NCDC Funding: Philadelphia NCDC Funding: Philadelphia Port Equipment Project Port Equipment Project

Presented By:

Eric Cheung, Esq.

Senior Attorney, Clean Air Council

Coordinator, Philadelphia Diesel Difference

EPA Funding Forum, April 23, 2007

Background Background Information: Clean Air Information: Clean Air CouncilCouncil

• 501(c)3 nonprofit grassroots group, incorporated 501(c)3 nonprofit grassroots group, incorporated 19671967

• Protects everyone’s right to breathe clean, healthful Protects everyone’s right to breathe clean, healthful airair

• Over 7,000 members in Pennsylvania and DelawareOver 7,000 members in Pennsylvania and Delaware• Acts through outreach and education, legislative Acts through outreach and education, legislative

advocacy, and sometimes litigationadvocacy, and sometimes litigation• Programs include renewable energy, sustainable Programs include renewable energy, sustainable

transportation, waste and recyclingtransportation, waste and recycling• Relies primarily on foundation grants and Relies primarily on foundation grants and

governmental contracts for fundinggovernmental contracts for funding

Background Background Information: Information: Philadelphia Diesel Philadelphia Diesel DifferenceDifference

• Formed in 2003 after successful Philadelphia Formed in 2003 after successful Philadelphia Air Management Services (AMS) conferenceAir Management Services (AMS) conference

• Supports the voluntary implementation of clean Supports the voluntary implementation of clean diesel technologies on diesel powered enginesdiesel technologies on diesel powered engines

• Works through outreach and education, Works through outreach and education, funding, technical assistance, non-monetary funding, technical assistance, non-monetary recognition. recognition.

• Over 40 public/private partnersOver 40 public/private partners• Active MDC participantActive MDC participant• Co-administered by the Council and AMSCo-administered by the Council and AMS

Background Background Information: Port Information: Port Environmental Task Environmental Task ForceForce• 2004 EPA Region III Report indicates non-road 2004 EPA Region III Report indicates non-road

(port and construction) emissions account for two-(port and construction) emissions account for two-thirds of all diesel PM in Philadelphia regionthirds of all diesel PM in Philadelphia region

• Port Task Force formed as subcommittee of Port Task Force formed as subcommittee of Philadelphia Diesel Difference in May, 2005 to Philadelphia Diesel Difference in May, 2005 to address diesel emissions at the Philadelphia Portsaddress diesel emissions at the Philadelphia Ports

• Administered by Clean Air Council through EPA Administered by Clean Air Council through EPA CARE grantCARE grant

• Scope of Task Force goes beyond diesel emissions Scope of Task Force goes beyond diesel emissions to encompass multimedia environmental issuesto encompass multimedia environmental issues

• Goal is to reduce the environmental impact of port Goal is to reduce the environmental impact of port activities on neighboring communities in activities on neighboring communities in Philadelphia Philadelphia

The Funding Process: RFAThe Funding Process: RFA

• NCDC Demonstration Assistance AgreementNCDC Demonstration Assistance Agreement• Dates: May, 2005 (RFA announced), July 1, 2005 Dates: May, 2005 (RFA announced), July 1, 2005

(application due), October 2005 (projects commence)(application due), October 2005 (projects commence)• Administered nationally by EPAAdministered nationally by EPA• Parameters: 8-12 cooperative agreements, $50,000 Parameters: 8-12 cooperative agreements, $50,000

to $150,000 anticipated ($200,000 max for individual to $150,000 anticipated ($200,000 max for individual agreement, $800,000 available overall)agreement, $800,000 available overall)

• Expectations: projects demonstrate use of verified Expectations: projects demonstrate use of verified pollution reduction technologies in non-road pollution reduction technologies in non-road applications, such as construction and port-related applications, such as construction and port-related activitiesactivities

• Submissions by email required (grants.gov optional)Submissions by email required (grants.gov optional)• Eligibility: Gov’t, tribe, university, nonprofitEligibility: Gov’t, tribe, university, nonprofit

The Funding Process: Anatomy The Funding Process: Anatomy of Clean Air Council’s Proposalof Clean Air Council’s Proposal

• Project Goal: Retrofit up to 36 cargo-Project Goal: Retrofit up to 36 cargo-handling equipment with a combination of handling equipment with a combination of DPFs and/or DOCs along with offset for DPFs and/or DOCs along with offset for ULSDULSD

• Applicant: The Council through PDDApplicant: The Council through PDD• Partners: PDD Stakeholders (vendors and Partners: PDD Stakeholders (vendors and

fuel suppliers)fuel suppliers)• Fleets: Philadelphia Port FacilitiesFleets: Philadelphia Port Facilities• Budget: $89,500 – equipment/fuel costs; Budget: $89,500 – equipment/fuel costs;

$10,500 – labor costs ($100,000 requested $10,500 – labor costs ($100,000 requested from EPA)from EPA)

The Funding Process: The Funding Process: Weaknesses of ProposalWeaknesses of Proposal

• No specific Port facility identifiedNo specific Port facility identified

• No specificity of port equipment to No specificity of port equipment to be retrofitted be retrofitted

• No vendor and/or fuel supplier No vendor and/or fuel supplier chosenchosen

• No technology specifiedNo technology specified

The Funding Process: The Funding Process: Strengths of ProposalStrengths of Proposal• The Council and PDD possessed the The Council and PDD possessed the

resources to overcome weaknesses:resources to overcome weaknesses:– PDD stakeholder group provided access to PDD stakeholder group provided access to

necessary technical expertise (vendors, fuel necessary technical expertise (vendors, fuel suppliers)suppliers)

