[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 238 (Tuesday, December 10, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65106-65117]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-31358]
[[Page 65105]]
_______________________________________________________________________
Part II
Environmental Protection Agency
_______________________________________________________________________
Environmental Education Grants Program, Fiscal Year 1997; Solicitation
Notice
Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 238 / Tuesday, December 10, 1996 /
Notices
[[Page 65106]]
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-5662-4]
Solicitation Notice; Environmental Education Grants Program,
Fiscal Year 1997
Section I. Overview and Deadlines
Due Date for Proposals: February 21, 1997
A. What Is the Purpose of This Solicitation Notice?
This notice solicits grant proposals from education institutions,
public agencies, and non-profit organizations to support environmental
education projects as defined in this notice.
B. What Is the Environmental Education Grants Program? How Much Money
Is Available for This Program?
The Environmental Education Grants Program provides financial
support for projects which design, demonstrate, or disseminate
environmental education practices, methods, or techniques. This program
is authorized under Section 6 of the National Environmental Education
Act of 1990 (the Act) (P.L. 101-619). Congress has appropriated
approximately $13 million for this grants program over the past five
years (between $2.1 and $2.9 million per year from FY 1992 through FY
1996). During this time, EPA headquarters has awarded between $628,000
and $1.5 million in grant funds per year and each of EPA's ten regional
offices award between $150,000 to $180,000 per year. EPA anticipates
funding of approximately $3 million in FY 1997 and will award grants
subject to the availability of funding.
C. What Is Environmental Education?
The goal of environmental education is to increase public awareness
and knowledge about environmental issues, and to provide the public
with the skills needed to make informed decisions and to take
responsible actions. Environmental education enhances critical-
thinking, problem-solving, and effective decision-making skills. It
also teaches individuals to weigh various sides of an environmental
issue to make informed and responsible decisions. Environmental
education does not advocate a particular viewpoint or course of action.
D. When Is My Proposal Due to EPA and When Will EPA Announce the Grant
Awards?
Proposals, signed by an authorized representative plus two copies,
must be mailed to EPA postmarked no later than Friday, February 21,
1997. Proposals which are postmarked after February 21, 1997 will not
be considered for funding. EPA expects to announce the 1997 grant
awards in the Summer of 1997.
E. Do I Mail My Proposal to EPA Headquarters or an EPA Regional Office?
Is There a Difference Between the Type of Projects Funded by
Headquarters and Regional Offices?
Proposals requesting between $25,001 and $250,000 in federal
environmental education grant funds must be mailed to EPA headquarters
in Washington, DC; proposals requesting $25,000 or less must be mailed
to the EPA regional office where the project takes place (rather than
to the regional office where the applicant is located, if these
locations are different). A list of addresses by state 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.
F. Where Do I Get the Information and Forms Needed To Prepare My
Proposal?
Please read this solicitation notice carefully; it contains all the
information and forms necessary to prepare a proposal. If your project
is selected as a finalist after the evaluation process is concluded,
EPA will provide you with additional forms needed to process your
proposal.
G. How Much Money Can I Request for My Grant Project? How Does the
Dollar Amount Requested Affect My Chance of Being Funded?
The statute sets a maximum limit of $250,000 in environmental
education grant funds for any one project. However, because of limited
funds, EPA prefers to issue smaller grants to more recipients with the
available funds. Applicants should be aware that EPA receives many more
proposals each year than can possibly be funded. In Fiscal Year 1996,
over 350 proposals were received at EPA Headquarters, while only nine
were funded, the largest for $145,000. Smaller proposals submitted to
the EPA Regions have a better chance of being funded, in part because
EPA has a legislative requirement, under Section 6(i) of the Act, to
award 25% of the total amount of our grant funds for projects which
request $5,000 or less. For each EPA region, this means that the
largest number of the regional grants each year are for $5,000 or less.
In 1996, 2.5% of the proposals for more than $25,000 were funded, 6.1%
of the proposals between $5,000 and $25,000 were funded, and 18.6% of
the proposals for $5,000 or less were funded. In summary, you will
significantly increase your chance of being funded if you request
$5,000 or less from a Regional Office or $75,000 or less from
headquarters.
