AE Air Toxics RFA March 2021 FINAL.pdf

COVID-19 Update: EPA is providing flexibilities to applicants experiencing challenges related to COVID-19. Please see the Flexibilities Available to Organizations Impacted by COVID-19 clause in Section IV of EPA’s Solicitation Clauses.

OVERVIEW INFORMATION

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Science Advisor, Policy and Engagement Office of Research and Development Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Program

MEASUREMENT AND MONITORING METHODS FOR

AIR TOXICS AND CONTAMINANTS OF EMERGING

CONCERN IN THE ATMOSPHERE

This is the initial announcement of this funding opportunity.

Funding Opportunity Numbers:

EPA-G2021-STAR-C1, Measurement and Monitoring Methods for Air Toxics and Contaminants of Emerging Concern in the Atmosphere EPA-G2021-STAR-C2, Early Career: Measurement and Monitoring Methods for Air Toxics and Contaminants of Emerging Concern in the Atmosphere

Assistance Listing Number: 66.509

Solicitation Opening Date: March 25, 2021 Solicitation Closing Date: June 2, 2021: 11:59:59 pm Eastern Time

Table of Contents

SUMMARY OF PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

Synopsis of Program Award Information Eligibility Information Application Materials Agency Contacts

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Introduction

B. Background C. Authority and Regulations D. Specific Areas of Interest/Expected Outputs and Outcomes E. References https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-solicitation-clauses

F. Special Requirements

II. AWARD INFORMATION

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligible Applicants B. Cost Sharing C. Other

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. Grants.gov Submittal Requirements and Limited Exception Procedures B. Application Package Information C. Content and Form of Application Submission D. Submission Dates and Times E. Funding Restrictions F. Submission Instructions and Other Submission Requirements

V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

A. Peer Review B. Relevancy Review C. Past Performance History Review D. Human Subjects Research Statement (HSRS) Review E. Evaluation of the Scientific Data Management Plan F. Funding Decisions G. Additional Provisions for Applicants Incorporated into the Solicitation

VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

A. Award Notices B. Disputes C. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

VII. AGENCY CONTACTS

Access Standard STAR Forms (https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/research-funding-opportunities-how-apply-and-required-forms) View research awarded under previous solicitations (https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/research-grant-areas)

SUMMARY OF PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

Synopsis of Program:

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as part of its Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program, is seeking applications proposing research to advance air measurement and monitoring methods for air toxics and contaminants of emerging concern in the atmosphere.

Specifically, this RFA seeks research that will provide:

1. advancements in measurement techniques for real time, continuous measurements of concentrations with minimum detection limits below background concentrations or health risk-based thresholds; and

2. advancements in stationary or mobile near source measurement methods for quantifying emission rates of fugitive emissions.

https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/research-funding-opportunities-how-apply-and-required-forms https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/research-funding-opportunities-how-apply-and-required-forms https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/research-grant-areas https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/research-grant-areas

This solicitation provides the opportunity for the submission of applications for projects that may involve human subjects research. Human subjects research supported by the EPA is governed by EPA Regulation 40 CFR Part 26 (Protection of Human Subjects). This includes the Common Rule at subpart A and prohibitions and additional protections for pregnant women and fetuses, nursing women, and children at subparts B, C, and D. Research meeting the regulatory definition of intentional exposure research found in subpart B is prohibited by that subpart in pregnant women, nursing women, and children. Research meeting the regulatory definition of observational research found in subparts C and D is subject to the additional protections found in those subparts for pregnant women and fetuses (subpart C) and children (subpart D). All applications must include a Human Subjects Research Statement (HSRS, as described in Section IV.C.6.c of this solicitation), and if the project involves human subjects research, it will be subject to an additional level of review prior to funding decisions being made as described in Sections V.D and V.F of this solicitation.

Guidance and training for investigators conducting EPA-funded research involving human subjects may be obtained here:

https://www.epa.gov/osa/basic-information-about-human-subjects-research-0 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title40/40cfr26_main_02.tpl

In addition to regular awards, this solicitation includes the opportunity for early career awards.

The purpose of the early career award is to fund research projects smaller in scope and budget by early career PIs. It is expected that the majority of the research will be performed by early career investigators. Further, it is expected that significant resources will be allotted to early career investigators to perform the research. Please see Section III of this Request for Applications (RFA) for details on the early career eligibility criteria.

Award Information:

Anticipated Type of Award: Grant or cooperative agreement Estimated Number of Awards: Approximately 4 awards, approximately 2 regular and 2 early career awards Anticipated Funding Amount: Approximately $2.4 million total for all awards Potential Funding per Award: Up to a total of $800,000 for regular awards, and up to a total of $400,000 for early career awards, including direct and indirect costs, with a maximum duration of three years. Cost-sharing is not required. Applications with budgets exceeding the total award limits will not be considered.

