EPA: ARP funding decision delayed
Federal agency requests more information on audit findings
The Environmental Protection Agency on Monday sent a letter to Lincoln County Commissioners, apologizing for a delay in responding to a May 18 letter from the commissioners asking what to do about irregularities in grant funding discovered earlier this year.
“Due to the complicated circumstances that you have brought to our attention, and after reviewing the information you provided, the EPA Region 8 has determined we need additional information in order to provide a complete and thorough response to the questions you have raised,” the letter reads.
In its letter to the county commissioners, the EPA said it still needs the county to provide the final report and analysis from Denning, Downey & Associates; a detailed report for all funds that identify the source, income, expenditures and assets related to the grant money, and invoices for legal services from R. Allen Payne and Doney Crowley Bloomquist Payne UDA, for the work completed on the grant funding.
The entire review of these funds stems from the May letter, in which county commissioners asked the federal agency for guidance after discovering Payne’s firm, Doney Crowley Bloomquist Payne, had received payments from the grant funds, which are not to be used for legal services. Commissioners uncovered the irregularities in funding after Denning, Downey & Associates completed an audit of the ARP funding, and asked the EPA in their May letter what dollar amount needs to be returned to the agency if it was spent on unauthorized expenditures.
Nick Raines, program manager of the ARP, said that exact dollar amount is a big part of what the county is still looking for from the EPA. He said as the EPA and Lincoln County work through the process to determine that amount, the grant funding for the current year won’t be affected.
“Our grant right now runs through December of this year and there’s no impact to our current funding,” he said. “We are working with EPA on the issues at hand, at the same time developing scope and budget for a new grant that would take affect as this one closed out.”
Raines said the next year’s grant may come as a continuation of the current grant with a new, clearly defined structure of what it can and can’t be spent on; or it may become a new grant altogether.
“I think everything depends on where everything lands with these audit findings,” Raines said. “It’s been a long process and we’re anxious to get a final determination and resolve it so we can move forward, but we understand the EPA has their internal processes and we’re trying to make it as easy as possible for them to provide guidance and advice.”
In an email to The Western News, EPA Public Relations Specialist Jennifer Harrison said the grant funding is not expected to interfere with the current year’s grant funding.
“EPA’s request for additional information is not expected to affect the Asbestos Resource Program’s continued work while the grant is under review. We are prepared to begin the detailed review as soon as the information can be made available,” Harrison said.
On Wednesday, Lincoln County Commissioner Mark Peck said he was disappointed in the EPA’s delayed review.
“It’s disappointing that over a three-month time period they couldn’t have told us what they need,” Peck said. “At least now we know what they need.”
Peck said the next step for the county is setting up a process to relay the required information to the EPA and interpret that information for the agency.
Reporter Seaborn Larson may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at slarson@dailyinterlake.com.