Surveys Studies, Investigations Demonstrations and Special Purpose Activities Relating to the Clean Air Act (66.034)

Program

66.034 Surveys Studies, Investigations Demonstrations and Special Purpose Activities Relating to the Clean Air Act

Federal Agency

Agency: Environmental Protection Agency
Office: Office of Air and Radiation

Authorization

National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, Section 102(2)(F), Public Law 91-190, 42 U.S.C 4332; Clean Air Act of 1963, Section 103, Public Law 95-95, 42 U.S.C 7401.

Program Number

66.034

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To support Surveys, Studies, Research, Investigations, Demonstrations and Special Purpose assistance relating to the causes, effects (including health and welfare effects), extent, prevention, and control of air pollution to include such topics as air quality, acid deposition, climate change, global programs, indoor environments, radiation, mobile source technology and community-driven approaches to transportation and emissions reduction. Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2009: (1) Indoor Environments. This activity will support surveys, studies, research, and/or investigations or demonstrations, performed by concerned, national, non-profit organizations that lead to effective outreach strategies to educate key audiences about indoor air pollutants and their associated health risks, and convince them to adopt effective mitigation and control strategies. Currently, the Program focuses on several critical aspects of indoor air quality that pose significant risks to public health, and in particular, to children and to other disproportionately impacted segments of society. These include: reducing the exposure of children and others with asthma to indoor triggers that worsen their condition; promoting the adoption of operation and maintenance practices in schools throughout the nation to reduce the harmful effects of poor indoor air quality on the health of students and staff; promoting voluntary radon testing by homeowners to identify elevated levels and fix them when they are found, as well as working with homebuilders to incorporate radon resistant construction features into new homes; and encouraging adult smokers to protect their children from the adverse health effects of environmental exposure to secondhand smoke by making a conscious decision to smoke outside and keep their homes and cars smokefree. (2) Radiation. The Radiation Program supports technical, outreach, and educational activities relating to environmental radiation. This activity currently manages a national environmental radiation monitoring program, is prepared for and responds to incidents involving nuclear or radiological material, oversees the safe disposal of radioactive waste, maintains two laboratories that perform radiological sampling and analyses, and provides standards for protecting human health and the environment from radioactive material. Activities could include performance testing and evaluation, development of analytical procedures, and purchasing of radiation laboratory equipment. This demonstration laboratory pilot activity supports and enhances radiological laboratory capability and capacity across the nation to reduce the gap in analyzing environmental samples following a significant national radiological incident. Key activities include audits and proficiency testing, provision of radiological instrumentation, supplies, training, and limited facilities upgrades. (3) Community-Scale Air Toxics Ambient Monitoring (CSATAM). The CSATAM Grant Program results in discreet two-year projects designed to assist state, local and tribal communities in identifying and profiling air toxics sources, characterizing the degree and extent of local air toxics problems, and tracking progress of air toxics reduction activities in specific local areas without reliance on often uncertain estimates of emissions and air dispersion models. Further, these grants typically allow the recipient state, local, and tribal air pollution control agencies to establish or enhance hazardous air pollutant monitoring networks, thus providing long term capability to investigate and assess specific local air quality scenarios of concern. Note that from year to year, this program may establish categories of projects and funding targets within those categories. (4) Mobile Sources Technologies. Grants will encompass studies and investigations utilizing state-of-the-art experimental techniques in advanced engine development technology, including hydraulic hybrid drivetrains, to optimize fuel economy, reduce exhaust emissions (including PM and NOx), and improve performance. Additional grants will support studies identifying barriers to technological innovation, analyzing innovative strategies for overcoming these barriers, and encouraging the development and adoption of new vehicle and fuel technologies for the control of emissions. (5) Heavy Duty Truck Fuel Consumption and Emissions Reductions. This program will study and analyze fuel consumption and emissions reductions associated with the use of innovative technologies for heavy duty diesel trucks. Studies and evaluations will involve truck fleets that operate under varying conditions, so as to evaluate the effectiveness of the various technologies. (6) National Internet-based On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) Information Exchange. This program will support activities that maintain, update, and improve the Internet-based information clearinghouse to facilitate the accurate and timely exchange of technical information related to on-board diagnostic (OBD) between state inspection/maintenance programs, the automotive industry, and the general public. (7) Climate Change. The Climate Change Division supports activities relating to improving economic, technical and programmatic understanding of climate change. The Climate Change Division supports projects relating to technical, outreach, and education about climate change impacts, mitigation and adaptation options so that the private and public sectors may more effectively and comprehensively address their climate goals. The Climate Change Division supports projects that break down market barriers that limit investment in technologies that reduce methane and non-CO2 greenhouse gases; projects that address the technical issues surrounding sequestration and carbon storage; projects that address collection and analyses of economic data relating to climate change; and programs such as Methane to Markets that support climate technology transfer in developing and transition countries. (8) Climate Protection Partnerships. EPA funds Global climate Change programs which are voluntary government/industry partnership programs designed to capitalize on the opportunities that consumers, businesses, and organizations have for making sound investments in efficient equipment, policies and practices. During FY 2009, the Global Climate Change program will manage a number of efforts to remove barriers in the marketplace and to deploy technology faster in the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors of the economy. Our programs work by overcoming widely acknowledged barriers to energy efficiency: lack of clear, reliable information on technology opportunities; lack of awareness of energy efficient products and services; lack of financing options to turn lifecycle energy savings into initial cost savings for consumers; low incentives to manufacturers for efficiency research and development. In addition, our Global Climate Change programs will provide technical assistance, training, information exchange and other forms of cooperation to enhance the capabilities of governments and other stakeholders to protect human health and the environment regionally and globally. (9) Sustainable Skylines Initiative. The Sustainable Skylines Initiative (SSI) is intended to result in projects that: maximize federal, state, regional, and local resources to provide tangible cross-cutting projects that result in specific air, water, waste and livability benefits; provide economy of scale to amplify media attention, level of support, and outreach ability for specific projects while show casing a larger sustainability effort; and bridge city and regional sustainability efforts to re-energize existing programs and developing key emerging priorities. A project must be in the nature of research, investigation, study, experiment or demonstration designed to advance the state of the knowledge in the chosen area. The overall goal of the SSI is to work in partnership with the funded entity to create a locally-led, self-sustaining, community-based partnership that will continue to improve the local environment, even after the funding agreement ends. During FY 2009, the program will initiate efforts with new communities selected for the SSI.

