[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 234 (Wednesday, December 6, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62432-62435]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-29747]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-5338-6]


Office of Environmental Justice; Small Grants Program; 
Solicitation Notice for Fiscal Year (FY) 1996 Environmental Justice 
Small Grants to Community-Based/Grassroots Organizations and Tribal 
Governments

Purpose of the Grants Program

    The purpose of this grants program is to provide financial 
assistance to eligible community groups (i.e., community-based/
grassroots organizations, churches, or other non-profit organizations) 
and federally recognized tribal governments that are working on or plan 
to carry out projects to address environmental justice issues. While 
state and local governments and academic institutions are eligible to 
receive grants, preference will be given to community-based/grassroots 
organizations that are non-profit and incorporated, and federally 
recognized tribal governments. Funds can be used to develop a new 
activity or substantially improve the quality of existing programs. 

[[Page 62433]]


Funding

    For FY 1996, the Office of Environmental Justice Small Grants 
Program will award grants subject to the amount of funds appropriated 
by Congress. Each of EPA's ten regions are expected to have at least 
$100,000 to award grants under this program. A maximum of $20,000 can 
be awarded for each grant.

Translations Available

    A Spanish translation of this announcement may be obtained by 
calling the Office of Environmental Justice at 1-800-962-6215.
    Hay traducciones disponibles en espanol. Si usted esta interesado 
en obtener una traduccion de este anuncio en espanol, por favor llame a 
La Oficina de Justicia Ambiental conocida como ``Office of 
Environmental Justice,'' linea gratuita (1-800-962-6215).

Important Pre-Application Information

    Pre-applications must be postmarked no later than Saturday, March 
2, 1996. Pre-applications will serve as the sole basis for evaluation 
and recommendation for funding. This notice contains all information 
and forms necessary to submit a pre-application. EPA will award grants 
based on the merits of the pre-application.
    Pre-applications must be mailed to your EPA regional office. A list 
of addresses and phone numbers for the regional contacts is included at 
the end of this notice.

Background

    In its 1992 report, Environmental Equity: Reducing Risk for All 
Communities, EPA found that minority and low-income populations may 
experience higher than average exposure to toxic pollutants than the 
general population. The Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ) was 
established in 1992 to help these communities identify and assess 
pollution sources, to implement environmental awareness and training 
programs for affected residents, and to work with community 
stakeholders to devise strategies for environmental improvements.
    In June of 1993, OEJ was delegated granting authority to solicit, 
select, supervise, and evaluate environmental justice-related projects, 
and to disseminate information on the projects' content and 
effectiveness. Fiscal year (FY) 1994 marked the first year of the OEJ 
Small Grants Program. Seventy-one (71) grants totaling $507,000 were 
awarded in FY 1994 and in FY 1995, over $3,000,000 was awarded to 175 
small grant recipients.

Eligible Activities

A. How Does EPA Define Environmental Justice Under the Environmental 
Justice Small Grants Program?

    Environmental justice is the fair treatment and meaningful 
involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, 
or income with respect to the development, implementation, and 
enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. Fair 
treatment means that no groups of people, including racial, ethnic, or 
socioeconomic groups, should bear a disproportionate share of the 
negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, 
municipal, and commercial operations or the execution of federal, 
state, local, and tribal programs and policies.

B. Who May Submit Pre-Applications and May an Applicant Submit More 
Than One?

    Any affected, non-profit community organization or federally 
recognized tribal government may submit a pre-application upon 
publication of this solicitation. Applicants must be incorporated and 
non-profit to receive these federal funds. State recognized tribes or 
indigenous peoples organizations are able to apply for grant assistance 
as long as they meet the definition of a non-profit, incorporated 
organization. ``Non-profit organization'' means any corporation, trust, 
association, cooperative, or other organization that 1) is operated 
primarily for scientific, educational, service, charitable, or similar 
purposes in the public interest; 2) is not organized primarily for 
profit; and 3) uses its net proceeds to maintain, improve, and/or 
expand its operations. Individuals are not eligible to receive grants.
    EPA will consider only one pre-application per applicant for a 
given project. Applicants may submit more than one pre-application as 
long as the pre-applications are for separate and distinct projects or 
activities.
    Applicants who were previously awarded small grant funds may submit 
an application for FY 1996. The FY 1996 pre-application may or may not 
have any relationship to the project funded in previous years. Every 
pre-application for FY 1996 will be evaluated based upon the merit of 
the proposed project in relation to the other FY 1996 pre-applications, 
regardless of whether or not the proposal expands a project funded in a 
previous year.

