[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 58 (Monday, March 26, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16476-16478]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-7347]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

[Program Announcement 01041]


Exposure to Tremolite Asbestos in Vermiculite Ore Site-Specific 
Health Activities; Notice of Availability of Funds

A. Purpose

    The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) 
announces the availability of fiscal year (FY) 2001 funds for a 
cooperative agreement program to conduct site-specific health 
activities related to human exposure to contaminated vermiculite ore at 
sites around the United States that received and/or processed ore from 
the mine in Libby, Montana.
    This program addresses the ``Healthy People 2010'' focus area of 
Environmental Health. The purpose of the program is to assist public 
health agencies in conducting site-specific health activities related 
to human exposure to contaminated vermiculite ore at sites identified 
by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as receiving and/or 
processing ore.

B. Eligible Applicants

    Assistance will be provided only to public health agencies of 
States or their bona fide agents or instrumentalities. State 
organizations, including State universities, must establish that they 
meet their respective State legislature's definition of a State entity 
or political subdivision to be considered an eligible applicant.

    Note: Public Law 104-65 states that an organization described in 
section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that engages 
in lobbying activities is not eligible to receive Federal funds 
constituting an award, grant, cooperative agreement, contract, loan, 
or any other form.

C. Availability of Funds

    Approximately $1,000,000 is available in FY 2001 to fund 
approximately 10 awards. It is expected that the average award will 
range from a maximum of $10,000 for the conduct of health statistics 
reviews to a maximum of $500,000 for epidemiologic investigations. It 
is expected that the awards will begin on or about either July 1, 2001 
and will be made for a 12-month budget period within a project period 
of up to 3 years. Funding estimates may change.
    Continuation awards within an approved project period will be made 
on the basis of satisfactory progress as evidenced by required reports 
and the availability of funds.

Use of Funds

    Funds may be expended for reasonable program purposes, such as 
personnel, travel, supplies, and services. Funds for contractual 
services may be requested; however, the grantee, as the direct and 
primary recipient of PHS grant funds, must perform a substantive role 
in carrying out project activities and not merely serve as a conduit 
for an award to another party or provide funds to an ineligible party. 
Funds may not be used to purchase equipment.

D. Program Requirements

    In conducting activities to achieve the purpose of this program, 
the recipient will be responsible for activities under 1. Recipient 
Activities, and ATSDR will be responsible for the activities listed 
under 2. ATSDR Activities.

1. Recipient Activities

    a. For health statistics reviews: Analyze existing health outcome 
data of select asbestos-related diseases. Mortality data will be the 
most readily available data for asbestos-related diseases such as 
mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis, although cancer registry 
data should be utilized where available.
    b. For epidemiologic investigations: Develop a protocol and conduct 
the recommended investigation. This protocol will undergo scientific 
peer review as required by ATSDR.
    c. Provide proof by citing a State code or regulation or other 
State pronouncement under authority of law, that medical information 
obtained pursuant to the agreement will be protected from disclosure 
when the consent of the individual to release identifying information 
is not obtained.
    d. Develop a mechanism for ongoing interaction with, and education 
of affected community.

2. ATSDR Activities

    a. For the health statistics review: Make available to states both 
technical assistance and a standard protocol to use to analyze existing 
health outcome data of select asbestos-related diseases.
    b. For epidemiologic investigations: Provide consultation and 
assist in monitoring the data; participate if requested in the study 
analysis and collaborate, if requested, in interpreting the study 
findings.
    c. Conduct technical and peer review.

E. Application Content

    In a narrative form, the application should include a discussion of 
areas under the ``Evaluation Criteria'' section of this announcement as 
they relate to the proposed program. These criteria serve as the basis 
for evaluating the application; therefore, omissions or incomplete 
information may affect the rating of the application. This program does 
not require in-kind support or matching funds, however, the applicant 
should describe any in-kind support in the application.
    The narrative should be no more than 30 pages, double-spaced, 
printed on one-side, with 1" margins, and

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unreduced fonts (font size 12 point) on 8\1/2\" by 11" paper. The pages 
must be clearly numbered, and a complete index to the application and 
its appendices must be included. The original and two copies of the 
application must be submitted unstapled and unbound.

F. Submission and Deadline

Application

    Submit the original and two copies of PHS 5161-1 (OMB Number 0937-
0189). Forms are available at the following Internet address: 
www.cdc.gov/. . . Forms, or in the application kit. The proposed 
timetable for receiving new applications and making awards is shown 
below:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Submission deadlines                      Review dates                        Award dates
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May 1, 2001.............................  June 1, 2001...................  July 1, 2001.
August 1, 2001..........................  September 1, 2001..............  September 30, 2001.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    On or before above dates, submit the application to the Grants 
Management Specialist identified in the ``Where to Obtain Additional 
Information'' section of this announcement.
    Deadline: Applications shall be considered as meeting the deadline 
if they are either:
    (1) Received on or before the deadline date; or
    (2) Sent on or before the deadline date and received in time for 
submission to the independent review group.

(Applicants must request a legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark 
or obtain a legibly dated receipt from a commercial carrier or U.S. 
Postal Service. Private metered postmarks shall not be acceptable as 
proof of timely mailing.)

    Late Applications: Applications which do not meet the criteria in 
(1) or (2) above are considered late applications, will not be 
considered, and will be returned to the applicant.

G. Evaluation Criteria

    Each application will be evaluated individually against the 
following criteria by an independent review group appointed by ATSDR.

1. Proposed Program (50 Percent)

    The extent to which the application addresses (a) the approach, 
feasibility, adequacy, and rationale of the proposed project design; 
(b) the technical merit of the proposed project, including the degree 
to which the project can be expected to yield results that meet the 
program objective as described in the Background (attachment II) 
sections of this announcement and the technical merit of the methods 
and procedures (including quality assurance and quality control 
procedures) for the proposed project; (c) the proposed project 
timeline, including clearly established project objectives for which 
progress toward attainment can and will be measured; (d) the proposed 
community involvement strategy; (e) the proposed method to disseminate 
the results to State and local public health officials, community 
residents, and other concerned individuals and organizations; and (f) 
the degree to which the applicant has met the CDC Policy requirements 
regarding the inclusion of women, ethnic, and racial groups in the 
proposed research. This includes the proposed plan for the inclusion of 
both sexes and racial and ethnic minority populations for appropriate 
representation.

2. Program Personnel (30 Percent)

    The extent to which the application has described (a) the 
qualifications, experience, and commitment of the principal 
investigator (or project director) and his/her ability to devote 
adequate time and effort to provide effective leadership; and (b) the 
competence of associates to accomplish the proposed activity, their 
commitment, and the time they will devote.

3. Applicant Capability and Coordination Efforts (20 Percent)

    The extent to which the application has described (a) the 
capability of the applicant's administrative structure to foster 
successful scientific and administrative management of a study; (b) the 
capability of the applicant to demonstrate an appropriate plan for 
interaction with the community; (c) the suitability of facilities and 
(d) equipment available or to be purchased for the project.

4. Program Budget--(Not Scored)

    The extent to which the budget is reasonable, clearly justified, 
and consistent with intended use of cooperative agreement/grant funds.

5. Human Subjects (Not Scored)

    Does the application adequately address the requirements of Title 
45 CFR Part 46 for the protection of human subjects?

H. Other Requirements

Technical Reporting Requirements

    Provide CDC and ATSDR with original plus two copies of--
    1. Annual progress reports;
    2. Financial status report, no more than 90 days after the end of 
the budget period; and
    3. final financial and performance reports, no more than 90 days 
after the end of the project period.
    Send all reports to the Grants Management Specialist identified in 
the ``Where to Obtain Additional Information'' section of this 
announcement.
    The following additional requirements are applicable to this 
program. For a complete description of each, see Attachment I in the 
application kit.

AR-1  Human Subjects Requirements
AR-2  Requirements for Inclusion of Women and Racial and Ethnic 
Minorities in Research
AR-7  Executive Order 12372 Review
AR-9  Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements
AR-10  Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements
AR-11  Healthy People 2010
AR-12  Lobbying Restrictions
AR-17  Peer and Technical Reviews of Final Reports of Health Studies--
ATSDR
AR-18  Cost Recovery--ATSDR
AR-19  Third Party Agreements--ATSDR

I. Authority and Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number

    This program is authorized under section 104 (i)(1)(E), (7), (14) 
and (15) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and 
Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980 as amended by the Superfund Amendments 
and Reauthorization Act (SARA) of 1986 [42 U.S.C. 9604 
(i)(1)(E)(6),(7),(14), and (15)]. The Catalog of Federal Domestic 
Assistance number is 93.161.

J. Where To Obtain Additional Information

    A complete copy of the announcement may be downloaded from CDC's 
home page on the Internet at: http://www.cdc.gov. Click on ``Funding'' 
then ``Grants and Cooperative Agreements.'' To receive

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additional written information and to request an application kit, call 
1-888-GRANTS4 (1-888-472-6874). You will be asked to leave your name 
and address and will be instructed to identify the Announcement number 
of interest.
    If you have questions after reviewing the contents of all the 
documents, business management technical assistance may be obtained 
from: Nelda Y. Godfrey, Grants Management Specialist, Grants Management 
Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention, Room 3000, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146, 
Telephone number (770) 488-2722, E-mail address [email protected].
    For program technical assistance, contact:

Sharon Campolucci, RN, MSN, Deputy Director, Division of Health 
Studies, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Executive 
Park, Building 4, Suite 2300, Atlanta, GA 30305, Telephone (404) 639-
6200, E-mail Address [email protected].
        or
Maggie Warren, Funding Resource Specialist, Division of Health Studies, 
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 1600 Clifton Rd., 
NE., Mail Stop E-31, Atlanta, GA 30333, Telephone (404) 639-5114, E-
mail Address [email protected].

    Dated: March 20, 2001.
Georgi Jones,
Director, Office of Policy and External Affairs, Agency for Toxic 
Substances and Disease Registry.
[FR Doc. 01-7347 Filed 3-23-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-70-P