Water and Environmental Programs

Objectives:

The objectives of the Solid Waste Management Grant Program are to:

1. Reduce or eliminate pollution of water resources in rural areas; and

2. Improve planning and management of solid waste sites in rural areas.

NOTE: Rural areas are defined as any area not in a city or town with a population in excess of 10,000, according to the latest decennial census of the United States.

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Eligibility:

Entities eligible for Solid Waste Management (SWM) grants are:

1. Private nonprofit organizations with tax exempt status designated by the Internal Revenue Service. A nonprofit organization is defined as any corporation, trust, association, cooperative, or other organization that:

   1. Is operated primarily for scientific, education, service, charitable, or similar purposes in the public interest.

   2. Is not organized primarily for profit.

   3. Uses its net proceeds to maintain, improve, and/or expand its operations.

2. Public bodies.

3. Federally acknowledged or State recognized Native American tribe or group.

4. Academic institutions.

• Entities must be legally established and located within a state as defined in § 1775.2.

• Organizations must be incorporated by December 31 of the year the application period occurs to be eligible for funds.

• Private businesses, Federal agencies, and individuals are ineligible for these grants.

Applications will be accepted from October 1 through December 31 of each calendar year. Applications may be hand-delivered to the State Office by close of business December 31, or postmarked by midnight December 31 to be considered submitted on time. Applications received after December 31 will NOT be considered in that year’s review and will be returned to the applicant.

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Limitations:

Grant funds may NOT be used to:

1. Recruit applications for the Agency’s water and waste loan and/or any loan and/or grant program.
2. Duplicate current services, replacement or substitution of support previously provided such as those performed by an association’s consultant in developing a project.
3. Fund political activities.
4. Pay for capital assets, the purchase of real estate or vehicles, improve and renovate office space, or repair and maintain privately owned property.
5. Pay for construction or operation and maintenance costs.
6. Pay for costs incurred prior to the effective date of the grant.
7. Pay for technical assistance which duplicates assistance provided to implement an action plan funded by the Forest Service (FS) under the National Forest-Dependent Rural Communities Economic Diversification Act (7U.S.C. 6601 note) for five continuous years from the date of grant approval by the FS. To avoid duplicate assistance, coordinate with the State Rural Development office and the Forest Service before submitting an application.

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Purpose:

Solid Waste Management grants may be used to:

1. Evaluate current landfill conditions to determine threats to water resources.
2. Provide technical assistance and/or training to enhance operator skills in the operation and maintenance of active landfills.
3. Provide technical assistance and/or training to help communities reduce the solid waste stream.
4. Provide technical assistance and/or training for operators of landfills which are closed or will be closed in the near future with the development and implementation of closure plans, future land use plans, safety and maintenance planning, and closure scheduling within permit requirements.

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Application Requirements:

Applicant will provide:

1.  An original and one copy of SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance (for non-construction).

   1. For projects that will serve only one state, the application and other forms will be submitted to the local State Rural Development office.

   2. For projects that will serve multiple states, the application and other forms will be submitted to the National USDA, Rural Utilities Service office.

2.  Evidence of applicant’s legal existence and authority in the form of certified copies of organizational documents and a certified list of directors and officers with their respective terms.

3. Evidence of tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service (for non- profits).

4. Brief written narrative which includes:

a.  The need for the project/service.
b.  The proposed service(s) to be provided.
c.  The benefits of the technical assistance and/or training.
d.  Areas to be served, including population and non-metropolitan    median household income information.
e.  Name of association(s) or type of association(s) that will be served.
f.   Experience of the applicant to provide the proposed service, including experience of key staff members and person(s) providing the technical assistance and/or training.
g.  The number of months duration of the project or service, and the estimated time from grant approval to beginning of project or service.
h.  Method used to select the association(s) that will receive the service.
i.   Brief description of how the service will be provided, whether through currently employed personnel or through contracted personnel.
j.  Clearly defined goals and objectives and how they will be measured. k. Evaluation method to determine if objective(s) or the proposed activity is being accomplished.
l.  Plans for increased self-sustainability for the project/service in future years.

5. Latest financial information to show the applicant's financial capacity to carry out the proposed work.  A current audit report is preferred.  At a minimum, the information should include a balance sheet and an income statement.

6. Estimated breakdown of costs including those to be funded by the applicant as well as from other sources.

7. Budget and accounting system in place or proposed.

8. Provide the Dunn & Bradstreet D-U-N-S number (Data Numbering System) for the organization - if you do not have a DUNS number, go to the web site www.dnb.com to apply.  There is no charge for this service, and the number will be received within 30 business days, according to the information on the web site.

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Required Forms:

Standard Form 424 Application for Federal Assistance for Non-construction Programs

Standard Form 424A Budget Information for Non-construction Programs

Standard Form 424B Assurances – Non-construction Programs

Form AD 1047 Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension & Other Responsibility Matters – Primary Covered Transactions

Form AD 1048 Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion - Lower Tier Covered Transactions

Form AD 1049 Certification Regarding Drug-free Workplace Requirements

RD Instruction 1940-Q Exhibit A-1 Disclosure for Lobbying Activities ($100,000) (See your local RD Office.)

Form RD 400-1 Equal Opportunity Agreement

Form RD 400-4 Assurance Agreement

Other forms may be required for approved grants and will be requested at that time by the National Office or the State Rural Development Office.

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Contact Information:

If you have any questions regarding the Federal Regulation 7 CFR 1775 or the RUS Guide 1775-2, as it pertains to Solid Waste Management Grants,  please contact:

LaVonda Pernell, Loan Specialist

202-720-9635 or lavonda.pernell@wdc.usda.gov

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Evaluation Procedure:

Applications will be accepted from October 1 through December 31 of each calendar year.

Notification of awards will be mailed to the Applicant on or around Earth Day (April 22nd) of the following year.

Priority will be given to applications using the following criteria:

1. Applicant’s demonstrated capability and past performance in providing technical assistance and/or training to rural associations.
2. The extent to which the population of the associations served has low income.
3. Service being provided is to areas with populations below 5,500 or 2,500.
4. Applicant’s or other sources in-kind contributions that combine with the requested funds to maximize service performed.
5. Technical assistance and/or training will be directly delivered to staff of the associations being served.
6. Applicants proposing to serve regional, multi-state, or nationwide areas.
7. Applicants whose timeframe for completion of service/project is 12 months or less.
8. The extent to which the service/project will be cost effective.
9. Applicants whose proposed service/project coincides with the given objectives of the program given above.

Applicants will be notified using Form AD-622 "Notice of Pre-Application Review Action" indicating the action taken on the application:

1. Ineligible – applicants will be notified and advised of their appeal rights.
2. Eligible but not funded – applicants will be notified and advised against incurring obligations that cannot be fulfilled without Agency funds. The application will not be retained for future years’ consideration.
3. Eligible and selected for funding – applicant will be notified and instructed on how to complete required forms for funding. NOTE: If the applicant does not submit the necessary forms within 30 days from the date on the Form AD-622, the Agency may discontinue consideration of the application.

FY 2010INC. Solid Waste Management Grant Recipients 

Alaska Forum Inc. (AK)                                                                                                     $133,196

Alaska Forum Inc will offer five training courses consisting of four Rural Alaska Landfill Operator training and certification and one Solid Waste Administration training for rural communities in Alaska.

Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments (ME)                                                  $108,531 

Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments will provide a wide range of technical assistance to towns and solid waste associations with the purpose of improving efficiencies, reducing costs, protecting the environment and public health, and ensuring adequate facilities to handle a growing solid waste stream.  

AZ Board of Regents dba Northern AZ University (AZ)                                              $205,522 

The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) at Northern AZ University will increase the technical capacity of tribal communities throughout the United States by providing training and technical assistance to address solid waste management issues that can impact the environment and public health.

Carroll Columbiana Harrison Solid Waste District (OH)                                              $37,752 

Carroll-Columbiana-Harrison Solid Waste District will increase the recycling rate in the three counties by increasing awareness about current and future recycling programs.

Center for Ecological Technology (MA)                                                                   $96,916 

Center for Ecological Technology will assist municipalities, businesses and schools to reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions through education, waste prevention, and waste minimization, composting, and recycling.

County of Boulder (CO)                                                                                           $42,173 

County of Boulder will provide technical assistance and education to the foothills communities to help them implement new policies to encourage “zero waste” and better control their solid waste streams.

Eagle Valley Alliance for Sustainability (CO)                                                              $66,550 

Eagle Valley Alliance for Sustainability will develop a Waste Diversion Implementation Plant and provide hands-on technical assistance and education to address obstacles and gaps in its current solid waste management system. 

Hancock County Planning Commission (ME)                                                                $41,443 

Hancock County Planning Commission will help towns manage their solid waste transfer stations to increase recycling and to create incentives for recycling.

Jackson State University (MS)                                                                                         $64,866

Jackson State University will conduct education and training workshops concerning waste reduction and recycling for local government officials in rural Mississippi. 

Kansas State University (KS)                                                                                           $89,759

Kansas State University will provide source-reduction technical assistance and training to industries, businesses, and small towns located in southeast Kansas.

Kennebec Valley Council of Governments (ME)                                                          $79,119 

Kennebec Valley Council of Governments will offer public education, municipal training, and environmentally sound disposal opportunities to small towns in Maine.

Land of Sky Regional Council (NC)                                                                                $103,608 

Land of Sky Regional Council will continue to promote Best Management Practices in the residential, commercial/industrial and institutional sectors helping rural communities in Western North Carolina to meet their waste diversion and recycling goals. 

Lewis and Clark County (MT)                                                                               $56,514 

Lewis and Clark County will educate East Helena, Lincoln, and Augusta residents about the materials they can recycle, recycling locations, how commodities should be prepared for recycling, and the benefits of recycling.

