[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 27 (Tuesday, February 10, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6284-6289]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-2818]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-OW-7620-6]


Wetland Program Development Grant Guidelines

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Solicitation of applications.

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SUMMARY: Wetland Program Development Grants (WPDGs) 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. While WPDGs submitted for this competition can continue to 
be used by recipients to build and refine any element of a 
comprehensive wetland program, emphasis for the competition will be 
given to funding projects that address the three areas identified by 
EPA: (1) Developing a comprehensive monitoring and assessment program; 
(2) improving the effectiveness of compensatory mitigation; and (3) 
refining the protection of vulnerable wetlands and aquatic resources. 
States, Tribes, local governments (S/T/LGs), interstate associations, 
intertribal consortia, and national non-profit, non-governmental 
organizations are eligible to apply for the competition. This document 
describes the grant selection and award process for eligible applicants 
interested in applying for WPDGs under the competitive process.

DATES: The deadline for receipt of proposals is set by EPA Headquarters 
and each EPA Regional Office, independently. Please contact the 
appropriate Headquarters or Regional Office Wetland Grant Coordinator 
for that offices' deadline or to confirm a deadline. (See Section VII 
for Agency Contact information.) Deadlines will also be posted on the 
EPA Web site at http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/grantguidelines/.

ADDRESSES: Application proposals must be submitted to the appropriate 
EPA Headquarters or Regional Office and postmarked or emailed by the 
appropriate Headquarters or Regional Office deadline. Application 
proposals may be submitted electronically, by mail, or by hand 
delivery/courier. Applicants interested in being put on a mailing list 
to obtain more details should contact the appropriate Headquarters or 
Regional Office Wetland Grant Coordinator (see Section VII for Agency 
Contact information).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Connie Cahanap, Office of Wetlands, 
Oceans, and Watersheds, Wetlands Division (MC 4502T), U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20460, telephone: (202) 566-1382, fax: (202) 566-1349, 
e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Federal Agency Name: US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of 
Water, Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds, Wetlands Division.
    Funding Opportunity Title: Wetland Program Development Grants.
    Announcement Type: Notice.
    Catalog of Domestic Assistance Number: 66.461.

Overview

    The goals of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) wetland 
program include increasing the quantity and quality of wetlands in the 
U.S. by conserving and restoring wetland acreage and improving wetland 
health. In pursuing these goals, EPA seeks to build the capacity of all 
levels of government to develop and implement effective, comprehensive 
programs for wetland protection and management. The six program areas 
central to achieving these goals are: regulation, monitoring and 
assessment, restoration, wetland water quality and watershed 
management, public-private partnerships, and coordination among 
agencies with wetland or wetland-related programs.
    The Wetland Program Development Grants (WPDGs), initiated in FY90, 
provide States, Tribes, local governments (S/T/LGs), interstate 
associations, intertribal consortia, and national non-profit, non-
governmental organizations (hereafter referred to as applicants or 
recipients) an opportunity to carry out projects to develop and refine 
comprehensive wetland programs. WPDGs 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.
    While WPDGs can continue to be used by recipients to build and 
refine any element of a comprehensive wetland program, emphasis through 
the competition process will be given to funding projects that address 
these three areas as identified by EPA: (1) Developing a comprehensive 
monitoring and assessment program; (2) improving the effectiveness of 
compensatory mitigation; and (3) refining the protection of vulnerable 
wetlands and aquatic resources. States, Tribes, local governments (S/T/
LGs), interstate associations, intertribal consortia are eligible to 
apply. In order to provide greater assistance to S/T/LGs, non-profit, 
non-governmental organizations which undertake activities that advance 
wetland programs on a national basis are eligible to apply for WPDG 
funding. Local/regional chapters/affiliations of a nonprofit 
organization are not eligible for WPDGs.
    Interest in the grant program has continued to grow over the years 
and Congress has appropriated $15 million annually to support the 
wetland grant program. Since the Wetland Grant Development Program 
started in FY90, grant funds are awarded on a competitive basis to 
support development of State and Tribal wetland programs.
    The statutory authority for WPDGs is section 104(b)(3) of the Clean 
Water Act (CWA). Section 104(b)(3) of the CWA restricts the use of 
these grants to developing and refining wetland management programs by 
conducting or promoting 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. These competed grants may not be 
used for the operational support of wetland programs unless it is 
included in a Performance Partnership Grant (PPG). States and Tribes 
may not use WPDG funds for implementation of a wetlands program. 
However, funds available for WPDG grants may be

