Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 157 / Tuesday, August 15, 2006 / Notices 46901 

access to CBI submitted to EPA Under 

all sections of TSCA, to perform 

successfully the duties specified under 

the contract. 

CSC and its subcontractor personnel 

will be given access to information 

submitted to EPA under all sections of 

TSCA. Some of the information may 

claimed or determined to be CBI. 

EPA is issuing this notice to inform 

all submitters of information under all 

sections of TSCA that the Agency may 

provide CSC and its subcontractors 

access to these CBI materials on a needto- know basis only. All access to TSCA 

CBI under this contract will take place 

at EPA Headquarters and Research 

Triangle Park, NC facilities. CSC and its 

subcontract personnel will be required 

to adhere to all provisions of EPA’s 

TSCA Confidential Business 

Information Security Manual. 

Clearance for access to TSCA CBI 

under GSA Contract Number 

GS00T99ALD0204, Task Order Number 

T0002AJMZ39 may continue until 

September 30, 2007. 

CSC’s subcontractors and subcontract 

personnel will be required to sign nondisclosure agreements and be briefed on 

appropriate security procedures before 

they are permitted access to the CBI. 

List of Subjects 

Environmental protection, 

Confidential business information. 

Dated: August 7, 2006. 

Brion Cook, 

Director, Information Management Division, 

Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics. 

[FR Doc. E6–13348 Filed 8–14–06; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6560–50–S 

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 

AGENCY 

[FRL–8209–8] 

FY 2006 and 2007 Targeted 

Watersheds Grant Program: 

Availability of Funds and Request for 

Proposals for Implementation Projects 

(CFDA 66.439—Funding Opportunity 

Number EPA–OW–OWOW–06–3) 

AGENCY: Environmental Protection 

Agency (EPA). 

ACTION: Notice of Availability of Funds 

and Request for Proposals for Targeted 

Watersheds Implementation Projects. 

SUMMARY: This notice announces the 

availability of funds for grants and 

cooperative agreements under EPA’s 

Targeted Watersheds Grant Program. 

The Targeted Watersheds Grant Program 

is a competitive grant program designed 

to support the protection and restoration 

of the country’s water resources through 

a holistic watershed approach to water 

quality management. In fiscal year (FY) 

2006 Congress appropriated over $16 

million for the program. The Agency is 

soliciting proposals under this 

announcement for implementation 

projects, and under a separate 

announcement for capacity building 

projects. The Agency anticipates 

additional funding for the Targeted 

Watersheds Grant Program in FY 2007. 

Under this announcement, EPA will 

award approximately 9 to 20 grants or 

cooperative agreements for restoration 

and/or protection efforts. Anticipated 

awards will range from approximately 

$600,000 to $900,000 each and have a 

project period of three to five years. The 

total amount anticipated to be awarded 

under this announcement will range 

from $7.1 million to about $16 million 

(these totals represent combining a 

portion of both 2006 and anticipated 

2007 Targeted Watersheds Grant 

funds)—the total amount to be awarded 

under this announcement will depend 

upon the FY 2007 funds and the quality 

of proposals received. Under this 

announcement, EPA is providing 

applicants the option of submitting their 

proposals either directly to EPA in hard 

copy or electronically via Grants.gov. 

(See Section IV for additional 

submission information and 

requirements.) 

DATES: Proposals must be received by 

EPA or electronically through 

Grants.gov by 5 p.m. Eastern Standard 

Time November 13, 2006. Proposals 

received after this deadline will not be 

considered. 

ADDRESSES: Erin Collard; USEPA; Office 

of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds; 

Room 7136G; Mail Code 4501T; 1301 

Constitution Avenue, NW. Washington, 

DC 20004; telephone: 202–566–2655. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For 

questions regarding this action, please 

contact the appropriate regional contact 

person listed in Section VII of this 

notice. A copy of this full 

announcement and additional 

information on the program can be 

found on the Targeted Watersheds Grant 

Web site at http://www.epa.gov/twg. The 

announcement is also synopsized on 

http://www.grants.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Overview Information 

The Targeted Watersheds Grant 

Program encourages watershed 

practitioners to examine local water 

related problems in the context of the 

larger watershed in which they exist, to 

develop solutions to those problems by 

creatively applying the full array of 

available tools, including Federal, State, 

and local programs, and to restore and 

preserve water resources through 

strategic planning and coordinated 

project management that draw in public 

and private sector partners. Both the 

watershed approach and the Targeted 

Watersheds Grant Program focus on 

multi-faceted plans for protecting and 

restoring water resources that are 

developed using partnership efforts of 

diverse stakeholders. Hence, the goal of 

the Targeted Watersheds Grant Program 

is to advance successful partnerships 

and coalitions that have completed the 

necessary watershed assessments and 

have a technically sound watershed 

plan ready to implement. 

Federal Agency Name: Environmental 

Protection Agency. 

Funding Opportunity Title: FY 2006/ 

2007 Targeted Watersheds Grant 

Program: Request for Proposals for 

Implementation Projects. 

Announcement Type: Request for 

Proposals. 

Funding Opportunity Number: EPAOW-OWOW–06–3. 

Catalogue of Federal Domestic 

Assistance (CFDA) Number: 66.439. 

Dates: Proposals must be received by 

EPA or electronically through 

Grants.gov by 5 p.m. Eastern Standard 

Time, November 13, 2006. Proposals 

received after this deadline will not be 

considered. 

I. Funding Opportunity Description 

A. Targeted Watersheds Grant Program 

Objectives 

To achieve environmental goals, EPA 

encourages the adoption of a watershed 

approach as a broad coordinating 

process for focusing on priority water 

resource problems. Using a watershed 

approach, multiple stakeholders 

integrate regional and locally led 

activities with local, State, tribal, and 

Federal environmental management 

programs. These environmental goals 

should ultimately protect and restore 

the health of the nation’s aquatic 

resources, which not only includes but 

goes beyond meeting water quality 

standards. 

The Targeted Watersheds Grant 

Program encourages watershed 

organizations and practitioners to 

examine local water related problems in 

the context of the larger watershed in 

which they exist, to develop solutions to 

those problems by creatively applying 

the full array of available tools, 

including Federal, State, and local 

programs, and to restore and preserve 

water resources through strategic 

planning and coordinated project 

management that draw in public and 

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private sector partners. Both the 

watershed approach and the Targeted 

Watersheds Grant Program focus on 

multi-faceted plans for protecting and 

restoring water resources that are 

developed using partnership efforts of 

diverse stakeholders. Hence, the goal of 

the Targeted Watersheds Grant Program 

is to advance successful partnerships 

and coalitions that have completed the 

necessary watershed assessments and 

have a technically sound watershed 

plan ready to implement. 

In accordance with the President’s 

focus on building a cooperative ethic in 

all environmental conservation and 

protection activities, the Targeted 

Watersheds Grant Program empowers 

watershed organizations and 

practitioners to collaborate and 

implement environmental change. 

Overcoming many water quality 

problems requires the involvement of 

local citizens who have a vested interest 

in the creeks, rivers, lakes, estuaries, 

wetlands, and groundwater flowing 

through their neighborhoods and towns. 

Moreover, it is organized and 

sustainable partnerships comprised of 

an array of governmental and nongovernmental entities that are the most 

successful in improving water resources 

and achieving on-the-ground results. 

The program is intended to encourage 

the kind of proactive and incentive 

based protection and restoration 

measures that will yield cleaner water 

and protect ecosystems. By furnishing 

funds to watershed organizations or 

practitioners, the Agency can foster the 

President(s cooperative conservation 

ideal by ensuring that affected 

stakeholders have the means necessary 

to actively participate in the watershed 

restoration process at local, State, and 

Federal levels. 

B. National Priorities 

Under this announcement, EPA is 

soliciting proposals for projects that will 

result in the protection, preservation, 

and restoration of a watershed that 

incorporates a watershed-based 

approach. Finding solutions to water 

quality problems requires sustainable 

approaches that can be aligned with 

core water programs. EPA is looking for 

innovative ways to address water 

quality problems that will result in 

tangible, measurable environmental 

results in a relatively short time frame. 

For example, market-based approaches 

can create social and economic 

incentives for implementing creative 

pollution reduction strategies and water 

protection measures. Market-based 

trading projects are considered an 

important component of innovation. 

One of the Assistant Administrator’s key 

market-based priorities for protecting 

and restoring watersheds is the 

development of water quality trading 

pilots with states and other partners. 

