Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Funding Opportunity for Indian Tribes and Intertribal Consortia for Nonpoint Source Management Grants Under Clean Water Act Section 319
This funding opportunity provides financial support to federally recognized Indian tribes and intertribal consortia to implement projects that reduce water pollution and improve water quality through best management practices.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is offering grants through its Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Funding Opportunity for Indian Tribes and Intertribal Consortia under Clean Water Act Section 319. These grants are intended to help eligible tribes and consortia implement Nonpoint Source (NPS) management programs that aim to control pollution from diffuse sources and improve the quality of navigable waters. The projects funded must include on-the-ground implementation of best management practices (BMPs) and can include up to 25% of federal funds for supporting activities like developing watershed-based plans or conducting related monitoring and outreach. Tribes and intertribal consortia may request up to $125,000 in federal funds, with a matching requirement of 40% of the total project cost unless undue hardship is demonstrated. Applicants must be federally recognized tribes with an EPA-approved NPS assessment report and management program, and they must have "Treatment-in-a-manner-similar-to-a-State" (TAS) status by October 11, 2024. This funding opportunity is competitive, and the EPA will reserve a portion of funds to support approximately five new recipients who have not received a competitive grant under this program in the last five years. Applications must include well-defined outputs, such as the number of BMPs implemented, and measurable outcomes that demonstrate water quality improvements. Eligible project activities focus on reducing pollution from various sources, such as road stabilization, streambank restoration, septic system rehabilitation, and nutrient management. The approach must be watershed-based, considering the impact on all relevant areas, including estuarine and coastal systems, if applicable. Projects may also include activities upstream or downstream of reservation waters, provided they impact tribal water quality. To apply, applicants must submit a complete package through Grants.gov by December 11, 2024. The EPA will evaluate submissions based on project location, pollution problems, goals and environmental results, workplan, BMP technical merit, budget, and past performance. The workplan should detail tasks, responsible parties, and a timeline, and the project narrative should explain how the project aligns with the tribe’s NPS management program and EPA strategic goals. Outputs and outcomes should link directly to EPA's FY 2022-2026 Strategic Plan, Goal 5, which aims to ensure clean and safe water for all communities.
Award Range
Not specified - $125,000
Total Program Funding
$3,500,000
Number of Awards
28
Matching Requirement
Yes - CWA Section 319(h)(3) of the CWA requires a non-federal cost share/match of at least 40 percent of the total project cost, and the cost share/match must be provided from non-federal sources. In order to receive an award, applicants must demonstrate how they will meet the applicable match requirements by the time of award.
Eligible Applicants
Additional Requirements
To be eligible for a CWA Section 319 grant under this NOFO, a Tribe or intertribal consortium must: (1) be federally recognized, (2) have an EPA-approved NPS assessment report in accordance with CWA Section 319 (a), (3) have an EPA-approved NPS management program in accordance with CWA Section 319(b) and (4) have “Treatment-in-a-manner-similar-to-a-State” (TAS) status in accordance with CWA Section 518(e). To be eligible for CWA Section 319 grants under this NOFO, Tribes or intertribal consortium must have met these eligibility requirements as of October 11, 2024. For a complete list of Tribes eligible for CWA Section 319 FY2025 funding, refer to the eligibility section of the Tribal Section 319 Website. Some Tribes have formed intertribal consortia to promote cooperative work. An intertribal consortium is a partnership between two or more Tribes that is authorized by the governing bodies of those Tribes to apply for and receive assistance under this program (see 40 CFR 35.502). Individual Tribes who are part of an intertribal consortium that submits an application for a CWA Section 319 competitive grant may not also submit an individual CWA Section 319 competitive application. In such cases the individual application will be considered ineligible. The intertribal consortium is eligible only if the consortium demonstrates that all of its members have met the eligibility requirements listed above for the CWA Section 319 program by October 11, 2024, and member Tribes authorize the consortium to apply for and receive assistance in accordance with 40 CFR 35.504 at the time of application submission. An intertribal consortium must submit with its application adequate documentation of the existence of the partnership and the authorization of the consortium by its members to apply for and receive the grant (see 40 CFR 35.504).
Geographic Eligibility
All
Application Opens
September 23, 2024
Application Closes
December 11, 2024
Grantor
Margot Buckelew
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