66.419 - Water Pollution Control State, Interstate, and Tribal Program Support

Program Number/Title (010):

Popular Name (020):

Federal Agency (030):

Authorization (040):

Objectives (050):

To assist States (including territories, the District of Columbia, and Indian Tribes qualified under CWA Section 518(e)), and interstate agencies in establishing and maintaining adequate measures for prevention and control of surface and ground water pollution from both point and nonpoint sources.

Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2016: States and Tribes will continue to focus on fulfilling their basic responsibilities under the CWA and, based upon a shared understanding with EPA of the environmental progress expected, will identify program activities that will best support attaining targeted environmental improvements. State priority efforts will include: (1) implementing monitoring strategies and the statistically-valid surveys to determine water quality status and trends; (2) fostering a watershed approach, including total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) and watershed plans designed to meet water quality standards; and (3) implementing concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) and storm water permitting programs. States and Tribes will work toward adoption of nutrient criteria for fresh water for state water quality standards. States NPDES Programs will support EPA in: (1) developing and strengthening systems to ensure the integrity of the program; (2) achieving and measuring environmental results; and (3) incorporating efficiencies in permitting program operations. States will also conduct source water protection actions to protect both ground water and surface waters used for drinking water. Tribes will continue to conduct watershed assessments and will maintain and improve their capacity to implement water quality programs through monitoring, assessments, planning, data management and standards development.

Types of Assistance (060):

Uses and Use Restrictions (070):

Water pollution control grants are intended to provide continuing support for the prevention and abatement of surface and ground water pollution from point and nonpoint sources. Continuing and recurrent water quality management program activities funded include water quality planning and standards; monitoring and assessments; inspections and enforcement; permitting; training; advice and assistance to local agencies; and public information. Funds cannot be used for construction, operation, or maintenance of waste treatment plants, nor can they be used for costs financed by other Federal grants. 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: http://geodata.epa.gov.

Grant recipients and sub-recipients are encouraged to adopt and enforce policies that ban text messaging while driving company-owned or -rented vehicles or government-owned vehicles, or while driving privately-owned vehicles when on official government business or when performing any work for or on behalf of the government. Grant recipients and sub-recipients are encouraged to conduct initiatives of the type described in section 3(a) of the Federal Leadership on Reducing Text Messaging While Driving Executive Order that was signed on October 1, 2009.

Eligibility Requirements (080)

Applicant Eligibility (081):

Eligible entities include States (including the District of Columbia and territories), interstate water pollution control agencies as defined in the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, and Indian tribes qualified under CWA Section 518(e). Agencies making application for funds must annually submit their pollution-control program to the appropriate EPA Regional Administrator for approval. Requirements of the program are based on Section 106 of the Act, 2 CFR 200 and 1500 as applicable, and 40 CFR Parts 35 and 130. For certain competitive funding opportunities under this CFDA description, the Agency may limit eligibility to compete to a number or subset of eligible applicants consistent with the Agency's Assistance Agreement Competition Policy.

Beneficiary Eligibility (082):

Credentials/Documentation (083):

Application and Award Process (090)

Preapplication Coordination (091):

Informal meetings are held between regional office, State, territorial, and Indian tribe applicant agencies concerning program preparation. The standard application forms, as furnished by the Federal agency and required by 2 CFR 200 and 1500 as applicable, must be used for this program. The grant agreement must adequately reflect the priorities identified in the State/EPA Agreement. Regarding pre-application/pre-proposal assistance with respect to competitive funding opportunities under this program description, EPA will generally specify the nature of the pre-application/pre-proposal assistance, if any, that will be available to applicants in the competitive announcement. For additional information, contact the individual(s) listed as "Information Contacts" or see Appendix IV of the Catalog. 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. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. 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 Procedures (092):

2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. The grants application must be submitted to the appropriate EPA Regional Office, Grants Administration Branch (see Appendix IV of the Catalog). The standard application forms as furnished by the Federal agency and required by 2 CFR 200 and 1500, as applicable, must be used for this program. EPA requires final applications to be made on Standard Form 424. Requests for application kits must be submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency, Grants and Interagency Agreements Management Division, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Mailcode (3903R), Washington, DC 20460 or through the appropriate EPA Regional Office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog. Additional information on the EPA grant package can be found at: http://www.epa.gov/ogd/grants/how_to_apply.htm. Applicants, except in limited circumstances approved by the Agency, must submit all initial applications for funding through http://www.grants.gov

Award Procedure (093):

Deadlines (094):

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time (095):

Appeals (096):

Renewals (097):

