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| 66.471 STATE GRANTS TO REIMBURSE OPERATORS OF SMALL WATER SYSTEMS FOR TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION COSTS |
| (Operator Certification Expense Reimbursement Grants) |
| FEDERAL AGENCY |
| OFFICE OF GROUND WATER AND DRINKING WATER, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY |
| AUTHORIZATION |
| Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Amendments of 1996, Section 301, Public Law 104-182. |
| OBJECTIVES |
| This grant program was established as a one-time grant to states and U.S. territories to train and certify small drinking water system operators. Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2008: EPA's funding priority has been to provide funds to states to reimburse the costs of training, including an appropriate per diem for unsalaried operators, and certification for persons operating community and nontransient noncommunity public water systems serving 3,300 persons or fewer that are required to undergo training pursuant to EPA's operator certification guidelines. All 50 states, Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam have received grant funds. Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2009: EPA's funding priority has been to provide funds to states to reimburse the costs of training, including an appropriate per diem for unsalaried operators, and certification for persons operating community and nontransient noncommunity public water systems serving 3,300 persons or fewer that are required to undergo training pursuant to EPA's operator certification guidelines. All 50 states, Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam have received grant funds. |
| TYPES OF ASSISTANCE |
| Formula Grants. |
| USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS |
| Grants may be used by states to reimburse operators of community and nontransient noncommunity water systems serving 3,300 persons or fewer for the costs of training and certification needed to meet EPA guidelines. Unsalaried operators may also be reimbursed for per diem costs. States are allowed to use a portion of their grant to administer the program. If a state has reimbursed all such costs, the state may, after notice to the Administrator of EPA, use any remaining funds from the grant for any of the other purposes authorized for Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) capitalization grants under section 1452 of the 1996 SDWA Amendments (CFDA 66.468). |
| Applicant Eligibility |
| States, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Territories are eligible to receive grants. |
| Beneficiary Eligibility |
| States and U.S. Territories are the primary beneficiaries. States and U.S. Territories use funds awarded to them to provide reimbursement to operators of community and nontransient noncommunity public water systems serving 3,300 persons or fewer that are publicly- or privately-owned. Indian tribes and Alaska Native Villages may be eligible to receive funding through state programs if they are subject to state operator certification program requirements. |
| Credentials/Documentation |
| To receive a grant, a State or territory enters into an agreement with the EPA Regional Administrator which shall include, but not be limited to, the requirements set forth in Section 1419(d) of the 1996 SDWA Amendments. OMB Circular No. A-87, "Cost Principles Applicable to Grants and Contracts with State and Local Governments" applies to state grantees. |
| Preapplication Coordination |
| An applicant (State and U.S. territory) should seek preapplication assistance from the appropriate EPA Regional Office as listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog. An environmental impact statement is not required prior to grant award. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." 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. |
| Application Procedure |
| The standard application for EPA non-construction grant assistance (EPA Form SF-424) is submitted to the appropriate Regional Office. The state must receive EPA approval of its operator certification program before it can apply for and receive a grant. The state must provide the assurance in its application that it will comply with all applicable Federal cross-cutting authorities and Federal statutes. EPA grant regulations (40 CFR Part 31) apply to states receiving grants. Applicants may be able to use http://www.grants.gov to electronically apply for certain grant opportunities under this CFDA. |
| Award Procedure |
| A grant application is reviewed by the appropriate Regional Office, and if approved, the grant is awarded by the Regional Administrator under a delegation of authority (Delegation of Authority 9-68) from the Administrator of EPA. EPA Headquarters retains the authority to review certain applications or parts thereof. |
| Deadlines |
| Funding is no longer available for reimbursement to states for certification and training cost for drinking water operators of small water systems serving populations of 3,300 or less. |
| Range of Approval/Disapproval Time |
| Approval time averages 45 days. |
| Appeals |
| Disputes will be resolved under 40 CFR 30.63 or 40 CFR 31.70, as applicable. |
| Renewals |
| Not applicable. |
| Formula and Matching Requirements |
| The Regional Administrator may award expense reimbursement grants from funds appropriated for this purpose. Allotments to the States and U.S. territories are based on a formula, approved by the Assistant Administrator for Water, that allocates the funds based on several factors, including the number of operators of small systems within a State. The allocation methodology was published in the Federal Register on April 18, 2001 (66 FR 19939). There are no matching requirements on the initial grant award. However, if a state reimburses all eligible costs and chooses to use the remaining funds for purposes eligible under the DWSRF program (CFDA 66.468), it will be required to provide a 20 percent match on the remaining amount. The allotment of funds to the States is determined by a formula that reflects the costs to train and certify operators of system serving 3,300 persons or fewer in each state. |
| Length and Time Phasing of Assistance |
| During the two year reimbursement period, 54 awards were made to states for reimbursement of certification and training cost for drinking water operators of small water systems serving populations of 3,300 or less. |
| Reports |
| Grantees will be required to submit an annual performance report in accordance with EPA general grant regulations. |
| Audits |
| Grants and cooperative agreements are subject to inspections and audits by the Comptroller General of the United States, the EPA Office of Inspector General, other EPA staff, or any authorized representative of the Federal government. Reviews by the EPA Project Officer and the Grants Specialist may occur each year. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend $500,000 or more in a year in Federal awards shall have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in OMB Circular No. A-133. |
| Records |
| Financial records and other records which substantiate the reasonable and allocable charges must be available to personnel authorized to examine EPA grant accounts. All records must be maintained for three years from the date of submission of the annual financial status reports. If questions arise, related records must be retained until the matter is completely resolved. |
| Account Identification |
| 68-0103-0-1-304; STAG. |
| Obligations |
| FY 07 $0; FY 08 $0 and FY 09 est. $0. |
| Range and Average of Financial Assistance |
| $14,420 to $9,642,860; avg. $4,828,640. |
| PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS |
| All states, Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam have received grant funds for this program to date. In FY 07, awarded funds were used to reimburse operators of community and non-transient non-community water systems serving 3,300 persons or fewer for the costs of certification (initial certification fees, certification renewal fees, exam fees) and training (training course fees and materials). In FY 08, awarded funds were used to reimburse operators for certification and training costs. |
| REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE |
| Applicants for assistance should review 40 CFR Part 31, the General Grant Regulations and Procedures and guidance produced by the Headquarters drinking water program office. |
| Regional or Local Office |
| See EPA Regional Offices listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog, or online. |
| Headquarters Office |
| Jenny Bielanski, Protection Branch (4606M), Drinking Water Protection Division, Office of Groundwater and Drinking Water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460. Telephone: (202) 564-3836; FAX: (202) 564-3755. E-mail: bielanski.jenny@epa.gov. |
| Web Site Address |
| http://www.epa.gov/safewater/opcert/opcert.htm |
| RELATED PROGRAMS |
| 66.468, Capitalization Grants for Drinking Water State Revolving Funds. |
| EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS |
| All States, Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam have received grant funds for this program. Funds for this grants program are used to reimburse operators of community and nontransient noncommunity water systems serving 3,300 persons or fewer for the costs of training and certification. Examples of eligible reimbursement costs include: initial certification fees, certification renewal fees, examination fees, costs of training courses, and mileage reimbursements. |
| CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS |
| Grants are awarded to States that satisfy the requirements outlined in the application procedure section. |
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General Services Administration Office of Chief Acquisition Officer Regulatory and Federal Assistance Division (VIR) |
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