[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 234 (Wednesday, December 6, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62435-62439]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-29744]



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[[Page 62436]]


ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-5338-5]


Office of Environmental Justice; Environmental Justice Community/
University Partnership Grants Program Request for Applications (RFA) 
for Fiscal Year (FY) 1996

Purpose of Notice

    The purpose of this notice is to solicit applications from eligible 
candidates under the Environmental Justice Community/University 
Partnership Grants Program sponsored by the Environmental Protection 
Agency, Office of Environmental Justice.

Grants Program Overview

    The grants program was established to help community groups and 
tribal governments effectively address local environmental justice 
issues through active partnerships with one or more institutions of 
higher education. The Universities/Colleges shall support affected 
environmental justice community groups and American Indian tribes who 
engage in or plan to carry out projects that address environmental 
justice issues. The Universities/Colleges must focus on the design, 
methods, and techniques to evaluate and solve the environmental justice 
issues of concern to affected communities. The Universities/Colleges 
that have experience working with, and capabilities to effectively 
communicate with, affected communities, in actual partnership with such 
communities, will be given priority. This grants program will further 
the federal government's commitment to develop stronger partnerships 
with stakeholders in order to enhance community-based environmental 
protection.
    The emphasis of this grants program is on meaningful, two-way 
cooperation between communities or tribes and institutions of higher 
education serving minority communities and low-income communities or 
tribes in order to address environmental justice issues. Partnerships 
must be established with formal agreements (i.e. Memoranda of 
Agreements) between at least one College/University and at least one 
socio-economically disadvantaged community which is adversely impacted 
by an environmental hazard. These partnerships become the catalyst for 
increasing environmental awareness and involvement in resolving 
environmental problems, such as exposure to environmental pollutants in 
minority communities and low-income communities and on Tribal lands.
    The main objective of this grants program is to link community 
residence/organizations and tribes with their neighboring or affiliated 
academic institutions to forge partnerships to address local 
environmental and public health concerns. This effort is designed to 
ensure that these partners:
    <bullet> Are aware of basic environmental regulations, laws, 
concepts, issues, and resources;
    <bullet> Understand their role in identifying and defining 
problems, and monitoring contaminants related to environmental 
exposures;
    <bullet> Are included in the dialogue that results in shaping 
future policies, guidances, and approaches to problem solving; and
    <bullet> Are encouraged to be active partners in developing 
responses and setting priorities for intervention.
    Through these partnerships, communities will be encouraged to 
become involved in accessing information from environmental databases, 
in cleaning-up and restoring environmental quality in communities that 
have environmental insults, and in surveying and monitoring 
environmental quality.
    Number of Grants Proposed: A minimum of four grants are expected to 
be awarded for fiscal year (FY) 1996, depending on the amount of 
funding.
    Grant Award Amount: A maximum of $250,000 will be awarded to each 
recipient, contingent upon the availability of funds. Work funded by 
this program is expected to begin upon award of the grant. All grants 
under this notice are expected to be awarded by August 1996.
    Grant Term: The grant award will be a maximum of $250,000, but the 
project period can extend up to three years, if necessary. However, if 
the project period extends beyond one year the funding will be 
dispersed to the grantee over the course of the project period, not all 
in the first year.
    Eligibility: Participation is limited to all institutions of higher 
education, which are eligible under applicable statutory authorities, 
including Historically Black Colleges or Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic 
Serving Institutions (HSIs), Tribal Colleges (TCs), and institutions 
serving Asian-American (AA's) and other minority communities or low-
income communities, and which have formal partnerships (i.e.. a signed 
Memorandum of Agreement) with any affected community groups (e.g., 
community-based/grassroots organizations, churches, schools, or other 
nonprofit community organizations) or with tribal governments.
    The Environmental Justice Community/University Partnerships may be 
either a partnership among two single entities or consortium of 
entities. If a consortium is proposed, the lead academic institution 
must be identified and be one of the eligible applicants. This lead 
institution is recognized as the grantee and as such is responsible for 
all activities under the agreement.
    Statutory authorities: The granting authority is multi-media and 
the grant proposal must address at least two of the following statutes:

Clean Water Act, Section 104(b)(3)
Solid Waste Disposal Act, Section 8001(a)
Clean Air Act, Section 103(b)(3)
Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act, Section 203
Toxic Substances Control Act, Section 10(a)\1\

    \1\Projects under this statute are limited to research or 
development activities.
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Safe Drinking Water Act, Section 1442(b)(3)
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, Section 20(a)\2\

    \2\Projects under this statute are limited to research 
activities (e.g., surveys)
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Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act,
Section 111(c)(10).\3\

    \3\Projects under this statute are limited to hazardous 
substance detection, assessment, and evaluation, and associated 
human health effects and risks.
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    Background: In its 1992 report, Environmental Equity: Reducing Risk 
for All Communities, EPA found that minority and low-income communities 
may experience higher than average exposure to toxic pollutants than 
the general population. The Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ) was 
established in 1992 to help these communities identify and assess 
pollution sources, implement environmental awareness and training 
programs for affected residents and work with local stakeholders 
(community-based organizations, academia, industry, local governments) 
to devise strategies for environmental improvements.
    In June of 1993, OEJ was delegated granting authority to solicit 
projects, select suitable projects from among those proposed, supervise 
such projects, evaluate the results of projects, and disseminate 
information on the effectiveness of the projects, and feasibility of 
the practices, methods, techniques and processes in environmental 
justice areas.
    General: The following questions and answers are designed to 
respond to frequent concerns of applicants. 

[[Page 62437]]


A. What Specific Requirements Exist for the Environmental Justice 
Community/University Partnership Grants Program?

    Projects under the Environmental Justice Community/University 
Partnership Grants Program shall include, but not be limited to:
    1. Design and demonstration of field methods, practices, and 
techniques, including assessment and analysis of environmental justice 
conditions and problems which may have a wide applicability and/or 
addresses a high priority environmental justice issue (e.g., socio-
economic impact studies);
    2. Research projects to understand, assess or address, regional and 
local trends in environmental justice issues or problems (e.g., 
monitoring of socio-economic change in a community as a result of an 
environmental abuse);
    3. Demonstration or dissemination of environmental justice 
information, including development of educational tools and materials 
(e.g., establish an environmental justice clearinghouse of successful 
environmental justice projects and activities or teach about risk 
reduction, pollution prevention, or ecosystem protection as potential 
strategies for addressing environmental justice problems or issues);
    4. Determine the necessary improvements in communication and 
coordination among local, state and tribal environmental programs and 
facilitate communication, information exchange, and community 
partnerships among all stakeholders to enhance critical thinking, 
problem solving, and decision making;
    5. Provide technical expert consultation and training for 
accessing, analyzing, and interpreting public environmental data, and 
utilization of electronic communications technology (e.g., TRI, GIS, 
Internet and E-mail); and
    6. Provide for a minimal ``hard science'' analysis capability 
(e.g., analyze water and soil samples to test for basic pollutants, 
provide radon testing kits, etc.).
    Projects should involve new and innovative approaches and/or 
significant new combinations of resources, both of which should be 
identified in the partnership agreements;
    An applicant is required to include in the application a signed 
agreement which describes the role of the prospective partner(s) in the 
project and its implementation, and which includes a commitment or 
intent to commit resources from the prospective partner(s) contingent 
only upon receipt of the grant award. The college/university must 
identify the community residents or tribal government representatives 
who will serve on the ``partnership team.'' Where appropriate, the 
community or tribal representatives on the team may be compensated for 
their work; and
    Applications should include partnerships between colleges and 
universities which are providers of training and programs for these 
communities. One of the goals of the partnerships should be to develop 
a plan to shift the focus of these organizations from maintenance to 
that of self-sufficiency.

B. What does Environmental Justice Involve Under the Environmental 
Justice Community/University Partnership Grant?

    Environmental justice is the fair treatment and meaningful 
involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, 
or income with respect to the development, implementation, and 
enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. Fair 
treatment means that no groups of people, including racial, ethnic, or 
socioeconomic groups, should bear a disproportionate share of the 
negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, 
municipal, and commercial operations or the execution of federal, 
state, local, and tribal programs and policies.

