[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]


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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.

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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