|
Grant Community.com Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Descriptions |
CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC
ASSISTANCE
66.806: Superfund Technical Assistance Grants for Citizen Groups
at Priority Sites
|
| PROGRAM AND AWARD | FINANCIAL AND INFORMATION CONTACTS |
| ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS | FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO. |
| APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS | INFORMATION CONTACTS |
| RELATED PROGRAMS | ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS |
| PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS | POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS |
Applicant Eligibility: EPA is authorized to make technical assistance grants (TAG) available to any qualified group of individuals which may be affected by a release or threatened release at any Superfund facility. "Affected" individuals are those who can demonstrate direct effects from the site, such as actual or potential health or economic injury. The recipient group must incorporate to receive funds.
Beneficiary Eligibility: This program will benefit groups of individuals affected by Superfund hazardous waste sites. This may include homeowners, land/property owners, as well as any other individuals in the general public who live near a site or are otherwise affected by it.
Credentials/Documentation: At the time of the award, a recipient must either be incorporated or demonstrate that it has taken all necessary and appropriate actions to do so. Recipients must show proof of incorporation no later than the time of the group's first request for reimbursement for costs incurred. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87. This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-122.
Preapplication Coordination: 1) Groups wishing to apply for a TAG must first submit to EPA a letter of intent or an application. 2) If site work is already underway or scheduled to begin, EPA will provide formal public notice (including mailings, and meetings) to other interested parties that applications are being accepted. 3) Competing groups are encouraged to consolidate and submit a single application. 4) Prior to submitting their application to EPA (or concurrently), the applicant must submit the application to the State for Intergovernmental Review which may take up to 60 days. 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. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-110.
Application Procedure: Applicants for TAGs must submit the following materials in accordance with Section 35.4045 of the Final Rule: 1) An original and two copies of EPA Form 424-33, "State and Local Non-construction Programs." The primary application must have the original signature of the Project manager; 2) A budget showing the proposed expenditure of funds, and how the funds and other resources, including the required 20 percent match, will be used to complete the project. In addition, a more detailed budget is more likely or typically required for the first budget period. For the purpose of this program, a budget period will be three years; and 3) Part IV of the grant application, "Applicant Qualification," which should contain a narrative statement showing compliance with evaluation criteria in the Final Rule FR Section 35.4035. 4) Part IV of the grant application will also be critical for determining a group's eligibility for receiving a grant and their management capabilities, and is particularly important in determining an award when there are several Competing TAG applications. The Superfund TAG Handbook provides citizens' groups with detailed instructions for preparing an application. The Handbook contains a blank application form. This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133.
Award Procedure: 1) The EPA Award Official, usually the Regional grants administration office, which is called the Assistance Administration Unit (AAU), acknowledges receipt of the application using EPA Form SF424. 2) The AAU performs an administrative review of the application to insure that it is complete. 3) The AAU forwards copies of the application to the TAG Review Team for programmatic review. The Team may include the Site Project Officer, the Remedial Project Manager (RPM), the Community Relations Coordinator (CRC), an AAU official, and other staff designated by the Regional Administrator. 4) The TAG Review Team performs the programmatic or technical review to select the best proposal for the funding. 5) If the Review Team rejects an application, the AAU sends a rejection letter to the applicant outlining the reasons for rejection and closes out the official administrative file. 6) If the application is conditionally approved, the Review Team sends a funding recommendation to the AAU. Under no circumstances do the program staff notify the applicant of award approval. 7) If the application receives administrative and programmatic approval for funding, the Project Officer then requests that the AAU prepare an assistance agreement (EPA Form 424) which is signed by the Regional Administrator. (See Chapter 15 of the EPA Assistance Administration Manual for further information on preparing assistance agreements.) Award offers are not mailed to the recipient until 5 working days after the Award Official signs the agreement (this restriction does not apply to rejection, decrease, or withdrawal actions). During this 5-day period, various EPA offices (the Office of External Affairs, EPA Headquarters Grants Operation Branch (GOB), and the Office of Congressional Liaison) must be notified of the award before any person outside the Federal Government is informed of the decision. 8) The Project Officer must notify the Administrator in writing through the Office of External Affairs. 9) The Project Officer must provide written notification to the Office of Congressional Liaison (OCL) through the Headquarters Grants Operation Branch (GOB) of the Grants Administration Division. GOB coordinates receipt of award notifications through an award Notification Control Station. The AAU that processes the award must provide a copy of page one of the assistance agreement to the award Notification Control Station at GOB within one working day following signature by the Award Official. 10) The OCL receives award notification from GOB and notifies the appropriate Congressional delegation prior to notification of the recipient. This notification process serves only as an informational function and does not require any response from the Congressional delegation. 11) The AAU forwards a copy of the award document to the Regional Financial Management Office. 12) At the end of the 5-day waiting period, an original and one copy of the assistance agreement is sent by the AAU to the applicant for signature. The applicant must either sign and return the agreement to the AAU within three calendar weeks of the date the agreement is postmarked or request an extension.
