Potomac Highlands Implementation Grants
The Mid-Atlantic Highland"s Action Program (HAP) is the foundation for the Potomac Highlands Implementation Grant.
The Mid-Atlantic Highlands encompasses 79,000 square
The region hosts some of the most diverse and globally important resources on Earth.
It is rich in natural and cultural heritage where the environment plays an important role in the quality of life.
After years of resource extraction and lack of regard for natural resources, the Mid-Atlantic Highlands has become an area in need of attention.
Congress recognized the uniqueness of the area and the need to perform restoration, conservation and protection projects.
In 2002, Congress funded the Mid-Atlantic Highland Action Program (HAP).
HAP uses the best available science including strategic conservation, to improve the natural resources and socio-economic conditions in the Highlands.
Strategic conservation aims to build networks and connections between high value ecosystems by protecting intact resources and enhancing or restoring other areas.
This strategic approach provides a framework for revitalizing and connecting forested headwaters and lands through river corridors and natural stream channel design, wetlands, working lands, ridge lines, steep slopes, riparian buffers, and flood plains.
HAP is working toward achieving the following program goals:
1.
Highlighting, protecting, and conserving special places that have ecological and cultural importance;
2.
Highlighting important connections between these special places;
3.
Revitalizing damaged ecosystems especially in key ecological corridors;
4.
Empowering citizens and communities to strengthen the linkages among cultural heritage, economic viability and the condition of the environment;
5.
Enhancing opportunities for the restoration industry in the Highlands, which will enhance lasting employment opportunities for its residents; and
6.
Leveraging existing resources to support all these goals.
Potomac Highlands Implementation Grant will support the HAP goals within the geographic boundaries as defined above.
The mission of the Environmental Protection Agency is to protect human health and the environment. Since 1970, EPA has been working for a cleaner, healthier environment for the American people.
EPA, Region 3, Mail Code 3EA00, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Tom DeMoss, 410-295-1356, Email: demoss.tom@epa.gov
Susan Spielberger, 215-814-5356, fax 215-814-5718
Email: spielberger.susan@epa.gov.
Program Accomplishments
Not Applicable.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Funds are used to support on-the-ground project work relating to protection of ecological resources and services to improve the Potomac Highlands ecosystem.
For the purposes of the Potomac Highlands implementation grants, EPA considers the Potomac Highlands to be the Potomac Watershed west of and above the fall line plus the eight counties in the east central portion of West Virginia defined as the WV Potomac Highlands by the WV Department of Commerce.
The eight counties are: Mineral, Hampshire, Grant, Tucker, Randolph, Pendleton, Pocahontas, and Hardy.
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: http://geodata.epa.gov.
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.
Funds are awarded to eligible entities that best meet the selection criteria described in the Request for Proposals.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Assistance under this program will be available to State and local governments, as defined in 40 CFR Part 31.3, universities and colleges and other public and private nonprofit organizations.
For-profit commercial entities are not eligible.
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.
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
Assistance under this program will be available to State and local governments, as defined in 40 CFR Part 31.3, universities and colleges and other public and private nonprofit organizations.
Credentials/Documentation
Documentation of nonprofit status may be required. Applicants may be requested to demonstrate that they have appropriate background, academic training, experience in the field and necessary equipment to carry out projects. EPA may ask applicants or principal investigators to provide curriculum vitae and relevant publications. OMB Circular Nos. A-21, A-87, and A-122 apply to this program. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.
Aplication and Award Process
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.
See http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_spoc/ to find out who your contact is in your state.
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
OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. Application procedures will be provided in the competitive announcement issued by EPA.
Applicants may be able to use http://www.grants.gov to electronically apply for certain grant opportunities under this CFDA.
Award Procedures
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.
Authorization
EPA"s Fiscal Year 2010 Appropriation Act ("Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriation Act, 2010")
, Public Law 111-88; EPA"s Fiscal Year 2010 Appropriation Act ("Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriation Act, 2010")
, Public Law 111-68.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
> 180 Days.
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 40 CFR 30.63 or 40 CFR 31.70, as applicable.
Renewals
Not Applicable.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
This program has no statutory formula.
Matching Requirements: Percent: 25.%. Matching Requirements: Applicants are required to provide a minimum non-federal match of 25 percent of the total cost of the project or projects. Match may be cash or in-kind consistent with the regulation governing match requirements (40 CFR 31.24 or 40 CFR 30.23). Matching Requirements: Applicants are required to provide a minimum non-federal match of 25 percent of the total cost of the project or projects. Match may be cash or in-kind consistent with the regulation governing match requirements (40 CFR 31.24 or 40 CFR 30.23).
This program does not have MOE requirements. MOE is a federal requirement that requires grant recipients and /or sub-recipients to maintain a certain level of state/local fiscal effort to be eligible for full participation in federal grant funding.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Awards are released through an electronic funds transfer method. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Awards are released through an electronic funds transfer method.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
In addition to the general reporting requirements under 40 CFR, EPA includes specific reporting requirements for grants and cooperative agreements in the terms and conditions of the agreements.
Agreements may require financial, equipment, and invention reports.
Reporting requirements are also identified in EPA"s grant regulations 40 CFR Parts 30 and 31.
Agreements may require quarterly, interim, and final progress reports.
Agreements may require expenditure reports.
Performance monitoring is required.
Cash reports are not applicable.
In addition to the general reporting requirements under 40 CFR, EPA includes specific reporting requirements for grants and cooperative agreements in the terms and conditions of the agreements.
Agreements may require financial, equipment, and invention reports.
Reporting requirements are also identified in EPA"s grant regulations 40 CFR Parts 30 and 31.
Agreements may require quarterly, interim, and final progress reports.
Agreements may require expenditure reports.
Performance monitoring is required.
Expenditure reports are required.
Performance monitoring reports are reqired.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. 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
Not applicable.
Financial Information
Account Identification
68-0108-0-1-304.
Obigations
(Project Grants) FY 09 $0; FY 10 est $1,800,000; FY 11 est $0
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Range of funding will be between $0 to $1.8 Million.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
Grants and cooperative agreements are subject to EPA general grant regulations (40 CFR Parts 30, "Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Non-Profit Organizations," and 40 CFR Part 31, "Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments"). Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular 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 "for profit" entities.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
See Regional Agency Offices. EPA, Region 3, Mail Code 3EA00, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Tom DeMoss, 410-295-1356, Email: demoss.tom@epa.gov
Susan Spielberger, 215-814-5356, fax 215-814-5718
Email: spielberger.susan@epa.gov.
Headquarters Office
Danielle Algazi, EPA, Region 3, Mail code 3EA00, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 Email: algazi.danielle@epa.gov Phone: (215) 814-2722 Fax: (215) 814-5718.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
The evaluation and selection criteria for competitive awards under this CFDA description will be described in the competitive announcement.
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