Notice2022-12457
Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Program; Request for Information
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
June 9, 2022
Issuing agencies
Environmental Protection Agency
Abstract
EPA's Office of Land and Emergency Management (OLEM) is developing and implementing several new programs as directed by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), also referred to as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This action provides the public with the opportunity to share information to inform the development of the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) grant program, which will fund improvements to local post-consumer materials management including municipal recycling programs and assist local waste management authorities in making improvements to local waste management systems. OLEM is seeking information from a broad array of stakeholders about needed improvements to solid waste management systems (e.g., waste reduction, collection, sorting, processing, and end-markets for reuse and recycling), including but not limited to industry, researchers, academia, state, tribal, and local governments including U.S. territories and the District of Columbia, other federal agencies, community groups, non-governmental organizations, the public, and international organizations.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 111 (Thursday, June 9, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 111 (Thursday, June 9, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35200-35202]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-12457]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OLEM-2022-0342, FRL-9840-01-OLEM]
Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Program; Request for
Information
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Request for Information (RFI).
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SUMMARY: EPA's Office of Land and Emergency Management (OLEM) is
developing and implementing several new programs as directed by the
2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), also referred to as
the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This action provides the public with
the opportunity to share information to inform the development of the
Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) grant program, which
will fund improvements to local post-consumer materials management
including municipal recycling programs and assist local waste
management authorities in making improvements to local waste management
systems. OLEM is seeking information from a broad array of stakeholders
about needed improvements to solid waste management systems (e.g.,
waste reduction, collection, sorting, processing, and end-markets for
reuse and recycling), including but not limited to industry,
researchers, academia, state, tribal, and local governments including
U.S. territories and the District of Columbia, other federal agencies,
community groups, non-governmental organizations, the public, and
international organizations.
DATES: Comments and information must be received on or before July 25,
2022.
ADDRESSES: Responses to this Request for Information (RFI) may be
submitted by a single individual or by a group. Comments submitted in
response to this notice may be submitted through one of the following
methods:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>. Follow the online instructions for submitting
comments.
<bullet> Hand Delivery or Courier: EPA Docket Center, WJC West
Building, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004.
The Docket Center's hours of operations are 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.,
Monday-Friday (except Federal Holidays).
Once submitted, comments cannot be edited or removed from
<a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a>. EPA may publish any comment received to its public
docket. Do not submit electronically any information you consider to be
Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose
disclosure is restricted by statute. Multimedia submissions (audio,
video, etc.) must be accompanied by a written comment. For additional
submission methods, the full EPA public comment policy, information
about CBI or multimedia submissions, and general guidance on making
effective comments, please visit <a href="https://www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets">https://www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets</a>.
Instructions: All submissions received must include the Docket ID
No. OLEM-2022-0340 for this RFI. Comments received may be posted
without change to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/">https://www.regulations.gov/</a>, including any personal
information provided. For detailed instructions on sending comments and
additional information on the Request for Information process, see the
``Public Participation'' heading of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
section of this document.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions concerning this
document, contact Dan Halpert, Resource Conservation and Sustainability
Division, Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery, Office of Land
and Emergency Management, Mail Code 5306T, Environmental Protection
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004; Telephone:
(202) 566-0816; Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4b181c020d190b2e3b2a652c243d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e8bbbfa1aebaa88d9889c68f879e">[email protected]</span></a>. For more information on this
action please visit <a href="https://www.epa.gov/rcra/infrastructure">https://www.epa.gov/rcra/infrastructure</a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Public Participation
Response to this RFI is voluntary. Responses to this RFI may be
submitted by a single party or by a team. Respondents should respond to
this RFI in a Microsoft Word (.docx) file or Adobe PDF (.pdf) file.
This document should contain the following:
<bullet> Two clearly delineated sections: (1) Cover page with
company name and contact information; and (2) responses should indicate
which topic and specific questions are being addressed.
<bullet> 1-inch margins (top, bottom, and sides).
<bullet> Times New Roman and 12-point font.
