66.032 - State Indoor Radon Grants

Program Number/Title (010):

Popular Name (020):

Federal Agency (030):

Authorization (040):

Objectives (050):

Title III of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the Indoor Radon Abatement Act (IRAA), Section 306, authorizes EPA to assist States and Federally Recognized Indian Tribes to develop and implement programs to assess and mitigate radon-related lung cancer risk. In FY 2014 EPA will encourage state and tribal grant recipients to work collaboratively with their (non-EPA) Federal Departments and Agencies participating in the Federal Radon Action Plan (FRAP) - http://www.epa.gov/radon/action_plan.html.

Projects should also focus on addressing environmental justice (EJ) concerns in communities. EJ is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies

Funding Priority FY 2016

In FY 2016 the State Indoor Radon Grant (SIRG) program continues to emphasize radon risk reduction through increased action by home buyers and sellers, homeowners, real estate professionals, radon services professionals, homebuilders, tribes, non-governmental organizations, Federal, state and local governments, and non-governmental organizations. Projects funded by SIRG should focus on achieving the following outcomes:

- Homes built to include radon-reducing features, especially in high-radon potential areas,

- Reducing radon in existing homes to below 4pCi/L through mitigation, and

- Building new schools to include radon-reducing features, and reducing radon in existing schools to below 4pCi/L.

To achieve these outcomes and increase results, the SIRG program aims to: (1) improve the effectiveness of state-local/tribal radon programs; (2) focus on high radon potential areas, especially for new home building, building code adoption, and green and healthy homes programs; (3) encourage testing and mitigation within residential property transfers; and (4) encourage SIRG recipients to be strategic in their risk reduction efforts e.g., utilizing results date and information, by institutionalizing risk reduction practices and policies, and utilizing best practices

To achieve these outcomes and increase results, the SIRG program aims to: (1) improve the effectiveness of state-local/tribal radon programs; (2) focus on high radon potential areas, especially for new home building, building code adoption, and green and healthy homes programs; (3) encourage testing and mitigation within residential property transfers; and (4) encourage SIRG recipients to be strategic in their risk reduction efforts e.g., utilizing results date and information, by institutionalizing risk reduction practices and policies, and utilizing best practices.

Types of Assistance (060):

Uses and Use Restrictions (070):

The following activities are eligible for funding under SIRG: radon surveys, public information and educational materials, radon control programs, purchase of radon measurement equipment or devices, purchase and maintenance of analytic equipment, training, program overhead and administration, data storage and management, mitigation demonstrations, and toll-free hotlines. Funding for these eligible activities may be used to develop State radon response programs. States may, at the Governor's direction, provide assistance to local governments for public information and educational materials, radon control programs and training. RESTRICTIONS: The statute places the following restrictions on the use of Federal funds: 1) SIRG recipients must perform satisfactorily in the preceding budget period to be eligible to receive additional funding; 2) State expenditures for measurement equipment/devices and mitigation demonstrations cannot exceed 50 percent of the grant amount in a budget period; 3) State expenditures for general overhead and program administration cannot exceed 25 percent in a budget period; and 4) SIRG applicants may use grant funds for financial assistance to persons only to the extent that such assistance is related to approved demonstration projects or the purchase and analysis of radon measurement devices.

Grant recipients and sub-recipients are encouraged to adopt and enforce policies that ban text messaging while driving company-owned or -rented vehicles or government-owned vehicles, or while driving privately-owned vehicles when on official government business or when performing any work for or on behalf of the government. Grant recipients and sub-recipients are encouraged to conduct initiatives of the type described in section 3(a) of the Federal Leadership on Reducing Text Messaging While Driving Executive Order that was signed on October 1, 2009.

Eligibility Requirements (080)

Applicant Eligibility (081):

Beneficiary Eligibility (082):

Credentials/Documentation (083):

An applicant's application must: 1) describe the seriousness and extent of radon exposure; 2) identify the lead State agency with primary responsibility for the radon program that will receive the grant, with a description of the lead agency's role and responsibilities, and those of any other State agencies, and any municipal, district or area wide organizations involved in the radon program; 3) submit a work plan describing the activities and programs to be funded; 4) provide a budget specifying the Federal and applicant share of the funding for each work plan element. First time applicants must have a 3-year work plan outlining long range program goals and objectives, the tasks necessary to achieve them, the resource requirements including anticipated SIRG applicant funding levels and the desired Federal funding level. Costs are determined in accordance Costs are in accordance with 2 CFR 200 Subpart E, "Cost Principles for State, Local and Tribal Governments.". 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program.

