[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 87 (Thursday, May 6, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24392-24394]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-11387]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6336-7]


Notice of Availability of Funds for Source Water Protection

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is soliciting 
proposals to fund projects that support local ground water and source 
water protection efforts for small, rural or economically disadvantaged 
communities in priority watersheds.

DATES: All project proposals must be received by the respective EPA 
Regional or Headquarters office no later than June 7, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Project proposals should be sent to the appropriate address 
listed below based on the location of the project:

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: EPA Headquarters or Regional contacts 
listed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    In keeping with the objectives of the Safe Drinking Water Act, EPA 
is soliciting partners through a competitive solicitation to assist 
Agency efforts to protect the drinking water sources (both ground water 
and surface water sources) of small, rural or economically 
disadvantaged communities in priority watersheds. Priority watersheds 
are those river basins and water bodies identified by the States in 
their Unified Watershed Assessments, developed under the Clean Water 
Action Plan.
    Proposals under this solicitation may support source water 
assessment and protection activities at the community level as well as 
activities related to stormwater, non-point source or wet weather 
related management activities, that: assist in the integration of 
ground water concerns into watershed assessment and restoration plans; 
support the implementation of local wellhead protection programs; and /
or, provide technical support to communities considering new ground or 
surface water protection or contaminant source management plans or 
ordinances targeted at high risk watersheds. All project proposals must 
address one or more of these activities to support ground water and 
source water protection efforts of small communities, economically 
disadvantaged communities, and/or rural areas in priority watersheds. 
These projects must also serve as useful prototypes with results that 
can be transferred to other community-based drinking water protection 
efforts. Priority consideration will be given to proposals that 
directly involve and demonstrate community level implementation actions 
or activities that clearly lead to such results.

Available Funding

Regional Support

    A total of $1,625,000 is available from EPA to fund one or more 
projects in each EPA Region according to the Region-by-Region 
allocation formula shown below. Individual project proposals may be 
budgeted at no less than $10,000, and no more than any specific 
Region's allocation. Each Region will determine how many projects to 
fund and at what level to fund them. Those interested in applying for 
funding should submit their proposal to the appropriate Regional 
contacts as listed below. Collaborative submissions are also 
encouraged. Project submissions must be made in accordance with the 
criteria contained in this notice.

Nation-wide Support

    An additional $375,000 is available from EPA Headquarters for 
projects that are targeted to similar objectives but focus on 
activities that are either national, multi-State or multi-Region in 
scope. These proposals are to be submitted to the EPA Headquarters 
contact listed below. National projects should be budgeted at no less 
than $50,000 and no more than $100,000.

Funding Eligibility

    State, local and Tribal governments, not-for-profit community water 
systems that meet the definition of a public water supply (40 CFR 
142.2), and not-for-profit organizations that have demonstrated a 
field-based capacity to provide technical assistance on drinking water 
and source water protection issues to small, rural or economically 
disadvantaged communities are eligible to compete for these funds. 
While preference may be given to projects located in priority 
watersheds, projects outside of those watershed areas will be eligible 
for funding consideration, especially if they have a creative approach 
to implementing the objectives previously outlined.

Evaluation Criteria

    In keeping with the aforementioned objectives of this solicitation, 
the following other criteria will be used in the evaluation of all 
proposals submitted by offerors in response to this proposal.
     Well written and organized presentation. 5 points
     Project objectives, deliverables/milestones, and measures 
of success are viable and clearly stated. 15 points
     Project clearly identifies the need for the activity and 
the expected environmental and public health benefits that are readily 
transferable to other communities. 30 points
     Project uses the collaboration of relevant partners 
(multi-organization/community focused) to achieve the project goals. 25 
points
     Project builds the capacity of local communities and 
organizations to protect public health through drinking water 
protection by identifying needed institutional arrangements and 
management responsibilities to carry out project objectives. 25 points
    Total: 100 points

[[Page 24393]]

Project Proposal Due Date

    All project proposals must be received by the respective EPA 
Regional or Headquarters office no later than 30 days from May 6, 1999. 
Project proposals should be sent to the appropriate address listed 
below based on the location of the project:

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               EPA office                    Contact and address                States              Allocation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Region 1...............................  Mary Jo Feuerbach, U.S.      CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT....        $117,813
                                          EPA, Region I, Suite 1100,
                                          One Congress Street (CMA),
                                          Boston, MA 02203-0001, 617-
                                          918-1578.
Region 2...............................  Benita Best-Wong, U.S. EPA,  NJ, NY, PR, VI............         134,063
                                          Region 2, 290 Broadway,
                                          New York, NY 10007-1866,
                                          212-637-3852.
Region 3...............................  Dale Long, U.S. EPA, Region  DE, DC, MD, PA, VA, WV....         146,251
                                          3, 1650 Arch Street,
                                          Philadelphia, PA 19103,
                                          215-814-5779.
Region 4...............................  Stallings Howell, U.S. EPA,  AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC,            243,749
                                          Region 4, 61 Forsyth         SC, TN.
                                          Street, SW, Atlanta GA
                                          30303, 404-562-9329.
Region 5...............................  Thomas Poy, U.S. EPA,        IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI....         211,250
                                          Region 5, 77 W. Jackson
                                          Boulevard, Chicago, IL
                                          60604-3507, 312-886-5991.
Region 6...............................  Ken Williams, U.S. EPA,      AR, LA, NM, OK, TX........         215,310
                                          Region 6, 1445 Ross
                                          Avenue, Dallas, TX 75202-
                                          2733, 214-665-7129.
Region 7...............................  Stephanie Lindberg, U.S.     IA, KS, MO, NE............         146,250
                                          EPA, Region 7, 726
                                          Minnesota Avenue, Kansas
                                          City, KS 66101, 913-551-
                                          7423.
Region 8...............................  Marcella Hutchinson, U.S.    CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY....         121,875
                                          EPA, Region 8, 999 18th
                                          Street, Suite 500, Denver,
                                          CO 80202-2466, 303-312-
                                          6753.
Region 9...............................  Judy Bloom, U.S. EPA,        AZ, CA, HI, NV............         150,313
                                          Region 9, 75 Hawthorne
                                          Street San Francisco, CA
                                          94105, 415-744-1829.
Region 10..............................  Jeff Kenknight, U.S. EPA,    AK, ID, OR, WA............         138,126
                                          Region 10, 1200 Sixth
                                          Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101,
                                          206-553-0226.
Headquarters...........................  Evyonne Harris, U.S. EPA     National, Multi-State or           375,000
                                          (4606), 401 M Street, SW,    Multi-Region.
                                          Washington, DC 20460, 202-
                                          260-1399.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Description of Project Proposals

    Proposals should be succinct and to the point. Proposals should not 
exceed 3-5 pages in total length. The 3-5 pages should include 
background, a description of proposed project and the environmental 
need to be addressed, financial information on the costs of the 
project, a schedule of activities and milestones, supporting 
documentation, and (any available) letters of support.
    Proposals should clearly address the substantive evaluation 
criteria, in particular, the expected health and environmental benefits 
and the transferability of the project effort. Other materials, 
multimedia or otherwise, will not be accepted or evaluated during the 
competition. Applicants whose proposals are selected for funding will 
be required to submit the ``Application for Federal Assistance'' (SF 
424). The paperwork burden for this form is approved under EPA's 
Information Collection request #938.06, OMB Control Number 2030-0020. 
Do not submit the SF 424 with this proposal application. Projects that 
receive funding will have specific conditions on reporting progress.

Project Narrative

    Proposed project text should include a general overview summarizing 
planned project activities in accordance with the specifications for 
project descriptions. The project narrative should briefly describe how 
the project proposal addresses and supports one or more of the 
following program objectives:
     Source water assessment and protection activities at the 
local level, especially in rural areas;
     Integration of ground water concerns into watershed 
assessment and restoration plans;
     Implementation of wellhead protection programs locally; 
and/or
     Providing the assistance of field technicians supporting 
communities considering new ground water/source water ordinances 
targeted at high-risk watersheds.
    In addition, the narrative should briefly describe how the project 
proposal addresses the following factors:
     Ability of project to support the overall advancement of 
ground water and source water protection efforts;
     Innovation and transferability of project outcomes to 
multiple state, Tribal, or local source water protection initiatives; 
and,
     Past experience, if any, that demonstrates an ability to 
manage complex projects.

Project Activities

    A description of planned project activities including a definition 
of the project's time span, lists of deliverables and milestones.

Budget Narrative

    Each proposal must include a budget summary that identifies cost 
associated with each activity. Cost estimates should include the 
following object class categories:
 Personnel
 Fringe
 Travel
 Supplies
 Indirect Charges

Schedule of Activities

    This schedule for the review and award portion of this process is 
provided only as an example. Each Region may establish timelines that 
vary beyond the initial submission date, 30 days from the date of this 
document.
     Day 30: proposals due after publication of Federal 
Register notice.
     Day 60: complete 30 day review of proposals by either EPA 
Headquarters or Region.
     Day 70: applicant notified of Agency determination on 
project.
     Day 85: selected applicants prepare and submit SF 424.
     Day 90: applications forwarded to the respective grants 
offices.
     Day 120: grants processing completed/Congressional 
notifications.
     Day 125: awards package mailed to grantee.


[[Page 24394]]


    Dated: April 30, 1999.
Elizabeth Fellows,
Acting Director, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water.
[FR Doc. 99-11387 Filed 5-5-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE: 6560-50-P