This Assistance Administration Manual is the successor to the EPA Grants Administration Manual that was first published by the Grants Administration Division (GAD) in 1976. This new Manual not only reflects several major changes in Federal grant law that resulted from enactment of the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977, but also incorporates changes required by several revised environmental statutes adopted since that date. The Assistance Administration Manual provides policies and procedures for managing administrative aspects of all EPA financial assistance programs except the Scientific Activities Overseas Program (funded by U.S. owned excess foreign currency). Questions on that program should be directed to EPA's Office of International Activities. The Manual is organized to track the application, award, and post-award phases of the assistance process.