Assessment and Watershed Protection Program Grants (66.480)
Program
66.480 Assessment and Watershed Protection Program Grants
Federal Agency
Agency: Environmental Protection Agency
Office: Office of Water
Authorization
Clean Water Act, Section 104(b)(3).
Program Number
66.480
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
To support the coordination and acceleration of research, investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys, and studies relating to the causes, effects (including health and welfare effects), extent, prevention, reduction, and elimination of water pollution. The two main goals of the Assessment and Watershed Protection Program Grants (AWPPGs) include supporting a watershed approach to better address water quality problems in the U.S. and building the capacity of all levels of government to develop and implement effective, comprehensive programs for watershed protection, restoration, and management. Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2009: Funding under this program area includes: Watershed/Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Program - (1) Assessment and TMDL Workshops; (2) Impaired Waters Recovery and Results Analysis; (3) Tools and Products Training for the Watershed Approach; and (4) Tools, Incentives and Trainings that Foster Financing of Water Quality, Habitat Restoration/Protection on a Watershed Scale. Nonpoint Source Program - (1) National Conference and Outreach Program to Promote Clean Lakes. National Training Workshops with States on Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act.
Types of Assistance
PROJECT GRANTS
Uses and Use Restrictions
Grants and cooperative agreements are available to support recipients' allowable direct costs incidental to approved scopes of work plus allowable indirect costs, in accordance with established EPA policies and regulations. Funding awarded for research does not include research within the purview of EPA's Office of Research and Development. Specific uses and restrictions on funds will be described in detail in the competitive announcements.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Assistance under this program is available to States and local governments, Federally recognized Indian Tribes, territories and possessions of the U.S. (including the District of Columbia), interstate associations or intertribal consortia, public or private nonprofit, nongovernmental institutions, and individuals. Nonprofit organizations described in Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that engage in lobbying activities as defined in Section 3 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 are not eligible to apply. For certain competitive funding opportunities under this CFDA description, the Agency may limit eligibility to compete to a number or subset of eligible applicants consistent with the Agency's Assistance Agreement Competition Policy.
Beneficiary Eligibility
States and local governments, Federally recognized Indian Tribes, territories and possessions of the U.S. (including the District of Columbia), interstate associations or intertribal consortia, public or private nonprofit, nongovernmental institutions, and individuals.
Credentials/Documentation
Documentation of nonprofit status may be required. Applicants may be requested to demonstrate they have appropriate background, academic training, experience in the field, and necessary equipment to carry out projects. EPA may ask applicants or principle investigators to provide curriculum vitae and relevant publications. Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular no. A-21 for educational institutions, OMB Circular Nos. A-122 for nonprofit organizations, and A-87 for State and local governments. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
EPA awards grants and cooperative agreements supporting research, investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys, and studies and based on competitive applications submitted in response to EPA solicitations. Regarding pre-application/pre-proposal assistance with respect to competitive funding opportunities under this program description, EPA will generally specify the nature of the pre-application/pre-proposal assistance, if any, that will be available to applicants in the competitive announcement. For additional information, contact the individual(s) listed as "Information Contacts" or see Appendix IV of the Catalog. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.
Application Procedure
OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. The standard application forms, as furnished by the Federal agency and required by OMB Circular Nos. A-102 and A-110, must be used for this program. EPA requires final applications to be made on Standard Form 424. Requests for application kits must be submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency, Grants and Interagency Agreements Management Division, (3903R), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20460 or through the appropriate EPA Regional Office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog. Additional information on the EPA grant package can be found at: http://www.epa.gov/ogd/grants/how_to_apply.htm. The Requests for Initial Proposals or Requests for Applications will specify application procedures. Applicants may be able to use http://www.grants.gov to electronically apply for certain grant opportunities under this CFDA.
Award Procedure
For competitive awards, EPA will review and evaluate applications, proposals, and/or submissions in accordance with the terms, conditions, and criteria stated in the competitive announcement. Competitions will be conducted in accordance with EPA policies/regulations for competing assistance agreements.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Approximately 180 days.