C. What Types of Projects Are Eligible for Funding?

    To be selected for an award, the project must develop and implement 
surveys, demonstrations, training, or research in areas related to 
environmental justice programs and activities under at least two of the 
following statutes:

a. Clean Water Act, Section 104(b) (3);
b. Safe Drinking Water Act, Section 1442(b) (3);
c. Solid Waste Disposal Act, Section 8001(a);
d. Clean Air Act, Section 103(b) (3);
e. Toxic Substances Control Act, Section 10(a);*
f. Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, Section 
20(a);**
g. Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability 
Act, Section 311(c);*** and
h. Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act, Section 203.

    * Projects under this statute are limited to research or 
development activities.
    ** Projects under this statute are limited to research 
activities (e.g., surveys).
    *** Projects under this statute are limited to activities 
related to hazardous substance detection, assessment, and 
evaluation, and associated human health effects and risks.

D. What Are the Evaluation Criteria for the Program?

    EPA will award an Environmental Justice Small Grant after it has 
determined that the applicant has met at least two of the following 
three evaluation criteria, and after review of the applicant's 
qualifications in the narrative section of the grant application. Each 
applicant is required to provide information on how it meets the 
evaluation criteria in the grant application.
    1. Identify necessary improvements in communication and 
coordination among all stakeholders, including existing community-
based/grassroots organizations and local, state, tribal, and federal 
environmental programs. Facilitate communication, information exchange, 
and partnerships among stakeholders to address disproportionate, high 
and adverse environmental exposure (e.g, workshops, awareness 
conferences, establishment of community stakeholder committees);
    2. Motivate the general public to be more conscious of their local 
environmental justice issues and involve the community in efforts to 
address these concerns (e.g., community clean-up projects, monitoring 
of socioeconomic changes due to disproportionate, high and adverse 
environmental exposure); 

[[Page 62434]]

    3. Enhance community understanding of environmental and public 
health information systems and seek technical experts to demonstrate 
how to access, analyze, and interpret public environmental data (for 
example, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Toxic Release 
Inventories (TRI), and other databases).
    Environmental justice projects should enhance critical thinking, 
problem solving, and the active participation of affected communities 
in addressing environmental issues. Environmental justice efforts may 
include, but are not limited to, data gathering techniques that assist 
communities in their understanding of environmental justice issues. 
Environmental justice projects should engage and motivate individuals 
to weigh various concerns and make informed and responsible decisions 
as they work to remedy disproportionate environmental exposure.
    The items discussed above are relative and can be defined 
differently among applicants from various geographic regions. Each pre-
application should define these items as they relate to the specific 
project. Include a succinct explanation of how the project can serve as 
a model in other settings and how it addresses a high-priority 
environmental justice issue. The degree to which a project addresses a 
high-priority environmental justice issue will vary and must be defined 
by applicants according to their local environmental justice concerns.

E. How Much Money May Be Requested, and Are Matching Funds Required?

    The ceiling for any one grant is $20,000 in federal funds. 
Depending on the funds appropriated by Congress, EPA's ten regional 
offices will each have approximately $100,000 to issue awards. 
Applicants are not required to cost share.

F. Are There Any Restrictions on the Use of the Federal Funds?

    Yes. EPA grant funds can only be used for the purposes set forth in 
the grant agreement. Among other things, EPA funds cannot be used for 
matching funds for other federal grants, construction, personal gifts, 
buying furniture, litigation, lobbying, or intervention in federal 
rulemaking or adjudicatory proceedings. Refer to 40 CFR 30.410, 
entitled ``How does EPA determine Allowable Costs?''

The Pre-Application

G. What is a Pre-Application?

    The pre-application, which is part of this guidance document, 
contains four parts: 1) the ``Application for Federal Assistance'' form 
(Standard Form 424/SF 424), 2) the ``Budget Information: Non-
Construction Programs'' form (Standard Form 424A/SF 424A), 3) a work 
plan, and 4) certifications/assurances forms. These documents contain 
all the information EPA needs to evaluate the merits of your pre-
application. Finalists may be asked to submit additional information to 
support their projects.

H. How Must the Pre-Application Be Submitted and What Must the Standard 
Forms (SF) 424 and (SF) 424A, and the Work Plan Include?

