Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA G2018 STAR B2
This EPA Science to Achieve Results (STAR) early-career funding opportunity focuses on practical, decision-ready research to better analyze, understand, and reduce risks from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) associated with solid waste management. The program is aimed at PFAS in and around landfills and other disposal or materials-management settings, including PFAS in landfill leachate, wastewater or leachates more broadly, biosolids, soils, and groundwater. The overarching intent is to generate knowledge and tools that translate into improved real-world management practices and technologies that protect human health and ecosystems, rather than purely theoretical studies.
The solicitation lays out three main research thrusts. First, it seeks improved understanding and characterization of what PFAS are present, and in what quantities, in both current and legacy PFAS-containing wastes tied to waste disposal activities. This includes studying PFAS in disposed consumer or industrial materials as well as tracking where those compounds end up in associated media such as landfill leachate collected on-site, or PFAS that migrate into subsurface soils and groundwater. Projects responsive to this area would help clarify the “PFAS inventory” problem: which PFAS and PFAS-containing products are entering waste streams, how concentrations vary by waste type and facility conditions, and how those profiles differ for historical versus modern sources.
Second, the EPA is looking for research that strengthens understanding of PFAS fate and transport during materials management, including the potential for degradation, transformation, or other chemical and physical changes that may alter mobility or toxicity. The announcement specifically points to landfill-relevant conditions like pH, temperature, and moisture content, and how these factors can either promote or hinder transformation and movement. In practice, this thrust emphasizes mechanisms: how PFAS partition between solids and water, how they move through waste matrices and engineered barriers, whether precursor compounds convert into terminal perfluoroalkyl acids, and what site conditions control leaching rates or retention in waste and soils. The goal is to reduce uncertainty about when and why PFAS migrate from waste repositories into surrounding environmental media.
Third, the opportunity calls for new or improved methods that are demonstrably more effective, more efficient (including cost and energy), and more practical for controlling, treating, destroying, or removing PFAS. The scope here is broad and application-driven, covering PFAS in solid waste, wastewater, landfill leachates, biosolids, and impacted environmental media such as soils and groundwater. This can include treatment approaches that prevent release, capture PFAS before discharge, or destroy PFAS rather than simply transferring them to another phase. A key theme is practicality: the EPA is signaling interest in methods that can realistically be implemented by utilities, landfill operators, or remediation practitioners, including considerations like operational complexity, residuals management, and overall life-cycle implications.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary EPA funding opportunity under CFDA 66.509, offered through cooperative agreements and/or grants. The funding opportunity number is EPA G2018 STAR B2. The award ceiling is $500,000, and the agency anticipated making about three awards. The opportunity was posted August 20, 2018, with an original closing date of October 2, 2018 (with applicants directed to consult the full announcement, especially Section IV, for submission requirements and eligibility details). Eligibility is listed broadly as “Others,” with clarification expected in the full text under the eligibility section.
Taken together, the program is designed to push innovation across the full chain of PFAS management in waste contexts: identifying and measuring PFAS sources and mixtures in disposal settings, predicting and explaining how PFAS move and change under realistic landfill and environmental conditions, and delivering treatment or control methods that are feasible at operational scale. The EPA’s stated end result is improved decision-making and technical practice that meaningfully lowers exposure and ecological impacts, especially where PFAS can leave landfills or waste systems via leachate, wastewater pathways, soil infiltration, or groundwater contamination.Apply for EPA G2018 STAR B2
- The Environmental Protection Agency in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Early Career: Practical Methods to Analyze and Treat Emerging Contaminants (PFAS) in Solid Waste, Landfills, Wastewater/Leachates, Soils, and Groundwater to Protect Human Health and the Environment" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 66.509.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 20, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 02, 2018 Please see the announcement including Section IV for additional submission information. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this EPA funding opportunity about?
This EPA Science to Achieve Results (STAR) early-career opportunity supports practical, decision-ready research to better analyze, understand, and reduce risks from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) associated with solid waste management. The emphasis is on research that translates into real-world management practices and technologies that protect human health and ecosystems, rather than purely theoretical studies.
What kinds of PFAS-related settings are in scope?
The opportunity focuses on PFAS in and around landfills and other disposal or materials-management settings. Examples specifically mentioned include PFAS in landfill leachate, wastewater or leachates more broadly, biosolids, soils, and groundwater.
What is the overall goal of the program?
The overarching intent is to generate knowledge and tools that improve real-world management practices and technologies. The desired end result is improved decision-making and technical practice that meaningfully lowers exposure and ecological impacts, especially where PFAS can leave landfills or waste systems via leachate, wastewater pathways, soil infiltration, or groundwater contamination.
