Overview
The Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) provides funding to communities for technical assistance and analyses of local pipeline safety issues. Technical assistance is defined as engineering or other scientific analysis of pipeline safety issues. Local projects can range from public awareness activities to technology solutions, such as the conversion of paper maps into electronic format.
Award Eligibility
Eligible grant recipients are communities (cities, towns, villages, counties, parishes, townships, and similar governmental subdivisions, or consortiums of such subdivisions) and groups of individuals (not including for-profit entities).
The awards have funded a broad range of activities, including:
Improvement of local pipeline emergency response capabilities
Improvement of safe digging programs
Development of pipeline safety information resources
Implementation of local land use practices that enhance pipeline safety
Community and pipeline awareness campaigns
Enhancements in public participation in official proceedings pertaining to pipelines
The funding can also be used to help promote public participation in official proceedings. However, the funding may not be used for lobbying, in direct support of litigation, or for activities associated with regulatory compliance or typical operations and maintenance of pipeline facilities.
PHMSA first awarded technical assistance grants for projects beginning in 2009. By law, the amount of any grant may not exceed $100,000 for a single grant recipient and the funds authorized for these grants may not be derived from user fees collected under 49 U.S.C. 60301. The number of awards will depend on the quality and number of applications received and the dollar amounts requested.
Past Projects
Please visit the archive for all past and current projects to get more detailed information on the types of TAG grants awarded. Previous grants have funded nearly 200 projects in communities all across the United States. Visit the archive for all past and current projects for more detailed information on the types of projects that have received funding.
