Wetland Program Grants - State/Tribal Environmental Outcome Wetland Demonstration Program (66.479)
Program
66.479 Wetland Program Grants - State/Tribal Environmental Outcome Wetland Demonstration Program
Federal Agency
OFFICE OF WATER, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Authorization
Clean Water Act, Section 104(b)(3), as amended; Public Law 92-500; 33 U.S.C. 1254(b)(3).
Program Number
66.479
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
To assist State and Tribal government agencies protect, manage, and restore wetlands. Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2005: This program will fund assistance agreements for demonstration projects that propose to demonstrate the extent to which the implementation of wetland programs (both regulatory and nonregulatory) resulted in positive environmental outcomes, in particular no net loss, net gain, and protection of vulnerable wetlands. The work plans would contain at a minimum three basic elements: establishment of baseline data, implementation of wetland programs, and documentation of the environmental outcomes of the implementation of the wetland programs.
Types of Assistance
Project Grants.
Uses and Use Restrictions
State/Tribal Environmental Outcome Wetland Demonstration Grants provide eligible applicants an opportunity to conduct projects that promote the coordination and acceleration of research, investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys, and studies relating to the causes, effects, extent, prevention, reduction, and elimination of water pollution. This pilot program will demonstrate that supporting the implementation of State and Tribal wetland programs will have positive environmental results and will support the no net loss/net gain of wetland acreage goal and support increased involvement of State and Tribal protection of vulnerable waters. Assistance agreement awards under this program may involve or relate to geospatial information.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
States and Tribal wetland agencies are eligible for the State/Tribal Environmental Outcome Wetland Demonstration Program competition pilot. Local agencies and non-for-profits are not eligible for participation. Tribes must be federally recognized, although "Treatment as a State" status is not a requirement. For certain competitive funding opportunities under this CFDA program, 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 and tribal governments involved in administering wetlands protection, restoration and/or management programs or programs related to or complement wetlands protection programs.
Credentials/Documentation
Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
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. Preapplication coordination with the appropriate office is encouraged. The standard application forms as furnished by the Federal agency and required by OMB Circular No. A-102 must be used for this program. If an applicant submits an unsolicited proposal it will be reviewed and evaluated in accordance with Agency policy and procedures. For more information regarding the procedures for submitting unsolicited proposals, applicants may 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.
Application Procedure
Interested applicants should review information on the WDP at: http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/grantpilot/.
Award Procedure
The EPA Headquarters (HQ) Office will establish criteria against which State and Tribal wetland programs will be evaluated and ranked. For competitive awards, EPA will review and evaluate applications, proposals, and/or submissions in accordance with the terms, conditions, and criteria stated in the announcement of the competitive funding opportunity. Competitions will be conducted in accordance with EPA policies/regulations for competing assistance agreements.
Deadlines
Deadlines will be posted on the following EPA website (http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/grantpilot). You can contact the EPA Regional or Headquarters Office for information and to confirm deadlines. For general information contact the EPA Wetlands Helpline at: (800) 832-7828.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
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 competitive selection of recipients will be resolved under 40 CFR 30.63 or 40 CFR 31.70, as applicable.
Renewals
None.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
State and Tribal government agencies must provide a minimum of 25 percent of each award's total project costs in accordance with 40 CFR 31.24, 35.385, and 35.615. We encourage States and Tribes to provide a larger share of the project's cost whenever possible (i.e., in excess of the required 25 percent of total project costs). 40 CFR 35.536(c) (the Environmental Program Grants for Tribes Regulation), States that "the required cost share shall be five percent of the allowable cost of the work plan budget for that program" if the Tribal applicant puts the funds into a PPG. Tribal applicants can submit budgets with a 5 percent match if the Tribe is going to put the funds into a PPG. The following term and condition will be included in the assistance agreement awarded to the Tribe: If the Wetlands Program Grant Funds are not or could not be included in a PPG, then the Tribe must provide a 25 percent match. The match requirement can be met with contributions from entities other than the award recipient. Other Federal money cannot be used as the match for this grant program unless authorized by the statute governing the award of the other Federal funds. However, Indian tribes can use funds provided under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Act (25 USC 450 et seq.) to provide the required matching funds to the extent authorized by that Act and implementing regulations. Matching funds are considered grant funds. They may be used for the reasonable and necessary expenses of carrying out the work plan. Any restrictions on the use of grant funds (i.e., prohibition of land acquisition with grant funds) also apply to the use of matching funds.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
The terms of the grant shall be determined at time of grant award.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Quarterly interim and final progress and expenditure reports; program evaluations; and other reports as required by the specific terms of the Agreement.
