Brownfields Training, Research, and Technical Assistance Grants and Cooperative Agreements (66.814)
Program
66.814 Brownfields Training, Research, and Technical Assistance Grants and Cooperative Agreements
Federal Agency
OFFICE OF BROWNFIELDS CLEANUP AND REDEVELOPMENT, OFFICE OF SOLID WASTE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Authorization
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, Sections 101(39) and 104(k)6), as amended; 42 U.S.C. 9604(k)(6).
Program Number
66.814
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
To support grants and cooperative agreements for a program of training, research, and technical assistance to individuals and organizations to facilitate the inventory of brownfields properties, assessments, cleanup of brownfields properties, community involvement, or site preparation. Brownfield sites are real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. Funding Priorities: In FY 2003, EPA expects to solicit proposals for projects that provide research, technical assistance and training that will enable state, tribal, and local governments, as well as communities affected by Brownfields, take advantage of opportunities afforded by the new Brownfields legislation. In addition, EPA expects to fund projects that evaluate health effects of Brownfields and Brownfields remediation, explore innovative financing techniques for Brownfields remediation, examine the impact of information availability on communities living near brownfields, and address the feasibility of creating small neighborhood parks on former brownfields. By statute, 25 percent of the funding for this program must be used for characterization, assessment, and remediation of Brownfields sites contaminated by petroleum or petroleum products. The Agency must also give preference to the ten statutory ranking criteria found at CERCLA 104(k)(5)(C) (see 180 CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS, below) when evaluating applications for funding. CERCLA 104(k)(6) provides EPA with authority for a program of training, research, and technical assistance to individuals and organizations to facilitate the inventory of brownfields properties, assessments, cleanup of brownfields properties, community involvement, or site preparation. Brownfield sites are real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. EPA is providing financial assistance to eligible applicants to develop training, research, and technical assistance related to brownfields and brownfields issues. The amount of financial assistance will vary, with the average amount per award approximately $200,000. EPA expects to support brownfields training, research, and technical assistance related to health, economic, and community issues, as well as outreach to state, local, and tribal governments.
Types of Assistance
Project Grants (Cooperative Agreements).
Uses and Use Restrictions
Funds awarded under Section 104(k)(6) of CERCLA must be used for training, research, and technical assistance to individuals and organizations, to facilitate the inventory of brownfields properties, site assessments, cleanup of brownfields properties, community involvement, or site preparation. Grants and cooperative agreements are available to support recipients' eligible and allowable direct costs incurred under an approved work plan plus allowable programmatic costs, in accordance with established EPA policies and regulations. Costs incurred under CERCLA 104(k)(6) grant or cooperative agreements may not be used for an administrative cost, penalty or fine, a Federal cost-share requirement, a response cost for which the recipient of the grant or cooperative agreement is potentially liable under CERCLA 107, or the cost of complying with a Federal law, with the exception of the costs of laws applicable to cleanup of Brownfields sites.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
A general purpose unit of local government; a land clearance authority or other quasi-governmental entity that operates under the supervision and control of, or as an agent of, a general purpose unit of local government; a government entity created by a State legislature; a regional council or group of general purpose units of local government; a redevelopment agency that is chartered or otherwise sanctioned by a State; a State; an Indian Tribe other than in Alaska; an Alaska Native Regional Corporation, Alaska Native Village Corporation and the Metlakatla Indian Community. Nonprofit organizations are also eligible for training, research, and technical assistance grants. Nonprofit organizations must meet the definition of that term in Section 4(6) of the Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 1999, Public Law 96-107, 31 U.S.C. 6101 Note. Under this definition, colleges, universities, and community colleges are eligible to apply. However, 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 profit organizations are not eligible to apply.
Beneficiary Eligibility
State, Tribal, and local governments, communities with Brownfields sites and their residents, community groups, universities and colleges, industry, and other public and private institutions and individuals.
Credentials/Documentation
EPA may request that applicants document their non-profit status. The Agency may also request that applicants demonstrate they have appropriate background, academic training, and experience in the field to carry out projects. EPA may ask applicants for research projects to provide curriculum vitae and relevant publications.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
This is a competitive grant program. EPA will specify the nature of the pre-application assistance, if any, that will be available to applicants in the Request for Initial Proposals or Request for applications. For information contacts, see Appendix IV of the Catalog. The Brownfield training, research and technical assistance grants are eligible for coverage under Executive Order 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or officials designated as the single point of contact (SPOC) in his or her State for more information on the State's review process, and to determine if the State has selected the program for review. See Appendix 1 for additional information regarding SPOC's. If there is no single point of contact for the State, or the State has not selected this program for review, applicants must contact directly affected state area-wide regional and local entities prior to award. (See 40 CFR 29.7(b)).
Application Procedure
The standard application forms as furnished by the Federal agency and required by OMB Circular No. 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 Administration Division, 3903R, Washington, DC 20460 or through the appropriate PEA Regional Office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog. This is a competitive grant program. Requests for Initial Proposals or Requests for Applications will specify application procedures.
Award Procedure
EPA is required by statute to conduct this assistance program competitively. The Agency will review applications or proposals in accordance with the criteria specified in the Request for Applications or Request for Initial Proposals. Competitions will be conducted consistent with EPA Order 5700.5, Policy for Competition in Assistance Agreements (09/12/02).
Deadlines
Deadlines will be specified in Request for Applications or Request for Initial Proposals.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Appeals
See 40 CFR 30.63 and 40 CFR Part 31, Subpart F.
