FHWA Climate Challenge

General

Caltrans is pleased to announce our participation in the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Climate Challenge. We have developed a pilot program to support the development of environmental product declarations (EPDs) in the asphalt and concrete industries by reimbursing some of the costs it takes to develop EPDs on mixtures used on Caltrans projects. Each supplier will be eligible for a maximum reimbursement of $1,500 per plant, with a total reimbursement cap of $4,500 per company, per material (concrete or asphalt).

EPD Requirements

• Cradle-to-gate, Type III EPDs are required
• EPDs must be product and facility-specific
• The product must be a mixture that has been previously used on a Caltrans project
• EPDs must have been developed in accordance with most recent version of the relevant PCR as shown on the Caltrans EPD website
• Third-party consultants can be used for generating an EPD
• EPD verification must be performed through third-party consultants
• EPD Date of Issue must be on or after April 1, 2023

Additional Requirements

• Plant must be Material Plant Quality Program (MPQP) certified
• Suppliers must allow Caltrans to publicly post submitted EPDs/EPD data online
• EPD data must be submitted electronically (instructions will be provided)
• For concrete EPDs:
• The source of the cement data (e.g., industry average, company average, or site/plant-specific data) used in the development of the EPD must be disclosed
• Must include the mixture design in compliance with Section 90 of the Caltrans' Standard Specifications in the submission package, with materials components to be detailed to 10s of pounds and fluid ounces for admixtures per cubic yard
• Note: This information will not be made publicly available
• Mixture use (e.g., structural concrete, minor concrete, jointed plain concrete pavement, etc.)
• Must indicate the class of concrete (Modulus of rupture or compressive strength qualification requirement)
• For asphalt mixture EPDs:
• The source of the binder data (e.g., industry average, company average, or site/plant-specific data) used in the development of the EPD must be disclosed
• Must include the mixture design (e.g. CEM 3512/3513) in compliance with Section 39 of Caltrans' Standard Specifications in the submission package, with materials components to be detailed to 10s of pounds and fluid ounces for admixtures per (unit)
• Note: This information will not be made publicly available
• Must indicate the asphalt mixture type (Type A, OGFC, etc.)
• Reimbursement request package must be submitted by December 31, 2024
• Note: Reimbursement will be contingent upon the availability of funds (see section below)
• The company must be able to accept credit card payments as the reimbursement mechanism

Instructions

Step 1: Sign up for the Climate Challenge Pilot Program

Sign up to participate in the program by clicking here.

At the time of sign-up, the following must be provided:

• Company Name
• Submitter Name
• Submitter Phone Number
• Submitter Email Address
• Material (Concrete or Asphalt Mixture)
• Plant Address(es) - up to 3 plants may be submitted
• Concrete Mix Design or Job Mix Formula (submitted separately to EPD@dot.ca.gov)

Signing up will initiate the department's allocation of funds (subject to fund availability) for a period of 6 months allowing you the necessary time to develop your EPD.

If funds are unavailable at the time of your registration, you will be notified that you have been placed on a waitlist. Should funds become available, we will draw from the waitlist on a first-come first-served basis and notify those selected. When all funds are expended, suppliers on the waitlist will receive notification that funds are no longer available.

Step 2: Develop your EPD

You will have 6 months from the time of sign up to develop and submit your EPD Data.

For more information on how to develop an EPD, please visit:

• California Construction and Industrial Materials Association (CalCIMA)
• California Administrator Performance Assessment (CalAPA) The ABCs of EPDs (2023 Environmental Issue)

Step 3: Submit your EPD Data

Once your EPD data has been developed and third-party verified, please provide the following:

• Submit EPD data (instructions will be sent to you via email after sign-up)
• Send PDF version of EPD to EPD@dot.ca.gov
• Provide an STD.204 and ADM-3026 (these forms will be sent to you via email after initial sign-up)
• Invoice