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  • What should I do if my water has elevated nitrates and/or exceeds the MCL?

    If nitrate exceeds the MCL of 10 mg/L, you should find a safe alternative drinking water supply. The quickest thing to do is to begin using bottled water for drinking. Another option is to install a treatment that will remove nitrate from your water such as reverse osmosis or a…

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  • Why is nitrate contamination a concern?

    Nitrate is an acute contaminant, meaning that health effects can occur immediately (I.e. within hours or days) of short-term exposure. Too much nitrate in your body makes it harder for red blood cells to carry oxygen. While most people recover quickly, this can be very dangerous for infants and some…

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  • Would participation in the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Programs weaken our application?

    Receiving funds from another federal award does not preclude the organization from receiving funding under this opportunity. However, activities funded under the respective agreements must be distinct and severable, and the organization must have the ability to accurately track their expenses under each agreement and charge them accordingly.

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  • Are projects located in the St. Louis River Estuary near Superior, WI and Duluth, MN eligible for funding?

    Communities within these areas are within the historic Great Lakes Basin and thus are eligible. From the RFA: Proposed GLEJGPs must be implemented within the historic Great Lakes Basin, including projects impacting connecting waterways such as the U.S. portions of the St. Mary’s River, Lake St. Clair and the St…

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  • Do we need to submit an Adaptive Management Strategy and Performance Measurement Plan?

    These are not required for an application to meet eligibility requirements of this RFA. Review Section III.C. for more information on threshold eligibility criteria. An applicant may choose to submit these documents and/or other supporting materials with their application. Or an applicant may choose to include the development of an…

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  • Is there a set timeline for these grant programs? How long are the programs expected to last?

    The anticipated timeline is for a 6-year period, which translates to a cooperative agreement for a 6-year period to the principal recipient. To give an estimate of what a timeline might look like, the PR may take six months to a year to initial establish the project RFA and then…

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  • So, the principal recipient can only manage the sub-recipient projects, they cannot do the project themselves?

    The PR will not complete on-the-ground project work. PRs are responsible for the project RFA and administration of awards made under the project RFA throughout the lifecycle of the award(s).

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  • Do sub recipients need to be 501c3?

    No, subrecipients do not need to be 501C3. Potential applicants should carefully review Section 7 of EPA's Subaward Policy for a full description of entities eligible for subawards. Potential applicants should also review Appendix A: Distinction Between Subrecipients and Contractors. Grants Policy Issuance (GPI) 16-01: EPA Subaward Policy for EPA…

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  • How do I have my drinking water tested in the future?

    Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) recommends you use an accredited laboratory to test your water. Contact an accredited laboratory to get sample containers and instructions or ask your county environmental or public health services if they provide well testing services. Accredited Labs in Minnesota Accepting Drinking Water Samples from Private…

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  • Is there any reason a specific municipality or county could not submit as a principal recipient?

    A municipality could apply to be a principal recipient provided the program they describe meets all the eligibility criteria: namely, that they are setting up an open and fair grant competition for their community or set of communities.

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  • How are people potentially exposed to nitrate?

    For many situations, the potential for children’s exposure from drinking water is medium to low. The potential can be higher when private wells become contaminated with nitrates from feed lot and agricultural runoff, and contaminated groundwater. Some geographic areas are at higher risk of drinking water contamination of private wells…

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  • What are the possible health effects of nitrate exposure?

    Short-term: Excessive levels of nitrate in drinking water have caused serious illness and sometimes death. The serious illness in infants is due to the conversion of nitrate to nitrite by the body, which can interfere with the oxygen-carrying capacity of the child’s blood leading to blue baby syndrome (methemoglobinemia). This…

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  • What is nitrate?

    Nitrate (NO3) is a compound of nitrogen and oxygen naturally found in air, soil, water, and some food. Plants and animals require nitrates for their survival and growth, and the human body also produces this compound. In industry, nitrate is used as fertilizers for crops and lawns. Additionally, nitrates are…

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  • I use a carbon filter. Will this help?

    Activated carbon filters, such as those in a “Brita” water pitcher, DO NOT remove nitrates.

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  • Can a City apply to provide service in an EJ community through its own programs and not via pass-through subawards?

    An applicant to the NOFO would be either a Principal Recipient or a coalition member, and not eligible for funding for on-the-ground GLRI-funded projects. Principal Recipients or coalition members would use RFA funding to develop the Project RFA, manage Project subawards, and provide technical and administrative support to Project Subrecipients…

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