Provide funding under the inflation reduction act (IRA) to the southern UTE indian tribe

This Cooperative Agreement awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CFDA 66.046) program provides $4,908,604 in funding to the Southern Ute Indian Tribe. The purpose is to implement greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction programs, policies, projects, and measures identified in a priority climate action plan developed under a previous Climate Pollution Reduction Grants planning grant. Key activities include the tribe's voluntary administration of the Federal Tribal Minor New Source Review program and the Federal Implementation Plan for managing air emissions from true minor sources in the oil and gas sector on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation. This is expected to result in a 29% reduction in GHG emissions, reduced exposure to hazardous air pollutants, increased tribal self-determination, creation of high-quality jobs, and improved climate resiliency for the tribal community. The award has an ultimate completion date of December 10, 2029.

Description

The purpose of this award is to provide funding under the inflation reduction act (IRA) to the southern UTE indian tribe. 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 southern UTE indian reservation through four main objectives: voluntary 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 include reducing greenhouse gas emissions on the reservation through the tribe's voluntary administration of the federal tribal minor new source review program and the federal implementation plan for managing air emission from true minor sources in indian country in the oil and natural gas production and natural gas processing segments of the oil and gas sector. In addition, the tribe will implement its existing authority to enforce the new source performance standards and national emissions standards for hazardous air pollutants at minor sources on the reservation. Subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include: (1) the voluntary adoption of several clean air act (CAA) programs and standards; (2) the creation and hiring of several staff positions; (3) enhanced workforce training and development; (4) inspections of true minor sources on the reservation, and (5) purchase of new four-wheel drive inspection vehicle and new optical gas imaging (OGI) camera with quantification capabilities. The expected outcomes from implementation of the priority measure include: (1) a 29% reduction in GHG emissions through the implementation of the proposed GHG measure; (2) reduced exposure to hazardous and criteria air pollutants resulting from increased compliance from oil and gas sites; (3) increased tribal self-determination and sovereignty from the adoption of several CAA programs and standards; (4) creation of high-quality jobs to ensure milestones are met; (5) increased staff capacity to implement the proposed measure and other GHG emission reduction strategies; and (6) increased resilience to climate change through the GHG emission reduction measure. The intended beneficiaries include tribal members and other residents living on or near the southern UTE indian reservation. Historically, reservations have been considered potential environmental justice areas by the EPA based on metrics regarding low income and disadvantaged communities. The proposed GHG reduction measure will have significant and substantial benefits for tribal members and the community. The goal of the measure is to improve climate change resiliency and reduce impacts, including health impacts, associated with climate change. The proposed measure will greatly improve air quality and the health of the tribal community. The proposed measure will also provide significant economic benefits to the reservation. IT is necessary for the tribe to act against GHG emissions to reduce climate change impacts and improve climate resiliency, community health, and create high quality jobs.