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Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. 2 CFR 200 and 1500 as applicable applies to this program. Competitive RFPs for grants/cooperative agreements are announced widely through the internet and Environmental Protection Agency's CBPO RFP e-mail and mailing database. RFPs are listed on the following websites: http://www.grants.gov; http://www.epa.gov/region03/chesapeake/grants.htm; http://www.epa.gov/region03/grants/grantopp.htm; and

http://www.chesapeakebay.net/grantsandrfps.aspx?menuitem=14892.

Issued CBPO RFPs will seek applicant proposals that identify specific outcomes that will further goals of the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement. The RFP will include detailed instructions for submission of proposals. Interested parties who would like to receive a copy of issued CBPO RFPs and be added to the Environmental Protection Agency's CBPO e-mail and/or mailing database should submit their name, address, phone number, and e-mail address to James Hargett at hargett.james@epa.gov or such requests can be mailed to James Hargett, Environmental Protection Agency CBPO, 410 Severn Avenue, Suite 112, Annapolis, Maryland 21403. EPA will only accept addresses provided in writing (either by e-mail or letter); no phone calls will be accepted. Requests for application kits must be submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency, Region 3, 1650 Arch Streets, Philadelphia, PA 19103, Grants and Audit Management Branch (3PM70). Additional information on the EPA assistance package can be found at:

http://www.epa.gov/ogd/grants/how_to_apply.htm. Additional information pertaining to application requirements for EPA's CBPO grants programs can be found in the 2011 CBPO Grant Guidance at: http://www2.epa.gov/grants/application-kit-federal-assistance.

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Section 117 (e)(1)(A) and 117(e)(1)(B), respectively, signatory jurisdictions applying for implementation and monitoring grants must identify 50 percent cost share of total project costs (equal match/dollar for dollar). All applicants applying for technical and general assistance grants under Section 117 (d), must commit to a cost share ranging from 5 percent to 50 percent as determined at the sole discretion of EPA. This determination will be stated in Request for Proposals or Agency policy. EPA will promptly inform the applicant of the selected cost share requirement. Signatory jurisdictions applying for regulatory and accountability program grants under Section 117(e)(1)(A) must identify 50% cost share of total project costs (equal match/dollar for dollar) as required by statute. Applicants applying for Small Watershed Grants Program under Section 117(g)(2) must commit to a cost share of 25 percent of the total project cost. State and local governments receiving assistance under any of the provisions of Section 117 must comply with 2 CFR 200 and 1500. In addition to the cost share requirement, applicants must adhere to the requirement in the Clean Water Act, Section 117 - Administrative Costs. This section requires a 10 percent cap for administrative costs. The cost of salaries and fringe benefits incurred in administering the grant cannot exceed 10 percent of the Federal grant amount.

This program does not have MOE requirements. This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:

Grants are normally funded on a 12-month basis. 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.

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Reports:

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. 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.

Audits:

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.

Records:

Financial records, including all documents to support entries on accounting records and to substantiate changes to each grant, must be kept available to personnel authorized to examine EPA grant accounts. All records must be maintained for three years from the date of submission of the final expenditure report. If questions still remain, such as those raised as a result of audit, related records should be retained until the matter is completely resolved. Account Identification:

68-0108-0-1-304.

Obligations:

(Project Grants) FY 15 $64,744,800; FY 16 est $64,744,800; and FY 17 est $61,244,800 - FY 15 $64,744,800; FY 16 est. $64,744,800; and FY 17 est. $61,244,800.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:

$73,333 to $10,000,000/fiscal year; $1,100,000/fiscal year average. TAFS Codes:

68-0108.

PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

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Fiscal Year 2015: In FY 15, CBPO issued six RFPs. CBPO received eight
proposals for these RFPs and issued six awards. CBPO will fund over 45
existing awards. FY 15 activities included: citizens monitoring;

communications, outreach, and education activities to support the staffing and operations of the Bay Program Communication Office; implementation of "WIPs to reduce nutrients and sediments to improve water quality; continued technical support and outreach to address water quality restoration goals and maintain public awareness of Bay restoration; investigation of the nitrogen reduction efficiency and cost effectiveness of nitrogen reducing septic systems within the mid-Atlantic region; evaluation of the impact of phosphorus species d Grants Po on water quality and plant growth; NPDES data synthesis and field monitoring 25 percent to better estimate loadings of toxics (metals, organics) to Chesapeake Bay through storm water; Chesapeake Bay modeling, GIS and data analyses support, water quality data analysis/integration support, nonpoint and point re to the r source data management/analysis; and development of new regulations, design is. This of TMDL watershed implementation plans, reissuance and enforcement of aries and permits, and technical and compliance assistance to local governments and O percent regulated entities to meet the goals of the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement. Fiscal Year 2016: To date in FY 2016, CBPO has issued three RFP isprogratis announcements. CBPO received one proposal for one of these RFPs, and issued one award. CBPO may issue additional RFPs in FY 16, and plans to fund over 45 existing awards. FY 16 activities will include: citizens monitoring; communications, outreach, and education activities to support the staffing and ingir operations of the Bay Program Communication Office; implementation of WIPs to reduce nutrients and sediments to improve water quality; continued technical support and outreach to address water quality restoration goals and maintain public awareness of Bay restoration; investigation of the nitrogen reduction efficiency and cost effectiveness of nitrogen reducing septic systems ops within the mid-Atlantic region; evaluation of the impact of phosphorus species tson water quality and plant growth; NPDES data synthesis and field monitoring to better estimate loadings of toxics (metals, organics) to Chesapeake Bay alwithrough storm water; Chesapeake Bay modeling, GIS and data analyses A support, water quality data analysis/integration support, nonpoint and point source data management/analysis; and development of new regulations, design nd of TMDL watershed implementation plans, reissuance and enforcement of permits, and technical and compliance assistance to local governments and regulated entities to meet the goals of the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement. Fiscal Year 2017: No Current Data Available

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REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

Chesapeake Bay Program Office's Annual Grant Guidance and general regulations (2 CFR 200 and 1500) for assistance programs available from EPA. The Chesapeake Bay Program Office's Grant Guidance is available at http://www.epa.gov/region03/chesapeake/grants.htm.

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restoration, and program support. Examples of funded projects include: (1) enhanced storm water monitoring; (2) communications, outreach, and public education efforts; (3) computer modeling; (4) nonpoint source pollution programs; (5) citizens monitoring; (6) Chesapeake Bay point source data management; and (7) regulatory and accountability programs. Fiscal Year 2016: Grants and cooperative agreements will be awarded to states and local governments, colleges, universities interstate agencies, and nonprofit organizations for nonpoint source implementation, water quality monitoring, education and outreach, watershed management, living resources and habitat restoration, and program support. Examples of funded projects include: (1) enhanced storm water monitoring; (2) communications, outreach, and public education efforts; (3) computer modeling; (4) nonpoint source pollution programs; (5) citizens monitoring; (6) Chesapeake Bay point source data management; and (7) regulatory and accountability programs. Fiscal Year 2017: No Current Data Available

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

The evaluation and selection criteria for competitive awards under this CFDA description will be described in the competitive announcement.

66.468 CAPITALIZATION GRANTS FOR DRINKING WATER STATE REVOLVING FUNDS

(Drinking Water State Revolving Fund)
FEDERAL AGENCY:

Office of Water, Environmental Protection Agency
AUTHORIZATION:

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Public Law 111-5; Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Amendments of 1996, Section 130, Public Law 104-182.

OBJECTIVES:

Grants are made to States and Puerto Rico to capitalize their Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (DWSRFs) which will provide a long-term source of financing for the costs of drinking water infrastructure. Grants are also made to the District of Columbia, U.S. Territories (Virgin Islands, Mariana Islands American Samoa, and Guam), and Indian Tribes.

Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2016: The funding priority established by the SDWA are for capitalization grants to each state for infrastructure improvement projects that are needed to achieve or maintain compliance with SDWA requirements, protect public health, and assist systems with economic need. A state may use a portion of the capitalization grant funds for programs that emphasize preventing contamination problems through source water protection and enhancing water system management. States and EPA Regions determine priorities for funding in accordance with SDWA. The program supports the Agency's strategic goal of ensuring clean and safe water.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

FORMULA GRANTS

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

Capitalization grants are made available to each State and Puerto Rico for the purpose of establishing a DWSRF for providing assistance to drinking water systems for infrastructure improvements. States award loans and other types of financial assistance to eligible public water systems for projects. Once invoices for these projects are submitted, the state can request reimbursement from the Federal Treasury up to the amount of their capitalization grant. A State may elect to use up to 31% of the capitalization grant for other eligible activities, including 4% for administration of the program. States may also elect to transfer up to one-third of the DWSRF capitalization grant to the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) or an equivalent amount from the CWSRF to the DWSRF program. Grants are also made available to Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments, U.S Territories, and the District of Columbia. Assistance agreement awards under this program may involve or relate to geospatial information. Further information regarding geospatial information may be obtained by viewing the following website: https://www.epa.gov/geospatial.

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.

Applicant Eligibility:

States, the District of Columbia, U.S. Territories or Possessions (the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Mariana Islands American Samoa, and Guam), and Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments are eligible for grants from the program. For certain competitive funding opportunities under this CFDA description, the Agency may limit eligibility to compete to a number or subset of eligible applicants consistent with the Agency's Assistance Agreement Competition Policy.

Beneficiary Eligibility:

States, U.S. Territories or Possessions (the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Mariana Islands American Samoa, and Guam), Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments, local, and intrastate.

Credentials/Documentation:

To receive a grant, an applicant enters into an agreement with the EPA Regional Administrator which shall include, but is not limited to, the requirements set forth in Section 130 of the SDWA. Recipients must follow 2 CFR 200 Subpart E. 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program.

Preapplication Coordination:

States are required to prepare and provide for public comment on a plan identifying the intended uses (Intended Use Plan, or IUP) of the funds in the DWSRF and how those uses support the goals of the DWSRF. The IUP is to be submitted no later than the application. An environmental impact statement is not required prior to grant award; however, a State environmental review process must be applied to all subsequent State assistance for drinking water systems. Regarding pre-application/pre-proposal assistance with respect to competitive funding opportunities under this program description, EPA will generally specify the nature of the pre-application/pre-proposal assistance, if any, that will be available to applicants in the competitive announcement. For additional information, contact the individual(s) listed as "Information Contacts" or see Appendix IV of the Catalog. 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.

Application Procedures:

2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. The standard application forms as furnished by the Federal agency and required by 2 CFR 200 and 1500 as applicable, must be used for this program. EPA requires final applications to be made on Standard Form 424. Requests for application kits must be submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency, Grants and Interagency Agreements Management Division, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Mailcode 3903R, Washington, DC 20460 or through the appropriate Regional Office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog. Additional information on the EPA grant package can be found at:

http://www.epa.gov/ogd/grants/how_to_apply.htm. Grants for Tribes, U.S. Territories, and the District of Columbia are selected based on funding priorities established by EPA Regional Offices. States must certify that they have the legal authority to receive a capitalization grant and that they have the legal authority to operate the program. States must provide assurance in their applications that they have the legal, managerial, technical and operational capabilities to administer the DWSRF program competently and that they will comply with all applicable Federal cross-cutting authorities and Federal statutes. Applicants, except in limited circumstances approved by the Agency, must submit all initial applications for funding through http://www.grants.gov. Award Procedure:

A grant application is reviewed by the appropriate Regional Office, and if approved, the grant is awarded by the Regional Administrator under a delegation of authority from the Administrator of EPA. EPA Headquarters retains the authority to review certain applications or parts thereof. For competitive awards, EPA will review and evaluate applications, proposals, and/or submissions 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. Deadlines:

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:
Approval time averages 45 days.

