Geographic Programs - Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council Comprehensive Plan Component

The primary objective of this program is to disburse funds to eligible entities according to the funded priorities list approved by the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council. The Council enters into Interagency Agreements with EPA to expend funds

This program is for EPA to disburse funds to eligible entities according to the funded priorities list approved by the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council and to carry out Comprehensive Plan projects and programs that have been assigned to EPA.

Funds are available to State and local governments, Tribes, colleges and universities, and other public or nonprofit organizations. For certain competitive funding opportunities under this assistance listing, the Agency may limit eligibility to compete to a number or subset of eligible applicants consistent with the Funded Priorities List and Agency policy.

State and local governments, interstate agencies, Tribes, colleges and universities, and other public or nonprofit organizations.

The primary objective of this program is to disburse funds to eligible entities for the purpose of restoring and protecting the natural resources, ecosystems, fisheries, marine and wildlife habitats, beaches, coastal wetlands, and economy of the Gulf Coast region using the best available science. All projects, programs, and activities must be eligible activities pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) of 33 U.S.C. 1321(t)(1)(B) and must be listed on the Council's approved Funded Priorities List (FPL) (https://restorethegulf.gov/) in order to be eligible for funding. The RESTORE Act, at 33 U.S.C. section 1321(t)(2)(E)(i), provides that the RESTORE Council, "acting through" the federal and state Council members, will expend funds to carry out Comprehensive Plan projects and programs; and at (2)(E)(ii)(I) provides that primary authority and responsibility for those programs "shall be assigned" by the RESTORE Council to the state members or federal agencies. The Council enters into Interagency Agreements with EPA to expend funds to carry out those Comprehensive Plan projects and programs that have been assigned to EPA. Awards will be made noncompetitively or competitively based on the authority for the award and EPA procedures. Competitive awards will be made in accordance with EPA policies and procedures for competitive awards.

Projects must be listed in the Funded Priorities List Addendum to the Initial Comprehensive Plan in order to be eligible for funding. Use of these funds must be in accordance with projects on the funded priorities list with the US Environmental Protection Agency listed as the Responsible Council Member. Assistance agreement awards under this program may involve or relate to geospatial information. Further information regarding geospatial information may be obtained by viewing the following website: https://www.epa.gov/geospatial.

The terms of the assistance shall be determined at the time of award. Assistance agreements are typically three years.

An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. Executive Order 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs," applies to this listing when proposed Federal financial assistance involves land use planning or implementation of restoration projects requiring construction EPA financial assistance programs and activities subject to intergovernmental review that are subject to review under State single point of contact procedures are identified at https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-financial-assistance-programs-subject-executive-order-12372-and-section-204. Applicants for programs or activities subject to Intergovernmental Review that are not subject to State single point of contact review must provide directly affected State, areawide, regional, and local entities at least 60 days to review their application following notification by EPA that the application has been selected for funding as provided by 40 CFR 29.8(a) and (c). Regarding pre-application assistance with respect to competitive funding opportunities under this assistance listing, EPA will generally specify the nature of the pre-application assistance, if any, that will be available to applicants in the NOFO. For additional information, contact the individual(s) listed in the NOFO.

The evaluation and selection criteria for competitive awards under this assistance listing will be described in the NOFO.

For competitive awards, EPA will review and evaluate applications in accordance with the terms, conditions, and criteria stated in the NOFO. Competitions will be conducted in accordance with EPA policies/regulations for competing assistance agreements.

For competitive awards, deadlines will be specified in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

Approximately 90-180 days following the application deadline as addressed in the NOFO.

A standard grant application should be prepared and submitted electronically as a new grant using Grants.gov, which will be reviewed in the same manner as the original application and will compete for available funds. Generally, EPA incrementally funds grants and cooperative agreements. Approval of subsequent funding increments is dependent on satisfactory project progress, continued relevance of the project to [EPA's] priorities, and availability of funds.

Assistance agreement competition-related disputes will be resolved in accordance with the dispute resolution procedures published in 70 FR (Federal Register) 3629, 3630 (January 26, 2005). Disputes relating to matters other than the competitive selection of recipients will be resolved under 2 CFR 1500 Subpart E, as applicable.