[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 98 (Friday, May 19, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31880-31885]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-12627]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[Docket No. 000404094-0094-01]
RIN 0648-ZA84


Improved Methods for Ballast Water Treatment and Management and 
Prevention of Small Boat Transport of Invasive Species: Request for 
Proposals for FY 2000

AGENCIES: National Sea Grant College Program, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce and Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of request for proposals.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to advise the public that the 
National Sea Grant College Program (Sea Grant) and the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service (Service) are entertaining proposals to participate in 
innovative research, outreach, and demonstration projects that address 
the problems of aquatic invasive species in U.S. waters. In FY 2000 
only, Sea Grant expects to make available about $700,000, and the 
Service $300,000, to support projects to improve ballast water 
treatment and management in the Chesapeake Bay and the Great Lakes in 
particular (Sea Grant), and in U.S. coastal and Great Lakes waters in 
general (Service). Also in FY 2000 only, Sea Grant expects to make 
available about $40,000 to support projects to reduce the transport of 
invasive species by small boats in the Lake Champlain Basin.

DATES: Proposals must be submitted before 5 p.m. EST on June 19, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Proposals must be submitted to the National Sea Grant Office 
at: National Sea Grant College Program, R/SG, Attn: Invasive Species 
Competition, Room 11841, NOAA, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, 
MD 20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leon M. Cammen, Invasive Species 
Coordinator, National Seat Grant College Program, R/SG, NOAA, 1315 
East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, or Mary Robinson, 
Secretary, National Sea Grant Office, 301-713-2435; facsimile 301-713-
0799; or Sharon Gross, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 703-358-1718; 
facsimile 703-358-2044.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:   

1. Program Authority

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 4701 et seq.; 33 U.S.C. 1121-1131.

    Catalog of Federal Assistance Number: 11.417, Sea Grant Support; 
15.FFA, Fish and Wildlife Management Assistance.

II. Program Description

Background

    Nonindigenous species introductions are increasing in frequency and 
causing substantial damage to the Nation's environment and economy. 
Although the most prominent of these introductions in the aquatic 
environment has been the zebra mussel, many other nonindigenous species 
have been introduced and have truly become

[[Page 31881]]

a nationwide problem that threatens many aquatic ecosystems. While some 
intentional introductions may have been beneficial effects, many other 
nonindigenous species already present in U.S. waters, or with the 
potential to invade, may cause significant damage to coastal resources 
and the economies that depend upon them. In response, the Nonindigenous 
Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 4701 et 
seq.) and the National Invasive Species Act of 1996 (16 U.S.C. 4711-
4714) established a framework for the Nation to address the problems of 
aquatic nuisance species invasions of coastal and Great Lakes 
ecosytems.
    In addition, the Acts recognized the serious threat posed by 
ballast water discharge in causing new invasions and called for ballast 
water management demonstration programs. A 1996 National Research 
Council study of the ballast water problem, ``Stemming the Tide,'' 
concluded that with the growth of global shipping, and the changes 
modern shipping practices, introductions of nonindigenous species 
through ballast water discharge were likely to remain a serious 
problem. The study called for the development of improved technology 
for the management of ballast water to eliminate this threat to the 
Nation's ecosystems. A demonstration project testing filtration of 
ballast water as a method of reducing introductions has been carried 
out in the Great Lakes, but the possibility that there will be a single 
solution that is acceptable for all modes of shipping operations and 
classes of vessels is unlikely.
    In addition, vessels that declare No Ballast On Board (NOBOB) may 
still pose a potential risk for introducing nonindigenous species by 
reballasting into tanks containing residual ballast (including 
sediments) and subsequently discharging this mixture into the receiving 
waters. Although the concern has been most strongly expressed with 
respect to the Great Lakes, residual water and sediment also represent 
a potential problem in other regions of the country.
    In addition to the potential for introductions of nonindigenous 
species from large ships, small recreational boats are a major vector 
of movement of some invasive species. For example, recreational boating 
has been identified as a major cause of the movement of zebra mussels 
from larger bodies of water, such as the Great Lakes and Lake 
Champlain, to smaller inland lakes. Outreach and educational activities 
targeting the recreational boating community appear to be the most 
effective means of addressing this problem.

