Provide funding under the inflation reduction act (IRA) to montana department of natural resources and conservation

This Cooperative Agreement awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CFDA 66.046) program provides $49,769,891 in funding to the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) to implement greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction programs, policies, projects, and measures identified in a priority climate action plan.

The key activities to be performed include seven forestry, agriculture, livestock, and working lands projects to reduce GHG emissions and other air pollutants. This includes forest management and wildfire mitigation, urban and community forestry expansion, coal seam fire mitigation, nonpoint source pollution reduction, agricultural fertilizer use innovations, ranch and grassland stewardship programs, and livestock feedlot waste management improvements. DNRC will also issue four subawards ranging from $1M to $21M to support community urban forestry, coal seam fire mitigation, nonpoint source pollution reduction, and precision agricultural fertilizer programs across Montana. The award period is from October 9, 2024 to October 8, 2029.

Description

The purpose of this award is to provide funding under the inflation reduction act (IRA) to montana department of natural resources and conservation. The recipient will implement greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction programs, policies, projects, and measures identified in a priority climate action plan (PCAP) developed under a climate pollution reduction grants (CPRG) planning grant. Activities conducted through this grant will benefit all residents and visitors to the state of montana through four main objectives: implementation of ambitious measures that will achieve significant cumulative GHG reductions by 2030 and beyond; pursuit of measures that will achieve substantial community benefits, particularly in low-income and disadvantaged communities; complementing other funding sources to maximize these GHG reductions and community benefits; and, pursuit of innovative policies and programs that are replicable and can be 'scaled up' across multiple jurisdictions. Activities:the activities to be performed include seven forestry, agriculture, livestock and working lands projects to reduce greenhouse gases and other air pollutants. The first project involves forest management and wildfire mitigation, including reforestation, cone collection, and tree seedling planting in wildlands impacted by wildfires. The second project will expand urban and community forests in underserved communities to increase shade and tree canopy cover and sequester carbon dioxide. The third project involves mitigation and extinguishment of underground coal seam fires and above ground fires caused by these burning coal seams. The fourth project aims to reduce nonpoint source pollution and harmful algal blooms that impact waterways, lakes, and wetlands. The fifth project will implement innovations in agricultural fertilizer use to improve soil health to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and capture carbon in soil. The sixth project implements a ranch and grassland stewardship program for improved grazing management planning for regenerative carbon storage in soil. The seventh and final project will implement a livestock feedlot innovation program to improve animal waste management systems to reduce methane and other greenhouse gases. Subrecipient:four subawards are planned for this grant. The first subaward of $5,000,000 will support over 20 community urban forestry projects throughout the state. This subaward will fund personnel, contractual services, and supplies to inventory tree data, plant trees and monitor success. Subaward amounts will vary depending on the technical capacity and financial need of the local community groups. The second subaward of $2,100,000 to up to four counties and two tribal governments is to conduct public outreach, purchase equipment, hire and train staff, procure contractual services and administer the coal seam fire mitigation project. The third subaward of $1,000,000 is to the montana department of environmental quality to address nonpoint sources of pollution to rivers, lakes, and wetlands impacted by harmful algal blooms. This subaward anticipates awarding between four to eight projects over the project period for personnel, contracted technical services, restoration activities and monitoring. The fourth and final subaward is to the montana department of agriculture in the amount of $21,000,000. This subaward anticipates implementing an innovative precision fertilizer program to reduce applications of ammonia and nitrogen based fertilizers in the soil to improve soil health and sequester carbon. A coordinator will be hired over five years to lead education and outreach activities and hold ten or more educational meetings and workshops. Another project of this subaward involves improving native grassland health by incorporating smaller pasture sizes, field rotations and modifying grazing practices to improve pasture lands and sequester more carbon in native plants. A coordinator will be hired to liaise