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combined in a PPG which may, in certain circumstances, provide the 
authorization to undertake implementation activities. For further 
information, see the final rules on Environmental Program Grants for 
State, Interstate, and local government agencies at 40 CFR part 35, 
subpart A and Tribes at 40 CFR part 35, subpart B. All projects funded 
through this program must contribute to the overall development and 
improvement of S/T/LG wetland programs. Grant applicants must 
demonstrate that their proposed project integrates with S/T/LG wetland 
programs.
    This document describes the grant selection and award process for 
eligible applicants interested in applying for WPDGs under the 
competitive process. EPA Regions and Headquarters may supplement this 
notice with additional information pertaining specifically to each 
Regional/Headquarters competition. These guidelines stay in effect 
until new ones are published for the competitive process.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    The types of projects that award recipients can undertake to 
develop and refine their comprehensive wetland programs are diverse. In 
the past, award recipients have pursued a wide range of activities, 
such as developing management tools for wetland resources, advancing 
scientific and technical tools for protecting wetland health, improving 
availability of data and information about wetlands, developing and 
disseminating local wetland ordinances that complement Federal and 
State management, and training wetland managers and the public about 
wetland and watershed values.
    For the WPDG competitive process, the wetland program has 
identified three areas for improving S/T/LGs ability to protect and 
restore their wetlands: (1) Developing a comprehensive wetland 
monitoring and assessment program; (2) improving the effectiveness of 
compensatory mitigation; and (3) refining the protection of vulnerable 
wetlands and aquatic resources. Regions are encouraged to target at 
least two-thirds of their competitive WPDG funds to projects that focus 
on one or more of the program priorities. In this competitive grant 
program, EPA will emphasize funding diverse levels of government and 
various entities involved in innovative wetland and watershed issues. 
Applicants are encouraged to develop WPDG applications that address 
these program areas.

