Surveys, Studies, Investigations and Special Purpose Grants

 

To support surveys, studies and investigations, and special purpose assistance for the award of multimedia grants. Multimedia grants are assistance agreements that are awarded citing two or more environmental law statutes, appropriation legislation, or applicable legislative history as the statutory authority. Assistance agreements may be associated with (1) air quality, acid deposition, drinking water, water quality, hazardous waste, toxic substances, and pesticides; (2) identifying, developing and demonstrating necessary pollution control techniques to prevent, reduce, and eliminate pollution; and (3) evaluating the economic and social consequences of alternative strategies and mechanisms for use by those in economic, social, governmental, and environmental management positions. Funding Priority: Funding priorities include the following: (1) Provide States, Tribes and Intertribal Consortia with training opportunities to encourage program development and/or implementation of the Leaking Underground Storage Tanks (LUST) program. (2) Provide States, Tribes and Intertribal Consortia with training opportunities to encourage program development and/or implementation of the Underground Storage Tanks (UST) program. (3) Provide state and tribal regulators with technical information on leaking underground storage tank (LUST) systems. (4) Provide state and tribal regulators with technical information on underground storage tank (UST) systems. (5) Partnering with states to provide technical assistance and forums for information exchanges; assisting States in developing their program capabilities to manage their LUST programs in the most efficient and effective manner possible. (6) Partnering with states to provide technical assistance and forums for information exchanges; assisting States in developing their program capabilities to manage their UST programs in the most efficient and effective manner possible. The Environmental Council of the States has requested $91,000 to provide state input into the Agency's strategic planning and budgeting process. This will establish a new cooperative agreement and will ultimately include up to $500,000 in funding over the period of the next two years. ECOS is exempt from competition as stated in the Agency's "Competition Policy" which was effective October 1, 2002. It is anticipated that the Agency will enter into agreements with ECOS for the following activities: (1) State and Federal Grants Officers Training. Jointly plan and undertake a session or sessions to share experiences about Performance Partnership Agreements and Grants, educate both State and Agency staff involved in these activities, thereby improving partnership operations and results. (2) State and Tribal Assistance for Results Program. Jointly plan and undertake a national meeting with the EPA Office of Compliance to provide grant recipients an opportunity to showcase the final results and environmental outcomes of their project(s) or demonstrate progress to date. The meeting would also provide grantees an opportunity to discuss lessons learned. (3) New State Environmental Commissioner Orientation. Jointly plan and undertake an orientation session for new State environmental commissioners. Topics would include ECOS operations, presentations from EPA offices dealing with State issues and opportunities for discussion. (4) One Cleanup Program. Jointly plan and undertake a discussion between EPA waste program leaders and State Commissioners about coordinating cleanups under various waste programs (RCRA corrective action, underground storage tanks, state clean up programs, etc.). As a follow up, ECOS would query State programs for examples of innovation on coordinating clean up activities. Other funding priorities may include water quality monitoring and assessment, national data systems, watershed management, water quality criteria and standards, and Regional Geographic Initiative projects.

