[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 81 (Thursday, April 28, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22036-22042]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-8611]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-2005-0006; FRL-7703-2]


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 regional offices, is soliciting pesticide and special project 
proposals from eligible Tribes, Alaska native villages, and intertribal 
consortia for fiscal year (FY) 2005 funding. Under this program, 
cooperative agreement awards will provide financial assistance to 
eligible Tribal governments, Alaska native village 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 2005 is expected to be 
approximately $445,000, with a maximum funding level of $50,000 per 
project.

DATES:  Proposals must be received by EPA on or before 5 p.m. eastern 
standard time, June 13, 2005.

ADDRESSES:  Proposals may be submitted to your EPA regional office by 
mail. An electronic copy of the proposal is also required and may be 
sent via e-mail to the regional contact. Please follow the detailed 
instructions provided in Unit V.1. of the Supplementary Information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Georgia McDuffie, Field and External 
Affairs Division (7506C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-
0001; telephone number: (703) 605-0195; e-mail address: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Overview Information

    The following listing provides certain key information concerning 
this funding opportunity.

[[Page 22037]]

     Federal agency name: Environmental Protection Agency.
     Funding opportunity title: Tribal Pesticide and Special 
Projects: Request for Proposals.
     Funding opportunity number: OPP-007.
     Announcement type: The initial announcement of a funding 
opportunity.
     Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number: This 
program is included in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance under 
number 66.716 at http://www.cfda.gov.
     Dates: Applications must be received by EPA on or before 
June 13, 2005.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

A. Authority

    EPA expects to enter into grants and cooperative agreements under 
the authority provided in the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and 
Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Section 20 of FIFRA authorizes the Agency to 
issue grants or cooperative agreements for research, public education, 
training, monitoring, demonstration, and studies.
    The award and administration of these grants will be governed by 
the Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative 
Agreements to states, Tribes, 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 35.500-35.518. In addition, the 
provisions in 40 CFR part 32, governing government wide debarment and 
suspension, and the provisions in 40 CFR part 40, regarding 
restrictions on lobbying, apply.
    All costs incurred under this program must be allowable under the 
applicable OMB Cost Circular A-87. Copies of this circular can be found 
at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars/. In accordance with EPA 
policy and the OMB circular, any recipient of funding must agree not to 
use assistance funds for fund raising, or political activities such as 
lobbying members of Congress or lobbying for other Federal grants, 
cooperative agreements, or contracts. See 40 CFR part 40.

B. Program Description

    1. Purpose and scope. Cooperative agreements awarded under this 
program are intended to provide financial assistance to eligible Tribal 
governments or intertribal consortia for projects that assess and/or 
reduce the risks of pesticide exposure to human health and the 
