This action approves funding in the amount of $749,964 to the university of alabama to support their efforts with improving the water quality of the gulf of america

Federal Cooperative Agreement Summary

The University of Alabama received $749,964 in funding under the Geographic Programs - Gulf of America Program (CFDA 66.475), administered by the Environmental Protection Agency Region 4, effective August 1, 2025, through July 31, 2028. The cooperative agreement supports the institution's efforts to improve water quality in the Gulf of America by monitoring polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in water bodies across Alabama and Mississippi that significantly influence Gulf water quality and ecosystem health.

Under this award, the University of Alabama will establish a consortium of regional stakeholders to conduct comprehensive monitoring, analysis, and assessment of PFAS and CEC contamination in Gulf coastal water bodies. The project deliverables include stakeholder collaboration frameworks, advanced sampling and data consolidation protocols, water quality monitoring findings, and actionable insights for decision-makers. The initiative is designed to provide a replicable model for other Gulf states and will directly benefit residents in Gulf coastal counties of Alabama and Mississippi through enhanced community trust, improved water quality monitoring capabilities, and science-based recommendations for effective water quality management. No subawards are included in this assistance agreement.

The purpose of this award is to monitor polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in alabama and mississippi water bodies along the gulf of america (GOA), empowering stakeholders to make informed, science-based decisions for effective water quality management in the gulf coast region. Activities:the activities to be performed include monitoring for PFAS in water bodies that significantly influence the gulf of america's water quality and ecosystem health. A consortium of regional stakeholders will be formed to establish collaborative recommendations for addressing PFAS and contaminants of emerging concern (cecs). This will provide a model for other gulf states to deliver critical data on contaminant presence and distribution. Subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:the anticipated deliverables and expected outcomes include monitoring, analyzing, and improving water quality along the gulf coast by assessing PFAS and CEC contamination. This will involve comprehensive tasks, from establishing stakeholder collaborations to implementing advanced sampling and data consolidation. Community trust will be enhanced along with improving water quality monitoring and providing actionable insights for decision-makers. The residents in the gulf coastal counties of alabama and mississippi will benefit from improved water quality.