Department of the Treasury Regulations for the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund, 77239-77252 [2015-31431]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 239 (Monday, December 14, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 77239-77252]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-31431]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

31 CFR Part 34

RIN 1505-AC44


Department of the Treasury Regulations for the Gulf Coast 
Restoration Trust Fund

AGENCY: Office of the Fiscal Assistant Secretary, Treasury.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Treasury is issuing final regulations 
concerning the investment and use of amounts deposited in the Gulf 
Coast Restoration Trust Fund, which was established in the Treasury of 
the United States by the Resources and Ecosystem Sustainability, 
Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States 
Act of 2012 (RESTORE Act).

DATES: Effective date: February 12, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please send questions by electronic 
mail to restoreact@treasury.gov, or contact Janet Vail at the Office of 
Gulf Coast Restoration at 202-622-6873.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The RESTORE Act makes funds available for the restoration and 
protection of the Gulf Coast Region, and certain programs with respect 
to the Gulf of Mexico, through a trust fund in the Treasury of the 
United States, known as the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund. The 
trust fund will contain 80 percent of the administrative and civil 
penalties paid after July 6, 2012 under the Federal Water Pollution 
Control Act in connection with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Amounts 
in the trust fund will be invested and made available through five 
components of the RESTORE Act.
    The Direct Component, administered by Treasury, sets aside 35 
percent of the penalties paid into the trust fund for eligible 
activities proposed by the State of Alabama, the State of Mississippi, 
the State of Texas, the State of Louisiana and 20 Louisiana parishes, 
and 23 Florida counties. The Comprehensive Plan Component sets aside 30 
percent of the penalties, plus half of all interest earned on trust 
fund investments, to be managed by a new independent Federal entity 
called the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (Council). The 
Council includes members from six Federal agencies or departments and 
the five Gulf Coast States. One of the Federal members, the Secretary 
of Commerce, at this time serves as Chairperson of the Council. The 
Council will direct those funds to projects and programs for the 
restoration of the Gulf Coast Region, pursuant to a comprehensive plan 
that is being developed by the Council. Under the Spill Impact 
Component, entities representing the Gulf Coast States use an 
additional 30 percent of penalties in the trust fund for eligible 
activities pursuant to State Expenditure Plans approved by the Council. 
The remaining five percent of penalties, plus one-half of all interest 
earned on trust fund investments, will be divided equally between the 
NOAA RESTORE Act Science Program established by the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), an operating unit of the 
Department of Commerce, and the Centers of Excellence Research Grants 
Program, administered by Treasury.
    On August 15, 2014, Treasury published a comprehensive interim 
final rule containing procedures for implementing the RESTORE Act. 
Among its provisions, the procedures allocated amounts to the five 
components, described the activities that could be funded and the 
entities entitled to apply for funds, and set forth compliance 
requirements. Treasury accepted public comment on the comprehensive 
interim final rule for thirty days. Treasury published a second interim 
final rule on October 10, 2014, which allocated amounts to Louisiana 
parishes under one RESTORE Act component, called the Direct Component. 
Both interim final rules took effect on October 14, 2014.

II. Public Comments and Summary of Changes From the Interim Final Rules

    Treasury received 21 unique comment letters on the comprehensive 
interim final rule, and no comments on the interim final rule that 
allocated funds to the Louisiana parishes. Several commenters repeated 
suggestions made on the proposed rule issued in September 2013, and 
opined on matters discussed in the preamble to the comprehensive 
interim final rule, such as the application of the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to RESTORE Act grant programs.
    One commenter, a state, acknowledged the benefits of providing 
funds through grants, but encouraged Treasury to consider using a 
revenue sharing arrangement. The commenter raised a concern that grant 
processes are an inefficient means of disbursing funds to meet the 
goals of the RESTORE Act. Treasury addressed this comment when it 
published the comprehensive interim final rule. The RESTORE Act imposes 
conditions on how states use funds provided under the Act, requires 
Federal oversight, and authorizes Treasury to stop the flow of funds 
when there is noncompliance. These controls are characteristic of 
Federal grant programs. The controls required by Treasury's regulations 
and Federal laws and policies on grants hold recipients accountable to 
use the funds as required by the RESTORE Act. The public comments 
Treasury received on the proposed rule and comprehensive interim final 
rule overwhelmingly support the distribution of RESTORE Act funds 
through Federal grants. Accordingly, no change has been made in the 
final rule to address this comment.
    Several commenters, particularly public interest groups, requested 
that Treasury exercise more authority over the selection of projects 
funded under the RESTORE Act. Some commenters asked Treasury to 
establish substantive criteria for evaluating project proposals, such 
as performance goals and preferences for certain kinds of activities. 
Other commenters proposed that Treasury adopt procedures, such as 
independent expert reviews, for evaluating synergies and potential 
conflicts between projects proposed under different components, or to 
address project proposals that may be controversial.
    Treasury considered similar comments during its review of comments 
on the proposed rule. The Act does not impose uniform criteria for the 
selection of projects under the Direct Component, Comprehensive Plan 
Component, and Spill Impact Component, or require the coordination of 
projects across components. Each component has different eligibility 
criteria, different processes for selecting activities, and different 
entities responsible for selecting the activities to be funded. The 
final rule acknowledges these differences, while still requiring 
compliance with the Act and Federal laws and policies applying to 
grants. Under these policies, Federal awards will include an indication 
of the timing and scope of performance, and may include specific 
performance goals, indicators, milestones, and expected outcomes. The 
appropriate vehicle for addressing these project specific requirements 
is the Federal award agreement.
    Beyond what the Act stipulates, Treasury cannot require the 
Council, NOAA, states, counties, or parishes to coordinate their 
selection of projects across components in order to achieve particular 
economic or environmental goals. Treasury encourages voluntary

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efforts to coordinate work, and intends to facilitate these efforts by 
publishing Direct Component Multiyear Implementation Plans and other 
information related to the grant programs it administers.
    Several public interest groups also asked Treasury to reconsider 
its views regarding the application of NEPA to Treasury's activities 
under the Direct Component and the Centers of Excellence Research 
Grants Program. In the preamble to the comprehensive interim final 
rule, we stated that ``Treasury does not anticipate that its review of 
Multiyear Implementation Plans or the issuance of individual grants 
will require a NEPA review. Other Federal actions connected with 
activities funded through a RESTORE Act grant, such as issuance of a 
permit, may require NEPA review by the agency issuing the permit.'' 79 
FR 48039, 48051 (Aug. 15, 2014).
    Treasury's view is based on its limited statutory role for the 
administration of Direct Component grants and the Centers of Excellence 
Research Grants Program. The Act gives Treasury no role in project 
selection or design for the Direct Component. The Act specifies the 
activities or disciplines that are eligible for funding, and does not 
explicitly authorize Treasury to reject an activity or discipline, or 
to require funding of an alternative design, when the activity 
otherwise complies with the Act and other Federal law. Also, Treasury 
neither approves nor disapproves Multiyear Implementation Plans. 
Accordingly, Treasury will review Multiyear Implementation Plans and 
grant applications to determine whether they satisfy financial and 
administrative requirements in the Act and these regulations, and apply 
requirements in the Office of Management and Budget's Uniform 
Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements 
for Federal Awards (OMB's Uniform Guidance), 2 CFR part 200, in its 
review of grant applications.
    Because Treasury has a limited role in reviewing Multiyear 
Implementation Plans and issuing grants, Treasury does not anticipate 
that its actions will require an Environmental Assessment or 
Environmental Impact Statement under NEPA. NEPA is designed to help 
federal agencies consider environmental consequences in their decision-
making process. When an agency action is non-discretionary under a 
statute, the information that a NEPA review provides would not assist 
the agency's decision-makers. Several commenters urged Treasury to 
reconsider the application of NEPA to its RESTORE Act grant programs, 
but no commenter offered an analysis of the RESTORE Act or its 
legislative history showing where Treasury has the discretion to 
consider environmental consequences and project alternatives when 
making grants.
    Treasury's limited role does not mean that NEPA will never apply to 
activities undertaken with funds provided through the Direct Component 
and Centers of Excellence Research Grants Program. As Treasury stated 
in the preamble to the comprehensive interim final rule, other Federal 
actions, such as the issuance of permits, may trigger NEPA review by 
the Federal regulatory agency. In addition, it is Treasury policy under 
Treasury Directive 75-02 to fully evaluate its actions to ensure 
compliance with NEPA requirements and regulations issued by the Council 
on Environmental Quality, where applicable. As necessary, Treasury will 
consider NEPA environmental documentation in the context of individual 
grant applications, if it is determined that Treasury has sufficient 
discretion to consider environmental consequences and project 
alternatives.
    The final rule contains several technical edits, some of which were 
suggested by commenters. Substantive comments and changes to the 
comprehensive interim final rule are described below.

