Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention (CEPP) Technical Assistance Grants Program (66.810)

Program

66.810 Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention (CEPP) Technical Assistance Grants Program

Federal Agency

Agency: Environmental Protection Agency
Office: Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response

Authorization

Toxic Substances Control Act, Section 10(a)&28(a), Public Law 94-469, 15 U.S.C 2601; Clean Air Act, Section 103(b)(3).

Program Number

66.810

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To provide financial assistance to States, Local agencies, and Indian Tribes for chemical accident prevention activities that relate to the Risk Management Program under the Clean Air Act Section 112(r). To provide financial assistance to Tribes for chemical emergency planning, and community right-to-know programs which are established to prevent or eliminate unreasonable risk to the health and environment of communities within the State. Anticipated Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2009: (1)Capacity Building: Increase capacity at the State, Tribe, or local level to implement and enforce the Chemical Accident Prevention provisions of the Clean Air Act Section 112(r) and to integrate chemical accident prevention activities; chemical emergency planning efforts, and community right-to-know programs. (2) Community Issues: Development of model technical assistance materials for use by States/Tribes or Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs) to evaluate potential chemical risks to their communities and to take appropriate prevention and preparedness steps to protect the community. (3) Partnerships: Strengthening partnerships among States/Tribes and Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs), industry, emergency responders, and the general public to foster collaboration and build credibility for chemical prevention and preparedness activities.

Types of Assistance

Cooperative Agreements

Uses and Use Restrictions

Innovative Technical Assistance Grants are offered to improve the ability of States, Tribes and local communities to protect public health and safety and involve the development of technical assistance or similar materials that could be used directly or adapted by other States/Tribes or Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs). Projects which address implementing the Risk Management Program under the Clean Air Act Section 112(r) are especially of interest. The grant money may not supplant State or Tribal funds already being spent. Assistance agreement awards under this program may involve or relate to geospatial information. Further information regarding geospatial information may be obtained by viewing the following website: http://geodata.epa.gov.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

States, Local agencies and Federally Recognized Indian Tribes located within EPA Region 7. This includes the States of Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, and Missouri. 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, Tribes, Local Emergency Planning Committees, and local emergency responders.

Credentials/Documentation

OMB Circular No. A-87 is required for this program. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

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. Potential applicants should contact the CEPP Regional contact listed below to determine if grants are available in a specific Region. The standard application forms as furnished by the Federal agency and required by OMB Circular No. A-102 must be used 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. 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. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. States, Local agencies, and Indian Tribes must submit the original completed application package and one copy to the appropriate EPA Regional Office. The Regional office will review the application package to ensure completeness. States must comply with all applicable requirements. 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. Competitions will be conducted in accordance with EPA policies/regulations for competing assistance agreements. Grant applications will undergo the following review process: EPA Regional Office staff will evaluate each application and, based on the criteria established will select proposal(s) for funding. EPA Regional offices will be awarding the grants. The review process will concentrate on choosing the best project concepts. Once the grant is awarded to the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC), Tribal Emergency Response Commission (TERC), directly to the local agencies such as the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC), or other State agency with SERC coordination as appropriate, the recipient will be notified by phone or email. EPA will monitor the work in progress and provide project guidance and oversight to the State, Local agencies, and Tribes.

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

Not Applicable.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula.

Matching Requirements: Percent: 25.%. This program has no statutory formula. There is a 25 percent match requirement for assistance agreements awarded to States under the Toxic Substances Control Act, Section 28.

This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Grants will normally be funded on a 12 to 24 month basis. Total approved project period should not exceed 2 years for a particular project. A call for letters of intent and applications will be advertised annually via the Regions notifying States, Local agencies, and Tribes. Recipients will be notified by phone call or email that their proposal will be funded. The grants may be awarded in a lump sum. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: lump sum.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Annual program reports are conducted. Final financial status report required. Quarterly and final reports are required. Expenditure reports are part of the annual financial status report. Performance monitoring is accomplished through the quarterly progress reports, ongoing EPA involvement with recipient,and on-site reviews as needed.

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

Financial reports, including all documents to support entries on the accounting records and to substantiate charges to each grant or cooperative agreement must be kept available to personnel authorized to examine EPA grant recipient accounts. All records must be maintained for 3 years from the date of the submission of the annual financial status report. If questions still remain, such as those raised as a result of audit, related records should be retained until the matter is completely resolved.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: During FY 2008, 1 grant was received and 1 awarded for conducting and promoting activities associated with the Clean Air Act program in the area of Chemical Accident Prevention, Preparedness and Response. This grants is in support of Goal 4: Healthy Communities and Ecosystems, and the outcomes for these projects are defined and include Chemical Organism and Pesticide Risk reduction at facilities. Fiscal Year 2009: For FY 2009, we estimate up to 4 awards and 4-6 applications. The estimate for FY 2010 is also up to 4 awards with 4-6 applications. Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

68-0108-0-1-304.

Obligations

(Cooperative Agreements) FY 08 $75,000; FY 09 est $75,000; FY 10 est $75,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

$75,000; an average of approximately $75,000 for a one year award.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to States and Local Government (40 CFR Part 31).

Related Programs

Not Applicable.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. Tina Wilkins, Lead EPS, R7/AWMD/IO, 901 North 5th St., Kansas City, Kansas, 66101 telephone 913-551-7964 fax 913-551-7065 email: wilkins.tina@epa.gov.

Headquarters Office

Sherry Fielding OSWER/OEM/POCD (5104A)
EPA HQ, Ariel Rios Building
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, District of Columbia 20460 Email: fielding.sherry@epa.gov Phone: (202) 564-6174

Web Site Address

http://www.epa.gov/emergencies

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: Conduct compliance assistance visits to RMP facilites. During these compliance assistance site visits, the State investigator will tour the sites, interview representatives, offer guidance in correcting deficiencies and continue to support and monitor the establishment until RMP compliance is achieved. A tracking database will be used to record the facility's progress toward meeting federal requirements. Workshops provide outreach to the regulated communities regarding Risk Management. 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.