Assistance Consideration (100)

Formula and Matching Requirements (101):

Statutory Formula: Title Clean Water Act, Chapter CFR 35.162. The regulation that implements the formula can be found at 40 CFR 35.162. As stated in the Clean Water Act, appropriated funds are allotted among the State and Interstate Water Pollution Control Agencies on the basis of the extent of the pollution problems in the respective States. The six components in the Section 106 State allotment formula selected to reflect the extent of the water pollution control problems in the United States are: (1) surface water area; (2) ground water use; (3) water quality impairment; (4) point sources; (5) non-point sources; and (6) population of urbanized areas. The set-aside for Interstate Water Pollution Control Agencies is 2.6 percent of the total State monies appropriated under Section 106. The interstate allotment formula consists of two parts: (1) a funding floor, and (2) a variable portion. To receive a Section 106 Water Pollution Control grant, a State or interstate agency must expend annually for recurrent Section 106 program expenditures an amount of non-federal funds at least equal to expenditures during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1971. A portion of the annual Section 106 appropriation is set-aside for eligible Indian Tribes qualified under CWA Section 518(e), and an allocation formula is used to distribute these funds to the EPA Regions. The Tribal allocation formula consists of both a base portion (which is currently equal to approximately $65,000 times the total number of Tribes with Treatment in a manner similar to a State [TAS] approval for Section 106 grants in each EPA Region), plus a weighted variable portion. The variable portion is based upon the total tribal water area (50 percent), land area (25 percent), and reservation population (25 percent) in each EPA Region. Tribal work plan costs include the costs of planning, developing, establishing, improving, and maintaining a water pollution control program. The Regional Administrator may provide up to 95 percent of the approved work plan costs for Tribes or intertribal consortia establishing a Section 106 water pollution control program. The Regional Administrator may increase the maximum Federal share if the tribe or intertribal consortium can demonstrate in writing to the satisfaction of the Regional Administrator that fiscal circumstances within the Tribe or within each Tribe that is a member of an intertribal consortium are constrained to such an extent that fulfilling the 5 percent match requirement would impose undue hardship. Since 2005, additional funds have been allocated for the purposes of strengthening State and Territorial water quality monitoring programs.
Matching Requirements: To receive a Section 106 Water Pollution Control grant, a State or interstate agency must expend annually for recurrent Section 106 program expenditures an amount of non-federal funds at least equal to expenditures during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1971. A portion of the annual Section 106 appropriation is set-aside for eligible Indian Tribes qualified under CWA Section 518(e), and an allocation formula is used to distribute these funds to the EPA Regions. The Tribal allocation formula consists of both a base portion (which is currently equal to approximately $65,000 times the total number of Tribes with Treatment in a manner similar to a State [TAS] approval for Section 106 grants in each EPA Region), plus a weighted variable portion. The variable portion is based upon the total tribal water area (50 percent), land area (25 percent), and reservation population (25 percent) in each EPA Region. Tribal work plan costs include the costs of planning, developing, establishing, improving, and maintaining a water pollution control program. The Regional Administrator may provide up to 95 percent of the approved work plan costs for Tribes or intertribal consortia establishing a Section 106 water pollution control program. The Regional Administrator may increase the maximum Federal share if the tribe or intertribal consortium can demonstrate in writing to the satisfaction of the Regional Administrator that fiscal circumstances within the Tribe or within each Tribe that is a member of an intertribal consortium are constrained to such an extent that fulfilling the 5 percent match requirement would impose undue hardship. Since 2005, additional funds have been allocated for the purposes of strengthening State and Territorial water quality monitoring programs.
This program has MOE requirements, see funding agency for further details. This program has MOE requirements; see funding agency for further details.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance (102):

Post Assistance Requirements (110)

Reports (111):

EPA includes reporting requirements for grants and cooperative agreements in the terms and conditions of the agreements. Agreements may require quarterly, interim, and final progress reports, and expenditure/financial, equipment, and invention reports. Specific reporting requirements are also identified in the grant regulations at 2 CFR 200 and 1500, as applicable. Program reports are required under this program. Cash reports are required under this program. Progress reports are required under this program. Expenditure reports are required under this program. Performance monitoring is required under this program.

Audits (112):

In accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements, non-Federal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.503. 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.