Section-by-Section Analysis

Section 34.2 (Definitions)
    Treasury received several comments requesting a more clear 
definition of administrative costs. The final rule continues to define 
administrative costs as indirect costs for administration incurred by 
the Gulf Coast States, coastal political subdivisions, and coastal zone 
parishes that are allocable to activities authorized under the Act. 
Administrative costs do not include indirect costs that are identified 
specifically with, or readily assignable to, facilities. The final rule 
references the definition of facilities in OMB's Uniform Guidance at 2 
CFR 200.414(a). To avoid confusion, Treasury has removed the list of 
activities that may result in administrative costs from the final rule.
    The definition of administrative costs in the comprehensive interim 
final rule also included a statement that certain costs are direct 
costs. This statement was imprecise and Treasury has deleted it from 
the final rule. Grant applicants should look to OMB's Uniform Guidance 
for general information about direct and indirect costs. Questions 
about whether particular costs are direct or indirect costs should be 
addressed to the relevant Federal awarding agency.
    One commenter asked Treasury to clarify the definition of Gulf 
Coast Region. The commenter contends that the geographic scope of 
watersheds in paragraph three of the definition is ambiguous. 
Treasury's comprehensive interim final rule defines the Gulf Coast 
Region to comprise four geographic areas:
    (1) In the Gulf Coast States, the coastal zones defined under 
section 304 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 that border the 
Gulf of Mexico;
    (2) Land within the coastal zones described in paragraph (1) that 
is held in trust by, or the use of which is by law subject solely to 
the discretion of, the Federal Government or officers or agents of the 
Federal Government;
    (3) Any adjacent land, water, and watersheds, that are within 25 
miles of the coastal zone described in paragraphs (1) and (2); and
    (4) All Federal waters in the Gulf of Mexico.
    Under paragraph 3, the Gulf Coast Region includes those parts of 
adjacent watersheds that extend up to, but no further than, 25 miles 
from the coastal zones. An activity is carried out in the Gulf Coast 
Region when, in the reasonable judgment of the entity applying for a 
grant, each severable part of the activity is primarily designed to 
restore or protect that geographic area. See 31 CFR 34.201-203.
Section 34.104 (Expenditures)
    In the preamble to the comprehensive interim final rule, Treasury 
stated that it was deleting a sentence requiring grant recipients to 
minimize the time between receipt of funds and disbursement, because 
this requirement is addressed more completely in OMB's Uniform 
Guidance. A commenter noted that the sentence was not deleted from the 
rule. Treasury has corrected this inadvertent error in the final rule. 
Grant recipients with questions about the application of OMB's Uniform 
Guidance should direct them to the relevant Federal awarding agency.
Section 34.200 (General)
    This section provides that a Gulf Coast State, coastal political 
subdivision, and coastal zone parish may use amounts available under 
the Direct Component and Spill Impact Component to satisfy the non-
Federal cost-share of an activity that is eligible under Sec. Sec.  
34.201 and 34.203 and authorized by Federal law. Commenters questioned 
why a similar opportunity is not available for funds made available 
under the Comprehensive Plan Component and the Centers of Excellence 
Research Grants Program.

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The Act does not allow Comprehensive Plan Component funds or Centers of 
Excellence Research Grant funds to be used for satisfying the non-
Federal cost-share. Those allocations are subject to the general rule 
in OMB's Uniform Guidance, 2 CFR 200.306, which states that a non-
Federal cost share cannot be met with funds paid by the Federal 
government under a Federal award.
    Another commenter noted a provision in the Act stating that the use 
of trust fund amounts to satisfy the non-Federal share of an eligible 
activity ``shall not affect the priority in which other Federal funds 
are allocated or awarded.'' 33 U.S.C. 1331(t)(1)(N)(ii). The commenter 
requested that Treasury include this provision in its regulations. 
Treasury currently sees no need to elaborate on this statutory 
provision, which does not need a regulation to be effective. If a grant 
recipient believes that a Federal agency has allocated or awarded funds 
in violation of this provision, it should raise that concern with the 
agency providing assistance.
Section 34.201 (Eligible Activities for the Direct Component)
    Treasury received several comments about whether particular 
activities are reimbursable under the Direct Component, such as costs 
for grant management staff and certain pre-award and planning activity 
costs. Grant applicants will find detailed information about allowable 
costs in OMB's Uniform Guidance. In addition, grant applicants can 
consult information posted on Treasury's RESTORE Act Web page, or 
contact Treasury's Office of Gulf Coast Restoration for information 
about particular costs at restoreact@treasury.gov. Other than a 
clarifying change to the description of planning assistance, there are 
no changes to this section.
Section 34.203 (Eligible Activities for the Spill Impact Component)
    One commenter asserted that activities funded under the Spill 
Impact Component should focus primarily on ecosystem restoration. 
Treasury's rule closely tracks the statute. The Act clearly provides 
that funds are available under the Spill Impact Component ``for 
projects, programs, and activities that will improve the ecosystems or 
economy of the Gulf Coast region,'' subject to certain criteria that 
are included in Treasury's rule. Because Treasury's rule is consistent 
with the Act, no change is necessary.
Section 34.204 (Limitations on Administrative Costs and Administrative 
Expenses)
    One commenter, a member of the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration 
Council, requested clarification on how state members of the Council 
can access amounts set aside for the Council's administrative expenses. 
Treasury's rule does not address this issue. The Council determines how 
it allocates funds for administrative expenses. Questions about how the 
Council allocates its funds should be directed to the Council.
    In a separate notice of proposed rulemaking, Treasury plans to 
propose an amendment to this section to change when the 3% limitation 
is applied to the Council. Under the Act, the Council cannot spend more 
than three percent of amounts it receives from the Trust Fund on 
administrative expenses. The current regulation states that the three 
percent limit is applied to the total amount of funds received by the 
Council under the Comprehensive Plan Component, beginning with the 
first fiscal year the Council receives funds through the end of the 
fourth, or most recent fiscal year, whichever is later. This approach 
limits the amounts available for administrative expenses to a 
percentage of amounts drawn down from the Trust Fund in a particular 
year, which may vary considerably. Because the Council requires more 
regular and predictable funding for its administrative expenses, 
Treasury will propose to cap the Council's administrative expenses at 
three percent of amounts the Council receives under the Comprehensive 
Plan Component before termination of the Trust Fund. The notice of 
proposed rulemaking will include a forty-five day comment period. The 
current rule will remain in effect pending review of the public 
comments.
Section 34.302 (Allocation of Funds--Direct Component)
    Treasury amended this section to add the allocations for Louisiana 
parishes that Treasury published as an interim final rule at 79 FR 
61236 (Oct. 10, 2014). The allocations did not change.
Section 34.303 (Application Procedure--Direct Component)
    A commenter requested clarification about Treasury's application 
and disbursement process. Treasury published detailed guidance and 
application processes and posted materials on Treasury's RESTORE Act 
Web page, available at https://www.treasury.gov/services/restore-act/Pages/default.aspx. Treasury also provided on-site training to the Gulf 
Coast States, eligible Florida counties, and eligible Louisiana 
parishes. Applicants with questions about these matters should contact 
Treasury's Office of Gulf Coast Restoration at restoreact@treasury.gov.
    One commenter, a state, requested clarification about the public 
review and comment process required in 31 CFR 34.303(b)(8). The 
commenter stated that it can provide adequate opportunities for public 
review and comment, but cannot guarantee that the public will fully 
participate in this process. Treasury's rule does not require a state 
to ensure full participation in the public comment process. The rule is 
clear that a state must make its Multiyear Implementation Plan 
available for public review and comment ``in a manner calculated to 
obtain broad-based participation from individuals, businesses, Indian 
tribes, and non-profit organizations. . . .'' Treasury cannot describe 
in detail the steps that will satisfy this requirement in every case, 
as the steps may vary for each state, county, or parish. For example, 
if a large segment of the affected population does not have Internet 
access, or does not speak English, a state may need to employ other 
methods to notify the affected population of its plans and the 
opportunity to provide comment, such as providing reasonable access to 
public meetings and presentations in language other than English.
    One commenter requested guidance about whether modifications to a 
Multiyear Implementation Plan require a public review and comment 
period for Multiyear Implementation Plans. In response to this comment, 
the final rule now requires the same public review and comment period 
for material changes as for an accepted Multiyear Implementation Plan. 
Material modifications can only be adopted after consideration of 
meaningful public comment. Applicants with questions about which 
modifications are material should contact Treasury's Office of Gulf 
Coast Restoration.
Section 34.305 (Use of Funds--Direct Component)
    One commenter requested that Treasury add a sentence to Sec.  
34.305, as well as other parts of the rule, requiring a written 
justification for all sole source procurements and preferences given to 
individuals and companies. The commenter also asked that Treasury 
incorporate preferences for small and minority owned businesses. OMB's 
Uniform Guidance has an extensive discussion on the procurement 
requirements applying to Federal grants,