Application and Award Process (090)

Preapplication Coordination (091):

Application assistance is available through Regional radon coordinators and their Regional grants specialist counterparts. For additional information, contact the individual(s) listed as "Information Contacts" or see Appendix IV of the Catalog. Visit www.epa.gov/iaq/whereyoulive.html for state specific information on the state radon programs and how to contact them. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedures (092):

2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. EPA requires final applications to be made on Standard Form 424. Requests for application kits must be submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency and the appropriate EPA Regional Office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog, or through the Grants and Interagency Agreements Management Division, 3903F, Washington, DC 20460. Applicants, except in limited circumstances approved by the approved by the Agency, must submit all initial applications for funding through http://www.grants.gov

Award Procedure (093):

Each state or tribal SIRG application is subjected to an administrative and prior period performance evaluation to determine the recipients eligibility to receive continued funding. An applicant's proposed projects and work plan are evaluated for projected results and alignment with the Agency's radon program goals and priorities. SIRG award decisions are non-competitive and made at the EPA Regional level, based on a formula moderated by Regional management discretion utilizing prior performance and results. A state or tribe able to provide the required 40% in matching funds is eligible to apply to the Regional EPA office for a grant.

Deadlines (094):

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time (095):

Appeals (096):

Renewals (097):

Assistance Consideration (100)

Formula and Matching Requirements (101):

This program has no statutory formula.
Matching Requirements: EPA may provide States a maximum of 60% of allowable costs of approved SIRG Program activities. TSCA Section 306 requires a progressive match for States and Tribes; 25% in the first year; 40% in the second year; and, 50% in the third and subsequent years of participation. However, in the FY 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.
This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance (102):

Awards funded under TSCA Section 306 are normally for a period of 12-36 months; EPA strongly encourages 36-month (3-year) SIRG project periods. EPA negotiates project periods appropriate to a suite of projects or specific project. However, EPA project periods are limited to a maximum of five years. Grants and cooperative agreements may be fully funded or incrementally (partially) funded, conditional on the availability of funds. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Assistance agreements are fully funded by a lump sum.

Post Assistance Requirements (110)

Reports (111):

Required reports from grant recipients include: performance reports, no more often than quarterly; Financial Status Reports, (Standard Form 269); Federal Cash Transactions Reports (for grants paid by letter of credit); and if applicable, Request for Advance or Reimbursement (Standard Form 270). To monitor the performance of each grant recipient, the EPA Project Officer and other Agency personnel may conduct mid-year (or more frequent) site visits to inspect program activities first hand.

Grantees are required to submit program reports in accordance with Agency policy and the Monitoring and Reporting Program Performance requirements stated in Uniform Grants Guidance 2 CFR 200. Grantees are required to submit financial reports in accordance with Agency policy and the Financial Reporting and Financial Management Systems requirements stated in Uniform Grants Guidance 2 CFR 200. Grantees are required to submit progress reports in accordance with Agency policy and the Monitoring and Reporting Program Performance requirements stated in Uniform Grants Guidance 2 CFR 200. No expenditure reports are required. Grantees are required to perform performance monitoring in accordance with Agency policy and requirements stated in Uniform Grants Guidance 2 CFR 200.

Audits (112):

In accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements, non-Federal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.503. Grants and cooperative agreements are subject to inspections and audits by the Comptroller General of the United States, the EPA Office of Inspector General, other EPA staff, or any authorized representative of the Federal government. Reviews by the EPA Project Officer and the Grants Specialist may occur each year.

Records (113):

Recipients must keep financial records, including all documents supporting entries in accounting records and to substantiate changes in grants available to personnel authorized to examine EPA recipient grants and cooperative agreement records. Recipients must maintain all records until 3 years from the date of submission of the final expenditure reports. If questions, such as those raised as a result of an audit remain following the 3-year period, recipients must retain records until the matter is completely resolved.