Audits
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 until expiration of 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
Funding will be for projects designed to investigate and demonstrate the extent to which the implementation of wetland programs results in positive environmental outcomes in particular no net loss, net gain, and protection of vulnerable wetlands.
Financial Information
Account Identification
68-0103-0-1-304; STAG.
Obligations
FY 04 $0; FY 05 est $5,000,000 - $8,000,000; and FY 06 est $0.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
$200,000 to $300,000/fiscal year; $250,000/fiscal year.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
General Grant Regulations, and Procedures (40 CFR Parts 31 and 35).
Related Programs
66.419, Water Pollution Control State and Interstate Program Support; 66.454, Water Quality Management Planning; 66.456, National Estuary Program; 66.458, Capitalization Grants for Clean Water State Revolving Funds; 66.461, Regional Wetland Program Development Grants.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
Region 1 - CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT: Jeanne Cosgrove, US EPA Region 1, 1 Congress Street, MC CSP, Suite 100, Boston, MA, 02114. Phone: 617-918-1669. cosgrove.jeanne@epa.gov; Region 2 - NJ, NY, PR, VI: Kathleen Drake, US EPA Region 2, 290 Broadway, NY, NY, 10007. Phone: 212-637-3817. drake.kathleen@epa.gov; Region 3 - DE, MD, PA, VA, WV, DC: Alva Brunner, US EPA Region 3, 1650 Arch Street, MC 3EA30, Philadelphia, PA, 19103. Phone: 215-814-2715. brunner.alva@epa.gov; Region 4 - AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN: Sharon Ward, US EPA Region 4, 61 Forsyth Street, SW, Atlanta, GA, 30303. Phone: 404-562-9269. ward.sharon@epa.gov; Region 5 - IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI: Cathy Garra, US EPA Region 5, 77 West Jackson Blvd., MC WW16J, Chicago, IL, 60604. Phone: 312-886-0241. garra.catherine@epa.gov; Region 6 - AR, LA, NM, OK, TX: Tyrone Hoskins, US EPA Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, MC 6WQ-AT, Dallas, TX, 75202. Phone: 214/665-7375. hoskins.tyrone@epa.gov; Region 7 - IA, KS, MO, NE: Kathy Mulder, US EPA Region 7, 901 North Fifth Street, Kansas City, KS, 66101. Phone: 913-551-7542. mulder.kathy@epa.gov; Region 8 - CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY: Brent Truskowski, US EPA Region 8, 999 18th Street, Suite 300, Denver, CO, 80202. Phone: 303-312-6235. truskowski.brent@epa.gov; Region 9 - AZ, CA, HI, NV, AS, GU: Suzanne Marr, US EPA Region 9, 75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA 94105. Phone: 415-972-3468. marr.suzanne@epa.gov; Region 10 - AK, ID, OR, WA: David Kulman, US EPA Region 10, 1200 Sixth Avenue, Seattle, WA, 98101. Phone: 206-553-6219. kulman.david@epa.gov.
Headquarters Office
Rebecca Dils, US EPA Wetlands Division, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, MC (4502T), Washington, DC 20460. Phone: (202) 566-1378; FAX: (202) 566-1375; e-mail: dils.rebecca@epa.gov.
Web Site Address
http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/grantpilot/
Examples of Funded Projects
This is a new grant program with the first awards in FY 05.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Decisions of which States and Tribes will receive funding under this pilot will be determined by how the State or Tribe's program rank using established criteria and factors. These criteria will be published on the HQ Office's website (www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/grantpilot). States and Tribes will be evaluated and ranked according to these criteria and factors. Funding under this pilot program will be provided to the States and Tribes that rank the highest.
