95-27436. Special Research Grants Program, Pest Management Alternatives Research; Fiscal Year 1996; Solicitation of Proposals  

  • [Federal Register Volume 60, Number 214 (Monday, November 6, 1995)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 56098-56102]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 95-27436]
    
    
    
    
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    _______________________________________________________________________
    
    Part III
    
    
    
    
    
    Department of Agriculture
    
    
    
    
    
    _______________________________________________________________________
    
    
    
    Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
    
    
    
    _______________________________________________________________________
    
    
    
    Special Research Grants Program, Pest Management Alternatives Research; 
    Fiscal Year 1996; Solicitation of Proposals; Notice
    
    Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 214 / Monday, November 6, 1995 / 
    Notices
    
    [[Page 56098]]
    
    
    DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
    
    Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
    
    
    Special Research Grants Program, Pest Management Alternatives 
    Research; Fiscal Year 1996; Solicitation of Proposals
    
    Purpose
    
        Proposals are invited for competitive grant awards under the 
    Special Research Grants Program--Pest Management Alternatives Research 
    (the ``Program'') for fiscal year (FY) 1996. The purpose of this 
    Program is to develop alternatives for critical needs to ensure that 
    farmers, foresters, ranchers and urban pest management specialists and 
    other users have reliable methods of managing pest problems. Emphasis 
    is placed on current and potential loss of select pesticides due to 
    increased worker and food safety and environmental concerns leading to 
    regulator review and actions, and the loss of pest management practices 
    due to performance failures such as those caused by genetic changes in 
    pests.
    
    Authority
    
        The authority for the Program is contained in section 2(c)(1)(A) of 
    the Act of August 4, 1965, Public Law 89-106, as amended (7 U.S.C. 
    450i(c)(1)(A)). Under this program, subject to the availability of 
    funds, the Secretary may make grants, for periods not to exceed five 
    years, to State agricultural experiment stations, all colleges and 
    universities, other research institutions and organizations, Federal 
    agencies, private organizations or corporations, and individuals for 
    the purpose of conducting research to facilitate or expand promising 
    breakthroughs in areas of the food and agricultural sciences of 
    importance to the United States.
        Proposals from scientists at non-United States organizations are 
    not eligible for funding nor are scientists who are directly or 
    indirectly engaged in the registration of pesticides for profit; 
    however, their collaboration with funded projects is encouraged.
    
    Available Funding
    
        Subject to the availability of funds, the anticipated amount 
    available for support of the program in FY 1996 is $1,584,000. 
    Proposals should be for no more than a two-year period.
        It is expected that Congress, in the final version of the 
    Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and 
    Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 (H.R. 1976), will prohibit 
    CSREES from using the funds available for FY 1996 to pay indirect costs 
    exceeding 14 per centum of the total Federal funds provided under each 
    award on competitively-awarded research grants.
        In addition, it is expected that, pursuant to the final version of 
    the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and 
    Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 (H.R. 1976), in the case of 
    any equipment or product that may be authorized to be purchased with 
    the funds provided under this Program, entities will be encouraged to 
    use such funds to purchase only American-made equipment or products.
    
    Program Description
    
        This program implements the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) 
    between the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. 
    Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) signed August 15, 1994, that 
    establishes a coordinated framework for collaborative efforts to 
    develop, implement, and make available pest management alternatives and 
    practices. In this MOU, the USDA and USEPA agreed to: (1) Cooperate in 
    providing for agricultural pest management that is conducted in the 
    most environmentally-sound manner possible, with sufficient pest 
    management alternatives to reduce risks to human health and the 
    environment, to reduce the incidence of pest resistance to pesticides, 
    and to ensure economical agricultural production; and (2) cooperate in 
    establishing a process to conduct the research, technology transfer and 
    registration activities necessary to ensure adequate pest management 
    alternatives are available to agricultural users to meet important 
    agricultural needs for situations in which regulatory action would 
    result in pest management problems.
    
