Lake Champlain Basin Program (66.481)

Program

66.481 Lake Champlain Basin Program

Federal Agency

Agency: Environmental Protection Agency
Office: Office of Water

Authorization

Clean Water Act , Section 120, Public Law 107-303.

Program Number

66.481

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To implement the Lake Champlain Basin Management Plan Opportunities for Action: An Evolving Plan for the Future of the Lake Champlain Basin, and to assist the states of New York and Vermont in protecting and preserving the Lake Champlain ecosystem. Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2009: Efforts in Lake Champlain will continue to support the successful interstate, interagency, and international partnership undertaking the implementation of "Opportunities for Action," a plan designed to address various threats to the Lake's water quality, including phosphorus loadings, invasive species, and toxic substances. Grants under this program shall be made for assisting research, surveys, studies, modeling, technical, field, restoration, education, outreach, and other supporting work necessary for the development and implementation of the Lake Champlain Basin Management Plan. Funding priorities include phosphorus control, environmental education and outreach, and support for cultural and recreational resources.

Types of Assistance

PROJECT GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

As described in Section 120 of the CWA, funds may be used to implement elements of the Lake Champlain Basin Management Plan, Opportunities for Action. Projects outside of the Lake Champlain Basin are not eligible for funding under this program. Grant awards must be made in consultation with the Lake Champlain Basin Program Steering Committee, and must support activities consistent with the goals of Opportunities for Action. 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

State, interstate, and regional water pollution control agencies, and public or nonprofit agencies, institutions, and organizations are eligible to receive grants from EPA through this program. 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

Assistance under this program generally benefits State environmental, health, and agriculture agencies; interstate water pollution control agencies; public nonprofit institutions and organizations; sponsored organizations; Federal agencies; local agencies; intrastate agencies; public and private nonprofit institutions and organizations; private organizations; small businesses; and quasi-public nonprofit institutions.

Credentials/Documentation

Nonprofit private agencies, institutions, and organizations may be required to provide documentation of their organizational status upon application. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

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. A pre-application form is not required. Informal pre-application discussions or conferences with the Lake Champlain Basin Program Steering Committee, and EPA Regions 1 and 2 are required. 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. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. The Lake Champlain Basin Program Steering Committee, in conjunction with EPA Regions 1 and 2, develops the annual budget and task list. This budget and task list is then divided between the States of Vermont and New York and the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission. From this information, these three organizations then prepare grant applications and workplans for submittal to EPA Region 2 or Region 1. The standards 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. Application kits should be requested from the Environmental Protection Agency, Grants and Interagency Agreements Management Division, (3903R), 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N. W., Washington, DC 20460 or the appropriate EPA Regional Office identified in "Regional or Local Office" section for information contacts. Detailed information and assistance, including and application kit, required forms, and a checklist may also be found at: http://www.epa.gov/ogd/AppKit/. Applications must be submitted to the appropriate EPA Regional Office identified in "Regional or Local Office" section for information contacts. Applicants may be able to use http://www.grants.gov to electronically apply for certain grant opportunities under this CFDA.

Award Procedure

Each federal assistance application and final work plan will be evaluated by EPA Region 1 or Region 2 to determine the adequacy of the application under the established EPA grants program requirements and guidelines, including, but not limited to, the requirements set forth in 40 CFR Parts 30 and 31. Technical merit and the relevance of the project to the priorities and objectives established in Opportunities for Action will also be considered. Each application will also be subject to an administrative review by the EPA Region 1 or 2 grants management office as appropriate to determine whether all administrative requirements have been met. The workplan is submitted to the EPA Region 1 and 2 Regional Administrators for approval prior to the award of any assistance agreement. Once a Regional Office approves the annual workplan, funds are awarded by the EPA Region 1 or 2 Regional Administrator as appropriate. Grantees will receive an award package from the appropriate EPA Regional grants management office that must be accepted and signed by an authorized official of the recipient organization and returned to the grants management office within 30 days. Awards may be made on an advance or reimbursement basis. Awards that are not signed and returned by the deadline may be subject to cancellation. 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.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Notification of action on proposals varies depending on the timing of funds release to the EPA Regional Offices from Headquarters. Interval from submission to notification may vary from two months to eight months.

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

No cost extensions and amendments may be available subject to the approval of EPA. Approval of subsequent funding is dependent on satisfactory project progress, continued relevance of the project to EPA's priorities, and availability of funds, and the Agency policy on the competitive grant process.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula.

Matching Requirements: This program has a statutory matching requirement; see CWA section 120 (f)(3). For all assistance (grants and cooperative agreements) agreements made under this program, federal costs shall not exceed 75 percent of the total cost of the agreement. This program has no statutory funding formula.

