66.474 - Water Protection Grants to the States

Program Number/Title (010):

Federal Agency (030):

Authorization (040):

Objectives (050):

The objective of this grant program is to assist states, territories, and possessions of the United States with critical water infrastructure protection.

Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2016: EPA's funding priority is to provide grant assistance to the states, territories, and possessions of the United States to support technical assistance, training, and communication activities on critical water infrastructure protection efforts that include work with drinking water systems as well as with federal, state, and local agencies. States, territories, and possessions of the United States will be able to continue their efforts to coordinate critical water infrastructure protection activities with other homeland security responsibilities. Specifically, awards will enhance public health protection by securing critical infrastructure through support for counter-terrorism preparedness; communicating vision, mission, and goals of the sector specific plan and the key features of an active and effective security program; helping to ensure security best practices for small systems; promoting outreach and education at small systems; promoting mutual aid compacts development; supporting the development of system redundance, a national laboratory system and disaster mitigation plans; and developing and overseeing emergency response and recovery plans, including those related to pandemic flu concerns. No new appropriations are available for this program in FY 2016.

Types of Assistance (060):

Uses and Use Restrictions (070):

Funded activities include providing: (1) technical assistance, training, or distribution of tools that would lead to satisfactory vulnerability assessments of drinking water systems; (2) technical assistance, training, or distribution of tools that would lead to drinking water systems creating, amending or updating emergency response plans to meet new requirements or security threats; (3) assistance to improve communications with or between drinking water systems and other agencies or organizations involved with security or emergency response; and (4) other activities focusing on training to enhance security and improving the readiness of individuals and groups involved in first response at drinking water systems. 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: https://www.epa.gov/geospatial.

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):

Beneficiary Eligibility (082):

Credentials/Documentation (083):

Application and Award Process (090)

Preapplication Coordination (091):

Pre-application assistance is recommended and should be obtained from the Grants Management Office of the pertinent EPA Regional Office listed in 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 standard application forms in accordance with 2 CFR 200 and 1500 as applicable are used for this program. Requests for application kits may be directed to the Grants Management Office of the applicable EPA Regional Office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog. Kits may also be obtained online at http://www.epa.gov/ogd/AppKit/application.htm. The completed application, including the final proposal, should be submitted to the appropriate EPA Regional Grants Management Office. 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):

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 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 FY 15, states and territories continued to develop materials (i.e., documents, training manuals, etc.) focused on improving security and emergency response, ensuring the quality of drinking water vulnerability assessments, and associated security enhancements. Additionally, states and territories conducted trainings, workshops, and/or conferences to improve infrastructure protection, increase preparedness, promote mutual aid compacts and/or provide information to drinking water utilities. Significant action has been accomplished in helping to support and establish mutual aid compacts, including providing technical support and training exercises related to these agreements. Outcomes included changed management and operation of drinking water utilities based on training and current vulnerability assessments of the utilities; and establishment and improvement of emergency response coordination and communications. During this time, States and Territories continued to use prior allocated funding to accomplish goals, as new money for the initiative was not available. Fiscal Year 2016: In FY 16, states and territories continued to develop materials (i.e., documents, training manuals, etc.) focused on improving security and emergency response, ensuring the quality of drinking water vulnerability assessments, and associated security enhancements. Additionally, states and territories conducted trainings, workshops, and/or conferences to improve infrastructure protection, increase preparedness, promote mutual aid compacts and/or provide information to drinking water utilities. Significant action has been accomplished in helping to support and establish mutual aid compacts, including providing technical support and training exercises related to these agreements. Outcomes included changed management and operation of drinking water utilities based on training and current vulnerability assessments of the utilities; and establishment and improvement of emergency response coordination and communications. During this time, States and Territories continued to use prior allocated funding to accomplish goals, as new money for the initiative was not avail. 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: EPA has supported the following types of drinking water security activities: (1) improving communications to drinking water systems by updating drinking water system contact information and utilizing a mass faxing system; (2) providing onsite assistance for small drinking water systems on security issues; (3) developing and mailing security information kits to drinking water systems; (4) maintaining a duty officer program and toll free number to enable operators to reach state drinking water agency after hours; (5) assisting in the formation of neighborhood watch programs to increase citizen awareness of drinking water security; (6) developing guidance for water utilities to use alternative water supplies; (7) incorporating security considerations into state design standards and State Revolving Fund (SRF) criteria; (8) creating websites to provide easy access to state drinking water security information; (9) designing and conducting on-line training, videos, and materials for the law enforcement community to outline water utility security basics; (10) conducting emergency response exercises and drills; (11) creating ready-to-go complete sampling kits to eliminate delays in obtaining bottles and preparing expedited sampling and transport protocols in preparation for emergency water supply collection needs; (12) assisting in preparation of state plans to implement measures for safe drinking water under emergency circumstances; and (13) facilitating mutual aid compacts in instances of emergency need, between states and water systems. Fiscal Year 2016: EPA has supported the following types of drinking water security activities: (1) improving communications to drinking water systems by updating drinking water system contact information and utilizing a mass faxing system; (2) providing onsite assistance for small drinking water systems on security issues; (3) developing and mailing security information kits to drinking water systems; (4) maintaining a duty officer program and toll free number to enable operators to reach state drinking water agency after hours; (5) assisting in the formation of neighborhood watch programs to increase citizen awareness of drinking water security; (6) developing guidance for water utilities to use alternative water supplies; (7) incorporating security considerations into state design standards and State Revolving Fund (SRF) criteria; (8) creating websites to provide easy access to state drinking water security information; (9) designing and conducting on-line training, videos, and materials for the law enforcement community to outline water utility security basics; (10) conducting emergency response exercises and drills; (11) creating ready-to-go complete sampling kits to eliminate delays in obtaining bottles and preparing expedited sampling and transport protocols in preparation for emergency water supply collection needs; (12) assisting in preparation of state plans to implement measures for safe drinking water under emergency circumstances; and (13) facilitating mutual aid compacts in instances of emergency need, between states and water systems. Fiscal Year 2017: No Current Data Available

Criteria for Selecting Proposals (180):

Accessibility Information

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Water Protection Grants to the States

Program Information

Contact Information

General Information

History