Proposals for watershed restoration 

and/or protection projects must include 

a monitoring component. Activities 

proposed for funding are not required to 

address the entire watershed, but are 

expected to have been based on a 

comprehensive assessment and plan for 

the watershed. As such, all activities 

should directly support the described 

watershed plan and Targeted 

Watersheds Grant funds should be used 

in accordance with the plan. Examples 

of successful proposals from past 

competitions can be found on the Web 

site at http://www.epa.gov/twg. 

Watershed proposals must be 

nominated by Governors or Tribal 

Leaders. A Governor or Tribal Leader 

nomination letter must be provided as 

part of each proposal package submitted 

to EPA. Governors or Tribal Leaders 

may nominate any number of proposals, 

either those that are entirely within 

their State or tribal boundaries or 

interjurisdictional watersheds (i.e., 

those that encompass several States or 

Tribes). For interjurisdictional 

watersheds, any of the engaged 

Governors/Tribal Leaders may nominate 

the proposal. To be considered an 

interjurisdictional watershed (and be 

scored as such) the proposal must 

include a letter of support from all 

partnering States, Tribes or local 

government entities in the proposal 

package (this can include a second 

nomination letter from an engaged 

Governor/Tribal Leader, letters from 

local government elected officials, or 

letters from the appropriate water 

agency in the adjacent State, Tribe, or 

local government entity). 

C. EPA’s Strategic Plan and Anticipated 

Environmental Results 

The Targeted Watersheds Grant 

program is linked to EPA’s Strategic 

Plan (2003–2008 EPA’s Strategic Plan). 

It is predicated on the concept that 

watersheds are improved most 

effectively and efficiently by managing 

water resource use and water quality on 

a watershed basis. The Targeted 

Watersheds Grant Program supports 

EPA’s strategic goals (http:// 

www.epa.gov/ocfo/plan/plan.html) to 

improve and restore impaired water 

quality on a watershed basis and 

facilitate ecosystem-scale protection and 

restoration under EPA Strategic Plan 

Goal 2—Clean and Safe Water, Objective 

2.2 (Protect Water Quality), Subobjective 2.2.1 (Protect and Improve 

Water Quality on a Watershed Basis) 

and Goal 4—Healthy Communities and 

Ecosystems, Objective 4.3 (Ecosystems), 

Sub-objective 4.3.1 (Protect and Restore 

Ecosystems). 

By supporting the implementation of 

comprehensive watershed projects, 

these grants will also support the 

Administrator’s Sustainable 

Infrastructure priority to develop 

innovative, market-based, and 

sustainable solutions for water 

infrastructure financing and 

management. 

In accordance with the goals and 

objectives in the Strategic Plan, the 

Targeted Watersheds Grant Program 

aims to advance projects beyond the 

planning stage to the point of producing 

tangible environmental results. 

Therefore, a high priority is to support 

projects that are likely to achieve 

quantifiable outcomes within the project 

period. Applicants for the FY 2006/2007 

funds must include specific statements 

describing the environmental results of 

the proposed project in terms of welldefined ‘‘outputs’’ and to the maximum 

extent practicable, well-defined 

‘‘outcomes’’. 

All proposed projects must be linked 

to environmental results and 

demonstrate how they will contribute to 

the ultimate goals of clean and safe 

water and healthy communities and 

ecosystems. Environmental results are 

used as a way to gauge a project’s 

performance and are described in terms 

of output measures and outcome 

measures. The term ‘‘output’’ means an 

activity, effort, and/or associated work 

product related to an environmental 

goal or objective that will be produced 

or provided over the period of time or 

by a specific date. The term ‘‘outcome’’

means an environmental 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 short-term 

(i.e., changes in learning, knowledge, 

attitude, skill), intermediate (i.e., 

changes in behavior, practice, or 

decisions), or long-term (i.e., changes in 

condition of natural resources). 

In addition to environmental 

outcomes, other relevant outcomes can 

be behavioral, health-related, or 

programmatic in nature and need to be 

identified. An example is increasing the 

watershed approach information 

available to local and State 

decisionmakers who write and 

implement laws, ordinances, and 

permits. In this context, certain efforts 

designed to increase the watershed 

approach knowledge of decisionmakers 

can be viewed as environmental 

outcomes (results) if the grantee can 

show or measure the improvement in 

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the knowledge of decisionmakers who 

are in the position to create institutional 

changes that are necessary to restore or 

protect the environment. In such 

instances, ‘‘outcomes’’ are not measured 

typically by environmental or water 

quality indicators, but rather by 

institutional indicators related to the 

adoption and application of laws and 

regulations, and the active management 

of programs necessary to provide 

environmental protection. 

Additional information regarding 

EPA(s definition of environmental 

results in terms of ‘‘outputs’’ and 

‘‘outcomes’’ can be found at: http:// 

www.epa.gov/ogd/grants/awards/ 

5700.7.pdf or http://www.epa.gov/ 

water/waterplan/documents/ 

FY06NPGappendix-b.pdf. 

Outcomes expected as a result of the 

awards under this announcement could 

include: 

• Actual on-the-ground water 

restoration or protection projects put in 

place. 

• Baseline and resulting water quality 

monitoring data that indicate 

measurable environmental 

improvement. 

• Local ordinances passed aimed at 

protection and restoration of water 

quality. 

• Enhanced public participation and 

awareness of water quality issues at the 

community level. 

• Transfer of knowledge among 

watershed groups across the nation. 

• Improved water quality, Clean 

Water Act (CWA) Section 303(d) 

delisting of streams, or increased 

recreational use of water bodies. 

For example, for a project aimed at 

reducing in-stream sediment loads, an 

expected output under this 

announcement could be the number of 

trees planted, the miles of riparian 

buffer restored, the number of culverts 

repaired, or other best management 

practices (BMPs) installed. The 

expected outcome of the particular 

activity would indicate the expected 

sediment reduction to be achieved (e.g., 

cubic yards) in a specified time period 

relative to the overall goal (e.g., 

achieving a water quality standard, 

delisting a stream segment listed as 

impaired under CWA Section 303(d), or 

attaining a milestone under a TMDL). 

In another example, a proposal for an 

urban watershed may be focused on 

reducing stormwater runoff and 

bacterial contamination. The anticipated 

output of this activity could be the 

number of septic systems retrofitted, the 

number of farmers who install livestock 

fencing, or the number of homeowners 

who participate in a rain barrel program. 

Anticipated outcomes of this project 

could be a reduction in fecal coliform 

concentration, a rise in 

macroinvertebrate populations, or the 

number of days a waterbody displays a 

‘‘blue flag’’ (i.e., is safe for swimming, 

fishing, or boating). 

D. Key Program Changes From FY 2005 

This year, EPA is making several 

important changes to the Targeted 

Watersheds Grant Program to make it 

more effective in addressing the 

Agency(s goals and to streamline review 

procedures. Key changes are described 

below and are explained in greater 

detail in later Sections of this notice. 

First, in an effort to improve 

efficiencies, EPA is combining its FY 

2006 and anticipated FY 2007 funds 

into one solicitation. The total amount 

to be awarded under this solicitation 

will depend upon the FY 2007 funding 

level and the quality of the proposals 

received. 

Second, EPA is eliminating the limit 

on the number of proposals a Governor 

or Tribal Leader can nominate. In 

previous years, Governors and Tribal 

Leaders were only allowed to submit 

two nominations for proposals that 

resided entirely within their state/ 

jurisdiction. This year however, 

Governors or Tribal Leaders may 

forward more than two proposals for 

consideration. 

Third, the Agency is restoring the 

geographic scope of the solicitation. 

While last year Chesapeake Bay 

watershed projects were excluded from 

the national competition, this year 

projects that are in the Chesapeake Bay 

watershed are eligible to compete. 

Fourth, EPA has amended the 

evaluation criteria. Environmental 

Significance has been added as a 

criterion. Applicants will be required to 

explain, and will be scored on, the 

importance, relevance, connection to, 

and applicability of the proposal to the 

Agency’s strategic goals. In addition, 

two additional criteria related to the 

applicant’s past performance have been 

added. Programmatic Capability and 

Qualifications of the Applicant will 

evaluate the extent to which the 

applicant possesses the technical 

experience and administrative ability to 

carry out the grant or cooperative 

agreement, and Environmental Results 

Past Performance will evaluate how the 

applicant documented and/or reported 

on its progress towards achieving the 

expected results (i.e., outputs and 

outcomes) under prior agreements. This 

year, aspects of the Innovation criterion 

(e.g., new technologies or market-based 

trading projects) will be addressed in 

the Quality of Proposal criterion. 

