Federal Independent Agencies
Here's a look at documents from federal independent agencies
Featured Stories
National Gallery of Art: Clifford Ross - Digital Waves
WASHINGTON, Dec. 13 -- The National Gallery of Art issued the following news release on Dec. 12, 2025:
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Clifford Ross: Digital Waves
This winter, the National Gallery of Art will present Clifford Ross: Digital Waves, an immersive video installation from the artist's ongoing exploration of the sea and his fascination with rendering the complexity, power, and dynamism of ocean movement through computer-generated media. The work will be on view beginning January 17, 2026, in the Rotunda of the West Building.
For 30 years, Clifford Ross has sought to capture the sublime experience of facing
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WASHINGTON, Dec. 13 -- The National Gallery of Art issued the following news release on Dec. 12, 2025:
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Clifford Ross: Digital Waves
This winter, the National Gallery of Art will present Clifford Ross: Digital Waves, an immersive video installation from the artist's ongoing exploration of the sea and his fascination with rendering the complexity, power, and dynamism of ocean movement through computer-generated media. The work will be on view beginning January 17, 2026, in the Rotunda of the West Building.
For 30 years, Clifford Ross has sought to capture the sublime experience of facingthe vast and unpredictable ocean. Digital Waves emerged from Ross's work with technologists to develop bespoke methods that can be used to generate videos displayed at an immense and immersive scale. In Digital Waves, Ross mimics the seemingly random shapes and movements of waves across millions of pixels, each one corresponding with an intensely bright LED bulb. The constantly shifting graphics convey a sense of abstraction and lyricism evocative of the abstract expressionist painters whom Ross counts as primary inspirations.
Merging a digital world with a modernist tradition, Digital Waves invites viewers to lose themselves in wonder while simultaneously prompting them to reflect on the natural world and their own place in it. Installed on a 23-foot-high screen in the West Building's Rotunda, where thousands of visitors will encounter it each day, the work will be situated in direct conversation with the space's neoclassical elements--including its iconic fountain--and juxtaposes the motion of real and virtual water.
Clifford Ross (born 1952) is a multimedia artist whose practice has repeatedly drawn upon technological innovation to further his artistic expression. After graduating from Yale University in 1974 with a BA in art and art history, he began his career as a painter and sculptor, deeply influenced by abstract expressionism. In the mid-1990s, Ross began to explore the potential of photography, and soon after, he set aside his painting and sculpture practices to devote himself to evoking the sublime power of nature through photographs. His first major series, Hurricane Waves (1996-2021), was comprised of photographs of huge waves generated by hurricanes, taken by Ross as he waded into the water with a camera while tethered to an assistant on the shore. His fascination with oceanic movement prompted him to work with computer-generated video as well as still photography.
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Original text here: https://www.nga.gov/press/clifford-ross-digital-waves
NOW OPEN: Registration for EXIM 2026 Annual Conference
WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 -- The Export-Import Bank of the United States Office of Inspector General issued the following news release:
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NOW OPEN: Registration for EXIM 2026 Annual Conference
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Washington, D.C. - The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) has officially opened registration for our 2026 Annual Conference, taking place on April 29-30 in Washington, D.C. This year's program will center on the Bank's "Buy American, Build the Future" initiative, and the four strategic priorities to carry out President Trump's vision of America's reindustrialization:
* Bringing EXIM Back
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WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 -- The Export-Import Bank of the United States Office of Inspector General issued the following news release:
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NOW OPEN: Registration for EXIM 2026 Annual Conference
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Washington, D.C. - The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) has officially opened registration for our 2026 Annual Conference, taking place on April 29-30 in Washington, D.C. This year's program will center on the Bank's "Buy American, Build the Future" initiative, and the four strategic priorities to carry out President Trump's vision of America's reindustrialization:
* Bringing EXIM Backto Basics to put American Jobs First
* American Energy Dominance
* Supply Chain Security
* Industries of the Future
The conference will showcase how EXIM serves as a frontline economic tool, positioning American exporters to win in strategic global markets while supporting good-paying jobs at home and strengthening critical supply chains that power our economic and national security.
