Improving the Capability of Indian Tribal Governments to Regulate Environmental Quality (93.581)

 

Program

93.581 Improving the Capability of Indian Tribal Governments to Regulate Environmental Quality

 

Federal Agency

ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

 

Authorization

Native American Programs Act of 1974, as amended, Public Law 93-644, 88 Stat. 2334, 42 U.S.C. 2991b; Indian Environmental Regulatory Enhancement Act, Public Law 101-408, 104 Stat. 883.

 

Program Number

93.581

 

Last Known Status

Active

 

Objectives

To provide financial assistance to advance tribal capacity and capability to plan for, develop, and implement enhancements to tribal environmental regulatory infrastructure required to support a tribal environmental program and to regulate and enforce environmental activities on Indian lands; to develop regulations, ordinances and laws to protect the environment; to develop the technical and program capacity to carry out a comprehensive tribal environmental program and perform essential environmental program functions; to promote training and education of tribal employees; to develop technical and program capability to meet tribal and Federal regulatory requirements; to develop technical and program capability to monitor compliance and enforcement of tribal environmental regulations, ordinances, and laws; and to ensure the tribal court system enforcement requirements are developed in concert with and support the tribe's comprehensive environmental program.

 

Types of Assistance

Project Grants.

 

Uses and Use Restrictions

Funds may be used for planning, developing and implementing tribal environmental regulatory programs through competitive grants.

 

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

The following organizations are eligible to apply: Federally-recognized Indian tribes; consortia of Indian tribes; incorporated nonfederally-recognized Tribes; Alaska Native villages as defined in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) and/or nonprofit village consortia; and tribal governing bodies (IRA or traditional councils) as recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Beneficiary Eligibility

American Indians and Alaska Natives.

Credentials/Documentation

Not applicable.

 

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

None. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

Information regarding the availability for grant funds will be published from time to time in the Federal Register as Program Announcements, which will provide details on program objectives for which applications are being solicited and other application requirements. The Administration for Native Americans will provide each applicant with the appropriate forms for the application for Federal Assistance and instructions for applying for grants from Administration for Native Americans programs. Applications should be submitted to Administration for Children and Families, Office of Grants Management, Mail Stop HHH 326-F, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447.

Award Procedure

All funds are awarded directly to the grantees.

Deadlines

Each program announcement specifies the due dates for submission of applications.

 

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Appeals

Appeals are processed in accordance with HHS regulations in 45 CFR, Part 16.

Renewals

Not applicable.

 

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula for distribution of funds. A matching share of 20 percent is required unless waived in accordance with criteria which are also published 45 CFR, Part 1336.50.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Grantees may apply for competitive continuation support within a project period of 1 to 3 years.

 

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Semi-Annual Financial Status Reports, Report of Federal Cash Transactions, Project Progress Reports, and an Annual Evaluation Report are required.

Audits

Audits are conducted in accordance with the requirements in 45 CFR 74 and 92.

Records

Financial records, supporting documents and all other related records pertinent to ANA grants must be maintained for a period of 3 years. If an audit is not completed by the end of 3-year period, or if audit findings have not been resolved, records shall be retained until resolution of the audit findings.

 

Program Accomplishments

In fiscal year 2002, 17 new grants were awarded to support projects to assist tribal governments in planning, developing and implementing tribal environmental programs which are consistent with tribal culture including: development and implementation of procedures related to land use permits and plans; strengthening the capacity of tribal governance to adjudicate environmental cases in tribal court; development of tribal environmental codes or policies; development of tribal capacity to monitor compliance with EPA regulations. It is anticipated that 15 grants will be awarded in fiscal years 2003 and 2004.

 

Financial Information

Account Identification

75-1536-0-1-506.

Obligations

(Grants) FY 02 $2,611,279; FY 03 est $2,500,000; and FY 04 est $2,500,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

(Tribal Grants) From $50,000 to $250,000; $122,152.

 

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

Regulations are published in 45 CFR 1336.

 

Related Programs

66.600, Environmental Protection Consolidated Grants_Program Support.

 

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

Not applicable.

Headquarters Office

Administration for Native Americans, Department of Health and Human Services, Room 348-F, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447. Contact: Jean Luka. Telephone: (202) 690-6324. FTS is not available.

Web Site Address

http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/ana

 

Examples of Funded Projects

None are available at this time.

 

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Specific criteria for selecting proposals for funding are stated in each program announcement. In general, proposals are judged on the basis of relevance to program objectives as stated in the program announcement, project viability, community support, reasonable cost estimates, and qualifications of applicant organization and personnel.