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including requirements for competition and language requiring 
affirmative steps to benefit small and minority owned businesses. 2 CFR 
200.319-200.321. The procurement requirements in OMB's Uniform Guidance 
apply to RESTORE Act grants. Therefore, the final rule has not been 
amended to address this comment.
    Some commenters discussed the need for activities that improve the 
resiliency of communities, such as funds for workforce development and 
job creation. While the Act does not require states, counties, or 
parishes to fund these activities, workforce development and job 
creation are eligible activities for funding under the Direct Component 
and the Spill Impact Component. The Act's legislative history explains 
that workforce development ``is intended to include non-profit, 
university, and community college-based workforce, career and technical 
training programs. This would also include the identification of 
projects, research, programs and partnerships with federal, state and 
local workforce agencies, industry and local stakeholders from 
economically and socially disadvantaged communities.'' S. Rep. No. 112-
100, at 8 (2011). This list of activities, while not exclusive, 
describes the kinds of activities that are eligible for funding. 
Commenters with suggestions for specific projects should contact the 
states, counties, and parishes that are developing Multiyear 
Implementation Plans and Spill Impact State Expenditure Plans.
    During implementation of the comprehensive interim final rule, 
Treasury received questions about the availability of funds for county 
and local parks. One eligible activity under the Direct Component and 
Spill Impact Component is ``Improvements to or on State parks located 
in coastal areas affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.'' 33 
U.S.C. 1321(t)(1)(B)(i)(V). Treasury does not interpret this provision 
to apply to county and local parks. However, improvements to county and 
local parks, such as activities that restore and protect natural 
resources under 33 U.S.C. 1321(t)(1)(B)(i)(I), may fall under other 
eligible activities.
Section 34.404 (Comprehensive Plan Component)
    Treasury has made a clarifying change to this section to indicate 
that assignees must submit reports as prescribed by the Council or 
Treasury, and the Council must submit reports as prescribed by 
Treasury.
Section 34.405 (Recordkeeping--Comprehensive Plan Component)
    Treasury has made a clarifying change to this section to add that 
the Council must make its records concerning the activities of 
assignees available to Treasury, including the Treasury Inspector 
General. This provision will assist Treasury in gathering the 
information it needs to carry out its supplemental compliance functions 
under 31 CFR 34.804.
Section 34.503 (State Expenditure Plans--Spill Impact Component)
    A commenter requested clarification about the public review and 
comment processes for State Expenditure Plans described in Sec.  
34.503(g). The commenter, who submitted a similar comment on Sec.  
34.303, is concerned that a state cannot ensure that the public will 
fully participate in the public review and comment process. As 
described above, states are not expected to guarantee full public 
participation in the public review and comment process. Treasury's rule 
is clear that states must use methods ``calculated to obtain broad-
based participation from individuals, businesses, Indian tribes, and 
non-profit organizations.'' Treasury cannot describe in detail the 
methods that will satisfy this requirement in every case, as they may 
depend on the state and the impacted region or population.
    Another commenter asked Treasury to clarify the public review and 
comment requirements that apply to modifications of a State Expenditure 
Plan. The final rule now states that material modifications are subject 
to the same public review and comment requirements, as well as other 
requirements, that apply to the original plan. States with questions 
about which modifications are material should contact the Council for 
guidance.
Section 34.506 (Reports--Spill Impact Component)
    Treasury has made a clarifying change to this section to indicate 
that the Council must submit reports as prescribed by Treasury, in 
order to assist Treasury in fulfilling its supplemental compliance 
functions under 31 CFR 34.804.
Section 34.507 (Recordkeeping--Spill Impact Component)
    Consistent with changes made to section 34.405, Treasury has 
amended this section to add that the Council must make available its 
records concerning the activities of recipients to Treasury, including 
the Treasury Inspector General.
Section 34.703 (Application Procedure--Centers of Excellence Research 
Grants Program)
    One state commenter asked Treasury to clarify that each state will 
receive its full allocation provided by the Act. Treasury's regulations 
are already clear that each state will receive an equal share of 
amounts made available under the Centers of Excellence Research Grants 
Program. To receive its share, each state will apply to Treasury for a 
grant and specify how the funds will be used, a standard requirement 
for all Federal grants. Requiring states to identify how they will use 
Federal funds is necessary to assist the Federal awarding agency in 
performing oversight, one of the grant management responsibilities 
described in OMB's Uniform Guidance.
    During implementation of the comprehensive interim final rule, 
Treasury received questions about the public notice requirements 
applying to the rules and policies for the Centers of Excellence 
Research Grants Program. Treasury's regulation requires each state to 
describe the rules and policies for grants it will issue to 
subrecipients. Each state also must demonstrate the rules and policies 
that became effective after publication of the comprehensive interim 
final rule were available for public review and comment for a minimum 
of 45 days. Many states have longstanding rules and policies that 
generally apply to grant programs, including competitive project 
selection and conflict of interest policies. Treasury's regulation does 
not require states to seek public comment on rules and policies that 
were effective prior to publication of the comprehensive interim final 
rule.
Section 34.802--(Certifications)
    One commenter, a state, noted that the certification in Sec.  
34.802(c) appears to require that each activity be selected after 
consideration of comments from a diverse cross-section of the public. 
The commenter stated that it can provide opportunities for public 
review and comment, but it cannot guarantee that all segments of the 
public will participate. Treasury agrees with this comment, and has 
amended the certification to be consistent with requirements in 
Sec. Sec.  34.303(b)(8) and 34.503(g). The amended certification 
requires grant recipients to certify that each activity is part of a 
plan that was made available for public review and comment in a manner 
calculated to obtain broad-based participation from individuals, 
businesses, Indian tribes, and nonprofit organizations, and that

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the activity was selected after consideration of meaningful input from 
the public, as described in the recipient's grant application.
    Treasury has also amended the certification at Sec.  34.803(a) to 
conform more closely to the language of the statute, and to make clear 
that the certification can apply to planning activities as well as 
activities that carry out the restoration or protection of the Gulf 
Coast Region.
Section 34.803 (Conditions)
    In the preamble to the comprehensive interim final rule, Treasury 
stated that grants must conform to the requirements in OMB's Uniform 
Guidance and other Federal laws and policies on grants. These 
requirements include reports on how grants funds were used. To avoid 
any inconsistency between these requirements and the reporting 
requirements in Sec.  34.803(e), Treasury is deleting certain details 
that were listed in the comprehensive interim final rule.
Section 34.804 (Noncompliance)
    Two commenters suggested that Treasury impose penalties on Council 
members that violate the Act or Treasury regulations. Because the Act 
does not authorize Treasury to impose penalties, the final rule does 
not adopt this suggestion.

III. Procedural Requirements

A. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) generally 
requires agencies to prepare a regulatory flexibility analysis of any 
rule subject to notice and comment rulemaking requirements under the 
Administrative Procedure Act or any other statute, unless the agency 
certifies that the rule will not have a significant economic impact on 
a substantial number of small entities. In the preamble to the 
comprehensive interim final rule, Treasury certified that the rule will 
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. Small entities will incur costs to develop the plans and 
projects described in the rule, but these costs arise from requirements 
in the RESTORE Act and not Treasury regulations. Treasury did not 
receive any comments in response to the comprehensive interim rule on 
the impact to small entities and there are no changes in the final rule 
that warrant a change in this certification. Accordingly, Treasury 
certifies that the final rule will not have a significant impact on a 
substantial number of small entities, and no regulatory flexibility 
analysis is required.

B. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The collections of information contained in the comprehensive 
interim final rule were submitted to the Office of Management and 
Budget for review in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507(d)), and approved under control number 1505-0250. 
The final rule does not contain any new collections of information. 
Under the Paperwork Reduction Act, an agency may not conduct or 
sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of 
information unless it displays a valid OMB control number.

C. Regulatory Planning and Review (Executive Orders 12866 and 13563)

    The rule affects those entities in the five Gulf Coast States that 
are eligible to receive funding under the RESTORE Act, and is focused 
on the environmental restoration and economic recovery of the Gulf 
Coast Region in the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The 
amounts made available from the trust fund will continue efforts that 
provide for the long-term health of the ecosystems and economy of this 
region. In accordance with Executive Order 12866, as supplemented by 
Executive Order 13563, OMB has reviewed this regulation. This rule 
finalizes without significant change a comprehensive interim final rule 
published on August 15, 2014 that was designated as economically 
significant for purposes of Executive Order 12866. The Department 
adopts without revision the regulatory impact assessment published with 
the comprehensive interim final rule at 79 FR 48052 because this final 
rule does not adopt changes that require updates in the analysis. In 
accordance with Executive Order 12866, as supplemented by Executive 
Order 13563, this rule is designated as significant and OMB has 
reviewed this regulation.

D. Congressional Review Act

    The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., generally 
provides that before a rule may take effect, the agency promulgating 
the rule must submit a rule report, which includes a copy of the rule, 
to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the 
United States. A major rule cannot take effect until 60 days after it 
is published in the Federal Register. This action is a ``major rule'' 
as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2) and will become effective 60 days after 
publication.

E. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    The Unfunded Mandates Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1531-1538) requires 
federal agencies to assess the effects of their regulatory actions. In 
particular, the Act addresses actions that may result in the 
expenditure by a state, local, or tribal government, in the aggregate, 
or by the private sector of $100,000,000 (adjusted for inflation) or 
more in any one year. Treasury believes that the regulatory impact 
assessment referenced in this preamble provides the analysis required 
by the Unfunded Mandates Act.

List of Subjects in 31 CFR Part 34

    Coastal zone, Fisheries, Grant programs, Grants administration, 
Intergovernmental relations, Marine resources, Natural resources, Oil 
pollution, Research, Science and technology, Trusts and trustees, 
Wildlife.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Department of the 
Treasury amends 31 CFR subtitle A by revising part 34 to read as 
follows:

PART 34--RESOURCES AND ECOSYSTEMS SUSTAINABILITY, TOURIST 
OPPORTUNITIES, AND REVIVED ECONOMIES OF THE GULF COAST STATES

Subpart A--General Provisions
Sec.
34.1 Purpose.
34.2 Definitions.
Subpart B--Trust Fund
34.100 The Trust Fund.
34.101 Investments.
34.102 Interest earned.
34.103 Allocation of funds.
34.104 Expenditures.
34.105 Waiver.
Subpart C--Eligible Activities for the Section 311(t) Gulf RESTORE 
Program Components
34.200 General.
34.201 Eligible activities for the Direct Component.
34.202 Eligible activities for the Comprehensive Plan Component.
34.203 Eligible activities for the Spill Impact Component.
34.204 Limitations on administrative costs and administrative 
expenses.
34.205 Council's audited financial statements and audits.
Subpart D--Gulf RESTORE Program--Direct Component
34.300 General.
34.301 Responsibility for administration--Direct Component.
34.302 Allocation of funds--Direct Component.
34.303 Application procedure--Direct Component.
34.304 Grant award process--Direct Component.

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34.305 Use of funds--Direct Component.
34.306 Reports--Direct Component.
34.307 Recordkeeping--Direct Component.
34.308 Audits--Direct Component.
Subpart E--Gulf RESTORE Program--Comprehensive Plan Component
34.400 General.
34.401 Responsibility for administration--Comprehensive Plan 
Component.
34.402 Grant administration--Comprehensive Plan Component.
34.403 Use of funds--Comprehensive Plan Component.
34.404 Reports--Comprehensive Plan Component.
34.405 Recordkeeping--Comprehensive Plan Component.
34.406 Audits--Comprehensive Plan Component.
Subpart F--Gulf RESTORE Program--Spill Impact Component
34.500 General.
34.501 Responsibility for administration--Spill Impact Component.
34.502 Allocation of funds--Spill Impact Component.
34.503 State Expenditure Plans--Spill Impact Component.
34.504 Grant administration--Spill Impact Component.
34.505 Use of funds--Spill Impact Component.
34.506 Reports--Spill Impact Component.
34.507 Recordkeeping--Spill Impact Component.
34.508 Audits--Spill Impact Component.
Subpart G--NOAA RESTORE Act Science Program
34.600 General.
34.601 Responsibility for administration--NOAA RESTORE Act Science 
Program.
34.602 Use of funds and eligible activities--NOAA RESTORE Act 
Science Program.
34.603 Limitations on activities--NOAA RESTORE Act Science Program.
34.604 Limitations on administrative expenses--NOAA RESTORE Act 
Science Program.
34.605 Reports--NOAA RESTORE Act Science Program.
34.606 Recordkeeping--NOAA RESTORE Act Science Program.
34.607 Audits--NOAA RESTORE Act Science Program.
Subpart H--Centers of Excellence Research Grants Program
34.700 General.
34.701 Responsibility for administration--Centers of Excellence 
Research Grants Program.
34.702 Allocation of funds--Centers of Excellence Research Grants 
Program.
34.703 Application procedure--Centers of Excellence Research Grants 
Program.
34.704 Use of funds and eligible activities--Centers of Excellence 
Research Grants Program.
34.705 Ineligible activities--Centers of Excellence Research Grants 
Program.
34.706 Reports--Centers of Excellence Research Grants Program.
34.707 Recordkeeping--Centers of Excellence Research Grants Program.
34.708 Audits--Centers of Excellence Research Grants Program.
Subpart I--Agreements
34.800 General.
34.801 Grant agreements.
34.802 Certifications.
34.803 Conditions.
34.804 Noncompliance.
34.805 Treasury Inspector General.

