EPA-REG4-WPDG-25 - NOFO.pdf

Notice of Funding Opportunity

Applications Due: Monday, April 6, 2026

Region 4

Region 4 Fiscal Year 2025 Wetland Program Development Grants

Funding Opportunity Number: EPA-REG4-WPDG-25 i

Contents

1. Basic Information

A. Executive Summary B. Key Information:

C. Key Dates:

D. Funding Details:

E. Agency Contact Information:

F. Other Funding Considerations

2. Eligibility

A. Eligible Applicants

(1) Other Eligibility Requirements

B. Cost Sharing

(1) Performance Partnership Grants

(2) Tribal Match Clause for PPG-eligible Programs

3. Program Description

A. Purpose, Priorities, and Activities B. Program Goals and Objectives C. Statutory Authority D. Funding Type

4. Application Contents and Format

A. Application Forms B. Project Narrative Description C. Applicants Using Contractors D. Release Copies of Applications E. Coalition Coverage F. Other Program Specific Application Information

5. Submission Requirements and Deadlines

A. Submission Dates and Times B. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM.gov) C. Submission Instructions D. Technical Issues with Submission E. Intergovernmental Review

6. Application Review Information

A. Responsiveness Review B. Review Criteria C. Review and Selection Process

(1) Other Evaluation Factors

D. Risk Review

7. Award Notices ii

8. Post-Award Requirements and Administration

A. Administrative and National Policy Requirements B. Reporting C. Subaward and Executive Compensation Reporting

9. Other Information

A. Additional Provisions for Applicants

1. Basic Information U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Region 4

Region 4 Fiscal Year 2025 Wetland Program Development Grants

A. Executive Summary Wetland Program Development Grants (WPDGs) assist state, Tribal, territory (Insular Areas), local government agencies, and interstate or intertribal entities in developing or refining state, Tribal, territory or local programs that protect, manage and restore wetlands. The goals of the 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 condition. In pursuing these goals, the EPA seeks to develop the capacity of all levels of government to develop and/or refine effective, comprehensive programs for wetland protection and management. This is done using the Core Elements of a Wetlands Program, the Wetlands Program Core Elements Framework, and for states and Tribes the development of Wetland Program Plans (WPP).

C. Key Dates:

April 1, 2026 Question Submission Deadline

April 6, 2026 11:59 pm ET Application Submission Deadline

June 2026 Anticipated Notification of Selection

September 2026 Anticipated Award Notification

D. Funding Details:

It is anticipated that up to 10 grants will be made under this announcement. The amount of funding is expected to be $200,000 to $600,000 per grant, depending on Agency funding levels, the quality of applications received, agency priorities, and other applicable considerations. Awards funded under this opportunity are expected to have a one to four, but not more than five, year project period.

If you are interested in applying for this Wetland Program Development Grants competitive announcement, EPA Region 4 is offering a pre-budget webinar to discuss requirements and assist you in the development of the 424A budget sheet and scope of work budget. Please reach out to Rosemary Calli at Calli.Rosemary@epa.gov no later than March 12, 2026, for an invitation to the Wetland Program Development Grants Developing Your Budget webinar to be held March 17, 2026, from 2:00 pm-3:00 pm ET.

E. Agency Contact Information:

Further information, if needed, may be obtained from the EPA contact(s) indicated below.

B. Key Information:

Opportunity Number:

EPA-REG4-WPDG-25

Assistance Listing:

66.461

Announcement Type:

Initial

Funding Available:

$3,946,000

Number of Awards:

8-10

Technical Contact: Molly Martin; 404-562-9405; martin.molly@epa.gov

Eligibility Contact: Jennifer Shadle; 404-562-9436; shadle.jennifer@epa.gov

Electronic Submissions Contact: Jennifer Shadle; 404-562-9436; shadle.jennifer@epa.gov

F. Other Funding Considerations

Under this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), EPA will offer two applicant tracks with state, Tribal, and territory governments in Track One for WPP. Local governments, interstate agencies, intertribal consortia, and colleges and universities that are agencies of a state government in Track Two for Non- WPP. See Section 3.A for descriptions of tracks. EPA anticipates awarding approximately $2,446,000 in federal funds under Track One: WPP and approximately $1,500,000 in federal funds under Track Two:

Non-WPP.

Under the two tracks in this NOFO, the EPA may award up to $600,000 over approximately one to four years, consisting of incremental funding of about $300,000 per year for two years, contingent on the quality of applications received, funding availability, future appropriations, satisfactory performance of work, and other applicable considerations. Funding each year is not guaranteed. The application should include an annualized budget and budget detail narrative for the project, and a detailed workplan covering each year of the project broken down by task.

EPA reserves the right to partially fund applications by funding discrete portions or phases of proposed projects. If EPA decides to partially fund an application, it will do so in a manner that does not prejudice any applicants or affect the basis upon which the application was evaluated and selected for award to maintain the integrity of the competition and selection process.

