Project SEARCH Act of 2000

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Project SEARCH Act of 2000''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (1) small communities often struggle to meet environmental 
        goals due to difficulty in securing funding;
            (2) often, traditional sources of funding for environmental 
        projects require expensive, complex studies or other 
        application materials;
            (3) a small community that secures funding for an 
        environmental project from a traditional source often is unable 
        to provide matching funds required by the traditional source; 
        and
            (4) small communities would benefit from a grant program 
        designed to provide funding for environmental projects--
                    (A) through a simplified application process; and
                    (B) without the requirement of matching funds.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
        Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
            (2) Council.--The term ``council'' means an independent 
        citizens' council established by section 4(b) .
            (3) Environmental project.--
                    (A) In general.--The term ``environmental project'' 
                means a project that is carried out for the benefit of 
                the public health or welfare or the environment.
                    (B) Inclusion.--The term ``environmental project'' 
                includes an initial feasibility study.
            (4) Region.--The term ``region'' means a geographic area of 
        a State, as determined by the Governor of the State.
            (5) SEARCH grant.--The term ``SEARCH grant'' means a grant 
        for special environmental assistance for the regulation of 
        communities and habitat awarded under section 4(c)(3).
            (6) Small community.--The term ``small community'' means an 
        incorporated or unincorporated community having a population of 
        not more than 2500 individuals.

SEC. 4. SEARCH GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--
            (1) Establishment.--There is established the SEARCH Grant 
        Program.
            (2) Grant to council.--Not later than November 1 of each 
        year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
        shall transfer $1,000,000 to the Governor of each State, for 
        use by the council in the State.
    (b) Independent Citizens' Council.--
            (1) Establishment.--There is established in each State an 
        independent citizens' council.
            (2) Composition.--
                    (A) In general.--
                            (i) Representation.--Each council shall be 
                        composed of 9 members that broadly represent 
                        the general population of the State in which 
                        the council is established, as determined by 
                        the Governor of the State.
                            (ii) Appointment.--A member of a council 
                        shall be appointed by the Governor of the 
                        State, except that--
                                    (I) not more than 1 member shall be 
                                an agent, employee, or official of the 
                                Federal Government; and
                                    (II) not more than 1 member shall 
                                be an agent, employee, or official of 
                                the State government.
                    (B) Chairperson.--Each council shall select a 
                chairperson from among the members of the council, 
                except that a member described in subclause (I) or (II) 
                of subparagraph (A)(ii) shall not serve as chairperson.
            (3) SEARCH grants.--
                    (A) In general.--Each council shall review 
                applications for and award SEARCH grants from the funds 
                transferred under subsection (a)(1) to small 
                communities that meet the eligibility criteria under 
                subsection (c).
                    (B) No matching requirement.--A small community 
                that receives a SEARCH grant under this section shall 
                not be required to provide matching funds.
    (c) SEARCH Grants to Small Communities.--
            (1) Eligibility criteria.--Each council may award a SEARCH 
        grant under this section to a small community for an 
        environmental project for which the small community--
                    (A)(i) is unable to secure funding; or
                    (ii) is underfunded;
                    (B) has incurred unexpected expenses during 
                construction of the environmental project; or
                    (C) needs funds for initial feasibility or 
                environmental studies before applying to traditional 
                funding sources.
            (2) Application.--To apply for a SEARCH grant under this 
        section, a small community shall submit to the council in the 
        State in which the small community is located an application 
        that includes--
                    (A) a description of the proposed environmental 
                project (including an explanation of how the project 
                would assist the small community in complying with 
                environmental regulations);
                    (B) an explanation of why the project is important 
                to the community;
                    (C) a description of all actions taken with respect 
                to the project, including any attempt to secure 
                funding, as of the date of the application; and
                    (D) a SEARCH grant application form provided by the 
                council, completed and with all required supporting 
                documentation.
            (3) Application and review.--
                    (A) Application.--An application for a SEARCH grant 
                under this section shall be submitted to a council not 
                later than February 5 of the fiscal year for which the 
                grant is to be awarded.
                    (B) Review and award.--Not later than March 5 of 
                each year, each council shall--
                            (i) review all applications received under 
                        subparagraph (A); and
                            (ii) award SEARCH grants to small 
                        communities based on an evaluation of the 
                        eligibility criteria under paragraph (1).
                    (C) Unexpended funds.--
                            (i) In general.--If any unexpended funds 
                        remain after SEARCH grants are awarded under 
                        subparagraph (B), the council may repeat the 
                        application and review process so that any 
                        remaining funds may be awarded not later than 
                        July 30.
                            (ii) Retention of funds.--Any unexpended 
                        funds that are not awarded under subparagraph 
                        (B) or clause (i) shall be retained by the 
                        council for award during the following year.
    (d) Report.--Not later than September 1 of the first fiscal year 
for which a SEARCH grant is awarded by a council under this section, 
and annually thereafter, the council shall submit to the Administrator 
a report that--
            (1) describes the number of SEARCH grants awarded during 
        the fiscal year;
            (2) identifies each small community that received a SEARCH 
        grant during the fiscal year;
            (3) describes the project or purpose for which each SEARCH 
        grant was awarded; and
            (4) describes the status of each project or portion of a 
        project for which a SEARCH grant was awarded, including a 
        project or portion of a project for which a SEARCH grant was 
        awarded for any fiscal year before the fiscal year in which the 
        report is submitted.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1) Grant funding.--
                    (A) In general.--There is authorized to be 
                appropriated to carry out section 4(a)(2) $1,000,000 
                for each State for each fiscal year.
                    (B) Actual appropriation.--If funds to carry out 
                section 4(a)(2) are made available for a fiscal year in 
                an amount that is less than the amount authorized under 
                subparagraph (A) for the fiscal year, the appropriated 
                funds shall be divided equally among the 50 States.
            (2) Other expenses.--There are authorized to be 
        appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out the 
        provisions of this Act other than section 4(a)(2).

Summary: Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to transfer $1 million annually to each State Governor for use by independent citizens' councils established by this Act. Directs councils to review applications for and award SEARCH grants from such funds to small communities that: (1) are unable to secure funding or are underfunded for environmental projects. (2) have incurred unexpected expenses during construction of such a project. Or (3) need funds for initial feasibility or environmental studies before applying to traditional funding sources. Authorizes appropriations.