Funding is for projects designed to investigate and demonstrate whether wetland program implementation results in positive environmental and programmatic outcomes. In FY 05, EPA received 51 proposals in response to the competitive announcement released November 05, 2004. EPA awarded 26 one-time pilot grants to 22 states and one tribe. Projects include: activities to track no net loss of wetland acres in the 404 regulatory program and net gain in wetland acres and functions; monitoring and assessment; compliance inspections and enforcement of state regulatory programs; state permit reviews; inventory and mapping of wetland resources; compensatory mitigation; and development of rules, policies, and procedures to restore and protect vulnerable wetlands. At the end of each year of funding, projects report the outcomes resulting from activities funded by the pilot grants. To date, pilot grant recipients have submitted two annual reports; they will submit the third and final report in January 2009. The following represents a sample of results reported to date; these numbers will increase when the pilot projects are complete: -Restoration: 3 grantees have restored 183 wetland acres and 1,542 stream feet; - Inventory and Mapping: 8 grantees have inventoried or mapped 6.7 million acres of wetland resources and surrounding lands; -Data Systems: Because of updated and reconfigured data tracking systems, 44 more programs, agencies, and organizations in 9 states are using wetland data systems; - Monitoring and Assessment: 5 grantees have monitored and/or assessed almost 724,000 wetland acres; and - Regulation: 8 grantees have adopted and implemented 3 new rules and 12 policies or procedures to better protect wetlands resources through State programs.

Uses and Use Restrictions

State/Tribal Environmental Outcome Wetland Demonstration Grants provide eligible applicants an opportunity to conduct projects that promote the coordination and acceleration of research, investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys, and studies relating to the causes, effects, extent, prevention, reduction, and elimination of water pollution.

This pilot program will demonstrate that supporting the implementation of State and Tribal wetland programs will have positive environmental results and will support the no net loss/net gain of wetland acreage goal and support increased involvement of State and Tribal protection of vulnerable waters.

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

States and Tribal wetland agencies are eligible for the State/Tribal Environmental Outcome Wetland Demonstration Program competition pilot.

Local agencies and non-for-profits are not eligible for participation.

Tribes must be federally recognized, although "Treatment as a State" status is not a requirement.

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 tribal governments involved in administering wetlands protection, restoration, and/or management programs or programs related to or complementing wetlands protection programs.

Credentials/Documentation

Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State, Tribal, and local governments.

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.

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

Information is available on the EPA website at: http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/grantpilot/. Applicants may be able to use http://www.grants.gov to electronically apply for certain grant opportunities under this CFDA.

Award Procedures

The EPA Headquarters (HQ) Office established criteria against which State and Tribal wetland programs were evaluated and ranked. 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

Deadlines were posted on the following EPA website (http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/grantpilot). You can contact the EPA Regional or Headquarters Office for information and to confirm deadlines. For general information contact the EPA Wetlands Helpline at: (800) 832-7828.

Authorization

Clean Water Act, Section 104(b)(3), as amended, Public Law 92-500, 33 U.S.C. 1254(b)(3).

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Grants are usually approved within 120 days of receipt of completed 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

None.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula. State and Tribal government agencies must provide a minimum of 25 percent of each award's total project costs in accordance with 40 CFR 31.24, 35.385, and 35.615. We encourage States and Tribes to provide a larger share of the project's cost whenever possible (i.e., in excess of the required 25 percent of total project costs). 40 CFR 35.536(c) (the Environmental Program Grants for Tribes Regulation), States that "the required cost share shall be five percent of the allowable cost of the work plan budget for that program" if the Tribal applicant puts the funds into a PPG. Tribal applicants can submit budgets with a 5 percent match if the Tribe is going to put the funds into a PPG. The following term and condition will be included in the assistance agreement awarded to the Tribe: If the Wetlands Program Grant Funds are not or could not be included in a PPG, then the Tribe must provide a 25 percent match. The match requirement can be met with contributions from entities other than the award recipient. Other Federal money cannot be used as the match for this grant program unless authorized by the statute governing the award of the other Federal funds. However, Indian tribes can use funds provided under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Act (25 U.S.C. Section 450 et seq.) to provide the required matching funds to the extent authorized by that Act and implementing regulations. Matching funds are considered grant funds. They may be used for the reasonable and necessary expenses of carrying out the work plan. Any restrictions on the use of grant funds (i.e., prohibition of land acquisition with grant funds) also apply to the use of matching funds.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