Last year's conference featured high-level dialogue with innovate leaders from the public and private sectors, including Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, Deputy Secretary of State, the Hon. Christopher Landau, Appian Advisory Head of Global Affairs Rt. Hon. Dominic Raab, and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum.
Conference attendees will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with EXIM staff and interface with U.S. government agency partners to gain valuable information about trade financing tools.
Registration for members of media is complimentary! Register here.
Conference website can be viewed here.
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.
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Original text here: https://www.exim.gov/news/now-open-registration-for-exim-2026-annual-conference
Iraqis Face Ongoing Sectarianism, Genocide-Related Religious Freedom Challenges
WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 -- The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom issued the following news release:
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Iraqis Face Ongoing Sectarianism, Genocide-Related Religious Freedom Challenges
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Washington, DC - The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom ( USCIRF ) released the following report:
Iraq Country Update - Since 2014, when the self-proclaimed Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) launched a genocide against Iraqi and Syrian religious and ethnic minorities, Iraq's diverse population has continued to suffer ongoing aftereffects. The Iraqi federal government
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WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 -- The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom issued the following news release:
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Iraqis Face Ongoing Sectarianism, Genocide-Related Religious Freedom Challenges
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Washington, DC - The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom ( USCIRF ) released the following report:
Iraq Country Update - Since 2014, when the self-proclaimed Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) launched a genocide against Iraqi and Syrian religious and ethnic minorities, Iraq's diverse population has continued to suffer ongoing aftereffects. The Iraqi federal governmentand semi-autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government have each offered some forms of redress to genocide survivors. However, these survivors and other communities and individuals throughout the country suffer varying degrees of systematic and ongoing restrictions on religious freedom. This country update provides an overview of recent religious freedom restrictions, including new legislation that threatens to increase sectarianism and limit freedom of religion or belief for Iraqis of all religious backgrounds.
In its 2025 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the U.S. Department of State place Iraq on the Special Watch List for severe violations of religious freedom, pursuant to the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA). Over the course of 2025, many of these unfavorable conditions have persisted and, in some cases, escalated.
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan legislative branch agency established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at media@uscirf.gov.
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Original text here: https://www.uscirf.gov/news-room/releases-statements/iraqis-face-ongoing-sectarianism-genocide-related-religious-freedom
Ginnie Mae Announces Alignment of Liquidation Event Reporting With Industry Standards
WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 -- Ginnie Mae issued the following news release on Dec. 11, 2025:
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Ginnie Mae Announces Alignment of Liquidation Event Reporting with Industry Standards
Today, Ginnie Mae announced it was aligning its Liquidation Event Reporting (LER) for Ginnie Mae Issuers with other large market participants. The requirement is designed to enhance operational resiliency and strengthen the accuracy and timeliness of liquidation data used to calculate investor pass-through payments across the Ginnie Mae Mortgage-Backed Securities (MBS).
LER is designed to:
* Align Ginnie Mae's reporting
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WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 -- Ginnie Mae issued the following news release on Dec. 11, 2025:
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Ginnie Mae Announces Alignment of Liquidation Event Reporting with Industry Standards
Today, Ginnie Mae announced it was aligning its Liquidation Event Reporting (LER) for Ginnie Mae Issuers with other large market participants. The requirement is designed to enhance operational resiliency and strengthen the accuracy and timeliness of liquidation data used to calculate investor pass-through payments across the Ginnie Mae Mortgage-Backed Securities (MBS).
LER is designed to:
* Align Ginnie Mae's reportingpractices with those other prominent actors in the industry, including Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which collect and disclose liquidation data on an ongoing basis.
* Enhance operational and business resiliency by improving the accuracy of pool factor calculations when standard Issuer reporting is disrupted.
