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Great Lakes Funding

Great Lakes Program Funding

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Table of Contents

  1. Purpose
  2. FY 1999-2000 Priorities
  3. GLNPO Activities and Funding (including description of process and schedule)

Appendix 1 - Application Instructions, Eligibility, etc.

Appendix 2 - Request for Preproposals/Criteria

Appendix 3 - Roadmap to Federal Funding Opportunities
(USEPA, NRCS, USFWS, USACE, FHWA)

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FY1999 - 2000 Great Lakes Priorities and Funding Guidance

The Great Lakes Priorities and Funding Guidance (Funding Guidance) is a resource to assist the network of State, Tribal, Federal, and non-governmental organizations which together constitute the Great Lakes program. It identifies joint priorities of the governmental partners of the Great Lakes Program. With this document, the Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("USEPA" or the "Agency") also describes its funding process and solicits Preproposals for projects to be awarded from Fiscal Year (FY) 1999 funds. Work done with these awards would generally occur during FY 2000. At the end of this document we have included a "Roadmap" to other Federal Great Lakes Funding Opportunities to assist other organizations and programs as they target their Great Lakes activities during annual program planning processes. If this "Roadmap" continues to prove useful to our partners, we will improve and expand it in future years.

I. Purpose

The mission of the Great Lakes Program, as set forth in the U.S./Canada Water Quality Agreement, is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the waters of the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem.

By publishing the Great Lakes Priorities and Funding Guidance each Fall, GLNPO seeks to:

The Great Lakes Priorities and Funding Guidance does not replace general USEPA National guidance or guidance developed by the Regional Program Offices. Rather, it is a supplement to the annual planning process and should be used to facilitate planning Great Lakes activities in concert with other program planning efforts. The Great Lakes Funding Guidance is also intended to provide linkages among USEPA and other Federal Great Lakes programs.

II. Great Lakes Priorities

The Great Lakes Basin is home to 33 million people, including more than one-tenth of the population of the United States. It contains some of the world's largest concentrations of industrial capacity; agricultural land; forests; dunes; wetlands; and 141 globally rare plant and animal species. The Lakes themselves constitute the largest system of fresh, surface water on earth, containing 20% of the world's supply. They are sensitive to a range of pollutant sources, including runoff, waste, industry discharges, and disposal leachate. Their size increases their vulnerability to atmospheric deposition. Pollutants bioaccumulate and are retained in the system for decades (outflows are less than 1 % annually and water retention ranges from 191 years in Lake Superior to 2.6 years in Lake Erie).

Great Lakes Program partners are united in their efforts, as set forth in the U.S./Canada Water Quality Agreement, to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the waters of the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem. This mission is supported through:

To achieve those objectives, a nested structure of Great Lakes activities is managed and implemented by an alliance of Federal, State, Tribal, and non-governmental agencies. This structure fosters cross-program and cross-agency integration of programs at a variety of scales; from Areas of Concern to issues of lakewide and those of basinwide concern. Thus, the Great Lakes priorities include a variety of tools and focuses, including:

A. Toxics Reduction

B. Habitat (Ecological) Protection and Restoration.

Much of the Great Lakes basin ecosystem has been permanently altered by anthropogenic stressors, but viable remnants of most of the biological components remain. Habitat priorities are focused on efforts to:

C. Ecosystem tools and approaches, addressing both toxics and habit:

D. Support Federal-State-Tribal Partnership and Integration

III. GLNPO Activities and Funding

General Information. Each Fall, mid-level environmental managers from Great Lakes State, Tribal, and Federal programs meet in a Great Lakes Planning Meeting to discuss Great Lakes priorities and the criteria for projects to be funded by GLNPO in the upcoming year. That information is used in developing a Great Lakes Funding Guidance which is then used in a broad solicitation of Preproposals through direct mailings, notification in the Federal Register, and Internet posting and announcements. Preproposals are then evaluated and successful applicants are asked to submit full proposals for their projects. Final decisions are based on the full proposals.

General funding priorities and targets for this Great Lakes Funding Guidance were derived from USEPA's Congressionally approved budget. Development of that budget began in 1997. Consequently, in order to have a timely influence on the Federal budget process, participants in this year's Great Lakes Planning Meeting discussed Great Lakes priorities for FY 2001.

GLNPO has provided funding for close to 300 projects totaling $35 million between 1993 and 1997. The projects are summarized at http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/fund/glf.html#top. Summaries of the FY 1998 projects will be posted in December.

FY 1998 Recap. In FY 1998, GLNPO notified potential applicants that it was seeking preproposals for a total of $4 million in the priority areas of: Contaminated Sediments; Habitat Protection and Restoration; Pollution Prevention; Assessment/Indicators; Exotic Species; and Emerging Issues. Funding for Exotic Species and Emerging Issues was possible because of a Congressional earmark. In response, 128 applicants submitted 230 preproposals, requesting $30.2 million in assistance.

Of the Preproposals submitted, 27% were "successful." 45 applicants were asked to submit proposals for 62 projects totaling $4.6 million (http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/fund/98preproposalselection.html ). GLNPO offered assistance for each of these projects for which the Applicant still desired funding. Some projects which were not successful in the GLNPO process were forwarded to other organizations for their consideration.

FY 1999-2000 Assistance Process. With this Great Lakes Funding Guidance, GLNPO is again making "venture capital" available for important, innovative projects to protect and clean up the Great Lakes ecosystem. We are looking for projects in the areas of Contaminated Sediments, Pollution Prevention and Reduction (pursuant to the Binational Toxics Strategy), Habitat (Ecological) Protection and Restoration, Exotic Species, and Emerging Issues. Our criteria specify that we are looking for projects which: (i) are action oriented, (ii) are not clearly the mission of other Federal programs, (iii) are leveraged with other funding sources, (iv) complement, but do not duplicate, other efforts, and (v) were developed through a collaborative, partnership process such as LaMPs or RAPs. We especially welcome projects which address environmental justice and those which have community-based support. Appendices 1 and 2 contain detailed application instructions and criteria. The Roadmap to Federal Funding Opportunities (Appendix 3) references possibilities for other Federal assistance to Great Lakes related activities.

This Great Lakes Funding Guidance asks interested Applicants to submit short Preproposals for Great Lakes projects. We request that Preproposals be developed using the GLNPO Preproposal Submission System (PSS2) contained on the disk on the back page of this document. (PSS2 can also be downloaded from http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/fund/1999/99pss.html). GLNPO will screen preproposals upon receipt to ensure they qualify under the Appendix 2 criteria. Reviewers internal and external to USEPA will also use that criteria to evaluate the remaining Preproposals. Evaluations will take into account recommendations on specific needs and priorities of geographic areas within the Great Lakes, particularly those of: Lakewide Management Plans for Lakes Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior and their included geographic initiatives such as the Remedial Action Plans for Areas of Concern (see the identified priorities in Attachment 2 criteria). To obtain additional information about those needs and priorities, applicants are encouraged to consult with applicable EPA staff. (See Appendix 3 for a listing of the Regional Team Managers for Priority Approaches and Geographic Teams and for contacts in Regions 2 and 3). The GLNPO process will also involve coordination with other Agency priorities such as the Clean Water Action Plan.

Applicants should note that Preproposals will not be treated as confidential information. They may be shared during the evaluation process with partners external to EPA. Information about the Preproposals will be published on the Internet. Applicants should develop their budgets and schedule keeping in mind that extra funds and extra time may be needed for development of a quality assurance project plan (QAPP). Applicants should note that USEPA policy requires them to have an approved QAPP prior to commencement of any environmental data collection.

Applicants will be notified as to whether they should subsequently submit full Assistance Application Packages (full Proposals). Final funding decisions will be based upon the full Proposals. Additional documentation (such as letters of recommendation from LaMP or RAP committees or State Agencies or with respect to quality assurance) may be required as part of the full Proposal. GLNPO intends to make reports and other products of this assistance easily accessible to the public via the Internet and other means.

The schedule for the remainder of this funding cycle is:

Deadline for Submission of Preproposals January 15
Preproposal Reviews (internal and external) January 15 - March 15
Notify Applicants April
Full Proposals due Through July 1
Final Decisions/Awards April-September 30

Toxics Reduction, Biodiversity, and Emerging Issues. The October, 1998 Great Lakes Planning Meeting verified the importance of strategically focusing on toxics reduction and biodiversity. For FY 1999-2000, GLNPO is targeting $3.8 million(1) in assistance to States, Tribes, and our other partners for projects implementing these priorities. Targets are:

Toxics Reduction $2.2 million
Contaminated Sediments $1.4 million
Pollution Prevention and Reduction - BNS $800 thousand
Biodiversity $1.3 million
Habitat (Ecological) Protection and Restoration $1.0 million
Exotic Species $300 thousand
Emerging Issues $300 thousand

Participants in the October, 1998 Great Lakes Planning Meeting confirmed the importance of GLNPO addressing Exotic Species and Emerging Issues. A Congressional earmark in the USEPA budget for FY 1999 may make that possible. However, funding for these categories is less certain than that for other categories because these are not specific line items in GLNPO's approved budget.

