TSCA Title IV State Lead Grants Certification of Lead-Based Paint Professionals (66.707)

Program

66.707 TSCA Title IV State Lead Grants Certification of Lead-Based Paint Professionals

Federal Agency

Agency: Environmental Protection Agency
Office: Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics Substances

Authorization

Toxic Substances Control Act, Section 404(g).

Program Number

66.707

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

The goal of EPA's lead-based paint program is to eliminate childhood lead poisoning by 2010. The program is comprised of four strategies designed to achieve the following goals: 1) Establish standards to define where lead hazards are present in paint, dust and soil; 2) Give the public information about lead hazards and steps to protect themselves; 3) Ensure that information about known lead-based paint hazards is disclosed to individuals buying or renting pre-1978 housing, and that owners and occupants of pre-1978 housing are provided information on lead-based paint hazards before renovation activities take place; 4) Establish lead-safe work practice standards and require lead-based paint professionals to be trained and certified. The objective of this grant program is to assist States, Tribes, and Territories in developing and carrying out authorized programs that: (a) certify contractors engaged in lead-based paint activities and accredit lead-based paint activities training programs; (b) certify contractors engaged in renovation, repair and painting activities that disturb painted surfaces in most target housing; and/or(c) require distribution of lead-hazard information prior to renovation (pre-renovation education program). Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 09: The priority for FY 09 is to continue to provide assistance to authorized State, Tribal and Territorial lead-based paint activities training and certification programs and pre-renovation education programs. If appropriate, the Agency will use grant funding to provide assistance to a State, Tribal or Territorial program that is looking to develop an authorized Renovation, Repair and Painting Program.

Types of Assistance

PROJECT GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

Assistance may be available for activities which relate to authorization under TSCA Title IV. Supported activities must contribute or lead to the attainment or maintenance of authorization pursuant to TSCA Title IV. Funds cannot be used for general program activities not related to the attainment or maintenance of authorized programs.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, the Canal Zone, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and any other territory or possession of the United States may receive assistance under Section 404(g) of TSCA. Federally recognized Indian governing bodies are also eligible to apply for and receive assistance. 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 governments, Federally recognized Indian governing bodies, U.S. Territories and possessions.

Credentials/Documentation

Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Discussions or informal meetings with the appropriate EPA Regional Office concerning program preparation are advisable. The standard application form as furnished by the Federal agency and required by OMB Circular No. A-102 must be used for this program. 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. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. Requests for application forms and completed applications should be submitted to the appropriate EPA Regional Office. The following forms and certifications must be included in all final grant applications: Standard Form 424 (Application for Federal Assistance); Standard Form 424A (Budget Information  Non-Construction Programs); Standard Form 424B (Assurances -- Non-Construction Programs); Certification Regarding Lobbying and SF LLL, if applicable; Certification Regarding Debarment and Suspension; EPA Form 4700-4 (Compliance Review Report Form); and Quality Assurance Narrative Statement, if applicable. Applicants may be able to use http://www.grants.gov to electronically apply for certain grant opportunities under this CFDA.

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 90 days after deadline for application submission.

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

Applicant must reapply for grant funding each fiscal year.

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

Cooperative agreements are normally funded for a 12-month period. Payments will be on an advance letter of credit or reimbursement basis. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Grantees usually receive either a lump sum payment or draw down funds as their Agency allows.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

No program reports are required. No cash reports are required. Pursuant to 40 CFR 31.40, grantees shall, at a minimum, submit annual performance reports to the appropriate EPA Regional Office. These requirements were approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under OMB Control Number 2030-0020 (General Administrative Requirement for Assistance Programs). The individual Regional Offices may require that these reports be submitted on a quarterly or semiannual basis, but not more frequently than quarterly. The specific information contained within the report will include, at a minimum, a comparison of actual accomplishments to the objectives established for the period. Regional Offices may ask for the inclusion of specific data (e.g., providing to EPA specific address information associated with the abatement notifications that are received by the grantee)as part of the annual performance report from the grantees which may be useful for Agency reporting under the Government Performance and Results Act. No expenditure reports are required. 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. 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 Non-Profit Organizations," non-federal 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. Non-federal 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

Financial records, including all documents to support entries on accounting records and to substantiate charges to cooperative agreements, must be kept available to personnel authorized to examine EPA accounts. All records must be maintained for 3 years from the date of the submission of the annual financial status report, or longer if questions still remain, such as those raised as a result of audit.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2009: As of May 2009 39 States, 3 Tribes, Puerto Rico, and D.C. have received EPA approval to administer a lead-based paint activities training and certification program and 2 States have received authorization to administer and enforce a pre-renovation education program.
As of May 2009, 26 States, 1 Tribe and DC have received seed grants to begin work toward becoming authorized to implement the new Renovation, Repair and Painting rule. Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

68-0108-0-1-304.

Obligations

(Project Grants) FY 08 $13,546,000; FY 09 est $13,564,000; FY 10 est $14,564,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

$16,000 to $350,000; average of $200,000.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

EPA Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments (40 CFR Part 31); Environmental Protection Agency. "EPA Assistance Administration Manual," available from the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 22161 on a subscription basis; Order No. NTIS UB/031.

Related Programs

Not Applicable.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. Contact the Regional Lead Contact Person in the appropriate EPA regional office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog.

Headquarters Office

Michelle Price National Program Chemicals Division (7404T)
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, District of Columbia 20460 Email: price.michelle@epa.gov Phone: (202) 566-0744

Web Site Address

http://www.epa.gov/lead/

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: Over the past twelve years, EPA has provided financial assistance to the States, Territories and Indian Tribes aimed at the development, implementation and enforcement of approved programs under the final EPA lead-based paint activities training and certification rule (40 CFR part 745, subpart L). The following is a list of previously funded activities: (a) core lead-based paint activities and enforcement capacity development; (b) developing the appropriate infrastructure to administer and enforce a lead-based paint activities program successfully; (c) overseeing the conduct of contractors engaged in lead-based paint activities; (d) overseeing and controlling training program activities; (e) ensuring compliance with requirements for post-abatement clearance sampling; (f) monitoring compliance with the work practice standards of regulations for the conduct of abatement; (g) implementing lead-based paint compliance assistance; (h) implementing the lead-based paint activities sampling techniques; and (i) implementing lead-based paint activities tracking tips and complaints efforts. 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.