Deadlines: There are no fixed deadlines, except in one instance: if EPA receives an application and the site work has started or will shortly, other applicants are given 30 days to express interest in applying for a TAG and/or joining the original group of its application for a TAG.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: From 4 to 9 weeks.
Appeals: EPA (unless the State is administering the grant) shall review disputes between its officials and the applicant and/or recipient in accordance with its dispute resolution procedures set forth at 40 CFR Part 30.63.
Renewals: Grant waiver requests are made at the end of the budget period and are based on the January 30, 1990 policy directive which lists criteria for growth and deviation.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals: EPA will determine if the group meets specific administrative and management requirements. EPA will review a description of the group's history, goals, and plans for using the technical assistance funds. Factors that are particularly important in this evaluation process include: (1) the group's ability to manage the grant in compliance with EPA grant and procurement regulations; (2) the degree to which the health, economic well-being, and enjoyment of the environment of the members of the applicable groups are adversely affected by a hazardous waste site; (3) the group's ability to inform others in the community of the information provided by the technical advisor; (4) Broad representation of affected groups and individuals in the community; and (5) whether the applicant group is incorporated for TAG purposes. In general, a group must demonstrate that it is aware of the time commitment, resources, and dedication needed to manage successfully a TAG. Applicant groups should consult the four "Superfund TAG Handbooks": "Applying for your Grant"; "The Application Forms with Instructions"; "Procurement - Using Tag Funds"; and "Managing Your Grant" for detailed instructions as to how such information should be presented.
Examples of Funded Projects: Each project provides funds to local groups of citizens active at Superfund clean-up sites to hire independent technical advisors. The grants help citizens acquire technical advisors to help them understand proposed clean-up remedies, to better understand the technical problem at the site, and respond to EPA actions.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance: Up to a maximum of $50,000 unless waived for up to an additional $50,000.
None.
Since the program began on March 24, 1988, 220 awards have been issued by EPA, totaling more than $16,000,000 in TAG awards (including new awards, waivers and deviation).
Federal Agency: OFFICE OF SOLID WASTE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Type of Assistance: Project Grants.
Obligations: (Grants) FY 99 $1,700,000; FY 00 est $2,000,000; and FY 01 est $2,000,000.
Budget Account Number: 68-0108-0-1-304.
Authorization: Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, as amended, Section 117(e), Public Law 96-510; Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, as amended, Public Law 99-499, 42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature: 40 CFR 31; 40 CFR Part 35,( Subpart M, 40 CFR 33) Program Guidance Documents.
Regional or Local Office: Questions may be directed to the EPA Regional Office serving a particular state. A list of the Regions and their States, plus the phone numbers for the TAG information, State and Local Coordination Branch, is in Appendix IV of the Catalog.
Headquarters Office: Lois Gartner, Community Involvement and Outreach Center, Office of Emergency and Remedial Response, Mail code: 5204G, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460. Phone: (703) 603-8889.
(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)
Formula and Matching Requirements: 1) One grant per site, 2) $50,000 maximum unless waived for up to an additional $50,000, and 3) 20 percent match (including in-kind contributions) which can be waived or lowered due to financial burden.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance: Duration of Superfund clean-up activities (6 years on the average).