Eligibility Information:

Public and private nonprofit institutions/organizations, public and private institutions of higher education, and hospitals located in the U.S., state and local governments, Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments, and U.S. territories or possessions are eligible to apply. See full announcement for more details.

Special eligibility criteria apply to the early career award portion of this RFA. See full announcement for more details.

https://www.epa.gov/osa/basic-information-about-human-subjects-research-0 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title40/40cfr26_main_02.tpl

Application Materials:

To apply under this solicitation, use the application package available at Grants.gov (for further submission information see Section IV.F. “Submission Instructions and other Submission Requirements”). Note: With the exception of the current and pending support form (available at https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/research-funding-opportunities-how-apply-and-required-forms), all necessary forms are included in the electronic application package. Make sure to include the current and pending support form in your Grants.gov submission.

If your organization is not currently registered with Grants.gov, you need to allow approximately one month to complete the registration process. Please note that the registration process also requires that your organization have a unique entity identifier (e.g., ‘DUNS number’) and a current registration with the System for Award Management (SAM) and the process of obtaining both could take a month or more. Applicants must ensure that all registration requirements are met in order to apply for this opportunity through Grants.gov and should ensure that all such requirements have been met well in advance of the submission deadline. This registration, and electronic submission of your application, must be performed by an authorized representative of your organization.

If you do not have the appropriate internet access to utilize the Grants.gov application submission process for this solicitation, see Section IV.A below for additional guidance and instructions.

Agency Contacts:

Technical Contact: Serena Chung; phone: 202-564-6069; email: chung.serena@epa.gov Eligibility Contact: Ron Josephson; phone: 202-564-7823; email: josephson.ron@epa.gov Electronic Submissions Contact: Debra M. Jones; phone: 202-564-7839; email:

jones.debram@epa.gov

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Introduction

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as part of its Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program, is seeking applications proposing research to advance measurement and monitoring methods for air toxics and contaminants of emerging concern in the atmosphere.

Specifically, this RFA seeks research that will provide:

1. advancements in measurement techniques for real time, continuous measurements of concentrations with minimum detection limits below background concentrations or health risk-based thresholds; and

2. advancements in stationary or mobile near source measurement methods for quantifying emission rates of fugitive emissions.

The STAR Program’s goal is to stimulate and support scientific and engineering research that advances EPA’s mission to protect human health and the environment. It is a competitive, peer-https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/research-funding-opportunities-how-apply-and-required-forms https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/research-funding-opportunities-how-apply-and-required-forms mailto:chung.serena@epa.gov mailto:josephson.ron@epa.gov mailto:jones.debram@epa.gov reviewed, extramural research program that provides access to the nation’s best scientists and engineers in academic and other nonprofit research institutions. STAR funds research on the environmental and public health effects of air quality, environmental changes, water quality and quantity, hazardous waste, toxic substances, and pesticides.

In addition to regular awards, this solicitation includes the opportunity for early career awards.

The purpose of the early career award is to fund research projects smaller in scope and budget by early career PIs. Please see Section III of this RFA for details on the early career eligibility criteria.

EPA recognizes that it is important to engage all available minds to address the environmental challenges the Nation faces. At the same time, EPA seeks to expand the environmental conversation by including members of communities which may have not previously participated in such dialogues to participate in EPA programs. For this reason, EPA strongly encourages all eligible applicants identified in Section III, including minority serving institutions (MSIs), to apply under this opportunity.

For purposes of this solicitation, the following are considered MSIs:

1. Historically Black Colleges and Universities, as defined by the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. § 1061(2)). A list of these schools can be found at Historically Black Colleges and Universities;

2. Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), as defined by the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. § 1059c(b)(3) and (d)(1)). A list of these schools can be found at American Indian Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities;

3. Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), as defined by the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. § 1101a(a)(5)). A list of these schools can be found at Hispanic-Serving Institutions;

4. Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions; (AANAPISIs), as defined by the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. § 1059g(b)(2)). A list of these schools can be found at Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions; and

5. Predominately Black Institutions (PBIs), as defined by the Higher Education Act of 2008, 20 U.S.C. 1059e(b)(6). A list of these schools can be found at Predominately Black Institutions.

B. Background

The 1990 Clean Air Act (CAA) Amendments identified 187 hazardous air pollutants (HAPs).

EPA announced recently that the Agency is proposing to add 1-bromopropane to the list of HAPs, bringing the total number to 188. HAPs are a subset of air pollutants known or suspected to be acutely toxic or cause chronic human health effects such as cancer, or to have adverse environmental and ecological effects. These air pollutants are often referred to as air toxics. They comprise a diverse group of compounds, including a variety of volatile organic compounds https://sites.ed.gov/whhbcu/one-hundred-and-five-historically-black-colleges-and-universities/ https://sites.ed.gov/whhbcu/one-hundred-and-five-historically-black-colleges-and-universities/ https://sites.ed.gov/whiaiane/tribes-tcus/tribal-colleges-and-universities/ https://sites.ed.gov/whiaiane/tribes-tcus/tribal-colleges-and-universities/ https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/idues/hsi-eligibles-2016.pdf https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1XVkOWKMDORm53pvU0L8EPsrJC94&msa=0&ie=UTF8&t=m&z=3&source=embed&ll=40.58644586187277%2C-148.28228249999984 https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1wlIi3j7gtlNq_w-0NKAb2bF2VmY&ie=UTF&msa=0&ll=37.35160769312532%2C-96.17229800000001&z=4

(VOCs), semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs), acids, metals, and other compound classes.

Many air toxics are emitted into the atmosphere from manmade sources, including mobile sources (e.g., cars, trucks, and construction), major stationary sources (e.g., power plants, industrial stacks, chemical manufacturers and refineries), and smaller area sources (e.g., dry cleaners, gas stations, and small manufacturing facilities). Some air toxics are also released from natural, biogenic sources, such as plants and wildfires; and some, such as formaldehydye and acetaldehyde, are emitted as well as formed in the air by photochemical reactions.

EPA’s National Air Toxics Assessment (NATA) (https://www.epa.gov/national-air-toxics-assessment) provides estimates of ambient concentrations and population exposures across the contiguous United States and characterization of potential cancer and noncancer risks to public health due to the inhalation of air toxics. The NATA relies heavily on emission inventories and air quality models to evaluate risks associated with air toxics (Scheffe et al., 2016). It serves as a screening tool that helps state, local, and tribal agencies and communities assess which air toxics and emission source types may pose health risks as well as determine which places may need further study to better understand the risks. The most recent update to NATA is the 2014 NATA (U.S. EPA 2018a), which was published in August 2018 and is based on the 2014 National Emissions Inventory (NEI). While there has been success in reducing emissions of some air toxics, challenges remain in various locations as millions of people still live in areas where air toxics pose potential health concerns (cancer and non-cancer risks). Air toxics compounds that are national drivers and contributors for cancer and non-cancer risk are shown below in Table 1.

Table 1: Air toxics compounds identified in 2014 NATA to be cancer and non-cancer risk drivers†

Cancer Risk Non-Cancer Risk Driver Contributor Driver Contributor

National Regional National Regional National Regional National Regional Formaldehyde Ethylene

Oxide, Chloroprene

Carbon Tetrachloride, Acetaldehyde, Benzene, Napthalene, 1,3-Butadiene

Chromium VI, 1,4- Dichlorobenzene, Coke Oven Emissions, Ethylbenzene, Arsenic Compounds

None Chlorine, Hexamethylene Diisocyanate

None None

†The definitions of contributors and drivers can be found in the NATA’s Technical Support Document (U.S. EPA, 2018b).

There is extensive evidence that minority and low-income communities are disproportionally burdened with exposures to air toxics. For example, Morello-Frosch et al. (2001) reported significant racial/ethnic disparities in southern California in estimated cancer risks associated with air toxics exposure and that the disparities persisted across household income levels.

Similarly, Apelberg et al. (2005) reported racial disparities in Maryland for estimated cancer risk associated with air toxics from on-road and area sources. Studies for many locations across the U.S. have reached similar conclusions (e.g., Wilson et al., 2015; Jai et al., 2014; Rice et al., 2014).

In addition to air toxics included in the NATA, contaminants of emerging concern in the atmosphere have the potential for human and environmental exposures and risks. Here we refer https://www.epa.gov/national-air-toxics-assessment https://www.epa.gov/national-air-toxics-assessment to contaminants of emerging concern as chemicals that are not commonly monitored in the environment but are present in the environment and have the potential to cause adverse human health and environmental effects. These may be new chemicals that are only recently being synthesized in large scale, chemicals for which new toxicological evaluations indicate higher potential to cause harm than previously known, or chemicals that are only now being detected as measurement methods improve (Barroso et al., 2019). Ethylene oxide (EtO), one of the 187 HAPs, is an example of an emerging contaminant of concern in the atmosphere for which a more recent evaluation of health studies indicates it is a more potent carcinogen than previously understood (U.S. EPA 2016). Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are another current and ongoing example of contaminants of emerging concern for the EPA, and currently there are no reference methods for source or ambient air measurements of PFAS (U.S. EPA 2019). Other contaminants of emerging concern that have been detected in the atmosphere include chemicals such as brominated flame retardants, phthalates, alkylphenols, and dioxins (Barroso et al., 2019).

Similar to PFAS, these chemicals are potentially environmentally persistent and potentially toxic. While their atmospheric concentrations may be low, their occurrence in the atmosphere, especially in remote areas, and in soils and water of remote areas, indicates that atmospheric processes potentially play a significant role in their environmental fate and transport.