Comments containing references, studies, research, and other
empirical data that are not widely published should include copies or
electronic links of the referenced materials. No confidential and/or
business proprietary information, copyrighted information, or
personally identifiable information should be submitted in response to
this
[[Page 35201]]
RFI. Privacy Note: All comments received from members of the public
will be available for public viewing on <a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a>. In accordance
with FAR 15.202(3), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot
be accepted by the Federal Government to form a binding contract.
Additionally, those submitting responses are solely responsible for all
expenses associated with response preparation.
II. General Information
A. What is the purpose of this RFI?
Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA; Pub. L.
117-58), also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA is
directed to develop several new solid waste recycling programs. This
RFI covers the following activities established by the BIL:
<bullet> Support the implementation of a strategy to improve post-
consumer materials management and infrastructure;
<bullet> Support improvements to local post-consumer materials
management, including recycling programs; and
<bullet> Assist local waste management authorities in making
improvements to local solid waste management systems.
The term post-consumer materials management refers to the systems,
operation, supervision and long-term management of processes and
equipment used for post-use material (including packaging, goods,
products, and other materials), including collection; transport; and
systems and processes related to post-use materials that can be
recovered, reused, recycled, repaired, or refurbished.
This RFI seeks information from a broad array of stakeholders such
as industry, researchers, academia, state, territories, local and
tribal governments, other federal agencies, community groups, non-
governmental organizations, international organizations, the public,
and all other stakeholders involved in the recycling system from the
collection and sorting to the reuse and recycling. OLEM is seeking
information about needed improvements to post-consumer materials
management (e.g., waste reduction, collection, sorting, processing, and
end-markets for reuse and recycling). This stakeholder input will
inform the Agency's efforts to develop effective grant programs that
improve recycling infrastructure across the nation.
This RFI is part of a series of RFIs EPA will be issuing to inform
the development of new programs under the Bipartisan Infrastructure
Law. Other RFIs that are related include those on the Recycling
Education and Outreach--Grant Program and Model Recycling Program
Toolkit and the Development of Best Practices for Collection of
Batteries to be Recycled and Voluntary Battery Labeling Guidelines.
III. Background
Approximately half of global greenhouse gas emissions are the
result of natural resource extraction and processing.\1\ Increasing
recycling reduces climate, environmental, and social impacts of
materials use, and keeps valuable resources in use instead of in
landfills. Some communities that lack waste management infrastructure
do not have curbside waste collection services, recycling, or
composting programs, which increases the burden on our landfills,
decreases their capacity, and increases greenhouse gas emissions.
Mismanaged waste also can compound social and economic conditions in
historically underserved and overburdened communities. Resources and
commodities disposed of in landfills amount to a financial loss for
recycling businesses and industries nationwide.
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\1\ International Resource Panel (2019). Global Resources
Outlook 2019: Natural Resources for the Future We Want. Report of
the International Resource Panel. United Nations Environment
Programme. Nairobi, Kenya.
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Section 302(a) of the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act (Pub. L. 116-224)
authorized EPA to create a grant program to support post-consumer
materials management and recycling efforts, now known as the SWIFR
program. The IIJA was the first legislation to fund EPA's SWIFR program
providing EPA with $275,000,000 to award grants, in increments of $55
million per year from fiscal years 2022-2026, to remain available until
expended. Grants issued under SWIFR will support implementation of a
strategy to improve post-consumer materials management and
infrastructure; improvements to local post-consumer materials
management and recycling programs; and assist local waste management
authorities in making improvements to local solid waste management
systems.
EPA seeks input through this RFI to guide the program design to
ensure that the SWIFR program meets the actual needs for improving
materials management. Materials within the scope of this request
include commonly recycled and reused materials, such as aluminum,
glass, paper and plastics, as well as food, organics (yard waste, tree
trimmings, wood, etc.), textiles, electronics and construction and
demolition materials. Biosolids, hazardous waste and industrial wastes
such as coal combustion residuals or slag are not within the scope of
this request. Landfilling, incineration/combustion, and energy recovery
technologies are not within the scope of this request.
EPA will not consider responses to this RFI to be proposals for
financial assistance projects or unsolicited requests for financial
assistance. Do not include confidential business information (CBI) or
other privileged material in responses. Additionally, those submitting
responses are solely responsible for all expenses associated with
response preparation. Information gathered through this RFI may be used
to inform potential strategies for supporting and improving state,
territorial, tribal, and local recycling operations. ORCR welcomes
comments from all stakeholders.
