Region 3 Environmental Priority Projects (66.113)

Program

66.113 Region 3 Environmental Priority Projects

Federal Agency

Agency: Environmental Protection Agency
Office: Region 3

Authorization

Clean Water Act, Section 104; Safe Drinking Water Act, Section 1442; Clean Air Act, Section 103; Solid Waste Disposal Act, Section 8001; Toxic Substances Control Act, Section 10; Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, Section 20.

Program Number

66.113

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

Assistance agreements awarded under this program must support, surveys, studies, investigations, training, demonstrations and special purpose assistance associated with air quality, acid deposition, drinking water, water quality, hazardous waste, toxic substances, or pesticides: (a) to identify, develop, and demonstrate necessary pollution control techniques; (b) to prevent, reduce, and eliminate pollution; (c) to evaluate the economic and social consequences of alternative strategies and mechanisms for use by those in economic, social, governmental, and environmental management positions; and (d) to promote collaboration on projects and activities within the states and enable wider and more coordinated state input on national environmental issues. Awards under this program must be performed within the Region III area of Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and/or District of Columbia.

Types of Assistance

PROJECT GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

Assistance awards in the form of grants and cooperative agreements are available to support recipients' allowable direct costs incident to approved surveys, studies, investigations, training, demonstrations and special purpose assistance, plus allowable indirect costs, in accordance with established EPA policies and regulations. Funding awarded for research 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 state and local governments and the District of Columbia. Assistance is also available to public and private universities and colleges, hospitals, laboratories, and other public or private nonprofit institutions (Non-profit organizations described in Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that engage in lobbying activities as defined in Section 3 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 are not eligible to apply.) For profit organizations are generally not eligible for funding. Some of EPA's statutes may limit assistance to specific types of interested applicants. See "Authorization" listed above. 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

State and local governments, public and private universities and colleges, hospitals, laboratories, and other public or private nonprofit institutions within Region III's geographical area.

Credentials/Documentation

Documentation of nonprofit status may be required. Applicants may be requested to demonstrate they have appropriate background, academic training, experience in the field, and necessary equipment to carry out projects. Region III representatives may 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

EPA, Region 3 awards grants and cooperative agreements supporting surveys, studies, investigations, training, demonstrations and special purpose assistance under this program description in response to an EPA competitive solicitation. 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. 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 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 Region 3 requires final applications to be made on Standard Form 424, "Application for Federal Assistance." Requests for application kits must be submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency, Region 3, 1650 Arch Streets, Philadelphia, PA 19103, Grants and Audit Management Branch (3PM70) Additional information on the EPA assistance package can be found at: http://www.epa.gov/ogd/grants/how_to_apply.htm. Applicants may be able to use http://www.grants.gov to electronically apply for certain grant opportunities under this CFDA. For competitive awards the funding announcement 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.

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. EPA can incrementally fund grants and cooperative agreements for surveys, studies, and investigations, training, demonstrations and special purpose assistance. The approval of subsequent funding increments is dependent on satisfactory project progress, continued relevance of the project to Region 3 priorities, and the 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

Grants and cooperative agreements are normally funded on a 12-month basis. However, EPA Region III can negotiate the project period with each applicant based on project requirements. The total approved project period may not exceed 2 years for competitive awards. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Full or partial awards may be made. Awards are released through an electronic funds transfer method.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

No program reports are required. In addition to the general reporting requirements under 40 CFR, EPA includes specific reporting requirements for grants and cooperative agreements in the terms and conditions of the agreements. Agreements may require financial, equipment, and invention reports. Reporting requirements are also identified in EPA's grant regulations 40 CFR Parts 30 and 31. Agreements may require quarterly, interim, and final progress reports. Agreements may require expenditure reports. Performance monitoring is required.

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 Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal 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. 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 OMB Circular No. A-133.

Records

The record retention requirements of 40 CFR Part 30 (nonprofits and institutions of higher education) or 40 CFR Part 31 (governmental units) are applicable depending upon the identity of the recipient. Recipients must keep financial records, including all documents supporting entries on accounting records which support substantial changes to the grant, available to personnel authorized to examine EPA recipients' grants and cooperative agreement records. Recipient must maintain all records for a period of three (3) years from the date of submission of final expenditures reports. If questions, such as those raised as a result of audits or litigation remain following the 3-year period, recipients must retain records until the matter is fully resolved.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: No awards were made in FY 2008. It is anticipated that FY 2009 funding will be used to support Region 3 strategic initiatives. Fiscal Year 2009: It is anticipated that FY 2009 funding will be used to support Region 3 strategic initiatives. Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

68-0108-0-1-304.

Obligations

(Project Grants) FY 08 $0; FY 09 est $6,500; FY 10 est $0

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

NA.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

Grants and cooperative agreements are subject to EPA general grant regulations (40 CFR Parts 30, "Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Non-Profit Organizations," and 40 CFR Part 31, "Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments"). Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular A-87 for State and local governments and Indian Tribes, OMB Circular No. A-21 for educational institutions, OMB Circular No. A-122 for nonprofit institutions, and FAR Part 31 for "for profit" entities.

Related Programs

Not Applicable.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. EPA, Region 3, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, Kathleen Blinebury, 215-814-5395, fax 215-814-5271, blinebury.kathleen@epa.gov.

Headquarters Office

Kathleen Blinebury EPA Region 3
1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 Email: blinebury.kathleen@epa.gov Phone: 215-814-5395

Web Site Address

http://www.epa.gov/region03/grants/index.htm

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: In the past, Region III funded grants to eligible recipients to educate migrant farm workers on indoor air quality and asthma and ways to minimize indoor air pollutants, address childhood lead poisoning in urban areas and prevention techniques, restore and maintain water quality in Region 3 streams and waterbodies, develop an inventory of abandoned mines in Region 3 states in order to prioritize remediation activities and preserve land and drinking water by acquiring easements in riparian areas. 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.