[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 99 (Monday, May 24, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27993-27994]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-12997]



[[Page 27993]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
[Program Announcement 99068]


Program To Facilitate Environmental Justice in Minority and Under 
Served Communities; Notice of Availability of Funds

A. Purpose

    The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) 
announces the availability of fiscal year (FY) 1999 funds for a 
cooperative agreement program to facilitate environmental justice in 
minority and underserved communities. This program addresses the 
``Healthy People 2000'' priority areas of Environmental Health and 
Educational and Community-Based Health Programs. The purpose of the 
program is to assist minority educational institutions in (1) expanding 
and enhancing educational and research opportunities in health 
promotion and disease prevention related to exposure to hazardous 
substances in the environment, and (2) providing education and 
information to African-American communities and Hispanic communities, 
and other minority communities that are affected by hazardous waste 
sites and that have environmental justice concerns.

B. Eligible Applicants

    Eligible applicants are Historically Black Colleges and 
Universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs). No other 
applications are solicited.

    Note: Public Law 104-65 states that an organization described in 
section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that engages 
in lobbying activities is not eligible to receive Federal funds 
constituting an award, grant, cooperative agreement, contract, loan, 
or any other form.

C. Availability of Funds

    Approximately $100,000 is available in FY 99 to fund one award. It 
is expected that the award will begin on or about September 1, 1999, 
and will be made for a 12-month budget period within a project period 
of up to five years. Funding estimates may change.
    Continuation awards within an approved project period will be made 
on the basis of satisfactory progress as evidenced by required reports 
and the availability of funds.

Use of Funds

    Funds may be expended for reasonable program purposes, such as 
personnel, travel, supplies, and services. Funds for contractual 
services may be requested; however, the grantee, as the direct and 
primary recipient of ATSDR grant funds, must perform a substantive role 
in carrying out project activities and not merely serve as a conduit 
for an award to another party. Equipment may be purchased with grant 
funds. The equipment proposed should be appropriate and reasonable for 
the activities to be conducted. The applicant, as part of the 
application process, should provide: (1) A justification for the need 
to acquire the equipment, (2) the description of the equipment, (3) the 
intended use of the equipment, and (4) the advantages/disadvantages of 
leasing versus purchase of the equipment. Equipment obtained with grant 
funds must be returned to ATSDR at the end of the project.

D. Program Requirements

    In conducting the activities to achieve the purpose of the program, 
the recipient shall be responsible for conducting activities under 1 
below, and ATSDR shall be responsible for conducting activities under 2 
below.

1. Recipient Activities

    a. Develop strategies for disease prevention and health promotion 
related to exposure to hazardous substances from toxic waste sites, and 
transferring to minority and low-income communities;
    b. Develop relevant and culturally competent environmental health 
instructional materials for health professionals.
    c. Coordinate a wide variety of field experiences in the practice 
of disease prevention and health promotion for students of the grantee 
institution and of collaborating institutions;
    d. Maintain and distribute minority health and environmental 
justice related resource information, instructional materials, and 
teaching techniques for health professionals;
    e. Develop strategies for assisting communities in identifying the 
needs of ``at risk'' populations and research gaps, and develop a plan 
for working with the community to address these problems and issues 
concerning policies, regulations, and procedures related to the 
environmental characterization, assessment, public health assessment, 
cleanup and reuse of contaminated sites and properties;
    f. Conduct community based workshops on the use of Geographic 
Information Systems (GIS) as a tool in brownfields and environmental 
justice priority setting and community analysis;
    g. Collaborate with government and non-government officials on 
environmental justice, risk communication, and environmental health 
matters, when requested by communities; and
    h. Collaborate with state and local health departments and 
community based organizations on environmental justice and minority 
health issues. This collaboration should improve teaching and learning 
at the grantee school and the other participating schools.

2. ATSDR Activities

    a. Collaborate with the grantee in expanding the opportunities for 
faculty, staff and students for field experience in environmental 
health and community based environmental justice activities;
    b. Collaborate with and assist the recipient in aggregating 
demographic data, public health data, and other relevant information to 
evaluate the environmental health status of minority communities and 
tribal nations; and
    c. Assist in the evaluation of the objectives of this program.

E. Application Content

    Use the information in the Program Requirements, Other 
Requirements, and Evaluation Criteria sections to develop the 
application content. Your application will be evaluated on the criteria 
listed, so it is important to follow them in laying out your program 
plan.

