Superfund Technical Assistance Grants (TAG) for Community Groups at National Priority List (NPL) Sites (66.806)
Superfund Technical Assistance Grants (TAG) for Community Groups at National Priority List (NPL) Sites (Assistance Listing 66.806) is run by the Environmental Protection Agency. It awarded $1.4 million in 23 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $59,262 per award on average. No funding opportunity is open on Grants.gov right now.
The typical award was $50,000. Half of the 23 awards fell between $25,000 and $75,000, and they ranged from $15,000 to $300,000.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$1.4 million
- Grant awards23
- Typical award$50,000
- Awarded in FY 2025$360,000
- Size rank1796 of 1824
- Type of assistanceProject grants
Key findings
- Annual funding rose from $251,626 in fiscal 2021 to $360,000 in fiscal 2025.
- It is the 1796th largest of 1,824 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 20 largest recipients received 103% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 13 states and territories.
What the program funds
The statutory authority for this project is CERCLA 117(e) as amended by 42 USC 9617(e); it authorizes Technical Assistance Grants (TAGs) to be awarded to groups of individuals affected by or threatened by a release at a Superfund site so that they can obtain independent technical assistance to interpret site-related documents and share this information to the rest of the community. The objective of each TAG is to procure an independent technical advisor(s) to review and inform the community on EPA documents related to cleaning up the Superfund site that is affecting them. The technical advisor's information aids the community in their preparation of public comments which assists them to more meaningfully participate in the cleanup decision-making process. Only one grant is available per site, at any given time; subsequent grants may be awarded once the prior grant period has ended. EPA does not prioritize among eligible sites. All TAG applications are given equal priority as long as the site and group are eligible. The applicant group must meet eligibility requirements, and minimum administrative and management capability requirements by demonstrating they have or will have reliable procedures for record keeping and financial accountability related to TAG management. All applications must address the following: plans for using a technical advisor's services, plans and ability to inform other members of the community, and the group's membership (representative of the different individuals/groups affected by the site). Funding must be used to obtain technical assistance that the community can better understand technical issues related to the cleanup of the Superfund site affecting them, and also to help them provide comments on technical issues and decisions throughout the cleanup process. Groups may obtain a technical advisor to help them understand site-related documents and information, such as technical reports, site conditions, EPA’s proposed cleanups and decisions, etc.
Open opportunities
No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.
Rules from the program listing
Who can apply
Applicant eligibility is addressed under the TAG regulations, 40 CFR 4020. A group is eligible if: 1. The group is made up of people who may be "affected" by a release or threatened release at any facility listed on the National Priorities List (NPL) or proposed for listing under the National Contingency Plan where a "response action" under CERCLA has begun; 2. The group meets minimum administrative and management capability requirements found in 2 CFR 200 by demonstrating they have or will have reliable procedures for record keeping and financial accountability related to TAG management; and 3. The group incorporates as a state nonprofit for the specific purpose of representing "affected" individuals at the site. "Affected" means subject to an actual or potential health, economic or environmental threat. A group is ineligible if: (a) The group is a "potentially responsible party" (PRP), receives money or services from a PRP, or represents a PRP; (b) The group is affiliated with a national organization; (c) The group is an academic institution; (d) The group is a political subdivision; (e) The group was established or is presently sustained by any of the ineligible entities listed above; or (f) The group is not incorporated as a nonprofit organization for the specific purpose of representing affected people except as provided in 40 CFR 35.4045.
What the money can and cannot pay for
The assistance must be used for reviewing Superfund site cleanup documents, data and decisions. All or most of the funding must be used to procure a technical advisor(s) to help in understanding the nature of the environmental and public health hazards at the site, or the various stages of health and environmental investigations and activities, cleanup, and operation and maintenance of a site, including exposure investigation, health study, surveillance program, health promotion activities (for example, medical monitoring and pediatric health units), remedial investigation, and feasibility study, record of decision, remedial design, selection and construction of remedial action, operation and maintenance, and removal. Limitations: (a) Federal funds cannot be used to develop new primary data, such as conducting independent testing and monitoring activities at a site. (b) Grant funds cannot be used for lawsuits or other legal actions, or attorney fees for services connected to any legal action or that could result in a relationship to which attorney/client privileges applies. (c) Grant funds cannot be applied towards a technical advisor's time spent assisting an attorney in preparing a legal action or preparing and serving as an expert witness at any legal proceedings. (d) Grant funds cannot be used for any activities or expenditures for recipient group members' travel. (e) Grant funds cannot be used for political activity and lobbying.
