Water Technology Lagoons RFA FINAL January 2022.pdf

COVID-19 Update: EPA is providing flexibilities to applicants experiencing challenges related to COVID-19. Please see the Flexibilities Available to Organizations Impacted by COVID-19 clause in Section IV of EPA’s Solicitation Clauses.

OVERVIEW INFORMATION

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Science Advisor, Policy and Engagement Office of Research and Development Innovative Water Technology Grant Program

INNOVATIVE WATER TECHNOLOGIES FOR

LAGOON WASTEWATER SYSTEMS IN SMALL

COMMUNITIES

This is the initial announcement of this funding opportunity.

Funding Opportunity Number: EPA-G2022-ORD-G1

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 66.521

Solicitation Opening Date: January 20, 2022 Solicitation Closing Date: March 7, 2022: 11:59:59 pm Eastern Time

Table of Contents

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Introduction

B. Background C. Authority and Regulations D. Specific Research Areas of Interest/Expected Outputs and Outcomes E. References F. Special Requirements G. Additional Provisions for Applicants Incorporated into the Solicitation

II. AWARD INFORMATION

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligible Applicants B. Cost Sharing C. Other

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. Grants.gov Submittal Requirements and Limited Exception Procedures B. Application Package Information https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-solicitation-clauses

C. Content and Form of Application Submission D. Submission Dates and Times E. Funding Restrictions F. Submission Instructions and Other Submission Requirements

V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

A. Peer Review B. Relevancy Review C. Past Performance History Review D. Human Subjects Research Statement (HSRS) Review E. Evaluation of the Scientific Data Management Plan F. Funding Decisions

VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

A. Award Notices B. Disputes C. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

VII. AGENCY CONTACTS

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

For Updates and Additional Information see https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/research-funding-opportunities.

View research awarded under previous solicitations at https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/research-grant-areas.

A. Introduction

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking applications for the purpose of accelerating innovative and alternative wastewater treatment technologies in lagoon/pond systems serving small communities (population less than 10,000) that may require infrastructure improvements or process modifications in effluent quality for nutrients (total phosphorous and/or total nitrogen) and ammonia. In addition, the Request for Applications (RFA) is also looking for applications to help determine the performance, capital costs, operations and maintenance (O&M) costs, and O&M requirements of innovative water technologies that can efficiently and consistently remove nutrients.

In recent years, small communities with wastewater treatment plants serving less than 10,000 customers have shown increased interest in lagoon systems (also known as waste stabilization ponds or waste stabilization lagoons) as an alternative to conventional wastewater treatment due to their relative ease of operation, lower costs to remove biological oxygen demand (BOD), and total suspended solids (TSS) from the wastewater. Because many small communities with lagoon systems can expect more stringent effluent limits for parameters such as ammonia and other nutrients (total nitrogen and total phosphorous), it will become increasingly important that they make updates to reliably remove nutrients and optimize processes to ensure that discharged water quality meets Clean Water Act (CWA) requirements. These small communities need information to assess lagoon options and/or design or make improvements to lagoon systems to https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/research-funding-opportunities https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/research-funding-opportunities https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/research-grant-areas https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/research-grant-areas help determine the most cost-effective approach across the life cycle of the investment, while achieving public health and environmental protection.

EPA is assisting states and tribes by developing tools and resources to achieve water quality improvements. States and tribes have flexibility in fulfilling their CWA requirements when setting water quality standards and issuing National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits to wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in their communities. Small communities, states and tribes often do not have the capacity or technical knowledge necessary to meet those CWA requirements or the stringent water quality standards for the numerous and varying small WWTP systems. A systematic in-depth evaluation of technology is needed, including guidance on cost-effective and reliable ways to address challenges that commonly face small lagoon systems.

Through the Innovative Water Technology Grant Program, this RFA is soliciting innovative research to provide new technical and financial information to assist in the deployment of demonstrated innovative water technologies for improving effluent quality in lagoon systems serving small communities. Specifically, research is needed on the best available science on consistent performance, especially long-term (three or more years), and the cost effectiveness of lagoon treatment technologies for nutrient removal technologies. Research should target small, municipal systems that utilize lagoon systems as their primary method of wastewater treatment.

Research under this RFA is intended to address nutrient compliance, primarily ammonia and other nutrients such as total nitrogen and total phosphorus.

The Innovative Water Technology Grant Program’s goal is to accelerate “the development and deployment of innovative water technologies that address pressing drinking water supply, quality, treatment, or security challenges of public water systems, areas served by private wells, or source waters.” Under the program, EPA shall make grants “(1) to develop, test, and deploy innovative water technologies; or (2) to provide technical assistance to deploy demonstrated innovative water technologies.”

EPA recognizes that it is important to engage all available minds to address the environmental challenges the Nation faces. At the same time, EPA seeks to expand the environmental conversation by including members of communities which may have not previously participated in such dialogues to participate in EPA programs. For this reason, EPA strongly encourages all eligible applicants identified in Section III, including minority serving institutions (MSIs), to apply under this opportunity.

