[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 37 (Wednesday, February 25, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 8640]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-4126]



[[Page 8640]]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7626-5]


Great Lakes Legacy Act--Request for Projects

AGENCY: United States Environmental Protection Agency--Great Lakes 
National Program Office.

ACTION: Funding availability.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Great Lakes 
National Program Office (GLNPO) is requesting proposals for projects, 
for up to $10,000,000, addressing contaminated sediment problems in 
Great Lakes Areas of Concern located wholly or partially in the United 
States (U.S. AOCs) as outlined in the Great Lakes Legacy Act of 2002 
(the Legacy Act).

DATES: The deadline for all Project proposals is 5 p.m. Central 
Standard Time, March 31, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Cieniawski, (312) 353-9184, 
[email protected] or Marc Tuchman, (312) 353-1369, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Request for Projects (RFP) is available 
on the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/glla.
    The purpose of this request is to solicit ideas for projects that 
would help to implement the Great Lakes Legacy Act. In order to receive 
funding under the Legacy Act, projects must be located in one of the 31 
U.S. Great Lakes AOCs. Top priority will be given to projects that are 
geared toward on-the-ground remediation (i.e., actual implementation of 
a remedial option) of contaminated sediments within a U.S. AOC. 
Remediation projects would include, but are not limited to, remedial 
options such as: Dredging, capping, monitored natural recovery, 
treatment technologies, or a combination of remedial alternatives for 
contaminated sediment.
    The next priority level would be given to projects that seek to 
move a contaminated sediment site toward remediation. These projects 
could include: Site characterizations, site assessments, source 
identification/source control, monitoring, remedial alternatives 
evaluations and short-term/long-term effects analyses.
    Please note that this Legacy Act RFP is a departure from GLNPO's 
annual funding guidance process. The funding guidance proposals for 
Great Lakes sediment grant projects are being solicited under a 
separate request for proposal process scheduled for release in January 
2004.
    Additionally, the Legacy Act program is not a grants program. The 
process for selecting Legacy Act projects is not a grants competition, 
but it is based on the development of a negotiated Project Agreement 
(PA) between USEPA and the non-federal sponsor. USEPA will consider 
projects based on the extent to which they meet the required components 
of the Legacy Act and this RFP.
    The non-federal share of the cost of a project shall be at least 
35% of the total project costs and 100% of cost of operation and 
maintenance of the project. It is the responsibility of the non-federal 
sponsor to secure the non-federal share of project costs. The non-
federal share may include the value of in-kind services contributed by 
the non-federal sponsor, and may include funds or in-kind services 
provided pursuant to an administrative order on consent or a judicial 
consent decree. The non-federal share of the cost of a project may not 
include any funds paid pursuant to, or the value of any in-kind service 
performed under, a unilateral administrative order or court order.
    GLNPO will review Legacy Act project proposals as they are 
received. GLNPO intends to enter into PA discussions with project 
applicants that meet the required components outlined in the RFP. With 
a limited amount of funds available in FY04, it is expected that the 
initial projects that result in a PA will be funded with FY04 funds, to 
the extent they are available. Other projects that result in a PA will 
be dependent upon funding, if any, received for the Act in FY05. If 
necessary, GLNPO will consider, but is not required to release, an 
additional solicitation for projects to be funded from FY05 
appropriations.
    Funding (through project agreements) is available pursuant to 
section 118(c) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 
1268(c)). States, tribes, industry, non-governmental organizations, and 
other stakeholders are eligible to apply.

    Dated: January 29, 2004.
Gary V. Gulezian,
Director, Great Lakes National Program Office.
[FR Doc. 04-4126 Filed 2-24-04; 8:45 am]
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