This action approves an award in the amount$3,000,000 to mississippi department of environmental quality (msdqeq)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), through its Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program (CFDA 66.046), has awarded a $3,000,000 Cooperative Agreement to the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) to develop a comprehensive, economy-wide climate mitigation plan or update an existing plan. The key deliverables include a Priority Climate Action Plan, a Comprehensive Climate Action Plan, and a status report. The activities under this award involve developing a GHG inventory, setting GHG reduction targets, quantifying GHG reduction measures, conducting benefit analyses, reviewing implementation authority, and assessing intersections with other funding. MDEQ anticipates issuing subawards to coordinate with various state agencies, municipalities, and higher education institutions in Mississippi to support the development of the climate action plans and associated analyses.

The purpose of this grant is to develop a comprehensive, economy-wide climate mitigation plan or update an existing plan in collaboration with air pollution control districts, large and small municipalities statewide, and tribal governments that will support actions to reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) and harmful air pollutants and to conduct meaningful engagement with low-income and disadvantaged communities. Activities include developing a comprehensive GHG inventory and GHG emissions projections, setting GHG reduction targets, quantifying GHG reduction measures, conducting a benefits analysis for the state, analyzing benefits to low-income and disadvantaged communities, reviewing authority to implement the comprehensive climate action plan (ccap) measures, assessing the intersection of potential GHG reduction measures with other funding availability, and conducting a workforce planning analysis. Anticipated deliverables include a priority climate action plan (pcap), a ccap, and a status report.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). Plans will be developed through a participatory process that includes key stakeholders, experts, and the public. Specific activities include developing a comprehensive GHG inventory and GHG emissions projections, setting GHG reduction targets, quantifying GHG reduction measures, conducting a benefits analysis for the state, analyzing benefits to low-income and disadvantaged communities, reviewing authority to implement the ccap measures, assessing the intersection of potential GHG reduction measures with other funding availability, and conducting a workforce planning analysis. Mdeq will conduct a benefit analysis of GHG reduction measures across the state and a separate benefit analysis specific to low-income and disadvantaged communities. Subrecipient:mdeq anticipates awarding subgrants to coordinating agencies, municipalities, and institutions of higher education. The following entities are expected to be contacted regarding involvement in the deliverable development process for the state of mississippi. The coordinating entities could include but are not limited to the following: primary coordinating state agencies: mississippi development authority; mississippi office of energy and mississippi department of transportation. Other coordinating entities are mississippi forestry commission; mississippi department of agriculture and commerce; mississippi state oil and gas board; mississippi band of choctaw indians; metropolitan planning organizations (mpos); central mississippi planning and development district (cmpdd); gulf regional planning commission (grpc); hattiesburg petal forrest lamar MPO (hplf MPO); mississippi state university; university of mississippi; jackson state university and university of southern mississippi.outcomes:three key deliverables will be produced and submitted over the course of the four-year program period, including: a priority climate action plan (pcap); a comprehensive climate action plan (ccap); and a status report. 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: improved staff capacity to implement policies to address climate change; enhanced community engagement; relationship building between state government and stakeholders; improved ambient air quality and associated improved health; increased public awareness of project and results; creation of high-quality jobs (with an emphasis on workers