U.S. EPA Mountains and Plains Region

10/31/2026

Historic sites can have a scary past, but EPA's Brownfields program helps tackle the real hazards. 💪

This Halloween, we’re highlighting how Brownfields programs help communities address real property hazards. 👻 The San Haven Sanitarium, a former tuberculosis sanitarium in North Dakota, once drew ghost hunters fascinated by its abandoned halls - but the real hazards were asbestos, lead-based paint and collapsing buildings. ⚠️ With funding and support from EPA’s Brownfields Program, the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa has cleaned and demolished all the structures, paving the way for reuse. 🙌

🔗Learn more about EPA's Brownfields Program: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/r8

10/30/2026

We appreciate the Petroleum Association of Wyoming highlighting our commitment to commonsense regulatory solutions.🤝
Following President Trump and Administrator Zeldin’s major announcement earlier this week, EPA Region 8 Administrator Cyrus Western is focused on implementing practical, flexible approaches to OOOOb and OOOOc regulations. We are ensuring we maintain strong environmental protections while supporting the small operators, local jobs, and energy production that power Wyoming.⚡

10/28/2026

EPA Region 8 Administrator Cyrus Western was in North Dakota last week to hear directly from farmers and equipment leaders about diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) challenges and their real-world impact on agriculture. 🚜🌾During the visit, he also toured an American manufacturing facility to see firsthand how these systems are built and the role domestic manufacturers play in supporting operators across the country. At a roundtable in Fargo, discussions focused on practical solutions that protect clean air and provide much needed relief for American operators who depend on reliable equipment every day.💪

10/27/2026

Did you know? 👀 EPA’s Response Support Corps is a team of volunteer employees who step in during major emergencies and disasters. Recently, EPA staff supported the response to the Washington wildfires. Check out one of our Region 8 employees and her experience serving as a public information officer 🚒🌲💬

10/22/2026

10/22/2026

10/22/2026

Haze is air pollution that is often carried by the wind hundreds of miles away, and it degrades visibility in many American cities and scenic areas. Haze is caused when sunlight encounters tiny pollution particles in the air, which reduce the clarity and color of what we see, especially during humid conditions. ☀️💨

EPA and other agencies have been monitoring visibility in national parks and wilderness areas since 1988. In 1999, EPA announced a major effort to improve air quality in national parks and wilderness areas. The Regional Haze Rule calls for state and federal agencies to work together to improve visibility in 156 national parks and wilderness areas such as Rocky Mountain National Park, the Teton Wilderness and Zion National Park. 🌲⛰️

🔗Learn more about haze: https://www.epa.gov/visibility

10/19/2026

EPA is on track to complete cleanup of heavy metal contamination at the Rumsey Mill site in Philipsburg, Montana this week. 🚧 Historic mining and milling operations associated with an abandoned mill at the site released metals including lead, arsenic and mercury into the surrounding area. EPA completed sampling from 2021 to 2024, which found that contaminated material has been migrating downslope into and along Fred Burr Creek. 🪨⚒️

This cleanup action will help reduce risks to nearby residents and Fred Burr Creek, while also improving long-term water quality, habitat conditions and the overall stability of the site. Final restoration is being coordinated with Trout Unlimited, a non-profit organization that is committed to mine reclamation, stream restoration and other activities that improve fisheries, water quality and watershed health. 🌊💙

Learn more about this project: response.epa.gov/RumseyMill

10/16/2026

ICYMI:👀 EPA Region 8 Administrator Cyrus Western joined EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and Montana Governor Greg Gianforte at the CFAC Superfund site in Columbia Falls, MT, to highlight cleanup progress and plans to return the site to productive reuse. EPA Region 8 works closely with our state and local partners to protect resources like the Flathead River and deliver economic benefits to communities across Montana.💧🌿🏗️

10/15/2026

📢ICYMI: Regional Administrator Cyrus Western shares more about EPA's recent proposal to repeal all greenhouse gas emission standards for power plants, with projected savings of $370 million in direct compliance costs. The proposal could also help lower electricity costs for American families.
EPA is taking these actions in accordance with the law and based on the best reading of the Clean Air Act (CAA). Once finalized, EPA's proposed repeal is expected to unleash the full potential of America’s vast energy resources, including coal and natural gas. Coal production for power sector use is projected to increase by more than 10 times.

🔗Read more: https://www.deseret.com/the-west/2026/10/06/utah-still-runs-on-coal-the-rest-of-the-southwest-moved-on/