Learn the Issues
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How can a Tribe get involved in the EN?
There are many ways for Tribes to get involved in the Exchange Network. Tribes in any stage of information management program maturity may apply for Exchange Network grants to build the Tribe's capacity to share environmental information with EPA, other EN partners, and the public. Tribes can apply for individual…
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Which Tribal entities are eligible to apply for EN grant funds?
Please see the eligibility FAQ " Who is eligible to apply for a FY24 Exchange Network grant? ".
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What is an 'instrumentality of a Tribe'?
An instrumentality is an organization created by or pursuant to state statute or Tribal laws and operated for public purposes. See eligibility FAQ titled “ Who is eligible to apply for a FY24 Exchange Network grant? ” for more information.
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Can Tribes request basic grants training from EPA? If so, what is the process for requesting training?
Office of Grants and Debarment (OGD) Training: EPA’s OGD offers training opportunities for Tribal grantees and potential applicants online throughout the year. Sessions include topics related to grants management, new regulations, EPA policies, and more. See the EPA Grants Management Training for Applicants and Recipients page. EN Grants Specific Training…
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If I am a Federally recognized Tribe, can I charge indirect costs?
To charge indirect costs, an indirect cost rate agreements must be included in accordance with 2 CFR 200.414 and must be valid until at least 9/30/2025. If you do not have a previously established indirect cost rate (IDC) agreement, you must prepare an indirect cost rate proposal in accordance with…
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Where can I learn more about post-award requirements and EN Terms and Conditions?
Grantees as part of their Notice of Award (NOA) will have access to the current EN Terms and Conditions (T&Cs), which must be followed as part of their assistance agreement. However, a general overview EN grantee requirements, as outlined in EN T&Cs, can be found on the Exchange Network Grant…
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In a EN partnership agreement, can a partner procure their own contractor? If so, how should these cost be captured in the Budget Narrative and any other applicable attachments?
A partnering organization can procure their own contractor as long as the applicable procurement standards are followed. See Section 4B for more information on procuring contractors. Note that contractual costs solicited by a project partner should be included as part of the total ‘subaward’ cost under the budget category ‘Other’…
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We are applying as a partnership; do we need to decide which organization will host our dataset, or is this something that we can determine after consulting with stakeholders?
This is dependent on the project and the expected outputs/outcomes and should be decided by the participating organizations (with a goal to best meet the business needs of all). And it is fair that there might be some specifics of the project that aren’t figured out yet, and will be…
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What are Virtual Exchange Services (VES)?
Virtual Exchange Services are EPA cloud-based services that support all the functions of a Network Node. VES can host any number of state, Tribal, and territory partner data exchange activities and provide all the same services as a traditional Exchange Network node for the data flows listed in Table 1…
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How does the VES approach assist with development and maintenance of data exchanges?
The VES approach simplifies development and maintenance of data exchanges using inheritance features and plug-in support. It eliminates software licensing costs, server costs and much of the administration costs for partners, while providing a simplified development model and greater economies of scale. State, Tribal or territorial administrators retain complete control…
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If a sub-awardee (EN partner) has indirect costs as well, do they also need a Negotiated Indirect Cost Agreement in place?
Both organizations (lead applicant and the partner(s)) can charge indirect costs, but each organization must adhere to its own rate agreement (and allowable costs under the base). Additionally, these costs would be captured in separate cost categories: In the proposed project’s budget, the lead organization’s indirect costs would be captured…
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Guide for Industrial Waste Management
The purpose of the Guide is to provide facility managers, state and Tribal regulators, and the interested public with recommendations and tools to better address the management of land-disposed, non-hazardous
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Sustainable Materials Management: Non-Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Hierarchy
EPA developed the non-hazardous materials and waste management hierarchy in recognition that no single waste management approach is suitable for managing all materials and waste streams in all circumstances.
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Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) Web Academy Webinar: Introduction to EPA’s Planning for Natural Disaster Debris Guidance
The May 23rd webinar will provide an update to the Planning for Natural Disaster Debris guidance.
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Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) Web Academy Webinar: The Disaster Debris Recovery Tool - Materials Management for Debris Planning and Emergency Response
The December 18, 2018, SMM Web Academy webinar will feature several speakers talking about the disaster debris recovery tool, including details about the DDRT.
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Sustainable Materials Management Web Academy Webinar: The Disaster Debris Recovery Tool - Materials Management for Debris Planning and Emergency Response
This webinar highlights EPA's Disaster Debris Recovery Tool which provides emergency planners and responders at the federal, state, Tribal and local levels with a tool to plan and implement proper recovery, recycling and disposal of disaster debris.
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Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) Web Academy Webinar: Supporting Anaerobic Digestion in Communities, Request for Applications
This webinar presents an intro the AD grants
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Basic Information about the Built Environment
Basic information on what the built environment is and how it relates to sustainable materials management
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Toolkit about Abandoned Mobile Homes
The toolkit for abandoned mobile home includes videos, a best management practices resource guide, an assessment guide, and a resource bibliography.
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Policy Guidance Manuals for Cleanups of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) Spills
Several guidance documents related to the EPA's PCB cleanup policies.