Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council Comprehensive Plan Component Program

 

The primary objective of this program is to disburse funds to eligible entities for the purpose of restoring and protecting the natural resources, ecosystems, fisheries, marine and wildlife habitats, beaches, coastal wetlands, and economy of the Gulf Coast region using the best available science. Projects and programs must achieve one or more of the seven objectives listed in the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council Initial Comprehensive Plan, Update 2016 and Update 2022: (1) Restore, Enhance and Protect Habitats, (2) Restore, Improve, and Protect Water Resources, (3) Protect and Restore Living Coastal and Marine Resources, (4) Restore and Enhance Natural Processes and Shorelines, (5) Promote Community Resilience, (6) Promote Natural Resource Stewardship and Environmental Education, and (7) Improve Science-Based Decision-Making Processes.

Active 87.051 Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council B - Project Grants Not applicable. Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States (RESTORE) Act of 2012, Sec. 1603(2); 33 U.S.C. 1321(t)(2), Section 1603, Public Law 112-112-141, 33 U.S.C. 1321(t)(2), Statute 126,588 The Council will periodically request proposals from its eleven state and federal members. The Council members are the only entities eligible to submit proposals. The RESTORE Council does not award Council-Selected Restoration Component grants directly to other entities or individuals. Under the RESTORE Act, Council members are the Governors of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Secretaries of the U.S. Departments of the Interior, Commerce, Agriculture, Homeland Security, and Army. When selecting projects and programs to be prioritized for funding under the Comprehensive Plan, the Council assigns primary authority and responsibility for overseeing and implementing projects and programs to a Gulf Coast state or federal agency represented on the Council. Council members may select subrecipients to carryout approved projects or programs. Interested third parties may contact the Council members listed above to learn more about how the eligible entities select proposed activities. Beneficiaries are the people, wildlife, and natural resources of the Gulf Coast region. The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council Initial Comprehensive Plan, August 2013, Comprehensive Plan Update 2016, December 2016, and Comprehensive Plan Update 2022, September 2022 apply to this program. Department of the Treasury Regulations for the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund, 31 CFR Part 34, publication of Final Rule December 14, 2015 (80 FR 77239), and Final Rule Amending 31 CFR 34.204(a), publication April 3, 2019 (84 FR 12929), apply to this program. All proposals must demonstrate that best available science has been taken into consideration and must clearly articulate how it meets each part of the definition of best available science provided by the RESTORE Act. Best available science is defined in the RESTORE Act as science that (A) maximizes the quality, objectivity, and integrity of information, including statistical information; (B) uses peer-reviewed and publicly available data; and (C) clearly documents and communicates risks and uncertainties in the scientific basis for such projects. Preapplication coordination is required. An environmental impact assessment is required for this listing. To receive funding under the Council-Selected Restoration Component, Council members must take part in a two-phase submission and application process. Both phases of the submission and application process must be completed before a member will receive an official award from the Council and be able to receive funding. This process was outlined in the Notice of Application Process, published May 4, 2015 (80 FR 25294), and further explained in the Request for Applications for Funding for the 12/09/2015 Funded Priorities List, published December 31, 2015 (80 FR 81819). 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. The Council's automated grants management system will be utilized for submission of all proposals, applications and supporting information. Eligible entities submitted project and program proposals to the Council, and selected projects and programs were included on the Funded Priorities List (FPL) Addendums to the Comprehensive Plan in 2015, 2017, 2020, and 2021. Following the publication of an FPL Addendum, eligible entities must submit a complete application package to request funding for individual approved projects. Required application materials are specified in the Request for Applications (RFA) for Funding for the 2015 FPL, published December 31, 2015 (80 FR 81819), the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the 2017 FPL for Comprehensive Commitment and Planning Support, published January 30, 2018 (83 FR 4206), the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the Council-Selected Restoration Component 2020 Funded Priorities List 3a, effective March 16, 2020, and the Notice of Funding Availability for the Council-Selected Restoration Component 2021 Funded Priorities List 3b, effective April 28, 2021. The full text of each announcement is available at www.restorethegulf.gov. Applications are approved by the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines From 60 to 90 days. Not applicable. Not applicable. Successful proposals must address the elements described in the Comprehensive Plan of the RESTORE Council (August 2013; available at www.restorethegulf.gov) , Update 2016 (December 2016; available at www.restorethegulf.gov) and Update 2022 (September 2022; available at www.restorethegulf.gov). All projects submitted for funding must be included on an approved Council-Selected Restoration Component Funded Priorities List. The primary objective of this program is to disburse funds to eligible entities for the purpose of restoring and protecting the natural resources, ecosystems, fisheries, marine and wildlife habitats, beaches, coastal wetlands, and economy of the Gulf Coast region using the best available science. All projects, programs, and activities must be eligible activities pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) of 33 U.S.C. 1321(t)(1)(B) and must be listed on the Council's approved Funded Priorities List. Proposals must identify which Comprehensive Plan goals the proposal will address. A proposal sponsor must select a single primary goal. Multiple secondary goals are encouraged to be identified. The Comprehensive Plan goals are as follows. 