[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 2, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 96-98]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-31539]
[[Page 95]]
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Part III
Department of Agriculture
_______________________________________________________________________
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
_______________________________________________________________________
Rangeland Research Grants Program for Fiscal Year 1996; Solicitation of
Applications; Notice
Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 1 / Tuesday, January 2, 1996 /
Notices
[[Page 96]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
Rangeland Research Grants Program for Fiscal Year 1996;
Solicitation of Applications
Notice is hereby given that under the authority in section 1480 of
the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act
of 1977, as amended (7 U.S.C. 3333), the Cooperative State Research,
Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) of the United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA) will award standard grants for basic
studies in certain areas of rangeland research. No more than $80,000
will be awarded for the support of any one project, regardless of the
amount requested. The total amount of funds available for grants under
the Rangeland Research Grants Program during fiscal year 1996 is
$451,535.
Eligibility and Limitations on Use of Funds
Under this program, subject to the availability of funds, the
Secretary may award grants to land-grant colleges and universities,
State agricultural experiment stations, and to colleges, universities,
and Federal laboratories having a demonstrable capacity in rangeland
research, as determined by the Secretary. Except in the case of Federal
laboratories, each grant recipient shall match the Federal funds
expended on a research project based on a formula of 50 percent Federal
and 50 percent non-Federal funding. Proposals received from scientists
at non-United States organizations or institutions will not be
considered for support. Section 712 of the Agriculture, Rural
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act, 1996, Pub. L. No. 104-37, prohibits CSREES from
paying indirect costs on research grants that exceed 14 percent of
total Federal funds provided under each award. In addition, section 716
of that Act provides that, in the case of any equipment or product that
may be authorized to be purchased with funds appropriated under that
Act, entities receiving such funds are encouraged to use such funds to
purchase only American-made equipment or products.
Pursuant to section 1473 of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977, as amended (7 U.S.C. 3319),
funds made available under this program to recipients other than
Federal laboratories shall not be subject to reduction for indirect
costs or for tuition remission costs. Since these costs are not
allowable costs for purposes of this program, such costs incurred by a
grant recipient may not be used to meet the matching fund requirement.
Applicable Regulations
This program is subject to the provisions found in 7 CFR part 3401,
as amended (58 FR 21852, April 23, 1993), which sets forth procedures
to be followed when submitting grant proposals, rules governing the
evaluation of proposals, processes regarding the awarding of grants,
and regulations relating to the post-award administration of grant
projects. In addition, the USDA Uniform Federal Assistance Regulations,
7 CFR part 3015, as amended; the Uniform Administrative Requirements
for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments, 7
CFR part 3016, as amended; the regulations governing Governmentwide
Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) and the Governmentwide
Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Grants), 7 CFR part 3017, as
amended; the New Restrictions on Lobbying, 7 CFR part 3018; the Uniform
Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions
of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Nonprofit Organizations, 7
CFR part 3019; the Audits of Institutions of Higher Education and Other
Nonprofit Institutions, 7 CFR part 3051; and the CSREES regulations
implementing the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 7 CFR part
3407, apply to this program.
Specific Areas of Research To Be Supported in Fiscal Year 1996
Standard grants will be awarded to support basic research in
certain areas of rangeland research. Proposals will be considered in
the following specific areas: (1) Management of rangelands and
agricultural land as integrated systems for more efficient utilization
of crops and waste products in the production of food and fiber; (2)
methods of managing rangeland watersheds to maximize efficient use of
water and improve water yield, water quality, and water conservation,
to protect against onsite and offsite damage to rangeland resources
from floods, erosion, and other detrimental influences, and to remedy
unsatisfactory and unstable rangeland conditions; and (3) revegetation
and rehabilitation of rangelands including the control of undesirable
species of plants.
For Further Information Contact: Program related questions should
be directed to Dr. Paul F. McCawley, CSREES-USDA; telephone: (202) 401-
5351.
Compliance With the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
As outlined in 7 CFR part 3407 (the CSREES regulations implementing
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969), environmental data for
any proposed project is to be provided to CSREES so that CSREES may
determine whether any further action is needed. The applicant shall
review the following categorical exclusions and determine if the
proposed project may fall within one or more of the categories.
(1) Department of Agriculture Categorical Exclusions (7 CFR 1b.3)
(i) Policy development, planning and implementation which are
related to routine activities such as personnel, organizational
changes, or similar administrative functions;
(ii) Activities which deal solely with the functions of programs,
such as program budget proposals, disbursements, and transfer or
reprogramming of funds;
(iii) Inventories, research activities, and studies, such as
resource inventories and routine data collection when such actions are
clearly limited in context and intensity;
(iv) Educational and informational programs and activities;
(v) Civil and criminal law enforcement and investigative
activities;
(vi) Activities which are advisory and consultative to other
agencies and public and private entities; and
(vii) Activities related to trade representation and market
development activities abroad.
(2) CSREES Categorical Exclusions (7 CFR 3407.6(a)(2))
Based on previous experience, the following categories of CSREES
actions are excluded because they have been found to have limited scope
and intensity and to have no significant individual or cumulative
impacts on the quality of the human environment:
(i) The following categories of research programs or projects of
limited size and magnitude or with only short-term effects on the
environment:
(A) Research conducted within any laboratory, greenhouse, or other
contained facility where research practices and safeguards prevent
environmental impacts;
(B) Surveys, inventories, and similar studies that have limited
context and minimal intensity in terms of changes in the environment;
and
(C) Testing outside of the laboratory, such as in small isolated
field plots,
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which involves the routine use of familiar chemicals or biological
materials.
