What types of projects qualify?
Projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions through landfill methane controls that go “above and beyond" federal and local regulations. Projects include, but are not limited to:
- gas collection at landfills that are not otherwise required
- enhanced oxidation layers (bio cover)
- enhanced automation of gas control systems
- fine-tuning of engineering controls
Who is eligible to apply?
Owners or operators of landfills located inside Oregon. Technology, service, utility, and contractor companies can support the grant application.
What are “above and beyond" regulations?
A key criterion for the Landfill Emission Reduction Grant project is that the funds must be used for a project that goes beyond existing state and federal requirements. In your application, you must describe any state or federal requirements that relate to the project, and how the project exceeds state and federal requirements.
If you seek to accelerate implementation of a practice that will eventually be required, you must describe how you will measure and report on the marginal (accelerated) increase in GHG emissions reductions and demonstrate a projection of future emissions reductions if funded vs. “without intervention" scenarios (for example, illustrating how accelerated implementation of the intervention will reduce emissions in the short-term, but that future emissions reductions would have happened eventually even in the absence of DEQ funding). The "without intervention" scenario should consider currently adopted state and federal requirements; applicants should not speculate about how those requirements might be changed in the future.
What Federal and State regulations should be considered?
The following are state and federal requirements to consider in your application:
- Requirements for methane emissions monitoring, reporting, collection or control in an Air Contaminant Discharge Permit (ACDP) or Title V Operating Permit.
- Requirements in Oregon's Landfill Gas Emissions regulations, Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) Chapter 340, Division 239.
- Requirements in the Oregon Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program, OAR Chapter 340, Division 215.
- Federal requirements including:
- New Source Performance Standards (NSPS), 40 CFR Part 60, subparts XXX and WWW;
- Emission Guidelines, 40 CFR Part 60, subpart Cc and Cf;
- National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP), 40 CFR Part 63, subpart AAAA; and
- Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting, 40 CFR Part 98, subparts HH and TT.
When is the application period?
- Grant application opening date: Sept. 15, 2025
- Grant application closing date: Dec. 15, 2025
Will awards be paid in full or through a reimbursement?
As the subawardee of a federal grant, awards will be distributed via a reimbursement process, the details of which will be outlined in the grant award contract. Eligible expenses can begin on the day that the contract is signed.
Can a single landfill apply for multiple projects?
Yes. In fact, DEQ will require multiple applications in such a case. For example, if a landfill owner wanted to install vertical wells in a closed cell, install wellfield optimization systems at an existing wellfield, and install a biocover (oxidation layer) in a third area of the landfill, each of these would require a separate application. This approach will allow DEQ to ensure that statewide funds are used to accomplish the greatest possible reduction in GHG emissions.
What are the grant award ranges?
DEQ understands that costs may vary widely based on type of mitigation technology proposed, the size of the project, and other site-specific considerations. DEQ will consider proposals for projects up to $3,300,00 per landfill (in the form of either a single project costing $3,300,000 or multiple projects that in total cost $3,300,000). Projects will be prioritized by their cost-effectiveness, that is, cumulative GHG reduced per dollar spent. A more expensive project may be competitive if it achieves a proportionately larger reduction in emissions.
What support will be available to applicants?
DEQ will host Information Sessions and Office Hours. * Please note that these dates are tentative and subject to change. They will generally take place within the same timeframe.
Information sessions will begin with a brief presentation. Advance registration is required. There will be time for questions after the presentation. All sessions will take place virtually and will be recorded. The recordings will be posted to the DEQ website within a week.
Information Sessions:
Thursday, Sept. 25, 3 - 4 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 14, 6 - 7 p.m
DEQ will host drop-in office hours beginning two weeks prior to the application due date of December 15. Registration is required. There will not be a formal presentation. This is an opportunity for interested applicants to drop-in and ask questions related to the application process or their project proposal. Office hours will not be recorded, but questions will be collected and shared on the DEQ website.
Office Hours:
Monday, Dec. 1, 3 - 4 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 2, 3 - 4 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 3, 3 - 4 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 4, 3 - 4 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 5, 3 - 4 p.m.
Will site visits occur?
Site visits may occur during the application review phase on a case-by-case basis. DEQ will be provided advanced notice of project milestones and will reserve the right to conduct a site visit for the milestone event.
What is the application scoring criteria?
The scoring criteria will be provided before the application period begins. Please note that, all else being equal, priority will be given to projects that offer the most cost-effective emissions reductions.
Is a project that has already begun eligible to apply?
No. This grant opportunity is for new projects. However, an eligible “project" could involve modifications to an existing “project". For example, a landfill may have installed methane capture wells as part of compliance with state and/or federal requirements. Adding new wells and tying those into the existing gas collection system would be considered a “new project" and would be eligible so long as those new wells are not required for compliance purposes. Similarly, implementing an enhanced well optimization system to an existing wellfield could be considered to be a “new project", and could be eligible so long as it is not otherwise required by, or used to comply with, federal or state laws.
What data will be required in the application?
Exact requirements will be defined in the formal request for proposals document which DEQ will publish in September. The list of data requirements provided below is preliminary. Applicants will be asked to “show their work" including model inputs and calculations.
- Model projection of GHG emissions through 2050 without intervention using EPA's LandGEM model.
- If site-specific real data is available, also include real data projection of GHG reduction with no intervention to 2050.
- Projection of GHG emissions reductions with proposed intervention. Calculations for greenhouse gas emissions reductions are based on avoided methane emissions due to the awarded project.
- How project emissions reductions will be measured. Due to the wide range of potential projects, DEQ is not providing a specific model to use for this measurement. You must submit the following:
- Description of the emissions reduction estimation method in the Application Sampling and Analysis Plan (SAP).
- Detailed information on how the reduction projections are prepared.
- If awarded, emissions reductions estimations must be conducted throughout the project using the methods describes in the Finalized SAP and QAPP.
- Contract terms may include “You must implement the QAPP and final SAP as approved by DEQ".
If site specific reductions emissions data is collected during the project term, this data will be compared to the estimated (modeled) reductions.
What administrative requirements apply to these grants?
The Landfill Emission Reduction Grant Project is funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program. DEQ is implementing the CERTA program—a $197 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency, which was awarded through a nationwide competitive process. The Landfill Emission Reduction Grant project is one component of the CERTA program. As this is a federal grant, all federal requirements and regulations flow down to Landfill Emission Reduction Grant recipients.
Are Landfill Emission Reduction Grant recipients subject to Build America, Buy America compliance?
Yes. The Landfill Emissions Reductions funding was awarded to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality through the EPA's Climate Pollution Reduction Grants Program. Therefore, subawardees are subject to BABA compliance. Please refer to the EPA's Frequently asked Questions document for CPRG funding recipients.
Are Landfill Emission Reduction Grant recipients subject to Davis Bacon and Related Acts compliance?
Yes. The Landfill Emissions Reductions funding was awarded to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality through the EPA's Climate Pollution Reduction Grants Program. Therefore, subawardees are subject to DBRA compliance. Please refer to the EPA's CPRG DBRA Frequently Asked Questions Guidance Document.
Other Questions not answered above?
Please ask your questions via submitting a Landfill Emissions Reduction Survey by Friday, June 6 at 5 p.m. PT.