GLNPO is not issuing a general solicitation for Assessment/Indicators this year, but will issue two targeted Requests for Proposals (RFPs) - one for Organic Chemistry and another for a Plankton Index. These targeted RFPs are described in the next section.

See Appendices 1 and 2 for specific instructions and criteria regarding GLNPO's request for Preproposals. Please note our request that Applicants submit Preproposals electronically.

Other GLNPO Programs. GLNPO is actively involved in other program areas in addition to the solicitations previously described in this document. In the areas referenced below, we will coordinate at the Federal, State, Tribal, and local levels to ensure that these projects and resources are appropriately targeted to achieve mutual objectives. Staff are also available for consultation in these areas.

* Lake ecosystem indicators. Through atmospheric deposition monitoring and open lake monitoring in each Great Lake for toxicant and nutrient loadings and concentrations (using EPA's research vessels), GLNPO will provide trend and baseline data to support and target remedial efforts and measure environmental progress. GLNPO and EPA's Office of Research and Development will interpret and report information about Lake Michigan air, water, sediments, and biota through the Lake Michigan Mass Balance Study (LMMB), thus enabling the Agency and its partners to target further pollutant reductions. The joint GLNPO/Canadian atmospheric deposition network (including air monitoring stations on each Great Lake) will provide trend and baseline data to support and target remedial efforts and measure environmental progress under Lakewide Management Plans. In October 1998, GLNPO, with its Canadian counterparts, reported on environmental indicators in the biennial State of the Lakes Ecosystem Conference which brought together over 500 representatives of the public and private sectors to facilitate risk- and science-based decision-making.

As part of the Lake ecosystem indicator program, GLNPO will be issuing two targeted Requests for Proposals (RFPs) in FY 1999, one for Organic Chemistry and one for a Plankton Index:

Organic Chemistry. In December, GLNPO will issue a RFP for analysis of a large number of organic contaminants. Including in the list will be the tier one and tier two chemicals from the all Great Lakes Lakewide Management Plans, and organic contaminants that are a part of the BNS. We anticipate analyzing for these chemicals in water (XAD resin), fish, and sediment. Water analysis will require ultra-trace level detection levels (sub part-per-trillion). As part of the request we will also be asking for a "broad scan" analysis of fish tissue to identify contaminants beyond those usually identified. As with previous RFPs, the ranking criteria for the proposals will emphasize demonstrated expertise in analyzing at the concentrations expected in the Great Lakes. If you feel that your laboratory has the demonstrated ability to analyze the above chemicals, please submit your name for inclusion in the mailing list.

Plankton Index. This RFP will be issued in January, 1999. GLNPO has long term plankton records for the lower four Great Lakes. The species composition and biomass information have been published in trend analysis reports and as peer reviewed journal articles. However, we are looking for a collection of metrics similar to those used for the Index of Biotic Integrity so that we can more easily and uniformly report on the health of the open water community. The RFP for this work will emphasize demonstrated expertise in the analysis and interpretation of plankton community data. If you feel that your laboratory has this ability, please submit your name for inclusion in the mailing list.

To be added to the Mailing List for these RFPs, please contact Glenn Warren (312) 886-2405. Additional information is available from Paul Horvatin (312) 353-3612, Chief of GLNPO's Monitoring, Indicators, and Reporting Branch.

* Manage and provide public access to Great Lakes data. EPA's integrated Great Lakes information system, developed by GLNPO and its State and Federal partners, will deliver LMMB, and other, scientifically sound, easily accessible environmental information to decision makers and the public by traditional means and via the Internet. GLNPO will pilot techniques to provide public access to LMMB data via the Internet. Additional information is available from Pranas Pranckevicius (312) 353-3437, leader of GLNPO's Information Management Team.

Appendix 1

Application Instructions for GLNPO Preproposals
January 15, 1999 Deadline

GLNPO requests submission of Preproposals for projects meeting the criteria in Appendix 2. Following evaluations, full proposals will be requested from selected applicants. Final decisions will be based on the full proposals.

Developing Preproposals. We request that Preproposals be developed using the GLNPO Preproposal Submission System (PSS2) contained on the disk on the back page. PSS2 can also be downloaded from http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/fund/1999/99pss.html. The back page includes simple instructions for getting started using PSS2. Detailed information is included in the disk's "read-me" file. We encourage you to call Tony Kizlauskas (312) 353-8773 or Pranas Pranckevicius (312) 353-3437 for technical assistance or if you do not have access to a PC. PSS2 does not work on Macintosh computers.

Preproposal Format. PSS2 generates the correct format. Examples of Preproposals for Sediments, Pollution Prevention and Reduction, and Habitat are available at http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/fund/glf.html. Page 2 of this Appendix gives "line-by line" instructions for the required Preproposal components. Preproposals should not exceed five pages.

Eligibility. Assistance (through grants, cooperative agreements, and interagency agreements) is available pursuant to Clean Water Act §104(b)(3) for activities in the Great Lakes Basin and in support of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. State pollution control agencies, interstate agencies, other public or nonprofit private agencies, institutions, organizations, and individuals are eligible; "for-profit" organizations are not.

Ineligible Activities. Under this solicitation, GLNPO will not fund: "construction grant" projects; basic research; land acquisition; education/outreach or conferences, unless they are a part of a larger project; or general operating support.

Additional Funds. Applicants seeking additional funding under an existing award must also apply through this process.

Matching/Quality Assurance. The minimum non-Federal matching requirement is 5% of total project cost and may be provided in cash or by in-kind contributions and other non-cash support. An approved quality assurance plan will be required prior to the commencement of data collection and reporting.

Project Clarification/Revisions. Applicants may be contacted for clarification and for the purpose of negotiating changes in project terms and amounts.

Confidentiality. Preproposal information will not be kept confidential.

Evaluation. The evaluation process, described in the body of this document, will include the criteria in Appendix 2 and consideration of priorities for geographic areas. Evaluations take into account an Applicant's ranking of its Preproposals and do not penalize Applicants for submitting multiple Preproposals.

Notification: We will confirm Preproposal receipt within: (i) one week for E-Mail submissions or (ii) two weeks for regular mail. Shortly after the Preproposal deadline, we will post Preproposal information (including Applicant, Title, and GLNPO identification number) at: http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/fund/glf.html. This site will be updated with Preproposal review status information. All applicants will be notified about whether they should submit full proposals.

Likelihood of Selection. As an indication of the likelihood of selection, please note that assistance was offered for 27% of the FY 1998 Preproposals and 22% of the FY97 Preproposals.

Deadline for Preproposal Receipt: January 15, 1999.

Preproposal Submission. PSS2 allows paperless submissions. To send your preproposal to us by E-mail, attach a copy of the data file, "APPLY2.TPS," from the subdirectory where PSS2 installs itself (C:\PSS2) and send it to: preproposal@glnts.r5exp.epa.gov . If sending a disk, mail it to:

USEPA - GLNPO (G-17J)
77 West Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, Illinois 60604-3590
 

Multiple Preproposals. If your organization submits multiple Preproposals, please identify an overall contact (including phone, e-mail, and address) and send a single, coordinated submittal, prioritizing the Preproposals. PSS2 provides this capability. Individuals from the following organizations have offered to serve as their organizations' overall contacts. Please talk with your contact first if you plan on submitting a preproposal:

 

Preproposal Components - "Line-by-Line" Instructions

(Tabs refer to data entry in the Preproposal Submission System)

APPLICANT INFORMATION (TAB1)

Applicant. Enter Applicant (Organization) Name, Contact Person's Title (choose one from the drop-down list), Contact Person's Name, Address, City, State (choose one from the drop-down list), Phone, Fax, and E-mail. For Phone and Fax numbers, enter the 10-digit number without any punctuation, spaces, etc.

Type of Organization. Choose one from a drop-down list including: State; Interstate Agency or Commission; Sub-state or special purpose district; County; Municipality; Federal Agency; College or University; Tribal Organization; Individual; Federally funded research and development center; or Other.

PROJECT SUMMARY INFORMATION (TAB 2)

Project Title. No more than 60 characters.

Abstract. One paragraph synopsis.

Duration. Specify project duration from 0.5 years up to 2 years (select from the spin-box list).

