This month, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has removed approximately 230,000 gallons (920 tons) of expired, alcohol-based hand sanitizer and related waste from a warehouse at the former Seneca Army Depot in Romulus, New York, eliminating a significant fire and safety risk to nearby communities. The material was stored in deteriorating containers inside a building without fire suppression systems or active utilities, creating conditions that could have led to a fire or explosion if left unaddressed.

“Large stockpiles of alcohol-based flammable materials like this can quickly become dangerous when not properly stored,” said EPA Regional Administrator Michael Martucci.

EPA began work at the site in September 2025 at the request of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Crews inventoried, repackaged, and consolidated hundreds of pallets and containers of sanitizer and related waste to prepare them for safe removal. EPA then loaded the material into secure shipping containers and transported it off-site to approved recycling and disposal facilities.

EPA will continue coordinating with state partners and pursue appropriate enforcement actions to hold responsible parties accountable for the costs of the cleanup.

The hazards tied to expired sanitizer are not unique to Romulus. In January 2026, EPA completed a similar cleanup at a warehouse in Niagara Falls, New York, where the agency addressed hazardous conditions involving large volumes of stored sanitizer. EPA also continues to respond to a fire-related incident at the Eco Operations facility in Gorham, New York, where large quantities of expired sanitizer contributed to a major fire in August 2025. Though the product is commonly used in small amounts, stockpiles of this size can create serious fire and safety risks, particularly in older or poorly maintained buildings. 

City size is key when launching a startup, according to WalletHub’s 2026’s Best Small Cities to Start a Business report.

WalletHub determined the most business-friendly small markets in the U.S. by comparing over 1,300 cities with fewer than 100,000 residents across 18 key metrics. The dataset includes small-business growth rates, financing accessibility, investor access, and labor costs. WalletHub ranks the top 10 best small cities to start a business as:

1. George, Utah
2. Fort Myers, Florida
3. Washington, Utah
4. Bozeman, Montana
5. Greenville, South Carolina
6. Cedar City, Utah
7. Boca Raton, Florida
8. Cheyenne, Wyoming
9. Ocala, Florida
10. Dover, Delaware

St. George, Utah, is the best small city to start a business, ranking among the top cities in the country for both startups per capita and growth in the number of small businesses (nearly 42% between 2017 and 2023). The city also has very cheap office space, costing around US$10.73 per square foot. In contrast, the most expensive city charges nearly $62 per square foot. In addition, St. George has a very high annual job growth rate.

“The benefits of starting a business in a small city include lower overhead costs, stronger relationships with customers and the potential to become a big fish in a little pond. But there are drawbacks, too,” said Chip Lupo, WalletHub analyst. “Entrepreneurs who want to build a large professional network aren’t likely to make as many connections in a town with fewer residents. Other restrictions might include limited industry options, a less diverse customer base, and difficulty attracting and keeping top talent.”

Other key findings from the report include:

• Bozeman, Montana, has the highestnumber of startups per 100,000 residents, 8.7 times higher than in Austin, Minnesota, which has the lowest.
• Kentwood, Michigan, has the most affordable office spaces, which are 6.8 times lower than in Mountain View, California, the city with the least affordable.
• Isla Vista, California, has the lowest labor costs (according to median annual income), which are 9.6 times lower than in Los Altos, California, which is among the cities with the highest.
• West Odessa, Texas, has the longest work week, which is 1.8 times longer than in Isla Vista, California, the city with the shortest.
• Wellesley, Massachusetts, has the highest share of the population with at least a bachelor’s degree, which is 14.8 times higher than in Immokalee, Florida, the city with the lowest. 

To view the full report and the ranking of over 1,300 cities, click here.