State Indoor Radon Grants (66.032)

Program

66.032 State Indoor Radon Grants

Federal Agency

Agency: Environmental Protection Agency
Office: Office of Air and Radiation

Authorization

Indoor Radon Abatement Act, Section 306, 15 U.S.C 2661; Toxic Substances Control Act, Title I, Section 10(a).

Program Number

66.032

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

The Indoor Radon Abatement Act (IRAA), Section 306, and the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), Section 10(a), authorizes EPA to assist States and Federally Recognized Indian Tribes develop and implement programs to assess and mitigate radon-related lung cancer risk. Funding Priority -- Fiscal Year 2009: In FY 2009 the SIRG program will emphasize radon risk reduction through increased action by consumers, homeowners, real estate professionals, homebuilders, tribes and state-local governments. Projects funded by SIRG should have the following results:

� Building homes with radon-resistant new construction,

� Reducing radon in existing homes, and

� Reducing radon in existing schools and building new schools with radon-reducing features.

To achieve these outcomes and increase results, the SIRG program aims to: (1) improve the effectiveness of state-local/tribal radon programs; (2) focus on high radon potential areas, especially for new home building and code adoption; (3) encourage testing and mitigation within residential property transfers; and (4) encourage SIRG recipients to be strategic in their risk reduction efforts, e.g., by institutionalizing risk reduction practices and policies; utilizing best practices; and, developing better data and information sources.

Types of Assistance

PROJECT GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

The following activities are eligible for funding under SIRG: radon surveys, public information and educational materials, radon control programs, purchase of radon measurement equipment or devices, purchase and maintenance of analytic equipment, training, program overhead and administration, data storage and management, mitigation demonstrations, and toll-free hotlines. Funding for these eligible activities may be used to develop State radon response programs. States may, at the Governor's direction, provide assistance to local governments for public information and educational materials, radon control programs and training. RESTRICTIONS: The statute places the following restrictions on the use of Federal funds: 1) SIRG recipients must perform satisfactorily in the preceding budget period to be eligible to receive additional funding; 2) State expenditures for measurement equipment/devices and mitigation demonstrations cannot exceed 50 percent of the grant amount in a budget period; 3) State expenditures for general overhead and program administration cannot exceed 25 percent in a budget period; and 4) SIRG applicants may use grant funds for financial assistance to persons only to the extent that such assistance is related to demonstration projects or the purchase and analysis of radon measurement devices.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Eligible entities include States (including District of Columbia (DC)), Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, the Canal Zone, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, Federally recognized Indian Tribes and Tribal consortia, or any other U.S. Territory or possession. 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. The Agency may also limit eligibility to compete to a number or subset of eligible applicants from a particular regional or geographical area (e.g. tribes). EPA may limit competition to a sovereign nation when TSCA 10(a) is the grant authority.

Beneficiary Eligibility

State agencies: local, municipal, district, or area wide governments and organizations; U.S. territories or possessions, Federally Recognized Indian Tribes, colleges, universities, multi-state agencies, nonprofit organizations, low-income individuals, homeowners, and the general public.

Credentials/Documentation

An applicant's application must: 1) describe the seriousness and extent of radon exposure; 2) identify the lead State agency with primary responsibility for the radon program that will receive the grant, with a description of the lead agency's role and responsibilities, and those of any other State agencies, and any municipal, district or area wide organizations involved in the radon program; 3) submit a work plan describing the activities and programs to be funded; 4) provide a budget specifying the Federal and applicant share of the funding for each work plan element. First time applicants must have a 3-year work plan outlining long range program goals and objectives, the tasks necessary to achieve them, the resource requirements including anticipated SIRG applicant funding levels and the desired Federal funding level. Costs are determined in accordance with OMB Circular A-87, "Cost Principles for State, Local and Tribal Governments.". OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Application assistance is available through Regional radon coordinators and their Regional grants specialist counterparts. Regarding pre-application/pre-proposal assistance with respect to competitive funding opportunities under this program description (TSCA 10(a) only), 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. Visit www.epa.gov/iaq/whereyoulive.html for state specific information on the state radon programs and how to contact them. 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. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. EPA requires final applications to be made on Standard Form 424. Requests for application kits must be submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency and the appropriate EPA Regional Office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog, or through the Grants and Interagency Agreements Management Division, 3903F, Washington, DC 20460. Applicants may be able to use http://www.grants.gov to electronically apply for certain grant opportunities under this CFDA.

Award Procedure

Each application shall be subjected to administrative evaluation to determine adequacy of application in relation to grant regulations and to technical and program evaluation to determine the merit and relevancy of the project or program. 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

About 90 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

Not Applicable.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula.

Matching Requirements: This program has no statutory formula. EPA may provide States with up to 60 percent of allowable costs of approved SIRG Program activities. TSCA Section 306 requires a progressive match for States and Tribes in the first, second and third year of participation in the SIRG program. (25%, 40%, and 50% respectively). However, in FY 2005 Congress changed the recipient match requirement to be a minimum of 40 percent for participants with three or more years in the program. Under TSCA 10(a) authority, Federally Recognized Indian Tribes are not required to provide a cost share match, but competition is required.

