[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 106 (Friday, June 3, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-13492]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: June 3, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
[Announcement 431] 
 

Surveillance of Hazardous Substances Emergency Events 
Introduction

    The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) 
announces the availability of fiscal year (FY) 1994 funds for a 
cooperative agreement program to conduct surveillance of hazardous 
substances emergency events. The Public Health Service (PHS) is 
committed to achieving the health promotion and disease prevention 
objectives of ``Healthy People 2000,'' a PHS-led national activity to 
reduce morbidity and mortality and improve the quality of life. This 
announcement is related to the priority areas of Surveillance and Data 
Systems and Environmental Health. (To order a copy of ``Healthy People 
2000,'' see the section Where To Obtain Additional Information.)

Authority

    This program is authorized in sections 104(i)(1)(E) and (15) of the 
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act 
(CERCLA) as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act 
(SARA) (42 U.S.C. 9604 (i)(1)(E) and (15)).

Smoke-Free Workplace

    The PHS strongly encourages all grant recipients to provide a 
smoke-free workplace and promote the non-use of all tobacco products. 
This is consistent with the PHS mission to protect and advance the 
physical and mental health of the American people.

Eligible Applicants

    Eligible applicants are the official public health departments of 
the States or their bona fide agents. This includes the District of 
Columbia, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin 
Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, the Northern Mariana 
Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau, 
and federally recognized Indian tribal governments.

Availability of Funds

    Approximately $1,000,000 is available in FY 1994 to fund 
approximately 15 awards. It is expected that the average new award will 
be $70,000 ranging from $60,000 to $80,000 per award. It is expected 
that the awards will begin on or about September 30, 1994, with a 12-
month budget period within a project period of up to 5 years. Funding 
estimates may vary and are subject to change. Continuation awards 
within the project period will be made on the basis of satisfactory 
progress and the availability of funds.
    Grantees currently funded under ATSDR's Program Announcement 207 
can apply and, if successful, the current award would roll over into 
this one (competitive renewal) for a project period of 5 years. If a 
current grantee applies under this competitive renewal announcement and 
is unsuccessful, it would not jeopardize the current award; ATSDR will 
honor the current awards through the expiration of the project period, 
subject to satisfactory progress and the availability of funds. If a 
current grantee should choose not to apply for this competitive 
renewal, ATSDR will honor the current award through the expiration of 
the project period, subject to satisfactory progress and the 
availability of funds.

Use of Funds

    Funds may be expended for reasonable program purposes, such as 
personnel, travel, supplies, and services. Equipment may be purchased 
with cooperative agreement funds; however, justification must be 
provided which should include a cost comparison of purchase versus 
lease options. All purchased equipment must be compatible with ATSDR 
equipment and shall be returned to ATSDR at the completion of the 
project.

Purpose

    The primary purpose of this cooperative agreement program is to 
assist State health departments in developing a state-based 
surveillance system for monitoring hazardous substances emergency 
events to allow the State health department to better understand the 
public health impact of hazardous substances emergencies.
    The objectives of the surveillance system are to:
    1. Describe the distribution of hazardous substances emergencies 
within individual States;
    2. Describe the type and cause of morbidity and mortality 
experienced by employees, first responders, and the general public as a 
result of selected hazardous substances emergencies;
    3. Analyze and describe risk factors associated with the morbidity 
and mortality; and
    4. Develop and propose strategies to reduce subsequent morbidity 
and mortality when comparable events occur in the future.

