[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 31 (Friday, February 14, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7539-7542]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-3582]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-2003-0015; FRL-7288-5]


Tribal Pesticide and Special Projects; Request for Proposals

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP), in coordination with 
the EPA regions, is soliciting pesticide and special project proposals 
from eligible Tribes and intertribal consortia for fiscal year (FY) 
2003 funding. Under this program, cooperative agreement awards will 
provide financial assistance to eligible Tribal Governments or 
intertribal consortia to carry out projects that assess or reduce risks 
to human health and the environment from pesticide exposure. The total 
amount of funding available for award in FY 2003 is $445,500.

DATES: Proposals, identified by docket ID number OPP-2003-0015, must be 
submitted on or before March 15, 2003. If the project proposal is 
submitted by fax or electronically by March 15, 2003, the EPA regional 
contact must receive an original copy of the proposal by mail within 5 
working days thereafter.

ADDRESSES: Proposals may be submitted by mail, fax, or electronically. 
Please follow the detailed instructions as provided in Unit I.C. of the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Rudek, Field and External 
Affairs Division (7506C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-
0001; telephone number: (703) 305-6005; fax number: (703) 308-1850; e-
mail address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. Does this Action Apply to Me?

    Potentially affected entities include federally recognized Tribal 
governments or qualified intertribal consortia. For this solicitation, 
an intertribal consortium is defined as a partnership between two or 
more federally recognized Tribes that is authorized by the governing 
bodies of those Tribes to apply for and receive assistance under the 
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. Only one project 
proposal may be submitted by each Tribal Government or intertribal 
consortium.
    To determine whether your Tribe or your Tribal consortium may be 
affected by this action, you should carefully examine the applicability 
provisions in 40 CFR 35.501 and 35.502. If you have any questions 
regarding the applicability of this action to a particular entity, 
consult the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

B. How Can I Get Copies of this Document and Other Related Information?

    1. Docket. EPA has established an official public docket for this 
action under docket identification (ID) number OPP-2003-0015. The 
official public docket consists of the documents specifically 
referenced in this action, any public comments received, and other 
information related to this action. Although a part of the official 
docket, the public docket does not include Confidential Business 
Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted 
by statute. The official public docket is the collection of materials 
that is available for public viewing at the Public Information and 
Records Integrity Branch (PIRIB), Rm. 119, Crystal Mall 2, 
1921 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA. This docket facility is open 
from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal 
holidays. The docket telephone number is (703) 305-5805.
    2. Electronic access. You may access this Federal Register document 
electronically through the EPA Internet under the ``Federal Register'' 
listings at http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/.
    An electronic version of the public docket is available through 
EPA's electronic public docket and comment system, EPA Dockets. You may 
use EPA Dockets at http://www.epa.gov/edocket/ to view public comments, 
access the index listing of the contents of the official public docket, 
and to access those documents in the public docket that are available 
electronically. Although not all docket materials may be available 
electronically, you may still access any of the publicly available 
docket materials through the docket facility identified in Unit I.B.1. 
Once in the system, select ``search,'' then key in the appropriate 
docket ID number.

C. How and to Whom Do I Submit a Project Proposal?

    You may submit a project proposal through the mail, by fax, or 
electronically to the EPA Tribal pesticide staff in your region, as 
listed below. Contact the appropriate regional staff person if you need 
assistance or have questions regarding the creation or submission of a 
project proposal. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, it is imperative 
that you identify docket ID number OPP-2003-0015 in the subject line on 
the first page of your proposal.
    EPA Region I (Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, 
Vermont) Rob Koethe, EPA Region I, One Congress St., Suite 1100, (CPT), 
Boston, MA 02114-2023, telephone: (617) 918-1535, fax: (617) 918-1505, 
e-mail: [email protected].
    EPA Region II (New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands) 
Tara Masters, EPA Region II, U.S. EPA Facilities, Raritan Depot (MS50), 
2890 Woodbridge Ave., Edison, NJ 08837-3679, telephone: (732) 906-6183, 
fax: (732) 321-6771, e-mail: [email protected].
    EPA Region III (Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West 
Virginia, District of Columbia) Fatima El Abdaoui, EPA Region III, 
Chestnut Building (3AT11), Philadelphia, PA 19107, telephone: (215) 
814-2129, fax: (215) 814-3114, e-mail: [email protected].
    EPA Region IV (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, 
North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee) Christopher Plymale, EPA 
Region IV, 61 Forsyth St., SW., Atlanta, GA 30303, telephone: (404) 
562-9004, fax: (404) 562-8972, e-mail: [email protected].
    EPA Region V (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin) 
Meonii Crenshaw, EPA Region V, 77 West Jackson Boulevard (DRT8J), 
Chicago, IL 60604-3507, telephone: (312) 353-4716, fax: (312) 353-4788, 
e-mail: [email protected].
    EPA Region VI (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas) 
Jerry Collins, EPA Region VI, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, TX 75202-2733, 
telephone: (214) 665-7562, fax: (214) 665-7263, e-mail: 
[email protected].