This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Under TSCA Section 306, EPA normally funds grants and cooperative agreements for a period of 12-36 months. EPA negotiates project periods appropriate to the specific project, and encourages 3 year grant periods. However, EPA project periods are limited to a maximum of 5 years. Grants and cooperative agreements are fully funded or incrementally (partially) funded. Successful applicants under a competitive funding announcement are notified via U.S. mail or electronic mail. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: lump sum.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Grantees are required to submit program reports in accordance with Agency policy and the Monitoring and Reporting Program Performance requirements stated in Federal Grant Regulations 40 CFR Part 31 and OMB Circular No.A-102. Grantees are required to submit financial reports in accordance with Agency policy and the Financial Reporting and Financial Management Systems requirements stated in Federal Grant Regulations 40 CFR Part 31 and OMB Circular No.A-102. Grantees are required to submit progress reports in accordance with Agency policy and the Monitoring and Reporting Program Performance requirements stated in Federal Grant Regulations 40 CFR Part 31 and OMB Circular No.A-102. No expenditure reports are required. Grantees are required to perform performance monitoring in accordance with Agency policy and requirements stated in Federal Grant Regulations 40 CFR Part 31 and OMB Circular No.A-102.

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

Recipients must keep financial records, including all documents supporting entries in accounting records and to substantiate changes in grants available to personnel authorized to examine EPA recipient grants and cooperative agreement records. Recipients must maintain all records until 3 years from the date of submission of the final expenditure reports. If questions, such as those raised as a result of an audit remain following the 3-year period, recipients must retain records until the matter is completely resolved.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: In FY08, SIRG awarded approximately 42 assistance agreements (38 states, 4 tribes) totaling $7,948,000. In calendar 2008 an estimated 129,500 additional homes included radon-reducing features (latest data; 62,500 new homes and 67,000 existing homes). Much of this progress resulted from the work of coalitions and partnerships comprised of local governments, national and local nonprofit organizations, advocates and other leaders. The SIRG program continues to stress the importance of achieving and measuring results in the number of homes, schools, and other buildings tested and mitigated for radon; in the number of new homes built with radon-reducing features, and existing homes mitigated within real estate transactions (disclosure and property condition). Recipients are required to include the SIRG results measures template in their work plans, and projects with clear risk reduction benefits are to be preferred over projects projected to have lesser risk reducing results. Persons and organizations looking for ways to participate in the national radon risk-reduction effort should visit RadonLeaders.org. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

68-0108-0-1-304.

Obligations

(Project Grants) FY 08 $7,948,000; FY 09 est $8,074,000; FY 10 est $8,074,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Federal funding can range from $15,000 to a maximum of 10% of the annual appropriation amount per State applicant and $10,000 to $80,000 per Tribal applicant. The average Federal funding per applicant is $150,000 for States and $30,000 per Tribe. Minimum awards are $10,000.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

EPA regulations that govern State activities under the SIRG Program are contained in the following Parts of 40 CFR: (1) Part 4, "Implementation of the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1980"; (2) Part 7, "Nondiscrimination in Programs Receiving Federal Assistance from the Environmental Protection Agency"; (3) Part 29, "Intergovernmental Review of Environmental Protection Agency Programs and Activities"; (4) Part 31, "Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments"; (5) Part 32, "Debarment and Suspension under EPA Assistance Programs", and (6) Part 35; "State and Local Assistance". Applicable OMB Circulars include (1) Circular A- 87, "Cost Principles for State and Local Governments," and (2) Circular A-102, "Uniform Requirements for Assistance to State and Local Governments". Other materials applicable to SIRG include: (1) Administrative Guidance for the State Indoor Radon Grants Program under Section 306, Indoor Radon Abatement Act (January 2005); (2) Indoor Radon and Radon Decay Product Measurement Device Protocols (EPA 402-R-92-004); (3) Protocols for Radon and Radon Decay Products Measurements in Homes EPA 420-R-93-003; and (4) Guidance for the Indian Radon Pilot Projects (March 1991). Visit http://www.epa.gov/radon/sirgprogram.html for more information.

Related Programs

Not Applicable.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. For questions of a programmatic/technical nature, contact the appropriate Regional Radon Office representative listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog. The individual Regional radon SIRG project officers can be found at http://www.epa.gov/radon/sirgprogram.html.

Headquarters Office

Philip Jalbert Office of Radiation and Indoor Air, Environmental Protection Agency, 1310 L Street, NW., Mail Code 6609J, Washington, District of Columbia 20005 Email: jalbert.philip@epa.gov Phone: (202) 343-9431

Web Site Address

http://www.epa.gov/radon/sirgprogram.html

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: The State and Tribal Indoor Radon Grant (SIRG) program has awarded grants to States and Tribes to: (1) establish effective radon programs among states, territories, and federally recognized Indian tribes; (2) increase the number of homes, schools, and other buildings tested and mitigated from radon; (3) implement radon resistant construction standards in high risk areas; (4) encourage radon testing and disclosure in connection with real estate transfers; and (5) promote environmental justice through programs and outreach efforts directed at low-income and/or culturally-diverse populations. The Agency encourages recipients to partner with other public health and environmental organizations to increase program effectiveness. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

The EPA will base its review of SIRG applications on whether they reflect the program's goals and promote integrity in States' use of grant funds. Pursuant to TSCA Section 306(e), if State applications exceed the funds appropriated for award in a fiscal year, EPA will prioritize State activities based on the following criteria: (1) the seriousness and extent of the radon contamination problem to be addressed; (2) the potential for the activity or project to bring about reduction in radon levels; (3) the potential for the development of innovative radon assessment techniques, mitigation measures as approved by the Administrator, or program management approaches which may be of use to other States; (4) the potential for the activity to implement EPA's model radon-resistant building standards; (5) the potential for the development of radon programs in high-risk areas; and (6) the potential for the activity to improve the effectiveness and viability of the State program. The evaluation and selection criteria for competitive awards under this CFDA description will be described in the competitive announcement. Under the TSCA 10(a) authority, Tribes are authorized to receive grants for demonstration projects. However, under this authority, SIRG funding is awarded competitively. EPA may establish additional criteria related to demonstration activities or other aspects of the SIRG program. All other requirements of the SIRG program are applicable to the States and Tribes unless otherwise stated in TSCA 306 or TSCA 10(a).