For purposes of this solicitation, the following are considered MSIs:

1. Historically Black Colleges and Universities, as defined by the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. § 1061(2)). A list of these schools can be found at Historically Black Colleges and Universities;

2. Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), as defined by the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. § 1059c(b)(3) and (d)(1)). A list of these schools can be found at American Indian Tribally https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title42-section300j-1a&num=0&edition=prelim https://sites.ed.gov/whhbcu/one-hundred-and-five-historically-black-colleges-and-universities/ https://sites.ed.gov/whhbcu/one-hundred-and-five-historically-black-colleges-and-universities/ https://sites.ed.gov/whiaiane/tribes-tcus/tribal-colleges-and-universities/

Controlled Colleges and Universities;

3. Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), as defined by the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. § 1101a(a)(5)). A list of these schools can be found at Hispanic-Serving Institutions;

4. Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions; (AANAPISIs), as defined by the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. § 1059g(b)(2)). A list of these schools can be found at Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions; and

5. Predominately Black Institutions (PBIs), as defined by the Higher Education Act of 2008, 20 U.S.C. 1059e(b)(6). A list of these schools can be found at Predominately Black Institutions.

B. Background

Water technology innovation can help address pressing water resource challenges and can play a crucial role in ensuring adequate supply and quality of the nation’s water resources in a cost-effective manner. In addition to protecting aquatic life and preserving water quality for wildlife and recreational use, protecting the availability and quantity of drinking water supplies is an important consideration in rural communities. Contamination from wastewater in rural areas (where lagoons and septic systems are prevalent) may pose a potential threat to small drinking water systems and private wells relying on multiple drinking water sources. Small and rural communities along with private well owners may lack advanced drinking water treatment capabilities along with the financial, technical, and human resource capacity to ensure that they have clean and safe drinking water supplies [1]. Thus, source water protection [2] is an important consideration in rural areas dependent on clean safe drinking water sources [3]. Despite the technical effectiveness of innovative water technologies, there are institutional, geographical, financial, and regulatory barriers to their widespread acceptance and beneficial implementation.

Lagoon-based WWTPs have been widely used in the United States and around the world for municipal, agricultural, and industrial applications. These systems are particularly attractive to small communities because of their low operating cost, built-in solids storage, and low minimal operating requirements. Several advanced lagoon treatment technologies, retrofit options, and add-on systems have been developed that allow lagoon systems to achieve performance comparable or exceeding activated sludge processes. This includes removal of ammonia to low concentrations even at cold temperatures, nutrient removal to low levels, year-round performance in warm or cold climates, and lower operation and maintenance requirements and costs compared to small mechanical wastewater treatment plants.

Limited information is available on the performance, reliability, impacts, capital costs, and operation and maintenance (O&M) costs of various lagoon technologies and on their ability to consistently remove ammonia and nutrients. This is particularly the case for both existing and relatively new add-on systems that treat effluents from lagoon systems and in-lagoon upgrade options. As one example, Submerged Attached Growth Reactor (SAGR) enhanced nitrification has demonstrated promising ammonia removal to low levels even in cold weather [4]. However, the performance, operational data, potential impacts and cost information is not available.

https://sites.ed.gov/whiaiane/tribes-tcus/tribal-colleges-and-universities/ https://sites.ed.gov/hispanic-initiative/hispanic-serving-institutions-hsis/ https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1XVkOWKMDORm53pvU0L8EPsrJC94&msa=0&ie=UTF8&t=m&z=3&source=embed&ll=40.58644586187277%2C-148.28228249999984 https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1wlIi3j7gtlNq_w-0NKAb2bF2VmY&ie=UTF&msa=0&ll=37.35160769312532%2C-96.17229800000001&z=4

Furthermore, feasibility and performance of nutrient and ammonia removal technologies under different site-specific conditions such as number and types of lagoon cells, land availability, climate, and soil requirements are not well understood. There is also limited information on lagoon desludging and proper biosolids management. Performance and cost evaluations in literature for ammonia and nutrient removal technologies in lagoons are generally anecdotal, short-term, and do not address the variability of these site-specific conditions.

Comprehensively assessing the performance and cost of different lagoon systems has been a challenge for small communities. In order to consider multiple aspects of processes or treatment, integrated assessment metrics are often used to balance the system performance, public health, environmental impacts and economic aspects. Analyses such as a life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) and life cycle cost (LCC) analyses have been beneficial to provide systematic understanding of technology application, including the benefits and tradeoffs. Studies have been done in applying LCIA and LCC to evaluate innovative technology applications in various wastewater processes to achieve different nutrient targets while avoiding environmental burden shift. Examples of LCIA and LCC studies and innovative technologies in nutrient management include: Environmental Life Cycle Assessment and Cost Analysis of Bath, NY Wastewater Treatment Plant: Potential Upgrade Implications [5]; Effect of Nutrient Removal and Resource Recovery on Life Cycle Cost and Environmental Impacts of a Small Scale Water Resource Recovery Facility [6]; Life Cycle and Cost Assessments of Nutrient Removal Technologies in Wastewater Treatment Plants [7]; and Innovative Nutrient Removal Technologies: Case Studies of Intensified or Enhanced Treatment [4]. In order to provide communities with effective information on lagoon design and evaluation, a significant amount of research is needed.

