Water Protection Grants to the States (66.474)

Program

66.474 Water Protection Grants to the States

Federal Agency

Agency: Environmental Protection Agency
Office: Office of Water

Authorization

Consolidated Appropriations Resolution of 2004, Public Law 108-199; Consolidated Appropriations Resolution of 2003,, Public Law 108-7; Department of Defense and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Recovery from and Response to Terrorist Attacks on the United States Act, 2002, Public Law 107-117; Safe Drinking Water Act, Section 1442.

Program Number

66.474

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

The objective of this grant program is to assist States, Territories, and possessions of the United States with critical water infrastructure protection. Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2009: EPA's funding priority is to provide grant assistance to the States, Territories, and possessions of the United States to support technical assistance, training, and communication activities on critical water infrastructure protection efforts that include work with drinking water systems as well as with Federal, State, and local agencies. States, Territories, and possessions of the United States will be able to continue their efforts to coordinate critical water infrastructure protection activities with other homeland security responsibilities. Grant awards support Goal 2, "Clean and Safe Water," of EPA's 2006-2011 Strategic Plan. Specifically, awards will enhance public health protection by securing critical infrastructure through support for counter-terrorism preparedness; communicating vision, mission, and goals of the sector specific plan and the key features of an active and effective security program; helping to ensure security best practices for small systems; promoting outreach and education at small systems; promoting mutual aid compacts development; supporting the development of system redundance, a national laboratory system and disaster mitigation plans; and developing and overseeing emergency response and recovery plans, including those related to pandemic flu concerns.

Types of Assistance

FORMULA GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

Funded activities include providing: (1) technical assistance, training, or distribution of tools that would lead to satisfactory vulnerability assessments of drinking water systems; (2) technical assistance, training, or distribution of tools that would lead to drinking water systems creating, amending or updating emergency response plans to meet new requirements or security threats; (3) assistance to improve communications with or between drinking water systems and other agencies or organizations involved with security or emergency response; and (4) other activities focusing on training to enhance security and improving the readiness of individuals and groups involved in first response at drinking water systems. Assistance agreement awards under this program may involve or relate to geospatial information. Further information regarding geospatial information may be obtained by viewing the following website: http://geodata.epa.gov.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Assistance under this program is available to States, Tribes, Territories, and possessions of the United States.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Water programs of States, Territories, and possessions of the United States.

Credentials/Documentation

Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Pre-application assistance is recommended and should be obtained from the Grants Management Office of the pertinent EPA Regional Office listed in 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. The standard application forms, furnished by EPA and required by OMB Circular No. A-102, must be used for this program. Requests for application kits may be directed to the Grants Management Office of the applicable EPA Regional Office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog. Kits may also be obtained online at http://www.epa.gov/ogd/AppKit/application.htm. The completed application, including the final proposal, should be submitted to the appropriate EPA Regional Grants Management Office. Applicants may be able to use http://www.grants.gov to electronically apply for certain grant opportunities under this CFDA.

Award Procedure

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

Approximately 30 to 90 days.

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

Statutory Formula: Title PWSS formula. As was the case in FY 02 through FY 08, for FY 09 a modification of the basic PWSS formula was chosen to allocate the funds, with each State, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico receiving a minimum of $50,000 and each Territory at least $16,700. This program has no matching requirements.

This program has no matching requirements.

This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

The project/budget period on these grants may exceed one year. 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. 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 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 changes to each grant must be kept available to personnel authorized to examine EPA grant accounts. All records must be maintained for three years from the date of submission of the final expenditure report. If questions still remain, such as those raised as a result of audit, related records should be retained until the matter is completely resolved.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: In FY 08 and FY 09, awards were made to 50 States, the District of Columbia, and 5 Territories. In FY 08 and FY 09, States and Territories developed materials (i.e., documents, training manuals, etc.) focused on improving security and emergency response, ensuring the quality of drinking water vulnerability assessments, and associated security enhancements. Additionally, States and Territories conducted a number of trainings, workshops, and/or conferences to improve infrastructure protection, increase preparedness, promote mutual aid compacts and/or provide information to drinking water utilities. Significant action has been accomplished in helping to support and establish mutual aid compacts, including providing technical support and training exercises related to these agreements. Outcomes included changed management and operation of drinking water utilities based on training and current vulnerability assessments of the utilities; and establishment and improvement of emergency response coordination and communications. Fiscal Year 2009: In FY 08 and FY 09, awards were made to 50 States, the District of Columbia, and 5 Territories. In FY 08 and FY 09, States and Territories developed materials (i.e., documents, training manuals, etc.) focused on improving security and emergency response, ensuring the quality of drinking water vulnerability assessments, and associated security enhancements. Additionally, States and Territories conducted a number of trainings, workshops, and/or conferences to improve infrastructure protection, increase preparedness, promote mutual aid compacts and/or provide information to drinking water utilities. Significant action has been accomplished in helping to support and establish mutual aid compacts, including providing technical support and training exercises related to these agreements. Outcomes included changed management and operation of drinking water utilities based on training and current vulnerability assessments of the utilities; and establishment and improvement of emergency response coordination and communications. In FY 09, States and Territories will continue to provide similar security activities to achieve the overall outcome of improving critical water infrastructure protection with an emphasis on smaller systems, mutual aid compacts between systems and States, and better understanding and application of an active and effective security system. Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

68-0103-0-1-304.

Obligations

(Formula Grants) FY 08 $5,642,900; FY 09 est $4,950,000; FY 10 est $0

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Funds are awarded by each Regional Office. The range of financial assistance available to States varies according to program and fiscal year. Contact the Grants Management Office of the pertinent EPA Regional Office, listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog, to determine the amount for which applicants are eligible. The range and average of financial assistance provided is: FY 08 - $16,700 to $294,900/fiscal year; $155,800/fiscal year. FY 09 - $16,700 to $380,300/fiscal year; $198,500/fiscal year.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

40 CFR Part 31, General Regulation for Assistance Programs; EPA Annual Program Guidance provided to States.

Related Programs

66.432 State Public Water System Supervision

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. Contact the Grants Management Office of the appropriate EPA Regional Office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog.

Headquarters Office

Nancy Muzzy Water Security Division
U.S. EPA, (Mail Code 140)
26 W. Martin Luther King Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268 Email: muzzy.nancy@epa.gov Phone: (513) 569-7864

Web Site Address

http://cfpub.epa.gov/safewater/watersecurity/financeassist.cfm

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: EPA has supported the following types of drinking water security activities: (1) improving communications to drinking water systems by updating drinking water system contact information and utilizing a mass faxing system; (2) providing onsite assistance for small drinking water systems on security issues; (3) developing and mailing security information kits to drinking water systems; (4) maintaining a duty officer program and toll free number to enable operators to reach state drinking water agency after hours; (5) assisting in the formation of neighborhood watch programs to increase citizen awareness of drinking water security; (6) developing guidance for water utilities to use alternative water supplies; (7) incorporating security considerations into state design standards and State Revolving Fund (SRF) criteria; (8) creating websites to provide easy access to state drinking water security information; (9) designing and conducting on-line training, videos, and materials for the law enforcement community to outline water utility security basics; (10) conducting emergency response exercises and drills; (11) creating ready-to-go complete sampling kits to eliminate delays in obtaining bottles and preparing expedited sampling and transport protocols in preparation for emergency water supply collection needs; (12) assisting in preparation of state plans to implement measures for safe drinking water under emergency circumstances; and (13) facilitating mutual aid compacts in instances of emergency need, between states and water systems. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Proposals are approved by EPA according to technical merit and relevance, and availability of funds.