environment. For this solicitation, the word ``Tribe'' refers to 
federally recognized Tribes as well as to federally recognized Alaska 
native villages, and an intertribal consortium defined as a partnership 
of two or more federally recognized Tribes that is authorized by its 
membership to apply for, and receive, assistance under the Federal 
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).
    Funds may be used to support new activities that fit the 
requirements of this solicitation. Projects may be targeted to any 
pesticide-related concern or need facing a Tribe or intertribal 
consortium. Although the proposal may request funding for activities 
that will further long-term objectives, this program provides one-time 
funding, and the maximum period of performance for funded activities is 
expected to be approximately 12 months.
    2. Goal and objectives. EPA intends that recipients will use 
funding provided under this Tribal Pesticide and Special Project 
Program to help address the specific, pesticide-related concerns of 
their communities. The Agency will consider funding a broad range of 
projects that assess or reduce pesticide exposure risks to human health 
and the environment in Indian country.
    3. History. Since 1997, EPA has provided funding for projects that 
supported pesticide management and water quality protection in Indian 
country. For the purposes of this solicitation, the term ``Indian 
country'' means:
    (i) All land within the limits of any Indian reservation under 
the jurisdiction of the United States Government, notwithstanding 
the issuance of any patent, and including rights-of-way running 
throughout the reservation;
    (ii) All dependent Indian communities within the borders of the 
United States, whether within the original or subsequently acquired 
territory thereof, and whether within or without the limits of the 
State; and
    (iii) All Indian allotments, the Indian titles to which have not 
been extinguished, including rights-of-way running through the same.
    4. EPA Strategic Plan Linkage and Anticipated Outcomes/Outputs.
    i. Linkage to EPA Strategic Plan/GPRA Architecture. These 
assistance agreements will support progress towards EPA Strategic Plan 
Goal 4--Healthy Communities and Ecosystems; Objective 4.1--Chemical, 
Organism and Pesticide Risk; Program/Project 09--Categorical Grants: 
Pesticides Program Implementation (STAG).
    ii. Outcomes. Through these agreements EPA hopes to work with the 
Tribes to assess and/or reduce risks to human health and the 
environment from pesticide exposure by funding projects that target 
areas of pesticide concern, i.e., water quality, exposure and risk 
assessment; effects of pesticides on cultural activities; integrated 
pest management, or alternatives to other pesticides.
    iii. Outputs. The anticipated output of these tribal projects may 
include educational and outreach materials, conferences and training, 
and other programs, policies and activities that will result in the 
reduction of pesticide exposure.
    Each year since 1997, EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs, in 
coordination with the EPA regional offices, has awarded approximately 
$445,000 annually to eligible Tribes and intertribal consortia for 
projects supporting pesticide management and water quality goals.
    This Federal Register notice provides qualification and application 
requirements to parties who may be interested in submitting proposals 
for FY 2005 monies. The total amount available for award during this 
funding cycle is expected to be approximately $445,000. The maximum 
award amount per proposal is set at $50,000, and only one proposal per 
applicant will be accepted for consideration. Indirect cost rates will 
not increase the $50,000 maximum funding amount.