In general, water quality in many water bodies has not achieved desired nutrient levels and eutrophication occurrence has steadily increased, especially under climate change patterns. A better understanding of the effects of ammonia, total nitrogen and total phosphorus on aquatic life and human health has resulted in the need to more effectively remove these pollutants from wastewater.

In 2013, EPA published updated national recommended water quality criteria [8] for the protection of aquatic life from the toxic effects of ammonia in freshwater. Ammonia is one of several forms of nitrogen that exist in aquatic environments. Unlike other forms of nitrogen that may cause indirect effects on aquatic life through nutrient over-enrichment, ammonia has direct toxic effects on aquatic life. The updated ammonia criteria recommendation reflects new data on ammonia toxicity and can be substantially more stringent than EPA’s previous recommendation.

EPA published a companion guidance document [9] describing flexibilities states and tribes can use to help implement the more stringent ammonia criteria. Despite the availability of this supporting information, many states and tribes have been reluctant to adopt the updated 2013 ammonia criteria state-wide in anticipation of challenges many of their small communities may have in complying with more stringent water quality standards.

Because small communities with lagoon WWTPs may be required to meet more stringent state permit limits for ammonia and/or other nutrients, these communities may benefit from implementing add-on technologies and/or in-lagoon or other onsite retrofits rather than replacing their lagoon system with a mechanical treatment system. Although several lagoon technology process options have been developed that remove ammonia and other nutrients, reliable technology performance evaluations including operational data and cost analysis demonstrating consistent performance and cost effectiveness are not readily available.

There are many EPA programs under development to support new technology implementation for small wastewater systems. EPA has authorized a new grant program for Training and Technical Assistance for Wastewater Treatment Works for the Prevention, Reduction and Elimination of Pollution [10]. This assistance includes small, rural and tribal communities that utilize lagoon systems. Additionally, the EPA Office of Wastewater Management is currently developing a water technology information-sharing clearinghouse [11] which is intended to provide a publicly available repository of resources from multiple sources (states, tribes, utilities, and non-profits), on the cost-effectiveness and performance of innovative, alternative, and reuse wastewater technologies. The EPA Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) is also implementing a National Compliance Initiative [12] focused on reducing significant noncompliance among NPDES permit holders, a large portion of which are small wastewater systems. These multiple efforts by EPA illustrate ongoing activities to support municipal lagoon communities. There is potential for the research completed through this RFA to provide these communities with additional information which complements these ongoing efforts.

C. Authority and Regulations

The authority for this RFA and resulting awards is contained in the America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018, 42 U.S.C. 300j-1a.

For research with an international aspect, the above statute is supplemented, as appropriate, by the National Environmental Policy Act, Section 102(2)(F).

Note that a project’s focus is to consist of activities relating to (1) developing, testing, and deploying innovative water technologies; or (2) providing technical assistance to deploying demonstrated innovative water technologies. Further note applications dealing with any aspect of or related to hydraulic fracking will not be funded by EPA through this program.

Additional applicable regulations include: 2 CFR Part 200, 2 CFR Part 1500, and 40 CFR Part 40 (Research and Demonstration Grants).

D. Specific Research Areas of Interest/Expected Outputs and Outcomes Note to applicant: The term “output” means an environmental activity, effort, and/or associated work products related to an environmental goal or objective, that will be produced or provided over a period of time or by a specified date. The term “outcome” means the result, effect or consequence that will occur from carrying out an environmental program or activity that is related to an environmental or programmatic goal or objective.

The activities to be funded under this solicitation support EPA’s Draft FY 2022-2026 Strategic Plan (https://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan). Awards made under this solicitation https://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan will support Goal 5: Ensure Clean and Safe Water for All Communities, Objective 5.1: Ensure Safe Drinking Water and Reliable Water Infrastructure and Objective 5.2: Protect and Restore Waterbodies and Watersheds, of the Draft Plan. All applications must be for projects that support the goal(s) and objective(s) identified above. The proposed research awards support the Innovative Water Technology Grant Program’s objective to provide technical assistance for the deployment of demonstrated innovative water technologies by developing new technical and financial information on wastewater treatment technologies in lagoon/pond systems serving small communities that may require infrastructure or process modifications to improve effluent quality for nutrients (total phosphorous and/or total nitrogen) and ammonia. The proposed research will help foster public health improvements and cleaner waterways for small, rural, and tribal communities that will promote sustainable wastewater management practices in lagoon systems.

