[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 28 (Thursday, February 11, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7050-7052]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-3462]



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Part V





Department of Commerce





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Economic Development Administration



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Economic Development Assistance Program for Disaster Recovery 
Activities, Availability of Funds; Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 28 / Thursday, February 11, 1999 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Economic Development Administration
[Docket No. 981228326-8326-01]
RIN 0610-ZA08


Economic Development Assistance Program for Disaster Recovery 
Activities, Availability of Funds

AGENCY: Economic Development Administration (EDA), Department of 
Commerce (DoC).

ACTION: Funding notice.

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SUMMARY: The Economic Development Administration (EDA) announces the 
availability of $14.1 million in disaster economic recovery assistance 
under the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 1998 in response to the 
September 10, 1998 Disaster Declaration by the Secretary of Commerce 
under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. 
This Disaster Declaration was made as a result of the commercial 
failure of the Alaska salmon fisheries in Bristol Bay and the Yukon and 
Kuskokwim River tributaries.
    EDA's program will be to assist the approximately 106 affected 
communities in the disaster-impacted areas with planning, technical 
assistance, revolving loan funds, and infrastructure grants to address 
the economic problems caused by this disaster.

DATES: This notice is effective February 11, 1999. Applications are 
accepted on a continuous basis.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties should contact the Seattle Regional 
Office or the Economic Development Representative for the area (see 
listing in ``Other Information'').

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: See listing in ``Other Information'' 
section of this Notice.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Applicants should be aware that a false 
statement on the application is grounds for denial of the application 
or termination of the grant award and grounds for possible punishment 
by a fine or imprisonment as provided in 18 U.S.C. 1001.
    Applicants are hereby notified that any equipment or products 
authorized to be purchased with funding provided under this program 
must be American-made to the maximum extent feasible.
    Applicants seeking an early start, i.e., to begin a project before 
EDA approval, must obtain a letter from EDA allowing such early start. 
Such approval may be given with the understanding that an early start 
does not constitute project approval. Applicants should be aware that 
if they incur any costs prior to an award being made they do so solely 
at their own risk of not being reimbursed by the Government. 
Notwithstanding any verbal or written assurance that may have been 
received, there is no obligation on the part of DOC to cover pre-award 
costs.
    If an application is selected for funding, EDA has no obligation to 
provide any additional future funding in connection with an award. 
Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the period of 
performance is at the sole discretion of EDA.
    Unsatisfactory performance under prior Federal awards may result in 
an application not being considered for funding.
    No award of Federal funds will be made to an applicant who has an 
outstanding delinquent Federal debt until either:
    1. The delinquent account is paid in full;
    2. A negotiated repayment schedule is established and at least one 
payment is received; or
    3. Other arrangements satisfactory to DoC are made.
    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required 
to respond to nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure to 
comply with a collection of information subject to the requirements of 
the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) unless that collection of information 
displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
control number. This notice involves a collection of information 
requirement subject to the provisions of the PRA and has been approved 
by OMB under Control Number 0610-0094.
    All primary applicants must submit a completed Form CD-511, 
``Certifications Regarding Debarment, Suspension and Other 
Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free Workplace Requirements and 
Lobbying,'' and the following explanations are hereby provided:
    Prospective participants (as defined at 15 CFR Part 26, section 
105) ``Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension'' and the related 
section of the certification form prescribed above applies;
    Grantees (as defined at 15 CFR Part 26, Section 605) are subject to 
15 CFR Part 26, Subpart F, ``Drug-Free Workplace Requirements 
(Grants)'' and the related section of the certification form prescribed 
above applies;
    Persons (as defined at 15 CFR Part 28, section 105) are subject to 
the lobbying provisions of 31 U.S.C. 1352, ``Limitation on use of 
appropriated funds to influence certain Federal contracting and 
financial transactions,'' and the lobbying section of the certification 
form prescribed above applies to applications/bids for grants, 
cooperative agreements, and contracts for more than $100,000, and loans 
and loan guarantees for more than $150,000, or the single family 
maximum mortgage limit for affected programs, whichever is greater; and
    Any applicant that has paid or will pay for lobbying using any 
funds must submit an SF-LLL, ``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities,'' as 
required under 15 CFR part 28, Appendix B.
    Recipients shall require applicants/bidders for subgrants, 
contracts, subcontracts, or other lower tier covered transactions at 
any tier under the award to submit, if applicable, a completed Form CD-
512, ``Certifications Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility 
and Voluntary Exclusion-Lower Tier Covered Transactions and Lobbying'' 
and disclosure form, SF-LLL ``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities.'' Form 
CD-512 is intended for the use of recipients and should not be 
transmitted to DoC. SF-LLL submitted by any tier recipient or 
subrecipient should be submitted to DoC in accordance with the 
instructions contained in the award document.
    EDA also requires that compliance with environmental regulations, 
in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), be 
completed before construction begins.
    Unless otherwise noted below, eligibility, program objectives and 
descriptions, application procedures, selection procedures, evaluation 
criteria and other requirements for all programs are set forth in EDA's 
interim final rule published in the FR (64 FR 5347, Feb. 3, 1999) as 
separate Part II. Eligibility, grant rates, criteria and other 
requirements will change when EDA's interim-final rule to implement 
Public Law 105-393 becomes effective on February 11, 1999.
    EDA will continue coordination with the National Marine Fisheries 
Service (NMFS).