A. Developing a Comprehensive Monitoring and Assessment Program

    This solicitation seeks proposals that support the development of a 
comprehensive S/T/LG wetland monitoring and assessment program. State 
and Tribal adoption of an ambient wetland monitoring and assessment 
program is the primary goal of this solicitation (i.e., projects that 
build S/T/LG capacity to determine the causes, effects, and extent of 
pollution to wetland resources and develop pollution prevention, 
reduction, and elimination strategies). More information related to 
wetland monitoring and assessment can be found at http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/facts/monitor.pdf and http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/facts/devgrants.pdf.
    Project proposals may address development, testing, and 
demonstration of methods and programs to monitor and assess wetlands. 
For example, proposed work may include the use of biological and 
hydrogeomorphic (HGM) assessment procedures and surveys to test the 
accuracy of (a) rapid wetland assessment methods or (b) other types of 
assessment methods that use geographical information systems (GIS) to 
describe wetland condition or trends in wetland extent. Also, EPA 
encourages the submission of proposals for work that will demonstrate 
the use of wetland assessment methods for:
    1. Assessing the ecological consequences of a given regulatory 
action or group of actions;
    2. Improving the evaluation and ranking of potential wetland sites 
for restoration or acquisition at various levels;
    3. Evaluating the ecological effectiveness of wetland restoration 
projects, including compensatory mitigation;
    4. Developing design or performance standards for wetland 
restoration, including compensatory mitigation;
    5. Evaluating the cumulative effect of wetland loss and restoration 
in terms of change in the ambient condition of wetlands and other 
waterbodies within a watershed;
    6. Gathering information to refine water quality standards or 
related administrative code to bring added protection to wetlands, 
including isolated wetlands; and/or
    7. Gathering information to develop management strategies to 
control the spread and adverse effects of non-indigenous, invasive 
wetland species.
    Proposals should address how work to accomplish the particular 
objective(s) will assist S/T/LGs in developing comprehensive wetland 
monitoring and assessment programs. Proposals also should describe how 
methods under development will improve decision-making across various 
surface water management programs. For example, EPA encourages the 
submissions of proposals for work that will demonstrate how information 
about ambient wetland condition can be used by local authorities when 
making decisions affecting land and water use, including their adoption 
of stormwater and smart growth management strategies. Provisional 
reporting of ambient wetland condition, relative to reference 
conditions, in Clean Water Act section 305(b) reports is a logical 
first step toward meeting that particular objective. When preparing 
proposals, care should be given to ensure that any data collected under 
the grant is of a known and documented quality.
    Accordingly, applicants may host technical training workshops, 
establish regional or State interagency wetland monitoring and 
assessment workgroups, develop volunteer monitoring programs, and 
improve wetland inventories (e.g., use of hydrogeomorphic (HGM) wetland 
classification system). Examples of case studies illustrating wetland 
monitoring and assessment methods can be found at http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/bawwg/case.html and http://www.epa.gov/region01/eco/wetland/index.html. Many of the case studies listed on those Web sites 
were funded by WPDGs.
    Additionally, recipients of grants for wetland monitoring projects 
will be required to submit all data from monitoring activities to 
STORET (short for STOrage and RETrieval). STORET provides an 
accessible, nationwide central repository of water information of known 
quality. Grantee submission of monitoring data into STORET or 
monitoring data made available in the Advisory Council for Water 
Information (ACWI) Core Monitoring Data Element Standard (or Data 
Exchange Template) will facilitate exchange of monitoring data between 
EPA and its partners. Information on STORET is at http://www.epa.gov/storet and information on the standard is at http://www.epa.gov/edr.

B. Improving the Effectiveness of Compensatory Mitigation

    S/T/LGs should consider projects that improve the capacity to 
ensure ecologically effective compensatory mitigation for unavoidable 
impacts. For example, WPDGs can be used to develop mitigation 
performance standards. They also can be used to

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develop and verify assessment methods and/or tracking (reporting) 
systems that document:
    1. The technical adequacy of compensatory mitigation project plans 
(e.g., plan review standards);
    2. The ecological suitability of proposed compensatory mitigation 
project sites (e.g., develop site review standards that have a 
watershed context);
    3. The compliance of mitigation projects at various stages of 
implementation; and
    4. The adequacy of compensatory mitigation for managing cumulative 
wetland impacts under the Federal CWA section 404/401 program.
    The National Wetlands Mitigation Action Plan, released in December 
2002 by EPA and the U.S. Army Corps, describes seventeen action items 
that the Federal agencies will complete by 2005 in order to improve the 
ecological performance and results of compensatory mitigation. The 
tasks identified in the Plan convey the major areas of interest 
regarding mitigation that are being supported by the Federal agencies. 
Proposed projects that support such endeavors at the S/T/LG level are 
encouraged. A copy of the Plan and related documents can be found at 
http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/guidance/index.html#mitigation.
    Background information describing concepts and methods for 
improving the effectiveness of compensatory mitigation can be found in 
a National Academy of Science publication entitled ``Compensating for 
Wetland Losses Under the Clean Water Act.'' The document can be found 
at http://www.nap.edu/books/0309074320/html/.
    Wetland program grant funds can only be used for research, 
investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys, and 
studies to support (or to improve or develop) mitigation programs; they 
cannot be used for specific mitigation activities (e.g., implementation 
of individual mitigation projects, mitigation banks, or in-lieu-fee 
mitigation programs).