Funding Availability and Priorities

(1) Ballast Water Treatment and Management
    The National Sea Grant College Program of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the Department of Commerce (DOC) 
and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of the 
Interior (DOI) encourage proposals that address one of the following 
three program areas:
    (a) Research to develop workable and effective methods to eliminate 
nonindigenous species introductions from ballast water without imposing 
undue hardships on the shipping industry. Possible approaches include 
(but are not limited to) development and/or demonstration of ship-board 
or on-shore technologies for treatment or management of ballast water. 
Projects that include on-vessel demonstrations of feasibility will be 
given priority.
    (b) Research and/or synthesis of existing information and 
measurement to develop a set of ballast water effluent standards and/or 
test methods that can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of ballast 
water exchange and other technologies or treatments that may be 
developed, such that by meeting such a standard, any ballast water 
pumped into the environment would not pose an unacceptable risk of 
introduction on nonindigenous species to the receiving waters.
    (c) Research and/or synthesis of information and measurements to 
determine the risk of the introduction of nonindigenous species to the 
receiving waters from vessels carrying residual ballast (also known as 
vessels declaring No Ballast On Board, or NOBOB). Research should 
include consideration of vessels that have reballasted into tanks 
containing residual ballast and subsequently discharged this mixture 
into the receiving waters. Studies that examine the risk of 
introductions by NOBOBs, through analyses of shipping patterns and 
biological components, would be useful in developing preventative 
technology and practices. An approach that compared NOBOB patterns and 
risks of the Great Lakes and Chesapeake Bay would be very useful, as 
the Chesapeake could serve as a model for other U.S. coastal port 
systems.
    The National Sea Grant College Program will support only those 
ballast water projects that clearly target ballast water management 
issues in the Chesapeake Bay and/or the Great Lakes, but investigators 
located outside those regions may participate if all demonstrations are 
carried out in the targeted regions. About $700,000 is available from 
Sea Grant to support these activities in FY 2000. The Federal funding 
requested for individual projects may not exceed $350,000; matching 
funds may also be included, but are not required. Proposals are limited 
to one year of funding, but activities may extend for up to two years; 
an annual report showing satisfactory progress must be submitted at the 
end of the first year. Project activities should include identified 
milestones for each project year. Regardless of any approved indirect 
cost rate applicable to the award, the maximum dollar amount of 
allocable indirect costs for which the Department of Commerce will 
reimburse the recipient shall be the lesser of: (a) The Federal share 
of the total allocable indirect costs of the award based on the 
negotiated rate with the cognizant Federal agency as established by 
audit or negotiation; or (b) the line item amount for the Federal share 
of indirect costs contained in the approved budget of the award.
    The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will support projects that 
address ballast water management issues anywhere in coastal waters of 
the United States. About $300,000 is available to support these 
activities in FY 2000. The Federal funding requested for individual 
projects may not exceed $150,000; matching funds may also be included, 
but are not required. The indirect cost rate may not exceed 15 percent 
of direct costs. Proposals are limited to one year of funding, but 
activities may extend for up to two years; an annual report showing 
satisfactory progress must be submitted at the end of the first year. 
Project activities should include identified milestones for each 
project year.
(2) Small Boat Transport of Zebra Mussels and Other Aquatic Nuisance 
Species From Lake Champlain
    The National Sea Grant College Program encourages proposals that 
address the following program area:
    (a) Outreach and education to prevent the spread of aquatic 
nuisance species from Lake Champlain to nearby waters. Project 
activities should be consistent with the Recreational Activities 
Guidelines developed by the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force 
[Federal Register, April 13, 2000, Volume 65, Number 72, Pages 19953-
19957].
    About $40,000 is available from Sea Grant to support the ``Small 
Boat Transport'' program area in FY 2000; matching funds may also be 
included,

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but are not required. Proposals are limited to one year of funding, but 
activities may extend for up to two years; an annual report showing 
satisfactory progress must be submitted at the end of the first year. 
Project activities should include identified milestones for each 
project year. Regardless of any approved indirect cost rate applicable 
to the award, the maximum dollar amount of allocable indirect costs for 
which the Department of Commerce will reimburse the recipient shall be 
the lesser of: (a) The Federal share of the total allocable indirect 
costs of the award based on the negotiated rate with the cognizant 
Federal agency as established by audit or negotiation; or (b) the line 
item amount for the Federal share of indirect costs contained in the 
approved budget of the award.

III. Eligibility

    Any person may apply for funding in response to this announcement. 
Applications from non-Federal and eligible Federal applicants will be 
competed against each other. Proposals selected for funding from non-
Federal applicants will be funded through a project grant or 
cooperative agreement under the terms of this notice. Federal agencies 
will be funded through an inter-agency transfer.

    Please Note: A Federal applicant will be considered eligible 
only if it can demonstrate that it has legal authority to receive 
funds from another federal agency in excess of its appropriation. 
The Economy Act (31 U.S.C. 1535) will not be considered as legal 
authority to transfer funds since awards issued under this 
announcement will not constitute a purchase of goods or services by 
DOC or DOI.

IV. Evaluation Criteria

    The evaluation criteria for proposals submitted for support under 
this announcement are as follows:
    (1) Impact of Proposed Project (65%): The effect this activity will 
have on reducing the impact of invasive species on the environment and/
or the economy, or the need for this activity as a necessary step 
toward such a reduction in impact; inclusion of field-scale 
demonstration for projects proposing to develop ballast water treatment 
technologies or practices; and the degree to which potential users of 
the results of the proposed activity have been involved in planning the 
activity and will be involved in the execution of the activity as 
appropriate.
    (2) Scientific or Professional Merit (35%): Degree to which the 
activity will advance the state of the science or discipline through 
synthesis of existing information and use and extension of cutting edge 
as well as state-of-the-art methods; degree to which new approaches to 
solving problems and exploiting opportunities in resource management or 
development, or in public outreach on such issues will be employed; 
degree to which investigators are qualified by education, training and/
or experience to execute the proposed activity; and record of 
achievement with previous funding.

 V. Selection Procedures

    Proposals will be subjected to peer review and ranked in accordance 
with the assigned weights of the above evaluation criteria by an 
independent panel consisting of government, academic, and industry 
experts. Panel members will provide individual evaluations on each 
proposal, but there will be no consensus advice. Their recommendations 
and evaluations will be considered by the Federal Program Officers for 
Sea Grant and the Service who will: (a) Ascertain which proposals best 
meet the program priorities, as described in Section II under Funding 
Availability and Priorities, giving consideration to geographic 
distribution and representation, maintaining a balanced program of 
research, and not substantially duplicating other projects that are 
currently funded or are approved for funding by NOAA, DOI, and other 
State and Federal agencies (hence, awards may not necessarily be made 
to the highest-scored proposal); (b) select the proposals to be funded; 
(c) determine which components of the selected projects will be funded; 
(d) determine the total duration of funding for each proposal; and (e) 
determine the amount of funds available for each proposal.
    Investigators may be asked to modify objectives, work plans, or 
budgets prior to final approval of the award. Subsequent grant 
administration procedures will be in accordance with current DOC or DOI 
grants procedures. A summary statement of the scientific review by the 
peer panel will be provided to each applicant.

VI. Instructions for Application

Timetable

    June 19, 2000, 5 p.m. EST--Full proposals due at NSGO.
    July 15, 2000 (approximate)--Successful applicants notified.
    October 1, 2000 (approximate)--Funds awarded to successful 
applicants; projects begin.

General Guidelines

    The ideal proposal attacks a well-defined problem that will be or 
is a significant societal issue. The organization or people whose task 
it will be to make related decisions, or who will be able to make 
specific use of the project's results, will have been identified and 
contacted by the Principal Investigator(s). The project will show an 
understanding of what constitutes necessary and sufficient information 
for responsible decision-making or for applied use, and will show how 
that information will be provided by the proposed activity, or in 
concert with other planned activities.
    Research projects are expected to have: A rigorous, hypothesis-
based scientific work plan, or a well-defined, logical approach to 
address an engineering problem; a strong rationale for the proposed 
research; and a clear and established relationship with the ultimate 
users of the information. Their contribution to the research may be in 
the form of collaboration, in-kind services, or dollar support. 
Projects that are solely monitoring efforts are not appropriate for 
funding.

What To Submit

    Each proposal must include the first seven items listed below; the 
standard forms included as Item 8 will be required only for proposals 
selected for funding. All pages should be single- or double-spaced, 
typewritten in at least a 10-point font, printed on metric A4 (210 mm x 
297 mm) or 8.5" x 11" paper. Brevity will assist reviewers and program 
staff in dealing effectively with proposals. Therefore, the Project 
Description may not exceed 15 pages. Tables and visual materials, 
including figures, charts, graphs, maps, photographs, and other 
pictorial presentations, are included in the 15-page limitation for the 
Project Description; letters of support, if any, are not included in 
the 15-page limitation. Conformance to the 15-page limitation will be 
strictly enforced. All information needed for review of the proposal 
should be included in the main text; no appendices, other than support 
letters, if any, are permitted. Failure to adhere to the above 
limitations will result in the proposal being rejected without review.
    (1) Signed Title Page: The title page should be signed by the 
Principal Investigator and the institutional representative. The 
Principal Investigators and collaborators and the institutional 
representative should be identified by affiliation and contact 
information. The total amount of

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Federal funds being requested should be listed for each budget period; 
for projects involving multiple institutions, the total should include 
all subrecipient budgets.
    (2) Project Summary: This information is very important. Prior to 
attending the peer review panel meetings, some of the panelists may 
read only the project summary. Therefore, it is critical that the 
project summary accurately describes the research being proposed and 
conveys all essential elements of the research. Applicants are 
encouraged to use the Sea Grant Project Summary Form 90-2, but may use 
their own form as long as it provides the following information:
    1. Title: Use the exact title as it appears in the rest of the 
application.
    2. Investigators: List the names and affiliations of each 
investigator who will significantly contribute to the project. Start 
with the Principal Investigator.
    3. Funding: Funding request for each year of the project, including 
matching funds if appropriate.
    4. Project Period: Start and competition dates. Proposals should 
request a start date of September 1, 2000, or later.
    5. Project Summary: This should be a brief statement of the 
rationale for the project, the scientific or technical objectives and/
or hypotheses to be tested, and a summary of work to be completed.
(3) Project Description (15-Page Limit)
    (a) Introduction/Background/Justification: Subjects that the 
investigator(s) may wish to include in this section are: (i) current 
state of knowledge; (ii) contributions that the study will make to the 
particular discipline or subject area; (iii) contributions and impacts 
the study will make toward reducing the problem of aquatic invasive 
species; and (iv) as appropriate, contributions of investigator's 
previously funded research results to current proposal.
    (b) Research or Technical Plan: (i) Objectives to be achieved, 
hypotheses to be tested; (ii) plan of work--discuss how stated project 
objectives will be achieved; and (iii) role of project personnel.
    (c) Output: Describe the project outputs and impacts that will 
enhance the Nations's ability to reduce the impacts of aquatic invasive 
species.
    (d) Coordination with other Program Elements: Describe any 
coordination with other agency programs or ongoing research efforts. 
Describe any other proposals that are essential to the success of this 
proposal.
    (e) Vessel Selection (if appropriate): Applications proposing on-
board demonstrations of ballast water management should address the 
requirements and priorities listed in the National Invasive Species Act 
of 1996 (16 U.S.C. 4711-4714) for selecting vessels for demonstration 
projects. These requirements are available through the Sea Grant web 
site (www.mdsg.umd.edu/NSGO/research/nonindigenous/RFPOO.html) or from 
