Water Quality Management Planning (66.454)

Program

66.454 Water Quality Management Planning

Federal Agency

Agency: Environmental Protection Agency
Office: Office of Water

Authorization

Clean Water Act, Section 205(j)&604(b), Public Law 97-117; Water Quality Act of 1987, Public Law 100-4; American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Public Law 111-5.

Program Number

66.454

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To assist States (including territories and the District of Columbia), Regional Public Comprehensive Planning Organizations (RPCPOs), and Interstate Organizations (IOs) in carrying out water quality management (WQM) planning. Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2009: Funds are allotted by State in accordance with Section 604(b) of the Clean Water Act. Grant funds are used to determine the nature and extent of point and non-point source water pollution and to develop water quality management plans. States are encouraged to give priority to watershed restoration planning. EPA is requesting States to emphasize a watershed approach in developing their State workplans. This will complement the Agency's overall watershed effort as stated in the Agency's Strategic Plan. Grant funds to determine the nature and extent of point and non-point source water pollution and to develop water quality management plans are also available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) of 2009. EPA strongly encourages States to use Recovery Act funds to conduct appropriate planning activities with regard to green infrastructure, water or energy efficiency improvements, or other environmentally innovative activities.

Types of Assistance

FORMULA GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

Section 604(b) funds are awarded under Section 205(j)(2) to State water quality management agencies to carry out WQM planning. Pursuant to Section 205(j)(3) of the CWA, as amended, States are required to allocate at least 40 percent of funds awarded under 205(j)(2) to eligible RPCPOs and IOs. EPA may approve a State's request to pass through less than 40 percent if, after consultation with its RPCPOs and IOs, the Governor determines that pass through of at least 40 percent will not: (1) result in significant participation by RPCPOs and IOs in WQM planning; and (2) significantly assist in development and implementation of the state's WQM plan. 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

State Water Quality Management Agencies.

Beneficiary Eligibility

State Water Quality Management Agencies.

Credentials/Documentation

Compliance with 40 CFR 31. 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

The standard application forms, as furnished by the Federal agency and required by OMB Circular No. A-102, 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. Neither environmental impact statements nor environmental impact assessments are required for activities funded under Section 205(j) and 604(b) since these funds are used for water quality planning and not implementation. 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 grant application must be submitted to the appropriate EPA Regional Administrator's Office. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. The standard application forms, as furnished by the Federal agency and required by OMB Circular No. A-102, must be used for this program. EPA requires final applications to be made on Standard Form 424. Requests for application kits must be submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency, Grants and Interagency Agreements Management Division, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Mailcode (3903R), Washington, DC 20460 or through the appropriate EPA Regional Office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog. Applicants may be able to use http://www.grants.gov to electronically apply for certain grant opportunities under this CFDA. Additional information on the EPA grant package can be found at: http://www.epa.gov/ogd/grants/how_to_apply.htm.

Award Procedure

Grant applications are reviewed by the appropriate EPA Regional Office and, if approved, the funds are awarded by the Regional Administrator.

Deadlines

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

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Approximately 45 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 Clean Water Act. Each fiscal year, the Administrator shall reserve under Section 604(b) of the CWA for each State an amount not to exceed one percent of the amount allotted and available for obligation for construction grants or $100,000, whichever is greater, for the purposes of making grants to the States to carry out water quality management planning. Under Section 205(j)(3), at least 40 percent of a State's annual award under 205(j)(2) must be allocated to eligible RPCPOs and IOs, unless EPA approves a lesser amount. The program has no matching requirements.

This program has no matching requirements.

This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

As determined in accordance with Section 604(c)(1) of the Clean Water Act (CWA). Sums allotted to a State under this section for a fiscal year shall be available for EPA's obligation to the State during the fiscal year for which sums are authorized and during the following fiscal year. Recovery Act funds are available for EPA's obligation to the State until September 30, 2010. 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. For Recovery Act funds, funding reports must be submitted in a prescribed format within 10 calendar days after the end of each calendar quarter, beginning October 10, 2009. These reports will include data elements as prescribed by Public Law 111-5, Section 1512 and OMB Guidance. 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 kept for 3 years from date of submission of the annual financial status report. If questions remain, records retained until matter is completely resolved.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: Section 604(b) funding provides the financial source for States and territories to pursue water quality planning under Section 205(j) of the Clean Water Act. This program provides a planning framework to support watershed restoration and other water-related implementation activities. In FY 08, 56 State and territorial grants were awarded to support water quality planning activities. Outputs included consistency reviews of NPDES Permits, development of Watershed Management plans, river planning projects, and Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) plans. Fiscal Year 2009: Similar types of planning activities are anticipated for FY 09. In FY 09, it is anticipated that 56 awards will be made with Recovery Act funds for a total of $39 million. Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

68-0102-0-1-304; 68-0103-0-1-304.

Obligations

(Formula Grants) FY 08 $8,618,863; FY 09 est $47,065,955; FY 10 est $25,610,000 - This program includes Recovery Act obligations. The obligations are not for salaries and expenses. Recovery Act funds - FY 08 $0; FY 09 est. $39,400,000; and FY 10 est. $0.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

$100,000 to $1,500,000/fiscal year; $250,000/fiscal year. Recovery Act funds � $100,000 to $4,369,100/fiscal year; $703,571/fiscal year.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

EPA General Grant Regulations and Procedures, 40 CFR Part 31 and 40 CFR Part 35, Subpart A.

Related Programs

66.419 Water Pollution Control State, Interstate, and Tribal Program Support

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

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

Headquarters Office

Santina Wortman Assessment and Watershed Protection Division (4503T)
Office of Water, USEPA
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, District of Columbia 20460 Email: wortman.santina@epa.gov Phone: (202) 566-2537

Web Site Address

http://www.epa.gov/ow/owow.htm

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: Grants are allocated to States for pesticide/ toxic control studies, watershed management plans, basin groundwater management quality standards, urban stormwater management plans, mine water quality management studies, and the development of waste load allocations/total maximum daily loads. Regional Comprehensive Planning Organizations (RCPOs) conduct consistency reviews of NPDES Permits, facility plans, and construction operating permits. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Funds are awarded to State agencies in accordance with Section 205(j) of the Clean Water Act and EPA program guidance.