Deleted 02/08/2006 (Program Consolidated into New CFDA 66.202) 66.606 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Project Grants; Cooperative Agreements. EPA made 1616 awards in fiscal year 2002. The total dollar amount for these awards was $529,087,239. Clean Air Act of 1963, as amended, Public Law 95- 95, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.; Clean Water Act, as amended Public law 95-217, 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.; Solid Waste Disposal Act, Section 8001, as amended; Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, as amended, Public Law 93-523; Public Laws 94-140, and 95-396, 7 U.S.C. 136 et seq.; Toxic Substances Control Act, as amended, Public Law 94-469, 15 U.S.C. 2601 et seq. Assistance under this program is generally available to States, territories, 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, individuals, and in some instances, profit makers, which submit applications proposing projects with significant technical merit and relevance to EPA's mission. Some of EPA's statutes may limit assistance to specific types of interested applications. See "Authorization" listed above. State and local governments, U.S. territories and possessions, Indian Tribes, universities and colleges, hospitals, laboratories, other public and private nonprofit institutions and individuals. Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments and Indian Tribes, OMB Circular No. A-21 for educational institutions, OMB Circular No. A-122 for nonprofit institutions, and FAR Part 31 for profit makers. Applicants may be requested to demonstrate they have appropriate background, academic training, experience in the field, and necessary equipment to carry out projects. EPA may ask applicants or principle investigators to provide curriculum vitae and relevant publications. EPA awards grants and cooperative agreements supporting Surveys, Studies, and Investigations based on unsolicited proposals and competitive applications submitted in response to EPA solicitations, considering relevance and likelihood of success of proposed projects. For this reason, we recommend that potential applicants discuss proposed projects with or submit preapplications to staff in the appropriate EPA technical program offices. See Appendix IV of the Catalog. Individual programs may be subject to E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." Applicants should consult the office or official designated as the State's Single Point of Contact for more information on the State's review process, and to determine if the State has selected the program for review. This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circulars No. A-102 and No. A-110. The standard application forms as furnished by the Federal agency and required by OMB Circular No. A-102 and A-110 must be used for this program. EPA requires final applications to be made on Standard Form 424. Application kits should be requested from and submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Grants Administration Division, Mail Code 3903R, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20460 or the appropriate EPA Regional Office identified in Appendix IV of the Catalog. Detailed information and assistance, including an application kit, required forms, and a check list, may also be found at http://www.epa.gov/ogd/AppKit/. For competitive awards, Requests for Initial Proposals or Requests for Applications will specify application procedures. For non-competitive awards, EPA will conduct an administrative evaluation to determine the adequacy of the application in relation to grant regulations and technical and program evaluation to determine the merit and relevance of the project to Agency programs. 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, EPA will review applications or proposals in accordance with the criteria specified in the Request for Applications or Request for Initial Proposals. Competitions will be conducted under EPA Order No. 5700.5, Policy for Competition in Assistance Agreements (09/12/02). For competitive awards, deadlines will be specified in Request for Applications or Request for Initial Proposals. Approximately 180 days. As described in 40 CFR Part 30.63, and Part 31, Subpart F. None. A standard grant application should be prepared and submitted as a new grant, 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 for surveys, studies, and investigations. Approval of subsequent funding increments is dependent on satisfactory project progress, continued relevance of the project to EPA's priorities, and availability of funds. EPA selects proposed surveys, studies, and investigations projects for funding based on factors such as relevancy to EPA's mission, technical merit, and the likelihood of success. If EPA issues a solicitation for applications for a particular project or group of projects, the solicitation will identify specific criteria. Grants and cooperative agreements are available to support recipients' allowable direct costs incident to approved Surveys, Studies, and Investigations plus allowable indirect costs, in accordance with established EPA policies and regulations. EPA includes reporting requirements for grants and cooperative agreements in the terms and conditions of the agreements. Agreements may require quarterly, interim, and final progress reports, and financial, equipment, and invention reports. Reporting requirements are also identified in the Grant Regulations Part 30 and Part 31. Grants are subject to inspections and audit by representatives of the Comptroller General of the United States and EPA or any authorized representative. Periodic audits by the recipient institution should be made as part of the recipient's systems of financial management and internal controls to meet terms and conditions of grants and other agreements. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that receive financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. 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. If questions, such as those raised as a result of audits remain following the 3-year period, recipients must retain records until the matter is completely resolved. As required by EPA statute, regulation, or program guidance, or negotiated and agreed to between the applicant and the program office. Grants and cooperative agreements are normally funded on a 12-month basis (annual). The total approved project period may not exceed 5 years for competitive awards. EPA encourages potential applicants to communicate with the appropriate EPA Regional Office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog, and the Headquarters program contacts listed below. For information on grant applications and procedures, contact Environmental Protection Agency, Grants Administration Division, Mail Code 3903R, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20460. For program information contact: Office of Air and Radiation - Katherine Moore, (202) 564-1514; Office of Water - Tim Fontaine, (202) 564-0318; Office of Research and Development - Mark Thomas, (202) 564-4763 or Alice Sabatini, (202) 564-1023; Office of the Administrator - Shirley Leonard, (202) 564-1347; Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response - Julianne Edmondson, (202) 260- 0251; Office of Environmental Justice - Linda Smith, (202) 564-2602. Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance - Joseph Hall, (202) 564-2271; Office of International Affairs - Iris Zeigler, (202) 564-6614; Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances - Elaine Lyon-Johnson, (202) 564-0547 or Janet Remmers, (202) 564-0548. http://www.epa.gov 68-1810-0-1-304. FY 02 $529,087,239; FY 03 est not available; and FY 04 est not available. The minimum and maximum Headquarters awards for fiscal year 2002 are $880 and $4,700,000 respectively. The average Headquarters award for fiscal year 2002 is $183,090. The minimum and maximum Regional awards for fiscal year 2002 are $270 and $38,000,000 respectively. The average Regional award for fiscal year 2002 is $388,745. Surveys, Studies, and Investigations grants and cooperative agreements are subject to EPA's General Grant Regulations (40 CFR Part 30 and 40 CFR Part 31). Examples of funded projects are: developing a reporter's guide to climate change, development of solid waste system for Indian Tribes, lead-based workshops, and radon information for real estate companies.