Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States

 

Treasury administers the Direct Component and Centers of Excellence Research Grants Programs. The primary objective of the Direct Component is to provide funds to eligible entities for the ecological and economic restoration of the Gulf Coast Region. For the Centers of Excellence Research Grants Program, the primary objective is for the establishment of Centers of Excellence that focus on science, technology, and monitoring in one or more of the five eligible disciplines in the Gulf Coast States.

Active 21.015 Departmental Offices, Department of The Treasury A - Formula Grants Fiscal Year 2023 Using Direct Component funds, Pinellas County, FL, developed a public-facing Geographic Information System (GIS) decision support tool to present the impact of various future sea level rise (SLR) scenarios on critical infrastructure. Econometric models were created to estimate the cost benefits of different scenario-based outcomes and available options. The results of this assessment will facilitate effective decision-making, guide sustainable policies, and help prioritize efforts to ensure the long-term viability of the County's coastal economy, infrastructure, and quality of life. Using Centers of Excellence Research Grants fund, the Louisiana-based Water Institute of the Gulf researched residents’ and public officials’ attitudes towards possible future relocation initiatives in the face of sea level rise, coastal erosion, and subsidence, in order to ensure an equity lens is used when developing effective programs that help people and communities on the frontline of environmental change move away from high-risk areas if and when they decide to move. Resident interviews illustrated how households are adapting, including how they make decisions about whether to stay or relocate, and the impediments to the widespread use of buyout and relocation programs. Interviews with local officials and community leaders focused on strategies to address coastal vulnerability as well as priority planning and policy interventions. Additionally, researchers analyzed buyout and relocation programs in the U.S. to identify useful lessons, promising practices, and pitfalls to avoid during the relocation process. The study’s findings will be used to develop recommendations to inform adaptation policy that moves beyond merely acquiring at-risk properties and leads to equitable outcomes for communities and residents on the front lines of the climate crisis. The report is available here: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/350833436_Beyond_Buyouts_Adaptive_Migration_and_the_Need_for_Equitable_Relocation_Strategies_Beyond_Buyouts_Adaptive_Migration_and_the_Need_for_Equitable_Relocation_Strategies Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2012, Pub. L. No. 112-141, 126 Stat. 588 (2012), and codified at 33 U.S.C 1321(t)(1) and implemented by Treasury’s Final Rule at 31 CFR Part 34. The RESTORE Act identifies the entities that are eligible to apply for grants under the Direct Component program. Treasury's implementing regulations at 31 CFR 34.302 list the eligible states, counties, and parishes under the Direct Component as follows: in Alabama, the Alabama Gulf Coast Recovery Council or such administrative agent as it may designate; in Florida, the Florida counties of Bay, Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, Dixie, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Hernando , Hillsborough, Jefferson, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Monroe, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Pasco, Pinellas, Sarasota, Taylor, Wakulla, and Walton; in Louisiana, the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Board of Louisiana through the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority of Louisiana; in Louisiana, the Louisiana parishes of Ascension, Assumption, Calcasieu, Cameron, Iberia, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, and Vermilion; In Mississippi, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality; and In Texas, the Office of the Governor or an appointee of the Office of the Governor. The RESTORE Act and Treasury's implementing regulations at 31 CFR 34.702 also identifies the entities that are eligible to apply for grants under the Centers of Excellence Research Grants Program. The Centers of Excellence Research Grants Program eligible entities are as follows: in Alabama, the Alabama Gulf Coast Recovery Council or such administrative agent as it may designate; in Florida, the Florida Institute of Oceanography; in Louisiana, the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Board of Louisiana through the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority of Louisiana; in Mississippi, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality; and in Texas, the Office of the Governor or an appointee of the Office of the Governor. See Applicant Eligibility above. For the Direct Component Grant Program, the eligible entity must first have a multiyear implementation plan accepted by the U.S. Department of Treasury. Following acceptance of the plan, the eligible entity may submit a grant application for projects identified in the plan. A multiyear implementation plan is not required from eligible entities under the Centers of Excellence Research Grants Program. The required documentation for both Direct Component funds and Centers of Excellence Research Grants Program funds is set forth in their respective Funding Opportunity Announcements. 