    Authority:  31 U.S.C. 301; 31 U.S.C. 321; 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.

Subpart A--General Provisions


Sec.  34.1  Purpose.

    This part describes policies and procedures applicable to the 
following programs authorized under the Resources and Ecosystems 
Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the 
Gulf Coast States Act of 2012 (RESTORE Act).
    (a) The Gulf RESTORE Program is authorized under section 311(t) of 
the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1321(t)), as amended 
by the RESTORE Act, and includes the following components:
    (1) Direct Component (subpart D of this part), administered by the 
Department of the Treasury.
    (2) Comprehensive Plan Component (subpart E of this part), 
administered by the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council.
    (3) Spill Impact Component (subpart F of this part), administered 
by the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council.
    (b) NOAA RESTORE Act Science Program (subpart G of this part) is 
administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
and authorized by the RESTORE Act, section 1604, 33 U.S.C. 1321 note.
    (c) Centers of Excellence Research Grants Program (subpart H of 
this part) is administered by the Department of the Treasury, and 
authorized by the RESTORE Act, section 1605, 33 U.S.C. 1321 note.


Sec.  34.2  Definitions.

    As used in this part:
    Act or RESTORE Act means the Resources and Ecosystems 
Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the 
Gulf Coast States Act of 2012.
    Activity means an activity, project, or program, including research 
and monitoring, eligible for funding under the Act.
    Administrative costs means those indirect costs for administration 
incurred by the Gulf Coast States, coastal political subdivisions, and 
coastal zone parishes that are allocable to activities authorized under 
the Act. Administrative costs do not include indirect costs that are 
identified specifically with, or readily assignable to, facilities as 
defined in 2 CFR 200.414.
    Administrative expenses means those expenses incurred for 
administration by the Council or NOAA, including expenses for general 
management functions, general ledger accounting, budgeting, human 
resource services, general procurement services, and general legal 
services. Administrative expenses do not include expenses that are 
identified specifically with, or readily assignable to:
    (1) Facilities;
    (2) Eligible projects, programs, or planning activities;
    (3) Activities related to grant applications, awards, audit 
requirements, or post-award management, including payments and 
collections;
    (4) The Council's development, publication, and implementation of 
the Comprehensive Plan and any subsequent amendments;
    (5) The Council's development and publication of regulations and 
procedures for implementing the Spill Impact Component, and the review 
of State Expenditure Plans submitted under the Spill Impact Component;
    (6) Preparation of reports required by the Act;
    (7) Establishment and operation of advisory committees; or
    (8) Collection and consideration of scientific and other research 
associated with restoration of the Gulf Coast ecosystem.
    Alabama Gulf Coast Recovery Council means the entity identified in 
section 311(t)(1)(F)(i) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as 
amended by the RESTORE Act.
    Assignee means a member of the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration 
Council who has been assigned primary authority and responsibility for 
a project or program included in the Comprehensive Plan through a grant 
or interagency agreement.
    Best available science means science that maximizes the quality, 
objectivity, and integrity of information, including statistical 
information; uses peer-reviewed and publicly available data; and 
clearly documents and communicates risks and uncertainties in the 
scientific basis for such projects.
    Centers of Excellence Research Grants Program means the program 
authorized by section 1605 of the Act.
    Coastal political subdivision means any local political 
jurisdiction that is immediately below the state level of government, 
including a county, parish,

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or borough, with a coastline that is contiguous with any portion of the 
United States Gulf of Mexico. The term includes any of the 
disproportionately affected counties and nondisproportionately impacted 
counties in Florida, as defined below.
    Coastal zone parishes means the parishes of Ascension, Assumption, 
Calcasieu, Cameron, Iberia, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, 
Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, 
St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, and 
Vermilion in the State of Louisiana.
    Comprehensive Plan Component means the component of the Gulf 
RESTORE Program authorized by section 311(t)(2) of the Federal Water 
Pollution Control Act, as added by section 1603 of the Act, in which 
funds are provided through the Council, in accordance with a plan 
developed by the Council, to entities to carry out the purposes of the 
Act.
    Council means the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council, an 
independent entity in the Federal Government whose members are the 
Governors of the Gulf Coast States; the Secretaries of Agriculture, the 
Army, Commerce, and the Interior; the head of the department in which 
the Coast Guard is operating, and the Administrator of the 
Environmental Protection Agency (or their designees at the level of 
Assistant Secretary or the equivalent).
    Deepwater Horizon oil spill means the blowout and explosion of the 
mobile offshore drilling unit Deepwater Horizon that occurred on April 
20, 2010, and resulting hydrocarbon releases into the environment.
    Direct Component means the component of the Gulf RESTORE Program 
authorized by section 311(t)(1) of the Federal Water Pollution Control 
Act, as added by section 1603 of the Act, in which Gulf Coast States, 
coastal zone parishes, disproportionately affected counties, and 
nondisproportionately impacted counties are provided funds directly by 
Treasury through grants to carry out the purposes of the Act.
    Disproportionately affected counties means the counties of Bay, 
Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, and Walton in 
the State of Florida.
    Federal Water Pollution Control Act means 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.
    Gulf Coast Region means:
    (1) In the Gulf Coast States, the coastal zones defined under 
section 304 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 that border the 
Gulf of Mexico;
    (2) Land within the coastal zones described in paragraph (1) of 
this definition that is held in trust by, or the use of which is by law 
subject solely to the discretion of, the Federal Government or officers 
or agents of the Federal Government;
    (3) Any adjacent land, water, and watersheds, that are within 25 
miles of the coastal zone described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of this 
definition; and
    (4) All Federal waters in the Gulf of Mexico.
    Gulf Coast State means any of the States of Alabama, Florida, 
Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.
    Gulf Coast State entity means a party that carries out the duties 
of a state for the Centers of Excellence Research Grants Program under 
Sec.  34.702.
    Infrastructure means the public facilities or systems needed to 
support commerce and economic development. These installations and 
facilities span a wide range, including highways, airports, roads, 
buildings, transit systems, port facilities, railways, 
telecommunications, water and sewer systems, public electric and gas 
utilities, levees, seawalls, breakwaters, major pumping stations, and 
flood gates. Infrastructure encompasses new construction, upgrades and 
repairs to existing facilities or systems, and associated land 
acquisition and planning.
    Multiyear Implementation Plan means the plan submitted by entities 
eligible for funding directly from Treasury under the Direct Component, 
and described at Sec.  34.303.
    NOAA means the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
    NOAA RESTORE Act Science Program means the program authorized by 
section 1604 of the Act.
    Nondisproportionately impacted counties means the counties of 
Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, Dixie, Hernando, Hillsborough, Jefferson, 
Lee, Levy, Manatee, Monroe, Pasco, Pinellas, Sarasota, and Taylor in 
the State of Florida.
    Pass-through entity means a non-Federal entity that provides a 
subaward to a subrecipient to carry out part of a program under the 
Act.
    Planning assistance means data gathering, studies, modeling, 
analysis and other tasks required to prepare plans for eligible 
activities under Sec.  34.201(a) through (i), including environmental 
review and compliance tasks and architectural and engineering studies. 
Planning assistance also means one-time preparations that will allow 
the recipient to establish systems and processes needed to review grant 
applications, award grants, monitor grants after award, and audit 
compliance with respect to eligible activities under Sec.  34.201 in a 
Multiyear Implementation Plan or State Expenditure Plan.
    Recipient means a non-Federal entity that receives a Federal award 
directly from a Federal awarding agency to carry out an activity under 
the Act. As used in these regulations, a recipient also includes a 
pass-through entity. The term recipient does not include subrecipients.
    Spill Impact Component means the component of the Gulf RESTORE 
Program authorized by section 311(t)(3) of the Federal Water Pollution 
Control Act, as added by section 1603 of the Act, in which Gulf Coast 
States are provided funds by the Council according to a formula that 
the Council establishes by regulation, using criteria listed in the 
Act.
    State Expenditure Plan means the plan that each Gulf Coast State 
must submit to the Council for the expenditure of amounts disbursed 
under the Spill Impact Component, and described at Sec.  34.503.
    Subrecipient means a non-Federal entity that receives a subaward 
from a recipient to carry out an activity under the Act.
    Treasury means the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the Secretary 
of the Treasury, or his/her designee.
    Trust Fund means the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund.

Subpart B--Trust Fund


Sec.  34.100  The Trust Fund.

    Treasury will deposit into the Trust Fund an amount equal to 80 
percent of all administrative and civil penalties paid after July 6, 
2012 by responsible parties in connection with the explosion on, and 
sinking of, the mobile offshore drilling unit Deepwater Horizon 
pursuant to a court order, negotiated settlement, or other instrument 
under section 311 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. After 
these administrative and civil penalties have been deposited into the 
Trust Fund, the Trust Fund will terminate on the date all amounts owed 
to the Trust Fund have been returned to the Trust Fund, and all amounts 
in the Trust Fund have been expended.


Sec.  34.101  Investments.

    The Secretary of the Treasury will invest such amounts in the Trust 
Fund that are not, in the judgment of the Secretary, required to meet 
needs for current withdrawals. The Secretary may invest in interest-
bearing obligations of the United States, having maturities

[[Page 77246]]

suitable to the needs of the Trust Fund as determined by the Secretary. 
These obligations will bear interest at rates described in 31 U.S.C. 
9702, unless the Secretary determines that such rates are unavailable 
for obligations with suitable maturities. In that event, the Secretary 
will select obligations of the United States bearing interest at rates 
determined by the Secretary, taking into consideration current market 
yields on outstanding marketable obligations of the United States of 
comparable maturities.