Records (113):

Financial Information (120)

Account Identification (121):

Obligations (122):

Range and Average of Financial Assistance (123):

Program Accomplishments (130):

Fiscal Year 2015: In each fiscal year, grants are awarded to conduct Water Pollution Control programs by the 50 States, 6 Territories, the District of Columbia, 6 Interstate Commissions, and Indian Tribes qualifying under CWA Section 518(e). FY 15 funds were used to continue to support State and Tribes' efforts to fulfill their basic responsibilities under the CWA and identify program activities that best support attaining targeted environmental improvements. States and tribes will continue working on: implementing monitoring strategies and the development of statistically-valid surveys to determine water quality status and trends; fostering a watershed approach including total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) and the development of watershed plans designed to meeting water quality standards; and the implementation of concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) and storm water permitting programs. At a minimum, Regional watershed based strategies give priority to: 1) fostering the development of watershed plans under State nonpoint source programs; 2) assuring that high priority permits are current; 3) tracking permitting for environmental results program integrity follow-up actions; 4) developing TMDLs for impaired waters; and 5) developing numeric nutrient criteria. Fiscal Year 2016: In each fiscal year, grants are awarded to conduct Water Pollution Control programs by the 50 States, 6 Territories, the District of Columbia, 6 Interstate Commissions, and Indian Tribes qualifying under CWA Section 518(e). FY 16 funds will be used to continue to support State and Tribes' efforts to fulfill their basic responsibilities under the CWA and identify program activities that best support attaining targeted environmental improvements. States and tribes continued working on: implementing monitoring strategies and the development of statistically-valid surveys to determine water quality status and trends; fostering a watershed approach including total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) and the development of watershed plans designed to meeting water quality standards; and the implementation of concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) and storm water permitting programs. At a minimum, Regional watershed based strategies give priority to: 1) fostering the development of watershed plans under State nonpoint source programs; 2) assuring that high priority permits are current; 3) tracking permitting for environmental results program integrity follow-up actions; 4) developing TMDLs for impaired waters; and 5) development of numeric criteria for nutrients. Fiscal Year 2017: No Current Data Available

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature (140):

Information Contacts (150)

Regional or Local Office (151) :

Headquarters Office (152):

Website Address (153):

Related Programs (160):

Examples of Funded Projects (170):

Fiscal Year 2015: Grants are made to States, interstate agencies, and tribes qualified under CWA Section 518(e), for the administration of State and tribal programs for the prevention, reduction, and control of water pollution. Activities funded include administration of State and tribal water quality planning programs; water quality standards programs; water quality monitoring and assessments; National Pollutant Discharge and Elimination System (NPDES) permitting programs; compliance and enforcement programs, and ground water protection programs. More specifically, adoption and implementation of new comprehensive monitoring strategies, as stated in the March 2003 Elements of a State Water Monitoring and Assessment Guidance, and the development of statistically valid monitoring networks to help target activities and determine water quality status and trends; enhancement of the quality and timeliness of state/tribal water quality standards triennial reviews so that standards are based on sound science and EPA guidance; adoption of nutrient criteria for state water quality standards; effective management of the permit program through State participation on (1) developing and strengthening systems to ensure the integrity of the program; (2) achieving and measuring environmental results; and (3) incorporating efficiencies in permitting program operations; implementation of program enhancements identified in the FY 2004 comprehensive assessment of NPDES program integrity; and State storm water and concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO) permitting programs, wet weather issues and combined sewer overflows (CSOs. Fiscal Year 2016: Grants are made to States, interstate agencies, and tribes qualified under CWA Section 518(e), for the administration of State and tribal programs for the prevention, reduction, and control of water pollution. Activities funded include administration of State and tribal water quality planning programs; water quality standards programs; water quality monitoring and assessments; National Pollutant Discharge and Elimination System (NPDES) permitting programs; compliance and enforcement programs, and ground water protection programs. More specifically, adoption and implementation of new comprehensive monitoring strategies, as stated in the March 2003 Elements of a State Water Monitoring and Assessment Guidance, and the development of statistically valid monitoring networks to help target activities and determine water quality status and trends; enhancement of the quality and timeliness of state/tribal water quality standards triennial reviews so that standards are based on sound science and EPA guidance; adoption of nutrient criteria for state water quality standards; effective management of the permit program through State participation on (1) developing and strengthening systems to ensure the integrity of the program; (2) achieving and measuring environmental results; and (3) incorporating efficiencies in permitting program operations; implementation of program enhancements identified in the FY 2004 comprehensive assessment of NPDES program integrity; and State storm water and concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO) permitting programs, wet weather issues and combined sewer overflows (CSOs). Fiscal Year 2017: No Current Data Available

Criteria for Selecting Proposals (180):

Accessibility Information

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Water Pollution Control State, Interstate, and Tribal Program Support

Program Information

Contact Information

General Information

History