[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 206 (Monday, October 26, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57121-57123]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-28617]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6180-4]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration
Federal Transit Administration


Transportation/Air Quality Public Information Initiative: ``It 
All Adds Up To Cleaner Air'' FY 99 Demonstration Communities; Request 
for Letters of Interest

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency; Federal Highway Administration 
and Federal Transit Administration.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Over the past year, the Department of Transportation's (DOT) 
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit 
Administration (FTA) and the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) 
Office of Mobile Sources (OMS) have begun a collaborative public 
education program to be implemented at the community level.
    This effort is designed to inform the public about the connection 
between transportation, air pollution and public health, and the 
ability of individuals to make a difference once they are informed 
about the environmental consequences of their daily travel choices . 
Through this Document, the Department of Transportation's Federal 
Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration, and the 
Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Mobile Sources are 
soliciting interest from organizations and communities around the 
country who would benefit from participation as Demonstration 
Communities in ``It All Adds Up to Cleaner Air''--a transportation/air 
quality public information initiative.

DATES: Deadline for Letters of Interest--November 25, 1998.

ADDRESSES: This document can also be accessed at no cost by contacting: 
DOT/Federal Highway Administration Web Page: ``www.fhwa.dot.gov/
environment/pubout'' EPA's Office of Mobile Sources Web Page: 
``www.epa.gov/oms'' click on ``What's New?''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kathy Daniel, Project Manager, US DOT Federal Highway Administration, 
400 7th Street SW (HEP-40), Washington, DC 20590, (Phone) 202/366-6276 
(Fax) 202/366-3409, ``[email protected]'';
Patrice Thornton, Project Manager, EPA Office of Mobile Sources, 2000 
Traverwood Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, (Phone) 734/214-4329 (Fax) 734/
214-4906, ``[email protected]'';
Abbe Marner, Federal Transit Administration, 400 7th Street SW (TPL-
12), Washington, DC 20590, (Phone) 202/366-4317 (Fax) 202/493-2478, 
``[email protected]''.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Affected Entities: Communities and/or organizations interested in 
participating as Demonstration Communities in a public education 
project addressing transportation choices and their impact on air 
quality.
    Title: Transportation/Air Quality Public Information Initiative: 
``It All Adds Up To Cleaner Air''--FY 99 Demonstration Communities--
Request For Letters of Interest.
    Abstract: Over the past year, the Department of Transportation's 
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit 
Administration (FTA) and the Environmental Protection Agency's Office 
of Mobile Sources (OMS) have begun collaborating on a public education 
program to be implemented at the community level, which informs the 
public about the connection between transportation, air pollution, 
public health, and the ability of individuals to make a difference once 
they are informed about the environmental consequences of their daily 
travel choices. This goal is being accomplished by (1) providing 
national support for community-based public education efforts on the 
impacts of transportation choices on air quality, traffic congestion , 
and public health, (2) encouraging and facilitating the creation of 
national and local coalitions committed to raising awareness, 
understanding, acceptance, and action related to transportation/air 
quality issues, and (3) encouraging informed and responsible choices 
for individual actions through public information. The theme of the 
initiative is ``It All Adds Up to Cleaner Air.''
    The federal partners--FHWA, FTA and OMS--are currently pilot-
testing program design as well as products produced for three diverse 
communities--Dover, Delaware; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and San Francisco, 
California--in support of the long term effort. Pilot communities were 
selected to provide an opportunity to learn from the experience of 
areas with diversity in size, existing transportation infrastructure, 
air quality, and degrees of public understanding of transportation, air 
quality and the impact of their individual choices. Coalitions of 
organizations with vested interest in transportation/air quality issues 
in each of the three pilot communities are currently involved in public 
education campaigns on transportation choices and their impact on air 
quality. The messages being tested in the pilot phase of the initiative 
focus on combining errands, car care, and using alternative modes of 
transportation. These initial efforts are scheduled to continue through 
October, 1998. Because the approach and results differ from community 
to community, important and relevant lessons are being learned from 
each site. Comprehensive evaluation of and in collaboration with the 
pilot sites are being undertaken by the federal partners in 
collaboration with the pilot sites in the fall of this year. The 
program will then be expanded to include as many as twelve (12) 
Demonstration Communities in 1999.

Purpose of Request for Letters of Interest

    Through this Notice, FHWA, FTA and OMS are soliciting interest from 
organizations and communities around the country who believe they would 
benefit from participation as a

[[Page 57122]]

Demonstration Community in ``It All Adds Up to Cleaner Air''--the 
transportation/air quality public information initiative. Demonstration 
Communities will receive national support to further their public 
education efforts on transportation and air quality. National support 
to be provided includes market research; consistent national messages; 
limited seed money ($25,000 per site); a comprehensive resource ``tool 
kit'' including transportation and air quality facts and figures; 
promotional materials; high quality TV, radio, and print advertisements 
and other public education tools; ``how to'' information; and technical 
assistance to create or expand and support coalitions committed to 
improving quality of life through minimizing traffic congestion and 
reducing air pollution. This Notice provides information which will 
allow organizations and communities to determine their interest in 
participating as a Demonstration Community in the 1999 ``It All Adds Up 
to Cleaner Air'' initiative, and to begin preparing information needed 
to apply for the program later this year.
    The purpose of requesting a Letter from interested communities and 
organizations is to help the federal agencies prepare an efficient 
evaluation/selection process. Submitting a Letter of Interest will not 
commit an organization/community to proceed with an application. Those 
not submitting a Letter may still apply at the appropriate time.

