Internships, Training and Workshops for the Office of Air and Radiation

 

To provide, Internships, Training, Workshops, and Technical Monitoring in support of the Clean Air Act. These activities aim to: (1) support the development of career-oriented personnel qualified to work in occupations involving environmental protection and air pollution abatement and control; (2) provide technical training for state, local, territorial, and Indian Tribal environmental control agencies; (3) enhance the capability of state, tribal, and local agencies responsible for environmental pollution control or other agencies with similar pollution control responsibilities; (4) provide educational renewal for career oriented personnel to achieve additional knowledge through academic professional training; (5) provide students in science, engineering, and other relevant fields with education and training opportunities to enhance their understanding of air quality-related topics; and 6) to increase the quality and number of people into the environmental control field. Projects should also focus on addressing environmental justice (EJ) concerns in communities. EJ is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. Funding Priority for 2019 - (1) The Tribal Training Support for the Community and Tribal Air Quality Programs grant will support EPA?s efforts to encourage and facilitate involvement of tribal partner governments in implementing ambient air quality programs under the Clean Air Act in Indian country, through the provision of training and technical support. The training and technical support will promote the capacity of tribes to successfully implement efficient and effective air quality management programs. (2) The Student Program for Environmental Excellence in Design (SPEED) program provides graduate-level students and senior-level undergraduate opportunities to collaborate with EPA and increase their awareness and understanding of the environmental benefits associated with increased fuel efficiency, reduced carbon intensity in transportation fuels, and reduced emissions in advanced vehicles. (3) American Indian Air Quality Training Program (AIAQTP) will provide training, technical support and outreach, with associated activities, to hundreds of American Indians and Indian Tribes to support and facilitate their development and implementation of air quality management and protection programs for areas within their jurisdiction as sovereign governments.

Active 66.037 Environmental Protection Agency B - Project Grants Fiscal Year 2016 The American Indian Air Quality Training Program (AIAQTP) provides comprehensive air quality policy and regulatory analysis consisting of support and national coordination activities to assist tribes in understanding, participating in and responding to US EPA's Office of Air and Radiation (OAR) policy and regulatory activities; provides opportunity for American Indian students, educators, and communities to participate in, and pursue environmental careers in the field of air quality management. The AIAQTP program also conducts outreach to local communities on air quality and related environmental justice issues via a website to disseminate the environmental education curriculum. The Student Program for Environmental Excellence in Design (SPEED) program provides graduate-level students and senior-level undergraduate students in the science, technology, and engineering disciplines opportunities to collaborate with the EPA and obtain research training on-site at the EPA's National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Lab (NVFEL). Students increase their awareness and understanding of the environmental benefits associated with increased fuel efficiency, reduced carbon intensity in transportation fuels, and reduced emissions in advanced vehicles. The American Indian Air Quality Training Program (AIAQTP) provides comprehensive air quality policy and regulatory analysis consisting of support and national coordination activities to assist tribes in understanding, participating in and responding to US EPA's Office of Air and Radiation (OAR) policy and regulatory activities; provides opportunity for American Indian students, educators, and communities to participate in, and pursue environmental careers in the field of air quality management. The AIAQTP program also conducts outreach to local communities on air quality and related environmental justice issues via a website to disseminate the environmental education curriculum. The Student Program for Environmental Excellence in Design (SPEED) program provides graduate-level students and senior-level undergraduate students in the science, technology, and engineering disciplines opportunities to collaborate with the EPA and obtain research training on-site at the EPA's National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Lab (NVFEL). Students increase their awareness and understanding of the environmental benefits associated with increased fuel efficiency, reduced carbon intensity in transportation fuels, and reduced emissions in advanced vehicles. The Tribal Training Support for the Community and Tribal Programs project supported 17 tribes and approximately 100 tribal environmental staff and tribal community members in our very first set of tribal community trainings. The trainings brought together not only community members and EPA personnel but also tribal environmental professionals, industry, state and local organizations, colleges and other stakeholders surrounding the Navajo Nation. Understanding air quality issues within the community, learning about the regulatory development process, and being able to engage in the regulatory process in a meaningful way were just some of the accomplishments of these particular trainings.
