The Indoor Radon Abatement Act
(IRAA), Section 306, and the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA),
Section 10, authorizes EPA to assist States and Federally Recognized
Indian Tribes in the development and implementation of programs
and projects reducing radon risks. Specifically, EPA will award
funds to: 1) establish effective radon programs among States, Territories,
and Federally Recognized Indian Tribes; 2) increase the number of
homes, schools, and other buildings tested and mitigated for radon;
3) encourage radon testing and disclosure in connection with real
estate transfers; 4) implement radon resistant construction standard
in high risk areas; and 5) promote environmental justice through
programs and outreach efforts directed at low-income and/or culturally-diverse
populations.
TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:
Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES
AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
The
following activities are eligible for funding under SIRG: radon
surveys, public information and educational materials, radon control
programs, purchase of radon measurement equipment or devices, purchase
and maintenance of analytic equipment, training, program overhead
and administration, data storage and management, mitigation demonstrations,
and toll-free hotlines. Funding for these eligible activities may
be used to develop State radon response programs. States may, at
the governors direction, provide assistance to local governments
for public information, educational materials, radon control programs
and training. RESTRICTIONS: The statute places the following restrictions
on the use of Federal funds: 1) SIRG applicants may not receive
continuation grant funding unless EPA determines that the State
satisfactorily implemented the activities funded by the grant in
the preceding budget period; 2) State expenditures for measurement
equipment/devices and mitigation demonstrations cannot exceed 50
percent of the grant amount in a budget period; 3) State expenditures
for general overhead and program administration cannot exceed 25
percent in a budget period; and 4) SIRG applicants may use grant
funds for financial assistance to persons only to the extent that
such assistance is related to demonstration projects or the purchase
and analysis of radon measurement devices, and States may not use
grant funds for the costs of federally-administered proficiency
rating programs.
ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant
Eligibility: States, including the District
of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands,
Guam, the Canal Zone, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands,
or any other U.S. Territory or possession.
Beneficiary
Eligibility: Beneficiaries of the Program
include State agencies, local, municipal, district, or area wide
organizations; U.S. territories or possessions, Federally Recognized
Indian Tribes, colleges, universities, multi-state agencies, nonprofit
organizations, low-income individuals, homeowners, and the general
public.
Credentials/Documentation:
States must submit the following documentation with their application:
1) a description of the seriousness and extent of radon exposure;
2) an identification of the State agency that has primary responsibility
for radon programs and which will receive the grant, plus a description
of the roles and responsibilities of the lead State agency, any
other State agencies, and any municipal, district, or area wide
organizations involved in radon programs; 3) a description of
the activities and programs related to radon that the SIRG applicant
proposes for the funding year (i.e., a work plan); 4) a budget
specifying Federal and SIRG applicant funding of each element
of activity described in the work plan; and a 3-year plan outlining
long range program goals and objectives, tasks necessary to achieve
them, and resource requirements for the 3-year period, including
anticipated SIRG applicant funding levels and desired Federal
funding levels. Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB
Circular No. A- 87 for State and local governments.
Pre-application
Coordination: Assistance is available. Applicants
are encouraged to seek assistance by arranging a site visit or informal
conference with EPA, submitting a written informal inquiry. The
standard application forms, as furnished by EPA and required by
OMB Circular No. A-102 must be used by 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 the 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.
Application
Procedure: Applications must be submitted
to the appropriate EPA Regional Office.
Award
Procedure: Each application shall be subjected
to administrative evaluation to determine adequacy of application
in relation to grant regulations and to technical and program
evaluation to determine the merit and relevancy of the project
or program.
Deadlines:
Completed deadlines are set by the appropriate Regional Office.
Range
of Approval/Disapproval Time: Approximately
90 days.
Appeals:
Not applicable.
Renewals:
Not applicable.
ASSISTANCE
CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula
and Matching Requirements: This program has
no statutory formula. EPA may provide States with up to 50 percent
of allowable costs of approved SIRG Program activities. Federally
Recognized Indian Tribes are not required to provide a cost share
match.
Length
and Time Phasing of Assistance: Grants are
funded on a 12- month basis (yearly).
POST
ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports:
Required reports from grant recipients include: performance reports,
no more often than quarterly; Financial Status Reports, (Standard
Form 269); Federal Cash Transactions Reports (for grants paid by
letter of credit); and if applicable, Request for Advance or Reimbursement
(Standard Form 270). To monitor the performance of each grant recipient,
the EPA Project Officer and other Agency personnel may conduct mid-year
(or more frequent) site visits to inspect program activities first
hand.
Audits:
Grants are subject to inspection and audit by EPA and the Comptroller
General. Periodic audits should be made as part of the recipient's
systems of financial management and internal control to meet terms
and conditions of grants and other agreements. In accordance with
the provision of Attachment P to Circular A-102, "Uniform Requirements
for Grants to State and Local Governments," audits shall be made
of organizations carrying out this program at least once every
2 years. These audits will be made in accordance with the General
Accounting Office guidelines, "Standards for Audit of Government
Organizations, Programs, Activities and Functions," and additional
OMB guidance. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular
No. A-133, "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit
Organizations," was published in the Federal Register on June
30, 1997. The Circular implements the Single Audit Act amendments
of 1996. The Circular requires nonfederal entities that expend
more than $300,000 in Federal award dollars, to have an audit
conducted in accordance with the Circular's provisions. With the
revised Circular, the previous OMB Circular No. A-128 for single
audits of State and local governments was rescinded and the single
audit requirements for these entities were incorporated among
the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133.