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to these programs. Preapplication coordination is not applicable. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. All applications under the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) must be completed and submitted using the RESTORE Act application packages provided by the RESTORE Grants Management System (RGMS) portal. Only eligible entities under the Direct Component and the Centers of Excellence Research Grants Program may receive access to RGMS. An application must be submitted by the eligible entity's Authorized Senior Official, or an individual designated as an Authorized Senior Official, who can legally bind the organization or entity, and who has oversight for the administration and use of the funds in question, and this individual must have an Authorizing Official user role in the RGMS. Application packages will include the required standard forms and specific documentation required by Treasury. All standard forms are available electronically in the RGMS. Applicants must complete all forms in the RGMS application package and the Applicant's Authorizing Official must sign the certification electronically. Treasury will perform an initial eligibility review of applications as they are submitted. Treasury also will assess each application for completeness and compliance with the requirements of the applicable FOA, RESTORE Act, Treasury's implementing regulations, 31 CFR Part 34, other applicable federal statutes, regulations, and grant policies. If the application is for a project designed to restore or protect natural resources, Treasury will assess whether the applicant reasonably demonstrated that the project is based on the best available science as defined in the RESTORE Act and Treasury's implementing regulations at 31 CFR ? 34.2. Treasury may seek the assistance of governmental and nongovernmental subject-matter experts to provide technical input to its best available science review and environmental compliance review. Applications will be selected for funding if they fulfill all application requirements and funding is available in the applicant's Trust Fund allocation. Not applicable. Treasury makes every effort to approve or disapprove applications within 120 days from receipt of a complete and compliant application. If Office of Gulf Coast Restoration staff identify any deficiencies with the application, staff will return the application and allow the applicant to revise and resubmit the application to correct these deficiencies. If the Chief Program Officer denies an application, the applicant is informed of this denial and given the opportunity to appeal to the Chief Recovery Officer within 45 business days and provide its rationale for why the application meets the requirements of the applicable FOA, RESTORE Act, Treasury's regulations at 31 CFR Part 34, the Uniform Guidance, and other applicable laws and policies. Alternatively, the applicant may choose to withdraw its application. If the applicant does not seek an appeal within 45 business days, or request an extension, the disapproval is final. If the Chief Recovery Officer denies the award, the letter will inform the applicant of its right to seek expedited judicial review within 90 days after that decision in a district court of the United States located within the State seeking the review pursuant to section 311(t)(1)(M) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1321(t)(1)(M)). Not applicable. This is a noncompetitive grant opportunity. Each application will be evaluated for completeness and conformance with the RESTORE Act, Treasury's implementing regulations at 31 CFR Part 34, and the Uniform Guidance at 2 CFR Part 200. Treasury also will evaluate each applicant's ability to administer an award successfully, using information sources such as, the Operational Self-Assessment, audits under the Single Audit Act, and OMB-designated repositories of government-wide eligibility qualification or financial integrity information. Economic Development, Environment (water, air, solid waste, pesticides, radiation), Natural Resources (mineral, water, wildlife, land), Recreation (includes Historic Preservation) For the Direct Component, the RESTORE Act specifies the types of eligible programs, projects, and activities which includes the following: (1) Restoration and protection of the natural resources, ecosystems, fisheries, marine and wildlife habitats, beaches and coastal wetlands of the Gulf Coast Region; (2) Mitigation of damage to fish, wildlife and natural resources; (3) Implementation of a Federally approved marine, coastal, or comprehensive conservation management plan, including fisheries monitoring; (4) Workforce development and job creation; (5) Improvements to or on state parks located in coastal areas affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill; (6) Infrastructure projects benefitting the economy or ecological