    Applicable Regulations
    
        This Program is subject to the administrative provisions for the 
    Special Research Grants Program found in 7 CFR part 3400 (56 FR 58147, 
    November 15, 1991), which set forth procedures to be followed when 
    submitting grant proposals, rules governing the evaluation of 
    proposals, the awarding of grants, and post-award administration of 
    such grants. Several other Federal statutes and regulations apply to 
    grant proposals considered for review or to grants awarded under the 
    Program. These include, but are not limited to:
    
    7 CFR Part 1.1--USDA implementation of the Freedom of Information Act;
    7 CFR Part 1c--USDA implementation of the Federal Policy for the 
    Protection of Human Subjects;
    7 CFR Part 3--USDA implementation of OMB Circular A-129 regarding debt 
    collection;
    7 CFR Part 15, Subpart A--USDA implementation of Title VI of the Civil 
    Rights Act of 1964;
    7 CFR Part 3015, as amended--USDA Uniform Federal Assistance 
    Regulations, implementing OMB directives (i.e., Circular Nos. A-21, and 
    A-122) and incorporating provisions of 31 U.S.C. 6301-6308 (formerly, 
    the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977, Pub. L. No. 
    95-224), as well as general policy requirements applicable to 
    recipients of Departmental financial assistance;
    7 CFR Part 3016--USDA Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants 
    and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments; 7 CFR Part 
    3017, as amended--USDA implementation of Governmentwide Debarment and 
    Suspension (Nonprocurement) and Governmentwide Requirements for Drug-
    Free Workplace (Grants);
    7 CFR Part 3018--USDA implementation of New Restrictions on Lobbying. 
    Imposes new prohibitions and requirements for disclosure and 
    certification related to lobbying on recipients of Federal contracts, 
    grants, cooperative agreements, and loans;
    7 CFR Part 3019--USDA Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants 
    and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and 
    Other Non-Profit Organizations implementing OMB Circular A-110;
    7 CFR Part 3051--Audits of Institutions of Higher Education and Other 
    Nonprofit Institutions;
    7 CFR Part 3407--CSREES implementation of the National Environmental 
    Policy Act;
    29 U.S.C. 794 section 504--Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and 7 CFR Part 
    15B (USDA implementation of the statute), prohibiting discrimination 
    based upon physical or mental handicap in federally assisted programs;
    35 U.S.C. 200 et seq.--Bayh-Dole Act, controlling allocation of rights 
    to inventions made by employees of small business firms and domestic 
    nonprofit organizations, including universities, in Federally assisted 
    programs (implementing regulations are contained in 37 CFR part 401).
    
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    Research Categories for FY 1996
    
        The following priority areas have been identified by USDA and USEPA 
    through interaction with State agricultural experiment station research 
    and extension faculty via the National Pesticide Impact Assessment 
    Program and state and regional Integrated Pest Management program. In 
    addition, commodity groups and producers of affected crops were 
    involved in the identification of project areas. Needs were identified 
    to address replacement technologies for pesticides under current and 
    potential regulatory review for which producers and other users do not 
    have effective alternatives or where regulatory actions trigger pest 
    resistance problems that limit Integrated Pest Management options. 
    Replacements for methyl bromide or pesticide registrations under 
    regulatory consideration because of the Delaney clause are not 
    addressed by this request for proposals. The identified priority areas 
    for FY 1996 projects are:
    
