International Financial Assistance Projects Sponsored by the Office of International Affairs (66.931)

Program

66.931 International Financial Assistance Projects Sponsored by the Office of International Affairs

Federal Agency

Agency: Environmental Protection Agency
Office: Office of International Affairs

Authorization

Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act of 1972, Section 203; Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, Section 20, Public Law 92-516, 7 U.S.C 136; Toxic Substances Control Act, Section 10, Public Law 94-469, 15 U.S.C 2601; Clean Water Act, Section 104, Public Law 95-217, 33 U.S.C 1251; Clean Air Act, Section 103, Public Law 95-95, 42 U.S.C 7401; Solid Waste Disposal Act, Section 8001; National Environmental Policy Act, Section 102(2)(F); Safe Drinking Water Act, Section 1442(a)&(c), Public Law 93-523.

Program Number

66.931

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To protect human health and the environment while advancing U.S. national interests through international environmental collaboration. This mission is supported by four strategic objectives: 1) Reduce Transboundary Pollution; 2) Advance U.S. Interests Abroad; 3) Promote Good Environmental Governance; and 4) Ensure Effective Management.

Funding Priority � Fiscal Year 2009: EPA Safeguards air, water, and land for all Americans. International capacity-building plays a key role in protecting human health, communities and the environment by providing technical cooperation to help countries reduce air pollution, better manage air quality global climates, reduce the global use and emission of mercury, manage drinking & surface water quality, and provide technical assistance to restore the land and mitigate sources of land pollution. OIA will work to transfer appropriate air management tools and techniques to key countries and regions as we collaborate with partners to improve air quality. In addition, we will continue efforts to reduce global sources of persistent bioaccumulative toxins. Long-range and transboundary atmospheric transport and deposition of such toxics as Mercury, Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides, dioxins, and furans continue to threaten human health and ecosystems. OIA will continue to promote the development of activities for managing drinking and surface water quality and provide technical cooperation, expertise, and assistance to help communities and countries preserve and restore the land and to mitigate sources of land pollution.

OIA plays a key role in ensuring trade-related activities sustain environmental protection. Initiatives relating to environmental trade and investment are carried out bilaterally, multilaterally or in connection with multilateral institutions such as the World Trade Organization (WTO), World Bank, European Union (EU), or Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC). Also, OIA will support protection of human health and ecosystem for North America through the United States participation in the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation and through leadership in the Commission on Environmental Cooperation (CEC), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and other international entities. EPA will provide targeted capacity building support under the environmental cooperation agreements developed parallel to U.S. free trade agreements.

U.S.-Mexico Border (to sustain and restore community health and preserve the ecological systems that support them) program is implement in partnership with the ten Border States and the government of Mexico with its corresponding states and tribes. It addresses the Agency's major themes of clean air, clean water, and clean land. The key areas of focus for the Border 2012 Program include improving water quality in the region; improving availability of low sulfur diesel fuel on the border; the stabilization of abandoned hazardous waste sites; removal of used tire piles along the U.S.-Mexico Border; defining baseline and alternative scenarios for air emissions reductions along the border region; and binational emergency preparedness drills and exercises at border sister cities.

Types of Assistance

PROJECT GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

Discretionary funds are available for the awards under this program. Grants and cooperative agreements are available to support recipients' allowable direct cost expenditures incident to approved project plus allocable portions of allowable indirect costs of the institution, in accordance with established EPA policy, 40 CFR parts 30 and 31. Funding awarded for international research under these projects does not include research within the purview of EPA's Office of Research and Development. 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

Assistance under this program is generally available to States and local governments, territories and possessions, foreign governments, international organizations, Indian Tribes, and possessions of the U.S., including the District of Columbia, public and private universities and colleges, hospitals, laboratories, other public or private nonprofit institutions, which submit applications proposing projects with significant technical merit and relevance to EPA's Office of International Affairs' mission. 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, territories and possessions, foreign governments, international organizations, Indian Tribes, and possessions of the U.S., including the District of Columbia, public and private universities and colleges, hospitals, laboratories, other public or private nonprofit institutions.