EPA reserves the right to increase or decrease (including to zero) the total number of awards and dollar amounts for each track. EPA also may at its discretion change the ratio between Track One: WPP to Track Two: Non-WPP assistance agreements. Such changes may be necessary as a response to among other things the quality of applications received by EPA, the amount of funds awarded to the selected applicants, or budget availability.

Selection or award of funding under this NOFO is not a guarantee of future funding. EPA reserves the right to make additional awards under this announcement if additional funding becomes available after the original selections are made. Any additional selections for awards will be made no later than six (6) months after the original selection decisions.

2. Eligibility A. Eligible Applicants Only these types of organizations may apply:

• Indian Tribes.

• State & Local Governments.

• Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs).

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200/section-200.1#p-200.1(Indian%20Tribe) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200/section-200.1#p-200.1(State) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200/section-200.1#p-200.1(Local%20government) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200/section-200.1#p-200.1(Institution%20of%20Higher%20Education%20(IHE))

• Interstate agencies.

• Intertribal consortia.

As described in Assistance Listing number 66.461 in the “Eligibility” section, this includes state agencies; any agency or instrumentality of local government; interstate agencies; federally recognized Tribes and intertribal consortia; colleges and universities that are agencies of a state.

"For profit" organizations, federal agencies, and individuals are not eligible applicants.

(1) Other Eligibility Requirements

Applications must meet the following threshold criteria and those found in Section 6.A to be considered eligible:

1. Applications must include activities taking place within states, Tribes, and territories within EPA Region 4 (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee) and Tribal lands located within those states. Inter-jurisdictional watershed projects must primarily be conducted in EPA Region 4.

2. All applications submitted under this NOFO, regardless of track, must be for projects that develop or refine state, Tribal, territory or local government wetland programs. All applicants must demonstrate in their application how the proposed project will develop or refine a state, Tribal, territory or local government wetland program according to the requirements of the track the application falls under. The two tracks are described below and further in Section 3.A: Track Concept.

• Track One: WPP - Applicants must demonstrate (1) how they will develop/update a

Wetland Program Plan, or (2) reference one or more grant-eligible action(s) from an EPA-approved Wetland Program Plan they plan to undertake as part of the proposed project.

• Track Two: Non-WPP - Applicants must demonstrate (1) which objectives and associated action(s) from Appendix A: Program Development and Refinement Actions their application is developing or refining, or (2) if the applicant is an interstate agency or intertribal consortia, by referencing one or more grant-eligible action(s) from an EPA-approved Wetland Program Plan they plan to undertake as part of the proposed project.

3. Applications are limited to no more than $600,000 each.

4. Applicants may submit more than one application under this announcement under the applicable tracks. Each application must be separately submitted and be for a different project. Applications will be evaluated separately.

5. In addition, state, Tribal, and territorial government applicants may submit separate applications for different projects under Track One: WPP or Track Two: Non-WPP. Local governments, interstate organization and intertribal consortia can only apply under Track Two: Non-WPP. Each application must be submitted under either Track One: WPP or Track Two: Non-WPP.

6. Applicants cannot submit one application covering both tracks. If an applicant indicates that an application covers both tracks, the application will be rejected. If an applicant submits an https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-40/section-40.115-3 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-35/subpart-B/subject-group-ECFR7560dab1b022383/section-35.504 https://sam.gov/fal/153fed3ebb7440a0a0b30bc7702c2f2e/view https://www.epa.gov/wetlands/wetland-program-development-grants-eligible-activities application under the wrong track, the EPA will determine the most appropriate track in which to evaluate the application.

7. All applications submitted under this NOFO must conduct or promote the coordination and acceleration of research, investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys and studies relating to the causes, effects (including health and welfare effects), extent, prevention, reduction and elimination of water pollution as described in Section 3.C:

Statutory Authority, of this announcement.

8. Demonstration projects must involve new or experimental technologies, methods or approaches, where the results of the project will be disseminated so that others can benefit from the knowledge gained in the demonstration project. A project that is accomplished through the performance of routine, traditional or established practices, or a project that is simply intended to carry out a task rather than transfer information or advance the state of knowledge, is not a demonstration and all or parts of the application will be eliminated from consideration. Such projects are implementation projects and are not eligible for funding under this announcement. Individual project tasks that are for program implementation are not eligible for funding. Only education and training on restoration or restoration involving new, experimental or demonstrative methods are eligible. (See also Section 4.B.3 on limitations for demonstration projects).

9. The lease of vehicles is eligible for funding under this program but must be described in the budget detail and linked to project activities.

Ineligible Activities

If an application is submitted with ineligible tasks, that portion of the application will be ineligible for funding and may, depending on the extent to which it affects the application, render the entire application ineligible for funding. Below is a list of ineligible tasks.