Research is needed to establish more robust measurements and monitoring methods for measuring air toxics and contaminants of emerging concern in the atmosphere by improving detection limits, uncertainties, cost effectiveness, and temporal resolution. Results will be used by state, local and tribal air agencies and communities, including communities with environmental justice concerns, to address human health and environmental issues associated with air toxics and contaminants of emerging concern in the atmosphere. The spatial and temporal patterns of many air toxics and contaminants of emerging concern in the atmosphere have strong localized signals associated with nearby sources. Additionally, the diversity of chemical species and the myriad of emission sources make identification of emission sources, quantifying emission rates, and characterization of concentrations using conventional ambient measurement methods extremely challenging. The ambient air toxics observation networks in the U.S. are limited in characterizing the broad suite of air toxics that affect exposures across multiple spatial scales, from regional to neighborhood scales (Strum and Scheffe, 2016).

Most common ambient measurement methods for air toxics are based on collection of time integrated field samples (e.g., using canisters, cartridges, or filters) followed by laboratory analysis, such as gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) for VOCs and SVOCs, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with ultra violet (UV) detection for carbonyls, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) for metals. These methods require labor-intensive sampling and analysis protocols and do not allow for continuous monitoring. As such, for most long-term air toxics monitors in the United States, sampling is conducted only every six days and the monitoring sites are sparsely spaced. Reliable, cost-effective ambient air monitoring methods capable of providing data at higher spatial and temporal coverage are needed to inform episodic and long-term exposure assessment and to understand fate and transport.

Current examples of continuous (semi-real-time and real-time) ambient and point source measurements include spectroscopy techniques (e.g., ultra-violet differential optical absorption, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, cavity ring down spectroscopy, tunable diode lasers, etc.), gas chromatography (e.g., automatic GC/MS, novel detector usage), and other mass spectrometry (e.g., proton transfer reaction-MS [PTR-MS], selected ion flow tube-MS [SIFT- MS]). Limitations of the current federal and state air methods vary based on the target compounds and the different interferents or other reactive pollutants in the sampled gas. These limitations may be related to the inability to properly handle interferences, meet precision and accuracy targets for accepted methods, and detection capabilities that are unable to meet measurement requirements relevant to analysis of health risks. In addition, certain technologies that can alleviate some or all of these limitations are often technically and financially impracticable for local, state, and tribal programs and industry to undertake. Therefore, even though some of these technologies can provide high time resolution data, they are not suitable for wide-spread or rapid deployment. They are often impractical for measuring source emissions and unsuitable for capturing the spatial and temporal patterns of ambient concentrations at high enough resolutions to locate and quantify emission sources for informing risks and developing the most effective emission mitigation strategies.

As efforts to improve air quality have been successful at controlling many of the large stationary sources of ducted or vented emissions, fugitives remain a large knowledge gap for almost all stationary source emissions. Fugitive emissions are emissions that are not contained or caught by a capture system and arise from leaks, vents, ponds or other unintended loss. While fugitive emissions often comprise a multitude of small sources (e.g., leaking valves, connectors, flanges) for which individual emission rates may be small, collectively they can contribute a significant portion to overall air toxics emissions. Sources of fugitive emissions may also include releases from organic liquid storage tanks, landfills, oil and gas transmission, and water treatment/ponds/lagoons, for which emissions rates are difficult to determine due to their large surface area and irregular emissions cycles.

Their intermittent and spatially diffuse nature also make fugitive mass emissions rates difficult to quantify. Standard source testing methods designed for vented or ducted emissions may not be suitable for fugitive emissions because those methods require physical constraints of the emissions for empirical measurements of the flow rate and concentration measurements with adequate detection capabilities. Traditional approaches to measuring fugitive emissions include those that use some combination of ambient concentration measurements at multiple locations or heights, meteorological measurements, and dispersion or plume modeling to calculate mass emission rates. Various optical remote sensing techniques (e.g., OP-FTIR, UV-DOAS) for measuring path-average concentration of air pollutant plumes can also be combined with meteorological measurements and dispersion modeling to derive emission rates (e.g., U.S. EPA 2006; U.S. EPA 2014; U.S. EPA 2018c). Errors and biases in the calculated emissions rates can arise from several places, including errors and biases associated with the sampling and analytical techniques, meteorological measurements, improper characterization of the size and shape of emission plumes, and presence of other confounding sources. With current ambient methods, cost and other resource requirements limit the frequency and duration of measurements, which contribute to errors due to non-representativeness.

Advancements in measurement and monitoring methods are needed to enable better identification of emission sources, quantification of emissions, and characterization of the temporal and spatial patterns of ambient concentrations in order to understand the local impacts, fate and transport; evaluate the effectiveness of mitigation strategies; and address health risks and environmental degradation associated with air toxics and contaminants of emerging concern in the atmosphere. Key desired attributes for measurement and monitoring methods include: high robustness, precision, accuracy, and stability; being low maintenance, cost effective, and portable; and capable of providing near-real time and continuous measurements with low detection limits and high sensitivity.

Recently, EPA selected 11 state and local agencies to receive grants under the 2020 Community- Scale Air Toxics Ambient Monitoring (CSATAM) grants program (https://www.epa.gov/amtic/community-scale-air-toxics-ambient-monitoring-csatam). This RFA is complementary to the CSATAM program by supporting research into the development and evaluation of new and novel measurement techniques, and demonstrates EPA’s priority to help state, local, and tribal communities in their efforts to reduce health risks from exposure to air toxics.

C. Authority and Regulations

The authority for this RFA and resulting awards is contained in the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C.

7403, Section 103(b)(3).

For research with an international aspect, the above statutes are supplemented, as appropriate, by the National Environmental Policy Act, Section 102(2)(F).

Note that a project’s focus is to consist of activities within the statutory terms of EPA’s financial assistance authorities; specifically, the statute(s) listed above. Generally, a project must address the causes, effects, extent, prevention, reduction and elimination of air pollution, water pollution, solid/hazardous waste pollution, toxic substances control or pesticide control depending on which statute(s) is listed above. Further note applications dealing with any aspect of or related to hydraulic fracking will not be funded by EPA through this program.

Additional applicable regulations include: 2 CFR Part 200, 2 CFR Part 1500, and 40 CFR Part 40 (Research and Demonstration Grants).

D. Specific Areas of Interest/Expected Outputs and Outcomes Note to applicant: The term “output” means an environmental activity, effort, and/or associated work products related to an environmental goal or objective, that will be produced or provided over a period of time or by a specified date. The term “outcome” means the result, effect or consequence that will occur from carrying out an environmental program or activity that is related to an environmental or programmatic goal or objective.

https://www.epa.gov/amtic/community-scale-air-toxics-ambient-monitoring-csatam

The activities to be funded under this announcement support EPA’s FY 2018-22 Strategic Plan (https://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan). Activities to be funded under this announcement support Goal 3: Greater Certainty, Compliance, and Effectiveness, Objective 3.3:

Prioritize Robust Science, of EPA’s FY 2018-22 Strategic Plan. Awards made under this announcement will further EPA’s priorities supporting robust science for Air Quality. All applications must be for projects that support the goal and objective identified above. The proposed research awards support the STAR Program’s goal of stimulating and supporting scientific and engineering research that advances EPA’s mission to protect human health and the environment in the area of air quality by supporting measures and strategies for use by state, tribal, and local air programs and communities to reduce air pollution.

EPA also requires that grant applicants adequately describe environmental outputs and outcomes to be achieved under assistance agreements (see EPA Order 5700.7A1, Environmental Results under Assistance Agreements, https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-order-57007a1-epas-policy-environmental-results-under-epa-assistance-agreements). Applicants must include specific statements describing the environmental results of the proposed project in terms of well-defined outputs and, to the maximum extent practicable, well-defined outcomes that will demonstrate how the project will contribute to the priorities described above.

The Agency is soliciting research that will advance air measurement and monitoring methods for existing air toxics and contaminants of emerging concern in the atmosphere. Applications under this solicitation should address at least one of the following questions:

1. How can current measurement techniques be improved and validated, or new measurement techniques be developed and validated, that will provide real time, continuous measurements of concentrations with minimum detection limits below background concentrations or health risk-based thresholds?

2. How can current stationary or mobile near source measurement methods be improved and validated, or new methods be developed and validated, for quantifying emission rates of fugitive emissions?

Applications that do not address at least one of the questions above may not be rated as highly as those that do. Projects that consider or involve new and novel measurement techniques are strongly encouraged. In utilizing any technology, there is often a trade-off between quality of the measurements and cost. Of the greatest interest here are techniques that will: 1) provide significant improvements in performance (e.g., by improving detection limit, selectivity, temporal resolution, etc.) while requiring similar resources (including expertise) as that of current techniques; or 2) provide similar performance as that of current techniques but at substantially reduced resource requirements. Applicants are encouraged to specifically consider potential users of measurement techniques developed, demonstrated, and applied in this research.

Potential users include state, tribal, local and regional monitoring agencies, industries, communities as well as other scientific research groups. Researchers are encouraged to consider how new and improved measurements will relate to existing techniques, as well as how new https://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-order-57007a1-epas-policy-environmental-results-under-epa-assistance-agreements https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-order-57007a1-epas-policy-environmental-results-under-epa-assistance-agreements techniques developed in these projects can be standardized or made adaptable for source measurement and ambient monitoring of a variety of species.

Expected outputs include reports, presentations, and peer-reviewed journal publications describing the development, demonstration, and validation of measurement technologies and methods. Expected outcomes include advancements in measurement techniques for existing air toxics and emerging contaminants of concern in the atmosphere that will support state, local and tribal air monitoring efforts to address communities-based initiatives and environmental justice concerns; and improved source measurement methods that can be used to quantify emissions and develop emissions inventories. This research will ensure the appropriateness and credibility of methods used to advance the design of effective emissions control strategies in the future.