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula. Per statute (Section 117(e) of CERCLA, as amended by 42 USC 9617(e)) there is a $50,000 award limit unless waived and the recipient must contribute a 20 percent match (including in-kind contributions). Matching requirements are mandatory unless waived by EPA if the grant recipient demonstrates financial need and such waiver is necessary to facilitate public participation in the selection of remedial action at the facility per (see 40 CFR 35.4055). If a waiver is received after the award, the agreement must be amended.MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines Groups interested in applying for a TAG are encouraged to contact their regional TAG coordinator(s) for application deadlines. (See list at: https://www.epa.gov/superfund/technical-assistance-grant-tag-program#tab-4). To apply for a TAG, groups must first submit a letter of intent (LOI). If an initial LOI for a site is received and site work is underway or scheduled to begin and there isn’t currently a TAG for the site, EPA will publish a notice in the local newspaper. Groups have 30 days from the date of notice to submit their own LOIs. The published announcement informs the community of the timeframe for submitting an LOI and application. The notice encourages other interested groups to consolidate and submit joint applications or submit separate applications. Groups may request an extension to the period for submitting an LOI. After the first 30 days, there are an additional 30 days to submit a completed application. EPA will only consider applications submitted within the timeframe
Award range and average, in the agency's words
Initial awards for assistance agreements awarded under this assistance listing will not exceed $50,000. After the initial award, additional funding may be awarded based on the criteria detailed under 40 CFR 35.4065 and subject to the availability of funds. The average additional award is $35,000 (per agreement). Awards are generally on a multi-year basis. Since 1988, 352 TAGs have been awarded. A breakdown of total cumulative funding to grantees is as follows: 208 grantees were awarded a total amount of $50,000 or less; 94 grantees have received awards with a cumulative value between $51,000 and $150,000; 32 grantees have received awards with a cumulative value ranging between $151,000 and $250,000; and 18 grantees have received awards whose cumulative value totals more than $250,000. The cumulative award value includes the initial award and any supplemental funding awards over the life of the agreement.
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal Year2016: The TAG allows a group to procure independent technical advisors to help in interpreting and commenting on site-related information and decisions. Examples of how a technical advisor can help a group include, but are not limited to: (a) Reviewing preliminary site assessment/site investigation data; (b) Participating in public meetings to help interpret information about site conditions, proposed remedies, and the implementation of a remedy; (c) Visiting the site vicinity periodically during cleanup, if possible, to observe progress and provide technical updates to the group; (d) Interpreting information related to redevelopment; and (e) Evaluating future land use options based on land use assumptions found in the remedial investigation/feasibility studyFiscal Year2017: The TAG allows a group to procure independent technical advisors to help in interpreting and commenting on site-related information and decisions.
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Superfund Technical Assistance Grants (TAG) for Community Groups at National Priority List (NPL) Sites (66.806) awarded$1.4 million across 23 grant awards, an average of $59,262 per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citizens Technical Environmental Inc | Montana | 1 | $300,000 |
| Black Eagle Civic Club, Incorporated | Montana | 1 | $150,000 |
| Glynn Environmental Coalition Inc | Georgia | 2 | $111,526 |
| Darby Creek Valley Association | Pennsylvania | 1 | $100,000 |
| Clark Fork River Technical Assistance Committee, Inc. | Montana | 1 | $100,000 |
| Citizens Research & Environmental Watch Inc | Massachusetts | 1 | $75,000 |
| Brunswick Area Citizens for a Safe Environment (Bacse) | Maine | 1 | $75,000 |
| Lefthand Watershed Oversight Group | Colorado | 1 | $50,000 |
| Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition Technical Advisory Group | Washington | 2 | $50,000 |
| Friends of Great Salt Lake | Utah | 1 | $50,000 |
| Pine River Superfund Citizen Task Force of Gratiot County Inc | Michigan | 1 | $50,000 |
| Willamette River Advocacy Group | Oregon | 1 | $50,000 |
| Coalition for a Clean Cfac | Montana | 1 | $50,000 |
| Pacific Studies Center | California | 1 | $36,500 |
| Lowry Landfill Superfund Site Tag | Colorado | 1 | $25,000 |
| Housatonic River Initiative Inc | Massachusetts | 1 | $25,000 |
| Memphis Town Community Action Group | Mississippi | 1 | $25,000 |
| Wilmington Environmental Restoration Committee | Massachusetts | 1 | $25,000 |
| Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council | Rhode Island | 1 | $25,000 |
| Columbia Riverkeeper | Oregon | 1 | $25,000 |
Who usually wins
Almost all of the money went to nonprofits.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nonprofits | 23 | $1.4 million | 100% |
By state
No state received $1 million or 10 awards from this program, so it has no state pages.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Montana | 4 | $600,000 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $140,000 |
| Georgia | 2 | $111,526 |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | $100,000 |
| Colorado | 2 | $75,000 |
| Maine | 1 | $75,000 |
| Oregon | 2 | $75,000 |
| Michigan | 1 | $50,000 |
| Utah | 1 | $50,000 |
| Washington | 2 | $50,000 |
| California | 1 | $36,500 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $25,000 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $25,000 |