Columbia River Basin Restoration Funding Assistance Program – Toxic Reduction Lead | EPA I R10 OW CRBRP 2023 02

Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA I R10 OW CRBRP 2023 02

The Columbia River Basin Restoration Funding Assistance Program - Toxic Reduction Lead is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region 10, designed to improve water quality across the Columbia River Basin by directly reducing toxic pollution and/or expanding public education and outreach related to toxics and water quality. The funding is meant to help turn established regional plans into on-the-ground action, specifically supporting implementation of the Columbia River Basin Toxics Reduction Action Plan as well as the Lower Columbia River Estuary Plan - Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan. In practical terms, the program is positioned to back projects that move beyond general planning and instead deliver measurable progress toward cleaner water and healthier river and estuary ecosystems, while also aligning with EPA national goals for the Columbia River Basin.

The award is offered as a cooperative agreement, which typically means recipients should expect an active partnership with EPA during the project period rather than a hands-off grant relationship. The opportunity is connected to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), placing it within a broader federal investment framework that emphasizes tangible environmental and infrastructure-related outcomes. EPA anticipates making around 10 awards, with an award ceiling of up to $7,000,000 per award, indicating the program can support both moderate and large-scale efforts, including multi-partner or multi-jurisdictional work that matches the scale of toxics issues in the basin.

Eligible applicants are described broadly as "Others" with clarification provided in the official announcement, but the program description makes clear that intended recipients include tribal governments, state and local governments, nongovernmental entities, and other eligible organizations operating in or supporting the Columbia River Basin. This framing suggests an emphasis on collaboration across governmental and nongovernmental sectors, which is often necessary for toxics reduction work given the mix of regulatory, technical, community engagement, and watershed-scale coordination components involved.

The core purpose of the program is to support specific actions that reduce toxics in the Columbia River Basin and to improve outcomes through education and outreach. While the brief summary does not list individual project types, the focus on "specific actions" implies funding may be used for activities that lead to real reductions in toxic inputs or exposures, such as source reduction initiatives, targeted toxics mitigation strategies, monitoring or assessment tied to implementation, and public-facing efforts that increase awareness and drive behavior or practice changes. The inclusion of education and outreach as an explicit program aim also signals that EPA views informed communities and stakeholders as an important lever for reducing toxics over time, particularly where household, commercial, agricultural, and industrial practices contribute to pollutant pathways.

Administratively, the opportunity is identified as Funding Opportunity Number EPA I R10 OW CRBRP 2023 02 under CFDA 66.962, with the announcement originally posted on December 9, 2022 and an original closing date of March 13, 2023. Applicants are directed to consult the full announcement, especially Section IV, for the official submission requirements, permitted submission methods, and any details on timing, required forms, and evaluation criteria. Overall, this program is structured as a significant EPA Region 10 investment in toxics reduction and public engagement efforts that advance basin-wide restoration priorities and established regional action plans.

• The Environmental Protection Agency in the infrastructure investment and jobs act (iija) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Columbia River Basin Restoration Funding Assistance Program – Toxic Reduction Lead" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 66.962.
• This funding opportunity was created on Dec 09, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 13, 2023 Please refer to the announcement, including Section IV, for additional information on submission methods and due dates.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $7,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for EPA I R10 OW CRBRP 2023 02

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