Types of Assistance

PROJECT GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

Grants and cooperative agreements are available to support recipients' allowable direct costs incident to approved Surveys, Studies, Research, Investigations, Demonstrations and Special Purpose plus allowable indirect costs, in accordance with established EPA policies and regulations. Assistance agreement awards under this program may involve or relate to geospatial information. Further information regarding geospatial information may be obtained by viewing the following website: http://geodata.epa.gov.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Assistance under this program is generally available to States, local governments, territories, Indian Tribes, and possessions of the U.S., including the District of Columbia, international organizations, public and private universities and colleges, hospitals, laboratories, other public or private nonprofit institutions, which submit applications proposing projects with significant technical merit and relevance to EPA's Office of Air and Radiation's mission. Eligibility for projects awarded or competed exclusively with State and Tribal Assistance Grant (STAG) funds is limited to air pollution control agencies, as defined in section 302(b) of the Clean Air Act that are also eligible to receive grants under section 105 of the Clean Air Act, and/or federally recognized tribes. For certain competitive funding opportunities under this CFDA description, the Agency may limit eligibility to compete to a number or subset of eligible applicants consistent with the Agency's Assistance Agreement Competition Policy.

Beneficiary Eligibility

State and local governments, U.S. territories and possessions, Indian Tribes, universities and colleges, hospitals, laboratories, and other public and private nonprofit institutions.

Credentials/Documentation

Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments and Indian Tribes, OMB Circular No. A-21 for educational institutions, and OMB Circular No. A-122 for nonprofit institutions. Applicants may be requested to demonstrate they have appropriate background, academic training, experience in the field, and necessary equipment to carry out projects. EPA may ask applicants or principle investigators to provide curriculum vitae and relevant publications. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Regarding pre-application/pre-proposal assistance with respect to competitive funding opportunities under this program description, EPA will generally specify the nature of the pre-application/pre-proposal assistance, if any, that will be available to applicants in the competitive announcement. For additional information, contact the individual(s) listed as "Information Contacts" or see Appendix IV of the Catalog. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedure

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. EPA requires final applications to be made on Standard Form 424. Requests for application kits must be submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency, Grants and Interagency Agreements Management Division, 3903R, Washington, DC 20460 or through the appropriate EPA Regional Office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog. Applicants may be able to use http://www.grants.gov to electronically apply for certain grant opportunities under this CFDA.

Award Procedure

For competitive awards, EPA will review and evaluate applications, proposals, and/or submissions in accordance with the terms, conditions, and criteria stated in the competitive announcement. Competitions will be conducted in accordance with EPA policies/regulations for competing assistance agreements.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Approximately 180 days.

Appeals

Assistance agreement competition-related disputes will be resolved in accordance with the dispute resolution procedures published in 70 FR (Federal Register) 3629, 3630 (January 26, 2005). Copies of these procedures may also be requested by contacting the individual(s) listed as "Information Contacts." Disputes relating to matters other than the competitive selection of recipients will be resolved under 40 CFR 30.63 or 40 CFR 31.70, as applicable.

Renewals

Not Applicable.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula.

Matching Requirements: While there is no statutory or regulatory cost sharing requirement for this program, as a matter of policy the Agency may impose a cost sharing requirement in specific competitions. If the Agency decides to do this, the cost sharing terms will be stated in Section III of the competitive announcement.