Records:
Financial records, including all documents to support entries
on accounting records and to substantiate charges to each grant,
must be kept available to personnel authorized to examine EPA
grant accounts. All records must be maintained for 3 years from
the date of submission of the annual financial status report.
If questions still remain, such as those raised as a result of
audit, related records should be retained until the matter is
completely resolved.
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION:
Account
Identification: 68-0108-0-1-304.
Obligations:
(Grants) FY 01 $8,158,000; FY 02 est $8,158,000; and FY 03 est
Not available.
Range
and Average of Financial Assistance:
It is anticipated that Federal funding will range from $5,000
to $500,000 per applicant. The anticipated average Federal funding
per applicant is $150,000. Maximum allowable award is $800,000.
The State Indoor Radon Grant Program has assisted States, the District
of Columbia, Guam and numerous Federally recognized Indian Tribes
to establish, sustain and expand radon programs. Currently 47 of
the 50 States have State radon programs, as well as the District
of Columbia and Guam. More than 35 Federally recognized Tribal nations
have previously or currently receive funding to address radon in
Tribal lands. The program continues to focus on achieving results
in the areas of radon awareness, number of homes, schools and other
buildings tested and mitigated radon, number of homes built using
radon resistant features and getting disclosure, testing and mitigation
in conjunction with real estate transfers. Program results indicate
an increase in the number of calls to the national radon information
hotlines, as well as increases in both radon home mitigations and
radon resistant new home construction. In addition, States and Tribes
develop coalitions which work in partnership with local governments,
national and local nonprofit organizations, and other risk leaders
to achieve radon program results. Many State radon programs will
begin to work collaboratively with their State's drinking water
program to explore opportunities for radon risk reduction as part
of the pending Radon in Drinking Water regulation. The proposed
regulation was published in November 1999. The final regulation
is expected to be promulgated in prior to the end of 2001. Under
the Safe Drinking Water Act, States will have the flexibility to
focus their efforts on the highest radon risks to the public - in
indoor air - while at the same time reducing the highest risks from
radon in drinking water. States electing to implement this multimedia
mitigation (MMM) approach will be required to submit their MMM plans
to EPA within 2 years of publication of the final regulation. In
fiscal year 2001, SIRG funds may be used for activities related
to initial stages of MMM planning, especially activities related
to developing a public participation process and promoting public
input into the development of the MMM program plan.
REGULATIONS,
GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:
EPA regulations that govern State activities under the SIRG Program
are contained in the following Parts of 40 CFR: (1) Part 4, "Implementation
of the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition
Policies Act of 1980"; (2) Part 7, "Nondiscrimination in Programs
Receiving Federal Assistance from the Environmental Protection Agency";
(3) Part 29, "Intergovernmental Review of Environmental Protection
Agency Programs and Activities"; (4) Part 31, "Uniform Administrative
Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and
Local Governments"; and (5) Part 32, "Debarment and Suspension under
EPA Assistance Programs". Applicable OMB Circulars include (1) Circular
A-87, "Cost Principles for State and Local Governments," and (2)
Circular A-102, "Uniform Requirements for Assistance to State and
Local Governments". Other material applicable to SIRG include: (1)
Administrative Guidance for the State Indoor Radon Grants Program
under Section 306, Indoor Radon Abatement Act (December 1992); (2)
Protocols for Radon and Radon Decay Products Measurements in Homes
EPA 420-R-93-003; (3) State Proficiency Report (402-R-94-004); (4)
Indoor Radon and Radon Decay Product Measurement Device Protocols
(EPA 402-R-92-004); and (5) SIRG Program- Specific Technical Guidance
(May 1997) and (6) Guidance for the Indian Radon Pilot Projects
(March 1991).
INFORMATION
CONTACTS:
Regional
or Local Office: For questions of a programmatic/technical
nature, contact the appropriate Regional Radon Office representative
listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog.
Headquarters
Office: Office of Radiation and Indoor Air,
Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street, SW., Mail Code
6604J, Washington, DC 20460. Telephone: (202) 564-9439.
Web
Site Address: http://www.epa.gov
EXAMPLES
OF FUNDED PROJECTS:
Not applicable.
CRITERIA
FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:
EPA will base its review of SIRG applications on whether they reflect
the program's goals and promote integrity in States' use of grant
funds. Pursuant to Section 306(e), if State applications exceed
the funds appropriated for award in a fiscal year, EPA will prioritize
State activities based on the following criteria: 1) the seriousness
and extent of the radon contamination problem to be addressed; 2)
the potential for the activity or project to bring about reduction
in radon levels; 3) the potential for the development of innovative
radon assessment techniques, mitigation measures as approved by
the Administrator, or program management approaches which may be
of use to other States; 4) the potential for the activity to implement
EPA's model radon-resistant building standards; 5) the potential
for the development of radon programs in high-risk areas; and 6)
the potential for the activity to improve the effectiveness and
viability of the State program.
