Geographic Programs - Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council Comprehensive Plan Component

 

The primary objective of this program is to disburse funds to eligible entities according to the funded priorities list approved by the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council. The Council enters into Interagency Agreements with EPA to expend funds to carry out those Comprehensive Plan projects and programs that have been assigned to EPA. Projects funded through this component achieve one or more of the seven objectives listed in the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council Initial Comprehensive Plan: (1) Restore, Enhance and Protect Habitats, (2) Restore, Improve, and Protect Water Resources, (3) Protect and Restore Living Coastal and Marine Resources, (4) Restore and Enhance Natural Processes and Shorelines, (5) Promote Community Resilience, (6) Promote Natural Resource Stewardship and Environmental Education, and (7) Improve Science-Based Decision-Making Processes. Projects funded through this component also achieve one or more of the four EPA Gulf of Mexico Division priorities: 1) Restore, protect and enhance habitat, 2) Improve water quality, 3) Enhance community resilience, and 4) Further environmental education. https://www.restorethegulf.gov/sites/default/files/Final_FPL%203a_Final_Perdido_EC_508_3_2_2020.pdf.

Active 66.130 Environmental Protection Agency B - Project Grants Not applicable. Public Law 112-141 (Restore Act), 33 U.S.C. 1321(t)(2) Funds are available to State and local governments, Tribes, colleges and universities, and other public or nonprofit organizations. 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 Funded Priorities List and Agency policy. State and local governments, interstate agencies, Tribes, colleges and universities, and other public or nonprofit organizations. Credentials or documentation such as letters of support or resumes may be required as a part of the funding opportunity application package instructions. 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 listing when proposed Federal financial assistance involves land use planning or implementation of restoration projects requiring construction 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 in the competitive announcement. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. 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. For competitive awards, deadlines will be specified in the competitive announcement. Approximately 90-180 days following the application deadline as addressed in the competitive funding announcement. 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). None. A standard grant application should be prepared and submitted electronically as a new grant using Grants.gov, which will be reviewed in the same manner as the original application and will compete for available funds. Generally, EPA incrementally funds grants and cooperative agreements. 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. The primary objective of this program is to disburse funds to eligible entities for the purpose of restoring and protecting the natural resources, ecosystems, fisheries, marine and wildlife habitats, beaches, coastal wetlands, and economy of the Gulf Coast region using the best available science. All projects, programs, and activities must be eligible activities pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) of 33 U.S.C. 1321(t)(1)(B) and must be listed on the Council's approved Funded Priorities List (FPL) (https://www.restorethegulf.gov/sites/default/files/Final_FPL%203a_Final_Perdido_EC_508_3_2_2020.pdf) in order to be eligible for funding. The RESTORE Act, at 33 U.S.C. section 1321(t)(2)(E)(i), provides that the RESTORE Council, "acting through" the federal and state Council members, will expend funds to carry out Comprehensive Plan projects and programs; and at (2)(E)(ii)(I) provides that primary authority and responsibility for those programs "shall be assigned" by the RESTORE Council to the state members or federal agencies. The Council enters into Interagency Agreements with EPA to expend funds to carry out those Comprehensive Plan projects and programs that have been assigned to EPA. Awards will be made noncompetitively or competitively based on the authority for the award and EPA procedures. Competitive awards will be made in accordance with EPA policies and procedures for competitive awards. Projects must be listed in the Funded Priorities List Addendum to the Initial Comprehensive Plan in order to be eligible for funding. Use of these funds must be in accordance with projects on the funded priorities list with the US Environmental Protection Agency listed as the Responsible Council Member. 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 shall be determined at the time of grant 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 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200#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. This program has no matching requirements, except when the specific FPL project/program stipulates there is a matching requirement (e.g. – Gulf of Mexico Conservation Enhancement Grants Program). In those instances, the specific FPL project/program and funding opportunity (if applicable) will provide the details of the matching requirements.

This program has MOE requirements, see funding agency for further details. Additional Information: The terms of the assistance shall be determined at the time of award. Assistance agreements are typically three years. The method of fund disbursement will be determined at the time of award. EPA/Gulf of Mexico Division, 2510 14th St., Suite 1212, Gulfport, MS 39501. Attention: Matt Beiser. Telephone: 228-679-5893. FAX: 228-679-5921. E-Mail: beiser.matt@epa.gov Matt Beiser
EPA/Gulf of Mexico Division, 2510 14th Street, Suite 1212
Gulfport, MS 39501 US
beiser.matt@epa.gov
Phone: 228-679-5893
Fax: 228-679-5921 https://restorethegulf.gov/ 68-0108-0-1-304 (Project Grants (Discretionary)) FY 22$1,471,230.00; FY 23 est $80,000.00; FY 24 est $0.00; FY 21$1,998,386.00; FY 20$4,150,000.00; FY 19$0.00; FY 18$4,000,000.00; FY 16$0.00; FY 17 est $2,200,000.00; - Projects funded are consistent with the amounts listed in the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council Funded Priorities List. Please visit: https://www.restorethegulf.gov/sites/default/files/Final_FPL%203a_Final_Perdido_EC_508_3_2_2020.pdf 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). Fiscal Year 2017 FY2017: Projection: Mobile Bay Estuary Program (MBNEP) Planning – RESTORE Project. This activity included engineering and design of a stream restoration plan for restoring Twelve Mile Creek, one of six main tributaries within the Three Mile Creek Watershed and development of an invasive species control program focused on aquatic vegetation in Three Mile Creek.
Fiscal Year 2018 The Tampa Bay Estuary Program (TBEP)-RESTORE Project Planning activity includes environmental compliance attainment, quality assurance, and pre-monitoring activities for seven priority water quality and habitat improvement elements located throughout the Tampa Bay watershed. Seven elements of the Tampa Bay Estuary Program (TBEP) would be implemented throughout the Tampa Bay watershed, expected to collectively result in 16.5 tons of nitrogen reduced per year; more than 250 acres of coastal habitat restored and 200 acres of seagrass created. More than $3.4M from local, state and federal agencies is provided as cash match. Mobile Bay Estuary Program (MBNEP) – RESTORE Project. This activity includes implementation of the stream restoration plan for restoring Twelve Mile Creek and implementation the invasive species control program plan focused on aquatic vegetation in Three Mile Creek. The project will adhere to environmental and other regulatory compliance requirements; quality assurance and post-restoration monitoring. Gulf of Mexico Conservation Enhancement Grant Program (GMCEGP): a funding assistance opportunity to enhance private/public partnerships that support land protection and conservation across the Gulf Coast region. The competitive grant selection process was completed in FY2018 and the funding was issued in FY2019 following completion of RESTORE Council Interagency (IA) Funding process). Gulf of Mexico Estuary Program: This project will develop and stand-up a place-based estuary program encompassing Perdido Bay and Pensacola Bay. The key components of the project include establishing the host organization, host organization hiring key staff, developing Management and Technical committees, determining stressors and then developing and approving a Comprehensive Plan (e.g., CCMP).
Fiscal Year 2023 For examples of the types of projects funded under this assistance listing, please visit the following website: https://restorethegulf.gov/