1. Wetland program implementation projects are not eligible for funding under this announcement. An implementation project is accomplished through the performance of routine, traditional or established practices, or a project that is simply intended to carry out a task rather than transfer information or advance the state of knowledge. However worthwhile the implementation project might be, such a project is not considered a demonstration project, which is eligible.

2. Fundraising, honorarium or the purchase of land or conservation easements are ineligible.

3. Application project tasks that are required by a previous or pending permit, e.g., CWA Section 404 permit, CWA Section 402 permit, CWA Section 401 certification, or federal, state, Tribal or local government regulatory requirement(s) are not eligible for funding because they are implementation tasks.

4. Wetland restoration training projects cannot include wetlands constructed only for the purposes of treating wastewater or stormwater.

5. Implementation of individual mitigation projects, mitigation banks or in-lieu-fee mitigation programs are not eligible for funding. Applications that carry out studies that may be part of an in-lieu-fee program/instrument are eligible for funding, but the actual creation of an in-lieu-fee instrument is not eligible for funding.

6. Purchase of vehicles (e.g., cars, boats, motor homes, etc.) and office furniture are not eligible for funding under this program.

7. Restoration of wetlands through conventional methods is ineligible.

Please see Section 6 for additional threshold criteria.

B. Cost Sharing

Applicants must demonstrate a minimum cost share of 25 percent of the total project cost to be considered eligible. The cost share must be for allowable costs and may be provided by the applicant, by the applicant’s subrecipient or other third parties. The cost share may be provided in cash or by in-kind contributions. In-kind contributions often include salaries, equipment or other verifiable costs and this value must be carefully documented. In the case of salaries, applicants may use either minimum wage or fair market value.

Applicants must demonstrate in their proposal how the proposal will meet the cost share requirement.

Selected recipients must comply with 2 CFR 200.306 when meeting a cost share requirement.

If the cost share is provided by a subrecipient, the subrecipient’s contribution must comply with 2 CFR

200.306. Any indirect costs included in the subrecipients’ cost share contribution must be determined consistent with 2 CFR 200.332(b)(4). Successful applicants are responsible for proper accounting and documentation of cost share contributions. Other federal grants may not be used as cost share without specific statutory authority. All grant funds are subject to a federal audit.

The total project cost is the sum of the total requested federal share and applicant cost share. The minimum cost share is determined by dividing the total project cost by four as illustrated by the following formula:

Total Project Cost ($) = minimum cost share ($)

For example, if the total project cost (sum of federal and non-federal funds) is $100,000, the applicant must be able to provide $25,000 in cash or in-kind contributions as cost share/match.

OR

Total Federal Funds Requested ($) = minimum cost share ($) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.306 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/section-200.306 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/section-200.306 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/subject-group-ECFR031321e29ac5bbd

For example, if the total federal funds requested are $75,000, the applicant must be able to provide $25,000 in cash or in-kind contributions as cost share.

A cost share/match calculator can be found at the WPDG website at Cost Share Calculator.

(1) Performance Partnership Grants (PPG)

Funds for a grant awarded under this NOFO may be included in a PPG. Applicants should indicate in their application submission if they anticipate incorporating the proposed project, if selected for funding, into an already existing PPG or if they intend to create a new PPG that would include the project proposed under this funding opportunity.

For further information regarding cost share requirements for awards included in PPG, see the final rules on Environmental Program Grants for state and interstate agencies at 40 CFR Part 35, Subpart A and Tribes and Intertribal Consortia at 40 CFR Part 35, Subpart B. Local governments are not eligible for PPGs.

(2) Tribal Match Clause for PPG-eligible Programs

NO REQUIRED TRIBAL COST SHARE UNDER A PERFORMANCE PARTNERSHIP GRANT (PPG)

If a Tribe or intertribal consortium includes the funds for a grant awarded under this NOFO in an approved Performance Partnership Grant (PPG), there is no cost-share requirement. If the applicant plans to include their grant in a PPG, the applicant should:

• Prepare a budget and proposed work-plan based upon the assumption that the EPA will approve the budget and work plan without cost share included.

• Be aware that if the grant awarded under this NOFO is not included in a PPG the Tribe or intertribal consortium must meet the applicable cost share requirements identified in Section 2.B. The federal award amount will be reduced by the required cost share amount and the total project cost will remain the same.

3. Program Description A. Purpose, Priorities, and Activities Program Purpose

The goals of the 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 conditions. In pursuing these goals, as indicated in Assistance Listing 66.461, the EPA seeks to develop the capacity of all levels of government to develop and/or refine effective, comprehensive programs for wetland protection and management.

Wetlands are areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or groundwater at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions. For this grant program, the term wetlands generally includes swamps, marshes, bogs and similar areas as described in Cowardin et al.