C. Refining the Protection of Vulernable Wetlands and Aquatic Resources

    While wetlands provide important ecological functions on a 
watershed scale, some are better protected than others. For example, 
isolated wetlands and waters may be particularly at risk as may 
wetlands subject to damage from activities other than the discharge of 
dredged or fill material. S/T/LGs wishing to develop comprehensive 
wetland protection programs to protect such vulnerable waters from a 
variety of potential impacts are encouraged to do so and encouraged to 
incorporate wetland issues into ongoing watershed plans. Efforts can 
include, but are not limited to, information dissemination, data 
exchange, studying S/T/LG regulatory improvement opportunities, and 
surveying opportunities for land acquisition, conservation easements, 
and tax incentive provisions. Funds received through the WPDG 
competition cannot be used to fund activities to implement a wetlands 
program, or fund the purchase of land or conservation easements.

D. Other Program Areas

    WPDGs that are awarded may be used by recipients to also develop 
and refine all elements of a comprehensive wetland program. The Regions 
may also supplement the above program areas with Regional efforts that 
they want to emphasize, while still targeting two-thirds of the WPDG 
funds toward the three program priority areas described previously in 
this notice.

II. Award Information

    EPA's Wetlands Division intends to continue to award $15 million of 
WPDG funds through a competitive process to eligible applicants through 
assistance agreements. Most of the WPDG funds for the competition are 
allocated to EPA Regional Offices, based on the number of States and 
Territories within the Region, to fund S/T/LGs, interstate agencies, 
and intertribal consortia. Headquarters reserves a portion of the WPDG 
funds for national non-profit, non-governmental organizations, 
interstate agencies, and intertribal consortia under the competitive 
process. Funding decisions for the competition are made by EPA Regional 
and Headquarters Offices and are based on the quality of the proposals 
received and adherence to the selection criteria. EPA typically 
receives requests for funding far in excess of available funds. 
Therefore EPA cannot provide grant funds to all applicants.
    The number of applicants that will be requested to submit a 
complete application and the number of applications recommended for 
award depend on the quality of the proposals received and the relative 
amount of funding requests. The quality of the proposals will be 
evaluated according to the criteria and selection process noted below. 
Total funding available for award by EPA depends each year on the 
Wetlands Program's yearly fiscal appropriation. (Previous grant awards 
ranged from $11,000 to $496,000.) The terms of the period of 
performance will be determined at time of award. EPA reserves the right 
to reject all proposals and make no awards.

III. Eligibility Information

A. Eligible Applicants for Competitive Process

    States, Tribes, local government agencies, interstate agencies, 
intertribal consortia, and national, nonprofit, non-governmental 
organizations are eligible. Typical wetland or wetland related agencies 
include, but are not limited to, wetland regulatory agencies, water 
quality agencies (section 401 water quality certification), planning 
offices, wild and scenic rivers agencies, departments of 
transportation, fish and wildlife or natural resources agencies, 
agriculture departments, forestry agencies, coastal zone management 
agencies, park and recreation agencies, non-point source or storm water 
agencies, city or county and other S/T/LG agencies that conduct 
wetland-related activities.
    In order to be eligible for WPDG funds, Tribes must be Federally 
recognized, although ``Treatment as a State'' status is not a 
requirement. Intertribal consortia that meet the requirements of 40 CFR 
part 35.504 are eligible for direct funding.
    Interstate agency and intertribal consortia projects must be broad 
in scope and encompass more than one State, Tribe, or local government.
    In order to provide greater assistance to S/T/LGs, non-profit, non-
governmental organizations which undertake activities that advance 
wetland programs on a national basis are eligible for WPDG funding. 
Activities must help S/T/LGs develop and refine wetland programs. For 
example, projects can involve advancing wetland science, providing 
training on how various S/T/LG wetland programs across the nation 
protect, manage and restore their wetland resources, and about 
initiatives to improve S/T/LG wetland programs. Local/regional 
chapters/affiliations of nonprofit organizations are not eligible for 
WPDGs and applications will only be accepted from the national 
headquarters level of nonprofit, non-governmental organizations. 
National nonprofit organizations are only eligible to submit their 
proposals to the Headquarters Wetland Grant Coordinator for this 
competition. (See Section VII for Agency Contact information.)