Category. Choose only 1 from a drop-down list including: (i) Contaminated Sediments; (ii) Pollution Prevention and Reduction - BNS; (iii) Habitat (Ecological) Protection and Restoration; (iv) Exotic Species; or (vi) Emerging Issues. Submission of a single project to multiple categories may adversely affect your chance of success.

Rank Within Category. Only for multiple preproposals being submitted within the same project category from the same organization. To only be filled in after rank is assigned by the organization's coordinator.

GEOGRAPHIC APPLICABILITY (TAB 3)

Applicable State. Select Great Lakes State(s) which would be most impacted by this project. (Click on appropriate selection boxes).

Applicable Basin. Identify Lake Basin(s) which would be most impacted by this project. (Click on appropriate selection boxes.)

Applicable Areas of Concern. Identify the Areas of Concern affected by the Project: Choose the primary affected Area of Concern from the drop-down list. List any others in the field entitled "Other Affected AOCs".

For Habitat Projects Only: Choose the primary affected Biodiversity Investment Area from the drop-down list. List any others in the field entitled "Other Affected BIAs". Nearshore terrestrial Biodiversity Investment Areas were identified in the Land by the Lakes paper for SOLEC 1996 (http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/solec/solec_1996/Land_by_the_Lakes_-_Nearshore_Terrestrial_Ecosystems.PDF) [PDF 4.32Mb, 167 pages]. (BIAs for nearshore aquatic and coastal wetlands are being developed through SOLEC, but are not available at this time.)

PROBLEM STATEMENT (TAB 4)

Problem Statement. Describe the issue that will be addressed and its relevance to the Great Lakes, particularly to needs and priorities (especially in LaMPs and RAPs) for Lakes, AOCs, and other geographic initiatives.

Proposed Work/Outcome. Outline what will be done and how. Describe anticipated environmental results, referencing affected pollutants, industry sectors, economic impacts, habitats, and/or species.

PROJECT MILESTONES (TAB 5)

Milestones. Specify milestones and/or final products and projected due dates (Month/Year, in MM/YYYY format). You may describe up to 8 milestones/final products, including Project Start and End. If you would submit a full proposal in April, your project could begin in May or June; however, most usually begin in September or October.

EJ/EDUCATION APPLICABILITY (TAB 6)

Environmental Justice. Check box and include a narrative description if some part of the project addresses "Environmental Justice." Environmental justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. Fair treatment means that no group of people, including racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic groups, should bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, municipal, and commercial operations or the execution of federal, state, local, and tribal programs and policies.

Education/Outreach Component. Check box, if the project includes an education/outreach component. If applicable, describe the target audience and how that group would be impacted by the project in the field entitled "Education/Outreach Description".

PROJECT BUDGET (TAB 7)

Budget. Fill in the applicable budget items in the table to show how GLNPO (Federal) funds and non-Federal matching funds will be used for personnel/salaries, fringe benefits, travel, equipment, supplies, contract costs, construction, and other costs. You may include a separate line for indirect costs if your organization has in place (or will negotiate) an "indirect cost rate" from a cognizant Federal agency. Budget should represent the total which would be requested from GLNPO for the project's duration (up to two years). Funding will be awarded as a "lump sum" and is not assured for subsequent years. Do not include commas when entering the budget amounts. Totals will be calculated automatically or by pressing "calculate."

OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING (TAB 8)

Other Funding. If funds are being pursued or have been committed to your Project by other providers, list the Name of the Providers, Amounts Provided, and Commitments made by each.

COLLABORATION (TAB 9)

Collaboration/Community-based Support. Describe plans and status of collaboration amongst the public, private, and independent sectors. Evidence of support will be required for full proposals.

Appendix 2

GLNPO Request for Preproposals

Contaminated Sediments - $1,400,000*

(*Planning Target - subject to change for various reasons, including Congressional and Agency action, such as development and approval of the Agency's annual operating plan.)

GLNPO will provide funding, technical support, and vessel support to assist contaminated sediment work in priority geographic areas in the Great Lakes. GLNPO's emphasis and ultimate objective is to assist in bringing about remediation of contaminated sediments at these sites.

We are particularly interested in the following projects:

Evaluations will also consider the specific needs and priorities of geographic areas within the Great Lakes, particularly those of Lakewide Management Plans and geographic initiatives such as the Remedial Action Plans for Areas of Concern. Projects dealing with the following topics will receive great consideration:

Criteria. GLNPO seeks projects which (i) are action oriented, (ii) are not clearly the mission of other Federal programs, (iii) are leveraged with other funding sources, (iv) complement, but do not duplicate, other efforts, and (v) were developed through a collaborative, partnership process such as LaMPs or RAPs. We especially welcome projects which address environmental justice and those which have community-based support. Applicants should have demonstrated expertise. Applicants with existing GLNPO projects should be up-to-date on reporting and other requirements. GLNPO's preproposal evaluation will seek a balance among sediments activities; however, preproposals will be prioritized in the following order: (i) on-the-ground cleanup, (ii) remedial design, and (iii) field work and assessment. Evaluations will also consider:

Contact: Marc Tuchman (312) 353-1369

 

Pollution Prevention and Reduction (BNS) - $800,000*

(*Planning Target - subject to change for various reasons, including Congressional and Agency action, such as development and approval of the Agency's annual operating plan.)

GLNPO will provide assistance to partners for pollution prevention, reduction, or elimination, focusing on the reduction and elimination of persistent, toxic substances, especially those which bioaccumulate, from the Great Lakes Basin (see list on following page). Projects and activities should support the reduction "challenges," goals, and objectives in, and the implementation of, the Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy: The Canada-U.S. Strategy for the Virtual Elimination of Persistent Toxic Substances in the Great Lakes Basin (BNS). The BNS is on line at http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/bns/strategy.html. GLNPO will also consider projects which target pollutants of concern under LaMPs.

We are particularly interested in the following projects:

Evaluations will also consider the specific needs and priorities of geographic areas within the Great Lakes, particularly those of Lakewide Management Plans and geographic initiatives (such as the Remedial Action Plans for Areas of Concern). Reviewers associated with each of the Lakes will prioritize pollution reduction or elimination activities targeting critical pollutants and priority toxics identified in the respective LaMP, RAP, or other applicable management plan. Projects dealing with the following topics will receive great consideration:

Criteria. GLNPO seeks projects which (i) are action oriented, (ii) are not clearly the mission of other Federal programs, (iii) are leveraged with other funding sources, (iv) complement, but do not duplicate, other efforts, and (v) were developed through a collaborative, partnership process such as LaMPs or RAPs. We especially welcome projects which address environmental justice and those which have community-based support. Applicants should have demonstrated expertise. Applicants with existing GLNPO projects should be up-to-date on reporting and other requirements. GLNPO's preproposal evaluation will seek a balance among activities; however, priority will be given to source reduction. Evaluations will also consider:

Contacts: Elizabeth LaPlante (312) 353-2694; / Danielle Green (312) 886-7594

Under BNS, the following "Level 1 " substances are targeted for virtual elimination:

Under BNS, the following "Level 2 " substances are targeted for pollution prevention:

Further information is available on the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/p2.html

 

Habitat (Ecological) Protection and Restoration - $1,000,000*

(*Planning Target - subject to change for various reasons, including Congressional and Agency action, such as development and approval of the Agency's annual operating plan.)

GLNPO will assist its partners by funding activities which demonstrate practices and develop tools for protecting and restoring aquatic, terrestrial, and wetland ecosystems. When developing preproposals, partners should consider (i) concepts, such as biodiversity investment areas (BIA), discussed in the 1996 and 1998 State of the Lakes Ecosystem Conference papers; (ii) new ideas generated from projects described in the1996 GLNPO Mining Ideas Report; and (iii) the 1994 report prepared by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and funded in part by USEPA, The Conservation of Biological Diversity in the Great Lakes: Issues and Opportunities. (The above documents can be found on the GLNPO web site at  http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/ecopage/ or contact Larry Brail at (312) 886-7474 for copies.)

Projects will be evaluated in one of the following three geographic venues:

1. Basinwide: Basinwide projects are those that have large-scale implications for the Great Lakes ecosystem. The project may fill a gap, such as TNC's Aquatic Classification System project (1998), or the project may pilot new techniques, such as the Center for Compatible Economic Development's Forest Bank project (1998). It is not sufficient to say the project could be used as a model basinwide - the Preproposal must indicate what will occur basinwide as a result of the demonstration, as well as how this will be accomplished. New ideas are encouraged, however, the following basinwide topics will receive great consideration:

2. Regional: Regional projects are those that demonstrate protection and restoration of significant ecosystems at a lakewide, AOC, or biodiversity investment area scale. Projects may initiate actions consistent with LaMP or RAP priorities or which address needs identified in the SOLEC 1998 BIA papers. New ideas are encouraged, however, regional projects dealing with the following topics will receive great consideration:

General: Projects which restore the biodiversity of coastal wetlands, aquatic, and terrestrial communities within a cooperative agency/organizational framework.

Lake Ontario, St. Lawrence River, and Niagara River basins: Projects which will assist the Four Parties to address the loss of fish and wildlife habitat use impairment identified in the 1998 Stage I Lake Ontario LaMP. Potential projects include an inventory of existing natural resources, an inventory of existing restoration/protection/enhancement projects, and on the ground projects which address a gap in existing restoration activities or proposed in partnership with existing restoration/protection enhancement activities. Projects in the Niagara River and St. Lawrence River drainage basin could address the loss of fish and wildlife habitat, including an inventory of existing resources and on the ground projects to restore/protect/enhance habitat.

Lake Erie and the St. Clair/Lake St. Clair/Detroit River basins. Projects which (i) address the loss of fish and wildlife habitat or (ii) demonstrate innovative technologies for control of pollutant loadings from the watershed.

Lake Huron basin. Projects which (i) support the goals and objectives outlined by the International Alvar Initiative or (ii) demonstrate the connection between coastal marshes and the fishery.

Lake Michigan basin. Projects which (i) identify or demonstrate brownfield to habitat restoration, possibly with attention to establishing native vegetation on steel slag areas, (ii) protect or restore sand dunes with native vegetation, or (iii) protect critical habitats from destruction or degradation, i.e. wetlands.

Lake Superior basin. Projects which (i) address the gaps in species and ecological community inventories, (ii) further resource assessment at a more local level, or (iii) protect or restore biodiversity as a result of innovative techniques and partnerships.

3. Local: Local projects are those that remind us that biodiversity needs to be protected wherever possible and that, with deliberate and sensitive planning, biodiversity can and should exist in urban/suburban areas. We are particularly interested in small ($10 thousand to $25 thousand) projects with land trusts and local planning organizations which:

Criteria. GLNPO seeks projects which (i) are action oriented, (ii) are not clearly the mission of other Federal programs, (iii) are leveraged with other funding sources, (iv) complement, but do not duplicate, other efforts, and (v) were developed through a collaborative, partnership process such as LaMPs or RAPs. We especially welcome projects which address environmental justice and those which have community-based support. Applicants should have demonstrated expertise. Applicants with existing GLNPO projects should be up-to-date on reporting and other requirements. GLNPO's preproposal evaluation will also consider the factors described above for the three geographic venues and whether the proposed project:

Contact: Karen Rodriguez (formerly Holland) (312) 353-2690

Notes: Biodiversity Investment Areas (BIA) are clusters of places that have exceptional biodiversity value. Nearshore terrestrial Biodiversity Investment Areas were identified in the Land by the Lakes paper for SOLEC 1996. Similar areas were developed for nearshore aquatic and coastal wetlands at SOLEC 1998.

A description of alvars can be found in the SOLEC 1996 paper Land by the Lakes (http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/solec/solec_1996/Land_by_the_Lakes_-_Nearshore_Terrestrial_Ecosystems.PDF) [PDF 4.32Mb, 167 pages].

Exotic Species - $300,000*

(*Planning Target - subject to change for various reasons, including Congressional and Agency action, such as development and approval of the Agency's annual operating plan.)

GLNPO will provide assistance to address exotic (non-indigenous) aquatic and terrestrial species in the Great Lakes Basin with an emphasis on prevention. Applicants should note, however, that funding for this category is less certain than that for other categories. There is currently not a specific line item in GLNPO's budget for "Emerging Issues," but this priority is proposed to be funded using a Congressional earmark.

We are particularly interested in the following projects:

Criteria. GLNPO seeks projects which (i) are action oriented, (ii) are not clearly the mission of other Federal programs, (iii) are leveraged with other funding sources, (iv) complement, but do not duplicate, other efforts, and (v) were developed through a collaborative, partnership process such as LaMPs or RAPs. We especially welcome projects which address environmental justice and those which have community-based support. Applicants should have demonstrated expertise. Applicants with existing GLNPO projects should be up-to-date on reporting and other requirements. GLNPO's preproposal evaluation will consider priorities associated with exotic species for geographic areas within the Great Lakes, particularly those of Lakewide Management Plans. However, as funding for this category is limited, emphasis will be placed on projects of Great Lakes Basin-wide applicability. Evaluations will also consider:

Contact: Marc Tuchman (312) 353-1369

Emerging Issues - $300,000

(*Planning Target - subject to change for various reasons, including Congressional and Agency action, such as development and approval of the Agency's annual operating plan.)

In order to better fulfill its mission under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement for the restoration and maintenance of the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem, GLNPO is seeking innovative Great Lakes environmental projects which deal with emerging issues of basin-wide strategic importance. Comments from participants in Great Lakes planning meetings and evaluations of the results of previous GLNPO funding processes demonstrate the continued importance of a solicitation of this sort. Prior to last year, important projects which did not fit neatly in the requested categories could not be systematically addressed. Applicants should note, however, that funding for this category is less certain than that for other categories. There is currently not a specific line item in GLNPO's budget for "Emerging Issues," but this priority is proposed to be funded using a Congressional earmark.

We expect that strategic projects in this area would:

We especially encourage projects which identify and propose solutions/mitigation for emerging issues (including economic issues) of Great Lakes Basin-wide applicability, particularly if they are being identified through the Lakewide Management Plans and geographic initiatives (such as the Remedial Action Plans for Areas of Concern).

Criteria. GLNPO seeks projects which (i) are action oriented, (ii) are not clearly the mission of other Federal programs, (iii) are leveraged with other funding sources, (iv) complement, but do not duplicate, other efforts, and (v) were developed through a collaborative, partnership process such as LaMPs or RAPs. We especially welcome projects which address environmental justice and those which have community-based support. Applicants should have demonstrated expertise. Applicants with existing GLNPO projects should be up-to-date on reporting and other requirements. Evaluations will also depend on the type of projects submitted, as well as:

Contacts: Paul Horvatin (312) 353-3612; Michael Russ (312) 886-4013

Appendix 3

Roadmap to Federal Funding Opportunities exit EPA

The Great Lakes Program brings together Federal, state, tribal, local, and non-governmental partners in an integrated, ecosystem approach to protect, maintain, and restore the chemical, biological, and physical integrity of the Great Lakes. The Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 and the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA) with Canada provide the basis for our international efforts to manage this shared resource. Additional responsibilities are defined in Section 118 of the Clean Water Act, Section 112 of the Clean Air Act Amendments, and the Great Lakes Critical Programs Act of 1990. The 1992 Great Lakes 5-Year Strategy, developed jointly by EPA and its multi-state, multi-Agency partners and built on the foundation of the GLWQA, provides the agenda for Great Lakes ecosystem management: reducing toxic substances; protecting and restoring important habitats; and protecting human/ecosystem species health.

Various USEPA and other Federal programs are involved in this effort. GLNPO provides this Roadmap to assist organizations and programs as they target their Great Lakes activities during program planning processes. Contacts can provide additional information about their programs. This is not a comprehensive list, identifying activities and funding for some of the key Federal organizations (USEPA, NRCS, USFWS, USACE, and FHWA) participating in the Great Lakes Program. Information regarding Federal funding opportunities for water quality programs at the National level can be found in the June, 1996 GAO report Water Quality A Catalog of Related Federal Programs (GAO/RCED-96-173). The GAO information is also available via GAO's World Wide Web Home Page (http://www.gao.gov/). The Catalog of Federal Funding Sources for Watershed Protection (http://www.epa.gov/OWOW/watershed/wacademy/fund.html) highlights Federal grants and loans that may be used at the local level to support watershed projects, and contains references to many of the other good publications and websites on funding and technical assistance. Information about Federal opportunities can also be found at http://www.nonprofit.gov/index.html . Applicants considering Foundation funding may be interested in information at http://fdncenter.org/ . Programs participating in the NOAA-funded Great Lakes Sea Grant Network may also provide helpful information. They can be reached at: http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/seagrant/.

On request, GLNPO would be pleased to include additional funding information in this "Roadmap".

 

USEPA

USEPA's role in the Great Lakes is to steer this effort and to provide timely technical support and assistance, coordinating not only with U.S. partners, but also with Canadian counterparts. Our Great Lakes efforts are thus organized in a nested structure. USEPA's Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) steers and coordinates activities at a Great Lakes Basin-wide level. Regional Teams and programs steer and coordinate activities focusing on Lakes Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior and their Areas of Concern, as well as other targeted geographic areas (including Niagara River, Northwest Indiana, Greater Chicago, Southeast Michigan, and Northeast Ohio). Coordination and integration of State, Tribal, and Federal environmental programs is intended to be accomplished through the development of annual Environmental Performance Partnership Agreements (EnPPAs). Specific projects can also be developed outside of the EnPPA structure.

