[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 116 (Friday, June 17, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-14174]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: June 17, 1994]


_______________________________________________________________________

Part V





Environmental Protection Agency





_______________________________________________________________________




Solicitation Notice for Fiscal Year 1995; Environmental Education 
Grants Program
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-4895-7]

 
Solicitation Notice for Fiscal Year 1995; Environmental Education 
Grants Program

Section I. Important Pre-Application Information

A. What is the purpose of this solicitation notice:

    This notice solicits pre-applications from eligible organizations 
and institutions for grants to support projects to design, demonstrate, 
or disseminate practices, methods, or techniques related to 
environmental education as specified under Section 6 of the National 
Environmental Education Act of 1990 (the Act). The Section 6 
Environmental Education Grants Program is separate from the 
Environmental Education and Training Program authorized under Section 5 
of the Act in which EPA awards a cooperative agreement on a three year 
basis to support a national teacher training program. For information 
on the teacher training program, contact the EPA representative listed 
at the end of this notice.

B. When is my pre-application due to EPA and when will EPA announce the 
grant awards?

    Pre-applications (a signed original plus two copies of the 
original) must be mailed to EPA postmarked no later than Friday, 
October 14, 1994. Pre-applications which are postmarked after October 
14, 1994 will not be considered for funding. EPA expects to announce 
the grant awards in the Spring of 1995.

C. Do I mail my pre-application to EPA headquarters or an EPA regional 
office? Is there a difference between the type of project that is 
funded by EPA headquarters as opposed to EPA's regional offices?

    Pre-applications requesting between $25,001 and $250,000 in federal 
environmental education grant funds must be mailed to EPA headquarters 
in Washington, DC. Pre-applications requesting $25,000 or less in 
federal environmental education grant funds must be mailed to the EPA 
regional office where the project will take place (rather than to the 
regional office where the applicant is located, if these locations are 
different). A list of addresses is included at the end of this notice. 
The EPA headquarters and regional grants will be evaluated using the 
same criteria as defined in this solicitation. The only difference 
between grants that are awarded by EPA headquarters and by EPA's 
regional offices is the size of the grant.

D. Where do I get the information and forms needed to prepare my pre-
application?

    EPA strongly encourages applicants to read the solicitation notice 
carefully. This notice contains all the information and forms necessary 
to prepare a pre-application. If your project is selected as a finalist 
after the evaluation process is concluded, EPA will provide you with 
additional forms that must be completed in order to process your pre-
application further.

E. How much money can I request and how does the dollar amount 
requested affect my chance of being funded?

    Applicants may request up to the statutory ceiling of $250,000 in 
environmental education grant funds for any one grant. However, pre-
applications which request relatively small amounts of funding have a 
much better chance of being funded because EPA awards a much greater 
number of grants at lower funding levels. A significant number of small 
awards are made because EPA is required, under Section 6(i) of the Act, 
to award 25% of funds for grants of $5,000 or less. In addition, EPA 
has chosen to award very few of the largest grants (e.g., those over 
$100,000) so that we may support a greater number of efforts. Thus, 
your chance of being funded increases dramatically as the amount of 
money you request decreases as illustrated below.
    EPA has awarded grants under the Environmental Education Grants 
Program in Fiscal Years 1992, 1993, and 1994. Individual awards have 
ranged from less than $5,000 up to $250,000. During this three year 
period, EPA has funded only about 10 proposals annually for projects 
requesting between $25,001 and $250,000; only 1 proposal each year has 
been funded at or near the $250,000 level. By contrast, EPA has funded 
about 30 proposals annually for projects requesting between $5,001 and 
$25,000. Furthermore, EPA has funded about 200 proposals annually for 
projects requesting $5,000 or less. EPA has received between 1,500 and 
3,000 pre-applications each year. To increase your chance of obtaining 
funding in FY 1995, EPA strongly encourages applicants to request 
regional grants of $5,000 or less. If larger sums are needed, EPA 
strongly encourages applicants to request a headquarters grant closer 
to $25,000 rather than the maximum of $250,000.

Section II. Laws and Regulations Governing Grants Program

F. Under what authority has this grants program been established and 
what laws and regulations do I need to follow in applying for a grant?

    On November 16, 1990, the President signed the National 
Environmental Education Act (Pub. L. 101-619) into law. Section 6 of 
the Act requires that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 
administer an environmental education grants program to support 
projects that design, demonstrate, or disseminate practices, methods, 
or techniques related to environmental education. The Act also requires 
that EPA establish a program which includes a process for soliciting, 
selecting, supervising, evaluating results, and disseminating 
information on the effectiveness of projects funded under this program.
    EPA published the Environmental Education Grant Program Regulations 
in the Federal Register on March 9, 1992 which provides additional 
information on how EPA is administering this program (57 FR 8390; Title 
40 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 47 (40 CFR part 47). In 
addition to the requirements of the Act and part 47, recipients of 
section 6 grants must comply with EPA's general assistance regulations 
at 40 CFR part 31 for states, local governments, and Indian tribes and 
Part 30 for all others.

G. How much money has Congress appropriated for this grants program?

    The Act requires that 38% of the total funds Congress appropriates 
in a given fiscal year under the National Environmental Education Act 
be awarded as grants under the section 6 environmental education grants 
program. Based on this percentage, EPA has awarded approximately $8.1 
million in grants under section 6 of the Act over the past three years 
(approximately $2.5 in Fiscal Year 1992, $2.7 in Fiscal Year 1993, and 
$2.9 in Fiscal Year 1994). EPA will award grants in Fiscal Year 1995 
subject to the amount of funds appropriated by Congress. EPA may use up 
to 15% of these funds to support environmental education projects which 
meet the requirements under section 6, but are outside of the 
competitive process established under the solicitation notice. If funds 
are used in this manner, EPA will publish a separate solicitation 
notice in the Federal Register to cover the award of these funds.

Section III. Eligible Applicants

H. Who is eligible to submit pre-applications?

    Any local or tribal education agency, college or university, state 
education or environmental agency, not-for-profit organization, or 
noncommercial educational broadcasting entity may submit a pre-
application. These terms are defined in Section 3 of the Act and 40 CFR 
47.105.

I. May an organization submit more than one pre-application for Fiscal 
Year 1995?

    Yes, an organization may submit more than one pre-application for 
Fiscal Year 1995, but only if the pre-applications are for completely 
different projects. For example, a national non-profit organization or 
a large university may wish to submit pre-applications from different 
chapters or departments for different projects. No organization will be 
awarded more than one grant for the same project during the same fiscal 
year.

J. May I submit a pre-application for Fiscal Year 1995 even though I 
have been awarded funding under this program for Fiscal Years 1992, 
1993, and/or 1994?

    Yes, applicants who were awarded funding previously may submit a 
pre-application for Fiscal Year 1995. The Fiscal Year 1995 pre-
application may or may not have any relationship to the project funded 
in a previous year. Every pre-application for Fiscal Year 1995 will be 
evaluated based upon the merit of the proposed project in relation to 
the other Fiscal Year 1995 pre-applications and the new criteria set 
forth in this solicitation, regardless of whether the proposal would 
expand a project funded in a previous year.

K. May a teacher or educator apply?

    No, an individual teacher or educator cannot apply. Only education 
agencies and organizations--not individuals--are eligible to apply for 
grants. For example, a teacher's school, school district, or state or 
local education agency or organization may apply.

Section IV. Eligible Activities and Funding Priorities

L. What type of activities are eligible for funding under this program?

    As specified in the Act, the environmental education activities 
that are eligible to receive funding under this program must include at 
least one of, but are not limited to, the following:
    1. The design, demonstration, or dissemination of environmental 
curricula, including development of educational tools and material;
    2. The design and demonstration of field methods, practices, and 
techniques, including assessment of environmental and ecological 
conditions and analysis of environmental pollution problems;
    3. The assessment of a specific environmental issue or a specific 
environmental problem;
    4. The provision of training or related education for teachers, 
faculty, or related personnel in a specific geographic area or region; 
and
    5. The design and demonstration of projects to foster international 
cooperation in addressing environmental issues and problems involving 
the United States and Canada or Mexico.
    In reference to Section IV.L.1. above, EPA strongly encourages 
applicants to focus on the demonstration or dissemination of existing 
environmental curricula rather than the design or development of new 
curricula. Environmental educators and other experts have conveyed to 
EPA that the field needs to improve its use and dissemination of 
existing curricula more than it needs to develop new curricula. 
Focusing on demonstrating or disseminating existing curricula will also 
help ensure that federal funds are not used to duplicate already 
existing curricula.
    Nonetheless, EPA does recognize that there are gaps in the types of 
curricula that presently exist and that there is some difficulty in 
gaining access to quality materials. Thus, applicants who propose to 
design new curricula in their pre-applications must demonstrate that 
there is a need to develop these new materials.
    For example, the applicant may show that the curriculum proposed 
for development has not been designed for a particular target audience, 
that existing curricula cannot be adapted well to a particular local 
environmental concern, or that existing curricula are not otherwise 
readily accessible. In demonstrating the need for new curricula, the 
applicant must specify what steps they have taken to determine this 
need (e.g., the applicant may cite a conference where this need was 
discussed, the results of inquiries made within the community or with 
various educational institutions or organizations, or a published 
survey or research document).

M. What activities are not eligible for funding under this program?

    Funds cannot be used for:
    1. construction projects;
    2. technical training of environmental management professionals;
    3. non-educational research and development; and/or
    4. environmental information projects.
    In reference to Section IV.M.1., EPA will not fund construction 
activities such as the acquisition of real property (including 
buildings) or the construction or modification of any building. EPA 
may, however, fund activities such as creating a nature trail or 
building a bird watching station as long as these items are an integral 
part of the proposed project.
    In reference to Section IV.M.4., EPA will fund only environmental 
education projects as opposed to projects that are solely designed to 
develop or disseminate environmental information. The long term goal of 
environmental education is to increase public awareness and knowledge 
about environmental issues as well as provide the public with the 
skills necessary to make informed decisions and the motivation to take 
responsible actions. Environmental education enhances critical-
thinking, problem-solving, and effective decision-making skills and may 
take place in formal or informal settings. Environmental education 
engages and motivates individuals, and enables them to weigh various 
sides of an environmental issue to make informed and responsible 
decisions.
    Environmental information provides facts or opinions about 
environmental issues or problems, but does not enhance critical-
thinking, problem-solving, or effective decision-making skills. 
Although information is an essential element of an educational effort, 
environmental information is not, by itself, environmental education.