Section II. Eligible Applicants and Activities
H. Who Is Eligible To Submit Proposals?
Any local or tribal government education agency, state government
education or environmental agency, college or university, not-for-
profit organization, or noncommercial educational broadcasting entity
may submit a proposal. These terms are defined in Section 3 of the Act
and 40 CFR Part 47.105. ``Tribal education agency'' means a school or
community college which is controlled by an Indian tribe, band, or
nation, including any Alaska Native Village, which is recognized as
eligible for special programs and services provided by the United
States to Indians because of their status as Indians and which is not
administered by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
I. May an Organization Submit More Than One Proposal in FY 1997?
Yes, an organization may submit more than one proposal, but only if
the proposals are 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 Proposal for This Fiscal Year Even if I Have Been
Awarded Funding Under This Program in Past Years?
Yes, applicants who were awarded funding in the past may submit new
proposals to expand a previously funded project or to fund an entirely
different one. However, each new proposal will be evaluated based upon
the specific criteria set forth in this solicitation and in relation to
the other proposals received in this fiscal year. In addition, due to
limited resources, EPA does not generally sustain projects beyond the
initial grant, unless there are compelling reasons to do so. The
program is geared toward providing seed money to initiate new projects
or advancing existing projects that are new in some way (e.g. in new
locations or with new audiences).
K. May a Teacher, Educator, or Faculty Member Apply?
A teacher's school district, an educator's nonprofit organization,
or a faculty member's college or university may apply, but an
individual teacher, educator, or faculty member cannot. Only agencies,
organizations, and
[[Page 65107]]
institutions--not individuals--are eligible to apply for grants.
L. What General Activities Are Eligible for Funding Under This Program?
As specified under the Act, the environmental education activities
that are eligible for funding under this program must include, but are
not limited to, at least one of the following:
1. Designing, demonstrating, or disseminating environmental
curricula (see next paragraph);
2. Designing and demonstrating field methods, practices, and
techniques, including assessing environmental and ecological conditions
or specific environmental issues or problems;
3. Training or educating teachers, faculty, or related personnel;
or
4. Fostering international cooperation in addressing environmental
issues and problems in the United States, Canada, and/or Mexico.
Regarding Item (1) above, EPA strongly encourages applicants to
demonstrate or disseminate existing environmental curricula rather than
designing new curricula because experts indicate that a significant
amount of quality curricula have already been developed and are under-
utilized. EPA will consider funding new curricula only where the
applicant demonstrates that there is a need (e.g., that the new
curriculum has not been designed for a certain audience, existing
curricula cannot be adapted well to a particular local environmental
concern, or existing curricula are not otherwise accessible). The
applicant must specify what steps they have taken to determine this
need (e.g., you may cite a conference where this need was discussed,
the results of inquiries made within your community or with various
educational institutions, or a research or other published 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 that have no educational
component.
Regarding Item (1) above, EPA will not fund construction activities
such as the acquisition of real property (e.g., 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
environmental education project, and the cost is a relatively small
percentage of the total amount of federal funds requested.
Regarding Item (4) above, EPA will fund only environmental
education projects, not projects that are solely designed to develop or
disseminate environmental information. As discussed under Section I(C),
environmental education teaches critical-thinking, problem-solving
skills, and decision-making skills. By contrast, 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 any educational effort, environmental information is not, by
itself, environmental education.
N. What Specific Type of Projects Will EPA Fund?
EPA will fund only those proposals which meet the criteria
specified below and which meet the definition of environmental
education under I(C). Proposals will not be funded if they do not meet
both. Apply to EPA Headquarters if you are requesting over $25,000 of
Federal funds and to your EPA Regional Office if you are requesting
$25,000 or less in Federal funds. The terms used in this Section are
defined in Paragraph (3) at the end of the Section.