resources, including port infrastructure; (7) Coastal flood protection and related infrastructure; (8) Planning assistance; (9) Promotion of tourism in the Gulf Coast Region, including promotion of recreational fishing; (10) Promotion of the consumption of seafood harvested from the Gulf Coast Region; and (11) Administrative costs. Not more than 3 percent of the amounts received by the eligible entity may be used for administrative costs, as defined in Treasury’s implementing regulations at 31 CFR 34.204(a)(1). For the Centers of Excellence Research Grants Program, the Act specifies a focus on science, technology and monitoring in at least one of five disciplines. Direct Component grants may only be used to acquire land or interests in land by purchase, exchange, or donation from a willing seller in accordance with 31 CFR 34.803(f). Performance Reports: Other reporting requirements for both programs can be found in the https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/216/Treasury_RESTORE_Act_Terms_and_Conditions_February_2022_508_compliant.pdf. See 2 CFR 200, Subpart F. Treasury's implementing regulation at 31 CFR ?34.308, ?34.708 and ?34.805 also allows and authorizes the Treasury, including the Treasury Inspector General, to conduct audits and reviews of recipient's accounts and activities relating to the Act as deemed appropriate by Treasury. All records must be maintained for 3 years from the date of submission of the final annual financial status report. If any litigation, claim, investigation, or audit relating to award or an activity funded with award funds under the Direct Component or Centers of Excellence Research Grants Program is started before the expiration of the three-year period following submission of the final expenditure report, the records must be retained until all litigation, claims, investigations, or audit findings involving the records have been resolved and final action taken. Statutory Formula: Title 31 Chapter Department of the Treasury Part 34 Subpart B

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. Funds must be spent within the grant performance period. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: Funds are provided through the Automated Standard Application for Payments system. Funds are provided through the Automated Standard Application for Payments system. None/Not specified. Carol Cole
1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20220 US
restoreact@treasury.gov
Phone: 202 622-4630 https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-markets-financial-institutions-and-fiscal-service/restore-act/about-treasurys-restore-act-programs 20-8625-0-7-452 (Formula Grants) FY 22$91,374,127.00; FY 23 est $180,000,000.00; FY 24 est $180,000,000.00; FY 21$38,632,601.00; FY 20$116,000,000.00; FY 19$128,094,264.00; FY 18$18,231,789.00; FY 17$53,699,007.00; FY 14 Estimate Not Available FY 13 Estimate Not Available FY 12$0.00; Estimate Not Available - The amount of funding will depend on the amount requested by the eligible entity for the specific project; past projects have ranged from $40,000 to over $20,000,000. Under no circumstances will award amounts exceed the amount available in the entity's trust fund account. See Treasury regulation at 31 CFR Part 34. Guidelines and literature also included in the RESTORE website at https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-markets-financial-institutions-and-fiscal-service/restore-act Fiscal Year 2023 A few examples of Direct Component projects funded by Treasury include: • The Commercial Proving Grounds for Space to Seafloor Environmental Monitoring to develop, create, and implement test ranges for unmanned aircraft and maritime vehicles in the Mississippi Gulf Coast Region to support workforce development needs in the industry. The National Oceans and Applications Research Center is the subrecipient. • The planning, design, and permitting of restoration work in Little Sabine Bay in Escambia County, FL. The objective of the project is to plan and design improvements to Little Sabine Bay that will enhance water quality and habitats in Little Sabine Bay. • Phase II of the planning, design, and construction of the Africatown Welcome Center in Mobile, Alabama. Africatown is a historic African-American community founded by the survivors of the last known illegal shipment of slaves to the United States. An example of a Centers of Excellence Research Grants project is an FY23 award to the Florida Institute of Oceanography (FIO) to establish Centers of Excellence through competitive subawards to research institutions to conduct research on the Gulf Coast Region. FIO will carry out the scope of work for the award in concert with the following subrecipient research institutions, each of which is a designated Center of Excellence performing research in one or more of the eligible disciplines specified in the RESTORE Act and Treasury’s implementing regulations at 31 CFR 34.704b: Florida International University, Florida State University, Nova Southeastern University, University of Miami, University of West Florida, University of Florida, University of South Florida, Mote Marine Laboratory, University of Central Florida, and Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation.