Puget Sound Action Agenda Outreach, Education and Stewardship Support Program
The goal of all 28 National Estuary Programs is to attain and maintain water quality in designated estuaries that would assure protection of public water supplies and the protection
The goal of the Puget Sound National Estuary Program approved Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) (the 2020 Action Agenda) is to restore and maintain the Puget Sound Estuary"s estuarine environment, by 2020, so that it will support balanced indigenous populations of shellfish, fish and wildlife and support the extensive list of recognized uses of Puget Sound.
In the FFY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act, Puget Sound restoration funds are provided to develop and implement programs that will help meet the Clean Water Act goal of improved water quality as well as improved air quality and minimization of the adverse impacts of rapid development in the Puget Sound Basin, including activities linked to nonpoint sources or habitat restoration work.
Programs and projects would promote the use of comprehensive watershed protection and management practices at the local level to achieve nonpoint source pollution reduction and protection and restoration of habitat and aquatic resources in watersheds that are subject to the pressures of development and growth.
In the FFY 2010 Omnibus Appropriations Act, Congress appropriated an additional $50 million to support the Puget Sound Program.
By 2011, EPA Region 10, working with its key state, tribal and local partners have committed to attaining the following environmental outcomes for the Puget Sound Basin through 2011:
" 1,000 acres of shellfish bed growing areas, currently impacted by degraded or declining water quality, show improved water quality and corresponding lifting of harvest restrictions;
" 200 acres of prioritized contaminated sediments are remediated and upstream source controls are put in place;
" 3,500 acres of tidally or seasonally influenced estuarine wetlands are restored and protected.
In addition, by 2011, the EPA is committed to protecting and improving water quality and minimizing the adverse impacts of rapid development in the Puget Sound Basin.
These commitments include protecting the watersheds and waters of Puget Sound by protecting the fundamental watershed processes that provide and create aquatic habitats and by reducing the generation and release of toxic, nutrient and pathogen pollution.
An essential element of a successful estuary conservation and management program is a well-informed citizenry that is willing and able to take individual and community action to protect and enhance the estuary.
This program is aimed at building and sustaining coordinated efforts for outreach and education to increase public awareness and encourage individual stewardship to protect both local and basin-wide ecosystems.
Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2010: In Federal Fiscal Year 2010, the EPA"s priority will be to competitively select and fund a single entity to serve as a leader and manager of an Outreach, Education and Stewardship Program for Puget Sound.
It is expected that this entity would be funded to both directly implement the program and implement the program through subawards to other eligible entities.
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.
Daniel I.
Steinborn, Puget Sound Financial Assistance Project Officer
Ecosystems and Community Health Unit
Office of Ecosystems, Tribal and Public Affairs
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10
1200 Sixth Avenue, Suite 900, ETPA-086
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 553-2728 or 1-800-424-4EPA, Extension 3-2728
E-mail: steinborn.daniel@epa.gov.
Program Accomplishments
Not Applicable.
Uses and Use Restrictions
The Puget Sound restoration funds were appropriated by Congress in conjunction with the Clean Water Act for development and implementation of programs that will improve water quality, air quality, and minimize the adverse impacts of rapid development in the Puget Sound Basin, including activities linked to nonpoint sources or habitat restoration work.
Any public education, outreach or stewardship project receiving assistance under this program must contribute to or support the general implementation of the 2020 Action Agenda for Puget Sound.
Additional information on use restrictions, if any, for the Puget Sound Action Agenda Education, Outreach, and Stewardship Support Program, will be provided in each Request for Proposals issued under this program.
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.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Eligible applicants for this program include:
Washington State agencies; public and private institutions of higher education; units of local government in the greater Puget Sound Basin and Nongovernmental organizations specifically including NGOs that are nonprofits within the meaning of §501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Also eligible to apply under this program are all Federally-recognized Indian Tribal governments located within the greater Puget Sound basin, and any consortium, of these eligible Tribes.
An Intertribal consortium must have adequate documentation of the existence of the partnership and the authorization of the member Tribes to apply for and receive assistance.
