Great Lakes Program

 

To restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem. USEPA leads a consortium of programs, agencies, and public and private institutions in attaining specific objectives and actions that will address the most significant Great Lakes ecosystem problems and efforts in five major focus areas: Toxic Substances and Areas of Concern; Invasive Species; Nonpoint Source Pollution Impacts on Nearshore Health; Habitats and Species; and Foundations for Future Restoration Actions. Funded activities will advance protection and restoration of the Great Lakes ecosystem in support of (i) the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative as described in the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Action Plan II (https://www.glri.us/documents#actionplan), (ii) Objective 1.2 (Provide for Clean and Safe Water) of EPA's 2018-2022 Strategic Plan, and/or (iii) the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Strategy to Protect and Restore the Great Lakes (https://www.glri.us/projects) Funding Priorities - Fiscal Year 2019: Projects will be funded in five GLRI Action Plan focus areas: (i) Toxic Substances and Areas of Concern; (ii) Invasive Species; (iii) Nonpoint Source Pollution Impacts on Nearshore Health; (iv) Habitats and Species; and (v) Foundations for Future Restoration Actions. The GLRI places a special priority on cleaning up and de-listing Areas of Concern, reducing phosphorus contributions from agricultural and urban lands that contribute to harmful algal blooms and other water quality impairments, and invasive species prevention.

Active 66.469 Environmental Protection Agency B - Project Grants; I - Use of Property, Facilities, and Equipment; L - Dissemination of Technical Information Fiscal Year 2016 GLNPO holds competitions and invites non-competitive applications throughout the year based on available funds and Agency priorities. The number of applications and the number of awards made is dependent on the competitive announcement issued. The announcement typically includes the number of anticipated awards. FY 2016 announcement information is not available. Additional information is available from links at http://www.epa.gov/grtlakes/fund/glf.html. In 2016, GLNPO used FY2016 funding in a general request for applications offering $26 million in seven categories that addressed invasive species and nutrients in the Great Lakes. GLNPO also issued competitive grants for monitoring activities. GLNPO also issued non-competitive grants to States, Tribes, and local governments for LaMP and RAP activities, including: state and tribal capacity, Area of Concern restoration. Additional information is available from links at http://www.epa.gov/grtlakes/fund/index.html. Information on accomplishments is included in an annual Report to Congress and the President available from: https://www.glri.us/pdfs/fy2016-glri-progress-report-to-congress-and-president-20170803-35pp.pdf GLNPO holds competitions and invites non-competitive applications throughout the year based on available funds and Agency priorities. The number of applications and the number of awards made is dependent on the competitive announcement issued. The announcement typically includes the number of anticipated awards. FY 2016 announcement information is not available. Additional information is available from links at http://www.epa.gov/grtlakes/fund/glf.html.
Fiscal Year 2017 In 2017, GLNPO issued competitive grants that addressed invasive species and nutrients in the Great Lakes. As part of this competition, EPA issued 52 grants for $24,542,000. EPA also issued competitive grants for monitoring activities and non-competitive grants to States, Tribes, and local governments for Lakewide Action and Management Plan and Remedial Action Plan activities, including state capacity and Area of Concern restoration. Specific project information can be found at https://www.glri.us/projects. Information on accomplishments can be found at https://www.glri.us/results and is included in an annual Report to Congress and the President available from: https://www.glri.us/documents.
Fiscal Year 2018 In 2018, GLNPO issued non-competitive grants to States, Tribes, and local governments for Lakewide Action and Management Plan and Remedial Action Plan activities, including state capacity, Area of Concern restoration, and projects targeting Harmful Algal Blooms and coastal wetland restoration. Specific project information can be found at https://www.glri.us/projects. Information on accomplishments can be found at https://www.glri.us/results and is included in an annual Report to Congress and the President available from: https://www.glri.us/documents.
Fiscal Year 2019 In 2019, GLNPO issued non-competitive grants to States, Tribes, and local governments for Lakewide Action and Management Plan and Remedial Action Plan activities, including state capacity and Area of Concern restoration. GLNPO also issued competitive opportunities addressing nutrients and runoff to the Great Lakes.
