.
This
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, March 12 -- The Federal Home Loan Bank System Office of Finance issued the following news release:
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FHLBanks Will Not Issue a Global on March 11
Today, the FHLBank System is announcing that no Global will be issued or reopened on the March 11 calendar date.
The next Global opportunity for the FHLBanks is April 7, 2026, per the Global calendar that is published and available on the Office of Finance website. On these predetermined dates, the FHLBanks have the option of issuing a new Global, reopening an existing Global, or deferring until the next scheduled opportunity.
Thisannouncement is neither an offer to sell, nor a solicitation of offers to buy, these securities.
The FHLBanks have delivered innovation and service to the U.S. housing market since 1932, and currently have approximately 6,400 members serving all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. Please contact Tom Heinle at (703) 467-3646 or theinle@fhlb-of.com for additional information.
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Original text here: https://fhlb-of.com/ofweb_userWeb/resources/PR2026-0311-NoGlobal.pdf
EPA Adds Gelman Sciences Inc. in Ann Arbor, Michigan, to the Superfund National Priorities List
WASHINGTON, March 12 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Adds Gelman Sciences Inc. in Ann Arbor, Michigan, to the Superfund National Priorities List
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CHICAGO (March 12, 2026) - Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) added the Gelman Sciences Inc. site in Ann Arbor, Michigan, to the Superfund National Priorities List, a list of the nation's most contaminated sites.
"With this Superfund designation, EPA will use its statutory authorities to hold the company responsible for near- and long-term actions to more expeditiously address possible
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, March 12 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Adds Gelman Sciences Inc. in Ann Arbor, Michigan, to the Superfund National Priorities List
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CHICAGO (March 12, 2026) - Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) added the Gelman Sciences Inc. site in Ann Arbor, Michigan, to the Superfund National Priorities List, a list of the nation's most contaminated sites.
"With this Superfund designation, EPA will use its statutory authorities to hold the company responsible for near- and long-term actions to more expeditiously address possiblerisks to human health and the environment," said EPA Regional Administrator Anne Vogel. "Thanks to Administrator Lee Zeldin's leadership, EPA is making good on its promise to the community to protect drinking water sources and ensure clean drinking water to families living in and near the community."
From 1963-1986, Gelman Sciences Inc. manufactured medical filters, a process that discharged wastewater containing 1,4-dioxane into surrounding ponds creating a contaminated groundwater plume. Health risks of 1,4-dioxane include liver and kidney damage and cancer. The 1,4-dioxane groundwater plume is approximately 3 miles long and 1 mile wide and has migrated into aquifers that supply drinking water. Currently, the company has an agreement with the state requiring them to pump and treat contaminated groundwater to lower the concentration of 1,4-dioxane within the plume, prevent groundwater use in contaminated areas, prevent well use within the plume, and connect affected properties to municipal water. This agreement does not require Gelman to restore the groundwater to beneficial use and allows the plume to migrate toward, and discharge to, the Huron River in compliance with the state's groundwater to surface water interface criterion. With this NPL listing, EPA can take action to more effectively control the plume to reduce eastern migration and further degradation of the Ann Arbor aquifer and ensure uncontaminated portions of the aquifer can be used for future commercial and/or residential use.
Although there is currently no known human exposure, conditions at the site present a threat because of the potential for the plume to migrate and contaminate the Huron River and drinking water wells. 1,4-dioxane exceedances in private wells have already resulted in residential drinking water wells to be abandoned and residents to tie into municipal supplied water lines. In 2001, the city closed their municipal drinking water well, known as the Montgomery Wellfield, due to the presence of 1,4-dioxane.
The state asked EPA to list the site to the NPL in 2021. Following years of site assessments, EPA proposed to add site to the NPL in March 2024. EPA held a 60-day public comment period that garnered 151 public comments. Responses to the comments, which were primarily in support of the listing, are included in the final rule which is published on EPA's website.
Background:
EPA adds sites to the Superfund NPL when releases of contamination pose risks to human health and the environment. This list serves as the basis for prioritizing EPA Superfund cleanup funding and enforcement actions. Only sites included on the NPL are eligible to receive federal funding for long-term, permanent cleanup.
Cleaning up Superfund sites provides tangible health and economic benefits to American communities. By adding the Gelman Sciences site to the NPL, EPA is advancing Administrator Zeldin's Powering the Great American Comeback initiative by working to provide clean air, land, and water for all Americans. EPA uses all available tools to ensure protection of human health and the environment in partnership
with States and impacted communities. EPA only places sites on the NPL after confirming a threat to human health and the environment, evaluating various avenues for site cleanup, and determining that NPL is the most appropriate and effective option to achieve a protective cleanup.
Before EPA can add a site to the NPL, the site must meet listing requirements under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) and be proposed for addition to the list through a rulemaking in the Federal Register, prompting a 60-day public comment period. EPA may officially add the site to the NPL if the site continues to meet the listing requirements after the public comment period closes and the agency has addressed all comments received during the comment period.
Learn more about Superfund and the National Priorities List.
For more information about the Gelman Sciences site, please visit our website.
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-adds-gelman-sciences-inc-ann-arbor-michigan-superfund-national-priorities-list
