[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:
Pollution prevention
Recycling
Treatment
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) 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
