State and Tribal Indoor ~ Radon Grants (SIRG) Program A Fact Sheet for Tribes The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is committed to working with tribes to address environmental health concerns—including radon. Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. Effective, affordable measures to reduce indoor radon are available, and they can prevent radon-induced lung cancer and save lives. For more than 30 years, EPA has provided critical funding to support state, territory and tribal efforts to reduce radon-related health risks through the State and Tribal Indoor Radon Grants (SIRG) program. EPA wants to ensure that all eligible parties, including tribes, have the information they need to apply for SIRG funding. 1. What is the SIRG program? The SIRG program is a collaborative partnership EPA has with states, territories and tribes that provides funding for the development and implementation of programs and projects that aim to reduce health risks associated with radon exposure and save lives. The Office of Radiation and Indoor Air oversees the SIRG program. 2. Who can apply for SIRG program funding? Can tribes apply? Eligible applicants include tribal nations, tribal consortia, states (as well as the District of Columbia and U.S. commonwealths and territories) and non-federal entities (including institutions of higher education).1 For more information, please contact your regional project office or radon program coordinator. 3. How does EPA administer the SIRG program? Each year, EPA allocates funds to the 10 EPA regional offices for award to recipients.The regional offices are responsible for determining the amount of federal funding for each recipient within its jurisdiction. There is no statutory or national tribal allocation for the SIRG program. Each EPA regional office has an established radon/SIRG program coordinator who negotiates workplans, tracks progress, provides technical assistance, compiles reports from recipients in their region and performs other grant-related activities. When the project period reaches 3 years (or 5 years, if a formal extension has been approved by EPA), the project must be closed out. Tribes may apply for a new grant, but the activities and deliverables must differ from that of the previous grant. 4. Where can I find grant application information? For all SIRG opportunities, initial proposals/ applications submitted for EPA assistance agreement awards must be submitted using arants.gov.This website provides applicants and recipients with key aspects of the complete grant life cycle, from preparation of an application through grant closeout. Grantees should consult with their regional radon/ SIRG coordinator for more information about application assistance and deadlines if needed. 1 In 2001, EPA issued revised regulations addressing eligibility of State and Local Assistance Grants, adding tribal nations and tribal consortia as eligible applicants for Environmental Program Grants, including SIRG (40 CFR 35.700 through 708). Additional information about tribal grant eligibility can be found in the Environmental Program Grants for Tribes Federal ResisterNotice (66 FR 3782). EPA 402-F-22-001 SEPA ------- State and Tribal Indoor ~ Radon Grants (SIRG) Program 5. How are grants evaluated? The recipient should provide measurable results and document successful activities that will be evaluated annually during the development of follow-on awards for the coming year. Special consideration is given to the priority areas that EPA believes recipients should emphasize in their efforts to achieve health risk reduction. Subsequent funding is dependent on (1) EPA's evaluation of recipients' performance during the current and prior grant years, (2) the most recent radon risk information available for the recipient, and (3) the degree of success and documented risk reduction being achieved. 6. What are the matching requirements? Some EPA programs require grant applicants to provide a cost share, also known as matching funds.Title III of theToxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the "Indoor Radon Abatement Act (IRAA) (TSCA § 306 et seq.) requires grantees to match a percentage of the federal SIRG program funds awarded. For stand-alone SIRG awards, this requirement applies to all grantees. A 25 percent match is required of participants in the first year of the program and 40 percent in the second year and subsequent years.2 Federal funds may not be used to satisfy the match requirement. Funding authorities and matching requirements are outlined in the Indoor Radon Abatement Act. As long as the matching funds are used for grant activities, the matching requirement may be satisfied by any combination of the following alternatives: (1) funded activities or in-kind contributions; (2) third party-funded activities or in-kind contributions; or (3) program income, if specified in the grant agreement. EPA acknowledges that the matching requirement can be difficult for some tribes to meet. Some regions and tribes have used different approaches to meet this requirement: • Performance Partnership Grants (PPG) to Tribes (40 CFR 35.530 through 538) PPGs allow for combining funds from multiple environmental program grants into a single grant with a single budget. This allows tribes to direct resources to where they are needed most to address tribal environmental and public health priorities—including issues like radon. Cost Share Waiver for Tribal PPGs In fiscal year 2022, EPA approved a class regulatory exception to remove the cost share requirements for tribal PPGs at 40 CFR 35.536(d) completely.This exemption applies only to tribal or intertribal consortia PPGs; it is not retroactive to already awarded PPGs and does not apply to states or territories. The cost share waiver reduces barriers for tribes to apply for PPGs and simplifies grants, increasing flexibility for tribes. • Tribes Considering In-Kind Match Contributions States and tribes considering in-kind match contributions must document and obtain approval from their state's or tribe's financial officer (if applicable) and/or the EPA regional office.Third-party in-kind contributions are defined as "property or services which benefit a federally assisted project or program, and which are contributed without charge to the grantee." 