The agreement provides funding under the inflation reduction act (IRA) to the port gamble s'klallam tribe (pgst) to develop a comprehensive, economy-wide climate mitigation plan or update an…

This Cooperative Agreement award, provided by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program (CFDA 66.046), will fund the Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe (PGST) in Washington to develop a comprehensive climate action plan. The $110,000 award, effective from July 1, 2023 to July 31, 2025, will enable PGST to conduct a greenhouse gas inventory, identify emission reduction strategies, and establish near-term and long-term goals for lowering their carbon footprint across key sectors like transportation, waste, and energy. The project will also explore natural resource management approaches to enhance carbon sequestration in local wetlands and forests. The funding will support the delivery of two main deliverables: a priority climate action plan by March 2024 and a comprehensive climate action plan by the end of the grant period. These plans are expected to quantify pollution reductions, benefits to disadvantaged communities, and opportunities for tribal youth to participate in natural resource management activities.

The agreement provides funding under the inflation reduction act (IRA) to the port gamble s'klallam tribe (pgst) 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. Pgst is located on 1800 acres of land in north kitsap county, washington. The tribe, currently developing a climate action plan focused on developing resiliency and adaptation to changing climate conditions that affect pgst's natural and cultural resources, will use the funds to reduce the tribe's carbon footprint and identify natural resource management strategies to enhance carbon drawdown. Work conducted under this project will contribute to improving scientific understanding of how natural carbon drawdown can best be achieved in lowland rural settings of western washington. 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). Pgst will conduct a GHG inventory and develop emission reduction strategies and targets within the transportation, waste management, and domestic energy sectors. Community feedback will be requested and gathered through public town hall meetings and other opportunities for community members to provide feedback on the development process. Pgst staff will also identify natural resource management strategies to reduce carbon emissions, enhance carbon sinks in local wetlands and forestlands, and prioritize potential projects on the reservation. 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 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 pgst lands, near-term and long-term GHG emission reduction goals, and strategies and measures to address the highest priority sectors. Additional outputs will include carbon flux measurements, updated data for the tribe's existing reference and geospatial information databases, as well as a quality assurance plan for environmental data collection. 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. Other expected outcomes include: improved community air quality and public health; enhanced management of organic waste; and increased training for tribal youth in natural resource management that will provide opportunities for long-term career pathways. The intended beneficiaries include all residents of and visitors to the pgst's lands.