To support the coordination and acceleration of research, investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys, and studies relating to the causes, effects (including health and welfare effects), extent, prevention, reduction, and elimination of water pollution.

Funding Priority - Fiscal

credit: National Environmental Education Week

Year 2008: Funding priorities include, but are not limited to, water quality improvement, watersheds management, aquatic ecosystem restoration, pollutant trading, fish contamination and consumption, nonpoint source management, wetlands protection, coastal and estuarine management, treatment technologies, water efficiency, and environmental management systems.

Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2009: Funding priorities include, but are not limited to, water quality improvement, watersheds management, aquatic ecosystem restoration, pollutant trading, fish contamination and consumption, nonpoint source management, wetlands protection, coastal and estuarine management, treatment technologies, water efficiency, and environmental management systems.

Competitions are held throughout the year at Headquarters and in the Regions 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 will typically include the number of anticipated awards. In FY 07 and FY 08, EPA funded 194 projects that supported water quality improvement, watershed management, aquatic ecosystem restoration, fish contamination and consumption, nonpoint source management, wetlands protection, coastal and estuarine management, treatment technologies, and environmental management systems. In FY 09, EPA will continue support projects to protect and improve water quality on a watershed basis.

Uses and Use Restrictions

Grants and cooperative agreements are available to support recipients' allowable direct costs in approved scopes of work plus allowable indirect costs, in accordance with established EPA policies and regulations.

Funding awarded for research does not include research within the purview of EPA's Office of Research and Development.

The funds will support conducting and promoting the coordination and acceleration of research, investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys, and studies relating to the causes, effects (including health and welfare effects), extent, prevention, reduction, and elimination of water pollution.

Specific uses and restrictions on funds will be described in detail in the competitive announcements.

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

Assistance under this program is generally available to States, local governments, territories, Indian Tribes, and possessions of the U.S.

(including the District of Columbia); public and private universities and colleges; hospitals; laboratories; public or private nonprofit institutions; intertribal consortia; and individuals.

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.

An intertribal consortium must meet the definition of eligibility in the Environmental Program Grants for Tribes Final Rule, at 40 CFR 35.504 (66 FR 3782.

January 16, 2001) (FRL-6929-5) and be a non-profit organization within the meaning of OMB Circular A-122.

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.

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

Documentation of nonprofit status may be required. 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 principal investigators to provide curriculum vitae and relevant publications.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

EPA awards grants and cooperative agreements supporting surveys, studies, and investigations based on competitive applications submitted in response to EPA solicitations, considering relevance and likelihood of success of proposed projects.

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.

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

The standard application forms, as furnished by the Federal agency and required by OMB Circular No. A-102 and A-110, must be used for this program. EPA requires final applications to be made on 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. For competitive awards, Requests for Initial 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 Procedures

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.

Deadlines

Deadlines will be specified in the competitive announcement.

Authorization

Clean Water Act, Section 104(b)(3), as amended; Public law 95-217, 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq; National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Section 102(2)(F).

Range of Approval/Disapproval 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

Not applicable.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Not applicable.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

EPA normally funds grants and cooperative agreements on a 12-month basis. However, EPA may negotiate the project period with each applicant based on project requirements. The term of the grant shall be determined at the time of grant award.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

EPA includes reporting requirements for grants and cooperative agreements in the terms and conditions of the agreements.

Agreements may require quarterly, interim, and final progress reports, and financial, equipment, and invention reports.

Reporting requirements are also identified in the Grant Regulations Part 30 and Part 31.

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

The record retention requirements of 40 CFR Part 30 (non-profits and universities) or 40 CFR Part 31 (governmental units) are applicable depending upon the identity of the recipient. 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.

Financial Information

Account Identification

68-0108-0-1-304; 68-0107-0-1-304; EPM and
S&T.

Obigations

FY 07 $23,584,634; FY 08 $1,178,402; and FY 09 est. $15,000,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

$10,000 to $3,552,460/fiscal year; $1,781,230/fiscal year.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

Surveys, studies, investigations, demonstrations, and training grants and cooperative agreements are subject to EPA's General Grant Regulations (40 CFR Part 30 and 40 CFR Part 31). Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments and Indian Tribes, OMB Circular No. A-21 for educational institutions, and OMB Circular No. A-122 for nonprofit institutions.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

EPA encourages potential applicants to communicate with the appropriate EPA Regional Office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog, and the Headquarters program contacts listed below.

Headquarters Office

For information on grant applications and procedures, contact: Environmental Protection Agency, Grants and Interagency Agreement Management Division, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Mailcode (3903R), Washington, DC 20460. For program information contact: Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds, Connie Cahanap, Telephone: (202) 566-1382; Fax: (202) 566-1147; E-mail: cahanap.concepcion@epa.gov. Office of Groundwater and Drinking Water, Joe Jackson, Telephone: (202) 564-3817; Fax: (202) 564-3754; E-mail: jackson.joe-a@epa.gov; Office of Wastewater Management, Barry Benroth, Telephone: (202) 564-0672; Fax: (202) 501-2397; E-mail: benroth.barry@epa.gov. Office of Science and Technology, Agnes Ortiz, Telephone: (202) 566-1303; Fax: (202) 566-0441; E-mail: ortiz.agnes@epa.gov. Immediate Office, Kimberley Davis, Telephone: (202) 564-4633; Fax: (202) 564-0348; E-mail: roy-davis.kimberley@epa.gov or Tracey Miller, Telephone: (202) 564-0783; Fax: (202) 564-0348; E-mail: miller.tracey@epa.gov.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

The evaluation and selection criteria for competitive awards under this CFDA description will be described in the competitive announcement. Competitive applications and proposals will be selected in accordance with announced criteria.