Environmental Protection Consolidated Grants for the Insular Areas - Program Support

 

The Omnibus Territories Act (OTA) allows the Insular Areas to consolidate their Federal grants. Insular Areas may submit a single application for two or more grant programs and receive a single award in order to reduce administrative and application burdens. Any consolidated grant for any Insular Area shall not be less than the sum of all grants which such area would otherwise be entitled to receive for such year. The funds received under a consolidated grant shall be expended in furtherance of the programs and purposes authorized for any of the grants which are being consolidated, which are authorized under any of the Acts administered by the EPA, and which would be applicable to grants for such programs and purposes in the absence of the consolidation. The Insular Areas shall determine the proportion of the funds granted which shall be allocated to such programs and purposes. Consolidating grants under the OTA does not represent funding in addition to grants provided under individual authorities, but merely represents the amount of consolidation taking place within the Agency's total grant appropriations. Funding Priorities - Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-28: Consolidated grants under the OTA support and is consistent with EPA Strategic Goals to: 1 A Cleaner, Healthier Environment; and 2 More Effective Partnerships. Funding priorities include all activities covered under the grant or cooperative agreement that align with EPAs strategic goals and objectives (FY24-28), including but not limited to: establishing fishable, swimmable waters through surveillance, monitoring, and enforcement of water quality standards and regulations towards the goal of zero beach closure postings; complying with and enforcing safe drinking water regulations towards the goal of having potable water for 100 percent of the population; advancing watershed management as the overarching mission for all environmental protection activities to help improve water quality; establishing and managing special management areas to prevent groundwater contamination; and mitigating or eliminating nonpoint discharges of pollution.

Active 66.600 Environmental Protection Agency A - Formula Grants Fiscal Year 2016 No content available.
Fiscal Year 2017 Part 35 Pesticide Continuing Environmental Program (Enforcement, C&T, or Program Implementation): These grants supported pesticide programs in the US territories. As EPA’s co-regulators, these pesticide programs worked extensively with pesticide applicators, growers, commodity groups, as well as other government agencies to promote the proper use of pesticides and address pesticide issues. These programs conducted extensive technical assistance for all stakeholders as well as the general public, and provided outreach and education on EPA’s national pesticide priorities such as worker protection, pollinator protection and emerging public health pesticide issues.
Fiscal Year 2018 For all three (3) territories EPA recruited and stationed on IPA US Public Health Service Officers/Engineers to help build capacity for the environmental and utility agencies, serving as Chief Engineers and Environmental Managers. At Guam EPA continued to upgrade their Environmental Data Base Network for data management for all the categorical programs in the consolidated grant.
Fiscal Year 2019 For CNMI, a Nonpoint Source Management Project was nationally recognized by EPA, and for American Samoa EPA they completed a "Ridges to Reef" (wetland and nonpoint source) project that had regional recognition. In the CNMI, they completed a "Smart, Safe, and Resilient Growth Plan" just prior to Super Typhoon Yutu that was recognized by FEMA as the most valuable document for FEMA Recovery requirements ever produced.
Fiscal Year 2021 The territories of Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and American Samoa successfully updated their new annual work plans and budgets in a timely fashion, and received EPA approval before the start of the fiscal year. For information on accomplishments, please visit: https://www.epa.gov/tmdl/monitoring-assessment-and-tmdls-pacific-islands .