Fiscal Year 2020 In 2020, GLNPO will continue to issue non-competitive grants to States, Tribes, and local governments for Lakewide Action and Management Plan and Remedial Action Plan activities, including state capacity and Area of Concern restoration. GLNPO will also issue competitive opportunities addressing Trash Free Waters of Great Lakes and may also issue competitive funding opportunities for monitoring activities and other activities related to objectives of the GLRI Action Plan Focus Areas. Clean Water Act, Section 118, as amended by P.L. 114-322 and EPA's Annual Appropriations Acts
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Section 102(2(F) Qualified non-federal entities eligible to apply for grants include non-federal governmental entities, nonprofit organizations, and institutions. This includes state agencies; any agency or instrumentality of local government; interstate agencies; federally-recognized tribes and tribal organizations; colleges and universities; non-profit organizations; and other public or non-profit private agencies, institutions, and organizations. Non-profit organization means any corporation, trust, association, cooperative, or other organization which: (1) is operated primarily for scientific, educational, service, charitable, or similar purposes in the public interest; (2) is not organized primarily for profit; and (3) uses its net proceeds to maintain, improve, and/or expand its operations. Non-profit organizations described in Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that engage in lobbying activities as defined in Section 3 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 are not eligible applicants. "For profit" organizations, federal agencies, and individuals are not eligible applicants. "For profit" organizations, federal agencies, and individuals are not eligible applicants. For certain competitive funding opportunities under this assistance listing, the Agency may limit eligibility to compete to a number or subset of eligible applicants consistent with the Agency's Assistance Agreement Competition Policy. Not applicable. Not applicable. Preapplication coordination is required. 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. 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 in the competitive announcement 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 https://www.grants.gov. Applications are evaluated by EPA reviewers to determine their adequacy under Great Lakes objectives, including technical merit, relevance of the project, environmental outcomes, and cost. Administrative review is done by the Regional Assistance Section. Funds are awarded by the Great Lakes National Program Office or Region 2, 3, or 5, as applicable. Great Lakes Restoration Initiative assistance is approved by the Director of the Great Lakes National Program Office. For competitive awards, EPA will review and evaluate applications, proposals, and/or submissions in accordance with the terms, conditions, and criteria stated in the competitive announcement. Competitions will be conducted in accordance with EPA policies/regulations for competing assistance agreements. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines Approximately two to four months after the deadline for application submission. 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 the competitive selection of recipients will be resolved under 2 CFR 1500 Subpart E, as applicable. Contact the Great Lakes National Program Office for information. The evaluation and selection criteria for competitive awards under this assistance listing will be described in the competitive announcement. Proposals are approved by EPA according to technical merit and relevance to the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, Section 118 of the Clean Water Act, and the criteria established in the competitive announcement. The statutory authority for awards is contained in appropriations acts, including the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2016, P.L. 114-113, including administrative provisions authorizing grants for planning, research, monitoring, outreach, and implementation for grants and/or cooperative agreements with governmental entities, nonprofit organizations, and institutions in furtherance of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. Great Lakes Restoration Initiative implementation, as described above, includes but is not limited to land use activities, governmental partnerships and informed public participation, technology development, investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys, and studies to the extent consistent with the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration or Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Action Plan II. The statutory authority for awards in furtherance of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement is contained in Clean Water Act Section 118, appropriations acts, including the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2016, P.L. 114-113, including administrative provisions authorizing grants and cooperative agreements to qualified non-federal entities for planning, research, monitoring, outreach, orand implementation. for grants and/or cooperative agreements with governmental entities, nonprofit organizations, and institutions in furtherance of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. Great Lakes Restoration Initiative implementation, as described above, includes but is not limited to land use activities, governmental partnerships and informed public participation, technology development, investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys, and studies to the extent consistent with the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration or Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Action Plan II. The Statutory Authority