This project will provide source reduction technical assistance (e.g., information, training, tools) and workforce training to businesses to help them develop and adopt source reduction practices…

This Project Grant award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Source Reduction Assistance (CFDA 66.717) program will provide $158,971 in funding to Kansas State University (KSU) from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2026. The project will deliver source reduction technical assistance, workforce training, and community outreach to up to 60 businesses using painting and coating processes located in 15 census tracts in the Wichita, Kansas metro area identified as having environmental justice impacts due to toxic air emissions. The project aims to improve community awareness of harmful air emissions and reduce volatile organic compound (VOC) and toxic air emissions from these facilities through pollution prevention practices. KSU will publish project findings and host presentations to promote replication of the investigation and emission reduction activities.

This project will provide source reduction technical assistance (e.g., information, training, tools) and workforce training to businesses to help them develop and adopt source reduction practices (also known as pollution prevention). Pollution prevention means reducing or eliminating pollutants from entering any waste stream or otherwise being released into the environment prior to recycling, treatment, or disposal. Pollution prevention practices can help businesses save money by reducing their resource use, expenditures, waste and liability costs, while at the same time reducing their environmental footprint and helping to protect human health and the environment. Specifically, the project will work to improve community awareness of harmful air emissions and to reduce VOC and toxic air emissions at painting and coating facilities by providing source reduction technical assistance and workforce training for up to sixty businesses using painting and coating processes located in up to fifteen census tracts in the wichita metro area identified as having environmental justice impacts due to toxics emissions to the air. The project will also hold community forums in the areas shown to have these impacts, giving businesses using painting and coating processes, citizens, and workers the opportunity to discuss efforts to reduce air toxics impacts locally. The project will publish documents and host presentations at various local, state, and national events to promote replication of investigation and reduction activities. Activities:kansas state university's pollution prevention institute will identify 15 census tracts in the wichita metro area that contain, and are impacted by, business activities involving painting and coating and that have environmental justice concerns based on toxic air emissions from painting and coating, and the identification of those businesses; provide outreach, source reduction technical assistance and training opportunities as related to painting and coating processes for workers in businesses in identified areas; conduct community forums for the identified areas that involve the businesses performing painting and coating processes, their workers, and the local citizenry and provide a platform to discuss efforts for reducing local impacts from toxic air emissions; share/transfer lessons learned through conferences, trade shows, newsletters, and other venues such as the R7 EJ tctac; and follow-up with businesses using painting and coating processes located in the identified areas to determine the impact of training and on-site technical assistance on reducing toxic air emissions and to recognize project successes. Subrecipient:wichita state university environmental finance center will assist with training workshops, calls to aerospace industry stakeholders, host community involvement events, and assist with development of education materials.outcomes:the project will identify at least 200 businesses involved in painting and coating; will hold up to 4 training events supporting at least up to 40 participants at each event; provide off-site technical assistance to up to 80 organizations and on-site technical assistance to up to 6 organizations; hold up to 3 community forums with at least 20 participants from disadvantaged communities; publish at least 1 case summary and hold up to 2 conferences to facilitate lessons learned transfer of knowledge amongst participants; up to 6 facilities receiving follow up visits and up to 30 recommendations reviewed for implementation. Outcomes from training and technical assistance based on use of the EPA pollution prevention greenhouse gas calculator are estimated to be up to 5,000 pounds of hazardous material reduced, including air toxics, up to 3,800 MTCO2E ghgs reduced, and up to $85,000 in cost-savings. Residents of the state of kansas will benefit from the reduction of pollution and assisted industries will benefit through improved processes.