[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 76 (Wednesday, April 20, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-9573]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: April 20, 1994]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPPTS-00154; FRL-4773-9]

 

Training Grants for Lead-Based Paint Abatement Workers

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of request for preproposals.

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SUMMARY: The safety issues surrounding the activities of lead-based 
paint abatement workers are a major concern of EPA. Appropriate worker 
safety training is essential if lead-based paint abatement activities 
are to be done in a manner that assures the safety of building 
occupants, the public, the environment, and abatement workers. To 
ensure that the number of well-trained lead-based paint abatement 
workers increases at an acceptable rate, EPA has received 1994 
congressional add-on funds to provide training grants to nonprofit 
organizations engaged in lead-based paint abatement worker training and 
education activities. This year, the Agency is particularly interested 
in funding nonprofit environmental equity-based organizations that 
offer worker lead abatement training opportunities for minorities and 
low income community residents. This grass roots initiative will 
provide opportunities for communities to develop local-based lead 
abatement businesses that will employ area residents. Only nonprofit 
organizations with demonstrated experience in the implementation and 
operation of health and safety training for lead-based paint abatement 
workers will be considered for funding. This notice describes the 
eligibility requirements and the selection criteria for the grants.

DATES: All preproposals must be submitted to EPA no later than May 20, 
1994.

ADDRESSES: Preproposals should be sent to the following address: Paul 
Matthai, Chemical Management Division (7404), Office of Pollution 
Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., 
Washington, DC 20460.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Betty Weiner or Karen Hoffman at (202) 
260-1869 or write to the EPA Lead Abatement Program at the address 
listed under the ADDRESSES unit.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of this notice is to announce 
the availability of funds to form cooperative agreements for the 
purpose of providing support to organizations demonstrating experience 
in lead-based paint training activities with particular interest in 
funding nonprofit environmental equity-based organizations. Any 
nonprofit organization with such experience is eligible to apply. For 
the purposes of this notice, lead-based paint abatement activities mean 
activities engaged in by workers that include the removal, disposal, 
handling, and transportation of lead-based paint and materials 
containing lead-based paint from public and private dwellings, public 
and commercial buildings, and bridges and other structures or 
superstructures where lead-based paint presents or may present an 
unreasonable risk to health or the environment.

I. Administrative Requirements

    This program is subject to matching share requirements. Awards 
shall be given only to applicants who can fund at least 5 percent of 
their programs from non-Federal sources, excluding in-kind 
contributions. (In-kind contributions are defined as the value of a 
non-cash contribution to meet a recipient's cost-sharing requirements. 
An in-kind contribution may consist of charges for real property and 
equipment, or the value of goods and services directly benefiting the 
EPA-funded project.) The recipient's matching share may exceed 5 
percent.

II. Evaluation Criteria

    Preproposals submitted in response to this notice will be evaluated 
on a competitive basis by an EPA review panel. The following factors, 
which are weighted by percentage as to their relative importance, will 
be considered in evaluating the preproposals:
    1. Program Experience (25 percent)
    a. Experience in the development of adult education courses, with 
emphasis on training individuals with limited education.
    b. Experience in the delivery of health and safety course materials 
to individuals with limited or no English language skills.
    c. Demonstrated ability to target the worker population.
    2. Lead-Based Paint Abatement Worker Course Experience (30 percent)
    a. Experience in the delivery of courses, including hands-on 
training, to lead-based paint abatement workers.
    b. Experience in providing community-based training to lead-based 
paint abatement workers.
    c. Demonstrated experience in the implementation and operation of 
health and safety training for lead-based paint abatement workers.
    d. Qualifications of key personnel.
    e. The number of students expected to be trained during the project 
period.
    3. Project Management (25 percent)
    a. Applicant's ability to provide appropriate program staff to the 
project.
    b. Applicant's ability to provide space, equipment, staff time, and 
other resources required to carry out project responsibilities.
    c. Extent to which the applicant has considered a management plan 
for the project, including the designation of a qualified program 
administrator.
    4. Budget (20 percent)
    Preproposals should include a detailed budget that specifies the 
amount of money to be used in all aspects of the proposed worker 
training, as well as the amount that is to be the non-Federal share (at 
least 5 percent of the total budget, excluding in-kind contributions). 
All budgets must include funding for a trip to EPA in Washington, DC to 
attend an information-sharing meeting for all award recipients. The 
ability of the applicant to derive a budget estimate that is 
appropriate to the scope of the project will be considered in the 
evaluation process. The proposed budget should be clearly justified and 
consistent with the intended use of the funds set forth in this notice.

III. Application Procedures

    The following materials must be provided by all applicants:
    1. Documentation that proves the nonprofit status of the applicant.
    2. Copies of any lead-related course material already being used by 
the applicant to teach the course. In addition, any applicants who have 
received EPA funds for lead worker training in any previous year's 
program must include in their preproposal a description of how those 
funds were used.

IV. Acceptable Expenditures

    Funds awarded must be spent on activities that directly result in 
increased numbers of well-trained lead-based paint abatement workers. 
Since EPA has funded the development of a model course curriculum for 
workers, the Agency does not wish to fund the development of new 
courses through this program.
    The following lists provide examples of activities that will and 
will not be considered for funding. The list of acceptable activities 
is for guidance only; projects may be funded for acceptable activities 
other than those on the list.
    Award recipients may use the monies for the following:
    a. Delivery of lead-based paint abatement worker courses.
    b. Delivery of train-the-trainer courses.
    c. Enhancement of hands-on training programs.
    d. Monitoring and evaluating courses.
    e. Limited purchasing of supplies.
    f. Speakers' fees (expenses and travel).
    g. Slide duplication.
    h. Rental of facilities.
    i. Limited purchase of audio/visual equipment.
    j. Workers' tuition.
    k. Limited printing and reproduction of materials and manuals.
    l. Transporting workers to training sites.
    m. Innovative training systems (i.e., community-based training).
Monies may not be used for the following:
    a. Development of new training course curricula for workers.
    b. Stipends to students for room, board, and salaries.

V. Notification of Selection

    Preproposals are due no later than May 20, 1994. Preproposals shall 
be no more than five pages in length. Each applicant is requested to 
provide seven copies of the preproposal to EPA. EPA plans to award a 
total of $2.8 million through cooperative agreements to eligible 
nonprofit organizations. EPA will not allot all of the available award 
money to any one group or necessarily fund all of the groups.

    Dated: April 13, 1994.
Mark Greenwood,
Director, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics.
[FR Doc. 94-9573 Filed 4-19-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F