EPA also requires that grant applicants adequately describe environmental outputs and outcomes to be achieved under assistance agreements (see EPA Order 5700.7A1, Environmental Results under Assistance Agreements, https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-order-57007a1-epas-policy-environmental-results-under-epa-assistance-agreements). Applicants must include specific statements describing the environmental results of the proposed project in terms of well-defined outputs and, to the maximum extent practicable, well-defined outcomes that will demonstrate how the project will contribute to the goal(s) and objective(s) described above.

The Agency is seeking research that proposes innovative water technology solutions for lagoon/pond wastewater systems serving small (population less than 10,000) communities. The research conducted should build a comprehensive technological and financial framework that can assist small communities deploy demonstrated innovative water technologies for lagoon systems to achieve better nutrient management in a cost-effective manner. The proposed research may include cooperation with a private entity, including a farmer, farmer cooperative, or manufacturer of water technologies. For all technologies evaluated through this research, the data collected on performance, impacts, capital costs, and long-term operations and maintenance (O&M) costs should only pertain to managing nutrients- primarily ammonia, nitrogen, and phosphorus removal and/or recovery. Any underlying life cycle inventory models used should follow the Federal LCA Commons submission guidelines [13]. LCA data quality should follow EPA LCA data quality assessment guidelines [14].

There are two distinct, but interconnected research areas described below. Applications should be responsive to both research areas. Applications which do not address both research areas #1 and #2 may not be rated as highly under the evaluation process described in Section V as those that do.

In addition, in accordance with the Innovative Water Technology Grant Program, the proposed research should have the potential to: (A) reduce ratepayer or community costs or costs of future capital investments; (B) significantly improve human health or the environment; or (C) provide additional drinking water supplies with minimal environmental impact. Projects that do not have the potential to address either A, B or C may not be rated as highly as those that do.

https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title42-section300j-1a&num=0&edition=prelim https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-order-57007a1-epas-policy-environmental-results-under-epa-assistance-agreements https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-order-57007a1-epas-policy-environmental-results-under-epa-assistance-agreements https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title42-section300j-1a&num=0&edition=prelim

Research Area #1 – Lagoon Technologies and Treatment Performance, Variability, and Life Cycle Cost Analyses Research is needed to help determine the performance, capital costs, O&M costs, and O&M requirements of technologies that can efficiently and consistently (3-year minimum) remove primarily ammonia, and if possible, total nitrogen, and total phosphorous in different types of lagoon/pond wastewater treatment systems to various ranges of low-level effluent concentrations, with particular interest in cold climates. The potential range of lagoon types may include aerobic, anaerobic, facultative, and discharge vs non-discharge. Additionally, performance and cost analyses are needed to identify the advantages and disadvantages of various add-on and in-lagoon technologies for small lagoon/pond wastewater treatment systems.

The performance quantification can refer to previous studies, and may include variability, reliability, or sensitivity analyses [15]. For add-on processes (post-lagoon), a separate performance evaluation of the add-on unit should be included. Where appropriate, the evaluation of the relationship and correlation between the influent and constituents with the performance in terms of nutrient removal efficiency and the variability of the applicable effluent quality parameters (e.g., Total P, Organic P, Total N, Organic N, NH3-N, NOX-N) may be included.

Operational difficulties and common process upsets should be identified, and the solutions in different systems should be documented and discussed.

Where facility-provided capital and O&M cost information is not adequately itemized, cost adjustments are to be made based on best available information. The O&M costs should include all relevant components including labor, power/electricity usage, chemical usage, and sludge management and disposal costs. It is important to explain if and what specific capital or O&M costs components are not included. Note that costs should be normalized allowing for cost data to be applicable to different regions and follow standardized LCC methods.

The following research questions identify several technological research gaps that prevent a holistic analysis of the current and future needs and successes for small lagoon systems.

Applicants may address these questions but are not limited to them:

1. What are the various technology options currently implemented at lagoon/pond facilities that consistently remove primarily ammonia nitrogen, as well as total nitrogen and/or total phosphorus to low levels? This includes add-on treatment processes but may also include in-lagoon retrofits, and non-discharging options.

2. What are the achieved performance levels associated with these technologies and how consistently can they be achieved (from a 3-year technology performance statistics [TPS] perspective), with consideration to:

a. varying permit level requirements (NPDES) driven by new or revised water quality standards and different types of NPDES, i.e., ammonia vs total nitrogen vs phosphorus. Information on NPDES permit requirements can be found at:

https://www.epa.gov/npdes/status-nutrient-requirements-npdes-permitted-facilities-non-majors-limits.

b. challenges associated with approaching technology limits

c. challenges with cold climates and climate change impacts such as heavy precipitation or extreme heat

d. variability, reliability, or sensitivity analyses https://www.iwapublishing.com/books/9781843393986/wefwerf-study-quantifying-nutrient-removal-technology-performance https://www.iwapublishing.com/books/9781843393986/wefwerf-study-quantifying-nutrient-removal-technology-performance https://www.epa.gov/npdes/status-nutrient-requirements-npdes-permitted-facilities-non-majors-limits https://www.epa.gov/npdes/status-nutrient-requirements-npdes-permitted-facilities-non-majors-limits

3. What are the compliance monitoring and operational differences in implementing and operating these technologies, the ease or complexity of operation and maintenance experienced by lagoon facilities, and other ancillary benefits or negative impacts of these technologies?