II. Award Information

    Funding for each award recipient will be in the form of a 
cooperative agreement for $50,000 or less, under FIFRA section 20 and 
section 23(a)(1). Total funding available for award is expected to be 
approximately $445,000.
    Should additional funding become available for award, the Agency 
may make additional monies available, based on this solicitation and in 
accordance with the final selection process, without further notice of 
competition. The Agency also reserves the right to decrease available 
funding for this program, or to make no awards based on this 
solicitation. All costs charged to these awards must be allowable under 
the applicable OMB Cost Circular, A-87 which may be found at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars/.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Threshold eligibility factors. To be eligible for consideration, 
applicants must meet the following criteria. Failure to meet these 
criteria will result in the automatic disqualification of the proposal 
for consideration for funding:
     Be an applicant who is eligible to receive funding under 
this announcement, including federally recognized Tribal governments,

[[Page 22038]]

federally recognized Alaska native villages, or an intertribal 
consortium (If you are applying as a consortium, you must provide 
verification of your eligibility according to the requirements of Unit 
I.B.1.). Only one project proposal may be submitted per applicant.
     The proposal must meet all format and content requirements 
contained in this Notice.
     The proposal submittal must comply with the directions for 
submittal contained in this Notice.
    2. Eligibility criteria. Applicants will be evaluated on the 
following criteria:
    i. Projects must be targeted to a pesticide concern or need facing 
a Tribe or intertribal consortium, including, but not limited to:
     Water quality.
     Development/support of exposure and risk assessment 
capacity.
     Traditional Tribal lifeways/subsistence. Effects of 
pesticides on cultural activities.
     Assessment of the need for and/or development of a 
pesticide management policy or plan.
     Consideration of integrated pest management, reduced 
pesticide use, or alternatives to pesticides.
     Sampling.
     Concerns associated with the return of culturally and 
spiritually significant items that may have been exposed to pesticides 
as part of historical preservation efforts by museums or other 
collectors.
     Noxious weed education materials and/or control 
alternatives.
     Public outreach/education materials relating to pest 
management and/or pesticide safety.
    In addition, eligible proposals may be focused on the 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 by pesticides, predicting potential exposure to endangered 
or threatened aquatic species, or establishing a baseline of 
contamination from which to measure progress toward future improvement 
in the environment).
    Water quality projects may involve: (1) Information gathering; (2) 
baseline development including vulnerability assessment, identifying 
pesticides (from either on or off reservation sources) that are most 
likely to impact water quality; (3) providing information to pesticide 
users on ways they can assist in protecting the quality of water 
sources; (4) developing other measures that protect water from 
pesticides; or (5) developing projects aimed at preventing 
contamination of water sources, mitigating contaminated water sources 
or developing best management practices.
    Other projects, not necessarily linked to water quality issues, may 
include: (1) Training on the establishment of Tribal pesticide codes; 
(2) creating and implementing a system for the proper disposal of 
pesticides, and/or; (3) educational outreach to the community on 
pesticide controls. 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.
    Water quality and non-water quality pesticide-related projects are 
equally eligible for funding under this grant program. Reviewers will 
give additional consideration to proposals that recognize and build 
upon existing, publicly available, technical and educational 
information.
    ii. Outcomes. Applicants must provide a description of expected 
outcomes. Nominees must be able to account for the environmental 
improvement that is expected to result from the project and adequately 
show how the project will be evaluated. Criteria by which the project 
will be judged and whether or not it will be considered a success 
should be incorporated into the description.
    iii. Past awards and performance. Applicants must provide 
information, if the applicant has received project funding in prior 
years through the Office of Pesticide Programs Tribal grant program, 
that outcomes of prior projects were beneficial, sustainable, and/or 
transferable. If the applicant has never received an award under this 
grant program, that should be clearly noted. If unexpected barriers 
were encountered during the implementation of a prior project, those 
should be noted and briefly discussed as well.
    3. Cost sharing and matching. There are no cost share requirements 
for this project.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to request proposal package. The applicant must submit 
the project proposal to the appropriate EPA regional contact, as listed 
below. One original, signed package must be sent by mail. An electronic 
copy of the proposal is also required and must be sent via e-mail to 
the regional contact. The proposal must be received by your EPA region 
no later than close of business, June 13, 2005. Incomplete or late 
proposals will be disqualified for funding consideration. 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-2005-0006 in the subject line on the first page of 
your proposal.
    EPA regional Tribal pesticide contacts are as follows:
    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). 
Tracy Truesdale, EPA Region II, U.S. EPA Facilities, Raritan Depot 
(MS500), 2890 Woodbridge Ave., Edison, NJ 08837-3679, telephone: (732) 
906-6894, 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). Randy Dominy, EPA Region 
IV, 61 Forsyth St., SW., Atlanta, GA 30303, telephone: (404) 562-8996, 
fax: (404) 562-8973, e-mail: [email protected].
    EPA Region V (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin). 
Meonii Crenshaw, EPA Region V, 77 West Jackson Boulevard (DT-8J), 
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, (6PD-P), Dallas, TX 
75202-2733, telephone: (214) 665-7562, fax: (214) 665-7263, e-mail: 
[email protected].
    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). Margaret Collins, EPA Region VIII, 999 18th St., (8P-
P3T), Denver, CO 80202-2466, telephone: (303) 312-6023, fax: (303) 312-
6044, e-mail: [email protected].

[[Page 22039]]

