99-28505. State and Tribal Environmental Justice Grants Program; Request for Applications GuidanceFY 2000

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 210 (Monday, November 1, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58837-58840]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-28505]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6467-2]


State and Tribal Environmental Justice Grants Program; Request 
for Applications Guidance--FY 2000

Purpose of Notice

    The purpose of this notice is to solicit applications from eligible 
candidates under the State and Tribal Environmental Justice (STEJ) 
Grants Program, sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 
Office of Environmental Justice.
    For FY 1998 and FY 1999, EPA awarded five STEJ grants each fiscal 
year totaling $500,000 to (4) states and (1) tribe. Thus, there have 
been ten grants awarded totaling $1,000,000. A list of the recipients 
and their project descriptions are provided in Appendix E.
    For FY 2000, EPA expects to once again award a total of $500,000 to 
states and tribes to demonstrate how to effectively address 
environmental justice issues. A maximum of $100,000 will be awarded to 
each recipient, contingent upon the availability of funds. A total of 
five grants are expected to be awarded. The standard project and budget 
periods are for one year. The grantee can request that the project and 
budget periods be extended up to three years, with the total budget of 
$100,000 provided during the first year. This guidance outlines the 
purpose, authorities, eligibility, and general procedures for 
application and award of the FY 2000 STEJ Grants.
    The application must be postmarked no later than Friday, January 
28, 2000.

Grants Program Overview

    The STEJ Grants Program was created to provide financial assistance 
to state and tribal environmental departments that are working to 
address environmental justice issues, and to support efforts to 
establish environmental justice programs.

A. Program Goals

    The STEJ Grants Program is intended to assist states and tribes in 
ultimately achieving the following environmental justice goals and 
objectives:
     Reduce or prevent disproportionately high and adverse

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human health or environmental effects on low-income communities and/or 
minority communities.
     Integrate environmental justice goals into a state's or 
tribe's policies, programs, operations and activities.
     Provide financial and technical resources to help build 
the capacity to address environmental justice issues at the state/local 
community level and tribal/tribal community level.
     Set up model programs to address enforcement and 
compliance issues in affected communities.
     Integrate measurable environmental justice goals within 
the annual Performance Partnership Agreement (PPAs) and Memoranda of 
Understanding (MOUs) between a state and EPA, or within the Tribal 
Environmental Agreement (TEAs) between EPA and a tribe.
     Improve public participation in the decision-making 
processes (e.g. permitting processes, development of regulations and 
policies).

B. Background on Environmental Justice

    EPA considers environmental justice to be the fair treatment and 
meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, 
national origin, culture, or income with respect to the development, 
implementation, enforcement and compliance 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 negative environmental consequences 
resulting from industrial, municipal, and commercial operations or the 
execution of federal, state, local and tribal programs and policies.
    On February 11, 1994, President Clinton issued Executive Order (EO) 
12898, ``Federal Actions To Address Environmental Justice in Minority 
Populations and Low-Income Populations'' (Appendix A). Environmental 
justice focuses attention on the need to ensure equal environmental 
protection, and the equal enforcement of protective environmental laws, 
rules, regulations, and policies for all.

Eligible Applicants and Activities

C. Who May Submit an Application?

    Any state or tribal agency may submit an application if it manages, 
or is eligible to manage, an EPA program and expressed interest in 
working with community-based grassroots organizations and other 
environmental justice stakeholders to address environmental justice 
concerns in communities. EPA requests that only one application be 
submitted from each state or tribe interested in receiving assistance. 
The project can be a partnership involving more than one state 
department, or if from a tribe, more than one tribal department. The 
project may also involve a consortium of state or tribal governments. 
The degree of support provided by top government officials from either 
the state or tribe will be an important factor in the selection 
process.

D. May an Individual or Organization Apply?

    No. Only a state or federally-recognized tribal government may 
apply. However, the applying states or tribes should work with 
community-based grassroots organizations when developing their 
proposals. Preference will be given to the states or tribes who involve 
community-based grassroots organizations in the development of their 
proposals.

E. What Types of Projects Are Eligible for Funding?

    Funds are to be used for activities authorized by the appropriate 
statutory provisions listed in paragraph F below, to accomplish the 
following: The development of a model state or tribal environmental 
justice executive order, strategic plan, and/or conduct studies, 
analyses, and training in the development of a state or tribal 
environmental justice program.
Preferences
    Preference will be given to the states or tribes which have not 
received a STEJ grant in the past and which include the following in 
their application:
    (1) A description of how environmental justice/community-based 
grassroots organizations were involved in the development of the 
proposal, and
    (2) Identification of the matching or cost sharing funds to be 
provided by the state or tribe for the project.

