Crash-site environmental remediation, Trump funding freezes, and local conservation projects

Catch up on the latest sustainability news:

Environmental risks at the site of the Northeast Philly plane crash are being addressed. Potential environmental impacts of the accident include poor air quality as well as soil contamination from spilled jet fuel. While it’s unknown exactly how air quality was impacted immediately following the crash, samples taken after fires were contained indicated that lingering air pollutants were likely not a threat to residents in the long-term. At the crash-site, environmental remediation efforts have already excavated several large containers of contaminated soil. WHYY News Climate Desk.

Trump’s attempts to freeze large amounts of federal funding could place some of Philly’s green energy infrastructure projects in limbo. One of Trump’s executive orders last month was to pause funding from the Biden-era National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) and Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) programs, which provide the funding necessary to complete EV charging projects across the Philadelphia region. Although judges blocked these orders, state transportation departments received a memo from the USDOT halting new NEVI projects until further notice. The fate of planned CFI projects are still uncertain amid the confusion. Billy Penn.

More than $2 million in grants will benefit conservation projects in Southeast PA. The PA DEP’s Growing Greener Plus grant program awards funding to projects aiming to protect the Commonwealth’s watersheds and restore abandoned areas. Local recipients include Friends of the Wissahickon, the Philadelphia Water Department, and Bartram’s Garden, who will focus on green stormwater infrastructure and tidal wetlands restoration projects.

Cover photo: VISIT PHILADELPHIA®

Suzanna Cook

Suzanna Cook is a lifelong Greater Philadelphia resident and graduate of Stockton University, where she obtained a B.S. in Sustainability with a concentration in Policy. Recently, she held positions on the editorial staff of her school’s independent student newspaper and as a Sustainability Specialist at Grand Canyon National Park. You can often find her riding the PATCO to Center City, crocheting with thrifted yarn, or practicing her latte art.