Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA OW OWOW 23 02
The Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Request for Applications from Indian Tribes and Intertribal Consortia for Nonpoint Source (NPS) Management Grants under Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 319 is an EPA funding opportunity designed to help Tribes and intertribal consortia reduce pollution that comes from nonpoint sources and improve water quality in Tribal waters. It is issued under CWA Section 319(h), which authorizes EPA to provide financial assistance to implement Tribal NPS management programs that have been developed and approved under CWA Section 319(b)(1). In practical terms, the program is aimed at the kinds of pollution problems that do not come from a single pipe or discharge point, such as runoff carrying sediment, nutrients, bacteria, or other contaminants from land uses like roads, agriculture, forestry, grazing, and developed areas into rivers, lakes, wetlands, and other waters.
A core requirement behind this grant is that the Tribe or consortium is implementing an approved NPS management program that is built on an earlier NPS assessment report prepared under CWA Section 319(a). That assessment identifies the categories or specific sources of nonpoint source pollution affecting Tribal waters, and the corresponding NPS management program is expected to spell out the best management practices (BMPs) and other measures the Tribe will use to reduce pollutant loadings tied to those identified sources. EPA first allocates Section 319 Tribal funds for Tribal base grant work plans, and then the remaining Tribal Section 319 funds are distributed competitively using the procedures laid out in this RFA. This means the RFA is essentially for the competitive portion of the Tribal Section 319 program after base funding is addressed.
The projects EPA is looking to fund through this announcement are primarily implementation projects, meaning the emphasis is on on-the-ground work that directly prevents, reduces, or treats nonpoint source pollution. Every application must include an on-the-ground project that implements NPS BMPs, so proposals focused only on planning or administrative activities would not meet the basic requirement. The BMP focus signals that EPA wants tangible actions that can be installed, constructed, or carried out in a watershed to achieve measurable environmental results, such as reducing sedimentation, limiting nutrient runoff, stabilizing eroding streambanks, improving riparian buffers, addressing failing septic impacts, improving stormwater controls, or other practices that directly reduce pollutant movement into surface waters.
While implementation is the centerpiece, the RFA also allows a limited portion of the federal request to support other eligible activities. Specifically, applicants may use up to 25 percent of the requested federal funds for non-implementation elements such as developing a nine-element watershed-based plan. As an example provided in the announcement, if a Tribe requests the maximum federal award amount of $125,000, up to $31,250 of that request could be used for those additional eligible activities. One important nuance is that Tribal staff time that supports implementing the on-the-ground BMPs does not count toward that 25 percent cap, which helps ensure that staffing needed to deliver the implementation work is not penalized under the limitation. The RFA also cautions applicants that EPA uses a specific, narrow definition of a "nine-element watershed-based plan" within its NPS Program, and applicants are expected to follow that program-specific definition (as described in Section I of the full funding opportunity announcement) rather than using a more general interpretation of watershed planning.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary funding opportunity offered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and awards may be made as grants or cooperative agreements. The funding activity category is environment, and the associated CFDA number is 66.460. The opportunity number is EPA-OW-OWOW-23-02. The posting indicates the opportunity was created on December 14, 2022, with an original closing date of February 14, 2023 (with a note to consult Section IV of the funding announcement for any close date details). EPA anticipated making about 24 awards, with an award ceiling of $125,000 per award.
Eligibility is aimed at Indian Tribes and intertribal consortia (the listing shows "Others" with direction to see the eligibility section for clarification), consistent with the statutory authority cited and the purpose of the Tribal Section 319 program. Overall, the RFA is structured to push competitive Tribal NPS dollars toward practical, field-based solutions that can protect or restore water quality, while still allowing a modest portion of funds for supporting activities like watershed-based planning when that planning is tied to, and supportive of, real implementation work.Apply for EPA OW OWOW 23 02
- The Environmental Protection Agency in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Request for Applications from Indian Tribes and Intertribal Consortia for Nonpoint Source Management Grants Under Clean Water Act Section 319" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 66.460.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 14, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 14, 2023 See Section IV of funding oppotunity for close date information.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $125,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 24 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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FY 2023 Tribal Clean Water Act Section 319 Nonpoint Source (NPS) Management Grants (EPA-OW-OWOW-23-02) - FAQs
1) What is this funding opportunity?
This is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Request for Applications (RFA) for Nonpoint Source (NPS) Management Grants for Indian Tribes and intertribal consortia under Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 319. The goal is to help reduce nonpoint source pollution and improve water quality in Tribal waters.
2) What law and program authority does this opportunity fall under?