Program Requirements

    All Hazardous Substances Emergency Event Surveillance (HSEES) will 
be performed in accordance with the methodology provided in the HSEES 
protocol. The protocol was developed to meet the objectives outlined 
under Purpose. A copy of the protocol will be provided in the 
application kit. For purposes of this program, the following criteria 
define an emergency event:
    1. An uncontrolled or illegal release or threatened release of one 
or more hazardous substances (Note: The substances that are actually 
released or threatened to be released include all hazardous substances 
except petroleum products), and
    2. The quantity of the hazardous substances which are released, or 
are threatened to be released, need (or would need) to be removed, 
cleaned up, or neutralized according to Federal, State, or local law; 
or
    3. There is only a threatened release of hazardous substances, but 
this threat leads to an action (e.g., an evacuation) that can 
potentially impact the health of employees, responders, or the general 
public. This action makes the event eligible for inclusion into the 
surveillance system, even though the hazardous substances are not 
released.
    A hazardous substance includes, but is not limited to, any element, 
substance, compound, or mixture, including disease-causing agents, 
which after release into the environment and upon exposure, ingestion, 
inhalation, or assimilation into any organism, either directly from the 
environment or indirectly by ingestion through the food chain, will or 
may reasonably be anticipated to cause death, disease, behavioral 
abnormalities, cancer, genetic mutation, physiological malfunctions 
(including malfunctions in reproduction) or physical deformations, in 
such organisms or their offspring; except that the term ``hazardous 
substance'' does not include petroleum products, including crude oil or 
any fraction thereof which is not otherwise specifically listed or 
designated as a ``hazardous substance.''
    To achieve the purpose of this program, the recipient shall be 
responsible for conducting activities under A., below, and ATSDR will 
be responsible for conducting activities under B., below:

A. Recipient Activities

    1. Develop a mechanism that ensures that the State health 
department is notified of hazardous substances emergency events in a 
timely fashion. This should include negotiating formal or informal 
agreements with all State agencies that are normally notified when 
hazardous substances emergencies have occurred. These State agencies 
should include, but not be limited to, State police, fire departments, 
environmental agencies, and various offices of emergency government.
    2. Investigate the emergency event by gathering and entering the 
information obtained from all sources into the HSEES tracking system. 
Sources may include, but not be limited to, those agencies mentioned in 
A.1., and other relevant Federal, State, local, and private agencies in 
keeping with the surveillance protocol.
    3. Establish and maintain appropriate procedures to ensure the 
timely gathering and entering the information into a database as 
prescribed by the HSEES protocol.

B. ATSDR Activities

    1. Assist recipients in acquiring appropriate information for 
performance of HSEES and evaluating the completeness and quality of 
relevant information.
    2. Provide prototype information gathering instrument.
    3. Assist recipients in establishing and maintaining appropriate 
and timely schedules for the HSEES surveillance process.
    4. Assist recipients in selecting training that will be useful in 
maintaining the surveillance system.
    5. Analyze environmental and/or biological results for specific 
situations in which ATSDR has concerns.
    6. Evaluate the overall performance of recipient's adherence to the 
surveillance protocol.

Evaluation Criteria

    Applications will be reviewed and evaluated according to the 
following criteria:

A. Review Criteria for States New to HSEES

1. Appropriateness and Knowledge of Surveillance System--25%

    Demonstrate a need for such a surveillance system within their 
State. Additionally, the applicant should demonstrate an understanding 
of the needs, limitations, and experience with surveillance systems as 
a means of assessing the impact of hazardous substances on public 
health.

2. Proposed Methodology--25%

    Applicant must demonstrate experience in, or an ability to develop, 
implement, maintain, and evaluate surveillance systems in accordance 
with the HSEES Protocol.

3. Capability and Coordination Efforts--20%

    Demonstrate the ability to develop, maintain, or expand a formal or 
an informal working relationship with agencies outside of the State 
health departments that receive notifications of hazardous substances 
emergencies. This is necessary to assure that State health departments 
are notified of all hazardous substances emergencies.

4. Quality of Information Collection--20%

    Applicant should describe experience in collaborative projects for 
which the agency has had the responsibility collecting information in a 
consistent format. Examples include surveillance projects, surveys, and 
prospective or retrospective hypothesis-testing studies. The timely 
submission of data for analysis is critical in ensuring the success of 
this surveillance. Accordingly, the applicant must demonstrate 
experience in, or the ability to collect, enter, and transfer data on a 
timely basis.