– PDD also had a Port Subcommittee or Task PDD also had a Port Subcommittee or Task Force, which was establishing a relationship with Force, which was establishing a relationship with the Port Authority the Port Authority

– Possessed EPA-commissioned inventory of port Possessed EPA-commissioned inventory of port facility equipmentfacility equipment

– Over two years of experience working on clean Over two years of experience working on clean diesel projectsdiesel projects

– Success in working with school districts to apply Success in working with school districts to apply for and receive funding for clean diesel projectsfor and receive funding for clean diesel projects

The Funding Process: The Funding Process: Strengths of ProposalStrengths of Proposal

• Made a case for EPA organizational interest Made a case for EPA organizational interest in proposalin proposal– Demonstration project would be at a high profile port Demonstration project would be at a high profile port

facility in a part of the country that has not seen as much facility in a part of the country that has not seen as much work done to address port emissionswork done to address port emissions

– Funding for port project would complement and support Funding for port project would complement and support the work of a separate EPA grantthe work of a separate EPA grant

– Provided part of the solution to a problem raised in a Provided part of the solution to a problem raised in a regional diesel particulate assessment report issued the regional diesel particulate assessment report issued the prior yearprior year

– Project situated in a nonattainment area for PM2.5Project situated in a nonattainment area for PM2.5

• Council had over 10 years of experience in Council had over 10 years of experience in government contract management, government contract management, including EPA contractsincluding EPA contracts

The Funding Process: The Funding Process: Strengths of ProposalStrengths of Proposal

• NCDC funding would be contributing to a NCDC funding would be contributing to a project likely to continue due to existence project likely to continue due to existence of PDD and Port Task Forceof PDD and Port Task Force

• In kind match to be provided by vendor In kind match to be provided by vendor worth $72,000 (72% of amount being worth $72,000 (72% of amount being requested)requested)

• Letter of support from Johnson Matthey, Letter of support from Johnson Matthey, substantiating project costs and in kind substantiating project costs and in kind matchmatch

The Funding Process: Benefits The Funding Process: Benefits of Having a Working of Having a Working Relationship with EPARelationship with EPA• Member of PDD and Port Task ForceMember of PDD and Port Task Force

• PDD and The Council were alerted to this PDD and The Council were alerted to this grant in advancegrant in advance

• Available to bounce ideas off of and to Available to bounce ideas off of and to offer advice on developing our projectoffer advice on developing our project

• Provided other useful information (i.e., Provided other useful information (i.e., dearth of port proposals for Region 3)dearth of port proposals for Region 3)

The Funding Process: The Funding Process: InsightsInsights• Timeframe – Relatively quick turnaround – Timeframe – Relatively quick turnaround –

2-3 weeks2-3 weeks– Natural fit between PDD/Port Task Force and RFA Natural fit between PDD/Port Task Force and RFA

objectivesobjectives– Developing a project idea that met RFA Developing a project idea that met RFA

requirements was essential; writing the proposal requirements was essential; writing the proposal was not time-consumingwas not time-consuming

• Forms – Relatively stress-freeForms – Relatively stress-free– Council/PDD experienced in required forms and Council/PDD experienced in required forms and

documentsdocuments– EPA helped by asking particular applicants for EPA helped by asking particular applicants for

certain forms only after it intended to award certain forms only after it intended to award them fundingthem funding

The Funding Process: The Funding Process: InsightsInsights

• EPA uses a flexible, hands-on EPA uses a flexible, hands-on approach with its award recipientsapproach with its award recipients– Nature of cooperative agreementsNature of cooperative agreements– Worked with the Council after selecting Worked with the Council after selecting

its proposal to ensure proposal its proposal to ensure proposal conformed with EPA requirementsconformed with EPA requirements

– EPA very responsive to questions about EPA very responsive to questions about or modifications to cooperative or modifications to cooperative agreements agreements

Lessons LearnedLessons Learned

• Lead with a sound project idea, NOT with Lead with a sound project idea, NOT with the RFA – seeds of a proposal should the RFA – seeds of a proposal should already exist prior to announcement of already exist prior to announcement of funding availabilityfunding availability

• Develop working relationship with EPADevelop working relationship with EPA

• Include partners and support/commitment Include partners and support/commitment letters to strengthen proposalletters to strengthen proposal

• Remember the value of in kind matches Remember the value of in kind matches (EPA ultimately funded 57% of total cost of (EPA ultimately funded 57% of total cost of project)project)

Project UpdateProject Update

• Retrofit of 70+ yard jockeys and top picks Retrofit of 70+ yard jockeys and top picks with DOCs currently taking place at Packerwith DOCs currently taking place at Packer

• Project expected to be completed Spring, Project expected to be completed Spring, 20072007

• Cummins providing DOCs and $72,000 as in Cummins providing DOCs and $72,000 as in kind match (consulting, installation and kind match (consulting, installation and delivery costs + equipment discounts)delivery costs + equipment discounts)

• Contact information:Contact information:Eric Cheung (Eric Cheung (echeung@cleanair.orgecheung@cleanair.org))215-567-4004 x 114215-567-4004 x 114www.cleanair.org/dieseldifferencewww.cleanair.org/dieseldifferencewww.cleanair.org/greenportswww.cleanair.org/greenports