B. Cost Sharing/Match Requirements

    S/T/LGs, interstate agencies, and intertribal consortia must 
provide a minimum of 25% of each award's total project costs in 
accordance with 40 CFR

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31.24, 35.385, and 35.615. We encourage States, Tribes and local 
governments to provide a larger share of the project's cost whenever 
possible (i.e., in excess of the required 25% of total project costs). 
Non-profit, non-governmental organizations must also provide a minimum 
of 25% of each award's total project costs.
    Forty 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% 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 
Wetland Program Grant Funds are not or could not be included in a PPG, 
then the Tribe must provide a 25% 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. 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.

C. Local and Tribal Funding Targets

    Each Regional Office will support the local government initiative 
and Tribal efforts by targeting at least 15% of their Regional 
allocation to local government and Tribal applications.

D. Performance Partnership Grants

    A Performance Partnership Grant (PPG) is a multi-program grant made 
to a State, Tribe, interstate agency, or intertribal consortium from 
funds appropriated for many of EPA's environmental program grants. 
Local governments are not eligible for PPGs. PPGs are voluntary and 
provide recipients the option to combine funds from two or more 
environmental program grants into one or more PPGs. PPGs can provide 
administrative and/or programmatic flexibility.
    Funds for a WPDG may be included in a PPG. Under this competition, 
State proposals must first be selected under the competitive grant 
process and, in accordance with 40 CFR 35.138, the work plan 
commitments that would have been included in the WPDG work plan must be 
included in the PPG work plan. Similarly, Tribal proposals must first 
be selected under this competitive grant process, and in accordance 
with 40 CFR 35.535. States and Tribes may not use WPDG funds for 
implementation of a wetlands program. However, funds available for WPDG 
grants may be combined in a PPG which may, in certain circumstances, 
provide the authorization to undertake implementation activities. For 
further information, see the final rules on Environmental Program 
Grants for State, Interstate, and local government Agencies at 40 CFR 
part 35, subpart A and Tribes at 40 CFR part 35, subpart B. The rules 
are also available on EPA's Web site at: http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-TOX/2001/Day-09/t218.htm (State) and at http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-GENERAL/2001January/Day-16/g219.htm (Tribal).

IV. Application and Submission Information

A. Request for Application Packages

    Grant application forms are available at http://www.epa.gov/ogd/AppKit/index.htm/ and by mail upon request by calling the Grants 
Administration Division at (202) 564-5305. If you have questions, 
contact your Headquarters or Regional Office Wetland Grant Coordinator 
(see Section VII for Agency Contact information) or visit our website 
at http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/grantguidelines/.

B. Content and Form of Application Submission

    Headquarters and Regional Offices may ask applicants to submit pre-
application proposals. For specific Regional/Headquarters information, 
contact your Headquarters or Regional Office Wetland Grant Coordinator 
(see Section VII for Agency Contact information). As provided in 40 CFR 
35.107 and 35.507, for States, Tribes, local governments, interstate 
agencies, and national non-profit organizations, work plans must 
include: (1) A summary of key objectives, work plan commitments and 
final products; (2) a detailed description of project tasks and an 
explanation of how the project will contribute to developing or 
improving a S/T/LG's wetland program; (3) a time-line and reporting 
schedule; (4) a budget and estimated funding amounts for each work plan 
component; (5) outcomes and expected environmental results; (6) 
performance measures and evaluation process; (7) roles and 
responsibilities of the recipient in carrying out the work plan 
commitments; and (8) contact information for the Program Manager, Grant 
Project Lead Manager, and Account Manager. Grant applicants will be 
required to provide a Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering 
System (DUNS) number when applying for Federal grants or cooperative 
agreements. Organizations can receive a DUNS number in one day, at no 
cost, by calling the dedicated toll-free DUNS Number request line at 1-
866-705-5711 or by visiting www.dnb.com.

