Seaport and Rail Yard Areas Emissions Reduction (SPRY) Program
A Program of the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP)
How Do I Know if I Am Eligible for a Grant?
This tab lists general eligibility criteria for the SPRY Program. Interested applicants should read the Request for Grant Applications (RFGA) before applying for a grant.
Read the RFGA
- Individuals, corporations, organizations, governments or governmental subdivisions or agencies, and/or any other legal entity. This may include a corporation headquartered outside of Texas that operates eligible equipment in Texas.
- Any person or entity is eligible to apply for funding if, for at least two years preceding the submission date of the application, the applicant has:
- owned or leased an on-road vehicle, non-road yard truck or other cargo handling equipment eligible to be replaced under the program; and
- operated the vehicle or equipment in one or more of the designated seaports or rail yards for a minimum of 200 days per year (12-month period) for the preceding two years (24-month period).
- Eligible applicants must also have legal authority to dispose of the vehicle or equipment and engine being replaced or repowered.
- Models of drayage trucks and cargo handling equipment eligible for purchase to replace an existing drayage truck or cargo handling equipment under the program include:
- a heavy-duty on-road vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) over 26,000 pounds;
- a non-road yard truck; and
- other cargo handling equipment.
- To be eligible for purchase under this program a drayage truck or cargo handling equipment must:
- be powered by an electric motor or contain an engine certified to the current federal emissions standards; and
- emit NOx at a rate that is at least 25% less than the emissions rate of the engine on the truck or equipment being replaced.
- In general, the replacement drayage truck or cargo handling equipment must be of the same type, power range, weight category, and body and axle configuration as the drayage truck or cargo handling equipment being replaced. The TCEQ may accept, in specific cases, vehicles or equipment of a different type, power range, weight category, or body and axle configuration to account for the latest technology, vehicle or equipment type used for certain drayage or other cargo handling purposes:
- replacement of an on-road heavy-duty vehicle used solely for moving cargo in an eligible facility with an on-road or non-road yard truck;
- replacement of an on-road yard truck with a non-road yard truck, or vice versa; and
- replacement of certain types of cargo handling equipment used specifically for container handling with a different type of cargo handling equipment that is also used for container handling.
Please refer to the SPRY RFGA for more detailed information on eligibility requirements.
Applicants must operate the grant-funded equipment for a minimum of 200 days per year in the eligible seaport terminals and Class I intermodal Rail Yards located in the state's air quality nonattainment areas.
In addition to these specific terminals and rail yards, other participating facilities of the Houston Ship Channel Security District (HSCSD) will be considered. If an applicant is not able to determine whether a facility is part of the HSCSD or is otherwise not sure of the eligibility of a facility, the applicant should contact the TCEQ for help determining whether a particular facility is eligible.
Eligible Seaports: Port of Houston
Port of Galveston
Port of Freeport
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Eligible Class I Intermodal Rail Yards: Dallas-Fort Worth
El Paso
Houston-Galveston-Brazoria
San Antonio
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- For on-road projects, grant recipients must agree to operate the grant-funded truck for 50%, 75%, or 100% of the annual and total usage in the nonattainment areas and affected counties.
- For non-road projects, grant recipients must agree to operate the grant-funded non-road yard truck or other cargo handling equipment for 75%, or 100% of the annual and total usage in the nonattainment areas and affected counties.
- Grant recipients must agree to operate the grant funded vehicle or equipment at one or more of the designated seaports or rail yards for a minimum of 200 days per year (12-month period).
- The grant recipient must agree to monitor the use of the grant-funded vehicles for five years and provide annual reports on the use of the grant-funded vehicles to the TCEQ.
This page outlines the process for completing and submitting a grant application under the Seaport and Rail Yard Areas Emissions Reduction Program.
Follow these steps:
Review the following documents before completing and submitting the Application Forms:
Request for Grant Applications (RFGA): The RFGA is the formal announcement of funding opportunities under the SPRY program and serves as a guide for determining applicant eligibility. |
SPRY Guidelines: The SPRY Guidelines contain the eligibility criteria for the SPRY program. Please note that the Guidelines are currently under revision and for the FY20 grant round, Victoria County is not included in the list of nonattainment or other affected counties. |
SPRY Example Contract: The SPRY Example Contract contains the terms and conditions which are the legal criteria that an applicant must follow if awarded a grant under the SPRY Program. |
Addendum 1: This addendum serves to amend the RFGA and Application Form. |
Download the Maximum Eligible Grant Amount Table Instructions and Table(s) applicable to your project. Match the engine emissions model year and GVWR or horsepower range of your old equipment with the percent of use commitment in the table. Applicants may be eligible for up to the maximum grant amount listed for the type of activity or 80% of the eligible costs, whichever is less.
Please contact the TERP program at 1-800-919-TERP if the tables listed do not accommodate a specific vehicle/equipment activity.
Maximum Eligible Grant Amount Table Instructions | Instructions (PDF) |
These instructions apply to all of the tables listed below. | ![]() |
The TCEQ requires applicants to complete the W-9 to certify their Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN). The W-9 Form must be submitted with the Application Forms.
W-9 Form- Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification
Complete your application using the instructions provided. Applicants must complete and submit via regular or express mail two (2) original signed copies of the application and W-9 Form in order to be considered for eligibility. Application forms submitted electronically will not be accepted.
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Air Grants Division
SPRY, MC-204
P.O. Box 13087
Austin, TX 78711-3087
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Air Grants Division
SPRY, MC-204
12100 Park 35 Circle, Bldg. F
Austin, TX 78753
Questions on obtaining the SPRY RFGA and Example Contract, determining the eligibility of a project, or completing and submitting applications? Contact TERP staff to discuss.
SPRY Reports
The SPRY Project List and Project Summary Reports through August 31, 2018 are provided below.
SPRY Workshop Presentations
The SPRY Application Workshop presentation is provided below. The presentation provides an overview of SPRY program goals, eligibility criteria, the application process, and usage commitment.
Tools & Links:
The following tools and links are provided to assist applicants in completing an application under the SPRY Program.
These links are provided to assist you in determining the engine family code and federal emission standard for on-road and non-road vehicles/equipment.
Questions or Comments?
If you have questions regarding the TCEQ's Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP) program, you may contact us toll free at 800-919-TERP (8377).
You may also contact us by email at terp@tceq.texas.gov or send correspondence to the following addresses:
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Air Grants Division
Grant Development & Management Section, MC-204
P.O. Box 13087
Austin, TX 78711-3087
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Air Grants Division
Grant Development & Management Section, MC-204
12100 Park 35 Circle
Austin, TX 78753