    EPA Region IX (Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, American Samoa, 
the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam). Marcy Katzin, 
EPA Region IX, 75 Hawthorne St., (CMD 5), San Francisco, CA 94105, 
telephone: (415) 947-4215, fax: (415) 947-3583, e-mail: 
[email protected].
    EPA Region X (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington). Theresa Pimentel, 
EPA Region X, 1200 Sixth Avenue, (OCE-084), Seattle, WA 98101, 
telephone: (206) 553-0257, fax: (206) 553-1775, e-mail: 
[email protected].
    2. Notification process. 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.
    3. Content and form of proposal submission. Proposals must be 
typewritten, in 12 point or larger print, using 8.5 x 11 inch paper 
with minimum 1 inch horizontal and vertical margins. Pages must be 
numbered, in order starting with the cover page and continuing through 
the appendices. One original hard copy and one electronic copy (e-mail 
or disk) is required.
    Your application package must include the following:
     Completed Standard Form SF 424, Application for Federal 
Assistance. Your organization fax number and e-mail address must be 
included. The application forms are available at http://www.epa/gov.ogd/grants/how_to_apply.htm.
     Completed Section B. Budget Categories on page 1 of 
Standard Form SF 424A. 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.
     Detailed itemization of the amounts budgeted by individual 
Object Class Categories (see ``allowable costs'' discussion below).
     Statement regarding whether this proposal is a 
continuation of a previously funded project. If so, please provide the 
assistance number and status of the current grant/cooperative 
agreement.
     Cover page. Including descriptive project title.
     Executive summary. The executive summary shall be a stand 
alone document, not to exceed one page, containing the specifics of 
what is proposed and what you expect to accomplish regarding measuring 
or movement toward achieving project goals. This summary should 
identify the measurable environmental results you expect including 
potential human health benefits.
     Table of contents. A one page table listing the different 
parts of your proposal, including any appendices, and the page number 
on which each part begins.
     Proposal narrative. Includes Parts I-V as identified below 
(not to exceed 10 pages).
     Part I: Project title. Your proposal should be given a 
descriptive project title.
     Part II - Objectives. A number list (1, 2, etc.) of 
concisely written project objectives, in most cases, each objective can 
be stated in a single sentence.
     Part III - Justification. For each objective listed in 
Part II, discuss the potential outcome in terms of human health, 
environmental and/or pesticide risk reduction.
     Part IV - Approach and methods. Describe in detail how the 
program will be carried out. Describe how the system or approach will 
support the program goals.
     Part V - Impact assessment. In this section, describe how 
you will evaluate the success of the program in terms of measurable 
results. How and with what measures will human health and the 
environment be better protected as a result of the program. 
Quantifiable risk reduction measures should be described.
     Appendices. Appendices must be included as part of the 
proposal package and contain specific information that directly 
supports the likely ability of the applicant to successfully meet the 
performance requirements of this solicitation. Additional appendices 
are not permitted.
     Timetable (Draft work plan 1-2 pages). The timetable 
includes what will be accomplished in terms of milestones and goals and 
who is resposible for the achievement and should outline:
    -- Description/list of deliverables.
    -- The separate phases of the project.
    -- The tasks associated with each phase of the project.
    -- The time frames for completion of each phase or task.
    The name, title of the person(s) who will conduct each phase or 
task. 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.)
     Major participants. Brief resumes for each major project 
participant (not to exceed two pages) should be submitted in this 
appendix. The name, title of the person(s) who will conduct each phase 
or task.
     Letter or resolution from the Tribal leadership showing 
support for, and commitment to, the project should be submitted. (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.) If the 
applicant is a consortium of federally recognized Tribes (as defined in 
Unit II.B.), a letter from the consortium leadership, on consortium 
letterhead, affirming consortium status and member Tribes' support for 
the project, must accompany the proposal.
     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.
     Additional information. Additional information, including 
maps, data tables, excerpts from studies, photographs, news media 
reports, or other documents should be included in appendices to the 
main project proposal, when they add significant supporting detail to 
the main proposal. Appendix titles, and their starting page numbers, 
should be included in the Table of Contents, just after the proposal 
cover page.
    3. Submission dates and times. All applications must be submitted 
by mail. An electronic copy of the proposal is also required. It can be 
sent via e-mail to the regional contact. Regardless of submission 
method, all applications must be received by EPA on or before June 13, 
2005.
    4. Intergovernmental Review. All applicants should be aware that 
formal requests for assistance (i.e., SF 424 and associated 
documentation) may be subject to intergovernmental review under 
Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.'' Applicants should contact their state's single point of 
contact (SPOC) for further information. There is a list of these 
contacts at the following web site: http:/whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html.
    5. Funding restrictions. Cooperative agreements awarded under this 
program are intended to provide financial assistance to eligible Tribal 
governments or intertribal consortia for projects that assess and/or 
reduce the risks of pesticide exposure to human health and

[[Page 22040]]

the environment. EPA cooperative agreement funds may only be used for 
the purpose set forth in the agreement, and use must be consistent with 
the statutory authority for the award. Funds may not be used for 
matching funds for other Federal grants, lobbying, or intervention in 
Federal regulatory or adjudicatory proceedings. In addition, Federal 
funds may not be used to sue the Federal government or any other 
government entity. All costs identified in the budget must conform to 
the applicable Federal Cost Principles contained in OMB Circulars A-21, 
A-87, A-122, as appropriate.
    6. Other submission requirements. Each application must include the 
original paper copy of the submission, as well as one electronic copy. 
The electronic copy of your application package, whether submitted via 
e-mail or on a disk, must be consolidated into a single Microsoft Word 
or Adobe PDF 5/6 file. If you send your electronic copy via e-mail, 
please identify it as ``FY 2005 Proposal for Tribal Pesticide and 
Special Projects'' on the subject line and attach it as an e-mail to 
the appropriate regional contact person listed in IV.1. Be sure you 
identify the proposal originator in the body of the e-mail, before the 
attachment, to enable us to match it with your hard copy. If mailing a 
disk, please use a 3.5 disk that is labeled as a proposal for the ``FY 
2005 Tribal Pesticide and Special Projects'' and enclose it in the 
proposal package. For further information on submission, contact the 
EPA regional Tribal pesticide representative listed in Unit IV.1.
    7. Confidential business information. In accordance with 40 CFR 
2.203, applicants may claim all or a portion of their application/
proposal as confidential business information. EPA will evaluate 
confidential claims in accordance with 40 CFR part 2. Applicants must 
clearly mark applications/proposals or portions of applications/
proposals they claim as confidential. If no claim of confidentiality is 
made, EPA is not required to make the inquiry to the applicant 
otherwise required by 40 CFR 2.204(2) prior to disclosure.

V. Application Review Information

    1. Review and selection process. Proposals will be reviewed and 
approved for validity and completeness by EPA regional office 
personnel. If the region determines that an application is incomplete, 
the proposal will not be considered further. The region will forward 
all complete proposal packages, along with regional comments, to an EPA 
review panel convened by the Office of Pesticide Programs. If 
necessary, the panel will consult with regional staff regarding 
proposal content and regional comments. If money remains after the 
award selection process is completed, the review team will determine 
the allocation of the remaining money. Final selections will be made by 
close of business 60 days after the closing date for receipt of 
proposals.
    Applicants must submit information, as specified in this 
solicitation, to address award criteria. Applicants must also provide 
information specified in this solicitation that will assist EPA in 
assessing the Tribe's capacity to do the work outlined in the project 
proposal. The proposed work plan and budget should reflect activities 
that can realistically be completed during the period of performance of 
the cooperative agreement. Criteria that will be used to review, rank, 
and award funding are found below.
    i. General background information requirement. Pesticide-related 
projects that address a wide variety of issues of concern to Indian 
country are eligible for funding under this grant program. If the 
applicant Tribe or consortium has previously received project funding 
from the Office of Pesticide Programs Tribal Grant Program, specific 
information about those funded projects should be included with this 
proposal, for example:
     What was the project?
     When was the award made, and for what dollar amount?
     What successes or barriers were encountered as the project 
moved forward?
     What outputs from previously funded OPP projects continue 
to provide benefits to the Tribe (e.g., retention of trained personnel, 
continued use of purchased equipment, accretion of baseline, sampling 
and analysis data)?
    Information on projects previously funded by this OPP Tribal grant 
program may be provided in several ways: You may include descriptive 
language either in the narrative of the current proposal or as an 
appendix to the current proposal, or you may include a copy of the 
previous project's final report as an appendix to this proposal. The 
name of the EPA Project Officer for any projects previously funded 
under this grant program should also be included. If the applicant has 
never received funding under this grant program, that should be clearly 
noted in the proposal. Failure to address this information request may 
render your proposal non-responsive to this solicitation. If you have 
questions about this requirement, please contact your EPA region, or 
the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
    ii. Selection criteria. The proposals will be reviewed, evaluated, 
and ranked by a selected panel of EPA reviewers, based on the 
evaluation criteria and weighting factors that follow immediately 
below. (Total possible points: 100).
Criterion 1: Technical Qualifications, Overall Management Plan, Past 
Awards and Performance (25 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 that 
this project stays on track?
     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 the Tribe use the 
knowledge, data, and experience derived from previous projects to shape 
this new proposed activity?
     If appropriate, reviewers will give additional 
consideration to proposals that recognize and build upon existing, 
publicly available, technical and educational information.
Criterion 2: Justification for Need of the Project, Soundness of 
Technical Approach (30 Points)
    To provide reviewers with context for your proposed project, and to 
assist them in gaining the clearest possible sense of the positive 
impact of this project on your Tribe and the environment, please 
briefly provide some information about your reservation:
     Specify the location, size, geography, and general climate 
of the reservation.
     About how many residents are Tribal members and how many 
are not Tribal members?
     How much of the reservation is under cultivation where 
pesticides are used?

