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

 

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, global programs, indoor environments, radiation, mobile source technology and community-driven approaches to transportation and emissions reduction. 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 Priorities - Fiscal Year 2019: (1) Global Green Freight Supply Chain Demonstration program provides technical support, management and oversight in implementing outreach, analysis and capacity building for international green freight programs. The goal is to aid nations seeking to develop sustainable freight transport and increase efficiencies to reduce greenhouse gases and black carbon. (2)The NATTS program will continue to operate and maintain the national air toxics trends stations. The program also includes four supplemental program components: quality assurance, methods and instrumentation, sample and equipment shipping and handling, and data analyses using all available ambient air quality data for toxics with special emphasis on observations from the NATTS and community-scale monitoring programs. (3) The Climate Change Division supports the Atmospheric Protection Program by conducting a range of economic, scientific and technical analyses for Clean Air Act (CAA) regulatory actions and technical input consistent with Presidential Executive Order on Promoting Energy Independence and Economic Growth dated March 28, 2017, including GHG-related economic and science analyses. (4) The Climate Protection Partnerships Division supports the Atmospheric Protection Program by through voluntary public-private partnership programs designed to save American businesses and consumers energy and money through energy efficiency. These 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; and low incentives to manufacturers for efficiency research and development. In addition, these programs 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. (5) Fine Particle (PM2.5) Monitoring. The PM2.5 monitoring network includes three well-established components: the network of filter-based monitors used for comparison to the NAAQS; continuous mass monitors used primarily for public reporting of the Air Quality Index, but also for comparison to the NAAQS when continuous monitors are employed; and speciation samplers operated as part of the Chemical Speciation Network (CSN) program that are used to characterize the chemical composition that makes up fine particulate matter. The CSN includes the Speciation Trends Network and supplemental speciation sites. (6) National Internet-based On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) Information Exchange-National OBD Clearinghouse. To support an information clearinghouse which provides state vehicle emission inspection and maintenance (I/M) programs with technical information needed to successfully implement onboard diagnostic (OBD) testing. (7) Indoor Environments: state and local asthma program capacity building to secure sustainable financing for home-based environmental interventions; education and outreach to the public to foster radon testing and mitigation in homes and schools; technical support to state IAQ programs to foster adoption and spread of IAQ risk reduction strategies.

