Environment for State governments Grants

The State of Hawai`i has established aggressive renewable energy goals, including potential offshore wind development, to reduce fossil fuel dependence. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) oversees the development of offshore renewable energy on the nations outer continental shelf (OCS) and is mandated to preserve historic and cultural resources that may be impacted by its approved actions. BOEM is required under multiple statutes (as referenced in the below Background section) to take into consideration the impacts of OCS activities on cultural resources and Traditional Cultural Places.The purpose of this study is to provide critical information to BOEM in support of its offshore historic preservation responsibilities. The project will have three primary components: 1) compile data from archival and secondary sources of known, reported, and potential traditional cultural landscapes and cultural resources near the islands of O`ahu and Moloka`i, specifically focusing on the Ka`iwi Channel; 2) compile and summarize appropriate ethnographic information from Native Hawaiian communities regarding types of traditional use areas and traditional cultural places that could be impacted by offshore development; and 3) refine or develop guidance documents that identify Best Practices and protocols for engaging with Native Hawaiian communities, respecting traditional Indigenous Knowledge and including appropriate selected elements of traditional knowledge within the NHPA and NEPA review processes.This information will support recent Guidance for Federal Departments and Agencies on Indigenous Knowledge and other Federal efforts related to Indigenous Knowledge; is necessary under Section 106 of the NHPA, which requires that federal agencies must apply the National Register Criteria to places that may be affected by a federal undertaking; and will also be used to support reviews under NEPA and other federal laws.See related documents for questions and responses submitted after publishing.

EPA Region 2 is issuing this funding opportunity to fund Source Reduction Assistance in Communities (SRAC) grants that support research, investigation, experiments, multi-media service-learning approaches, studies, demonstrations, outreach, education, and training using source reduction approaches. EPA is particularly interested in receiving applications that offer hands-on practical pollution prevention referred to as "P2" tools, information and/or innovative P2 multi-media service-learning approaches to measurably improve public health and the surrounding environment, by reducing the use of hazardous substances, reducing toxic pollutants, supporting efficiencies in reducing resource use (e.g., water and energy), and reducing business expenditures and liability costs.EPA Region 2 is interested in receiving applications for results-oriented and multi-media community based projects that are performed in and benefit States or communities within EPA Region 2 (New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and eight federally recognized Indian Nations). These applications should create, promote, and use new and/or existing P2 tools and information, green technology solutions, innovative financing partnerships or approaches, and multi-media and multistakeholder leadership approaches to measurably improve public health and the environment, by reducing the use of hazardous substances, reducing toxic pollutants, or supporting efficiencies in the reduction of pre-consumer resources (such as greenhouse gas emissions, plastics, water, and energy), and reducing beneficiary organization costs.

Quagga and Zebra Mussels are aquatic invasive species that are rapidly expanding their range in the Western United States. Popular recreational reservoirs on or connected to the lower Colorado River are one major source of invasive mussels, which are easily transported via trailered watercraft to areas that have not yet been invaded. This Request For Proposals (RFP) will fund proposals in the listed principal areas towards the fulfillment of the top priorities in the Quagga/Zebra Mussel Action Plan for Western U.S. Waters (QZAP 2.0) and will be limited to states within the boundaries of the Western Regional Panel within the United States, not including Canada and Mexico (see map): Limiting the spread of invasive mussels through containment, especially by inspection and decontamination of watercraft moving from invaded water bodies to jurisdictions currently free of dreissenid mussels, and the coordination between states or other jurisdictions to this end;1. Protecting western ecosystems through support and/or establishment of prevention programs for invasive mussels at identified high risk control points. 2. Limiting the spread of invasive mussels through containment by increasing compliance with federal, state, local and tribal laws; 3. Increasing the effectiveness of outreach and education efforts to help advance prevention efforts; 4. Building capacity to detect and respond to new invasive mussel infestations;5. Conducting Research that benefits the priorities listed above, including (but not limited to) social science research to evaluate the effectiveness of invasive species prevention messaging, and research on non- target species impacts of invasive mussel control treatments (See Research Priorities: https://www.reabic.net/journals/mbi/2023/Accepted/MBI_2023_Counihan_et al_correctedproof.pdf) Efforts to address the risks and impacts of these invasive species are on-going. They include development of QZAP, and funding by the U.S. Fish Wildlife Service (Service) to address waters at highest risk for spreading invasive mussels. In fiscal year 2024 the Service plans to allocate approximately $2,200,000 to projects that will reduce or minimize the threat of quagga and zebra mussels to Western U.S. waters. Funding is available for a limited number of projects that target the priories listed above.

Environmental assessments on offshore renewable energy development require accurate modeling and effective monitoring. Traditional sound propagation modeling for noise effect analysis often uses historical environmental variables that may not reflect oceanographic regime shifts due to climate change. Existing acoustic monitoring only evaluates species calls and signal/noise characteristics collected at the recording sites without incorporating oceanographic variables, and is thus unable to address broader issues such as ecological dynamics and oceanographic processes related to offshore wind development.The proposed study will deploy acoustic sensors in the vicinity of the National Science Foundations (NSFs) Pioneer Array ocean observation platform to collect active and passive acoustic datasets and to conduct sound propagation measurements. Acoustic data analyses will incorporate physical oceanographic time series collected in situ to understand mesoscale and sub-mesoscale oceanographic dynamics and ecosystem level effects from offshore wind development.The outcome of the study will assist to understand the sub-mesoscale and mesoscale oceanographic processes and changes in relation to offshore wind planning and development at the mid-Atlantic shelfbreak region. The outcome will also provide validation to regional sound propagation models. Additionally, the outcome will include information on diurnal, seasonal, and annual occurrence and abundance of planktons, fishes, and marine mammals near offshore wind farm areas.

This funding provides financial and technical support to organizations and partners working to remove barriers in waterways, helping to restore fish passage and improve aquatic ecosystems across the United States.

Historic battlefields and sites of armed conflict are powerful reminders of the shared heritage of all Americans. As an ongoing effort to engage all Americans in the preservation of cultural resources beyond our park boundaries, the National Park Service American Battlefield Protection Program (NPS ABPP) promotes the preservation and interpretation of these important places. NPS ABPP awards financial assistance to support community-driven stewardship of battlefields and sites of armed conflict through four grant opportunities Preservation Planning, Battlefield Restoration, Battlefield Interpretation, and Battlefield Land Acquisition.NPS ABPP administers Battlefield Interpretation Grants to provide assistance for projects that deploy technology to modernize and enhance battlefield interpretation and education at Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War battlefield sites eligible for assistance under the Battlefield Acquisition Grant Program established under 54 U.S.C. 308103(b). These grants are funded from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which invests earnings from offshore oil and gas leasing to help strengthen communities, preserve history and protect the national endowment of lands and waters. Funding will support scoping and implementation activities for historic preservation projects at eligible sites and will be awarded competitively. Grants require a dollar-for-dollar non-Federal match. State, local, and tribal governments, as well as nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply.Successful applicants typically provide straightforward answers to the Merit Review Criteria, backed by clear and concise supporting documentation, including but not limited to GIS maps, resumes/CVs, charts, graphs, spreadsheets, summary tables, and other relevant information. These applicants also tend to have a plan for making contact, or have already established contact, with landowners or organizations with an economic or legal interest in the proposed project sites. NPS ABPP encourages all applicants to consider forming inclusive preservation partnerships with these landowners/organizations as well as descendant communities, Native American Tribes, state and/or tribal historic preservation offices, and other nonprofit organizations that may help guide, or want to actively participate in, the proposed project.Two categories of grants are available for battlefield interpretation projects in different stages: Scoping Grants: These are available to fund the early stages of project development, such as research and content creation, consultation with stakeholders, exploration of available technologies, audience research, and development of technical proposals. The federal share for these grants should range from $20,000-$50,000 and have a period of performance of 1-2 years.Implementation Grants: These are available to applicants who have completed interdisciplinary scoping prior to the application and can provide draft content and design plans. The federal share for these grants should range from $50,000-$200,000 and have a period of performance of 2-3 years.

