State Damage Prevention Program Grants (20.720)

Program

20.720 State Damage Prevention Program Grants

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Transportation
Office: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

Authorization

PIPES Act Section 2(b), which added Section 60134 to the Pipeline Safety Law.

Program Number

20.720

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To improve State Damage prevention programs, which are intended to protect underground facilities from excavation damage.

Types of Assistance

PROJECT GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

Personnel, equipment, and activities that are needed by the State authority to enhance damage prevention programs. Grant funds may not be used for lobbying or in direct support of litigation. Grant funds may not be used for lobbying or in direct support of litigation.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Any State (including U.S. Territory or possessions) authority designated by the Governor is eligible to apply for a grant as long an agency within the State (including U.S. Territory or possessions) has an annual Section 60105 (49 U.S.C.) certification or Section 60106 (49 U.S.C.) agreement in effect with PHMSA. If a State (including U.S. Territory or possessions) does not have a certification or agreement with PHMSA, then no State (including U.S. Territory or possessions) authority can receive a grant.

Beneficiary Eligibility

State Government, U.S. Territory and possessions would receive the ultimate benefit from this program.

Credentials/Documentation

A written application describing the current status of the State Damage Prevention Program and plans for improvements. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. Through the website at www.Grants.gov.

Award Procedure

Panel of stakeholders will review and score applications. Grants will be awarded to applicants with the highest score until the available funds are exhausted.

Deadlines

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

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Sixty days after application deadline.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

Not Applicable.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.

This program has no matching requirements.

This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

There is a restricion on the time permitted to spend the money awarded. It must be spent within the calendar year of the grant. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: by letter of credit.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

A final report within 30 days of the end of the grant period. SF-272. Status report is due six months after the start date of the grant. SF-269. No 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. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations, nonfederal entities that receive financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records

Grant recipient must maintain: (a) documentation supporting the cost incurred under the grant, and (b) information regarding any sub-awards made using grant funds.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: Approximately $1.3 million in grants were awarded to 15 States in calendar year 2008. A summary of the 2008 and 2009 State Damage Prevention Program grants is available http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov. Fiscal Year 2009: Approximately $1.3 million in grants were awarded to 15 States in calendar year 2008. A summary of the 2008 and 2009 State Damage Prevention Program grants is available at http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov. Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

69-5172-0-2-407.

Obligations

(Project Grants) FY 08 $1,327,497; FY 09 est $1,047,000; FY 10 est $2,100,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

The grants awarded range $39,000-$100,000. The average is $87,200.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

Pipeline Safety Regulations, 49 CFR 192.614, 49 CFR 192.616, 49 CFR 195.440, 49 CFR 195.442, 49 CFR 198.37, and 49 CFR 198.39 Individual copies of regulations may be requested from: Office of Pipeline Safety, Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration, Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE East Building, 2nd Floor, Washington, DC 205901, Telephone: (202) 366-4595 Fax: (202) 366-4566.

Related Programs

Not Applicable.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

Sam Hall, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E, Washington, District of Columbia 20590 Email: sam.hall@dot.gov Phone: (804) 556-4678.

Web Site Address

http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/.

Examples of Funded Projects

Not Applicable.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

All proposals from eligible state agencies are considered for funding based on their statewide damage prevention program (or a detailed plan to develop a program within 4 years) that implements the 9 elements of an effective damage prevention program identified in Section 2(b) of the PIPES Act (Pipeline Safety Laws 49 U.S.C. Section 60134).