This action approves an award in the amount of $1,069,479 to support alabama department of environmental management as they develop and implement their EPA-approved coal combustion residuals (CCR)…

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4 awarded $1,069,479 to the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) under the State Programs for Control of Coal Combustion Residuals (CFDA 66.820) program, effective October 1, 2025, with a completion date of September 30, 2032. This Project Grant supports ADEM's development and implementation of an EPA-approved state regulatory program for coal combustion residuals (CCR). The funding enables ADEM to establish comprehensive program infrastructure through staffing and salaries, regulation development incorporating federal requirements, staff training, facility site visits and inspections, technical reviews, permitting activities, public participation initiatives, electronic database implementation and maintenance, and enforcement compliance assurance.

The anticipated deliverables include trained CCR program staff, revised state CCR regulations aligned with federal rules for legacy and new units, a CCR state permitting program application update, technical document reviews for groundwater monitoring and corrective action, enforcement actions, and issuance of revised CCR permits. The expected outcomes are adequate staffing levels to meet program objectives, enhanced understanding of CCR program requirements among state personnel, improved preparedness to address CCR issues, strengthened environmental oversight capabilities, and ultimately an EPA-approved CCR state permitting program that protects Alabama residents. No subawards are included in this assistance agreement.

This action approves an award in the amount of $1,069,479 to support alabama department of environmental management as they develop and implement their EPA-approved coal combustion residuals (CCR) permit program. The agreement provides assistance to state and tribal assistance grants to assist with work directly related to both the development and implementation of an EPA-approved state program for the control of coal combustion residuals. Activities:the activities include to help develop and implement an EPA-approved state program. Activities to be performed will include staffing/salaries, regulation development (reviewing/updating state rules), staff training, facility site visits, technical reviews, facility inspections and enforcement initiatives, issuance of permits, public participation, implementation/updating of electronic database, meetings, and recordkeeping.subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include trained staff on CCR rules and regulations, revised state CCR regulations incorporating federally promulgated rules for legacy units and permitting CCR units, submittal of a CCR state permitting program application update, review and approval of technical documents for groundwater monitoring, corrective action, and remediation, enforcement and compliance assurance actions, review of proposed corrective action remedies, and issuance of revised CCR permits. The expected outcomes include adequate staffing to meet program objectives, improved understanding of CCR state program requirements, improved preparedness to address CCR program issues, improved environmental oversight, and an EPA-approved CCR state permitting program. The intended beneficiaries include residents of the state of alabama.