Fiscal Year 2017 Conducted 2 trainings for Tribal Environmental Professionals – 1. Reviewing New Source Review and Title V Permits training 2. National Tribal Forum (NTF) on Air Quality held– provided an all-day session on Smoke Ready Tribal Communities. Held several webinars and trainings for Tribal Environmental Professionals – 1. Air Quality Planning for Wildland Smoke – provided 5 pre-webinars and an in-person class 2. Treatment As a State training 3. National Tribal Forum on Air Quality held- provided a session on Treatment As a State (TAS) training. 4. Developed a Permit training – which will include 2 pre-webinars, Overview of the Clean Air Act and Overview of the Clean Air Act Permitting Program and an in-person class. 5. Ongoing technical support and training for the Tribal Environmental Exchange (TREX) Network – assists tribes in data retrieval, validation and submission to national networks like AIRNow and AQS.
Fiscal Year 2018 The Student Program for Environmental Excellence in Design (SPEED) program provides graduate-level students and senior-level undergraduate students in the science, technology, and engineering disciplines opportunities to collaborate with the EPA and obtain research training on-site at the EPA's National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Lab (NVFEL). Students increase their awareness and understanding of the environmental benefits associated with increased fuel efficiency, reduced carbon intensity in transportation fuels, and reduced emissions in advanced vehicles.
Fiscal Year 2019 Conducted three trainings for Tribal Environmental Professionals – 1. Air Quality Planning for Wildland Smoke – provided 6 pre-webinars and an in-person class. 2. Treatment As a State (TAS) training. 3. National Tribal Forum on Air Quality – provided a session on TAS. 4. Ongoing technical support and training for the Tribal Environmental Exchange Network – assists tribes in data retrieval validation and submission to national networks like AIRNow and AQS. Clean Air Act, Section 103, as amended 42 U.S.C. 7403
Clean Air Act, Section 103(a)(5), as amended 42 U.S.C. 7403(b)(5) Assistance under this program is generally available to States, local governments, territories, Indian Tribes, and possessions of the U.S., including the Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Government, District of Columbia and possessions of the U.S., 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. For certain competitive funding opportunities under this assistance listing, the Agency may limit eligibility to compete to a number or subset of eligible applicants consistent with the Agency's Assistance Agreement Competition Policy State and local governments, U.S. territories and possessions, universities and colleges, hospitals, laboratories, other public and private nonprofit institutions, and Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments. Costs will be determined in accordance with Uniform Grants Guidance 2 CFR 225 for State and local governments and Indian Tribes, UGG 2 CFR 220 for educational institutions, and UGG 2 CFR 230 for non-profit institutions. Applicants may be requested to demonstrate they have appropriate background, academic training, experience in the field, and necessary equipment to carry out projects. Preapplication coordination is required. 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 in the competitive announcement. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Applicants, except in limited circumstances approved by the Agency, must submit all initial applications for funding through https://www.grants.gov 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. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines More than 180 days. Approximately 180 days after the deadline for the Request for Applications. 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). Disputes relating to matters other than the competitive selection of recipients will be resolved under 2 CFR 1500 Subpart E, as applicable. None. All projects will be fully funded. The evaluation and selection criteria for competitive awards under this assistance listing will be described in the competitive announcement. Assistance agreements are available to support recipients' allowable direct costs incident to approved projects for internships, training and workshops related to environmental issues plus allowable indirect costs, in accordance with established EPA policies and regulations. Performance Reports: Grantees are required to perform performance monitoring in accordance with Agency policy and requirements stated in Uniform Grants Guidance 2 CFR parts 200 and 1500 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. Recipients must keep financial records, including all documents supporting entries in accounting records and to substantiate changes in grants available to personnel authorized to examine EPA recipient grants and cooperative agreement records. Recipients must maintain all records until 3 years from the date of submission of the final expenditure reports. If questions, such as those raised as a result of an audit remain following the 3-year period, recipients must retain records until the matter is completely resolved. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. If the grant is not fully funded at time of award, EPA normally funds grants on a 12-month incremental basis. Each grant is limited to a 3-year duration. Assistance Agreements are typically fully funded by a lump sum. Contact individual(s) listed in Section VII of the competitive funding announcement for technical questions. Contact Eric Geer for general questions. Eric Geer
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, (Mail Code: 6102A)
Washington, DC 20460 US
geer.eric@epa.gov
Phone: 202-564-1082 https://www.epa.gov/tribal-air 68-0108-0-1-304 (Project Grants (Discretionary)) FY 18$2,125,000.00; FY 19 est $2,125,000.00; FY 20 est $1,487,500.00; FY 17$2,000,000.00; FY 16$2,000,000.00; - EPA generally awards grants ranging in value from $100,000 to $300,000 per fiscal year. The average amount is $250,000. Training grants are subject to Uniform Grants Guidance 2 CFR 200; 40 CFR Part 45; and EPA Annual Program Guidance provided to State and Local agencies Fiscal Year 2016 Projects include providing comprehensive air quality policy and regulatory analysis consisting of support and national coordination activities to assist tribes in understanding, participating in and responding to US EPA's Office of Air and Radiation (OAR) policy and regulatory activities; ensuring American Indian students, educators, and communities are properly informed of, and provided with opportunities to participate in, and pursue environmental careers in the field of air quality management; the American Indian Air Quality Training Program (AIAQTP), which includes workshop training, internships and technical support to tribal governments seeking to investigate, develop and establish air quality management programs for lands under their jurisdiction. The AIAQTP program will also include outreach to local communities on air quality and related environmental justice issues and the development of a website to disseminate the environmental education curriculum. The Student Program for Environmental Excellence in Design (SPEED) program aims to increase students' awareness and understanding of the environmental benefits associated with increased fuel efficiency, reduced carbon intensity in transportation fuels, and reduced emissions in advanced vehicles. Through the SPEED, graduate-level students and senior-level undergraduate students in the science, technology, and engineering disciplines are provided opportunities to collaborate with the EPA and obtain research training on-site at the EPA's National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Lab (NVFEL) in Ann Arbor, Michigan Projects include providing comprehensive air quality policy and regulatory analysis consisting of support and national coordination activities to assist tribes in understanding, participating in and responding to US EPA's Office of Air and Radiation (OAR) policy and regulatory activities; ensuring American Indian students, educators, and communities are properly informed of, and provided with opportunities to participate in, and pursue environmental careers in the field of air quality management; the American Indian Air Quality Training Program (AIAQTP), which includes workshop training, internships and technical support to tribal governments seeking to investigate, develop and establish air quality management programs for lands under their jurisdiction. The AIAQTP program will also include outreach to local communities on air quality and related environmental justice issues and the development of a website to disseminate the environmental education curriculum. The Student Program for Environmental Excellence in Design (SPEED) program aims to increase students' awareness and understanding of the environmental benefits associated with increased fuel efficiency, reduced carbon intensity in transportation fuels, and reduced emissions in advanced vehicles. Through the SPEED, graduate-level students and senior-level undergraduate students in the science, technology, and engineering disciplines are provided opportunities to collaborate with the EPA and obtain research training on-site at the EPA's National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Lab (NVFEL) in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Tribal Training Support for the Community and Tribal Programs project supported 2 tribal trainings for fence-line communities. The participants learned about air quality issues within the community, the regulatory development process, and how to engage in the regulatory process in a meaningful way.
