National Wetland Program Development Grants (66.462)
Program
66.462 National Wetland Program Development Grants
Federal Agency
OFFICE OF WATER, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Authorization
Clean Water Act, Section 104(b)(3), as amended, Public Law 92-500; 33 U.S.C. 1254(b)(3).
Program Number
66.462
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
To assist State, Tribal, and local government (S/T/LG) agencies, and interstate/intertribal entities, build capacity to protect, manage, and restore wetlands. Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2005: EPA has identified four program emphasis areas for improving S/T/LG's ability to protect and restore their wetlands: (1) strengthening State/Tribal comprehensive wetland programs; (2) developing a comprehensive monitoring and assessment program; (3) improving the effectiveness of compensatory mitigation; and (4) refining the protection of vulnerable wetlands and aquatic resources. Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2006: EPA has identified four program emphasis areas for improving State, tribal, local government agencies' (S/T/LG's) ability to protect and restore their wetlands: (1) strengthening State/Tribal comprehensive wetland programs, (2) developing a comprehensive monitoring and assessment program; (3) improving the effectiveness of compensatory mitigation; and (4) refining the protection of vulnerable wetlands and aquatic resources.
Types of Assistance
Project Grants.
Uses and Use Restrictions
These grants are intended to encourage comprehensive, national wetlands program development by promoting the coordination and acceleration of research, investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys, and studies relating to the causes, effects, extent, prevention, reduction, and elimination of water pollution. Projects build the capacity of States, Tribes, and local governments to effectively protect wetland and riparian resources. Activities must help S/T/LGs develop and refine wetland programs. Projects funded under this program support the initial development of a national wetlands protection, restoration or management program, or support enhancement/refinement of an existing national program. Interstate agency and intertribal consortia projects must be broad in scope and encompass more than one State, Tribe, or local government and cannot be limited to activities that affect such entities in specific EPA regions. For example, projects and tasks can involve advancing science or collecting and making available through publications and other appropriate means, such as training on how information about how various wetland programs across the nation protect, manage, and restore their wetland resources and about initiatives to improve S/T/LG wetland programs. Projects that are regional in scope are not eligible for funding under this program but may be eligible for funding under EPA's Regional Wetland Program Development Grants program (CFDA 66.461). Assistance agreement awards under this program may involve or relate to geospatial information.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Only non-profit, non-governmental organizations which are capable of undertaking activities that advance wetland programs on a national basis are eligible to compete in this program. Interstate agencies and intertribal consortia meeting the requirements of 40 CFR 35.504 are eligible for headquarters funding. For certain competitive funding opportunities under this CFDA program, 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
State, Tribal, and local governments involved in administering wetlands protection, restoration, and/or management programs or programs related to or complement wetlands protection programs.
Credentials/Documentation
Non-profit applicants may be asked to provide documentation that they meet the definition of a non-profit organization in OMB Circular A-122. Interstate organizations may be asked to provide a citation to the statutory authority, which establishes their status. Intertribal consortia may be asked to provide documentation that they meet the requirements of 40 CFR Part 35.504.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
The standard application forms, as furnished by the Federal agency and required by OMB Circular A-102, must be used for this program. 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. If an applicant submits an unsolicited proposal it will be reviewed and evaluated in accordance with Agency policy and procedures. For more information regarding the procedures for submitting unsolicited proposals, applicants may contact the individual(s) listed as "Information Contacts" or see Appendix IV of the Catalog. 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
The EPA Headquarters (HQ) Office will conduct the competitive process for awarding national Wetland Program Development Grants. Interested applicants should review information on Wetland Program Development Grants at: http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/grantguidelines/. Applicants can also receive a copy of the current competitive announcement by calling the EPA HQ Coordinator. Interested applicants should review information on Wetland Program Development Grants at: http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/grantguidelines/. Applicants do not need to submit EPA grant application forms when responding to the HQ solicitation. All applicants will be notified by the HQ Office on whether or not the applicant has been selected for funding. The notification is not an authorization to begin performance. The Grant Award document signed by the appropriate grant official in the EPA HQ Office is the authorizing document. Applicants selected for funding must submit a final workplan and grant application forms. Application forms are available at http://www.epa.gov/ogd/AppKit/index.htm and by mail upon request to the Grants Administration Division at (202) 564-5305. Completed applications should be submitted to HQ.
