[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 15 (Friday, January 23, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3563-3564]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-1643]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPPTS-00230; FRL-5766-1]


Notice of Availability of FY 1998 Multimedia Environmental 
Justice Through Pollution Prevention Grant Funds

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: EPA is soliciting grant proposals under the Environmental 
Justice Through Pollution Prevention (EJP2) grant program. EPA 
anticipates that as much as $4 million will be available in Fiscal Year 
(FY) 1998. The purpose of this program is to support pollution 
prevention approaches that address environmental justice concerns in 
affected communities. The grant funds will support: (1) Local 
environmental, environmental justice, and community grassroots 
organizations, including religious and civic organizations, as well as 
tribal governments that promote environmental justice using pollution 
prevention as the preferred approach; (2) national and regional 
organizations working in partnership with local organizations, or 
tribal governments to promote environmental justice using pollution 
prevention approaches; (3) state and local governments; and (4) 
academic institutions.

DATES: All applications must be received by EPA's contractor, Eastern 
Research Group (ERG), located in Arlington, VA, by April 20, 1998. No 
applications will be accepted after this date.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To obtain copies of the EJP2 grant 
program guidance and application package, or to obtain more information 
regarding the EJP2 grant program, please contact Louise Little at (703) 
841-0483. A complete electronic copy of the EJP2 grant program guidance 
and application package is also available on the EPA Home Page on the 
Internet. The Internet address is: http:/www.epa.gov/opptintr/ejp2.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Scope and Purpose of the EJP2 Grant Program

    The purpose of the FY 1998 EJP2 grant program is to support the use 
of pollution prevention approaches to address the environmental 
problems of minority communities and/or low-income communities and 
Federally recognized tribes. This grant program is designed to fund 
projects that have a

[[Page 3564]]

direct impact on affected communities. Funds awarded must be used to 
support pollution prevention programs in minority and/or low-income 
communities. The Agency strongly encourages cooperative efforts between 
communities, businesses, industry, and government to address common 
pollution prevention goals. Projects funded under this grant may 
involve public education, training, demonstration projects, 
collaborative public-private partnerships, or innovative approaches to 
develop, evaluate, and demonstrate non-regulatory strategies and 
technologies. Grants will be awarded to national organizations for 
projects to assess the results of previous and ongoing EJP2 grants and 
related information and to develop tools for bringing pollution 
prevention approaches to bear on the problems of environmental justice 
communities.

II. Definition of Environmental Justice and Pollution Prevention

    Environmental justice is defined by EPA as the fair treatment of 
people of all races, cultures, and incomes with respect to the 
development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, 
regulations, programs, and policies. Fair treatment means that no 
racial, ethnic, or socio-economic 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.
    The Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 establishes a hierarchy of 
environmental preferences. These practices include, in order of 
preference:
     Pollution prevention/source reduction
     Recycling
     Treatment
     Disposal
    Pollution prevention means source reduction; it includes any 
practice that reduces or eliminates any pollutant at the source of 
generation prior to recycling, treatment, or disposal. Pollution 
prevention also includes practices that reduce or eliminate the 
creation of pollutants through:
     Increased efficiency in the use of raw materials, energy, 
water, or other resources
     Protection of natural resources by conservation
    This grant program is focused on implementing practices at the top 
of the hierarchy--pollution prevention/source reduction--to bring about 
better environmental protection.

III. Eligibility

    Any affected, nonprofit community organizations with section 
501(c)(3) or section 501(c)(4)1 Internal Revenue Service tax 
status or Federally recognized tribal organizations may submit an 
application upon the publication of this solicitation. A nonprofit 
organization is defined as any corporation, trust, association, 
cooperative, or other organizations that:
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    \1\ As a result of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, EPA (and 
other Federal agencies) may not award grants to nonprofit, section 
501(c)(4) organizations that engage in lobbying activities. This 
restriction applies to any lobbying activities of a secton 501(c)(4) 
organization without distinguishing between lobbying funded by 
Federal money and lobbying funded by other sources.
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    (1) Is operated primarily for scientific, educational, service, 
charitable, or similar purposes in the public interest.
    (2) Is not organized primarily for profit.
    (3) Uses its net proceeds to maintain, improve, and/or expand its 
operations.
    State and local governments and academic institutions are also 
eligible. Organizations must be incorporated by April 20, 1998, to be 
eligible to receive funds. Private businesses, Federal agencies, and 
individuals are ineligible for this grant. Organizations excluded from 
applying directly, as well as those inexperienced in grant writing, are 
encouraged to develop partnerships and prepare joint proposals with 
eligible national, regional, or local organizations.
    No applicant can receive two grants for the same project at one 
time. EPA will consider only one proposal for a given project. 
Applicants may submit more than one application; however, applications 
must be for separate and distinct projects.
    Organizations seeking funds from the EJP2 grant program can request 
up to $100,000 for local projects, and up to $250,000 for projects that 
involve multiple communities located in more than one of the 10 EPA 
Regions, or projects that are national in scope. In accordance with 40 
CFR parts 23 and 30, EPA no longer requires cost sharing or matching 
under this grant program.

    Dated: January 15, 1998.
William H. Sanders,
Director, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics.
[FR Doc. 98-1643 Filed 1-23-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F