1979.

https://www.epa.gov/wetlands/wetland-program-development-grants-and-epa-wetlands-grant-coordinators https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.epa.gov%2Fsystem%2Ffiles%2Fdocuments%2F2023-06%2FWPDG%2520Match%2520Calculator.xlsx&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-35/subpart-A?toc=1 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-35/subpart-B?toc=1 https://www.fws.gov/media/classification-wetlands-and-deepwater-habitats-united-states https://www.fws.gov/media/classification-wetlands-and-deepwater-habitats-united-states

WPDGs provide states, Tribes, territories, interstate agencies, intratribal consortia, local governments and universities that are agencies of a state (hereafter referred to as applicants or recipients) an opportunity to develop and/or refine comprehensive state, Tribal, territory and to a lesser extent local government wetland programs. These programs are meant to:

• Develop the capacity of states, Tribes and territories to increase the quantity and quality of wetlands in the U.S. by conserving and restoring wetland acreage and improving wetland condition.

• Use one or more actions from Appendix A: Program Development and Refinement Actions to achieve this goal.

Appendix A: Program Development and Refinement Actions provides objectives and program development and refinement actions that are eligible for WPDG funding.

Wetland mapping and monitoring projects are eligible for funding under this announcement as they are considered studies or investigations that develop or refine state, Tribal, territory or local government programs to research, investigate, experiment, train, demonstrate, survey and study the causes, effects, extent, prevention, reduction and elimination of water pollution. Mapping projects are required to meet the Federal Geographic Data Committee Wetlands Mapping Standards (see Section 4.E.3).

Proposed projects must comply with all state, Tribal, territory, local and federal regulations applicable to the project area. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure compliance.

Program Priority

The EPA has found that long-term wetland planning (e.g., Wetland Program Plans) helps states, Tribes and territories develop their wetland programs more effectively and efficiently; therefore, the EPA is emphasizing Wetland Program Plans as a national priority.

Track Concept

Under this announcement, the EPA will have two separate tracks for eligible applicants.

1. States, Tribes and territories can apply under Track One: WPP or Track Two: Non-WPP.

2. Interstate agencies, Intertribal consortia, local governments and colleges and universities that are agencies of a state can only apply under Track Two: Non-WPP.

Track One: WPP-eligible-applicants will only be ranked against other Track One: WPP-eligible applicants.

Track Two: Non-WPP-eligible applicants will only be ranked against other Track Two: Non-WPP-eligible applicants. See Section 6.B for further information.

Track One: WPPs (state, Tribal or territory applicants only)

Under Track One: WPP - states, Tribes and territories must submit applications for either (1) carrying out grant-eligible actions from a current EPA-approved Wetland Program Plan or (2) developing or updating a Wetland Program Plan (and, if they so choose, also carrying out actions that develop or refine a wetland program described in Appendix A: Program Development and Refinement Actions). If a state, Tribe or territory submits any other type of application (e.g., not having a Wetland Program Plan, having https://www.epa.gov/wetlands/wetland-program-development-grants-eligible-activities an expired Wetland Program Plan), they will automatically be included and evaluated under Track Two:

Non-WPP as-long-as the application meets the threshold eligibility requirements delineated in Sections 2 and 6.

Wetland Program Plans. Wetland Program Plans are voluntary plans developed by state, Tribal or territorial agencies that articulate what the state, Tribe or territory wants to accomplish with their wetland programs over time. Wetland Program Plans describe overall program goals along with broad-based actions and more specific activities that will help achieve the goals. Timelines for plans vary between three to six years, with more specific timeframes typically associated with the plan’s actions/activities.

Wetland Program Plans should include the following five minimum components:

1. An overall goal statement(s) for the program over the period covered by the Wetland Program Plan.

2. An overall timeframe for the plan, with a minimum timeframe of three years starting from the time of the Wetland Program Plan submittal to the EPA.

3. A list of planned actions that the program intends to carry out over the Wetland Program Plan’s timeframe which, if collectively met, will accomplish the overall Wetland Program Plan goal(s). Suggested actions can be found in the Core Elements Framework.

4. An intended schedule for the achievement of each action.

5. A listing of more specific activities to be accomplished under each action.

Wetland Program Plans do not need to be elaborate documents. An effective Wetland Program Plan may be a concise list of planned actions to help create a focused and sustainable wetland program. A Wetland Program Plan can refer to both wetland program implementation and program development efforts planned for the upcoming three to six years. Please note, however, that program implementation efforts are not eligible for WPDG funding. Wetland Program Plans should also include any actions the state, Tribe or territory anticipates funding through sources other than WPDGs. Wetland Program Plans are approved by the EPA in a process that is independent of the WPDG application process. The EPA-approved state, Tribal or territory Wetland Program Plans can be found at: State and Tribal Wetland-Program Plans.

Wetland Program Plan versus WPDG application. As described above, a Wetland Program Plan is a plan that outlines the goals, broad actions and activities that a state, Tribal or territory wetland program may want to undertake to develop or refine its wetland program. A WPDG application is a more detailed set of projects and tasks that an eligible applicant may undertake over the next year or two to develop actions or activities in an EPA-approved Wetland Program Plan.