Mahoning County Solid Waste Management District (OH)                                       $28,257 

Mahoning County Solid Waste Management District will provide education to rural residents about the importance of reducing the waste stream through efficient solid waste management practices.

Missaukee Conservation District (MI)                                                                     $87,197 

Missaukee Conservation District will help reduce the solid waste steam by encouraging Missaukee County land users to recycle.

Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MO)                                                        $216,133 

Missouri Department of Natural Resources will assess the condition of closed rural landfills and provide technical assistance and educational materials to those responsible for maintaining and managing the landfills.

National Indian Justice Center (CA)                                                              $116,842

National Indian Justice Center will provide hands-on training and ongoing professional development education to tribal solid waste management personnel in rural Native American tribes nationwide to reduce illegal dumping and encourage proper waste disposal practices.

Northeast Resource Recovery Association (NH)                                                         $69,229 

Northeast Resource Recovery Association will provide critical and effective solid and hazardous waste reduction training and technical assistance training in both school and municipalities with recycling education training to rural Vermont and New Hampshire.           

Oklahoma State University (OK)                                                                              $77,824 

Oklahoma State University will continue and expand work with local, state, and tribal rural programs to educate and assist communities with technical solid waste management and education for their waste management needs.

Ozark Foothills Regional Planning Commission (MO)                                         $47,095 

Ozark Foothills Regional Planning Commission will provide a training program to local units of government, local businesses and school districts in Duniphan and Piedmont, Missouri regarding paper recycling.  

Product Stewardship Institut Inc (MA)                                                                            $87,895 

Product Stewardship Institute Inc will reduce the impact of consumer products on water resources in rural areas of Iowa and Illinois by promoting and using existing low-cost product stewardship programs. 

RCAP Solutions Inc (MA)                                                                                           $160,899

RCAP Solutions Inc will provide community outreach, education, training and technical assistance to small, rural, low to moderate income communities in New Hampshire in order to reduce their municipal solid waste stream.

Region VIII Solid Waste Authority (WV)                                                                $41,994 

Region VIII Solid Waste Authority proposed project is to assist local government officials in the region in developing better strategies for managing municipal solid waste in an effective and environmentally responsible manner.

Rural Alaska Community Action Program, Inc (AK)                                            $141,025 

Rural Alaska Community Action Program, Inc provide training and technical assistance to enhance operator skills in the operation and maintenance of waste disposal systems and help communities reduce the solid waste stream in rural Alaskan communities.

Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) (CA/HI)                                     $48,601 

Rural Community Assistance Corporation will provide training and mentoring to transfer station attendants.  

Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) (CA/NM)                                     $64,114 

Rural Community Assistance Corporation will help Taos County and local communities to identify and evaluate solutions to their illegal dumping problems.

Syracuse University (NY)                                                                                                $182,486 

Syracuse University will provide assistance to rural communities through the following services: 1) Training sessions for rural government officials on “Beyond Waste” concepts, potential methods for reducing municipal waste streams, and benefits of waste reduction policies; 2) Web-based training for rural solid waste management technicians; 3) Virtual materials marketplace; and 4) Rural community outreach and education for individual citizens.

Tanana Chiefs Conference (AK)                                                                              $84,771 

Tanana Chiefs will provide hands and offsite technical assistance to village councils, utility managers, and solid waste operators concerning solid waste management solutions. They will also continue the school education program and evaluate school solid waste curriculum.                                              

Tooele County (UT)                                                                                                          $93,370 

Tooele County will provide training, public education, tribal education, recycling outreach program, public clean-up, illegal dump clean-up, and planning. 

Tompkins County (NY)                                                                                                    $33,596 

Tompkins County Division of Solid Waste Management will create a program that provides direct technical assistance and training for recycling, composting, and other waste reduction efforts at rural mobile home parks and apartment complexes.

University of Vermont and State Agricultural College (VT)                                     $157,751 

University of Vermont and State Agricultural College will evaluate landfill runoff, leachate, surface and ground water and soil quality and to identify biological indicator in order to assist landfill operators and regulatory agencies with evaluating potential environmental and health risks from closed landfill sites.

Upper Valley Sunapee Regional Planning Commission (NH)                                    $104,550 

Upper Valley Sunapee Regional Planning Commission will provide technical assistance, education, and outreach as a continuation of current and past efforts to move Sullivan County towns toward sustainable regional solid waste management.

Washington County Council of Governments (ME)                                              $42,385

Washington County Council of Governments will assist the rural municipalities of Washington County to reduce the generation of municipal solid waste and divert disposal of potentially toxic components from the waste stream or environment.

Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council (AK)                                               $169,541 

Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council will provide intensive training to Tribal Solid Waste Managers and YRITWC staff in Hazardous Materials Handling, Emergency Spill Response, and other relevant skill development. 

Zender Environmental Health and Research Group (AK)                                   $223,816 

Zender Environmental Health and Research Group will provide planning training using the extremely successful and popular Alaska Solid Waste Planning Template course with follow-up technical assistance.

Objectives Eligibility Limitations Purpose Application Requirements Required Forms Evaluation Procedure

 
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