[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 73 (Friday, April 15, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22262-22263]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-08798]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9945-02-OA]


Performance Partnership Grants

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This action adds the new multi-purpose categorical grant 
program for states and tribes, which was established by and funded 
through the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016, to the list of the 
Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) environmental grant programs 
eligible for inclusion in Performance Partnership Grants (PPGs).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Reynold Meni, Office of Congressional 
and Intergovernmental Relations, Office of the Administrator (Mail Code 
1301), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 564-3669; fax number: 
(202) 501-1540; email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Omnibus Consolidated Rescissions and 
Appropriations Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-134) and the Department of 
Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent 
Agencies Appropriations Act of 1998 (Pub. L. 105-65) authorize EPA to 
combine categorical grant funds appropriated in EPA's State and Tribal 
Assistance Grant (STAG) account and award the funds as PPGs. Public Law 
104-134 states, in relevant part, that: ``the Administrator is 
authorized to make grants annually from funds appropriated under this 
heading, subject to such terms and conditions as the Administrator 
shall establish, to any State or federally recognized Indian tribe for 
multimedia or single media pollution prevention, control and abatement 
and related environmental activities at the request of the Governor or 
other appropriate State official or the tribe.''
    Public Law 105-65 amended the PPG authority by authorizing 
``interstate agencies, tribal consortia, and air pollution control 
agencies'' to receive PPGs. Pursuant to the authority granted in Public 
Law 104-134 and Public Law 105-65, EPA promulgated PPG regulations in 
January of 2001 as part of the Agency's revision of 40 CFR part 35, the 
rules governing categorical environmental program grants. The 
regulation at 40 CFR 35.133(b) states that: ``The Administrator may, in 
guidance or regulation, describe subsequent additions, deletions, or 
changes to the list of environmental programs eligible for inclusion in 
Performance Partnership Grants.''
    EPA is authorized under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 
(Pub. L. 114-113), Title II of Division G to award $21 million in 
multi-purpose grants to states and tribes for implementation of 
environmental

[[Page 22263]]

programs and projects that complement existing environmental program 
grants, including interagency agreements. The conference report's 
language clarifies that these funds will allow states and tribes to 
have the necessary flexibility to direct resources for the 
implementation of high priority activities, including the processing of 
permits, which complement programs under established environmental 
statutes.
    The multi-purpose categorical grant program is funded under EPA's 
STAG appropriations account and, therefore, is eligible for inclusion 
in PPGs. This notice is made pursuant to 40 CFR 35.133(b), to inform 
entities eligible to receive PPGs that the program listed above may be 
included in a PPG subject to any limitations herein defined. Hereafter, 
multi-purpose grants are eligible for inclusion in PPGs and may be 
included in a PPG at the request of the appropriate official of an 
eligible entity, subject to EPA's regulations at 2 CFR part 200 and 2 
CFR part 1500 and 40 CFR 35.001-35.138 and 35.500-35.538. The authority 
to issue this Federal Register notice has been delegated to the Deputy 
Associate Administrator for Intergovernmental Relations.

    Dated: April 11, 2016.
Mark W. Rupp,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Intergovernmental Relations.
[FR Doc. 2016-08798 Filed 4-14-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P