The Long Island Sound Office (LISO) holds competitions throughout the year based on available funds and Agency priorities. The number of applications and the number of awards made is dependent on the announcement issued. The announcement includes the number of anticipated awards. In FY 07, the program reduced point source nitrogen loadings to Long Island Sound from baseline level of 211,724 lbs/day to 153,932 lbs/day and reduced the areal extent of the hypoxic event in Long Island Sound from 20 year average of 203 square miles to 162 square miles; restored or protected 197 acres of coastal habitat; reopened 22 river miles to anadromous fish passage. FY 2008 accomplishments will not be available until October 2008. Three two-year competitive awards were made in FY 07 totaling $400,000 and averaging $66,666 per year. In FY 08 six awards were made totaling $4,489,134 averaging $748,189.

Uses and Use Restrictions

Funds may be used to implement elements of the LISS CCMP.

Special emphasis shall be give to CCMP implementation projects, research and planning, enforcement, and citizen involvement and education projects.

The Administrator may give priority to a distressed community as defined in 33 USC 1269(e)(1).

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

State, interstate, and regional water pollution control agencies, and other public or nonprofit private agencies, institutions, and organizations are eligible.

Private profit-making entities, and individuals, are not eligible.

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

Assistance under this program generally benefits State, interstate, and regional water pollution control agencies and other public or nonprofit private agencies, institutions, and organizations. The general public and Long Island Sound user groups such as swimmers, beach goers, sport and commercial fishermen, boaters, and shellfishes, benefit from the results of the program through cleaner water, restored and protected habitat, and preserved and enhanced ecosystems.

Credentials/Documentation

Nonprofit private agencies, institutions and organizations may be required to provide documentation of their organizational status upon application.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

The EPA Long Island Sound Office (LISO) issues annual guidance on the form and content of pre-proposals.

All pre-proposals or work statements should be consistent with LISO's guidance.

Consultation or technical assistance may be available upon request from the LISO to aid applicants is preparing their pre-proposal.

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.

An environmental impact statement or environmental impact assessment is not required for this program.

Application Procedures

The LISS management conference annually releases a request for pre-proposals in the Fall through the LISO. Pre-proposals are due to the LISO generally by early January or as specified in guidance. The LISS management committee reviews pre-proposals in late January to identify areas of concern and to request additional information or clarification on proposals through the LISO. The LISO coordinates review of pre-proposals among the several LISS technical work groups and teams to ensure consistency with program goals and objectives as outlined in the CCMP and other priorities as directed by the management committee. If necessary, applicants are contacted by the LISO to provide the additional information or clarification. The LISO coordinates review of the revised proposals and develops funding recommendations for the management committee's consideration in April. The management committee makes final recommendations on funding pre-proposals at that time, or as otherwise specified. Applicants are advised of the status of their request by the LISO within 30 days of the management committee's final decisions. Successful applicants are required to submit formal grant applications using the standard federal grant application forms. The deadline for submitting applications may vary by EPA Region, but is generally July 1. Applications not received by the deadline are not further considered for funding. Unallocated funds are carried over or otherwise used to further the purposes of this program at the discretion of the management committee. Federal grant application forms may be obtained on the EPA website, http://www.epa.gov/ogd/AppKit/index.htm or requested from either the EPA Region I or II grants management office as follows: for Connecticut, EPA Region I, Grants Management Office, One Congress Street, Suite 1100, Boston, MA 02111; for New York, EPA Region II, Grants and Contracts Management Branch, 290 Broadway, New York, NY 10007-1866. The standard federal grant application forms as required by OMB Circular No. A-102 must be used for this program. Applicants may be able to use http://www.grants.gov to electronically apply for certain grant opportunities under this CFDA. The completed grant application should be submitted to the appropriate EPA Regional grants management office, with a copy to the LISO to assist with processing.

Award Procedures

Each federal assistance application and final work plan will be evaluated by the LISO to determine the adequacy of the application under LISS priorities and objectives, including technical merit and relevance of the project to the implementation of the CCMP and for consistency with the pre-application proposal. Each federal assistance award application will also be subject to an administrative review by the EPA Region I or II grants management office as appropriate. Funds are awarded by the EPA Region I or II Administrator as appropriate. Grantees will receive a final assistance award package from the appropriate EPA Regional grants management office that must be accepted and signed by an authorized official of the recipient organization and returned to the GMO as specified in the EPA award document. Awards may be made on an advance or reimbursement basis. Awards that are not signed and returned by the deadline specified in the assistance award document may be subject to cancellation. 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

Requests For Proposals (RFPs) may be announced for several different themes in support of Long Island Sound Study Program's goals at different times during the year. Contact the EPA LISO for specific annual application deadlines.

Authorization

Clean Water Act, Section 119(d).

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Notification of action on pre-proposals is provided approximately 120 days after deadline for pre-proposal submission. Final grantees are notified of approval approximately 90 days after the submission of the application for federal assistance.

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

Renewals are subject to approval of EPA.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula (33 U.S.C. 1269(d)(3)). Federal costs for citizen involvement and education grants shall not exceed 95 percent of the costs of such work; for all other grants and cooperative agreements, federal costs shall not exceed 50 percent of the research, studies, or work. EPA has determined that annual matching requirements for LISS grant awards shall be met in the aggregate for all funds awarded as specified in the approved annual work plan.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Assistance agreements are generally made for a one-year period corresponding to the federal fiscal year, October-September. Awards may be made for longer periods upon justification and with the approval of EPA. Awards may be made by advance or reimbursement at the discretion of EPA.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Semi-annual and final progress reports; program evaluation and other reports (such as equipment and invention reports, MBE/WBE reports, Financial Status Report) as required by the specific terms of the assistance agreement.

Financial Status Reports on the standard federal form must be submitted.

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 Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal 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. 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 OMB Circular No. A-133.

Records

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.

Financial Information

Account Identification

68-0108-0-1-304; 68-0103-0-1-304; EPM and
STAG.

Obigations

(Grants; Cooperative Agreements) FY 07 $1,362,800; FY 08 $4,122,000; and FY 09 est. $467,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

$20,000 to $500,000/fiscal year; $50,000/fiscal year.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

LISS grants and cooperative agreements are subject to EPA's General Grant Regulations, 40 CFR Part 35, 40 CFR Part 30, or 40 CFR Part 31; annual EPA Office of Water National Estuaries Program guidance; the LISS CCMP, and Long Island Sound 2003 or successor Agreement.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

USEPA Long Island Sound Office, Government Center, 888 Washington Boulevard, Suite 6-5, Stamford, Connecticut 06904; Telephone: (203) 977-1541; Fax: (203) 977-1546. Attention: Mark Tedesco. E-mail: tedesco.mark@epa.gov.

Headquarters Office

EPA Office of Water; Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds; Oceans and Coastal Protection Division; EPA West, 1301 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20004. Contact: Darrell Brown, Telephone: (202) 566-1256; Fax: (202) 566-1334; E-mail: brown.darrell@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.