The opportunity is issued under CWA Section 319(h), which authorizes EPA to provide financial assistance for implementing Tribal NPS management programs that have been developed and approved under CWA Section 319(b)(1).
3) What types of pollution does this grant focus on?
The grant focuses on nonpoint source pollution, meaning pollution that does not come from a single pipe or discrete discharge point. Examples include runoff carrying sediment, nutrients, bacteria, or other contaminants from land uses such as roads, agriculture, forestry, grazing, and developed areas into rivers, lakes, wetlands, and other waters.
4) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is aimed at Indian Tribes and intertribal consortia, consistent with the Tribal Section 319 program. The listing references "Others" but indicates applicants should consult the eligibility section for clarification; the stated intent is Tribal and intertribal consortium applicants.
5) Is this a competitive opportunity or a formula/base grant?
This RFA covers the competitive portion of Tribal Section 319 funding. EPA first allocates Section 319 Tribal funds for Tribal base grant work plans, and then distributes the remaining Tribal Section 319 funds competitively using the procedures in this RFA.
6) What is the main purpose of the projects EPA wants to fund?
The RFA is primarily for implementation projects, with an emphasis on on-the-ground work that directly prevents, reduces, or treats nonpoint source pollution and produces measurable environmental results.
7) Is an on-the-ground implementation project required in every application?
Yes. Every application must include an on-the-ground project that implements NPS best management practices (BMPs). Proposals focused only on planning or administrative activities would not meet this basic requirement.
8) What are examples of the kinds of on-the-ground BMP work this funding is meant to support?
The RFA describes tangible actions that can be installed, constructed, or carried out in a watershed to achieve measurable results, such as reducing sedimentation, limiting nutrient runoff, stabilizing eroding streambanks, improving riparian buffers, addressing failing septic impacts, improving stormwater controls, and similar practices that reduce pollutant movement into surface waters.
9) What is the required program foundation behind the grant?
A core requirement is that the Tribe or intertribal consortium is implementing an approved NPS management program. That management program is built on an earlier NPS assessment report prepared under CWA Section 319(a).
10) What is the relationship between the NPS assessment report and the NPS management program?
The NPS assessment report identifies the categories or specific sources of nonpoint source pollution affecting Tribal waters. The corresponding NPS management program is expected to describe the BMPs and other measures the Tribe will use to reduce pollutant loadings tied to the identified sources.
11) Are planning activities allowed at all under this RFA?
Yes, but only as a limited portion of the federal request and only in addition to the required on-the-ground implementation project. The RFA allows some funding for other eligible activities (for example, developing a nine-element watershed-based plan), subject to a cap.
12) How much of the requested federal funding can be used for non-implementation activities?
Applicants may use up to 25 percent of the requested federal funds for non-implementation elements such as developing a nine-element watershed-based plan.
13) Can you give an example of how the 25 percent cap works?
Yes. The RFA provides an example: if a Tribe requests the maximum federal award amount of $125,000, up to $31,250 of that request could be used for additional eligible non-implementation activities, with the remainder supporting the required implementation work.
14) Does Tribal staff time count toward the 25 percent limit?
Not always. Tribal staff time that supports implementing the on-the-ground BMPs does not count toward the 25 percent cap. This means staffing needed to deliver the implementation project is not penalized by the limitation on non-implementation elements.
15) What does EPA mean by a "nine-element watershed-based plan" in this RFA?
The RFA cautions that EPA uses a specific, narrow definition of a "nine-element watershed-based plan" within its NPS Program. Applicants are expected to follow the NPS Program-specific definition described in Section I of the full funding opportunity announcement, rather than using a general interpretation of watershed planning.
16) What type of federal assistance instruments might EPA use for awards?
Awards may be made as grants or cooperative agreements.
17) Is this mandatory or discretionary funding?
This is a discretionary funding opportunity offered by EPA.
18) What is the funding activity category?
The funding activity category is environment.
19) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 66.460.
20) What is the EPA opportunity number for this RFA?
The opportunity number is EPA-OW-OWOW-23-02.
21) When was this opportunity created and what was the original closing date?
The posting indicates the opportunity was created on December 14, 2022, with an original closing date of February 14, 2023. The notice also states to consult Section IV of the funding announcement for close date details.
22) How many awards did EPA anticipate making?
EPA anticipated making about 24 awards.
23) What is the maximum (ceiling) award amount?
The award ceiling is $125,000 per award.
24) What practical outcome is this RFA trying to drive?
The RFA is structured to direct competitive Tribal NPS dollars toward practical, field-based solutions that protect or restore water quality, while still allowing a modest portion of funds for supportive activities like watershed-based planning when tied to implementation.
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