1. Restore and Conserve Habitat – Restore and conserve the health, diversity and resilience of key coastal, estuarine and marine habitats. 2. Restore Water Quality and Quantity – Restore and protect the water quality and quantity of the Gulf Coast region’s fresh, estuarine and marine waters. 3. Replenish and Protect Living Coastal and Marine Resources – Restore and protect healthy, diverse and sustainable living coastal and marine resources. 4. Enhance Community Resilience – Build upon and sustain communities with capacity to adapt to short- and long-term changes. 5. Restore and Revitalize the Gulf Economy – Enhance the sustainability and resiliency of the Gulf economy. Proposals also must clearly identify which Comprehensive Plan objectives the proposal will address. A proposal sponsor must select a single primary objective. Multiple secondary objectives are encouraged to be identified. The Comprehensive Plan objectives are as follows: 1. Restore, Enhance, and Protect Habitats; 2. Restore, Improve, and Protect Water Resources, 3. Protect and Restore Living Coastal and Marine Resources, 4. Restore and Enhance Natural Processes and Shorelines, 5. Promote Community Resilience, 6. Promote Natural Resource Stewardship and Environmental Education, and 7. Improve Science-Based Decision-Making Processes. Additional information may be found in the Initial Comprehensive Plan, Update 2016 and Update 2022. Projects must be listed in an approved Funded Priorities List Addendum to the Comprehensive Plan in order to be eligible for funding. Performance Reports: Individual awards and agreements will specify performance monitoring requirements. Recipients are responsible for oversight of the operations of award supported activities, including monitoring of subrecipients, to assure that compliance with applicable Federal requirements and performance expectations are being achieved. Not applicable. All financial and programmatic records, supporting documents, statistical reports, and other records of recipients or subrecipients are required to be maintained by the terms of the award. The recipient must retain records for three years from the date when the final expenditure report is submitted. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. Project periods are specified in the grant award and interagency agreement documents. Funds are disbursed on a reimbursement basis, although advances may be authorized as specified in 2 CFR Part 200. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: Lump. None/Not specified. Theresa Pettijohn
500 Poydras Street, Suite 1117
New Orleans, LA 70130 USA
theresa.pettijohn@restorethegulf.gov
Phone: 504-235-1516 http://www.restorethegulf.gov 95-1770-0-1-452 (Project Grants) FY 22$67,954,673.00; FY 23 est $37,019,207.00; FY 24 est $175,000,000.00; FY 21$18,744,167.00; FY 20$7,442,000.00; FY 19$34,589,000.00; FY 18$52,939,432.00; FY 17$81,704,027.00; FY 16$7,759,216.00; - Financial assistance is provided by the RESTORE Council as project grants to eligible State entities and as Interagency agreements with eligible Federal Servicing Agencies. No data available Department of the Treasury Regulations for the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund Final Rule, 31 CFR Part 34, December 14, 2015 (80 FR 77239). Department of the Treasury Regulations for the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund Final Rule Amending 31 CFR 34.204(a), April 3, 2019 (84 FR 12929). The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council Initial Comprehensive Plan, August 2013. The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council Comprehensive Plan Update 2016, December 2016 and The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council Comprehensive Plan Update 2022, September 2022. The RESTORE Act Initial Funded Priorities List, December 15, 2015 (80 FR 77585), available at www.restorethegulf.gov. The RESTORE Act 2017 Funded Priorities List for Comprehensive Plan Commitment and Planning Support, January 24, 2018, available at www.restorethegulf.gov. The RESTORE Act 2020 Funded Priorities List 3a, February 12, 2020, available at www.restorethegulf.gov. The RESTORE Act 2021 Funded Priorities List 3b, April 28, 2021, available at www.restorethegulf.gov. Council Member Proposal Submission Guidelines for Comprehensive Plan Funded Priorities List of Projects and Programs, current version available at www.restorethegulf.gov. 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. Fiscal Year 2016 Council-Selected Restoration Component Funded Priorities List is available at www.restorethegulf.gov. The Council-Selected Restoration Component Funded Priorities List and information regarding grants and interagency agreements awarded is available at www.restorethegulf.gov.
Fiscal Year 2017 The Council-Selected Restoration Component Funded Priorities List and information regarding grants and interagency agreements awarded is available at www.restorethegulf.gov.
Fiscal Year 2023 The Council-Selected Restoration Component Funded Priorities Lists as well as lists of grants and interagency agreements that have been awarded are available at www.restorethegulf.gov.