Guidance issued on financial assistance awards issued through ARRA

The Office of Federal Financial Management (OFFM) within the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) announced in the April 23 Federal Register government-wide interim final guidance and standard award terms for agencies to include in financial assistance awards (namely, grants, cooperative agreements and loans) as part of their implementation of sections 1512, and 1605, and 1606 of ARRA. This guidance does not cover all award terms that may be needed on financial assistance awards funded directly or assisted by the Federal Government under the Recovery Act. The focus of this guidance is on implementing Recovery Act provisions that may require greater clarification in order to foster consistent application across the Federal Government.

Under the interim final guidance, agencies would use the standard award terms in their financial assistance awards to require recipients and subrecipients (first-tier that are not individuals) to maintain current registrations in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database; to require recipients to report quarterly on project or activity status, subgrant and subcontract information; to notify recipients of the domestic sourcing (Buy American) requirements that apply to certain iron, steel and manufactured goods; to notify recipients of the wage rate requirements that apply to certain projects; and to ensure proper accounting and reporting of Recovery Act expenditures in single audits.

OMB is accepting comments by no later than June 22, 2009. More information is available through the Federal Register by clicking here.

EPA Administrator testifies before T&I Committee

Yesterday Lisa Jackson, Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), testified before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee about her agency's implementation of ARRA.

Click here to read her full testimony.

EPA Office of Water issues guidance on ARRA Buy American provisions

The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Water issued an updated guidance memorandum to regional water management division directors to implement ARRA requirements for clean water and drinking water state revolving funds (SRF) loan programs. The guidance includes definitions to better determine the interpretation and implementation of the Buy American provisions of ARRA, particularly as they related to use of American made iron, steel and manufactured goods in the construction of a project.

Implementation requirements for Buy American waivers include step-by-step process requirements for SRF applicants along with worksheets for such waivers, and foreign and domestic construction materials price comparisons. The guidance also includes an explanation of how EPA will issue national waivers in certain situations and sample Buy American contract language and certification. EPA plans to announce the availability of the guidance in an upcoming Federal Register.

Click here for details.

USACE releases its list of ARRA-funded civil works projects

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will allocate ARRA funding -- $4.6 billion -- to Civil Works projects in the following categories:

- Operation and Maintenance
- Construction
- Mississippi River and Tributaries
- Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program
- Investivations

The full list of projects is available at http://www.usace.army.mil/recovery/Pages/Projects.aspx.

House hearings on ARRA infrastructure spending announced

Bureau of Reclamation and United States Geological Survey
What: Discussion of $1 billion distributed by the Department of the Interior for shovel-ready water projects, including project oversight.
Where: House Water and Power Subcommittee (1324 Longworth)
When: Tuesday, April 28, 10 a.m.
Witnesses: Bill McDonald, acting commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation; Matthew Larsen, associate director for water, USGS; Ron His Horse Is Thunder, chairman, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Great Plains Tribal Chairman's Association; Dan Keppen, executive director, Family Farm Alliance; Rich Atwater, CEO and general manager, Inland Empire Utilities Agency, president WaterReuse Association; and Mike McDowell, general manager, Heartland Consumers Power District

Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Transportation
What: Project report on how DOT is spending $48 billion of stimulus funding and how EPA is spending $6 billion.
Where: House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (2167 Rayburn)
When: Wednesday, April 29, 11 a.m.
Witnesses: Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson

White House Office of Management and Budget
What: Discussion of how OBM reviews federal regulations, particularly its role in the scientific regulatory process.
Where: House Science and Technology Subcommittee (2318 Rayburn)
When: Thursday, April 30, 10 a.m.
Witnesses: Rick Melberth, director of Federal Regulatory Policy for OMB Watch; Rena Steinzor, professor at the University of Maryland Law School; and Caroline Smith DeWaal at the Center for Science in the Public Interest. Other witnesses TBA.

GAO issues report on state, local ARRA implementation and accountability

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued a new report on ARRA implementation: As Initial Implementation Unfolds in States and Localities, Continued Attention to Accountability Issues Is Essential.

Click here to read the report.

OMB issues guidance to help clarifies ARRA "Buy American" provisions

The U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released interim final guidance to clarify the "Buy American" provisions of the ARRA.

Click here to read the guidance.

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack announces $84.8M for vital watershed projects

According to a press release issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA):

Recovery Act Assistance Will Help Rural Communities

WASHINGTON, April 16, 2009 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the USDA will be sending $84.8 million to state and local governments to improve water quality, increase water supply, decrease soil erosion, and improve fish and wildlife habitat in rural communities as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009.

"President Obama is committed to improving water quality, creating more dependable water supplies and decreasing soil erosion and this funding will make a big difference in the lives of the people who live in these rural communities," Vilsack said.

