[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 223 (Friday, November 17, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69513-69514]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-29503]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6903-5]


Request for Applications, Ecology and Oceanography of Harmful 
Algal Blooms Program

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notification of financial assistance for project assistance.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to advise the public that the 
participating agencies are soliciting research proposals of up to 3 
years duration, and depending on appropriations up to 5 years for 
multidisciplinary regional studies, for the Ecology and Oceanography of 
Harmful Algal Blooms (ECOHAB) program. This program provides support 
for research on algal species whose populations may cause or result in 
deleterious effects on ecosystems and human health. Studies of the 
causes of such blooms, their detection, effects, mitigation, and 
control in U.S. coastal waters, are solicited. This document details 
the requirements for applications for research support that will be 
considered by the Federal research partnership.

DATES: The deadline for proposals is January 31, 2001, by 3:00 PM, EST.

ADDRESSES: Submit the original and twenty copies of your proposal to 
Coastal Ocean Program Office, N/SCI2, SSMC#3, 9th Floor, Room 9752, 
1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. The required forms for 
applications with instructions are accessible on the Internet at http://es.epa.gov/ncerqa/rfa/forms/downlf.html. Forms may be printed from 
this site.
    The complete announcement program can be accessed on the Internet 
at http://www.epa.gov/ncerqa, under ``announcements.''

AWARDS: Final selection of awardees by the participating agencies will 
be determined on the basis of peer and panel recommendations, 
applicability of the proposed effort to the interests and objectives of 
an agency, and the availability of funds. It is anticipated that each 
award will be made through and be administered by a single agency; 
however, several agencies may participate in providing assistance to 
individual components of multi-institutional projects. Applicants 
recommended for funding may be requested to resubmit their proposals 
and modify their budgets and/or work plans to comply with special 
requirements of the particular agency supporting their awards. Awards 
will be subject to the terms and conditions of the sponsoring agency.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Technical Information: Dr. Kevin 
Sellner, ECOHAB Coordinator, COP Office, 301-713-3338/ext 127, EMail: 
[email protected]. Administrative Information: Dr. Robert E. 
Menzer, EPA/NCER, (202) 564-6849, EMail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Program Goals and Topic Areas

    The National Center for Environmental Research/Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA); the Coastal Ocean Program, and the Office of 
Protected Resources, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
(NOAA)/Department of Commerce; the Directorate for Geosciences, 
Division of Ocean Sciences/National Science Foundation (NSF); the 
Office of Naval Research (ONR)/Department of Defense; and the Office of 
Earth Science/National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) are 
cooperating in an opportunity for investigators to propose activities 
to address three primary areas in the national problem of HABs. For the 
first area, proposals are sought for individual studies or small 
interdisciplinary efforts that address gaps in general knowledge 
related to the nature of HAB phenomena. These studies should address 
fundamental ecological and oceanographic questions related to HABs. The 
second area of interest is the prevention, control, and mitigation of 
HABs and their impacts. The purpose of this area is to encourage 
research into key questions on the underlying mechanisms involved with 
HABs and their control and accompanying ecosystem impact, without 
necessarily being limited to particular study regions. The third

[[Page 69514]]

research area is to characterize the impact of acute and chronic 
exposure to HAB species or toxins on marine mammals, birds, and other 
protected species.

Eligibility

    Academic and not-for-profit institutions located in the U.S., and 
state or local governments, are eligible under all existing 
authorizations. Some participating agencies are authorized to make 
awards to profit-making firms and international institutions. NOAA and 
other permitted Federal partnering agencies may fund investigators from 
Federal laboratories that successfully compete through the ECOHAB 
Program announcement, but salaries of full time Federal employees will 
be in accord with individual agency policies. Federal investigators 
will be required to submit certifications or documentation which 
clearly show that they have specific legal authority to receive funds 
from another Federal agency in excess of their appropriations. 
Applications from non-Federal and Federal applicants will be competed 
against each other. Proposals from Federal researchers deemed 
acceptable and selected for funding will be funded through a medium 
other than a grant or cooperative agreement, where legal authority 
exists for such funding. In order for projects to be eligible for 
support by NOAA Sea Grant, the projects must include non-Federal 
matching funds equivalent to 50% of the total Federal funds requested.

How To Apply

    The original and twenty (20) copies of the fully developed 
application (21 in all) and one (1) additional copy of the abstract, 
prepared in accordance with the instructions in the full announcement, 
must be received by NOAA no later than 3:00 P.M. Eastern Time on the 
closing date, January 31, 2001.

    Program Authorities. For COP: 33 U.S.C. 883d and P.L. 105-383; 
for the Office of Protected Resources/NOAA: 16 U.S.C. 1382 and 16 
U.S.C. 1421a; EPA: 33 U.S.C 1251 et. seq. and 40 CFR parts 30 and 
40; for NSF: 42 U.S.C. 1861 et. seq.; for ONR: 10 U.S.C 2358 as 
amended and 31 U.S.C 6304; and for NASA: 14 CFR part 1260.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Numbers. 11.478 for the 
Coastal Ocean Program; 11.472 for NOAA/Office of Protected 
Resources; 66.500 for the Environmental Protection Agency; 47.050 
for the National Science Foundation, and 12.300 for the Office of 
Naval Research.

    Dated: October 31, 2000.
Approved for publication.
Norine E. Noonan,
Assistant Administrator for Research and Development, USEPA.
[FR Doc. 00-29503 Filed 11-16-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P