) To support surveys, studies, investigations, and special purpose assistance FY 16sociated with air quality, acid deposition, drinking water, water quality, 2018 zardous waste, toxic substances, and/or pesticides; (2) to identify, develop, id demonstrate necessary pollution control techniques; (3) to prevent, reduce, id eliminate pollution; (4) to evaluate the economic and social consequences 100.000 alternative strategies and mechanisms for use by those in economic, social, >vernmental, and environmental management positions; and (5) to promote ›llaboration on projects and activities within the states and enable wider and ore coordinated state input on national environmental issues. COS Shale Gas Caucus- the Shale Gas Caucus is led by state environmental gency commissioners, who work closely with EPA, DOE, non-profit rganizations, and private-sector entities, and its purpose is to promote >ordination between states on data sharing, best practices, community utreach, and lessons learned pertaining to the reduction of methane and VOC missions from the oil and gas sector. ustainability - develop video and other media to promote state leadership in COS Partnership and Performance Workgroup - projects and deliverables to unding Priority - Fiscal Year 2016: In FY16, under the Environmental /orkforce Development and Job training Grant Application Guidelines, plicants are anticipated to be provided the opportunity to deliver training in eas such as: brownfields hazardous waste training; solid waste management id recycling; emergency management and oil spill cleanup; Superfund cleanup lated training, including innovative and alternative treatment technologies, astewater treatment and stormwater management; integrated pest anagement; and chemical safety and enhanced environmental health and Afety training. Other types of supplemental environmental training are also igible as this list is not exhaustive. Under the FY17 competition, energy diting, solar installation, and weatherization training are anticipated to be Heligible uses of grant funds. Applicants in FY17 will also be evaluated on the tent to which they have partnered with employers willing to hire graduates nd the extent to which they have conducted labor market assessments that link roposed training with employers; forecasted hiring needs. Funding Priority-Fiscal Year 2016: Planning: EPA intends to continue oviding support for state activities related to budget, planning environmental sults, the state-EPA partnership, and grants management. YPES OF ASSISTANCE: ROJECT GRANTS SES AND USE RESTRICTIONS: Trants and cooperative agreements are available to support recipients' allowable direct costs incident to approved surveys, studies, investigations and special purpose assistance, plus allowable indirect costs, in accordance with established EPA policies and regulations. Funds awarded under Section 311(b)(3) of CERCLA must be used for projects relating to innovative or alternative treatment technologies that may be utilized in response actions to achieve more permanent protection of human health and welfare and the environment. 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: Assistance under this program is generally available to State agencies, territories, the District of Columbia, Indian Tribes, and possessions of the U.S. Assistance is also available to public and private universities and colleges, hospitals, laboratories, and other public or private nonprofit institutions. Nonprofit 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 to apply. For profit organizations are generally not eligible for funding. Some of EPA's statutes may limit assistance to specific types of interested applications. See "Authorization" listed above. 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: State agencies and local governments, U.S. territories and possessions, Indian Tribes, universities and colleges, hospitals, laboratories, and other public and private nonprofit institutions. Credentials/Documentation: Documentation of nonprofit status may be required. Applicants may be requested to demonstrate they have appropriate background, academic training, experience in the field, and necessary equipment to carry out projects. Office of the Administrator may ask applicants or principal investigators to provide curriculum vitae and relevant publications. 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program. Preapplication Coordination: 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. 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. 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 ogram Descriptions None. 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 the Office of the Administrator's program priorities, and the availability of funds. Formula and Matching Requirements: This program has no statutory formula. Matching Requirements: EPA's Appropriation Act requires that applicants This program does not have MOE requirements. Not applicable. EPA normally funds grants and cooperative agreements on a 12-month basis. However, the Office of the Administrator can negotiate the project period with each applicant based on project requirements. EPA has limitations on project periods, and grants and cooperative agreements may be incrementally or fully funded. These determinations are made by EPA. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Assistance is generally awarded incrementally and is released on an as-needed basis. 