N. What kind of projects will EPA consider funding?

    EPA will consider funding only those proposed projects which meet 
the criteria specified under #1 and #2 below. Any proposed project 
which does not meet these criteria will not be funded.
    1. As required under the Act, all projects must develop an 
environmental education practice, method, or technique which meets all 
three of the following criteria:
    a. Is new or significantly improved;
    b. Demonstrates the potential for wide application; and
    c. Addresses a high priority environmental issue.
    EPA defined the terms ``new or significantly improved,'' ``wide 
application,'' and ``a high priority environmental issue'' in 
``relative terms'' (i.e., applicants must define these terms as they 
relate to their individual projects). For example, in reference to 
Section IV.N.1.a., EPA may consider a project new or significantly 
improved if it reaches a specific community or audience for the first 
time, develops a new or improved teaching strategy, or uses a new or 
improved method of applying existing materials.
    In reference to Section IV.N.1.b., EPA may consider a project to 
have wide application if it targets a large and diverse audience in 
terms of numbers and demographics. It may also have wide application if 
it can serve as a model program elsewhere such as another school, 
community, state, or region.
    In reference to Section IV.N.1.c., EPA may consider that a project 
addresses a high priority environmental issue if the applicant 
demonstrates that a particular issue is important to the community, 
state, or region being targeted by the project. For example, one 
community may have significant air pollution problems which would make 
teaching about solutions to air pollution important to that community. 
In another community, unplanned development may threaten a nearby 
wildlife habitat, thus, making habitat or ecosystem protection a high 
priority issue. In still another community, urban decay may make 
education about lead poisoning from paint or lead pipes important, 
especially for culturally diverse or low-income residents who often 
live in inner-city communities.
    2. All proposals must also focus on one of the following types of 
projects:
    a. Projects that improve educators' environmental education 
teaching skills (e.g., through workshops);
    b. Projects that build state, local, or tribal capacity to develop 
and deliver environmental education programs;
    c. Projects that educate members of a community through a 
grassroots community-based organization; or
    d. Projects that motivate the general public to be more 
environmentally conscious in making informed decisions and taking 
responsible actions through vehicles such as print, film, or broadcast 
media.
    All pre-applications must clearly identify which type of project, 
described under Section IV.N.2.a, b, c, or d above, the proposal will 
focus on. Note that these types of projects have been chosen precisely 
because they reach different audiences through different means. EPA 
believes that requiring you to focus on one of the above types of 
projects will help ensure that your proposal has a clear target 
audience and a well defined vehicle for reaching that audience. 
Although your proposal may include more than one of the types of 
projects described above, doing so will not likely improve your chance 
of being funded (unless focusing on more than one strengthens rather 
than dilutes the focus of your proposal). EPA's overall goal is to fund 
a balanced range of projects to increase environmental literacy 
throughout the country as described under Section VI.V.1-6.
    In reference to Section IV.N.2.a., the term workshop refers to 
training activities that better prepare educators to utilize existing 
or new environmental education materials. Such workshops may be 
directed toward young people and/or adults in formal and/or informal 
settings. A formal setting is a school or other similar institution 
devoted to learning and an informal setting includes institutions such 
as museums, nature centers, parks, and community centers.
    Workshops should emphasize the process, problem-solving, and 
investigative approach to learning that is a fundamental aspect of most 
established environmental education materials and curricula. Workshops 
should, in all cases, use a ``hands-on'' process approach to learning 
that leads to the development of problem-solving and critical-thinking 
skills. Workshops may be specific to a particular set of environmental 
education materials and may include youth leaders and other 
professionals who work in the environmental education field.
    In reference to Section IV.N.2.b., the term building state, local, 
or tribal capacity refers to the development and implementation of 
plans designed to improve the coordinated delivery of environmental 
education at the state, local, or tribal level. Pre-applications 
addressing this priority should involve a coordinated effort by the 
primary environmental education providers from the respective state, 
local, or tribal government in the planning and implementation of the 
project. Examples of primary environmental education providers includes 
State Departments of Education or Natural Resources, local school 
districts, and state, local, and tribal environmental education 
coordinating councils or associations. Examples of how an applicant may 
propose to build state, local, or tribal capacity includes the 
development of plans for:
     Identifying and assessing needs as well as setting 
priorities for environmental education;
     Creating grant programs or identifying funding sources for 
environmental education providers; and/or
     Identifying environmental education teacher training 
needs.
    In reference to Section IV.N.2.c., the term grassroots community-
based organization refers to organizations in which local problems are 
addressed by individuals who reside in the community being served.

Section V. The Pre-Application

O. What is a pre-application?

    The pre-application contains three parts: (1) The ``Application for 
Federal Assistance'' (Standard Form 424/SF 424, attached), (2) the 
``Budget Information: Non-Construction Programs'' (Standard Form 424A/
SF 424A, attached), and (3) a work plan (described below). To ensure 
your pre-application is completed properly, carefully follow the 
instructions on the SF 424, SF 424A, and those provided below. The SF 
424, SF 424A, and the completed work plan contain all the information 
EPA will use to evaluate the merits of your pre-application. Applicants 
will not be asked to submit additional information to support their 
projects unless applicants are identified as finalist. Finalists will 
be asked to submit various other forms necessary to complete formal 
application.

P. Are matching funds required?

    Yes, non-federal matching funds of at least 25% of the total cost 
of the project are required, although EPA encourages matching funds of 
greater than 25%. Federal funds to support the project must not exceed 
75% of the total cost of the project. The 25% match may be provided by 
the applicant or any other organization or institution, except that no 
portion of the 25% match can include federal funds (unless specifically 
authorized by statute). The 25% match may be provided in cash or by in-
kind contributions and other non-cash support. In-kind contributions 
often include salaries or other verifiable costs. In the case of 
salaries, applicants may use either minimum wage or fair market value. 
The proposed match, including the value of in-kind contributions, is 
subject to negotiation with EPA. All grants are subject to audit, so 
the value of in-kind contributions must be carefully documented.
    The matching non-federal share is a percentage of the entire cost 
of the project. For example, if the 75% federal portion is $5,000, then 
the entire project should, at a minimum, have a budget of $6,667, with 
the recipient providing a contribution of $1,667. The amount of non-
federal funds, including in-kind contributions, must be briefly 
itemized in Block 15 of the SF 424 included at the end of this notice.

Q. Can I use federal funds other than those provided by this program to 
support the same project?

    Yes, you may use federal funds other than those provided by the 
Environmental Educational Grants Program to support the same project, 
but only for different activities. Furthermore, you may not use any 
federal funds to meet all or any part of the required 25% match as 
stated in Section V.P. above. If you have already been awarded federal 
funds for a project in which you are seeking additional support from 
this program, you must indicate in the budget section of the work plan 
that you have been awarded other federal support for this project. You 
must also identify the project officer, agency, office, address, phone 
number, and the amount of the award.

R. Can I request funding for any budget category on the SF 424A (i.e., 
personnel/salaries, fringe benefits, travel, equipment, supplies, 
contractual, construction, and indirect charges)?

    Yes, you may request funding for any of the budget categories 
identified above with the following exceptions. First, as indicated 
under Section VI.M.1. above, EPA will not fund the acquisition of real 
property (including buildings) or the construction or modification of 
any building under this program.
    Second, you may request funds to pay for salaries, but only for 
those personnel who are directly involved in implementing the proposed 
project and whose salaries are directly related to specific products or 
outcomes of the proposed project. EPA also strongly encourages 
applicants to request reasonable amounts of funding for salaries. 
Third, you may include a request for indirect costs if your 
organization has already negotiated and received an indirect cost rate 
from the federal government.

S. What must the pre-application contain and how must the information 
be presented in the pre-application?

    The pre-application must contain an SF 424, and SF 424A, and a work 
plan as described below:
    1. Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424). The SF 424 is an 
official form required for all federal grants. A completed SF 424 must 
be submitted as part of your pre-application. This form, along with 
instructions and a sample, are included at the end of this notice. 
Please carefully review the instructions and the sample.
    2. Budget Information: Non-Construction Programs (SF 424A). The SF 
424A is an official form required for all federal grants. A completed 
SF 424A must be submitted as part of your pre-application. This form, 
along with instructions and a sample, are included at the end of this 
notice. Please carefully review the instructions and the sample. Refer 
to Section V.R. above for information on what types of activities can 
and cannot be funded.
    3. Work Plan. A work plan describes the applicant's proposed 
project. Work plans must contain all four sections (a-d) submitted in 
the format described below. Each section of the work plan is assigned 
points which indicate how your proposal will be scored. Note that 
certain sections and subsections are given more points than others. 
Work plans must contain the following four sections:
    a. Project Summary: A synopsis of no more than one page stating:
    (1) The nature of the organization requesting funds;
    (2) The type of project proposed as described under Section IV.N.2;
    (3) The overall purpose and specific objective of the project;
    (4) The target audience as well as the total number of individuals 
to be reached and their demographics;
    (5) The expected results of the project; and
    (6) How the funds will be used. (Do not include a detailed budget 
in the summary section).
    The project summary will be scored on its overall clarity and the 
extent to which all six of the subsections identified above are 
addressed.
    Project Summary Maximum Score: 12 points (2 points for each of the 
six subsections identified above)
    b. Project Description: A concise description which explains how 
the proposed project meets #1 and #2 below.
    (1) Explain how the proposed project (a) is new or significantly 
improved, (b) has wide application, and (c) addresses a priority issue 
as described under Section IV.N.1.a, b, and c.
    This subsection will be scored on the extent to which you clearly, 
fully, and effectively explain how your proposal meets the three 
elements identified above. Subsection maximum score: 15 points (5 
points for each of the three elements identified above)
    (2) Explain how the proposed project (a) improves teaching skills; 
(b) builds state, local, or tribal capacity; (c) reaches a community 
through a grassroots community-based organization; or (d) motivates the 
general public as described under section IV.N.2.a, b, c, or d.
    This subsection will be scored on the extent to which you clearly, 
fully, and effectively: (a) Identify which type of project you have 
chosen from among the four types identified above, (b) establish 
realistic goals and objectives, (c) identify an effective means to 
implement your project, and (d) demonstrate how your project enhances 
critical-thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. 
Subsection maximum score: 44 points (11 points for each of the four 
elements identified in this paragraph)
Project Description Maximum Score: 59 Points
    c. Project Evaluation and Sustainability: A discussion of the 
following:
    (1) The anticipated strengths and challenges in implementing your 
project;
    (2) The expected outcome of your project (i.e., how you will know 
whether your project is successful); and
    (3) The sustainability of your project over the long-term (i.e., 
how the benefits of your project will be sustained over the long-term 
after the EPA budget period is completed).
    Project Evaluation and Sustainability Maximum Score: 9 points (3 
points for each of the three elements identified above)
    d. Appendices: Attachments to the work plan which contain 
information on the budget, key personnel, and letters of commitment.
    (1) Budget: An appendix with a budget describing how funds will be 
used for personnel/salaries, fringe benefits, travel, equipment, 
supplies, contract costs, and indirect costs. You must include budget 
milestones for each major proposed activity and a timetable showing the 
month/year they will be completed.
    This subsection will be scored on the extent to which (a) the 
budget information clearly and accurately shows how funds will be used, 
and (b) the funding request is reasonable given the activities 
proposed. Subsection maximum score: 10 points (5 points for each of the 
two elements described in this paragraph)
    (2) Key Personnel and Letters of Commitment: An appendix with one 
or two page resumes for up to three key personnel implementing the 
project. Also, you are required to include one page letters of 
commitment from any partner with a significant role in the proposed 
project. Letters of endorsement will not be considered in evaluating 
pre-applications.
    This subsection will be scored based upon whether resumes of key 
personnel are included and the extent to which the resumes show that 
the key personnel are qualified to implement the proposed project. In 
addition, the score will reflect whether letters of commitment are 
included (if partners are used) and the extent to which a firm 
commitment is made. Subsection maximum score: 10 points
Appendices Maximum Score: 20 Points
    Work plans must be no more than 10 pages for requests for federal 
funds of more than $5,000 from this environmental education grants 
program and no more than 5 pages for requests of $5,000 or less. These 
page limits apply only to Section V.S.3.a, b, and c. of the work plan 
(i.e., the ``summary,'' ``project description,'' and ``project 
evaluation and sustainability''). These page limits do not apply to 
Section V.S.3.d. (i.e., the ``appendices''). ``One page'' refers to one 
side of a single-spaced typed page. The pages must be letter sized 
(8\1/2\  x  11 inches), with normal type size (10 or 12 cpi) and at 
least 1 inch margins. To conserve paper, please provide double-sided 
copies of the pre-application.
    The only appendices EPA will accept are a budget, resumes of key 
personnel, and commitment letters from organizations with a significant 
role in the project. EPA will not accept brochures, video tapes, 
notebooks, photographs, curriculum samples, or any other supporting 
material not described as part of the work plan under Section V.S.3.a, 
b, c, and d.

