Wastewater Operator Training Grant Program

 

To substantially enhance the proficiency of personnel engaged in the operations and maintenance of treatment works and related activities by financing pilot programs.


Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2015: No funds are available in FY 2015. If funds become available, the funding priority will primarily be to provide on-site technical assistance to address the unique performance limiting conditions of wastewater treatment plants. Classroom training may also be provided on a limited basis, if cost-effective, to improve the skills of wastewater treatment plant operators. No appropriation authority was provided for FY 2008 or later. However, if unobligated carryover funds are available in FY 2015, projects will be funded in accordance with the funding priorities.

Deleted 04/02/2020 (Archived.) 66.467 Agency: Environmental Protection Agency
Office: Office of Water PROJECT GRANTS Fiscal Year 2014: Not applicable as no funding has been provided after Fiscal Year 2007. Fiscal Year 2015: Not applicable as no funding has been provided after Fiscal Year 2007. Fiscal Year 2016: No Current Data Available Federal Water Pollution Control Act, Section 104(g)(1), 33 U.S.C 1251. State agencies or the designated organizations of the States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam, Northern Marianas, America Samoa, the Trust Territories, and Native American Indian Tribes. Additionally, institutions of higher education and "not for profit institutions" may also apply for funding if acting as a designated organization of the State. State, Tribal, and local governments and publicly owned treatment works (POTWs). Activities which contribute to Operation and Maintenance (O&M) improvements at POTWs, including pollution prevention activities, may be funded. Legislative history supports using appropriations for onsite O&M technical assistance to the small sized POTWs of less than 5 million gallons per day (MGD) of wastewater flow, since many of these POTWs are exhibiting performance problems and do not have readily available consultant's technical assistance like those of the larger POTWs. Costs will be determined in accordance with 2 CFR 200, Subpart E. Non-profit applicants may be asked to provide documentation that they meet the definition of a non-profit organization. Tribes may be asked to demonstrate that they are Federally recognized. 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program. The standard EPA application assistance forms must be used for this program. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. 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. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. This program is subject to the provisions of 2 CFR Parts 200 and 1500, as applicable. Request for application forms and completed applications must be submitted to the applicable Regional or Headquarters Grants Administration office. Applications must meet the requirements of the grant regulations and must be reviewed and approved by the appropriate Regional or Headquarters' waste management program office prior to approval by the Grants office. The review must include an administrative and technical evaluation to determine adequacy, merit, and relevance of the proposal. Applicants, except in limited circumstances approved by the Agency, must submit all initial applications for funding through http://www.grants.gov.





An application is reviewed by the appropriate EPA Regional Office and, if approved, is signed by the Regional Administrator or designated Division Director. Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines. Generally, 90 days after the grant application is received by EPA. Disputes will be resolved under 2 CFR 1500 Subpart E, as applicable. Not Applicable. On-site wastewater O&M technical applications managed by the Regions are evaluated based on the Headquarters wastewater program office's annual guidance, as well as EPA's grants management-related guidance. Other pilot program proposals, with similar objectives, will be considered by the Regional and Headquarters wastewater program offices based on the merits of the proposal, and prior designation by the applicable State agency(s) to receive these funds. Project objectives and requirements for applicants for other pilot project funding will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis. Assistance is available to support recipients' allowable direct costs incidental to approved scopes of work plus allowable indirect costs, in accordance with established EPA policies and regulations.

Grant recipients and sub-recipients are encouraged to adopt and enforce policies that ban text messaging while driving company-owned or -rented vehicles or government-owned vehicles, or while driving privately-owned vehicles when on official government business or when performing any work for or on behalf of the government. Grant recipients and sub-recipients are encouraged to conduct initiatives of the type described in section 3(a) of the Federal Leadership on Reducing Text Messaging While Driving Executive Order that was signed on October 1, 2009. 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 expenditure/financial, equipment, and invention reports. Specific reporting requirements are also identified in the grant regulations at 2 CFR 200 and 1500, as applicable. Headquarters receives semi-annual status reports, and an annual data submission of the program's progress for the current fiscal year, from all Regional Offices. Program reports are required under this program. Cash reports are required under this program. Progress reports are required under this program. Expenditure reports are required under this program. Performance monitoring is required under this program. In accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements, non-Federal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.503. 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. Financial records and other records which substantiate the reasonable and allocable charges must be available to personnel authorized to examine EPA grant accounts. All records must be maintained for three years from the date of submission of the annual financial status reports. If questions arise, related records must be retained until the matter is completely resolved. This program has no statutory formula.
Matching Requirements: Generally 25 percent in kind service/goods or matching funds is required; however, this provision may be waived in certain cases.
This program does not have MOE requirements. Grants may be awarded for a project period not to exceed 3 years. The term of the grant shall be determined at the time of grant award. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: The method of fund disbursement will be determined at the time of award. See Regional Agency Offices. See EPA Regional Offices listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog or online for additional information. Gajindar Singh, Office of Wastewater Management (4204M), Office of Water, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20460. , Washington, District of Columbia 20460 Email: singh.gajindar@epa.gov Phone: (202) 564-0634. http://water.epa.gov/type/watersheds/wastewater/training.cfm 68-0103-0-1-304. (Project Grants) FY 14 $0; FY 15 est $0; and FY 16 est $0 For every $1,000,000 appropriated by the U.S. Congress, a State receives approximately $30,000/fiscal year to provide funds to onsite technical assistance providers. The historical range and average of financial assistance provided is: $12,000 to $40,000/fiscal year; $25,000/fiscal year. Applicants for technical assistance should review 2 CFR 200 and 1500 as applicable, and the annual guidance produced by the Headquarters wastewater program office

Fiscal Year 2014: Not applicable as no funding has been provided after Fiscal Year 2007. Fiscal Year 2015: Not applicable as no funding has been provided after Fiscal Year 2007. Fiscal Year 2016: No Current Data Available