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. In accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements, non-federal entities that expend $750,000 or more in a year in Federal awards shall 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. Records: The record retention requirements of 2 CFR Part 200 and 1500 as applicable depending upon the identity of the recipient. Recipients must keep financial records, including all documents supporting entries on accounting records which support substantial changes to the grant, available to personnel authorized to examine EPA recipients' grants and cooperative agreement records. Recipient must maintain all records for a period of three (3) years from the date of submission of final expenditures 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 fully resolved. Account Identification: 68-1810-0-1-304. Obligations: (Project Grants) FY 15 $325,000; FY 16 est $429,500; and FY 17 est $75,000FY2012 $225,000; FY2013 $155,000; FY2014 $83,000; FY2015 $325,000. FY16 Estimated Obligations: $429,500 FY17 Estimated Obligations: $75,000. Range and Average of Financial Assistance: Range $10,000 to $110,000 per amendment. Average amount approximately $54,000 per amendment. TAFS Codes: 68-0108. PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Fiscal Year 2015: The NGA Center for Best Practices convened an Experts Roundtable in March 2015 to discuss protective practices states can take to protect drinking water resources while capturing the economic benefits of shale gas development. Following this meeting, the NGA Center released a paper titled "State Practices to Protect Drinking Water Resources while Developing Shale Energy" in July 2015. The paper incorporated information gained from the Experts Roundtable as well as additional research to provide an overview of state best practices to protect drinking water. NGA also hosted a webinar to showcase the paper. The ECOS Partnership and Performance Workgroup engaged EPA in the implementation of the Partnerships Cross-Agency Strategy in EPA's Strategic Plan, began implementing and evaluating a new 2 year approach for developing National Program Manager Guidance, collaborated to identify principles and best practices for the oversight of permitting programs, and partnered on several grants management initiatives, including developing a Grants Policy Issuance for Performance Partnership Grants. Sustainability--research was conducted on state-specific sustainability activities, agreement was reached with EPA on three of four projects to move towards video production, and a draft of one of four videos was produced. ECOS is currently working with states to collect footage for the remaining 3 videos; this work will likely continue into FY16. current research Shale Gas Caucus - Through a series of informative briefings for state environmental agency leaders, ECOS covered topics including existing and emerging technologies, regulatory initiatives. These briefings set the stage for ECOS to develop a compendium of principles and best practices and other tools for states to use in addressing methane and VOC emissions. Accomplishments include: conducting eleven briefings for state environmental December 201 hale Gas Caucus-through a series of informative briefings for state nvironmental agency leaders, ECOS covered topics including current research, xisting and emerging technologies, and regulatory initiatives. These briefings et the stage for ECOS to develop a compendium of principles and best ractices and other tools for states to use in addressing methane and VOC missions. Fiscal Year 2016: No content available. Fiscal Year 2017: No ontent available. RITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS: he evaluation and selection criteria for competitive awards under this CFDA escription will be described in the competitive announcement. Jon-competitive proposals are judged for: (a) technical merit in terms of: (1) trengths and weaknesses of the project, (2) adequacy of overall project design, 3) competency of proposed staff, (4) suitability of applicant's available sources, (5) appropriateness of the proposed project period and budget, and 5) probability that the project will accomplish stated objectives; and, for (b) rogram interest in terms of: (1) the need for the proposed project, and (2) relationship to program objectives. 66.611 ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND INNOVATION GRANTS Office of the Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency Clean Water Act, Section 104, 33 U.S.C 1254; Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, Section 104(k)(6)&311, 42 U.S.C 9660; Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, Section 20, 7 U.S.C 136(r); Solid Waste Disposal Act, Section 8001, 42 U.S.C 6981; Safe Drinking Water Act, Section 1441, 42 U.S.C 300j-1; Clean Air Act, Section 103, 42 U.S.C 7403; National Environmental Policy Act, Section 102(2)(F), 42 U.S.C 4332; Toxics Substances Control Act, Section 10, 15 U.S.C 2609; Annual Appropriations Act. OBJECTIVES: (1) To support analyses, studies, evaluations, workshops, conferences, and demonstration projects that lead to reduced pollutants generated and conservation of natural resources; (2) to improve economic information and analytic methods to support studies, surveys, analyses, evaluations, conferences, workshops, and demonstration projects on the benefits, costs, and impacts of environmental programs; (3) to improve economic information and analytic methods to support studies, surveys, analyses, evaluations, conferences, workshops, and demonstration projects of incentive-based and voluntary environmental management strategies and mechanisms; (4) to support research to explore and develop strategies and mechanisms for those in the economic, social, governmental, and environmental arenas to use in environmental management decisions; (5) to provide technical assistance to help communities to learn about and implement smart growth approaches; and (6) to support an information clearinghouse that functions as a "one stop shop" for information on effective smart growth approaches that can help communities ensure their development choices deliver environmental, economic, and quality-of-life benefits. Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2015: There have been no new competitive environmental economic research solicitations issued in recent years due to limited available resources. If resources should become available in FY2015, research priorities in the field of environmental economics and related research continue to include: work on improvements in the valuation of environmental benefits, including human health and ecological services; measuring economic costs and impacts to society from regulations, including effective ways to forecast future pollution control technologies and regulatory costs; integrating economic and natural science models for purposes of assessing environmental risks and consequences, including those associated with GHG emissions and potential consequences for climate change; and utilization of alternative regulatory management and economic incentive approaches to achieve environmental objectives Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2016: There have been no new competitive environmental economic research solicitations issued in recent years due to limited available resources. If resources should become available in FY2016, research priorities in the field of environmental economics and related research continue to include: work on improvements in the valuation of environmental benefits, including human health and ecological services; measuring economic costs and impacts to society from regulations, including effective ways to forecast future pollution control technologies and regulatory costs; integrating economic and natural science models for purposes of assessing environmental risks and consequences, including those associated with GHG emissions and potential consequences for climate change; and utilization of alternative regulatory management and economic incentive approaches to achieve environmental objectives. ogram Descriptions There were no new competitive solicitations issued for smart growth in FY 2016. Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2017: There have been no new competitive environmental economic research solicitations issued in recent years due to limited available resources. If resources should become available in FY2017, research priorities in the field of environmental economics and related research continue to include: work on improvements in the valuation of environmental benefits, including human health and ecological services; measuring economic costs and impacts to society from regulations, including effective ways to forecast future pollution control technologies and regulatory costs; integrating economic and natural science models for purposes of assessing environmental risks and consequences, including those associated with GHG emissions and potential consequences for climate change; and utilization of alternative regulatory management and economic incentive approaches to achieve environmental objectives. TYPES OF ASSISTANCE: PROJECT GRANTS USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS: Grants and cooperative agreements are available to support recipients' allowable direct costs incident to approved Environmental Policy and Innovation plus allowable indirect costs, in accordance with established EPA policies and regulations. Funding awarded for research does not include research within the purview of EPA's Office or Research and Development. Funds awarded under Section 311(b)(3) of CERCLA must be used for projects relating to innovative or alternative treatment technologies that may be utilized in response actions to achieve more permanent protection of human health and welfare and the environment. 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: Assistance under this program is generally available to States and local governments, territories and possessions, foreign governments, international organizations, Indian Tribes, interstate organizations, intrastate organizations, 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, and individuals. Nonprofit 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 to apply. For profit organizations are generally not eligible for funding. Some of EPA's statutes may limit assistance to specific types of interested applicants. See "Authorization" listed above. 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. National laboratories funded by Federal Agencies (Federally-Funded Research and Development Centers, "FFRDCS") may not apply. FFRDC employees may cooperate or collaborate with eligible applicants within the limits imposed by applicable legislation and regulations. They may participate in planning, conducting, and analyzing the research directed by the applicant, but may not direct projects on behalf of the applicant organization. The institution, organization, or governance receiving the award may provide funds through its grant from the EPA to an FFRDC for research personnel, supplies, equipmen and other expenses directly related to the research. Federal Agencies may not apply. Federal employees are not eligible to serve in a principal leadership role on a grant, and may not receive salaries or augment their Agency's appropriations in other ways through grants made by this program. Beneficiary Eligibility: State and local governments, U.S. territories and possessions, Indian Tribes, universities and colleges, hospitals, laboratories, other public and private nonprofit institutions, individuals, and international organizations. Credentials/Documentation: Documentation of nonprofit status may be required. 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. 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program. Preapplication Coordination: 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. This program is eligible for coverage under E.0. 