[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 110 (Wednesday, June 9, 1999)] [Notices] [Pages 30995-30996] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-14639] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [OPPTS-00273; FRL-6085-8] Notice of Availability of FY 1999 Multimedia Environmental Justice Through Pollution Prevention Grant Funds AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of availability. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: EPA is soliciting grant proposals under the Environmental Justice Through Pollution Prevention (EJP2) grant program. EPA anticipates that approximately $750,000 will be available in Fiscal Year (FY) 1999. This program promotes pollution prevention approaches that address environmental justice concerns in affected communities. The grant funds support: (1) Local environmental, environmental justice, and community grassroots organizations, including religious and civic organizations, as well as tribal governments; (2) national and regional organizations working in partnership with local organizations, or tribal governments; (3) state and local governments; and (4) academic institutions. DATES: All applications must be received by the EPA contractor, Eastern Research Group (ERG), on or before August 12, 1999. You must submit your application in accordance with the instructions contained in Unit V. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information contact: Christine Augustyniak, Associate Director, Environmental Assistance Division (7408), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone numbers: 202-554-1404 and TDD: 202-554-0551; e-mail address: TSCA-H[email protected]. For technical information contact: Danielle Fuligni, Pollution Prevention Division (7409), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 703-841-0483; e-mail address: [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. General Information A. Does this Action Apply to Me? This action applies to the public in general. As such, the Agency has not attempted to specifically describe the entities potentially affected by this action. If you have any questions regarding the applicability of this action to a particular entity, consult the technical person listed in the ``FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT'' section. B. How Can I Get Additional Information, Including Copies of this Document and the Application Package? 1. Electronically. You may obtain copies of the EJP2 grant program guidance and application package from the EPA Internet Home Page at http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/ejp2/. You may obtain copies of this document from the EPA Internet Home Page at http://www.epa.gov/. On the Home Page select ``Laws and Regulations'' and then look up the entry for this document under the ``Federal Register - Environmental Documents.'' You can also go directly to the ``Federal Register'' listings at http://www.epa.gov/ fedrgstr/. 2. By mail. You may mail a request for this information to the technical person listed in the ``FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT'' section, at the address listed. II. Scope and Purpose of the EJP2 Grant Program The FY 1999 EJP2 grant program supports the use of pollution prevention approaches to address the environmental problems of minority and low-income communities and Federally recognized tribes. This grant program is designed to fund projects that have a direct impact on affected communities. Funds awarded must be used to support pollution prevention programs in minority and/or low-income communities. The Agency strongly encourages cooperative efforts between communities, businesses, industry, and government to address common pollution prevention goals. Project grants may involve public education, training, demonstration projects, collaborative public-private partnerships, or innovative approaches to develop, evaluate, and demonstrate non-regulatory strategies and [[Page 30996]] technologies. EPA will award grants to national organizations for projects to assess the results of previous and ongoing EJP2 grants as well as to develop tools for bringing pollution prevention approaches to bear on the problems of environmental justice. Over the past 4 years, the EJP2 grants have been used to fund a broad range of innovative approaches and partnerships. EPA has funded 176 grants totaling over $14 million. There is less money for these grants this year. While in previous years, EPA has been able to fund 50 or more grants, this year we anticipate being able to fund no more than 10. This year, we will therefore focus our resources on a narrower set of priorities, including:Information products and assistance: Grantees would develop and disseminate information on effective environmental justice approaches, based in part on the results of earlier EJ/P2 grants. New projects in priority areas: Priorities include small business projects in environmental justice communities, tribal projects, projects using prevention approaches to protect children from toxics exposure, and projects to promote liveable communities. Wrap-up of existing grants: Existing grantees may apply for additional funding to bring ongoing or unfinished projects to completion, explore new implications resulting from work already undertaken in the project, or replicate results of a project in a new setting or with a new audience. You may get more information from the grant application itself at the internet address previously provided or by calling the technical information contact person. The EJP2 grant application guidance provides more information on the above priorities. III. Definition of Environmental Justice and Pollution Prevention Environmental justice is defined by EPA as the fair treatment of people of all races, cultures, and incomes with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, programs, and policies. Fair treatment means that no racial, ethnic, or socio-economic group should bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences resulting from the operation of industrial, municipal, and commercial enterprises, and from the execution of Federal, state, local, and tribal programs and policies. The Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 establishes a hierarchy of environmental protection practices. These practices include, in order of preference: Pollution prevention, recycling, treatment, and disposal. Pollution prevention means source reduction; it includes any practice that reduces or eliminates any pollutant at the source of generation prior to recycling, treatment, or disposal. Pollution prevention also includes practices that reduce or eliminate the creation of pollutants through increased efficiency in the use of raw materials, energy, water, or other resources, or by protection of natural resources by conservation. This grant program implements practices at the top of the hierarchy--pollution prevention/source reduction--to bring about better environmental protection. IV. Eligibility Any affected, nonprofit community organizations with section 501(c)(3) or section 501(c)(4) Internal Revenue Service tax status or Federally recognized tribal organizations may submit an application upon the publication of this solicitation. A nonprofit organization is defined as any corporation, trust, association, cooperative, or other organizations that: Operates primarily for scientific, educational, service, charitable, or similar purposes in the public interest. Is not organized primarily for profit. Uses its net proceeds to maintain, improve, and/or expand its operations. State and local governments and academic institutions are also eligible. Organizations must be incorporated by August 12, 1999, to be eligible to receive funds. Private businesses, Federal agencies, and individuals are ineligible for this grant. Organizations excluded from applying directly, as well as those inexperienced in grant writing, are encouraged to develop partnerships and prepare joint proposals with eligible national, regional, or local organizations. As a result of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, EPA (and other Federal agencies) may not award grants to nonprofit, section 501(c)(4) organizations that engage in lobbying activities. This restriction applies to any lobbying activities of a secton 501(c)(4) organization without distinguishing between lobbying funded by Federal money and lobbying funded by other sources. No applicant can receive two grants for the same project at one time. EPA will consider only one proposal for a given project. Applicants may submit more than one application; however, applications must be for separate and distinct projects. Organizations seeking funds from the EJP2 grant program can request up to $100,000 for local projects or projects that involve multiple communities located in more than 1 of the 10 EPA Regions, or projects that are national in scope. In accordance with 40 CFR parts 23 and 30, EPA no longer requires cost sharing or matching under this grant program. V. How and to Whom Do I Submit My Application? By mail or by person or courier submit your application to: EJP2 Grant Program, c/o ERG, 2200 Wilson Blvd., Suite 400, Arlington, VA 22201. List of Subjects Environmental protection, Grants, Pollution prevention. Dated: June 3, 1999. Joseph A. Carra, Director, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics. [FR Doc. 99-14639 Filed 6-8-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-F