[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 152 (Tuesday, August 9, 1994)] [Unknown Section] [Page 0] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 94-19348] [[Page Unknown]] [Federal Register: August 9, 1994] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES [Announcement 492] Development and Implementation of Risk Communication Education for Environmental Health Professionals Introduction The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) announces the availability of fiscal year (FY) 1994 funds for a cooperative agreement program for the Development and Implementation of Risk Communication Education for Environmental Health Professionals. 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 quality of life. This announcement is related to the priority area of Environmental Health. (For ordering a copy of ``Healthy People 2000,'' see the section Where to Obtain Additional Information.) Authority: This program is authorized under Sections 104(i) (14) and (15) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA), as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA) [42 U.S.C. 9604 (i) (14) and (15)]. Smoke-Free Workplace The Public Health Service (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 national organizations representing environmental health professionals of State, tribal, local, or other government entities. Applicants must provide nationally recognized certification for environmental health professionals. Availability of Funds Approximately $60,000 will be available in FY 1994 to fund one award. It is expected that the award will begin on or about September 30, 1994, for a 12-month budget period, with a 3-year project period. Continuation awards within the project period are made on the basis of satisfactory progress and availability of funds. The funding estimate outlined above may vary and is subject to change. Purpose This cooperative agreement will train environmental health professionals in effective methods to educate their communities about health risks associated with exposure to substances at hazardous waste sites. This training in risk communication will develop a cadre of environmental health professionals skilled in providing appropriate health risk information to citizens. In addition, this training will provide continuing education credits necessary to maintain certification in environmental health. Program Requirements In conducting activities to achieve the purpose of the program the awardee 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 and provide continuing education for local, State, county and tribal health officials about (a) risk communication strategies for health risks resulting from exposure to hazardous substances in the environment, and (b) understanding the role of various participants in the decision making processes associated with hazardous waste sites. 2. Work with other public health organizations to link all levels of health officials involved with Superfund site-specific activities. 3. Develop an environmental health committee to give guidance to the recipient on relevant environmental health education activities. 4. Evaluate the effectiveness of all programs developed and presented. B. ATSDR Activities 1. Provide required information and instructional resources about National Priorities List (NPL) sites for course development and presentation. 2. Assist in the identification of effective approaches to the development and delivery of a unified environmental health program for local, county, and State health professionals. 3. Provide assistance in the presentation of classes. 4. Provide site-specific assistance and direction on cost recovery. 5. Assist in the evaluation of courses and materials developed. Evaluation Criteria The application will be reviewed and evaluated by an objective review panel based on the adequacy of the proposal relative to the following criteria: A. Proposed Project and Appropriateness of Project Design--50% 1. Applicant's understanding of the project's purpose. 2. Applicant's understanding and justification of the need or problem to be addressed. 3. Identification of target group and needs. 4. Quality of project objectives in terms of specificity, measurability, and feasibility. 5. Specificity and feasibility of the proposed schedule for implementing project activities. 6. Appropriateness and thoroughness of the methods used to evaluate the project. B. Proposed Project Management--30% 1. Ability of the applicant to provide appropriate program staff and support staff to the project. 2. Ability of the applicant to provide staff time, facilities, space, equipment, financial, and other resources required to perform the applicant's responsibilities in the project. 3. Extent to which the applicant has provided an administration plan, outlined strategic and operational plans for the 3-year project period, and designated a qualified administrator to manage the project. C. Other--20% 1. Because this is to be a coordinated effort among environmental health officials/scientists, the applicants' membership must reflect diversity. The applicant represents occupations within the field of environmental health and levels of involvement (local, county, and State). 2. Applicants will have environmental health activities within their organization and submit documentation of this activity. 3. Recipient provides nationally recognized certification for environmental health professionals. D. Proposed Project Budget--Not Scored The extent to which the proposed budgets are reasonable, clearly justified with budget narratives, and consistent with the intended use of cooperative agreement funds. Executive Order 12372 Review The application submitted under this announcement is not subject to the Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs as governed by Executive Order 12372. Public Health Reporting 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 A. Cost Recovery The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) of 1986, provides for the recovery of costs incurred for response actions at Superfund sites from potentially responsible parties. Grantee would agree to maintain an accounting system that will keep an accurate, complete, and current accounting of all financial transactions on a site-specific basis, i.e., individual time, travel, and associated costs including indirect costs, as appropriate for the site. Grantee would also maintain documentation that describes the site-specific actions taken with respect to the site, e.g., contracts, work assignments, progress reports, and other documents that describe the work performed related to a site. Grantee will retain the documents and records to support these financial transactions, for possible use in a cost recovery case, for a minimum of ten years after submission of a final Financial Status Report (FSR), unless there is a litigation, claim, negotiation, audit, or other action involving the specific site, then the records will be maintained until resolution of all issues at the specific site. B. Materials Developed 1. Any materials developed by awardee with ATSDR funds is to carry the following statement: This material was developed under a cooperative agreement (Award No. ______-) from the Agency for Toxic Substances an Disease Registry, Public Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services with funding from the Comprehensive Environmental Response and Compensation Act (CERCLA) 1980 as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) 1986. 2. Material developed under funding by ATSDR will not be copyrighted and is to remain in the public domain to encourage wide distribution. However, awardee is allowed to charge fees for conferences, workshops, computer programs, etc., at a level below or equal to other similar programs offered by awardee. These fees may be retained by awardee and used to offset the development and cost of the material. ATSDR will receive final copies of all material developed by awardee including course notebooks, brochures, computer programs (with appropriate operating software and instructions), pamphlets, but not excluding other materials not mentioned here. Application Submission and Deadline Applicants must submit an original and two copies of application PHS Form 5161-1 to Henry 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, Mailstop E-13, Atlanta, GA 30305, on or before September 9, 1994. (By formal agreement, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Procurement and Grants Office will act on behalf of and for ATSDR on this matter.) 1. Deadline Applications shall be considered as meeting the deadline if they are either: a. Received on or before the deadline date, or b. Sent on or before the deadline date and received in time for submission to the objective 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.) 2. Late Applications Applications which do not meet the criteria in 1.a. or 1.b. 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 To receive additional written information call (404) 332-4561. You will be asked to leave your name, address, and phone number and will need to refer to Announcement 492. You will receive a complete program description, information on application procedures, and application forms. If you have questions after reviewing the contents of all the documents, business management technical 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, Mailstop E- 13, Atlanta, GA 30305, telephone (404) 842-6797. Programmatic technical assistance may be obtained from Gayle Alston, Health Education Specialist, Division of Health Education, ATSDR, 1600 Clifton Road, NE., Mailstop E-33, Atlanta, GA 30333, telephone (404) 639-6206. Please Refer to Announcement Number 492 When Requesting Information and Submitting an Application 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) referenced in the Introduction may be obtained through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325, telephone (202) 783-3238. Dated: August 3, 1994. Claire V. Broome, M.D., Deputy Administrator, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. [FR Doc. 94-19348 Filed 8-8-94; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4163-70-P