The agreement provides funding under the inflation reduction act (IRA) to the northern cheyenne tribe to develop a comprehensive, economy-wide climate mitigation plan or update an existing plan that…

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded a $371,750 Cooperative Agreement to the Northern Cheyenne Tribe under the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program (CFDA 66.046). The funding will support the development of a comprehensive, economy-wide climate mitigation plan or update an existing plan for the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation in Montana. Key deliverables include a Priority Climate Action Plan (PCAP) due by April 1, 2024 and a Comprehensive Climate Action Plan (CCAP) due by the end of the 4-year grant period. The plans will inventory greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, quantify GHG reduction measures, and identify strategies to address the highest priority emission sectors across the reservation. The project aims to reduce GHG emissions and co-pollutants, establish emissions reduction goals, and develop a system to maintain climate data and track progress towards goals for the benefit of all reservation residents and visitors.

The agreement provides funding under the inflation reduction act (IRA) to the northern cheyenne tribe to develop a comprehensive, economy-wide climate mitigation plan or update an existing plan that will support actions to reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) and harmful air pollutants. The northern cheyenne tribe is located in a remote and rural part of southeast montana with few businesses and limited housing, education, transportation, and health care resources. Because the tribe land is largely undeveloped with many natural resources, there are opportunities for clean energy projects. Development of the climate action plan, which will include a GHG inventory, will assist the tribe to target and reduce sources of emission and assess options for renewable energy projects. 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). The climate mitigation plans will be vetted by appropriate tribal staff and agencies, presented to the public for oral and written comment, and presented for approval by the tribal council and tribal president. Public input will be requested and received through surveys, in-person and virtual meetings, social media, as well as a working group composed of key individuals. For the GHG inventory, the tribe anticipates using EPA's tribal greenhouse gas inventory tool, or the GHG protocols global protocol for community-scale greenhouse gas emission inventories. 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 april 1, 2024, and a comprehensive climate action plan (ccap), due at the end of the grant period. The pcap will include a GHG inventory, quantitative GHG reduction measures, a benefits analysis, and a review of authority to implement activities. The ccap will include an overview of significant GHG sources/sinks and sectors within the northern cheyenne reservation, near-term and long-term GHG emission reduction goals, and strategies and measures to address the highest priority sectors. Other outputs include establishing a set of climate pollution reduction goals for relevant sectors; organizing and maintaining climate data and information; and developing a system to maintain data necessary to meet climate goals. Expected outcomes include a pcap and ccap that identifies: tons of pollution (ghgs and CO-pollutants) reduced over the lifetime of the measures and tons of pollution (ghgs and CO-pollutants) reduced annually. The intended beneficiaries include all residents of and visitors to the northern cheyenne reservation territory.