CONTAMINATED ALASKA NATIVE CLAIMS SETTLEMENT ACT LANDS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

EPA R10 Contaminated ANCSA Program Guidance Final.pdf

United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region 10
CONTAMINATED ALASKA NATIVE CLAIMS
SETTLEMENT ACT
LANDS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
DECEMBER 2023
Assistance Agreement Program Guidance for
Federally Recognized Tribes in Alaska,
Alaska Native Regional Corporations,
Alaskan Native Village Corporations,
Alaska Native Nonprofit Organizations,
Alaska Native Nonprofit Associations, and/or
Intertribal Consortia comprised of Alaskan Tribal Entities
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Rolling Basis
FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER: EPA-OLEM-R10-NC-24-01
ASSISTANCE LISTING NUMBER: 66.965

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United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region 10
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. BACKGROUND ....................................................................................................................................... 3
A. HISTORY ............................................................................................................................................ 3
B. PROGRAM PURPOSE ......................................................................................................................... 3
C. PROGRAM OBJECTIVES ..................................................................................................................... 3
D. NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR THE ARCTIC REGION AND CONGRESSIONAL SUPPORT .......................... 3
E. AUTHORITY ....................................................................................................................................... 5
F. AVAILABLE FUNDING ........................................................................................................................ 5
II. ELIGIBILITY ............................................................................................................................................. 6
A. APPLICANT ELIGIBILTY ....................................................................................................................... 6
B. ALLOWABLE ACTIVITIES .................................................................................................................... 8
1) COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ........................................................................................................ 8
2) ASSESSMENT ACTIVITIES ............................................................................................................... 9
3) CLEANUP ACTIVITIES ................................................................................................................... 10
4) NEPA COMPLIANCE ..................................................................................................................... 10
5) PROGRAM MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES AND COSTS .................................................................... 11
6) ALLOWABLE COSTS: Uniform Gants Guidance and EPA Administrative Requirements ............. 12
C. INELIGIBLE USE OF FUNDS .............................................................................................................. 12
III. FUNDING PRIORITIES ...................................................................................................................... 13
IV. APPLICATION SUBMISSION AND REQUIRED ELEMENTS ................................................................. 14
A. APPLICATION REVIEW PROCESS...................................................................................................... 14
B. PERFORMANCE PERIOD .................................................................................................................. 14
C. PLANNING MILESTONES ................................................................................................................. 15
D. FUNDING REQUESTS ....................................................................................................................... 15
1) Workplan Narrative Description ................................................................................................. 16
2) Workplan Components or Tasks ................................................................................................. 17
3) Detailed Budget .......................................................................................................................... 19
E. RETURNING GRANTEES ................................................................................................................... 21
F. OTHER APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS ............................................................................................ 21
V. TERMS AND CONDITIONS ................................................................................................................... 22
A. EPA SUBSTANTIAL INVOLVEMENT .................................................................................................. 22
B. QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN (QAPP) ................................................................................. 23

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I. BACKGROUND
A. HISTORY
The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act was enacted in 1971 to settle aboriginal claims to
public lands through the conveyance of 46 million acres of land to Alaska Native regional
and village corporations, and the transfer of one billion dollars from state and federal
governments as compensation for remaining claims. Some of the lands promised and
conveyed to corporations pursuant to the settlement in ANCSA were contaminated with
substances such as arsenic, asbestos, lead, mercury, pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls,
and petroleum products. These contaminants pose health risks and other concerns to
Alaska Natives and communities, some in quantities above state and federal clean-up levels
which negatively impact subsistence resources— hampering cultural, social, and economic
activities.
B. PROGRAM PURPOSE
Congress appropriated funding for EPA to establish the Contaminated ANCSA Lands
Assistance Program to assist Tribal entities in Alaska with addressing contamination on
lands conveyed pursuant to ANCSA.
The EPA developed and will maintain an inventory of sites, known as EPA’s Contaminated
ANCSA Sites Common Operating Picture. Information on EPA’s program related to cleaning
up contaminated lands conveyed pursuant to ANCSA, including the Common Operating
Picture and a Story Map are available on the EPA Region 10 Contamination on ANCSA
Conveyed Lands website.
C. PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
The objectives are to provide funding to:
• characterize, assess, and conduct planning and community involvement activities
related to these lands, and
• carry out cleanup activities at ANCSA sites contaminated at the time of conveyance.
D. NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR THE ARCTIC REGION AND
CONGRESSIONAL SUPPORT
Through participation in the White House Arctic Executive Steering Committee – EPA,
Department of Defense, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Department of the Interior’s
Bureau of Land Management are collaborating in a whole-of-government approach to act
on the issue of contaminated lands conveyed to Alaska Native corporations under ANCSA.
Through the initiative, the agencies are working to leverage resources, expertise, and
requirements into a framework for effective cooperation and progress. The commitments
of this interagency effort are outlined in the Implementation Plan for the 2022 National
Strategy for the Arctic Region1.
1 The United States’ National Strategy for the Arctic Region Strategic Objective 2.4: Conserve and Protect Arctic
Ecosystems, including through Indigenous Co-Production and Co-Management.
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The federal fiscal year 2023 (FY23) Consolidated Appropriation Act included language as
follows, which established EPA’s Contaminated ANCSA Lands Assistance Program.
Alaska Contaminated Sites: $20,000,000, to remain available until
expended, shall be for grants, including grants that may be awarded on a
non-competitive basis, inter agency agreements, and associated program
support costs to establish and implement a program to assist Alaska Native
Regional Corporations, Alaskan Native Village Corporations, federally-
recognized tribes in Alaska, Alaska Native Non-Profit Organizations and
Alaska Native Nonprofit Associations, and intertribal consortia comprised of
Alaskan tribal entities to address contamination on lands conveyed under or
pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.)
that were or are contaminated at the time of conveyance and are on an
inventory of such lands developed and maintained by the Environmental
Protection Agency: Provided, That grants awarded using funds made
available in this paragraph may be used by a recipient to supplement other
funds provided by the Environmental Protection Agency through individual
media or multi-media grants or cooperative agreements: Provided further,
That of the amounts made available in this paragraph, in addition to
amounts otherwise available for such purposes, the Environmental
Protection Agency may reserve up to $2,000,000 for salaries, expenses, and
administration.
Furthermore, language from the Joint Explanatory Statement released by
Congress states that:
Alaska Contaminated Sites: The Committees recognize the injustice done to
Alaska Natives when in return for settling their aboriginal rights to land
under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, the Federal Government
conveyed to them thousands of contaminated sites which to-date largely
remain contaminated because of Federal inaction. This enduring
environmental injustice poses a significant threat to human health and the
environment, including to drinking water sources, homes, schools, and more.
The agreement provides $20,000,000 for the inventory, verification,
assessment, and remediation of these contaminated sites, as well as related
community outreach and involvement. The Committees recognize that
neither the State of Alaska nor the Agency are responsible for the
contamination. The Committees thank Agency leadership for its recent
attention to and work on this issue and look forward to continuing their close
working relationship with the Agency in finding solutions to this
longstanding. environmental injustice.
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E. AUTHORITY
The federal fiscal year 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act established the EPA’s
Contaminated ANCSA Lands Assistance Program. Funding is awarded through a cooperative
agreement between EPA and the Alaskan tribal entity2.
The program administers cooperative agreements in accordance with the Uniform
Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards
for all entity types including states, tribes, and local governments. These regulations are
found in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 2 CFR 200, 2 CFR 1500, as well as
provisions of 40 CFR 35 Subparts A and B.
The Contaminated ANCSA Lands Assistance Program aligns with the FY 2022-2026 EPA
Strategic Plan Goal 6: Safeguard and Revitalize Communities - Objective 6.1: Clean Up and
Restore Land for Productive Uses and Healthy Communities, as well as Cross Agency
Strategy 4: Strengthen Tribal, State, and Local Partnerships and Enhance Engagement3.
F. AVAILABLE FUNDING
EPA will evaluate applications as they are submitted on a rolling basis and will award funds
until all available funding has been obligated. Funding may be requested for cooperative
agreements of up to $3M per project with maximum performance periods of 5 years.
No matching funds are required, and eligible entities receiving other federal funding to
support contaminated lands assessment and/or cleanups are still eligible for additional
assistance under this EPA program.
The FY23 Consolidated Appropriations Act included three Congressionally directed spending
projects ($7.5M in total) which EPA awarded to support various outreach and engagement
activities as well as the verification of contaminated ANCSA lands. Partner organizations
funded by the Congressionally directed spending may be available to provide technical
support to Contaminated ANCSA Lands Assistance Agreement applicants.
2 A cooperative agreement is an assistance agreement used when there is substantial federal involvement
throughout the performance of the project.
3 The FY 2022-FY 2026 EPA Strategic Plan communicates the roadmap for accomplishing EPA’s environmental
priorities.
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II. ELIGIBILITY
A. APPLICANT ELIGIBILTY
EPA will award funding for site assessment and cleanups provided there is a reasonable basis to
conclude it was contaminated at the time of conveyance. To make the determination applicants
must be able to demonstrate that the:
(1) site was conveyed pursuant to ANCSA,
(2) site was contaminated by hazardous or toxic substances, pollutants, contaminants, or oil at
the time of conveyance, and
(3) site is on the EPA Contaminated ANCSA Sites Inventory.
Sites that have been verified may apply for Contaminated ANCSA Lands Assistance funding. Verified
sites are those that have been verified on EPA’s Contaminated ANCSA Sites Inventory. Steps to
check if a site is verified are outlined on page 8.
Applicants must meet legal requirements, funding priorities, and demonstrate programmatic
capabilities before a cooperative agreement will be awarded.
Eligible Entities
The following entities have been identified as eligible for EPA
Contaminated ANCSA Lands Assistance Program funding4:
• Federally Recognized Tribes in Alaska
Eligible Entities
• Alaska Native Regional Corporations
• Alaskan Native Village Corporations
• Intertribal Consortia comprised of Alaskan Tribal Entities
• Alaska Native Nonprofit Associations
• Alaska Native Non-Profit Organizations
Eligible Site Contaminants
Contamination resulting from oil as well as hazardous substances,
pollutants, or contaminants as defined by the Comprehensive
Eligible Site Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)
Contaminants at the time of conveyance.
Solid waste is not eligible for funding unless it is commingled with
oils and/or hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants.
4Indian Tribal Government and Intertribal Consortium are defined in 40 CFR Parts 35.502 and 35.504. An intertribal
consortium is defined as a partnership between two or more Tribes authorized by the governing body of those
Tribes to apply for and receive assistance under one or more of the programs listed in 40 CFR Part 35.501.
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 establishes eligible entities.
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Eligible Contaminated Lands or Sites includes:
• Land or a site conveyed pursuant to ANCSA (43 U.S.C. 1601 et
seq.),
• Site(s) listed n the EPA’s Contaminated ANCSA Sites Inventory,
and
• If the applicant is not the owner of the contaminated site(s), then
Eligible Lands or
EPA will require documentation that the owner will provide
Sites
access to the site and support taking action to address
contamination.
IMPORTANT!
Any eligible lands or sites that were not originally included in the
BLMs ANCSA Inventory prior to 2023, can now be submitted for
contamination verification.
If these requirements cannot be demonstrated with the materials
submitted to EPA, then the site may be a good candidate for
verification and/or on-site assessment.
The site may also be eligible for funding in the future, or eligible for
funding in a different EPA grant program such as a Brownfield
program.
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Steps to Confirm Contaminated Lands Eligibility
1) Check the EPA’s Contaminated ANCSA Sites Inventory
to determine whether the site is included in the
inventory. If it is included, then the site is eligible.
If the site is not included on the inventory, then the
applicant must Submit a New Site to the EPA’s
Inventory.
Steps to Confirm
Contaminated Lands After a new site is submitted, the applicant will receive
Eligibility a confirmation email. It will then be listed on the
Proposed ANCSA Sites Layer of the EPA’s Common
Operating Picture until it is verified for contamination
by the EPA and the Alaska Department of
Environmental Conservation (ADEC) through a Phase 1
Assessment.
As part of the application and eligibility review, EPA
2)
will also confirm the status of contaminated lands.
B. ALLOWABLE ACTIVITIES
The legislative authority for this program allows the following activities. Please note that
Contaminated ANCSA Lands Assistance Agreements may be used in combination with
other eligible grants and cooperative agreements to fulfill goals.
1) COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
EPA recognizes that effective community engagement is vital to
working with Alaska Native communities and ensuring community
members are engaged in projects.
Community A community engagement plan and a community liaison can
Engagement
serve as a key resource to ensure community goals and interests
Activities
are reflected in the assessment, planning, and cleanup of eligible
-----------
ANCSA sites.
in tandem with
assessments or
Recipients may use a portion of an assistance agreement for
cleanups
community engagement activities and/or development of a
culturally sensitive protocol for project implementation. These
activities must be included in the funding request and workplan
proposal.
