EPA Ports Initiative Newsletter

March 29, 2022 

Newsletter Items:

• English Recording of the March 13 Advancing Environmental Justice in Near-Port Communities Webinar Now Available
• Look for Technical Request for Information for both the Clean Ports and Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicle Programs
• NEW Clean Ports Program webpage
• Reminder: EPA still soliciting feedback on the Clean Ports Program
• FY23 DOT Ports Infrastructure Development Program NOFO open through April 28^th
• EPA Environmental Justice Grant Opportunities Open Until April 14th
• TODAY: EPA Grants “What to Expect When You’re Expecting…a Grant" Webinar 
• Last Call: EPA Clean Air Act Advisory Committee nominations due TOMORROW
• EPA Greenhouse Gas Fund Reduction Fund Update 
• EPA Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program Update

EPA hosted a webinar for near-port community representatives, and other port and environmental justice (EJ) stakeholders. The webinar featured a panel of EPA leaders, as well as grant and technical assistance recipients who are working to address diesel pollution at ports. Speakers discussed funding opportunities and lessons learned from the applicant perspective.

A recording of the webinar in English has been posted to the Events Related to EPA Ports Initiative webpage along with the presentation materials.

The webinar covered:

• Current and upcoming funding opportunities, including EPA EJ Collaborative Problem-Solving Cooperative Agreement and EJ Government-Government program funding opportunities open through April 14
• EPA Ports Initiative tools to support near-port community groups
• Lessons learned from near-port community stakeholders working to improve air quality

EPA has been focused on designing Inflation Reduction Act programs that will effectively address the climate crisis and advance environmental justice. To ensure effective program design for both the Clean Ports and Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicle Programs, an in-depth understanding of the current and near-term commercial availability of zero-emission products and required infrastructure for ports and other heavy duty vehicle applications is necessary. Thus, by April 2023, EPA plans to issue an additional Request for Information (RFI) expanding on the Agency’s technical questions to allow market participants and other interested parties the opportunity to comment. Information requested may include:

1. The state of zero emissions technologies for equipment and vehicles used at ports and Class 6 and Class 7 trucks including performance, reliability, safety, and durability.
2. Current and projected zero-emission vehicle and equipment production volumes and market prices.
3. The type of infrastructure needed to fuel zero-emission equipment and vehicles and other technical considerations related to electric charging and other fueling infrastructure.
4. Availability of domestically produced infrastructure needed to fuel the equipment and vehicles.

There will be a 30-day comment period. Additional information will be posted to the Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicle Program webpage and the Clean Ports Program webpage, when available.

EPA has released a Clean Ports Program webpage with the latest information on the development of the new program, created through the Inflation Reduction Act.



You can bookmark this page for program updates and related events.

EPA is still collecting feedback on how to design the Clean Ports program created through the Inflation Reduction Act! To ensure your ideas are considered, please email: cleanports@epa.gov. 

To view the recordings and slides from the November and December listening sessions for the Inflation Reduction Act’s Clean Ports Program, visit the Events Related to the EPA Ports Initiative webpage.

DOT’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) has released its FY 2023 PIDP Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). This funding opportunity awards grants on a competitive basis to assist in funding projects that improve the safety, efficiency, or reliability of the movement of goods through ports and intermodal connections to ports. MARAD will also consider how projects address climate change and sustainability, equity, and workforce development objectives.

Eligible projects include port electrification master planning; cargo handling equipment and harbor craft replacements; electric charging or hydrogen refueling infrastructure for drayage trucks and locomotives; idle reduction infrastructure; worker training to support electrification technology; and other environmental and emissions mitigation measures.

For FY 2023, MARAD will award up to $662,203,512 in grant funding. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM EDT on April 28, 2023.



Recordings of MARAD’s PIDP webinars can be found on the 2023 Port Infrastructure Development Grant Program Webcasts webpage.

The Environmental Justice Government-to-Government (EJG2G) Program  

State and local governments – including public port authorities – and tribes can now apply for funding from the EJG2G Program (formerly known as the State Environmental Justice Cooperative Agreement program). The EJG2G Program works to support and/or create model government activities that lead to measurable environmental or public health results in communities disproportionately burdened by environmental harms and risks.

The Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving Program (EJCPS) Cooperative Agreement Program 

Near-port community organizations and other eligible entities can now apply for funding from EPA’s EJCPS Cooperative Agreement Program, which provides financial assistance to eligible organizations working on or planning to work on projects to address local environmental and/or public health issues in their communities. The program assists recipients in building collaborative partnerships with other stakeholders (e.g., local businesses and industry, local government, medical service providers, academia, etc.) to develop solutions that will significantly address environmental and/or public health issues at the local level. 

Applicants in either program must submit proposal packages on or before April 14, 2023 to be considered for the available funding. Applicants should plan for projects to begin on October 1, 2023.



Watch this Environmental and Climate Justice Communities Grants Program video to learn more.

EPA will be hosting a "What to Expect When You're Expecting... a Grant" Webinar today, Wednesday, March 29, from 1:00-2:00 pm ET. During this webinar, EPA will review what grant recipients need to do and look for when they receive a grant award, discuss how to understand terms and conditions of grants, and talk through EPA’s oversight once a grant is awarded. Participants will be able to ask questions of EPA presenters during the webinar. With all of the current and upcoming EPA grant programs, this webinar is a great opportunity to learn or brush up on the grant application process so you are ready to submit an application!



Advance registration is required. Click here to register.

EPA’s Clean Air Act Advisory Committee (CAAAC) is looking for nominees to a two-year appointment to provide advice to the Agency on critical air quality policy issues during face-to-face meetings and through specific workgroup reports.

The Clean Air Act Advisory Committee (CAAAC) is a senior-level policy committee established in 1990 to advise the U.S. EPA on issues related to implementing the Clean Air Act. Most recently, members have provided feedback on initial IRA considerations, for example, as well as provided an in-depth report on the 50^th Anniversary of the Clean Air Act.

Nominations are due tomorrow, March 30, 2023 and vacancies are anticipated to be filled in Late Summer 2023, so please provide nominees as soon as possible.

EPA recently announced initial guidance on the design of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) program, created under the Inflation Reduction Act, to leverage private capital for clean energy and clean air investments.

The fund will administer:

• $7 billion for competitive grants to enable low-income and disadvantaged communities to deploy or benefit from zero-emission technologies, including distributed technologies on residential rooftops;
• Nearly $12 billion for competitive grants to eligible entities to provide financial and technical assistance to projects that reduce or avoid greenhouse gas emissions; and
• $8 billion for competitive grants to eligible entities to provide financial and technical assistance to projects that reduce or avoid greenhouse gas emissions in low-income and disadvantaged communities.

On February 15^th, EPA leaders hosted a brief webinar to discuss the information shared in this announcement for those interested in learning more. A recording of the webinar has been posted to the GGRF website.

EPA has announced program guidance for planning grants under the $5 billion Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) program, which is part of President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act.

This two-stage program – with $250 million in noncompetitive planning grants, followed by $4.6 billion in competitive implementation grants – will encourage states, air agencies, municipalities, and tribes to create and implement comprehensive climate pollution plans that ensure reductions and maximize benefits, especially for low income and disadvantaged communities. 

For more information on resources and best practices to address diesel emissions at ports, please visit EPA's Ports Initiative website.