Geographic Programs – Gulf of Mexico Program

 

The objectives of the Gulf of Mexico Program, housed within the Gulf of Mexico Division (GMD) are (1) To assist States, Indian Tribes, interstate agencies, and other public or nonprofit organizations in developing and demonstrating innovative approaches relating to the causes, effects, extent, prevention, reduction, and elimination of water pollution; and (2) To expand and strengthen cooperative efforts to restore and protect the health and productivity of the Gulf of Mexico through research, studies, experiments, and training, in ways consistent with the economic well-being of the region. In fiscal years 22-26, through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) funding, the GMD will also prioritize projects focused on water quality, ecosystem and wetland restoration, stormwater treatment and control, nature-based infrastructure, community resilience, resilient shorelines, and environmental education to lessen vulnerability to flooding and the effects of the changing climate in low-income and underserved communities. Fiscal Years 2023 and 2024 Funding Priorities: Projects that will deliver significant results to achieve the environmental outcomes of improved health of the Gulf of Mexico by restoring, protecting and enhancing habitat, improving water quality, enhancing community resilience, and furthering environmental education. Projects that will assist communities adversely and disproportionately affected by environmental and human health harms or risks, including affected underserved communities. Through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) funding, the Gulf of Mexico Division will also prioritize projects focused on water quality, ecosystem and wetland restoration, stormwater treatment and control, nature-based infrastructure, community resilience, resilient shorelines, and environmental education to lessen vulnerability to flooding and the effects of the changing climate in low-income and underserved communities.

Active 66.475 Environmental Protection Agency B - Project Grants Fiscal Year 2016 The program initiated a competition in the last quarter of FY2015. Ninety-one proposals were received and in FY2016, nine of the proposals were selected for funding for a total of $2.5 million. In FY 2016, the program continued to support projects which improved water quality, restored, enhanced, and protected habitat, helped coastal communities understand their resilience to climate change and significantly advance environmental education for all. The program initiated a competition in the last quarter of FY2015. Ninety-one proposals were received and in FY2016, nine of the proposals were selected for funding for a total of $2.5 million. In FY 2016, the program continued to support projects which improved water quality, restored, enhanced, and protected habitat, helped coastal communities understand their resilience to climate change and significantly advance environmental education for all.
Fiscal Year 2017 The program initiated two competitions in FY 2017. 77 proposals were received, of which 17 were selected for funding. The program continues to support projects which improve water quality; restore, enhance, and protect habitat; help coastal communities understand their resilience to climate change; and advance environmental education.
Fiscal Year 2018 The program initiated two competitions in FY 2018. EPA awarded twenty cooperative agreements from these announcements, with FY2018 funding. The program continues to support projects which improve water quality; restore, enhance, and protect habitat; strengthen community resilience; and advance environmental education.
Fiscal Year 2019 EPA utilized FY19 funding to make twelve additional awards from the FY2018 competitions. In September 2019, the following Request for Applications was issued, the "Gulf of Mexico Program Reduction and Prevention of Trash in the Five Coastal States (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida) of the Gulf of Mexico Watershed". 50 applications were received.
Fiscal Year 2023 An estimated amount of $20,000,000 will be used to fund assistance agreements focusing on environmental justice and water quality improvement. A competitive process will be used to select applicants for funding. Clean Water Act, Section 104(b)(3), 33 U.S.C. 1254(b)(3) Funds are available to State and local governments, interstate agencies, 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 Agency's Assistance Agreement Competition 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 assistance listing 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 in the competitive announcement. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Applicants should follow the application submission instructions provided in the competitive announcement. Applicants, except in limited circumstances approved by the Agency, must submit all initial 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 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. Assistance will be targeted to States, Tribes, interstate agencies, and other public or nonprofit organizations that commit to specific activities. The Gulf of Mexico Program seeks to fund projects that address water quality improvement; coastal habitat and ecosystems enhancement, restoration and/or protection; environmental education and outreach; and community resilience in the Gulf of Mexico region and its watersheds. Eligible activities should be of a relatively short time frame (6 months to 3 years) and all projects should achieve and demonstrate results. Assistance agreements are available to support recipients' allowable direct costs incident to approved surveys, studies, investigations, research, and demonstrations plus allowable indirect costs, in accordance with established EPA policies and regulations. 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: Performance monitoring is required under this program. 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 requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. 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. Contact the EPA Region 4 Office listed in Regional Offices for information on the grants administration process. EPA/Gulf of Mexico Division, 2510 14th St., Suite 1212, Gulfport, MS 39501 Attention: Calista Mills. Telephone: 228-679-5879. FAX: 228-679-5921. E-Mail: mills.calista@epa.gov. Calista Mills
EPA/Gulf of Mexico Division, 2510 14th Street., Suite 1212
Gulfport, MS 39501 US
mills.calista@epa.gov
Phone: 228-679-5879
Fax: 228-679-5921

