To restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem.

The Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO), in concert with EPA Regions 2, 3, and 5, leads a consortium of programs, agencies, and public and private institutions in attaining specific

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objectives and actions that will reduce contaminants, restore habitat, and protect the living resources of the basin.

EPA and its partners will use the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration's strategy as a guide in activities supporting the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement goal of restoring the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the waters of the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem.

See http://www.glrc.us/strategy.html.

Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2008: (1) Remediation of contaminated sediments, including (a) sediment assessments; (b) evaluations of remedial alternatives; and (c) source identification/source control.

(2) Pollution prevention, reduction, or elimination with an emphasis on substances which are persistent and toxic, especially those which bioaccumulate, in the Great Lakes basin.

(3) Habitat (Ecological) Protection and Restoration, including demonstration of practices and tools for protecting and restoring aquatic, terrestrial, and wetland ecosystems.

(4) Invasive (non-indigenous) aquatic and terrestrial species in the Great Lakes Basin, with an emphasis on prevention.

(5) Strategic or emerging issues of basin-wide importance, including projects which: address assessment, causes, and/or effects of chemical or biological pollutants not in the regulatory mainstream; cut across or overlap two or more of the foregoing areas; support conferences regarding the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement; address issues pursuant to the Great Lakes Executive Order or the Regional Collaboration; or address some other unanticipated area.

(6) Lakewide Management Plan and Remedial Action Plan implementation and development, including de-listing of Areas of Concern and Beneficial Use Impairments.

(7) Environmental protections related to Lake St.

Clair.

(8) Strategic Human Health issues.

(9) Various aspects of Great Lakes monitoring including fish contaminants, atmospheric deposition, biology, and open water toxics.

(10) Projects addressing contaminated sediments in Areas of Concern pursuant to the Great Lakes Legacy Act.

Under the Legacy Act, EPA typically funds large projects in Areas of Concern using Project Agreements (not grants) and requiring a minimum 35 percent non-federal match.

Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2009: (1) Remediation of contaminated sediments, including (a) sediment assessments; (b) evaluations of remedial alternatives; and (c) source identification/source control.

(2) Pollution prevention, reduction, or elimination with an emphasis on substances which are persistent and toxic, especially those which bioaccumulate, in the Great Lakes basin.

(3) Habitat (Ecological) Protection and Restoration, including demonstration of practices and tools for protecting and restoring aquatic, terrestrial, and wetland ecosystems.

(4) Invasive (non-indigenous) aquatic and terrestrial species in the Great Lakes Basin, with an emphasis on prevention.

(5) Strategic or emerging issues of basin-wide importance, including projects which: address assessment, causes, and/or effects of chemical or biological pollutants not in the regulatory mainstream; cut across or overlap two or more of the foregoing areas; support conferences regarding the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement; address issues pursuant to the Great Lakes Executive Order or the Regional Collaboration; or address some other unanticipated area.

(6) Lakewide Management Plan and Remedial Action Plan implementation and development, including de-listing of Areas of Concern and Beneficial Use Impairments.

(7) Environmental protection related to Lake St.

Clair.

(8) Strategic Human Health issues.

(9) Various aspects of Great Lakes monitoring including fishcontaminants, atmospheric deposition, biology, and open water toxics.

(10) Projects addressing contaminated sediments in Areas of Concern pursuant to the Great Lakes Legacy Act.

Under the Legacy Act, EPA typically funds large projects in Areas of Concern using Project Agreements (not grants) and requiring a minimum 35 percent nonfederal match.

The Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) holds competitions throughout the year based on available funds and Agency priorities. The number of applications and the number of awards made is dependent on the competitive announcement issued. The announcement typically includes the number of anticipated awards. EPA's Great Lakes Program has been leading Federal, State, Tribal, local, and industry Great Lakes protection and restoration efforts. Accomplishments include: atmospheric deposition monitoring and open lake monitoring in each Great Lake for toxicant and nutrient loadings and concentrations (using EPA's research vessels); trend and baseline data to support and target remedial efforts and measure environmental progress; publishing results from monitoring the Lake Michigan air, water, sediments, and biota through the Lake Michigan Mass Balance Study; study of Lake Erie "dead zone;" facilitating access to Great Lakes information; contaminated sediment assessments and remediation demonstrations to assist clean-up in Great Lakes Areas of Concern; protection and restoration of important Great Lakes habitats; promoting toxics reduction through the Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy; advancing prevention and control of invasive species; and development and implementation of Lakewide Management Plans (LaMPs) and Remedial Action Plans (RAPs). In FY 07, GLNPO announced proposal processes in the priority areas of: Habitat Protection and Restoration (38 submitted totaling $2.7 million, 22 projects selected totaling $1.1 million in federal funds); Emerging or Strategic Issues (Disappearing Diporeia - 9 submitted, 2 selected totaling $200 thousand); and Contaminated Sediments (Legacy Act projects - projects still being developed). In addition, in FY 07 GLNPO completed a general Great Lakes solicitation through a "funding guidance" addressing various Great Lakes priorities which was announced in FY06 (82 proposals submitted, 32 selected totaling $5.17M). Non-competitive grants were awarded for contaminated sediments, LaMPs, and RAPs. An FY 08 request for applications for Pollution Prevention and Toxics Reduction (pharmaceuticals and electronic waste) resulted in 28 submittals totaling almost $600,000 and 17 selections totaling $350,000. In FY 08, proposal or application processes have been announced and are still under way for: Habitat Protection and Restoration; LaMP/RAP priorities; and Monitoring. Non-competitive grants will also be awarded for LaMPs and RAPs.In FY 09, GLNPO expects to issue competitive requests for proposals or projects in areas supporting the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Strategy, including the priority areas of: Pollution Prevention and Toxics Reduction; Contaminated sediments; Habitat Protection and Restoration; Emerging or Strategic Issues (including Invasive Species); LaMP and RAP priorities; and Monitoring. GLNPO also will issue non-competitive grants to States and Tribes for LaMP and RAP activities. Additional information is available from links at http://www.epa.gov/grtlakes/fund/glf.html.

