This action approves an award in the amount of $61,006,486 to the north carolina department of environmental quality (ncdeq) to support funding under the 2025 american relief act for hazardous waste…

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4 awarded $61.0 million to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) on October 1, 2025, under the Hazardous Waste Management State Program Support program (CFDA 66.801) to address hazardous and solid waste management consequences resulting from Hurricane Helene. The award supports a five-year project period concluding September 30, 2030, and funds direct NCDEQ activities including recycling infrastructure and equipment procurement, waste pesticide collection programs, disaster debris removal, infrastructure and disaster management workshops, hazardous waste training, sampling supply purchases for hazardous waste testing, equipment acquisition for solid waste management, community outreach events, Phase I and II environmental assessments, community feasibility studies, and development of a lessons learned report.

Approximately $50 million in sub-awards distribute funding to local governments and community organizations/non-governmental organizations to clear hurricane-related solid and hazardous waste debris through collection, storage, reduction, and disposal activities; to local governments for replacement of damaged equipment and recycling-related infrastructure; and to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture for waste pesticide collection and disposal. Measurable deliverables include workshops conducted, subawards distributed, tonnages of pesticides and debris collected, equipment and supplies purchased, trainings completed, hazardous complaints resolved, and environmental assessments completed, with ultimate outcomes focused on removing contamination from the environment to ensure clean water, land, and air resources.

This action approves an award in the amount of $61,006,486 to the north carolina department of environmental quality (ncdeq) to support funding under the 2025 american relief act for hazardous waste financial assistance grants program and other solid waste management activities for necessary expenses related to the consequences of hurricanes helene. The purpose is to assist ncdeq (and impacted counties) to address the consequences of hurricane helene, as IT relates to hazardous and solid waste management. This award will help accomplish that purpose, as called for in the 2025 american relief act. Activities:the activities to be performed include recycling infrastructure and equipment; waste pesticide collection; debris removal; conduct infrastructure and disaster management workshops; and attendance hazardous training. Additionally, purchase sampling supplies needed for testing of hazardous waste; purchase equipment needed for solid waste and debris management; community outreach events; phase i and II assessments; community feasibility studies, and develop lessons learned report.subrecipient:separate subawards (almost $50M total) to: 1) local governments to clear hurricane helene solid and/or hazardous waste debris (includes collection, storage, reduction and disposal) 2) community groups/ngos to clear debris (similar to above) 3) local GOV'TS to replace equipment and/or recycling-related infrastructure that was damaged or impacted by hurricane helene. 4) NC dept of agriculture to collect/dispose of waste pesticidesoutcomes:deliverables include: workshops conducted, subawards funded, tonnages collected (pesticides, debris, etc.), equipment and supplies purchased, trainings attended, number of hazards complaints received/resolved, phase i and II assessments conducted, and more. Some outcomes: contamination (debris, yard waste, pesticides, propane tanks, etc.) removed from the environment to ensure clean water, land and air for every american; enhanced communication and cooperation with state and local partners for emergency response; improved disaster preparation efficiency for DWM and coordination with local governments, other state agencies, and federal partners. Lastly, the reuse of properties (to contribute economically) that were abandoned or stifled as a result of the natural disaster and protection of future occupants of the sites from environmental contaminants that may be present. The beneficiaries include residents of north carolina.