4. What are the desludging and solids disposal strategies? Sludge/biosolids disposal may involve land application, surface disposal, incineration, compost, pelletization as fertilizer or a municipal solid waste landfill. If sludge/biosolids disposal is done by land application, what are the best practices so that they conform with EPA Part 503 regulations [16][17]?

The following research questions identify several financial research gaps that prevent a holistic analysis of the current and future needs and successes for small lagoon systems. Applicants may address these questions but are not limited to them:

For each technology option evaluated:

5. What methods, approaches and models can be developed to estimate the life-cycle cost of the different lagoon systems?

a. These methods, approaches and models should have national applicability and include cost data collection. Cost estimates should include total capital costs for the particular pollutant evaluated (primarily ammonia, as well as total nitrogen, or total phosphorus), annual operation and maintenance costs for the particular pollutant evaluated, and Net Present Value for different lagoon systems.

b. These methods may optionally include replacement and expansion for population change and extreme weather events.

6. Can these methods, approaches and models account for:

a. Regional variations in costs, such as land cost or electricity grid mix

b. Historical, current, and forecasted weather conditions

c. Ability for individual communities to add place-specific data on capital, labor, and energy costs

d. Other local factors that contribute to variations in life cycle costs

Research Area #2 – Lagoon System Life Cycle Impact Analyses Research is needed to analyze the life cycle impacts and benefits of various lagoon technology systems. Using the inventory data collected in Research Area #1, a life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) can be conducted to quantify the impacts and benefits of various treatment systems identified for nutrient removal in lagoon systems.

Specific research components for the LCIA may include impacts and benefits for different treatment scenarios such as:

• At least three of the most commonly used types of lagoons and one example of lagoon conversion to mechanical upgrade

• Differences in LCIA in-line technologies, add-on technologies, and non-discharging lagoon systems

• Impacts of global warming potential due to energy use, eutrophication, and other potential impacts due to nutrient runoff or fertilizer replacement

• Potential water use impacts due to displaced water supply if lagoon effluent is reused

• Reuse of lagoon effluent for land application and spray irrigation (displacing fertilizer use)

• Sludge disposal or land application (suggested to be included in the system boundary for discharging systems, i.e., spray irrigation vs point discharge)

Expected Outputs Outputs such as methods, approaches and models should be transferable to different regions of the United States, be able to account for regional variations in costs, and be applicable to extreme weather events. They should allow individual communities to insert place-specific data on capital costs; O&M costs and other local factors that contribute to variations in life cycle costs and life cycle impacts. Furthermore, methods, approaches, and models should be scientifically robust and transparently convey uncertainties in the analyses. Models should be non-proprietary, open-source and based on open-access data. Some examples of desirable outputs are listed below:

Examples of outputs for Research Area #1 Potential outputs include, but not limited to:

• Reports including case studies of performance and costs of municipal wastewater lagoon system upgrades and add-on processes currently in operation that can consistently remove ammonia nitrogen, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus to low levels that are at or approaching the limit of technology, ideally to include data from cold climates. Analysis of a minimum of 3-years of performance, effluent variability, and costs (capital and O&M) data, and lessons learned in implementing the technology.

• Assessment of the consistency in meeting various effluent limits using statistical analysis including technology performance statistics (TPS) and development of cumulative probability curves of effluent concentrations.

• A technical description of each technology explaining how the process works, its pollutant removal mechanism, benefits compared to conventional processes, and lessons learned in implementing the technology.

Examples of outputs for Research Area #2 Potential outputs include, but not limited to:

• LCIA report for at least 3 of the most commonly used types of lagoons and one example of lagoon conversion to mechanical upgrade comparing benefits for meeting primarily ammonia, as well as total nitrogen and phosphorus limits.

• A decision tree or other decision support document (based on LCA research) to help lagoon communities decide what to do to meet regulatory requirements and meet their water needs while minimizing their carbon and nutrient impact.

o Include identification of reuse opportunities o If possible, include one or more alternative technologies to lagoons

Expected Outcomes Through this RFA, the research conducted will help foster public health improvements and cleaner waterways for small, rural, and tribal communities by providing accessible and coordinated information for both technical and financial options that will promote sustainable wastewater management practices in lagoon systems. The resulting data will inform states, tribes, communities’ consultants, and state regulators and enable more effective management of nutrient removal in lagoons.

E. References

1) Marshall, R. E., Levison, J., McBean, E. A., & Parker, B. (2019). Wastewater impacts on groundwater at a fractured sedimentary bedrock site in Ontario, Canada: implications for First Nations’ source-water protection. Hydrogeology Journal, 27(8), 2739-2753.

2) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Basic Information on Source Water Protection https://www.epa.gov/sourcewaterprotection/basic-information-about-source-water-protection

3) Bergman, R. (2011), Reducing Nitrogen and Phosphorus Pollution and Protecting Drinking Water Sources. Journal - American Water Works Association, 103: 28-31.

4) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 2021. Innovative Nutrient Removal Technologies Report.

https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2021-08/innovative-nutrient-removal-technologies-report-082721.pdf

5) Morelli, B., S. Cashman, Cissy Ma, J. Garland, D. Bless, AND J. Cashdollar. 2017.

Environmental Life Cycle Assessment and Cost Analysis of Bath, NY Wastewater Treatment Plant: Potential Upgrade Implications. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-17/207 https://cfpub.epa.gov/si/si_public_record_Report.cfm?Lab=NRMRL&dirEntryId=33807

6) Morelli B, Cashman S, Ma X, Garland J, Turgeon J, Fillmore L, Bless D, Nye M. 2018.

Effect of Nutrient Removal and Resource Recovery on Life Cycle Cost and Environmental Impacts of a Small Scale Water Resource Recovery Facility.

Sustainability. 2018; 10(10):3546. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10103546

7) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 2021. Life Cycle and Cost Assessments of Nutrient Removal Technologies in Wastewater Treatment Plants https://www.epa.gov/nutrient-policy-data/reports-nutrient-pollution

8) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 2013. Aquatic Life Aquatic Life Ambient Water Quality Criteria For Ammonia – Freshwater.

https://www.epa.gov/sourcewaterprotection/basic-information-about-source-water-protection https://www.epa.gov/sourcewaterprotection/basic-information-about-source-water-protection https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2021-08/innovative-nutrient-removal-technologies-report-082721.pdf https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2021-08/innovative-nutrient-removal-technologies-report-082721.pdf https://cfpub.epa.gov/si/si_public_record_Report.cfm?Lab=NRMRL&dirEntryId=338074 https://cfpub.epa.gov/si/si_public_record_Report.cfm?Lab=NRMRL&dirEntryId=338074 https://doi.org/10.3390/su10103546 https://www.epa.gov/nutrient-policy-data/reports-nutrient-pollution https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-08/documents/aquatic-life-ambient-water-quality-criteria-for-ammonia-freshwater-2013.pdf

9) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 2013. Aquatic Life – Ammonia.

https://www.epa.gov/wqc/aquatic-life-criteria-ammonia

10) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 2020. Training and Technical Assistance for Wastewater Treatment Works for the Prevention, Reduction, and Elimination of Pollution. https://www.epa.gov/small-and-rural-wastewater-systems/request-applications- 2020-training-and-technical-assistance

11) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 2021. Wastewater Technology Clearinghouse.

http://epa.gov/sustainable-water-infrastructure/wastewater-technology-clearinghouse

12) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 2020. National Compliance Initiatives.

https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/national-compliance-initiatives

13) Federal LCA Commons submission guidelines. https://github.com/ezrakahn/FLCAC- Submission-Guidance/blob/master/FLCAC_Submission_Guidance.md

14) Federal LCA data quality assessment guidelines.

https://cfpub.epa.gov/si/si_public_record_Report.cfm?Lab=NRMRL&dirEntryId=32183

15) Water Environment Research Foundation and Water Environment Federation. 2011.

Study Quantifying Nutrient Removal Technology Performance. By: Charles B. Bott, Denny S. Parker. IWA Publishing. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2166/9781780403328

16) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1995. Part 503 Implementation Guidance.

https://www3.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/owm0237.pdf

17) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1995. Biosolids Management Handbook.

https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/documents/handbook1.pdf

F. Special Requirements

It is EPA Policy to ensure that the results of EPA-funded extramural scientific research are accessible to the public to the greatest extent feasible consistent with applicable law; policies and Orders; the Agency’s mission; resource constraints; and U.S. national, homeland and economic security. This entails maximizing, at no charge, access by the public to peer-reviewed, scientific research journal publications or associated author manuscripts, and their underlying digital research data, created in whole or in part with EPA funds, while protecting personal privacy;