White-nose syndrome (WNS) is a disease of hibernating bats caused by the invasive fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd). WNS is confirmed in 12 bat species in North America, including three that are federally listed as threatened or endangered and one that is proposed to be listed. WNS has led to severe declines in multiple hibernating species of bats, although impacts vary among affected species and locations. Severity of the disease is unclear for multiple recently or not yet exposed species.The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is offering financial assistance to wildlife and natural resource management agencies and departments of states, the District of Columbia, and federally-recognized Native American Tribes for efforts related to the management of WNS. Since 2008, funding through the WNS Grants to States has led to critical information and resources for maximizing the benefits of bat conservation efforts. In 2019, this funding opportunity was extended to Tribes engaged in or seeking to engage in bat management and conservation efforts. The goal of this funding opportunity is to help our State and Tribal partners fulfill information needs, implement management actions for WNS and susceptible bat species, and actively engage in the National Response to WNS. Supported activities will include monitoring bat populations, implementing conservation actions for bats, supporting scientific information gathering, training personnel, managing WNS and the causative fungus, and maintaining expertise in bat conservation and management. Proposals for this program will be plans of action relevant to the current status of WNS in the applicants locations, and will address context-specific conservation needs of bats as well as the ecosystem as a whole. Funding priorities are intended to frame relevant projects in State or Tribal jurisdictions whether WNS is already affecting resident bats or the fungus has recently or not yet arrived. Successful applications to this funding opportunity will present effective and efficient plans to meet the following objectives: Benefit bat species that are known, assumed, or anticipated to be affected by WNS.Advance the stated priorities of this funding opportunity and the WNS National Plan.Build upon or advance the current state of knowledge of bats.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys (EPA) Office of Research and Development (ORD) seeks to support a Research Training Program for college and university students. The objective of this Request for Applications (RFA) is to support the training of undergraduate and graduate students on site at EPAs research facility located in Ada, Oklahoma. ORD conducts timely, mission-relevant, solution-oriented research based on the principles of integrity, sustainability, and responsiveness to the needs of the Nation. The Environmental Research Apprenticeship Program (ERAP) for College and University Students is designed to increase both the effectiveness and number of future environmental scientists and technicians by allowing trainees to collaborate with senior EPA-ORD scientists. The overall goal is to train the next generation of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) scientists and engineers to further the Agencys mission to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, manage chemical risks, protect, and restore land, and protect America;apos;s water. The training will be conducted at EPAs facilities in Ada, Oklahoma. Some examples of the fields of study for desirable trainees include (but are not limited to) those majoring in environmental science, water policy, chemistry, engineering, computer science, ecology, and physical and biological sciences.

The principle objective of the Traditional Conservation Grant Program is to support the development and implementation of States programs to conserve and recover threated and endangered species under the Services jurisdiction. Financial assistance, provided in the form of grants, can be used to support projects that have direct benefits for federally listed species, candidate and at-risk species, and recently delisted species. States may apply for funding to conduct conservation work on federally-listed resident species that are included in the States cooperative agreement. States may also apply for funding to monitor candidate, at-risk, and recently delisted species. Projects proposed for funding may involve management, research, monitoring, and outreach activities or any combination thereof. Applications should include clear and specific information about how the proposed work would contribute to species recovery or prevent the need to list a species under the Endangered Species Act. Successful applications will be those that clearly demonstrate a direct benefit to the species or its habitat.

The principle objective of the Traditional Conservation Grant Program is to support the development and implementation of States programs to conserve and recover threatened and endangered species under the Services jurisdiction. Financial assistance, provided in the form of grants, can be used to support projects that have direct benefits for federally listed species, candidate and at-risk species, and recently delisted species. States may apply for funding to conduct conservation work on federally-listed resident species that are included in the States cooperative agreement. States may also apply for funding to monitor candidate, at-risk, and recently delisted species. Projects proposed for funding may involve management, research, monitoring, and outreach activities or any combination thereof. Applications should include clear and specific information about how the proposed work would contribute to species recovery or prevent the need to list a species under the Endangered Species Act. Successful applications will be those that clearly demonstrate a direct benefit to the species or its habitat.

The principle objective of the Traditional Conservation Grant Program is to support the development and implementation of States programs to conserve and recover threated and endangered species under the Services jurisdiction. Financial assistance, provided in the form of grants, can be used to support projects that have direct benefits for federally listed species, candidate and at-risk species, and recently delisted species. States may apply for funding to conduct conservation work on federally-listed resident species that are included in the States cooperative agreement. States may also apply for funding to monitor candidate, at-risk, and recently delisted species. Projects proposed for funding may involve management, research, monitoring, and outreach activities or any combination thereof. Applications should include clear and specific information about how the proposed work would contribute to species recovery or prevent the need to list a species under the Endangered Species Act. Successful applications will be those that clearly demonstrate a direct benefit to the species or its habitat.

This funding opportunity supports non-profit organizations and educational institutions in engaging young people and veterans in conservation projects across national parks, promoting job skills and environmental stewardship.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a two-year competitive funding opportunity for awards to eligible entities to provide technical assistance (TA) to businesses to encourage the development and implementation of source reduction practices also known as pollution prevention or P2. EPA is requiring recipients to develop at least one P2 case study and one P2 success story during the grant period. A P2 case study should provide detailed technical information on one or two specific source reduction/P2 practices implemented by a business, and the benefits achieved, so that other P2 TA providers or interested businesses have enough technical information that they can learn from and replicate those P2 practices. A P2 case study should focus on P2 approaches that are new and not widely known or adopted and/or where the recipient believes detailed information on the project could support more widespread project replication.