Regional Environmental Priority Projects

 

To support investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys, studies, and special purpose assistance to protect public health and prevent, reduce, and eliminate pollution in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. Projects may be single media or multimedia which support the regional environmental priorities. Single media grants support pollution prevention efforts for individual environmental law statutes. Multimedia grants are assistance agreements that are awarded citing two or more environmental law statutes, appropriation legislation, or applicable legislative history as the statutory authority.

Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2010: Funded projects will focus on the regional environmental priorities and include unique, geographically-based projects that support the Agency's ability to protect human health and the environment. These projects may address places, sectors, or innovative projects, and focus on prevention, agriculture, climate change and energy, and/or collaborative efforts to protect human health and the environment and achieve environmental results. These projects may also demonstrate state, local, and/or other stakeholder participation; identify opportunities for leveraging other sources of funding; or support smart growth planning in communities. Smart growth projects are those focused on improving the quality of life in communities by integrating the tenets of ecology, equity and management by citizens. Currently there is no funding available in FY 2010.

Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2011: Funded projects will focus on the regional environmental priorities and include unique, geographically-based projects that support the Agency's ability to protect human health and the environment. The projects may address places, sections, or innovative projects, and focus on prevention, agriculture, climate change and energy, and/or collaborative efforts to protect human health and the environment and achieve environmental results. These projects may also demonstrate state, local and other stakeholder participation; identify opportunities for leveraging other sources of funding; or support smart growth planning in communities. Smart growth projects are those focused on improving the quality of life in communities by integrating the tenets of ecology, equity and management by citizens. It is not anticipated that there will be funding available for these activities in 2011.

General information about this opportunity
Last Known Status
Deleted 01/15/2013 (Archived.)
Program Number
66.111
Federal Agency/Office
Agency: Environmental Protection Agency
Office: Region 7
Type(s) of Assistance Offered
Cooperative Agreements
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2011: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2012: No Current Data Available
Authorization
Toxic Substances Control Act, Section 10; Safe Drinking Water Act, Section 1442; Solid Waste Disposal Act, Section 8001; Clean Air Act, Section 103; Clean Water Act, Section 104; Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, Section 20.
Who is eligible to apply/benefit from this assistance?
Applicant Eligibility
Assistance under this program is generally available to States, territories, Indian Tribes, and possessions of the U.S., including the District of Columbia; public and private universities and colleges; hospitals; laboratories; other public or private nonprofit institutions; for-profit groups; and individuals which submit applications proposing projects with significant technical merit and relevance to EPA's mission. For certain competitive funding opportunities under this CFDA description, the Agency may limit eligibility to compete to a number or subset of eligible applicants consistent with the Agency's Assistance Agreement Competition Policy. Nonprofit organizations must be able to demonstrate that they are eligible through documentation of nonprofit status provided the U.S. Internal Revenue Service or their state of incorporation. However, nonprofit 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 to apply.
Beneficiary Eligibility
State and local governments, U.S. territories and possessions, Indian Tribes, universities and colleges, hospitals, laboratories, other public and private nonprofit institutions, and individuals.
Credentials/Documentation
Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular A-21 for educational institutions, OMB Circular No. A-122 for nonprofit institutions, and FAR Part 31 for profit makers. Applicants may be requested to demonstrate they have appropriate background, academic training, experience in the field, and necessary equipment to carry out projects. EPA may ask applicants or principle investigators to provide curriculum vitae and relevant publications. Nonprofit organizations must be able to demonstrate that they are eligible through documentation of nonprofit status provided the U.S. Internal Revenue Service or their state of incorporation. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.
What is the process for applying and being award this assistance?
Pre-Application Procedure
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. 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. 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. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. EPA requires eligible applicants to submit Standard Form 424, Application for Federal Assistance. Application kits should be requested from and submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Grants Administration Office, 901 N. 5th Street, Kansas City, Kansas 66101. Detailed information and assistance, including Standard Form 424 are available at:http://www.epa.gov/region07/economics/index.htm. For competitive awards, Requests for Initial Proposals, Requests for Proposals, or Requests for Applications will specify application procedures. Applicants may be able to use http://www.grants.gov to electronically apply for certain grant opportunities under this CFDA.
Award Procedure
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. While applicants may submit unsolicited proposals, such proposals are funded only under very limited circumstances and in accordance with Agency procedures. Unsolicited proposals will be reviewed and evaluated based on criteria including but not limited to (i) the extent the proposal is unique or innovative, (ii) whether the proposal was independently originated and developed by the applicant, (iii) and the extent the proposal supports regional priorities and/or efforts to protect the environment and public health.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.
Approval/Disapproval Decision Time
Approximately 180 days.
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 the competitive selection of recipients will be resolved under 40 CFR 30.63 or 40 CFR 31.70, as applicable.
Renewals
None. A standard grant application should be prepared and submitted as a new grant, which will be reviewed in the same manner as the original application and will compete for available funds. EPA can incrementally fund grants and cooperative agreements for investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys, studies, and special purpose assistance. Approval of subsequent funding increments is dependent on satisfactory project progress, continued relevance of the project to EPA's priorities, and availability of funds.
How are proposals selected?
EPA selects proposed projects for funding based on factors such as relevancy to EPA's mission, technical merit, and the likelihood of success. The evaluation and selection criteria for competitive awards under this CFDA description will be described in the competitive announcement.
How may assistance be used?
Grants and cooperative agreements are available to support recipients' allowable direct costs incident to approved investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys, studies, and special purpose assistance plus allowable indirect costs, in accordance with established EPA policies and regulations. 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." "Geospatial Information" includes:Information that identifies the geographic location and characteristics of natural or constructed features or boundaries on the Earth, or applications, tools, and hardware associated with the generation, maintenance, or distribution of such information. This information may be derived from, among other things, GPS, remote sensing, mapping, charting, and surveying technologies, or statistical data.