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Appeals:

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). Copies of these procedures may also be requested by contacting the individual(s) listed as "Information Contacts." Disputes relating to matters other than the competitive selection of recipients will be resolved under 2 CFR 1500 Subpart E, as applicable. Renewals:

For those portions of the applicant's program that do not change from year to year, a subsequent grant application may incorporate by reference relevant portions of the previous year's application which have not changed. Formula and Matching Requirements:

Statutory Formula: Title Safe Drinking Water Act. The funds available for allotment to State DWSRF programs are those funds appropriated by Congress under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA 1452; 40 CFR 35.3540 and 35.3585). EPA allots funds to each State based on the State's proportional share of total eligible needs reported for the most recent Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey (which is conducted every four years). The minimum proportional share that each State can receive is 1% of total funds available to States. EPA reserves up to 1.5% of the funds available for allotment to the States to provide grants to the U.S. Territories (Virgin Islands, Mariana Islands American Samoa, and Guam). The SDWA also requires the Administrator to reserve 1% of the funds available for allotment to the States to provide grants to the District of Columbia. The SDWA also allows EPA to reserve funds for national set-asides that include: up to 2.0% of the national appropriation for grants to Indian Tribes as well as funding for health effects studies, small system technical assistance, and monitoring of unregulated

contaminants.

Matching Requirements: The required State match is 20% of the amount of the capitalization made to the State. States must also provide a match or demonstrate a credit for state funded eligible activities to receive Federal funds for certain program support activities. For Recovery Act funds, the required State match of 20% of the amount of the capitalization grant was waived. For additional information go to

http://www.epa.gov/safewater/dwsrf/allotments/index.html. This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:

Funds are available for EPA's obligation to the State during the fiscal year in which they are allotted and during the following year. Recovery Act funds were available for EPA's obligation to the State until September 30, 2010. The term of the grant shall be determined at the time of award. States must agree to enter into binding commitments with loan recipients to provide financial assistance from the DWSRF in an amount equal to the sum of Federal assistance, less amounts used by the State for eligible set-aside purposes, and the State match. States are also required to agree to commit and expend all funds in the DWSRF as efficiently as possible, and in a timely manner. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: The method of fund disbursement will be determined at the time of award.

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Reports:

States shall provide biennial reports to the Regional Administrator in accordance with the schedule established in the grant agreement (generally not later than 90 days after the end of the second fiscal year during which the

December 201

Regional Offe payments were received). The biennial report shall describe how the State has dministran met the goals and objectives for the preceding two fiscal years as identified in EPA. EPA its intended use plans for those periods, including identification of loan

or parts te recipients, loan amounts, and loan terms and similar details on other forms of applicati financial assistance provided from the DWSRF. For grants to Tribes and U.S. condition Territories, procedures for accounting, auditing, evaluating, and reviewing any ill be ambra program for activities in whole or in part shall be governed by regulations at 2 peting CFR 200 and 1500 as applicable, and 40 CFR Parts 32 and 35, "Environmental Program Grants for Tribes," with reports as required by the specific terms of the agreement. For Recovery Act funds, funding reports must be submitted in a prescribed format within 10 calendar days after the end of each calendar quarter, beginning October 10, 2009. These reports will include data elements as prescribed by Public Law 111-5, Section 1512 and OMB Guidance. 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.

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ve selectin Requirements, non-Federal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 licable 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

not chang year, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.503. Grants and cooperative agreements are by refe 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. States must comply with the provisions of the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996, and the OMB

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Circular No. A-133 and Compliance Supplement. States are also encouraged to
conduct annual independent audits. The audit of the fund to be prepared by the
State or an independent auditor must be in accordance with the standards of the
Government Accountability Office (known as the Generally Accepted
Government Auditing Standards). To the extent that the set-asides are used for
project purposes that must be repaid, or are directly related to the DWSRF (e.g.,
administration) or are revolving funds themselves, they must be part of an
audited opinion(s). The audits must provide an auditor's opinion on the DWSRF
financial statements, a report on internal controls and a report on compliance
with laws and regulations. Those set-aside funds that are not loaned out may be
audited in conjunction with audits conducted under the Single Audit Act, as
described in OMB Circular No. A-133 and OMB's Compliance Supplement for
Single Audits of State and Local Governments.
Records:

➡ Financial records, including all documents to support entries on accounting records and to substantiate changes to each grant, must be kept available to personnel authorized to examine EPA grant accounts. All records must be maintained for three years from the date of submission of the final expenditure report. If questions still remain, such as those raised as a result of audit, related records should be retained until the matter is completely resolved. As part of the annual review conducted by the Agency to assess a State's performance against activities identified in the intended use plan and biennial report, and to determine compliance with the terms of the capitalization grant agreement, the State or assistance recipient shall make available to EPA such records as the Regional Administrator reasonably requires to review and determine State compliance with the requirements of the SDWA.