1. Basic Criteria: All proposals must explain how the proposed
project:
a. Is new or significantly improved;
b. Has the potential for wide application;
c. Addresses a high priority environmental issue; and
d. Reaches key audiences and advances the environmental education
field by addressing one or more of the following:
(1) Building state, local, or tribal capacity to develop and
deliver quality environmental education programs;
(2) Utilizing environmental education as a catalyst to advance
state, local, or tribal education reform and improvement goals;
(3) Educating teachers, students, parents, community leaders, and
the public about human health threats from environmental pollution,
especially as it affects children;
(4) Educating teachers, faculty, or nonformal educators about
environmental issues to improve their environmental education teaching
skills (e.g., through workshops);
(5) Educating students in formal or nonformal settings about
environmental issues to encourage environmental careers;
(6) Educating low income and culturally diverse audiences about
environmental issues, thereby advancing environmental justice; and/or
(7) Educating the public about environmental issues in their
communities through community-based organizations or through print,
film, broadcast, or other media.
Note: Headquarters will give preference to the highest ranking
proposals which address (1) capacity building, (2) education reform,
and/or (3) human health, as described below under Definitions.
2. Criteria for Final Selections: EPA will make the final grant
selections as follows:
After individual projects are evaluated and scored by reviewers, as
described under Section V(W), EPA officials in the regions and at
headquarters will select a diverse range of finalists from the highest
ranking proposals. In making the final selections, EPA will take into
account the following:
a. The effectiveness of collaborative activities and partnerships,
as needed to effectively develop or implement the project;
b. The environmental and educational importance of the activity or
product;
c. The effectiveness of the delivery mechanism (i.e., workshop,
conference, etc.);
d. The cost effectiveness of the proposal; and
e. The geographic distribution of projects.
3. Definitions: The above terms are defined as follows:
Building, state, local, or tribal capacity refers to efforts to
improve the coordinated delivery of environmental education at the
state, local, or tribal level. This should involve a coordinated effort
by the major education and environmental education providers from the
respective state, locality, or tribe in the planning and implementation
of the project (e.g., state education and natural resource departments,
local school districts and boards, professional education and
environmental education associations or coordinating councils, as well
as nonprofit education and environmental education organizations) and
may also include other types of organizations and private businesses.
Examples of how to build state, local, or tribal capacity include, but
are not limited to, the following:
--Identifying and assessing needs and setting priorities;
--Evaluating current programs and links among programs;
--Developing and implementing coordinated strategic plans;
[[Page 65108]]
--Identifying funding sources and creating grant programs;
--Identifying existing resources, developing databases of such
resources, and disseminating these resources and information;
--Establishing or enhancing on-line communications to facilitate
networking among organizations;
--Ensuring sustained professional development activities; and/or
--Holding leadership seminars and other types of training.
Education reform and improvement refers to efforts to improve
student academic achievement and to equip students with the necessary
knowledge and skills to be lifelong learners. Your proposal should
clearly describe what your state, local, or tribal educational reform
and improvement needs and goals are as well as how they relate to your
environmental education project. Examples of possible reform and
improvement strategies to which the proposed environmental education
program might be linked include curricular and instructional
innovations such as more emphasis on inquiry and problem-solving,
learning experiences that have practical application in the real world,
project-based learning, team building and group decision-making, and
interdisciplinary study. Other examples include the development of new
high content and performance standards, the design of corresponding
assessment systems, the realignment of curriculum and instructional
practice to the high standards and assessment system, the use of
technology in promoting learning, the implementation of sustained and
intensive professional development activities, and the creation of
family and community partnerships.
Human health threats from environmental pollution, as used here is
intended to address recommended actions recently stated in EPA's
``National Agenda to Protect Children's Health from Environmental
Threats.'' The action reads as follows ``We call on American parents,
teachers and community leaders to take personal responsibility for
learning about the hazards that environmental problems pose to our
children--and provide them with the information they need to help
protect children from those risks at home, at school and at play.'' An
informed, involved local community does a better job of making
environmental decisions than a distant bureaucracy--and never more so
than when it comes to our children. Parents, teachers and community
leaders can and should play a vital, day-to-day role in learning about
the particular environmental hazards their children face in their own
communities, and then use that knowledge to make more informed
decisions that prevent environmental health problems and protect
children. Therefore, through this solicitation, EPA encourages
environmental education projects to educate the public about
environmental hazards and how to minimize human exposure to preserve
good health.
Environmental Justice refers to EPA's goal to encourage applicants
to submit proposals that include efforts to target low income and
culturally diverse populations, thereby promoting 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 that might result from the
operation of industrial, municipal, and commercial enterprises and from
the execution of federal, state, local, and tribal programs and
policies. An example would be a project directed at an environmental
problem that has a disproportionately high and adverse human health or
environmental impact in a low-income or culturally-diverse community.
A high priority environmental issue is one that is important to the
community, state, or region being targeted by the project; e.g., one
community may have significant air pollution problems which makes
teaching about human health effects from it and solutions to air
pollution important, while rapid development in another community may
threaten a nearby wildlife habitat, thus making habitat or ecosystem
protection a high priority issue.
New or significantly improved pertains to a project that reaches a
specific community for the first time, develops a new or improved
teaching strategy, or uses a new or improved method of applying
existing materials.
Partnerships refers to EPA promotion of effective use of
partnerships between organizations or within an organization. The term
partnership is the forming of a collaborative working relationship
between two or more organizations such as governmental agencies, non-
profit organizations, educational institutions, and/or the private
sector. It may also refer to intra-organizational unions such as the
science and art departments of within a university collaborating on a
project.
Wide application pertains to a project that targets a large and
diverse audience in terms of numbers or demographics; or that can serve
as a model program elsewhere.
Section IV. Requirements for Proposals and Matching Funds
O. What is a Proposal?
The proposal contains three parts which are explained in Section
(S) below:
1. The ``Application for Federal Assistance''--Standard Form (SF)-
424 (attached);
2. The ``Budget Information: Non-Construction Programs''--Standard
Form (SF)-424A (attached); and
3. A work plan with appendices.
To ensure your proposal is completed properly, carefully follow the
instructions on the SF-424, SF-424A, and those provided below. The SF-
424, SF-424A, and completed work plan contain all the information EPA
will use to evaluate the merits of your proposal. Only finalists will
be asked to submit additional forms needed to process their proposal.
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. The value of in-kind contributions
must be carefully documented. All grants are subject to audit.
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. To assure that your
match is sufficient, simply divide the Federally requested amount by
three. If your match is larger than one-third of the requested amount,
it is sufficient. The amount of non-federal
[[Page 65109]]
funds, including in-kind contributions, must be itemized in Block 15 of
the SF-424.
Q. Can I Use Federal Funds in Addition to Those Provided by This
Program to Support the Same Project?
Yes, you may use federal funds in addition to those provided by
this program, but only for different activities. However, you may not
use any federal funds to meet all or any part of the required 25% match
as stated in paragraph (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, and Indirect Charges)?
Yes, you may request funding for any or all of the budget
categories identified above with the following exceptions.
1. As indicated under Section II(M)(1), EPA will not fund the
acquisition of real property (including buildings) or the construction
or modification of any building.
2. You may request funds to pay for salaries and fringe benefits,
but only for those personnel who are directly involved in implementing
the proposed project and whose salaries and fringe benefits are
directly related to specific products or outcomes of the proposed
project. EPA strongly encourages applicants to request reasonable
amounts of funding for salaries and fringe benefits.
3. You may include a request for indirect costs only if your
organization has already negotiated and received an ``indirect cost
rate'' from the federal government.
S. What Must be Included in the Proposal?
The proposal must contain an SF-424, SF-424A, and work plan as
described below:
1. Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) and Budget
Information SF-424A): The SF-424 and SF-424A are required for all
federal grants. A completed SF-424 and SF-424A must be submitted as
part of your proposal. These forms, along with instructions and
samples, are included at the end of this notice. Please carefully
review the instructions and the sample. Refer to Paragraph (R) above
for information on what types of budget categories can and cannot be
funded under this program.
2. Work Plan: A work plan describes your proposed project. The
total number of points possible for each proposal is 100. These points
will be distributed as follows. First, each of the following four
sections of the work plan are assigned points which add up to 90.
(Certain sections are given more points than others reflecting the
relative importance of each section). Second, reviewers will be given
the flexibility to provide up to 10 additional points for exceptional
projects based upon the overall quality of the proposal and evidence
that EPA's priorities, as stated in Section III(N), will be effectively
advanced by the proposed project. All criteria used to provide these 10
additional points will be consistent with the criteria established in
the solicitation.