Fiscal Year 2022 In Guam, the Lagoon Abandoned Tire Reef Removal Project was successfully completed and included coral transplanting. Guam EPA has 43 approved Total Maximum Daily Loads that continued to be successfully implemented even with the constraints caused by COVID-19. American Samoa (AS)-EPA made substantial progress in establishing a small-scale e-Waste program that includes outreach and e-Waste collection and shipping off-island. In FY22, AS-EPA and Region 9 concurred that the e-Waste activities could be incorporated into future RCRA C component work plans. Omnibus Territories Act, 48 U.S.C. 1469a
National Environmental Policy Act, Section 102(2)(I), 42 U.S.C. 4332
Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. 7403(b) and 7405, 7434, 7437, 7438
Pollution Prevention Act, 42 U.S.C. 13104
Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 1254(b)(3), 1256, 1259, 1276, 1281(g), 1284, 1285(g)&(i), 1301, 1329(h), 1346, 1384 (Statutory Note)
Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C. 2609, 2627(a), 2666, 2684(g)
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, 7 U.S.C. 136r(a), 136u(a)(1) & (a)(2)
Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. 300j-1, j-2, j-12(j), j-19 a & b
Solid Waste Disposal Act, 42 U.S.C. 6908(a), 6916(f)(2), 6931(a)&(c), 6981(a), 6991b, 6991j
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), 42 U.S.C. 9604(d) & (k), 9628(a), 9660
Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act, 33 U.S.C. 1443
Energy Policy Act of 2005, Public Law 109-58
Indoor Radon Abatement Act, 15 U.S.C. 2666
Diesel Emissions Reduction Act, 42 U.S.C. 16132 and 16133
Further Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Requirements Act, 2018, Public Law 115-123
Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act, 2019,, Public Law 116-20
Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act, Public Law 114-322
America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018, Public Law 115-270
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Public Law 117-58
Inflation Reduction Act, Public Law 117-58
EPA's Annual Appropriations Act The Territories of Guam, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands are eligible to receive and administer funds for more than one environmental program. Not applicable. Not applicable. Preapplication coordination is required. Pre-application communications should be directed to the appropriate EPA Regional office. The standard application as required by 2 CFR Parts 200 and 1500 must be used for this program. An applicant should consult the Regional office or official designated as the single point of contact for their Insular Area for more information on the process the Insular Area needs to follow when applying for assistance. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. U.S. Insular Area agencies will be notified to submit grant application packages identifying required forms including a work plan. Applicants, except in limited circumstances approved by the Agency, must submit all initial applications for funding through Grants.gov. U.S. Insular Area agencies will be notified of Federal assistance awards through the appropriate EPA Regional Office. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines From 90 to 120 days. Approximately 90 days. Disputes will be resolved under 2 CFR Part 1500 Subpart E, as applicable. Consolidated grants to Guam, American Samoa and CNMI are 5-year grants or cooperative agreements. Applications may be approved if: 1) funds are available; 2) if the application satisfies the requirements of 2 CFR Parts 200 and 40 CFR Part 35 Subparts A, I, O, and P and applicable statutes; and 3) if the proposed work program is feasible and compatible with the program priorities in EPA annual guidance. Grants and cooperative agreements are awarded to Insular Area agencies under the above referenced authorities to provide technical and managerial support in relation to continuing environmental program grants that serve to protect the public health and welfare of the Insular Areas. Assistance agreement awards under this program may involve or relate to geospatial information. Geospatial information is information that identifies the geographic location and characteristics of natural or constructed features or boundaries on the earth, or applications, tools, and hardware associated with the generation, maintenance, or distribution of such information. This information may be derived from, among other things, GPS, remote sensing, mapping, charting, and surveying technologies, or statistical data. Further information regarding geospatial information may be obtained by viewing the following website: Geospatial Resources at EPA (https://www.epa.gov/geospatial). Performance Reports: Performance reporting requirements will be outlined in the terms and conditions of the agreement. 