Pollution Prevention Grants Program (66.708)
Program
66.708 Pollution Prevention Grants Program
Federal Agency
OFFICE OF PREVENTION, PESTICIDES AND TOXIC SUBSTANCES, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Authorization
Pollution Prevention Act of 1990, Section 6605, Public Law 101-508.
Program Number
66.708
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
To support Regional, State, and tribal environmental assistance activities that address preventative approaches to the generation and management of pollutants across all environmental media: air, land, and water. Funding Priority: Provide Federal leadership for P2. Build State/Tribal capacity to prevent pollution at the source and reduce environmental burden of PBT's (22.1 FTE; $1,473K): (1) incorporate P2 approaches in regional, state, and tribal programs and manage grants awarded to states and tribes, and (2) prevent or reduce nation's burden from priority PBTs in the environment.
Types of Assistance
Project Grants.
Uses and Use Restrictions
The Pollution Prevention Grant Program has several discrete grant programs administered by the Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances in the EPA. Funds awarded under these programs are focused to support innovative activities that promote preventative approaches to environmental performance and address the transfer of potentially harmful pollutants across all media: air, land, and water. These programs support the establishment and expansion of State pollution prevention programs and address various sectors of concern such as industrial toxics, agriculture, energy, transportation, etc. The Pollution Prevention Grant program is intended to build and support State pollution prevention approaches and methodologies. This grant program is focused on institutionalizing multimedia pollution prevention as an environmental management priority, establishing prevention goals, providing direct technical assistance to businesses, conducting outreach, and collecting and analyzing data. Another grant program, the Pollution Prevention Information Network grants, seek to coordinate work among technical assistance providers/grantees in order to minimize duplication of effort in information collection and synthesis, dissemination and training for the promotion of pollution prevention technologies. There are some other small grants awarded, outside these two notable grant programs, that address the source reduction of pollution.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
In accordance with the Pollution Prevention Act, eligible applicants for purposes of funding under these grant program include the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and territory or possession of the United States, any agency or instrumentality of a State including State universities, and all Federally recognized Native American tribes. For convenience, the term "State" in this notice refers to all eligible applicants. Local governments, private universities, private nonprofit entities, private businesses, and individuals are not eligible. State applicants are encouraged to establish partnerships with business and other environmental assistance providers to deliver seamless pollution prevention assistance. The most successful applications will be those that make the most efficient use of government funding. In many cases, this has been accomplished through partnerships.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Any State, interstate, and local agency/organization/university, Federally-Recognized Indian Tribes, public nonprofit organization/institution, profit organization, business, private organization, and quasi-public nonprofit organization.
Credentials/Documentation
In cases where applicants are not clear, by given name, an instrumentality of the State, the applicant must provide proof that the applicant is indeed a State or interstate agency/organization.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
The Standard Form 424, 424A, and other forms as provided by the Environmental Protection Agency must be used for this program. Applicants are subject to the State's review. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372 "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs" (and the review requirements of Section 204 of the Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act). 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. The single point of contact must notify in writing, within 30 days of the Federal Register Notice announcing availability of funds, the Grants Administration Division of the Environmental Protection Agency whether their State's official E.O. 12372 process will review applications in this program.
Application Procedure
Requests for information should be made to EPA Headquarters or the appropriate EPA Regional Office listed in the Appendix of the Catalog. Completed applications must be submitted to the EPA Headquarters or Regional Pollution Prevention Programs for consideration for an award. Applications must meet the requirements of the grant regulations and will be reviewed to determine relevancy of the proposed project.
Award Procedure
Procedures for awards are outlined in General Grant Regulation 40 CFR Part 30.
Deadlines
Varies according to each EPA Regional Office and grant program.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Appeals
As described in 40 CFR Part 30, Subpart L and part 31, Subpart F.
Renewals
None.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Organizations receiving pollution prevention grant funds are required to match Federal funds by at least 50 percent. For example, the Federal government will provide half of the total allowable cost of the project, and the State will provide the other half. A grant request for $100,000 would support a total allowable project cost of $200,000, with the State providing $100,000. State contributions may include dollars, in-kind goods and services, and/or third party contributions.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Grants are awarded for a project period not to exceed 3 years. Funds are released by a letter of credit.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Organizations that are awarded grant funds will be required to submit quarterly or semi-annual progress reports, during the life of the project, to the EPA Project Officer. Each report will summarize funds expended, tasks accomplished, and results achieved to date. A summary final report will also be required at the end of the project period. This final report should include a discussion of the prospects for continuation, further development of the pollution prevention effort, project evaluation and future direction.
Audits
Periodic audits should be made as part of the recipient's system 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," non-federal 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. State agencies that expend less than $300,000 within the State's fiscal year shall have an audit made in accordance with Federal laws and regulations governing the programs in which they participate.
Records
Financial records, including all documents to support entries on accounting records to substantiate charges 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 annual financial status report. If questions still remain, such as those raised as a result of an audit, related records should be retained until the matter is completely resolved.
Program Accomplishments
During fiscal year 2002, grants totaling approximately $5,000,000 were awarded under the Pollution Prevention Incentives State grant program and approximately $1,000,000 were awarded under the Pollution Prevention Information Network grant program.
Financial Information
Account Identification
68-0108-0-1-304.
Obligations
(Grants) FY 02 est $6,000,000; FY 03 est $6,000,000; and FY 04 est not available.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
$20,000 to $200,000; $80,000.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
40 CFR Parts 29, 30, 31, 32; and "EPA Assistance Administration Manual," available from the National Technical Information Services, Department of Commerce, Springfield, VA 22161 on a subscription basis, Order No.: NTIS UB/031.
Related Programs
None.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
Contact appropriate EPA Headquarters or Regional Office listed in the Appendix of the Catalog.
Headquarters Office
For program information: Pollution Prevention Division, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, MC7409- M, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania, Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20460. Telephone: (202) 564-8800.
Web Site Address
http://www.epa.gov/oppt/p2home/grants/ppis/ppis.htm
Examples of Funded Projects
1) Technical Assistance; 2) data/information collection and dissemination; 3) education for and outreach to business/government/academic personnel; 4) training; 5) environmental auditing; 6) technology transfer; 7) demonstration projects; and 8) integration of Pollution Prevention into State regulatory programs, or combinations thereof.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
When evaluating the requests for grants under this authority, EPA shall consider, among other things, whether the proposed State activities would accomplish the following: 1) Make specific technical assistance available to businesses seeking information about source reduction opportunities, including funding for experts to provide onsite technical advice to businesses seeking assistance and to assist in the development of source reduction plans. 2) Target assistance to businesses for whom lack of information is an impediment to source reduction. 3) Provide training in source reduction techniques. Such training may be provided through local engineering schools or any other appropriate means. Specifically, in fiscal year 2003 the Pollution Prevention Grant Program requires that in addition to proposing activities that meet EPA's definition of pollution prevention, an applicant's proposal must include the following activities: 1)Promote multimedia pollution prevention, 2) Advance State environmental goals, 3) Promote accomplishments within the State's environmental programs, 4) Promote partnering among environmental and business assistance providers, and 5) Estimate environmental impacts. The Pollution Prevention Information Network requires that proposals identify their area of expertise, participate in a voluntary network, report on P2 information services provided, and address customer satisfaction issues.