5. Program Personnel--10%

    Demonstrate that the proposed program staff is qualified and 
appropriate, and the time allocated for them to accomplish program 
activities is adequate. With limited funds available, the applicant 
must demonstrate that an infrastructure exists within the health 
department that will allow for full participation in the surveillance 
system with partial ATSDR financial support. Such in-kind support can 
include existing support staff, technical staff (e.g., epidemiologist, 
data management staff, environmental health scientists, emergency 
response personnel, computer specialists), and computer hardware.

6. Program Budget--(Not scored)

    Budget must be reasonable, clearly justified, and consistent with 
intended use of cooperative agreement funds.

B. Review Criteria for States with Existing HSEES

1. Appropriateness and Knowledge of Surveillance System--25%

    Applicant must demonstrate experience in collecting emergency event 
surveillance information within the State. This should include, but not 
be limited to, an assessment of the extent of hazardous substances 
emergencies and/or the morbidity and mortality associated with these 
events. Additionally, the applicant should demonstrate an understanding 
of the needs, limitations, and experience with surveillance systems as 
a means of assessing the impact of hazardous substances on public 
health.

2. Proposed Methodology--25%

    Applicant must demonstrate experience in HSEES. This should include 
the development, implementation, and evaluation of an HSEES system in 
accordance with the surveillance Protocol.

3. Capability and Coordination Efforts--20%

    Applicant must demonstrate the ability to develop, maintain, or 
expand a formal or an informal working relationship with agencies 
outside of the State health departments that receive notifications of 
hazardous substances emergencies. This is necessary to assure that 
State health departments are notified of all hazardous substances 
emergencies.

4. Quality of Information Collection--20%

    Applicant should describe previous experience in HSEES systems, 
including collecting information for which the organization is 
responsible in a consistent format. Of critical importance to the 
success of the surveillance project is the timely submission of data 
for analysis. The applicant must demonstrate experience in, or the 
ability to collect, enter, and transfer data on a timely basis.

5. Program Personnel--10%

    Demonstrate that the proposed program staff is qualified and 
appropriate, and the time allocated for them to accomplish program 
activities is adequate. With limited funds available, the applicant 
must demonstrate that an infrastructure exists within the health 
department that will allow for full participation in the surveillance 
system with partial ATSDR financial support. Such in-kind support can 
include existing support staff, technical staff (e.g., epidemiologist, 
data management staff, environmental health scientists, emergency 
response personnel), and computer hardware.

6. Program Budget--(Not scored)

    Budget must be reasonable, clearly justified, and consistent with 
intended use of cooperative agreement funds.

C. Review of Noncompeting Continuation Applications

    Continuation awards within the project period will be made on the 
basis of the following criteria:
    1. Satisfactory progress has been made in meeting project 
objectives;
    2. Objectives for the new budget period are realistic, specific, 
and measurable;
    3. Proposed changes in described long-term objectives, methods of 
operation, need for cooperative agreement support, and/or evaluation 
procedures will lead to achievement of project objectives; and
    4. The budget request is clearly justified and consistent with the 
intended use of cooperative agreement funds.

Funding Priorities

    Applicants must demonstrate the abilities described earlier in the 
Program Requirements section of this announcement. Priority will be 
given for the following:
    1. Geographic distribution across the entire United States.
    2. Representation from both agricultural and industrial States.
    3. Electronic data management/transfer capabilities, and in-kind 
technical support.
    Public Comments are not being solicited regarding the funding 
priority because time does not permit solicitation and review prior to 
the funding date.