Projects funded will enable a better understanding of the sources and fates of air toxics and contaminants of emerging concern in the atmosphere and people’s exposures at a lower cost and greater spatial coverage. This research is intended to not only allow a better understanding of the pollutants that affect human health and the environment, but also to enable solutions to air pollution problems.

To the extent practicable, research applications must embody innovation and sustainability.

Innovation for the purposes of this RFA is defined as the process of making changes; a new method, custom or device. Innovative research can take the form of wholly new applications or applications that build on existing knowledge and approaches for new uses. Research applications must include a discussion on how the proposed research is innovative (see Section IV.C.6.a). The goal of sustainability, derived from the U.S. National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), is to “create and maintain conditions, under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony, that permit fulfilling the social, economic and other requirements of present and future generations.” Research applications must include a discussion on how the proposed research will seek sustainable solutions that protect the environment and strengthen our communities (see Section IV.C.6.a). Reviewers will draw from all of the above-mentioned innovation and sustainability definitions in the review/evaluation process of research applications (see Section V.A).

E. References

1. Apelberg, B. J., Buckley, T. J. and White, R. H. Socioeconomic and racial disparities in cancer risk from air toxics in Maryland, Environmental Health Perspectives, 113(6), 693– 699, doi:10.1289/ehp.7609, 2005.

2. Barroso, P. J., Santos, J. L., Martín, J., Aparicio, I. and Alonso, E. Emerging contaminants in the atmosphere: Analysis, occurrence and future challenges, Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 49(2), 104–171, doi:10.1080/10643389.2018.1540761, 2019.

3. Jia, C., James, W. and Kedia, S. Relationship of racial composition and cancer risks from air toxics exposure in Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.A., International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 11(8), 7713–7724, doi:10.3390/ijerph110807713, 2014.

4. Morello-Frosch, R., Pastor, M. and Sadd, J. Environmental Justice and Southern California’s “Riskscape”: The distribution of air toxics exposures and health risks among diverse communities, Urban Affairs Review, 36(4), 551–578, doi:10.1177/10780870122184993, 2001.

5. Rice, L. J., Jiang, C., Wilson, S. M., Burwell-Naney, K., Samantapudi, A. and Zhang, H. Use of segregation indices, Townsend Index, and air toxics data to assess lifetime cancer risk disparities in metropolitan Charleston, South Carolina, USA, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 11(5), 5510–5526, doi:10.3390/ijerph110505510, 2014.

6. Scheffe, R. D., Strum, M., Phillips, S. B., Thurman, J., Eyth, A., Fudge, S., Morris, M., Palma, T. and Cook, R. Hybrid modeling approach to estimate exposures of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) for the National Air Toxics Assessment (NATA), Environmental Science and Technology, 50(22), 12356–12364, doi:10.1021/acs.est.6b04752, 2016.

7. Strum, M. and Scheffe, R. National review of ambient air toxics observations, Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association, 66(2), 120–133, doi:10.1080/10962247.2015.1076538, 2016.

8. U.S. EPA. EPA’s Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Action Plan, EPA 823R18004, https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2019- 02/documents/pfas_action_plan_021319_508compliant_1.pdf, 2019.

9. U.S. EPA. 2014 NATA Summary of Results, https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2020- 07/documents/nata_2014_summary_of_results.pdf, 2018a.

10. U.S. EPA, Technical Support Document, EPA’s 2014 National Air Toxics Assessment , https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2018- 09/documents/2014_nata_technical_support_document.pdf, 2018b.

11. U.S. EPA. EPA Handbook: Optical and Remote Sensing for Measurement and Monitoring of Emissions Flux of Gases and Particulate Matter, EPA 454/B-18-008, https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2018-08/documents/gd-52v.2.pdf, 2018c.

12. U.S. EPA. Evaluation of the Inhalation Carcinogenicity of Ethylene Oxide (CASRN 75-21- 8). In Support of Summary Information on the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS).

EPA/635/R-16/350Fa, https://cfpub.epa.gov/si/si_public_record_report.cfm?Lab=NCEA&direntryid=329730, 2016.

13. U.S. EPA. Other Test Method 33a (OTM-33a): Geospatial Measurement of Air Pollution, Remote Emissions Quantification - Direct Assessment (GMAP-REQ-DA), https://www3.epa.gov/ttn/emc/prelim/otm33a.pdf, 2014.

14. U.S. EPA. Other Test Method 10 (OTM-10): Optical Remote Sensing for Emission Characterization from Non-point Sources, https://www3.epa.gov/ttn/emc/prelim/otm10.pdf, 2006.

