[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 234 (Wednesday, December 4, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64354-64355]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-30864]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-5658-9]
Grants: Expanded Availability of Financial Assistance Program;
Wetlands Protection--State/Tribal Development Grants; Local Entity
Eligibility
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.
ACTION: Notice of expanded grant eligibility.
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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announces the
availability of a revised financial assistance program (66.461,
``Wetlands Protection--State/Tribal Development Grants'') to support
development of wetlands protection programs and refinement/enhancement
of existing wetlands protection programs. This grant program was
established in fiscal year 1990 to support state and tribal wetlands
protection programs. In fiscal year 1997, the grant program was
expanded to include direct eligibility of local entities to receive
grant funds to support local wetlands protection efforts.
Grants will continue to be awarded under section 104(b)(3) of the
Clean Water Act for research, investigation, experiments, training,
demonstrations, surveys, and studies related to development of wetlands
protection programs. Under existing statutory language, grant funds
cannot be used for operational support of wetlands protection programs.
National guidance for the State/Tribal Wetlands Grant Program is
available from the contacts listed below or from the EPA Wetlands
Hotline (1-800-832-7828).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Region I: Cathy Manwaring, US EPA Region I, John F. Kennedy
Building, Boston, MA 02203, 617-565-4429.
Region II: John Cantilli, Wetlands Protection Section, US EPA
Region II, 290 Broadway, New York, NY 10007, 212-637-3810.
Region III: Alva Brunner, Wetlands Program, US EPA Region III, 841
Chestnut Building, Philadelphia, PA 19107, 215-566-2715.
Region IV: Pete Kalla, Wetlands Protection Section, US EPA Region
IV, 100 Alabama Street, SW, Atlanta, GA 30303, 404-562-9414.
[[Page 64355]]
Region V: Sue Elston, Watersheds Team, US EPA Region V, 77 West
Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60604, 312-886-6115.
Region VI: Pam Mintz, US EPA Region VI, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas,
TX 75202, 214-665-8334.
Region VII: Kathy Mulder, Water Resources Protection Branch, US EPA
Region VII, 726 Minnesota Avenue, Kansas City, KS 66101, 913-551-7542.
Region VIII: Dave Rathke, US EPA Region VIII, 999 18th Street--
Suite 500, Denver, CO 80202, 303-312-6223.
Region IX: Mary Butterwick, Wetlands and Sediments Management
Section, US EPA Region IX, 75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA
94105, 415-744-1985.
Region X: Steve Roy, Aquatic Resources Unit, US EPA Region IX, 1200
Sixth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101, 206-553-6221.
Headquarters: Lori Williams, Wetlands Division (4502F), Office of
Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds, US EPA, 401 M Street, SW, Washington,
DC 20460, 202-260-5084.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the new, expanded eligibility
provision, EPA will award grants directly to local entities for
meritorious projects that support local efforts to better protect
wetland resources. Entities eligible to receive grants under this
provision include local government agencies (city, county, regional),
regional planning boards, local conservation districts and other
nonprofit organizations.
All grants are awarded on a competitive basis. EPA's Regional
Offices will receive all grant proposals and will review and select
state/tribal grants for funding. Grants for the local wetland efforts
will be forwarded to Headquarters for funding decisions. In future
years, we anticipate that grants for local entities will be selected
and awarded by EPA's Regional Offices. In FY97, EPA established a
$500,000 set aside to support this expanded eligibility for local
wetland grants.
All grants applications must conform with the requirements of the
grant program including the 25% match, meet applicable deadlines for
submitting proposals to EPA's Regional Offices, and be for development/
refinement of wetland programs and not for operation of a wetlands
program.
States, tribes and other eligible entities, including local
entities, are encouraged to work closely with their appropriate
Regional Office to develop a formal grant application that effectively
addresses the objectives of this grant program.
Dated: November 27, 1996.
Robert H. Wayland, III,
Director, Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds.
[FR Doc. 96-30864 Filed 12-3-96; 8:45 am]
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