F. Submission and Deadline

    Submit the original and five copies of PHS-398 (OMB Number 0925-
0001) (adhere to the instructions on the Errata Instruction Sheet for 
PHS 398). Forms are in the application kit. On or before July 15, 1999, 
submit the application to the Grants Management Specialist identified 
in the ``Where to Obtain Additional Information'' section of this 
announcement.
    Deadline: Applications shall be considered as meeting the deadline 
if they are either:
    (a) Received on or before the deadline date; or
    (b) Sent on or before the deadline date and received in time for 
orderly processing. (Applicants must request a legibly dated U.S. 
Postal Service postmark or obtain a legibly dated receipt from a 
commercial carrier or U.S. Postal Service. Private metered postmarks 
shall not be acceptable as proof of timely mailing.)
    Late Applications: Applications which do not meet the criteria in 
(a) or (b) above are considered late applications, will not be 
considered, and will be returned to the applicant.

[[Page 27994]]

G. Evaluation Criteria

    The application will be evaluated against the following criteria by 
an independent review group appointed by ATSDR.

1. Experience in Environmental Justice--35 Percent

    The applicant can clearly demonstrate (a) a track record in 
conducting environmental justice projects and activities with affected 
communities, and (b) the ability to collaborate with other HBCUs and 
HSIs to develop and implement a nationwide environmental justice 
program.

2. Scientific and Technical Merit of Proposed Program--25 Percent

    The extent to which the applicant's proposal addresses (a) the 
scientific merit of the proposed project, including approach, 
feasibility, adequacy, and rationale of the design; (b) the technical 
merit of the proposed project, including the degree to which the 
project can be expected to yield results that meet the program 
objectives and the technical merit of the methods and procedures for 
the proposed project; and (c) the proposed project schedule, including 
clearly established project objectives for which progress toward 
attainment can and will be measured.

3. Program Personnel--25 Percent

    The extent to which the proposal has described the (a) 
qualifications, experience, and commitment of the principal 
investigator (or project director) and his/her ability to devote 
adequate time and effort to provide effective leadership, and (b) the 
competence of associates to accomplish the proposed activity and their 
commitment and time they will devote.

4. Applicant Capability--15 Percent

    Description of the adequacy and commitment of institutional 
resources to administer the program and the adequacy of the facilities 
as they impact on performance of the proposed activity.

5. Budget--(Not Scored)

    The extent to which the budget is reasonable, clearly justified, 
and consistent with intended use of cooperative agreement funds.

H. Other Requirements

Technical Reporting Requirements

    Provide original plus two copies of
    1. Semiannual progress reports;
    2. Financial status report, no more than 90 days after the end of 
the budget period; and
    3. Final financial and performance reports, no more than 90 days 
after the end of the project period.
    Send all reports to the Grants Management Specialist identified in 
the ``Where to Obtain Additional Information'' section of this 
announcement.
    The following additional requirements are applicable to this 
program. For a complete description of each, see Attachment I in the 
application kit.

AR-7  Executive Order 12372
AR-8  Public Health System Reporting Requirements
    5R-9  Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements
AR-10  Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements
AR-11  Healthy People 2000
AR-12  Lobbying Restrictions
AR-18  Cost Recovery--ATSDR
AR-19  Third Party Agreements--ATSDR
AR-20  Conference Support

I. Authority and Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number

    This program is authorized under sections 104(i)(14), and (15) of 
the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability 
Act of 1980 (CERCLA) as amended by the Superfund Amendments and 
Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA) (42 U.S.C. 9604 (i)(14), and (15)). 
The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number is 93.161.

J. Where To Obtain Additional Information

    A complete copy of the announcement may be downloaded from CDC's 
home page on the Internet at: http://www.cdc.gov (click on funding).
    To receive additional written information and to request an 
application kit, call 1-888-GRANTS4 (1-888 472-6874). You will be asked 
to leave your name and address and will be instructed to identify the 
Announcement number of interest (Announcement 99068). You will receive 
a complete program description, information on application procedures 
and application forms.
    If you have questions after reviewing the contents of all the 
documents, business management technical assistance may be obtained 
from: Nelda Godfrey, Grants Management Specialist, Grants Management 
Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Announcement 99068, Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2920 Brandywine Road, Suite 3000, 
Atlanta, GA 30341-4146, Telephone: (770) 488-2722, Email address: 
[email protected].
    For program technical assistance, contact: Peter Sherman, Minority 
Health Program Manager, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease 
Registry 1600 Clifton Road, NE (E-28), Atlanta, GA 30333, Telephone: 
(404) 639-5060, Email address: [email protected]

    Dated: May 18, 1999.
Georgi Jones,
Director, Office of Policy and External Affairs Agency for Toxic 
Substances and Disease Registry.
[FR Doc. 99-12997 Filed 5-21-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-70-P