* Improve data timeliness through event-based submission of full loan payoff (liquidation) events during the reporting month.
* Support investor disclosure by providing more timely liquidation data to help investors monitor and value their holdings.
Under the new LER requirements, Issuers will submit liquidation event reports on the business day following each liquidation rather than as part of a single month-end reporting process. This event-based reporting will enable Ginnie Mae to collect liquidation information throughout the reporting month, improving the accuracy of payment estimations if regular reporting is interrupted. In the future, Ginnie Mae plans to make more frequent LER disclosures available to investors.
"This important initiative will reduce the need for Issuers to have different but parallel processes for liquidation event reporting," said Ginnie Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Joe Gormley, "while also making our platform more resilient."
LER implementation is targeted for the February 2026 reporting period. Ginnie Mae will conduct testing and training activities with Issuers ahead of mandatory reporting to support smooth implementation. Additional guidance will be issued ahead of implementation detailing submission processes and reporting requirements and with any relevant updates to program documentation. Contact Ginnie Mae's centralized service desk at askGinnieMae@HUD.gov with any technical questions about this announcement. For any other questions, please contact your Account Executive directly. Visit APM 25-07 for more information.
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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=366
EPA and Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe Sign Agreement to Guide Environmental Protection on Tribal Lands
WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA and Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe Sign Agreement to Guide Environmental Protection on Tribal Lands
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NEW YORK - This week, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe (SRMT) signed a Performance Partnership Agreement (PPA) to memorializes the trust relationship between EPA and the Tribe while ensuring the continuation of the SRMT's wide-reaching environmental programs. The PPA is accompanied by a Performance Partnership Grant (PPG) of over $11 million. The PPA lays
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA and Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe Sign Agreement to Guide Environmental Protection on Tribal Lands
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NEW YORK - This week, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe (SRMT) signed a Performance Partnership Agreement (PPA) to memorializes the trust relationship between EPA and the Tribe while ensuring the continuation of the SRMT's wide-reaching environmental programs. The PPA is accompanied by a Performance Partnership Grant (PPG) of over $11 million. The PPA laysout the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe's environmental priorities and short- and long-term strategies to address them. This is the only such PPA that EPA has with any Indian Nation. The agreement is the sixth such agreement that EPA has had over the years with the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe. It covers 16 critical environmental and stewardship programs.
"I am proud to continue the amazing relationship between the EPA and the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe and to ensure the continued success of their many impressive environmental programs," said EPA Regional Administrator Michael Martucci. "I was honored to stand with three Chiefs of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe as we sign this agreement that will strengthen our bonds of mutual respect and professional collaboration to help ensure a bright future for the Tribe's future generations."
"The SRMT Tribal Council acknowledges the many Tribal members who have led environmental initiatives at Akwesasne to get us to this moment," said Tribal Council. "We greatly value and appreciate the continuing partnership with the EPA, which has been vitally important in helping to ensure a better tomorrow for our community."
The PPA covers a wide range of programs, including air quality, Superfund oversight, water quality, hazardous materials spill response, solid waste management, environmental assessment, pesticide, and agriculture programs. The agreement includes a work plan that the Tribe will use to accomplish its environmental goals including improve environmental quality, enhance natural resources, and protect human health from chemical contamination exposures in air, water, soil, and cultural resources. In it are also performance measures to ensure goals are met, including regular interactions between the SRMT's environmental experts and EPA experts. The Tribe and EPA will ensure that evaluations are performed formally during a scheduled meeting twice a year. SRMT will provide written status reports to the appropriate EPA staff before each meeting. The agreement and grant are in effect from January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2030.
For more information about performance partnership agreements and grants visit EPA's National Performance Partnership System webpage.