[[Page 7540]]

    EPA Region VII (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska) John Tice, EPA 
Region VII, 100 Centennial Mall N., Room 289, Lincoln, NE 68508, 
telephone: (402) 437-5080, fax: (402) 323-9079, e-mail: 
[email protected].
    EPA Region VIII (Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, 
Utah, Wyoming) Donna Jackson, EPA Region VIII, 999 18th St., (8P-P3T), 
Denver, CO 80202-2466, telephone: (303) 312-6281, fax: (303) 312-6116, 
e-mail: [email protected].
    EPA Region IX (Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, American Samoa, 
Guam) Marcy Katzin, EPA Region IX, 75 Hawthorne St., (CMD-4-3), San 
Francisco, CA 94105, telephone: (415) 947-4215, fax: (415) 947-3583, 
[email protected].
    EPA Region X (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington) Theresa Pimentel, 
EPA Region X, 1200 Sixth Avenue, (ECO-084), Seattle, WA 98101, 
telephone: (206) 553-0257, fax: (206) 553-1775, e-mail: 
[email protected].

II. Background

A. What Action is the Agency Taking?

    The Office of Pesticide Programs, in coordination with the EPA 
regions, is soliciting Tribal pesticide projects for FY 2003 funding. 
The total amount of funding available in FY 2003 to be awarded to 
Tribal Governments and/or intertribal consortia for pesticide projects 
is $445,500.

B. What is the Agency's Authority for Taking this Action?

    Section 23(a) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and 
Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) authorizes EPA to enter into cooperative 
agreements with States and Indian Tribes to implement pesticide 
enforcement programs. Pursuant to the Departments of Veterans Affairs 
and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies 
Appropriations Act for FY 1999, pesticide program implementation grants 
under section 23(a)(1) of FIFRA are available for ``pesticide program 
development and implementation, including enforcement and compliance 
activities.''
    The award and administration of these grants will be governed by 
the Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative 
Agreements to State and Local Governments set forth at 40 CFR part 31. 
Grants awarded pursuant to this solicitation are program grants subject 
to the regulations for ``Environmental Program Grants for Tribes'' set 
forth at 40 CFR part 35, subpart B.

III. What Should I Consider as I Prepare My Project Proposal for EPA?

    1. Scope and purpose of the OPP Tribal Pesticide and Special 
Projects Cooperative Agreements. The purpose of these cooperative 
agreements is to provide financial assistance to eligible Tribal 
Governments or intertribal consortia to carry out projects related to 
human health and the environment that assess or reduce risk from 
pesticide exposure. Funds can be used for new activities or to further 
an existing eligible project or program.
    2. Eligible applicants and activities--i. Who may submit a project 
proposal and may an applicant submit more than one? Any federally 
recognized Tribal Government or intertribal consortium (as defined in 
Unit I.A.) that is eligible to receive federal funds may submit a 
project proposal. Only one project proposal may be submitted by each 
Tribal Government or intertribal consortium.
    ii. What types of projects are eligible for funding? The Agency 
will consider projects related to human health and the environment that 
assess or reduce risk from pesticide exposure. Projects may be targeted 
to any pesticide concern or need facing a Tribe or intertribal 
consortium, including:
    [sbull] Water quality.
    [sbull] Traditional Tribal lifeways/subsistence. Effects of 
pesticides on cultural activities.
    [sbull] Assessment of the need for and/or development of a 
pesticide management policy or plan.
    [sbull] Consideration of integrated pest management, reduced 
pesticide use, or alternatives to pesticides.
    [sbull] Sampling.
    [sbull] Education about the use of pesticides in Tribal museum 
curatorship.
    [sbull] Noxious weed educational materials and/or control 
alternatives.
    [sbull] Public outreach/education materials relating to pest 
management and/or the safe use, storage and disposal of pesticides.
    Water quality work products may be focused on monitoring of surface 
water or ground water (e.g., assessing dietary exposure to pesticides 
via drinking water, determining those water bodies that may be impaired 
due to pesticides, predicting potential exposure to endangered and 
threatened aquatic species, or establishing a baseline of contamination 
from which to measure progress in the future). Water quality projects 
may also include information gathering and development such as a 
vulnerability assessment, determining the pesticides (from either on or 
off reservation sources) that are most likely to impact water quality, 
and/or providing information to pesticide users on ways they can assist 
in ensuring quality water sources. Finally, water quality work may also 
focus on the development or implementation of programs aimed at 
preventing contamination of water sources, mitigating contaminated 
water sources or implementation of best management practices.
    Other projects not related to the water quality activities 
described above may include the establishment of a Tribal 
environmental, pesticide, or water quality code, a system for the 
proper disposal of pesticides, and/or educational outreach to the 
community. Sampling projects may include soil sampling, residue 
sampling on culturally significant/medicinal plants, or sampling to 
determine the effects of pesticides on cultural activities, such as 
subsistence hunting and fishing.
    iii. How much money may be requested, and are matching funds 
required? Maximum funding award will not exceed $50,000 per project. 
Indirect cost rates will not increase the $50,000 maximum funding 
amount. No matching funds are required.

