[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 5 (Wednesday, January 8, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1113-1114]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-414]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPPTS-00205; FRL-5581-8]


Notice of Availability of FY 1997 Multimedia Environmental 
Justice Through Pollution Prevention Grant Funds

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: EPA is soliciting grant proposals under the Environmental 
Justice Through Pollution Prevention (EJP2) grant program. EPA 
anticipates that $4.2 million will be available in Fiscal Year 1997. 
The purpose of this program is to support pollution prevention 
approaches that address environmental justice concerns in affected 
communities. The grant funds will support (1) local environmental, 
environmental justice, community grass-roots organizations, as well as 
tribal governments that promote environmental justice using pollution 
prevention as the preferred approach, and (2) national and regional 
organizations who will, in partnership with local environmental, 
environmental justice, community grass-roots organizations, as well as 
tribal governments, promote environmental justice using pollution 
prevention as the preferred approach.


[[Page 1114]]


DATES: All applications must be received by EPA's contractor, ERG, 
located in Arlington, Virginia, by April 15, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To obtain copies of the EJP2 grant 
program guidance and application package, or to obtain more information 
regarding the EJP2 grant program, please contact Chen Wen at (703) 841-
0483. A complete electronic copy of the EJP2 grant program guidance and 
application package is also available on the EPA Homepage on the 
Internet. The EJP2 grant program guidance and application package is 
located at: http:/www.epa.gov/opptintr/ejp2

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Scope and Purpose of the EJP2 Grant Program

    The purpose of the FY 1997 EJP2 grant program is to support the use 
of pollution prevention approaches to address the environmental 
problems of minority communities and/or low-income communities. This 
grant program is designed to fund projects which have a direct impact 
on affected communities. Funds awarded must be used to support 
pollution prevention programs in minority and/or low-income 
communities. The Agency strongly encourages cooperative efforts between 
communities, business, industry, and government to address common 
pollution prevention goals. Projects funded under this grant may 
involve public education, training, demonstration projects, public-
private partnerships, or approaches to develop, evaluate, and 
demonstrate non-regulatory strategies and technologies.

II. Definition of Environmental Justice and Pollution Prevention

    Environmental justice is defined by EPA as the fair treatment of 
people of all races, cultures, and incomes with respect to the 
development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, 
regulations, programs, and policies. Fair treatment means that no 
racial, ethnic, or social economic group should bear a disproportionate 
share of the negative environmental consequences resulting from the 
operation of industrial, municipal, and commercial enterprises, and 
from the execution of federal, state, local, and tribal programs and 
policies.
    The Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 establishes a hierarchy of 
environmental preferences. These practices include, in order of 
preference:
    <bullet> Pollution prevention
    <bullet> Recycling
    <bullet> Treatment
    <bullet> Disposal
    Pollution prevention means source reduction. That is, any practice 
that reduces or eliminates any pollutant at the source of generation 
prior to recycling, treatment, or disposal. Pollution prevention also 
includes practices that reduce or eliminate the creation of pollutants 
through:
    Increased efficiency in the use of raw materials, energy, water, or 
other resources; and
    Protection of natural resources by conservation.
    This grant program is focused on using the top of the hierarchy--
pollution prevention--to bring about better environmental protection.

III. Eligibility

    Any affected, non-profit community organizations with section 
501(c)(3) or section 501(c)(4) <SUP>1 IRS tax status, or state and 
federally recognized tribal organizations may submit an application 
upon the publication of this solicitation. ``Non-profit organization'' 
is defined as any corporation, trust, association, cooperative, or 
other organizations that is:
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    \1\ As a result of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, EPA (and 
other federal agencies) may not award grants to non-profit, section 
501(c)(4) organizations that engage in lobbying activities. This 
restriction applies to any lobbying activities of a secton 501(c)(4) 
organization without distinguishing between lobbying funded by 
federal money and lobbying funded by other sources.
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    (1) Operated primarily for scientific, educational, service, 
charitable, or similar purposes in the public interest.
    (2) Not organized primarily for profit.
    (3) Uses its net proceeds to maintain, improve, and/or expand its 
operations.
While state and local governments and academic institutions are also 
eligible to receive grants, preference will be given to private, non-
profit, community-based/grassroots organizations, and state and 
federally recognized tribal organizations. Organizations must be 
incorporated by April 15, 1997, in order to be eligible to receive 
funds. Private businesses, federal agencies, and individuals are 
ineligible for this grant. Organizations excluded from applying 
directly, as well as those inexperienced in grant-writing, are 
encouraged to develop partnerships and prepare joint proposals with 
national, regional, or local organizations.
    No applicant can receive two grants for the same project at one 
time. EPA will consider only one proposal for a given project. 
Applicants may submit more than one application as long as the 
applications are for separate and distinct projects.
    Organizations seeking funds from the EJP2 grant program can request 
up to $100,000 for local projects, and up to $250,000 for projects that 
involve multiple communities located in more than one EPA Region, or 
projects that are national in scope. In accordance with 40 CFR parts 30 
and 23, EPA no longer requires cost sharing or matching under this 
grant program as it applies to institutions of higher education, 
hospitals, and other non-profit organizations, unless otherwise 
required by statute, regulation, Executive Order, or official Agency 
policy. Therefore, any matching requirements may need to be determined 
on a case-by-case basis depending upon the substantive focus of the 
grant proposal. Applicants that are governmental entities, such as 
state and local governments, are subject to a twenty-five (25) percent 
matching or cost-sharing requirement. Matching or cost-sharing 
requirement may be satisfied through either cash or in-kind 
contributions.

Dated: December 23, 1996.

William H. Sanders, III
Director, Office of Pollution, Prevention, and Toxics.
[FR Doc. 97-414 Filed 1-7-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F