[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 23 (Monday, February 4, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5119-5121]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-2608]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7137-2]


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 6 is soliciting proposals from State water 
pollution control agencies, interstate agencies, other public or 
nonprofit agencies, institutions, organizations, and other entities as 
defined by the Clean Water Act (CWA) interested in applying for Federal 
assistance for Water Quality Cooperative Agreements under the CWA 
Section 104(b)(3) in the states of Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, 
Oklahoma and Texas. Region 6 EPA will award an estimated $1 million to 
eligible applicants through assistance agreements ranging in size from 
$50,000

[[Page 5120]]

up to $200,000 for innovative projects/demonstrations/studies that can 
be used as models relating to the prevention, reduction, and 
elimination of water pollution. A Request for Proposals for Tribal 
governments will be issued under a separate notice.

DATES: EPA will consider all proposals received on or before 5 p.m. 
Central Standard Time March 21, 2002. Proposals received after the due 
date will not be considered for funding.

ADDRESSES: Proposals can be submitted either electronically via e-mail 
or mailed through the postal service or other means. If e-mailed, 
proposals should be sent to [email protected]. If mailed, 
proposals should be sent to: Terry Mendiola (6WQ-AT), U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, 
Texas 75202-2733. Overnight Delivery may be sent to the same address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Terry Mendiola by telephone at 214-
665-7144 or by e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

What Is the Purpose of This Request for Proposals?

    EPA Region 6's Water Quality Protection Division is requesting 
proposals from State water pollution control agencies, interstate 
agencies, other public or nonprofit agencies, institutions, 
organizations, and other entities as defined by the CWA 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, 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. 
Innovative studies leading to the development of Total Maximum Daily 
Loads (TMDL) is another priority on which these funds could be focused.
    An organization whose proposal is selected for Federal assistance 
must complete an EPA Application for Assistance, including the Federal 
SF-424 form (Application for Federal Assistance, see 40 CFR 30.12 & 
31.10).

Has EPA Region 6 Identified High Priority Areas for Consideration?

    EPA Region 6 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), Storm Water)

Integration of 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
Municipal Stormwater Inspection Training Modules

NPDES Programs

Stakeholder watershed approaches
Nutrient trading
Watershed integration of NPDES programs
Innovative Permit Writing Tools
Strategy to effectively manage Permit Backlog

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

Cooling Water Intake Structures (CWA, 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

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

TMDL

    Innovative studies leading to TMDL development on a watershed basis 
for multiple pollutants including but not limited to nutrients, 
sediments, turbidity, metals, toxics, pesticides, bacteria, and unknown 
toxicity impacted by point sources as well as non-point sources. The 
innovative studies should be based on credible research on the 
physical, chemical, and biological processes governing the stochastic 
properties of pollutants in the environment. The innovative studies 
should lead to the development of scientific methods and/or statistical 
tools to identify the water quality problems and the extent of 
contamination but should not include TMDL modeling calculations.

Water Quality Standards Program

    Innovative projects or studies that will lead to the development 
and refinement of water quality standards and associated water quality 
monitoring and assessment methods or procedures that result in improved 
decisions about the status of waterbodies relative to the goals of the 
CWA. The projects may include, but are not limited to, refinement of 
waterbody classification systems and associated designated uses, 
refinement or development of narrative or numeric criteria, development 
of sampling schemes for improved integration of risk assessment in use 
attainment decisions, improved methods to identify emerging 
environmental problems, development of methods to assess attainment of

[[Page 5121]]

numeric criteria using indicators that integrate conditions over time, 
and GIS based land use analyses for targeting monitoring and assessment 
resources.

Statutory Authority, Applicable Regulations, and Funding Level

    Funding is authorized under the provisions of the CWA 
Sec.104(b)(3), 33U.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 nonprofit organizations) and 40 
CFR part 31 (for States, local governments, and interstate agencies).
    Total funding available for award by Region 6 is dependent on EPA's 
appropriation for Fiscal Year 2002; however, it is estimated that $1 
million will be available for funding approved projects. A minimum 
match of five percent will be required for all approved projects and 
should be included in the total funding requested for each proposal 
submitted.

Proposal Format and Contents

    Proposals should be no more than three pages in Wordperfect or Word 
with a minimum font size of 10 pitch. Failure to follow the format or 
to include all requested information could result in proposal not being 
considered for funding. Full application packages should not be 
submitted at this time. The following format should be used for all 
proposals:
    Name of Project:
    Point of Contact: (Individual and Agency/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 Federal Amount:
    Proposed Non-Federal Match (minimum of 5%):
    The match is based on the total project cost not the Federal 
amount. To determine a proposed minimum match of 5%, use the following 
example:
    Federal amount = $25,000
    Total Project Cost = T
    The Federal amount is 95 % of T, therefore:
    $25,000 = T x 0.95
    $25,000 / 0.95 = T
    $26,316 = T (round the decimal)
    If the total project cost is $26,316, then:
    $26,316 x 0.05 = $1,316 non-Federal match
    Proposed Total Award Amount:
    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 Proposal 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 furthers the goals of the CWA to 
prevent, reduce, and eliminate water pollution.
     Innovation of project proposal.
     Cost effectiveness of the proposal.
     Applicant's past performance, if applicable.
     Compliance with directions for submittal contained in this 
notice.

Eligible Applicants

    For the purpose of this notice, eligible applicants for assistance 
agreements under section 104(b)(3) of the CWA are State water pollution 
control agencies, interstate agencies, other public or nonprofit 
agencies, institutions, organizations, and other entities as defined by 
the CWA. This solicitation is limited to applicants within EPA Region 6 
which includes the states of Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, 
and Texas. Proposals received for projects outside of Region 6 will not 
be considered.

Application Procedure

    If mailed, please send three copies of the proposal.

Schedule of Activities

    This is the estimated schedule of activities for review of 
proposals and notification of selections:
    March 21, 2002--Proposals due to EPA.
    May 20, 2002--Initial approvals identified and sponsors of projects 
selected for funding will be requested to submit a formal application 
package.

    Dated: January 24, 2002.
Larry Wright,
Acting Director, Water Quality Protection Division.
[FR Doc. 02-2608 Filed 2-1-02; 8:45 am]
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