IV. Project Proposal Application Requirements

A. What is Required as Part of the Application Process?

    In order to be considered for funding, applicants must submit the 
following to the regional Tribal pesticide staff contact indicated in 
Unit I.C. of this solicitation:
    1. Project proposal (maximum 8 pages\1\ of narrative), including:
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    \1\ Additional information may be included in an appendix to the 
main project proposal, when it adds significant supporting detail to 
the main proposal.
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    i. Name of project.
    ii. Tribal project contact (including qualifications).
    iii. Project description, including:
    [sbull] Purpose and goal(s) of the project.
    [sbull] New or continuing project. (If this proposed project is a 
discrete part of a continuing effort, please provide beginning and 
expected ending dates for the larger effort, amount of project funding 
previously awarded, and project activity percent achieved to date.)
    [sbull] Environmental or health issues addressed.
    [sbull] Approach and methods (how the project will be carried out).
    [sbull] Deliverables.
    [sbull] Expected/desired outcome.
    [sbull] Indicators/measures of success.

[[Page 7541]]

    [sbull] Resources and time frame required for this project, 
including beginning and ending dates.
    iv. Need for assistance. Provide the following information to the 
extent it is relevant to demonstrating the need for the specific 
project that is proposed:
    [sbull] A list of other sources of funding you have sought for the 
project.
    [sbull] A description of similar, identical, or otherwise relevant 
work that you have undertaken, including sources of funding for that 
work.
    [sbull] A description of Tribal or other studies, surveys and other 
sources of information that document the environmental issues that will 
be addressed by the project.
    v. Responsible parties and location.
    [sbull] Identify persons in charge of the project and their 
qualifications.
    [sbull] Identify major participants in the project (e.g., 
universities, Federal, State or local agencies) and their 
qualifications.
    [sbull] Identify location(s) where the project will be conducted.
    vi. External stakeholders.
    [sbull] Identify those who will be affected by the project and how 
they will be affected.
    [sbull] Identify those who will participate in the project and 
their roles.
    vii. Resources.
    [sbull] Identify any personnel and/or contractors to be involved in 
the project, including their roles and qualifications. Description 
should include any relevant training or experience. For example, if the 
project includes sampling and writing of a Sampling and Analysis Plan, 
describe any experience the person(s) has in writing a Sampling and 
Analysis Plan, in conducting soil or water sampling, etc.
    [sbull] Identify existing resources/information that will be used 
in conducting the project.
    [sbull] Identify any additional resources (including but not 
limited to training) that will be required for the project.
    [sbull] Describe any EPA training or assistance that will be 
required for Tribal personnel who will be working on the project. Such 
training may include the development of outreach material or a sampling 
analysis plan, etc.
    viii. Infrastructure and coordination.
    [sbull] Identify coordination efforts required to successfully 
conduct the project, within or outside the Tribe.
    [sbull] Identify ways in which this project will improve or build 
Tribal capacity.
    [sbull] Identify any assistance you may require in coordinating 
with other Federal, State or local agencies.
    2. Draft work plan (1-2 pages). The submitted draft work plan 
should outline:
    i. Deliverables.
    ii. The separate phases of the project.
    iii. The tasks associated with each phase of the project.
    iv The time frames for completion of each phase or task.
    v. The name, title of the person(s) who will conduct each phase or 
task.
    vi. The dates when progress reports will be provided to EPA, 
clearly showing deliverables, accomplishments, delays and/or obstacles. 
Project costs cannot be incurred until a final work plan has been 
approved by the appropriate EPA regional office.
    3. Estimated budget. The estimated budget should outline costs for 
personnel, fringe benefits, travel, equipment, supplies, contractual, 
indirect cost rate, and any other costs associated with the proposed 
project.
    4. Letter or resolution from the Tribal leadership showing support 
for and commitment to the project. (If it is not possible to obtain a 
letter/resolution from your Tribal leader to submit with your project 
proposal, an interim letter of explanation must be included with the 
proposal. An original letter/resolution from your Tribal leadership 
will be required prior to project award.)
    5. Letter of confirmation of availability for any other funds 
needed to complete the project. If your proposal requires the use of 
additional funds for leveraging, please include a letter from the 
funding source confirming that these monies are available for the 
project. If the budget includes a Tribal in-kind contribution, a letter 
of confirmation is not needed.
    6. Confidential business information. Applicants must clearly mark 
information considered confidential business information. EPA will make 
a final confidentiality determination for information the applicant 
claims as confidential business information, in accordance with Agency 
regulations at 40 CFR part 2, subpart B.

B. When and Where Must Project Proposals be Submitted?

    The applicant may submit a project proposal to the appropriate EPA 
regional contact by mail, fax, or electronically. The proposal must be 
received by the EPA regional contact listed in Unit I.C. no later than 
close of business March 15, 2003. If the project proposal is submitted 
by fax or electronically by March 15, 2003, the EPA regional contact 
must receive an original copy of the proposal by mail within 5 working 
days thereafter. Incomplete or late proposals will be disqualified for 
funding consideration.

V. Process for Awarding Cooperative Agreements

A. How Will Project Proposals be Reviewed and Selected?

    Tribal project proposals will be reviewed and approved for validity 
and completeness by each respective region and then forwarded, along 
with regional comments, to an EPA Headquarters, Office of Pesticide 
Programs review panel. The team will consult with regional staff 
regarding their comments as necessary. If there is money left over 
after the selection process is completed, the review team will discuss 
and determine the allocation of the money. Selections will be made by 
close of business April 30, 2003. EPA reserves the right to reject all 
applications or initial/final proposals and make no awards. All costs 
charged to these awards must be allowable under OMB circular A-87.

B. How will Applicants be Notified?

    Regions will notify their respective applicants of the selections. 
Those applicants not awarded funds may request an explanation for the 
lack of award from EPA regional staff.

VI. Criteria for Awarding Project Cooperative Agreements

    Criteria on which the project proposals will be ranked are listed 
below. Applicants must submit information specified in this 
solicitation to address the award criteria. Applicants must also 
provide information specified in this solicitation that will assist 
both a Tribe and EPA in assessing the Tribe's capacity to do the 
project work outlined in the project proposal. The work plan and budget 
should reflect the training and the work that can realistically be 
completed during the period of performance of the cooperative 
agreement.
General Background Information Request
    To provide reviewers with context for your proposed project, and to 
assist them in gaining the clearest possible sense of the impact of 
this project on your Tribe and the environment, please briefly provide 
some information about your reservation:
    1. Specify the size, geography, and general climate of the 
reservation.
    2. How many residents are Tribal members and how many are not 
Tribal members?
    3. How much of the reservation is under cultivation?
    4. Does the reservation include wetlands or other preserves?

[[Page 7542]]