The terms of the grant shall be determined at time of grant award.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Quarterly interim and final progress and expenditure reports; program evaluations; and other reports as required by the specific terms of the Agreement.

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 until expiration of 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

68-0103-0-1-304; STAG.

Obigations

FY 07 $6,157,723; FY 08 est. $0 and FY 09 est. $0.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

$200,000 to $300,000/fiscal year; $250,000/fiscal year.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

General Grant Regulations, and Procedures (40 CFR Parts 31 and 35).

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

Region 1 - CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT: Jeanne Voorhees. US EPA Region 1, 1 Congress Street, MC CSP, Suite 1100, Boston, MA, 02114. Telephone: (617) 918-1686. voorhees.jeanne@epa.gov. Region 2 - NJ, NY, PR, VI: Kathleen Drake, EPA Region 2, 290 Broadway, NY, NY, 10007. Telephone: (212) 637-3817. drake.kathleen@epa.gov. Region 3 - DE, MD, PA, VA, WV, DC: Anita Provenzano, EPA Region 3, 1650 Arch Street, MC 3EA30, Philadelphia, PA, 19103. Telephone: 215-814-5180. provenzano.anita@epa.gov. Region 4 - AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN: Morgan Jackson and Rhonda Evans, EPA Region 4, 61 Forsyth Street, S.W., Atlanta, GA, 30303. Telephone: (404) 562-9393 (M. Jackson); (404) 562-9369 (R. Evans). jackson.morgan@epa.gov; evans.rhonda@epa.gov. Region 5 - IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI: Sue Elston, EPA Region 5, 77 West Jackson Blvd., MC WW16J, Chicago, IL, 60604. Telephone: (312) 886-6115. elston.sue@epa.gov. Region 6 - AR, LA, NM, OK, TX: Mariama Dover, EPA Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, MC 6WQ-AT, Dallas, TX, 75202. Telephone: (214) 665-6778. dover.mariama@epa.gov. Region 8 - CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY: Toney Ott, EPA Region 8, 1595 Wynkoop Street, 8EPR-EP, Denver, CO, 80202. Telephone: (303) 312-6909. ott.toney@epa.gov. Region 9 - AZ, CA, HI, NV, AS, GU: Suzanne Marr and Paul Jones, EPA Region 9, 75 Hawthorne Street, WTR-3, San Francisco, CA 94105. Telephone: (415) 972-3468 (S. Marr); (415) 972-3470 (P. Jones). marr.suzanne@epa.gov; jones.paul@epa.gov. Region 10 - AK, ID, OR, WA: Yvonne Vallette, EPA Region 10, Oregon Operations Office, 811 S.W. 6th Ave, 3rd Floor, OOO, Portland, OR, 97204. Telephone: (503) 326-2716. vallette.yvonne@epa.gov.

Headquarters Office

Katherine Antos, EPA Wetlands Division, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., MC (4502T), Washington, DC 20460. Telephone: (202) 566-0620; Fax: (202) 566-1349; E-mail: antos.katherine@epa.gov.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

The evaluation and selection criteria for competitive awards under this CFDA description will be described in the competitive announcement. Decisions of which States and Tribes will receive funding under this pilot will be determined by how the State or Tribe's program rank using established criteria and factors. These criteria will be published on the HQ Office's website (www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/grantpilot). States and Tribes will be evaluated and ranked according to these criteria and factors. Funding under this pilot program will be provided to the States and Tribes that rank the highest.