Wastewater Operator Training Grant Program (Technical Assistance) (66.467)

Program

66.467 Wastewater Operator Training Grant Program (Technical Assistance)

Federal Agency

Agency: Environmental Protection Agency
Office: Office of Water

Authorization

Federal Water Pollution Control Act, Section 104(g)(1), 33 U.S.C 1251.

Program Number

66.467

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To substantially enhance the proficiency of personnel engaged in the operations and maintenance of treatment works and related activities by financing pilot programs. Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2009: No funds are available in FY 2009. If funds become available, the funding priority will primarily be to provide on-site technical assistance to address the unique performance limiting conditions of wastewater treatment plants. Classroom training may also be provided on a limited basis, if cost-effective, to improve the skills of wastewater treatment plant operators.

Types of Assistance

PROJECT GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

Assistance is available to support recipients' allowable direct costs incidental to approved scopes of work plus allowable indirect costs, in accordance with established EPA policies and regulations.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

State agencies or the designated organizations of the States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam, Northern Marianas, America Samoa, the Trust Territories, and Native American Indian Tribes. Additionally, institutions of higher education and "not for profit institutions" may also apply for funding if acting as a designated organization of the State.

Beneficiary Eligibility

State, Tribal, and local governments and publicly owned treatment works (POTWs). Activities which contribute to Operation and Maintenance (O&M) improvements at POTWs, including pollution prevention activities, may be funded. Legislative history supports using appropriations for onsite O&M technical assistance to the small sized POTWs of less than 5 million gallons per day (MGD) of wastewater flow, since many of these POTWs are exhibiting performance problems and do not have readily available consultant's technical assistance like those of the larger POTWs.

Credentials/Documentation

Costs will be determined in accordance with applicable OMB Circular No. A-87, Cost Principles for State and local governments. Non-profit applicants may be asked to provide documentation that they meet the definition of a non-profit organization in OMB Circular A-122. Tribes may be asked to demonstrate that they are Federally recognized. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

The standard EPA application assistance forms must be used 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. 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. This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-102 Uniform Administration Requirements for Grant-in-Aid to State and Local Government. Request for application forms and completed applications must be submitted to the applicable Regional or Headquarters Grants Administration office. Applications must meet the requirements of the grant regulations and must be reviewed and approved by the appropriate Regional or Headquarters' waste management program office prior to approval by the Grants office. The review must include an administrative and technical evaluation to determine adequacy, merit, and relevance of the proposal. Applicants may be able to use http://www.grants.gov to electronically apply for certain grant opportunities under this CFDA.

Award Procedure

An application is reviewed by the appropriate EPA Regional Office and, if approved, is signed by the Regional Administrator or designated Division Director.

Deadlines

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

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Generally, 90 days after the grant application is received by EPA.

Appeals

Disputes 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. Generally 25 percent in kind service/goods or matching funds is required; however, this provision may be waived in certain cases.

This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Grants may be awarded for a project period not to exceed 3 years. The term of the grant shall be determined at the time of grant award. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Other. The method of fund disbursement will be determined at the time of award.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

EPA includes reporting requirements for grants and cooperative agreements in the terms and conditions of the agreements. Specific reporting requirements are also identified in the Grant Regulations at 40 CFR Part 30 and 40 CFR Part 31, as applicable. Headquarters receives semi-annual status reports, and an annual data submission of the program's progress for the current fiscal year, from all Regional Offices. Program reports are required under this program. Cash reports are required under this program. Progress reports are required under this program. Expenditure reports are required under this program. Performance monitoring is required under this program.

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

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

Fiscal Year 2008: Approximately 46 states and state environmental training centers receive grants to provide on-site technical assistance to needy small POTWs (capacity less that 5 MGD) to assist them in achieving or maintaining compliance, or improving plant performance. There are over 15,000 POTWs in the nation of which about 14,000 have capacity less than 5 MGD. Based on the 2007 annual report, with funding of just over a $1,000,000, small wastewater treatment facilities received technical assistance which resulted in the prevention of more than 4 million pounds of pollutants from entering into the nation's surface waters. No funding was provided in FY 08 and FY 09. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

68-0103-0-1-304.

Obligations

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

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

For every $1,000,000 appropriated by the U.S. Congress, a State receives approximately $30,000/fiscal year to provide funds to onsite technical assistance providers. The range and average of financial assistance provided is: $12,000 to $40,000/fiscal year; $25,000/fiscal year.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

Applicants for technical assistance should review 40 CFR Part 30, the General Grant Regulations and Procedures, and the annual guidance produced by the Headquarters wastewater program office.

Related Programs

Not Applicable.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. See EPA Regional Offices listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog or online for additional information.

Headquarters Office

Gajindar Singh Office of Wastewater Management (4204M)
Office of Water
Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, District of Columbia 20460 Email: singh.gajindar@epa.gov Phone: (202) 564-0634

Web Site Address

http://www.epa.gov/owm/mab/smcomm/104g/index.htm

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: Examples of funded projects include: diagnostic and energy/water use evaluations at small POTWs; POTW-State technical assistance plans, agreements, and schedules for achieving improvements; technical assistance to communities on plant operations, maintenance, laboratory management, solids handling & disposal, facility management, financial management, pollution prevention, energy saving, and water use; follow-up visits to monitor improvements; and on-site performance summaries. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

On-site wastewater O&M technical applications managed by the Regions are evaluated based on the Headquarters wastewater program office's annual guidance, as well as EPA's grants management-related guidance. Other pilot program proposals, with similar objectives, will be considered by the Regional and Headquarters wastewater program offices based on the merits of the proposal, and prior designation by the applicable State agency(s) to receive these funds. Project objectives and requirements for applicants for other pilot project funding will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis.