[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 75 (Wednesday, April 20, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20543-20544]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-7802]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7901-3]


Notice of Request for Proposals for Projects To Be Funded from 
the Water Quality Cooperative Agreement Allocation (CFDA 66.463--Water 
Quality Cooperative Agreements); Correction

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice; correction.

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SUMMARY: EPA Region 6 published in the Federal Register of March 30, 
2005, a notice soliciting proposals funded from the Regional Water 
Quality Cooperative Agreement allocation. This document is being issued 
to add and clarify several requirements that must be included in 
competitive funding announcements according to EPA Order 5700.7, 
Environmental Results under EPA Assistance Agreements. Additionally, a 
clarification on how past performance will be evaluated is included. 
Due to this correction notice, the deadline for submittal of all 
proposals is May 31, 2005.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA Region 6 published a notice in the 
Federal Register of March 30, 2005, (FR 05-6300) soliciting proposals 
for projects to be funded from the Regional Water Quality Cooperative 
Agreement Allocation. According to EPA Order 5700.7, all competitive 
funding announcements must include (1) a concise discussion of any 
expected outputs and outcomes in Section I and (2) ranking criteria for 
evaluating the applicant's plan for tracking and measuring its progress 
toward achieving the expected outputs and outcomes.
    This correction adds a discussion of the difference between an 
output and outcome which will be added to Section I and reference to 
the outputs/outcomes for each priority area is added.
    The language in the fourth ranking criteria of Section V regarding 
the quality of the evaluation component to assess or measure the 
environmental outcome(s) is corrected to reflect Order 5700.7 more 
accurately. A discussion for inclusion of this plan will be added in 
the Environmental Results and Outcomes Section of the proposal format.
    This correction also clarifies the criteria for applicant's past 
performance. Applicant's past performance will be evaluated. Therefore, 
the words ``if applicable'' in the Past Performance criteria in Section 
V.1. will be deleted. Applicants will have to include any information 
on performance of past EPA projects similar in scope and relevance to 
the proposed project under the Describe Applicant's Capability to 
Perform Work: section of the proposal format. Applicants that do not 
have any relevant past performance will receive a neutral score for 
this factor. That means applicants will receive a possible 2.5 points 
out of 5. EPA Region 6 will also evaluate this criteria based on any 
existing information that is available based on past experience with 
the applicant.
    Due to this correction notice, the date that the proposals must be 
submitted to EPA Region 6 has been extended. This extension also 
extends the date that EPA will identify initial selections.

Corrections

    In notice FR 03-6300 published on March 30, 2005, (FR 05-6300) make 
the following corrections.
    On page 16267, third column, under DATES caption, first sentence, 
correct the May 16, 2005 date with May 31, 2005.
    On page 16267, third column, under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION, under 
``Dates'' caption, first sentence, correct the May 16, 2005 date with 
May 31, 2005.
    On page 16267, third column, under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION, under 
``Dates'' caption, second sentence, correct the June 28, 2005 date with 
July 14, 2005.
    On page 16268, in the first column, under High Priority Areas for 
Funding Consideration, second paragraph, add at the end of the second 
sentence the following:
    The expected outputs/outcomes are included in the threshold 
eligibility criteria in Section III.3. for each priority area topic.
    EPA defines ``outputs'' as an environmental activity, effort, and/
or associated work products related to an environmental goal or 
objective, that will be produced or provided over a period of time or 
by a specified date. Outputs may be quantitative or qualitative but 
must be measurable during an assistance agreement funding period.
    Outcomes are defined as the result, effect, or consequence that 
will occur from carrying out an environmental program or activity that 
is related to an environmental or programmatic goal or objective. 
Outcomes may be environmental, behavioral, health-related or 
programmatic in nature, must be quantitative, and may not necessarily

[[Page 20544]]

be achievable with an assistance agreement funding period.''
    On page 16269, second column, after the fourth bullet of the 
``Watershed--Based Permitting'' caption, add the following:
     Successful completion of the project should result in the 
development of a new NPDES permitting issuance strategy that maximizes 
the use of resources to achieve environmental results and better 
protect entire watersheds.
    On page 16269, second column, after the eighth bullet of the 
``Water Quality Trading'' caption, add the following:
     Successful completion of the project should result in the 
development of a water quality trading process which will aid in 
complying with discharge limitations while improving and preserving 
water quality.
    On page 16269, third column, after the first bullet of the ``Cross-
Program Training on Water Quality Modeling'' caption, add the 
following:
     Successful completion of this training program should 
result in new avenues for Region 6 States to better coordinate 
resources and investigate innovative resolutions to water quality 
issues and development of TMDLs, especially at the watershed level, in 
support of State and National goals to reduce impaired waters in those 
States.
    On page 16270, in the second column, under the proposal format, add 
at the end of Environmental Results and Outcomes: the following:
    ``This section should also include a plan to track and measure 
progress toward achieving the expected outputs and outcomes.''
    On page 16270, in the second column, under the proposal format, add 
at the end of Describe Applicant's Capability To Perform Work: the 
following:
    ``This section should also include information on performance of 
past EPA Region 6 projects similar in scope and relevance to the 
proposed project.''
    On page 16270, second column, under ``3. Submission Dates and 
Times'' caption, first sentence correct the May 16, 2005 date with May 
31, 2005.
    On page 16270, in the third column, under Section V. Application 
Review Information, 1. Criteria, fourth bullet, delete ``and the 
quality of the evaluation component to assess or measure the 
environmental outcome(s)'' and replace with ``including the adequacy of 
the applicant's plan to track and measure progress toward achieving the 
expected outputs and outcomes.''
    On page 16271, first column, second bullet, delete ``if 
applicable.'' under past performance criteria. Therefore, this criteria 
should read ``Applicant's past performance. (5)''.

    Dated: April 11, 2005.
Miguel I. Flores,
Director, Water Quality Protection Division, Region 6.
[FR Doc. 05-7802 Filed 4-19-05; 8:45 am]
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