In FY 2007, four grants were awarded for a total amount of $5.5 million. In FY 2008, four grants totaling approximately $8.5 million are expected to be awarded.

Uses and Use Restrictions

For construction of municipal wastewater treatment works including privately owned individual treatment systems, if a municipality applies on behalf of a number of such systems.

Such works may serve all or portions of individual communities, metropolitan areas, or regions.

A project may include, but may not be limited to, treatment of industrial wastes.

The grantee must require pretreatment of any industrial wastes which would otherwise be detrimental to efficient operation and maintenance, or the grantee must prevent the entry of such waste into the treatment plant.

The grantee must have or initiate an acceptable system of user charges.

From FY 2004 onwards, American Samoa, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia may use up to four percent of the funds appropriated under Title VI for administration and closeout of their construction grant program.

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.

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Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Any state, local, intrastate agency, or interstate agency, or Federally-Recognized Indian tribal government, having jurisdiction over waste disposal.

At present, new funding for the construction grants program exists only in American Samoa, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia because these territories were exempt by the U.S.

Congress from establishing a State Revolving Fund (SRF).

Grants are awarded to only these territories from the SRF funds, which are received as Title II grants.

Funding requests for construction of wastewater treatment facilities are now to be made to the SRF representative of the State in which the construction is proposed.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Anyone/General Public. Anyone to be served by a wastewater treatment works assisted by this program.

Credentials/Documentation

(1) Certified copy of authorization and assurances from the applicant's governing body. Authorization must be current, and must designate by name and title the individual who will represent the applicant; (2) current description of the project; (3) statement explaining exact nature of local, State, and any other Federal funds which may be used to finance the project; (4) applicant assurance (which is acceptable to the Regional Administrator) that any necessary discharge permit has been or will be obtained in accordance with Section 401, of Public Law 92-500, as amended; (5) conformance with requirements set forth in 40 CFR Part 35; Subpart I. Application may be made for grant assistance for building and erection of the treatment works with an allowance for planning and design costs at the time that the grant for construction is made. Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87, "Costs Principles for State, Local, and Indian Tribal Governments."

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

This is an existing program which is winding down as the funding is now being provided under State Revolving Fund Program for construction of wastewater treatment facilities.

An environmental assessment is required for this program, which may require the development of an environmental impact statement by EPA.

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 Procedures

Applications must be submitted through the State water pollution control agency to the appropriate EPA Regional Office. The standard application forms as furnished by the Federal agency must be used for this program. EPA requires final applications to be made on the Standard Form 424. Requests for application kits must be submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency, Grants and Interagency Agreements Management Division, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Mailcode 3903R, Washington, DC 20460 or through the appropriate EPA Regional Office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog. Additional information on the EPA grant package can be found at: http://www.epa.gov/ogd/grants/how_to_apply.htm. Applicants may be able to use http://www.grants.gov to electronically apply for certain grant opportunities under this CFDA. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110.

Award Procedures

Projects considered for award must be approved by the State water pollution control agency and also certified by such agency as to priority over any other eligible projects. Award is made following such certification and approval by a Regional Office of EPA. Funds authorized by the Congress are allotted to the States in accordance with The Clean Water Act, as amended. Grant awards within individual States are limited by the funds which have been allotted to such States.

Deadlines

Contact the appropriate Regional Office for application deadlines.

Authorization

Clean Water Act, as amended, Sections 101(e), 109(b), 201 through 205, 207, 208(d), 210 through 212, 215 through 219, 304(d)(3), 313, 319, 320, 501, 502, 511, and 516(b), Public Law 92-500; Clean Water Act, Public Laws 95-217, 96-483, 97-117, 100-4, and 101-144.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Up to 45 days, for EPA Regional Office action after certification by delegated State.

Appeals

Disputes will be resolved under 40 CFR 30.63 or 40 CFR 31.70, as applicable.

Renewals

None.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program operates under Section 202 of the Clean Water Act. This program has no statutory formula. The Federal grant may be for up to 55 percent for grants awarded after September 30, 1984 or for 75 percent of eligible project costs for grant assistance awarded before October 1, 1984. The States may lower these percentages with the concurrence of the Regional Administrator pursuant to Section 202(a)(1) of the Clean Water Act as amended by Public Law 100-4. For innovative or alternative treatment processes and techniques referred to in section 201(g)(5) the funding shall be 20 per centum greater than the above approved percentage, but in no event greater than 85 per centum of the cost of construction of the project being funded with the grant. The grantee must assure that they will provide funds for all remaining costs. Some States assist grantees in providing all or part of the non-Federal share. The American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas Islands, and Virgin Islands will receive the funds allocated up to 100 percent of the cost of construction.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

The term of the grant shall be determined at the time of grant award. Grant payments are based on work completed, equipment delivered, or sometimes off-site manufacturing or services rendered. Final grant payment is made after construction is completed and satisfactory final inspection and performance evaluation are carried out.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Annual inspection by the State agency for compliance with permit requirements including a written report concerning operation and maintenance of waste treatment facility, and certification one year after beginning operation that the works are meeting project performance standards.

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 charges to each grant, must be kept available to personnel authorized to examine EPA grant accounts. All records must be maintained for 3 years after project closeout, and if questions still remain, such as those raised in a court appeal, related records should be retained until the matter is completely resolved.

Financial Information

Account Identification

68-0103-0-1-304; STAG.

Obigations

Title II obligations available for construction grants to District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas Islands, and the Virgin Islands were: FY 07 $7,994,000; FY 08 $5,083,000; and FY 09 est. $7,000,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

$100,000 to $15,000,000/fiscal year; $7,550,000/fiscal year.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

Grants for Construction of Treatment Works, Environmental Protection Agency (40 CFR Part 35, Subpart E (and Subpart I, applicable to grants awarded after May 12, l982); General Grant Regulations and Procedures, EPA (40 CFR Part 31); "Construction Grants 1985 (Guidelines for applicants and grantees)"; and Construction Grants Handbook of Procedures (Guidelines for Project Officers)." For these and other publications, please contact EPA's Office of Wastewater Management, Municipal Support Division, MC-4204M, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20460.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

Information regarding appropriate waste treatment requirements and State and Federal assistance may be obtained from the State water pollution control agency. Individuals may also communicate with the appropriate EPA Regional Office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog. Also, contact your State agency concerning possible assistance under a State revolving fund (Title VI) of the 1987 Amendments of the Clean Water Act.

Headquarters Office

Kellie Kubena, Acting Branch Chief, Municipal Assistance Branch, MC-4204M, Municipal Support Division, Office of Wastewater Management, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20460. Telephone: (202) 566-0448, Fax: (202) 501-2396, E-mail: kubena.kellie@epa.gov.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Annual funding priorities are determined by the State in which the grantee is located. The project must be given priority by the State water pollution control agency through its project priority system and recommended for funding for approval by the EPA Regional Office.