    5. If there is relevance to your project, briefly describe the 
Tribal and non-Tribal populations of surrounding counties/States, and 
surrounding land use.
    6. How many people (Tribal/non-Tribal) are employed by the Tribal 
Government (e.g., in government services, including health care, police 
and fire protection).
    7. How many are employed on the reservation in other areas that use 
pesticides or may be impacted by their use (e.g., agriculture, animal 
husbandry, fisheries/fishing, forestry, construction, casinos/resorts/
golf course maintenance)?
    8. If you are concerned about pesticide pollution that may 
originate within reservation boundaries, what are the potential sources 
and what chemicals might be involved?
    9. If you are concerned with pollution migration from off-
reservation sources, what are those potential sources, and what 
chemicals are of specific concern?
    10. Is the Tribe concerned about water quality issues? If so, 
please describe the nature of these concerns.
    11. Does the Tribe currently have any pesticide policy in place?
Selection criteria
Total possible points: 100
Technical Qualifications, Overall Management Plan, Past Performance (30 
Points)
    Does the person(s) designated to lead the project have the 
technical expertise he or she will need to successfully complete it? 
Does the project leader have experience in grant and project 
management? Proposals should provide complete information on the 
education, skills, training and relevant experience of the project 
leader. As appropriate, please cite technical qualifications and 
specific examples of prior, relevant experience. If this project will 
develop new Tribal capacity, describe how the project leader and/or 
staff will gain necessary training and expertise.
    To whom does the project leader report? What systems of 
accountability and management oversight are in place to ensure this 
project stays on track?
    Has the Tribe or Tribal consortium received past funding from EPA's 
Office of Pesticide Programs, other EPA programs, or other sources? If 
so, please identify the funding source and activities/deliverables it 
supported.
    If previously performed work directly impacts this project, briefly 
describe the connection. If a directly relevant project is currently 
ongoing, what progress has been made?
    If this new project builds upon earlier efforts, how will you use 
the knowledge, data, and experience of grant outputs from previous 
projects to shape this new proposed activity?
Justification for Need of the Project, Soundness of Technical Approach 
(35 Points)
    Why is this project important to the Tribe or the Tribal 
consortium? What environmental issues(s) will it address and how 
serious and/or pervasive are these issues? What is the expected outcome 
of the project? What benefits will this project provide to the Tribe, 
human health, and the environment?
    Has the Tribe identified a need to coordinate or consult with other 
parties (Tribal and/or non-Tribal) to ensure the success of this 
project? If so, who are they? How does the Tribe plan to involve these 
parties? How will they be affected by the outcome of the project?
    What are the key outputs of this project? How do you propose to 
quantify and measure progress? Have interim milestones for this project 
been established? If so, what are they? How will you evaluate the 
success of the project in terms of measurable environmental results? 
Please describe the steps you will take to ensure successful completion 
of the project and provide a time line and description of interim and 
final results and deliverables.
    Does your budget request accurately reflect the work you propose? 
Please provide a clear correlation between expenses and project 
objectives. Will EPA funding for this project be supplemented with 
funding from other source(s)? If so, please identify them.
Benefits, Sustainability, Transferable Results (35 Points)
    What ecological or human health benefits does this project provide? 
What quality of life issues does the project address?
    Does the project have limited or broad application to address risks 
related to pesticides?
    Will the results from this project continue to provide benefits to 
the Tribe or other Tribes after the period of performance has expired 
and this funding is no longer available? How are the benefits of this 
effort expected to be sustained over time?
    Does the applicant understand/acknowledge the need for coordination 
between Tribal agencies and outside communities, and/or Federal, State 
or local agencies? Will the project help build Tribal infrastructure or 
capacity? How?
    Can the project results be incorporated into existing and/or future 
pesticide-related Tribal environmental activities? Are any of the 
deliverables, experiences, products, or outcomes resulting from the 
project transferable to other communities? Might this project readily 
be implemented by another Tribe?

VII. Post Selection Activity

    Selected applicants must formally apply for funds through the 
appropriate EPA regional office. In addition, selected applicants must 
negotiate a final work plan, including reporting requirements, with the 
designated EPA regional project officer. For more general information 
on post award requirements and the evaluation of grantee performance, 
see 40 CFR part 31.

VIII. Submission to Congress and the Comptroller General

    Grant solicitations such as this are considered rules for the 
purpose of the Congressional Review Act (CRA). The CRA, 5 U.S.C. 801 et 
seq., as added by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness 
Act of 1996 (SBREFA), generally provides that before a rule may take 
effect, the agency promulgating the rule must submit a rule report, 
which includes a copy of the rule, to each House of the Congress and to 
the Comptroller General of the United States. EPA will submit a report 
containing this rule and other required information to the U.S. Senate, 
the U.S. House of Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the 
United States prior to publication of the rule in the Federal Register. 
This rule is not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Pesticides, Tribes.

    Dated: January 30, 2003.
Stephen L. Johnson,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic 
Substances.
[FR Doc. 03-3582 Filed 2-13-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S