Federal Independent Agencies
Here's a look at documents from federal independent agencies
Featured Stories
SSA Major Management and Performance Challenges in Fiscal Year 2025
WOODLAWN, Maryland, Jan. 10 (TNSrpt) -- The Social Security Administration's Office of the Inspector General issued the following news release:
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SSA Major Management and Performance Challenges in Fiscal Year 2025
The Reports Consolidation Act of 2000 (Pub. L. No. 106-531) requires that Federal Inspectors General summarize and assess the most serious management and performance challenges facing Federal agencies and the agencies' progress in addressing those challenges.
The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has summarized and assessed the most serious management and performance challenges
... Show Full Article
WOODLAWN, Maryland, Jan. 10 (TNSrpt) -- The Social Security Administration's Office of the Inspector General issued the following news release:
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SSA Major Management and Performance Challenges in Fiscal Year 2025
The Reports Consolidation Act of 2000 (Pub. L. No. 106-531) requires that Federal Inspectors General summarize and assess the most serious management and performance challenges facing Federal agencies and the agencies' progress in addressing those challenges.
The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has summarized and assessed the most serious management and performance challengesfacing the Social Security Administration (SSA) in the annual report. In Fiscal Year 2025, SSA OIG focused on the following management and performance challenges:
* Improve Service Delivery: SSA needs to enhance telephone, online, and frontline office services to improve the customer experience and deliver quality service. To do so, SSA must optimize staffing and address attrition to ensure it can provide the high level of customer service the public expects and deserves and support its efforts to become a digital-first organization.
* Protect the Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability of SSA's Information Systems and Data: SSA must ensure it secures its information systems and protects its sensitive data.
* Modernize Information Technology: SSA must continue modernizing its information technology to accomplish its mission as efficiently and effectively as possible.
* Improve Administration of the Disability Programs: SSA needs to improve how timely and accurately it processes disability-related workloads and improves its support for state disability determination services. Additionally, to prevent improper payments, SSA needs to ensure beneficiaries continue meeting disability eligibility factors.
* Improve the Prevention, Detection, and Recovery of Improper Payments: SSA must be a responsible steward of the funds entrusted to its care by minimizing the risk of making improper payments and recovering overpayments when they occur.
In Fiscal Year 2025, SSA restructured its workforce and increased its focus on technology advancements. Given SSA's impact on customer service and technology innovation, SSA OIG removed 'Manage Human Capital' as a standalone challenge. Instead, SSA OIG discusses human capital-related issues in each challenge. Further, as some of the challenges are interrelated, progress made in one area could lead to progress in another. For example, future modernization of SSA's information technology would likely affect both service delivery and prevention of improper payments. In Fiscal Year 2026, SSA OIG will continue focusing on these issues and assessing the environment in which SSA operates.
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REPORT: https://oig.ssa.gov/assets/uploads/042513.pdf
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Original text here: https://oig.ssa.gov/news-releases/2026-01-09-ssa-major-management-and-performance-challenges-in-fiscal-year-2025/
USPS to release stamp honoring Bruce Lee
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 -- The U.S. Postal Service issued the following news release:
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USPS to release stamp honoring Bruce Lee
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What:
The U.S. Postal Service will honor Bruce Lee, the renowned Chinese American martial artist and actor, with a new Forever stamp. Lee captivated film audiences with his skill, charisma and screen presence and inspired a generation of young fans to explore action movies, mixed martial arts and Asian culture.
The first-day-of-issue event for the Bruce Lee Forever stamp is free and open to the public. News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #BruceLeeStamp.
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 -- The U.S. Postal Service issued the following news release:
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USPS to release stamp honoring Bruce Lee
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What:
The U.S. Postal Service will honor Bruce Lee, the renowned Chinese American martial artist and actor, with a new Forever stamp. Lee captivated film audiences with his skill, charisma and screen presence and inspired a generation of young fans to explore action movies, mixed martial arts and Asian culture.
The first-day-of-issue event for the Bruce Lee Forever stamp is free and open to the public. News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #BruceLeeStamp.
Who:
The Honorable Derek Kan, vice chairman, USPS Board of Governors
Shannon Lee, chief executive officer, Bruce Lee Enterprises
When:
Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, at 2 p.m. PT
Where:
Nippon Kan Theater
628 S. Washington St.
Seattle, WA 98104
RSVP:
Attendees are encouraged to register at usps.com/bruceleestamp.
Background:
The stamp artwork features a black-and-white painting of Lee executing his famous flying kick set against a yellow calligraphic brushstroke on a white background. The brushstroke is a reference to Lee's iconic yellow tracksuit in the film "The Game of Death," which was completed and released years after his death.
On the right side of the stamp, "BRUCE LEE" and "USA FOREVER" are printed vertically and angled to appear as if Lee's kick were breaking them in half. The stamp was designed using artist Kam Mak's egg tempera painting on traditional gesso.
Postal Products
Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through the Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps, by calling 844-737-7826, by mail through USA Philatelic or at Post Office locations nationwide. For officially licensed stamp products, shop the USPS Officially Licensed Collection on Amazon. Additional information on stamps, first-day-of-issue ceremonies and stamp-inspired products can be found at StampsForever.com.
The United States Postal Service is an independent federal establishment, mandated to be self-financing and to serve every American community through the affordable, reliable and secure delivery of mail and packages to more than 170 million addresses six and often seven days a week. Overseen by a bipartisan Board of Governors, the Postal Service is celebrating its 250th year of service to customers amidst a network modernization plan aimed at restoring long-term financial sustainability, improving service, and maintaining the organization as one of America's most valued and trusted brands.
The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.
For USPS media resources, including broadcast-quality video and audio and photo stills, visit the USPS Newsroom. Follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter ; Instagram ; Pinterest ; Threads ; and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the USPS YouTube Channel and like us on Facebook. For more information about the Postal Service, visit usps.com and facts.usps.com.
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Original text here: https://about.usps.com/newsroom/national-releases/2026/0109ma-usps-to-release-stamp-honoring-bruce-lee.htm
USPS issues 4-cent Angel's Trumpets stamp
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 -- The U.S. Postal Service issued the following news release:
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USPS issues 4-cent Angel's Trumpets stamp
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KENOSHA, WI The U.S. Postal Service today issued a new 4-cent Angel's Trumpets stamp. The stamp follows the 2024 release of other low-denomination flower stamps the 1-cent Fringed Tulip, 2-cent Daffodils, 3-cent Peonies, 5-cent Red Tulips and 10-cent Poppies and Coneflowers.
The angel's trumpet (genus Brugmansia) is an evergreen shrub or small tree that is known to reach more than 20 feet in height in a tropical, sunny climate. Originally native to South America,
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 -- The U.S. Postal Service issued the following news release:
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USPS issues 4-cent Angel's Trumpets stamp
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KENOSHA, WI The U.S. Postal Service today issued a new 4-cent Angel's Trumpets stamp. The stamp follows the 2024 release of other low-denomination flower stamps the 1-cent Fringed Tulip, 2-cent Daffodils, 3-cent Peonies, 5-cent Red Tulips and 10-cent Poppies and Coneflowers.
The angel's trumpet (genus Brugmansia) is an evergreen shrub or small tree that is known to reach more than 20 feet in height in a tropical, sunny climate. Originally native to South America,angel's trumpets are now considered extinct in the wild. They have trunks that grow leaves 4 to 12 inches long. Their trumpet-shaped blooms face downward and range from 6 to 24 inches long. Angel's trumpets can propagate easily and are frequently shared among gardeners or passed down through generations as a houseplant or as part of a landscape. With their bold flowers and alluring scent, angel's trumpets are a cherished part of summer nights across the country.
This stamp artwork depicts four peachy-pink angel's trumpets set against a cream-colored background, symbolizing a denomination of 4 cents. Photographer Harold Davis created the image by backlighting the flowers on a lightbox and blending multiple photographic exposures, producing luminous, translucent imagery. "The point of this technique is to create a partially transparent effect using the colors that are passed through flower petals, rather than reflected by the petals, as is the case for most conventional flower photography," Davis says.
The background was created by scanning a sheet of aged paper and, during post-production, incorporating the scan into the floral composition. Davis arranged the flowers and leaves so that the four "trumpets" point upward, rather than hanging downward as they naturally would. "This configuration was selected after experimenting with numerous arrangements," he said.
