02F78701

**Description:** This agreement provides funding under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to Air Alliance Houston (AAH).

Specifically, the project will build the capacity of communities and governments along the Texas Gulf Coast to evaluate and redress environmental and climate injustices.

Air Alliance Houston will also support direct and meaningful participation of fence line residents of the Texas Gulf Coast in environmental and climate decisions, solutions, policies, and programs.

**Activities:** The activities include (1) conducting community-based and citizen-science initiatives that inform government processes related to environmental and climate justice;

(2) preparing, training, and educating impacted communities on how to engage in government processes related to environmental and climate justice;

(3) facilitating the meaningful engagement of impacted communities in government processes related to environmental and climate justice with a focus on permitting decisions; land use, highway construction, and infrastructure decisions; and developing CBP/CBAs in the region.

**Subrecipient:** Subaward 1 (statutory partner) to Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC) for Method 4 will assist the project through overall project management, monitoring of project-level environmental outputs and outcomes, providing training and other capacity-building activities to the partner organizations, and evaluating the efficacy of the project overall.

Subaward 2 (collaborating entity) to Coalition for Environment, Equity, and Resilience (CEER) for Methods 1-3 in Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston, and Liberty Counties of Texas will advance the project goals by compiling data on permitted facilities, educating community members about the air permit decision-making process using AIRMAIL, building relationships with community members and local groups, supporting community members to give meaningful input on air permits through training and tools, monitoring permits for denials and improvements, and building relationships with government agencies and officials to improve permits and rules.

Subaward 3 (collaborating entity) to Community In-Power and Development Association Inc. (CIDA) for Methods 1-3 in Jefferson and Orange Counties of Texas will advance the project goals by compiling data on permitted facilities, educating community members about the air permit decision-making process using AIRMAIL, building relationships with community members and local groups, supporting community members to give meaningful input on air permits through training and tools, monitoring permits for denials and improvements, and building relationships with government agencies and officials to improve permits and rules.

Subaward 4 (collaborating entity) to Ingleside on the Bay Coastal Watch Association (IOBCWA) for Methods 1-3 in Aransas, Nueces, and San Patricio Counties of Texas will assist the project through collecting citizen science and other data on permitted facilities, educating community members about the air permit decision-making process using AIRMAIL, building relationships with community members and local groups, supporting community members to give meaningful input on air permits through training and tools, monitoring permits for denials and improvements, and building relationships with government agencies and officials to improve permits and rules.

**Outcomes:** The anticipated deliverables include 3 community-based research initiatives and/or research products published on environmental and climate concerns reflecting community opinions and preferences;

4,000 community residents who complete a training that builds their capacity to participate in government processes;

108 educational meetings or events held between governmental officials, decision-makers, and community members;

9 policies influenced by community recommendations (e.g., through a new advisory council, participatory budgeting, rule-making);

12 polluting permits, projects, or policies slowed or stopped.

AIR Alliance Houston

2 - TAKE DECISIVE ACTION TO ADVANCE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS 2.1 - PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS AT THE FEDERAL, TRIBAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVELS S - CROSS AGENCY STRATEGY S.1 - ENSURE SCIENTIFIC INTEGRITY AND SCIENCE-BASED DECISION MAKING S - CROSS AGENCY STRATEGY S.1 - ENSURE SCIENTIFIC INTEGRITY AND SCIENCE-BASED DECISION MAKING 6 - SAFEGUARD AND REVITALIZE COMMUNITIES 6.1 - CLEAN UP AND RESTORE LAND FOR PRODUCTIVE USES AND HEALTHY COMMUNITIES 2 - TAKE DECISIVE ACTION TO ADVANCE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS 2.1 - PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS AT THE FEDERAL, TRIBAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVELS 4 - ENSURE CLEAN AND HEALTHY AIR FOR ALL COMMUNITIES 4.1 - IMPROVE AIR QUALITY AND REDUCE LOCALIZED POLLUTION AND HEALTH IMPACTS 5 - ENSURE CLEAN AND SAFE WATER FOR ALL COMMUNITIES 5.1 - ENSURE SAFE DRINKING WATER AND RELIABLE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE 5.2 - PROTECT AND RESTORE WATERBODIES AND WATERSHEDS 6 - SAFEGUARD AND REVITALIZE COMMUNITIES 6.2 - REDUCE WASTE AND PREVENT ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION 5 - ENSURE CLEAN AND SAFE WATER FOR ALL COMMUNITIES 5.1 - ENSURE SAFE DRINKING WATER AND RELIABLE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE 2 - TAKE DECISIVE ACTION TO ADVANCE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS 2.2 - EMBED ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS INTO EPA’S PROGRAMS, POLICIES, AND ACTIVITIES 5 - ENSURE CLEAN AND SAFE WATER FOR ALL COMMUNITIES 5.1 - ENSURE SAFE DRINKING WATER AND RELIABLE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE 2 - TAKE DECISIVE ACTION TO ADVANCE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS 2.1 - PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS AT THE FEDERAL, TRIBAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVELS S - CROSS AGENCY STRATEGY S.1 - ENSURE SCIENTIFIC INTEGRITY AND SCIENCE-BASED DECISION MAKING S - CROSS AGENCY STRATEGY S.1 - ENSURE SCIENTIFIC INT

66.616 - Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grant Program

EPA Region 6: Dallas [EPA - RO]

Texas United States

State-Wide

Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program (EPA-R-OEJECR-OCS-23-04)

Termination This project grant was reported on the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) partial or complete termation list as of its last report October 2025. See All
Amendment Since initial award the End Date has been shortened from 12/31/27 to 05/01/25.