Fifth, the applicant will be allotted 

more space in which to describe its 

proposal. Instead of the 10-page, doublespaced limitation in the past, applicants 

will be allowed a total of 12 pages with 

no spacing limitations in which to 

present their proposals. All materials 

including the proposal narrative, budget 

narrative, grants management 

experience, tables, timelines, graphs, 

maps, and pictures must be included in 

the 12 pages. The 12-page limitation 

does not include the SF 424, the SF 

424A, the Governor or Tribal Leader 

nomination letter(s) and the 

accompanying letters of support. See 

Section IV for more information. 

Sixth, EPA has extended the length of 

the grant period from three to a 

maximum of five years. The Agency, in 

general, expects project implementation 

to be completed within two to three 

years and the monitoring component 

conducted continuously throughout the 

project period. 

Finally, the Federal Government now 

provides the option to apply for many 

grants and submit materials through a 

standardized electronic grants 

application system called Grants.gov. In 

addition, this will be the last Targeted 

Watersheds Grant Program request for 

proposals that will be announced in the 

Federal Register. 

E. Statutory Authority 

The grants or cooperative agreements 

funded as a result of this announcement 

will be awarded under the independent 

authority contained in the Department 

of the Interior, Environment, and 

Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 

2006 (Pub. L. 109–54) and the 

anticipated Department of the Interior, 

Environment, and Related Agencies 

Appropriations Act for 2007. 

F. Geospatial Information 

Grants awarded under this 

announcement may involve Geospatial 

Information. Geospatial data generally 

means information that identifies, 

depicts, or describes the geographic 

locations, boundaries, or characteristics 

of inhabitants and natural or 

constructed features on the Earth. This 

includes such information derived from, 

among other sources, sociodemographic analysis, economic 

analysis, land information records and 

land use information processing, 

statistical analysis, survey and 

observational methodologies, 

environmental analysis, critical 

infrastructure protection, satellites, 

remote sensing, airborne imagery 

collection, mapping, engineering, 

construction, global positioning 

systems, and surveying technologies 

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46904 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 157 / Tuesday, August 15, 2006 / Notices 

and activities. It also includes 

individual point or site-specific data 

that are referenced to a location on the 

earth and digital aerial imagery of the 

earth. 

This information may be derived 

from, among other things, Geographic 

Information Systems (GIS), Global 

Positioning Systems (GPS), remote 

sensing, mapping, charting, and 

surveying technologies, or statistical 

data. For purposes of EPA grants, this 

refers to geographically based 

information or data or the tools, 

applications or hardware that allow one 

to collect, manage, analyze, store or 

distribute data in a geographic manner. 

II. Award Information 

Approximately $7.1 million to about 

$16 million is expected to be available 

for awards under this announcement 

(these totals represent combining a 

portion of both 2006 and anticipated 

2007 Targeted Watersheds Grant funds) 

depending upon the amount of FY 2007 

funds and the quality of proposals 

received. EPA plans to award 

approximately 9 to 20 grants or 

cooperative agreements under this 

announcement. Anticipated awards will 

range from approximately $600,000 to 

$900,000 each, depending on the 

amount requested, the overall size and 

scope of the project, and the total 

amount of funds available. 

Awards under this program can have 

up to a five-year project period, if 

warranted. Recipients should complete 

their project implementation within two 

to three years and continue to monitor 

water quality and other pertinent 

metrics for an additional one to two 

years, for a maximum of up to five 

years. The total project period, 

including any no-cost, one-year 

extensions provided to award recipients 

cannot exceed five years. 

EPA reserves the right to partially 

fund proposals/applications under this 

announcement by funding discrete 

activities, portions, or phases of 

proposed projects. If EPA decides to 

partially fund a proposal/application, it 

will do so in a manner that does not 

prejudice any applicants or affect the 

basis upon which the proposal/ 

application, or portion thereof, was 

evaluated and selected for award, and 

that maintains the integrity of the 

competition and selection process. EPA 

also reserves the right to make no 

awards, or fewer awards than expected 

under this announcement. 

EPA reserves the right to make 

additional awards under this 

announcement consistent with Agency 

policy, if additional funding becomes 

available. Any additional selections for 

awards will be made no later than six 

months after the original selection 

decisions. 

Selected recipients will enter into a 

funding agreement with the applicable 

EPA Regional Office (see Section VII). 

The Targeted Watersheds Grant Program 

funds both grants and cooperative 

agreements. Although EPA will 

negotiate precise terms and conditions 

relating to substantial involvement as 

part of the award process, cooperative 

agreements permit substantial 

involvement between the EPA Project 

Officer and the selected applicant in the 

performance of work supported by 

program funds. Federal involvement for 

projects selected may include close 

monitoring of the recipient(s 

performance; collaboration during the 

performance of the scope of work; in 

accordance with 40 CFR 31.36(g), 

review of proposed procurements; 

reviewing qualifications of key 

personnel (EPA does not have the 

authority to select employees or 

contractors employed by the recipient); 

and/or review and comment on the 

content of publications (printed or 

electronic) prepared (the final decision 

on the content of reports rests with the 

recipient). 

III. Eligibility Information 

A. Eligible Applicants 

States, local governments, public and 

private nonprofit institutions/ 

organizations, federally recognized 

Indian tribal governments, U.S. 

territories or possessions, and interstate 

agencies are eligible to apply. For-profit 

commercial entities and all Federal 

agencies are ineligible. Nonprofit 

organizations described in Section 

501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code 

that engage in lobbying activities as 

defined in Section 3 of the Lobbying 

Disclosure Act of 1995 are not eligible 

to apply. 

B. Cost Sharing/Match Requirement 

EPA is requiring applicants to 

demonstrate in their proposal 

submission how they will provide the 

minimum non-federal match of 25 

percent of the total cost of the proposal. 

This means EPA will fund a maximum 

of 75 percent of the total project cost. In 

addition to cash, matching funds can 

come from in-kind contributions, such 

as the use of volunteers and/or donated 

time, equipment, expertise, etc., 

consistent with the regulations 

governing matching fund requirements 

(40 CFR 31.24 or 40 CFR 30.23). Federal 

funds may not be used to meet the 

match requirement for this grant 

program unless authorized by the 

statute governing their use. 

Federally recognized Indian tribal 

governments may be exempt from this 

match requirement if fulfilling the 

match requirement would impose 

undue hardship. Tribal governments 

wishing to be exempt from the 

minimum 25 percent match requirement 

must submit a one-page written request 

with justification within 30 calendar 

days from the date of this 

announcement. Match exemption 

requests should be sent directly to the 

EPA contact listed in Section IV.D. EPA 

will notify the potential applicant of its 

decision within 10 business days. If 

approved, the proposal will be scored as 

if it meets the minimum 25 percent 

match. 

To determine if the minimum match 

is met, the following formulas may be 

helpful: 

(1) Amount ($) requested from EPA/ 

Cost ($) of entire project ≥ 0.75, or 

(2) Total cost ($) of proposal/4 = 

Amount ($) needed for match. 

For example, if the total cost of the 

project is $1 million, the applicant must 

be able to provide $250,000 in matching 

funds or services. In this example, the 

federally funded portion of the project 

would be $750,000. 

C. Threshold Eligibility Criteria 

These are requirements which, if not 

met at the time of proposal submission, 

will result in elimination of the 

proposal from consideration for 

funding. Only proposals that meet all of 

these criteria will be evaluated against 

the ranking factors in Section V of this 

announcement. Applicants deemed 

ineligible for funding consideration as a 

result of the threshold eligibility review 

will be notified within 15 calendar days 

of the ineligibility determination. 

1. An applicant must meet the 

eligibility requirements as described in 

Section III.A. 

2. Applicants must demonstrate how 

they will provide a match of 25 percent 

of the total project cost as described in 

Section III.B above. 

3. The proposal must be nominated by 

a State Governor or Tribal Leader. 

4. The proposal must contain the six 

components as described in Section 

IV.C. 

5. Submissions that are faxed or sent 

by standard U.S. Postal Service (USPS) 

parcel post will not be accepted, as 

described in Section IV.D. 

6. Proposals must be received by EPA 

or through Grants.gov on or before the 

solicitation closing date and time 

specified in Section IV. Proposals 

received after the closing date and time 

will be returned to the sender without 

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further consideration. In addition, pages 

submitted in excess of the 12-page 

limitation described in Section IV.C will 

not be reviewed. 

D. Funding Restrictions 

EPA has chosen to declare certain 

projects or activities ineligible for 

funding. These include activities 

required or regulated under the CWA. 