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2) ASSESSMENT ACTIVITIES
Assessment activities usually precede a cleanup. Recipients may
use funds to plan and conduct assessments for the purpose of
preparing the contaminated site for a future cleanup in the
following areas:
• Activities that enable the scoping of an assessment and
conducting environmental sampling and analysis to determine
the extent of contamination.
• Reviewing historic records of the site including past activity to
help inform the assessment approach (e.g., Phase I
environmental site assessment, also known as a preliminary
assessment).
• Conducting sampling activities (e.g., Phase II environmental site
Assessment
assessment, also known as a site inspection).
Activities
• Developing a Health and Safety Plan, Quality Assurance Project
Plan and/or Sampling Plan prior to conducting any
environmental sampling and analysis. These are requirements
for projects involving data collection.
• Submitting samples for analysis and analytical costs from
evaluating site samples with an EPA accredited laboratory.
• Developing a report of the sample results and conclusions
resulting from analysis (i.e., Conceptual Site Model, Assessment
report, Site Inspection or Sampling Summary Report).
• Support planning for future cleanup activities such as
evaluation of cleanup alternatives.
• Completing an Environmental Information Document (EID) as a
part of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Compliance.
IMPORTANT!
In most cases, assessment activities must be completed before a
cleanup plan can be developed.
For information on assessment phases to verify and determine the
level of contamination, check out the following websites:
EPA’s Brownfields Assessing Brownfield Sites Fact Sheet
ADEC’s Contaminated Sites Cleanup Process
EPA, ADEC, and other federal and state agencies may
EPA Substantial
collaboratively participate in the development of the assessment
Involvement for
Assessment and and/or cleanup project work plan to ensure compliance with all
Cleanup applicable federal and state laws and regulations.
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3) CLEANUP ACTIVITIES
After assessment activities have been completed, recipients
may use its funds to plan and conduct the cleanup of the
contaminated site in the following areas.
• Developing a site cleanup approach and documenting the
approach in a Site Cleanup Plan.
• Procuring contract services to conduct cleanup activities
such as contaminated material removal, transportation and
disposal, sampling, or health and safety monitoring.
Cleanup Activities
• Conducting cleanup activities including proper
transportation and disposal of contamination.
• Conducting environmental confirmation sampling post-
cleanup activities to determine if further action is required.
If necessary, planning for next phase of site cleanup.
Developing a report documenting removal and/or cleanup
activities.
4) NEPA COMPLIANCE
While EPA as the funding agency is responsible for NEPA
compliance, recipients will likely need to provide information
to support this process. EPA may need to prepare an
Environmental Assessment (EA) as part of the environmental
review.
Cooperative agreement recipients may be required to provide
site information such as the potential environmental impact of
addressing site contamination, which is typically provided to
EPA in an Environmental Information Document (EID).
NEPA
Cooperative agreement recipients may use EPA financial
Compliance
assistance to prepare the EID. EPA may provide direct technical
assistance to recipients for development of the EID.
Depending on the site and proposed workplan, EPA may:
• utilize a categorical exclusion,
• adopt a categorical exclusion from another agency,
• issue a Notice of Adoption of other agencies finding,
• issue a Finding of No Significant Impact, or
• issue an Environmental Impact Statement and publish a
Record of Decision for the project.
NEPA requirements must be complied with before any
construction or ground disturbance activities can occur per 40
CFR 6.
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5) PROGRAM MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES AND COSTS
Other activities that may be eligible for EPA funding are as follows.
Costs associated with program management or oversight of
the cooperative agreement.
Workplans should include a task for administration of the
cooperative agreement, which may include the following:
• documenting achievement of grant outputs (i.e.,
Program deliverables), outcomes, and accomplishments,
Management • timely submission of reports to the EPA project officer,
• monitoring of workplan tasks and associated drawdowns of
funding,
• coordination with relevant accounting and finance offices
to ensure regular financial oversight, and/or
• communications with EPA project officer
Environmental The purchase cost of environmental insurance.
Insurance
Indirect costs are allowable under 2 CFR 200 and EPA Grants
Policy Issuance for Indirect Cost Policy for Recipients of EPA
Indirect Costs
Assistance Agreements.
