Geographic Programs – Long Island Sound Program

The Long Island Sound Program: (1) implements the Long Island Sound (LIS) Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP); and (2) assists the states of Connecticut and New York and other public or nonprofit entities in implementation, research

The Long Island Sound Program supports the implementation of a comprehensive plan to protect and restore water quality, habitat, and living resources in Long Island Sound, working with state and local governments, the private sector, user groups, and the general public.

Direct beneficiaries of this program include general population in the Long Island Sound watershed and its surrounding areas, schools, universities and other institutions of learning, environmental managers and policy makers and the participants in the Long Island Sound Partnership.

Funds may be used to implement elements of the LIS CCMP. Special emphasis shall be given to CCMP implementation projects, research and planning, enforcement, and citizen involvement and education projects. The Administrator may give priority to a distressed community as defined in 33 USC 1269(e)(1). Assistance Listing 66.456 (National Estuary Program) also authorizes funding to assist in the implementation of the LIS CCMP. As a result, an assistance agreement under assistance listing 66.437 to support implementation of the LIS CCMP can also use funds under assistance listing 66.456. 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: Geospatial Resources at EPA (https://www.epa.gov/geospatial). This program makes Federal awards on a discretionary basis. A discretionary award means an award in which the Federal awarding agency, in keeping with specific statutory authority that enables the agency to exercise judgement ("discretion"), selects the recipient and/or the amount of Federal funding awarded through a competitive process or based on merit of proposals. A discretionary award may be selected on a non-competitive basis, as appropriate. For further information, please contact the Headquarters or regional office.

The performance period for Long Island Sound assistance agreements are generally one to five years, depending on the type of agreements. Generally, the performance period for CWA Section 119 awards is from one to two years and the performance period for IIJA awards is from one to five years. Awards may be made for longer periods upon justification and with the approval of EPA.

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-demonstration. 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). The EPA Long Island Sound Office (LISO) issues annual guidance on the form and content of pre-applications. All pre-applications or work statements should be consistent with LISO's guidance. Consultation or technical assistance may be available upon request from the LISO to aid applicants in preparing their pre-application.

Issuing office will provide location of application procedure details as appropriate.

EPA will conduct an administrative evaluation to determine the adequacy of the application in relation to grant regulations and to technical and program evaluation to determine the merit and relevance of the project. The Agency will then advise the applicant if funding is being considered. A final work plan will then be negotiated with the applicant.

Each federal assistance application and final work plan will be evaluated by the LISO to determine the adequacy of the application under LIS priorities and objectives, including technical merit and relevance of the project to the implementation of the CCMP and for consistency with the pre-application. Each federal assistance award application will also be subject to an administrative review by the EPA Region 1 and Region 2 grants management offices. Funds are awarded by the EPA Region 1 and Region 2 Administrators as appropriate. Grantees will receive a final assistance award package from the corresponding EPA Regional grants management office. An assistance agreement recipient demonstrates its commitment to carry out the award by either: 1) drawing down funds within 21 days after the EPA award or amendment mailing date; or, 2) not filing a notice of disagreement with the award terms and conditions within 21 days after the EPA award or amendment mailing date. Recipients are not required to sign and return a copy of the award document.

Notification of action on pre-applications is provided approximately 120 days after the deadline for pre-application submission. Final grantees are notified of approval approximately 90 days after the submission of the Application for Federal Assistance.

Extensions are subject to EPA approval.

Copies of these procedures may also be found at: https://www.epa.gov/grants/grant-competition-dispute-resolution-procedures. Disputes will be resolved under 2 CFR 1500 Subpart E, as applicable.