T. How Must the Pre-Application Be Submitted?

    The applicant must submit one original and two copies of the 
preapplication (a signed SF 424, an SF 424A, and a work plan). The pre-
application must be signed by a person authorized to receive funds. 
Please sign the original pre-application in blue ink to help EPA 
distinguish which document is the signed original and which documents 
are copies. Pre-applications must be reproducible. They should be 
stapled once in the upper left hand corner, on white paper, and with 
page numbers in the upper right hand corner.

Section VI. Review and Selection Process

U. How will pre-applications be reviewed and who will conduct the 
reviews?

    Pre-applications will be reviewed in two phases--the screening 
phase and the evaluation phase. During the screening phase, pre-
applications will be reviewed to determine whether they are consistent 
with the requirements described in Section IV.L.1-5., Section IV.M.1-
4., and Section V.S.3.a-d. Only those pre-applications which meet all 
of these requirements will enter the evaluation phase of the review 
process. During the evaluation phase, pre-applications will be 
evaluated based upon the quality of their work plans, especially the 
degree to which the work plan meets the requirements set forth in 
Section IV.N.1.a-c. and Section IV.N.2.a-d.
    Reviewers conducting the screening and evaluation phases of the 
review process will include EPA officials and external environmental 
educators approved by EPA. At the conclusion of the evaluation phase, 
the reviewers will rank each applicant's work plan based upon the 
scoring system identified in Section V.S.3.a, b, c, and d.