If a state, Tribe or territory already has a current EPA-approved Wetland Program Plan, they may submit an application to carry out grant-eligible actions in their approved Wetland Program Plan. The state, Tribe or territory must indicate in their application(s) which of the development or refinement actions from their EPA-approved Wetland Program Plan they intend to carry out.

If a state, Tribe or territory does not have an EPA-approved Wetland Program Plan or if their EPA-approved Wetland Program Plan is expiring, they may apply to develop/update a Wetland Program Plan.

In addition to developing a Wetland Program Plan, a state, Tribe or territory may want to include in their application other program developing or refining tasks to undertake while also developing their Wetland Program Plan. The state, Tribe or territory must indicate in their WPDG application, which associated https://www.epa.gov/wetlands/state-and-tribal-wetland-program-plans#r1 https://www.epa.gov/wetlands/state-and-tribal-wetland-program-plans#r1 action(s) the project will take, as described in Appendix A: Program Development and Refinement Actions.

A state, Tribe or territory may apply to refine an EPA-approved Wetland Program Plan if the plan needs significant changes. A Wetland Program Plan may be refined when the plan has not expired or is not about to expire but additional changes may need to be made to update the Wetland Program Plan as a whole or in part because of more recent developments in the state, Tribal or territory wetland program.

States, Tribes or territories submitting applications to develop or revise a Wetland Program Plan under Track 1: WPP may want to include travel support and meeting set-up and facilitation support to hold meetings for state, Tribal or territory agencies, stakeholders and/or others. Alternative training workshops due to the impacts of natural disasters and/or health emergencies may include switching from in-person formats to virtual only.

Funds awarded under this announcement for wetland meetings/training workshops may be used by recipients to promote participation and to support the travel expenses of non-federal personnel.

Assistance funds may be used by the successful applicant to defray transportation and subsistence expenses for non-federal attendees at training sessions, roundtables or workgroup meetings. The applicant will select meeting locations, secure meeting facilities (e.g., meeting rooms, accommodations, audio-visual equipment) and develop meeting agendas and materials. The successful applicant will use their logo on any corresponding materials; the EPA will use its logo on any corresponding materials. The applicant is solely responsible for determining a methodology for selecting and funding reimbursement requests and providing a report on how participating non-federal attendees benefited from the meetings. The EPA will not participate in the selection or approval of individuals who receive travel assistance.

Track Two: Non-WPP Applications (states, Tribes, territories, local government, interstate agencies, intertribal consortium, and universities that are an agency of a state)

Under Track Two, states, Tribes, territories, interstate agencies, intertribal consortia and universities that are agencies of a state must submit applications that will develop or refine a state’s, Tribe’s or territory’s wetland program by either carrying out one or more action(s): (1) from Appendix A: Program Development and Refinement Actions or (2) that advance the grant-eligible actions articulated in an EPA-approved Wetland Program Plan. Applicants must indicate in their applications which associated action(s) their project would take from Appendix A: Program Development and Refinement Actions. If the applicant is an interstate agency, intertribal consortium, local government or an university that is an agency of a state and is carrying out an action(s) from an EPA-approved state, Tribal or territory Wetland Program Plan they must indicate which EPA-approved state, Tribal or territory Wetland Program Plan they are working from and which actions(s) their project would develop or refine from the Wetland Program Plan.

Examples of how to link to an EPA-approved Wetland Program Plan include, but are not limited to:

• In their EPA-approved Wetland Program Plan, a state, Tribe or territory proposes to develop regulations on groundwater withdrawals in areas surrounding vital wetlands. To link to this Wetland Program Plan, an interstate agency, intertribal consortium, local government or university that is an agency of a state may propose to study the effect of groundwater withdrawals on types of wetlands common in the state, Tribe or territory and provide the https://www.epa.gov/wetlands/wetland-program-development-grants-eligible-activities https://www.epa.gov/wetlands/wetland-program-development-grants-eligible-activities https://www.epa.gov/wetlands/wetland-program-development-grants-eligible-activities results of the study to the state, Tribe or territory. The goal would be to inform the regulations governing groundwater withdrawals in areas near vital wetlands.

• In their EPA-approved Wetland Program Plan, a state, Tribe or territory proposes to survey wetlands identified in its existing wetland inventory to verify location, hydric conditions and wetland type. To link to this Wetland Program Plan, an interstate agency, intertribal consortium, local government or university that is an agency of a state proposes to perform this verification within an area of the state, Tribe or territory.

Program Activities

1. Project Need and Environmental Benefits

It is important to describe specific aspects of your geographic area, specific threats affecting your wetlands, streams, or other aquatic resources and how this issue will be addressed by the development of a Wetland Program Plan or through the action(s) you have described in the application. Additional information on the description of need and how it will be evaluated can be found in Section 4.B.2.a. and Section 6.B.a.

In addition, please indicate the environmental benefit(s) associated with your project from the list below along with a short description of how the project meets one of these benefits.