This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

EPA normally funds grants and cooperative agreements on a 12-month basis. However, EPA can negotiate the project period with each applicant based on project requirements. EPA limits project periods to 5 years. Grants are generally fully funded or on an incremental funding basis. Successful applicants will be notified either via U.S. mail or electronically. Such notification is contingent upon information contained in the resulting solicitation. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Assistance agreements may be incrementally (quarterly) or fully (lump sum) funded.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Yes, Grantees are required to submit program reports in accordance with Agency policy and the Monitoring and Reporting Program Performance requirements stated in Federal Grant Regulations 40 CFR Part 31 or 40 CFR Part 30 and OMB Circular No.A-102 or OMB Circular No.A-110. Yes, Grantees are required to submit financial reports in accordance with Agency policy and the Financial Reporting and Financial Management Systems requirements stated in Federal Grant Regulations 40 CFR Part 31 or 40 CFR Part 30 and OMB Circular No.A-102 or OMB Circular No.A-110. Yes, Grantees are required to submit progress reports in accordance with Agency policy and the Monitoring and Reporting Program Performance requirements stated in Federal Grant Regulations 40 CFR Part 31 or 40 CFR Part 30 and OMB Circular No.A-102 or OMB Circular No.A-110. No expenditure reports are required. Yes, Grantees are required to perform performance monitoring in accordance with Agency policy and requirements stated in Federal Grant Regulations 40 CFR Part 31 or 40 CFR Part 30 and OMB Circular No.A-102 or OMB Circular No.A-110.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. Grants and cooperative agreements are subject to inspections and audits by the Comptroller General of the United States, the EPA Office of Inspector General, other EPA staff, or any authorized representative of the Federal government. Reviews by the EPA Project Officer and the Grants Specialist may occur each year. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend $500,000 or more in a year in Federal awards shall have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in OMB Circular No. A-133.

Records

Recipients must keep financial records, including all documents supporting entries on accounting records and to substantiate changes in grants available to personnel authorized to examine EPA recipients grants and cooperative agreements records. Recipients must maintain all records until 3 years from the date of submission of final expenditure reports. If questions, such as those raised as a result of audits remain following the 3-year period, recipients must retain records until the matter is completely resolved.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: Data Not Available. This CFDA is utilized by EPA Headquarters and the regions. Specific program accomplishments are unavailable. Prospective applicants may contact the individual listed in #152 below for more information. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

68-1810-0-1-304.

Obligations

(Project Grants) FY 08 $18,001,650; FY 09 est $9,161,000; FY 10 est $15,000,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

EPA generally award grants ranging in value from $5,000 to $750,000 per fiscal year. The average value of each grant is $150,000 per fiscal year.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

Surveys, Studies, Research, and Investigations grants and cooperative agreements are subject to EPA's General Grant Regulations (40 CFR Part 30 and 40 CFR Part 31).

Related Programs

Not Applicable.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. EPA encourages potential applicants to communicate with the appropriate EPA Regional Office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog, and the Headquarters program contacts listed below.

Headquarters Office

Courtney Hyde, EPA, Office of Air and Radiation, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, District of Columbia 20460 Email: hyde.courtney@epa.gov Phone: (202) 564-1227.

Web Site Address

http://www.epa.gov/air/

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: Examples of funded projects are: Conducting training courses for environmental health professionals on indoor air quality topics including asthma triggers, schools, radon, indoor air quality in large buildings, and community outreach; Climate change tribal impacts, communications, and outreach; Activities that advance methane recovery and use as a clean energy source; Integrated assessment of multiple greenhouse gases, climate impacts, and pollution; National Education Association Health Information Network; Implementation of energy-efficient standards and labeling programs in developing countries; Market transformation projects that will increase public awareness of the health benefits and cost savings associated with the use of energy efficient products and services; Projects that involve regional outreach and education benefits of renewable energy, encouraging state and local governments to make green power purchases; Demonstrating the effectiveness and viability of retrofit technologies in reducing harmful air emissions from existing diesel highway, heavy-duty vehicles and to achieve actual local emission reductions; Educating the business and consumer sectors on the benefits of improving energy performance; Market transformation projects that will increase public awareness of the health benefits and cost savings associated with the use of energy efficient products and services; Projects that involve regional outreach and education on the benefits of renewable energy, encouraging state and local governments to make green power purchases, and; Projects that reduce emissions through improved greenhouse gas management and clean energy programs. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

EPA selects proposed Surveys, Studies, Research, and Investigations projects for funding based on factors such as relevancy to EPA's mission, technical merit, and the likelihood of success. If EPA issues a solicitation for applications for a particular project or group of projects, the solicitation will identify specific criteria. The evaluation and selection criteria for competitive awards under this CFDA description will be described in the competitive announcement.