C. Submission Dates and Times

    Submission deadlines are set by EPA Headquarters and Regional 
Offices. Please contact the appropriate Headquarters or Regional Office 
Wetland Grant Coordinator for information and/or to confirm competition 
deadlines (see Section VII for Agency Contact information). Deadlines 
will also be posted at http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/grantguidelines/. Application proposals must be submitted to the 
appropriate EPA office and postmarked or emailed by the appropriate 
Regional or Headquarters deadline. Applicants interested in being put 
on a mailing list to obtain more details should contact the appropriate 
Headquarters or Regional Wetland Grant Coordinator (see Section VII for 
Agency Contact information).

D. Intergovernmental Review

    Applicants requested to submit a full application may be required 
to comply with Intergovernmental Review Requirements (40 CFR part 29).

E. Funding Restrictions

    Based on policy, regulation, and on experience gained from previous 
years we offer the following comments/restrictions on funding 
eligibility.
     Universities that are agencies of State 
government are eligible to receive grant funds from the Regional 
Offices through this competition. Universities must provide 
documentation acceptable to the EPA Regional Office to demonstrate that 
they function as a State agency. Universities that are not chartered as 
a part of State government are not eligible for direct funding from EPA 
Regional Offices. Also, any award recipients may award such entities 
contracts in accordance with 40 CFR 31.36, and subgrants in accordance 
with 40 CFR 31.37. The State, Tribe, local

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agency, or national non-profit organization should not simply pass 
through funding to an organization that is not eligible to receive 
funding directly. Land grant schools do not automatically qualify for 
direct funding as an agency of a State because of their status as a 
land grant school.
     Under the WPDG competitive process, funds cannot 
be used for land acquisition or purchase of easements. However, it may 
support the coordination or acceleration of research, investigations, 
experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys, and study efforts 
directed at identifying areas for acquisition, which would help address 
water pollution problems including wetlands protection and restoration.
     This competitive grant program cannot fund 
payment of taxes for landowners who have a wetland on their property.
     While contractual efforts can be a part of these 
grants, each WPDG recipient must be significantly involved in the 
administration of the grant. EPA recommends that recipients use no more 
than 50% of the grant funds to contract with non-governmental entities. 
However, if the applicant wants to exceed this limit, the applicant may 
submit a written justification for greater involvement by non-
governmental contractors as part of the grant application package. EPA 
will evaluate the need for greater contractual participation and may 
approve the request if there is adequate justification to exceed the 
50% limit. If the contractual work is being done by another S/T/LG 
agency, interstate agency, or intertribal consortia, these entities 
should be clearly indicated in the grant application.
     Inventory or mapping for the sole purpose of 
locating wetlands is not eligible for funding under this competition. A 
description of how mapping or inventory projects will directly develop 
or improve the eligible applicant's wetland protection programs must be 
included in the grant application for these types of projects to be 
considered for funding under this grant program.
     Under the competition, each grant must be 
completed with the initial award of funds. Recipients should not 
anticipate additional funding beyond the initial award of funds for a 
specific project. Eligible applicants should request the entire amount 
of money needed to complete the project in the original grant 
application. Each grant should produce a final, discrete product. 
Funding and project periods can be for more than one year.
     Grant funds cannot be used to fund an honorarium 
under this competition.
     Any field work or research-type activities are 
limited to activities that have a direct, demonstrated link to program 
development or refinement included in the application.
     Purchase/lease of vehicles (including boats, 
motor homes) and office furniture is not eligible for funding under 
this program.
     Grant funds cannot be used to pay for travel by 
Federal agency staff.

