Proposals for TMDL Development in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska Due to EPA Region 10 by March 15

Each year EPA Region 10's TMDL Program expects to receive money from EPA Headquarters to support TMDL development and implementation. These funds are called "extramural funds" and can be used for contract support, grants to states or tribes, or interagency agreements (IAGs) with other federal agencies (i.e., Forest Service, Army Corps of Engineers, etc.). We anticipate that between $600,000 and $700,000 will be available to address regional TMDL priorities.

In order to distribute these monies as effectively as possible, EPA Region 10 has developed a process for identifying projects in need of funding and criteria to prioritize those needs. Attached to this message is our TMDL Extramural Funds Allocation Process and Criteria. EPA Region 10 will use this process to identify, rank and select projects to be funded this federal fiscal year. We encourage you to evaluate your proposals relative to these criteria and present proposals in the format outlined below.

Proposals for funding will be accepted through March 15, 2004. EPA Region 10 anticipates making the funding decisions by April 15 and will notify you of the funding decisions, including the rationale for the distribution of monies, in May. Due to the length of EPA's allocation/funding process, funds usually will not be available for use prior to October 1, 2004.

Please provide funding proposals to the following appropriate State and Tribal TMDL Program Managers:

Washington - Laurie Mann at mann.laurie@epa.gov or (206) 553-1583
Oregon - Jannine Jennings at jennings.jannine@epa.gov or (206) 553-2724
Alaska - Jayne Carlin at carlin.jayne@epa.gov or (206) 553-8512
Idaho - Leigh Woodruff at woodruff.leigh@epa.gov or (208) 378-5774
Tribes-Tracy Chellis at chellis.tracy@epa.gov or (206) 553-6326

Proposals must be submitted via e-mail or by fax at 206-553-0165 by March 15, 2004. Questions may also be directed to the above noted contacts.

Remember: The funds cannot be used until the October 2004 at the earliest, with few exceptions.

Approximately $70,000 will be set aside as a noncompetitive emergency reserve TMDL fund for state and tribal projects not anticipated at the time of this solicitation for proposals. Requests for the utilization of these monies for projects or needs presented after the initial allocation of funds should be directed to Christine Psyk, Watershed Restoration Unit Manager, EPA, 206-553-1906, psyk.christine@epa.gov.

Proposals should be no longer than one page and include the following information:

Title of Project

Contact (Name, Affiliation, Telephone Number, fax number, E-Mail Address)

Projected Cost and Vehicle for Funding (grant, EPA TMDL contract, etc.)

Identification of Watershed/Segment

Pollutants Addressed

Scheduled Due Date(s) for TMDL(s)

Timeframe (Starting Date, Completion Date)

Description of Project (focusing on how the funds that are sought support TMDL development and will directly result in TMDLs). Also in this section address what will happen if this project does not get TMDL funding.

Priorities (listed immediately below) being addressed by the Project (select from the below list)

The criteria used to rank each proposal are outlined below:

Highest Priority (In order of priority)

1. For finalizing TMDLs per past due legal obligation
2. For finalizing TMDLs which are due within the next year and EPA is the lead
3. For providing support (defined as activities directly pertaining to TMDL development) to states/tribes to develop TMDLs which are due within the year
4. For finalizing TMDLs which are due within 2 years and where EPA is the lead (tribal TMDLs or where EPA is lead by agreement)

• For development of TMDLs due within 5 years (including assessments, monitoring, modeling, establishing targets, document preparation, etc.)
• For development of TMDL implementation plans

• For developing models and tools which will be indirectly used to develop TMDLs
• For training, workshops, conferences and outreach to enhance the capability of state, EPA and tribal staff to develop TMDLs
• For implementation of TMDLs