The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Regions 3, 4, 7, 8, 9 and 10 (the Regions) are issuing a Request for Applications (RFA) from eligible entities to implement pollution prevention projects through the Source Reduction Assistance grant program. Source Reduction Assistance (SRA) grants can support research, investigation, experiments, surveys, study, demonstration, education, and training using source reduction approaches (also known as “pollution prevention” and herein referred to as “P2”).
How Does EPA Define P2? Pollution prevention is any practice which reduces the amount of any hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant entering any waste stream or otherwise released into the environment (including fugitive emissions) prior to recycling of discarded material, treatment, or disposal; P2 reduces the hazards to public health and the environment associated with the release of those substances, pollutants, or contaminants. P2 practices include equipment or technology modifications, process or procedure modifications, reformulation or redesign of products, and substitution of raw materials. EPA has also interpreted P2 as including practices that increase efficient use of water, energy, raw materials, or other resources that may protect natural resources through conservation methods, or in-process recycling (i.e., process improvements to reuse materials within the same business/facility in the production process). Reducing the amount of pollution in the environment means producing less waste to control, treat, or dispose. Less pollution means fewer hazards posed to public health and the environment. For more information about P2 please visit: https://www.epa.gov/p2 .
The Regions are particularly interested in receiving applications for projects that promote practical source reduction practices, tools, and training on P2 approaches to measurably improve human and environmental health by reducing the use of hazardous substances, reducing toxic pollutants, reducing resource use (e.g., water and energy), and reducing expenditures and liability costs to businesses, non-profit organizations and/or communities. Suggested project types are provided below, but they are not an exhaustive list. The Regions welcome innovative, bold strategies designed to accelerate and drive P2 and source reduction.
Applications are due by July 22, 2022.
The Regions are especially interested to support projects in the following priority areas:
1. Prevention of Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Carry out P2 projects that that are designed to achieve measurable reductions of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and/or energy efficiency through source reduction techniques.
2. Hazardous Materials Source Reduction: Carry out research, studies, demonstrations, or training on approaches to hazardous materials source reduction activities that result in reduced generation and use of hazardous materials.
3. Innovative approaches to conservation of materials and resources: Carry out P2 projects to address pressing environmental challenges involving the reduction in the use of materials and natural resources such as energy or water.
4. Environmental Justice through P2 Actions: Carry out projects that support environmental justice for underserved communities. Environmental justice (EJ) is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. Fair treatment means no group of people should bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, governmental, and commercial operations or policies.
Eligible applicants include States, local, interstate, and intrastate government agencies and instrumentalities, federally recognized tribes, inter-tribal consortia, and non-profit organizations formed under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (not 501(c)(4) organizations that lobby). All projects must take place within the geographic boundaries of one of the EPA Regions announcing this solicitation (3, 4, 7, 8, 9, and 10).
While not considered to be a nonprofit organization(s) as defined by 2 CFR 200.1, public or nonprofit Institutions of Higher Education are, nevertheless, eligible to submit applications under this RFA.
Applications require a cost share/match of 5% of the federal funds requested. For example, if the total project cost is $100,000, the applicant must be able to provide $5,000 in cash or in-kind contributions to meet the 5% cost share/match requirement and be eligible to receive $95,500 in federal grant funding from EPA.
Region 4 Funding Range per Award: $60,000-$180,000