Sec.  34.102  Interest earned.

    Interest earned on Trust Fund investments will be available as 
described in Sec.  34.103(b).


Sec.  34.103  Allocation of funds.

    The amounts in the Trust Fund are allocated among the programs in 
Sec.  34.1.
    (a) Available funds in the Trust Fund, other than interest, are 
allocated as follows:
    (1) Thirty-five percent in equal shares for the Gulf Coast States 
to be used for the Direct Component of the Gulf RESTORE Program. 
Section 34.302 describes the allocation for each Gulf Coast State.
    (2) Thirty percent for the Council to be used for the Comprehensive 
Plan Component of the Gulf RESTORE Program.
    (3) Thirty percent for formula distribution to Gulf Coast States to 
be used for the Spill Impact Component of the Gulf RESTORE Program.
    (4) Two and one-half percent to be used for the NOAA RESTORE Act 
Science Program.
    (5) Two and one-half percent in equal shares for the Gulf Coast 
States to be used for the Centers of Excellence Research Grants 
Program.
    (b) Within ten days of the close of a Federal fiscal year, 
available funds equal to the interest earned on the Trust Fund 
investments will be allocated, as follows:
    (1) Twenty-five percent to be used for the NOAA RESTORE Act Science 
Program.
    (2) Twenty-five percent for the Centers of Excellence Research 
Grants Program.
    (3) Fifty percent for the Comprehensive Plan Component of the Gulf 
RESTORE Program.


Sec.  34.104  Expenditures.

    Subject to limitations in the Act and these regulations, amounts in 
the Trust Fund will be available for the direct and indirect expenses 
of eligible activities without fiscal year limitation.


Sec.  34.105  Waiver.

    To the extent not inconsistent with applicable law, Treasury may 
waive or modify a requirement in the regulations in this part in a 
single case or class of cases if the Secretary determines, in his or 
her sole discretion, that the requirement is not necessary for the 
deposit of amounts into, or the expenditure of amounts from, the Trust 
Fund. Treasury will provide public notice of any waivers or 
modifications granted that materially change a regulatory requirement.

Subpart C--Eligible Activities for the Section 311(t) Gulf RESTORE 
Program Components


Sec.  34.200  General.

    This subpart describes policies and procedures regarding eligible 
activities applicable to the Direct Component, Comprehensive Plan 
Component, and Spill Impact Component of the Gulf RESTORE Program. 
Subparts D, E, F, and I of this part describe additional requirements 
that must be met before an activity can receive funding.
    (a) Trust Fund amounts may be used to carry out an activity in 
whole or in part only if the following requirements are met:
    (1) Costs must comply with administrative requirements and cost 
principles in applicable Federal laws and policies on grants.
    (2) The activity must meet the eligibility requirements of the Gulf 
RESTORE Program as defined in Sec.  34.201, Sec.  34.202, or Sec.  
34.203, according to component.
    (3) Activities funded through the Direct Component, Comprehensive 
Plan Component, and Spill Impact Component must not be included in any 
claim for compensation presented after July 6, 2012, to the Oil Spill 
Liability Trust Fund authorized by 26 U.S.C. 9509.
    (b) A Gulf Coast State, coastal political subdivision, and coastal 
zone parish may use funds available under the Direct Component or Spill 
Impact Component to satisfy the non-Federal cost-share of an activity 
that is eligible under Sec. Sec.  34.201 and 34.203 and authorized by 
Federal law.


Sec.  34.201  Eligible activities for the Direct Component.

    The following activities are eligible for funding under the Direct 
Component. Activities in paragraphs (a) through (g) of this section are 
eligible for funding to the extent they are carried out in the Gulf 
Coast Region. Direct Component activities are carried out in the Gulf 
Coast Region when, in the reasonable judgment of the entity applying to 
Treasury for a grant, each severable part of the activity is primarily 
designed to restore or protect that geographic area. Applicants must 
demonstrate that the activity will be carried out in the Gulf Coast 
Region when they apply for a grant. Activities designed to protect or 
restore natural resources must be based on the best available science. 
All Direct Component activities must be included in and conform to the 
description in the Multiyear Implementation Plan required by Sec.  
34.303.
    (a) Restoration and protection of the natural resources, 
ecosystems, fisheries, marine and wildlife habitats, beaches, and 
coastal wetlands of the Gulf Coast Region.
    (b) Mitigation of damage to fish, wildlife, and natural resources.
    (c) Implementation of a Federally-approved marine, coastal, or 
comprehensive conservation management plan, including fisheries 
monitoring.
    (d) Workforce development and job creation.
    (e) Improvements to or on state parks located in coastal areas 
affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
    (f) Infrastructure projects benefitting the economy or ecological 
resources, including port infrastructure.
    (g) Coastal flood protection and related infrastructure.
    (h) Promotion of tourism in the Gulf Coast Region, including 
promotion of recreational fishing.
    (i) Promotion of the consumption of seafood harvested from the Gulf 
Coast Region.
    (j) Planning assistance. Eligible entities under Sec.  34.302 may 
apply for planning assistance grants to fund preparation and amendment 
of the Multiyear Implementation Plan.
    (k) Administrative costs.


Sec.  34.202  Eligible activities for the Comprehensive Plan Component.

    The Council may expend funds that are available under the 
Comprehensive Plan Component for eligible activities under 33 U.S.C. 
1321(t)(2) and (3), including the following:
    (a) The Council may expend funds to carry out activities in the 
Gulf Coast Region that are included in the Comprehensive Plan, as 
described in 33 U.S.C. 1321(t)(2). An activity selected by the Council 
is carried out in the Gulf Coast Region when, in the reasonable 
judgment of the Council, each severable part of the activity is 
primarily designed to restore or protect that geographic area. The 
Council must document the basis for its judgment when it selects the 
activity.

[[Page 77247]]

    (b) The Council may expend funds to develop and publish the 
proposed and initial Comprehensive Plans, and to implement, amend, and 
update the Comprehensive Plan as required by the Act or as necessary.
    (c) The Council may expend funds to prepare annual reports to 
Congress, and other reports and audits required by the Act, these 
regulations, and other Federal law.
    (d) The Council may expend funds to establish and operate one or 
more advisory committees as may be necessary to assist the Council.
    (e) The Council may expend funds to collect and consider scientific 
and other research associated with restoration of the Gulf Coast 
ecosystem, including research, observation, and monitoring.
    (f) Administrative expenses.


Sec.  34.203  Eligible activities for the Spill Impact Component.

    Activities eligible for funding under the Spill Impact Component 
must meet the eligibility criteria in Sec.  34.201(a) through (k), as 
well as the following:
    (a) The activities must be included in and conform to the 
description in a State Expenditure Plan required in Sec.  34.503 and 
approved by the Council. State entities may apply for a grant from the 
total amount allocated to that state under the Spill Impact Component 
before the Council has approved the State Expenditure Plan to fund 
eligible activities that are necessary to develop and submit that plan.
    (b) The activities included in the State Expenditure Plan must 
contribute to the overall economic and ecological recovery of the Gulf 
Coast.
    (c) Activities listed in Sec.  34.201(a) through (g) are eligible 
for funding from the Spill Impact Component to the extent they are 
carried out in the Gulf Coast Region. For purposes of this component, 
an activity is carried out in the Gulf Coast Region when, in the 
reasonable judgment of the entity developing the State Expenditure Plan 
under Sec.  34.503, each severable part of the activity is primarily 
designed to restore or protect that geographic area. State Expenditure 
Plans must include a demonstration that activities in the plan will be 
carried out in the Gulf Coast Region.


Sec.  34.204  Limitations on administrative costs and administrative 
expenses.

    (a) Of the amounts received by a Gulf Coast State, coastal 
political subdivision, or coastal zone parish in a grant from Treasury 
under the Direct Component, or in a grant from the Council under the 
Comprehensive Plan Component or Spill Impact Component, not more than 
three percent may be used for administrative costs. The three percent 
limit is applied to the total amount of funds received by a recipient 
under each grant. The three percent limit does not apply to the 
administrative costs of subrecipients. All subrecipient costs are 
subject to the cost principles in Federal laws and policies on grants.
    (b) Of the amounts received by the Council under the Comprehensive 
Plan Component, not more than three percent may be used for 
administrative expenses. The three percent limit is applied to the 
total amount of funds received by the Council, beginning with the first 
fiscal year the Council receives funds through the end of the fourth, 
or most recent fiscal year, whichever is later.


Sec.  34.205  Council's audited financial statements and audits.

    (a) Not later than December 1, 2014, and each year thereafter, the 
Council must prepare and submit to the Secretary of the Treasury an 
audited financial statement for the preceding Federal fiscal year, 
covering all accounts and associated activities of the Council.
    (b) Each audited financial statement under this section must 
reflect:
    (1) The overall financial position of the accounts and activities 
covered by the statement, including assets and liabilities thereof.
    (2) Results of operations of the Council.
    (c) The financial statements must be prepared in accordance with 
the form and content of the financial statements prescribed by the 
Director of the Office of Management and Budget for executive agencies 
pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 3515, consistent with applicable accounting and 
financial reporting principles, standards, and requirements.
    (d) The Treasury Inspector General may conduct audits and reviews 
of the Council's accounts and activities as the Inspector General deems 
appropriate.

Subpart D--Gulf RESTORE Program--Direct Component


Sec.  34.300  General.

    This subpart describes the policies and procedures applicable to 
the Direct Component of the Gulf RESTORE Program. The funds made 
available under this subpart will be in the form of a grant.


Sec.  34.301  Responsibility for administration--Direct Component.

    Treasury is responsible for awarding and administering grants and 
grant agreements under this subpart. Treasury will develop and apply 
policies and procedures consistent with the Act and Federal laws and 
policies on grants. Treasury also will establish and implement a 
program to monitor compliance with its grant agreements.


Sec.  34.302  Allocation of funds--Direct Component.