F. What Activities Are Authorized To Be Conducted by Grant Recipients?

    The State and Tribal Environmental Justice Grants are for 
multimedia environmental justice activities. For this reason, each 
project must include activities which are authorized by two or more of 
the following environmental statutes.
    a. Clean Water Act, Section 104(b)(3): Conduct and promote the 
coordination of research, investigations, experiments, training, 
demonstration, surveys, and studies relating to the causes, extent, 
prevention, reduction, and elimination of water pollution.
    b. Safe Drinking Water Act, Sections 1442(b)(3): develop, expand, 
or carry out a program (that may combine training, education, and 
employment) for occupations relating to the public health aspects of 
providing safe drinking water.
    c. Solid Waste Disposal Act, Section 8001(a): Conduct and promote 
the coordination of research, investigations, experiments, training, 
demonstrations, surveys, public education programs, and studies 
relating to solid waste management and hazardous waste management.
    d. Clean Air Act, Section 103(b)(3): conduct and promote the 
coordination and acceleration of research, investigations, experiments, 
demonstrations, surveys, and studies related to the causes, effects 
(including health and welfare effects), extent, prevention, and control 
of air pollution.
    e. Toxic Substances Control Act, Section 10(a): conduct research, 
development, and monitoring activities on toxic substances.
    f. Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, Section 
20(a): conduct research on pesticides.
    g. Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and 
Liability Act, Section 311(c): conduct research related to the 
detection, assessment, and evaluation of the effects on, and risks to, 
human health from hazardous substances.
    h. Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act, Section 203: 
conduct research, investigations, experiments, training, 
demonstrations, surveys, and studies relating to the minimizing or 
ending of ocean dumping of hazardous materials and the development of 
alternatives to ocean dumping.

G. What Regulations Apply to These Grants?

    The STEJ Grants will be governed by 40 CFR Part 31, Uniform 
Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to 
State, Local, and Tribal Governments, and OMB Circular A-87. Note, in 
particular, that there are restrictions on the use of grant funds for 
lobbying and that grant funds may not be used for intervention in 
federal regulatory or adjudicatory proceedings.

Funding

H. Are Matching Funds Required?

    Matching funds are not required, but are strongly encouraged. EPA 
may give preference to those states or tribes which provide matching 
funds, since this would demonstrate a greater commitment.

[[Page 58839]]

Application Requirements

I. What Is Required for Applications?

    In order to be considered for funding under this program, proposals 
must have the following: (Note--the points identified after the 
specific criteria will be used to quantitatively evaluate the proposal, 
with a maximum of 100 points)
1. Completed Federal Standard Forms (5 Points)
    a. Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424) the official form 
required for all federal grants that requests basic information about 
the grantee and the proposed project. The applicant must submit the 
original application, and one additional copy, signed by a person duly 
authorized.
    b. Federal Standard Form (SF 424A) and budget detail, which 
reflects the total budget for the entire duration of the project. 
Budget figures/projections should support your work plan/narrative. The 
EPA portion of these grants will not exceed $100,000, therefore your 
budget should reflect this upper limit on federal funds.
    c. Signed ``Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, and 
Other Responsibility Matters'' form, and ``Certification Regarding 
Lobbying'' form.
2. Clear and Concise Narrative/Work Plan
    The Narrative/Work Plan must:
    a. effectively describe the project and how it addresses the 
Eligible Projects, as defined in Section E, (35 points)
    b. discuss how the proposed project will meet the Program Goals, as 
described in Section A, (10 Points)
    c. describe how the project addresses issues related to at least 
two of the environmental statutes listed in Section F, and (10 Points)
    d. discuss how the project will be evaluated, what will be the 
measures of success, and describe how the project/program will be 
sustained. (25 Points)
    The pages of the Work Plan must be letter size (8\1/2\'' x 11''), 
with normal type size (12 cpi), and at least 1'' margins. The 
narrative/work plan should be no more than five pages.
    3. A letter of commitment from the department head or government 
head (e.g. governor, president, chairperson, commissioner). (10 Points)
    4. State and Tribal applicants should establish working 
relationships with local community-based organizations in developing 
their proposals.(*) A list of the organizations who participated in the 
development of the grant proposal, along with contact names and 
numbers, is required. (5 Points)

(*) Many community-based organizations across the nation have already 
begun implementing environmental justice programs at the local level, 
which states and tribes may want to use as examples to help build their 
environmental justice programs. By asking those who are most impacted 
by environmental injustices to participate in building the state's or 
tribe's environmental justice program, the states and tribes will be 
more likely to obtain broad support for the concept and the partnership 
it reflects.

J. When and Where Must Applications Be Submitted?

    The applicant must submit one signed original application with the 
required attachments and one additional copy to the primary contact of 
the appropriate EPA regional office (see page 8 and Appendix D). The 
application must be postmarked no later than Friday, January 28, 2000.

