[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 55 (Friday, March 21, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13912-13916]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-6820]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPPT-2002-0071; FRL-7294-4]


Request for Proposals for Pollution Prevention Information 
Network FY 2003; Notice of Funds Availability

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: EPA's Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics expects to 
have approximately $1 million available in fiscal year 2003, subject to 
the availability of funds at the time of the award, to fund grant 
proposals supporting a nationwide network of pollution prevention 
information providers. The Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 provides 
for funding to States to strengthen the efficiency and effectiveness of 
State technical assistance programs in providing source reduction 
information to businesses. The Pollution Prevention Information Network 
grants seek to coordinate work among technical assistance providers to 
minimize duplication of effort and improve information collection, 
synthesis and dissemination, and training for the promotion of 
pollution prevention techniques. These funds will be targeted for 
regional applicants that are willing to work as part of a collective 
nationwide service. Grantees will make their information available 
electronically, publically report use of their services, and utilize 
State and local representatives to guide and evaluate their services. 
Cooperative agreements will be awarded under the authority of the 
Pollution Prevention Act of 1990. Substantial involvement by EPA in the 
cooperative agreement may include: The EPA project officer 
participating in monthly conference calls, consulting on the agenda for 
regional meetings, or attending steering committee meetings, etc.

DATES: All grant proposals must be received on or before May 20, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Proposals may be submitted electronically, by mail or 
through hand delivery/courier. Please follow the detailed instructions 
as provided in Unit I. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Beth Anderson, Pollution Prevention 
Division (7409M), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460-0001, telephone number: (202) 564-8833; fax 
number: (202) 564-8899; e-mail address: [email protected].

[[Page 13913]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. Does this Action Apply to Me?

    This action is directed to the 50 States, the District of Columbia, 
the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, any territory 
of or possession of the United States, any agency or instrumentality of 
a State including State universities, and Indian tribes and intertribal 
consortia. If you have any questions regarding the applicability of 
this action to a particular entity, contact the person listed under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

B. How Can I Get Additional Information, Including Copies of this 
Document or Other Related Documents?

    1. Docket. EPA has established an official public docket for this 
action under docket identification (ID) number OPPT-2002-0071. The 
official public docket consists of the documents specifically 
referenced in this action. The official public docket is the collection 
of materials that is available for public viewing at the EPA Docket 
Center, Rm. B102-Reading Room, EPA West, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC. The EPA Docket Center is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 
p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The EPA Docket 
Center Reading Room telephone number is (202) 566-1744 and the 
telephone number for the OPPT Docket, which is located in EPA Docket 
Center, is (202) 566-0280.
    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/. This document will also be 
available at the EPA P2 web site http://www.epa.gov/p2.
    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 submit or 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 Proposal?

    You may submit a proposal by mail, electronically or by courier.
    1. Electronically. By e-mail to: [email protected]. If you 
submit an electronic proposal, include your name, mailing address, an 
e-mail address and telephone number. Also include this contact 
information on the outside of any disk or CD ROM you submit, and in any 
cover letter accompanying the disk or CD ROM. This ensures that you can 
be identified as the submitter of the proposal and allows EPA to 
contact you in case EPA cannot read your proposal due to technical 
difficulties or needs further information.
    2. By mail. Send your proposal to: Beth Anderson, Office of 
Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Mail Code 7409M, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-
0001.
    3. By hand delivery or courier. Deliver your proposal to: Beth 
Anderson, Environmental Protection Agency-East, Room 5213, 1201 
Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20004.

