FY 2026 State Damage Prevention
Can you apply?
This grant is for state governments and municipalities working to prevent damage to underground pipeline facilities. Eligible applicants are state authorities or municipalities (for intrastate gas) designated by the state governor in writing. The state must participate in pipeline oversight through a current 49 U.S.C. §60105 certification or §60106 agreement with PHMSA. This funding supports establishing new damage prevention programs or strengthening existing ones.
The grant encourages implementation of nine best practices. These include operator-excavator communication, stakeholder partnerships, locator performance measures, employee training, public education, enforcement support, fair law enforcement, technology improvements, and data analysis for continuous improvement.
This grant is for state governments and municipalities working to prevent damage to underground pipeline facilities. Eligible applicants are state authorities or municipalities (for intrastate gas) designated by the state governor in writing. The state must participate in pipeline oversight through a current 49 U.S.C. §60105 certification or §60106 agreement with PHMSA. This funding supports establishing new damage prevention programs or strengthening existing ones.
The grant encourages implementation of nine best practices. These include operator-excavator communication, stakeholder partnerships, locator performance measures, employee training, public education, enforcement support, fair law enforcement, technology improvements, and data analysis for continuous improvement.
Program description
The purpose of the Damage Prevention grants is to establish comprehensive state programs designed to prevent damage to underground pipelines in states that do not have such programs and to improve damage prevention programs in states that do. States are encouraged to implement the following nine elements of an effective damage prevention program:
Element 1 ¿ Enhanced Communication between Operators and Excavators
Element 2 ¿ Fostering Support and Partnership of all Stakeholders
Element 3 ¿ Operator¿s Use of Performance Measures for Locators
Element 4 ¿ Partnership in Employee Training
Element 5 ¿ Partnership in Public Education
Element 6 ¿ Enforcement Agencies¿ Role to Help Resolve Issues
Element 7 ¿ Fair and Consistent Enforcement of the Law
Element 8 ¿ Use of Technology to Improve the Locating Process
Element 9 ¿ Data Analysis to Continually Improve Program Effectiveness
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Details
This grant is for state governments and municipalities working to prevent damage to underground pipeline facilities. Eligible applicants are state authorities or municipalities (for intrastate gas) designated by the state governor in writing. The state must participate in pipeline oversight through a current 49 U.S.C. §60105 certification or §60106 agreement with PHMSA. This funding supports establishing new damage prevention programs or strengthening existing ones.
The grant encourages implementation of nine best practices. These include operator-excavator communication, stakeholder partnerships, locator performance measures, employee training, public education, enforcement support, fair law enforcement, technology improvements, and data analysis for continuous improvement.
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Governor's written designation of eligible recipient
- Project narrative describing program components
- Budget and budget narrative
- Proof of PHMSA pipeline oversight agreement
- Letters of support from stakeholder partners
Program contact
- 👤 Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Admin
- 📧 richard.yirenkyi@dot.gov
- 📞 2023664243
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 20.720 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$437,355
-
$99,652
-
$99,030
-
$97,001
-
$97,001
-
$97,001
-
$97,001
-
$97,001
-
$97,001
-
$97,001
Top States by Funding
- AK 1 awards $0.4M
- MI 4 awards $0.4M
- NE 3 awards $0.3M
- NJ 3 awards $0.3M
- IN 3 awards $0.2M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 20.720). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $1,500,000 | |
| 2025 | $1,500,000 | |
| 2026 est. | $1,500,000 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
State authorities or municipalities (for intrastate gas) designated by the state governor. The state must have an active pipeline oversight agreement with PHMSA under federal law.
What is the funding range?
Awards range from $4,000 to $100,000. The total funding pool is approximately $1.5 million for all eligible states.
What activities does this grant support?
The grant funds nine core elements: operator-excavator communication, stakeholder partnerships, locator performance measures, employee training, public education, enforcement support, fair law enforcement, technology use, and data analysis.
Is cost-sharing required?
No. This grant does not require matching funds or cost-sharing from applicants.
What is the deadline?
The deadline is June 19, 2026. This is a fixed deadline, not rolling.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Confirm your state has an active PHMSA pipeline oversight agreement before applying. This is a hard eligibility requirement, not optional.
- Obtain written designation from your state governor before submitting. Without it, your application will be ineligible.
- Focus your proposal on the nine elements PHMSA prioritizes. Show which elements you'll implement and why they address your state's pipeline safety gaps.
- Demonstrate partnerships with operators, excavators, locators, and enforcement agencies. PHMSA expects collaborative approaches to work.
- Use data from past damage incidents or near-misses to justify your program design. Specific examples strengthen competitiveness.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications lacking written governor designation are immediately disqualified. States without active PHMSA oversight agreements cannot apply. Proposals that ignore the nine core elements or fail to explain how funding will be used miss the grant's intent.
Similar grants
- OPEN 2026 JAG/SCIP Innovation — Iowa Governor's Office of Drug Control Policy
- OPEN IOWAccess Program FY26 — Iowa Administrative Services
- CLOSED 2025 AGR Pulse Research & Market Development Program — Montana Department of Agriculture
- CLOSED 2018 March – AGR Pulse Research & Market Development Program — Montana Department of Agriculture
- CLOSED Transit Operating & Capital Grants FY22 — Montana Department of Transportation