Request for Information  - Climate Pollution Reduction Grant  

DOCKET 1: Climate Pollution Reduction Grants [60114]

EPA received $5 billion to assist states, air pollution control agencies, tribes and local governments to develop and implement strong, climate pollution reduction strategies. These eligible entities can apply for planning grants and then apply for grants to implement those plans. This is a new program that will be informed by comments received via this request for public comment in addition to other stakeholder engagement activities that the Agency will be conducting consistent with its Grant Competition policy. 
 
 QUESTIONS:

 What are the most promising greenhouse gas (GHG) planning and reduction opportunities that could be catalyzed by the Climate Pollution Reduction grants, taking into consideration: 
    Total potential for GHG reductions and other co-benefits; 
    Gaps in existing resources, programs, or policies; 
    Availability of other government funding streams? 
 How should the EPA integrate the needs of underserved communities into the design of this program, taking into consideration: 
    What equity and justice concerns, opportunities, or priorities are most relevant for this program and how can EPA best help address them?  
    How can EPA best address the statutory requirement to consider the "degree to which greenhouse gas air pollution is projected to be reduced in total and with respect to low-income and disadvantaged communities"?  
 This program consists of $250 million in planning grants, $4.607 billion in climate implementation grants, and $142.5 million for administrative funding. How should EPA implement and coordinate planning and implementation funding to make the greatest impact with the funds as a whole?  
 EPA plans to provide technical assistance to grant recipients.  
    What technical assistance would be most helpful to eligible entities as they develop climate plans under the Climate Pollution Reduction Program?  
    What technical assistance would be most helpful as applicants prepare for the implementation phase of the program? 
 How can EPA facilitate coordination and leveraging of other available funding and planning efforts to maximize effectiveness of the program (e.g., timing of implementation grant solicitations, time needed to complete a plan, guidance on program interactions, etc.)? 
 What internal capacity challenges do you face regarding the development and implementation of GHG reduction plans? How can EPA help address those challenges? 
 What metrics should this program use for measuring success and ensuring accountability? 
 How can EPA structure this program to facilitate cooperation and coordination within and across tribal, local, regional, and state agencies to implement climate policies? 
 What should EPA consider in the design of the program to encourage grantees to support high quality jobs and adhere to best practices for labor standards, consistent with guidance such as Executive Order 14063 on the Use of Project Labor Agreements and the Department of Labor's Good Jobs Principles? 
 How could EPA design this program to align with any legal, regulatory, or voluntary obligations state, local and tribal governments  -  or regional planning bodies -- may have to quantify and reduce emissions including potential requirements from proposed rulemakings? 
 EPA wants to ensure applicants have adequate time and funding to develop their climate action plans before the deadline to apply for implementation funds. In your experience, how much time and funding is required to complete a state, municipal, or tribal climate action plan?  
 Please provide any additional comments you would like EPA to consider, which are not covered by the prior questions. 
 
      Responses must be received by 11:59 PM ET on January 18, 2023 :: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2022-0873, to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov.

Follow the instructions on the website for submitting comments. Once submitted, comments cannot be edited or removed from the docket. You do not need to address every question and should focus on those where you have relevant expertise or experience. Please identify the question(s) you are responding to by question number when submitting your comments. The EPA may publish any comment received to its public docket. Do not submit electronically any information you consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be accompanied by a written comment. The written comment is considered the official comment and should include discussion of all points you wish to make. In all cases, to the extent possible, please cite any public data related to or that support your responses. If data are available, but non-public, describe such data to the extent permissible. The EPA will generally not consider comments or comment contents located outside of the primary submission (i.e., on the web, cloud, or other file sharing system). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: IRAOARdocket@epa.gov


