[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 45 (Wednesday, March 7, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13728-13729]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-5573]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6949-5]


Notice of Request for 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 Region 4 (Atlanta) is soliciting proposals from state 
water pollution control agencies, interstate agencies, tribes, and 
other public or nonprofit private agencies, institutions and 
organizations interested in applying for Federal assistance for Water 
Quality Cooperative Agreements under the Clean Water Act section 
104(b)(3) in the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, 
Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. EPA Region 4 
will award an estimated $300,000 to eligible applicants through 
assistance agreements ranging in size from $25,000 to $150,000 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. Priority will be given 
to proposals that relate to Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) activities 
which support the development of TMDLs. TMDL support includes the 
rotating basin approach and water quality monitoring.

DATES: EPA Region 4 will consider all proposals postmarked or received 
on or before 5 p.m. Eastern Time April 23, 2001. Proposals received 
after this date will not be accepted.

ADDRESSES: It is preferred that three copies of the proposal be mailed 
through the postal service or other means to: Dorothy Rayfield, Chief, 
Grants & Technical Assistance Section, Water Management Division, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, 61 Forsyth St., SW., Atlanta, Georgia 
30303. Proposals may also be electronically mailed to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dorothy Rayfield by telephone at 404-
562-9278 or by E-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

What is the Purpose of This Request for Proposals?

    EPA Region 4, Water Management Division is requesting proposals 
from state water pollution control agencies, interstate agencies, 
tribes, and other public or nonprofit private agencies, institutions, 
and organizations under the Clean Water Act Section 104(b)(3) for 
unique and innovative projects.
    An organization whose proposal is selected for Federal assistance 
must complete an EPA Application for Assistance, including the SF-424 
form (Application for Federal Assistance, see 40 CFR 30.12 and 31.10).

Has EPA Region 4, Water Management Division Identified High 
Priority Areas for Consideration?

    The Water Management Division, EPA Region 4 has identified project 
areas for priority consideration to the extent they are for proposals 
that are related to Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) activities which 
support the development of TMDLs. TMDL support includes the rotating 
basin approach and water quality monitoring. Further priority will be 
given to projects that are located within watersheds that have the 
following characteristics:
     Monitoring activities that support TMDL development on 
303(d) listed waters.
     Modeling activities that support TMDL development on 
303(d) listed waters.
     Other activities (e.g., watershed characterization, source 
identification, etc.) that support TMDL development on 303(d) listed 
waters
    Additional consideration will be given to proposed projects that 
are consistent with the States's TMDL development schedules, with 
priority given to TMDL development processes, procedures or tools that 
can be transferred to other waters.

Statutory Authority, Applicable Regulations, and Funding Level

    Funding is authorized under the provisions of the Clean Water Act 
section 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 will depend on EPA Region 4's 
appropriation for Fiscal Year 2001; however, it is estimated that 
$300,000 will be available for funding approved projects. Projects may 
range in size from $25,000 to $150,000.

Proposal Format and Contents

    (A) The following format should be used for all proposals.
    Name of Project:
    Applicant 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 its name, funding date, and expected final product with 
the date)
    Proposed Award Amount:
    Proposed Applicant Cost Share: (A 5% match is encouraged)
    Expected Budget: Please include a budget by salary, fringe 
benefits, travel,

[[Page 13729]]

supplies, equipment, contractual and indirect costs and a budget by 
activity, such as water monitoring, modeling, watershed 
characterization, best management practices, etc. Identify all sources 
of funding.
    Project Description: (Should not exceed two (2) pages of single 
spaced text)
    Expected Accomplishments or Products(s) with Dates and Interim 
Milestones: Since eligible activities must be of a relatively short 
time frame with tangible results, the project and budget period should 
not exceed two (2) years.
    Describe How the Project Meets the Evaluation Criteria: EPA will 
consider 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 need
     How well the project is likely to increase water quality 
protection
     How reasonable the expectation of being successful and 
implementable
     Soundness of technical content
     Applicant's financial commitment
     Compliance with direction for submittal contained in this 
notice.

Eligible Applicants

    Eligible applicants for assistance agreements under Section 
104(b)(3) of the Clean Water Act are state water pollution control 
agencies, tribes, interstate agencies, other public or nonprofit 
private agencies, institutions, and organizations. This solicitation is 
limited to applicants within EPA Region 4.

Application Procedure

    Please send three copies of the proposal if it is not 
electronically transmitted. The completed proposals should be limited 
to three pages. Full application packages should not be submitted at 
this time.

Schedule of Activities

    This is the estimated schedule of activities for review of 
proposals and notification of selections:
    Proposals due to EPA by April 23, 2001.
    June 5, 2001--Initial approvals identified and sponsors of projects 
selected for funding will be requested to submit a formal application 
package.

A. Stanley Meiburg,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 4.
[FR Doc. 01-5573 Filed 3-6-01; 8:45 am]
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