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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

66.810:  CEPP Technical Assistance Grants Program

Popular Name:  CAA 112 and SARA Title III State Grants Program

Objectives:  To provide financial assistance to States, Local agencies, and Indian Tribes for chemical accident prevention activities that relate to the Risk Management Program under the Clean Air Act Section 112(r). To provide financial assistance to Tribes for chemical emergency planning, and community right-to-know programs which are established to prevent or eliminate unreasonable risk to the health and environment of communities within the State.

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

66.810 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:  States, Local agencies District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Island, Northern Mariana Islands, and Federally Recognized Indian Tribes.

Beneficiary Eligibility:  States, Tribes, Local Emergency Planning Committees, and local emergency responders.

Credentials/Documentation:  OMB Circular No. A-87 is required for this program.

66.810 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination:  Discussion with EPA Headquarters and/or Regional Office is advisable. For more information, contact the Grants Program Manager, Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention Office (CEPPO) (5104), EPA, Washington, DC 20460. The standard application forms as furnished by the Federal agency and required by OMB Circular No. A-102 must be used 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. Applicants should consult the appropriate Regional CEPP contact to see whether grants are available in the Region. Local agencies can submit applications directly to EPA.

Application Procedure:  States, Local agencies, and Indian Tribes must submit the original completed application package and one copy to the Grants Program Manager, Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention Office (CEPPO)(5104), EPA, Washington, DC 20460 and one copy to the Regional CEPP coordinator.

Award Procedure:  Grant applications will undergo a two-step review process. Initially, Regional Office staff will evaluate each application and forward them to CEPPO with comments and a recommendation. Based on this preliminary Regional screening process and a consideration of all applications and national priorities, the final funding decision will be made by CEPPO. EPA Regional offices will be awarding the grants. The review process will concentrate on choosing the best project concepts. Once the grant is awarded to the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC), Tribal emergency Response Commission (TERC), directly to the local agencies such as the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC), or other State agency with SERC coordination as appropriate, EPA will monitor the work in progress and provide project guidance and oversight to the State, Local agencies, and Tribes.

Deadlines:  Contact the Headquarters or Regional Office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:  About 180 days.

Appeals:  Appeals are subject to the provisions of Part 31 Subpart F.

Renewals:  None.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals:  In evaluating State, Local agencies, and Tribal applications for grants under this program, EPA will consider the following factors: (1) Potential Benefit to the chosen geographic area, State, Local agencies or Tribe. Full or partial delegation of the 112(r) program is considered. The projects should build State or Tribal, and local capabilities. (2) Technical Soundness for addressing the identified problems and feasibility of implementation. (3) Priority Need must be demonstrated by State, Local agency, or Tribal applicants for assistance. Willingness to implement or support activities to implement the 112(r) program is considered. Determination of this priority need will consider, to the extent feasible, the extent to which chemical accidents pose a risk to the community within the State or Tribe. Risk factors include high population, high industrial concentration, natural hazards (e.g., earthquake zones), accident history, and existing preparedness, prevention and response capabilities. EPA will favorably consider grants that concentrate on implementation activities related to the 112(r) program.

Examples of Funded Projects:  Development of a comprehensive implementation strategy for an accidental release prevention program which includes how the 112(r) program will be integrated with other State and Local programs; Development of Legislative authority, regulations, and/or documentation needed for approval of a 112(r) program for State or Local accident prevention for all sources or for some sources; Educational Videos: Each video describes to the viewer where the specific hazardous substance may be found in the community and potential business types that would and would not need to comply; Hazardous Vulnerability Analysis Plan: Describes the geographic area of the Tribe, the potential hazards facing the Tribe, and the emergency response capabilities/services available.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  $4,000 to $100,000; $15,000.

66.810 RELATED PROGRAMS:

None.

66.810 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

During fiscal year 1998, 34 grant awards were made to States and Indian Tribes for chemical accident prevention and preparedness.

66.810 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

Federal Agency:  OFFICE OF SOLID WASTE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Type of Assistance:  Project Grants (Cooperative Agreements).

Obligations:  (Grants) FY 99 $200,000; FY 00 est $160,000; and FY 01 est $160,000.

Budget Account Number:  68-0108-0-1-304.

Authorization:  Clean Air Act Section 103 (b)(3) and Section 112 (L)(4); Toxic Substances Control Act, Sections 10(a), and 28(d), Public Law 94-469, 15 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature:  Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to States and Local Government (40 CFR Part 31), "EPA Assistance Administration Manual," available from the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 22161; on a subscription basis, Order No: NTIS UB/031.

66.810 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  Any inquiries, contact the CEPP Coordinators as listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog.

Headquarters Office:  William Finan, Grant Program Manager, CEPPO/OSWER (5104), EPA HQ, Ariel Rios Bldg., 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460. Phone: (202) 260-8247.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

66.810 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:  This program has no statutory formula. States, Local agencies, and Tribes must contribute a match of 25 percent of the total project budget. The match can include in-kind services.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:  Grants will normally be funded on a 12 to 24 month basis. Total approved project period should not exceed 2 years for a particular project. A call for letters of intent and applications will be advertised annually via HQ and/or Regions notifying States, Local agencies, and Tribes.

Uses and Use Restrictions:  Innovative Technical Assistance Grants are offered to improve the ability of States, Tribes and local communities to protect public health and safety and involve the development of technical assistance or similar materials that could be used directly or adapted by other States/Tribes or Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs). Projects which address implementing the Risk Management Program under the Clean Air Act Section 112(r) are especially of interest. The grant money may not supplant State or Tribal funds already being spent.

66.810 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:  Reports will be required on a quarterly basis to describe applicant's progress.

Audits:  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:  Not applicable.