• Addresses water quality and/or quantity challenges, improves habitat or prevents or reduces nonpoint source pollution.

• Reduces, minimizes or avoids wetland losses or impacts.

• Expands research, education and develops wetland assessment tools for wetland restoration and protection.

• Expands the adaptive capacity of communities, wildlife and plants to be resilient.

• Deepens community engagement or use of wetlands for recreational and cultural purposes.

If you feel your project does not fall under one of these benefits, please indicate the environmental benefit of your project with a short description.

2. Transfer of Results

Active transfer of project results (outputs/outcomes), lessons learned and/or methods to other states, Tribes, territories or local governments and agencies within and beyond their own organization is extremely important so that others can better develop their wetland programs.

Transfer of results can occur during or after the grant period. Additional information on this section of the application and how it will be evaluated can be found in Section 4.B.2.f: Transfer of Results and Section 6.B.h.

3. Project Partners

Effective partnerships are important for the success of projects solicited under this announcement.

In their applications, applicants should identify appropriate and necessary partnerships to successfully conduct the project. Applications will be evaluated based on their partnerships described in Section 4.B.2.i: Partnership Information and Section 6.B.k.

4. Environmental Results

Applicants are required to describe how funding will help EPA achieve outputs and outcomes in their responses to the criteria in Section 6. Outputs and outcomes specific to each project will be identified as deliverables in the negotiated workplan if the application is selected for award.

Recipients will be expected to report progress toward the attainment of expected project outputs and outcomes during the project performance period. Outputs and outcomes are defined as follows:

Outputs are an environmental activity, effort, and/or associated work product related to an environmental goal or objective that will be produced or provided over time or by a specified date.

Outputs may be quantitative or qualitative but must be measurable during the project period. The expected outputs for the grants awarded under these guidelines may include but are not limited to:

• Development of state, Tribal, or territory WPP (described in Section 3.A., Track One: WPP Applications) (All Core Elements).

• Development of training materials and tools to help state, Tribal, territory and local government decisionmakers integrate wetland protection and restoration into integrated watershed planning. The project can and is encouraged to incorporate Traditional Ecological Knowledge (Voluntary Restoration/Protection and/or Regulatory Core Elements).

• Development of wetland maps directly or by supporting wetland mapping coalitions that may also incorporate traditionally important and sacred species identification in the wetland types (All Core Elements).

• Development of strategies that consider hazard mitigation/flood/drought planning and resiliency into wetland restoration and protection (Voluntary Restoration and Protection Core Element, Regulatory Core Element).

• Development of a report on the ambient condition of wetland resources at a state, Tribal, territory, local or population scale and may include traditionally important and sacred species, sites, etc. (Monitoring and Assessment Core Element).

• Development of a permit program to discharge dredged or fill material into waters of the United States or waters of the state, Tribe or territory. This permit program can include the assumption of the CWA Section 404 permitting program or development of a state, Tribal, territory or local permitting program (Regulatory Core Element).

• Development of a water quality certification program under CWA Section 401 (Regulatory Core Element).

• Development of strategies to integrate goals of wetland protection and restoration programs or activities into water reuse planning (Voluntary Restoration/Protection and/or Regulatory Core Elements).

• Development of methods or strategies to incorporate wetland water quality standards into the EPA approved state or Tribal water quality standards and may include traditional and cultural uses (Wetland-specific Water Quality Standard Core Element).

• Development of methods and studies to address at-risk or vulnerable wetland ecosystems, aquatic resources and wetland-dependent priority species due to hazard mitigation/flooding/drought impacts and resilience into wetland protection and watershed planning (Monitoring and Assessment Core Element).

• Development of education and outreach materials for wetland staff, Tribal members, the public and other sectors (All of the Core Elements).

• Development of tools or procedures, or studies and programs, to evaluate the ecological performance of compensatory mitigation projects (e.g., mitigation banks, in-lieu fee projects and permittee-responsible mitigation) and incorporate the results/findings/lessons learned into future compensatory mitigation project decision-making to help determine mitigation program success (Regulatory Core Element).

Outcomes are the result, effect, or consequence that will occur from carrying out the activities under the grant. Outcomes may be environmental, behavioral, health-related, or programmatic; must be qualitative or quantitative; and may not necessarily be achievable during the project period. EPA anticipates the outcomes from the projects awarded under this announcement may be an increase in the capacity to:

• Increase quantity of wetlands.

• Increase quality of wetlands.

• Improve wetland protection efforts.

• Increase stakeholder’s and decisionmaker’s understanding of a wetland’s condition for a variety of uses/functions.

• Increase stakeholder’s and decisionmaker’s understanding of wetland ecologic condition and/or function at population scales (i.e., community or regional).

• Increase stakeholder’s and decisionmaker’s understanding of the impacts of increased flooding/drought and/or resilience-building actions on wetlands, including on traditional and cultural uses.