V. How will the final selections be made?

    After individual projects are evaluated and ranked by the reviewers 
as described under Section VI.U. above, EPA officials in the regions 
and at headquarters will identify finalists among the highest ranking 
pre-applications. In identifying finalists and making final selections, 
EPA's goal is to fund projects that, when viewed together, provide a 
balance among the types of projects being funded, by taking into 
account the following:
    1. The target audience and their socioeconomic status;
    2. The methods used to reach the target audience;
    3. The type of organization submitting the proposal and/or whether 
the proposal makes effective use of partnerships;
    4. The type of environmental issue addressed;
    5. The geographic location of the project; and
    6. The cost.
    In reference to socioeconomic status, under Section VI.V.1. above, 
EPA's goal is to encourage applicants to submit proposals that promote 
environmental justice for culturally-diverse and low-income 
populations. EPA hopes to fund many proposals which score high in the 
evaluation process and which promote environmental justice. The term 
environmental justice refers to the fair treatment of people of all 
races, cultures, and income with respect to the development, 
implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and 
policies. Fair treatment means that no racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic 
group should bear a disproportionate share of the negative 
environmental consequences resulting from the operation of industrial, 
municipal, and commercial enterprises and from the execution of 
federal, state, local, and tribal programs and policies.
    Efforts to address environmental justice through environmental 
education may include educational programs that provide culturally-
diverse and low-income populations with critical-thinking, problem-
solving, and decision-making skills to identify, assess, and address an 
environmental problem that has a disproportionately high and adverse 
human health or environmental impact in their community.
    In reference to the effective use of partnerships, under Section 
VI.V.3. above, EPA's goal is to encourage applicants to submit 
proposals which form partnerships, where possible. EPA hopes to fund 
many proposals which score high in the evaluation process and which 
promote the effective use of partnerships between organizations. The 
term partnerships refers to forming a collaborative working 
relationship between two or more organizations such as governmental 
agencies, non-profit organizations, educational institutions, and/or 
the private sector.
    In reference to the type of environmental issue, under Section 
VI.V.4. above, EPA's goal is to encourage applicant to submit proposals 
which use pollution prevention concepts or techniques to address a high 
priority environmental issue (as discussed under Section IV.N.1.c.). 
EPA hopes to fund many proposals which score high in the evaluation 
process and which convey the importance of pollution prevention. The 
term pollution prevention refers to reducing or eliminating waste or 
pollution at the source. It means not creating waste or pollution in 
the first place, instead of deciding how to recycle, treat, or dispose 
of waste and pollution that has already been created. Pollution 
prevention may include increasing energy efficiency and resource 
conservation efforts, as well as finding non-polluting substitutes for 
existing products and activities.
    Pollution prevention is not the only strategy that EPA uses to 
reduce risk to public health and the environment, but it is EPA's 
preferred approach. Efforts to promote pollution prevention through 
environmental education may include projects that educate the public 
about the value of preventive approaches to environmental problems and 
the choices they can make in their everyday lives to minimize adverse 
effects of human activities on the environment (e.g., in the home, work 
place, market place, and/or community).
    EPA Regional Administrators will select grant recipients for 
projects with federal environmental education grant funding of $25,000 
or less, taking into account the recommendations of the regional 
environmental education coordinators who will base their 
recommendations on the factors discussed above. The Associate 
Administrator for Communications, Education, and Public Affairs at EPA 
headquarters will select the grant recipients for projects with federal 
environmental education grant funding of more than $25,000 and up to 
$250,000, taking into account the recommendations of the Environmental 
Education Division Director who will base the recommendations on the 
factors discussed above.

W. How and when will I be notified about the status of my proposal?

    Headquarters and each regional office set up their own processes 
for notifying applicants about the status of their proposals. Our goal 
is to keep applicants informed as much as possible about the status of 
their proposals and to assist those applicants who do not receive 
funding to successfully compete in future years. To this end, all 
applicants will be notified (in mid-December 1994) after their pre-
applications have been received and entered into a computerized data 
base, and again (in late April to early May 1995) after awards have 
been announced. To the extent possible, EPA will also provide 
applicants with feedback on those proposals which were screened out of 
the process early and on how proposals were evaluated. The degree to 
which EPA can provide such feedback will vary among EPA offices 
depending upon the availability of resources to conduct these 
activities.

X. Where may I obtain more information on possible sources of funding 
other than this program?

    The large number of pre-applications EPA received in Fiscal Years 
1992, 1993, and 1994 demonstrates the strong demand for funding 
environmental education projects. EPA expects an equally large demand 
for funding for Fiscal Year 1995. Unfortunately, EPA alone cannot meet 
this demand. Thus, in cooperation with EPA, the North American 
Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) has developed a 
publication called ``Grant Funding For Your Environmental Education 
Program'' which provides strategies for identifying potential sources 
of funding. This publication can be purchased for a $5.00 fee by 
writing to NAAEE, Publications and Member Services, P.O. Box 400, Troy, 
Ohio, 45373.

Section VII. Grant Recipient Activities

Y. When can I begin incurring costs?

    Grant recipients may begin incurring costs on the start date that 
is identified in your grant agreement with EPA. Since EPA plans to 
announce awards in the Spring of 1995, EPA recommends that you do not 
plan to begin incurring costs until June of 1995.

Z. When must proposed activities be completed?

    EPA strongly encourages grant recipients to complete their projects 
within the time period specified in the pre-application. Extensions may 
be granted only in extenuating circumstances.

AA. May an applicant request Fiscal Year 1995 funds for a project that 
extends beyond a one-year budget period?

    Pre-applications submitted to EPA regional offices for up to $5,000 
may request funds for only a one-year budget period. Pre-applications 
submitted to EPA regional offices or headquarters requesting funds of 
more than $5,000 may request funds for up to a two-year budget period, 
although EPA strongly encourages applicants to request funds for only a 
one-year budget period.

BB. Who will perform projects and activities?

    The Act requires that projects be performed by the applicant or by 
a person satisfactory to the applicant and EPA. All pre-applications 
must identify any person other than the applicant that will assist in 
carrying out the project.

CC. What reports and work products must grant recipients submit to EPA 
and when are they due?

    All grant recipients must submit three copies of their final report 
and three copies of all work products to the EPA project officer within 
30 days after the expiration of the budget period. This report will be 
accepted as the final report unless the EPA project officer notifies 
you, within 30 days of your submittal date, that changes must be made. 
Grant recipients with projects that have a two-year budget period must 
also submit a progress report at the end of the first year. Grant 
recipients with a federal environmental education grant share greater 
than $5,000 may also be required to submit a quarterly or semi-annual 
progress report. Specific report requirements will be identified in 
your award agreement with EPA.