The USEPA section of this Appendix includes information about the following programs:

GLNPO. GLNPO's annual Great Lakes Priorities and Funding Guidance (Great Lakes Funding Guidance) spells out GLNPO's role in the Great Lakes and identifies FY 1999-2000 funding opportunities. GLNPO is currently soliciting preproposals for projects in the areas of contaminated sediments, pollution prevention, assessment/indicators, habitat protection and restoration, exotic species, and emerging issues. Interested organizations should submit their Preproposals by no later than January 15, 1999 in order to be considered for the FY 1999 funding cycle. Additional information can be obtained at http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/fund/glf.html.

REGION 5 TEAMS. USEPA Region 5, covering Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin, includes media programs as well as Teams focused on particular topics and geographic areas. The Regional Teams serve leadership and coordinating roles to ensure that their functional priorities are addressed. In this role, they influence funding decisions of USEPA media programs, such as Air, Water, and Waste, as well as National Initiatives, such as Brownfields. Regional Teams may also be helpful in identifying sources of funding and in identifying priorities for LaMPs, RAPs, and other initiatives. The Regional Teams and Regional Team Managers having the most direct connection to Great Lakes issues are:

"Priority Approach" Teams

Priority "Geographic/Principal Place" Teams

Environmental Justice. The Agency has designated the pursuit of environmental justice one of its top priorities. As part of its commitment, the Headquarters Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ) created the Environmental Justice (EJ) Small Grants Program, the Community University Partnership (CUP) Grants Program, and the State and Tribal Environmental Justice (STEJ) Grants Program. The EJ Small Grants Program is intended to help community-based/grass-roots organizations, non-profit organizations and Tribal governments address environmental justice issues and concerns. The purpose of the CUP grants program is to facilitate partnerships between universities and communities/Tribal governments on EJ concerns with a primary emphasis on universities providing technical assistance to communities/Tribes. Due to the lack of funding the CUP program is not being offered in FY 1999. The STEJ Grants Program is intended to help States and Tribes effectively comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and provide for environmental justice in the development and implementation of their environmental programs. In FY 1998, EPA awarded $2.4 million in EJ small grants, $0 in CUP grants, and $500,000 in STEJ grants nationwide. The request for applications for the EJ Small Grants and STEJ Grants Programs for FY 1999 grants, is expected to be published in the Federal Register in mid-December 1998. Contacts for additional information are:

WATER. Region 5 Coastal Environmental Management (CEM) funds are used to continue implementation of Lakewide Management Plans (LaMPs), encourage broad public participation throughout the LaMP program, and support Remedial Action Plans (RAPs) in Areas of Concern. The Agency may use these funds: to enter into Cooperative Agreements with State, Tribal, and local governments and other non-for-profit organizations; to enter into Interagency Agreements (IAGs) with other Federal agencies; and to contract for necessary services.

Specific projects and personnel resources to be supported with CEM funds are identified by the Region 5 teams for Lakes Michigan, Erie, and Superior and the teams for smaller geographic areas bordering the lakes. The Region's Senior Leadership Team makes final project selection decisions. With the Regional Teams identifying projects, there is no general solicitation of proposals for CEM funding.

Cooperative Agreements, IAGs and contracts funded with CEM are managed by the Water Division's State and Tribal Programs Branch (STPB). The STPB also administers grants to States, Tribes, and local planning agencies under various other sections of the Clean Water Act. Individuals interested in more information regarding CEM funds may call Matt Didier (312) 886-6711.

Nonpoint Source Pollution is the largest source of water quality problems facing the United States today. Nonpoint source pollution occurs when rainfall, snowmelt, or irrigation runs over land or through the ground, picks up pollutants, and deposits them into rivers, lakes, or coastal waters or introduces them into ground water. Nonpoint source pollutants include nutrients, soils, pesticides, pathogens, salts, oil, grease, toxic chemicals, and heavy metals. Approximately forty percent of surveyed rivers, lakes, and estuaries are not clean enough to meet basic uses (fishing, swimming).

Clean Water Act Section 319 addresses this water quality problem in a three stage process: (i) conduct statewide assessments of the State's (Tribe's) waters to identify those that are impaired or threatened because of nonpoint sources; (ii) develop nonpoint source management programs to address the identified impaired or threatened waters; and (iii) award funds to States and Tribes to implement EPA approved nonpoint source management programs.

States manages their own nonpoint source programs, including the solicitation of proposals from local governmental and nongovernmental organizations to develop and implement water quality management plans. These plans identify nonpoint sources of pollution and recommend nonpoint source controls. States submit their selected proposals to EPA and, following review and comment, EPA awards Section 319 funds. Awards are made using an allocation formula based upon population, cropland acreage, critical aquatic habitats, pasture and rangeland acreage, forest harvest acreage, wellhead protection areas, mining, and pesticide use. Each State or Tribe is required to provide a 40-percent nonfederal match. The amount of 319 funding available in FY 1999 has been increased to $200 million. The incremental 319 funds, which were proposed as part of the Clean Water Action Plan (CWAP), are to be targeted toward those watersheds in need of restoration, as defined by each State's Unified Watershed Assessment, which was called for in CWAP. Contacts: Ernesto Lopez (312) 886-3017; Karen Bell (312) 353-8640; and Tom Davenport (312) 886-0209.

Water Pollution Control - State and Interstate Program Support. Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 106, 40 CFR 31, 35, Subpart 35.250-265 provides support for administration of programs for the prevention, reduction and control of pollution to ground and surface waters. Eligible are the States, Interstate, certain Tribal Water Pollution Control Agencies, U.S. Territories. Assistance period is one (1) year. Required expenditure of at least the amount spent in 1971 (the minimum level of effort). A five percent match is required for Tribes. The type of assistance is a formula grant based on the extent of water pollution problems. For Tribes, HQ allocates funds to the Region based on: (1) a base amount (currently $60,000) for each Tribe eligible for Section 106 funding under the CWA; and (2) a variable distribution formula considering Tribal water resources (50 percent), population (25 percent), and land base (25 percent). The FY 1999 estimated budget is $20,645,766. Contacts: Headquarters - Carol Crow (202) 260-6742; Regional - Gene Wojcik (312) 886-0174;

The Region 5 Water Division also administers grants to States, Tribes, and local planning agencies under Sections 104 and 604(b) of the Clean Water Act. At this time, none of these funding sources are anticipated to be directly available to other entities. Contact Mary Pat Tyson (312) 886-3006 for additional information.

Region 3 Great Lakes priorities pertain to: Presque Isle Bay (investigation of sediment remediation, analyzing additional RAP data to complete areal extent of use impairment and viable remediation techniques, Stage II RAP preparation, and initiating appropriate remedial actions); Lake Erie LaMP development (estimating/reporting critical pollutant loadings and completing/implementing lake and tributary monitoring plans); Phosphorus Reduction Plan implementation; and the Great Lakes Water Quality Guidance (commitment to adopting regulations). Contact Charles Sapp (215) 814-2311 for additional information.

REGION 2. Great Lakes priorities are set according to the implementation needs of the Lake Ontario LaMP, Niagara River Toxics Management Plan (NRTMP), and New York State RAPs. The Region and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation work together (along with Canadian agencies) to identify ecological and human health problems in the Great Lakes, target cross-media pollutants responsible for the problems, and act to reduce sources of those pollutants. Contact: Barbara Spinweber (212) 637-3848 or Seth Ausubel (212) 637-3793 for additional information.

AIR PROGRAM. USEPA's Office of Air and Radiation conducts the Great Waters Program, an integrated media program charged with examining deposition of air pollutants to the Great Lakes, Chesapeake Bay, Lake Champlain, and coastal waters. This program includes monitoring, modeling, emission inventories, effects assessment, policy development, and other subjects. While most work is conducted under routine mechanisms, the Great Waters program is open to leveraging complementary projects with States coordinating with or through the Regions or GLNPO.

USEPA has designated the Great Lakes a national program for funding under §105 of the Clean Air Act. Efforts will continue to focus on Lake Michigan. Approximately $1.3 million should be available for air toxics source identification and inventory work; process characterization studies; dispersion, deposition, and transport modeling; and air toxics monitoring. The core group for the Great Waters Study (which includes State and Federal representatives) will determine how this funding will be utilized to meet mutual objectives. Proposals are not being solicited at this time. USEPA contacts for additional information are: Region 5 - Carlton Nash (312) 886-6030); Region 2 - Ron Borsellino (212) 637-3705); and HQ - Dale Evarts (919) 541-5535).