V. Application Review Information

A. Selection Criteria

    For the traditional competitive WPDG funding, proposals will be 
evaluated using the following general categories of criteria:
     Program Area Emphasis--priority in the selection 
process will be given to projects which support the development of a S/
T/LG's monitoring and assessment program, improvement of the 
effectiveness of compensatory mitigation, or protection of vulnerable 
wetlands and aquatic resources.
     Clarity of Work Plan--clearly written and 
detailed proposals.
     Potential Environmental Results--likelihood of 
positive environmental results in the short- and long-term.
     Transferability of Results and/or Methods to 
other S/T/LGs.
     Involvement/Commitment of the applicant--
significant financial and personnel contribution and involvement of 
partners.
     Incorporation of project into broad agency 
wetland goals (e.g., Government Performance Results Act (GPRA) Goals, 
EPA Strategic Plan, or Core Elements of a Comprehensive Wetland 
Program.) Please contact the Wetlands Helpline at (800) 832-7828) for 
more information.
     Data Management--capability to report monitoring 
data to STORET.
     Success of Previous Projects--for applicants who 
have received prior EPA funding.
    Proposals are evaluated by the quality of the submission related to 
the above criteria. The last criterion is applied only to prior grant 
recipients. The last criterion does not add value in the rating process 
for prior wetland grant recipients to give an automatic advantage over 
new applicants. The last criterion, does, in cases of inadequate and 
inappropriate prior grant performance, lower an applicant's ranking; it 
allows consideration of poor past performance in the evaluation of 
current grant proposals.

B. Review and Selection Process

    For the competitive process, WPDG applications from States, Tribes, 
and local governments are handled through EPA Regional Offices, while 
applications from national non-profit, non-governmental organizations 
are handled through EPA Headquarters. Applications from interstate 
agencies and intertribal consortia can be submitted to either a 
Regional Office or Headquarters, however, the same proposals from 
interstate and intertribal agencies cannot be submitted to more than 
one office. Headquarters and Regional Office staff will review the 
applications received in their respective offices and select the most 
competitive projects for funding on the basis of the selection 
criteria. Both the quality and quantity of the applications will play a 
significant role in the selection of grants for funding.

VI. Award Administration Information for Competitive Process

A. Award Notices

    All applicants will be notified by the appropriate EPA Office 
(Region/Headquarters) on whether or not the applicant has been selected 
for funding. The notification is not an authorization to begin 
performance. A notice signed by the Grants Administration Division is 
the authorizing document to the applicant to begin performance.

B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    The general award and administration process for all WPDGs is 
governed by regulations at 40 CFR part 30 (``Grants and Agreements with 
Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Non-Profit 
Organizations''), 40 CFR part 31 (``Uniform Administrative Requirements 
for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments'') 
and 40 CFR part 35, subpart A (``Environmental Program Grants for 
State, Interstate, and Local Government Agencies'') and subpart B 
(``Environmental Program Grants for Tribes'').

C. Reporting

    WPDGs are currently covered under the following EPA grant 
regulations: 40 CFR part 30 (non-profit organizations); 40 CFR part 31 
(States, Tribes, interstate agencies, intertribal consortia and local 
governments) and 40 CFR part 35, subpart A (States, interstate agencies 
and local governments) and subpart B (Tribes and intertribal 
consortia). These regulations specify basic grant reporting 
requirements, including performance and financial reports (see 40 CFR 
30.51, 30.52, 31.40, 31.41, 35.115, and 35.515.) In negotiating these 
grants, EPA will work closely with recipients to

[[Page 6289]]

incorporate appropriate performance measures and reporting requirements 
into each grant agreement consistent with 40 CFR 30.51, 31.40, 35.115, 
and 35.515. These regulations provide some flexibility in determining 
the appropriate content and frequency of performance reports. At a 
minimum, however, the reporting schedule must require the recipient to 
report at least annually.

