Federal grant programs / Environmental Protection Agency

Superfund State, Political Subdivision, and Indian Tribe Site-Specific Cooperative Agreements (66.802)

• Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$502 million
• Grant awards558
• Typical award$200,000
• Awarded in FY 2025$78.1 million
• Size rank371 of 1,823
• Type of assistanceCooperative agreements

Key findings

• Annual funding was roughly flat, $79.2 million in fiscal 2021 and $78.1 million in fiscal 2025.
• It is the 371st largest of 1,823 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
• The 20 largest recipients received 81% of the money.
• Awards went to recipients in 48 states and territories.

What the program funds

The goals of this assistance listing are to (1) conduct site characterization activities at potential or confirmed hazardous waste sites; (2) undertake response planning and implementation actions at sites on the National Priorities List (NPL) to clean up the hazardous waste sites that are found to pose hazards to human health; and (3) effectively implement the statutory requirements of CERCLA 121(f) which mandates substantial and meaningful State involvement. Funding Priorities - Fiscal Year 2026: Funding must be used at specific hazardous waste sites to: (1) conduct non-time critical removal actions; (2) perform site characterization activities such as preliminary assessments, site inspections, remedial investigations, feasibility studies, and remedial design activities at potential or confirmed hazardous waste sites; (3) conduct remedial actions (i.e., cleanup) at uncontrolled hazardous waste sites as listed on the National Priorities List (NPL); (4) support CERCLA implementation activities; (5) identify Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs); (6) conduct settlement negotiations; (7) take enforcement actions against PRPs; and (8) oversee PRP cleanups.

From the federal Assistance Listing. Read the full listing on SAM.gov.

Open opportunities

No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.

Rules from the program listing

Who can apply

States (and political subdivisions thereof), Commonwealths, U.S. Territories and Possessions, and Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments, including intertribal consortia and political subdivisions.

What the money can and cannot pay for

Site-specific work within EPA's Superfund Remedial Program. More specifically, funding may be used to: (1) conduct non time critical removal actions; (2) perform site characterization activities such as preliminary assessments, site inspections, remedial investigations, feasibility studies, and remedial design activities at potential or confirmed hazardous waste sites; (3) conduct remedial actions (i.e., clean up) at uncontrolled hazardous waste sites listed on the National Priorities List (40 CFR 300); (4) support CERCLA implementation activities; (5) identify Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs); (6) conduct settlement negotiations; (7) take enforcement actions against PRPs; and, (8) oversee PRP cleanups. Assistance agreement awards under this program may involve or relate to geospatial information. Further information regarding geospatial information may be obtained by viewing the following website: Geospatial Resources at EPA (https://www.epa.gov/geospatial).Funds may not be used to support Core (non-site specific) activities. Funds may not be used to support Core (non-site specific) activities.;

Matching requirements

This program has no statutory formula. No match (cost share) is required for site assessment or remedial planning at any site if the site was privately owned and operated at the time of disposal of hazardous wastes. For remedial action cooperative agreements: 10 percent state, 90 percent federal if the site was privately owned and operated at the time of disposal of hazardous wastes. Minimum 50 percent state, 50 percent federal, of all response costs if the site was State/locally operated at time of any disposal of hazardous waste (Note: percentage may vary). If IIJA or Special Account funds are used, no cost share is owed for remedial action. See CERCLA section 104(c)(3). Tribal governments are not required to share in the costs of Superfund actions.MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines

Award range and average, in the agency's words

Range: $0 to $12,000,000; Approximate Average: $565,000

Examples of funded projects

Fiscal Year2016: Preliminary Assessments/Site Inspections; Remedial Investigation; Feasibility Study; Remedial Design; Remedial Action (i.e., clean up); PRP searches; RI/FS negotiations; RD/RA Negotiations; PRP oversight; Non Time Critical Removal Actions; State participation in federal lead projects, Long Term Remedial action support, Implementation of institutional controls, Technical oversight, Tribal participation, Restoration efforts.Fiscal Year2017: No content availableFiscal Year2018: Non-time critical removal actions, preliminary assessments, site inspections, remedial investigations, feasibility studies, remedial design and remedial actions at sites listed on the National Priorities List (NPL) and five year reviews.Fiscal Year2025: Examples of projects funded under this assistance listing include: Non-time critical removal actions, preliminary assessments, site inspections, remedial investigations, feasibility studies, remedial design and remedial actions at sites listed on the National Priorities List (NPL) and five-year reviews. For additional information on the types of projects funded under this assistance listing, please visit: https://www.epa.gov/superfund.

Quoted from the program's federal Assistance Listing. The notice of funding opportunity is the official source for each competition's rules.

Who usually wins

State and local governments received 87% of the money, tribes 13% and colleges and universities 0.3%.

By state

43 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards.

Award amounts are federal obligations reported to USAspending.gov for fiscal 2021 to 2025; see how our data works.