SUPERFUND PROGRAM. Superfund's major role in the Great Lakes may potentially be in their ability to obtain contaminated sediment clean-ups. CERCLA provides one of the most comprehensive authorities available to USEPA to obtain sediment clean-up, reimbursement of USEPA clean-up costs, and compensation to natural resource trustees for damages to natural resources affected by contaminated sediments. Under CERCLA, USEPA may initiate response actions or compel potentially responsible parties to undertake clean-up of contaminated sediment sites. Remedial efforts have proven successful utilizing both the removal and remedial CERCLA authorities at priority contaminated sediment sites. In addition, CERCLA may provide the foundation for partnership approaches leading to remedial efforts.

Superfund may also provide technical support in the form of site assessments for potential removal efforts, human health and ecological risk assessment, support to innovative technological development through the Superfund Innovative Technologies Evaluation Program, and technical expertise in development of cost estimates and design development.

Additional information about the USEPA Region 5 Superfund program is available at http://www.epa.gov/R5Super/ or from James Hahnenberg (312) 353-4213 or Kenneth Klewin (312) 886-4794.

Brownfields. The goal of USEPA's Brownfields Initiative is to empower states, communities, and other stakeholders in economic redevelopment to work together in a timely manner to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfields. Brownfields are abandoned, idled, or under-utilized industrial and commercial facilities where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination. Nationally, support will be available in FY 1999-2000 for brownfields pilots to test redevelopment models, direct special efforts toward removing regulatory barriers without sacrificing protectiveness, and facilitate coordinated environmental cleanup efforts at the Federal, State and local levels. Over 200 grants have been awarded and 100 or more pilots are anticipated to be funded nationally in FY'99. Each pilot can be for up to $200,000 over a two year period. The program has a "rolling submission schedule" with application deadlines of December 11, 1998 and March 22, 1999. Applications are reviewed and ranked by representatives from EPA and other Federal Agencies. A selection committee reviews all applications and selects finalists. EPA upper management makes final selections. Additional information, including brownfields funding sources, can be found at: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields. Interested applicants should contact their Regional Brownfields Coordinators. The Coordinator can help with development of an applicant's Brownfields program, thus strengthening the application and making it more competitive. Regional Coordinators are:

REGIONAL RCRA PROGRAM. The amount of §3011 funding available to each State has thus far been based on the number of hazardous waste Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facilities in that State which were in the Great Lakes Basin. Great Lakes RCRA resources under §3011 ($2,058000 through Region 5, $90,000 through Region 3, and $390,000 through Region 2) was targeted for the States in FY 1998. Updated information can be obtained from the contacts identified below.

RCRA criteria are expected to require that funding for RCRA hazardous waste activities to improve the environmental quality of the Great Lakes Basin would need to be matched by the State, subject to the same matching provisions as the rest of the §3011 State grants. These grants go to the State Environmental Agency authorized for the RCRA hazardous waste program. Highest priority would be given to accelerating work at sites having an impact or potential impact on the Great Lakes ecosystem, especially where toxic substances may be impacting the waters of the Lakes or tributaries. Activities could include:

Great Lakes RCRA §3011 projects would be incorporated into a State's hazardous waste workplan or Environmental Performance Partnership Agreement. USEPA contacts for additional information are:

PESTICIDES/TOXIC SUBSTANCES. USEPA's Pesticides/Toxic Substances Programs have primary responsibility for programs under TSCA, FIFRA, and EPCRA §313, which provide for regulation of chemicals (including bioaccumulative chemicals of concern such as PCBs and certain pesticides) and of annual reporting by industry of toxic releases and pesticide production. Principal activities targeted to the Great Lakes which will continue in FY 1998 include: PCB equipment phasedown, waste pesticide collections, and agricultural clean sweeps. Other activities include performing inspections or outreach for the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI), promoting the reduced use of pesticides, including pollution prevention supplemental environmental projects (SEPs) in our enforcement actions, and supporting lead-based paint (certification and accreditation) activities. USEPA contacts for additional information are:

 

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION. The 1990 National Environmental Education Act (NEEA) gives USEPA authority to issue grants to stimulate environmental education by supporting projects to design, demonstrate, or disseminate practices, methods, or technologies related to environmental education or training. Tribal or local education agencies, colleges or universities, state education or environmental agencies, nonprofit organization or noncommercial educational broadcasting entities are eligible to compete for funding under this national program by submitting pre-applications. Applicants requesting less than $25,000 apply and compete in EPA's Regional offices; applicants requesting between $25,000 and $250,000 apply and compete at EPA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Most grants are awarded by the Region for $5,000 or less.

In the 1998 competition, EPA Headquarters awarded more than $1 million and each Region awarded $190,000. Following rigorous evaluation processes involving internal and external reviewers, Regions 2 and 5 used their FY 1998 NEEA funds to grant approximately 25 awards a piece. Applications are judged against the criteria published in the annual Request for Proposal (RFP) for environmental education grants. The FY 1999 RFP was published in the Federal Register on August 25, 1998. Proposals were accepted until November 16th and funding decisions will be made in the Spring of 1999. The target date for publishing the RFP for the 1999-2000 environmental education grants program in the Federal Register is late Summer/early Fall 1999. If you would like to receive a RFP directly, please contact the environmental education coordinator in your Region, or call (202) 260-8619 to be added to EPA's national mailing list.

GLNPO does not separately solicit environmental education projects; therefore, applicants who propose education projects with a Great Lakes focus are encouraged to submit and compete in the NEEA program.

USEPA contacts for additional information are:

GREAT LAKES RESEARCH. The US/Canadian Great Lakes research strategy guides USEPA Great Lakes research through its efforts to use an ecosystem focus on research activities. These activities support a risk-based approach geared to the identification and targeting of problems for initial emphasis. In addition, USEPA's Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP) plays a role in developing approaches and techniques for monitoring status and trends as well as helping to set priorities. The following areas are currently being emphasized by USEPA's inhouse research program:

For additional information on USEPA's inhouse research program, please contact Steven Bradbury (218) 529-5025.

Science to Achieve Results (STAR). The Office of Research and Development's extramural "STAR" program funds competitive research grants, centers of excellence, and fellowships. Requests for proposals are solicited from academic and not-for-profit institutions located in the U.S. and state or local governments. In FY 1998 the budget for STAR was approximately $108 million. STAR supports research in areas such as endocrine disruptors, human health risk assessment, ecological indicators, air particulates, drinking water, and water and watersheds, all relevant to the needs of the Great Lakes region. For more information about funding opportunities please check http://es.epa.gov/ncerqa/. A searchable database of research projects also can be accessed from this site.

 

Other Federal Agencies

NRCS

Natural Resource Programs of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offer landowners financial, technical, and educational assistance to implement conservation practices on privately owned land. Using this help, farmers and ranchers apply practices that reduce soil erosion, improve water quality, and enhance forest land, wetlands, grazing lands, and wildlife habitat. Incentives offered by USDA promote sustainable agricultural practices, which protect and conserve valuable farmland for future generations. USDA assistance also helps individuals and communities restore natural resources after floods, fires, or other natural disasters. Certain programs give the Great Lakes Basin a high priority when ranking requests for funding. These are noted with a (GLB) after the title. The following are brief overviews of cost-share programs managed by USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and Forest Service. For more details, contact your local USDA Service Center.

Conservation Reserve Program (Great Lakes Basin). The Conservation Reserve Program reduces soil erosion, protects the Nation's ability to produce food and fiber, reduces sedimentation in streams and lakes, improves water quality, establishes wildlife habitat, and enhances forest and wetland resources. It encourages farmers to convert highly erodible cropland or other environmentally sensitive acreage to vegetative cover, such as tame or native grasses, wildlife plantings, trees, filter strips, or riparian buffers. Farmers receive an annual rental payment for the term of the multi-year contract. Cost sharing is provided to establish the vegetative cover practices.

Emergency Conservation Program. The Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) provides financial assistance to farmers and ranchers for the restoration of farmlands on which normal farming operations have been impeded by natural disasters. ECP. also helps with funds for carrying out emergency water conservation measures during periods of severe drought. Emergency conservation assistance is available for removing debris and restoring permanent fences, terraces, diversions, irrigation systems, and other conservation installations. Conservation problems that existed before a disaster are not eligible.

Emergency Watershed Protection Program. The Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program is designed to reduce threats to life and property in the wake of natural disasters. It provides technical and cost sharing assistance. Assistance includes both removing and establishing vegetative cover; gully control, installing streambank protection devices; removing debris and sediment; and stabilizing levees, channels, and gullies. In subsequent storms, EWP projects protect homes, businesses, highways, and public facilities from further damage. The Secretary of Agriculture may purchase floodplain easements under EWP.