Grant recipients and sub-recipients are encouraged to adopt and enforce policies that ban text messaging while driving company-owned or -rented vehicles or government-owned vehicles, or while driving privately-owned vehicles when on official government business or when performing any work for or on behalf of the government. Grant recipients and sub-recipients are encouraged to conduct initiatives of the type described in section 3(a) of the Federal Leadership on Reducing Text Messaging While Driving Executive Order that was signed on October 1, 2009.
What are the requirements after being awarded this opportunity?
Reporting
Successful assistance recipients will be required to submit performance/progress reporting to the U.S. EPA. These reports may be required to be submitted on a quarterly/semi-annual/annual basis. Frequency of these reports will be specified in the grant award documents. Assistance recipients will be required to submit a Federal Financial Report. The frequency of submittal of this report shall be specified in the grant award document. Successful assistance recipients will be required to submit performance/progress reporting to the U.S. EPA. These reports may be required to be submitted on a quarterly/semi-annual/annual basis. Frequency of these reports will be specified in the grant award documents. Successful assistance recipients may be required to submit submit expenditure information to support the performance reporting or amount of funding reimbursed. If this information will be required, the assistance award will be conditioned accordingly. No performance monitoring is required.
Auditing
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.
Records
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. If questions, such as those raised as a result of audits remain following the 3-year period, recipients must retain records until the matter is completely resolved.
Other Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
This program has no statutory formula.
This program has no matching requirements.
This program does not have MOE requirements.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Grants and cooperative agreements are normally funded on a 12-month basis (annual) and will be paid electronically utilizing automated funds transfer. The total approved project period may not exceed 5 years for competitive awards. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Funding will be provided via electronic funds transfer and on a cost-incurred basis.
Who do I contact about this opportunity?
Regional or Local Office
See Regional Agency Offices. EPA encourages potential applicants to communicate with the EPA Region 7 located at 901 N. 5th Street, Kansas City, KS 66101, Wendy Lubbe, Telephone: (913) 551-7551; Fax: (913) 551-9551, E-mail: lubbe.wendy@epa.gov.
Headquarters Office
Ashley Betts, EPA Region 7, 901 N. 5th Street, Kansas City, Kansas 66101 Email: betts.ashley@epa.gov Phone: (913) 551-7336.
Website Address
http://www.epa.gov/region07/economics/index.htm
Financial Information
Account Identification
68-0108-0-1-304; 68-0103-0-1-304.
Obligations
(Cooperative Agreements) FY 09 $0; FY 10 $0; FY 11 $0 - Activities are still being conducted under this CFDA using previous
years' funding. Although the program did not receive funding in FY09 or FY10, EPA believes the program may receive funding in FY11.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
In fiscal year 2008, projects funded from Regional Geographic Initiative and Environmental Priority Program funding averaged $15,000 to $90,000 per project. No projects were funded in fiscal year 2009 due to funding constraints.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
Investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys, studies, and special purpose grants and cooperative agreements are subject to EPA's General Grant Regulations (40 CFR Part 30 and 40 CFR Part 31).
Examples of Funded Projects
Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2011: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2012: No Current Data Available

 



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