Project Grant 96236722

DESCRIPTION:THIS INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT (IIJA) PROJECT WILL PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (E.G., INFORMATION, TRAINING, TOOLS) TO BUSINESSES TO HELP THEM DEVELOP AND ADOPT SOURCE REDUCTION PRACTICES (ALSO KNOWN AS POLLUTION PREVENTION (P2)). P2 MEANS REDUCING OR ELIMINATING POLLUTANTS FROM ENTERING ANY WASTE STREAM OR OTHERWISE BEING RELEASED INTO THE ENVIRONMENT PRIOR TO RECYCLING, TREATMENT, OR DISPOSAL. P2 PRACTICES CAN HELP BUSINESSES SAVE MONEY BY REDUCING THEIR RESOURCE USE, EXPENDITURES, WASTE AND LIABILITY COSTS, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME REDUCING THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT AND HELPING TO PROTECT HUMAN HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT. SPECIFICALLY, THE PROJECT WILL PROVIDE TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO SNOW AND ICE MANAGER (SIM) BUSINESSES ON THE ST. REGIS MOHAWK TRIBE (SRMT) RESERVATION TO REDUCE ROADWAY SALT CONTAMINATION AND ITS IMPACTS ON WATER QUALITY, DAMAGE TO THE ENVIRONMENT, AND HUMAN HEALTH. SRMT WILL ASSESS CURRENT ROAD SALT STORAGE, HANDLING PRACTICES AND IMPROVEMENT OPPORTUNITIES, AND WILL DEVELOP BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES (BMPS) BY BENCHMARKING SALT APPLICATION RATES OF SIMS AND COMPARING IT WITH NATIONAL TRENDS. SRMT WILL THEN PROVIDE TRAINING ON BMPS TO SIMS THROUGH DIRECT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND WORKSHOPS. THE GOAL OF THE PROJECT WILL BE A REDUCTION IN THE USE OF ROAD SALT, AND REDUCTIONS IN CHLORIDE LEVELS IN WATER AND SOIL. A CASE STUDY THAT WILL BE POSTED ON THE TRIBE'S WEBSITE; PRESENTED AT TRIBAL ENVIRONMENTAL MEETINGS; AND SHARED AT REGIONAL NATURAL RESOURCES CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS.ACTIVITIES:THE PRIORITIES FOR P2 TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (INFORMATION, TRAINING, AND TOOLS) ALIGNS WITH THE PROGRAM'S NATIONAL EMPHASIS AREAS (NEAS). SPECIFICALLY, THE PROJECT WILL ADDRESS NEA #6 (SUPPORTING POLLUTION PREVENTION IN INDIAN COUNTRY AND FOR ALASKA NATIVE VILLAGES). TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WILL BE PROVIDED TO EJ AND UNDERSERVED SIMS IN THE TRIBAL COMMUNITY IN THE FORM OF: - DISCOVERY THROUGH ENGINEERING AND CONSULTING SERVICES OF SALT STORAGE FACILITIES, HANDLING AND APPLICATION PRACTICES FOR BENCHMARKING OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT; - DELIVERY OF TRAINING IN P2 BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND TOOLS AND APPS THAT LEAD ROAD SALT REDUCTION; - COORDINATION WITH ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE MANAGERS IN THE IDENTIFICATION OF NO/LOW SALT AREAS NEAR SENSITIVE FRESHWATER; - ENCOURAGEMENT ADOPTION OF ROAD SALT P2 PRACTICES AND VALUE-ADDED SERVICES FOR BUSINESS SERVICES OPERATING IN THE TRIBAL COMMUNITY; AND; - SUPPORTING SUSTAINABLE P2 PRACTICES THAT LEAD TO REDUCTIONS IN SALT APPLICATION AND COLLATERALLY REDUCE OPERATING COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH ROAD SALT INVENTORY AND USAGE, AND MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR COSTS OF SALT DELIVERY EQUIPMENT/VEHICLES. SUBRECIPIENT:NO SUBAWARDS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT.OUTCOMES:THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CONDUCTED BY THE GRANTEE WILL BENEFIT FACILITIES AND, IF APPLICABLE, MAY ADDRESS UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. THE GRANTEE IS EXPECTED TO REPORT ON P2 PERFORMANCE MEASURES (OUTPUTS AND OUTCOMES) AND NOTE WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AS WELL AS COMMIT TO FOLLOWING-UP WITH FACILITIES TO FIND OUT WHETHER THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WAS ADOPTED AND IMPLEMENTED. OVERALL, THE PROJECT'S SUCCESS AND OBJECTIVES WILL BE MEASURED BY: IDENTIFICATION OF SUCCESS/OBJECTIVES: - LOWERED/REDUCED SALT MEASURED AS CHLORIDE LEVELS IN WATER RESOURCES - INCREASED ECONOMIC VALUE OF SIMS SERVICES IN THE FORM OF 'VALUE ADDED SERVICES' - INCREASED KNOWLEDGE OF ROAD SALT IMPACTS TO WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES - INCREASED CAPACITY TO UNDERSTAND AND IMPLEMENT BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES - DECREASED SNOW AND ICE MANAGEMENT DIRECT COSTS - DECREASED ENERGY AND CO2 EMISSIONS SPECIFICALLY, THE GRANTEE ANTICIPATES PROVIDING THE FOLLOWING: OUTPUTS - NUMBER OF TRAININGS HELD WITH SIMS - NUMBER OF OUTREACH ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED AT TRIBAL AND BUSINESS LOCATION