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (Great Lakes Basin). The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) works primarily in locally identified conservation priority areas where there are significant problems with natural resources. High priority is given to areas where State or local governments offer financial, technical, or educational assistance, and to areas where agricultural improvements will help meet water quality objectives. Activities must be carried out according to a conservation plan. EQIP offers contracts that provide incentive payments and cost sharing for conservation practices, such as manure management systems, pest management, erosion control, and other practices to improve and maintain the health of natural resources.

Farmland Protection Program. The Farmland Protection Program provides funds to help purchase development rights to keep productive farmland in use. Working through existing programs, USDA joins with State, tribal, or local governments to acquire conservation easements or other interests from landowners. USDA provides up to 50 percent of the costs of purchasing the easements. To qualify, farmland must: be part of a pending offer from a State, tribe, or local farmland protection program; be privately owned; have a conservation plan; be large enough to sustain agricultural production; be accessible to markets for what the land produces; have adequate infrastructure and agricultural support services; and have surrounding parcels of land that can support long-term agricultural production.

Forestry Incentives Program. The Forestry Incentives Program (FIP) supports good forest management practices on privately owned, nonindustrial forest lands nationwide. FIP is designed to benefit the environment while meeting future demands for wood products. Eligible practices are tree planting, timber stand improvement, site preparation for natural regeneration, and other related activities. FIP is available in counties designated by a Forest Service survey of eligible private timber acreage.

Small Watershed Program. The Small Watershed Program works through local government sponsors and helps participants solve natural resource and related economic problems on a watershed basis. Projects include watershed protection, flood prevention, erosion and sediment control, water supply, water quality, fish and wildlife habitat enhancement, wetlands creation and restoration, and public recreation in watersheds of 250,000 or fewer acres. Both technical and financial assistance are available.

Stewardship Incentive Program. The Stewardship Incentive Program provides technical and financial assistance to encourage nonindustrial private forest landowners to keep their lands and natural resources productive and healthy. Qualifying land includes rural lands with existing tree cover or land suitable for growing trees and which is owned by a private individual, group, association, corporation, Indian tribe, or other legal private entity. Eligible landowners must have an approved Forest Stewardship Plan and own 1,000 or fewer acres of qualifying land. Authorizations may be obtained for exceptions of up to 5,000 acres.

Wetlands Reserve Program (Great Lakes Flyway). The Wetlands Reserve Program is a voluntary program to restore wetlands. Participating landowners can establish conservation easements of either permanent or 30-year duration or can enter into restoration cost-share agreements where no easement is involved. In exchange for establishing a permanent easement, the landowner receives payment up to the agricultural value of the land and 100 percent of the restoration costs for restoring the wetland. The 30-year easement payment is 75 percent of what would be provided for a permanent easement on the same site and 75 percent of the restoration cost. The voluntary agreements are for a minimum 10-year duration and provide for 75 percent of the cost of restoring the involved wetlands. Easements set limits on how the lands may be used in the future. Restoration cost-share agreements establish wetland protection and restoration as the primary land use for the duration of the agreement. In all instances, landowners continue to control access to their land.

Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (State-set Priority Areas) The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program provides financial incentives to develop habitat for fish and wildlife on private lands. Participants agree to implement a wildlife habitat development plan and USDA agrees to provide cost-share assistance for the initial implementation of wildlife habitat development practices. USDA and program participants enter into a cost-share agreement for wildlife habitat development. This agreement generally lasts a minimum of 5 years from the date that the contract is signed.

For Additional Information:

Contact Roger Nanney, NRCS Liaison to the GLNPO (312) 353-7979 or Percy Magee, Great Lakes Water Quality Coordinator (419) 245-2804. Visit the NRCS web site http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/exit EPA.

U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is actively involved in addressing the protection, restoration, and enhancement of fish and wildlife resources throughout the Great Lakes Basin.

One part of this effort is the National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) - Great Lakes Status and Trends Study. FWS has recognized the Great Lakes Watershed as a priority resource area and has begun to analyze wetland changes that help define linkages among aquatic, wetland, and upland landscape systems. Land-based GIS coverages are being integrated and analyzed to identify important habitat types and interactions. FWS is monitoring urban and rural growth patterns, agriculture and silviculture, and their interactions to as an aide to land management decisions and actions. NWI opportunities include:

Additional NWI information is available from Kim Santos (813) 570-5428 or the National Wetlands Inventory Internet home page (http://www.nwi.fws.gov/)exit EPA.

FWS funding for States and Tribes includes:

Funding for wetland habitat projects is also available to all individuals and organizations through the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA). Grants are awarded to projects which: 1) support the objectives of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan; 2) support wetland habitat diversity; and 3) maintain or improve numbers and distributions of migratory birds. The NAWCA grants program is open to any individual, agency or group interested in wetland and associated upland habitat protection, restoration and enhancement activities. Proposals for small grants (up to $50,000) are solicited once annually, with a deadline of the first Friday in December. Proposals for large grants ($50,000 to $1 million) are solicited twice annually, with deadlines of the first Fridays in April and August. A minimum of a 1:1 non-federal dollar match is mandatory. For more information, contact Barbara Pardo in the Upper Miss./Great Lakes Joint Venture Office at (612) 713-5480.

For general information about FWS and its Great Lakes activities, contact Bob Krska (612-713-5103) or the FWS/GLNPO Liaison Rich Greenwood (312-886-3853), or visit the FWS home pages on the Internet:

U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS exit EPA

The Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) has a number of missions within the Great Lakes basin, including navigation, flood control, erosion protection, and environmental protection and restoration. The Great Lakes & Ohio River Division is responsible for most Corps activities within the watersheds of the Great Lakes and the Ohio River. Under this Division are three district offices responsible for implementing Corps missions in the Great Lakes basin. These districts are located in Buffalo, Detroit, and Chicago. For more information about the Corps, its organization and missions, visit the Corps home page at: http://www.usace.army.mil/Pages/Default.aspx.

Navigation. Navigation is perhaps the most recognizable Corps mission in the Great Lakes. There are 137 Federal navigation projects in the basin, of which approximately 60 are commercial harbors and channels. Corps' navigation activities include the operation of locks, maintenance of breakwaters, and dredging silt from channels to maintain safe depths. The Corps also operates visitors centers at the Duluth Harbor and Soo Locks.

A number of the Federal harbors are within designated AOCs, and have deposits of contaminated sediments both inside and outside the navigation channel. In such locations, the interests of navigation and the RAP may share a common need for a facility to manage contaminated sediments. At the Indiana Harbor and Ashtabula River/Harbor, the Corps is working in conjunction with other agencies to plan multi-purpose disposal facilities for contaminated sediments. Corps districts are planning to conduct sampling and testing of sediments from approximately 20 Great Lakes harbors in FY 1999 in relation to future dredging and disposal activities. States and RAP groups have "piggy backed" onto Corps sediment sampling to reduce sampling costs. States and RAP/LaMP groups wanting to collaborate with Corps navigation activities should contact Scott Vowinkel at (312) 353-6373.

Regulatory Program. The preservation and protection of aquatic resources and wetlands are an essential part of the Corps' regulatory mission. The Corps, in cooperation with the USEPA, manages the dredge and fill permit program under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act. Permitting requires the balancing of economic development and environmental protection. To support this mission, the Corps and EPA have developed a proactive tool for the preservation of aquatic resources. This tool is the advanced identification and classification of wetlands in areas experiencing economic development pressures. The Corps has also delegated parts of the regulatory decision making to State and county governments through programmatic general permits. States and RAP/LaMP groups wanting to collaborate with the Corps regulatory program should contact Rodney Woods at (513) 684-6212.

WRDA PROGRAMS and FUNDING. The Corps has a number of programs to restore the environment. Some of these programs, authorized under recent Water Resources Development Acts (WRDA), may be applied at Great Lakes sites, or in conjunction with Remedial Action Plans. These programs are not grants, but are cost-shared support provided to States, local governments, and Indian tribes by the Corps or its contractors for planning, design, and/or construction. Brief descriptions are provided below. To find out more about the application of these, and other Corps environmental programs in the Great Lakes, contact Jan Miller of the Corps' Great Lakes Regional Office in Chicago at (312) 353-6354.

Great Lakes RAPs. (Section 401 of WRDA 1990, as amended) This program is specifically for Great Lakes Remedial Action Plans (RAPs). Under this authority, the Corps can provide technical support to the development and implementation of Great Lakes RAPs. This support may include data collection, mapping, GIS work, analysis of remediation options, cost estimating, design, public outreach, and real estate support. This support program has been used by RAPs at the Ashtabula River (Ohio), Grand Calumet River (Indiana), Waukegan Harbor (Illinois), and Detroit River (Michigan). The Federal/Non-Federal cost share is 50/50, however, the non-Federal share may include in-kind services. The FY 1999 appropriation is $500,000.

