[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 85 (Thursday, May 1, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24049-24050]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-9616]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Docket Number 080328487-8488-01]


Revision to the Remote Community Alert Systems Program

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: NOAA publishes this notice to reopen the application 
solicitation period and to amend the application requirements for the 
Remote Community Alert Systems Program, which was announced in the 
Federal Register on February 8, 2008. The notice informs applicants 
that NOAA reopens the competition and establishes a new due date for 
applications of May 23, 2008, clarifies the submission requirements 
concerning an abstract page and project description, and clarifies that 
eligible applicants include U.S. Commonwealths and Territories. It also 
removes a typographical error which referenced a required ``item 5'' 
which does not exist in the text. Finally, it advises applicants that 
they can amend or resubmit their applications, if they so choose, by 
the new application deadline.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information 
should be directed to Craig Hodan, NOAA/NWS, 1325 East-West Highway, 
Room 3348, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910. Phone: 301-713-9480 x 187, e-
mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NOAA publishes this notice to make changes 
to the Remote Community Alert Systems Program, which was announced in 
the Federal Register on February 8, 2008 (73 FR 7528). This notice 
reopens the application solicitation period for the Remote Community 
Alert System Program published in the Federal Register notice cited 
above. The new deadline for applications is 5 p.m. on May 23, 2008. 
Applicants who submitted proposals may amend or resubmit their 
applications by the newly established date. All applications received 
after April 11, 2008 and by the new deadline will be considered timely 
and will be evaluated by the program.
    Also, NOAA amends the ``Eligibility'' paragraph to clarify that 
eligible applicants include those from U.S. Commonwealths and 
Territories. The current language reads: ``Eligible applicants are 
States and Tribal Communities.'' NOAA amends this

[[Page 24050]]

language to read: ``Eligible applicants are States (including U.S. 
Commonwealths and Territories) and Tribal Communities.''
    In addition, this notice clarifies the requirement to submit an 
abstract page and project description as part of the application, and 
removes reference to the submission of an ``item 5'' which does not 
exist in the text and was a typographical error. The Announcement of 
Federal Funding Opportunity (NWS-NWSPO-2008-2001322) for this program 
requires, as part of the application, an abstract and a project 
description. However, section IV.B of the FFO contained misleading 
language that erroneously implied that these two documents were not 
required to be submitted by the due date: ``Failure to submit items 1, 
4 and 5 by the application date will result in the application not 
being reviewed.'' This notice clarifies that the abstract and project 
description are required to be submitted by the application due date in 
order for the application to be considered for funding. Therefore, the 
text of the third sentence of Section IV.B. is revised to read: 
``Failure to submit items 1 through 4 by the application date will 
result in the application not being reviewed.'' The Announcement 
presently explains what the abstract page and project description 
should contain.

Limitation of Liability

    In no event will NOAA or the Department of Commerce be responsible 
for proposal preparation costs if this program is cancelled because of 
other agency priorities. Publication of this announcement does not 
oblige NOAA to award any specific project or to obligate any available 
funds. Applicants are hereby given notice that funding for the Fiscal 
Year 2008 program is contingent upon the availability of Fiscal Year 
2008 appropriations.

Universal Identifier

    Applicants should be aware they are required to provide a Dun and 
Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number during the 
application process. See the October 30, 2002, Federal Register, (67, 
FR 66177) for additional information. Organizations can receive a DUNS 
number at no cost by calling the dedicated toll-free DUNS Number 
request line at 1-866-705-5711 or via the Internet at http://www.dunandbradstreet.com.

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

    NOAA must analyze the potential environmental impacts, as required 
by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), for applicant projects 
or proposals which are seeking NOAA federal funding opportunities. 
Detailed information on NOAA compliance with NEPA can be found at the 
following NOAA NEPA Web site: http://www.nepa.noaa.gov/, including our 
NOAA Administrative Order 216-6 for NEPA, http://www.nepa.noaa.gov/NAO216_6_TOC.pdf, and the Council on Environmental Quality 
implementation regulations, http://ceq.eh.doe.gov/nepa/regs/ceq/toc_ceq.htm. Consequently, as part of an applicant's package, and under 
their description of their program activities, applicants are required 
to provide detailed information on the activities to be conducted, 
locations, sites, species and habitat to be affected, possible 
construction activities, and any environmental concerns that may exist 
(e.g., the use and disposal of hazardous or toxic chemicals, 
introduction of non-indigenous species, impacts to endangered and 
threatened species, aquaculture projects, and impacts to coral reef 
systems). In addition to providing specific information that will serve 
as the basis for any required impact analyses, applicants may also be 
requested to assist NOAA in drafting of an environmental assessment, if 
NOAA determines an assessment is required. Applicants will also be 
required to cooperate with NOAA in identifying feasible measures to 
reduce or avoid any identified adverse environmental impacts of their 
proposal. The failure to do so shall be grounds for not selecting an 
application. In some cases if additional information is required after 
an application is selected, funds can be withheld by the Grants Officer 
under a special award condition requiring the recipient to submit 
additional environmental compliance information sufficient to enable 
NOAA to make an assessment on any impacts that a project may have on 
the environment.
    The Department of Commerce Preaward Notification Requirements for 
Grants and Cooperative Agreements contained in the Federal Register 
notice of October 1, 2001 (66 FR 49917), as amended by the Federal 
Register notice published on October 30, 2002 (67 FR 66109), are 
applicable to this solicitation.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This document contains collection-of-information requirements 
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). The requirement for an 
abstract and project description fall under the approval for Standard 
Form 424. The use of Standard Forms 424, 424A, 424B, SF-LLL, and CD-346 
has been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under 
the respective control numbers 0348-0043, 0348-0044, 0348-0040, 0348-
0046, and 0605-0001. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no 
person is required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a 
penalty for failure to comply with, a collection of information subject 
to the requirements of the PRA unless that collection of information 
displays a currently valid OMB control number.

Executive Order 12866

    This notice has been determined to be not significant for purposes 
of Executive Order 12866.

Executive Order 13132 (Federalism)

    It has been determined that this notice does not contain policies 
with Federalism implications as that term is defined in Executive Order 
13132.

Administrative Procedure Act/ Regulatory Flexibility Act

    Prior notice and an opportunity for public comment are not required 
by the Administrative Procedure Act or any other law for rules 
concerning public property, loans, grants, benefits, and contracts (5 
U.S.C. 553(a)(2)). Because notice and opportunity for comment are not 
required pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 or any other law, the analytical 
requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) 
are inapplicable. Therefore, a regulatory flexibility analysis has not 
been prepared.

    Dated: April 28, 2008.
David Murray,
Director, Management and Organization Division, NWS CFO.
 [FR Doc. E8-9616 Filed 4-30-08; 8:45 am]
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