15. Wilson, S., Burwell-Naney, K., Jiang, C., Zhang, H., Samantapudi, A., Murray, R., Dalemarre, L., Rice, L. and Williams, E. Assessment of sociodemographic and geographic https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2020-07/documents/nata_2014_summary_of_results.pdf https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2020-07/documents/nata_2014_summary_of_results.pdf https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2018-09/documents/2014_nata_technical_support_document.pdf https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2018-09/documents/2014_nata_technical_support_document.pdf https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2018-08/documents/gd-52v.2.pdf https://cfpub.epa.gov/si/si_public_record_report.cfm?Lab=NCEA&direntryid=329730 https://www3.epa.gov/ttn/emc/prelim/otm33a.pdf https://www3.epa.gov/ttn/emc/prelim/otm10.pdf disparities in cancer risk from air toxics in South Carolina, Environmental Research, 140, 562–568, doi:10.1016/j.envres.2015.05.016, 2015.

F. Special Requirements

It is EPA Policy to ensure that the results of EPA-funded extramural scientific research are accessible to the public to the greatest extent feasible consistent with applicable law; policies and Orders; the Agency’s mission; resource constraints; and U.S. national, homeland and economic security. This entails maximizing, at no charge, access by the public to peer-reviewed, scientific research journal publications or associated author manuscripts, and their underlying digital research data, created in whole or in part with EPA funds, while protecting personal privacy;

recognizing proprietary interests, confidential business information and intellectual property rights; and avoiding significant negative impact on intellectual property rights, innovation and U.S. competitiveness. EPA’s Policy for Increasing Access to Results of EPA-Funded Extramural Scientific Research may be accessed at: https://www.epa.gov/research/non-epa-researcher-requirements. Terms and conditions implementing this policy may be accessed at:

https://www.epa.gov/research/non-epa-researcher-requirements.

Applications submitted under this announcement shall include a Scientific Data Management Plan (SDMP) that addresses public access to EPA-funded scientific research data. See the SDMP clause in Section IV for details on the content of an SDMP. Applicants will also be asked to provide past performance information on whether journal publications or associated author manuscripts, and the associated underlying scientific research data and metadata, under prior assistance agreements were made publicly accessible. These items will be evaluated prior to award.

Reasonable, necessary and allocable costs for data management and public access as discussed in EPA’s Policy for Increasing Access to Results of EPA-Funded Extramural Scientific Research, may be included in extramural research applications and detailed in the budget justification described in Section IV.

Agency policy and ethical considerations prevent EPA technical staff and managers from providing applicants with information that may create an unfair competitive advantage.

Consequently, EPA employees will not review, comment, advise and/or provide technical assistance to applicants preparing applications in response to EPA RFAs. EPA employees cannot endorse any particular application.

Multiple Investigator applications may be submitted as: (1) a single Lead Principal Investigator (PI) application with Co-PI(s) or (2) a Multiple PI application (with a single Contact PI). If you choose to submit a Multiple PI application, you must follow the specific instructions provided in Sections IV. and V. of this RFA. For further information, please see the EPA Implementation Plan for Policy on Multiple Principal Investigators (https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/research-grants-guidance-and-policies).

https://www.epa.gov/research/non-epa-researcher-requirements https://www.epa.gov/research/non-epa-researcher-requirements https://www.epa.gov/research/non-epa-researcher-requirements https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/research-grants-guidance-and-policies https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/research-grants-guidance-and-policies

Please note: Early career awards will not accommodate a Multiple PI application. Early career awards shall be submitted as a single Lead PI application. Special eligibility criteria apply to the early career portion of this RFA. Please see Section III of this RFA for details on the early career eligibility criteria. The application must include an early career verification (see “Early Career Verification” in Section IV.C.6.e).

This solicitation provides the opportunity for the submission of applications for projects that may involve human subjects research. All applications must include a Human Subjects Research Statement (HSRS; described in Section IV.C.6.c of this solicitation). If the project involves human subjects research, it will be subject to an additional level of review prior to funding decisions being made as described in Sections V.D and V.F of this solicitation.

Groups of two or more eligible applicants may choose to form a consortium and submit a single application for this assistance agreement. The application must identify which organization will be the recipient of the assistance agreement and which organizations(s) will be subawardees of the recipient.

These awards may involve the collection of “Geospatial Information,” which includes information that identifies the geographic location and characteristics of natural or constructed features or boundaries on the Earth or applications, tools, and hardware associated with the generation, maintenance, or distribution of such information. This information may be derived from, among other things, a Geographic Positioning System (GPS), remote sensing, mapping, charting, and surveying technologies, or statistical data.

II. AWARD INFORMATION

It is anticipated that a total of approximately $2.4 million will be awarded under this announcement, depending on the availability of funds, quality of applications received and other applicable considerations. The EPA anticipates funding approximately 4 awards (2 regular awards and 2 early career awards) under this RFA. Requests for amounts in excess of a total of $800,000 for regular awards and a total of $400,000 for early career awards, including direct and indirect costs, will not be considered. The total project period requested in an application submitted for this RFA may not exceed three years.

The EPA reserves the right to reject all applications and make no awards, or make fewer awards than anticipated, under this RFA. The EPA reserves the right to make additional awards under this announcement, consistent with Agency policy, if additional funding becomes available after the original selections are made. Any additional selections for awards will be made no later than six months after the original selection decisions.