DD. What does EPA plan to do with the grant recipients' final reports 
and final work products?

    Copies of all final reports and final work products will be 
assembled in a central library at EPA headquarters. EPA will evaluate 
these final reports and final work products and may disseminate these 
items to others to serve as model programs.

Section VIII--Additional Information on Preparing Pre-Applications 
and for Fiscal Year 1996 Program

EE. Where can I get additional information in preparing my pre-
application?

    EPA strongly encourages applicants to carefully read the 
solicitation notice. Many questions, such as when is the deadline for 
submitting pre-applications and what activities can be funded under 
this program, are answered in this solicitation. Nonetheless, if you 
need more information about this grant program or clarification about 
specific requirements in this solicitation notice, you may contact the 
EPA Environmental Education Division in Washington, DC for grant 
requests of more than $25,000 or your EPA regional office for grant 
requests of $25,000 or less. A list of the names and telephone numbers 
of EPA representatives are listed at the end of this notice.
    In addition, you may contact the National Consortium for 
Environmental Education and Training (NCEET) at the University of 
Michigan for general information on current environmental education 
activities and recent developments in the field (e.g., information 
about current in-service teacher education needs and opportunities as 
well as resources that identify environmental education organizations, 
curricula, and research). NCEET can also provide you with a list of all 
environmental education grants awarded by EPA in FY 1992, FY 1993, and 
FY 1994 as well as summaries of those projects completed under the FY 
1992 program. NCEET will not provide sample curricula nor will they 
evaluate products or funding proposals. NCEET was established in 1992 
with financial support from EPA to facilitate teacher training 
opportunities. You may contact NCEET by writing to NCEET, School of 
Natural Resources, University of Michigan, Dana Building Ann Arbor, 
Michigan 48109-1115 or by calling 313-998-6726.

FF. How can I get information on the Fiscal Year 1996 EPA Environmental 
Education Grants Program?

    After the Fiscal Year 1995 grants process is completed, EPA will 
develop an entirely new mailing list for the Fiscal Year 1996 
solicitation. The Fiscal Year 1996 mailing list will include all 
applicants who submitted pre-applications for Fiscal Year 1995 as well 
as anyone else who specifically requests to be placed on the mailing 
list. If you did not submit a pre-application for Fiscal Year 1995 and 
you wish to be added to our mailing list to receive information on the 
Fiscal Year 1996 Environmental Education Grants Program, you must mail 
your request--please do not telephone--along with your name, 
organization, address, and phone number to: U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, Environmental Education Division (1707), FY 1996 
Environmental Education Grants Program, 401 M Street SW., Washington, 
DC 20460.

    Approved by:
Loretta M. Ucelli,
Associate Administrator; Office of Communications, Education and Public 
Affairs.

U.S. EPA Representatives and Mailing Addresses

U.S. EPA Headquarters--For Grants Over $25,000

Mail pre-applications to: U.S. EPA, Env Ed Grants, Environmental 
Education, Division (1707/Room 333WT), Office of Communications, 
Education, and Public Affairs, 401 M Street, SW. Washington, DC 20460
Information: George Walker or Kathleen MacKinnon, Environmental 
Education Specialists, 202-260-8619 or 202-260-4951

U.S. EPA Regional Offices--For Grants of $25,000 or Less

EPA Region I--Ct, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT

Mail pre-applications to: U.S. EPA, Region I, Env Ed Grants, Henry 
Gurrell, Chief, Grants Information and Management Section, JFK Federal 
Building (PGI), Boston, MA 02203
Hand-deliver to: One Congress Street, 11th Floor, Mail Room, Boston, MA 
02114 (8am-4pm), Information: Maria Pirie, Environmental Education 
Coordinator, 617-565-9447

EPA Region II--NJ, NY, PR, VI

Mail pre-applications to: U.S. EPA, Region II, Env Ed Grants, Grants 
Administration Branch, 26 Federal Plaza (room 1714), New York, NY 10278
Information: Teresa Ippolito, Environmental Education Coordinator, 212-
264-2980

EPA Region III--DC, DE, MD, PA, VA, WV

Mail pre-applications to: U.S. EPA, Region III, Env Ed Grants, Grants 
Management Chief (3PM71), Grants Management Section, 841 Chestnut 
Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Information: Bonnie Smith or Amelia Libertz, Environmental Education 
Coordinators, 215-597-9076 or 215-597-9817

EPA Region IV--AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN

Mail pre-applications to: U.S. EPA, Region IV, Env Ed Grants, Office of 
Public Affairs (E2), 345 Courtland Street, NE., Atlanta, GA 30365

Information: Rae Hallisey, Environmental Education Office, 404-347-3004

EPA Region V--IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI

Mail pre-applications to:
U.S. EPA, Region V, Env Ed Grants, Grants Management Section (MC-10J), 
77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60604
Information: Suzanne Saric, Environmental Education Coordinator, 312-
353-3209

Region VI--AR, LA, NM, OK, TX

Mail pre-applications to: U.S. EPA, Region VI, Env Ed Grants, 
Environmental Education Coordinator (6X), 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, TX 
75202
Information: Sandy Sevier, Environmental Education Coordinator, 214-
655-2204

Region VII--IA, KS, MO, NE

Mail pre-application to: U.S. EPA, Region VII, Env Ed Grants, Grants 
Administration Division, 726 Minnesota Avenue, Kansas City, KS 66101
Information: Rowena Michaels, Environmental Education Coordinator, 913-
551-7003