A recipient may use its funds to award subawards to other
eligible entities including nonprofit organizations, for cleanups
on sites owned by the sub-recipient or sites for which the sub-
Subawards recipient can demonstrate that it has been granted access by
the site owner for the purpose of conducting assessment and
cleanup activities.
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6) ALLOWABLE COSTS:
UNIFORM GANTS GUIDANCE and EPA ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS
The EPA has adopted the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost
Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards to
Non-Federal Entities guidance, which is commonly known as
the Uniform Grant Guidance (UGG) in 2 CFR 200.
2 CFR 200 Subparts B through D set forth the administrative
requirements for cooperative agreements, including the
requirements for EPA’s management of grant programs
before awards are made and the requirements EPA may
Allowable Costs
impose on recipients.
2 CFR 200 Subpart E establishes principles for determining
the allowable costs incurred by cooperative agreement
recipients.
For additional information on allowable costs and the above
references, see EPA’s website — Uniform requirements for
managing grants that apply to all federal executive agencies.
C. INELIGIBLE USE OF FUNDS
Below are illustrative examples of ineligible uses of
cooperative agreement funds (this list may not be all
inclusive).
• Construction costs not associated with site cleanup
activities.
• Purchasing land.
Ineligible Costs
• Paying penalties or fines.
• Using grant funds for federal cost share requirements.
• Assessment or cleanup of sites other than those
contaminated at the time of conveyance under ANCSA,
• Any prohibited or restricted activities as part of the EPA
General Terms and Conditions (e.g., interest on
borrowed funds, lobbying or litigation).
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III. Funding Priorities
EPA’s Contaminated ANCSA Lands Assistance Program is administered non-competitively. The
EPA may prioritize sites for funding utilizing the factors below.
The land or site(s) is owned by the applicant, or the applicant
has the unambiguous right of access to a site known to be
contaminated at the time of conveyance - and is listed on EPA’s
Land Ownership Contaminated ANCSA Sites Inventory for purposes of
completing assessment or cleanup projects under the EPA
cooperative agreement.
EPA is prioritizing funding projects that address contamination
resulting from oil as well as hazardous substances, pollutants, or
contaminants as defined by the Comprehensive Environmental
Contamination
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) at the time
of conveyance.
Other factors which may influence EPA prioritization of funding
applications includes:
• if the risk to human health and or the environment is
immediate and significant,
• if the federal government actively caused contamination
prior to conveyance or had jurisdiction, custody and control
Other Important
of the lands contaminated at the time of conveyance, or
Factors
• if funding is necessary to address an imminent and
substantial risk to human health or the environment - and
the primary responsible party is not financially viable
despite the presence of an identified non-federal party that
is primarily responsible for the contamination.
EPA may prioritize projects on lands in locations that may be
Climate Change impacted by near-term climate change.
EPA may prioritize projects which help achieve geographic
Geographic Diversity diversity of projects around Alaska.
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IV. APPLICATION SUBMISSION AND REQUIRED
ELEMENTS
A. APPLICATION REVIEW PROCESS
Contaminated ANCSA Lands Assistance Program is non-
competitive funding source available on a rolling, year-round
basis.
EPA encourages applicants to contact the Contaminated
ANCSA Lands Assistance Program in advance of submitting
their proposal to discuss the site and proposed project.
Proposals must include a workplan narrative, workplan
components, and detailed budget. They can be submitted to
EPA project officers by email. Project officers will begin
Application Review
working with applicants upon receipt of proposals.
Process
The review or negotiations process is intended to ensure the
proposed workplans and budgets are in alignment with grant
requirements and regulations, and to refine the budget to best
align with project tasks, outputs, and final deliverables.
After review and negotiations of the funding request with EPA
project officers, the applicant will be provided instructions to
submit the final application in Grants.gov.
B. PERFORMANCE PERIOD
EPA Region 10 project officers will determine with the
applicant the appropriate project period for each cooperative
Performance agreement. These may be for multiple years depending on
Period type and complexity of the project. The performance period
may not exceed five (5) years.
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C. PLANNING MILESTONES
The following is a framework for the major milestones of
project implementation, which should be addressed in the
funding request.
Procurement – If the recipient has contractual costs
as part of their workplan, the procurement must be
Step conducted in accordance with Federal procurement
1 requirements as outlined in 2 CFR Parts 200.317
through 326.
