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Urban Waters Small Grants
EPA"s funding priority is to achieve the goals and commitments established in the Agency"s Urban Waters Strategic Framework (http://www2.epa.gov/urbanwaters/urban-waters-strategic-framework).
This
The objective of the Urban Waters Small Grants is to fund projects that will foster a comprehensive understanding of local urban water issues, identify and address these issues at the local level, and educate and empower the community.
In particular, the Urban Waters Small Grants seek to help restore and protect urban water quality and revitalize adjacent neighborhoods by engaging communities in activities that increase their connection to, understanding of, and stewardship of local urban waterways.
Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2013: In FY 2013, EPA"s funding priority for Urban Waters Small Grants is to fund projects that improve water quality by conducting or promoting the coordination and acceleration of research, investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys, and studies relating to the causes, effects, extent, prevention, reduction, and elimination of water pollution.
Implementation projects are not eligible for funding.
Examples of Funded Projects
Fiscal Year 2012: Funded projects will help restore and protect urban water quality and revitalize adjacent neighborhoods by engaging communities in activities that increase their connection to, understanding of, and stewardship of local urban waterways.
Examples of selected projects include youth education on watershed science and stewardship of urban waterways, water quality monitoring and studies, community engagement and outreach to promote best management practices in restoring urban waters, urban watershed assessments to develop a community action plan, and hands-on learning workshops to educate the public on the importance of urban waters.
More information on specific projects selected for funding can be found at http://www2.epa.gov/urbanwaters/urban-waters-small-grants.
Fiscal Year 2013: Funded projects will help restore and protect urban water quality and revitalize adjacent neighborhoods by engaging communities in activities that increase their connection to, understanding of, and stewardship of local urban waterways.
Examples of selected projects include youth education on watershed science and stewardship of urban waterways, water quality monitoring and studies, community engagement and outreach to promote best management practices in restoring urban waters, urban watershed assessments to develop a community action plan, and hands-on learning workshops to educate the public on the importance of urban waters.
More information on specific projects selected for funding can be found at http://www2.epa.gov/urbanwaters/urban-waters-small-grants.
Fiscal Year 2014: No Current Data Available
The mission of the Environmental Protection Agency is to protect human health and the environment. Since 1970, EPA has been working for a cleaner, healthier environment for the American people.
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2012: In FY 12, 46 awards totaling approximately $2.8 million were made for projects that seek to help restore and protect urban water quality and revitalize adjacent neighborhoods by engaging communities in activities that increase their connection to, understanding of, and stewardship of local urban waterways. Fiscal Year 2013: In FY 13, 9 awards totaling approximately $530,393 were made for projects that seek to help restore and protect urban water quality and revitalize adjacent neighborhoods by engaging communities in activities that increase their connection to, understanding of, and stewardship of local urban waterways. Competitive announcements for Urban Waters Small Grants are issued based on available funds and program priorities. The number of awards made is dependent on the announcement issued. The announcement includes the number of anticipated awards. Fiscal Year 2014: No Current Data Available
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.
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.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Assistance under the Urban Waters Small Grants 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, public or private nonprofit institutions, intertribal consortia, and interstate agencies.
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.
The OMB Circular A-122 is available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars_a122_2004/.
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
Residents of urban areas adversely impacted by water pollution, State and local governments, U.S. territories and possessions, Indian Tribes, other public and private nonprofit institutions, intertribal consortia, and interstate agencies.
Credentials/Documentation
EPA may request that applicants demonstrate their eligibility. Documentation of nonprofit status may be required. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.
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.
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 Procedures
OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. 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
Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.
Authorization
Clean Water Act, Section 104(b)(3), Public Law 95-217, 33 U.S.C 1251; National Environmental Policy Act, U.S.C 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
This program has no statutory formula.
Matching Requirements: Matching requirements, if any, will be described in the competitive announcement.
This program does not have MOE requirements.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
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. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: The method of fund disbursement will be determined at the time of 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 expenditure/financial, equipment, and invention reports.
Reporting requirements are also identified in the Grant Regulations at 40 CFR Part 30 and 40 CFR Part 31.
Program reports are required under this program.
Cash reports are required under this program.
Progress reports are required under this program.
Expenditure reports are required under this program.
Performance monitoring is required under this program.
Audits
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
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.
Obigations
(Project Grants) FY 12 $2,880,000; FY 13 est $800,000; and FY 14 est $800,000
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Range: $40,000 to $60,000/fiscal year; Average: $50,000/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 (codified at 2 CFR Part 225), OMB Circular No. A-21 for educational institutions (codified at 2 CFR Part 220), and OMB Circular No. A-122 for nonprofit institutions (codified at 2 CFR Part 230).
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
None.
Headquarters Office
Ji-Sun Yi Office of the Assistant Administrator (Mail Code 4101M), Office of Water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, District of Columbia 20460 Email: yi.ji-sun@epa.gov Phone: (202) 566-0730
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.
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