For example, activities for the 

development of Total Maximum Daily 

Loads (TMDLs) and Phase II Stormwater 

projects will not be funded. Activities 

implementing the non-regulatory 

component of TMDLs (e.g., the elements 

of a watershed plan that address nonpoint source pollution), however, are 

eligible. The construction of buildings 

or other major structures, or the 

purchase of major equipment or 

machinery will not be funded under this 

program. Proposals containing a subaward project (also called mini-grants) 

are eligible, but the portion that is to be 

regranted to third parties within the 

watershed via a smaller-scaled 

competition should account for no more 

than 20 percent of the requested funding 

amount. If proposals are submitted that 

have ineligible projects or activities, 

those projects or activities in the 

proposals will not be considered for 

funding. 

All costs incurred under this program 

must be allowable under the applicable 

Office of Management and Budget 

(OMB) Cost Circulars: A–87 (States and 

local governments), A–122 (nonprofit 

organizations), or A–21 (universities). 

Copies of these circulars can be found 

at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/ 

circulars/. In accordance with EPA 

policy and the OMB circulars, as 

appropriate, any recipient of funding 

must agree not to use assistance funds 

for lobbying, fund-raising, or political 

activities (i.e., lobbying members of 

Congress or lobbying for other Federal 

grants, cooperative agreements, or 

contracts). 

IV. Application and Submission 

Information 

A. Address To Request Application 

Package 

Grant application forms, including 

Standard Forms SF 424 and SF 424A, 

are available at http://www.epa.gov/ogd/ 

grants/how_to_apply.htm and by mail 

upon request by calling the Grants 

Administration Division at (202) 564–

5320. 

B. Form of Application Submission 

Applicants must submit their 

proposal using one of the two methods 

outlined below. All proposals must be 

prepared and include the information as 

described in Section IV.C regardless of 

mode of submission. 

1. Hard Copy and Compact Disc (CD) 

Two hard copies of the complete 

proposal package as described below in 

Section IV.C, and a CD of the complete 

proposal package, are required to be 

sent by express mail or courier service, 

or hand delivered. Please mark all 

submissions: ATTN: TWG—

Implementation (see Section IV.D for 

address). The CD may be in Adobe 

Portable Document Format (.pdf), 

Microsoft Word (.doc), or WordPerfect 

(.wpd). Nomination letter(s), letters of 

support, and maps will need to be 

scanned so that they can be submitted 

as part of the CD. Pictures and/or 

computer generated maps may be 

included as separate files using .jpg or 

.tif format. 

2. Grants.gov Submission 

Applicants who wish to submit their 

materials electronically through the 

Federal Government’s Grants.gov Web 

site may do so. Grants.gov allows an 

applicant to download a proposal or 

application package template and 

complete the package offline based on 

agency instructions. After an applicant 

completes the required proposal or 

application package, it can submit the 

package electronically to Grants.gov, 

which transmits the package to the 

funding agency. Nomination letter(s), 

letters of support, pictures, and maps 

will need to be scanned so that they can 

be submitted electronically as part of 

the proposal package. Pictures and/or 

computer generated maps must also be 

in an electronic format and submitted 

along with the proposal package. 

If you wish to apply electronically via 

Grants.gov, the electronic submission of 

your proposal package must be made by 

an official representative of your 

institution who is registered with 

Grants.gov and authorized to sign 

applications for Federal assistance. For 

more information, go to http:// 

www.grants.gov and click on ‘‘Get 

Registered’’ on the left side of the page. 

Note that the registration process may 

take a week or longer to complete. If 

your organization is not currently 

registered with Grants.gov, please 

encourage your office to designate an 

AOR and ask that individual to begin 

the registration process as soon as 

possible. 

To begin the application process for 

this grant program, go to http:// 

www.grants.gov and click on the ‘‘Apply 

for Grants’’ tab on the left of the page. 

Then click on ‘‘Apply Step 1: Download 

a Grant Application Package and 

Instructions’’ to download the PureEdge 

viewer and obtain the application 

package and instructions for applying 

under this announcement using 

grants.gov (https://apply.grants.gov/ 

forms_apps_idx.html). You may retrieve 

the application package and instructions 

by entering the Funding Opportunity 

Number, EPA–OW–OWOW–06–3, or 

the CFDA number, in the space 

provided. Then complete and submit 

the application package as indicated. 

You may also be able to access the 

application package by clicking on the 

button ‘‘How To Apply’’ at the top right 

of the synopsis page for this 

announcement on http:// 

www.grants.gov (to find the synopsis 

page, go to http://www.grants.gov and 

click on the ‘‘Find Grant Opportunities’’

button on the left side of the page and 

then go to Search Opportunities and use 

the Browse by Agency feature to find 

EPA opportunities). 

Application/proposal materials 

submitted through Grants.gov will be 

time/date stamped electronically. 

Complete instructions on applying 

through Grants.gov are provided in 

Attachment A to this announcement. 

C. Content of Application Submission 

Apart from the SF 424, the SF 424A, 

the Governor or Tribal Leader 

nomination letter(s), and the 

accompanying letters of support, the 

remaining parts of the proposal package 

(comprised of items 2–3 below) must 

not exceed 12 pages in length and 

should use a 12-point font. Pages in 

excess of 12 will not be reviewed. All 

materials including the project 

narrative, budget, tables, timeline, 

charts, graphs, maps, and pictures must 

be included within the 12 pages. 

Moreover, any appendices aside from 

the nomination letter and support letters 

will not be reviewed. Applicants are 

responsible for the contents of their 

proposals. 

Each proposal package must contain 

all of the components listed in this 

section. Failure to submit any of the six 

components will result in 

disqualification and removal from the 

selection process. 

1. Nomination letter 

A letter signed by the Governor or 

Tribal Leader formally nominating the 

watershed for consideration for funding 

must accompany each proposal package. 

2. Proposal Narrative 

a. Cover page. The cover page should 

include: 

(1) The name of the watershed along 

with the designated 8-digit Hydrological 

Unit Code(s) (HUCs); 

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(2) The impaired waters, such as any 

degraded stream segments within the 

project area that are on the State’s 

303(d) list; 

(3) Nominee contact information (i.e., 

name, affiliation, address, telephone, 

and E-mail of the person with whom the 

Agency should correspond); 

(4) Tax status or other description of 

organization; and 

(5) Internet Web site (i.e., URL) of the 

organization, if available. 

HUCs (also known as USGS 

Cataloging Units) and State 303(d) 

listings can be found on EPA(s Surf 

Your Watershed Web site at http:// 

www.epa.gov/surf/. 

b. Abstract. Provide a brief 

(approximately 150-word) executive 

summary of the proposal. This should 

include a brief description of the 

perceived need for the work, the 

proposed work, and the anticipated 

outputs and outcomes. 

c. Project Narrative. The narrative 

description of the proposed tasks and 

activities must include the following 

sections: 

(1) Characterization of the watershed. 

Describe the watershed, including any 

critical or significant natural resources, 

such as wetlands. Include a description 

of the physical, chemical, biological, 

ecological, socioeconomic, and cultural 

characteristics, including rural, urban, 

and environmental justice areas. Briefly 

describe the environmental problems 

and threats facing the watershed and the 

existing watershed plans and planning 

efforts addressing the problems and 

threats, including demographics of the 

impacts. 

(2) Project need. Describe the 

environmental significance of the 

project, that is, the problem or 

conservation issue(s) to be addressed, 

why it is a priority, and the context 

relevant to the overall watershed plan. 

The objectives of the proposal and the 

immediate and long-term desired 

outcomes should be described relative 

to the overall environmental conditions. 

An assessment of the natural resource 

and environmental conditions and 

evidence of problem sources, along with 

the prioritization of the threats and 

impairments facing the watershed 

should be included. The prioritization 

should focus on those threats and 

impairments that will be addressed by 

the proposal. 

(3) Project plan. Describe the work 

that will be done using Targeted 

Watersheds Grant funding. Identify the 

specific deliverables and the anticipated 

outcomes (i.e., quantifiable results) 

associated with the major project 

components. 

(i) Project components: Describe in 

detail the tasks and activities for each 

project for each year of the project 

period. Include milestones and/or 

timelines for accomplishing tasks for the 

project period. Explain how the projects 

fit together to benefit the watershed as 

a whole and are ready for 

implementation (i.e., feasibility). 

Include in this section why the proposal 

will work and what makes it innovative. 

If the proposal is a market-based trading 

project, describe the drivers, the buyers 

and sellers, and the scheme already in 

place so that a trade can begin. 

