Voluntary School and Child Care Lead Testing and Reduction Grant Program (SDWA 1464(d))

 

Funding is awarded to states, territories, and tribes to assist local educational agencies in voluntary testing and remediation of lead in drinking water at schools and child care facilities. The principal objective of the assistance to be awarded under this program is to test and remediate lead in drinking water at schools and child care facilities, using EPAs 3Ts for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water guidance or the at least equivalent applicable state regulations or guidance regarding reducing lead in drinking water in schools and child care facilities (see: https://www.epa.gov/dwreginfo/3ts-reducing-lead-drinking-water-schools-and-child-care-facilities). EPA's 3Ts, Training, Testing, and Taking Action, provide tools for schools, child care facilities, states, and water systems to implement voluntary lead testing and remediation programs in drinking water. Funding supports: (1) reducing childrens exposure to lead in drinking water; (2) helping states and territories target funding toward schools unable to pay for testing; (3) using the 3Ts model, or at least equivalent model, to establish best practices for lead in drinking water prevention programs; (4) fostering sustainable partnerships at the state and local level to allow for more efficient use of existing resources and exchange of information among experts in various educational and health sectors; and (5) enhancing community, parent, and teacher cooperation and trust. Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2023: The priority will be to continue awarding funds to reduce lead in drinking water in schools and child care facilities through planning, public education, testing and outreach. This voluntary effort focuses on lead reduction in drinking water at schools and child care programs that are in disadvantaged and low-income areas. The grant program requires EPAs 3Ts for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water in Schools guidance to develop and implement programs in schools and child care facilities, and to identify and correct sources of lead in drinking water. Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2024: The priority will be to award funds to test and remediate lead in drinking water in schools and child care facilities through planning, public education, testing and outreach, along with taking actions to remediate lead from the facilities' infrastructure. This voluntary effort focuses on lead reduction and decreasing the number of lead sources in drinking water at schools and child care programs that are in disadvantaged and low-income areas. The grant program requires EPAs 3Ts for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water in Schools guidance to develop and implement programs in schools and child care facilities, and to identify and remediate the sources of lead in drinking water.