C. May an Individual Apply?

    No. Only institutions of higher education may apply. The 
professional qualifications or community-based experience of those 
individuals participating in the proposed project will be an important 
factor in the selection process.

Funding Priorities

D. What Types of Proposed Environmental Justice Community/University 
Partnerships Will Have the Best Chance of Being Funded?

    The Environmental Justice Community/University Partnerships must 
meet the objectives and criteria as described in Section A and B. The 
evaluations will be conducted, and items weighed, as indicated in 
Section G.

E. Are Matching Funds Required?

    Yes. Federal funds for the Environmental Justice Community/
University Partnerships shall not exceed 95% of the total cost of the 
project. EPA encourages non-Federal matching shares of greater than 5%. 
The non-Federal share of costs may be provided in cash or by in-kind 
contributions of services or property. In-kind contributions often 
include salaries or other verifiable costs. In the case of salaries, 
applicants may use either minimum wage or fair market value of similar 
work in the same labor market. The proposed match, including the value 
of in-kind contributions, is subject to negotiation with EPA. All 
grants are subject to audit, so the value of in- kind contributions 
must be carefully documented. The matching (non-Federal) share is a 
percentage of the entire cost of the project. For example, if the total 
project cost is approximately $260,000 then the Federal portion can be 
no more than $247,000, which is 95% of the total project cost. For this 
example, the grant recipient would be required to provide $13,000 for 
the project. The amount of non-Federal funds, including in-kind 
contributions, must be briefly itemized in Block 15 of the application 
form (SF 424). Among other things, EPA funds cannot be used for 
matching funds for other Federal grants, construction, buying 
furniture, lobbying, intervention in federal rule-making, adjudicatory 
proceedings, litigation, or personal gifts. Refer to 40 CFR 30.410 
entitled, ``How does EPA determine allowable costs?''

Application Procedure

    An ``Application for Federal Assistance'' form (Standard Form 424 
or SF 424), a ``Budget Information: Non-Construction Programs'' form 
(SF 424A), a Work Plan (described below), and a Memorandum of Agreement 
must be submitted. These documents contain all the information EPA 
needs to evaluate the merits of your proposed grant proposal.
    Each instrument approved under the environmental justice delegation 
must be consistent with the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreements 
Act of 1977, Public Law 95-224, as amended, 31 U.S.C. Section 6301; 
Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 30 and 33, and 
existing media-specific regulations pertinent to the statement of work.

F. How Must the Application be Submitted and Specifically what Must it 
Include?

    The applicants must submit one original, signed by a person 
authorized to receive funds for the applicant, and two copies of the 
application (double-sided copies encouraged). Applications must be 
reproducible (for example; stapled once in the upper left hand corner, 
on white paper, and with page numbers).
    For the purposes of this grants program, an application must 
contains an SF 424, SF 424A, a work plan, a Memorandum of Agreement 
(MOA), and 

[[Page 62438]]
the Certification Forms. The following describes these items:
    1. Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424). An SF 424 is an 
official form required for all Federal grants. A completed SF 424 must 
be submitted as part of your preapplication.
    2. Budget Information: Non-Construction Programs (SF 424A). An SF 
424A is an official form required for all Federal grants. A completed 
SF 424A must be submitted as part of your application. This form, along 
with instructions are included at the end of this notice. In addition, 
a detailed budget which breaks down the budget categories is required.
    3. Work Plan. A work plan describes the applicant's proposed 
project. Work plans must be no more than 15 pages total. One page is 
one side of a single spaced typed page. The pages must be letter size 
(8\1/2\ x 11), with normal type size (19 or 12 cpi) and at least 1'' 
margins. The only appendices and letters of support that EPA will 
accept are a budget, resumes of key personnel, and commitment letters.
    4. Memorandum of Agreement. The Memorandum of Agreement will 
provide the foundation for the working relationship between the 
college/university and the partners involved in the project. This 
agreement must be signed and have the roles and responsibilities of 
each partner clearly defined.
    5. Necessary Signed Forms. Procurement Systems Certification, 
Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility 
Matters, Certification Regarding Lobbying.