Planning Assistance to States. (Section 22 of WRDA 1974, as amended) The Corps can support States (and Indian tribes) in comprehensive planning for the development, utilization, and conservation of water and related land resources. Under this authority, the Corps has developed a GIS system for mapping natural resources on tribal lands and has conducted environmental investigations of brownfield sites for a city. The Federal/Non-Federal cost share is 50/50. The FY 1999 appropriation (nationwide) is $6,300,000.

Project Modifications of Improvement of Environment. (Section 1135 of WRDA 1986, as amended) This authority can be used to restore habitat and improve water quality that has been impacted by existing Corps projects (navigation structures, locks and dams, reservoirs, etc.). A sea lamprey trap and barrier was constructed at the Sault Ste. Marie locks under this authority. Non-governmental, non-profit groups may also sponsor projects under this authority. The Federal/Non-Federal cost share is 75/25. The FY 1999 appropriation (nationwide) is $11,000,000.

Beneficial Use of Dredged Material. (Section 204 of WRDA 92, as amended) This authority can be used to protect, restore, and create aquatic habitat, including wetlands, in connection with dredging of Federal harbors and channels. Projects under study include the development of a wetland habitat in Duluth Harbor and the restoration of an island chain in Green Bay. The Federal/Non-Federal cost share is 75/25, and only the incremental increase in costs to dredged material management is cost-shared. The FY 1999 appropriation (nationwide) is $350,000.

Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration. (Section 206 of WRDA 96) This authority can be used to construct projects for the restoration and protection of aquatic ecosystems without any "connection" to an existing Corps project. The Federal/Non-Federal cost share is 65/35. The FY 1999 appropriation is $11,200,000, and includes $1 million for habitat restoration at Koontz Lake in Indiana.

Great Lakes Tributaries Sediment Transport Modeling. (Section 516(e) of WRDA 1996) This authority directs the Corps to develop sediment transport models for all Great Lakes tributaries which discharge to a Federal navigation project or AOC. The models can be used to identify areas within watersheds where soil conservation and non-point source pollution control would have the greatest impacts. In cooperation with Great Lakes states, the Corps has prioritized tributaries for model development, and initiated model development at the Maumee River (Ohio), Nemadji River (Minnesota) and Saginaw River (Michigan). Models are being developed at 100% Federal cost, although applications and studies with the models could be conducted under the Planning Assistance to States or RAP support programs discussed above. The FY 1999 appropriation for this program is $500,000.

Environmental Dredging. (Section 312 of WRDA 1990, as amended) Under this authority, the Corps, in consultation with the USEPA, can remove contaminated sediments outside the boundaries of Federal navigation channels. Feasibility investigations for utilizing this authority are underway at the Ashtabula River (Ohio), Buffalo River (New York) and Mahoning River (Ohio). Dredging is cost shared 50/50 (Federal/Non-Federal), while disposal of contaminated sediments is entirely a Non-Federal responsibility.

Interagency & International Support. (Section 234 of WRDA 1996) This authority enables the Corps to participate with Federal or international organizations to address problems of national significance related to water resources, infrastructure development, and environmental protection. No specific cost sharing is required. The FY 1999 appropriation is $300,000.

Expedited Reconnaissance Study. (Section 905(b) of WRDA 1986) Under this authority, the Corps can conduct a Reconnaissance Study of a wide range of potential water resources projects at an accelerated schedule. Potential projects may include navigation, flood damage reduction, ecosystem restoration, shoreline or streambank protection, and water quality enhancement. Completed studies have included ecosystem restoration and port/industrial development with recreational/environmental restoration. Expedited Reconnaissance Studies are conducted at full-Federal cost, not to exceed $100,000.

FUSRAP. In the fall of 1997 the Corps was assigned the Formally Utilized Sites Remedial Action Plan (FUSRAP) Program. FUSRAP involves the remediation of hazardous waste and low-level radioactive contamination at industrial sites that supported the nation's early nuclear program. Eight of the 22 sites remaining for remedial action are in the Great Lakes basin, 6 in New York and 2 in Ohio. The FY 1999 program is $140 million. Timothy Byrnes (716-879-4276) of the Buffalo District is the Program Manager for the Great Lakes sites.

FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) offers State Departments of Transportation (DOTs) the financial, technical, and educational assistance to implement the construction of transportation facilities (highways) within their State. Participating funds (usually at an 80% ratio) are provided to the State DOTs, and they administer the roadway construction and other programs specified by the FHWA. The latest Highway Act, Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), contains numerous sections that may be of interest to State and local agencies working to protect and enhance the Great Lakes ecosystem.

Surface Transportation Program. (TEA-21, Sec. 1108) The law provides for allowing States to fund environmental restoration and pollution abatement as part of 4R (resurface, restoration, reconstruction, rehabilitation) projects, so that existing or previous water pollution or environmental degradation from transportation facilities can be corrected. Expenditure of funds for any such environmental restoration or pollution abatement shall not exceed 20% of the total cost of the 4R project.

Transportation Enhancements. (TEA-21, Sec. 1108) The list of activities eligible for transportation enhancement funds is expanded, but all projects must relate to surface transportation. Newly eligible are safety education activities for pedestrians and bicyclists, establishment of transportation museums, and projects to reduce vehicle-caused wildlife mortality. Provision of tourist and welcome center facilities is specifically included under the already eligible activity "scenic or historic highway programs." The Act encourages the States to enter into agreements with qualified youth organizations to perform transportation enhancement activities.

Pedestrian Walkways, Bicycle Transportation, and Recreational Trails. (TEA-21, Sec. 1202 & 1112) The eligibility of National Highway System funds is broadened to include pedestrian walkways, and safety and educational activities are now eligible for Transportation Enhancement funds. A total of $270 million in contract authority is authorized for FY's 1998-2003 to provide and maintain recreational trails. States must establish a State recreational trails advisory committee. Soft match provisions are allowed, including soft matches from Public agencies.

National Scenic Byways. (TEA-21, Sec. 1219) The Act authorizes a total of $148 million for technical assistance and grants to States for the purposes of developing scenic byway programs and undertaking related projects along roads designated as National Scenic Byways, All-American Roads, or as State Scenic Byways.

Mitigation Banking. (TEA-21, Sec.1106 &1108) Continues the commitment to wetland mitigation banking efforts and establishes the eligibility for funding upland and other habitat mitigation banks, contributions to statewide and regional efforts for conservation, restoration, and enhancement, and development of conservation and mitigation plans. When a State wants to use a mitigation bank, it must give preference to using a bank within the "service area" (watershed, drainage area, etc.) of the project.

All of the above programs are administered by the individual State DOTs, and they should be contacted about project funding and requirements for individual project submissions. The following FHWA Division Office representatives are available to help you contact the appropriate State representative for additional information on a specific program:

Additional information on FHWA programs and TEA-21 may be obtained at: www.fhwa.dot.gov exit EPAor from Paul Tufts (708-283-3540/ paul.tufts@fhwa.dot.gov) FHWA Midwestern Resource Center; 19900 Governors Dr. Olympia Fields, IL 60461

GLNPO Preproposal Submission System (PSS2) - Getting Started

This disk contains the Preproposal Submission System (PSS2) for paperless submission of GLNPO Preproposals. PSS2 can also be downloaded from http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/fund/1999/99pss.html. PSS2 is intended to be used with the criteria and other information contained in this Great Lakes Funding Guidance.

PSS2 requires Windows 3.x or better and a screen display of at least 800x600x16 colors (256 colors is preferred). Windows 3.x supplies a display driver called SuperVGA which is 800x600x16 and can be installed using the Windows "SETUP.EXE" program.

To install and run PSS2:

  1. (i) Run the program SETUP.EXE (a self-extracting archive file) by double-clicking on it in File Manager (Windows 3.x) or Windows Explorer (Windows 95/98) or (ii) run the program SETUP.EXE from the "Run" command from Program Manager (Windows 3.x) or the "Run" command from the "Start" Button (Windows 95/98).
  2. Click "OK," then wait. The program will create a new subdirectory (C:\PSS2) and install itself there.
  3. When the self-extraction is done, the program takes you directly to the README.WRI file. This file explains how to use the PSS2 program and how to submit Preproposals.
  4. Use a file manager to go to "C:\PSS2" and double-click on "PSS2.EXE". After the program starts (there may be a short delay), click on the menu item "Edit-Preproposals." This will allow you to enter Preproposals and to view Preproposals already entered.

See the READ.WRI file in C:\PSS2 for further detailed instructions on using PSS2.

1. Targets are subject to change for various reasons, including Congressional and Agency action, such as development and approval of the Agency's annual operating plan..

 

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