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA)

    The Special Economic Development Adjustment Assistance Program is 
listed under CFDA 11.307.

Funding Availability

    Funds in the amount of $14.1 million are available for this 
disaster economic recovery program and shall remain available until 
expended. These funds

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are provided under Section 763 of Omnibus Appropriations Act (Public 
Law 105-277). The funds are available for awarding disaster assistance 
grants pursuant to the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 
1965, as amended, (Public Law 89-136, 42 U.S.C. 3121 et seq.), 
including the comprehensive amendment of the Economic Development 
Administration Reform Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-393) (PWEDA). Public 
Law 105-393 which becomes effective no later than February 11, 1999, 
will be implemented by amendments to EDA's regulations (see EDA's 
interim rule published as separate Part II in the FR on 64 FR 5347, 
February 3, 1999). EDA's interim rule provides new requirements and 
procedures concerning, but not limited to eligibility, grant rates, and 
criteria.

Grant Rates

    Grant rates, as established under PWEDA and implementing 
regulations published in the FR (64 FR 5347, Feb. 3, 1999) as separate 
Part II, may vary, if permitted by PWEDA and its implementing 
regulations, and may depend on factors such as type of applicant, 
relative needs and financial capacity of applicants.

Eligible Applicants

    Prior to the effective date of Public Law 105-393, eligible 
applicants include the state or political subdivisions thereof, 
including municipalities and quasi-public corporations and authorities, 
Indian tribes and Alaskan native villages, and non-profit organizations 
representing an EDA-designated redevelopment area or part thereof 
located in the affected disaster areas in the State of Alaska.
    Eligible applicants under Public Law 105-393 include the state or 
other political subdivisions thereof, including a city or public or 
private nonprofit organization or association acting in cooperation 
with a political subdivision of the state, economic development 
district, Indian tribes and Alaskan native villages, and areas in the 
State of Alaska as provided in Section 301(a) of Public Law 105-393.

Proposal Submission Procedures

    Proposals for assistance under this disaster recovery program shall 
be submitted to EDA on a completed Form ED-900P, OMB Control No. 0610-
0094. Applicants must clearly demonstrate how the EDA assistance will 
help the area recover from the economic hardship and other problems 
caused by this disaster, and that such assistance has been preceded by 
sound planning. Interested parties should contact the Economic 
Development Representative for the area, or the EDA Seattle Regional 
Office for a proposal package (see Listing under ``Other 
Information'').

Application Procedures

    A determination of whether to invite an application under this 
disaster recovery program for EDA assistance will be issued based upon 
the Agency's review of the applicant's proposal under the evaluation 
criteria herein and EDA's regulations published in the FR (64 FR 5347, 
Feb. 3, 1999), as separate Part II.

