Senior Environmental Employment Program

SEE
CFDA 66.508 Active Cooperative Agreement
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Program Funding

Annual program obligations reported to SAM.gov.

Latest annual funding (estimated)
$20M FY2026
$32.3M
FY24
$20.4M
FY25
$20M
FY26*
* estimated

Funded Projects

Examples of what this program has supported.

FY2025 New awards and amendments: FY25 – 113 cooperative agreements/amendments were awarded (including 101 new awards/amendments, 1 decrease amendments, and 11 no-cost amendments).

Please check the EPA website: https://www.epa.gov/careers/senior-environmental-employment-see-program for a list of accomplishments under this program.

Program Objective

To use the talents of Americans 55 years of age or older to provide technical assistance to Federal, State, and local environmental agencies for projects of pollution prevention, abatement, and control to achieve the Agency's goals. The Environmental Programs Assistance Act of 1984 (Pub. L. 98-313) authorizes the Administrator of the EPA "to make grants to, or enter into cooperative agreements with private, nonprofit organizations designated by the Secretary of Labor under Title V of the Older Americans Act of 1965." In FY 2025, these cooperative agreements will continue to utilize the talents of older Americans in temporary, full time or part time positions "providing technical assistance to Federal, State, and local environmental agencies for projects of pollution prevention, abatement, and control." "Technical assistance" may include any activity performed for the EPA in support of its projects ranging from inspections of underground storage tanks, to support for a Headquarters staff office. This allows for the coverage of all types of SEE program positions from professional to clerical. Annual funding priorities are not established at the SEE program level. Rather, Senior Resource Officials from the participating 45 program offices establish priorities requiring SEE program support.

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants

  • Nonprofit Organization

Private, nonprofit organizations designated by the Secretary of Labor under Title V of the Older Americans Act of 1965.

Beneficiaries

  • Unrestricted by Entity Type
  • U.S. Federal Government
  • U.S. State Government
  • Nonprofit Organization
  • Senior Citizen (65+)

Federal, State, and local environmental agencies and individuals 55 years old or older.

How to Apply

Award Procedure

Each application shall be subjected to administrative evaluation to determine adequacy of application in relation to assistance regulations, and to program objectives.

Program details & compliance

Description

To use the talents of Americans 55 years of age or older to provide technical assistance to Federal, State, and local environmental agencies to achieve the Agency’s mission to protect human health and the environment.

Mission Categories

Primary: General Collection and Communication of Statistical Data

Use of Funds

Allowed Uses

The SEE Act states that only nonprofit organizations which are designated by the Secretary of Labor under Title V of the Older Americans Act can participate. These cooperative agreements are to utilize the talents of older Americans in temporary full time or part time positions "providing technical assistance to Federal, State, and local environmental agencies for projects of pollution prevention, abatement, and control. "This program makes Federal awards on a discretionary basis. A discretionary award means an award in which the Federal awarding agency, in keeping with specific statutory authority that enables the agency to exercise judgement (“discretion”), selects the recipient and/or the amount of Federal funding awarded through a competitive process or based on merit of proposals. A discretionary award may be selected on a non-competitive basis, as appropriate. For further information, please contact the Headquarters or regional office.

Required Documentation

The Environmental Programs Assistance Act of 1984 requires a certification by the Federal, State, or local agency that is to receive the SEE workers that the grant/cooperative agreement will not displace any Federal or State workers, prevent the rehiring of any laid-off Federal/State workers, or affect existing service contracts. 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program.

Reporting & Compliance

Audit Required
Yes — Determined at Time of Award
Records Retention
3 years

Applicable 2 CFR 200 Subparts

  • Subpart B — General Provisions
  • Subpart C — Pre-Federal Award Requirements
  • Subpart D — Post-Federal Award Requirements
  • Subpart E — Cost Principles
  • Subpart F — Audit Requirements

Contacts

Angela Hughes, Program Analyst, SEE Program
(202) 564-4390
Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Finance and Administration, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave, N.W. (Mail Code: 6204M), Washington, DC 20460
Data from SAM.gov Federal Assistance Listings. Source published: 2026-06-11. Spec v2.0. Last synced: 2026-07-08 03:04:23.