Executive Order 12372 Review

    Applications are subject to Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs as governed by Executive Order (E.O.) 12372. E.O. 12372 sets 
up a system for State and local government review of proposed Federal 
assistance applications. Applicants (other than federally recognized 
Indian tribal governments) should contact their State Single Point of 
Contact (SPOC) as early as possible to alert them to the prospective 
applications and receive any necessary instructions on the State 
process. For proposed projects serving more than one State, the 
applicant is advised to contact the SPOC of each affected State. A 
current list of SPOCs including their names, addresses, and telephone 
numbers is included in the application kit. If SPOCs have any State 
process recommendations on applications submitted to CDC, they should 
forward them to Henry S. Cassell, III, Grants Management Officer, 
Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 255 East Paces Ferry Road, NE., 
Atlanta, Georgia 30305, no later than 60 days after the application 
deadline. The granting agency does not guarantee to ``accommodate or 
explain'' for State process recommendations it receives after that 
date.
    Indian tribes are strongly encouraged to request tribal government 
review of the proposed application. If tribal governments have any 
tribal process recommendations on applications submitted to CDC, they 
should forward them to Henry S. Cassell, III, Grants Management 
Officer, Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 255 East Paces Ferry 
Road, NE., Mail Stop E-13, Atlanta, Georgia 30305. This should be done 
no later than 60 days after the application deadline date. The granting 
agency does not guarantee to ``accommodate or explain'' for tribal 
process recommendations it receives after that date.

Public Health System Reporting Requirements

    This program is not subject to the Public Health System Reporting 
Requirements.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number

    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number is 93.161.

Other Requirements

Paperwork Reduction Act

    Projects that involve collection of information from 10 or more 
individuals and funded by cooperative agreement will be subject to 
review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork 
Reduction Act. OMB clearance has been obtained for the Hazardous 
Substances Emergency Events Data Collection Form OMB Number 0923-008, 
expiration date June 30, 1995.

Application Submission Deadline

    The original and two copies of the application (PHS Form 5161-1) 
should be submitted to Henry S. Cassell, III, Grants Management 
Officer, Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 255 East Paces Ferry 
Road, NE., room 300, Mail Stop E-13, Atlanta, Georgia 30305, on or 
before July 21, 1994. By formal agreement, the CDC Procurement and 
Grants Office will act on behalf of and for ATSDR on this matter.

A. Deadline

    Applications shall be considered as meeting the deadline if they 
are either:
    1. Received on or before the deadline date; or
    2. Sent on or before the deadline date and received in time for 
submission to the independent review group. (Applicants must request a 
legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark or obtain a legibly dated 
receipt from a commercial carrier or the U.S. Postal Service. Private 
metered postmarks shall not be acceptable as proof of timely mailing.)

B. Late Applications

    Applications that do not meet the criteria in A.1. or A.2. above 
are considered late applications. Late applications will not be 
considered in the current competition and will be returned to the 
applicant.

Where to Obtain Additional Information

    A complete program description, information on application 
procedures, an application package, and business management assistance 
may be obtained from Maggie Slay, Grants Management Specialist, Grants 
Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention (CDC), 255 East Paces Ferry Road, NE., room 300, 
Mail Stop E-13, Atlanta, Georgia 30305, telephone (404) 842-6797. 
Programmatic assistance may be obtained from Dr. Wendy Kaye, Chief, 
Epidemiology and Surveillance Branch, Division of Health Studies, 
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 1600 Clifton Road, 
NE., Mail Stop E-31, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, telephone (404) 639-6203.
    Please refer to Announcement Number 431 when requesting information 
and submitting an application.
    Potential applicants may obtain a copy of ``Healthy People 2000'' 
(Full Report, Stock No. 017-001-00474-0) or ``Healthy People 2000'' 
(Summary Report, Stock No. 017-001-00473-1) through the Superintendent 
of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325, 
telephone (202) 783-3238.

    Dated: May 27, 1994.
Claire V. Broome,
Acting Deputy Administrator, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease 
Registry.
[FR Doc. 94-13492 Filed 6-2-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-70-P