Uses and Use Restrictions

Section 104(b)(3) of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C.

Section 1254(b)(3), authorizes the awarding of assistance for programs established under the Clean Water Act.

The Great Lakes National Program Manager is delegated authority to award assistance (for research, investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys, and studies relating to the causes, effects, extent, prevention, reduction, and elimination of pollution) affecting the Great Lakes Basin and/or in support of the U.S.-Canada Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.

Such activities include surveillance and monitoring of Great Lakes water quality and land use activities.

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.

Eligibility and other requirements for Legacy Act projects is being developed.

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.

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Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

State water pollution control agencies, interstate agencies, other public or nonprofit private agencies, institutions, and organizations for the purposes stated in Section 104 (a)(1) of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C.

Section 1254(a)(1).

"For profit" organizations are not eligible.

Colleges and universities which are subject to 40 CFR 30 or 31 are eligible.

Since other federal agencies are public agencies or institutions, they are generally eligible to compete and would receive an interagency agreement if selected for an award.

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 and local governments, interstate agencies, public and private nonprofit organizations, institutions, and Indian tribes are eligible; "for profit" organizations are not. Colleges and universities which are subject to 40 CFR 30 or 31 are eligible.

Credentials/Documentation

The provisions of OMB Circular No. A-87 "Cost Principles for State, Local and Indian Tribal Governments," OMB Circular No. A-21 "Cost Principles for Educational Institutions," and of OMB Circular No. A-122 "Cost Principles for Nonprofit Organizations" apply.

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.

Preapplication assistance is available.

Requests for Initial Proposals and Proposals will be accessible on the Internet from GLNPO's home page (http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/) and an announcement will be mailed to organizations which have registered with GLNPO.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

As specified in applicable requests for proposals. Application kits may be requested from USEPA - GLNPO (G-17J), 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604-3590. Application Packages should be submitted to the same address. Standard application forms, as furnished by the Federal agency and required by OMB Circular No. A-102, must be used. Applicants may be able to use http://www.grants.gov to electronically apply for certain grant opportunities under this CFDA.

Award Procedures

Proposals are evaluated by EPA reviewers to determine the adequacy of the application under Great Lakes objectives, including technical merit, relevance of the project, environmental outcomes, and cost. Administrative review is done by the Regional Assistance Branch. Funds are awarded by the Great Lakes National Program Office or Region 2, 3, or 5, as applicable. GLNPO assistance is approved by the GLNPO Director and awarded by the Great Lakes National Program Manager. 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

Schedules are established in Requests for Proposals or Applications and published on the program's web site. A general funding guidance is expected to be issued annually, with proposals due two months later. Specific Requests for Proposals or Applications may be issued throughout the year.

Authorization

Clean Water Act, Sections 104 and 118, 33 U.S.C.1254; National Environmental Policy Act, Section 102(2)(F).

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Approximately 60 days after deadline for application submission.

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

Contact the Great Lakes National Program Office for information.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula. Leveraging, including an applicant's match percentage, will be considered as part of the project selection process for grants and cooperative agreements; however, the program does not expect to require any minimum match requirement. Any such requirement will be specified in the individual Request for Proposals. A minimum 35 percent matching requirement will apply to Legacy Act projects (Section 103 of the Great Lakes Legacy Act of 2002).

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Generally 1-2 years; however, some incremental awards are made up to 5 years. The term of the grant shall be determined at the time of grant award.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Quarterly or semi-annual, interim, and final progress and financial status reports; program evaluation and other reports (such as equipment and invention reports) as required by the specific terms of the Agreement.

Financial Status Reports must be submitted.

Audits

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. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend $500,000 or more in a year in Federal awards shall 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 OMB Circular No. A-133.

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.

Financial Information

Account Identification

68-0108-0-1-304; EPM.

Obigations

Grants and Cooperative Agreements - FY 07 $7,165,148; FY 08 est. $6,200,000; and FY 09 est. $6,200,000; Project Agreements - FY 07 $30,000,000 allocated: $9,218,370 used, $20,781,630 expected to be used. FY 08 est. $34,356,000; and FY 09 est. $35,000,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Grants and Cooperative Agreements: $4,000 to $575,000/fiscal year; $110,000/fiscal year.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

Requests for proposals, examples, and other Great Lakes funding information is available from http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/fund/. General regulations for EPA assistance programs are contained in 40 CFR Parts 30 through 47.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

Mike Russ, EPA, Great Lakes National Program Office (G-17J), 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60604-3590. Telephone: (312) 886-4013; Fax: (312) 353-2018; E-mail: russ.michael@epa.gov.

Headquarters Office

Contact the Regional Office listed above.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

The evaluation and selection criteria for competitive awards under this CFDA description will be described in the competitive announcement. Proposals are approved by EPA according to technical merit and relevance to the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, Section 118 of the Clean Water Act, and the criteria established in the applicable request for proposals.