Region 8
Serving Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming and 27 Tribal Nations
FY 2009 Wetland Program Development Grant (WPDG)
FY 2009 Wetland Program Development Grant (WPDG)
EPA Region 8 is soliciting proposals for the FY09 Wetland Program Development Grant (WPDG) competition. The WPDG was initiated in FY90 to provide applicants an opportunity to carry out projects to develop and refine comprehensive wetland programs. The authority for this grant program is Section 104(b)(3) of the Clean Water Act (CWA), which restricts the use of these grant funds to improving wetland programs by conducting or promoting the coordination and acceleration of research, investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys, and studies relating to the causes, effects, extent, prevention, reduction, and elimination of water pollution.The Region 8 Wetland Program Development Grant RFP is open to States, Tribes, local governments, interstate agencies, and tribal consortia. This RFP encourages full and open competition by these applicants and does not give unfair bias to certain eligible applicants over another.
Proposals for the 2009 WPDG are due on June 26, 2009. Proposals must be received by the Region by close of business June 26, 2009, or if submitting your proposal via e-mail, 5:00 pm MDT June 26, 2009. Proposals received after these times will not be considered. We encourage applicants to pay very close attention to the eligibility criteria in order for their proposals to be considered.
WPDG Questions and Answers
Question from Otto Stein, Montana State University:My focus is primarily on the use of treatment wetlands (TWs, those built specifically for the purpose of remediating contaminated water) but many of the proposed "outputs" and "outcomes" would seem to be applicable to the 2006-2011 strategic plan if such wetlands could be considered as applicable. The ultimate goal (and primary outcome) would be to develop design standards and/or guidelines for the use of such wetlands in cold regions, specifically the Rocky Mts. and northern Great Plains (pretty much Region 8).
My research group has been focused on cold-climate applicability of these systems for over 10 years and it is time to take these results from the lab to the field. In addition, new data has demonstrated the use of this technology in similar climates of Northern and Eastern Europe (and in a few cases Canada) but public and regulatory perception in the US is that TWs are a warm weather-applicable technology (note that the 2001 EPA document on TWs is woefully out of date). I propose to construct a demonstration TW system at a Montana municipal POTW (say Bozeman), develop and implement a monitoring plan, and disseminate that information to a wide audience, but specifically municipalities, tribes, and state regulatory agencies in the region (an output). This green technology is certainly a cost effective alternative to traditional treatment alternatives and the newest designs indicate performance expectations are similar to energy intensive municipal systems. Scaling is such that it would likely be the preferred alternative to most small municipalities in Region 8 and a viable alternative for even the largest cities in the Montana, the Dakotas and Wyoming. It also has obvious applications to the treatment of non-point pollution sources, and regardless of design intent, offers ancillary wildlife and habitat benefits (which would be documented). The monitoring plan would be intensive and fundamental in nature, therefore would also shed light on the pollution abatement potential and mechanisms of any wetland, whether that be a treatment, constructed compensatory, or natural wetland (Documents designed for the general populace often tout wetlands as "nature's kidneys" but the potential and mechanisms involved still require additional quantification).
So the simple question to you is whether this type of project might fit within the current WPGD RFP. I think it could be tailored to meet the required objectives/outcomes, but is clearly not right down the middle of developing plans for preserving natural wetlands and/or developing criteria for compensatory wetlands.
Answer:
According to the RFP, "Demonstrations must involve new or experimental technologies, methods, or approaches and it is encouraged that the result of the project will be disseminated so that others can benefit from the knowledge gained in the demonstration project." Treatment wetlands are typically not considered a new or experimental technology. If you submit a proposal for the further study and demonstration of treatment wetlands, you must show how the treatment wetlands are new or experimental.
Question from Bill Carlson, City of Vail, Colorado:
My question regarding the Wetland Program Development Grant is can we include attachments such as Estimated Project Schedule, and Cost Spread Sheet?
Answer:
According to the RFP page 19 - 21, the project narrative must contain a milestone schedule and budget narrative. The budget narrative must provide a detailed budget and estimated funding amounts for each workplan component/task. Information on the schedule and budget beyond what is required to be included in the narrative, can be provided as an attachment. Please keep in mind that these are proposals at this stage, EPA may request development of a final workplan, which may include more detailed budgets and milestones.