    The amounts made available in any fiscal year from the Trust Fund 
and allocated to this component will be available in equal shares for 
the Gulf Coast States for expenditure on eligible activities. The 
following entities are eligible to receive Direct Component grants.
    (a) The amounts available to Alabama will be provided directly to 
the Alabama Gulf Coast Recovery Council, or such administrative agent 
as it may designate. All administrative duties of the Alabama Gulf 
Coast Recovery Council must be performed by public officials and 
employees that are subject to the ethics laws of the State of Alabama.
    (b) Of the amounts available to Florida, 75 percent of funding will 
be provided directly to the eight disproportionately affected counties. 
Each disproportionately affected county's share is as follows: Bay 
County, 15.101453044%; Escambia County, 25.334760043%; Franklin County, 
8.441253238%; Gulf County, 6.743202296%; Okaloosa County, 
15.226456794%; Santa Rosa County, 10.497314919%; Wakulla County, 
4.943148294%; and Walton County, 13.712411372%.
    (c) Of the amounts available to Florida, 25 percent of funding will 
be provided directly to the nondisproportionately impacted counties. 
Each nondisproportionately impacted county's share is as follows: 
Charlotte County, 5.162%; Citrus County, 4.692%; Collier County, 
7.019%; Dixie County, 3.484%; Hernando County, 4.982%; Hillsborough 
County, 13.339%; Jefferson County, 3.834%; Lee County, 8.776%; Levy 
County, 3.894%; Manatee County, 6.809%; Monroe County, 8.297%; Pasco 
County, 7.079%; Pinellas County, 11.002%; Sarasota County, 7.248%; and 
Taylor County, 4.383%.
    (d) Of the amounts available to Louisiana, 70 percent will be 
provided directly to the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority 
Board of Louisiana, through the Coastal Protection and Restoration 
Authority of Louisiana.
    (e) Of the amounts available to Louisiana, 30 percent will be 
provided directly to the coastal zone parishes. Each coastal zone 
parish's share is as follows: Ascension, 2.42612%; Assumption, 
0.93028%; Calcasieu,

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5.07063%; Cameron, 2.10096%; Iberia, 2.55018%; Jefferson, 11.95309%; 
Lafourche, 7.86746%; Livingston, 3.32725%; Orleans, 7.12875%; 
Plaquemines, 17.99998%; St. Bernard, 9.66743%; St. Charles, 1.35717%; 
St. James, 0.75600%; St. John the Baptist, 1.11915%; St. Martin, 
2.06890%; St. Mary, 1.80223%; St. Tammany, 5.53058%; Tangipahoa, 
3.40337%; Terrebonne, 9.91281%; and Vermilion, 3.02766%.
    (f) No parish will receive funds until the parish chief executive 
has certified to the Governor of Louisiana, in a form satisfactory to 
the Governor or the Governor's designee, that the parish has completed 
a comprehensive land use plan that is consistent with, or complementary 
to, the most recent version of the state's Coastal Master Plan approved 
by the Louisiana legislature.
    (g) The amounts available to Mississippi will be provided directly 
to the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality.
    (h) The amounts available to Texas will be provided directly to the 
Office of the Governor or to an appointee of the Office of the 
Governor.


Sec.  34.303  Application procedure--Direct Component.

    The entities identified in Sec.  34.302 are eligible to apply for 
their allocation as a grant. Treasury has developed an application 
process for grants available under this subpart that is consistent with 
the Act and Federal laws and policies on grants. The application 
process includes the following requirements:
    (a) Before an eligible entity may receive a Direct Component 
activity grant, the grant applicant must submit a Multiyear 
Implementation Plan describing each activity for which it seeks funding 
under the Direct Component. Applications to fund preparation and 
amendment of the Multiyear Implementation Plan are exempt from this 
requirement.
    (b) For each activity, the Multiyear Implementation Plan must 
include a narrative description demonstrating:
    (1) The need for, purpose, and objectives of the activity;
    (2) How the activity is eligible for funding and meets all 
requirements;
    (3) Location of the activity;
    (4) Budget for the activity;
    (5) Milestones for the activity;
    (6) Projected completion dates for the activity;
    (7) Criteria the applicant will use to evaluate the success of each 
activity in helping to restore and protect the Gulf Coast Region 
impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill;
    (8) The plan was made available for public review and comment for a 
minimum of 45 days in a manner calculated to obtain broad-based 
participation from individuals, businesses, Indian tribes, and non-
profit organizations; and
    (9) Each activity in the plan was approved after consideration of 
meaningful input from the public. Treasury may require a standard 
format and additional information in the plans. Plans can be phased and 
incremental and may be modified later by the applicant. If the 
applicant has requested or anticipates requesting funding for any part 
of the activity from other sources, including other components in the 
Act, the applicant must identify the source, state the amount of 
funding, and provide the current status of the request. For the State 
of Louisiana parishes, the applicant must submit information 
demonstrating compliance with Sec.  34.302(f).
    (c) Material modifications to a Multiyear Implementation Plan are 
subject to all applicable requirements in paragraph (b) of this 
section.
    (d) The applicant must include supporting information in each grant 
application that:
    (1) Proposed activities meet the statutory requirements for 
eligibility; and
    (2) Each activity designed to protect or restore natural resources 
is based on best available science.
    (e) An applicant may satisfy some or all of the requirements in 
this section and Sec.  34.802(a) through (e) if it can demonstrate in 
its application to Treasury that before July 6, 2012:
    (1) The applicant established conditions to carry out activities 
that are substantively the same as the requirements in this section and 
Sec.  34.802(a) through (e).
    (2) The applicable activity qualified as one or more of the 
eligible activities in Sec.  34.201.


Sec.  34.304  Grant award process--Direct Component.

    Upon determining that the Multiyear Implementation Plan and the 
grant application meet the requirements of these regulations and the 
Act, Treasury will execute a grant agreement with the recipient that 
complies with subpart I of this part, the Act, and other Federal laws 
and policies on grants.


Sec.  34.305  Use of funds--Direct Component.

    (a) An activity may be funded in whole or in part if the applicable 
requirements of subparts C and D of this part are met.
    (b) When awarding contracts to carry out an activity under the 
Direct Component, a Gulf Coast State, coastal political subdivision, or 
coastal zone parish may give preference to individuals and companies 
that reside in, are headquartered in, or are principally engaged in 
business in the state of project execution consistent with Federal laws 
and policies on grants.
    (c) A Gulf Coast State, coastal political subdivision, or coastal 
zone parish may propose to issue subawards for eligible activities. 
Recipients that propose to issue subawards must demonstrate their 
ability to conduct subrecipient monitoring and management, as required 
by Federal laws and policies on grants.


Sec.  34.306  Reports--Direct Component.

    Recipients must submit reports as prescribed by Treasury.


Sec.  34.307  Recordkeeping--Direct Component.

    Recipients must maintain records as prescribed by Treasury, and 
make the records available to Treasury, including the Treasury 
Inspector General.


Sec.  34.308  Audits--Direct Component.

    Treasury, including the Treasury Inspector General, may conduct 
audits and reviews of recipient's accounts and activities relating to 
the Act as deemed appropriate by Treasury.

Subpart E--Gulf RESTORE Program--Comprehensive Plan Component


Sec.  34.400  General.

    This subpart describes the policies and procedures applicable to 
the Comprehensive Plan Component. The Comprehensive Plan is developed 
by the Council in accordance with 33 U.S.C. 1321(t)(2) and will include 
activities the Council intends to carry out, subject to available 
funding. When selecting activities to carry out in the first three 
years, except for certain projects and programs that were authorized 
prior to July 6, 2012, the Council will give highest priority to 
projects meeting one or more of the criteria in 33 U.S.C. 
1321(t)(2)(D)(iii).


Sec.  34.401  Responsibility for administration--Comprehensive Plan 
Component.

    (a) After selecting Comprehensive Plan projects and programs to be 
funded, the Council must assign primary authority and responsibility 
for overseeing and implementing projects and programs to a Gulf Coast 
State or Federal agency represented on the Council, which are called 
assignees in these regulations. In assigning responsibility, the 
Council must enter

[[Page 77249]]

into a grant agreement with the Gulf Coast State or an interagency 
agreement with the Federal agency. Any grant agreement must be 
consistent with applicable Federal laws and policies on grants. The 
Council must specify whether any part of an assignee's responsibility 
may be further assigned to another entity and under what terms.
    (b) When an assignee's grant or subaward to, or cooperative 
agreement with, a nongovernmental entity would equal or exceed ten 
percent of the total amount provided to the assignee for that activity, 
the Council must publish in the Federal Register and deliver to the 
following Congressional Committees at least 30 days prior to the 
assignee entering into an agreement the name of the recipient or 
subrecipient; a brief description of the activity, including its 
purpose; and the amount of the award.
    (1) House of Representatives committees: Committee on Science, 
Space, and Technology; Committee on Natural Resources; Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure; Committee on Appropriations.
    (2) Senate committees: Committee on Environment and Public Works; 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Committee on Energy 
and Natural Resources; Committee on Appropriations.
    (c) The Council must establish and implement a program to monitor 
compliance with its grant agreements and interagency agreements.


Sec.  34.402  Grant administration--Comprehensive Plan Component.

    The Council must publish policies and procedures for administration 
of Comprehensive Plan Component grants that are consistent with 
applicable Federal laws and policies on grants. These grant policies 
and procedures must include uniform guidelines for assignees to use 
when selecting subrecipients, awarding grants and subawards, and 
monitoring compliance. The Council must also establish and implement a 
program to monitor compliance with its grant agreements.


Sec.  34.403  Use of funds--Comprehensive Plan Component.

    An activity may be funded in whole or in part if the applicable 
requirements of subparts C and E of this part are met.


Sec.  34.404  Reports--Comprehensive Plan Component.

    Assignees must submit reports as prescribed by the Council or 
Treasury. In addition, the Council must submit reports as prescribed by 
Treasury.


Sec.  34.405  Recordkeeping--Comprehensive Plan Component.

