[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 220 (Thursday, November 14, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69001-69002]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-28921]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7405-7]


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

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice of financial assistance for project assistance.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to advise the public that the 
participating agencies are soliciting individual research proposals of 
up to 3 years duration, and depending on appropriations, multi-
disciplinary regional studies of up to 5 years duration, 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 
(including estuaries and Great Lakes) 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 applications is January 28, 2003 by 4:00 EST.

ADDRESSES: Submit the original and eighteen copies of your proposal to 
Coastal Ocean Program Office, N/SCI2, SSMC4, 8th Floor, Room 
8243, 1305 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. The required 
forms for applications with instructions are accessible on the Internet 
at http://es.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/forms/index.html. Forms may be printed 
from this site.
    The complete program announcement can be accessed on the Internet 
at http://es.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/ under ``Science To Achieve Results 
(STAR) Research Grants''.
    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 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 will be requested to resubmit their applications and may be 
asked to 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: Susan Banahan, 
ECOHAB Coordinator, CSCOR/COP Office, (301) 713-3338/ext 148, E-mail: 
[email protected]. Administrative Information: Gina Perovich, EPA/
NCER, (202) 564-2248, E-mail: [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 Space Administration (NASA) are 
cooperating in an opportunity for investigators to propose activities 
to address fundamental ecological and oceanographic questions related 
to the national harmful algal bloom (HAB) problem.
    Proposals are encouraged in the following areas: (1) The 
prevention, control, and mitigation of HABs and their impacts; (2) the 
transition of current biophysical models for HABs in specific regions 
into operational HAB forecasts; (3) biological and physical 
oceanographic regional studies that include the development of linked 
biophysical models of bloom development and transport; and (4) studies 
addressing gaps in general knowledge of HAB phenomena. These special 
emphasis areas are described in greater detail in the complete program 
announcement (see ADDRESSES in this announcement).
    ECOHAB will support projects ranging from laboratory studies by 
individual investigators or small teams, up to larger teams of 
investigators conducting coordinated, well-integrated, multi-
disciplinary regional field programs. For individuals and small teams, 
support may be requested for 1-3 years duration. Projects focused on 
multi-disciplinary regional studies may request support for up to 5 
years duration. However, the size and duration of the latter studies 
are dependent on appropriations, and potential applicants are 
encouraged to correspond with the ECOHAB Coordinator (see CONTACTS in 
this announcement) prior to preparation of proposals.
    Eligibility: Institutions of higher education 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 international institutions, and 
commercial organizations located in the U.S. Federal agencies and 
laboratories may be eligible, but 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. Funding for salaries of full time 
Federal employees will be in accord with individual agency policies. 
Applications from non-Federal and Federal applicants will evaluated 
under the same review/selection process. Proposals from non-Federal 
applicants that are selected for funding will be funded through a 
project grant or cooperative agreement under the terms of this 
announcement. Proposals from Federal agencies or laboratories deemed 
acceptable and selected for funding will be funded through a medium 
other than a grant or cooperative agreement, such as inter- or intra-
agency transfers, where legal authority exists for such funding. Note 
that this announcement is not proposing to procure goods and services 
from Federal applicants; therefore the Economy Act (31 U.S.C. 1535) is 
not an appropriate legal basis.
    How to Apply: The original and eighteen (18) copies of the fully 
developed application (19 in all) and one (1) additional copy of the 
abstract, prepared in accordance with the full announcement, must be 
received by NOAA no later than 4:00 P.M. Eastern Time on the closing 
date, January 28, 2003.
    Program Authorities: For COP: 33 U.S.C. 883d and Pub. L. 105-383; 
for 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

[[Page 69002]]

amended and 31 U.S.C 6304; and for NASA: 14 CFR part 1260.

    Dated: October 29, 2002.

    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) 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.
John C. Puzak,
Acting Director, National Center for Environmental Research.
[FR Doc. 02-28921 Filed 11-13-02; 8:45 am]
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