Project Grant 84066101

DESCRIPTION:THIS AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING TO THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CLEAN AIR AGENCIES. THE PRINCIPAL OBJECTIVES OF NACAA ARE TO COORDINATE THE ACTIVITIES OF STATE AND LOCAL AIR POLLUTION CONTROL OFFICIALS AND TO ENGAGE IN INITIATIVES THAT ENHANCE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THEIR AGENCIES. NACAA PLANS TO FOCUS ITS EFFORTS ON DISTRIBUTING PROPOSED AND FINAL EPA REGULATIONS, GUIDANCE DOCUMENTS AND POLICY STATEMENTS TO ITS MEMBERS FOR COMMENTS AND INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES; COORDINATING STATE AND LOCAL COMMENTS ON EPA AND OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES' PROPOSED RULES AND GUIDANCE; COORDINATING STATE AND LOCAL PARTICIPATION IN NUMEROUS STAKEHOLDER PROCESSES; FACILITATING THE EXCHANGE OF TECHNICAL AND POLICY INFORMATION TO AND AMONG THE MEMBERS; COORDINATING THE DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION FROM OTHER GROUPS TO THE MEMBERS; AND SERVING AS A LIAISON FOR STATE AND LOCAL AIR POLLUTION CONTROL OFFICIALS IN COMMUNICATIONS WITH EPA, OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.ACTIVITIES:THE ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED IN THIS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT ARE ARE TO COORDINATE THE ACTIVITIES OF STATE AND LOCAL AIR POLLUTION CONTROL OFFICIALS AND TO ENGAGE IN INITIATIVES THAT ENHANCE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE AGENCIES. THE OFFICE SERVES AS A LIAISON BETWEEN THE ASSOCIATION AND EPA, OTHER FEDERAL GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHER ENTITIES, AND FACILITATES COMMUNICATIONS AMONG ASSOCIATION MEMBERS. PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE GRANTEE INCLUDE ENCOURAGING AND FACILITATING THE INTERCHANGE OF INFORMATION AMONG AIR POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCIES; IMPROVING COOPERATION, COMMUNICATION AND UNDERSTANDING AMONG LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL REGULATORY AGENCIES; REPRESENTING THE INTERESTS OF THE MEMBERS WITH OTHER GROUPS; AND PROMOTING AIR QUALITY ACTIVITIES. THE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE DISSEMINATING INFO TO MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC, DISTRIBUTING PROPOSED AND FINAL EPA REGULATIONS, GUIDANCE DOCUMENTS, POLICY STATEMENTS AND OTHER WORK PRODUCTS TO THE MEMBERS FOR COMMENT AND FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES - FOUR TWO-DAY NATIONAL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS -FOUR TWO-DAY BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND COMMITTEE CHAIRS' MEETINGS -FOUR HALF-DAY BOARD MEETING (HELD IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR NATIONAL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS) -OCCASIONAL STAND-ALONE TECHNICAL WORKSHOPS NACAA WILL CO-HOST: - NATIONAL AIR QUALITY CONFERENCES WITH EPA - NATIONAL AMBIENT AIR MONITORING CONFERENCE WITH EPA AS A CO-HOST EPA'S LOGO IS DISPLAYED PROMINENTLY ON WEB PAGES, THE AGENDA AND OTHER MEETING MATERIALS. EPA HAS CO-HOSTED THIS EVENT SINCE 2006. NACAA'S ROLE IS SUBSTANTIVE NOT FINANCIAL, FOCUSING MOSTLY ON HELPING EPA SELECT SESSION TOPICS, SPEAKERS, AND MODERATORS.SUBRECIPIENT:NO SUBAWARDS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT.OUTCOMES:THE ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES INCLUDE, AMONG OTHERS, NUMEROUS PRINTED PUBLICATIONS, COMMENTS, QUARTERLY GRANT REPORTS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS; TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES AT ISSUE-ORIENTED CONFERENCES THAT ATTRACT 75-125 FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL PARTICIPANTS (WITH THREE TIMES AS MANY PARTICIPANTS WHILE THESE EVENTS HAVE BEEN HELD VIRTUALLY); BI-ANNUAL MEETINGS OF NACAA'S MEMBERS AND EPA (A SPRING AND FALL MEMBERSHIP MEETING EACH YEAR); QUARTERLY MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND COMMITTEE CHAIRS (TWO STAND-ALONE TWO-DAY BOARD MEETINGS AND TWO HALF-DAY MEETINGS HELD IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE NATIONAL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS); HUNDREDS OF VIRTUAL CALLS AND MEETINGS TO BRIEF THE MEMBERS ON VARIOUS REGULATORY AND LEGISLATIVE ISSUES OF IMPORTANCE TO THEM (USUALLY 30-45 'EVENTS' EACH QUARTER); 9 OCCASIONAL WEBINAR TRAININGS ON TIMELY ISSUES OF IMPORTANCE TO FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL AIR AGENCY STAFF; WEEKLY ISSUES OF THE WASHINGTON UPDATE (APPROXIMATELY 52 ISSUES A YEAR); AND ONGOING DAILY MAINTENANCE OF THE ASSOCIATION'S WEBSITES. THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE AN INCREASED INTEREST IN AND AWARENESS OF EPA REGULATIONS, GUIDANCE DOCUMENTS AND POLICY STATEMENTS AMONG STATE AND LOCAL AIR AGENCIES AND PARTICIPANTS ENABLING THEM TO BETTER SERVE THE PUBLIC.