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 waives any requirement for local matching funds under $200,000 (including in-kind contributions). Match requirements of $200,000 or more may be waived by the Agency pursuant to the Omnibus Territories Act.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. Assistance is usually awarded for a 1-year or longer period. Assistance is awarded as fiscal year program funds become available. Typically 3-5 awards are made per year. EPA Region 9 Contact (Guam): Alba Espitia, Grants Management Specialist, Grants Management Office (MSD), U.S. EPA Region 9 75 Hawthorne St., San Francisco, CA 94105; Ph: 415-972-3665; E-mail: espitia.alba@epa.gov; EPA Region 9 Contact (American Samoa and CNMI): Nelly Sun, Grants Management Specialist, Grants Management Office (MSD), U.S. EPA Region 9, 75 Hawthorne St, San Francisco, CA 94105; Ph: 415-947-4237; Email: sun.nelly@epa.gov. EPA Region 2 Contact: Rudnell O'Neal, Manager, Grants and Audit Branch, U.S. EPA Region 2, 290 Broadway, NY 10007; Ph: 212-637-3427; Email: oneal.rudnell@epa.gov. Alba Espitia, Grants Management Specialist (Contact: Guam)
EPA Region 9, 75 Hawthorne Street (MSD)
San Francisco, CA 94105 USA
espitia.alba@epa.gov
Phone: 415-972-3665

Nelly Sun, Grants Management Specialist (Contact: American Samoa and CNMI)
EPA Region 9, 75 Hawthorne Street (MSD)
San Francisco, CA 94105 USA
sun.nelly@epa.gov
Phone: 415-947-4237 https://www.epa.gov/pi 68-8153-0-1-304 (Formula Grants (Cooperative Agreements)) FY 22$8,598,731.00; FY 23 est $72,518,366.00; FY 24 est $67,518,366.00; FY 21$7,900,000.00; FY 20$7,300,000.00; FY 19$7,700,000.00; FY 18$7,800,000.00; FY 17$7,800,000.00; FY 16 est $26,000,000.00; - Dollar amount represents combined totals for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Guam, American Samoa, and U.S. Virgin Islands. In general, financial assistance has increased annually depending on program funding that is consolidated into the grant. Financial assistance has generally ranged from $2,000,000 to $3,500,000/territory/fiscal year for environmental program assistance. The total estimated average is $8,000,000/fiscal year. For FY11 and beyond, territorial Drinking Water and Clean Water infrastructure grant funds are being consolidated into grants for the territories of Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa. Beginning in FY23, the U.S. Virgin Islands will consolidate Drinking Water and Clean Water infrastructure grant funds under the OTA. Beginning with the new 5-year FY24-28 consolidated grant, for each FY each territory will be receiving an additional $9,000,000 each FY for Emerging Contaminants for FY 23 -FY27. 2 CFR Parts 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 35 Subpart A (Environmental Program Grants); 40 CFR Subpart I (Grants for Construction of Treatment Works); 40 CFR Subpart O (Cooperative Agreements and Superfund State Contracts for Superfund Response Actions); 40 CFR Subpart P (Financial Assistance for the National Estuary Program). Fiscal Year 2016 No content available.
Fiscal Year 2018 Major projects: For Guam the development of a comprehensive GIS database system for Guam EPA for Water, Air , Land Territorial Environmental Reporting System, called WALTERS. In the CNMI we will have the completion of a comprehensive Strategic Smart Growth Planning document that reviews all existing regulations for each CNMI agency for planning regarding sustainability and hazardous waste management during storm events and for future sea level rise. In American Samoa a Wetland Management and Protection project that will secure and protect the remaining wetlands in American Samoa.
Fiscal Year 2019 In Guam the Agat WWTF was completed, a state of the art $70 million project that provides secondary wastewater treatment. In Saipan (CNMI) in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yutu, Congress has authorized $56 million for construction of solid waste disposal facilities.
Fiscal Year 2023 EPA Pacific Southwest (Region 9) works with the Pacific Island territories through its Pacific Islands Office, which provides technical and funding assistance to territorial environmental protection programs. The Pacific territories have completed Clean Water Act Section 305(b) and Section 303(d) reports for several reporting cycles; each Territory is now beginning to develop Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL)s under the Clean Water Act. Information on funded projects for American Samoa (AS), the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), and Guam can be found at: https://www.epa.gov/tmdl/monitoring-assessment-and-tmdls-pacific-islands .