    Assignees must maintain records as prescribed by the Council and 
Treasury, and make the records available to the Council and Treasury, 
including the Treasury Inspector General. In addition, the Council must 
make its records concerning the activities of assignees available to 
Treasury, including the Treasury Inspector General.


Sec.  34.406  Audits--Comprehensive Plan Component.

    The Council and Treasury, including the Treasury Inspector General, 
may conduct audits and reviews of assignee's accounts and activities 
relating to the Act as any of them deems appropriate.

Subpart F--Gulf RESTORE Program--Spill Impact Component


Sec.  34.500  General.

    This subpart describes the policies and procedures applicable to 
the Spill Impact Component of the Gulf RESTORE Program. The funds made 
available under this subpart will be in the form of grants.


Sec.  34.501  Responsibility for administration--Spill Impact 
Component.

    The Council is responsible for awarding and administering grants 
under this subpart.


Sec.  34.502  Allocation of funds--Spill Impact Component.

    The Council will allocate amounts to the Gulf Coast States based on 
the Act and regulations promulgated by the Council. The Council will 
make allocated funds available through grants for activities described 
in a State Expenditure Plan approved by the Council.


Sec.  34.503  State Expenditure Plans--Spill Impact Component.

    Each Gulf Coast State, through its Governor or the Governor's 
designee, must submit a State Expenditure Plan to the Council for its 
approval that describes each activity for which the state seeks 
funding. The Council must develop requirements for these plans, 
including the requirements below.
    (a) The State Expenditure Plan must be developed by:
    (1) In Alabama, the Alabama Gulf Coast Recovery Council.
    (2) In Florida, a consortium of local political subdivisions that 
includes, at a minimum, one representative of each county affected by 
the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
    (3) In Louisiana, the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority 
of Louisiana, as approved by the Board.
    (4) In Mississippi, the Office of the Governor or an appointee of 
the Office of the Governor.
    (5) In Texas, the Office of the Governor or an appointee of the 
Office of the Governor.
    (b) The State Expenditure Plan must describe how it takes into 
consideration the Comprehensive Plan and is consistent with the goals 
and objectives of the Comprehensive Plan. In addition, the State 
Expenditure Plan must describe the processes used:
    (1) To evaluate and select activities included in the plan;
    (2) To assess the capability of third party entities that will 
implement activities in the plan;
    (3) To prevent conflicts of interest in the development and 
implementation of the plan;
    (4) To obtain public review and comment in accordance with 
paragraph (g) of this section; and
    (5) To verify compliance with the requirements of Sec.  34.203 and 
this subpart.
    (c) For each activity in the State Expenditure Plan, the plan must 
include a narrative description demonstrating:
    (1) The need for, purpose, and objectives of the activity;
    (2) How the activity is eligible for funding and meets all 
requirements of Sec.  34.203 and this subpart;
    (3) Location of the activity;
    (4) Budget for the activity;
    (5) Milestones for the activity;
    (6) Projected completion dates for the activity; and
    (7) Criteria the applicant will use to evaluate the success of each 
activity in helping to restore and protect the Gulf Coast Region. Plans 
can be phased or incremental and may be modified with the Council's 
approval. If funding has been requested from other sources, including 
other components of the Act, the plan must identify the source, state 
how much funding was requested, and provide the current status of the 
request.
    (d) The State Expenditure Plan must demonstrate how the activities 
in the plan will contribute to the overall economic and ecological 
recovery of the Gulf Coast, and how each activity that would restore 
and protect natural resources, ecosystems, fisheries, marine and 
wildlife habitats, beaches, coastal wetlands or the economy of the Gulf 
Coast is based on the best available science.
    (e) The State Expenditure Plan must demonstrate that activities 
described in Sec.  34.201(a) through (g) will be carried out in the 
Gulf Coast Region, as described in Sec.  34.203(c).
    (f) No more than 25 percent of funding under the Spill Impact

[[Page 77250]]

Component is available to a Gulf Coast State under this subpart to pay 
for infrastructure, unless the Governor or the Governor's 
representative on the Council certifies that:
    (1) The ecosystem restoration needs in the state will be addressed 
by the activities in the proposed plan; and
    (2) Additional investment in infrastructure is required to mitigate 
the impacts of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill to the ecosystem or 
economy.
    (g) Before being submitted to the Council for approval, a State 
Expenditure Plan must be available for public review and comment for a 
minimum of 45 days, in a manner calculated to obtain broad-based 
participation from individuals, businesses, Indian tribes, and non-
profit organizations.
    (h) If the Council disapproves a State Expenditure Plan, the 
Council must notify the impacted state in writing and consult with the 
state to address any identified deficiencies with the plan. If the 
Council fails to approve or take action within 60 days after the date 
on which the Council receives the plan, the state may obtain expedited 
judicial review within 90 days in a United States district court 
located in the state seeking the review.
    (i) The Council must publish guidelines explaining when 
modifications to a State Expenditure Plan require the Council's 
approval. Material modifications to a State Expenditure Plan are 
subject to the requirements of paragraphs (b) through (g) of this 
section.


Sec.  34.504  Grant administration--Spill Impact Component.

    The Council must publish policies and procedures for administration 
of the Spill Impact Component grants that are consistent with 
applicable Federal laws and policies on grants. The Council must also 
establish and implement a program to monitor compliance with its grant 
agreements.


Sec.  34.505  Use of funds--Spill Impact Component.

    An activity may be funded in whole or in part if the applicable 
requirements of subparts C and F of this part are met.


Sec.  34.506  Reports--Spill Impact Component.

    Recipients must submit reports as prescribed by the Council or 
Treasury. In addition, the Council must submit reports as prescribed by 
Treasury.


Sec.  34.507  Recordkeeping--Spill Impact Component.

    Recipients must maintain records as prescribed by the Council and 
make the records available to the Council, and Treasury, including the 
Treasury Inspector General. In addition, the Council must make its 
records concerning the activities of recipients available to Treasury, 
including the Treasury Inspector General.


Sec.  34.508  Audits--Spill Impact Component.

    The Council and Treasury, including the Treasury Inspector General, 
may conduct audits and reviews of a recipient's accounts and activities 
relating to the Act as any of them deem appropriate.

Subpart G--NOAA RESTORE Act Science Program


Sec.  34.600  General.

    This subpart describes policies and procedures applicable to the 
NOAA RESTORE Act Science Program. The program's purpose is to carry out 
research, observation, and monitoring to support, to the maximum extent 
practicable, the long-term sustainability of the ecosystem, fish 
stocks, fish habitat, and the recreational, commercial, and charter 
fishing industries in the Gulf of Mexico.


Sec.  34.601  Responsibility for administration--NOAA RESTORE Act 
Science Program.

    NOAA is responsible for establishing and administering this 
program, in consultation with the United States Fish and Wildlife 
Service. NOAA must develop, publish, and apply policies and procedures 
for the NOAA RESTORE Act Science Program consistent with the Act, this 
subpart, and Federal laws and policies on grants. NOAA must monitor 
compliance with its grant agreements, cooperative agreements, 
contracts, and agreements funded through the Trust Fund. NOAA and the 
United States Fish and Wildlife Service will consult with the Regional 
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council and the Gulf States Marine 
Fisheries Commission in carrying out the program.


Sec.  34.602  Use of funds and eligible activities--NOAA RESTORE Act 
Science Program.

    (a) Amounts made available to NOAA may be expended to carry out a 
program comprised of activities described in section 1604 of the Act. 
These activities include coordination of science and technology 
programs and stakeholder engagement, in accordance with section 1604(f) 
of the Act, as well as the following activities with respect to the 
Gulf of Mexico:
    (1) Marine and estuarine research.
    (2) Marine and estuarine ecosystem monitoring and ocean 
observation.
    (3) Data collection and stock assessments.
    (4) Pilot programs for fishery independent data and reduction of 
exploitation of spawning aggregations.
    (5) Cooperative research.
    (b) NOAA may also expend amounts made available from the Trust Fund 
for administrative expenses connected with the program. All funds must 
be expended in compliance with the Act, these regulations, and other 
applicable law.


Sec.  34.603  Limitations on activities--NOAA RESTORE Act Science 
Program.

    None of the Trust Fund amounts may be used for the following 
activities:
    (a) For any existing or planned research led by NOAA, unless agreed 
to in writing by the grant recipient.
    (b) To implement existing regulations or initiate new regulations 
promulgated or proposed by NOAA.
    (c) To develop or approve a new limited access privilege program 
(as that term is used in section 303A of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act [16 U.S.C. 1853(a)]) for any fishery 
under the jurisdiction of the South Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, New 
England, or Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Councils.


Sec.  34.604  Limitations on administrative expenses--NOAA RESTORE Act 
Science Program.

    (a) Of the amounts received by NOAA under the NOAA RESTORE Act 
Science Program, not more than three percent may be used for 
administrative expenses.
    (b) The three percent limit is applied to the total amount of funds 
received by NOAA, beginning with the first fiscal year it receives 
funds through the end of the fourth, or most recent fiscal year, 
whichever is later.
    (c) NOAA may seek reimbursement of administrative expenses incurred 
after the first deposit into the Trust Fund, to the extent permitted by 
Federal law. Administrative expenses incurred prior to the first 
deposit into the Trust Fund are not reimbursable.


Sec.  34.605  Reports--NOAA RESTORE Act Science Program.

    NOAA must submit reports as prescribed by Treasury.


Sec.  34.606  Recordkeeping--NOAA RESTORE Act Science Program.

    Recipients and other entities receiving funds under the NOAA 
RESTORE Act Science Program must maintain records as prescribed by NOAA 
and make the records available to NOAA.

[[Page 77251]]

Sec.  34.607  Audits--NOAA RESTORE Act Science Program.

    NOAA and the Treasury Inspector General may conduct audits and 
reviews of recipient's accounts and activities relating to the Act as 
either of them deems appropriate.

Subpart H--Centers of Excellence Research Grants Program


Sec.  34.700  General.

    This subpart describes the policies and procedures applicable to 
the Centers of Excellence Research Grants Program. The program's 
purpose is to establish centers of excellence to conduct research only 
on the Gulf Coast Region. The funds made available to the Gulf Coast 
States under this subpart will be in the form of a grant.