In appropriate circumstances, EPA reserves the right to partially fund applications by funding discrete portions or phases of proposed projects. If EPA decides to partially fund an application, it will do so in a manner that does not prejudice any applicants or affect the basis upon which the application, or portion thereof, was evaluated and selected for award, and therefore maintains the integrity of the competition and selection process.

EPA may award both grants and cooperative agreements under this announcement.

Under a grant, EPA scientists and engineers are not permitted to be substantially involved in the execution of the research. However, EPA encourages interaction between its own laboratory scientists and grant Principal Investigators after the award of an EPA grant for the sole purpose of exchanging information in research areas of common interest that may add value to their respective research activities. This interaction must be incidental rather than substantial to achieving the goals of the research under a grant. Interaction that is “incidental” does not involve resource commitments by EPA.

Where appropriate, based on consideration of the nature of the proposed project relative to the EPA’s intramural research program and available resources, the EPA may award cooperative agreements under this announcement. When addressing a research question/problem of common interest, collaborations between EPA scientists and the institution’s principal investigators are permitted under a cooperative agreement. These collaborations may include data and information exchange, providing technical input to experimental design and theoretical development, coordinating extramural research with in-house activities, the refinement of valuation endpoints, and joint authorship of journal articles on these activities. Applications may not identify EPA cooperators, specific interactions between EPA’s investigators and those of the prospective recipient for cooperative agreements will be negotiated at the time of award.

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligible Applicants

Public and private nonprofit institutions/organizations, public and private institutions of higher education, and hospitals located in the U.S., state and local governments, Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments, and U.S. territories or possessions are eligible to apply. Profit-making firms and individuals are not eligible to apply.

Non-profit organization, as defined by 2 CFR 200.70, means any corporation, trust, association, cooperative or other organization that: (1) is operated primarily for scientific, educational, service, charitable or similar purposes in the public interest; (2) is not organized primarily for profit; and (3) uses its net proceeds to maintain, improve and/or expand its operations. Note that 2 CFR 200.70 specifically excludes Institutions of Higher Education from the definition of non-profit organization because they are separately defined in the regulation. While not considered to be a non-profit organization(s) as defined by 2 CFR 200.70, public or nonprofit Institutions of Higher Education are, nevertheless, eligible to submit applications under this RFA. Hospitals operated by state, tribal, or local governments or that meet the definition of nonprofit at 2 CFR

200.70 are also eligible to apply as nonprofits or as instrumentalities of the unit of government depending on the applicable law. For-profit colleges, universities, trade schools, and hospitals are ineligible. Nonprofit organizations described in Section 501(c) (4) of the Internal Revenue Code that lobby are not eligible to apply.

Foreign governments, international organizations, and non-governmental international organizations/institutions are not eligible to apply.

National laboratories funded by Federal Agencies (Federally-Funded Research and Development Centers, “FFRDCs”) may not apply. FFRDC employees may cooperate or collaborate with eligible applicants within the limits imposed by applicable legislation and regulations. They may participate in planning, conducting, and analyzing the research directed by the applicant, but may not direct projects on behalf of the applicant organization. The institution, organization, or governance receiving the award may provide funds through its assistance agreement from the EPA to an FFRDC for research personnel, supplies, equipment, and other expenses directly related to the research. However, salaries for permanent FFRDC employees may not be provided through this mechanism.

Federal Agencies may not apply. Federal employees are not eligible to serve in a principal leadership role on an assistance agreement. Federal employees may not receive salaries or augment their Agency’s appropriations through awards made under this program unless authorized by law to receive such funding.

The applicant institution may enter into an agreement with a Federal Agency to purchase or utilize unique supplies or services unavailable in the private sector to the extent authorized by law. Examples are purchase of satellite data, chemical reference standards, analyses, or use of instrumentation or other facilities not available elsewhere. A written justification for federal involvement must be included in the application. In addition, an appropriate form of assurance that documents the commitment, such as a letter of intent from the Federal Agency involved, should be included.

The early career awards will support research performed by PIs with outstanding promise at the Assistant Professor or equivalent level. Principal investigators from applicant institutions applying for the early career portion of the RFA must meet the following additional eligibility requirements:

1. Hold a doctoral degree in a field related to the research being solicited by the closing date of the RFA;

2. Be untenured at the closing date of the RFA; and

3. By the award date, be employed in a tenure-track position (or tenure-track-equivalent position) as an assistant professor (or equivalent title) at an institution in the U.S., its territories, or possessions. Note: For a position to be considered a tenure-track-equivalent position, it must meet all of the following requirements: (1) the employing department or organization does not offer tenure; (2) the appointment is a continuing appointment; (3) the appointment has substantial educational responsibilities; and (4) the proposed project relates to the employee's career goals and job responsibilities as well as to the goals of the department/organization.

The application must include an early career verification (see “Early Career Verification” in Section…