Assistance program
Surveys, Studies, Investigations and Special Purpose Grants within the Office of the Administrator
$4.6 Million committed in FY2018–FY2026
- Agency
- Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Protection Agency
- Assistance
- Project Grants
- CFDA number
- 66.610
- What it does
- The goals of these assistance programs are to: (1) support surveys, studies, investigations, and special purpose assistance associated with air quality, acid deposition, drinking water, water quality, hazardous waste, toxic substances and/or pesticides; (2) identify, develop, and demonstrate necessary pollution control techniques; (3) prevent, reduce, and eliminate pollution; (4) evaluate the economic and social consequences of alternative strategies and mechanisms for use by those in economic, social, governmental, and environmental management positions; and (5) Support includes research, investigation, studies, training, demonstration, information dissemination, and technical assistance to states. In FY 2025 the Environmental Council of the States (ECOS) will work closely with the EPA as co-regulators through the jointly governed Combined Air Emissions Reporting (CAERS) Product Design Team (PDT) established under E-Enterprise for the Environment. States will continue to use this existing forum to share information with EPA and ensure that state interests, needs, and issues are adequately addressed by the CAERS project. ECOS will work in close cooperation with the chairs and members of the CAERS Product Development Team (PDT) to plan and execute this work and increase the value of CAERS for states interested in onboarding. ECOS will conduct research to better understand the extent of alignment among data fields used by states, locals, tribes, (SLTs) and EPA relevant to source tests for the Compliance and Emissions Data Reporting Interface (CEDRI). The research will investigate which SLT-specific programs require source test data reporting from their industry for their emissions inventory. Researchers will seek to document how states intake and/or use source test data reports from industry at the facility and unit/process levels for use in emission inventories where “stack test†is the calculation method. ECOS will support work with state environmental agencies through the ECOS Water Committee to convene the appropriate state environmental leaders to work on water issues, improve communication and partnership with EPA, and coordinate with other state water associations. ECOS will especially seek to support states in engaging in the robust regulatory agenda being pursued by the Office of Water and help coordinate partnership on those topics between states and EPA. ECOS will support EPA in moving forward with Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) implementation and priorities like Justice40 as they relate to the State Revolving Fund programs. Advance the ECOS Member priority to support small and disadvantaged systems. Support the ECOS Infrastructure Workgroup. ECOS intends to bring states together through the Climate and Energy Workgroup to discuss with EPA the implications, opportunities, and challenges for states. Input from ECOS and its members will help EPA shape durable and equitable climate solutions. ECOS staff will also track the work of EPA and other relevant federal agencies as they open financial and technical assistance opportunities to states related to climate and energy aspects of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), IIJA, and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). ECOS will share this information with state environmental agencies to help states seize the opportunities that are being made available through these laws. ECOS will facilitate state engagement and input on PFAS challenges and the PFAS Roadmap: Convene state and EPA leaders and experts to advance coordinated efforts on shared challenges such as PFAS in biosolids, implementing an enforceable drinking water standard, and regulating PFAS as hazardous, among other concerns, and to continue to conduct dialogue on the PFAS Roadmap to ensure effective implementation and co-regulation. ECOS will continue to provide ongoing support in managing the regular/monthly ECOS EJ Workgroup and the ECOS EJ Workgroup Steering Committee meetings, coordinating with EPA leadership and other federal partners, organizing and facilitating discussions, compiling and disseminating information, developing resources, and/or any other additional actions as needed.