Sec.  34.701  Responsibility for administration--Centers of Excellence 
Research Grants Program.

    Treasury is responsible for awarding grants to the Gulf Coast 
States, which will use the amounts made available to award grants to 
nongovernmental entities and consortia in the Gulf Coast Region for the 
establishment of Centers of Excellence. Treasury will develop and apply 
policies and procedures consistent with this Act and Federal laws and 
policies on grants. Each Gulf Coast State entity issuing grants must 
establish and implement a program to monitor compliance with its 
subaward agreements.


Sec.  34.702  Allocation of funds--Centers of Excellence Research 
Grants Program.

    An equal share of funds will be available to each Gulf Coast State 
to carry out eligible activities. The duties of a Gulf Coast State will 
be carried out by the following entities:
    (a) In Alabama, the Alabama Gulf Coast Recovery Council, or such 
administrative agent as it may designate.
    (b) In Florida, the Florida Institute of Oceanography.
    (c) In Louisiana, the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority 
Board of Louisiana, through the Coastal Protection and Restoration 
Authority of Louisiana.
    (d) In Mississippi, the Mississippi Department of Environmental 
Quality.
    (e) In Texas, the Office of the Governor or an appointee of the 
Office of the Governor.


Sec.  34.703  Application procedure--Centers of Excellence Research 
Grants Program.

    Treasury has developed an application process for grants available 
to the Gulf Coast States under this subpart that is consistent with the 
Act and Federal laws and policies on grants. The process includes the 
following requirements:
    (a) Each Gulf Coast State must describe the competitive process 
that the state will use to select one or more Centers of Excellence. 
The competitive process must allow nongovernmental entities and 
consortia in the Gulf Coast Region, including public and private 
institutions of higher education, to compete. The process must give 
priority to entities and consortia that demonstrate the ability to 
establish the broadest cross-section of participants in the grant with 
interest and expertise in science, technology, and monitoring in the 
discipline(s) on which the proposal is focused. The process must also 
guard against conflicts of interest.
    (b) Each Gulf Coast State must describe in its application the 
state rules and policies applying to subawards it will issue under this 
subpart. At a minimum, these state rules and policies must include the 
competitive selection process and measures to guard against conflicts 
of interest.
    (c) Each Gulf Coast State must demonstrate in its application that 
the state rules and policies applying to subawards it will issue under 
this subpart were published and available for public review and comment 
for a minimum of 45 days, and that they were approved after 
consideration of meaningful input from the public, including broad-
based participation from individuals, businesses, Indian tribes, and 
non-profit organizations. These requirements do not apply to state 
statutes and regulations, or to policies that were in effect prior to 
August 15, 2014.
    (d) Each application must state the amount of funding requested and 
the purposes for which the funds will be used.


Sec.  34.704  Use of funds and eligible activities--Centers of 
Excellence Research Grants Program.

    (a) A Gulf Coast State receiving funds under this subpart must 
establish a grant program that complies with the Act and Federal laws 
and policies on grants.
    (b) Gulf Coast States may use funds available under this subpart to 
award competitive subawards for the establishment of Centers of 
Excellence that focus on science, technology, and monitoring in at 
least one of the following disciplines:
    (1) Coastal and deltaic sustainability, restoration, and 
protection, including solutions and technology that allow citizens to 
live in a safe and sustainable manner in a coastal delta in the Gulf 
Coast Region.
    (2) Coastal fisheries and wildlife ecosystem research and 
monitoring in the Gulf Coast Region.
    (3) Offshore energy development, including research and technology 
to improve the sustainable and safe development of energy resources in 
the Gulf of Mexico.
    (4) Sustainable and resilient growth and economic and commercial 
development in the Gulf Coast Region.
    (5) Comprehensive observation, monitoring, and mapping of the Gulf 
of Mexico.


Sec.  34.705  Ineligible activities--Centers of Excellence Research 
Grants Program.

    Any activity that is not authorized under the provisions of Sec.  
34.704 is ineligible for funding under this subpart.


Sec.  34.706  Reports--Centers of Excellence Research Grants Program.

    Each Gulf Coast State entity must submit the following reports:
    (a) An annual report to the Council in a form prescribed by the 
Council that includes information on subrecipients, subaward amounts, 
disciplines addressed, and any other information required by the 
Council. When the subrecipient is a consortium, the annual report must 
also identify the consortium members. This information will be included 
in the Council's annual report to Congress.
    (b) Reports as prescribed by Treasury.


Sec.  34.707  Recordkeeping--Centers of Excellence Research Grants 
Program.

    Recipients must maintain records as prescribed by Treasury and make 
the records available to Treasury, including the Treasury Inspector 
General.


Sec.  34.708  Audits--Centers of Excellence Research Grants Program.

    Treasury, including the Treasury Inspector General, may conduct 
audits and reviews of each recipient's accounts and activities relating 
to the Act as deemed appropriate by Treasury.

Subpart I--Agreements


Sec.  34.800  General.

    This subpart describes procedures applicable to grant agreements 
used by Treasury, the Council (including Federal agencies carrying out 
responsibilities for the Council), NOAA, Gulf Coast States, coastal 
political subdivisions, and coastal zone parishes in making awards 
under subparts D, E, F, G, and H of this part. It also describes 
Treasury's authority to inspect records and the Treasury Inspector 
General's authority under the Act.

[[Page 77252]]

Sec.  34.801  Grant agreements.

    The grant agreements used must conform to the Act and Federal laws 
and policies on grants, including audit requirements.


Sec.  34.802  Certifications.

    At a minimum, grant applications and agreements for the Direct 
Component, Comprehensive Plan Component, and Spill Impact Component 
must contain the following certifications. The certification must be 
signed by an authorized senior official of the entity receiving grant 
funds who can legally bind the organization or entity, and who has 
oversight for the administration and use of the funds in question. The 
certification in paragraph (c) of this section does not apply to 
planning assistance funds for the preparation and amendment of the 
Multiyear Implementation Plan.
    (a) I certify that each activity funded under this Agreement has 
been designed to plan for or undertake activities to restore and 
protect the natural resources, ecosystems, fisheries, marine and 
wildlife habitats, beaches, coastal wetlands, or economy of the Gulf 
Coast Region.
    (b) I certify that each activity funded under this Agreement is 
designed to carry out one or more of the eligible activities for this 
component.
    (c) I certify that each activity funded under this Agreement was 
part of a plan made available for public review and comment in a manner 
calculated to obtain broad-based participation from individuals, 
businesses, Indian tribes, and nonprofit organizations, and that the 
activity was selected after consideration of meaningful input from the 
public, as described in the grant application.
    (d) I certify that each activity funded under this Agreement that 
protects or restores natural resources is based on the best available 
science, as that term is defined in 31 CFR part 34.
    (e) I certify that this recipient has procedures in place for 
procuring property and services under this award that are consistent 
with the procurement standards applying to Federal grants. This 
recipient agrees that it will not request funds under this award for 
any contract unless this certification remains true and accurate.
    (f) I certify that a conflict of interest policy is in effect and 
covering each activity funded under this Agreement.
    (g) I make each of these certifications based on my personal 
knowledge and belief after reasonable and diligent inquiry, and I 
affirm that this recipient maintains written documentation sufficient 
to support each certification made above, and that this recipient's 
compliance with each of these certifications is a condition of this 
recipient's initial and continuing receipt and use of the funds 
provided under this Agreement.


Sec.  34.803  Conditions.

    At a minimum, each grant agreement under subparts D, E, F, G, and H 
of this part must contain the following conditions:
    (a) The recipient must immediately report any indication of fraud, 
waste, abuse, or potentially criminal activity pertaining to grant 
funds to Treasury and the Treasury Inspector General.
    (b) The recipient must maintain detailed records sufficient to 
account for the receipt, obligation, and expenditure of grant funds. 
The recipient must track program income.
    (c) Prior to disbursing funds to a subrecipient, the recipient must 
execute a legally binding written agreement with the entity receiving 
the subaward. The written agreement will extend all the applicable 
program requirements to the subrecipient.
    (d) The recipient must use the funds only for the purposes 
identified in the agreement.
    (e) The recipient must report at the conclusion of the grant 
period, or other period specified by the Federal agency administering 
the grant, on the use of funds pursuant to the agreement.
    (f) Trust Fund amounts may only be used to acquire land or 
interests in land by purchase, exchange, or donation from a willing 
seller.
    (g) None of the Trust Fund amounts may be used to acquire land in 
fee title by the Federal Government unless the land is acquired by 
exchange or donation or the acquisition is necessary for the 
restoration and protection of the natural resources, ecosystems, 
fisheries, marine and wildlife habitats, beaches, and coastal wetlands 
of the Gulf Coast Region and has the concurrence of the Governor of the 
state in which the acquisition will take place.


Sec.  34.804  Noncompliance.

    (a) If Treasury determines that a Gulf Coast State, coastal 
political subdivision, or coastal zone parish has expended funds 
received under the Direct Component, Comprehensive Plan Component, or 
Spill Impact Component on an ineligible activity, Treasury will make no 
additional funds available to that recipient from any part of the Trust 
Fund until the recipient has deposited in the Trust Fund an amount 
equal to the amount expended for an ineligible activity, or Treasury 
has authorized the recipient to expend an equal amount from the 
recipient's own funds for an activity that meets the requirements of 
the Act.
    (b) If Treasury determines that a Gulf Coast State, coastal 
political subdivision, or coastal zone parish has materially violated a 
grant agreement under the Direct Component, Comprehensive Plan 
Component, or Spill Impact Component, Treasury will make no additional 
funds available to that recipient from any part of the Trust Fund until 
the recipient corrects the violation.
    (c) As a condition of receiving funds, recipients and subrecipients 
shall make available their records and personnel to Treasury in order 
to carry out the purposes of this section.


Sec.  34.805  Treasury Inspector General.

    In addition to other authorities available under the Act, the 
Office of the Inspector General of the Department of the Treasury is 
authorized to conduct, supervise, and coordinate audits and 
investigations of activities funded through grants under the Act.

David A. Lebryk,
Fiscal Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-31431 Filed 12-11-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-25-P