II. Description of the Pollution Prevention Information Network Grant 
Program

    1. Purpose. Prior to this EPA grant program, there were few 
mechanisms to coordinate development, review, and dissemination of 
pollution prevention (P2) information among Federal, State, and local 
agencies involved in promoting source reduction technologies. Access to 
P2 information and assistance varied across the United States. Even 
now, not all programs providing assistance to small businesses have 
access to P2 information that may be useful and relevant to their 
clientele. EPA believes that investing in coordinating and 
standardizing P2 information collection and synthesis will benefit 
State P2 technical assistance providers, EPA supported compliance 
assistance centers (more information at http://www.assistancecenters.net), and other Federal programs such as: Small 
Business Development Centers and the National Institute of Standards 
and Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnerships. EPA is seeking to 
provide more efficient support to P2 technical assistance providers by 
supporting regional centers that have specialized areas of information 
they collect and disseminate. Regional centers can be more responsive 
to the information needs of their States and allow States to focus 
resources on their unique issues. EPA believes that some of the 
benefits of a coordinated P2 information network are:
    i. Improved access to P2 information for all State and Federal 
business assistance programs.
    ii. Improved coordination in the creation of P2 outreach materials 
allows States to use or revise existing P2 information.
    iii. Increased number of partnerships among P2 clients and the 
regional P2 information center, increased information sharing and P2 
services.
    2. Program history. EPA awarded nine grants in response to the 
first Federal Register Notice on the establishment of a Pollution 
Prevention Information Network published on February 5, 1997 (62 FR 
5393) (FRL-5582-5). The 9 grantees represented all 10 of the EPA 
Regions. These regional P2 information centers were usually only 
partially funded by this grant program and represent a variety of 
organizations. Some of the grantees were also funded by other Federal 
technical assistance programs, such as the Small Business 
Administration, the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
Manufacturing Extension Partnership, State and local governments, or 
their Regional EPA office. The first solicitation for this grant 
program was intended to establish new regional centers (where needed) 
or give additional funds to existing centers to:
    i. Improve communication among centers.
    ii. Minimize duplication of efforts in creating and disseminating 
P2 information.
    iii. Promote information standards that would facilitate P2 
information dissemination nationwide.
    Over the first 2 years of the grant program (1998 and 1999), 
grantees enhanced networking among centers and improved nationwide 
interaction on P2 information projects through monthly conference 
calls, biannual meetings, websites, listserves and data bases. Frequent 
communication built familiarity with other regional resources and their 
mode of operation. The grantees formed a group called the ``Pollution 
Prevention Resource Exchange'' (P2Rx). More information about the P2Rx 
centers can be found on the Internet at: http://www.p2rx.org. For more 
detail on the projects the group is working on, go to this link http://www.p2rx.org/AdminInfo/toc.cfm and click on ``Action Plans-By Project'' 
in the left hand column.
    After the second Federal Register Notice was published on November 
12, 1999 (64 FR 61637) (FRL-6391-3), announcing the availability of 
funds for regional center proposals, eight regional

[[Page 13914]]

centers were funded. All of the FY 2000 grantees had been previously 
funded under the first solicitation, so there was continuity in the 
collaborative efforts between the centers, as well as continuity in 
support from the State and local governments being served by the 
centers.
    One of the regional centers serves as ``P2Rx program coordinator'' 
with a 2-year term of service. The P2Rx program coordinator receives 
additional funding for tasks such as: Facilitating frequent 
communication among regional centers, developing consensus among the 
centers, coordinating subcommittees and the development of standards, 
and providing meeting and training services for center staff. New 
grantees will be included in P2Rx national meetings, monthly conference 
calls, subcommittees, trainings, and other activities supporting the 
national products this group agrees to develop.
    3. Authorizing statute. This solicitation is made under the 
Pollution Prevention Act of 1990, (the Act) (Public Law 101-508) which 
established as national policy that pollution should be prevented or 
reduced at the source whenever feasible. Section 6603 of the Act 
defines source reduction as any practice that:
    i. Reduces the amount of any hazardous substance, pollutant, or 
contaminant entering any waste stream or otherwise released into the 
environment (including fugitive emissions) prior to recycling, 
treatment, or disposal.
    ii. Reduces the hazards to public health and the environment 
associated with the release of such substances, pollutants, or 
contaminants.
    EPA further defines P2 as the use of other practices that reduce or 
eliminate the creation of pollutants through: Increased efficiency in 
the use of raw materials, energy, water or other resources, protection 
of natural resources, or protection of natural resources by 
conservation. Section 6605 of the Act authorizes EPA to make matching 
grants to States to promote the use of source reduction techniques by 
businesses. In evaluating grant applications, the Act directs EPA to 
consider whether the proposed State program will:
    i. Make technical assistance available to businesses seeking 
information about source reduction opportunities, including funding for 
experts to provide on-site technical advice and to assist in the 
development of source reduction plans.
    ii. Target assistance to businesses for whom lack of information is 
an impediment to source reduction.
    iii. Provide training in source reduction techniques.