[[Page 22041]]

     Does the reservation include wetlands or other natural 
resource preserves?
     If there is relevance to your project, briefly describe 
the Tribal and non-Tribal populations of surrounding counties/states, 
and surrounding land use.
     How many people (tribal/non-Tribal) are employed by the 
Tribal government (e.g., in government services, including 
environmental monitoring or management, health care, police and fire 
protection)?
     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, etc.)?
     If you are concerned about pesticide pollution that may 
originate within reservation boundaries, what are the potential sources 
and what chemicals might be involved?
     If you are concerned with pollution migration from off-
reservation sources, what are those potential sources, and what 
chemicals are of specific concern?
     Is the Tribe concerned about water quality issues? If so, 
please describe the nature of these concerns.
     Does the Tribe currently have any pesticide policy or 
pesticide management program in place? If not is it seeking to 
establish a code?
     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 bring to the Tribe in 
terms of human and environmental health?
     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 and what is your plan to involve 
them? 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?
     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.
     Please describe the steps you will take to ensure 
successful completion of the project. Provide a time-line and 
description of interim and final results and deliverables.
Criterion 3: Benefits, Sustainability, Transferable Results (30 Points)
    Discuss if the results from this project will 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?
     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?
     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?
     Does the applicant recognize a need for coordination 
between Tribal agencies and outside communities, and/or Federal, State 
or local agencies?
     Will the project help build Tribal infrastructure and 
capacity? How?
Criterion 4: Outcomes (15 Points)
    The proposals will be scored based on how well they are supported 
by a clearly articulated set of performance and progress measures. 
Reviewers will evaluate the workplan in relation to its likelihood to 
achieve predicted environmental results, including the likelihood of 
attaining expected outcomes, reaching project goals, and producing on-
the-ground, quantifiable environmental change. A description of 
expected outcomes must be included. Reviewer consideration included:
     What is the environmental improvement that is expected to 
result from the project?
     Does the applicant adequately show how the project will be 
evaluated?
     Has the applicant developed criteria by which the project 
will be judged and whether or not it will be considered a success?
    iii. Selection official. The final funding decision will be made 
from the group of top rated proposals by the Chief of the Government 
and International Services Branch, Field and External Affairs Division, 
Office of Pesticide Programs. The Agency reserves the right to reject 
all proposals and make no awards.
    iv. Disputes. Assistance agreement competition-related disputes 
will be resolved in accordance with the dispute resolution procedures 
published in the Federal Register of January 26, 2005 (70 FR 3629), 
which can be found at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/ 2422/
01jan20051800/edocket.access.gop.gov/2005/05-1371.htm. Copies of these 
procedures may also be requested by contacting the appropriate EPA 
Regional Tribal Coordinator listed in Unit IV.1.

VI. Award Administration Information

    1. Notification process. 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.
    2. Post-selection regulatory requirements. Selected applicants must 
negotiate a final work plan, including reporting requirements, with the 
designated EPA regional project officer. 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.

VII. Agency Contact

    For additional information contact: Georgia McDuffie, Field and 
External Affairs Division (7506C), Office of Pesticide Programs, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (703) 305-6463; fax 
number: (703) 308-1850; e-mail address: [email protected] or 
contact the EPA regional Tribal pesticide representative listed in Unit 
IV.1.

VIII. Other Information

A. Does this Action Apply to Me?

    Potentially affected entities include federally recognized Tribal 
governments, federally recognized Alaska native village governments, or 
qualified intertribal consortia. Only one project proposal from each 
Tribal government or intertribal consortium will be considered for 
funding. 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

[[Page 22042]]

under docket identification (ID) number OPP-2005-0006. 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, 1801 S. Bell St., 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 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 VIII.B.1. Once in the system, select ``search,'' 
then key in the appropriate docket ID number.

IX. Submission to Congress and the Comptroller General

    Grant solicitations containing binding legal requirements are 
considered rules for the purpose of the Congressional Review Act (CRA) 
(5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.). The CRA 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 grant solicitation 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 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, Grants, Pesticides, Training.


    Dated: April 25, 2005.
Susan B. Hazen,
Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Prevention, Pesticides and 
Toxic Substances.

[FR Doc. 05-8611 Filed 4-26-05; 2:19 pm]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S