IV. Request for Information
Over the course of Spring 2022, ORCR will be hosting virtual
meetings across the country with interested stakeholders to inform the
development of the new programs established by the IIJA. This RFI and
future RFIs aim to supplement those planned consultations and provide
all interested individuals and organizations with the opportunity to
share their perspectives on barriers and opportunities related to solid
waste management infrastructure. SWIFR provides EPA with authority to
award grants to states, the District of Columbia, territories (the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American
Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands), tribes
and intertribal consortia, certain former reservations in Oklahoma, and
Alaskan Native Villages and political subdivisions (e.g., local
governments) for improvements to local post-consumer materials
management including municipal recycling programs and to assist local
waste management authorities in making improvements to local waste
management systems.
Specifically, when responding to the questions below about solid
waste or post-consumer materials management, consider in your response
the recovery, reuse, recycle, repair, and/or refurbishment of municipal
solid waste, as well as construction and demolition materials. This
includes source reduction and reuse, sending materials to material
recovery facilities, composting, industrial uses (e.g., rendering and
anaerobic digestion), and feeding animals. OLEM is interested in
perspectives on the following topics:
<bullet> What are the barriers and challenges facing states,
territories,
[[Page 35202]]
tribes, local governments and communities with regard to post-consumer
materials management and how can SWIFR grants assist in overcoming
those barriers?
<bullet> EPA is considering a wide range of eligible uses for SWIFR
funds including planning, facility-specific feasibility studies,
infrastructure improvements such as equipment upgrades, and new
construction. Are there other activities that EPA should consider for
funding eligibility when completing the design of the SWIFR grant
program? For other activity recommendations, please provide associated
estimated costs.
<bullet> What are some examples of post-consumer materials
management projects, studies or initiatives, and associated estimated
costs, that would support disadvantaged communities, rural communities,
communities with environmental justice concerns, and tribes and
territories?
<bullet> Are there negative impacts from post-consumer materials
management facilities on communities? How could grant funds be used to
eliminate or minimize those negative impacts? For any projects,
studies, or initiatives referenced in response to this RFI, please also
provide associated estimated costs.
<bullet> Are there specific recommendations that EPA should be
considering to improve post-consumer materials management, such as:
[cir] Investments needed for state, territorial, tribal, and local
waste management programs;
[cir] Examples of equipment and tangible infrastructure,
technology, or other improvements needed to increase access and/or
increase recovery of materials;
[cir] Recommendations on how to create greater system wide
consistency on managing post-consumer materials;
[cir] Examples of projects, studies, or initiatives, and associated
estimated costs, to increase access for communities without robust
post-consumer materials management programs;
[cir] Examples of projects, studies, or initiatives, and associated
estimated costs, to implement innovative approaches to improve post-
consumer materials management;
[cir] Programs or projects that will support local, state or
regional markets for material; and
[cir] State and local data needs to improve measurement of
materials and how they are managed.
<bullet> Should EPA consider a phased approach to grant
distribution to allow multi-year financing options? If so, please
provide detailed recommendations on the phases EPA should consider.
<bullet> Should EPA consider allocating the funds to allow for a
greater number of smaller grants to assist with discreet projects and
planning, or a smaller number of larger grants to support a more
complex investment?
<bullet> Do you have any additional information that might be
considered by EPA in developing future programs to improve post-
consumer materials management programs infrastructure?
V. Disclaimer and Important Note
This request for information is issued solely for information,
research and planning purposes and does not constitute a Request for
Proposals (RFP) or a Request for Applications (RFA). Responding to this
RFI will not give any advantage to or preclude any organization or
individual in any subsequently issued solicitation, RFP, or RFA. Any
future development activities related to this activity will be
announced separately on <a href="https://www.sam.gov">https://www.sam.gov</a> and/or <a href="https://www.grants.gov">https://www.grants.gov</a>. This RFI does not represent any award commitment on the
part of the U.S. Government, nor does it obligate the Government to pay
for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of any responses.
Dated: June 3, 2022.
Carolyn Hoskinson,
Director, Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery.
[FR Doc. 2022-12457 Filed 6-8-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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