Project Planning – Before any field work, including
construction or ground disturbances can be begun,
NEPA compliance and required plan approvals must
Planning Step
be completed. Typical plans required for approval
Milestones 2
includes EPA’s Quality Assurance Project Plan and
ADEC’s Assessment and Cleanup Plans.
Assessment or Cleanup Field Work – Upon EPA
Step project officer’s approval, the field work may be
3 conducted in accordance with the approved plans.
Project Closeout – Once the workplan has been
completed and final deliverables accepted by EPA,
Step
the final project reports must be completed and
4
submitted to the EPA.
D. FUNDING REQUESTS
Eligible entities are strongly encouraged to begin their internal process as early as possible
to identify activities for the assistance agreement. Eligible entities are encouraged to talk
with the EPA Contaminated ANCSA Lands Assistance Program project officers to discuss
proposed activities prior to submission of required information.
Eligible entities must share a draft of the funding request with an EPA project officer in
advance of submitting the information via Grants.gov. Initial funding requests must be
emailed to the EPA Region 10 project officer.
Eligible applicants may submit multiple funding requests. It may be possible for more than
one award to be made per eligible entity.
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Required Elements
Required elements include the submission of a narrative description of the proposed
project, workplan components describing the activities to take place, and a detailed budget.
All three elements must be sent to EPA project officers for review.
1) Workplan Narrative Description
a. A written description of the project should include the
following information.
b. Title of project.
c. Short summary of applicant’s location, history, culture, and
other related background information (i.e., background
section).
d. Description of the site and land ownership. The site must
be listed on the EPA’s Contaminated ANCSA Sites
Inventory. If the applicant is not the owner of the
contaminated site(s), then provide documentation that the
landowner will provide access to the site and supports
taking action to address contamination.
e. Summary of engagement with shareholders, tribal
members, and/or local community members, tribal
governments, village or regional corporations, and others
Narrative
as appropriate.
Description
f. Description of high-priority environmental and human
health issues that affect the community/applicant, and any
specifically related environmental assessment or cleanup
efforts conducted to date on the contaminated ANCSA
lands.
g. Description of any data collection efforts, sampling, and/or
analysis.
h. Description of how the project funded will further the goals
and priorities of the EPA Contaminated ANCSA Lands
Assistance and the State of Alaska’s Contaminated Sites
Cleanup Program.
i. List any other federal funding or grants which may be
active at the same time as the EPA Contaminated ANCSA
Lands Assistance Program cooperative agreement.
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j. An organizational chart may help demonstrate capacity to
successfully manage the cooperative agreement, as well as
help to identify any organizational or personal conflicts of
interests.
Cooperatvie
Agreement Project
Manager
Tribal Applicant
Community
Liaision
Narrative
Organization
Description
Continued
Qualified
Field Work Other support
Environmental
Contractor contractors
Professional
Organization Organization Organization
k. For consortia, non-profit organizations, or Alaska
Native corporations — provide a statement that the
proposed work is essential to member tribes in
implementing planning, assessment, and initial
cleanup activities beyond what individual
communities or tribal governments would be able to
conduct individually.
2) Workplan Components or Tasks
In addition to a workplan narrative description, the funding request must include a
description of the specific activities. Workplan activities should be organized by
components (i.e., Program Management/Oversight, Community Engagement,
Assessment, and/or clean up).
In accordance with 40 CFR Part 35.507 the work plan must
include a detailed description of each component to be
accomplished. The description must include the following
details.
a. Expected environmental outputs and outcomes.
b. Staff time estimated to complete projects (based on full
time equivalents).
Workplan c. Estimated work years and estimated funding amount to
Components complete each component.
d. Work plan commitments (tasks) for each component.
e. Estimated timeframes to complete accomplishments.
f. A performance evaluation process and reporting
schedule in accordance with 40 CFR Part 35.515 (i.e.,
quarterly, and final performance reports).
g. The roles and responsibilities of the recipient and the
EPA in carrying out work plan commitments.
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Applicants may use the sample format for each task/activity as shown in the table
below. Additional workplan templates or a sample format is available by contacting
the EPA Contaminated ANCSA Lands Assistance Program.
Task/Activity:
i. Project Implementation
 Assistance agreement funded tasks/activities
ii. Anticipated Project Schedule:
iii. Task/Activity Lead:
iv. Outputs/Outcomes
i. Project Implementation
• Discuss the eligible tasks/activities that will take place under this assistance
agreement.