Appeals
Assistance agreement competition-related disputes will be resolved in accordance with the dispute resolution procedures published in 70 FR (Federal Register) 3629, 3630 (January 26, 2005). Copies of these procedures may also be requested by contacting the individual(s) listed as "Information Contacts." Disputes relating to matters other than the competitive selection of recipients will be resolved under 40 CFR 30.63 or 40 CFR 31.70, as applicable.
Renewals
None. Generally, EPA incrementally funds grants and cooperative agreements for water surveys, studies, demonstrations, and investigations. Approval of subsequent funding increments is dependent on satisfactory project progress, continued relevance of the project to EPA's priorities, availability of funds, and Agency policy on the competitive grant process.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
This program has no statutory formula.
This program has no matching requirements.
This program does not have MOE requirements.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
The term of the grant shall be determined at the time of grant award. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Other. The method of fund disbursement will be determined at the time of award.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
EPA includes reporting requirements for grants and cooperative agreements in the terms and conditions of the agreements. Specific reporting requirements are also identified in the Grant Regulations at 40 CFR Part 30 and 40 CFR Part 31, as applicable. Program reports are required under this program. Cash reports are required under this program. Progress reports are required under this program. Expenditure reports are required under this program. Performance monitoring is required under this program.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. Grants and cooperative agreements are subject to inspections and audits by the Comptroller General of the United States, the EPA Office of Inspector General, other EPA staff, or any authorized representative of the Federal government. Reviews by the EPA Project Officer and the Grants Specialist may occur each year. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," non-federal entities that expend $500,000 or more in a year in Federal awards shall have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-federal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in OMB Circular No. A-133.
Records
The record retention requirements of 40 CFR Part 30 (nonprofits and universities) or 40 CFR Part 31 (governmental units) are applicable. Recipients must keep financial records, including all documents supporting entries on accounting records and to substantiate changes in grants, available to personnel authorized to examine EPA recipients' grants and cooperative agreements records. Recipients must maintain all records until 3 years from the date of submission of final expenditure reports. If questions, such as those raised as a result of audits remain following the 3-year period, recipients must retain records until the matter is completely resolved.
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2008: For FY 08, five awards were made under a Request for Proposals. Project outputs included workshops on innovative assessment and modeling techniques, training handbook(s) on low impact development practices, case studies on agricultural drainage practices, and volunteer monitoring newsletters. For FY 09 no data is currently available. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available
Financial Information
Account Identification
68-0108-0-1-304.
Obligations
(Project Grants) FY 08 $500,000; FY 09 est $750,000; FY 10 est $1,100,000
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
$10,000 to $150,000/fiscal year; $75,000/fiscal year.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
Surveys, Studies, and Investigations grants and cooperative agreements are subject to EPA's General Grant Regulations (40 CFR Part 30 and 40 CFR Part 31).
Related Programs
66.436 Surveys, Studies, Investigations, Demonstrations, and Training Grants and Cooperative Agreements - Section 104(b)(3) of the Clean Water Act
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
See Regional Agency Offices. EPA encourages potential applicants to communicate with the appropriate EPA Regional Office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog, and the Headquarters program contacts listed below.
Headquarters Office
Tim Icke US EPA Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds
Assessment and Watershed Protection Division
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW (MC 4501T), Washington, District of Columbia 20460 Email: icke.tim@epa.gov Phone: (202) 566-1211
Web Site Address
http://www.epa.gov/owow/funding.html
Examples of Funded Projects
Fiscal Year 2008: EPA awards grants to support the following types of watershed planning activities: workshops on innovative TMDL assessment; workshops on innovative TMDL modeling techniques; training handbook(s) on low impact development; demonstration studies on new techniques to control agricultural drainage; production of volunteer monitoring newsletter(s). Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
The evaluation and selection criteria for competitive awards under this CFDA description will be described in the competitive announcement.