Background:
Performance Partnership Agreements Overview
EPA, states, and Tribes share responsibility for protecting human health and the environment. The unique relationship between EPA, states, and Tribes is the cornerstone of the nation's environmental protection system. Working together, EPA, states, and Tribes have made enormous progress protecting our air, water, and land resources. The National Environmental Performance Partnership System (NEPPS) was established in 1995 as a performance-based system of environmental protection designed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of EPA partnerships with states, territories, and Tribes. By focusing resources on the most pressing environmental problems and taking advantage of the unique capacities of each partner, performance partnerships can help achieve the greatest environmental and human health protection.
Performance Partnership Agreements and Grants
One of the main ways EPA, states, and Tribes implement performance partnerships is by negotiating PPAs. These agreements set out jointly developed priorities and protection strategies and how EPA and the state or Tribe will work together to address priority needs. States and Tribes can also choose to combine funds from multiple federal environmental program grants into PPGs which allow them to direct resources where they are needed most or try innovative solutions to environmental problems.
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-and-saint-regis-mohawk-tribe-sign-agreement-guide-environmental-protection-tribal
EPA Selects Maui County to Receive Over $3.6 Million for First-Ever Waste Collection Centers in West Maui
WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Selects Maui County to Receive Over $3.6 Million for First-Ever Waste Collection Centers in West Maui
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MAUI, Hawaii - Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the selection of Maui County to receive a $3,607,065 Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) Grant to establish the first-ever waste collection centers on the west side of the island. With the implementation of this grant, at least 1,794 tons of materials will be able to be diverted from landfills and dump
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Selects Maui County to Receive Over $3.6 Million for First-Ever Waste Collection Centers in West Maui
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MAUI, Hawaii - Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the selection of Maui County to receive a $3,607,065 Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) Grant to establish the first-ever waste collection centers on the west side of the island. With the implementation of this grant, at least 1,794 tons of materials will be able to be diverted from landfills and dumpsites each year.
"This project addresses the critical need for collection centers in West Maui communities that were impacted by the 2023 wildfires," said EPA Pacific Southwest Land, Chemicals, and Redevelopment Division Director Claire Trombadore. "Thanks to this grant, the community will be able to reduce illegal dumping, divert more waste from their landfills, and help Maui create a waste system fit to the unique realities of an island."
With this grant, Maui County will acquire two strategically located parcels on the upper west side of the island and develop two collection centers for green waste, recyclables, and large and bulky items. This project aims to minimize the disposal of various materials in the island's landfill, including aluminum cans, glass bottles, cardboard, freon-containing and non-freon containing appliances, green waste, scrap metal, auto tires, lead acid batteries, paper, plastic, electronics, and propane tanks.
What They Are Saying:
"This recognition reflects not only the importance of strengthening our island's recycling and materials management systems, but also the EPA's confidence in our community's commitment to environmental stewardship," said Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen. "The opportunity to advance this vital workimproving sustainability, protecting our `aina, and building a cleaner, more resilient future for West Mauiis a distinct honor and a meaningful milestone for our county. This potential investment will make a lasting difference for our residents, our environment, and generations to come."
"The County of Maui's Department of Environmental Management is grateful for this opportunity," said Maui County Director of Environmental Management Shayne Agawa. "This project will enable the County to provide much needed services to residents who are still recovering from the 2023 wildfire. This project also aims to mitigate potential environmental hazards since these locations are remote and have historically been a target for illegal dumping."
Background
EPA's SWIFR grant program funds can be used to establish or optimize collection of materials; fund infrastructure, technology or other improvements; support and enhance end-markets for the use of recycled commodities; and/or increase the diversion, recycling rate and quality of materials collected for municipal solid waste. This initiative supports economic development in communities across the nation.
Learn more about EPA's SWIFR Grants.
Learn about EPA's Pacific Southwest Region. Connect with us on Facebook Exit EPA's website, Instagram Exit EPA's website, and X Exit EPA's website.