Uses and Use Restrictions: (a) Activities for which Federal funds may be used: Federal funds may be used at sites listed or proposed for listing on the NPL where cleanup is underway to obtain technical assistance in interpreting information with regard to the nature of the hazard, remedial investigation and feasibility study, record of decision, selection and construction of remedial action, operation and maintenance, or removal action. (b) Limitations on the use of Federal Funds: 1) Federal funds may not be used to develop new information, such as conducting independent testing and monitoring activities at a site. 2) Under CERCLA, as amended, grant funds also are not available for use in underwriting legal actions, including the preparation of court testimony and hiring of expert witnesses. 3) Grant funds are not available for any activities or expenditures for recipient group members' travel. 4) Grant funds may not be used for political activity and lobbying. 5) Grant funds may not be used for epidemiological or health studies, such as blood or urine testing. 6) Grant funds are not available for activities inconsistent with the cost principles stated in OMB Circular No. A-122.
Reports: 1) Progress reports. Each recipient shall submit quarterly progress reports to EPA for the technical assistance grant project 45 days after the end of each calendar quarter. Progress reports shall fully describe in chart or narrative format the progress achieved in relationship to the approved schedule, budget, and the technical assistance grant project milestones. Special problems encountered must be explained. 2) Financial status report. Each recipient shall submit to EPA a financial status report annually, within 90 days of the anniversary date of the start of the TAG project, and within 90 days of the end of the grant budget period and project. A recipient shall submit to the Agency a financial status report on SF-269 and the appropriate form to the State. 3) Final report. Each recipient shall submit to EPA a draft of the final report for review no later than 90 days prior to the end of the grant project and a final report within 90 days of the end of the project. The report shall document TAG project activities over the entire period of the grant support and shall describe the recipient's achievements with respect to stated technical assistance grant project purposes and objectives.
Audits: EPA (or the State if it is administering the grant) may perform interim audits of a group's project costs and financial actions and transactions. The Project Officer may request an audit at any time after the submission of an application, and may conduct a final audit of the project. If the Agency, as a result of an audit, determines that the group owes funds to the Federal government, the group will be required to reimburse the Agency for that amount. The Agency will take appropriate legal and administrative actions to collect the amount the group owes the Federal government if reimbursement is not made in a timely manner. The Agency may offset the debt against other funds payable to the group under the assistance agreement. The Federal government also will charge the group a penalty of six percent of the debt, handling charges, and interest if it fails to pay within 30 days from the date of the decision that the debt is owed. The interest rate will be the rate established by the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular No. A-133, "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," was published in the Federal Register on June 30, 1997. The Circular implements the Single Audit Act amendments of 1996. The Circular requires nonfederal entities that expend more than $300,000 in Federal award dollars, to have an audit conducted in accordance with the Circular's provisions. With the revised Circular, the previous OMB Circular No. A-128 for single audits of State and local governments was rescinded and the single audit requirements for these entities were incorporated among the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133.
Records: 1) Records and audit — recipient: (a) Each recipient shall keep and preserve full written financial records accurately disclosing the amount and the disposition of any funds, whether in cash or in-kind applied to the technical assistance grant project, and shall comply with the terms and conditions. (b) Such records shall be retained for ten years from the date of the final Financial Status Report, or until any audit, litigation, cost-recovery and/or any disputes initiated before the end of the ten-year retention period are settled, whichever is longer. These records must be readily available upon request. A recipient must obtain EPA's prior written approval to destroy records after the record retention period. 2) Records and audit — contractor(s): (a) The recipient's contractor shall keep and preserve detailed records in connection with the sub-agreement, reflecting acquisition work progress, reports, expenditures, and commitments and indicating their relationship to established costs and schedules. (b) The recipients shall require their contractor(s) to keep such full written financial records to adequately establish compliance with the terms and conditions of the sub-agreement. Such records shall be retained for ten years from closeout of the sub-agreement, unless audit, litigation, cost-recovery, and/or any disputes are initiated before the end of the ten-year retention period. The contractor(s) must obtain the recipients' written approval before it destroys any records after the retention period.
About
News Grant
Management Software Federal
Grant Programs Audits
Studies Expenditures
Links
Last Updated, November, 2000
Comments or Questions? ©Grant
Community.com 2000, All Rights Reserved