Funding Instrument

    Prior to the effective date of Public Law 105-393, funds will be 
awarded in accordance with the requirements of Title IX of the Public 
Works and Economic Development Act of 1965, as amended (Pub. L. 89-136; 
42 U.S.C. 3121 et. seq.); and thereafter in accordance with Section 209 
of Public Law 105-393 and EDA's regulations published in the FR (64 FR 
5347, Feb. 3, 1999) as separate Part II.

Project Selection Criteria

    It is anticipated that the funds announced herein for disaster 
recovery assistance may not be sufficient to meet all of the economic 
recovery needs for which requests are received. Evaluation criteria 
will not be assigned weights. EDA will consider the following criteria 
to select the grant project award. While each of the criteria are 
important, any one or combination of criteria may be the basis for 
selecting an application for award: (1) Prior to the effective date of 
Public Law 105-393, projects that are consistent with an adjustment 
strategy; thereafter consistent with an area Comprehensive Economic 
Development Strategy (CEDS). In meeting the strategy or CEDS 
requirements, as appropriate, EDA will accept a State Emergency 
Recovery Plan, or the product of an equivalent state or local strategic 
economic recovery planning process with short-term and long-term goals; 
(2) projects which leverage EDA funds with appropriate state, local, 
private, and other Federal assistance efforts; (3) projects that 
enhance/stimulate sustainable economic development; (4) restoration of 
critical infrastructure and public facilities which respond to 
emergency needs and are essential to economic activity and commerce; 
(5) projects that assist the restoration of businesses, stimulate the 
development of new businesses and accelerate the development of new 
and/or improved job opportunities within the affected areas; (6) 
projects which upgrade or enhance the reliability of critical 
infrastructure/public facilities to current building, environmental, 
and safety standards or codes and that are essential to stabilizing the 
economic base of the disaster area; (7) projects in areas with high 
levels of economic distress; (8) projects that enhance opportunities 
for economic diversification; and (9) given the limited funds available 
from this appropriation, the amount requested shall be relative to the 
amount of economic distress/damage sustained by the community 
(applicants must be able to demonstrate need based on economic 
distress/damage resulting from the disaster).
    To establish the merits of project proposals, interested parties 
should contact the EDA Economic Development Representative or EDA 
Seattle Regional Office for the area (see listing below) for a proposal 
form, (ED-900P). Requests for assistance shall be submitted directly to 
the EDA Economic Development Representative or EDA Seattle Regional 
Office that is listed below.
    EDA will evaluate proposals to determine whether they can meet the 
criteria established. Following the review of the proposals, EDA will 
invite those entities whose projects are selected for consideration to 
submit full applications (ED-900A, OMB Control No. 0610-0094). In 
addition to the real property title requirements at 13 CFR Part 314, 
applicants will be expected to submit satisfactory evidence of rights 
of entry assuring prompt access to project property at the time of 
grant award in those cases where applicants do not hold title to all 
real property required for the projects at time of application.

Other Information

    Except as modified herein, evaluation criteria, competitive 
selection procedures, application procedures, and other requirements 
for the applicable assistance program are described in the FR (64 FR 
5347, February 3, 1999) published on February 3, 1999 as separate Part 
II.
    For further information contact the Economic Development 
Representative or EDA Seattle Regional Office listed below:

A. Leonard Smith, Regional Director, Seattle Regional Office, Suite 
1856, Jackson Federal Building 915 Second Avenue, Seattle, Washington 
98174, Telephone: (206) 220-7660, Internet Address: LS[email protected]
State Covered--Alaska
Seattle Region, Bernhard E. Richert, Jr., Economic Development 
Representative, 605 West 4th Avenue, Room G-80, Anchorage, Alaska 
99501-7594, Telephone: (907) 271-

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2272, Internet Address: [email protected]

    Dated: February 4, 1999.
Phillip A. Singerman,
Assistant Secretary for Economic Development.
[FR Doc. 99-3462 Filed 2-9-99; 10:55 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-24-P