2 TSCA §306(f (established a progressive match for stand-alone and tribal grants: 25% in the first year, 40% in the second year, and 50% in the third and subsequent years of participation. However, in the fiscal year 2006 appropriation, Congress permanently reduced the recipient match requirement from a maximum of 50% to 40% for participants with two or more years in the program. SEPA ------- State and Tribal Indoor ~ Radon Grants (SIRG) Program Examples of third-party in-kind contributions used to meet SIRG matching requirements could include the following: o A company donates radon detectors or materials. o A private-sector employee is sent to help staff a booth during an exhibition. o Time and salary are contributed by a private-sector employee for other allowable activities. o Contributions come from a local government or university to which the state or tribe is "passing through"funds. 7. What activities can be conducted using SIRG funding? The following tasks or activities are options for grantees to consider when developing a workplan that includes radon risk-reduction objectives. Adapting these needs to respond to those of a specific reservation or tribal community is encouraged. • Educating tribal members,Tribal Councils, tribal housing authorities, builders, local building code officials, home inspectors, real estate professionals, medical professionals and others about radon. • Providing training and technical support on radon testing and mitigation, as well as identifying and spreading best practices for building homes, schools and other buildings that are radon resistant. • Encouraging a Tribal Council or other tribal authority to adopt radon-resistant building codes. • Promoting testing and mitigation in residential real estate transactions. • Informing local school systems about radon exposure risk in schools and providing sample school testing and mitigation plans. 8. Can I use SIRG for mitigation? The SIRG program is intended to assist states and tribes "in the development and implementation of programs for the assessment and mitigation of radon."3 By law, SIRG funds are not available to individuals or homeowners. SIRG grants may be used to fund demonstration projects on homes, schools or other buildings for the purpose of gathering information and furthering knowledge about radon mitigation. Activities may include diagnostic testing, mitigation design, implementation and follow-up testing. Approval to use funds to demonstrate an innovative mitigation technique will require close coordination and negotiation with a regional EPA project officer. 9. Where can I go for more SIRG information? SIRG Program Guidance and Handbook: epa.gov/sites/production/files/2014-08/documents/ guidance and handbook.pdf SIRG Program and Resources: epa.gov/radon/state-indoor-radon-grants-sirg- program-and-resources Grants.gov Website: grants.gov Environmental Program Grants forTribes: federalregister.gov/documents/2001/01/16/01- 219/environmental-program-grants-for-tribes Grants.gov Informational Session forTribes: epa.gov/grants/grantsgov-informational-session- tribes EPA Grants ManagementTraining for Applicants and Recipients: epa.gov/grants/epa-grants-management-training- applicants-and-recipients Class Exception to the Cost Share Requirements for Tribal and Intertribal Consortia PPGs: epa.gov/grants/rain-2022-gQ1 3 The SIRG program is intended to assist states and tribes "in the development and implementation of programs for the assessment and mitigation of radon." By law, SIRG funds are not available to individuals or homeowners. SEPA ------- State and Tribal Indoor ~ Radon Grants (SIRG) Program Example of a Successful Tribal SIRG Project Bad River Tribe The Bad RiverTribal Indoor Radon Program is funded primarily by EPA's SIRG program and is included within the tribe's PPG.The PPG process streamlines grant management for tribes that have multiple EPA grants that can fit under one workplan. The Bad River T ri bal Indoor Radon Program used SIRG funding to implement a successful radon program that provides radon expertise and tools to the tribe.To maintain community support, the tribe employs an air quality technician with radon education and certification for radon measurement and mitigation. It also provides radon testing and mitigation services—at no charge—to tribal and community members. In addition, early community involvement, such as outreach and educational presentations on radon, are provided at EPA venues and events. Other community engagement activities include an Annual Radon Fun-Run, Youth Radon Poster Contest and website development. As a result of strong community involvement, the Bad River Tri bal Indoor Radon Program has achieved the following: • Approximately 65 percent of the estimated 500 tribal homes on the reservation (323 out of 500) have been tested for radon. • 100 percent of Bad River Housing Authority homes (171 homes) have been tested for radon and are regularly tested every 2-5 years. • 100 percent of government-owned buildings and infrastructure on the Bad River Reservation have been tested, including one Head Start school (ages 3-5). • Nine mitigation systems were installed in homes that tested high for radon through identification and guidance from the Bad River Tri bal Indoor Radon Program. 10. Whom should I contact for indoor radon grant assistance in my region? Region I.Boston: CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT Region 2. New York: NJ, NY, PR, USVI Region 3. Philadelphia: DC, DE, MD, PA, VA, WV Region 4. Atlanta: AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC,TN Region 5. Chicago: IL, IN, Ml, MN, OH, Wl Region 6. Dallas: AR, LA, NM, OK,TX Region 7. Kansas City: IA, KS, MO, NE Region 8. Denver: CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY Region 9. San Francisco: AZ, CA, NV Region 10. Seattle: AK, ID, OR, WA, Tribal Nations EPA Headquarters Contacts Secody Hubbard Indoor Environments Division Tribal Coordinator hubbard.secodv@epa.aov 202-763-9016 EPA Radon Team Indoor Environments Division radon(aepa.qov SEPA ------- |