Region VIII--CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY

Mail pre-applications to: U.S. EPA, Region VIII, Env Ed Grants, 999 
18th Street (80EA), Denver, CO 80202-2466
Information : Cece Forget, Environmental Education Coordinator, 303-
294-1113

Region IX--AZ, CA, HI, NV, American Somoa, Guam, Northern Marianas, 
Republic of Palau

Mail pre-applications to: U.S. EPA, Region IX, Env Ed Grants, Office of 
Public Affairs (E2), 75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA 94105
Information: Ida Tolliver, Environmental Education Coordinator, 415-
744-1581 or 1582

Region X--AK, ID, OR, WA

Mail pre-applications to: U.S. EPA, Region X, Env Ed Grants, Public 
Information Center (SO-143), 1200 Sixth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101
Information: Sally Hanft, Environmental Education Coordinator, 206-553-
1207


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Instructions for the SF 424

    This is a standard form used by applicants as a required 
facesheet for preapplications and applications submitted for Federal 
assistance. It will be used by Federal agencies to obtain applicant 
certification that States which have established a review and 
comment procedure in response to Executive Order 12372 and have 
selected the program to be included in their process, have been 
given an opportunity to review the applicant's submission.

Item and Entry

    1. Self-explanatory.
    2. Date application submitted to Federal agency (or State if 
applicable) & applicant's control number (if applicable).
    3. State use only (if applicable).
    4. If this application is to continue or revise an existing 
award, enter present Federal identifier number. If for a new 
project, leave blank.
    5. Legal name of applicant, name of primary organizational unit 
which will undertake the assistance activity, complete address of 
the applicant, and name and telephone number of the person to 
contact on matters related to this application.
    6. Enter Employer Identification Number (EIN) as assigned by the 
Internal Revenue Service.
    7. Enter the appropriate letter in the space provided.
    8. Check appropriate box and enter appropriate letter(s) in the 
space(s) provided:

--``New'' means a new assistance award.
--``Continuation'' means an extension for an additional funding/
budget period for a project with a projected completion date.
--``Revision'' means any change in the Federal Government's 
financial obligation or contingent liability from an existing 
obligation.

    9. Name of Federal agency from which assistance is being 
requested with this application.
    10. Use the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number and 
title of the program under which assistance is requested.
    11. Enter a brief descriptive title of the project. If more than 
one program is involved, you should append an explanation on a 
separate sheet. If appropriate (e.g., construction or real property 
projects), attach a map showing project location. For 
preapplications, use a separate sheet to provide a summary 
description of this project. Also circle a b c or d to indicate the 
focus of project as described in Section I.2 of Solicitation Notice.
    12. List only the largest political entities affected (e.g., 
State, counties, cities).
    13. Self-explanatory.
    14. List the applicant's Congressional District and any 
District(s) affected by the program or project.
    15. Amount requested or to be contributed during the first 
funding/budget period by each contributor. Value of in-kind 
contributions should be included on appropriate lines as applicable. 
If the action will result in a dollar change to an existing award, 
indicate only the amount of the change. For decreases, enclose the 
amounts in parentheses. If both basic and supplemental amounts are 
included, show breakdown on an attached sheet. For multiple program 
funding, use totals and show breakdown using same categories as item 
15.
    16. Applicants should contact the State Single Point of Contact 
(SPOC) for Federal Executive Order 12372 to determine whether the 
application is subject to the State intergovernmental review 
process.
    17. This question applies to the applicant organization, not the 
person who signs as the authorized representative. Categories of 
debt include delinquent audit disallowances, loans and taxes.
    18. To be signed by the authorized representative of the 
applicant. A copy of the governing body's authorization for you to 
sign this application as official representative must be on file in 
the applicant's office. (Certain Federal agencies may require that 
this authorization be submitted as part of the application.)

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TN17JN94.047

Instructions for the SF-424A

    All applications should contain a breakdown by the object class 
categories shown in Lines a-k if Section B.
    Section B  Budget Categories
    In the column headings (1) through (4), enter the titles of the 
same programs, functions, and activities shown on Lines 1-4, Column 
(a), Section A. When additional sheets are prepared for Section A, 
provide similar column headings on each sheet. For each program, 
function or activity, fill in the total requirements for funds (both 
Federal and non-Federal) by object class categories.
    Lines 6a-i--Show the totals of lines 6a to 6h in each column.
    Line 6j--Show the amount of indirect cost.
    Line 6k--Enter the total of amounts on Lines 6i and 6j. For all 
applications for new grants and continuation grants the total amount in 
column (5), Line 6k, should be the same as the total amount shown in 
Section A, Column (g), Line 5. For Supplemental grants and changes to 
grants, the total amount of the increase or decrease as shown in 
Columns (1)-(4), Line 6k should be the same as the sum of the amounts 
in Section A, Columns (e) and (f) on Line 5.
    Line 7--Enter the estimated amount of income, if any, expected to 
be generated from this project. Do not add or subtract this amount from 
the total project amount. Show under the program narrative statement 
the nature and source of income. The estimated amount of program income 
may be considered by the Federal grantor agency in determining the 
total amount of the grant.

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[FR Doc. 94-14174 Filed 6-16-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-C