How is this opportunity oriented: theoretical research or applied research?
The solicitation emphasizes applied, practical, decision-ready research. It signals a preference for work that can translate into improved operational practices and implementable technologies, rather than research that remains purely conceptual.
What are the main research thrusts in the solicitation?
The solicitation describes three main thrusts: (1) improved understanding and characterization of PFAS present in current and legacy PFAS-containing wastes tied to disposal activities, (2) improved understanding of PFAS fate and transport during materials management (including degradation/transformation and factors affecting mobility), and (3) new or improved methods that are more effective, more efficient, and more practical for controlling, treating, destroying, or removing PFAS.
What does the first research thrust focus on?
The first thrust seeks improved understanding and characterization of which PFAS are present and in what quantities in both current and legacy PFAS-containing wastes associated with waste disposal. It includes studying PFAS in disposed consumer or industrial materials and tracking where these compounds end up in associated media such as on-site collected landfill leachate or PFAS that migrate into subsurface soils and groundwater.
What is meant by the “PFAS inventory” problem?
In this solicitation, the “PFAS inventory” problem refers to clarifying which PFAS and PFAS-containing products are entering waste streams, how concentrations vary by waste type and facility conditions, and how PFAS profiles differ between historical (legacy) and modern sources.
What kinds of media and pathways are relevant under the first thrust?
Relevant media and pathways mentioned include disposed materials in landfills or disposal settings, landfill leachate collected on-site, and PFAS that migrate into subsurface soils and groundwater.
What does the second research thrust focus on?
The second thrust aims to strengthen understanding of PFAS fate and transport during materials management, including potential degradation, transformation, or other chemical and physical changes that may alter mobility or toxicity.
Which landfill-relevant conditions are explicitly highlighted for fate and transport research?
The announcement points to conditions such as pH, temperature, and moisture content, and how these factors can promote or hinder PFAS transformation and movement.
What mechanisms or processes are of interest under the fate and transport thrust?
The solicitation emphasizes mechanisms such as how PFAS partition between solids and water, how they move through waste matrices and engineered barriers, whether precursor compounds convert into terminal perfluoroalkyl acids, and what site conditions control leaching rates or retention in waste and soils.
What is the practical purpose of studying PFAS fate and transport?
The goal is to reduce uncertainty about when and why PFAS migrate from waste repositories into surrounding environmental media, improving the ability to predict releases and inform management decisions.
What does the third research thrust focus on?
The third thrust calls for new or improved methods that are demonstrably more effective, more efficient (including cost and energy), and more practical for controlling, treating, destroying, or removing PFAS.
What types of treatment or control approaches are in scope under the third thrust?
The scope is broad and application-driven, covering PFAS in solid waste, wastewater, landfill leachates, biosolids, and impacted environmental media such as soils and groundwater. It can include approaches that prevent release, capture PFAS before discharge, or destroy PFAS rather than transferring them to another phase.
What does the EPA mean by “practical” methods in this solicitation?
A key theme is implementability by real-world operators such as utilities, landfill operators, or remediation practitioners. Practical considerations mentioned include operational complexity, residuals management, and overall life-cycle implications.
Is the program interested in PFAS destruction versus transfer to another phase?
Yes. The solicitation explicitly notes interest in methods that destroy PFAS rather than simply transferring them to another phase, while also considering practical implementation factors.
What kinds of outcomes is EPA hoping for from funded projects?
The intended outcomes include improved knowledge and tools that translate into better management practices and technologies, improved decision-making, and reduced human and ecological risks from PFAS associated with solid waste management, especially via leachate, wastewater, soil infiltration, and groundwater pathways.
What type of funding mechanism is used for this opportunity?
This is a discretionary EPA funding opportunity offered through cooperative agreements and/or grants.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number is 66.509.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is EPA G2018 STAR B2.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $500,000.
How many awards did the EPA anticipate making?
The agency anticipated making about three awards.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on August 20, 2018.
What was the original application closing date?
The original closing date was October 2, 2018.
Where should applicants look for submission requirements and eligibility details?
Applicants are directed to consult the full announcement, especially Section IV, for submission requirements and eligibility details.
Who is eligible to apply, based on the provided summary?
Eligibility is listed broadly as “Others,” with clarification expected in the full text under the eligibility section.
Does this opportunity include both current and legacy PFAS waste issues?
Yes. The first research thrust explicitly includes both current and legacy PFAS-containing wastes tied to waste disposal activities, and it highlights differences between historical versus modern sources.
Which environmental media are specifically mentioned as impacted media of interest?
