Program Handbook

Information Sessions

EPA’s WIFIA program hosts webinars and information sessions for prospective borrowers to foster a greater understanding of the WIFIA program requirements and pave the way for successful applications to the program.

• Foster a greater understanding of the requirements of the WIFIA program
• Pave the way for successful letters of interest to the WIFIA program

• Prospective borrowers including municipal entities, tribes, corporations, partnerships, and State Revolving Fund programs
• Private and non-governmental organizations that support prospective borrowers

• FY2018 WIFIA Letter of Interest Submission and Selection Process Webinar Recording and Presentation, April 23, 2018
• FY 2018 WIFIA Letter of Interest Submission and Project Selection - Small Communities Presentation, April 30, 2018
• FY 2018 WIFIA Letter of Interest Submission and Project Selection - Tribal Prospective Borrowers Presentation, May 2, 2018
• FY 2018 WIFIA Letter of Interest Submission and Selection Process – Question and Answer Session Presentation, May 30, 2018
• Overview of the WIFIA Program and 2018 Selection Round Presentation, June 4, 2018
• Other past webinar presentations

Federal Compliance Requirements

Projects receiving WIFIA credit assistance must comply with all federal laws and regulations. The following four requirements are particularly important for WIFIA projects.

• Each proposed WIFIA project must be assessed for its impact on the environment under the guidelines set forth by the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). EPA will not issue a term sheet or obligate funds for a project until a final agency determination, such as a Categorical Exclusion (CATEX), Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), or a Record of Decision (ROD), has been issued. The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) (within the Executive Office of the President) governs NEPA compliance and ensures that Federal agencies meet their obligations under NEPA.
• Additionally, projects must comply with the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), which requires consultation with the appropriate Historic Preservation Office.
• WIFIA borrowers are required to use iron and steel products produced in the United States. Guidance developed for compliance with American Iron and Steel (AIS) requirements for EPA’s SRF programs applies to projects receiving WIFIA credit assistance.
• They are also required to comply Davis-Bacon wage requirements and pay all laborers and mechanics working on the project no less than the locally prevailing work on similar projects in the area. Further guidance is available from the Department of Labor.

More information about compliance requirements is available in Chapter 1 and Appendices E and H of the WIFIA Program Handbook.