General information about this opportunity
Last Known Status
Active
Program Number
66.034
Federal Agency/Office
Environmental Protection Agency
Type(s) of Assistance Offered
B - Project Grants
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2016 Indoor Air/Radon: Produced effective outreach strategies to educate key audiences about indoor air pollutants and their associated health risks, convincing them to adopt effective mitigation and control strategies. These outreach strategies focused 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 Climate Change Division: The USEPA's Global Methane Initiative Grants program provides cooperative agreements to recipients around the globe to build capacity and promote international capture and use of methane. The grants have become an integral and important capacity building instrument of the Global Methane Initiative, a public-private partnership (of more than 33 partner governments) that reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution by promoting the cost-effective, near-term recovery and use of methane, a GHG that is more than 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Methane capture and use projects supported by the partnership through grants and other means are currently reducing emissions by more than 27.3 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent ~ annually equivalent to the annual emissions from 5 million passenger vehicles. The USEPA's Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reporting Grants program will help facilities that participate in voluntary, state-based and federal GHG reporting programs better understand the requirements of voluntary and state GHG reporting programs in comparison to the federal rule; and identify options for how data collected through state and federal reporting requirements may be used to inform state GHG programs and facility-level efforts to identify emissions-reduction opportunities. CPPD: Continued to reduce GHG and improved air quality through collaborative efforts with stakeholders (1)Indoor Air/Radon: Produced effective outreach strategies to educate key audiences about indoor air pollutants and their associated health risks, convincing them to adopt effective mitigation and control strategies. These outreach strategies focused 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)Climate Change Division: The USEPA's Global Methane Initiative Grants program provides cooperative agreements to recipients around the globe to build capacity and promote international capture and use of methane. The grants have become an integral and important capacity building instrument of the Global Methane Initiative, a public-private partnership (of more than 33 partner governments) that reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution by promoting the cost-effective, near-term recovery and use of methane, a GHG that is more than 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Methane capture and use projects supported by the partnership through grants and other means are currently reducing emissions by more than 27.3 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent ~ annually equivalent to the annual emissions from 5 million passenger vehicles. The USEPA's Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reporting Grants program will help facilities that participate in voluntary, state-based and federal GHG reporting programs better understand the requirements of voluntary and state GHG reporting programs in comparison to the federal rule; and identify options for how data collected through state and federal reporting requirements may be used to inform state GHG programs and facility-level efforts to identify emissions-reduction opportunities. (3) Climate Partnership Protection: Continued to reduce GHG and improved air quality through collaborative efforts with stakeholders. (4)Mobile Sources: Awarded funds for the continued operation and maintenance of the On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) Information Exchange, an online repository of OBD information for State inspection and maintenance programs, the automotive industry, and the general public.
Fiscal Year 2017 (1) Technical assistance to 8 school-based health centers (training to 100 staff) to implement interventions to reduce indoor asthma triggers; technical assistance to 16 tribal communities to build capacity to address asthma; technical training for 564 community-based asthma programs; 12,000 radon hotline calls; 80,000 unique visitors to radon website. (2) Climate Change Division: CCD’s grants helped build the capacity of tribes to address the health impacts of climate change. In addition, EPA’s “Integrated Assessment of Greenhouse Gases” helped advance the science and understanding needed to provide technical, analytical, and scientific support for the regulatory action consistent with Presidential Executive Order on Promoting Energy Independence and Economic Growth dated March 28, 2017. (3) EPA and its partners at state, local, and tribal (SLT) agencies managed and operated ambient air monitoring networks across the country with three primary objectives: to ensure the public has access to clean air by comparing data and implementation of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and other health indicators for toxics; to provide the public with timely reports and forecasts of the Air Quality Index, and to provide information to health and atmospheric scientists to better inform future reviews of the NAAQS.
Fiscal Year 2018 In 2017: (1) Technical assistance to 8 school-based health centers (training to 100 staff) to implement interventions to reduce indoor asthma triggers; technical assistance to 16 tribal communities to build capacity to address asthma; technical training for 564 community-based asthma programs; 12,000 radon hotline calls; 80,000 unique visitors to radon website. (2) Climate Change Division (CCD)’s grants helped build the capacity of tribes to address the health impacts of climate change. In addition, EPA’s “Integrated Assessment of Greenhouse Gases” helped advance the science and understanding needed to provide technical, analytical, and scientific support for the regulatory action consistent with Presidential Executive Order on Promoting Energy Independence and Economic Growth dated March 28, 2017. (3) EPA and its partners at state, local, and tribal (SLT) agencies managed and operated ambient air monitoring networks across the country with three primary objectives: to ensure the public has access to clean air by comparing data and implementation of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and other health indicators for toxics; to provide the public with timely reports and forecasts of the Air Quality Index, and to provide information to health and atmospheric scientists to better inform future reviews of the NAAQS. In 2018: (1) Technical assistance to 31 state IAQ programs; technical training to 20 state asthma programs; technical assistance to 5 asthma programs to develop their business case for sustainable financing; 15,000 radon hotline calls; 160,000 unique visitors to radon website. 2019 data will be available in November. (2) Climate Protection Partnerships Division (CPPD)'s programs helped American families and businesses save energy and money while also protecting the environment by helping reduce air emissions. (3) Climate Change Division (CCD)'s grants helped to advance the science and understanding needed to provide technical, analytical, and scientific support for the regulatory action consistent with Presidential Executive Order on Promoting Energy Independence and Economic Growth dated March 28, 2017. (4) EPA and its partners at state, local, and tribal (SLT) agencies managed and operated ambient air monitoring networks across the country with three primary objectives: to ensure the public has access to clean air by comparing data and implementation of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and other health indicators for toxics; to provide the public with timely reports and forecasts of the Air Quality Index, and to provide information to health and atmospheric scientists to better inform future reviews of the NAAQS. (5) Community Scale Air Toxics Grants: EPA awarded five grants to state, local and tribal air pollution control agencies to conduct additional air toxics monitoring to better characterize local area air toxics issues and develop and enhance analytical tools used in the review of air toxics data.
Fiscal Year 2019 Climate Protection Partnerships Division(CPPD) funded research studies that helped identify best practices and approaches that inform the design and implementation of future energy efficiency (EE) programs. These programs help not only save consumers and businesses money but provide a no-regrets source of cost-effective, voluntary emissions reductions.
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 et seq
Who is eligible to apply/benefit from this assistance?
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 and inter-tribal consortia, consisting of federally recognized tribe members. 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
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 Uniform Grants Guidance 2 CFR 200. 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