Developing a Letter of Interest

    Letters of Interest should be 3-5 pages. The federal partners are 
interested in brief answers to the following questions:

--Is the community committed to raising public awareness of 
transportation, air quality, public health and the impact of individual 
actions?
--What is the extent of the air quality and congestion problem in the 
interested community?
--Is there an existing coalition or collaborative established to 
address transportation and air quality issues?
--If so, who are the partners in this coalition?
--If not, is the community committed to developing and maintaining such 
a coalition?
--Is the community currently involved in a public education program on 
transportation/air quality issues?
--Could activities begun or expanded continue beyond the period when 
federal support is being provided to the community?

Expansion of the ``It All Adds Up To Cleaner Air'' Initiative

    Expansion of this initiative will take place in two phases. Phase 
One, begun with this Notice, will involve submission of a ``Letter of 
Interest'' from organizations who might be interested in participating 
as a 1999 Demonstration Community. Phase Two will begin with a formal 
solicitation expected to be issued by the federal partners in November, 
1998. The solicitation will outline all requirements and will be widely 
distributed through the Federal Register, Agency Websites and other 
electronic means, existing organizational networks and publications, 
conferences, etc. Organizations interested in participating will then 
have 60 days to submit the requested information.

Expectations for the 1999 Demonstration Communities

    Using the materials developed and refined through the pilot sites, 
Demonstration Communities will further our knowledge of what works and 
what doesn't. Dialogue with the public will address (1) the connection 
between transportation choices, traffic congestion, and air quality, 
(2) alternate modes of transportation, and (3) efforts to reach the 
long-term objectives of environmentally beneficial transportation 
choices in the community, informed life-work decisions, and increased 
investment in transportation and air quality. Additional and innovative 
materials will be developed which can be replicated and provided for 
use in other community-based efforts nationwide. Through evaluation, we 
will continue to learn lessons about organizations and perspectives 
which must be involved and what resources are required to ensure long-
term success in addressing transportation choices and their impact on 
air quality. Demonstration Communities will be expected to work closely 
with the federal partners as they track outreach activities, successes 
and challenges, market research, etc.

Partnerships

    The cornerstone of the overall initiative is the forging of long-
term partnerships which will integrate the need to address air quality 
and transportation choices into community planning and education. These 
partnerships will ensure that public education and investment in 
transportation and air quality will continue beyond the initial federal 
support in Demonstration Communities. Partners could include employers, 
non-profit organizations, health providers, public interest and 
business groups, youth, and other levels of government.

Proposed Time Line

Request for Letters of Interest Published--September 1998
Letters of Interest Received--October 1998
Solicitation Issued--November 1998
Requested Information Due--January 1999
Evaluation/Selection Completed--March 1999
Award of Funds--April 1999

Eligible Organizations

    Letters of Interest will be accepted from any community/public 
organization with interest in this initiative. However, when 
Demonstration Communities are selected through review of formal 
information received in Phase 2, priority will be given to communities/
public organizations which can clearly demonstrate a perceived air 
quality and traffic congestion problem, involvement of a wide range of 
organizations, a level of public understanding of transportation 
choices as solutions to congestion and air quality problems, and the 
commitment to conduct public education linking transportation, air 
quality, public health and individual choices. Please note that only 
Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), state departments of 
transportation, state, local, and regional air management agencies, 
councils of government and public transit agencies will be eligible to 
serve as funding recipients for the seed money offered to selected 
communities. Lead organizations are strongly encouraged to create 
partnerships with other organizations actively involved in congestion 
mitigation and air quality improvement.

Potential Information To Be Requested Through Formal Solicitation

    FHWA, FTA and OMS are currently developing the selection criteria 
against which proposals will be evaluated. However, it is likely that 
the information requested will include how the community will 
demonstrate:

--A perceived air quality and congestion problem
--Level of public understanding of transportation choices as solutions 
to congestion and air quality problems
--Goals of improved air quality and reduced congestion through 
transportation choices
--Effectiveness of collaborative activities and partnerships with other

[[Page 57123]]

stakeholders needed to effectively develop or implement the project
--Demonstrated ability to reach target audiences through media, 
outreach and collaborative efforts
--Ability to integrate these efforts with existing programs/campaigns
--Potential for continuing the effort beyond federal support

Additional Items of Interest

--The limited amount of ``seed money'' is clearly insufficient to 
accomplish the goals of the overall initiative. In the final selection 
process, priority will be given to those who indicate a clear ability 
to undertake the initiative and commit resources beyond those provided 
through the federal partners. Participation as a Demonstration 
Community will clearly require a commitment of human as well as 
financial resources.
--Potential Demonstration Communities are encouraged to consider 
integrating this initiative into other ongoing public education 
efforts. Other potential funding sources could include the Congestion 
Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ), the 
Transportation and Community and Systems Preservation Pilot Program 
(TCSP) under the Transportation Equity Act of the 21st Century, the 
annual Mobile Source Outreach Assistance Competition (limited to 
designated state and local air management agencies) and other funds 
obtained to conduct transportation/air quality public education 
activities.

Submitting ``Letters of Interest''

    Letters of Interest'' (5 copies) should be sent to: Susan Bullard, 
Director of Outreach and Communication, US EPA Office of Mobile 
Sources, 401 M Street SW (MC 6401), Washington, DC 20460, (phone) 202/
260-2614, (fax) 202/260-6011, email: ``[email protected]''.

    Dated: September 23, 1998.

Margo T. Oge,
Director, Office of Mobile Sources, Environmental Protection Agency.

    Dated: October 16, 1998.
Charlotte M. Adams,
Associate Administrator for Planning, Federal Transit Administration.

    Dated: October 15, 1998.
James M. Shrouds,
Chief, Environmental Analysis Division, Office of Environment and 
Planning, Federal Highway Administration.
[FR Doc. 98-28617 Filed 10-23-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P