III. Award Information

    1. Availability of FY 2003 funds. With this publication, EPA is 
expecting the availability of $1 million in cooperative agreement funds 
for FY 2003. All funds are subject to availability at the time of 
award. These awards will be made through a competitive process for 
amounts not to exceed $150,000.00 per year. Proposals may include up to 
3 years in their schedule and budget. Funding for multiple year 
proposals will be made incrementally, every year as funds are 
available. In the past 5 years the awards have averaged $121,000.00. 
Cooperative agreements are anticipated to be awarded by September 30, 
2003. Substantial involvement by EPA in the cooperative agreement may 
include: The EPA project officer participating in monthly conference 
calls, consulting on the agenda for regional meetings, or attending 
steering committee meetings, etc. New applicants are encouraged to 
submit proposals. Proposals from existing P2Rx centers will compete 
with new proposals for new regional centers.
    2. Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance. The number assigned to 
this program in the Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance is 66.708.

IV. Eligibility

    1. Applicants. In accordance with the Pollution Prevention Act of 
1990, eligible applicants for purposes of funding under this grant 
program include the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the U.S. 
Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, any territory or 
possession of the United States, any agency or instrumentality of a 
State including State universities and all federally recognized Indian 
tribes that meet the requirement for treatment in a manner similar to a 
State at 40 CFR 35.663 and intertribal consortia that meet the 
requirements at 40 CFR 35.504. For convenience, the term ``State'' in 
this Notice refers to all eligible applicants. Local governments, 
private universities, private nonprofit, private businesses, and 
individuals are not eligible for funding. Eligible applicants are 
encouraged to establish partnerships with other environmental 
assistance providers to seamlessly deliver pollution prevention 
assistance. In many cases, partnerships can make the most efficient use 
of Federal/State government funding. In cases where applicants are not 
clear, an instrumentality of the State by given name, the applicant 
must provide proof that the applicant is indeed a State or interstate 
agency/organization.
    2. Matching requirements. Under the Pollution Prevention Act of 
1990, the Federal Government will provide up to half of the total 
allowable costs of the project, and the State will provide the 
remainder. For example, a project costing $200,000 could be funded by a 
grant for up to $100,000 from the Federal Government. The State is 
responsible for providing the remainder. State contributions may 
include cash, in-kind goods and services, and third party 
contributions.

V. Application and Submission Information

    1. Preapplication coordination. This program is eligible for 
coverage under Executive Order 12372 ``Intergovernmental Review of 
Federal Programs'' (and the review requirements of section 204 of the 
Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act). An applicant 
should consult the Office or official designated as the single point of 
contact in his or her State for more information on the process the 
State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State 
has selected the program for review. The single point of contact must 
notify in writing, the Grants Administration Division of the 
Environmental Protection Agency whether their State's official 
Executive Order 12372 process will review applications in this program 
within 30 days of this Federal Register Notice.
    2. Preapplication assistance. Federal forms that should be included 
in the proposal are: Application for Federal Assistance OMB Form 424; 
Budget Information Form 424A; Construction Assurances Form 424B: 
Certification Regarding Debarment, etc., Form 5700-49; Certification 
Regarding Lobbying; and EPA Civil Rights Form 4700-4. Forms can be 
obtained at http://www.epa.gov/ogd/AppKit/application.htm. Requests for 
forms, examples of currently funded cooperative agreements, or other 
questions should be made to the contact listed under the heading For 
Further Information Contact.
    3. Activities to be funded. EPA is inviting proposals from the 
existing P2Rx centers as well as requesting new applicants, who will 
coordinate their proposed work with the existing P2Rx centers. EPA is 
seeking proposals that will contribute to the organization and 
efficient retrieval of P2 information. New applicants will work with 
existing P2Rx centers and provide their own unique areas of expertise 
as part of their national collaboration. For instance, the P2Rx centers 
have developed