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. 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, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. EPA requires final applications to be made on Standard Form 424, "Application for Federal Assistance." Requests for application kits must be submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency, Grants and Interagency Agreements Management Division, (3903R), Washington, DC 20460 or through the appropriate EPA 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. Requests for Initial Proposals or Requests for Applications will specify application procedures. Applicants, except in limited circumstances approved by the Agency, must submit all initial applications for funding through http://www.grants.gov. Award Procedure: 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. 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 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 For competitions involving research that are administered as part of the Economic and Decision Sciences program, OP will continue to adhere to the 1.698 December 2011 ength and Time Phasing of Assistance: Grants and cooperative agreements are usually funded on a 12-month basis. However, EPA can negotiate the project period with each applicant based on Project requirements. EPA has limitations on project periods, and grants and yooperative agreements may be fully funded or incrementally funded. These determinations are made by EPA. See the following for information on how Assistance is awarded/released: Most assistance under this CFDA will either be warded as a lump sum payment or incrementally. Funds will be released on s-needed basis to the grant recipient. deports: For the economic research grants, recipients are required to prepare final written reports that summarize their research project and findings, and cite work presentations, publications) supported with the EPA grant. No content vivailable. EPA includes reporting requirements for grants and cooperative igreements in the terms and conditions of the agreements. Agreements may equire quarterly, interim, and final progress reports, and financial, equipment, nd invention reports. Specific reporting requirements are also identified in the Grant Regulations 2 CFR Parts 200 and 1500. n general, it is the policy of the Office of the Administrator to require Progress Reports from recipients on a routine schedule - either quarterly, semiannually or n an annual basis. This requirement, or a different requirement when applicable, will be spelled out in solicitations issued under this CFDA, and confirmed in the Terms and Conditions section for funded assistance greements. No content available. No performance monitoring is required. 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 onducted 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 'rogram Descriptions 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. In accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements, non-federal entities that expend $750,000 or more in a year in Federal awards shall 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. Records: The record retention requirements of 2 CFR 200 and 1500 are applicable depending upon the identity of the recipient. 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. Account Identification: 68-0108-0-1-304. Obligations: (Project Grants) FY 15 $800,000; FY 16 est $800,000; and FY 17 Estimate Not Available - For awards directed at smart growth issues, the total amount awarded through new awards and incremental funding was $0.8 million in FY 2014, and $0.8 million in FY 2015. Projected new awards and incremental funding are expected to be $0.8 million in FY 2016. For awards directed at economic analysis and research topics, including funding provided under the Economic and Decision Sciences program, the following distributions and projections are as follows: in FY 2015 there were no new awards or incremental funding of existing assistance agreements. As a result of limited resources, there will also be no new awards or incremental funding anticipated for existing assistance agreements in FY2016, and there are insufficient funds to warrant issuing a competitive solicitation to accept proposals for new environmental economics research under this CDFA in FY2016. If the Pres Bud 2017 submission is accepted, there may be an opportunity to requests proposals under a new competitive solicitation on environmental economics. If funds are approved, the total amount of funds available for these purposes will likely be in the range of $200,000 - $400,000. The amount of funding awarded to each selected recipient will depend on particular features and objectives identified in the solicitation. Range and Average of Financial Assistance: For recent awards related to smart growth, the range is from $25,000 to $200,000, with an average around $100,000. For most recent competitively awarded grants in the area of economics - related to Environmental Economic Workshops: range is $35,000 - $95,000, with an average award of ~$70,000. Related to Environmental Economics Dissertations and Early Career Research: range is $35,000 - $75,000, with an average of ~$60,000. Related to Environmental Economic Research: range is $75,000-$300,000, with an average of ~$250,000. There were no earmarks included for the period FY2010-FY2016, and we continue to not expect to have any earmarks in FY2017. TAFS Codes: 68-0108. PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Fiscal Year 2015: Some of the research underway in FY2015, and workshops that were hosted in FY2015 (both using prior year's funding) include: - Camp Resources workshop will be held during the summer (normally in August each year). The workshop typically consists of 15-20 full-length |