recognizing proprietary interests, confidential business information and intellectual property rights; and avoiding significant negative impact on intellectual property rights, innovation and U.S. competitiveness. EPA’s Policy for Increasing Access to Results of EPA-Funded Extramural https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-08/documents/aquatic-life-ambient-water-quality-criteria-for-ammonia-freshwater-2013.pdf https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-08/documents/aquatic-life-ambient-water-quality-criteria-for-ammonia-freshwater-2013.pdf https://www.epa.gov/wqc/aquatic-life-criteria-ammonia https://www.epa.gov/small-and-rural-wastewater-systems/request-applications-2020-training-and-technical-assistance https://www.epa.gov/small-and-rural-wastewater-systems/request-applications-2020-training-and-technical-assistance http://epa.gov/sustainable-water-infrastructure/wastewater-technology-clearinghouse https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/national-compliance-initiatives https://github.com/ezrakahn/FLCAC-Submission-Guidance/blob/master/FLCAC_Submission_Guidance.md https://github.com/ezrakahn/FLCAC-Submission-Guidance/blob/master/FLCAC_Submission_Guidance.md https://cfpub.epa.gov/si/si_public_record_Report.cfm?Lab=NRMRL&dirEntryId=321834 https://cfpub.epa.gov/si/si_public_record_Report.cfm?Lab=NRMRL&dirEntryId=321834 https://doi.org/10.2166/9781780403328 https://www3.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/owm0237.pdf https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/documents/handbook1.pdf

Scientific Research may be accessed at: https://www.epa.gov/research/non-epa-researcher-requirements. Terms and conditions implementing this policy may be accessed at:

https://www.epa.gov/research/non-epa-researcher-requirements.

Applications submitted under this announcement shall include a Scientific Data Management Plan (SDMP) that addresses public access to EPA-funded scientific research data. See the SDMP clause in Section IV for details on the content of an SDMP. Applicants will also be asked to provide past performance information on whether journal publications or associated author manuscripts, and the associated underlying scientific research data and metadata, under prior assistance agreements were made publicly accessible. These items will be evaluated prior to award.

Reasonable, necessary and allocable costs for data management and public access as discussed in EPA’s Policy for Increasing Access to Results of EPA-Funded Extramural Scientific Research, may be included in extramural research applications and detailed in the budget justification described in Section IV.

Agency policy and ethical considerations prevent EPA technical staff and managers from providing applicants with information that may create an unfair competitive advantage.

Consequently, EPA employees will not review, comment, advise and/or provide technical assistance to applicants preparing applications in response to EPA RFAs. EPA employees cannot endorse any particular application.

Multiple Investigator applications may be submitted as: (1) a single Lead Principal Investigator (PI) application with Co-PI(s) or (2) a Multiple PI application (with a single Contact PI). If you choose to submit a Multiple PI application, you must follow the specific instructions provided in Sections IV. and V. of this RFA. For further information, please see the EPA Implementation Plan for Policy on Multiple Principal Investigators (https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/research-grants-guidance-and-policies).

This solicitation provides the opportunity for the submission of applications for projects that may involve human subjects research. All applications must include a Human Subjects Research Statement (HSRS; described in Section IV.C.6.c of this solicitation). If the project involves human subjects research, it will be subject to an additional level of review prior to funding decisions being made as described in Sections V.D and V.F of this solicitation.

Groups of two or more eligible applicants may choose to form a coalition and submit a single application under this RFA; however, one entity must be responsible for the grant. Coalitions must identify which eligible organization will be the recipient of the grant and which eligible organization(s) will be subrecipients of the recipient (the “pass-through entity”). Subawards must be consistent with the definition of that term in 2 CFR 200.1 and comply with EPA’s Subaward Policy. The pass-through entity that administers the grant and subawards will be accountable to EPA for proper expenditure of the funds and reporting and will be the point of contact for the coalition. As provided in 2 CFR 200.332, subrecipients are accountable to the pass-through entity for proper use of EPA funding.

https://www.epa.gov/research/non-epa-researcher-requirements https://www.epa.gov/research/non-epa-researcher-requirements https://www.epa.gov/research/non-epa-researcher-requirements https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/research-grants-guidance-and-policies https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/research-grants-guidance-and-policies https://www.epa.gov/grants/grants-policy-issuance-gpi-16-01-epa-subaward-policy-epa-assistance-agreement-recipients https://www.epa.gov/grants/grants-policy-issuance-gpi-16-01-epa-subaward-policy-epa-assistance-agreement-recipients

For-profit organizations are not eligible for subawards under this grant program but may receive procurement contracts. Any contracts for services or products funded with EPA financial assistance must be awarded under the competitive procurement procedures of 2 CFR Part 200 and/or 2 CFR Part 1500, as applicable. The regulations at 2 CFR 1500.10 contain limitations on the extent to which EPA funds may be used to compensate individual consultants. Refer to the Best Practice Guide for Procuring Services, Supplies, and Equipment Under EPA Assistance Agreements for guidance on competitive procurement requirements and consultant compensation. Do not name a procurement contractor (including a consultant) as a “partner” or otherwise in your application unless the contractor has been selected in compliance with competitive procurement requirements.

These awards may involve the collection of “Geospatial Information,” which includes information that identifies the geographic location and characteristics of natural or constructed features or boundaries on the Earth or applications, tools, and hardware associated with the generation, maintenance, or distribution of such information. This information may be derived from, among other things, a Geographic Positioning System (GPS), remote sensing, mapping, charting, and surveying technologies, or statistical data.