[[Page 13915]]

agreements on data base structure, data base fields, keywords and use 
of P2 thesaurus to facilitate P2 information sharing nationally. 
Proposals may also include tasks supporting State and local P2 
information activities such as: Creating web sites, listserves, 
training, meetings, etc. Proposals should be coordinated with existing 
P2Rx centers, where possible.
    i. Promote multimedia pollution prevention. Proposals should 
describe how tasks will encourage source reduction to prevent pollution 
across all environmental media: Air, water, and land. Applicants should 
identify the areas of P2 expertise they will develop and collect 
resources as well as disseminate information on these areas. Current 
P2Rx centers have developed a specific format for the presentation and 
dissemination of P2 information to assistance providers. The home page 
for P2Rx at http://www.p2rx.org shows the topic hubs currently 
available nationally. See http://www.p2rx.org/AdminInfo/THFuncSpec.cfm 
for information describing a ``topic hub.''
    ii. Describe how activities will advance State or regional 
environmental goals. Areas of expertise described above should address 
State and regional environmental concerns. Proposals should identify 
how the tasks will provide information resources and services to 
address regional environmental concerns. Proposals should describe the 
process used to identify area(s) of specialization and identify the 
State or local programs consulted. Some current P2Rx centers use 
steering or advisory committees composed of representatives from the 
State, local, or business programs.
    iii. Promote partnerships. The proposal should identify major 
environmental assistance providers in the area and proposed tasks 
targeting these organizations. These tasks should leverage expertise of 
other P2Rx centers and aim to reduce duplication of effort in 
developing environmental assistance expertise and information products 
with other assistance providers. The P2Rx centers have formed their own 
national network and identified the duties of a partner center in the 
``center criteria standard'' found at: http://www.p2rx.org/AdminInfo/criteria.cfm. Activities in the P2Rx national partnership include 
participation in national meetings, monthly conference calls, 
subcommittees, and face-to-face meetings, implementation of standards, 
maintaining accurate web site information and participating in 
collecting center activity measures twice a year. The P2Rx program 
coordinator works with the P2Rx centers to facilitate communication, 
promote discussion, and resolve issues.
    EPA continues to seek more cooperation among State pollution 
prevention programs and the other assistance providers. Partnerships 
are encouraged with State, regional and national programs such as 
National Institute of Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension 
Partnership programs, Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assistance 
supported Compliance Assistance Centers, EPA's Small Business 
Assistance Programs, and the Small Business Development Centers, etc. 
Some of the current P2Rx centers are co-located with these other 
assistance providers. Co-location can promote improved communication 
and sharing of information and resources.
    iv. Identifiable measures of success. Applicants are encouraged to 
identify how and what criteria they are using to track the 
effectiveness of each proposed task. Measures of success could be 
measures of direct environmental improvement or should be directly 
linked to such measures. Many of the EPA regional offices have 
negotiated with their States measurement structures which may provide 
some appropriate measures for use by P2 information assistance 
programs. The P2Rx centers have agreed to specific activity and web 
site usage measures for reporting twice a year. Measures of P2Rx 
services as described at this URL: http://www.p2rx.org/AdminInfo/activityMe.cfm. This URL describes the web activity measures that the 
P2rx centers currently collect: http://www.p2rx.org/AdminInfo/WebMeasure.cfm. These measures are submitted to the P2Rx program 
coordinator twice a year and are combined to provide a national report 
on P2Rx activities.
    Applicants should propose some way of utilizing State 
representatives to guide, evaluate, and provide feedback on the 
information services the applicant is proposing. Applicants are 
encouraged to make use of existing regional organizations to provide 
feedback over the course of the grant. Monthly conference calls, 
meetings tied into existing regional meetings, or web site comments 
could be used as a source of customer feedback.
    4. Content and format of proposal. The Standard Form 424, 424A, and 
other forms as provided by EPA must be used for this program. The 
proposal should:
    i. Identify the lead agency applying for funds, other involved 
agencies and key contacts.
    ii. Describe the problem or issues the proposal will address and 
the current status of P2 efforts on this problem in the State or 
region.
    iii. Summarize the project strategy, objectives, goals, and 
measures of success.
    iv. Provide a schedule for implementation which specifies the 
tasks, estimated cost, deliverables, and estimated due dates.
    v. A budget indicating the funding requested and the matching 
resources for the proposal. Requested Federal dollars must be matched 
by at least an equal value of funds and/or in-kind goods and services.
    vi. Describe the experience of key project personnel and the 
organization's capabilities and experience as it relates to the 
proposed tasks.
    vii. Provide the specific format for reporting measures or 
activities that reflect the effectiveness of each of the proposed 
tasks.
    viii. Include completed standard application forms: SF 424 and SF 
424A.
    ix. Include at least two letters of support from State or other 
programs which provide technical assistance.

