[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 202 (Tuesday, October 20, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56022-56024]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-28117]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPPTS-00249; FRL-6029-7]


Cooperative Agreements to Develop Authorized Tribal Training, 
Accreditation, and Certification Programs for Lead-Based Paint 
Professionals

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of funds availability; solicitation of applications for 
financial assistance.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces EPA's intent to enter into cooperative 
agreements with Indian tribes to provide financial assistance for 
purposes of developing EPA-authorized training, accreditation, and 
certification programs for professionals engaged in lead-based paint 
activities. In fiscal year 99 (FY 99), EPA is awarding Toxic Substances 
Control Act (TSCA) section 404(g) grants under two separate programs. 
The first program is a continuation of the grant program initiated in 
FY 94 which provides funds to States, territories, the District of 
Columbia, and Indian tribes for the development and implementation of 
authorized lead-based paint training, accreditation and certification 
programs. The second program, and subject of this notice, is a new 
cooperative agreement program for FY 99 which provides up to $1.2 
million for eligible Indian tribes to be used exclusively for the 
development of EPA authorized programs to ensure that individuals 
engaged in lead-based paint activities are properly trained; that 
training programs are accredited; and that contractors engaged in such 
activities are certified. EPA's intent is to use these funds to 
increase the number of Tribes pursuing the development of authorizable 
programs. Therefore, primary consideration for distribution of 
assistance will be given to Indian tribes which have not previously 
received TSCA section 404(g) funding for training, accreditation, and 
certification programs. These programs and this financial assistance 
are authorized by section 404 of TSCA. The notice describes eligibility 
criteria, eligible activities, application procedures and requirements, 
and funding criteria. There are no matching share requirements for this 
assistance. Subject to future budget limitations, EPA plans to provide 
this support on a continuing basis to eligible Indian tribes. All 
cooperative agreements will be administered by the appropriate EPA 
Regional office.


[[Page 56023]]


DATES: In order to be considered for funding during this award cycle, 
all applications must be received by the appropriate EPA Regional 
office on or before December 21, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information, contact: 
Susan B. Hazen, Director, Environmental Assistance Division (7408), 
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection 
Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460, (202) 554-1404, TDD: 
(202) 554-0551, e-mail: TSCA-H[email protected]. For technical 
information, contact the appropriate Regional Primary Lead Contact 
person listed in Unit VI. of this notice.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 404(g) of TSCA authorizes EPA to 
award non-matching cooperative agreements to eligible Indian tribes to 
develop and carry out authorized programs to ensure that individuals 
engaged in lead-based paint activities are properly trained; that 
training programs are accredited; and that contractors engaged in lead-
based paint activities are certified.
    Pursuant to Title IV of TSCA, EPA encourages Indian tribes to seek 
authorization of their own training, accreditation, and certification 
programs for lead-based paint activities. EPA therefore recommends that 
parties without program authorization, especially those which have not 
previously participated in the TSCA section 404(g) grant program seek 
funding through this $1.2 million program to help achieve these ends. 
EPA further recommends that parties plan to utilize this cooperative 
agreement support in a way that complements any related financial 
assistance they may receive from other Federal sources. EPA will seek 
to ensure that all Federally-funded lead activities are undertaken in a 
coordinated fashion. In addition, recipients must comply with the 
requirements of 40 CFR part 31, the Agency's general grant regulations, 
including 40 CFR 31.25 with respect to program income.

I. Eligibility

    EPA will not award financial assistance under this program to 
Tribes with authorized programs or Tribes which receive funding under 
the Notification of Funds Available published in the Federal Register 
of August 14, 1998 (63 FR 43699) (FRL-6021-1). Tribes must demonstrate 
that they meet the criteria at 40 CFR 745.330. Pursuant to 40 CFR 
745.330, as amended in 1998, the Administrator may treat a Tribe as 
eligible to apply for a TSCA section 404(g) grant if the Tribe: (1) Is 
recognized by the Secretary of Interior, (2) has an existing government 
exercising substantial governmental duties and powers, (3) has adequate 
authority to carry out the grant activities, and (4) is reasonably 
expected to be capable, in the Administrator's judgment, of 
administering the grant program.

II. Authority

    The ``TSCA Title IV State Lead Cooperative Agreement Program'' is a 
financial assistance program administered by EPA under the authority of 
section 404(g) of TSCA. Each of EPA's 10 Regional Administrators has 
been delegated the authority to enter into cooperative agreements with 
eligible Indian tribes.

III. Activities to be Funded

    EPA will provide financial assistance to Indian tribes to develop 
EPA authorized programs under 40 CFR part 745. Eligible activities must 
support program development, examples of which include: development of 
infrastructure, lead hazard assessment and evaluation, and outreach/
education to enhance public awareness of the training, accreditation, 
and certification program. The ``Tribal Cooperative Agreement Guidance 
for FY 1999'' (Guidance), issued by the Agency in October of 1998, 
provides assistance in determining eligible activities. Copies of the 
Guidance may be obtained by contacting the appropriate Regional Primary 
Lead Contact person listed in Unit IV. of this Notice.