What is the process for applying and being award this assistance?
Pre-Application Procedure
Preapplication coordination is required. 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. 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. 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 "Agency Contacts" in the competitive announcement.
Application Procedure
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.
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
For competitive awards, deadlines will be specified in the competitive announcement.
Approval/Disapproval Decision Time
More than 180 days. 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 2 CFR 1500 Subpart E, as applicable.
Renewals
None. Generally, EPA incrementally funds grants and cooperative agreements for Surveys, Studies, Research, and Investigations. Approval of subsequent funding increments is dependent on satisfactory project progress, continued relevance of the project to EPA's priorities, availability of funds, and Agency policy on the competitive grant process.
How are proposals selected?
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 assistance listing description will be described in the competitive announcement.
How may assistance be used?
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.
What are the requirements after being awarded this opportunity?
Reporting
Performance Reports: Required.
Auditing
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.
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 because of audits remain following the 3-year period, recipients must retain records until the matter is completely resolved.
Other Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching is voluntary_rating. 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.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
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. Assistance agreements may be incrementally (quarterly) or fully (lump sum) funded.
Who do I contact about this opportunity?
Regional or Local Office
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
Eric Geer
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. (Mail Code: 6102A)
Washington, DC 20460 USA
geer.eric@epa.gov
Phone: 202-564-0890
Website Address
https://www.epa.gov/grants/air-grants-and-funding
Financial Information
Account Identification
68-0108-0-1-304
Obligations
(Project Grants (Discretionary)) FY 18$50,203,000.00; FY 19 est $50,148,000.00; FY 20 FY 17$53,809,688.00; FY 16$4,661,355.00; -
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. Example: In 2019, Indoor Environments awards range from $35,000 to $180,000.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
Surveys, Studies, Research, and Investigations grants and cooperative agreements are subject to the Uniform Grants Guidance 2 CFR 200.
Examples of Funded Projects
Fiscal Year 2016 Indoor Environments: Conducting training courses and outreach activities for environmental health professionals on indoor air quality topics including asthma triggers, schools, radon, indoor air quality in homes, large buildings, and community outreach. Climate Change Division: Feasibility Studies/Training Landfill Gas Program- Global Methane Initiative, Assessment Methane Technologies and Management Practices for Municipal Wastewater Facilities in Chile- Global Methane Initiative projects in various developing countries. Climate Protection Partnerships: This project will use voluntary and market based strategies to realize energy efficiency gains in products and buildings. The long term goal for the work outlined in this work plan is to create lasting, sustainable change in the market resulting in significant energy savings, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, and reduced utility bills. This project will establish product energy performance and testing metrics, collect energy performance data, conduct outreach around the energy use and efficiency opportunities of products and buildings, support development of product labeling and verification programs, and support utility program design. Indoor Environments: Conducting training courses and outreach activities for environmental health professionals on indoor air quality topics including asthma triggers, schools, radon, indoor air quality in homes, large buildings, and community outreach. Climate Change Division: Feasibility Studies/Training Landfill Gas Program- Global Methane Initiative, Assessment Methane Technologies and Management Practices for Municipal Wastewater Facilities in Chile- Global Methane Initiative projects in various developing countries. Climate Protection Partnerships: This project will use voluntary and market based strategies to realize energy efficiency gains in products and buildings. The long term goal for the work outlined in this work plan is to create lasting, sustainable change in the market resulting in significant energy savings, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, and reduced utility bills. This project will establish product energy performance and testing metrics, collect energy performance data, conduct outreach around the energy use and efficiency opportunities of products and buildings, support development of product labeling and verification programs, and support utility program design.
Fiscal Year 2017 Climate Change Division: Tribal Climate Change Health Impacts Capacity Building Project-build tribal capacity to address the health effects of climate change and plan for new or changing tribal community health needs as the climate changes; Energy Modeling Forum for Climate Economics- convene preeminent economic and integrated assessment modeling teams to engage in model comparison studies and climate policy studies.; Integrated Assessment of Climate Change Mitigation, Impacts, and Adaptation within the United States. Climate Partnership Program: Voluntary and market based strategies to realize energy efficiency gains in products and buildings. Established a freight outreach center to promote fuel efficient practices and technologies to heavy duty diesel vehicle operators. Indoor Environments: Conducted technical training courses and outreach activities for environmental health professionals on indoor air quality topics including asthma trigger mitigation in homes, school environmental health, radon testing and mitigation, indoor air quality in homes, large buildings, and community outreach.
Fiscal Year 2018 1) Working Collaboratively with Utilities in the South West United States to Advance Energy Efficiency Programs for Low Income Households: Researching best practice low income programs for single and multifamily housing and providing assistance to utility staff in developing energy efficiency program plans for low income households. 2) Understanding Smart Technologies and Capturing energy efficiency’s Role: Developing, externally reviewing, and publishing technical report(s) to inform consumers, States, local governments, utilities, and businesses of potential energy savings in smart technologies and how energy efficiency can support electric system reliability. 3) Indoor Environments: state and local asthma program capacity building to secure sustainable financing for home-based environmental interventions; education and outreach to the public to foster radon testing and mitigation in homes and schools; technical support to state IAQ programs to foster adoption and spread of IAQ risk reduction strategies. 4) National Internet-based On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) Information Exchange-National OBD Clearinghouse- improve and facilitate the accurate and timely exchange of technical information related to vehicle on-board diagnostics (OBD) testing with state inspection and maintenance (I/M) programs, the automotive industry, and the general public. 5) Global Green Freight Supply Chain Demonstration. The program provides technical support, management and oversight in implementing outreach, analysis and capacity building for international green freight programs. The goal is to provide assistance to nations seeking to develop sustainable freight transport and thereby, increase efficiencies to reduce greenhouse gases and black carbon. 6) 5 Community Scale Ambient Air Toxics grants were awarded for projects ranging from community scale monitoring, new technologies/methods evaluation and data analysis and development/implementation of new tools.
Fiscal Year 2019 1) Research Studies to Inform the Design of Future Energy Efficiency Programs: Supporting research studies to help identify best practices and approaches for designing and implementing future cost-effective energy efficiency programs. 2) Convening national and international energy/economy modeling experts on a regular basis to share model results and advances in modeling methodology. 3) Grants will be awarded for continued operation of the NATTS network and the PM2.5 network, including the chemical speciation sites. 4) Research Studies to Inform the Design of Future Energy Efficiency Programs: Supporting research studies to help identify best practices and approaches for designing and implementing future cost-effective energy efficiency programs.

 



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