Dr. Leon Cammen at the National Sea Grant Office (phone: 301-713-2435 
x136 or e-mail: [email protected]).
(4) Literature Cited
    (5) Budget and Budget Justification: There should be a separate 
budget for each year of the project as well as a cumulative annual 
budget for the entire project. Applicants are encouraged to use the Sea 
Grant Budget Form 90-4, but may use their own form as long as it 
provides the same information as the Sea Grant form. Subcontracts 
should have a separate budget page. Matching funds must be indicated if 
provided. Applicants should provide justification for all budget items 
in sufficient detail to enable the reviewers to evaluate the 
appropriateness of the funding requested. For those applications to be 
supported by the Service, the indirect cost rate may not exceed 15 
percent of direct costs. For those applications to be supported by Sea 
Grant, regardless of any approved indirect cost rate applicable to the 
award, the maximum dollar amount of allocable indirect costs for which 
the Department of Commerce will reimburse the Recipient shall be the 
lesser of: (a) The Federal share of the total allocable indirect costs 
of the award based on the negotiated rate with the cognizant Federal 
agency as established by audit or negotiation; or (b) the line item 
amount for the Federal share of indirect costs contained in the 
approved budget of the award.
    (6) Current and Pending Support: Applicants must provide 
information on all current and pending support for ongoing projects and 
proposals, including subsequent funding in the case of continuing 
grants. All current project support from whatever source (e.g., 
Federal, State, or local government agencies, private foundations, 
industrial or other commercial organizations) must be listed. The 
proposed project and all other projects or activities requiring a 
portion of time of the Principal Investigator and other senior 
personnel must be included, even if they receive no Federal salary 
support from the project(s). The number of person-months per year to be 
devoted to the projects must be stated, regardless of source of 
support. Similar information must be provided for all proposals already 
submitted or submitted concurrently to other possible sponsors, 
including those within the Departments of Commerce and the Interior.
    (7) Vitae (2 pages maximum per investigator).
    (8) Standard Application Forms: These forms will be required only 
for those proposals selected for funding following the review process. 
Applicants may obtain all required application forms through the Sea 
Grant web site: (http://www.nsgo.seagrant. org/research/rfp/index. 
html#3) or from Dr. Leon M. Cammen at the National Sea Grant Office 
(phone: 301-713-2435 x136 or e-mail: [email protected]).
    (a) Standard Forms 424, Application for Federal Assistance, and 
424B, Assurances--Non-Construction Programs, (Rev 4-88). Please note 
that both the Principal Investigator and an administrative contact 
should be identified in Section 5 of the SF424. For Section 10, 
applicants should enter either ``11.417'' for the CFDA Number and ``Sea 
Grant Support'' for the title or ``15.FFA'' for the CFDA Number and 
``Fish and Wildlife Management Assistance'' for the title depending on 
the agency that will be supporting the project. The form must contain 
the original signature of an authorized representative of the applying 
institution.
    (b) Primary Applicant Certifications. 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:
    (i) Non-Procurement Debarment and Suspension. Prospective 
participants (as defined at 15 CFR part 26, Section 105) are subject to 
15 CFR part 26, ``Non-Procurement Debarment and Suspension'' and the 
related section of the certification form prescribed above applies;
    (ii) Drug-Free Workplace. Grantees (as defined at 15 CFR part 26, 
Section 605) are subject to 15 CFR part 26, Subpart F, ``Government-
wide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Grants)'' and the related 
section of the certification form prescribed above applies;
    (iii) Anti-Lobbying. 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

