National Estuary Program (66.456)
Program
66.456 National Estuary Program
Federal Agency
OFFICE OF WATER, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Authorization
Clean Water Act, Title III, Section 320, as amended, Public Law 94-117 and Public Law 106-457, 33 U.S.C. 466 et seq.
Program Number
66.456
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
The program objective is to develop and implement a comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) for each estuary designated by the EPA Administrator. The program characterizes the problems in the estuary, determines relationships between pollutant loading and impacts on living resources, develops a comprehensive plan recommending solutions to priority problems, and implements actions addressing priority problems. Potential implementation includes basin-wide reduction of point and nonpoint sources of pollution and basin-wide resource management programs. Funding Priority: EPA's funding priority is to award grants that support the existing 28 National Estuary Programs. Section 320(a) of the 1987 Water Quality Act (WQA) authorizes the Agency to convene management conferences with participants from State legislatures, interstate or regional environmental agencies, State agencies, local governments or other public or nonprofit private agencies, research institutions and individuals to develop programs to protect and restore coastal resources in estuaries of National significance.
Types of Assistance
Project Grants; Cooperative Agreements.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Resources will be used to meet the requirements of Section 320, including the better definition of priority problems identified by the conferences by assessing trends in water quality and resources and determining the causes and sources of the problems and implementing the CCMP. Annual workplans are developed and approved by each management conference outlining projects to be undertaken during the fiscal year. Twenty-eight estuaries have been designated as estuaries of national significance, including: Long Island Sound, Puget Sound, Buzzards Bay, Narragansett Bay, New York-New Jersey Harbor, Delaware Bay, Delaware Inland Bays, Sarasota Bay, Galveston Bay, Santa Monica Bay, Albemarle-Pamlico Sounds, San Francisco Estuary, Casco Bay, Massachusetts Bays, Indian River Lagoon, Tampa Bay, Peconic Bay, San Juan Bay, Coastal Bend Bays; Tillamook Bay, the Barataria-Terrebonne Estuarine Complex, New Hampshire Estuaries, Barnegat Bay, Maryland Coastal Bays, Charlotte Harbor, Mobile Bay, Morro Bay, and Columbia River Estuary. NEPs carries out such tasks as: (1) Gathering and analyzing existing and historical data from various sources of information previously collected in the estuary; (2) identifying and conducting research to acquire new data as needed to address priority problems; (3) increasing regional public understanding of the problems and complexities of the estuary, and bringing public input to the decision making and management processes; and (4) developing and recommending priority corrective actions to address the most significant problems. Section 320 authorizes issuance of grants for CCMP plan development, limited demonstration of actions included in the CCMP and implementation of actions to address those problems.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Grants are issued only for those estuaries designated by the Administrator. The Administrator is authorized to make grants to State, interstate, and regional water pollution control agencies and entities, State coastal zone management agencies, Interstate agencies, other public and nonprofit private agencies, institutions, organizations, and individuals (Section 320(g)(l)). Profit making organizations are not eligible for grants.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Financial assistance is made for a public purpose, as the ultimate beneficiary is the public and the living resources in estuaries.
Credentials/Documentation
Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments, OMB Circular No. A-21 for educational institutions, and OMB Circular No. A-122 for nonprofit organizations.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
Preapplication assistance may be obtained from the appropriate EPA Regional Office. All proposals or work statements should be developed in response to the priority tasks identified in the management conference annual work plan. Proposals should also be developed in response to negotiated schedules for commitments to meet the purpose of a management conference outlined in the Act for the estuary. Each proposal will be considered by the appropriate management conference and the EPA Regional 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
Application kits may be requested from the EPA Grants Administration Division, 3903R, Washington, DC 20460, or from the appropriate Regional Office. The completed application, including the final proposal approved by the estuary management committee, should be submitted to the appropriate EPA Regional program office for processing. This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-110. The standard application forms as furnished by the Federal agency and required by OMB Circular No. A-102 must be used for this program.
Award Procedure
Each application and final proposal is reviewd by EPA Regional Offices to determine the adequacy of the application under grant regulations and National Estuary Program objectives, including technical merit and relevance of the project. Awards are issued by the EPA Regional Offices after approval by the appropriate Division Director.
Deadlines
Complete applications must reach the appropriate Regional program office no later than June 1 to be considered for fiscal year funding. Earlier schedules may be established by estuary program management or organization. Such information is available from the Regional program office.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Appeals
Appeals are subject to the provisions of 40 CFR Part 30.63 and Part 31 Subpart F.
