Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act Contaminated Land Assistance Agreements

 

EPA is establishing and implementing a program to assist Alaska tribal entities with addressing contamination on lands conveyed pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.). Contaminated Lands are those lands conveyed by the Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management, to Village and Regional Alaska Native Corporations pursuant to ANCSA that, prior to conveyance, were contaminated by the prior federal owner of those lands and/or by agents acting on behalf of the federal government and are on an inventory of such lands developed and maintained by EPA. ANCSA funds may be used to supplement other funds EPA provides to eligible recipients. The objectives of ANCSA Contaminated Lands Assistance Agreements are to provide funding: (1) to characterize, assess, and conduct planning and community involvement activities related to these lands; and (2) to carry out cleanup activities at ANCSA contaminated sites. Funding Priorities - Fiscal Year 2023: Funding will support at least three (3) cooperative agreements (estimated $600,000 in total) that recipients may use to characterize sites and conduct detailed site assessments. Funding will also support at least three (3) cooperative agreements (estimated $3 million in total) to enable eligible entities to begin cleanup of properties.

Active 66.965 Environmental Protection Agency B - Project Grants Not applicable. EPA's Annual Appropriations Acts Alaska Native Regional Corporations, Alaskan Native Village Corporations, federally-recognized tribes in Alaska, Alaska Native Non-Profit Organizations and Alaska Native Nonprofit Associations, and intertribal consortia comprised of Alaskan tribal entities are eligible to receive funds under this program. EPA will use the standards in 40CFR 35.504 to determine intertribal consortia eligibility. Alaska Native Regional Corporations, Alaskan Native Village Corporations, federally-recognized tribes in Alaska. Generally, those eligible entities identified above will benefit from the ANCSA contaminated lands grant actions. Specifically, individuals and commercial organizations in communities located near sites addressed will benefit from assessment and cleanup. EPA may require applicants to provide documentation that they are an eligible entity. EPA may also require that applicants provide site specific information to determine whether a site was: (1) conveyed pursuant to ANCSA; and (2) was contaminated by hazardous substances, pollutants, contaminants, or petroleum at the time of conveyance. If the applicant is not the owner of the contaminated site(s) to be addressed, EPA will require proof that the landowner will provide access to the site and supports taking action to address contamination. Preapplication coordination is required. An environmental impact assessment is required for this listing. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Applicants, except in limited circumstances approved by the Agency, must submit all initial applications for funding through Grants.gov. EPA will review each application to determine the adequacy of the application in relation to EPA's grant regulations (2 CFR 200 and 1500), and applicable program regulations and guidance. Applications are reviewed by the appropriate Regional Office and, if approved, financial assistance is awarded by the Regional Administrator or his/her delegated official. Please contact the regional and headquarters contact for deadline information. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines Approximately 120 to 180 days from receipt of application. Disputes relating to matters other than the competitive selection of recipients will be resolved under 2 CFR 1500 Subpart E, as applicable. No-cost extensions are subject to EPA approval. Selections will be based on the merit review process established for this program. For site-specific projects, the site must have been conveyed under ANCSA and contaminated at the time of conveyance. As part of the application process, EPA will provide guidance to assist applicants in determining whether sites meet this definition. (1) The assistance funding may be used to address sites contaminated by petroleum and hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants (including hazardous substances co-mingled with petroleum). (2) An assistance recipient may use its funds to award subawards to other eligible entities, including nonprofit organizations, for cleanups on sites owned by the sub-recipient or sites for which the sub-recipient can demonstrate that it has been granted access by the site owner for the purpose of conducting assessment and cleanup activities. (3) Assessment funds may be used to inventory, characterize, assess, and conduct planning and community involvement related to conveyed ANCSA lands that were contaminated prior to conveyance and that are owned by the assistance funding recipient or for which the recipient can demonstrate it has been granted access by the site owner for the purpose of conducting cleanup activities. (4) Cleanup assistance agreement funds must be used to carry out cleanup activities at sites conveyed under ANCSA that were contaminated at the time of conveyance and that are owned by the assistance recipient or for which the recipient can demonstrate it has been granted access by the site owner for the purpose of conducting cleanup activities. Performance Reports: Performance monitoring is in accordance with the terms and conditions of the assistance agreement. 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. Recipients must keep financial records, including all documents supporting entries on accounting records and to substantiate changes in grants available to personnel authorized to examine EPA recipients grants and cooperative agreements records. Recipients must maintain all records until 3 years from the date of submission of final expenditure reports as required by 2 CFR 200.334. If questions, such as those raised because of audits remain following the 3-year period, recipients must retain records until the matter is completely resolved. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. The performance period for the assistance agreements awarded in federal fiscal year (FY) 2023 is expected to be a range from 12 to 18 months. EPA’s Region 10 will work with applicants to negotiate a workplan and award the assistance agreements. Generally, EPA incrementally funds grants and cooperative agreements. Approval of subsequent funding increments is dependent on satisfactory project progress, continued relevance of the project to [EPA’s] priorities, and availability of funds. Tami Fordham, EPA Region 10, 222 W 7th Ave, Box 19, Anchorage, AK 99513, (907) 271-1484, fordham.tami@epa.gov Melissa Winters
EPA Region 10
Seattle, WA 98101 USA
winters.melissa@epa.gov
Phone: (206) 553-5180 https://www.epa.gov/r10-tribal/contamination-ancsa-conveyed-lands 68-0108-0-1-304 (Cooperative Agreements (Discretionary Grants)) FY 22$0.00; FY 23 est $5,000,000.00; FY 24 est $13,000,000.00; - The minimum award for the first year of the grant is $200,000/fiscal year with awards up to a maximum of $1,000,000/fiscal year. For ANCSA Contaminated Lands Assistance Agreements, costs will be determined in accordance with 2 CFR 1500 (EPA Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards); and 40 CFR Part 33 (Participation by Disadvantaged Business Enterprises in United States Environmental Protection Agency Programs). The Agency will periodically publish guidance for ANCSA Contaminated Lands applications. Not applicable.