Matt Beiser
EPA/Gulf of Mexico Division, 2510 14th Street, Suite 1212
Gulfport, MS 39501 USA
beiser.matt@epa.gov
Phone: 228-679-5893
Fax: 228-679-5921 https://www.epa.gov/gulfofmexico 68-0108-0-1-304 (Project Grants (Discretionary)) FY 22$17,359,022.00; FY 23 est $20,641,384.00; FY 24 est $20,000,000.00; FY 21$15,383,072.00; FY 20$13,643,714.00; FY 19$11,556,691.00; FY 18$9,840,310.00; FY 17$6,401,500.00; FY 16$459,000.00; - (Project Grants (Discretionary)) FY 22$0.00; FY 23 est $0.00; FY 24 est $30,000,000.00; FY 21$0.00; - (IIJA Appropriation) FY19 $20,000 - $1,150,000 Average: $510,000; FY20 $18,000 - $1,000,000 Average: $568,488; FY21 $25,000 - $3,000,000 Average = $530,450; FY22 $87,640 - $3,000,000 Average: $618,979; FY23 $687,094 - $3,000,000 Average: $1,580,128 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 2016 Nine projects were selected for funding in FY 16. In FY 16, the program continues to support projects which improve water quality, restore habitat, enhance and protect habitat, help coastal communities understand their resilience to climate change, and significantly advance environmental education Nine projects were selected for funding in FY 16. In FY 16, the program continues to support projects which improve water quality, restore habitat, enhance and protect habitat, help coastal communities understand their resilience to climate change, and significantly advance environmental education.
Fiscal Year 2017 For examples of funded projects funded in FY 2017, please visit: https://www.epa.gov/gulfofmexico
Fiscal Year 2018 Funded Projects include: Development and implementation of an educational tool to demonstrate the benefits of natural and living shorelines, while demonstrating the adverse effects of hardened shorelines (Mississippi and Alabama); Demonstration of a range of coastal erosion control options in Florida; Identification and testing of rural wastewater management options in Alabama; Demonstration and assessment of a decision support tool through four regional-level pilot projects in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas; Test innovative sampling technologies, demonstrate and implement successful practices and extend lessons learned to farmers to make management improvements in their watersheds in MS and other Gulf watershed states;
Fiscal Year 2020 Several projects were funded through our Trash-Free Waters funding opportunity. These projects will improve water quality through: 1) litter cleanup and prevention programs 2) reduction of waste by prevention, including improvement of community resilience through education. 3) removal of trash from urban drainage systems and providing community education on trash prevention affecting three Gulf of Mexico watersheds (Mississippi River/Lake Pontchartrain Basin, Trinity River and Galveston Bay, and Mobile Bay) Projects were also funded under our Farmer to Farmer funding opportunity. The projects funded develop innovative practices within farming communities, measure the results of those practices, and identify how the practices will be incorporated into farming operations.
Fiscal Year 2023 Eleven projects focused on reducing nutrient pollution to improve water quality will include demonstrations of innovative technologies and/or conservation projects that have the potential to reduce excess nutrient loads.