This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Assistance agreements are generally made for a multi-year period at the discretion of EPA. Start dates for assistance agreements are variable and are established at the discretion of EPA. Generally however, it is intended that start dates closely follow award dates of the assistance agreement. Awards are fully funded, recipients draw down funding as cost are incurred, typically monthly. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Other. The method of fund disbursement will be determined at the time of award.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

EPA includes reporting requirements for grants and cooperative agreements in the terms and conditions of the agreements. Specific reporting requirements are also identified in the Grant Regulations at 40 CFR Part 30 and 40 CFR Part 31, as applicable. Program reports are required under this program. Cash reports are required under this program. 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

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 for three years from the date of submission of the final expenditure report. If questions still remain, such as those that arose as a result of an audit, related records should be retained until the matter is completely resolved.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: Since 1991, EPA's funding of the Lake Champlain Basin Program has led protection and restoration of the Lake Champlain basin through coordination with federal, provincial, state, and municipal agencies and local citizens. The main program goals, as laid out in the Lake Champlain Management Plan Opportunities for Action, are as follows: reducing phosphorus inputs to Lake Champlain; decreasing toxic contamination; minimizing the risks to humans from water-related health hazards; and controlling the introduction, spread, and impact of nonnative nuisance species. EPA works with the Lake Champlain Basin Program Steering Committee to determine funding priorities and distributes funds accordingly. The following four entities receive funding on an annual basis: New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC), Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, and the Lake Champlain Science Center. They may choose to compete all or part of the funds. Competitive announcements typically include the number of anticipated awards.

In FY 08, funds were used to support protection and restoration of the Lake Champlain Basin. Specific examples of accomplishments include: creation and distribution of a "State of the Lake" report detailing current water quality and other ecosystem conditions; conducting water quality monitoring programs with the collection of at least 3,500 water chemistry samples; a boat inspection and education program to reduce the spread of invasive species; a survey of a nearby canal for the presence of asian clam, an invasive species; extensive watershed mapping to better plan for BMP installation; removal of thousands of pounds of invasive water chestnuts; and other tasks. Fiscal Year 2009: In FY 09, expected accomplishments include: revising the Lake Champlain Basin Management Plan "Opportunites for Action"; further removal of invasive water chestnuts; and an extensive monitoring effort for toxic blue-green algae blooms. Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

68-0108-0-1-304.

Obligations

(Project Grants) FY 08 $2,918,300; FY 09 est $2,993,000; FY 10 est $1,435,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

$75,000 to $1,199,300/fiscal year; $637,000/fiscal year.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

Lake Champlain program grants and cooperative agreements are subject to EPA's general grant regulations, 40 CFR Part 30 or 40 CFR Part 31. All assistance agreements must support the goals and objectives of the Lake Champlain Management Plan, Opportunities for Action. A copy of this document is available on request from the Lake Champlain Basin Program, 54 West Shore Road, Grand Isle, VT 05458, Phone 802-372-3213 and is also available online at http://www.lcbp.org.

Related Programs

12.100 Aquatic Plant Control; 66.419 Water Pollution Control State, Interstate, and Tribal Program Support; 66.436 Surveys, Studies, Investigations, Demonstrations, and Training Grants and Cooperative Agreements - Section 104(b)(3) of the Clean Water Act; 66.454 Water Quality Management Planning; 66.460 Nonpoint Source Implementation Grants; 66.463 Water Quality Cooperative Agreements

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. Erik Beck, EPA New England, 1 Congress Street, Suite 1100-CWN, Boston, MA 02114-2023. Telephone: (617) 918-1606; Fax: (617) 918-0606; E-mail: beck.erik@epa.gov. Mario Paula, EPA Region 2, 290 Broadway, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10007-1866. Telephone: (212) 637-3819; Fax: (212) 637-3889; E-mail: paula.mario@epa.gov.

Headquarters Office

Erik Beck US EPA New England
1 Congress Street, Suite 1100-CWN, Boston, Massachusetts 02114 Email: beck.erik@epa.gov Phone: (617) 918-1606

Web Site Address

http://www.epa.gov/NE/eco/lakechamplain/index.html

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: Grants and cooperative agreements awarded to states, interstate agencies, universities, and nonprofit organizations are for implementation of the Lake Champlain Management Plan. Grants awarded to States of Vermont and New York and NEIWPCC generally cover multiple tasks and projects per grant. Examples of work carried out by these grants include: (1) funding for the overall program coordination, and the full-time New York and Vermont Lake Champlain Basin Program coordinators employed by their respective states; (2) annual lake and tributary monitoring for phosphorus and other parameters by professional limnologists; lay monitoring of Lake Champlain and other lakes in the basin for phosphorus and other water quality parameters; (3) phosphorus reduction: research on phosphorus carried downstream by eroding stream banks, research on policy options for further phosphorus reduction from point and nonpoint sources, tracking implementation of best management practices on farms, geomorphic studies, and riparian restoration work; (4) removal of invasive species such as water chestnuts, research on non-chemical alternatives to sea lamprey control, and milfoil removal efforts; (5) toxins: funded studies on cyanobacteria dynamics in Lake Champlain as well as monitoring for cyanobacteria (blue green algae) blooms and their associated toxins in Lake Champlain. 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. The Steering Committee recommends projects to EPA for funding based on the technical merit of the proposal and its relevance to the Lake Champlain Basin Management Plan. EPA approves applications after Steering Committee recommendation based on the technical merit of the application and its relevance to the Lake Champlain Basin Management Plan.