• Make sure to include the tasks/activities associated with cooperative agreement
administration and required reporting.
• If you plan to issue a subaward(s), indicate what tasks/activities or services will
be provided.
ii. Anticipated Project and Reporting Schedule
Discuss the anticipated schedule and timing for the assistance agreement funded
activities. Discuss and outline quarterly reporting requirements and other project
tracking activities.
iii. Task/Activity Lead
For each task/activity, identify the lead entity(ies) overseeing the various activities (i.e.,
the applicant, qualified environmental professional, or other identified entity). If an
entity(ies) other than the applicant is the lead, explain why the lead entity(ies) (and not
the applicant) is appropriate to oversee the activity(ies).
iv. Outputs and Outcomes
Identify, and quantify as appropriate, the anticipated outputs/deliverables and
environmental/public health outcomes for each task/activity.
EPA requires that applicants adequately describe environmental outputs (deliverables or
resulting work products) and outcomes (results or impacts to community, human
health, or environment) to be achieved under assistance agreements.
Applicants must include specific statements describing the environmental results of the
proposed project in terms of well-defined outputs and, to the maximum extent
practicable, well-defined outcomes.
Recipients will be expected to report progress toward the attainment of expected
project outputs and outcomes during the project performance period. Outputs and
outcomes are defined as follows:
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Outputs: The term “outputs” refers to an environmental activity, effort, and/or
associated work products related to an environmental goal or objective that will be
produced or provided over a period of time or by a specified date. Outputs may be
quantitative or qualitative but must be measurable during the project period.
Outcomes: The term “outcomes” refers to the result, effect, or consequence that will
occur from carrying out the activities under the grant. Outcomes may be environmental,
behavioral, health- related, or programmatic; must be qualitative or quantitative,
although may not necessarily be achievable during the project period.
3) Detailed Budget
The budget must include sufficient detail for EPA to understand the applicant’s planned
expenditures. All costs in the budget must be related to activities in the work plan.
Submitted budgets should include the following details.
• All applicable costs, which may include personnel, fringe, travel, equipment,
supplies, contracts, consultants, other, and indirect costs.
• Detailed descriptions of cost estimates for equipment, supplies, contracts, and
other.
• If the applicant receives income from activities conducted through the grant, include
an estimate of the income anticipated for the year.
Please remember to provide information on how cost estimates for each component or
task were developed per budget category and indicate costs per unit where appropriate.
This category includes only direct costs for the salaries, wages,
and allowable incentive compensation for those individuals
who are employees of the applicant’s organization who will
Personnel
perform work directly for the project. For more information on
this category, see EPA’s Interim General budget guidance.
Fringe Benefits are allowances and services provided by
employers to their employees as compensation in addition to
regular salaries and wages. Again, for a complete discussion of
Fringe Benefits
this budget category, see EPA’s Interim General budget
guidance.
Refer to EPA’s Interim General budget guidance for
Supplies, Contracts,
information on these budget categories.
and Other
Equipment is defined in 2 CFR Part 200.1 as tangible, non-
expendable, personal property having a useful life of more
Equipment
than one year and an acquisition cost of $5,000 or more per
unit.
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Applicants who want to include indirect costs as part of a
proposed budget must submit a copy of the organization’s
current, approved Indirect Cost Rate Agreement with the
Grants.gov application and to the EPA Region 10 Grants and
Indirect Cost Rate Interagency Agreement Branch.
Eligible entities may use the sample table format below to
present plans to allocate grant funds for tasks/activities
described in the Detailed Work Plan.
Sample Format for Budget
Eligible entities may use the sample table format below to develop detailed budgets to
support workplan goals. Please only include costs to be covered by this EPA assistance
agreement in the detailed budget table. A template is available by contacting the EPA
project officer.
Description Quantity Rate TOTAL
Personnel
TOTAL PERSONNEL
Fringe Benefits
TOTAL FRINGE
Travel
TOTAL TRAVEL
Equipment
TOTAL EQUIPMENT
Supplies
TOTAL SUPPLIES
Contractual
TOTAL CONTRACTUAL
Other
TOTAL OTHER
Indirect Costs
TOTAL INDIRECT
TOTAL PROJECT COST
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E. Returning Grantees
Any current cooperative agreement recipients requesting new funds must submit a
summary of the current status of awarded Contaminated ANCSA Lands Assistance
Program funds AND any other EPA grant funds currently being used to address
contaminated ANCSA lands.