"In the right climate and location, this is an extremely vigorous grower with spectacular flowers that no longer exist in the wild, making it a very special plant to cultivate," Davis notes. The flowers were grown in his neighborhood in Berkeley, CA.
The stamp was designed by Ethel Kessler, an art director for USPS, using existing images by Davis.
The 4-cent Angel's Trumpets stamp will be issued in panes of 20 and coils of 10,000. News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #AngelsTrumpetStamp.
Postal Products
Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through the Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps, by calling 844-737-7826, by mail through USA Philatelic or at Post Office locations nationwide. For officially licensed stamp products, shop the USPS Officially Licensed Collection on Amazon. Additional information on stamps, first-day-of-issue ceremonies and stamp-inspired products can be found at StampsForever.com.
The United States Postal Service is an independent federal establishment, mandated to be self-financing and to serve every American community through the affordable, reliable and secure delivery of mail and packages to more than 170 million addresses six and often seven days a week. Overseen by a bipartisan Board of Governors, the Postal Service is celebrating its 250th year of service to customers amidst a network modernization plan aimed at restoring long-term financial sustainability, improving service, and maintaining the organization as one of America's most valued and trusted brands.
The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.
For USPS media resources, including broadcast-quality video and audio and photo stills, visit the USPS Newsroom. Follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter ; Instagram ; Pinterest ; Threads ; and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the USPS YouTube Channel and like us on Facebook. For more information about the Postal Service, visit usps.com and facts.usps.com.
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Original text here: https://about.usps.com/newsroom/national-releases/2026/0109-usps-issues-4-cent-angel-trumpets-stamp.htm
VIDEO: Amtrak's Transformative Renovation of Philadelphia's Gray 30th Street Station
WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 -- Amtrak (National Railroad Passenger Corp.) issued the following news:
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VIDEO: Amtrak's Transformative Renovation of Philadelphia's Gray 30th Street Station
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Amtrak's transformative modernization project will preserve this historic landmark while improving the travel experience for millions of Amtrak, SEPTA, and NJ TRANSIT customers.
Nearly 500,000 square feet of renovated space will bring new shops, restaurants and Amtrak corporate office space, as well as a reimagined Market Street Plaza, all while creating local construction jobs and supporting economic growth.
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 -- Amtrak (National Railroad Passenger Corp.) issued the following news:
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VIDEO: Amtrak's Transformative Renovation of Philadelphia's Gray 30th Street Station
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Amtrak's transformative modernization project will preserve this historic landmark while improving the travel experience for millions of Amtrak, SEPTA, and NJ TRANSIT customers.
Nearly 500,000 square feet of renovated space will bring new shops, restaurants and Amtrak corporate office space, as well as a reimagined Market Street Plaza, all while creating local construction jobs and supporting economic growth.The project will be completed in phases, with full completion expected in late 2028.
We're building a new era of rail in Philadelphia and beyond. Learn more at AmtrakNewEra.com.
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Original text here: https://media.amtrak.com/2026/01/video-amtraks-transformative-renovation-of-philadelphias-gray-30th-street-station/
On One-Year Anniversary of California Wildfires, SBA Extends Disaster Relief Deadlines as Local Bureaucrats Stall Recovery
WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 -- The Small Business Administration posted the following news release on Jan. 7, 2026:
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On One-Year Anniversary of California Wildfires, SBA Extends Disaster Relief Deadlines as Local Bureaucrats Stall Recovery
Today, on the one-year anniversary of the Los Angeles County wildfires, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced it is once again extending disaster relief deadlines for survivors amid state and local permitting delays that have prevented rebuilding for thousands of residents. This action will allow homeowners and business owners to draw down their
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 -- The Small Business Administration posted the following news release on Jan. 7, 2026:
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On One-Year Anniversary of California Wildfires, SBA Extends Disaster Relief Deadlines as Local Bureaucrats Stall Recovery
Today, on the one-year anniversary of the Los Angeles County wildfires, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced it is once again extending disaster relief deadlines for survivors amid state and local permitting delays that have prevented rebuilding for thousands of residents. This action will allow homeowners and business owners to draw down theirapproved SBA loan funds, including Home and Business Physical Disaster Loans, until June 30, 2026.
In total, SBA has approved over $3.2 billion in funding for Los Angeles County - representing over half of all disaster assistance delivered by the agency in Fiscal Year 2025.