    The applicant must submit the original pre-application signed by a 
person duly authorized by the governing board of the applicant and one 
copy of the pre-application (double-sided encouraged). Pre-applications 
must be reproducible (for example, stapled once in the upper left hand 
corner, on white paper, and with page numbers).
    As described above, a pre-application contains an SF 424, SF 424A, 
a work plan, and certifications/assurances forms. The following list 
describes the requirements for these documents. (The percentages next 
to the following items represent the weights EPA will use to evaluate 
the applicant's pre-application). Please note that certain sections are 
given greater weight than others.
    Pre-application Materials: 1. Application for Federal Assistance 
(SF 424). An SF 424 is an official form required for all federal grants 
that requests basic information about the applicant and the proposed 
grant project. A completed SF 424 must be submitted as part of your 
pre-application. This form, along with instructions and a completed 
sample, is included at the end of this notice. (5%)
    2. Budget Information: Non-Construction Programs (SF 424A). An SF 
424A is an official form that requires the applicant to provide basic 
information on how the federal and non-federal share (if any) of funds 
will be used. A completed SF 424A must be submitted as part of your 
pre-application. For the purposes of this grants program, complete only 
the non-shaded areas. The SF 424A form, and a completed sample, is 
included at the end of this notice. (5%)
    3. Work Plan. A work plan describes the applicant's proposed 
project. Work plans must be no more than five pages total. One page is 
one side of a single-spaced typed page. The pages must be letter size 
(8\1/2\'' x 11''), with normal type size (10 or 12 cpi) and at least 
1'' margins. The only appendices and letters of support that EPA will 
accept are a detailed budget, resumes of key personnel, and commitment 
letters. (85%-delineated below)
    Work plans must be submitted in the format described below:
    I. A concise introduction of no more than one page that states the 
nature of the organization, how the organization has been successful in 
the past, purpose of the project, project completion plans, target 
audience, and expected results (10%).
    II. A concise project description of no more than four pages that 
describes how the applicant plans to meet at least two of the three 
evaluation criteria outlined in Question D on page 4 of this notice 
(``What are the Evaluation Criteria for the Program?''). Additional 
credit will not be given for projects that fulfill more than two 
criteria (60%).
    III. A conclusion of no more than one page discussing how the 
applicant will evaluate the success of the project, including the 
anticipated benefits and challenges in implementing the project (10%).
    IV. An appendix with no more than two pages of resumes of up to 
three key personnel (5%).
    V. An appendix with one page letters of commitment from other 
organizations with a significant role in the project. Letters of 
endorsement are not acceptable (No percentage assigned).
    4. Certifications/Assurances. The federal government requires all 
grantees to certify and assure that they will comply with a variety of 
federal laws, regulations, and requirements. The two certifications/
assurances forms must be signed and included in the application. (5%)

I. When and Where Must Pre-Applications Be Submitted?

    The original plus one copy of the pre-application must be mailed to 
the EPA regional office where the applicant is located postmarked no 
later than Saturday, March 2, 1996. A list of the EPA regional office 
addresses (with the names of the regional contacts) and a list of the 
states that these offices support are included at the end of this 
notice.

Review and Selection Process

J. How Will Pre-Applications Be Reviewed?

    EPA regional offices will review, evaluate, and select grant 
recipients. Pre-applications will be screened to ensure they meet all 
eligible activities described in Questions A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, and 
I. Applications will be disqualified if they do not meet EPA's basic 
criteria. 

[[Page 62435]]


K. How Will the Final Selections Be Made?

    After the individual projects are reviewed and ranked, EPA 
officials in the regions will compare the best pre-applications and 
make final selections. Additional factors that EPA will take into 
account include geographic and socioeconomic balance, diverse nature of 
the projects, cost, and projects whose benefits can be sustained after 
the grant is completed. Regional Administrators will select the grants 
with concurrence from the Director of the Office of Environmental 
Justice at EPA Headquarters.
    Please note that this is a very competitive grants program. Limited 
funding is available and many grant applications are expected to be 
received. Therefore, the Agency cannot fund all applications.

L. How Will Applicants Be Notified?

    After all pre-applications are received, EPA regional offices will 
mail acknowledgments to applicants in their regions. Once pre-
applications have been recommended for funding, the EPA regions will 
notify the finalists and request any additional information necessary 
to complete the award process. The EPA Regional Environmental Justice 
Coordinators or their designees will notify those applicants whose 
projects were not funded.

Grant Activities

M. How Much Time Do Grant Recipients Have to Complete Projects?

    Activities must be completed within the time frame specified in the 
grant award, usually one year.

