Targeted Airshed Grant Program

The overall goal of the Targeted Airshed Grant program is to reduce air pollution in the nation's nonattainment areas with the highest levels of ozone and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) ambient air concentrations. Funding Priorities: The Targeted Ai

This program assists local, state, and/or tribal air pollution control agencies to conduct emission reduction activities to reduce air pollution in nonattainment areas that EPA determines are currently the top five most polluted areas relative to ozone (O3), annual average fine particulate matter (PM2.5), or 24-hour PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).

Entities eligible to submit applications under this announcement are those air pollution control agencies, as defined by Section 302(b) of the Clean Air Act, that: (a) have submitted a SIP or TIP to EPA to attain and/or maintain the NAAQS for either ozone and/or PM2.5 within one or more of the top five most polluted areas relative to the O3, annual PM2.5, or 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS (see Summary section); and (b) have an active air program grant under Section 103 or 105 of the Clean Air Act to carry out those responsibilities. For certain competitive funding opportunities under this assistance listing, the Agency may limit eligibility to compete to a number or subset of eligible applicants consistent with the Agency's Assistance Agreement Competition Policy.

State, local, federally recognized Indian tribal government, U.S. territories.

Grants and cooperative agreements are available to support recipients' allowable direct costs incident to approved targeted airshed grants plus allowable indirect costs, in accordance with established EPA policies and regulations. Targeted airshed grants can complement but cannot replicate activities already being funded with an existing CAA Section 103 or 105 grant or Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) grant being carried out in the applicant's nonattainment area. Funded activities must be for projects to carry out emission reductions; proposals only including planning exercises will not be considered. Funded activities must be designed to achieve quantifiable reductions in ozone precursor emissions and/or direct PM2.5 or PM2.5 precursor emissions in one or more of the top five most polluted areas relative to ozone (O3), annual average fine particulate matter (PM2.5), or 24-hour PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Assistance agreement awards under this program may involve or relate to geospatial information. Further information regarding geospatial information may be obtained by viewing the following website: Geospatial Resources at EPA (https://www.epa.gov/geospatial).

EPA normally funds grants and cooperative agreements on a 12-month basis. However, EPA can negotiate the project period with each applicant based on project requirements. EPA limits project periods to 5 years.

E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs," applies to this assistance listing when proposed Federal financial assistance involves land use planning; road paving; and installation of permanent road signs, vehicle charging equipment, and certain marine shore power equipment. EPA financial assistance programs and activities subject to intergovernmental review that are subject to review under State single point of contact procedures are identified at https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-financial-assistance-programs-subject-executive-order-12372-and-section-204. Applicants for programs or activities subject to Intergovernmental Review that are not subject to State single point of contact review must provide directly affected State, areawide, regional, and local entities at least 60 days to review their application following notification by EPA that the application has been selected for funding as provided by 40 CFR 29.8(a) and (c). Regarding pre-application assistance with respect to competitive funding opportunities under this assistance listing, EPA will generally specify the nature of the pre-application assistance, if any, that will be available to applicants in the competitive announcement. For additional information, contact the individual(s) listed in the competitive announcement.

The evaluation and selection criteria for competitive awards under this assistance listing will be described in the Notice of Funding Opportunity.

For competitive awards, EPA will review and evaluate applications in accordance with the terms, conditions, and criteria stated in the competitive announcement. Competitions will be conducted in accordance with EPA policies/regulations for competing assistance agreements.

For competitive awards, deadlines will be specified in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

Extensions are subject to EPA approval.

Assistance agreement competition-related disputes will be resolved in accordance with the dispute resolution procedures published in 70 FR (Federal Register) 3629, 3630 (January 26, 2005). Copies of these procedures may also be found at: https://www.epa.gov/grants/grant-competition-dispute-resolution-procedures. Disputes relating to matters other than the competitive selection of recipients will be resolved under 2 CFR 1500 Subpart E, as applicable.