IV. Allocation of Funds

    The Regions will have discretion in the distribution of the TSCA 
section 404(g) funds. Each Indian tribe that is awarded a cooperative 
agreement will receive a base funding in the amount of $50,000. 
Eligible Indian tribes may also apply for funding above the base level. 
Distribution of the funds above the base funding level will be 
dependent upon the number of qualified applicants, program progress, 
tribal population and other factors as appropriate.

V. Submission Requirements

    To be considered for funding, each application must include, at a 
minimum, the following forms and certifications which are contained in 
EPA's ``Application Kit for Assistance'': (1) Standard Form 424 
(Application for Federal Assistance), (2) EPA Form 5700-48 (Procurement 
Certification), (3) Drug-Free Workplace Certification, (4) Debarment 
and Suspension Certification, (5) Disclosure of Lobbying Activities, 
and (6) a return mailing address. In addition to these standard forms, 
each application must also include a work plan, a detailed line-item 
budget with sufficient information to clearly justify costs, a list of 
work products, and a schedule for their completion of the work plan.
    Work programs and other elements of the application are to be 
negotiated between applicants and their EPA Regional offices to ensure 
that priorities are adequately addressed. The principal goal of work 
shall be to progress toward implementation of an approvable training, 
accreditation, and certification program. Also, any applicant proposing 
the collection of environmentally-related measurements or data 
generation must adequately address the requirements of 40 CFR 31.45 
relating to quality assurance/quality control. These requirements are 
more specifically outlined in the ``Guidance Document for the 
Preparation of Quality Assurance Project Plans'' (May 1993) published 
by EPA's Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics. This document, as 
well as the application kits referred to above, may be obtained from 
EPA's Regional offices.

VI. Application Procedures and Schedule

    Applications must be submitted to the appropriate EPA Regional 
office in duplicate; one copy to the Regional lead program branch and 
the other to the Regional grants management branch. Early consultations 
are recommended between prospective applicants and their EPA Regional 
offices. Because TSCA Title IV cooperative agreements will be 
administered at the Regional level, these consultations can be critical 
to the ultimate success of the project or program. After funding levels 
are determined and the funds are transferred to the appropriate EPA 
Regional account, the Regional office lead contact person will contact 
the applicant and discuss the final award. EPA Regional offices may 
require the applicant to modify its proposed work plan and cooperative 
agreement based upon the final funding level of the cooperative 
agreement.
    The cooperative agreement shall be used solely for the purpose 
described in the applicant's approved implementation plan and the 
budget, including any changes that may be negotiated and adopted in the 
cooperative agreement.
    For more information about this financial assistance program, or 
for technical assistance in preparing an application for funding, 
interested parties should contact the Regional Primary Lead Contact 
person in the

[[Page 56024]]

appropriate EPA Regional office. The mailing addresses and contact 
telephone numbers for these offices are listed below.
Region I: (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode 
Island, and Vermont), JFK Federal Building, One Congress St., Boston, 
MA 02203, Telephone: (617) 565-3836 (Jim Bryson)
Region II: (New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands), 
Building 5, SDPTSB, 2890 Woodbridge Ave., Edison, NJ 08837-3679, 
Telephone: (908) 321-6671 (Lou Bevilacqua)
Region III: (Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, 
and the District of Columbia), 841 Chestnut Bldg., Philadelphia, PA 
19107, Telephone: (215) 566-2084 (Gerallyn Valls)
Region IV: (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North 
Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee), 61 Forsyth St., SW., Atlanta, 
GA 30303, Telephone: (404) 562-8998 (Rose Anne Rudd)
Region V: (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and 
Wisconsin), DRT-8J, 77 W. Jackson St., Chicago, IL 60604, Telephone: 
(312) 886-7836 (David Turpin)
Region VI: (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas), 12th 
Floor, 1445 Ross Ave., Dallas, TX 75202, Telephone: (214) 665-7577 
(Jeff Robinson)
Region VII: (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska), ARTD/RENV, 726 
Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, KS 66101, Telephone: (913) 551-7518 
(Mazzie Talley)
Region VIII: (Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and 
Wyoming), 999 18th St., Suite 500, Denver, CO 80202, Telephone: (303) 
312-6021 (David Combs)
Region IX: (Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, American Samoa, and 
Guam), 75 Hawthorne St., San Francisco, CA 94105, Telephone: (415) 744-
1094 (Harold Rush)
Region X: (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington), Solid Waste and 
Toxics Unit (WCM-128), 1200 Sixth Ave., Seattle, WA 98101, Telephone: 
(206) 553-1985 (Barbara Ross)
    The deadline for EPA's receipt of final FY 99 applications is 
December 21, 1998. Once the application deadline has passed, EPA will 
process the formula funding calculations and determine the initial 
formula ceiling allocations.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Lead.

    Dated: October 7, 1998.
Lynn R. Goldman,
Assistant Administrator for Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic 
Substances.
[FR Doc. 98-28117 Filed 10-19-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F