G. How will the Applications be Evaluated?

    The applications will be evaluated by a review panel and selected 
according to the following criteria. The percentages next to the items 
are the weights EPA will use to evaluate the applications. Please note 
that certain sections are given greater weight than others.
    (a.) A concise introduction of no more than three pages that states 
the nature of the college/university, how the college/university has 
been successful in the past, proposed uses, objectives, methods, plans, 
target audiences, and expected results of the project. (10%)
    (b.) Clear and concise description of the project which includes 
the following:
    1. A section describing the field methods, practices, and 
techniques, including assessment and analysis, which the partnership 
expects to implement to address national, regional and local 
environmental justice issues. (10%)
    2. A section describing how the partnership will disseminate 
environmental justice information and provide training, including 
educational tools and materials. (10%)
    3. A section describing how the partnership will improve 
communications and coordination among local, state, tribal and federal 
environmental programs and community organizations, and how the 
partnership will enhance critical thinking, problem solving and 
decision making among all stakeholders. Specify effective and realistic 
methods for involving members of the targeted population. (10%)
    4. A section describing who or how the partnership will obtain 
expert consultation and provide training for the partners to access, 
analyze and interpret public environmental data and utilize electronic 
communications technology. (10%)
    5. A section describing the ``hard science'' analysis capability of 
the college(s)/university(ies). (10%)
    (c.) A conclusion discussing how the applicant will evaluate the 
success of the partnership, in terms of the anticipated strengths and 
challenges in developing and administering the partnership. (10%)
    (d.) An appendix with a budget describing how funds will be used in 
terms of personnel, fringe benefits, travel, equipment, supplies, 
contract costs, and other. Funds can not be used for matching funds for 
other federal grants, construction, buying furniture, lobbying, 
intervention in federal rule-making, adjudicatory proceedings, 
litigation, or personal gifts. The budget must list proposed milestones 
with deadlines and estimated cost and completion dates. All costs must 
be consistent with the cost principles of the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB), A-21. (10%)
    (e.) An appendix with one or two page resumes of up to five key 
personnel. (5%)
    (f.) An appendix with one page letters of commitment from 
community-based organizations with a significant role in the 
development and administration of the partnership. Letters of 
endorsement will not be considered. (5%)
    (g) A Memorandum of Agreement signed by each representative of the 
partnership team which identifies the roles and responsibilities of 
each partner. (10%)

H. When and Where Must the Applications be Submitted?

    An original plus two copies of the application must be mailed to 
EPA postmarked no later than Saturday, March 2, 1996. Applications must 
be submitted to this EPA headquarters address: United States 
Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Environmental Justice, Mail 
Code 3103 Environmental Justice Community/University Partnership 
Grants, 401 M Street S.W., Washington, D.C. 20460.

Review and Selection Process

I. How Will Applications be Reviewed?

    EPA's Office of Environmental Justice will form a selections 
committee comprised of EPA, other federal agency staff, and outside 
reviewers to evaluate proposals and recommend selections. Applications 
will be screened to ensure they meet all the requirements described in 
this Sections A-H. Reviewers will specifically evaluate the degree to 
which the applications meet EPA's objectives and criteria as discussed 
in Section G. Applications will be disqualified if they are incomplete 
or do not meet EPA's basic criteria.

J. How Will the Final Selections be Made?

    After the applications are reviewed and ranked as described in 
Section G, EPA officials will compare the best applications and make 
final selections. Factors EPA will take into account include; 
geographic and socio-economic balance, diverse nature of the projects, 
and if the partnership's benefits can be sustained after the grant is 
completed.

K. How Will Applicants be Notified?

    After all applications are received, EPA will mail acknowledgements 
to each applicant. Once applications have been recommended for funding, 
EPA will notify those applicants selected and request any additional 
information necessary to complete the award process. The EPA Office of 
Environmental Justice will notify those applicants whose grant 
applications were not selected for funding.