VI. Review and Selection Process

    1. Review process. A national panel, comprised of EPA 
representatives from both Headquarters and the EPA Regions, will 
evaluate each proposal. EPA will review all proposals for quality, 
strength, and completeness against the criteria described below.
    2. Criteria for selecting a proposal. Acceptable proposals must 
meet the eligibility requirements in Unit IV. EPA is seeking proposals 
that will contribute to the organization and efficient retrieval of P2 
information. EPA will consider the regional location of the proposed 
center, in order to ensure that P2 information derived from all of the 
United States is included in the Pollution Prevention Information 
Network. Below are listed seven criteria used to evaluate proposals. 
Proposals may receive up to 100 points maximum.
    i. Project description and justification. The proposal presents a 
clear description of the areas of expertise and/or P2 information 
products to be developed that will address State and regional 
environmental concerns. Justification is given for how these services 
will address regional environmental concerns. (15 points)
    ii. Project objectives. The proposal specifies realistic goals or 
objectives to advance P2/multi-media solutions to address regional 
environmental concerns. (10 points)
    iii. Project strategy. The proposal includes a well-conceived 
strategy to achieve the project goals and objectives and a proposed 
schedule for execution

[[Page 13916]]

of the tasks associated with each goal. (15 points)
    iv. Project management. The proposal identifies and describes 
qualifications of key personnel. Proposals identify other environmental 
assistance providers committed to the tasks. Proposals leverage 
expertise of other P2Rx centers and other assistance providers to 
reduce duplication of effort in developing information products. (15 
points)
    v. Identified measures for project. The proposal contains clear 
measures of success. Proposals identify criteria used to track the 
effectiveness of each proposed task and include the specific format for 
reporting measures. (20 points)
    vi. Budget. The proposal includes a budget indicating the funding 
requested and the matching resources. Requested Federal dollars must be 
matched by at least an equal value of funds and/or in-kind goods and 
services. The description demonstrates effective and judicious use of 
Federal funds. (15 points)
    vii. Partnerships. The proposal utilizes State, local and regional 
representatives to guide, evaluate, and provide feedback on the 
products and services the regional center proposes. (10 points)
    3. Anticipated award date. Cooperative agreements will be awarded 
by September 30, 2003. EPA reserves the right to reject all proposals 
and make no awards. Any dispute will follow the process in accordance 
with 40 CFR 30.63 and part 31, subpart F.

VII. Post Award Reporting

    1. Reports. Organizations that are awarded grant funds will be 
required to submit semi-annual progress reports, during the life of the 
project, to the EPA Project Officer and EPA Headquarters coordinator. 
Each report will summarize funds expended, tasks accomplished, and 
results achieved to date. A specific format for reporting P2 
information center activities (http://www.p2rx.org/AdminInfo/activityMe.cfm) and web site usage (http://www.p2rx.org/AdminInfo/WebMeasure.cfm ) has been developed. A summary final grant report will 
also be due 90 days after the end of the project period. This final 
report should include a discussion of the prospects for continuation, 
project evaluation, and future direction.
    2. Audits. Periodic audits should be made as part of the 
recipient's system of financial management and internal control to meet 
terms and conditions of grants and other agreements. In accordance with 
the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133, ``Audits of States, Local 
Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations,'' nonfederal entities that 
receive financial assistance of $300,000 or more within the State's 
fiscal year shall have an audit made for that year. The Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) Circular No. A-133, ``Audits of States, 
Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations,'' was published in the 
Federal Register of June 30, 1997 (62 FR 35302). The Circular 
implements the Single Audit Act amendments of 1996. State agencies that 
receive less than $300,000 within the State's fiscal year shall have an 
audit made in accordance with Federal laws and regulations governing 
the programs in which they participate.
    3. Records. Financial records, including all documents to support 
entries on accounting records to substantiate charges to each grant, 
must be kept available to personnel authorized to examine EPA grant 
accounts. All records must be maintained for 3 years from the date of 
submission of the annual financial status report. If questions still 
remain, such as those raised as a result of an audit, related records 
should be retained until the matter is completely resolved.

VIII. Congressional Review Act

    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 is not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Grant administration, Grants, pollution 
prevention.


    Dated: March 11, 2003.
Susan B. Hazen,
Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Prevention, Pesticides and 
Toxic Substances.
[FR Doc. 03-6820 Filed 3-20-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S