International Compliance and Enforcement Projects

 

The primary purpose of this program is to support projects that protect human health and the environment while advancing U.S. national interests through international environmental collaboration on environmental compliance and enforcement. International capacity building plays a key role in protecting human health, communities and the environment by providing technical cooperation to help countries improve environmental compliance and enforcement. The Office of Environmental Enforcement and Compliance (OECA) will work to transfer appropriate compliance and enforcement tools and techniques to key countries and regions as we collaborate with partners to improve compliance with domestic environmental laws in those countries. In addition, we will continue efforts to strengthen domestic, regional, and global networks on criminal and civil/administrative enforcement, build capacity in developing countries to monitor and enforce compliance with environmental laws, and share information with countries on targeting and advanced monitoring tools, environmental justice and enforcement, and addressing climate change. OECA plays a key role in ensuring trade-related activities support environmental protection, particularly related to effective enforcement of environmental laws. Initiatives relating to environmental trade and investment are carried out bilaterally, multilaterally or in connection with multilateral institutions such as the International Network for Environmental Compliance and Enforcement (INECE) and associated regional networks, including INTERPOL's Pollution Crimes Working Group. OECA will also provide targeted capacity building support under the environmental cooperation agreements developed parallel to U.S. free trade agreements.

Active 66.313 Environmental Protection Agency B - Project Grants Fiscal Year 2016 In FY 2016, the program supported a reorganization and update of the www.inece.org website, strengthening of partnerships in China and other regions, training for customs and port officials in Africa and Asia, and development of training materials on enforcement of laws to reduce climate change. In FY 2016, the program supported a reorganization and update of the www.inece.org website, strengthening of partnerships in China and other regions, training for customs and port officials in Africa and Asia, and development of training materials on enforcement of laws to reduce climate change.
Fiscal Year 2017 In FY 2017, the program continued to support the www.inece.org website and hosted a series of webinars on enforcement programmatic performance measures that lead to the publication of a white paper on best practices.
Fiscal Year 2018 EPA expects to continued funding for ongoing activities that advance environmental compliance worldwide.
Fiscal Year 2021 In FY 2021, the program continued to support the International Network for Environmental Compliance and Enforcement (INECE) website (https://www.inece.org/), and hosted a series of webinars on enforcement programmatic measures.
Fiscal Year 2023 OECA issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) on November 29, 2022, which closed on January 28, 2023. Two applications were received in response to the NOFO. For other accomplishments associated with this Assistance Listing, please visit: https://www.epa.gov/enforcement and https://inece.org/. Clean Air Act, Section 103
Clean Water Act, Section 104
Safe Drinking Water Act, Section 1442(a) & 1442(c)
Solid Waste Disposal Act, Section 8001
Toxic Substances Control Act, Section 10(a) & PL 106-74
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), Section 20(a) & PL 106-74
Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act, Section 203
National Environmental Policy Act, Section 102(2)(I) Assistance under this program is generally available to States and local governments, territories and possessions, foreign governments, international organizations, 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, which submit applications proposing projects with significant technical merit and relevance to EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance's mission. 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. States and local governments, territories and possessions, foreign governments, international organizations, 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. Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) may require applicants to submit documentation of non-profit status. OECA may request applicants to demonstrate they have appropriate background, academic training, experience in the field, and necessary equipment to carry out projects. OECA may also ask applicants or principal investigators to provide curriculum vitae and relevant publications. Preapplication coordination is required. 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 initial applications for funding through Grants.gov. Under EPA Order No. 5700.5A1, Policy for Competition in Assistance Agreements, assistance awards to Foreign Governments and to United Nations agencies and similar International Organizations, such as the Organization of American States and Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), may be exempted from competition at the discretion of OECA. For competitive awards, Requests for Applications (RFA) will specify application procedures. 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 non-competitive awards made under this assistance listing, 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 Request for Applications. Approximately 180 days after the application submission due date. 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). To view the procedures, please visit the following website: 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. Not applicable. The evaluation and selection criteria for competitive awards under this assistance listing will be described in the competitive announcement. Grants and cooperative agreements are available to support recipients' allowable direct cost expenditures associated with the approved project plus allocable portions of allowable indirect costs of the institution, in accordance with established EPA policies and regulations. Funding awarded for international research under these projects does not include research within the purview of EPA's Office of Research and Development. 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. 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. EPA normally funds grants and cooperative agreements on a 12-month basis. However, EPA can negotiate the project period with each applicant based on project requirements. EPA limits project periods to 5 years. Payment method will be determined at the time of award. None/Not specified. Matthew Cooke
Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N. W. (Mail Code: 7601M)
Washington, DC 20460 US
Cooke.Matthew@epa.gov
Phone: 202-564-2472 https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/ 68-0108-0-1-304 (Project Grants (Discretionary)) FY 22$0.00; FY 23 est $45,000.00; FY 24 est $45,000.00; FY 21$25,000.00; FY 20$0.00; FY 19$0.00; FY 18$130,944.00; FY 16$170,000.00; FY 17 est $59,000.00; - Annual amounts fluctuate greatly because OECA usually issues a single large grant for multiple years with interim awards for other projects at much lower levels. In FY 2021 OECA funded an award in the amount of $25,000. There was no funding in FY 2022. In FY 2023, EPA anticipates awarding one cooperative agreement that will be incrementally funded between $25,000 to $50,000 over a five-year period. 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 For FY 2016, funding has supported a training course in China on air monitoring technology, training for customs and port officials on movements of environmentally controlled products and wastes, and updates to the www.inece.org website. For FY 2016, funding has supported a training course in China on air monitoring technology, training for customs and port officials on movements of environmentally controlled products and wastes, and updates to the www.inece.org website.
Fiscal Year 2017 In FY 2017, the project supported a series of webinars on enforcement programmatic measures which led to a white paper with recommendations based on best international practices.
Fiscal Year 2018 NA
Fiscal Year 2023 There was no funding in FY 2022. The types of activities previously funded include, but are not limited to: designing, producing, collecting and/or distributing promotional materials, presentations, academic papers, proceedings, newsletters, press releases, and other material to help promote the INECE goals; capacity building supported through regular engagement of the regional networks and participants through meetings, information exchanges, access to resources (website, webinars, online training, etc.); updating and maintaining the website and associated social media pages; and organizing regular communications among regional and topical networks and exchange of work-programs. For examples of the types of projects funded, and to learn more about the activities associated with this assistance listing, please visit the following website: https://www.epa.gov/enforcement and https://inece.org/.