Deadline: 17-May-21
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is soliciting applications from eligible applicants to provide training and technical assistance for rural, small, and tribal publicly owned wastewater treatment works and decentralized wastewater treatment systems for the prevention, reduction and elimination of pollution.
Funding is expected to be available to provide training and technical assistance for rural, small, and tribal publicly owned treatment works and decentralized wastewater treatment systems and should be made available nationally in rural and small communities and to all personnel of these systems, including personnel of tribally owned and operated systems.
Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 104(b)(8) requires that the funds are used for training and technical assistance to support the following three components:
- Component 1: Acquisition of Financing
- Component 2: Protect Water Quality and Achieve Clean Water Act Compliance
- Component 3: Disseminate Planning, Design, Construction, and Operation Information
Goals
A Cleaner, Healthier Environment: Deliver a cleaner, safer, and healthier environment for all Americans and future generations by carrying out 3 the Agency’s core mission.
Objectives
Provide for Clean and Safe Water: Ensure waters are clean through improved water infrastructure and, in partnership with states and tribes, sustainably manage programs to support drinking water, aquatic ecosystems, and recreational, economic, and subsistence activities, of EPA’s Strategic Plan.
Funding Information
The total amount of federal funding potentially available under this announcement is approximately $12,000,000, depending on Agency funding levels, the quality of applications received, agency priorities, and other applicable considerations.
Outputs
Examples of anticipated outputs for Component 1: Acquisition of Financing, may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- An increased number of rural, small and tribal publicly owned treatment works and decentralized wastewater treatment system personnel with improved knowledge and skill competency in managerial and financial capacity.
- An increased number of rural, small and tribal publicly owned treatment works and decentralized wastewater treatment system managers with asset management, fiscal planning, and effective customer communication knowledge.
- An increased number of asset management plans, financial assessments and workforce development plans for rural, small and tribal publicly owned treatment works and decentralized wastewater treatment systems.
- An increased number of rural, small and tribal publicly owned treatment works and decentralized wastewater treatment systems developing plans to implement water system partnerships, such as shared wastewater treatment and operators, restructuring, consolidation, or other collaboration or partnership actions with other systems.
- An increased number of rural, small and tribal publicly owned treatment works and decentralized wastewater treatment systems managing multiple infrastructure funding sources.
Examples of anticipated outputs for Component 2: Protect Water Quality and Achieve Clean Water Act Compliance, may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- An increased number of rural, small, and tribal publicly owned treatment works and decentralized wastewater treatment systems conducting diagnostic and troubleshooting analyses to determine factors affecting performance and compliance with NPDES permits.
- An increased number of board members and other small publicly owned treatment works and decentralized wastewater treatment system decision makers receiving training on asset management and other sustainable management and financial concepts.
- An increased number of rural, small, and tribal publicly owned treatments work operators receiving training utilizing hands-on and other training approaches which maximize understanding and knowledge retention.
- An increased number of rural, small, and tribal publicly owned treatment works receiving or performing energy audits and taking actions to improve energy efficiency based on audit results.
Examples of anticipated outputs for Component 3: Disseminate Planning, Design, Construction, and Operation Information, may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- An increased number of rural, small, and tribal publicly owned treatment works and decentralized wastewater treatment system managers and operators receiving training and technical assistance in:
- regulatory requirements,
- financial and managerial capacity concepts and practices,
- basic wastewater system operations,
- effective utility management, and
- advanced treatment issues
- An increased number of community leaders, publicly owned treatment works and decentralized wastewater treatment systems operators, and decentralized wastewater treatment system Responsible Management Entities (RMEs) receiving training or technical assistance on analyzing treatment alternatives, management requirements, or homeowner education.
- An increased number of decentralized wastewater treatment systems that have been inventoried, inspected, or have maintenance schedules or manuals for new or upgraded systems.
- An increased number of private homeowners receiving training and technical assistance on decentralized wastewater treatment system issues.
Outcomes
Examples of anticipated outcomes for Component 1: Acquisition of Financing, may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- An increase in the knowledge and capacity of rural, small, and tribal publicly owned treatment works and decentralized wastewater treatment system operators in the areas of financial and managerial capacity.
- Increased number of rural, small, and tribal publicly owned treatment works and decentralized wastewater treatment systems that have adopted asset management programs as part of their standard operating and management practices.
- An increased number of rural, small, and tribal publicly owned treatment works and decentralized wastewater treatment systems participating in water system partnerships, such as shared wastewater treatment and operators, restructuring, consolidation, or other collaboration or partnership actions with other systems.
Examples of anticipated outcomes for Component 2: Protect Water Quality and Achieve Clean Water Act Compliance, may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- An increased number of rural, small, and tribal publicly owned wastewater treatment systems in compliance with NPDES regulations or making substantial progress toward compliance as indicated by measured performance, reduced enforcement priority status or other factors.
- Fewer public health-related or public nuisance-related complaints associated with malfunctioning decentralized wastewater treatment systems.
- A measurable improvement in the performance of rural, small, and tribal publicly owned wastewater treatment systems where operational changes or other recommendations were implemented following a system diagnostic evaluation.
- An increased number of rural, small and tribal publicly owned treatment works and decentralized wastewater treatment systems that have improved their energy efficiency and/or achieved cost savings due to taking efficiency actions after conducting energy audits.
Examples of anticipated outcomes for Component 3: Disseminate Planning, Design, Construction, and Operation Information, may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- An increase in the knowledge and competency of rural, small, and tribal publicly owned treatment works and decentralized wastewater treatment system operators.
- An increased number of decentralized wastewater treatment systems that are managed under Responsible Management Entities (RMEs).
- An increase in both publicly owned treatment works and decentralized wastewater treatment system owners/operators and homeowners engaging in active management of decentralized wastewater treatment systems.
- An increase in the knowledge of private homeowners in topics such as proper decentralized wastewater treatment system construction, operation and maintenance, testing, relevant state regulations or state programs.
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible applicants under this competition are public and private nonprofit organizations, subject to CWA 104(w), that are qualified and experienced in providing on-site training and technical assistance to small publicly owned treatment works and decentralized wastewater treatment systems. Nonprofit organization, as defined by 2 CFR Part 200, means any corporation, trust, association, cooperative or other organization that:
- is operated primarily for scientific, educational, service, charitable or similar purposes in the public interest;
- is not organized primarily for profit; and
- uses its net proceeds to maintain, improve and/or expand its operations.
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=332121