Credentials/Documentation

Office of International Affairs (OIA) may require applicants to submit documentation of non-profit status. OIA may request applicants to demonstrate they have appropriate background, academic training, experience in the field, and necessary equipment to carry out projects. OIA may also ask applicants or principal investigators to provide curriculum vitae and relevant publications. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

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. 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. 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

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. 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. Applicants may be able to use http://www.grants.gov to electronically apply for certain grant opportunities under this CFDA. Under EPA Order No. 5700.5A1, Policy for Competition in Assistance Agreements (9/12/02), Assistance awards to Foreign Governments and to United Nations agencies and similar International Organizations, such as the Organization of American States and Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) may be exempted from competition at the discretion of OIA. For competitive awards, Requests for Initial Proposals or Requests for Applications will specify application procedures.

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. For non-competitive awards, OIA will conduct an administrative evaluation to determine the adequacy of the application in relation to grant regulations and to technical and program evaluation to determine the merit and relevance of the project. The Agency will then advise the applicant if funding is being considered. A final work plan will then be negotiated with the applicant.

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. A standard grant application should be prepared and submitted as a new grant, which will be reviewed in the same manner as the original application and will compete for available funds. Generally, EPA incrementally funds grants and cooperative agreements. Approval of subsequent funding increments is dependent on satisfactory project progress, continued relevance of the project to OIA's priorities, and availability of funds.

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

EPA normally funds grants and cooperative agreements on a 12-month basis. However, EPA can negotiate the project period with each applicant based on project requirements. EPA limits project periods to 5 years. Payments will be on an advance letter of credit or reimbursement basis; recipient must request the initial advance payment on SF 270, Request for Advance or Reimbursement. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Assistance is awarded by project.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

No program reports are required. No cash reports are required. 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. 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 (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

Fiscal Year 2008: Some examples of OIA accomplishments: OIA funded several international cooperative/grant projects during FY 2008 and FY 2009, for the protection of human health and the environment with the the following titles and objectives: 1) "Mobile Source Air Pollution" - By 2011, eliminate the use of lead in gasoline in the remaining countries benefiting over 700 million people in developing countries and economies in transition. 2)"Global Persistent Organic Pollutants" - By 2011, place into safe storage 4,600 tons of obsolete and prohibited pesticides stockpiles and prohibited PCB-containing liquids impacting the Arctic. 3) "Global Mercury" - By 2011, reduce mercury consumption and releases by 30.5 tons from chlor-alkali plants, artisanal gold mining, and coal combustion at pilot demonstration sites in China, Brazil, India Mexico, Russia and West Africa. 4) The U.S. -Mexico Environmental Program (Border 2012) is a collaboration between the U.S. and Mexico to improve the environment and protect the nearly 12 million people living along the shared 2,000 mile border. Progress includes completion of greenhouse gas emissions inventories; removal of 4 million scrap tires; establishment of a post-graduate degree program at Mexico's Institute of Public Health; and implementation of 15 sister cities emergency response plans to better protect residents along the border. 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 $2,200,000; FY 09 est $3,000,000; FY 10 est $3,000,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Range: $15,000 - $300,000; Average: FY 2008 $150,000, FY 2009 est. $100,000 and FY 2010 est. $100,000.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

These grants and cooperative agreements 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 nonprofit institutions.

Related Programs

66.034 Surveys, Studies, Research, Investigations, Demonstrations, and Special Purpose Activities Relating to the Clean Air Act; 66.469 Great Lakes Program; 66.609 Protection of Children and Older Adults (Elderly) from Environmental Health Risks; 66.808 Solid Waste Management Assistance Grants

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices.

Headquarters Office

Iris Zeigler Office of International Affairs
USEPA
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, District of Columbia 20460 Email: zeigler.iris@epa.gov Phone: (202) 564-6614

Web Site Address

http://www.epa.gov/oia/

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: Examples of OIA awarded international projects were to assist in: 1) "Managing Pollution from POPs and Other Toxic Substances in China"; 2) "Reduction of Risks from Obsolete Pesticide Stockpiles"; 3) "Mercury Emissions Monitoring and Management for Waste Incinerators"; 4) "Support for Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles"; 5) "Program on Empowerment of Rural Communities of Alaska (USA) and Kamchatkat (Russia) in Environmental Health Control". 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.