EPA Transboundary Watershed Grants Program (US)

The goals of EPA’s trans boundary watershed program are to monitor, assess, document, and reduce trans boundary mining pollution originating in the Canadian Province of British Columbia. In pursuing these goals, EPA seeks to foster coordination among Federal, State, and Tribal agencies regarding efforts to meet the program’s goals and to develop the capacity of all levels of government to develop and/or refine effective, comprehensive programs for trans boundary watershed protection and management.

For this grant program, the term trans boundary watersheds includes water bodies that have their headwaters in the Province of British Columbia and have existing or proposed future mines that impact (or could impact) U.S. waters. These water bodies flow into the U.S. in the States of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, and/or Washington.

Core Elements

• Applications must address at least one of the following core elements that comprise a comprehensive trans boundary watershed program:
  • Monitor, assess, and report on baseline conditions and status/trends over time in trans boundary waters.
  • Monitor, assess, and report on human health and ecosystem health.
  • Participate in regulatory processes, including regulatory processes in Canada and B.C.
  • Participate in international watershed policy discussions.
  • Implement regulations related to trans boundary mining pollution.

Tracks

• Track One is for development of trans boundary watershed programs that address potential impacts from existing or proposed mining activities in B.C. in the Kootenai/y watershed in the state and/or Tribal territories within Idaho and Montana.
• Track Two is for development of trans boundary watershed programs that address potential impacts from existing or proposed mining activities in B.C. in trans boundary watersheds in the state of and/or Tribal territories within Washington.
• Track Three is for development of trans boundary watershed programs that address potential impacts from existing or proposed mining activities in B.C. in trans boundary watersheds in the state of and/or Tribal territories within Alaska.

Funding Information

• Funding Available: $1,800,000
• Awards are expected to be between $50,000 and $600,000, depending on Agency funding levels, the quality of applications received, agency priorities and other applicable considerations.
• Number of Awards: up to 10

Eligible Activities

• Develop and implement studies to either analyze human and ecosystem risk from trans boundary mining or address trans boundary mining pollution.
• Identify pollutants of concern and quantify pollutants, ecosystem response, and ecosystem health;
• Support development and review of water quality standards or screening thresholds.
• Assemble data and information.
• Collect information to support and/or conduct CWA 303(d) assessments in addition to Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) development.
• Develop TMDLs;
• Report on and present data and information.
• Participate in intergovernmental meetings on trans boundary watershed pollution (including travel to and from meetings);
• Host conferences, workshops, or other forums for discussing trans boundary mining pollution.
• Participate in International Joint Commission (IJC) meetings.
• Review, comment on, and participate in Canadian regulatory processes that affect U.S. trans boundary watersheds, including but not limited to environmental assessments, impact assessments, permitting decisions, and watershed plans.
• Review and comment on mine treatment technologies, remedial investigations, mine reclamation and closure plans, and restoration plans.

Ineligible Activities

• The funds will support conducting and promoting the coordination and acceleration of research, investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys, and studies relating to the causes, effects (including health and welfare effects), extent, prevention, reduction, and elimination of water pollution.
• If an application is submitted with ineligible tasks, that portion of the application will be ineligible for funding and may, depending on the extent to which it affects the application, render the entire application ineligible for funding. Ineligible activities include, but are not limited to:
  • Fundraising, honorarium, or for the purchase of land or conservation easements.
  • Trans boundary watershed projects cannot include projects or activities constructed or implemented for the sole purpose of treating wastewater or storm water.
  • Purchase of vehicles (e.g., cars, boats, motor homes, etc.) and office furniture are not eligible for funding under this program. The lease of vehicles is eligible for funding under this program but must be described in the budget detail and linked to project activities.

Eligibility Criteria

• Only these types of organizations may apply. Organization types are consistent with definitions at 2 CFR 200.1:
  • Indian Tribe
  • Intertribal consortia
  • State Governments
  • Local Governments
• Applications must meet the following threshold criteria to be considered eligible:
  • For the purpose of this funding opportunity, trans boundary watersheds are defined as rivers, lakes, or watersheds that flow from the Canadian Province of British Columbia (B.C.) into the states of Montana (represented by EPA Region 8), Idaho, Washington, and/or Alaska (represented by EPA Region 10). These watersheds must have existing or proposed mining activities in B.C. that impact (or may impact) U.S. waters.
  • Applications must address activities taking place within trans boundary watersheds that cross the border between B.C. and the states of Montana, Idaho, Washington, and/or Alaska.
  • Applications must address at least one core element listed in Section 3A. Applicants may only submit one application per Track under this opportunity. Applicants that submit more than one application per Track will be contacted to determine which application to evaluate. The remaining application(s) will be deemed ineligible.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.