This agreement provides funding under the inflation reduction act (IRA) to blackfeet tribe to create a climate action plan to develop or enhance climate action plans that establish near-term and…

This Cooperative Agreement awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program (CFDA 66.046) provides $371,750 in funding to the Blackfeet Environmental Program, a tribal government organization of the Blackfeet Nation in Montana. The funding will be used to develop a comprehensive Climate Action Plan for the Blackfeet Indian Reservation over a four-year period. Key deliverables include a Priority Climate Action Plan due by March 1, 2024 and a Comprehensive Climate Action Plan by the end of the grant period on September 30, 2026. The plans will establish near-term and long-term greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction goals, identify specific strategies to reduce emissions across high-priority sectors, and evaluate the potential impact on low-income and disadvantaged communities on the reservation. No sub-awards are included in this agreement. The expected outcomes include quantifying pollution reductions, expanding the tribe's existing climate adaptation efforts, and potentially developing renewable energy projects to reduce energy costs and GHG emissions.

This agreement provides funding under the inflation reduction act (IRA) to blackfeet tribe to create a climate action plan to develop or enhance climate action plans that establish near-term and long-term greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction goals and develop strategies to address the highest priority sectors to help the tribe(s) or territory achieve those goals. Specifically, the recipient will build upon their existing climate adaptation plan to create a comprehensive analysis of GHG emissions, set targets for emission reductions, and evaluate specific sectors in which the tribe has the authority to implement any identified emission reductions. Activities:in general, activities include the development, updating, and evaluation of plans to reduce climate pollution (i.e., to reduce GHG emissions and/or enhance carbon sinks). Specific activities include evaluating the following sources: natural gas transmission lines, emissions from homes that use natural gas and propane for heating (main source for heating reservation homes), oil and natural gas extraction wells, and high traffic during the 8 months of the tourist season. Glacier national park has 3 to 4 million visitors per year which affects reservation air quality. The increase in construction and road maintenance during this period is also a source of emissions. Other sources include major office structures i.e., hospital, schools, bureau of indian affairs, blackfeet community college, tribal complex and the tribal hotel and casino.subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:two key deliverables will be produced and submitted over the course of the four-year program period, including: a priority climate action plan (pcap), due march 1, 2024; and a comprehensive climate action plan (ccap), due at the close of the grant period. The expected outcomes include a pcap and ccap that identifies: tons of pollution (ghgs and CO-pollutants) reduced over the lifetime of the measures; tons of pollution (ghgs and CO-pollutants) reduced annually; and tons of pollution (ghgs and CO-pollutants) reduced with respect to low-income and disadvantaged communities. Other expected outcomes include: expanding the tribe's existing climate change adaptation plan and open burning codes. IT will also support the class i airshed status of our neighbor glacier national park. In addition, the tribe will do comprehensive education and outreach both on and off-reservation and partner with other agencies, educational institutions, contractors, and NGO's to develop these plans. The intended beneficiaries include creating opportunities for developing tribal energy projects, possibly solar or wind power, to save on energy costs for those living on the reservation and for schools and businesses at the major complex buildings, i.e., hotel and casino, hospital, schools, blackfeet community college, etc. If there's an overabundance of energy produced the tribe will sell IT back to the grid, if not these measures will provide immediate energy that will reduce the amount of energy purchased and reduce GHG pollution.