Documentation that demonstrates the existence of the partnership of Indian Tribal governments may consist of Tribal council resolutions, Intertribal consortia resolutions in conjunction with a Tribal council resolution from each member Tribe, or other written certification from a duly authorized representative of each Tribal government that clearly demonstrates that a partnership of Indian Tribal governments exists.
Documentation that demonstrates that member Tribes authorize the consortium to apply for and receive assistance may consist of a Tribal council resolution from each Tribe or other written certification from a duly authorized representative of each Tribal government that clearly demonstrates that the Tribe authorizes the consortium to apply for and receive the grant on behalf of the Tribe.
An Intertribal consortium resolution is not adequate documentation of the member Tribes authorization of the consortium unless it includes a written certification from a duly authorized representative of each Tribal government.
The greater Puget Sound basin is defined as all watersheds draining into the U.S.
waters of Puget Sound, the southern Georgia Basin and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
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
The direct beneficiary will be the entities that receive financial assistance under this program. Due to the fact that the program is designed and intended to assist in the restoration and protection of the Puget Sound estuary, the ultimate beneficiaries will be the residents of the greater Puget Sound region.
Credentials/Documentation
No Credentials or documentation are required. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.
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 the "Information Contact" or see Appendix IV of the Catalog.
This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.
12372,"Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs" because the State of Washington has chosen to not participate in this review process.
Environmental impact information is not required for this program.
This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.
12372.
Application Procedures
OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. Applicants will be required to submit application materials as described in the Request for Proposals that will be issued under this program. The Request for Proposals will also specify the submission methods which generally include an electronic and hard copy submission option. The standard application forms as furnished by the EPA and required by OMB Circulars No. A-110 and A-102 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 Agreement Management Division, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Mail Code 3903R, Washington, DC 20460 or though the EPA Region 10 Grants Administration web site at: http://yosemite.epa.gov/r10/omp.nsf/webpage/. 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
Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2, Public Law 111-88; Clean Water Act, Title 3, Section 320, Public Law 94-117; Clean Water Act, Title 3, Section 320, Public Law 106-457, 33 U.S.C 1330; Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009, Public Law 111-8.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
The Region expects that its review of the applications received will be completed within 120 to 150 calendar days following the deadline for the submission of applications for each Request for Proposals issued under this program.
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: The Puget Sound Action Agenda Education, Outreach and Stewardship program has no statutory formula for allocating the funds. All of the grants will be for implementation projects under the Puget Sound Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan (CCMP) under CWA §320(g)(2) and §320(g)(3)(ii). There is a statutory match of 50% of the total project costs for implementation project grants under CWA §320(g)(3)(ii)and CWA Section 320 allows for an aggregate match.
For the awards to be made under the competitions conducted under this program, the Puget Sound Management Conference, represented by the Puget Sound Partnership, has agreed to provide 67% of the 50% required non federal match for successful project proposals for the 2010-2011 biennium under a cooperative agreement with EPA. Accordingly, in order to meet the match requirement for the competitive solicitations issued under this program, EPA Region 10 will require that the selected recipient provide a match amount that is equal to 33% of the 50% required non federal match. Thus, for each proposal funded under this program, the required 50% non federal match will be met. The match may be cash or in-kind consistent with the regulation governing match requirements (40 C.F.R. §31.24 or 40 C.F.R. §30.23, as applicable). The example below illustrates how this will work.
Match Example:
For an applicant requesting $2,000,000 in federal funds under the competition, the total match required would be $2,000,000. Under the competition, the applicant will be required to provide a match of $660,000, or 33% of the required 50% match. The remaining $1,340,000($2,000,000 - $660,000) of the required 50% match will be met at the aggregate level by the Puget Sound Partnership.
Special Note: The EPA anticipates funding the award made under this program incrementally. Match requirements, and how they will be met, for the out-year increments (FFY 2011 and beyond) will be determined prior to awarding those increments). For a further description of incremental funding, please see the later sections on "Total allocations", "Obligations" and "Range and Average of Financial Assistance."
Contact the EPA Regional Office contact identified in this program description for more information.