Renewals
Renewals are subject to approval of the individual estuary management organization. Contact the appropriate EPA Regional office for guidance.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
P.L. 106-457, which amended Section 320 (g) of the Water Quality Act of 1987, limits the amount of grants to 75 percent of the aggregate CCMP development project costs for each estuary program and to 50 percent of the aggregate CCMP implementation project costs for each estuary program, and requires that the nonfederal share be provided from nonfederal sources. The nonfederal share can be contributed by any of the participants in the management conference. Contact the appropriate management conference program office or EPA Regional Office for more information.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Grants are normally funded on a 12-month basis (yearly). Project period may cover up to 36 months, with continuations possible for certain types of projects. Payments will be on a letter of credit or advance basis.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Quarterly interim, and final progress and expenditure reports; program evaluations and other reports as required by the specific terms of the Agreement. Financial Status Reports must be submitted for each project at the end of each fiscal year.
Audits
Grants are subject to inspections and audit by representatives of the Comptroller General of the United States and EPA or any authorized representative. Periodic audits should be made as part of the recipient's systems of financial management and internal control to meet terms and conditions of grants and other agreements. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133, "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $300,000 or more within the State's fiscal year shall have an audit made for that year. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular No. A-133, "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," was published in the Federal Register on June 30, 1997. The Circular implements the Single Audit Act amendments of 1996. The Circular requires nonfederal entities that expend more than $300,000 in Federal award dollars, to have an audit conducted in accordance with the Circular's provisions. With the revised Circular, the previous OMB Circular No. A- 128 for single audits of State and local governments was rescinded and the single audit requirements for these entities were incorporated among the provisions of 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 until expiration of 3 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 should be retained until the matter is completely resolved.
Program Accomplishments
See http://www.epa.gov/owow/estuaries/ Contact EPA regions to determine numbers of proposals funded.
Financial Information
Account Identification
68-0108-0-1-304.
Obligations
(Grants) FY 02 $20,542,000; FY 03 est $20,317,000; and FY 04 est $13,019,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
$10,000 to $795,000; $100,000.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
Federal Register, Vol. 59, 61124, November 29, 1994, Technical Amendment Financial Assistance Requirements for the National Estuary Program (40 CFR, Part 35). "Saving Bays and Estuaries, a Primer for Establishing and Managing Estuary Projects," EPA/503/8-89-001, is available from the Oceans and Coastal Protection Division, Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds (4504T) EPA, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460. Forms and instructions for filing are included in an application kit available from the Grants Administration Division (3903R), Office of Grants and Debarment, EPA, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC. 20460.
Related Programs
66.419, Water Pollution Control_State and Interstate Program Support; 66.454, Water Quality Management Planning; 66.458, Capitalization Grants for Clean Water State Revolving Funds; 66.461, Wetland Program Development Grants; 66.463, Water Quality Cooperative Agreements; 66.500, Environmental Protection_Consolidated Research.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
Water Quality Policy Division, EPA, Region I, Boston, MA 02114-2023. Telephone: (617) 918-1511. Division of Environmental Planning and Protection, EPA, Region II, 290 Broadway, New York, NY 10007-1866. Telephone: (212) 637-3724. Environmental Services Division, EPA, Region III, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 191103-2029. Telephone (215) 814-2989. Water Management Division, EPA, Region IV, 61 Forsyth St., S.W., Atlanta, GA 30303. Telephone: (404) 562-9345. Water Quality Protection Division, EPA, Region VI, 1445 Ross Ave., Dallas, TX 75202-2733. Telephone: (214) 665-7101. Water Management Division, EPA, Region IX, 75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA 94105. Telephone: (415) 744-1860. Office of Ecosystems and Communities, EPA, Region X, 1200 Sixth Ave., Seattle, WA 98101. Telephone: (206) 553-4181.
Headquarters Office
Darrell Brown, Chief, Coastal Management Branch, Oceans and Coastal Protection Division, Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds (4504T), EPA, Washington, DC 20460. Telephone: (202) 566-1240.
Web Site Address
http://www.epa.gov/owow/estuaries/
Examples of Funded Projects
Cooperative agreements awarded to States, interstate agencies and nonprofit organizations to conduct water quality assessments, monitoring, public education and outreach programs to involve the public in developing and implementing estuary Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plans (CCMP), implementation of CCMP action plans, tracking and overseeing implementation, and evaluating and reporting on progress in implementation and environmental results.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Proposals are approved by the individual estuary management organizations according to technical merit and relevance to the objectives, projects and tasks identified in the estuary Project's annual work plan. Proposals should contain schedules for progress reports and products that will contribute findings and recommendations for management decisions; provide for project data to be presented in EPA prescribed formats; provide for on-going project coordination and problem resolution that may arise as work progresses; and show adequate resources to complete the work described to meet work plan objectives.