Fiscal Year 2017 Projects include providing comprehensive air quality policy and regulatory analysis consisting of support and national coordination activities to assist tribes in understanding, participating in and responding to US EPA's Office of Air and Radiation (OAR) policy and regulatory activities; ensuring American Indian students, educators, and communities are properly informed of, and provided with opportunities to participate in, and pursue environmental careers in the field of air quality management; the American Indian Air Quality Training Program (AIAQTP), which includes workshop training, internships and technical support to tribal governments seeking to investigate, develop and establish air quality management programs for lands under their jurisdiction. The AIAQTP program will also include outreach to local communities on air quality and related environmental justice issues and the development of a website to disseminate the environmental education curriculum. The Tribal Training Support for the Community and Tribal Programs project supported trainings on New Source Review (NSR) and Title V Permits, Air Quality Planning for Wildland Smoke and Understanding the Oil and Gas Industry. Attendees learned about the purpose and requirements of the different permit programs, e.g., major/minor NSR, Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD), Title V. They reviewed actual permits and learned about applicability, control technology, monitoring, record keeping and reporting, and enforceability. Attendees learned how to develop a strategy for impacting the development of permits. The Wildland Smoke training was a one-day workshop, in conjunction with a national tribal meeting, where participants learned about sources of smoke and how to prepare their tribal community when a wild fire/smoke event happens. Student Program for Environmental Excellence in Design (SPEED) program: (1) Comprehensive survey of GDI particle characteristics, by size selecting sampling and characterization of soot nanostructure, soot composition and soot surface chemical species(2) Dry run testing using both a complex (CO2-CO-NOx-N2) blend and a dual (CO2-N2) blend for all 8 compounds. (3)The SPEED team sponsored a ME 450 project for Winter 2017 on the subject of carbon dioxide capture from vehicle exhaust, building upon a ME 450 project supervised in the Fall 2016 term. Another ME 450 team sponsored in the Winter 2017 term worked on a system to desorb and purge the carbon dioxide captured within the device developed by the Fall 2016 team. (4) Undergraduate student teams performed analysis that compared the observed travel behavior of respondents to their stated willingness to use connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) to complete their trips. (5) an experimental investigation of electrocatalysis, (6) a life cycle assessment of the overarching bioenergy system starting with poplar cultivation, and (7) the development of a policy framework that, if implemented, would provide value for the carbon that is present in the biochar co-product of pyrolysis.
Fiscal Year 2018 1. Air Quality Planning for Wildland Smoke – provided 5 pre-webinars and an in-person class. 2. National Tribal Forum on Air Quality – provided a session on Treatment As a State (TAS) training. 4. Developed a Permit training which included two sessions: Overview of the Clean Air Act and Overview of the Clean Air Act Permitting Program and an in-person class. 5. Ongoing technical support and training for the Tribal Environmental Exchange (TREX) Network to assist tribes in data retrieval, validation and submission to national networks like AIRNow and AQS.
Fiscal Year 2019 The Student Program for Environmental Excellence in Design (SPEED) program provides graduate-level students and senior-level undergraduate opportunities to collaborate with EPA and increase their awareness and understanding of the environmental benefits associated with increased fuel efficiency; reduced carbon intensity in transportation fuels; and reduced emissions in Advanced Vehicles. The American Indian Air Quality Training Program (AIAQTP) provided workshop training, internships and technical support to tribal governments seeking to investigate, develop and establish air quality management programs for lands under their jurisdiction. This included conducting outreach to local communities on air quality and air-related environmental justice issues, and the development of a website to disseminate the environmental education curriculum. Other projects included: 1. State Implementation Plan training 2. Treatment As a State (TAS) training. 3. National Tribal Forum (NTF) on Air Quality meeting. 4. Continued support for TREX. 5. Air Quality Planning for Wildland Smoke -provided 6. Pre-webinars and an in-person class.
Fiscal Year 2020 Fiscal Year 2020 will include the following projects: 1. State Implementation Plan training. 2. Treatment As a State (TAS) training. 3 Sensor training. 4. National Tribal Forum (NTF) on Air Quality meeting. 5. Permit training which includes Clean Air Act (CAA) overview and Overview of the CAA Permitting Program. 6. Wood stove change-out program.