Assistance Listings

State Public Water System Supervision

Objectives

The objective of these grants is to provide financial assistance to eligible States and Tribes, those that have Primary Enforcement Responsibility for the Public Water System Supervision (PWSS) Program, for implementation and enforcement of the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act that apply to public water systems. In cases where a State or a Tribe does not have a Primary Enforcement Responsibility program, EPA is authorized to use funds that would have otherwise been made available to the State or the Tribe to assist it in direct implementation of the PWSS program. The fundamental goal of the PWSS Program, and the grants, is to ensure that public water systems comply with the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations listed in 40 CFR 141. State drinking water agencies, which have Primary Enforcement Responsibility for the PWSS Program, and Indian Tribes that receive PWSS grants are to use them to ensure that public drinking water systems, of all types, and of all sizes: (1) are currently in compliance with the drinking water regulations and remain in compliance, (2) are working towards and in the process of achieving compliance when these systems are noncompliant, and (3) are preparing for future compliance with any new drinking water regulations that will be taking effect in the current or following year. Furthermore, State drinking water agencies, which have Primary Enforcement Responsibility for the PWSS Program, and Indian Tribes that receive PWSS grants are required to use the funds to update and maintain its PWSS program to comply with the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations Implementation requirements listed in 40 CFR 142 to ensure that the State or Tribal PWSS program is capable of conducting oversight of all public water systems as new drinking water rules, new public water systems, and/or drinking water program requirements become effective.

Examples of Funded Projects

Assistance Listing Description

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Range of $126,000 to $7,529,000/fiscal year; Average of $1,697,000/fiscal year.

Accomplishments

Account Identification

68-0103-0-1-304-State and Tribal Assistance Grants (STAG)

Types of Assistance

A - Formula Grants

Credentials and Documentation

Applicant Eligibility

Eligibility is limited to the governments of the fifty States; the District of Columbia; the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; the Northern Mariana Islands; the Virgin Islands; Guam; American Samoa; and federally recognized Tribes, that have either assumed primary enforcement responsibility for the PWSS Program or that want to develop a program that will allow them to seek delegation for a PWSS Program. EPA may also use funds allotted for a State or Tribal program, if the State or Tribe does not have, or is not developing, primary enforcement responsibility, or EPA may use all or part of the funds to support the PWSS Program in absence of an acceptable State program. Eligibility is also limited to a single agency within each State, Territory, or Tribe - an agency that has been designated by the jurisdiction's Governor or Chief Executive Officer. Primary Enforcement Responsibility for the Public Water System Supervision Program is provided for in 40 CFR 142 (https://ecfr.federalregister.gov/current/title-40/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-142?toc=1).

Beneficiary Eligibility

The beneficiaries are the agencies within the fifty States; the District of Columbia; the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; the Northern Mariana Islands; the Virgin Islands; Guam; American Samoa; and federally recognized Tribes, that have been designated by the jurisdiction's Governor or Chief Executive Officer as being responsible for the supervision of water supplies within the State, Territory, or Tribe.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

The term of the grant shall be determined at the time of grant award. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: The method of fund disbursement will be determined at the time of award.

Use of Assistance

The funds are to be used to develop and implement a Public Water System Supervision Program adequate to enforce the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act and associated program regulations found in 40 CFR Parts 35, 141, 142, and 143. Assistance agreement awards under this program may involve or relate to geospatial information. Further information regarding geospatial information may be obtained by viewing the following website: Geospatial Resources at EPA.

Deadlines

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. Intergovernmental review applies to this assistance listing when proposed Federal financial assistance involves planning for construction of drinking water infrastructure. EPA financial assistance programs and activities subject to intergovernmental review that are subject to review under State single point of contact procedures are identified at https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-financial-assistance-programs-subject-executive-order-12372-and-section-204. Applicants for programs or activities subject to Intergovernmental Review that are not subject to State single point of contact review must provide directly affected State, areawide, regional, and local entities at least 60 days to review their application following notification by EPA that the application has been selected for funding as provided by 40 CFR 29.8(a) and (c).

Application Procedures

2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program.

Applicants, except in limited circumstances approved by the Agency, must submit all initial applications for funding through Grants.gov.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

(1) Adequacy of States and Tribes (those that have Primary Enforcement Responsibility for the PWSS Program) for the adoption and enforcement of drinking water regulations which are no less stringent than the national primary drinking regulations as listed in 40 CFR 141 and 40 CFR 142. (2) Designation of a State agency to receive the grant and be responsible for conducting the public water system supervision program. (3) Compliance with requirements of 2 CFR 200 and 1500 as applicable, and 40 CFR 35. Applications will be assessed consistent with the merit review regulations in 2 CFR 200.205.

Award Procedure

The grant application and Program Plan are reviewed by the appropriate EPA Regional Office, and if approved, are signed by the Regional Administrator, who then awards the funds to the recipient.

Date Range for Approval/Disapproval

Generally 60 days.

Renewals

Not Applicable.

Appeals

Disputes relating to matters other than competitive selection of recipients will be resolved under 2 CFR 1500 Subpart E, as applicable

Policy Requirements

Reports

Audits

Records

Recipients must keep financial records, including all documents supporting entries on accounting records and to substantiate changes in grants available to personnel authorized to examine EPA recipients grants and cooperative agreements records. Recipients must maintain all records until 3 years from the date of submission of final expenditure reports as required by 2 CFR 200.334. If questions, such as those raised because of audits remain following the 3-year period, recipients must retain records until the matter is completely resolved.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

2 CFR Part 1500 (EPA Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards); 40 CFR Part 33 (Participation by Disadvantaged Business Enterprises in United States Environmental Protection Agency Programs); and 40 CFR Part 35 SubPart A (Environmental Program Grants) or SubPart B (Environmental Program Grants for Tribes.

Formula and Matching Requirements

Regional or Local Locations:

Headquarters Office: