State Grants to Reimburse Operators of Small Water Systems for Training and Certification Costs (66.471)

 

Program

66.471 State Grants to Reimburse Operators of Small Water Systems for Training and Certification Costs

 

Federal Agency

OFFICE OF WATER, OFFICE OF GROUND WATER AND DRINKING WATER, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

 

Authorization

Section 1419(d) of the 1996 Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Amendments.

 

Program Number

66.471

 

Last Known Status

Active

 

Objectives

Funding Priority: EPA's funding priority is to provide funds to states to reimburse the costs of training, including an appropriate per diem for unsalaried operators, and certification for persons operating community and nontransient noncommunity public water systems serving 3,300 persons or fewer that are required to undergo training pursuant to EPA's operator certification guidelines.

 

Types of Assistance

Formula Grants.

 

Uses and Use Restrictions

Grants may be used by states to reimburse operators of community and nontransient noncommunity water systems serving 3,300 persons or fewer for the costs of training and certification needed to meet EPA guidelines. Unsalaried operators may also be reimbursed for per diem costs. States are allowed to use a portion of their grant to administer the program. If a state has reimbursed all such costs, the state may, after notice to the Administrator of EPA, use any remaining funds from the grant for any of the other purposes authorized for Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) capitalization grants under section 1452 of the 1996 SDWA Amendments (CFDA 66.468).

 

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

States, Puerto Rico and Territories are eligible to receive grants.

Beneficiary Eligibility

For reimbursement to operators of community and nontransient noncommunity public water systems serving 3,300 persons or fewer that are publicly or privately owned. Indian tribes and Alaska Native Villages may be eligible to receive funding through State programs if they are subject to state operator certification program requirements.

Credentials/Documentation

To receive a grant, a state enters into an agreement with the EPA Regional Administrator which shall include, but not be limited to, the requirements set forth in Section 1419(d) of the 1996 SDWA Amendments. OMB Circular No. A-87, "Cost Principles Applicable to Grants and Contracts with State and Local Governments" applies to state grantees.

 

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

An applicant (state) should seek preapplication assistance from the appropriate EPA Regional Office. An environmental impact statement is not required prior to grant award. 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 point of contact in his or her state for more information on the state's process for applying for assistance, if the state has selected the program for review.

Application Procedure

The standard application for EPA non- construction grant assistance (EPA Form SF-424) is submitted to the appropriate Regional Office. The state must receive EPA approval of its operator certification program before it can apply for and receive a grant. The state must provide the assurance in its application that it will comply with all applicable Federal cross-cutting authorities and Federal statutes. EPA grant regulations (40 CFR Part 31) apply to states receiving grants.

Award Procedure

A grant application is reviewed by the appropriate Regional Office, and if approved, the grant is awarded by the Regional Administrator under a delegation of authority (Delegation of Authority 9-68) from the Administrator of EPA. EPA Headquarters retains the authority to review certain applications or parts thereof.

Deadlines

States must receive grant funds within two years of EPA approval of their operator certification program. In order to ensure that its grant can be awarded, a state should submit its application no later than 60 days prior to the established deadline.

 

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Appeals

As described in EPA's Regulation 40 CFR Part 31, Subpart F.

Renewals

Not applicable.

 

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

The Regional Administrator may award expense reimbursement grants from funds appropriated for this purpose. Allotments to the States are based on a formula, approved by the Assistant Administrator for Water, that allocates the funds based on several factors, including the number of operators of small systems within a State. The allocation methodology was published in the Federal Register on April 18, 2001 (66 FR 19939). There are no matching requirements on the initial grant award. However, if a state reimburses all eligible costs and chooses to use the remaining funds for purposes eligible under the DWSRF program (CFDA 66.468), it will be required to provide a 20 percent match on the remaining amount.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Funds are available for EPA's obligation to a State for a two year period following approval of the state's operator certification program. If a state fails to receive a grant in the allowed timeframe, the funds will be reallotted to other States using the formula used to allocate DWSRF funds. Funds are to be expended in accordance with a workplan submitted with the application for grant assistance. Funds are provided to the State on a reimbursement basis.

 

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Grantees will be required to submit an annual performance report in accordance with EPA general grant regulations.

Audits

A state must comply with the provisions of the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1196, and the OMB Circular No. A-133 and Compliance Supplement for Single Audits of State and Local Governments. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133, "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that receive 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 and other records which substantiate the reasonable and allocable charges must be 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 reports. If questions arise, related records must be retained until the matter is completely resolved.

 

Program Accomplishments

38 states and 1 territory have received grants funds to date. Montana, Washington, Alaska, Vermont, Utah, North Dakota, New York, New Jersey, Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Virginia, Delaware, Alabama, Florida, Michigan, Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado, Idaho, Kentucky and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands received grant awards in FY 02. Minnesota, Ohio, South Dakota, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, North Carolina, California, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. It is anticipated that an additional 8 states will receive grant awards by the end of FY03. It is anticipated that all grant awards will be made by the end of FY 04. Funds will be used to reimburse operators of community and nontransient noncommunity water systems serving 3,300 persons or fewer for the costs of training and certification.

 

Financial Information

Account Identification

68-0108-0-1-304.

Obligations

FY 02 $30,000,000; FY 03 est $29,396,500; and FY 04 est $0.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Grants will range from $14,420 to $9,642,860.

 

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

Applicants for assistance should review 40 CFR Part 31, the General Grant Regulations and Procedures and guidance produced by the Headquarter's drinking water program office.

 

Related Programs

66.468, Capitalization Grants for Drinking Water State Revolving Funds.

 

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See EPA Regional Offices listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog, or online.

Headquarters Office

Jenny Bielanski, Protection Branch (4606M), Drinking Water Protection Division, Office of Groundwater and Drinking Water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460. Telephone: (202) 564-3836.

Web Site Address

http://www.epa.gov/safewater/opcert/opcert.htm

 

Examples of Funded Projects

Funds for this grants program will be used to reimburse operators of community and nontransient noncommunity water systems serving 3,300 persons or fewer for the costs of training and certification. Examples of eligible reimbursement costs include: initial certification fees, certification renewal fees, examination fees, costs of training courses, mileage.

 

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Grants are awarded to States that satisfy the requirements outlined in the application procedure section.