"The wildfire recovery effort in California has been a national disgrace under the leadership of Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass. While the Trump Administration surged every imaginable resource to the state - including an unprecedented $3.2 billion in SBA loans - virtually zero survivors have been able to rebuild due to local permitting backlogs," said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. "Once again, the SBA is extending deadlines to give innocent residents more time to secure their permits and access the loans they need to begin construction. But make no mistake: Los Angeles will remain devastated as long as its state and local leaders continue to impose bureaucracy and stall recovery."
Typically, disaster survivors have six months from the date of SBA loan approval to fully disburse their approved funds. The agency initially extended its disaster loan disbursement deadlines in October of last year after determining that "extraordinary" delays for rebuild permits and widespread backlogs were preventing California borrowers from drawing down approved loan funding.
Although Governor Gavin Newsom has characterized Link is external the state's disaster response as "historic," only about 2,600 rebuild permits have been issued across the City Link is external and County Link is external of Los Angeles, where the wildfires destroyed an estimated Link is external 16,000 structures. In total, less than Link is external 15% of all homes destroyed by the fires have received necessary approvals to rebuild.
Likewise, Mayor Karen Bass initially celebrated completion of the "first" rebuilt home in November of last year, but media reports later revealed Link is external that the home's contractors had secured its rebuild permit before the wildfires struck, as part of a planned demolition. As of today, Los Angeles County reports Link is external that just seven structures have been completed in the year since the wildfires took place.
Borrowers with questions about their loan status or disbursement process should contact the SBA's Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of entrepreneurship. As the leading voice for small businesses within the federal government, the SBA empowers job creators with the resources and support they need to start, grow, and expand their businesses or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
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Original text here: https://www.sba.gov/article/2026/01/07/one-year-anniversary-california-wildfires-sba-extends-disaster-relief-deadlines-local-bureaucrats
GSA and Cohesity Partnership Delivers Discounts for Cybersecurity Protections
WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 -- The General Services Administration issued the following news release:
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GSA and Cohesity Partnership Delivers Discounts for Cybersecurity Protections
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The newest OneGov agreement strengthens federal data security and provides agencies with cybersecurity protection tools at significant discounts.
WASHINGTON The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) today announced a new OneGov agreement that offers Cohesity data protection and replication software, and custom-built bundles through the GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) with significant discounts off of the list
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 -- The General Services Administration issued the following news release:
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GSA and Cohesity Partnership Delivers Discounts for Cybersecurity Protections
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The newest OneGov agreement strengthens federal data security and provides agencies with cybersecurity protection tools at significant discounts.
WASHINGTON The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) today announced a new OneGov agreement that offers Cohesity data protection and replication software, and custom-built bundles through the GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) with significant discounts off of the listprice.
These tools provide secure, modern data protection across hybrid and multicloud environments, helping agencies strengthen their cyber resilience and ensure continuity of operations.
"Under my leadership, GSA is focused on executing President Trump's priorities to reduce the cost of government and centralize procurement, driving significant taxpayer savings, and equipping our federal workforce with the cutting-edge tools they need to excel," said GSA Administrator Edward C. Forst. "GSA is central to streamlining government processes, maximizing efficiency, and empowering our public servants to better serve the American people."
"The OneGov agreement with Cohesity will strengthen and enable robust and secure AI infrastructure across the federal government, directly supporting President Trump's call for America to win the AI race," said Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner Josh Gruenbaum. "Through this agreement, agencies can fortify cyber resilience and ensure operational continuity across hybrid and multicloud environments with secure, modern data protection tools."
"The federal government urgently needs a simple, efficient, and secure way to manage data to keep the country safe from cyberattacks - and the American people deserve the world's best cyber resilience," said Sanjay Poonen, President and CEO, Cohesity. "Our platform, Cohesity Data Cloud, can protect data wherever it resides and will bring exceptional efficiency and compliance to the public sector. We're honored to work with GSA to bring AI-powered data security into the hands of critical government agencies, to reduce the risk from unplanned outages, ransomware, and cyberattacks."
Under the terms of the agreement, agencies are eligible for significant discounts on Cohesity products, including:
* Up to 72.25% off of certain Cohesity data protection and replication software.
* 65% off of the Cohesity OneGov FedShield bundle, a comprehensive data protection software and service solution that enables backup, recovery, and replication across on-prem and cloud workloads - managed by a FedRAMP -authorized control plane.