(ii) Routine renovation, rehabilitation, or revitalization of
physical facilities, including the acquisition and installation of
equipment, where such activity is limited in scope and intensity.
In order for CSREES to determine whether any further action is
needed with respect to NEPA, pertinent information regarding the
possible environmental impacts of a particular project is necessary;
therefore, Form CSREES-1234, ``NEPA Exclusions Form'' (copy enclosed),
must be included in the proposal indicating whether the applicant is of
the opinion that the project falls within one or more of the
categorical exclusions and the reasons therefore. If it is the
applicant's opinion that the proposed projects falls within one or more
of the categorical exclusions, the specific exclusion(s) must be
identified. The information submitted shall be identified in the Table
of Contents as ``NEPA Considerations'' and Form CSREES-1234 and
supporting documentation shall be placed after the Form CSREES-661,
``Application for Funding,'' in the proposal.
Even though a project may fall within one or more of the
categorical exclusions, CSREES may determine that an Environmental
Assessment or an Environmental Impact Statement is necessary for a
proposed project if substantial controversy on environmental grounds
exist or if other extraordinary conditions or circumstances are present
that may cause such activity to have a significant environmental
effect.
Addresses:
How To Obtain Application Materials
Copies of this solicitation, the Application Kit, and the
Administrative Provisions for this program (7 CFR Part 3401) may be
obtained by writing to the address or calling the telephone number
which follows: Proposal Services; Grants Management Branch; Office of
Extramural Programs; Cooperative State Research, Education, and
Extension Service; U.S. Department of Agriculture; Room 303, Aerospace
Center; Ag Box 2245; Washington, DC 20250-2245; Telephone: (202) 401-
5048.
These materials may also be requested via Internet by sending a
message with your name, mailing address (not e-mail) and phone number,
to psb@morrill.esusda.gov which states that you want a copy of the
application materials for the Fiscal Year 1996 Rangeland Research
Grants Program. The materials will then be mailed to you (not e-mailed)
as quickly as possible.
What To Submit
An original and nine copies of each proposal must be submitted.
This number of copies is necessary to permit thorough, objective merit
evaluation of all proposals received before funding decisions are made.
Every effort should be made to ensure that the proposal contains
all pertinent information when submitted. Prior to mailing, compare
your proposal with the guidelines contained in the Administrative
Provisions which govern the Rangeland Research Grants Program, 7 CFR
Part 3401. Proposals submitted by organizations other than Federal
laboratories shall state that the 50 percent non-Federal funding
requirement will be met.
Each copy of each proposal must include a Form CSREES-661,
``Application for Funding,'' Applicants should note that one copy of
this form, preferably the original, must contain pen-and-ink signatures
of the principal investigator(s) and the authorized organizational
representative. (Form CSREES-661 and the other required forms and
certifications are contained in the Application Kit).
Grant proposals shall be limited to 10 pages (single-spaced and
typed on one side of the page only), exclusive of required forms,
bibliography and vitae of the principal investigator(s), senior
associate(s), and other professional personnel.
All copies of each proposal shall be mailed in one package. Please
make sure that each copy of each proposal is stapled securely in the
upper left-hand corner. DO NOT BIND.
One copy of each proposal not selected for funding will be retained
for a period of one year. The remaining copies will be destroyed.
Where and When To Submit Applications for Funding
To be considered for funding during Fiscal Year 1996, proposals
must be submitted by February 29, 1996.
Proposals submitted through the regular mail must be postmarked by
February 29, 1996, and should be sent to the following address:
Proposal Services; Grants Management Branch; Office of Extramural
Programs; Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service;
U.S. Department of Agriculture; Room 303, Aerospace Center; Ag Box
2245; Washington, D.C. 20250-2245. The telephone number is: (202) 401-
5048.
Hand-delivered proposals, including those submitted by express mail
or a courier service, must be received at the following address by
February 29, 1996: Proposal Services; Grants Management Branch; Office
of Extramural Programs; Cooperative State Research, Education, and
Extension Service; U.S. Department of Agriculture; Room 303, Aerospace
Center; 901 D Street, S.W.; Washington, D.C. 20024. The telephone
number is: (202) 401-5048.
Supplementary Information: The Rangeland Research Grants Program is
listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance under No. 10.200.
For reasons set forth in the Final Rule-related Notice to 7 CFR Part
3015, subpart V (48 FR 29115, June 24, 1983), this program is excluded
from the scope of Executive Order 12372, which requires
intergovernmental consultation with State and local officials.
Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, as
amended (44 U.S.C. 3504(h)), the collection of information requirements
contained in this notice have been approved under OMB Document Nos.
0524-0022 and 0524-0033.
Done at Washington, D.C., this 21st day of December 1995.
Colien Hefferan,
Acting Administrator, Cooperative State Research, Education, and
Extension Service.
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[FR Doc. 95-31539 Filed 12-29-95; 8:45 am]
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