• Improve wetland inventories and baseline condition assessments to address hazard mitigation/flood/drought effects.

• Improve data to use in modeling potential hydrologic change, ecosystem/biogeographic shifts, wetland losses or wetland increases on the landscape that can be used to inform stakeholders and decisionmakers.

• Increase stakeholder’s and decisionmaker’s understanding of how to develop a CWA Section 404 state or Tribal regulatory program.

• Increase stakeholder’s and decisionmaker’s understanding of how to develop a CWA Section 401 state or Tribal water quality certification program or CWA Section 401(a)(2) state or Tribal neighboring jurisdiction program.

• Increase stakeholder’s and decisionmaker’s knowledge through training and outreach for state, Tribal, territory or local wetland staff, the public, at-risk communities and/or other partners.

• Improve baseline information on wetland extent, condition and performance to inform state, Tribal, territory or local regulatory programs.

• Increase stakeholder’s and decisionmaker’s understanding of the ecological success of compensatory mitigation and use to inform stakeholders and decisionmakers.

For reference, a list of previously funded projects is posted in the EPA’s Wetland Grants Database.

B. Program Goals and Objectives The activities to be funded under this funding announcement as described in Assistance Listing 66.461 support Pillar 1: Clean Air, Land, and Water for Every America and Pillar 3: Permitting Reform, Cooperative Federalism, and Cross-Agency Partnership of Administrator Zeldin's Five Pillars.

https://wgd.epa.gov/ https://sam.gov/fal/153fed3ebb7440a0a0b30bc7702c2f2e/view https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-administrator-lee-zeldin-announces-epas-powering-great-american-comeback

C. Statutory Authority The statutory authority for WPDGs is Section 104(b)(3) of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 1254(b)(3).

Section 104(b)(3) of the CWA restricts the use of these funds to developing or refining wetland 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 pollution. Projects that are demonstrations must involve new or experimental technologies, methods or approaches to be eligible for WPDGs. The EPA expects that the results of each project will be disseminated so that others can benefit from the knowledge gained in the demonstration project.

D. Funding Type It is anticipated that grants and cooperative agreements will be funded under this funding opportunity.

Cooperative agreements provide for substantial involvement between the EPA Project Officer and the selected applicant(s) in the performance of the work supported. Although the EPA will negotiate precise terms and conditions relating to substantial involvement as part of the award process, the anticipated substantial federal involvement for these projects may include:

• close monitoring of the successful applicant’s performance to verify the results proposed by the applicant.

• collaboration during performance of the scope of work.

• in accordance with 2 CFR 200.317 and 2 CFR 200.318, review of proposed procurement;

• approving qualifications of key personnel (the EPA will not select employees or contractors employed by the award recipient); and

• review and comment on reports prepared under the cooperative agreement (the final decision on the content of reports rests with the recipient).

The EPA does not have the authority to select employees or contractors employed by the recipient. The final decision on the content of reports rests with the recipient.

4. Application Contents and Format A. Application Forms The following forms and documents are required under this announcement:

Mandatory Documents:

1. Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) Complete the form. There are no attachments.

2. Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424A) Complete the form. The total amount of federal funding requested for the project period should be shown on line 5(e) and on line 6(k) of the SF 424A. If indirect costs are included, the amount of indirect costs should be entered on line 6(j). The indirect cost rate (i.e., a percentage), the base (e.g., personnel costs and fringe benefits) and the total indirect amount should also be indicated on line 22. In Section B: Budget Categories row 1, column https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.317 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.318

(e) should be filled out for federal funds, row 1 column (f) should be filled out for non-federal cost-share and row 5 should be filled out for total project costs (federal funds, non-federal cost share and project total).

3. EPA Key Contacts Form 5700-54 Complete the form. Attach additional forms as needed.

4. EPA Form 4700-4 Preaward Compliance Review Report Complete the form. Tips for filling out this form can be found at Tips Completing the EPA Form 4700-4.

5. Project Narrative Attachment Form: use this to submit your Project Narrative See description for the Project Narrative in Section 4.B. below.

Optional Documents:

6. Other Attachments Form: Use this to submit other attachments, if applicable Use this to submit other attachments, including the applicants Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement as applicable; Letters of Commitment; biographical sketches of major project managers, support staff members, other major project participants, Quality Assurance/Quality Control documents and others if applicable.

You may provide some or all the optional attachments listed below. The optional attachments identified below are not included in the 26-page limit for the project narrative. Attachments (some are discussed above) may include the following:

a. Pictures and Maps

Pictures and/or maps may be attached to describe the project.

b. Staff Resumes

Staff resumes may be included to describe the experience of relevant applicant staff and should not be more than approximately two pages per person.

c. Letters of Commitment Letters of commitment may be useful in demonstrating support for applications submitted under either Track One: WPP or Track Two: Non-WPP. All letters of commitment should be on the official letterhead of the agency or organization and should be addressed to the applicant. Letters of commitment may be attached to verify for example:

• Partners’ support/commitment/use for the project.

