Senior Environmental Employment Program

 

To use the talents of Americans 55 years of age or older to provide technical assistance to Federal, State, and local environmental agencies for projects of pollution prevention, abatement, and control to achieve the Agency's goals of Clean Air; Clean and Safe Water; Land Preservation and Restoration; Healthy Communities and Ecosystems; and Compliance and Environmental Stewardship. Funding Priorities - Fiscal Year 2023: The Environmental Programs Assistance Act of 1984 (Pub. L. 98-313) authorized the Administrator of the EPA "to make grants to, or enter into cooperative agreements with private, nonprofit organizations designated by the Secretary of Labor under Title V of the Older Americans Act of 1965." These cooperative agreements are to utilize the talents of older Americans in temporary, full time or part time positions "providing technical assistance to Federal, State, and local environmental agencies for projects of pollution prevention, abatement, and control." "Technical assistance" may include any activity performed for the EPA in support of its projects ranging from inspections of underground storage tanks, to support for a Headquarters staff office. This allows for the coverage of all types of SEE program positions from professional to clerical. Annual funding priorities are not established at the SEE program level. Rather, Senior Resource Officials from the participating 65 program offices establish priorities requiring SEE program support.

General information about this opportunity
Last Known Status
Active
Program Number
66.508
Federal Agency/Office
Environmental Protection Agency
Type(s) of Assistance Offered
B - Project Grants
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2016 As of June 21, 2016, 296 cooperative agreements/amendments were awarded. In Fiscal Year 2016, 525 cooperative agreements/amendments were awarded.
Fiscal Year 2017 263 cooperative agreements/amendments were awarded in FY 2017.
Fiscal Year 2018 FY18 – 278 cooperative agreements/amendments were awarded (239 new awards/amendments, 11 decrease amendments, and 21 no-cost amendments)
Fiscal Year 2019 207 new awards and amendments were issued.
Fiscal Year 2022 154 cooperative agreements/amendments were awarded (including 146 new awards/amendments, 2 decrease amendments, and 6 no-cost amendments).
Fiscal Year 2023 New awards and amendments: FY23 - As of July 13, 2023, 87 cooperative agreements/amendments were awarded (including 81 new awards/amendments, 0 decrease amendments, and 6 no-cost amendments).
Authorization
Environmental Programs Assistance Act of 1984, Public Law 98-313, 42 U.S.C. 4368a
Who is eligible to apply/benefit from this assistance?
Applicant Eligibility
Private, nonprofit organizations designated by the Secretary of Labor under Title V of the Older Americans Act of 1965.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Federal, State, and local environmental agencies and individuals 55 years old or older.
Credentials/Documentation
The Environmental Programs Assistance Act of 1984 requires a certification by the Federal, State, or local agency that is to receive the SEE workers that the grant/cooperative agreement will not displace any Federal or State workers, prevent the rehiring of any laid-off Federal/State workers, or affect existing service contracts.
What is the process for applying and being award this assistance?
Pre-Application Procedure
Preapplication coordination is not applicable.
Application Procedure
2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. This program is subject to the provisions of OMB 2 CFR 1500. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB 2 CFR 200. Applicants, except limited circumstances approved by the Agency, must submit all initial applications for funding through Grants.gov.
Award Procedure
Each application shall be subjected to administrative evaluation to determine adequacy of application in relation to assistance regulations, and to program objectives.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines
Approval/Disapproval Decision Time
Not applicable.
Appeals
Disputes will be resolved under 2 CFR 1500 Subpart E, as applicable.
Renewals
Not applicable.
How are proposals selected?
Applications must demonstrate that the Organizations have the capability of operating nationwide; can manage the program within the prescribed administrative funding limits; and can provide a quality fringe benefit package to enrollees under the proposal (including health insurance).
How may assistance be used?
The SEE Act states that only nonprofit organizations which are designated by the Secretary of Labor under Title V of the Older Americans Act can participate. These cooperative agreements are to utilize the talents of older Americans in temporary full time or part time positions "providing technical assistance to Federal, State, and local environmental agencies for projects of pollution prevention, abatement, and control."
What are the requirements after being awarded this opportunity?
Reporting
Performance Reports: Performance monitoring is required as a normal part of project officer post award monitoring.
Auditing
In accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements, nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.503. 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 as required by 2 CFR 200.334 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200#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.
Other Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
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.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Assistance covers a period of one to three years and is awarded in increments during that period. Assistance is incrementally awarded throughout the life of the agreement to support ongoing activities.
Who do I contact about this opportunity?
Regional or Local Office
None/Not specified.
Headquarters Office
Angela Hughes, Program Analyst, SEE Program
Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Mission Support, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave, N.W. (Mail Code: 6204M)
Washington, DC 20460 US
Hughes.Angela@epa.gov
Phone: (202) 564-4390
Website Address
https://www.epa.gov/careers/senior-environmental-employment-see-program
Financial Information
Account Identification
68-0103-0-1-304
Obligations
(Cooperative Agreements (Discretionary Grants)) FY 22$34,257,787.00; FY 23 est $40,000,000.00; FY 24 est $40,000,000.00; FY 21$29,624,756.00; FY 20$35,622,148.00; FY 19$34,043,243.00; FY 18$40,950,198.00; FY 17$50,000,000.00; FY 16$38,346,358.00; -
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Fiscal Year 2022: $320,736 to $1,630,200/FY 2022; Average $231,471/FY 2022. Estimates of $1,000 to $750,000/FY 2023; Average $60,000/FY 2023. New awards and amendments: As of July 13, 2023 of $8,500 to $2,536,000/FY 2023; Average $312,536 /FY 2023. Estimates of $1,000 to $750,000/FY 2024; Average $60,000/FY 2024.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
2 CFR 1500 - Uninform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Federal Agency Regulations for Grants and Agreements)
Examples of Funded Projects
Fiscal Year 2016 No content available Provide funding to eligible Grantee organizations to provide senior citizens who conduct national non-agricultural pesticide surveys, outreach on renovation, repair, and painting rule, provide review and monitoring support for the Import Car Program, monitor the anti-fuel switching program, conduct research, and work on other general administrative and clerical tasks.
Fiscal Year 2017 Provide funding to eligible Grantee organizations to provide senior citizens who conduct national non-agricultural pesticide surveys, outreach on renovation, repair, and painting rule, provide review and monitoring support for the Import Car Program, monitor the anti-fuel switching program, conduct research, and work on other general administrative and clerical tasks.
Fiscal Year 2018 Provide funding to eligible Grantee organizations to provide senior citizens who conduct national non-agricultural pesticide surveys, outreach on renovation, repair, and painting rule, provide review and monitoring support for the Import Car Program, monitor the anti-fuel switching program, conduct research, and work on other general administrative and clerical tasks
Fiscal Year 2023 Examples of the types of activities supported under this assistance listing include: performing water supply inventories; providing information to the general public; writing and editing EPA environmental education and outreach publications; identifying and classifying sanitary landfills; providing technical assistance; estimating levels of pesticide exposure; monitoring radiation and air pollution; conducting school asbestos surveys; and typing environmental legal abstracts briefs.

 


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