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Account Identification:

68-0103-0-1-304; 68-0102-0-1-304.

Obligations:

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$19,500,000 to $160,000,000/fiscal year. Territories: $500,000 to $2,100,000/fiscal year. Tribes: $15,600 to $3,200,000/fiscal year. TAFS Codes:

68-0102; 68-0103.

PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

Fiscal Year 2015: All 50 states and Puerto Rico have established and are implementing DWSRF programs through receipt of a capitalization grant. In FY 15, States made 716 loans to systems for a cumulative total of $2.08 billion to conduct infrastructure improvement projects. Of the total number of loans, 71% of loans went to small water systems that serve 10,000 persons or fewer. States also used funds to prevent drinking water contamination through source water protection and enhanced system management. Fiscal Year 2016: All 50 states and Puerto Rico have established and are implementing DWSRF programs through receipt of a capitalization grant. In FY 16, states, tribes, and territories will continue to receive funding to support infrastructure improvement projects. Fiscal Year 2017: No Current Data Available REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements (2 CFR 200 and 1500) and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (40 CFR Part 35, Subpart L). Additional program information, including contact information for state program managers, is available online at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/dwsrf.html.

Regional or Local Office:

See Regional Agency Offices. See EPA Regional Offices listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog, or online.

Headquarters Office:

Kiri Anderer Kiri Anderer, Infrastructure Branch (4606M), Drinking Water Protection Division, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20460. Telephone: (202) 564-3134; FAX: (202) 564-1836; E-mail: anderer.kirsten@epa.gov.

, Washington, District of Columbia 20460 Email: anderer.kirsten@epa.gov Phone: (202) 564-3134.

Website Address:

https://www.epa.gov/drinkingwatersrf.

RELATED PROGRAMS:

66.458 Capitalization Grants for Clean Water State Revolving Funds EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

Fiscal Year 2015: Drinking water projects addressing treatment, storage, source, transmission, distribution and consolidation. Some examples of projects include: construction of a ultra-violet treatment facility; construction of pumping stations; upgrades of water treatment plant; line replacement; and new wells to replace wells that have been contaminated. Fiscal Year 2016: Drinking water projects addressing treatment, storage, source, transmission, distribution and consolidation. Some examples of projects include: construction of a ultra-violet treatment facility; construction of pumping stations; upgrades of water treatment plant; line replacement; and new wells to replace wells that have been contaminated. Fiscal Year 2017: No Current Data Available CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

The evaluation and selection criteria for competitive awards under this CFDA description will be described in the competitive announcement.

66.469 GREAT LAKES PROGRAM

(GLNPO)

FEDERAL AGENCY:

Office of Water, Environmental Protection Agency
AUTHORIZATION:

Clean Water Act, Executive Order NA, Section 104&118, 33 U.S.C 1254;

National Environmental Policy Act, Executive Order NA, Section 102(2)(F); Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014, Executive Order NA, Public Law 113-76; Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2015, Executive Order NA, Public Law 113-235; Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016, P.L. 114-113, Public Law 114-113.

OBJECTIVES:

To restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem. USEPA leads a consortium of programs, agencies, and public and private institutions in attaining specific objectives and actions that will address the most significant Great Lakes ecosystem problems and efforts in five major focus areas: Toxic Substances and Areas of Concern; Invasive Species; Nonpoint Source Pollution Impacts on Nearshore Health; Habitats and Species; and Foundations for Future Restoration Actions. Funded activities will advance protection and restoration of the Great Lakes ecosystem in support of (i) the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative as described in the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Action Plan II (available from: http://www.greatlakesrestoration.us/actionplan/index.html), (ii) the Great Lakes portion of Objective 2.02 (Protect and Restore Watersheds and Aquatic Ecosystems) of EPA's 2014-2018 Strategic Plan, and/or (iii) the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Strategy to Protect and Restore the Great Lakes (http://www.glrc.us/strategy.html).

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Grants and cooperative agreements are available to support recipients' allowable direct costs incident to approved activities plus allowable indirect costs, in accordance with established EPA policies and regulations. Quality System Documentation is required for projects involving measurements or information that describe environmental processes, location, or conditions; ecological or health effects and consequences; or the performance of environmental technology. Section 118 (c)(12) authorizes contaminated sediment remediation in Areas of Concern pursuant to eligible projects under the Great Lakes Legacy Act; however, these will be done through project cooperation agreements, rather than assistance.

Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2016: The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), guided by the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Strategy, is a coordinated effort among EPA and the Great Lakes Federal Interagency Task Force to fund the highest priority activities in order to protect and restore the Great Lakes.

The President in 2009 announced a Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), committing the federal government to significantly advance Great Lakes protection and restoration. EPA has since then led the Interagency Task Force in development of two Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Action Plans, the second covering FY2015-FY2019 (Action Plan) that guide protection and restoration under the Initiative. This carefully coordinated interagency effort involves the cooperation of 16 federal agency partners. The goal of the GLRI is to restore and maintain the environmental integrity of the Great Lakes ecosystem, in accordance with the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement and the Clean Water Act. Using funds appropriated to EPA to supplement their base funding, agencies fund work directly or through others such as states, tribes, cities, universities, and non-governmental organizations.

Projects will be funded in five focus areas: (i) Toxic Substances and Areas of Concern; (ii) Invasive Species; (iii) Nonpoint Source Pollution Impacts on Nearshore Health; (iv) Habitats and Species; and (v) Foundations for Future Restoration Actions. The GLRI places a special priority on cleaning up and de-listing Areas of Concern, reducing phosphorus contributions from agricultural and urban lands that contribute to harmful algal blooms and other water quality impairments, and invasive species prevention. TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

DISSEMINATION OF TECHNICAL INFORMATION; PROJECT GRANTS; USE OF PROPERTY, FACILITIES, OR EQUIPMENT

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

The statutory authority for awards is contained in appropriations acts, including the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2016, P.L. 114-113, including administrative provisions authorizing grants for planning, research, monitoring, outreach, and implementation for grants and/or cooperative agreements with governmental entities, nonprofit organizations, and institutions in furtherance of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. Great Lakes Restoration Initiative implementation, as described above, includes but is not limited to land use activities, governmental partnerships and informed public participation, technology development, investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys, and studies to

Assistance agreement awards under this program may involve or relate to geospatial information. Further information regarding geospatial information may be obtained by viewing the following website: https://www.epa.gov/geospatial.

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. Generally this program makes Federal awards on a discretionary basis. For further information, please contact the Headquarters or regional office.

Applicant Eligibility:

Entities eligible to apply for grants include non-federal governmental entities, nonprofit organizations, and institutions. This includes state agencies; any agency or instrumentality of local government; interstate agencies; federally-recognized tribes and tribal organizations; colleges and universities; non-profit organizations; and other public or non-profit private agencies, institutions, and organizations. Non-profit organization means any corporation, trust, association, cooperative, or other organization which: (1) is operated primarily for scientific, educational, service, charitable, or similar purposes in the public interest; (2) is not organized primarily for profit; and (3) uses its net proceeds to maintain, improve, and/or expand its operations. Non-profit organizations described in Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that engage in lobbying activities as defined in Section 3 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 are not eligible applicants. "For profit" organizations, federal agencies, and individuals are not eligible applicants. For certain competitive funding opportunities under this CFDA description, the Agency may limit eligibility to compete to a number or subset of eligible applicants consistent with the Agency's Assistance Agreement Competition Policy. Beneficiary Eligibility:

Beneficiaries include non-federal governmental entities, nonprofit organizations, and institutions. This includes state agencies; any agency or instrumentality of local government; interstate agencies; federally-recognized tribes and tribal organizations; colleges and universities; non-profit organizations; and other public or non-profit private agencies, institutions, and organizations. Non-profit organization means any corporation, trust, association, cooperative, or other organization which: (1) is operated primarily

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December 201

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