In addition to solid waste itself, the solicitation specifically mentions landfill leachate, wastewater or leachates more broadly, biosolids, soils, and groundwater, including impacted environmental media such as soils and groundwater.
What kinds of decision-making improvements does the EPA want this research to support?
The program is designed to deliver knowledge and tools that improve real-world management decisions and technical practice in waste contexts, particularly where PFAS may move from waste repositories into leachate, wastewater pathways, soil, or groundwater.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Environment
Next opportunity: Rural Health Network Development Planning Program
Previous opportunity: Innovative Design Concepts for Standard Modular Hydropower and Pumped-Storage Hydropower
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for EPA G2018 STAR B2
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (EPA G2018 STAR B2) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Tracing the Sources and Depositional History of Mercury to National Parks Apply for P18AS00553 Funding Number: P18AS00553 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Environment Funding Amount: $31,659 |
| Aquatic Resources Data Stewardship and Analysis for the New River Gorge National River, Gauley River National Recreation Area, and Bluestone National Scenic River in West Virginia Apply for NPS 18 NERO 0152 Funding Number: NPS 18 NERO 0152 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Environment Funding Amount: $89,602 |
| Captive Propagation and Reintroduction of Large-flowered Fiddleneck (Amsinckia grandiflora) in Contra Costa, Alameda, and San Joaquin Counties, California - Phase 2 Monitoring Apply for BOR MP 18 N035 Funding Number: BOR MP 18 N035 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation Category: Environment Funding Amount: $273,464 |
| MANAGEMENT, INVASIVE VEGITATION WAKE ISLAND AIRFIELD Apply for POA52AF CESU 18 5 Funding Number: POA52AF CESU 18 5 Agency: Department of Defense, Alaska District Category: Environment Funding Amount: $600,000 |
| Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) Apply for BOR MP 18 N032 Funding Number: BOR MP 18 N032 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation Category: Environment Funding Amount: $129,739 |
| INRMP MARINE SURVEYS WAKE ISLAND Apply for POA57AF CESU 18 07 Funding Number: POA57AF CESU 18 07 Agency: Department of Defense, Alaska District Category: Environment Funding Amount: $775,000 |
| Notice of Intent to Award to Navajo Nation Apply for BOR LC 18 N009 Funding Number: BOR LC 18 N009 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation Category: Environment Funding Amount: $400,000 |
| Notice of Intent to Award to the University of Arizona Apply for OR LC 18 N015 Funding Number: OR LC 18 N015 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation Category: Environment Funding Amount: $89,051 |
| Notice of Intent to Award to the University of Arizona Apply for BOR LC 18 N015 Funding Number: BOR LC 18 N015 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation Category: Environment Funding Amount: $89,051 |
| Collaborative Implementation of Chesapeake Programs & Projects Apply for NPS 18 NERO 0160 Funding Number: NPS 18 NERO 0160 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Environment Funding Amount: $653,481 |
| White Clay Watershed Management Plan Implementation Apply for NPS 18 NERO 0163 Funding Number: NPS 18 NERO 0163 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Environment Funding Amount: $120,000 |
| 15.670 Adaptive Science Apply for F18AS00323 Funding Number: F18AS00323 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Environment Funding Amount: $93,500 |
| 15.658 Natural Resource Damage Assessment, Restoration and Implementation Apply for F18AS00325 Funding Number: F18AS00325 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Environment Funding Amount: $342,450 |
| 15.658 Natural Resource Damage Assessment, Restoration and Implementation Apply for F18AS00326 Funding Number: F18AS00326 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Environment Funding Amount: $568,521 |
| Notice of Intent to Award to the Hopi Tribe Apply for BOR LC 18 N016 Funding Number: BOR LC 18 N016 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation Category: Environment Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| James River Public Access, Recreational & Educational Programs Apply for NPS 18 NERO 0172 Funding Number: NPS 18 NERO 0172 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Environment Funding Amount: $182,100 |
| 15.678 Apply for F18AS00329 Funding Number: F18AS00329 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Environment Funding Amount: $179,735 |
| Clean Vessel Act Apply for F18AS00250 Funding Number: F18AS00250 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Environment Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| Lower Delaware Wild and Scenic River Assistance Apply for NPS 18 NERO 0183 Funding Number: NPS 18 NERO 0183 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Environment Funding Amount: $35,000 |
| Resource Access, Programming & Visitor Services Apply for NPS 18 NERO 0184 Funding Number: NPS 18 NERO 0184 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Environment Funding Amount: $121,500 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "EPA G2018 STAR B2", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.