The agreement provides funding to the ponca tribe of nebraska (PTN)

The Environmental Protection Agency Region 7 awarded $275,000 to the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska on February 1, 2026, under the Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) National Grants program (CFDA 66.039) to replace a single Tier 2 emissions diesel tractor with a new Tier 4B/Stage V diesel tractor used in the tribe's buffalo management program.

The recipient will retire a 2006 CASE IH MXU130 with an EPA Tier 2 CNH 6.7L 131-horsepower six-cylinder diesel engine, purchased used in 2009 and deployed for fifteen years to feed the buffalo herd by moving bales, managing invasive plant species and roadsides via mowing, and providing wintertime access to pasture. The replacement tractor will reduce diesel emissions experienced by tribal members, the buffalo herd, employees, and the surrounding community in Niobrara, Nebraska, located in Knox County. The project area is designated a 78 percent demographic index, indicating it serves traditionally disadvantaged communities, and carries an EPA Ozone Environmental Justice Index of 73 percent, demonstrating elevated ground-level ozone production requiring diesel emission curtailment.

Period of performance runs from February 1, 2026, through January 31, 2027. Place of performance is Ponca, Nebraska 68770. No sub-recipients are included in this assistance agreement.

Specifically, the recipient will be replacing a single tier 2 emission diesel tractor with a new state-of-the-art tier 4 B/final - stage V diesel tractor. This tractor is integral to the ponca tribe of nebraska's buffalo program and will reduce experienced emissions for tribal members, buffalo, and the surrounding community in niobrara, NE. Activities:the activities include 'tribal emission reduction via replacement of buffalo tractor' is to reduce diesel emissions experienced by tribal members, the buffalo herd, employees, and the surrounding community by responsibly retiring the current tier 2 diesel tractor with a state-of-the-art tier 4B/stage 5 tractor. The part of knox county, nebraska that this project will benefit is designated a 78% demographic index, meaning this project will benefit traditionally disadvantaged communities. In addition, the EPA ozone EJ index of this project area is 73%, demonstrating the need to curtail diesel emissions to reduce local ground-level ozone production. Subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include the recipient will be replacing a single tier 2 emission diesel tractor with a new state-of-the-art tier 4 B/final - stage V diesel tractor. This tractor is integral to the ponca tribe of nebraska's buffalo program and will reduce experienced emissions for tribal members, buffalo, and the surrounding community in niobrara, NE. The expected outcomes include: the buffalo tractor intended to be replaced is a 2006 caseih MXU130 value model, that has an EPA tier 2 CNH 6.7L 131 horsepower 6-CYL diesel engine that was purchased in used condition in 2009. This tractor has been an important part of PTN's buffalo program for the past 15 years, where IT has been used to feed the buffalo herd by moving bales, manage invasive plant species and roadsides via mowing, and provide wintertime access to the herd with snow removal. The buffalo tractor is also a part of the cultural buffalo harvests, where tribal members can learn and experience traditional ways of field harvesting buffalo. The PTN environmental specialist will work with the PTN environmental manager to ensure that grant deliverables and requirements are met, particularly with organizing the decommissioning of the old buffalo tractor within 90 days of purchase and reporting to EPA. Both staff already manage multiple EPA grants and meet monthly with their project officers based out of EPA region 7. The PTN environmental team will maintain constant communication with the PTN land manager and PTN buffalo manager to make sure the new tractor will be able to serve the tribe in the same way the old tractor has been able to. The new tractor will be owned by the PTN buffalo program, as that is who currently owns the current tier 2 tractor. Maintenance and upkeep will be the responsibility of the PTN buffalo program, which will continue its budgeting for tractor maintenance. The intended beneficiaries include the ponca tribe of nebraska and the surrounding community.