§1276a San Francisco Bay Restoration Grant Program

Summary

Creates a San Francisco Bay Program Office at the EPA Region 9 headquarters to run a grant and planning program for the Bay. The office will have a Director chosen by the EPA Administrator who has management and technical experience with the Bay. The Director gets the authority and staff needed to do the work. The law names two terms: Estuary Partnership — the San Francisco Estuary Partnership that is the Bay’s designated management group; San Francisco Bay Plan — the current conservation plan for the Bay, which the Director must review and replace with a new plan within 5 years after December 23, 2022, and then update at least every 5 years. The Director must make an annual priority list of projects that match the Bay plan (such as water quality, wetland and species restoration, and climate change work), include who will get help and the communities served, and consult with the Estuary Partnership, California and local governments, the Bay Restoration Authority, tribes, and other stakeholders. The Director can give grants or cooperative agreements to state and local agencies, special districts, public or nonprofit groups, and the Estuary Partnership for projects on the priority list. Federal funding can cover up to 75% of a project’s cost; at least 25% must come from non‑Federal sources. No more than 5% of the money for the program can pay administrative costs, and the funds cannot be used to run the management conference under the earlier law (section 1330).