Active 66.444 Environmental Protection Agency A - Formula Grants Fiscal Year 2018 In FY 18 grant funding was not awarded.
Fiscal Year 2019 In FY19 funding supported projects that encouraged the voluntary testing for lead in drinking water primarily serving children in schools and child care facilities. Funding supported efforts to identify best practices for developing lead testing in schools and child care facilities nationally to reduce the lead exposure in drinking water for this vulnerable population. Funding supported the effort to meet the priority of reducing lead in drinking water as part of their overall plans for maintaining healthy learning environments for vulnerable populations such as children in schools and child care facilities.
Fiscal Year 2020 In FY2020, the funding supported the development and implementation of programs to test for lead in drinking water in schools and child care facilities. Funding assisted with continued efforts to identify best practices for developing lead testing in schools and child care facilities across the country; develop and deliver results to affected communities through outreach and communication; and increase understanding of multiple aspects of improving public water system infrastructure and respective outlets to reduce lead exposure in drinking water for the purpose of increasing public health. The funding prioritizes continued efforts to reduce lead in drinking water in an effort to maintain healthy learning environments for vulnerable populations such as children in schools and child care facilities.
Fiscal Year 2022 In FY2022, funding supported the development and implementation of programs to test for lead in drinking water in schools and child care facilities. Funding supported continued efforts to identify best practices for developing lead testing and remediation efforts in schools and child care facilities across the country; develop and deliver results to affected communities through outreach and communication; and increase understanding of multiple aspects of improving public water system infrastructure and respective outlets to reduce lead exposure in drinking water for the purpose of increasing public health. The funding supported the priority of reducing lead in drinking water in an effort to maintain healthy learning environments for vulnerable populations such as children in schools and child care facilities.
Fiscal Year 2023 In FY2023, funding will continue to support the development and implementation of programs to test for lead in drinking water in schools and child care facilities. Funding will support continued efforts to identify best practices for developing lead testing and remediation efforts in schools and child care facilities across the country; develop and deliver results to affected communities through outreach and communication; and increase understanding of multiple aspects of improving public water system infrastructure and respective outlets to reduce lead exposure in drinking water for the purpose of increasing public health. The funding will support the priority of reducing lead in drinking water in an effort to maintain healthy learning environments for vulnerable populations such as children in schools and child care facilities.
Fiscal Year 2024 In FY2024, funding will support the development and implementation of programs to test and remediate lead in drinking water in schools and child care facilities. Funding will support continued efforts to identify best practices for lead testing and remediation efforts in schools and child care facilities across the country; develop and deliver results to affected communities through outreach and communication; perform lead remediation efforts to reduce lead sources at the infrastructure of school and child care facilities; and increase understanding of multiple aspects of improving public water system infrastructure and respective outlets to remediate lead exposure in drinking water for the purpose of increasing public health. The funding will support the priority of reducing lead in drinking water with an effort to maintain healthy learning environments for vulnerable populations at children in school and child care facilities. Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), Section 1464(d), as amended by section 2107 of the 2016 Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act, Public Law No. 114-322, by section 2006 of the 2018 America's Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA), Public Law No. 115-270, and by section 50110 of 2021 Infrastructure Investment Job Act (IIJA). Under the authority provided in the SDWA 1464(d), the Program funds "states" as defined by the Safe Drinking Water Act. This includes the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands. Consistent with this definition, within this document, the term "state" will be used to describe the 50 states and the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the US Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. A separate grant information document will be provided for tribal funding and located at www.epa.gov/safewater/grants. Not applicable. Not applicable. 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. 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). 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. Applications are reviewed by the appropriate EPA Regional Office to determine the overall adequacy of the application to meet the statutory objectives. The awards are also subject to the requirements under 2 CFR part 200 (OMB Uniform Grant Guidance) and 2 CFR part 1500 (EPA Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards) as they apply to the grant funding. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines From 60 to 90 days. Disputes will be resolved under 2 CFR 1500 Subpart E, as applicable. Not applicable. Not applicable. The overall grant funding objective is towards its use for the administration of a testing program for lead in drinking water using the Environmental Protection Agency’s 3Ts for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water in Schools guidance or applicable state regulations or guidance. Funding will be used for the administration and implementation of the testing program including: (a) training, monitoring, and assessment of the testing program; and (b) ensuring local educational agencies make available, if applicable, in the administration offices and, to the extent practicable, on the internet website of the local educational agency for inspection by the public, a copy of the results of any lead contamination in school and child care facility drinking water; and notify parent, teacher, and employee organizations of the availability of the results. The funding is also eligible to provide assistance through remediation and replacement actions in the schools/child care facilities that have tested for lead in drinking water. The goal of this program is to reduce the overall impact of lead exposure on the vulnerable population of children under the age of six through activities that meaningfully reduce lead in drinking water at schools and/or child care facilities that primarily serve the population just described. Grants and cooperative agreements are available to support recipients' allowable direct costs incident to approved cooperative agreements 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. 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: Reporting requirements and frequency shall be determined at the 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 requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. The terms of the assistance agreement shall be determined at the time of award. The method of fund disbursement will be determined at the time of award. None/Not specified. Ying Tan, Project Contact
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. (Mail Code: 4606M )
Washington, DC 20460 USA
tan.ying@epa.gov
Phone: 202-564-2392

Treda Grayson
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. (Mail Code: 4606M)
Washington, DC 20460 USA
grayson.treda@epa.gov
Phone: 202-566-0916 https://www.epa.gov/dwcapacity/wiin-grant-voluntary-school-and-child-care-lead-testing-and-reduction-grant-program 68-0103-0-1-304 (Formula Grants) FY 22$27,500,000.00; FY 23 est $30,500,000.00; FY 24 est $36,500,000.00; FY 21$19,429,600.00; FY 20$52,196,500.00; FY 19$43,729,000.00; FY 18$0.00; - States/Territories Range: $36,000 to $2,258,000/fiscal year. Average/fiscal year: $450,000 Assistance agreement awards are subject to the grant regulations 2 CFR 200 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). Additional implementation documentation can be found at https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2020-03/documents/fy2020_implementation_document_for_wiin_2107_testing_in_schools_updated_3232020.pdf Fiscal Year 2019 Examples of projects funded included: 1. Providing training on conducting testing for lead in drinking water in schools and child care facilities; 2. Facilitating information on testing results to the states and public; 3. Analyzing drinking water samples; 4. Developing resources and tools to communicate the results of the testing to the community at large; and 5. Developing and implementing state monitoring and maintenance plans that protect children from future lead exposure.
Fiscal Year 2022 Funding continued to support projects and expand implementation of state programs that: 1. provide training on conducting testing for lead in drinking water in schools and child care facilities; 2. provide information on testing results to the states and public; 3. analyze drinking water samples; 4. develop resources and tools to communicate the results of the testing to the community at large; and 5. develop and implement state monitoring and maintenance plans that protect children from future lead exposure.
Fiscal Year 2023 The funding will continue to support projects and expand implementation of state programs that: 1. provide training on conducting testing and remediation of lead in drinking water in schools and child care facilities; 2. provide information on testing results to the states and public; 3. analyze drinking water samples for lead; 4. develop resources and tools to communicate the results of the testing to the community at large; and 5. develop and implement state plans for lead testing, remediation, and maintenance plans that protect children from future lead exposure