All work plans must include and be formatted according to all four
sections (a-d) below:
a. Project Summary: Provide EPA with an overview of your entire
project. The summary must be no more than one page and must briefly
include all seven of the following:
(1) Describe your organization (and your key partners);
(2) State the goals and specific objectives of your project;
(3) Identify what type of project you will focus on as described
under Section III(N), e.g., teacher training or community-based
education;
(4) Describe the demographics of your target audience (including
the total number of direct participants, ethnic composition, and type
of individuals reached such as teachers, students, or the general
public).
(5) Indicate how you will reach your target audience;
(6) Describe the expected results of your project and how you will
evaluate it; and
(7) Indicate for which types of activities the EPA funds will be
used.
The project summary will be scored on how well you provide an
overview of your entire project based upon the seven subsections
identified above.
Project Summary Maximum Score: 5 Points
b. Project Description: Provide EPA with an explanation of how your
proposed project meets #1 and #2 below.
(1) Explain how the proposed project addresses one or more of EPA's
priorities and goals as set out under Section III(N).
This subsection will be scored on how clearly and effectively your
project: (a) establishes realistic goals and objectives; (b) identifies
its target audience and demonstrates an understanding of the needs of
that audience; (c) uses an effective means or delivery system for
reaching the target audience/ implementing the project; and (d)
demonstrates that it uses or produces quality educational products or
methods which teach critical-thinking, problem-solving, and decision-
making skills. Subsection maximum score: 40 points (10 points for each
of the four elements identified in this paragraph).
(2) 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 III(N).
This subsection will be scored on how well you 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).
Project Description Maximum Score: 55 Points
c. Project Evaluation: Provide EPA with an explanation of how you
will determine or measure whether you are meeting the goals and
objectives of your project. Evaluation plans may be quantitative and/or
qualitative and may include, for example, surveys, observation, or
outside consultation.
The project evaluation will be scored on the extent to which: (a)
your evaluation plan will measure the project's effectiveness; and (b)
your plan to apply data gathered from your evaluation to strengthen
your project.
Project Evaluation Maximum Score: 10 Points (5 Points for Each of the
Two Elements Identified Above)
d. Appendices: Provide EPA with a detailed budget, resumes of key
personnel, and letters of commitment. No other appendices or
attachments such as video tapes or sample curricula may be submitted.
(1) Budget: Describe how you will use the funds for personnel/
salaries, fringe benefits, travel, equipment, supplies, contract costs,
and indirect costs. You must also include a table which lists each
major proposed activity as well as the month and year it will be
completed and the amount of EPA funds that will be spent on each
activity. For smaller grants, your table may list only one or two
activities.
This subsection will be scored on: (a) how well the budget
information clearly and accurately shows how funds will be used; and
(b) whether the funding request is reasonable given the activities
proposed. Subsection maximum score:
[[Page 65110]]
10 points (5 points for each of the two elements identified in this
paragraph)
(2) Key Personnel and Letters of Commitment: Attach one or two page
resumes for up to three key personnel implementing the project. Also,
include one page letters of commitment from partners (if there are
partners) with a significant role in the proposed project. Do not
include letters of support; they will not be considered in evaluating
proposals.
This subsection will be scored based upon whether resumes of key
personnel are included and whether 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
T. What Are the Page Limits for the Work Plan?
Your work plan may include the following number of pages for
requests in federal funds of:
1. $25,000 or less: EPA prefers a work plan of 3 pages, but will
accept up to 5 pages.
2. Above $25,000: a work plan of up to 10 pages.
These page limits apply only to the work plan (i.e., the
``summary,'' ``project description,'' and ``project evaluation''), not
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 proposal.
U. How Must the Proposal Be Submitted?
The applicant must submit one original and two copies of the
proposal (a signed SF-424, an SF-424A, and a work plan). Please submit
only the SF-424, the SF-424A, and the work plan. Do not include other
attachments such as cover letters, tables of contents, or appendices
other than those required (budget, resumes, letters of commitment). The
SF-424 should be the first page of your proposal and must be signed by
a person authorized to receive funds. Blue ink for signatures is
preferred to make identification of the original possible. Proposals
must be reproducible; they should not be bound. They should be stapled
or clipped once in the upper left hand corner, on white paper, and with
page numbers in the upper right hand corner.
