[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 15 (Friday, January 23, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3563-3564]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-1643]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPPTS-00230; FRL-5766-1]
Notice of Availability of FY 1998 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 as much as $4 million will be available in Fiscal Year
(FY) 1998. 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, and community grassroots
organizations, including religious and civic organizations, as well as
tribal governments that promote environmental justice using pollution
prevention as the preferred approach; (2) national and regional
organizations working in partnership with local organizations, or
tribal governments to promote environmental justice using pollution
prevention approaches; (3) state and local governments; and (4)
academic institutions.
DATES: All applications must be received by EPA's contractor, Eastern
Research Group (ERG), located in Arlington, VA, by April 20, 1998. No
applications will be accepted after this date.
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 Louise Little at (703)
841-0483. A complete electronic copy of the EJP2 grant program guidance
and application package is also available on the EPA Home Page on the
Internet. The Internet address is: http:/www.epa.gov/opptintr/ejp2.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Scope and Purpose of the EJP2 Grant Program
The purpose of the FY 1998 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 and
Federally recognized tribes. This grant program is designed to fund
projects that have a
[[Page 3564]]
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, businesses, industry, and government to address common
pollution prevention goals. Projects funded under this grant may
involve public education, training, demonstration projects,
collaborative public-private partnerships, or innovative approaches to
develop, evaluate, and demonstrate non-regulatory strategies and
technologies. Grants will be awarded to national organizations for
projects to assess the results of previous and ongoing EJP2 grants and
related information and to develop tools for bringing pollution
prevention approaches to bear on the problems of environmental justice
communities.
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 socio-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:
Pollution prevention/source reduction
Recycling
Treatment
Disposal
Pollution prevention means source reduction; it includes 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
Protection of natural resources by conservation
This grant program is focused on implementing practices at the top
of the hierarchy--pollution prevention/source reduction--to bring about
better environmental protection.
III. Eligibility
Any affected, nonprofit community organizations with section
501(c)(3) or section 501(c)(4)1 Internal Revenue Service tax
status or Federally recognized tribal organizations may submit an
application upon the publication of this solicitation. A nonprofit
organization is defined as any corporation, trust, association,
cooperative, or other organizations that:
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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 nonprofit, 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) Is operated primarily for scientific, educational, service,
charitable, or similar purposes in the public interest.
(2) Is not organized primarily for profit.
(3) Uses its net proceeds to maintain, improve, and/or expand its
operations.
State and local governments and academic institutions are also
eligible. Organizations must be incorporated by April 20, 1998, 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
eligible 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; however, applications
must be 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 of the 10 EPA
Regions, or projects that are national in scope. In accordance with 40
CFR parts 23 and 30, EPA no longer requires cost sharing or matching
under this grant program.
Dated: January 15, 1998.
William H. Sanders,
Director, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics.
[FR Doc. 98-1643 Filed 1-23-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F
