Region 8
Special Appropriation Act Projects (SAAP)
What are Special Appropriation Act Project grants?
Special appropriations grants fund special projects that are specifically identified in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) appropriation. The recipient and amount of each grant is identified by Congress. These special projects implement water infrastructure improvements.
How do I receive an appropriation?
Congress must identify your community to receive an appropriation.
Once Congress identifies my community to receive an appropriation, how do I receive a special appropriations grant?
- EPA will notify you of the appropriation to your community and will direct you how to apply for your grant.
- The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires an environmental review to be completed for special appropriation projects. This must be completed before a grant is awarded. Current NEPA documents can be accessed on the Region 8 NEPA website. An application package must also be completed, including filling out an application form and creating a project workplan.
- After application review, EPA will mail the grant award to your community. After you sign the award, you may begin work!
What project costs are eligible for funding?
Eligible costs of a special appropriations project may include planning, design, and construction to the extent that they are reasonable to obtain the project plan objectives. Recipients will prepare a plan that describes how the environmental or public health objectives will be achieved. Although voluntary, the EPA encourages grant recipients to consider sustainability as a key element in the design, construction, and operation of their water infrastructure projects. Additional information can be found on the EPA Water Infrastructure Web site.
How does EPA administer special appropriations grants?
In administering special appropriations grants, EPA is accountable for complying with multiple federal laws and executive orders, such as the National Environmental Policy Act, and the general EPA grant regulations found in the Code of Federal Regulations at title 40, parts 30 and 31. Meeting these regulations requires documentation and paperwork. Grantees are strongly encouraged to communicate with EPA Region 8 regarding these requirements. The project officer and the grants management office are available to assist you in all phases of the grant process from beginning to end.
Do special appropriations grants require matching funds?
Special appropriations grants require the grant recipient to provide a cost share of 45% of the allocated grant amount. This match must be assured before EPA can award the grant. Clean Water & Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) loans may be used to meet the match, provided that they are non-Federal and non-State match share of the SRF funds. Once the grant has been awarded, funds are dispersed as reimbursements based on costs incurred.
Who administers the grant?
Once the grant has been awarded, each of the states in Region 8 is responsible for post-award management. EPA's FY 2001 Appropriations Act (P. L. 106-377) (PDF) included a provision stating that the Administrator may use up to three percent of the amount appropriated for each earmark to fund State, Corps of Engineer or contractor support for the management and oversight of the special projects.
Recent Guidelines and Project Listings: (note: all of the links below are PDF files; about PDF)
FY 2010
FY 2009
FY 2008
FY 2006
Other Helpful Links:
Region 8 Grant Forms
Region 8 SRF Website (includes state contact information)
EPA Region 8 SAAP Contacts
For grant application questions, please contact your assigned Grants Specialist.
North Dakota, South Dakota and Utah
Bruce Cooper, Project Officer
US EPA, Region 8
1595 Wynkoop St (8P-W-TF)
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 312-6028
cooper.bruce@epa.gov
Colorado and Wyoming
Shawn McCaffrey, Project Officer
1595 Wynkoop St (8P-W-TF)
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 312-6515
mccaffrey.shawn@epa.gov
Montana
Brian Friel, Project Officer
1595 Wynkoop St (8P-W-TF)
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 312-6277
friel.brian@epa.gov
General Programmatic Questions:
Rebecca Russo, Unit Chief
1595 Wynkoop St (8P-W-TF)
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 312-6757
russo.rebecca@epa.gov