Financial Information (120)

Account Identification (121):

Obligations (122):

Range and Average of Financial Assistance (123):

Program Accomplishments (130):

Fiscal Year 2015: The SIRG program awarded 45 state and 8 tribal assistance agreements totaling $7,998,204; $7,727,204 to states, and $271,000 to tribes. In calendar year 2014, approximately 119,300 new single-family homes were built with radon-reducing features. Much of this progress resulted from work by coalitions and partnerships comprised of local governments, national and local non-profit organizations, industry, radon advocates and other leaders, homebuilders using radon-reducing features, and local governments adopting building codes to require radon-reducing features. The SIRG program continues to stress the importance of achieving and measuring results in: the number of homes, schools, and other buildings mitigated for radon; in the number of new homes and schools built with radon-reducing features. Recipients are required to include the SIRG results measures template in their work plans, and projects with clear risk reduction benefits are to be preferred over projects projected to have lesser risk reducing results. Persons and organizations looking for ways to participate in the national radon risk-reduction effort should visit www.RadonLeaders.org.

Accomplishments information for FY 2015 on homes mitigated may become available sometime in calendar 2016. Accomplishments information for FY 2015 on new homes built with radon-resistant features will become available in the first quarter of FY 2017. Fiscal Year 2016: Not available. Fiscal Year 2017: No Current Data Available

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature (140):

EPA regulations that govern State activities under the SIRG Program are contained in the following Parts of 40 CFR: (1) Part 4, "Implementation of the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1980"; (2) Part 7, "Nondiscrimination in Programs Receiving Federal Assistance from the Environmental Protection Agency"; (3) Part 29, "Intergovernmental Review of Environmental Protection Agency Programs and Activities"; (4)UGG 2 CFR 200, "Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments"; (5) Part 32, "Debarment and Suspension under EPA Assistance Programs"; and (6) Part 35; "State and Local Assistance". Uniform Grant Guidance 2 CFR 200, "Cost Principles for State and Local Governments," and "Uniform Requirements for Assistance to State and Local Governments". Also applicable to SIRG is the State Indoor Radon Grants (SIRG) Program Handbook (January 2005) ; Visit http://www.epa.gov/radon/sirgprogram.html for more information

Information Contacts (150)

Regional or Local Office (151) :

Headquarters Office (152):

Website Address (153):

Related Programs (160):

Examples of Funded Projects (170):

Fiscal Year 2015: RHC1) 26,000 Homes tested for radon. Details: Note: Colorado reports in January for the previous 6 month period. Some results are from the previous fiscal year, but were not previously reported in IAQ Impact.

(OP3) 28 press/media events held or announcements issued by Delaware. Details: EOY reporting

Includes 1 PSA run statewide, 1 web banner ad on Comcast's main webpage, and 26 buses with placard ads.

(ROP3) State of Iowa certified 189 radon testers during this reporting period. Details: Radon testers certified.

(OC1) 11,642 Website hits or phone calls traceable to activity or output; specify in Details field. Details: Includes 9530 unique website visitors and 2112 inquiries.

(OP5) 826 Individuals educated by state of Michigan (including media campaigns). Details: Q1-2: January 9-11, 2015, MI Radon Program staff participated in the Grand Rapids Remodeling and New Homes Show. 357 attendees were education about radon; March 19-22, 2015, Program staff participated in the Lansing Home and Garden Show. 469 attendees were educated about radon. Fiscal Year 2016: Not available. Fiscal Year 2017: No Current Data Available

Criteria for Selecting Proposals (180):

The EPA will base its review of SIRG applications on whether they reflect the program's goals and promote integrity in States' use of grant funds. Pursuant to TSCA Section 306(e), if State applications exceed the funds appropriated for award in a fiscal year, EPA will prioritize State activities based on the following criteria: (1) the seriousness and extent of the radon contamination problem to be addressed; (2) the potential for the activity or project to bring about reduction in radon levels; (3) the potential for the development of innovative radon assessment techniques, mitigation measures as approved by the Administrator, or program management approaches which may be of use to other States; (4) the potential for the activity to implement EPA's model radon-resistant building standards; (5) the potential for the development of radon programs in high-risk areas; and (6) the potential for the activity to improve the effectiveness and viability of the State program. EPA may establish additional criteria related to demonstration activities or other aspects of the SIRG program. All other requirements of the SIRG program are applicable to the States and Tribes unless otherwise stated in TSCA 306.

Accessibility Information

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

State Indoor Radon Grants

Program Information

Contact Information

General Information