to take action to implement the U.S. responsibilities under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, which these awards will support, is contained in Section 118(c) of the Clean Water Act. The principal goal of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement is the restoration and maintenance of the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Great Lakes Ecosystem. For projects with international aspects the above statutes are supplemented, as appropriate, by the National Environmental Policy Act, Section 102(2)(F). Grants and cooperative agreements are available to support recipients' allowable direct costs incident to approved activities plus allowable indirect costs, in accordance with established EPA policies and regulations. Quality System Documentation is required for projects involving measurements or information that describe environmental processes, location, or conditions; ecological or health effects and consequences; or the performance of environmental technology. Section 118 (c)(112) authorizes contaminated sediment remediation in Areas of Concern pursuant to eligible projects under the Great Lakes Legacy Act; however, these will be done through project cooperation agreements, rather than assistance. 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: https://www.epa.gov/geospatial. Performance Reports: Performance monitoring is required under this program. 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. 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. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching is voluntary_rating. Leveraging, including an applicant's match percentage, will generally be considered as part of the project selection process for grants and cooperative agreements; however, the program does not expect to require any minimum match requirement. Any such requirement will be specified in the individual Request for Proposals or Applications. A minimum 35 percent matching requirement only applies to Legacy Act projects (Section 103 of the Great Lakes Legacy Act of 2002); Legacy Act projects are done through contracting, not grants or cooperative agreements.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. Generally 1-3 years; however, awards can be made for up to 7 years. The term of the grant will be determined at the time of award. The method of fund disbursement will be determined at the time of award. Bart Mosier, USEPA Great Lakes National Program Office (G-9J), 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604-3590. Telephone: (312) 353-4513; E-mail: mosier.bart@epa.gov. Bart Mosier
USEPA, Great Lakes National Program Office (G-17J), 77 West Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, IL 60604 US
mosier.bart@epa.gov
Phone: 312-353-4513 https://www.epa.gov/great-lakes-funding 68-0108-0-1-304 (Project Grants (Discretionary)) FY 18$65,000,000.00; FY 19 est $14,000,000.00; FY 20 FY 17$88,840,023.00; FY 16$690,351,000.00; - Some awards are fully funded at award and others are funded incrementally over several years. Representative Award Range: $30,000/fiscal year to $5,000,000/fiscal year. Requests for Applications, examples, and other Great Lakes funding information are available from https://www.epa.gov/great-lakes-funding. General regulations for EPA assistance programs are contained in 2 CFR 200 and 1500 and 40 CFR Parts 32 through 47. Fiscal Year 2016 Grants and cooperative agreements will be awarded to governmental entities, nonprofit organizations, and institutions for planning, research, monitoring, outreach, and implementation in support of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Projects will be funded within the focus areas of: (i) Toxic Substances and Areas of Concern; (ii) Invasive Species; (iii) Nonpoint Source Pollution Impacts on Nearshore Health; (iv) Habitats and Species; and (v) Foundations for Future Restoration Actions. Under the Great Lakes Legacy Act, projects will also be funded through contracts for remediation of contaminated sediments in Great Lakes Areas of Concern. Project descriptions will be available from: http://greatlakesrestoration.us. Grants and cooperative agreements will be awarded to governmental entities, nonprofit organizations, and institutions for planning, research, monitoring, outreach, and implementation in support of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Projects will be funded within the focus areas of: (i) Toxic Substances and Areas of Concern; (ii) Invasive Species; (iii) Nonpoint Source Pollution Impacts on Nearshore Health; (iv) Habitats and Species; and (v) Foundations for Future Restoration Actions. Under the Great Lakes Legacy Act, projects will also be funded through contracts for remediation of contaminated sediments in Great Lakes Areas of Concern. Project descriptions will be available from: http://greatlakesrestoration.us.
Fiscal Year 2018 EPA awarded grants and cooperative agreements that directly advance the objectives the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Action Plan II, specifically projects will advance measures in the five GLRI Focus Areas including: Toxic Substances and Areas of Concern; Invasive Species; Nonpoint Source Pollution Impacts on Nearshore Health; Habitat and Species; and Foundations for Future Restoration Actions. Project Descriptions are available at: https://www.glri.us/projects
Fiscal Year 2019 EPA will award grants and cooperative agreements that directly advance the objectives the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Action Plan II, specifically projects will advance measures in the five GLRI Focus Areas including: Toxic Substances and Areas of Concern; Invasive Species; Nonpoint Source Pollution Impacts on Nearshore Health; Habitat and Species; and Foundations for Future Restoration Actions. Project Descriptions will be available at: https://www.glri.us/projects.