Lake Pontchartrain Basin Restoration Program (PRP)
Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2010: Continue to implement the plans and studies identified in the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Program Comprehensive Management
Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2011: The program will work to restore the ecological health of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin.
In FY 2011, EPA will invest $978,000 in the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Program for the following activities:
Completing plans and studies as identified in the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Program Comprehensive Management Plan (LPBCMP) which supports the following goals: (1) Planning and design of consolidated wastewater treatment systems which support the Agency"s Sustainable Infrastructure goal; (2) Repair and replacement studies to improve existing wastewater systems; and (3) Investigation and design of storm water management systems.
Conducting outreach and public education projects that address the goals of the LPBCMP, such as: (1) Improving the management of animal waste lagoons by educating and assisting the agricultural community on lagoon maintenance techniques; (2) Protecting and restoring critical habitats and encouraging sustainable growth by providing information and guidance on habitat protection and green development techniques; and (3) Reducing pollution at its source.
- Puget Sound Watershed Management Assistance
- Long Island Sound Program
- National Estuary Program
- Gulf of Mexico Program
- Lake Champlain Basin Program
Examples of Funded Projects
Fiscal Year 2009: Weekly water quality sampling and analysis with reporting to the public and agencies, wastewater treatment plant assistance, habitat preservation and outreach, coastal sustainability, preliminary design report for a new collection system to prevent improperly treated effluent from reaching Alligator Bayou, completion of construction document, final plans and specification for sewer force main with pumps, sewer system evaluation survey (SSES) to determine areas of significant inflow/infiltration problems and recommendations for corrective actions.
Fiscal Year 2010: Not yet available.
Fiscal Year 2011: No Current Data Available
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.
Sylvia Ritzky, Project Officer, 6WQ-AT, USEPA Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, TX 75202 (214) Office: 665-8189 Fax: (214) 665-6490 Email: ritzky.sylvia@epa.gov.
Program Accomplishments
Not Applicable.
Uses and Use Restrictions
The Administrator may make grants (1) for restoration projects and studies recommended by a management conference convened for the basin under section 320, and (2) for public education projects recommended by tghe management conference.
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.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
The grants for this program are awarded to the Management Conference, also know as the PRP, for restoration projects, studies and public education projects.
Eligible sub-grantees for this program include the Parishes and Cities within the 16 parrish area of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Watershed and the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation.
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
Eligible applicants for assistance include the Parishes and Cities within the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Watershed and the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation.
Credentials/Documentation
. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
The standard application forms as furnished by the Federal agency and required by OMB Circular No.
A-102 must be used for this program.
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
This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. Completed applications should be submitted to the appropriate EPA Regional Office contact. Applicants may be able to use http://www.grants.gov to electronically apply for certain grant opportunities under this CFDA.
Award Procedures
Applications are evaluated by the appropriate EPA office and are subject to review for technical merit, soundness of design, and reasonableness of proposed costs. Approved projects are awarded by the Regional Administrator.
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
Lake Pontchartrain Basin Restoration Act of 2000; Clean Water Act , Section 121.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Grants are usually approved within five months of receipt of a complete application.
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: 5.%. Regional policy requires a 5% match.
This program does not have MOE requirements.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
The terms of the grant shall be determined at the time of grant award. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Assistance disbursement will be determined at the time of award.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Program reports are included in semi-annual reports submitted to the Region 6 Project Officer.
No cash reports are required.
The recipient will be required to submit semi-annual progress reports to the EPA Region 6 Project Officer.
The recipient will include expenditure reports in the semi-annual reports submitted to the EPA Region 6 Project Officer.
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. 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 charges to each grant, must be kept available to personnel authorized to examine EPA grant accounts. All records must be maintained for 3 years from the date of submission of the annual financial status 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.
Financial Information
Account Identification
68-0108-0-1-304.
Obigations
(Cooperative Agreements) FY 09 $950,000; FY 10 est $951,000; FY 11 est $1,500,000
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Since the inception of the program in 2002, the funds have ranged from a high of $4,000,000 to a low of $950,000 in FY 2008. The anticipated award for FY 2010 is $951,000.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
EPA Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments (40 CFR Part 31).
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
See Regional Agency Offices. Sylvia Ritzky, Project Officer, 6WQ-AT, USEPA Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, TX 75202 (214) Office: 665-8189 Fax: (214) 665-6490 Email: ritzky.sylvia@epa.gov.
Headquarters Office
Sylvia Ritzky, USEPA Region 6, 6WQ-AT , 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75202 Email: ritzky.sylvia@epa.gov Phone: (214) 665-8189.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
PRP projects to be funded are selected through an annual, publicly-vetted process with the selection of project made by the PRP Executive committee and ultimately approved by a internal regional EPA review.
The evaluation and selection criteria for competitive awards under this CFDA description will be described in the competitive announcement.
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