V. What Regulations Must I Comply With in Submitting My Proposal?
The Environmental Education Grant Program Regulations, published in
the Federal Register on March 9, 1992, provides some additional
information on EPA's administration of this program (57 Federal
Register 8390; Title 40 CFR, Part 47 or 40 CFR Part 47). Also, EPA's
general assistance regulations at 40 CFR Part 31 applies to state,
local, and Indian tribal governments and 40 CFR Part 30 applies to all
other applicants such as nonprofit organizations.
Section V. Review and Selection Process
W. How Will Proposals be Reviewed and Who Will Conduct the Reviews?
Proposals will be reviewed in two phases--the screening phase and
the evaluation phase. During the screening phase, proposals will be
reviewed to determine whether they meet the basic requirements of this
notice, especially as described under Sections II and III. Only those
proposals which meet all of the basic requirements will enter the
evaluation phase of the review process. During the evaluation phase,
proposals 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 III(N)(1-3). 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 score each applicant's work
plan based upon the scoring system identified in Section IV(S)(2).
X. Who Will Make the Final Selections?
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, taking into
account the recommendations of the Environmental Education Division
Director who will base the recommendations on the factors discussed
above.
Y. How and When Will I be Notified About the Status of My Proposal?
Applicants will receive a confirmation that EPA has received their
proposal once EPA has received all proposals and entered them into a
computerized data base, usually within two months of receipt. EPA will
notify applicants again after awards have been announced. To the extent
possible, this notification will include feedback on both the proposals
that were screened out of the process early and on the proposals that
were fully evaluated and ranked by reviewers. The degree to which EPA
can provide such feedback will vary among EPA offices depending upon
the availability of resources to conduct these activities.
Section VI. Grantees Responsibilities
AA. When Can I Begin Incurring Costs?
Grant recipients may begin incurring costs on the start date
identified in your EPA grant agreement.
BB. May an Applicant Request Funds for a Project That Extends Beyond a
One-year Budget Period?
Proposals submitted to EPA regional offices for up to $5,000 may
request funds for only a one-year budget period. Proposals 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.
CC. 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 proposals must
identify any person other than the applicant that will assist in
carrying out the project.
DD. What Reports and Work Products Must Grant Recipients Submit to EPA
and When Are They Due?
All grant recipients must submit two copies of their final report
and two 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 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 semi-annual progress report. Specific report
[[Page 65111]]
requirements will be identified in the EPA award agreement.
EE. What Does EPA Plan to Do With the Grant Recipients' Final Reports
and Final Work Products?
EPA will assemble a central library of all final reports and work
products at headquarters in Washington, D.C. EPA plans to evaluate
these final reports and work products and may disseminate them to
others to serve as model programs.
Section VII. Other Information and Mailing List
FF. Where Can I Get Additional Information on Preparing My Proposal and
on Other Sources of Funding?
EPA strongly encourages applicants to carefully read the
solicitation notice. Many questions, such as when is the deadline for
submitting proposals and what activities can be funded under this
program, are answered in this solicitation. Applicants who need more
information about this grant program or clarification about specific
requirements in this solicitation notice, may contact the EPA
Environmental Education Division in Washington, D.C. 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. If you receive
this solicitation electronically and you wish to apply for funding, you
may call your regional office as listed for the application forms that
are mentioned in the solicitation.
Information about the grants program is also available on the
Internet. You can view and download this solicitation notice, a list of
EPA environmental education contacts, and descriptions of past projects
funded under this program and information on other education resource
materials from:
World Wide Web: ``http://eelink.umich.edu''
World Wide Web: ``http://www.nceet.snre.umich.edu/grant.html''
The large number of proposals EPA received in past years
demonstrates the strong demand for funding environmental education
projects. Unfortunately, EPA alone cannot meet this demand. 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.
GG. How Can I Get Information on the Fiscal Year 1998 EPA Environmental
Education Grants Program?