G. Additional Provisions for Applicants Incorporated into the Solicitation

Additional provisions that apply to sections III, IV, V, and VI of this solicitation and/or awards made under this solicitation, can be found at EPA Solicitation Clauses. These provisions are important for applying to this solicitation and applicants must review them when preparing applications for this solicitation. If you are unable to access these provisions electronically at the website above, please contact the EPA point of contact listed in this solicitation (usually in Section VII) to obtain the provisions.

II. AWARD INFORMATION

It is anticipated that a total of approximately $2 million will be awarded under this announcement, depending on the availability of funds, quality of applications received and other applicable considerations. The EPA anticipates funding approximately 2 awards under this RFA.

Requests for amounts in excess of a total of $1,000,000 in federal funding per award, including direct and indirect costs, will not be considered. In addition, a minimum non-federal cost share/match of 35% of the total project costs which is equivalent at a minimum to 53.846% of the federal funds awarded (which may include in-kind contributions - see Section III.B. for more details), must be included. The minimum 35% non-federal cost share/match, equal to a minimum of $538,462 (assuming the applicant requests $1,000,000 in EPA funds) must be included.

Including matching, total project costs can exceed $1,538,462 (if the applicant proposes more than the minimum required non-federal cost share/match), however, the federally-funded portion of the budget must not exceed $1,000,000. Applications which do not demonstrate how the applicant will provide the minimum non-federal cost share/match will be deemed ineligible. The total project period requested in an application submitted for this RFA may not exceed 4 years.

https://www.epa.gov/grants/best-practice-guide-procuring-services-supplies-and-equipment-under-epa-assistance https://www.epa.gov/grants/best-practice-guide-procuring-services-supplies-and-equipment-under-epa-assistance

The EPA reserves the right to reject all applications and make no awards, or make fewer awards than anticipated, under this RFA. The EPA reserves the right to make additional awards under this announcement, consistent with Agency policy, if additional funding becomes available after the original selections are made. Any additional selections for awards will be made no later than six months after the original selection decisions.

In appropriate circumstances, 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, or portion thereof, was evaluated and selected for award, and therefore maintains the integrity of the competition and selection process.

EPA intends to award only grants under this announcement.

Under a grant, EPA scientists and engineers are not permitted to be substantially involved in the execution of the research. However, EPA encourages interaction between its own laboratory scientists and grant Principal Investigators after the award of an EPA grant for the sole purpose of exchanging information in research areas of common interest that may add value to their respective research activities. This interaction must be incidental rather than substantial to achieving the goals of the research under a grant. Interaction that is “incidental” does not involve resource commitments by EPA.

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

Note: Additional provisions that apply to this section can be found at EPA Solicitation Clauses.

A. Eligible Applicants Public water systems, institutions of higher education (IHEs), research institutions or foundations, regional water organizations and certain nonprofit organizations as further described below, located in the U.S. or its territories or possessions are eligible to apply. Profit-making firms and individuals are not eligible to apply.

Public water system, as defined by 42 U.S.C. 300f(4), means a system for the provision to the public of water for human consumption through pipes or other constructed conveyances, if such system has at least fifteen service connections or regularly serves at least twenty-five individuals.

Such term includes (i) any collection, treatment, storage, and distribution facilities under control of the operator of such system and used primarily in connection with such system, and (ii) any collection or pretreatment storage facilities not under such control which are used primarily in connection with such system.

A Regional Water Organization, for purposes of this program, is an association or similar incorporated non-profit or governmental entity that represents or coordinates the operations of public water systems in a defined geographic area under a compact, charter or binding contractual agreement.

Consistent with the definition of Nonprofit organization at 2 CFR § 200.1, the term nonprofit organization means any corporation, trust, association, cooperative, or other organization that is operated mainly for scientific, educational, service, charitable, or similar purpose in the public interest and is not organized primarily for profit; and uses net proceeds to maintain, improve, or expand the operation of the organization. Note that 2 CFR 200.1 specifically excludes Institutions of Higher Education from the definition of non-profit organization because they are separately defined in the regulation. While not considered to be a nonprofit organization(s) as defined by 2 CFR 200.1, public or nonprofit Institutions of Higher Education are, nevertheless, eligible to submit applications under this RFA. As provided at 42 U.S.C. 300j-1a(a)(2)(E) and 42 U.S.C. 300j-1(e)(8)(A) eligibility is limited to “. . . nonprofit organizations that provide to small public water systems onsite technical assistance, circuit-rider technical assistance programs, multistate, regional technical assistance programs, onsite and regional training, assistance with implementing source water protection plans, and assistance with implementing monitoring plans, rules, regulations, and water security enhancements.” For-profit colleges, universities, trade schools, and hospitals are ineligible.

Nonprofit organizations that are not exempt from taxation under section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code must submit other forms of documentation of nonprofit status; such as certificates of incorporation as nonprofit under state or tribal law.