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15.616 CLEAN VESSEL ACT

(Clean Vessel Act Grant Program (CVA))

FEDERAL AGENCY
FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

AUTHORIZATION
Clean Vessel Act of 1992, Section 5604, Public Law 102-587, Subtitle F; 16 U.S.C. 777c, and the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act, Public Law 109-059.

OBJECTIVES
To provide funding to States, Commonwealths, and territories for the construction, renovation, operation, and maintenance of sewage pumpout stations, waste reception facilities and pumpout boats for recreational boaters and for educational programs that inform boaters of the importance of proper disposal of their sewage.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE
Project Grants.

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS
This program authorizes matching funds on a competitive basis for development of surveys and plans for installing sewage pumpouts and dump stations for recreational boats in the coastal zone of coastal States, and for the construction of sewage pumpouts and dump stations for recreational boats and implementation of an educational programs. These stations must provide protection of sensitive areas from recreational boat sewage. Prohibited activities include law enforcement, construction/renovation of upland restroom facilities, construction, renovation, operation and maintenance of sewage treatment plants, and any activity that does not provide public benefits.

Applicant Eligibility
States, Commonwealths, and territories.

Beneficiary Eligibility
General public, recreational boaters, municipalities, and private marinas within eligible States.

Credentials/Documentation
Costs will be determined in accordance with 43 CFR Part 12, Subpart C, "Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments." Section 12.62 (of the common rule) identifies Federal cost principles for determining allowable costs.

Preapplication Coordination
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, Commonwealth or territory for more information on the process required by the State, Commonwealth or territory requires when applying for assistance, if the State, Commonwealth, or territory has selected the program for review.

Application Procedure
Grantees will submit a grant proposal that includes a narrative statement describing the need, objectives, benefits, approach, and estimated cost for the proposed grant along with the standard application forms furnished by the Federal agency and required by 43 CFR Part 12, Subpart C, "Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments," and the Fish and Wildlife Service Manual. For further instructions and forms go to http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/subpages/toolkitfiles/toolkit.pdf or www.grants.gov.

Award Procedure
The Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service will select projects to be funded based on established criteria. Regional Offices make awards to approved applicants.

Deadlines
Application deadlines are typically in late December or early January. The Fish and Wildlife Service notifies all States, Commonwealths, and territories about the grant program annually.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Approximately 120 days.

Appeals
Regional Directors will consider differences of opinion over the eligibility of proposals. Final determination rests with the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Renewals
None.

Formula and Matching Requirements
The Federal share of the project costs cannot exceed 75 percent.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Projects normally funded through annual proposals.

Reports
A Performance Report and Financial Status Report are required for each grant award annually within 90 days after the anniversary date and/or end of the grant.

Audits
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 receive financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will 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 Circular No. A-133.

Records
Cost records must be maintained separately for each project. Records, accounts, and supporting documents must be retained for three years after submission of the final Financial Status Report.

Account Identification
14-8151-0-7-303.

Obligations
(Grants) FY 07 $12,300,000; FY 08 est. $13,250,000; and FY 09 est. $13,630,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance
$10,000 to $1,500,000; $394,191.

PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Between 1993 and 2003, the Fish and Wildlife Service issued $87.6M in grants to 49 States and resulted in the construction of over 3,000 pumpouts and 1,900 dump stations.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE
50 CFR Part 85; Final Technical Guidelines published in the Federal Register Vol. 59, No. 47, March 10, 1994; final Grant Guidelines published in the Federal Register Vol. 59, No. 47, March 10, 1994; and final Pumpout Symbol Guidelines published in the Federal Register, Vol. 62, No. 166, August 27, 1997.

Regional or Local Office
See Catalog Appendix IV for addresses of Regional Fish and Wildlife Service Offices.

Headquarters Office
Fish and Wildlife Service, Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs - Policy and Programs, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, FA-4020, Arlington, VA 22203. Contact: Policy and Programs, Telephone: (703) 358-2156.

Web Site Address
http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov

RELATED PROGRAMS
15.605, Sport Fish Restoration Program.

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS
Surveys for the number and location of operational pumpout stations/dump stations, for the number of recreational vessels in coastal waters with type III marine sanitation devices and the areas where those vessels congregate; development of plans for construction of stations and/or facilities; construction, renovation, operation and maintenance of pumpout/dump stations; and programs for education of recreational boaters about the problem of waste discharge from vessels and the location of pumpout/dump stations.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS
Project must be submitted by the State, Commonwealth, or territorial agency given responsibility for the program by the Governor of that State, Commonwealth, or territory. Purpose of the project must be consistent with the purpose and conditions of the Act. The criteria for selecting proposals for coastal States are based upon the extent the project will contribute to conducting a survey, developing a plan for installing pumpouts/dump stations, and constructing pumpouts/dump stations according to the approved plan. Criteria for selecting proposals for all States, Commonwealths, or territories are based upon the extent the project will contribute to public/private partnerships, innovative approaches to increasing availability and use of pumpouts/dump stations, implementation of an education program, contribution toward protecting sensitive areas, and lowering the ration of vessels with holding tanks and portable toilets to pumpouts and dump stations.


General Services Administration
Office of Chief Acquisition Officer
Regulatory and Federal Assistance Division (VIR)