EPA develops an entirely new mailing list for the grants program
each year. The Fiscal Year 1998 mailing list will include all
applicants who submitted proposals for Fiscal Year 1997 as well as
anyone else who specifically requests to be placed on the mailing list.
If you do not submit a proposal for Fiscal Year 1997 and you wish to be
added to our mailing list to receive information on the Fiscal Year
1998 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), Environmental Education Grants
Program (FY 1998), 401 M Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20460.
Dated: December 9, 1996.
Denise Graveline,
Acting Associate Administrator, Office of Communications, Education,
and Public Affairs.
U.S. EPA Representatives and Mailing Addresses
U.S. EPA Headquarters--For Proposals Requesting More Than $25,000
Mail proposals to:
U.S. EPA, Env Ed Grants, Environmental Education Division (1707),
Office of Communications, Education, and Public Affairs, 401 M Street,
SW., Washington, DC 20460
Information:
George Walker, Environmental Education Specialist, 202-260-8619
U.S. EPA Regional Offices--For Proposals Requesting $25,000 or Less
EPA Region I--CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT
Mail proposals to:
U.S. EPA, Region I, Env Ed Grants, Grants Management Office, JFK
Federal Building (MGM), Boston, MA 02203
Hand-deliver to:
One Congress Street, 11th Floor Mail Room, Boston, MA (M-F 8 am-4
pm)
Information:
Maria Pirie, EE Coordinator, 617-565-9447
EPA Region II--NJ, NY, PR, VI
Mail proposals to:
U.S. EPA, Region II, Env Ed Grants, Grants and Contracts Management
Branch, 290 Broadway, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10007-1866
Information:
Teresa Ippolito, EE Coordinator, 212-637-3671
EPA Region III--DC, DE, MD, PA, VA, WV
Mail proposals to:
U.S. EPA, Region III, Env Ed Grants, Grants Management Section
(3PM70), 841 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Information:
Bonnie Smith, EE Coordinator, 215-566-5543
EPA Region IV--AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN
Mail proposals to:
U.S. EPA, Region IV, Env Ed Grants, Office of Public Affairs (E2),
100 Alabama Street, SW., Atlanta, GA 30303
Information:
Fred Thornburg, Environmental Education Office, 404-562-8317
EPA Region V--IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI
Mail proposals to:
U.S. EPA, Region V, Env Ed Grants, Grants Management Section (MC-
10J), 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60604
Information:
Suzanne Saric, EE Coordinator, 312-353-3209
Region VI--AR, LA, NM, OK, TX
Mail proposals to:
U.S. EPA, Region VI, Env Ed Grants, Environmental Education
Coordinator (6XA), 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, TX 75202
Information:
Jo Taylor, EE Coordinator, 214-665-2204
Region VII--IA, KS, MO, NE
Mail proposal to:
U.S. EPA, Region VII, Env Ed Grants, Grants Administration
Division, 726 Minnesota Avenue, Kansas City, KS 66101
Information:
Rowena Michaels, EE Coordinator, 913-551-7003
Region VIII--CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY
Mail proposals to:
U.S. EPA, Region VIII, Env Ed Grants, 999 18th Street (80EA),
Denver, CO 80202-2466
Information:
Cece Forget, EE Coordinator, 303-312-6605
[[Page 65112]]
Region IX--AZ, CA, HI, NV, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas
Mail proposals to:
U.S. EPA, Region IX, Env Ed Grants, Office of Communications and
Government Relations (CGR-3), 75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA
94105
Information:
Matt Gaffney, Office of Communications and Government Relations
(OCGR), 415-744-1582
Region X--AK, ID, OR, WA
Mail proposals to:
U.S. EPA, Region X, Env Ed Grants, Public Information Center, 1200
Sixth Avenue (EXA-142A), Seattle, WA 98101
Information:
Sally Hanft, EE Coordinator, 1-800-424-4EPA, 206-553-1207
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
[[Page 65113]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN10DE96.008
[[Page 65114]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN10DE96.009
[[Page 65115]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN10DE96.010
[[Page 65116]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN10DE96.011
[[Page 65117]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN10DE96.012
[FR Doc. 96-31358 Filed 12-9-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-C