At a Glance: EPA Grants to the National Rural Water Association


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Office of Inspector General
At a Glance
PRO"*^
Catalyst for Improving the Environment
Why We Did This Review
In response to a congressional
request, the Office of Inspector
General examined the
execution of Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA)
grants awarded to the National
Rural Water Association
(NRWA).
Background
The NRWA is a nonprofit
organization that provides
technical assistance, training,
and legislative representation to
water providers serving rural
communities. NRWA is a
federation consisting of
48 State associations
representing 49 States. Since
October 2000, NRWA has
received over $70 million from
EPA to provide training and
technical assistance to rural
water systems.
EPA Grants to the National Rural Water
Association
What We Found
Under its grants, NRWA is not required to measure the environmental outcomes
of the technical assistance activities it provides. As a result, the environmental
benefits could not be determined. EPA grants awarded to NRWA, after
January 1, 2005, include outputs but do not link the outputs to environmental
outcomes and measures.
The work plans for the various subgrants result in a ""onc-size-fits-aH" approach
where NRWA treats each State association identically, regardless of its
geographic size, number of water systems, or operators. NRWA's consideration
of the needs of various State associations would allow the funds to be used more
effectively.
What We Recommend
We recommend that the Assistant Administrator for Water:
1.	Develop a mechanism to link future NRWA grant awards to
environmental outcomes and measures.
2.	Review and negotiate work plans to ensure that State needs are met
and will maximize environmental results achieved with EPA grant
funds.
The Agency concurred with the recommendations of our report and will
undertake efforts to implement the recommendations in the fall of 2006.
For further information,
contact our Office of
Congressional and Public
Liaison at (202) 566-2391.
To view the full report,
click on the following link:
www.epa.qov/oiq/reports/2006/
20060912-2006-S-00005.pdf

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