N. Who Will Perform Projects and Activities?

    The recipient organization is responsible for the successful 
completion of the project. The recipient's project manager is subject 
to approval by the EPA project officer but EPA may not direct that any 
particular person be the project manager.

O. What Reports Must Grant Recipients Complete?

    All recipients must submit final reports for EPA approval within 
ninety (90) days of the end of the project period. Specific report 
requirements (for example, Final Technical Report and Financial Status 
Report) will be described in the award agreement. EPA will collect, 
evaluate, and disseminate grantees' final reports to serve as model 
programs. Since networking is crucial to the success of the program, 
grantees may be required to submit an extra copy to a central 
collection point.

P. What is the Expected Time-frame for the Review and Awarding of the 
Grants?

December 1, 1995--Request for Applications Notice (RFA) is published in 
the Federal Register.
December 1, 1995 to March 1, 1996--Eligible grant recipients develop 
their pre-applications.
March 2, 1996--Pre-applications must be postmarked by this date.
March 2, 1996 to April 15, 1996--EPA regional program officials review, 
evaluate, and select grants.
April 15, 1996 to June 30, 1996--EPA regional grants offices process 
grants and make awards. Applicants will be contacted by the grants 
office or program office if their pre-proposal was selected for 
funding. Additional information may be required from the finalists, as 
indicated under Question G above.
August 1, 1996--EPA expects to release the national announcement of the 
FY 96 Environmental Justice Small Grant Recipients.

Fiscal Year 1997

Q. How Can I Receive Information on the Fiscal Year 1997 Environmental 
Justice Grants Program?

    If you wish to be placed on the mailing list to receive information 
on the 1997 Environmental Justice Small Grants Program, you must mail 
your request along with your name, organization, address, and phone 
number to: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of 
Environmental Justice Small Grants--FY 1997 (3103), 401 M Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20460.
    For additional information, please contact the appropriate Regional 
EJ Coordinator or designee listed at the end of this notice.

    Dated: November 27, 1995.
Clarice E. Gaylord,
Director, Office of Environmental Justice.

Contact names and addresses

Region 1

Primary Contact: Rhona Julien, USEPA Region 1, John F. Kennedy 
Federal Building, One Congress Street, 10th Floor OCR, Boston, MA 
02203
Secondary Contact: Pat O'Leary

Region 2

Primary Contact: Melva Hayden, USEPA Region 2, 290 Broadway, 26th 
Floor, New York, NY 10007
Secondary Contacts: Natalie Loney, Lillian Johnson

Region 3

Primary Contact: Reginald Harris, USEPA Region 3 (3PM-71), 841 
Chestnut Building, 3DA00, Philadelphia, PA 19107-4431
Secondary Contact: Mary Zielinski

Region 4

Primary Contact: Vivian Malone-Jones, USEPA Region 4, 345 Courtland 
Street, N.E., Atlanta, GA 30365
Secondary Contact: Hector Buitrago

Region 5

Primary Contact: Margaret Millard, USEPA Region 5 (H-75), 77 West 
Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60604-3507
Secondary Contact: Garnetta Clark

Region 6

Primary Contact: Shirley Augurson, USEPA Region 6 (6M-P), 1445 Ross 
Avenue, 12th Floor, Dallas, Texas 75202-2733
Secondary Contact: Hattie Brown

Region 7

Primary Contact: Hattie Thomas, USEPA Region 7, 726 Minnesota 
Avenue, Kansas City, KS 66101
Secondary Contact: Rupert Thomas

Region 8

Primary Contact: Elisabeth Evans, USEPA Region 8 (PM-AS), 999 18th 
Street, Suite 500, Denver, CO 80202-2405
Secondary Contact: Patricia Denham

Region 9

Primary Contact: Lori Lewis, USEPA Region 9 (E-1), 75 Hawthorne 
Street, San Francisco, CA 94105
Secondary Contact: Martha Vega

Region 10

Primary Contact: Joyce Kelly, USEPA Region 10(MD-142), 1200 Sixth 
Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101
Secondary Contact: Susan Morales

Headquarters

Primary Contact: Angela Chung, USEPA, Office of Environmental 
Justice (3103), 401 M Street SW., Washington, DC 20460.

States and Territories By Region

Region 1: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode 
Island, Vermont
Region 2: New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands
Region 3: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, 
Virginia, West Virginia
Region 4: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North 
Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee
Region 5: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin
Region 6: Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
Region 7: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska
Region 8: Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, 
Wyoming
Region 9: Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, American Samoa, Guam
Region 10: Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington.

[FR Doc. 95-29747 Filed 12-5-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P