Nonpoint Source Implementation Grants

To assist States, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands (hereinafter referred to as States), and qualified Indian Tribes and intertribal consortia in implementing EPA-approved Section 319 nonpo

To assist States, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands (hereinafter referred to as States), and qualified Indian Tribes and intertribal consortia in implementing EPA-approved Section 319 nonpoint source management programs.

Eligible entities include States and qualified Indian Tribes and intertribal consortia who have approved nonpoint source assessment reports and management plans. To be qualified, Tribes must have treatment in a manner similar to a state (TAS) status for the 319 Program. Grants to States are awarded by formula. The State allotment is awarded to the agency in each State designated by the chief executive as the lead nonpoint source agency. The lead nonpoint source agency may distribute grant funds to other organizations in accordance with its work program, which is approved by EPA. Eligible Tribes are allocated a base allotment by formula; the remaining Tribal portion of the 319(h) appropriation is competed among qualified Indian Tribes and intertribal consortia. 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 Agency's Assistance Agreement Competition Policy.

State and local governments; interstate and intrastate agencies; federally recognized Indian tribal governments; intertribal consortia; the following US territory or possessions: the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands; public and private nonprofit organizations and institutions. The lead nonpoint source agency may distribute grant funds to other organizations in accordance with a work program which is approved by EPA.

Funds are provided to eligible applicants to carry out nonpoint source projects and programs pursuant to Section 319 of the Clean Water Act as amended by the Water Quality Act of 1987. Requirements under Section 319(h) include: nonfederal matching funds of at least 40 percent of project cost (match is an overall grant requirement - the match requirement for an individual project may be waived and in-kind services may be used as match); maintenance of effort; grants may be used for financial assistance to individual persons in the case of demonstration projects only; annual reporting; and EPA determinations of adequate recipient progress before additional funding. 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. 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.

As determined in accordance with Section 319 (h).

This assistance listing is subject to intergovernmental review when proposed Federal financial assistance involves land use planning or implementation of nonpoint source management 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). Preapplication coordination with the appropriate EPA Regional Office is recommended. Regarding pre-application assistance with respect to competitive funding opportunities under this program description, EPA will generally specify the nature of the pre-application assistance, if any, that will be available to applicants in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). For additional information, contact the individual(s) listed in the NOFO.

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

Funds are awarded to States in accordance with Clean Water Act Section 319 (h). Non-competitive applications are assessed consistent with the merit review regulations in 2 CFR 200.205. For selection processes within individual States, contact the appropriate State nonpoint source coordinators. The evaluation and selection criteria for competitive awards under this assistance listing will be described in the NOFO.

Grant applications must be submitted by the State to the appropriate EPA Regional Office to determine the overall adequacy of the application to meet the statutory objectives. Funds are awarded to States by formula. Award procedure by States to subgrantees varies by State. The list of State nonpoint source contacts is available at https://www.epa.gov/nps/contacts-nonpoint-source-nps-pollution-programs. Eligible Tribes receive funding for a base grant work plan; Tribes may also compete for the rest of the tribal portion of the total 319(h) appropriation. For competitive awards, EPA will review and evaluate applications submissions 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 non-competitive awards made under this assistance listing, 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.

Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines.

EPA generally awards grants to States within 60 days after the application is submitted.

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). Copies of these procedures may also be found at: https://www.epa.gov/grants/grant-competition-dispute-resolution-procedures. Disputes relating to matters other than the competitive selection of recipients will be resolved under 2 CFR 1500 Subpart E, as applicable.