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Exxon Valdez Habitat and Water Quality Improvement Grants (FY 2013) - FAQs

What is the Exxon Valdez Habitat and Water Quality Improvement Grants program?

It is a competitive federal funding opportunity administered by NOAA Fisheries on behalf of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council. The program supports marine habitat restoration, protection, planning, and improvement projects in areas affected by the Exxon Valdez oil spill, as defined by the Trustee Council.

What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?

The intent is to fund projects that deliver measurable ecosystem benefits in spill-impacted areas, with an emphasis on practical, on-the-ground work that improves environmental conditions and supports long-term recovery.

Who administers the grant competition?

NOAA Fisheries administers the grant competition on behalf of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council.

Who provides the funding and makes final decisions?

The Trustee Council identified the funding available for the competition and retains final approval authority. Proposals selected in the competition are still subject to final approval by the Trustee Council before a cooperative agreement is finalized and implemented.

How much funding was available for Fiscal Year 2013?

For FY 2013, the Trustee Council identified up to $900,000 available for NOAA to run the grant competition.

What is the expected range of individual award amounts?

Individual awards were expected to fall between $25,000 and $500,000.

Are multi-year projects allowed?

Yes. Multi-year projects were allowed, but continued funding across years would be subject to annual approval by the Trustee Council.

Is this a standard grant or a cooperative agreement?

Funding is provided through a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant.

What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?

A cooperative agreement typically means NOAA expects to have substantial involvement during the project period, such as coordination, technical input, or oversight.

What types of projects does the program support?

The program can support marine habitat restoration, protection, planning, and improvement projects, as long as they are focused on communities and environments affected by the Exxon Valdez oil spill (as defined by the Trustee Council) and deliver measurable ecosystem benefits.

What were the stated priorities for FY 2013?

The stated priorities emphasized water quality outcomes, particularly projects that reduce pollution from stormwater or wastewater runoff, improve harbor conditions, or take related actions that lead to cleaner and healthier nearshore and marine environments.

Does the program fund only water quality projects?

The program can support a range of marine habitat efforts, but the FY 2013 priorities focused heavily on water quality outcomes such as reducing stormwater or wastewater pollution and improving harbor conditions.

What geographic areas are eligible?

Projects must benefit communities and environments affected by the Exxon Valdez oil spill, as defined by the Trustee Council.

What does "spill-impacted areas" mean in this program?

It refers to the communities and environments that were affected by the Exxon Valdez oil spill, as defined by the Trustee Council.

What makes a proposal competitive under this opportunity?

Selected projects were expected to demonstrate scientific merit, technical feasibility, and cost effectiveness. In practical terms, proposals should be well-supported by data or established methods, realistic to implement, and able to justify costs relative to environmental benefits.

What is meant by "measurable ecosystem benefits"?

The program intent is to fund projects that produce measurable benefits to ecosystems in spill-impacted areas. Applicants should be prepared to show that their work will lead to concrete environmental improvements in those areas.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants included institutes of higher education, U.S. territories, state and local governments, federally recognized tribal governments, non-governmental organizations, and commercial (for-profit) organizations.

Are for-profit (commercial) organizations eligible?

Yes. Commercial (for-profit) organizations were included among the eligible applicant types.

Are tribal governments eligible to apply?

Yes. Federally recognized tribal governments were eligible applicants.

Are state and local governments eligible to apply?

Yes. State and local governments were included as eligible applicants.

Are non-governmental organizations eligible to apply?

Yes. Non-governmental organizations were included among eligible applicants.

Are institutes of higher education eligible to apply?

Yes. Institutes of higher education were included among eligible applicants.

Are U.S. territories eligible to apply?

Yes. U.S. territories were listed as eligible applicants.

Was cost sharing or matching required?

No. The opportunity did not require cost sharing or matching funds.

When was the opportunity posted?

The announcement was posted on September 24, 2012.

What was the application deadline?

The application deadline was November 16, 2012.

What CFDA number was associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity was listed under CFDA 11.463 (Habitat Conservation).

Which federal department was this opportunity under?

It was within the Department of Commerce.

Does selection in the competition guarantee funding?

No. Proposals selected for the program were not automatically funded upon selection; they remained subject to final approval by the Trustee Council before the cooperative agreement could be finalized and implemented.

What kinds of water quality improvements were specifically highlighted?

The priorities highlighted projects that reduce pollution from stormwater or wastewater runoff, improve harbor conditions, or take related actions that lead to cleaner and healthier nearshore and marine environments.