Alternative or Innovative Treatment Technology Research, Demonstration, Training, and Hazardous Substance Research Grants

 

To support grants and cooperative agreements for (1) a program of research, evaluation, testing, development, and demonstration of alternative or innovative treatment technologies which may be utilized in response actions to achieve more permanent protection of human health and welfare and the environment; (2) a technology transfer program including the development, collection, evaluation, coordination, and dissemination of information relating to the utilization of alternative or innovative treatment technologies for response actions; (3) a program of training and evaluation of training needs in the procedures for the handling and removal of hazardous substances for employees who handle hazardous substances and training in the management of facilities at which hazardous substances are located and in the evaluation of the hazards to human health presented by such facilities for State and local health and environmental agency personnel, and (4) a program of research with respect to the detection, assessment, and evaluation of the effects on and risks to human health of hazardous substances and detection of hazardous substances in the environment. "Alternative Treatment" refers to (new) technologies and techniques for treating solid waste/sites that differ from the technologies techniques being used currently. Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2023: Continue to fund (provided availability) the cooperative agreement recipient selected for state related research in FY 2024.

Active 66.813 Environmental Protection Agency B - Project Grants Not applicable. Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), Section 311(b)
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, Section 311(c) Assistance under this program is generally available to States, territories, Indian Tribes, and possessions of the U.S., including the District of Columbia, public and private universities and colleges, hospitals, laboratories, other public or private nonprofit institutions, and individuals. In some instances, EPA will consider applications from profit makers, proposing projects with significant technical merit and relevance to EPA's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. 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. For certain competitive funding opportunities under this assistance listing, the Agency may limit eligibility to compete to a number or subset of eligible applicants consistent with the Agency's Assistance Agreement Competition Policy. State and local governments, U.S. territories and possessions, Indian Tribes, universities and colleges, hospitals, laboratories, industry, and other public and private institutions and individuals. EPA may request that applicants document their nonprofit status. The Agency may also request that applicants 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. Preapplication coordination is required. 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. Executive Order 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs," applies to this assistance listings when proposed Federal financial assistance involves land use planning or construction associated with demonstration projects. EPA financial assistance programs and activities subject to intergovernmental review that are subject to review under State single point of contact procedures are identified at https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-financial-assistance-programs-subject-executive-order-12372-and-section-204. Applicants for programs or activities subject to Intergovernmental Review that are not subject to State single point of contact review must provide directly affected State, areawide, regional, and local entities at least 60 days to review their application following notification by EPA that the application has been selected for funding as provided by 40 CFR 29.8(a) and (c). Regarding pre-application assistance with respect to competitive funding opportunities under this assistance listing, EPA will generally specify the nature of the pre-application assistance, if any, that will be available to applicants in the competitive announcement. For additional information, contact the individual(s) listed as "Information Contacts" in the competitive announcement. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. The NOFO will specify application procedures. Applicants, except in limited circumstances approved by the Agency, must submit all applications for funding through Grants.gov. For competitive awards, EPA will review and evaluate applications 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. EPA will conduct an administrative evaluation to determine the adequacy of the application in relation to grant regulations and a technical and program evaluation to determine the merit and relevance of the project. The Agency will then advise the applicant if funding is being considered. A final work plan will then be negotiated with the applicant. For competitive awards, deadlines will be specified in the competitive announcement. Approximately 180 days. 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 found at: https://www.epa.gov/grants/grant-competition-dispute-resolution-procedures. Disputes relating to matters other than the competitive selection of recipients will be resolved under 2 CFR 1500 Subpart E, as applicable. None. EPA may incrementally fund grants and cooperative agreements under this program. Approval of subsequent funding increments is dependent on satisfactory project progress, continued relevance of the project to EPA's priorities, and availability of funds. The evaluation and selection criteria for competitive awards under this assistance listing will be described in the competitive announcement. Proposals are judged for (a) technical merit in terms of: (1) strengths and weaknesses of the project; (2) adequacy of overall project design; (3) competency of proposed staff; (4) suitability of applicant's available resources; (5) appropriateness of the proposed project period and budget; and (6) probability that the project will accomplish stated objectives; and, for (b) program interest in terms of: (1) the need for the proposed project; and (2) relationship to program objectives. Grants and cooperative agreements are available to support recipients' eligible and allowable direct costs incurred under an approved work plan plus allowable indirect costs, in accordance with established EPA policies and regulations. Funds awarded under Section 311(b)(3) of CERCLA must be used for projects relating to innovative or alternative treatment technologies that may be utilized in response actions to achieve more permanent protection of human health and welfare and the environment. Types of discrete projects may include: land use controls research; health effects in construction workers; studies of above ground storage tank inspection practices; remediation technologies and strategies; and support for State forums to share information on research on hazardous substances waste remediation. Funding awarded for research under CERCLA 311(c) does not include research within the purview of EPA's Office of Research and Development. 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: https://www.epa.gov/geospatial. Performance Reports: Reporting requirements and frequency determined at time of award. 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. 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. 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. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching is mandatory. EPA supports two types of projects under this assistance listing: 1. Alternative or innovative treatment demonstration projects [311(b)(3)]. When making awards under Section 311(b)(3), "Alternative or innovative treatment technology research and demonstration program, Contracts and grants," the Administrator shall, to the maximum extent possible, enter into appropriate cost sharing arrangements. EPA may waive the 311(b)(3) cost sharing requirement in appropriate cases if a justification is provided and accepted. This program has no statutory cost sharing formula, however, there are funding restrictions. For example, the Administrator shall not provide any Federal assistance for any part of a full-scale field demonstration project unless the applicant can demonstrate that it cannot obtain appropriate private financing on reasonable terms and conditions sufficient to carry out the demonstration project. The total Federal funds for any full-scale field demonstration project shall not exceed 50 percent of the total cost of such project estimated at the time of the award. Furthermore, the Administrator shall not expend more than $10,000,000 for assistance under the program in any fiscal year and shall not expend more than $3,000,000 for any single project. 2. Hazardous substance research [311(c)]. Assistance awarded under Section 311(c), "Hazardous substance research" has no cost sharing requirements or funding restrictions.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. EPA generally funds grants and cooperative agreements in a lump sum on a 12-month basis. However, EPA can negotiate the project period with each applicant based on project requirements. Incremental funding may be available. EPA generally limits project periods to 5 years. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: Lump. EPA encourages potential applicants to communicate with the appropriate EPA Regional Office, (https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/regional-and-geographic-offices), and the Headquarters program contacts listed below. Daniel Bomber
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. (Mail Code: 5202T)
Washington, DC 20460 US
Bomber.Daniel@epa.gov
Phone: 360-952-9333 https://www.epa.gov/superfund 68-8145-0-1-304 (Cooperative Agreements (Discretionary Grants)) FY 22$379,293.00; FY 23 est $909,000.00; FY 24 est $980,000.00; FY 21$781,688.00; FY 20$125,016.00; FY 19$345,894.00; FY 18$0.00; FY 17$500,000.00; FY 16 est $200,000.00; - Average 2 awards from $200,000 to $300,000/fiscal year on a multi-year grant. 2 CFR 200 and 1500 (EPA Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards); 40 CFR Part 33 (Participation by Disadvantaged Business Enterprises in United States Environmental Protection Agency Programs); 40 CFR Part 45 (EPA Training Assistance); and FAR Part 31 for "For-Profit Makers. Not applicable.