[[Page 31884]]

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
    (iv) Anti-Lobbying Disclosures. 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.
    (c) Lower Tier Certifications. 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.

VII. How To Submit

    Proposals must be submitted to the National Sea Grant Office 
according to the schedule outlined above. Although investigators are 
not required to submit more than 3 copies of each proposal, the normal 
review process requires 10 copies. Investigators are encouraged to 
submit sufficient copies for the full review process, if it does not 
cause a financial hardship, if they wish all reviewers to receive 
color, unusually sized (not 8.5" x 11"), or otherwise unusual materials 
submitted as part of the proposal. Only three copies of the Federally 
required forms are needed. Proposals should be addressed to: National 
Sea Grant Office, R/SG, Attn.: Mrs. Geraldine Taylor, Invasive Species 
Competition, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 11806, Silver Spring, MD 
20910 (phone number for express mail applications is 301-713-2435).
    Applications received after the deadline and applications that 
deviate from the format described above or exceed the budget 
limitations will be returned to the sender without review. Facsimile 
transmissions and electronic mail submission of proposals will not be 
accepted.

VIII. Other Requirements

    (1) Federal Policies and Procedures--Recipients and subrecipients 
are subject to all Federal laws and Federal, DOC, and DOI policies, 
regulations, and procedures applicable to Federal financial assistance 
awards.
    (2) Past Performance--Unsatisfactory performance under prior 
Federal awards may result in an application not being considered for 
funding.
    (3) Pre-Award Activities--If applicants 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 or DOI to cover pre-award costs.
    (4) No Obligation for Future Funding--If an application is selected 
for funding, DOC and DOI have no obligation to provide any additional 
future funding in connection with that award. Renewal of an award to 
increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the total 
discretion of DOC or DOI.
    (5) Delinquent Federal Debts--No award of Federal funds shall be 
made to an applicant who has an outstanding delinquent Federal debt 
until either:
    (a) The delinquent account is paid in full,
    (b) A negotiated repayment schedule is established and at least one 
payment is received, or
    (c) Other arrangements satisfactory to DOC or DOI are made.
    (6) Name Check Review--All non-profit and for-profit applicants are 
subject to a name check review process. Name checks are intended to 
reveal if any key individuals associated with the applicant have been 
convicted of or are presently facing criminal charges such as fraud, 
theft, perjury, or other matters that significantly reflect on the 
applicant's management honesty or financial integrity.
    (7) False Statements--A false statement on an application is 
grounds for denial or termination of funds and grounds for possible 
punishment by a fine or imprisonment as provided in 18 U.S.C. 1001.
    (8) Intergovernmental Review--Applications for support from the 
National Sea Grant College Program are not subject to Executive Order 
12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs''.
    (9) Purchase of American-Made Equipment and Products--Applicants 
are hereby notified that they will be encouraged, to the greatest 
extent practicable, to purchase American-made equipment and products 
with funding provided under this program.
    (10) Pursuant to Executive Orders 12876, 12900, and 13021, DOC/NOAA 
is strongly committed to broadening the participation of Historically 
Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), Hispanic Serving Institutions 
(HSI), and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCU) in its educational 
and research programs. The DOC/NOAA vision, mission, and goals are to 
achieve full participation by Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) in 
order to advance the development of human potential, to strengthen the 
Nation's capacity to provide high-quality education, and to increase 
opportunities for MSIs to participate in and benefit from Federal 
Financial Assistance programs. DOC/NOAA encourages all applicants to 
include meaningful participation of MSIs. Institutions eligible to be 
considered HBCU/MSIs are listed at the following Internet website: 
http://www.ed.gov/offices/OCR/99minin.html.
    (11) For awards receiving funding for the collection or production 
of geospatial data (e.g., GIS data layers), the recipient will comply 
to the maximum extent practicable with E.O. 12906, Coordinating 
Geographic Data Acquisition and Access, The National Spatial Data 
Infrastructure, 59 FR 17671 (April 11, 1994). The award recipient must 
document all new geospatial data collected or produced using the 
standard developed by the Federal Geographic Data Center and make that 
standardized documentation electronically accessible. The standard can 
be found at the following Internet website: (http://www.fgdc.gov/standards/standards/html).

Classification

    Prior notice and an opportunity for public comments are not 
required by the Administrative Procedure Act or any other law for this 
notice concerning grants, benefits, and contracts. Therefore, a 
regulatory flexibility analysis is not required for purposes of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act.
    This action has been determined to be not significant for purposes 
of E.O. 12866.
    This notice contains collection of information requirements subject 
to the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Sea Grant Budget Form, 90-4, Sea 
Grant Summary Form, 90-2, and Standard Forms 424 and 424b have been 
approved under control numbers 0648-0362, 0648-0362, 0348-0043, and 
0348-0040, respectively. Send comments on any aspect of these 
collections to National Sea Grant College Program,   R/SG, NOAA, 1315 
East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (Attention: Francis S. 
Schuler) and to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 20503 (Attention: NOAA 
Desk Officer). Notwithstanding

[[Page 31885]]

any other provision of the law, no person is required to respond to, 
nor shall any person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply 
with, a collection of information subject to the requirements of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act, unless that collection of information displays 
a currently valid OMB Control Number.

    Dated: May 12, 2000.
Louisa Koch,
Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
    Dated: May 10, 2000.
Cathleen Short,
Assistant Director--Fisheries, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 00-12627 Filed 5-18-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-KA-M