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-selects-maui-county-receive-over-36-million-first-ever-waste-collection-centers
EPA Regional Administrator Martucci's Trip to Puerto Rico Highlights Environmental Progress and Partnerships
WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Regional Administrator Martucci's Trip to Puerto Rico Highlights Environmental Progress and Partnerships
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San Juan, Puerto Rico (Dec. 12, 2025) Last week, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 2 Administrator Michael Martucci traveled to Puerto Rico to engage with local officials to assess advancements in Superfund work, enforcement initiatives, water infrastructure investments, and other priorities.
"My trip to Puerto Rico highlighted the incredible impact of collaboration
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Regional Administrator Martucci's Trip to Puerto Rico Highlights Environmental Progress and Partnerships
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San Juan, Puerto Rico (Dec. 12, 2025) Last week, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 2 Administrator Michael Martucci traveled to Puerto Rico to engage with local officials to assess advancements in Superfund work, enforcement initiatives, water infrastructure investments, and other priorities.
"My trip to Puerto Rico highlighted the incredible impact of collaborationamong the Governor Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon, mayors, government entities and industry partners," said EPA Regional Administrator Michael Martucci. " Through cooperative federalism, we are paving the way for significant environmental and economic advancements in Puerto Rico."
While in Puerto Rico, EPA Regional Administrator Martucci met with Puerto Rico Governor Jennifer Gonzalez-Colon to discuss many topics critical to Puerto Rico, including the efforts to strengthen Puerto Rico's energy grid and modernize Puerto Rico's water and wastewater systems.
Photo: RA Martucci meets with Governor Gonzalez-Colon to discuss their joint desire to strengthen Puerto Rico's economy while protecting its environment
The visit also highlighted significant achievements, including a Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA) investment of more than $40 million in improvements at the Dorado Wastewater Treatment Plant, including work to significantly increase sewer capacity. The Regional Administrator visited Dorado, Puerto Rico, to see firsthand the impacts of sewage management issues. Thanks to Regional Administrator Martucci's meeting, and through discussions with community members and partners at PRASA, EPA is working to support new infrastructure and protect the health of Dorado.
Photo: EPA RA Martucci met with local officials in Puerto Rico to view progress on water infrastructure supported by EPA permits.
Additionally, the Regional Administrator visited the Cidra Groundwater Contamination site to see a modern treatment technique that will significantly speed up the cleanup process. By applying heat to contaminated soil, harmful materials are turned into gases, removed, and filtered. This cleanup technique is expected to reduce a multi-year cleanup to just months.
Photo: EPA RA Martucci visited the Cidra Groundwater Contamination site. EPA is overseeing cleanup work at this Superfund site to address contaminated soil and groundwater.
The trip also included a tour of the former CAPECO site, now operated by Puerto Rico Energy LLC. After a catastrophic fire at the former CAPECO site, EPA partnered with the owners to redevelop the Bayamon facility and associated gas stations across Puerto Rico, illustrating how partnership with industry can be an integral part of a comprehensive cleanup and enforcement approach. EPA Regional Administrator Martucci took a firsthand look at improvements at the site and the additional safeguards put in place to maintain environmental safety since EPA's emergency response in 2009.
Photo: EPA RA Martucci and other EPA officials visit the CAPECO site in Puerto Rico and pose for a photo in front of the tanks.
Finally, EPA Regional Administrator Martucci met with members of the "Quintas de Dorado" located in the Municipality of Dorado, suffers from wastewater capacity issues, creating backups and overflows impacting homes, businesses, and streets in the area. Under the Clean Water Act, EPA works with Puerto Rico to enforce sewer discharge regulations which are vital in protecting public health. Currently, EPA is working with the government of Puerto Rico and the municipality to increase the wastewater treatment capacity needed to resolve these issues.
Photo: EPA RA Martucci and other EPA officials met with community members and leaders of "Quintas de Dorado" who have been experiencing sewage overflows for the past 30 years.
EPA is committed to fulfilling the agency's core mission of protecting human health and the environment and advancing economic growth while providing clean air, water and land for all Americans.
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-regional-administrator-martuccis-trip-puerto-rico-highlights-environmental
