[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 234 (Wednesday, December 4, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64354-64355]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-30864]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-5658-9]


Grants: Expanded Availability of Financial Assistance Program; 
Wetlands Protection--State/Tribal Development Grants; Local Entity 
Eligibility

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice of expanded grant eligibility.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announces the 
availability of a revised financial assistance program (66.461, 
``Wetlands Protection--State/Tribal Development Grants'') to support 
development of wetlands protection programs and refinement/enhancement 
of existing wetlands protection programs. This grant program was 
established in fiscal year 1990 to support state and tribal wetlands 
protection programs. In fiscal year 1997, the grant program was 
expanded to include direct eligibility of local entities to receive 
grant funds to support local wetlands protection efforts.
    Grants will continue to be awarded under section 104(b)(3) of the 
Clean Water Act for research, investigation, experiments, training, 
demonstrations, surveys, and studies related to development of wetlands 
protection programs. Under existing statutory language, grant funds 
cannot be used for operational support of wetlands protection programs.
    National guidance for the State/Tribal Wetlands Grant Program is 
available from the contacts listed below or from the EPA Wetlands 
Hotline (1-800-832-7828).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

    Region I: Cathy Manwaring, US EPA Region I, John F. Kennedy 
Building, Boston, MA 02203, 617-565-4429.
    Region II: John Cantilli, Wetlands Protection Section, US EPA 
Region II, 290 Broadway, New York, NY 10007, 212-637-3810.
    Region III: Alva Brunner, Wetlands Program, US EPA Region III, 841 
Chestnut Building, Philadelphia, PA 19107, 215-566-2715.
    Region IV: Pete Kalla, Wetlands Protection Section, US EPA Region 
IV, 100 Alabama Street, SW, Atlanta, GA 30303, 404-562-9414.

[[Page 64355]]

    Region V: Sue Elston, Watersheds Team, US EPA Region V, 77 West 
Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60604, 312-886-6115.
    Region VI: Pam Mintz, US EPA Region VI, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, 
TX 75202, 214-665-8334.
    Region VII: Kathy Mulder, Water Resources Protection Branch, US EPA 
Region VII, 726 Minnesota Avenue, Kansas City, KS 66101, 913-551-7542.
    Region VIII: Dave Rathke, US EPA Region VIII, 999 18th Street--
Suite 500, Denver, CO 80202, 303-312-6223.
    Region IX: Mary Butterwick, Wetlands and Sediments Management 
Section, US EPA Region IX, 75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA 
94105, 415-744-1985.
    Region X: Steve Roy, Aquatic Resources Unit, US EPA Region IX, 1200 
Sixth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101, 206-553-6221.
    Headquarters: Lori Williams, Wetlands Division (4502F), Office of 
Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds, US EPA, 401 M Street, SW, Washington, 
DC 20460, 202-260-5084.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the new, expanded eligibility 
provision, EPA will award grants directly to local entities for 
meritorious projects that support local efforts to better protect 
wetland resources. Entities eligible to receive grants under this 
provision include local government agencies (city, county, regional), 
regional planning boards, local conservation districts and other 
nonprofit organizations.
    All grants are awarded on a competitive basis. EPA's Regional 
Offices will receive all grant proposals and will review and select 
state/tribal grants for funding. Grants for the local wetland efforts 
will be forwarded to Headquarters for funding decisions. In future 
years, we anticipate that grants for local entities will be selected 
and awarded by EPA's Regional Offices. In FY97, EPA established a 
$500,000 set aside to support this expanded eligibility for local 
wetland grants.
    All grants applications must conform with the requirements of the 
grant program including the 25% match, meet applicable deadlines for 
submitting proposals to EPA's Regional Offices, and be for development/
refinement of wetland programs and not for operation of a wetlands 
program.
    States, tribes and other eligible entities, including local 
entities, are encouraged to work closely with their appropriate 
Regional Office to develop a formal grant application that effectively 
addresses the objectives of this grant program.

    Dated: November 27, 1996.
Robert H. Wayland, III,
Director, Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds.
[FR Doc. 96-30864 Filed 12-3-96; 8:45 am]
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