• Cost share or other resources provided by partners.

• How partners/others will make use of the project’s results.

Partners who will be providing cost share should describe the resources (in-kind services or dollars) that they are committing to the project for each task and budget category (see item viii. Detailed Budget under the Project Description Section, above).

For ease of review, the EPA encourages applicants not to attach full documents such as surveys, studies or journal articles. Excerpts (title page plus only relevant pages) and/or links from documents are acceptable and encouraged. The items listed directly above are not subject to the Project Narrative page limit.

https://www.epa.gov/grants/tips-completing-epa-form-4700-4 https://www.epa.gov/grants/tips-completing-epa-form-4700-4

7. Budget Narrative Attachment Form

Use this form to submit optional budget narrative. This will be considered part of the page limit if utilized.

The Project Narrative must be no more than twenty-six (26) double-spaced 8.5 x 11-inch pages (a page is one side of paper) or thirteen (13) single-spaced pages except for documents specifically excluded from the page limit as noted below.

Pages should be consecutively numbered and it is recommended that applicants use a standard 12-point type with 0.75-inch margins and that applicants format their Project Narrative as described below for ease of reading.

Applicants are advised that readability is of paramount importance and should take precedence in application format, including selecting a legible font type and size for use in the application.

B. Project Narrative Description The EPA encourages applicants to organize the Project Narrative based on the outlined sections (1-5) below.

Budget information and the milestone schedule, described below, must be included within the Project Narrative page limit (26 page double-spaced or 13 page single-spaced), and not in the supporting materials or appendix.

Any supporting materials (such as commitment letters from partners, annotated resumes and Quality Assurance/Quality Control Plans) that the applicant chooses to provide are not included in the 26-page double-spaced limit for the Project Narrative and should be submitted as attachments. See Section 4.A.6., above, for a discussion of optional supporting materials. When possible, please submit all supporting materials as one electronic file, such as but not limited to, PDF.

The 26-page double-spaced Project Narrative must include the information listed below in items 1-5 and address the relevant evaluation criteria in Section 6.B for either Track One: WPP or Track Two: Non- WPP as applicable. The Project Narrative must also address the threshold eligibility factors in Sections 2 and 6 as applicable. If a particular item is not applicable, the application should clearly state this.

1. Cover Page (included in the page limit) with:

a. Project Title (the project title should reflect the main project outcome/objective and should be 15 words or less).

b. Indicate whether the applicant is in Track One: WPP or Track Two: Non-WPP.

i. Track One: WPP Applicants: indicate if they will develop a Wetland Program Plan

(optional: also list actions described in the Wetland Program Development Grant Eligible Activities), or identify one or more grant-eligible action(s) from an EPA-approved Wetland Program Plan.

ii. Track Two: Non-WPP Applicants: list action(s) (see Appendix A: Program Development and Refinement Actions) they plan to complete. Intertribal consortium applicant can reference one or more grant eligible action(s) from an EPA-approved Wetland Program Plan.

https://www.epa.gov/wetlands/wetland-program-development-grants-eligible-activities https://www.epa.gov/wetlands/wetland-program-development-grants-eligible-activities

c. Name of applicant and applicant’s Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).

d. Key personnel and contact information (i.e., e-mail address and phone number).

e. Geographic Location - 8- or 14-digit Hydrologic Unit Code(s) with watershed name(s) if the project is not located across the entire state, Tribe, territory or local government with weblink provided. If the project is local in scale, provide the name of the city or county, state, Tribe and/or zip code.

f. Total project cost, federal dollars requested and cost share (if the award will be placed in a PPG, please indicate that as well).

g. Abstract/project summary. The abstract should begin with one or two sentences describing the main objective of the application. It should also include a list of the main tasks to be accomplished and a description of the final product(s). The entire abstract should be 250 words or less.

2. Project Description - Please address the following categories (a-j) outlined below.

Applications will be evaluated according to the selection criteria described in Section 6.B.

a. Project Need and Environmental Benefit

i. Project Need Describe the need for the project as it pertains to developing or refining wetland program(s). The description should include:

• The threats affecting your wetlands/streams/aquatic resources.

• The need for the proposed actions.

• How the deliverables will lead to an increase in the quality and quantity of wetlands.

Describe specific aspects of your geographic area, specific adverse issues your wetlands face and how this issue will be addressed by the development of a Wetland Program Plan or through the action(s) you have described in the application.

Beyond a narrative description of the need for the project, some examples of ways to provide additional information that the project is needed by an applicant or that the applicant at least exercised due diligence to further demonstrate state, Tribal, territory, or local government need for the project include (but are not limited to):

• Letters of Commitment from state(s), Tribe(s), territory(ies) or local government(s) indicating their support, need, or use for the project’s deliverables.

• Documentation of the responses from efforts made to reach out to states, Tribes, territories or local governments with respect to project need.