[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 114 (Friday, June 13, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32324-32325]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-15557]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5841-9]


Small Community Environmental Compliance Assistance Grants for 
Two States

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Solicitation of Pre-proposals for FY 1997.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Compliance at the Environmental Protection 
Agency (EPA) is soliciting pre-proposals from States seeking support 
for efforts to provide multi-media compliance assistance to small 
communities in a manner consistent with EPA's November 1995 Policy on 
Flexible State Enforcement Responses to Small Community Violations ( 
the Policy). EPA has approximately $110,000 available for this purpose 
in 1997, and intends to award at least $55,000 to each of two States. 
States must use grant funds provided by EPA for a variety of activities 
related to small community environmental compliance assistance, 
including program development, training, building small communities' 
technical, administrative, or financial capacity, or overall project 
management. Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis.

DATES: The period for submission of pre-proposals for FY 1997 will 
begin upon publication of the Federal Register Notice. Pre-proposals 
must be submitted by mail and postmarked by July 7, 1997, to be 
considered for funding.

ADDRESSES: Please provide two copies of your pre-proposal to Carolyn 
Young, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Compliance 
(2224A), 401 M Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20460.

Applications: Pre-proposals must include a one page cover sheet that: 
identifies the submitting State (as defined below); lists the name, 
position within State government, address and telephone number of the 
person(s) who prepared the pre-proposal, and the person(s) or office(s) 
who would manage the effort if funded; and specifies the value of any 
proposed match, whether dollars or in-kind. The pre-proposal must 
contain a narrative description of how the State intends to offer 
comprehensive multi-media environmental compliance assistance to small 
communities in a manner consistent with EPA's Policy. The pre-proposal 
narrative must be limited to five double-sided pages. Pre-proposals 
must also include a plan for evaluating the effectiveness of the 
State's efforts. Pre-proposals lacking complete documentation will not 
be considered.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carolyn Young, U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, Office of Compliance (2224A), 401 M Street, S.W., 
Washington, D.C. 20460, (202) 564-7062. Electronic mail may be sent to 
[email protected]. The Policy is available at (http://es.inel.gov/
oeca/scoplcy.html)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Purpose and Scope

    EPA's Policy on Flexible State Enforcement Responses to Small 
Community Violations (the Policy) encourages State efforts to help 
small communities achieve and maintain comprehensive multi-media 
environmental compliance. The intent of these grants is to help States 
build their capacity for providing small community compliance 
assistance consistent with the Policy. State implementation activities 
could include: project development, compliance training for operators 
or local government officials, and efforts to build the technical, 
administrative, or financial capacity of small communities.

II. Definitions

    The term ``State'' includes territories and Native American tribes 
that have met the requirements for treatment as States. For the 
purposes of the Policy, the term ``small community'' means a non-profit 
governmental entity, incorporated or unincorporated, that supplies 
municipal services to a resident population of fewer than 2,500 people.

III. Who Is Eligible To Apply

    Only States, as defined above, should submit pre-proposals.

IV. Questions To Be Addressed

    In their pre-proposals, States wishing to apply for funding should 
address the following questions:
    1. Who in your organization will be responsible for managing your 
participation in this effort?
    2. What are the major activities you will support with a grant 
provided to your State?
    3. What specific matching resources, if any, will you provide 
either in dollars or in-kind contributions?
    4. How will the State integrate efforts supported by this grant 
into other activities directed to small communities?
    5. What specific outcomes, both short-term and long-term, do you 
anticipate resulting from this effort?

[[Page 32325]]

    6. How do you anticipate making your efforts useful to other States 
seeking to build capacity to provide small community environmental 
compliance assistance?

Selection and Awards Process

    EPA's Office of Compliance will assess how well the small community 
assistance efforts described by a pre-proposal satisfy the criteria of 
the Policy. The Office of Compliance will also consider the extent to 
which the proposed efforts can be expected to produce long-term 
benefits by developing lasting mechanisms to increase the 
administrative, technical, and financial capacity of small communities. 
Matching resources from a State will be interpreted as an indication of 
the State's commitment to creating a sustainable program. The Office of 
Compliance hopes to identify State efforts whose successes may serve as 
models to other States.
    After determining which pre-proposals have the most merit, the 
Office of Compliance will consult with the appropriate EPA Regional 
Offices before making its selection. EPA will make every effort to 
complete the selection process and notify the individual States 
selected by July 18, 1997. States will be notified of their selection 
and asked to prepare a formal grant proposal for submission to the 
Office of Compliance and the appropriate EPA Regional Office. As part 
of the formal grant proposal, States will be asked to develop 
workplans, including specific milestones, for implementing their 
programs over an initial two year period. EPA intends to complete its 
review of the formal proposals and award the grants before October 1, 
1997.

    Dated: May 19, 1997.
Ken Gigliello,
Acting Director, Chemical, Commercial Services, and Municipal Division 
United States Environmental Protection Agency.
[FR Doc. 97-15557 Filed 6-12-97; 8:45 am]
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