[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 215 (Monday, November 6, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66537-66539]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-28017]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6894-9]


Notice of Request for Pre-Proposals for Projects To Be Funded 
From the Water Quality Cooperative Agreement Allocation

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: EPA is soliciting pre-proposals from States, Tribal 
governments, universities, non-profits, and other eligible entities 
interested in applying for Federal assistance for Water Quality 
Cooperative Agreements under the Clean Water Act Section 104(b)(3). EPA 
Headquarters will award an estimated $3.9 million to eligible 
applicants through assistance agreements ranging in size from $10,000 
up to $500,000 for innovative projects/demonstrations/studies that have 
maximum transferability or can be used as models relating to the 
prevention, reduction, and elimination of water pollution. The Agency 
intends to make available at least $200,000 per year of the annual 
appropriation Water Quality Cooperative Agreements, from FY 2001 
through FY 2005, for projects which address cooling water intake issues 
to include technical and environmental studies.

DATES: EPA will consider all pre-proposals received on or before 5 pm 
Eastern Time November 27, 2000. Pre-proposals received after the due 
date, may be reviewed at EPA's discretion.

ADDRESSES: It is preferred that pre-proposals be electronically mailed 
(E-mailed) to [email protected]. If mailed through the postal service or 
other means, three copies should be sent to: Barry Benroth, 4204M, 
WQCA2001, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20460.
    For Overnight Delivery the following address must be used: Barry 
Benroth, 4204M, WQCA2001, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Room 
7324 J, ICC Building, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 
20460.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barry Benroth by telephone at 202-564-
0672 or by E-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

What Is the Purpose of This Request for Pre-Proposals?

    The Office of Wastewater Management, Office of Water at EPA 
Headquarters is requesting pre-proposals from States, Tribes, local 
governments, non-profit organizations and other eligible entities under 
the Clean Water Act Section 104(b)(3) for unique and innovative 
projects that address the requirements of the National Pollutant 
Discharge Elimination Systems (NPDES) program with special emphasis on 
wet weather activities, i.e., storm water, combined sewer overflows, 
sanitary sewer overflows, and concentrated animal feeding operations as 
well as projects that enhance the ability of the regulated community to 
deal with non-traditional pollution problems in priority watersheds.
    An organization whose pre-proposal is selected for Federal 
assistance must complete an EPA Application for Assistance, including 
the Federal SF-

[[Page 66538]]

424 form (Application for Federal Assistance, see 40 CFR 30.12 and 
31.10).

Has Office of Wastewater Management, Office of Water, EPA 
Headquarters Identified High Priority Areas for Consideration?

    The Office of Wastewater Management at EPA Headquarters has 
identified several project areas for priority consideration to the 
extent they are for research, investigations, experiments, training, 
demonstrations, surveys and studies related to the causes, effects, 
extent, prevention, reduction, and elimination of water pollution:

Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations

Alternative markets for excess manure
Voluntary Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans for Animal Feeding
Operations with 300 to 500 animal units

Wet Weather (Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs), Combined Sewer Overflows 
(CSOs), Storm Water)

Water quality-based CSO program (including Use Attainability Analysis)
Integration of CSO, SSO, and storm water requirements
Measuring the effectiveness of storm water Best Management Practices 
(BMPs)
Trends analysis of load reductions due to implementation of storm water 
BMPs
Storm water monitoring techniques
Estimating quantified benefits of enhanced sewer performance (e.g., 
reduced backups)
Quantifying the impacts of sewage overflows
Evaluation of impacts of peak wet weather flows on Publicly Owned 
Treatment Works (POTW)
Capacity, Management, Operations and Maintenance (CMOM) of POTWs
Inflow/Infiltration reduction
Sewer rehabilitation methods

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Programs

Stakeholder watershed approaches
Nutrient trading
Watershed integration of NPDES programs
Innovative Permit Writing Tools

Pretreatment

Performance measures
Facilitation of innovative technology transfer
Pretreatment on the Mexican Border

Environmental Management System (EMS)

Benefits and impacts of EMS
EMS adoption by public agencies
Non-Governmental Organizations participation in EMS projects

Cooling Water Intake Structures (Clean Water Act, Section 316(b))

Innovative technologies that reduce impingement and entrainment of 
aquatic organisms into cooling water intakes
Ecological effects of cooling water intake structures on aquatic 
environments
Effectiveness of ecological restoration activities in reducing the 
impact of cooling water intake structures on the aquatic environment

Infrastructure Funding Related to

Asset Management
Operations and Maintenance (O&M) issues for small communities
Capacity Building for Tribes/Native Villages/Environmental Justice

Biosolids

Demonstrations of regional biosolids approaches
Food crop applications on biosolids and/or reclaimed water 
(assessments, research, demonstrations analyses)

Onsite/Decentralized Systems

State-level adoption of EPA management guidelines
Overcoming institutional, regulatory and funding barriers to 
implementation of decentralized options
Development of tools to assist communities with conducting 
comprehensive, watershed-wide assessments of risks associated with 
decentralized wastewater systems

Water Use Efficiency

EPA may also consider other project areas for funding to the extent 
authorized by CWA sec. 104(b)(3) and to the extent funds are available 
for such project areas.

Statutory Authority, Applicable Regulations, and Funding Level

    Funding is authorized under the provisions of the Clean Water Act 
Sec. 104(b)(3), 33 U.S.C. 1254(b)(3).
    The regulations governing the award and administration of Water 
Quality Cooperative Agreements are 40 CFR Part 30 (for institutions of 
higher learning, hospitals, and other non-profit organizations) and 40 
CFR Part 31 (for States, Tribes, local governments, intertribal 
consortia, and interstate agencies). In addition, EPA expects to 
promulgate final rules in the near future that will include program 
specific regulations for Water Quality Cooperative Agreements to 
States, Tribes, local governments, interstate agencies and intertribal 
consortia. When the rules are finalized, they will be codified at 40 
CFR Part 35 Subparts A and B.
    Total funding available for award by Headquarters will depend on 
EPA's appropriation for Fiscal Year 2001; however, it is estimated that 
$3.9 million will be available for funding approved projects. The 
average size of an award is anticipated to be approximately $100,000.
    Should funding available for award remain reasonably stable or 
increase in future years, the Agency intends to reserve $1 million 
($200,000 per year of the annual amount available) over the next five 
years to support projects and studies on cooling water intake 
structures.

Pre-Proposal Format and Contents

    Pre-proposals should be limited to three pages. Full application 
packages should not be submitted at this time. The following format 
should be used for all pre-proposals:
    Name of Project:
    Point of Contact: (Individual and Organization Name, Address, Phone 
Number, Fax Number, E-mail Address)
    Is this a Continuation of a Previously Funded Project (if so, 
please provide the status of the current grant or cooperative 
agreement):
    Proposed Award Amount:
    Proposed Awardee Cost Share: (Cost sharing is not required)
    Description of General Budget Proposed to Support Project:
    Project Description: (Should not exceed two pages of single-spaced 
text)
    Expected Accomplishments or Product, with Dates, and Interim 
Milestones: This section should also include a discussion of a 
communication plan for distributing the project results to interested 
parties.
    Describe How the Project Meets the Evaluation Criteria Specified 
Below: 

EPA Pre-Proposal Evaluation Criteria

    EPA will consider pre-proposals based on the following criteria:
     The relationship of the proposed project to the priorities 
identified in this notice.
     How well the project proposes to address a nationally 
important need, issue, or interest.
     Communication plan to transfer results of the project to 
other potentially interested parties.
     How well the project furthers the goal of the Clean Water 
Act to prevent, reduce, and eliminate water pollution.
     Leverage of other resources (e.g. cost share, 
participation by other

[[Page 66539]]

organizations) as part of the proposed approach.
     Cost effectiveness of the proposal.
     Compliance with directions for submittal contained in this 
notice.
    EPA may consider applications even if all criteria are not fully 
met, provided the proposed projects meet the applicable statutory and 
regulatory requirements and funds are available for such projects.

Eligible Applicants

    Eligible applicants for assistance agreements under section 
104(b)(3) of the Clean Water Act are State water pollution control 
agencies, Tribal governments, interstate agencies, and other public or 
non-profit private agencies, institutions, and organizations.

Application Procedure

    Electronic transmittal of pre-proposals is preferred to facilitate 
the review process. Hard copies are acceptable. Please send three 
copies of the pre-proposal if it is not electronically transmitted.

Schedule of Activities

    This is the estimated schedule of activities for review of 
proposals and notification of selections:
    November 27, 2000--Pre-proposals due to EPA.
    December 18, 2000--Initial approvals identified and sponsors of 
projects selected for funding will be requested to submit a formal 
application package.

    Dated: October 26, 2000.
Michael B. Cook,
Director, Office of Wastewater Management.
[FR Doc. 00-28017 Filed 11-3-00; 8:45 am]
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