Post-Award

L. When Should the Proposed Partnership Begin Functioning?

    Partnerships cannot operate or begin development on this specific 
project before funds are awarded. Start dates are currently targeted 
for August 1, 1996. It is EPA's intent to fund each partnership only 
once. Future funding is dependent upon congressional appropriations. 

[[Page 62439]]


M. How Much Time do Grant Recipients Have to Complete the work 
Proposed?

    Activities must be completed within the time frame specified in the 
grant award, usually one or two years from award date. Grant project 
periods may be approved for up to two years.

N. Who Will Develop and Manage the Partnerships?

    Grant recipients are responsible for the successful development and 
management of all projects. All applications must identify a project 
manager. The recipient's project manager is subject to approval by the 
EPA project officer, but EPA may not direct that any particular person 
be the project officer. The lead institution (applicant) is recognized 
as the grantee and as such is responsible for all activities under the 
agreement.

O. What Reports Must Grant Recipients Complete?

    Recipients of grants will be expected to report on quarterly 
progress, as well as final project completion. All recipients must 
submit final reports for EPA approval prior to the expiration of the 
project period. Specific reporting requirements will be detailed in the 
award agreement. EPA plans to collect, evaluate, and as appropriate, 
disseminate grantees' final reports to serve as model programs. Since 
networking is crucial to the success of the program, grantees may be 
asked to transmit an extra copy to a central collection point.

P. What is the Expected Time frame for the Review and Awarding of the 
Grants?

December 1, 1995
    Request for Applications Published in the Federal Register
December 1, 1995-March 2, 1996
    Eligible grant recipients develop their proposals
March 2, 1996
    Proposals must be postmarked or received by EPA by this date
 March 2, 1996-May 1, 1996
    Federal Agency Officials and review panel evaluate and recommend 
award selection
May 1, 1996-June 30, 1996
    EPA Grants Administration Division processes grants. Applicants 
will be contacted by the grants office if their proposals were selected 
for funding. Additional information may be required from the selectees.
August 1, 1996
    EPA anticipates the awarding of the grants and the beginning of the 
partnership projects/activities.

Fiscal Year 1997 Grants

    To Receive Information on the Fiscal Year (FY) 1997 Environmental 
Justice Community/University Partnership (CUP) Grants Program and 
future year grants, please mail or fax your request along with your 
name, organization, address, and phone number to the Office of 
Environmental Justice (OEJ), FY 1997 CUP Grants. OEJ's address is 
provided in Section H. OEJ's fax number is (202) 260-0852. You may also 
obtain this information by calling OEJ's 24 hour hotline number 1-800-
962-6215

Available Translations

    A Spanish translation of this announcement is available upon 
request. Please call the Office of Environmental Justice at 1-800-962-
6215 for a copy.
    Hay traducciones disponibles en espanol. Si usted esta interesado 
en obtener una traduccion de este anunclo en espanol, por favor llame a 
la Officina de Justicia Ambiental conocida como ``Office of 
Environmental Justice'', linea de emergencia (1-800-962-6215).

Working Definitions

    Tribe--all federally recognized American Indian tribes (including 
``Alaskan Native Villages''), pueblos, and rancherios. Although the 
term ``tribe,'' as defined in this notice, refers to only ``federally 
recognized tribes,'' state recognized tribes or indigenous peoples 
organizations are able to apply for grant assistance as ``other 
eligible grass-roots organizations'' as long as they meet the 
definition of an incorporated, nonprofit organization.
    Nonprofit--means any corporation, trust, association, cooperative, 
or other organization which (1) is operated primarily for scientific, 
educational, service, charitable, or similar purposes in the public 
interest: (2) is not organized primarily for profit: and (3) uses its 
net proceeds to maintain, improve, and/or expand its operations.

    November 27, 1995.
Clarice E. Gaylord,
Director, Office of Environmental Justice.
[FR Doc. 95-29744 Filed 12-05-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P