(ii) Partnering: Describe how you will 

engage partners and other stakeholders 

in your project. Interjurisdictional 

watershed partnerships (i.e., those that 

encompass abutting areas and thus 

neighboring political authorities) are 

encouraged. Watershed proposals that 

encompass more than one governmental 

authority will be considered 

interjurisdictional provided that the 

Governor, Tribal Leader or local 

government elected official, or the 

appropriate water agency in the adjacent 

State, Tribe, or local government entity 

is a partner or otherwise supports the 

project(s). 

(iii) Financial Integrity/Budget: 

Explanations of the costs associated 

with each project should be included. 

Description of costs should correspond 

to figures presented in the SF 424A (see 

item 6). 

(4) Anticipated Outputs and 

Outcomes. Applicants must include 

specific statements describing the 

anticipated environmental results of the 

proposed project in terms of welldefined ‘‘outputs’’ and to the maximum 

extent practicable, well-defined 

‘‘outcomes’’ (See Section I for details on 

outputs and outcomes). 

(i) Monitoring and measuring: 

Describe the water quality monitoring 

and assessment that will be conducted 

consistent with the project components. 

Identify appropriate environmental 

indicators that will be monitored, and 

describe the method for evaluating 

environmental improvements. Describe 

the methodology (i.e., sampling, survey 

models, etc.) and time table that will be 

used to measure progress, including 

your approach to measuring progress 

towards achieving the expected project 

outcomes and outputs including those 

identified in Section I. 

(ii) Environmental Results Past 

Performance: Identify federally funded 

assistance agreements that your 

organization performed within the last 

three years (no more than five and 

preferably EPA agreements) and briefly 

describe how you documented and/or 

reported on whether you were making 

progress towards achieving the expected 

results (i.e., outputs and outcomes) 

under those agreements. If you were not 

making progress, please indicate 

whether, and how, you documented 

why not. If you do not have any relevant 

or available environmental results past 

performance information, please 

indicate this in the proposal and you 

will receive a neutral score for this 

factor under Section V. 

(5) Peer Outreach and Information 

Transfer. Describe the outreach 

component of the project. Describe the 

strategy for disseminating the results, 

including lessons learned, of the project 

among watershed organizations and 

governmental agencies with similar 

environmental challenges within the 

project watershed and to a wider (i.e., 

regional or national) audience. Describe 

how the project will promote and 

actively conduct technology transfer or 

provide technical assistance that 

improves the knowledge of state and 

local decision-makers. 

(6) Programmatic Capability/ 

Technical Experience. Identify federally 

funded assistance agreements similar in 

size, scope, and relevance to the 

proposed project that your organization 

performed within the last three years 

(no more than five and preferably EPA 

agreements) and briefly describe (i) 

whether, and how, you were able to 

successfully complete and manage those 

agreements and (ii) your history of 

meeting the reporting requirements 

under those agreements including 

submitting acceptable final technical 

reports. If you do not have any relevant 

or available past performance or 

reporting information, please indicate 

this in the proposal and you will receive 

a neutral score for these factors under 

Section V. 

In addition, provide information on 

your organizational experience and plan 

for timely and successfully achieving 

the objectives of the proposed project, 

and your staff expertise/qualifications, 

staff knowledge, and resources or the 

ability to obtain them, to successfully 

achieve the goals of the proposed 

project. 

Note: The proposal narrative should also 

include any additional information, to the 

extent not otherwise addressed above, that 

addresses the selection criteria found in 

Section V.A. 

3. Map(s) 

A map of the watershed and the 

proposed work areas must accompany 

the narrative text. 

4. SF 424A 

In addition to the narrative text, 

applicants must provide a detailed 

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breakdown of cost by category for each 

project on the SF 424A. All project costs 

including grant administration costs, 

matching funds, other leveraged funds, 

and travel, including travel to the 

annual conference (see Section VIII.B), 

should be included. 

5. Letter(s) of Support 

To substantiate the information 

contained in the narrative portion of the 

submission, letters verifying 

partnerships and matching funds are 

required. Applicants are encouraged to 

demonstrate active involvement of both 

public and private partners via letters of 

support. All letters must be on the 

official letterhead of the agency or 

organization. 

(a) Signed letter(s) from active 

partners indicating their commitment to 

implementing the workplan or specific 

proposed projects. 

(b) A minimum of one letter signed by 

an authorizing official from an entity 

committing to provide matching funds, 

either in cash or in-kind contributions, 

including the total value of its 

commitment toward the projects. 

(c) For interjurisdictional 

consideration, a signed letter(s) from the 

Governor, Tribal Leader or local 

government elected official, or the 

appropriate water agency in the adjacent 

State, Tribe, or local government entity 

expressing its support and participation 

in the proposed project(s). 

6. Signed SF 424 

D. Submission Dates and Times 

Applicants who choose to submit 

their materials in hard copy form must 

send two copies of their complete 

proposal packages and the CD to Erin 

Collard, Office of Wetlands, Oceans and 

Watersheds; U.S. EPA; Room 7136G; 

1301 Constitution Avenue, NW.; 

Washington, DC 20004; telephone: 202–

566–2655. Proposals submitted to the 

above address will be considered if 

received through courier, hand-delivery, 

or by express delivery service by 5 p.m., 

Eastern Standard Time, November 13, 

2006. Due to security measures, EPA 

cannot accept submission packages sent 

by standard U.S. Postal Service parcel 

post; however, USPS overnight or twoday express delivery is acceptable. 

Submissions through Grants.gov must 

be received by Grants.gov by 5 p.m., 

Eastern Standard Time, November 13, 

2006. 

E. Intergovernmental Review 

If selected for award, applicants must 

comply with the Intergovernmental 

Review Process and/or consultation 

provisions of Section 204, 

Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan 

Development Act, if applicable, which 

are contained in 40 CFR part 29. 

Applicants should consult the office or 

official designated as the single point of 

contact in his or her state for more 

information on the process the state 

requires to be followed in applying for 

assistance if the state has selected the 

program for review. Further information 

regarding this requirement will be 

provided if your application is selected 

for funding. 

F. 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 such 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 which is otherwise required 

by 40 CFR 2.204(2) prior to disclosure. 

V. Application Review Information 

A. Evaluation Criteria 

All eligible proposals, based on the 

Section III threshold eligibility review, 

will be evaluated based on the following 

criteria and weights below. Points will 

be awarded based on how well each 

evaluation criterion and/or subcriterion 

is addressed. 

Weight based on a 65 point scale. 

20 points 1. Quality of Proposal. Under this criterion, proposals will be evaluated based on the extent and quality to which they describe 

project(s) that are part of larger watershed assessments and plans and reflect a watershed-based approach to conservation and 

restoration. Reviewers will evaluate whether the approach is technically/scientifically sound and/or innovative, if the methods are 

appropriate, and whether there are clear project goals and measurable objectives. Under this criterion, reviewers will focus on

the following components: 

(a) Feasibility. The extent and quality to which the applicant demonstrates an understanding of priority water resource problems 

within the watershed, has substantially completed the assessment and planning phase, and is prepared to begin work. Reviewers will look at level of project development (i.e., the readiness of the project, technical merit, and expected environmental improvements) (15 points). 

(b) Innovation. The extent and quality to which the proposal describes unique, creative or novel approaches to environmental restoration or protection. Emphasis will be placed on how well the proposal demonstrates a thoughtful and strategic approach to 

problem-solving including, but not limited to, water quality trading (5 points). 

15 points 2. Anticipated Outputs and Outcomes. Under this criterion, proposals will be evaluated based on the extent and quality to which a 

proposal clearly articulates a set of performance and progress measures and identified and measurable indicators as identified in 

Section I of this announcement. 

(a) Measuring and Monitoring. The extent and quality to which the proposal demonstrates a sound plan for measuring progress toward achieving the expected outputs and outcomes including those identified in Section I of the announcement (10 points). 

(b) Past Performance. The extent and quality to which the applicant adequately documented and/or reported on their progress towards achieving the expected results (outcomes and outputs) under Federal agency assistance agreements performed within the 

last three years, and if such progress was not being made whether the applicant adequately documented and/or reported why 

not (5 points). 

NOTE: In evaluating applicants under this factor, EPA will consider the information provided by the applicant and may also consider

relevant information from other sources including agency files and prior/current grantors (to verify and/or supplement the information supplied by the applicant). Applicants with no relevant or available past performance reporting history will receive a neutral 

score for this factor of 2.5 points. 

