Roles and Responsibilities in the High Hazard Potential Dam (HHPD) Grant Program

The High Hazard Potential Dam Grant (HHPD) awards provide technical, planning, design and construction assistance in the form of grants for rehabilitation of eligible high hazard potential dams. A state or territory with an enacted dam safety program, the State Administrative Agency, or an equivalent state agency, is eligible for the grant.

The State Administrative Agency's Role

The State Administrative Agency (SAA) should have full capacity resources to manage and monitor both the program and fiscal management of projects.

Projects are approved by the dam safety agency in the state or territory where the dam is located.

It is also strongly recommended that the state or territorial dam safety officer coordinate with the state or territorial hazard mitigation officer to assist with various requirements of this grant, such as:

Passing Through the Award

Just as FEMA must officially award the SAA, the SAA must award the subrecipient. Following the review and approval by FEMA of the SAA Scope of Work package/subrecipient projects, the SAA has 90 days to award funding to subrecipients to execute projects.  This is not related to the funds, just the acceptance/approval of the subaward.

Dispersing Funds

It is within the SAA’s authority to disburse funds to subrecipients once projects are completed and approved.

This is not only acceptable, but a good practice to reimburse subrecipients for projects that have been completed/approved. This would ensure responsible monitoring and managing of the overall HHPD grant. 

Cost Share Responsibilities

The cost share requirement for the state, territory or agency (the non-federal participant) will be no less than 35 percent, which may partially or fully be in-kind.

Federal funds and/or services cannot be provided to count towards the 35 percent cost share.

FEMA’s agreement is with the recipient. When funds are provided to the recipient based on the formula, FEMA needs to see a 35 percent match to the funds awarded. It does not matter what portion of the funds come from the recipient, subrecipient, or some combination of both.

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