Award Procedure
Grant applications are reviewed by the appropriate HQ Office and, if approved, the grant is awarded by the Grants Administration Division. For competitive awards, EPA will review and evaluate applications, proposals, and/or submissions in accordance with the terms, conditions, and criteria stated in the announcement of the competitive funding opportunity. Competitions will be conducted in accordance with EPA policies/regulations for competing assistance agreements.
Deadlines
Contact the HQ contact for information and to confirm deadlines.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
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 competitive selection of recipients will be resolved under 40 CFR 30.63 or 40 CFR 31.70, as applicable.
Renewals
None.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
The applicant must provide a minimum of 25 percent of the total cost of the workplan to the extent allowed by 40 CFR 31.24, 35.385, and 35.615. To determine if the minimum match is met, EPA will use the following formula: amount (in dollars) of federal funds requested from EPA divided by 3 = minimum match (in dollars). For example, if the applicant requests $75,000 of federal funds for the three-year project period, it must be able to provide $25,000 in matching funds or services. A reduced match may be available for Tribal grantees that place the Wetland Program Development Grant funds in a Performance Partnership Grant. (See regulations at 40 CFR 536(c)). States and Tribes can provide a larger share of the project's cost whenever possible (i.e., in excess of the required 25 percent of total project costs). Award recipients can meet the match requirements with contributions from entities other than themselves. However, other Federal money cannot be used as the match for this grant program unless authorized by the statute governing the award of the other Federal funds. Matching funds are considered grant funds. They must be used for the reasonable and necessary expenses of carrying out the assistance agreement workplan. Any restrictions on the use of grant funds (i.e., prohibition of land acquisition with grant funds) also apply to the matching funds.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
The terms of the grant shall be determined at time of grant award.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Quarterly interim, final progress, and expenditure reports; program evaluations; and other reports as required by the specific terms of the Agreement.
Audits
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 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 should be retained until the matter is completely resolved.
Program Accomplishments
This is a new grant program; no obligations were made in FY 04. In FY 05, grants will be awarded for the development of plans and management tools for protection of wetland resources; advancing the science and technical tools for evaluating, protecting, and restoring wetland health; facilitating development of watershed stakeholder partnerships; and improving public access to and education about wetlands information.
Financial Information
Account Identification
68-0103-0-1-304, STAG.
Obligations
FY 04 $0; FY 05 est $500,000; and FY 06 est $500,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
$10,000 to $140,000/fiscal year; $75,000/fiscal year.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
General Grant Regulations and Procedures, 40 CFR Parts 30 and 31, 40 CFR 35.610, OMB Circular A-122, or OMB Circular A-87, as applicable.
Related Programs
66.461, Regional Wetland Program Development Grants; 66.479, Wetland Program Grants - State/Tribal Environmental Outcome Wetland Demonstration Program; 66.419, Water Pollution Control State and Interstate Program Support; 66.454, Water Quality Management Planning; 66.456, National Estuary Program; 66.458, Capitalization Grants for Clean Water State Revolving Funds.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
None.
Headquarters Office
Kathleen Kutschenreuter, US EPA Wetlands Division, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, MC (4502T), Washington, DC 20460. Phone: (202) 566-1383; FAX: (202) 566-1375; e-mail: kutschenreuter.kathleen@epa.gov.
Web Site Address
http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/initiative/#financial
Examples of Funded Projects
The Wetland Program Development Grant database will provide project information for grants funded through this program (http://yosemite.epa.gov/water/grant.nsf). Examples of funded projects include: wetland and stream mitigation studies; development of market-based wetland protection tools; wetland management training workshops; development of wetland modeling tools; and studies on the functions and values of wetland ecosystems.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Projects will be selected based upon the criteria in the HQ Request for Proposals.