5 points 3. Environmental Significance. Under this criterion, proposals will be evaluated based on: (a) The extent and quality to which the 

proposal demonstrates relevance to solving an important environmental problem in that watershed and reflects state and Federal 

environmental priorities and goals (2.5 points) and (b) the extent and quality to which the proposed project(s) are interrelated to 

improve the water quality and water resources, including wetlands, within the watershed (2.5 points). 

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10 points 4. Broad Support. Under this criterion, proposals will be evaluated based on how well they show the applicant’s ability to demonstrate and substantiate strong collaborative partnerships and document effective working relationships among state, tribal, local 

entities, and broad-based community involvement. Scores will be based on the extent and quality to which the applicant can 

show a wide variety of public, private, and non-profit participation, and the level to which the applicant can demonstrate strong 

and diverse stakeholder stewardship and support (5 points). Reviewers will also consider interjurisdictionality, that is the extent 

and quality to which the proposal actively involves more than one governmental entity (i.e., Federal, state, tribal, or local government entity) (5 points). 

5 points 5. Peer Outreach and Information Transfer. Under this criterion, proposals will be evaluated based on the design and breadth of 

the outreach component. The score will be based on the extent and quality to which the applicant demonstrates a clear strategy 

for transferring the knowledge and experience garnered to other watershed organizations and agencies with similar environmental challenges both within and beyond the affected watershed. 

5 points 6. Financial Integrity. Under this criterion, proposals will be evaluated based on the adequacy of the budget information provided, 

whether it is reasonable and clearly presented, and the extent to which the applicant can demonstrate a broad range of 

leveraging capacity. 

5 points 7. Programmatic Capability (Technical Experience) and Qualifications of the Applicant. Under this criterion, applicants will be evaluated based on their ability to successfully complete and manage the proposed project taking into account the following factors:

(i) Past performance in successfully completing and managing federally funded assistance agreements similar in size, scope, and

relevance to the proposed project within the last three years (1 point); 

(ii) History of meeting reporting requirements under federally funded assistance agreements similar in size, scope, and relevance to 

the proposed project within the last three years and submitting acceptable final technical reports under those agreements (1 

point); 

(iii) Organizational experience and plan for timely and successfully achieving the objectives of the proposed project (1 point); and 

(iv) Staff expertise/qualifications, staff knowledge, and resources or the ability to obtain them, to successfully achieve the goals of 

the project (2 points). 

NOTE: In evaluating applicants under this factor, the Agency will consider the information supplied by the applicant and may also 

consider relevant information from other sources including agency files and prior/current grantors (i.e., to verify and/or supplement the information supplied by the applicant). Applicants with no relevant or available past performance information or reporting history (i.e., items (i) and (ii) under this criterion) will receive a neutral score of one-half point for each of those elements. 

B. Review and Selection Process 

All proposals received by EPA or 

submitted electronically through 

Grants.gov by the solicitation deadline 

will be sent to the appropriate EPA 

regional office(s) based on project 

location. All proposals will be evaluated 

against the threshold criteria listed in 

Section III of this announcement. 

Proposals that do not pass the threshold 

review will not be considered for 

funding and the applicant will be so 

notified. 

All eligible proposals within each 

region will be reviewed and scored by 

a panel of EPA regional watershed 

experts using the evaluation criteria 

outlined in Section V.A. Based on the 

review, each regional panel will develop 

a list of the most highly rated proposals 

to submit to their Regional 

Administrator. Based on the panel’s 

scores, each Regional Administrator can 

recommend up to four proposals to the 

national panel. 

The national panel, which will 

consist of representatives from agency 

programs and regional offices, will 

evaluate the (up to) 40 semi-finalists 

based on: (1) Geographic diversity, (2) 

amount of funds leveraged, and (3) 

project diversity. Based on the review of 

the semi-finalists against these factors, 

the panel will develop a list of 

proposals to recommend for funding to 

submit to the Selection Official 

(typically the Assistant Administrator 

for Water) for approval. In making the 

final award decisions, the Selection 

Official will consider the national 

panel’s recommendation and may also 

take into account national program 

priorities. 

VI. Award Administration Information 

A. Award Notices 

All applicants, including those who 

are not selected for funding, will be 

notified by mail. Successful applicant(s) 

will be invited to submit a complete 

application package prior to award (see 

40 CFR 30.12 and 31.10) that will be 

due approximately 60 days after being 

notified. Required forms and 

instructions for preparing and 

submitting the completed application 

will be provided at that time. 

EPA expects to announce its 

selections early in calendar year 2007. 

The exact amount of funds to be 

awarded, specific activities, duration of 

the projects, and role of the EPA Project 

Officer will be determined in the preaward negotiations between the selected 

applicant and EPA. 

EPA reserves the right to negotiate 

and/or adjust the final grant amount and 

workplan content prior to award, as 

appropriate and consistent with Agency 

policy including the Assistance 

Agreement Competition Policy, EPA 

Order 5700.5A1. 

An approvable workplan is required 

to include: 

1. Workplan components to be funded 

under the grant or cooperative 

agreement; 

2. Estimated work years and the 

estimated funding amounts for each 

workplan component; 

3. Workplan commitments for each 

workplan component and a timeframe 

for their accomplishment; 

4. Performance evaluation process 

and reporting schedule; and 

5. Roles and responsibilities of the 

recipient and EPA in carrying out the 

workplan commitments. 

In addition, successful applicants will 

be required to certify that they have not 

been Debarred or Suspended from 

participation in Federal assistance 

awards in accordance with 40 CFR part 

32. 

A listing of successful proposals will 

be posted on http://www.epa.gov/twg 

Web site address at the conclusion of 

the competition. This Web site may also 

contain information about this 

announcement including information 

concerning deadline extensions or other 

modifications. 

Applicants will receive a notice of 

award through postal mail. The notice 

of award signed by the Award Official 

(or equivalent) in the Grants 

Administration Division is the 

authorizing document, and will be 

mailed to the individual signing the 

original application. 

B. Administrative and National Policy 

Requirements 

The general award and administration 

process for all Targeted Watersheds 

Grants is governed by regulations at 40 

CFR part 30 (‘‘Uniform Administrative 

Requirements for Grants and 

Agreements to Institutions of Higher 

Education, Hospitals, and Other Nonprofit Organizations’’) and 40 CFR part 

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31 (‘‘Uniform Administrative 

Requirements for Grants and 

Cooperative Agreements to State and 

Local Governments’’). 

DUNS Number 

All applicants are required to provide 

a number from the Dun and Bradstreet 

Data Universal Numbering System 

(DUNS) when applying for Federal 

assistance agreements. Organizations 

can receive a DUNS number in one day 

at no cost by calling the dedicated tollfree request line at 1–866–705–5711 or 

by visiting the Web site at http:// 

www.dnb.com. 

C. Reporting 

Project monitoring and reporting 

requirements can be found in 40 CFR 

30.50–30.52, 40 CFR 31.40–31.41. In 

general, recipients are responsible for 

managing the day-to-day operations and 

activities supported by the grant or 

cooperative agreement to assure 

compliance with applicable Federal 

requirements, and for ensuring that 

established milestones and performance 

goals are being achieved. Performance 

reports and financial reports must be 

submitted quarterly and are due 30 days 

after the reporting period. The format 

for these reports will be identified 

during the grant application time frame, 

and will include reporting on 

established performance measures 

indicated in the project description (i.e., 

goals, outputs and outcomes). The final 

report is due 90 days after the assistance 

agreement has expired. 

D. Dispute Process 

Assistance agreement competitionrelated disputes will be resolved in 

accordance with the dispute resolution 

procedures published in 70 FR 3629, 

3630 (January 26, 2005), which can be 

found at: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/ 

7/257/2422/01jan20051800/ 

edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/05–

1371.htm. 

E. Administrative Capability 

Requirement 

Nonprofit applicants that are 

recommended for funding under this 

announcement may be subject to preaward administrative capability reviews 

consistent with Section 8b, 8c, and 9d 

of EPA Order 5700.8—Policy on 

Assessing Capabilities of Non-Profit 

Applicants for Managing Assistance 

Awards (http://www.epa.gov/ogd/ 

grants/award/5700_8.pdf). In addition, 

nonprofit applicants that qualify for 

funding may, depending on the size of 

the award, be required to fill out and 

submit to the Grants Management Office 

the Administrative Capabilities Form 

with supporting documents contained 

in Appendix A of EPA Order 5700.8. 

VII. Agency Contacts 

Note to Applicants: EPA will respond 

to questions from individual applicants 

regarding threshold eligibility criteria, 

administrative issues related to the 

submission of the proposal, and 

requests for clarification about the 

announcement. Questions must be 

submitted in writing and received by 

EPA before October 30, 2006 to the 

appropriate EPA Regional Contact and 

written responses will be posted on 

EPA’s Web site at: http://www.epa.gov/ 

twg. In accordance with EPA’s 

Competition Policy (EPA Order 

5700.5A1), EPA staff will not meet with 

individual applicants or discuss draft 

proposals, provide informal comments 

on draft proposals, or provide advice to 

applicants on how to respond to ranking 

criteria. 

EPA Regional Contacts 

Region I—Connecticut, Maine, 

Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, 

New Hampshire: Rob Adler or Jerry 

Potamis; telephones 617–918–1396 and 

617–918–1651; E-mails 

adler.robert@epa.gov and 

potamis.gerald@epa.gov, respectively. 

Region II—New Jersey, New York, 

Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands: Cyndy 

Kopitsky; telephone 212–637–3832; Email kopitsky.cyndy@epa.gov. 

Region III—Delaware, Maryland, 

Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, 

Washington, DC: Ralph Spagnolo; 

telephone 215–814–2718; E-mail 

spagnolo.ralph@epa.gov. 

Region IV—Alabama, Florida, 

Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, 

South Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee: 

William L. Cox; telephone 404–562–

9351; E-mail cox.williaml@epa.gov. 

Region V—Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, 

Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin: Paul 

Thomas; telephone 312–886–7742; Email thomas.paul@epa.gov. 

Region VI—Louisiana, Texas, 

Oklahoma, Arkansas, New Mexico: Brad 

Lamb; telephone 214–665–6683; E-mail 

lamb.brad@epa.gov. 

Region VII—Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, 

Nebraska: Jaci Ferguson; telephone 417–

575–8028; E-mail 

ferguson.jaci@epa.gov. 

Region VIII—Colorado, Montana, 

North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, 

Wyoming: Gary Kleeman; telephone 

303–312–6246; E-mail 

kleeman.gary@epa.gov. 

Region IX—Arizona, California, 

Hawaii, Nevada, American Samoa, 

Mariana Islands, Guam: Sam Ziegler; 

telephone 415–972–3399; E-mail 

ziegler.sam@epa.gov 

Region X—Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, 

Washington: Bevin Reid; telephone 

206–553–1566; E-mail 

reid.bevin@epa.gov. 

VIII. Other Information 

A. Quality Assurance and Quality 

Control (QA/QC) 

Certain quality assurance and/or 

quality control (QA/QC) and peer 

review requirements are applicable to 

the collection of environmental data. 

Environmental data are any 

measurements or information that 

describe environmental processes, 

location, or condition; ecological or 

health effects and consequences; or the 

performance of environmental 

technology. Environmental data also 

include information collected directly 

from measurements, produced from 

models, and obtained from other 

sources such as data bases or published 

literature. Regulations pertaining to QA/ 

QC requirements can be found in 40 

CFR 30.54 and 31.45. Additional 

guidance can be found at http:// 

www.epa.gov/quality/ 

qa_docs.html#noeparqt. 

Applicants should allow sufficient 

time and resources for this process in 

their proposed projects. If your 

organization does not have a Quality 

Management System in place, one must 

be developed. A project specific Quality 

Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) must be 

submitted and approved by EPA. Allow 

4–6 months in your timeline for 

approval of these plans. All projects will 

require a QAPP. 

B. Assistance Agreement Terms and 

Conditions 

1. Annual Grantee Conference 

The grantee must attend the annual 

National Targeted Watersheds Grantee 

Conference at the initiation of the 

project and a subsequent annual 

conference to be determined in 

consultation with the EPA Project 

Officer. Attendance at two conferences 

is mandatory. The purpose of these 

conferences is to provide watershed 

organizations with training and support 

to better restore, protect, and manage 

their watersheds, provide help and 

assistance regarding Agency grants 

management requirements and, most 

importantly, provide grant recipients 

with opportunities to share successful 

approaches with each other. 

Attendance at a minimum of two 

conferences will be mandatory and will 

be included in the Terms and 

Conditions of the grant or cooperative 

agreement. The recipient will be 

allowed to use award funds to pay for 

travel and lodging. The cost of hosting 

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46910 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 157 / Tuesday, August 15, 2006 / Notices 

the conference will be paid for by EPA. 

If the recipient wishes to use the award 

money for travel expenses, these costs 

must be included in the submitted 

proposed budget. 

2. Information Technology 

Also as a Term and Condition of the 

grant, recipients will be required to 

institute standardized reporting 

requirements into their workplans and 

include such costs in their budgets. All 

environmental data will be required to 

be entered into the Agency’s Storage 

and Retrieval data system (STORET) 

and recipients may need to purchase 

appropriate ORACLE software. STORET 

is a repository for water quality, 

biological, and other physical data used 

by state environmental agencies, EPA 

and other Federal agencies, universities, 

private citizens, and many other 

organizations. Information regarding 

training sessions sponsored by EPA will 

be provided. Watershed organizations 

may also want to contact their state 

agency responsible for entering data into 

the system. More information about 

STORET can be found at http:// 

www.epa.gov/STORET. 

Dated: July 7, 2006. 

Benjamin H. Grumbles, 

Assistant Administrator for Water. 

Attachment A—How To Submit Your 

Proposal Through Grants.gov 

At http://www.grants.gov, you will 

find step-by-step instructions which 

will help you to apply under this 

announcement. Proposals submitted 

through Grants.gov will be time/date 

stamped electronically. 

If you wish to apply electronically via 

Grants.gov, the electronic submission of 

your proposal must be made by an 

official representative of your institution 

who is registered with Grants.gov and 

authorized to sign applications for 

Federal assistance. For more 

information, go to http://www.grants.gov 

and click on ‘‘Get Registered’’ on the left 

side of the page. Note that the 

registration process may take a week or 

longer to complete. If your organization 

is not currently registered with 

Grants.gov, please encourage your office 

to designate an Authorized Organization 

Representative (AOR) and ask that 

individual to begin the registration 

process as soon as possible. 

To begin the application process for 

this announcement, go to http:// 

www.grants.gov and click on the ‘‘Apply 

for Grants’’ tab on the left side of the 

page. Then click on ‘‘Apply Step 1: 

Download a Grant Application Package 

and Instructions’’ to download the 

PureEdge viewer and obtain the 

application package (https:// 

apply.grants.gov/forms_apps_idx.html). 

You may retrieve the application 

package and instructions by entering the 

Funding Opportunity Number, EPA–

OW–OWOW–06–3, or CFDA number, in 

the space provided. You may also be 

able to access the application package 

by clicking on the button ‘‘How To 

Apply’’ at the top right of the synopsis 

page for this announcement on http:// 

www.grants.gov (to find the synopsis 

page go to http://www.grants.gov and 

click on the ‘‘Find Grant Opportunities’’

button on the left side of the page and 

then go to ‘‘Search Opportunities’’ and 

use the ‘‘Browse by Agency’’ feature to 

find EPA opportunities). 

Applicants are required to submit 

electronic versions of the documents 

described in Section IV.C of the 

announcement to apply through 

Grants.gov: the proposal narrative, 

letters of nomination and support, map, 

SF 424 and SF 424A. 

For the Proposal Narrative portion, 

you will need to attach electronic files. 

Prepare your narrative as described in 

Section IV.C of the announcement and 

save the document to your computer as 

an MS Word, PDF or WordPerfect file. 

When you are ready to attach your 

proposal narrative to the application 

package, click on ‘‘Project Narrative 

Attachment Form,’’ and open the form. 

Click ‘‘Add Mandatory Project Narrative 

File,’’ and then attach your narrative 

(previously saved to your computer) 

using the browse window that appears. 

You may then click ‘‘View Mandatory 

Project Narrative File’’ to view it. Enter 

a brief descriptive title of your project 

in the space beside ‘‘Mandatory Project 

Narrative File Filename,’’ the filename 

should be no more than 40 characters 

long. If there other attachments that you 

would like to submit to accompany your 

narrative, you may click ‘‘add Optional 

Project Narrative File’’ and proceed as 

before. When you have finished 

attaching the necessary documents, 

click ‘‘Close Form.’’ When you return to 

the ‘‘Grant Application Package’’ page, 

select the ‘‘Project Narrative Attachment 

Form’’ and click ‘‘Move Form to 

Submission List.’’ The form should now 

appear in the box that says, ‘‘Mandatory 

Completed Documents for Submission.’’

For the SF 424 and SF 424A, click on 

the appropriate form and then click 

‘‘Open Form’’ below the box. The fields 

that must be completed will be 

highlighted in yellow. Optional fields 

and completed fields will be displayed 

in white. If you enter an invalid 

response or incomplete information in a 

field, you will receive an error message. 

When you have finished filling out each 

form, click ‘‘Save.’’ When you return to 

the electronic Grant Application 

Package page, click on the form you just 

completed, and then click on the box 

that says, ‘‘Move Form to Submission 

List.’’ This action moves the document 

over to the box that says, ‘‘Mandatory 

Completed Documents for Submission.’’

All additional documents may be 

submitted as ‘‘Attachments’’. 

Once you have finished filling out all 

of the forms/attachments and they 

appear in one of the ‘‘Completed 

Documents for Submission’’ boxes, click 

the ‘‘Save’’ button that appears at the 

top of the Web page. It is suggested that 

you save the document a second time, 

using a different name, since this will 

make it easier to submit an amended 

package later if necessary. 

Please use the following format when 

saving your file: ‘‘Applicant Name—

TWG—FY06—Watershed Name—

State.’’ If it becomes necessary to submit 

an amended package at a later date, then 

the name of the 2nd submission should 

be changed to ‘‘Applicant Name—

TWG—FY06—Watershed Name—

State—2nd Submission.’’ Once your 

application package has been completed 

and saved, send it to your AOR for 

submission to U.S. EPA through 

Grants.gov. Please advise your AOR to 

close all other software programs before 

attempting to submit the application 

package through Grants.gov. 

In the ‘‘Application Filing Name’’

box, your AOR should enter your 

organization’s name (abbreviated where 

possible), the appropriate region, the 

fiscal year (e.g., FY06), and the grant 

category (e.g., Environmental Quality). 

The filing name should not exceed 40 

characters. From the ‘‘Grant Application 

Package’’ page, your AOR may submit 

the application package by clicking the 

‘‘Submit’’ button that appears at the top 

of the page. The AOR will then be asked 

to verify the agency and funding 

opportunity number for which the 

application package is being submitted. 

If problems are encountered during the 

submission process, the AOR should 

reboot his/her computer before trying to 

submit the application package again. [It 

may be necessary to turn off the 

computer (not just restart it) before 

attempting to submit the package again.] 

If the AOR continues to experience 

submission problems, he/she may 

contact Grants.gov for assistance by 

phone at 1–800–518–4726 or E-mail at 

http://www/grants.gov/help/help.jsp 

and at the same time, should notify 

Carol Peterson at 202–566–1304 or 

peterson.carol@epa.gov of the problem. 

If you have any technical difficulties at 

any time during this process, please 

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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 157 / Tuesday, August 15, 2006 / Notices 46911 

refer to http://www.grants.gov/help/ 

help.jsp. 

[FR Doc. 06–6898 Filed 8–14–06; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6560–50–P 

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 

AGENCY 

[EPA–HQ–OPP–2006–0192; FRL–8064–1] 

Notice of Filing of a Pesticide Petition 

for Establishment of Regulations for 

Residues of Atrazine in or on Leafy 

Vegetable Crop Group 4 (except 

Brassica) Commodities 

AGENCY: Environmental Protection 

Agency (EPA). 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: This notice announces the 

initial filing of a pesticide petition 

proposing the establishment of 

regulations for residues of atrazine in or 

on leafy vegetable Crop Group 4 (except 

Brassica) commodities. 

DATES: Comments must be received on 

or before September 14, 2006. 

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, 

identified by docket identification (ID) 

number EPA–HQ–OPP–2006–0192 and 

pesticide petition number (PP) 6F7022, 

by one of the following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// 

www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line 

instructions for submitting comments. 

• Mail: Office of Pesticide Programs 

(OPP) Regulatory Public Docket (7502P), 

Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 

Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, 

DC 20460-0001. 

• Delivery: OPP Regulatory Public 

Docket (7502P), Environmental 

Protection Agency, Rm. S-4400, One 

Potomac Yard (South Building), 2777 S. 

Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA. Deliveries 

are only accepted during the Docket’s 

normal hours of operation (8:30 a.m. to 

4 p.m., Monday through Friday, 

excluding legal holidays). Special 

arrangements should be made for 

deliveries of boxed information. The 

Docket telephone number is (703) 305- 

5805. 

Instructions: Direct your comments to 

docket ID number EPA–HQ–OPP–2006–

0192. EPA’s policy is that all comments 

received will be included in the docket 

without change and may be made 

available on-line at http:// 

www.regulations.gov, including any 

personal information provided, unless 

the comment includes information 

claimed to be Confidential Business 

Information (CBI) or other information 

whose disclosure is restricted by statute. 

Do not submit information that you 

consider to be CBI or otherwise 

protected through regulations.gov or email. The Federal regulations.gov 

website is an ‘‘anonymous access’’

system, which means EPA will not 

know your identity or contact 

information unless you provide it in the 

body of your comment. If you send an 

e-mail comment directly to EPA without 

going through regulations.gov, your email address will be automatically 

captured and included as part of the 

comment that is placed in the docket 

and made available on the Internet. If 

you submit an electronic comment, EPA 

recommends that you include your 

name and other contact information in 

the body of your comment and with any 

disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA 

cannot read your comment due to 

technical difficulties and cannot contact 

you for clarification, EPA may not be 

able to consider your comment. 

Electronic files should avoid the use of 

special characters, any form of 

encryption, and be free of any defects or 

viruses. 

Docket: All documents in the docket 

are listed in the docket index. Although 

listed in the index, some information is 

not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other 

information whose disclosure is 

restricted by statute. Certain other 

material, such as copyrighted material, 

is not placed on the Internet and will be 

publicly available only in hard copy 

form. Publicly available docket 

materials are available either in the 

electronic docket at http:// 

www.regulations.gov, or, if only 

available in hard copy, at the OPP 

Regulatory Public Docket in Rm. S-4400, 

One Potomac Yard (South Building), 

2777 S. Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA. 

The hours of operation of this Docket 

Facility are from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., 

Monday through Friday, excluding legal 

holidays. The Docket telephone number 

is (703) 305-5805. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Hope Johnson, Registration Division 

(7505C), Office of Pesticide Programs, 

Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 

Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, 

DC 20460-0001; telephone number: 

(703) 305-5410; e-mail address: 

johnson.hope@epa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. General Information 

A. Does this Action Apply to Me? 

You may be potentially affected by 

this action if you are an agricultural 

producer, food manufacturer, or 

pesticide manufacturer. Potentially 

affected entities may include, but are 

not limited to: 

•Crop production (NAICS code 111). 

• Animal production (NAICS code 

112). 

• Food manufacturing (NAICS code 

311). 

• Pesticide manufacturing (NAICS 

code 32532). 

This listing is not intended to be 

exhaustive, but rather provides a guide 

for readers regarding entities likely to be 

affected by this action. Other types of 

entities not listed in this unit could also 

be affected. The North American 

Industrial Classification System 

(NAICS) codes have been provided to 

assist you and others in determining 

whether this action might apply to 

certain entities. 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. What Should I Consider as I Prepare 

My Comments for EPA? 

1. Submitting CBI. Do not submit this 

information to EPA through 

regulations.gov or e-mail. Clearly mark 

the part or all of the information that 

you claim to be CBI. For CBI 

information in a disk or CD ROM that 

you mail to EPA, mark the outside of the 

disk or CD ROM as CBI and then 

identify electronically within the disk or 

CD ROM the specific information that is 

claimed as CBI. In addition to one 

complete version of the comment that 

includes information claimed as CBI, a 

copy of the comment that does not 

contain the information claimed as CBI 

must be submitted for inclusion in the 

public docket. Information so marked 

will not be disclosed except in 

accordance with procedures set forth in 

40 CFR part 2. 

2. Tips for preparing your comments. 

When submitting comments, remember 

to: 

i. Identify the document by docket ID 

number and other identifying 

information (subject heading, Federal 

Register date and page number). 

ii. Follow directions. The Agency may 

ask you to respond to specific questions 

or organize comments by referencing a 

Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 

or section number. 

iii. Explain why you agree or disagree; 

suggest alternatives and substitute 

language for your requested changes. 

iv. Describe any assumptions and 

provide any technical information and/ 

or data that you used. 

v. If you estimate potential costs or 

burdens, explain how you arrived at 

your estimate in sufficient detail to 

allow for it to be reproduced. 

vi. Provide specific examples to 

illustrate your concerns and suggest 

alternatives. 

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