Renewals
EPA may incrementally fund grants and cooperative agreements under this program. Approval of subsequent funding increments is dependent on satisfactory project progress, continued relevance of the project to EPA's priorities and availability of funds.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Applicants will be advised of matching or cost-share requirements, if any, in Requests for Applications or Requests for Initial Proposals. Even if EPA decides not to require matching funds, a statutory factor in ranking applications under Section 104(k)(6) is the extent to which EPA financial assistance will stimulate the availability of other funds for environmental assessment or remediation, and subsequent reuse of Brownfields sites. Applicants may be encouraged to provide information regarding resources (cash/in-kind services) that they, or a project partner, would commit to efforts receiving EPA financial assistance.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
EPA generally funds grants and cooperative agreements on a 12-month basis. However, EPA can negotiate the project period with each applicant based on project requirements. Incremental funding may be available. EPA generally limits project periods to 5 years.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Reporting requirements are identified at 40 CFR Parts 30 and 31. EPA may include additional information regarding the content and frequency of reporting requirements in the terms and conditions of the agreements.
Audits
Grants and cooperative agreements under this program 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. If the Government Accounting Office of EPA's Inspector General conducts Federal audits, the audits will be made in accordance with OMB Circular No. A- 173 to ensure funds have been used efficiently, economically, and effectively. Recipients must conduct periodic audits in accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No A-133, "Audits of Institutions of Higher Education and Other Non-Profit Institutions." The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular No. A-133, "Audit of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," was published in the Federal Register on June 30, 1997. The Circular implements the Single Audit Act amendments of 1996. The Circular requires nonfederal entities that expend more than $300,000 in Federal award dollars, to have an audit conducted in accordance with the Circular's provisions. With the Revised Circular, the previous OMB Circular No. A-128 for single audits of State and local governments was rescinded and the single audit requirements for these entities were incorporated among the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133.
Records
The record retention requirements of 40 CFR Part 30 (non-profits and universities) or 40 CFR Part 31 (governmental units) are applicable depending upon the identity of the recipient. Financial records, including all documents to support entries on accounting records and to substantiate changes to each grant must be kept available to personnel authorized to examine EPA grant accounts. All records must be maintained until expiration of three years from the date of submission of the final expenditure report. If questions still remain, such as those raised as a result of audit, related records must be retained until the matter is completely resolved.
Program Accomplishments
This is a new CFDA entry. Prior to the passage of the Brownfields legislation, EPA awarded numerous grants and cooperative agreement for research related to the Brownfields assessment, cleanup and remediation under a similar program under CERCLA 311(c) and described in CFDA Number 66.606. These grants and cooperative agreement provided research reports and case studies to support Brownfields assessment and clean up efforts by state, local and tribal governments, industry, nonprofit organizations and communities. EPA awarded approximately 23 grants under CERCLA 311(c) for Brownfields related research in FY 2002.
Financial Information
Account Identification
68-0103-0-1-304.
Obligations
(Grants) FY 02 not available; FY 02 est not available; and FY 03 est not available.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
For training, research, and technical assistance grants, an applicant may apply for up to $750,000, with the average amount of financial assistance approximately $200,000. The performance period for these grants will range from one to five years.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
Brownfields training, research, and technical assistance grants are subject to EPA's General Grant Regulations (40 CFR Part 30 and 40 CFR Part 31). Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments and Indian Tribes, OMB Circular No. A-21 for educational institutions, and OMB Circular No. A-122 for non-profit institutions. EPA will also provide applicants with guidance on statutory prohibitions on the use of grant and cooperative agreement funds in Requests for Initial Proposals, Requests for Applications, or by other means.
Related Programs
66.815, Brownfield Job Training Cooperative Agreements; 66.817, State and Tribal Response Program Grants.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
EPA Regional Offices are listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog.
Headquarters Office
For program information contact: Office of Brownfields Cleanup and Redevelopment, OSWER, EPA, Washington, DC 20460, Linda Garczynski, Director. Telephone: (202) 566-2777.
Web Site Address
http://www.epa.gov/brownfields
Examples of Funded Projects
This is a new financial assistance program. Prior to the passage of the Brownfields legislation, EPA awarded numerous grants and cooperative agreement for research related to the Brownfields assessment, cleanup and remediation under a similar program under CERCLA 311(c) and described in 66.606. Research focused on quantifying amount of green space preserved by brownfields redevelopment; sustainable development models for brownfields; applied research for local government managers on Brownfields financing and redevelopment issues; research on promising technologies for in-situ remediation of metal-contaminated soils.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
This is a competitive grant program. Selection criteria will be outlined in the proposal guidelines and will be based on a system that includes the following ten statutory ranking criteria: (i) The extent to which a grant will stimulate the availability of other funds for environmental assessment or remediation, and subsequent reuse, of an area in which one or more brownfield sites are located; (ii) the potential of the proposed project or the development plan for an area in which one or more brownfield sites are located to stimulate economic development of the area on completion of the cleanup; (iii) the extent to which a grant would address or facilitate the identification and reduction of threats to human health and the environment, including threats in areas in which there is a greater-than-normal incidence of diseases or conditions (including cancer, asthma, or birth defects) that may be associated with exposure to hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants; (iv) the extent to which a grant would facilitate the use or reuse of existing infrastructure; (v) the extent to which a grant would facilitate the creation of, preservation of, or addition to a park, a greenway, undeveloped property, recreational property, or other property used for nonprofit purposes; (vi) the extent to which a grant would meet the needs of a community that has an inability to draw on other sources of funding for environmental remediation and subsequent redevelopment of the area in which a brownfield site is located because of the small population or low income of the community; (vii) the extent to which the applicant is eligible for funding from other sources; (viii) the extent to which a grant will further the fair distribution of funding between urban and nonurban areas; (ix) the extent to which the grant provides for involvement of the local community in the process of making decisions relating to cleanup and future use of a brownfield site; (x) the extent to which a grant would address or facilitate the identification and reduction of threats to the health or welfare of children, pregnant women, minority or low-income communities, or other sensitive populations.