Programmatic Capability
To be provided only if specifically requested by the project
officer.
a. EPA may request demonstration of Programmatic
Capability if the returning grant recipient has experienced
key staff turnover or has open programmatic review
findings.
b. The EPA project officer will notify returning recipients if the
information below is required; if so, it must be included
Programmatic with your funding request.
Capabilities
----------- 1) Describe the organizational structure to ensure sound
For previous program management to guarantee or confirm timely
awardees and successful expenditure of funds, and completion of
all technical, administrative, and financial requirements
of the cooperative agreement.
2) Include a brief description of the key qualifications of
staff who will be managing the cooperative
agreement(s).
3) Describe if you have had adverse audit findings. If you
had problems with the administration of any grants or
cooperative agreements, describe how you have
corrected, or are correcting the problems.
F. OTHER APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
SAM.gov
For applicants considering this program, please ensure that
your organization’s SAM.gov registration and unique entity ID
are current.
SAM.gov
Detailed information about EPA’s Contaminated ANCSA Lands
Assistance Program is available in the SAM.gov Assistance
Listings.
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Grants.gov
To submit a final application package, eligible entities must be
registered with Grants.gov. Only Authorized Organization
Representatives (AORs) in grants.gov can submit application
materials.
If you need to register your organization, please allow up to
four weeks to complete registration. For grants.gov support,
call or email the Grants.gov Support Center, available 24 hours
Grants.gov
a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-518-4726 or
support@grants.gov.
The project officer who reviews your proposal will invite your
organization to submit a complete application package in
grants.gov after completing the proposal review process.
V. TERMS AND CONDITIONS
The Contaminated ANCSA Lands Assistance Program will provide funds as cooperative
agreements. A cooperative agreement is an assistance agreement used when there is
substantial federal involvement throughout the performance of the project. Cooperative
agreements include programmatic and administrative terms and conditions. EPA will
negotiate the terms and conditions of substantial involvement as part of the award process.
This may include technical assistance and collaboration on program development, and prior
approvals for site-specific activities.
A. EPA SUBSTANTIAL INVOLVEMENT
Substantial involvement, includes but is not limited to:
1) Consultation between EPA staff and the recipient on
effective methods of carrying out the scope of work
provided the recipient makes the final decision on how to
perform authorized activities.
2) EPA staff participation in meetings, webinars, and similar
events upon the request of the recipient.
Substantial
3) EPA project officer and staff may consult with other
Involvement
federal, state, and local governments regarding project’s
compliance with applicable laws and regulations. If
requirements are not included in the EPA approved
workplan, the recipient may need to amend their workplan
accordingly. Examples include ensure compliance with the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), including
National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and Endangered
Species Act (ESA).
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B. QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN (QAPP)
If project scope includes conducting any environmental
measurements such as sampling and data compilation activities (i.e.,
soil sampling, baseline water quality, etc.), or use of existing
environmental data, they must submit a Quality Assurance Project
Plan (QAPP) to the EPA.
A QAPP must be approved by EPA before conducting any
environmental measurements.
Quality Assurance applies to all assistance agreements involving
environmental information as defined in 2 CFR Part 1500.12 Quality
QAPP Assurance.
Requirements
Any subawards involving environmental information issued under this
agreement must include appropriate quality requirements. The
recipient shall ensure sub-award recipients develop and implement
Quality Assurance (QA) planning document[s] in accordance with this
term and condition; and/or ensure sub-award recipients implement all
applicable approved QA planning documents.
Quality Assurance does not permit the recipient to follow an
EPA QAPP from an organization outside of the recipient/sub-
recipient structure.
Websites providing more information on EPA’s Quality Assurance
Program and requirements for assistance agreements can be obtained
by contacting your Region 10 project officer and/or reviewing the
QAPP Resources following websites — EPA’s Quality Assurance Project Plans for Tribes
in Region 10 and Implementation of Quality Assurance Requirements
for Organizations Receiving EPA Financial Assistance.
For more information on EPA’s Contaminated ANCSA Lands Assistance Program, refer to
EPA’s Contamination on ANCSA Conveyed Lands website.
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