VII. Agency Contacts

Headquarters and Regional Wetland Grant Coordinators

Headquarters
    Connie Cahanap, U.S. EPA Wetlands Division, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Avenue, NW., MC 4502T, Washington, DC 20460. Phone: 202-566-1382. 
[email protected].
Region 1--CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT
    Jeanne Cosgrove. U.S. EPA Region 1, 1 Congress Street, MC CSP, 
Suite 100, Boston, MA 02114. Phone: 617-918-1669. 
[email protected].
Region 2--NJ, NY, PR, VI
    Kathleen Drake, U.S. EPA Region 2, 290 Broadway, NY, NY 10007. 
Phone: 212-637-3817. [email protected].
Region 3--DE, MD, PA, VA, WV, DC
    Alva Brunner, U.S. EPA Region 3, 1650 Arch Street, MC 3EA30, 
Philadelphia, PA 19103. Phone: 215-814-2715. [email protected].
Region 4--AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN
    Sharon Ward, U.S. EPA Region 4, 61 Forsyth Street, SW., Atlanta, GA 
30303. Phone: 404-562-9269. [email protected].
Region 5--IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI
    Cathy Garra, U.S. EPA Region 5, 77 West Jackson Blvd., MC WW16J, 
Chicago, IL 60604. Phone: 312-886-0241. [email protected].
Region 6--AR, LA, NM, OK, TX
    Tyrone Hoskins, U.S. EPA Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, MC 6WQ-AT, 
Dallas, TX 75202. Phone: 214-665-7375. [email protected].
Region 7--IA, KS, MO, NE
    Jason Daniels, U.S. EPA Region 7, 901 North Fifth Street, Kansas 
City, KS 66101. Phone: 913-551-7443. [email protected].
Region 8--CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY
    Brent Truskowski, U.S. EPA Region 8, 999 18th Street, Suite 300, 
Denver, CO 80202. Phone: 303-312-6235. [email protected].
Region 9--AZ, CA, HI, NV, AS, GU
    Cheryl McGovern, U.S. EPA Region 9, 75 Hawthorne Street, San 
Francisco, CA 94105. Phone: 415-972-3415. [email protected].
Region 10--AK, ID, OR, WA
    David Kulman, U.S. EPA Region 10, 1200 Sixth Avenue, Seattle, WA 
98101. Phone: 206-553-6219. [email protected].

VIII. Other Information

A. Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC)

    QA/QC and peer review are sometimes applicable to these grants (see 
40 CFR 30.54 and 40 CFR 31.45.) QA/QC requirements apply to the 
collection of environmental data. Environmental data are any 
measurements or information that describe environmental processes, 
location, or conditions; ecological or health effects and consequences; 
or the performance of environmental technology. Environmental data 
include information collected directly from measurements, produced from 
models, and compiled from other sources such as databases or 
literature. Applicants should allow sufficient time and resources for 
this process. EPA can assist applicants determine whether QA/QC is 
required for the proposed project. If QA/QC is required for the 
project, the applicant is encouraged to work with the appropriate EPA 
quality staff to determine the appropriate QA/QC practices for the 
project. If the applicant has an EPA-approved quality assurance project 
plan and it covers the project in the application, then they need only 
reference the plan in their application. Contact the appropriate 
Headquarters or Regional Office Wetland Grant Coordinator (See Section 
VII for Agency Contact information) for referral to an EPA quality 
staff.

B. Public Participation

    EPA regulations require public participation in various Clean Water 
Act programs including grants (40 CFR part 25). Each applicant for EPA 
financial assistance shall include tasks for public participation in 
their project's work plan submitted in the grant application (40 CFR 
25.11.) The project work plan should reflect how public participation 
will be provided for, assisted, and accomplished.

C. Annual Wetlands Meeting/Training

    EPA encourages S/T/LGs to include travel plans for wetland 
personnel to attend at least one national wetland meeting in support of 
the project or for training each year (e.g., National EPA, State, 
Tribal, Local wetland meeting or wetland monitoring workshops.) 
Applicants should account for travel plans and costs in the work plans 
and the project budget. EPA's Wetlands Program does not anticipate 
providing travel for State, Tribal or local government staff to attend 
meetings other than through this grant program.

    Dated: January 22, 2004.
Diane Regas,
Director, Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds.
[FR Doc. 04-2818 Filed 2-9-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P