* 35% off of the Cohesity OneGov FedCloud bundle, a comprehensive solution that provides data protection with recovery, replication, and backup across on-premises and cloud workloads - managed by a FedRAMP-authorized control plane.
The offering is available exclusively to federal agencies via GSA's Multiple Award Schedule. This pricing is available through September 30, 2027.
The Cohesity agreement supports GSA's OneGov Strategy, which centralizes demand for commercial IT solutions under standardized pricing and contract terms. This is the 22nd OneGov agreement since GSA launched the initiative in 2025. By simplifying acquisition through OneGov, GSA helps agencies reduce duplication across the federal enterprise.
For more information, visit itvmo.gsa.gov/onegov or contact the IT Vendor Management Office (ITVMO) at itvmo@gsa.gov.
About GSA: GSA provides centralized procurement and shared services for the federal government. GSA manages a nationwide real estate portfolio of over 360 million rentable square feet, oversees more than $110 billion in products and services via federal contracts, and delivers technology services that serve millions of people across dozens of federal agencies. GSA's mission is to deliver the best customer experience and value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services to the government and the American people. For more information, visit GSA.gov and follow us at @USGSA.
Contact
press@gsa.gov
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Original text here: https://www.gsa.gov/about-us/newsroom/news-releases/gsa-and-cohesity-partnership-delivers-discounts-for-cybersecurity-protections-01082026
EPA to host open house for update on the Olin Chemical Superfund Site
WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA to host open house for update on the Olin Chemical Superfund Site
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BOSTON (Jan. 8, 2026) - On January 21, 2026, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold an open house to update residents on the agency's investigation and cleanup activities at the Olin Chemical Superfund Site in Wilmington, Massachusetts. Community members are invited to stop by to interact directly with representatives from EPA, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, and the redeveloper of the
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA to host open house for update on the Olin Chemical Superfund Site
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BOSTON (Jan. 8, 2026) - On January 21, 2026, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold an open house to update residents on the agency's investigation and cleanup activities at the Olin Chemical Superfund Site in Wilmington, Massachusetts. Community members are invited to stop by to interact directly with representatives from EPA, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, and the redeveloper of the51 Eames Street property, and ask questions about the site.
What: Olin Chemical Superfund Site Open House
When: January 21st 6:00-8:00
Where: Wilmington High School Library
159 Church Street
Wilmington, MA 01887
The open house will cover the following topics:
* Community Involvement
* Superfund Process
* Groundwater Contamination
* Cleanup Plans
* Redevelopment
Site Background
The site includes the Olin property and the surrounding areas that have been impacted by contaminant releases from manufacturing and waste disposal activities formerly conducted at the Olin property.
Chemical manufacturing by a series of owners and operators began at the Olin property in 1953 and continued until the facility closed in 1986. Olin Corporation purchased the property in 1980. The facility was used to produce blowing agents, stabilizers, antioxidants, and other specialty chemicals for the rubber and plastics industries. Prior to the early 1970s, chemicals were discharged into several unlined pits and ponds in the central portion of the property. Later on, lined lagoons were used, however leaks in the liners resulted in additional releases of fluids. As the liquid materials moved downward through the soil, they reached the groundwater table.
Ultimately, contaminated groundwater migrated nearly a mile to the west and northwest of the Olin property and resulted in the Town of Wilmington placing its municipal drinking water supply wells in the Maple Meadow Brook aquifer off-line due to contamination from the site.
The cleanup plan for the site was selected by EPA in 2021 in a Record of Decision (ROD) (pdf) (218 MB) and includes interim actions to remove ongoing sources of contamination in groundwater and final cleanup actions for addressing contaminated soil, sediments, and surface water at the site. In parallel to the cleanup, studies are ongoing under a separate 2007 EPA settlement agreement to improve the characterization of the bedrock and further define the extent of groundwater contamination. These studies will be used to evaluate long-term groundwater cleanup options, leading to the selection in the future of a final cleanup plan for groundwater. In the near term, these aquifer studies will help identify the best places to locate groundwater extraction wells for the cleanup.
Visit: www.epa.gov/superfund/olin for more information about the site.
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-host-open-house-update-olin-chemical-superfund-site
