State Fire Commissioner Announces 2022 Act 13 Unconventional Gas Well Fund Grant Program Applications Now Being Accepted
Harrisburg, PA – Acting State Fire Commissioner Charles McGarvey announced today the application period for the 2022 Act 13 Unconventional Gas Well Fund (UGWF) grant program will open as of August 22, 2022.
“Grant programs like these are an integral part of how we fund the fire service in the commonwealth,” McGarvey said. “Departments are struggling with a variety of impacts from declining volunteer rates, increased costs, and fewer public donations. We want to make sure qualified departments get access to this much-needed state support as quickly as possible.”
Fire companies, rescue companies and emergency medical services throughout the 40 counties in which unconventional gas wells are located, or counties that directly border those counties, are eligible to apply for the grants.
Eligible projects in accordance with the 2022 UGWF Grant Program provided by the Act 13 of 2012, include development, delivery and sustainment of training, professional certification or the acquisition of specialized equipment for emergency responses relating to natural gas production from unconventional gas wells.
Eligible projects include:
- Obtaining professional national certification of members.
- Purchase of firefighting, emergency medical, rescue or air monitoring equipment used at or related to an unconventional gas well pad incident on, or related to, an unconventional gas well pad. All equipment purchased through the Program will also include training on the equipment provided by the PSFA at no additional costs to the grant recipient(s).
- Training classes and required educational materials to prepare for incidents at an unconventional gas well pad or related to the unconventional gas industry.
The on-line application period begins Monday, August 22, 2022, and will remain open until Friday, October 21, 2022, at 4 p.m. Detailed information about the program and instructions on how to apply is available online at www.OSFC.pa.gov.