This program does not have MOE requirements.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
The assistance will be awarded during Federal Fiscal Year 2010. Funds will be disbursed to the assistance recipient in accordance with the terms specified in the assistance agreement. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Assistance will be disbursed in accordance with the terms of the assistance agreement. Typically, assistance recipients draw funds at either monthly or quarterly intervals based on their incurred costs.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
No program reports are required.
No cash reports are required.
Progress report requirements will be a part of each assistance agreement.
A schedule showing interim milestones and the outputs that will be completed by the end of the project period will also be included.
Typical progress reports will discuss the progress that the assistance recipient has made on each major task and interim milestone identified in the approved statement of work.
Progress reports will also discuss any difficulties or problems that the assistance recipient has encountered and how they have been or are being resolved.
Other specific reporting requirements will be defined in the assistance agreement based on the statement of work described in the application.
Expenditure reports will typically be required at the same intervals as progress reports.
The expenditure reports will document expenditures to date, including expenditures of any matching funds, in a manner that allows the reader to confirm that matching requirements are being met and that all assistance payments (disbursements to the assistance recipient) are for costs that have been incurred in compliance with applicable cost principles.
No performance monitoring is required.
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.
Records
Financial records, including all documents to support entries on accounting records and to substantiate charges to each grant must be kept available to personnel authorized to examine EPA grant accounts. All records must be maintained until the expiration of three years from the date of submission of the final expenditure report. If questions still remain, such as those raised by an audit, related records should be retained until the matter is completely resolved.
Financial Information
Account Identification
68-0108-0-1-304.
Obigations
(Cooperative Agreements) FY 09 $2,000,000; FY 10 est $1,000,000; FY 11 est $1,000,000 - Region 10 estimates that they will obligate approximately $2,000,000 to this program. The EPA anticipates obligating $1,000,000 from the Federal Fiscal Year 2010 appropriation for the Puget Sound Program and for FY 2011 estimated obligations are $1,000,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
The EPA expects to make an initial award of $2,000,000 under this program. The resulting assistance agreement would include the potential for incremental funding of $1,000,000 per year for up to four additional years beyond the initial funding period. This incremental funding is contingent upon the availability of future appropriations, the assistance recipient"s performance and the needs of the CCMP for Puget Sound.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
For grants and cooperative agreements with state agencies, Tribal governments and intertribal consortia, the recipient must comply with 40 CFR Part 31 "Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments;" 40 CFR Part 35 "Environmental Program Grants-State, Interstate and Local Government Agencies," and OMB Circular A-87 "Cost Principles for State and Local Governments" and A-102 "Grants and Cooperative Agreements for States and Local Governments." OMB Circular A-87 has been codified at 2 CFR Part 225. EPA"s requirements under OMB Circular A-102 are codified at 40 CFR Part 31.For grants and cooperative agreements with institutions of higher education and non-profit organizations, the assistance recipient must comply with 40 CFR Part 30, "Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals and other Non-Profit Organizations," 40 CFR Part 30 and OMB Circular No. A-110, "Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Other Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals and Other Non-Profit Organizations." OMB Circular A-110 is codified at 2 CFR Part 215. For grants and cooperative agreements with institutions of higher education, the assistance recipient must comply with OMB Circular A-21, codified at 2 CFR 220, "Cost Principles for Educational Institutions." For grants and cooperative agreements with non-profit organizations, the assistance recipient must comply with OMB Circular A-122, codified as 2 CFR Part 230, "Cost Principles for Non-Profit Organizations."
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
See Regional Agency Offices. Daniel I. Steinborn, Puget Sound Financial Assistance Project Officer
Ecosystems and Community Health Unit
Office of Ecosystems, Tribal and Public Affairs
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10
1200 Sixth Avenue, Suite 900, ETPA-086
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 553-2728 or 1-800-424-4EPA, Extension 3-2728
E-mail: steinborn.daniel@epa.gov.
Headquarters Office
Daniel I. Steinborn, Ecosystems and Community Health Unit, Office of Ecosystems, Tribal and Public Affairs, Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10, 1200 Sixth Avenue, Suite 900, ETPA-086, Seattle, Washington 98101 Phone: (206) 553-2728.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
The evaluation and selection criteria for competitive awards under this program description will be published in the announcement of the competitive funding opportunity (e.g., the Request for Proposals or RFP).
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