Alabama Department of Environmental Management
P.O. Box 301463 (Zip 36130-1463)
1400 Coliseum Boulevard (Zip 36110-2400)
Montgomery, Alabama
PUBLIC NOTICE - 3251

The Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) anticipates receiving an annual appropriation from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under Section 319(h) of the Clean Water Act through the Performance Partnership Grant (PPG), CFDA# 66.605, for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 to prevent, control and/or abate nonpoint source pollution (NPS) in support of achieving the goals, objectives, and milestones of the latest EPA-approved Alabama’s Nonpoint Source Management Program.

ADEM conducts a competitive process to pass-through a portion of these fund to eligible projects that will lead to direct reductions in NPS pollutant loads and measurable water quality improvements in NPS impaired waters throughout the State with subawards to eligible subrecipients. State and local governmental units, non-profit organizations, and public institutions with an active registration in the System for Award Management are eligible to apply for a subaward. The grant’s cost-share policy requires a maximum of 60% Federal dollars and a minimum of 40% real or in-kind non-federal match toward the total project cost. Selected subrecipients would receive reimbursement only for eligible costs incurred within the ADEM-approved subrecipient period of performance, which will not exceed 36 months.

Proposals requesting Watershed Project Funds must meet all of the following requirements:
(1) Proposed activities target restoration of NPS pollution impaired waterbodies identified on the current Clean Water Act Section 303(d) List and/or implement the NPS components of an impaired waterbody with a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL);
(2) Project activities should implement an existing watershed-based management plan. The proposal must target NPS pollution management practices identified in the watershed-based management plan (WMP), which must meet the EPA’s 9 key elements for a watershed-based plan;
(3) Project activities should be focused on a 12-digit hydrologic unit code (HUC-12) or smaller, unless prior approval is obtained from ADEM;
(4) Proposals should target the listed, see item 1, nonpoint source impairment, such as pathogens, nutrients, or low dissolved oxygen. All projects must also demonstrate the ability to generate pollutant load reductions of nonpoint sources of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment. Proposals must provide pre- and post- project NPS pollutant load reduction estimates;
(5) On-the-ground implementation of best management practice(s) must make up a minimum of 70% of the federal funds requested; and
(6) A minimum of 40% of the total project cost must come from non-federal matching funds. The source of all matching funds must be clearly explained.

Eligible watershed project examples include implementation of a watershed-based management plan by installing best management practices that are not specifically required by a draft or final National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit, measures to protect groundwater from nonpoint sources of pollution, and NPS project staffing and support services. All proposals should include an analysis, such as EJSCREEN, to evaluate the project focus area, such as the watershed, for disadvantaged communities. A strategy should be included for outreach to identified disadvantaged communities within the project scope.

Certain public reservoir or lake protection and restoration activities (excluding sediment dredging and macrophyte harvesting) may also be eligible. Water quality protection practices required by state or federal laws, rules, regulations or permits or as a result of an ADEM or EPA regulatory or enforcement action are not eligible for funding. Applications from subrecipients for grant funds under this request for proposals may not be used for research or to fund monitoring activities.

NPS Program Funds primarily fund the administration, management, education/outreach, technical assistance, and technology transfer by the ADEM NPS Unit staff. In addition, Program Funds are utilized for NPS water quality monitoring conducted by ADEM and annually fund projects that facilitate the development of CZARA program. Any remaining program funding shall be in support of the goals of the state NPS management program and development of WMP or components considered by the NPS Program to contribute to the development of WMPs.

Availability of grant funds, amounts, and award schedules are conditioned on EPA’s budget as approved by Congress and subsequent appropriation of Section 319 grant funds through the PPG to the state. The ADEM reserves the right to wholly fund, partially fund, or not fund any proposal or any component of any proposal.

To apply, individuals must participate in a pre-application consultation and use the current application and guidelines. To inquire about potential –projects or to schedule a pre-application consultation, contact:

Heather Griffin, Chief
Nonpoint Source Unit
Office of External Affairs
Alabama Department of Environmental Management
(334) 394-4354
hmgriffin@adem.alabama.gov

Notice is hereby given this 1st day of May, 2024, by authorization of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management.

_____________________________
Lance R. LeFleur
Director

Nondiscrimination Statement: The Department does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age or disability in the administration of its programs.