Process for Awarding Grants

    Proposals are to be developed by states or tribes (EPA encourages 
the involvement of community-based/grassroots organizations) and 
submitted to their respective EPA Regional Offices. The initial review 
will be conducted by each Region through a Regional panel, which will 
select the top proposals for submission to EPA Headquarters, for final 
review and selection. The grants will be processed for award and 
managed by the Regions. The plan is to fund the five best State and/or 
Tribal environmental justice project proposals. Note: Among the 
proposals receiving the highest rating, EPA may take into account the 
geographic location and diversity of the proposed projects when making 
final selections.
STEJ Grant Program Schedule
Nov. 1-January 28  States and Tribes Develop Proposals and Submit to 
EPA Regions
February 2-March 3  EPA Regions Review Proposals and Provide 
Recommendations to Headquarters March 10-April 14  OEJ Headquarters 
Convenes Review Panel and Receives Recommendations
April 14-May 12  Headquarters Completes Selections and Submits Final 
Selections to EPA Regional Offices
June 12-July 14  EPA Regional Grants Management Offices Process 
Applications and Award Grants
August 1  National and Regional Announcements of Awards

Reporting

    State and Tribal agencies that are awarded the State and Tribal 
Environmental Justice (STEJ) grants will be required to submit semi-
annual reports, in accordance with 40 CFR sections 31.40 and 31.41, to 
the appropriate Regional Environmental Justice Coordinator and Project 
Officer. Reports will include, but not be limited to, information on:

 Funds expended
 Tasks accomplished
 Issues/problems encountered and method of resolution
 Results achieved

    A final summary report is required by 40 CFR section 31.40(b) at 
the end of the project period. This final report should include a 
discussion on the continuation and institutionalization of the state's 
and/or tribe's efforts to provide for environmental justice.
    If you have any questions regarding the interpretation of this 
guidance, please call your regional contact listed below, or Daniel 
Gogal, STEJ Grants Manager, Office of Environmental Justice, at (202) 
564-2576 or 1-800-962-6215.

EPA Regional STEJ Contact Names and Addresses

Region I--Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode 
Island, Vermont

Primary Contact: Ronnie Harrington [phone], USEPA Region 1, One 
Congress Street, Suite 1100 (SAA), Boston, MA 02114
Secondary Contact: Ngozi Oleru [phone]; Pat O'Leary (617) 918-
1978

Region II--New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands

Primary Contact: Melva Hayden [phone] USEPA Region II, 290 
Broadway, 26th Floor, New York, NY 10007
Secondary Contact: Doug Roberts [phone]

Region III--Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, 
Virginia, West Virginia

Primary Contact: Reginald Harris [phone], USEPA Region III--
(3EC00), 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029
Secondary Contact: Kathy Duran [phone]

Region IV--Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North 
Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee

Primary Contact: Gloria Love [phone], USEPA Region IV 61 Forsyth 
Street, Atlanta, GA 30303

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Secondary Contact: Connie Raines [phone]

Region V--Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin

Primary Contact: Ethel Crisp [phone], USEPA Region V, 77 West 
Jackson Boulevard (DM-7J), Chicago, IL 60604-3507
Secondary Contact: Karla Johnson [phone]

Region VI--Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas

Primary Contact: Shirley Augurson [phone], USEPA Region VI (6E-
N), 1445 Ross Avenue, 12th Floor, Dallas, TX 75202-2733
Secondary Contact: Teresa Cooks [phone]

Region VII--Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska

Primary Contact: Althea Moses [phone] or 1-800-223-0425, USEPA 
Region VII, 726 Minnesota Avenue, Kansas City, KS 66101
Secondary Contact: Kim Olson [phone]

Region VIII--Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, 
Wyoming

Primary Contact: Marcella Devargas [phone], USEPA Region VIII 
(8ENF-EJ), 999 18th Street, Suite 500, Denver, CO 80202-2466
Secondary Contact: Deldi Reyes [phone]

Region IX--Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, American Samoa, Guam

Primary Contact: Diane Uribi [phone], USEPA Region IX (CMD-6), 
75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA 94105
Secondary Contact: Romel Pascual [phone]

Region X--Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington

Primary Contact: Mike Letourneau [phone], USEPA Region X (CEJ-
163), 1200 Sixth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101
Secondary Contact: Victoria Plata [phone]

    Note: To obtain copies of the appendices referenced in this 
document, please contact the individuals identified above for a 
complete application.

    Dated: October 25, 1999.
Barry E. Hill,
Director, Office of Environmental Justice.
[FR Doc. 99-28505 Filed 10-29-99; 8:45 am]
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