Targeted Air Sheds Grant Program
The overall goal of the Targeted Airshed Grant program is to reduce air pollution in the nation?s non-attainment areas with the highest levels of ozone and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) ambient air concentrations. Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2019: Implement programs, projects, and approaches that: demonstrate documentable reductions in ozone and/or direct PM2.5 air pollution in the designated nonattainment areas; address precursor emissions of ozone, which include nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and/or precursor emissions of PM2.5 which include sulfur dioxide (SO2), NOx, VOCs, and ammonia; and are replicable elsewhere.
General information about this opportunity
Last Known Status
Active
Program Number
66.956
Federal Agency/Office
Environmental Protection Agency
Type(s) of Assistance Offered
B - Project Grants
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2017 Reduction of vehicle emissions in Los Angeles South Coast Air Basin, San Joaquin Valley, and Logan (UT). Reduction of fine particulate emissions through woodstove changeouts in Logan (UT), Provo (UT), Salt Lake City (UT) and Fairbanks (AK).
Fiscal Year 2018 Reduction of vehicle emissions in Los Angeles South Coast Air Basin, San Joaquin Valley, Uinta Basin (UT), and Salt Lake City (UT). Reduction of fine particulate emissions through woodstove change-outs in Plumas County (CA), Oakridge (OR), and Fairbanks (AK).
Fiscal Year 2019 Emission reductions in areas selected for funding to improve air quality relative to ozone, annual PM2.5, and/or 24-hour PM2.5 standards.
Authorization
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019, Public Law 116-6
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018, Public Law 115-141
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, Public Law 115-31
Who is eligible to apply/benefit from this assistance?
Applicant Eligibility
Entities eligible to receive targeted airshed grants are those air pollution control agencies, as defined by Section 302(b) of the Clean Air Act (CAA), that: (a) have responsibilities for development and/or implementation of a State Implementation Plan or Tribal Implementation Plan to attain and maintain national ambient air quality standards for either ozone or PM2.5 within one or more of the top five most polluted areas relative to ozone (O3), annual average fine particulate matter (PM2.5), or 24-hour PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS); and (b) have an active air program grant under Section 103 or 105 of the CAA to carry out those responsibilities.
Beneficiary Eligibility
State, local, federally recognized Indian tribal government, U.S. territories
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.
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.
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. Additional information on applying for EPA grants can be found at: https://www.epa.gov/grants/how-apply-grants.
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 location, as appropriate for application deadlines
Approval/Disapproval Decision Time
More than 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
Generally, EPA fully funds assistance agreements under this program.
How are proposals selected?
The evaluation and selection criteria for competitive awards under this assistance listing 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 targeted airshed grants plus allowable indirect costs, in accordance with established EPA policies and regulations. Targeted airshed grants can complement but cannot replicate activities already being funded with an existing CAA Section 103 or 105 grant or Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) grant being carried out in the applicant’s nonattainment area. Funded activities must be for projects to carry out emission reductions; proposals only including planning exercises will not be considered. Funded activities must be designed to achieve quantifiable reductions in ozone precursor emissions and/or direct PM2.5 or PM2.5 precursor emissions in one or more of the top five most polluted areas relative to ozone (O3), annual average fine particulate matter (PM2.5), or 24-hour PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).
What are the requirements after being awarded this opportunity?
Reporting
Performance Reports: Grantees are required to conduct performance monitoring in accordance with Agency policy and requirements stated in the Uniform Grants Guidance 2 CFR 200.
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 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.
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.
Who do I contact about this opportunity?
Regional or Local Office
EPA Regions 3, 8, 9 and 10.
Headquarters Office
Jeff Whitlow
Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air and Radiation,
Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards,
109 T.W. Alexander Drive (MC: C404-02)
Durham, NC 27709 US
whitlow.jeff@epa.gov
Phone: 919-541-5523
Deborah Elmore
Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air and Radiation, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive (MC: C404-02)
Durham, NC 27709 USA
elmore.deborah@epa.gov
Phone: 919-541-5437
Website Address
https://www.epa.gov/grants/air-grants-and-funding
Financial Information
Account Identification
68-0103-0-1-304
Obligations
(Project Grants (Discretionary)) FY 18$39,086,000.00; FY 19 est $50,306,000.00; FY 20 est $0.00; FY 17$29,479,000.00; -
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
In FY18, EPA awarded 9 targeted airshed grants. The funding amount range was $2,100,000 to $5,000,000 and the average value of each grant was $4,342,889. In FY19, EPA plans to award 6-12 grants, valued at $3,000,000 to $7,000,000 each (total $50,300,000), subject to the quality of applications received.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
Targeted airshed grants and cooperative agreements are subject to the Uniform Grants Guidance 2 CFR 200 and 1500, as applicable.
Examples of Funded Projects
Fiscal Year 2017 Woodstove and wood heater changeout projects; older school bus engine replacements; Tier 0, 1, or 2 agriculture engine replacements; and heavy-duty diesel engine replacements
Fiscal Year 2018 Woodstove and wood heater change out projects; older school bus engine replacements; Tier 0, 1, or 2 agriculture engine replacements; and heavy-duty diesel engine replacements
Fiscal Year 2019 Replacement of engines at oil and gas facilities; Woodstove and wood heater change out projects; Tier 0, 1, or 2 agriculture engine replacements; and light-, medium-, and heavy-duty diesel engine replacements.