Other major benefits include improved community safety and health, flood mitigation, sediment control, and enhanced fish and wildlife habitat.

Click here for full text of the release.

Economic stimulus oversight field hearings announced

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee (Chairman Towns, D-N.Y.) will hold a series of oversight field hearings on stimulus spending under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (PL 111-5).

Contact: Lawrence Brady - Democratic Staff Director at 202-225-5051

Date Tuesday, April 21, 10 a.m.

Place Brooklyn Borough Hall; 209 Joralemon Street; Brooklyn, N.Y.

Note Date changed to April 21 from April 20. Time changed to 10 a.m.

Witnesses Scheduled:
William C. Thompson Jr. - comptroller, City of New York

Timothy Gilchrist - senior advisor for infrastructure and transportation, Office of New York Democratic Governor David A. Paterson

Edward Skyler - deputy mayor for operations, City of New York

-----------------------------

Date TBA

Place California location TBA

Note This hearing is planned for early June.

$600M in Recovery Act funding to clean up hazardous waste sites, create jobs

The Environmental Protection Agency recently issued the following press release:

Recovery act funds to accelerate cleanup, boost economy, create jobs and protect human health at 50 federal Superfund sites

Contact: Enesta Jones, 202-564-7873 /4355/ jones.enesta@epa.gov

(Washington, DC – April 15, 2009) EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson today announced $600 million in new funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 for the cleanup of hazardous waste (Superfund) sites across the nation. In most cases, this recovery act funding will accelerate the hazardous waste cleanup already underway at the sites and fund new clean-up projects. It will also jumpstart the local economy by creating jobs in the site areas.

“EPA has an answer to these challenging economic times,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “Under the Recovery Act, we're getting harmful pollutants and dangerous chemicals out of these communities and putting jobs and investment back in.”

The federal Superfund program was created in 1980 to clean up uncontrolled hazardous waste sites that pose unacceptable risks to human health and the environment. Superfund sites are often found in industrial areas hardest hit by the recession. Superfund cleanups are major construction projects that employ thousands of workers nationwide. Since it began, the program has completed construction of remedies at more than 1,060 of the 1,596 sites on its National Priorities List. The Superfund program is implementing new or expanded cleanup actions at 50 sites around the country with recovery act funds.

By starting or accelerating cleanup at Superfund sites, recovery act funding is also increasing the speed with which these sites are returned to productive use. When a Superfund site is redeveloped, it can offer significant economic benefits to local communities including future job creation.

President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act on February 17, 2009 and has directed the recovery act be implemented with unprecedented transparency and accountability. To that end, the American people can see how every dollar is being invested at http://www.epa.gov/recovery.

More information on the Superfund program: http://www.epa.gov/superfund.

EPA issues guidance for award of Water Planning Quality Management Grants through ARRA

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently issued a memo containing information, guidelines and answers to frequently asked questions on how the agency will award and administer Water Quality Management Planning Grants appropriated to the State and Tribal Assistance Grants through ARRA.

Click here to view the memo.

Secretary Salazar announces $260M in economic recovery investments to help California address long-term water supply challenges

According to a press release distributed April 15 by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of the Secretary:

SACRAMENTO, CA – Today, at a press conference with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and California congressional leaders, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced the Department of the Interior will invest $1 billion under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) in America’s water infrastructure to create jobs and get the economy moving again. Overall, the Department of the Interior will manage $3 billion in investments as part of the recovery plan signed by the President to jumpstart our economy, create or save jobs,
and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the 21st Century.

Of the $1 billion that Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation is investing in water projects across the country, $260 million will go to projects in California that will expand water supplies, repair aging water infrastructure, and mitigate the effects of a devastating drought the state is currently experiencing. An additional $135 million is available for grants for water reuse and recycling projects; California is emerging as a leader in the development of these projects and is expected to also significantly benefit from this funding.

“In the midst of one of the deepest economic crises in our history, Californians have been saddled with a drought that is putting tens of thousands of people out of work and devastating entire communities,” said Secretary Salazar. “President Obama’s economic recovery plan will not only create jobs on basic water infrastructure projects, but it will help address both the short and long-term water supply challenges the Golden State is facing. From boosting water supplies
and improving conservation to improving safety at our dams, these shovel-ready projects will make a real and immediate difference in the lives of farmers, businesses, Native American Tribes and communities across California.”

Click here to read the entire press release.

Clean Energy Recovery Funding Updates

The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) State and Local Climate and Energy Program has launched a Web site compiling EPA analysis of clean energy opportunities within the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The site provides information on clean energy opportunities from EPA as well as other federal agencies, descriptions of EPA programs that can help state and local governments maximize the clean energy benefits of Recovery Act funds, webcasts and training opportunities, and links to federal and NGO resources related to the Recovery Act.

To see these resources click on the following link: http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-programs/state-and-local/recovery.html.