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     Commodity                              Pest            
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Alfalfa...................................  Alfalfa weevil.             
    Artichokes................................  Aphids.                     
                                                Lygus bugs.                 
    Banana/plaintain..........................  Banana root borer.          
    Carrots...................................  Nematodes.                  
    Celery....................................  Aphids.                     
                                                Leafminer.                  
    Chinese vegetables........................  Aphids.                     
    Cole crops................................  Aphids.                     
    Cucurbits.................................  Cucumber beetle.            
                                                Bacterial wilt.             
    Eggplant..................................  Verticillium wilt.          
    Ginger....................................  Nematodes.                  
    Grapes....................................  Grape phlloxera.            
                                                Mealybugs.                  
    Leafy vegetables..........................  Aphids.                     
    Lettuce...................................  Aphids.                     
                                                Downey mildew.              
    Mushrooms.................................  Phoridae and sciaridae      
                                                 flies.                     
    Parsley...................................  Aphids.                     
    Pecans....................................  Pecan scab.                 
    Rice......................................  Rice water weevils.         
    Sorghum...................................  Chinch bug.                 
    Spinach...................................  Aphids.                     
                                                Grasshoppers.               
                                                Webworm.                    
    Sugar beets...............................  White grubs.                
                                                Cercospora leaf spot.       
    Sugar cane................................  Weeds.                      
    Sweetpotatoes.............................  Nematodes.                  
    Tropical fruits...........................  Weeds.                      
    Turf......................................  Weeds.                      
    Wheat.....................................  Grasshoppers.               
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
        Mite management in alfalfa seed production, apples, apricots, 
    beans-green, beans-dry, citrus, clover seed production, cranberry, 
    figs, grapes, hops, mint, nectarines, peaches, peanut, potatoes, plums, 
    prunes, strawberries in some locations.
        Projects dealing with other crops and pest combinations will be 
    considered. The critical need of the alternative based on current or 
    potential regulatory status or pest resistance will have to be clearly 
    documented and justified for all proposals.
        The proposal should address:
        (1) Identification, estimation of economic value, and documentation 
    of the pest management problem and losses associated with the pest(s).
        (2) Analysis of the availability of options and their applicability 
    as possible solutions including their compatibility with integrated 
    management systems.
        (3) Explicit documentation is needed to qualify the project 
    emphasizing environmental issues, human safety, or resistance 
    management concerns which make the present management options 
    impractical.
        (4) A summary of past research or extension activities that 
    demonstrate the practicability of the proposed alternative(s).
        (5) A detailed plan for the research, education and technology 
    transfer to achieve the alternative development and field 
    implementation with identified milestones.
        (6) An analysis of the durability of the proposed option and the 
    technologic and economic feasibility of the proposed solution.
        (7) Demonstrated growers' involvement in the identification of 
    potential approaches to solutions and the opportunity for public/
    private partnerships and matching resources from grower or commodity 
    groups.
        (8) An overview of the availability of natural controls 
    (biological, cultural, and host resistance) as solutions or partial 
    solutions to the pest management problem and compatibility with IPM or 
    crop management systems. This Program will not support basic plant 
    breeding or other tactics where significant progress toward 
    implementation cannot be accomplished within two years. However, this 
    program will support research on the incorporation of pest resistant 
    cultivars into a production system.
        (9) Where registrations of new management options by state and 
    Federal agencies are required, the proposal should describe the 
    collaborative actions being taken with regulators which leads toward 
    registration and use of Good Laboratory Practices (GLP).
        (10) Demonstrate appropriate budget and collaborative funding to 
    accomplish the proposed project.
        All projects that involve a new registration of a product or 
    expanded labelling, must be done in compliance with GLP Standards (40 
    CFR part 160). IR-4 coordinators are available in every state to advise 
    or assist with GLP and registration requirements. Projects involving 
    collaborative registration and funding are encouraged.
    
    Proposal Evaluation
    
        Proposals will be evaluated by the Administrator of CSREES assisted 
    by a peer panel with Integrated Pest Management expertise. CSREES seeks 
    proposals which address the following issues: (1) Significant reduction 
    of risk to human health or the environment would result; (2) no viable 
    alternatives presently exist and significant potential losses can be 
    documented; (3) there is significant producer involvement; (4) natural 
    controls are included as partial or effective solutions to pest 
    management problems; and (5) solutions can rapidly be brought to bear 
    on critical problems. Registration considerations must be addressed 
    where they are required for solution implementation.
    
    1. Executive Summary--10 points
        (An evaluation of how well the proposal summary can be understood 
    by a diverse audience of university personnel, producers, various 
    public and private groups, budget staff and the general public)
    2. Appropriateness of the Budget--5 points
        (An evaluation of appropriate and detailed budget request and 
    collaborative funding to accomplish the proposed project; collaborative 
    arrangements clearly document)
    3. Problem Statement, Background and Rationale--15 points
        (Includes the evaluation of significant reduction of risk to human 
    health or the environment; no viable alternatives presently exist; and 
    significant potential losses would occur without the alternative(s) 
    being developed under this proposal)
    4. Research, Education & Technology Transfer Plan--40 points
        (In addition to the evaluation of a detailed plan for research, 
    education, and technology transfer and summary of past research or 
    extension activities that demonstrate the practicability of the 
    proposed alternative(s), includes the evaluation of whether the 
    proposed solutions could rapidly be brought to bear on critical 
    problems and registration considerations are addressed where they are 
    required for solution implementation)
    
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    5. Producer Involvement--15 points
        (Evaluation includes growers' involvement in the identification of 
    potential approaches to solutions and the opportunity for public/
    private partnerships and matching resources from grower or commodity 
    groups)
    6. Professional Competence of the Project Team--5 points
    7. Integration of Natural Control Solutions--10 points
        (Includes the evaluation that natural controls are included as 
    partial or effective solutions to the pest management problems being 
    addressed and an analysis of the durability of the proposed option and 
    the technologic and economic feasibility of the proposed solution)
    
    Programmatic Contact
    
        For additional information on the Program, please contact: Dr. 
    Barry Jacobsen, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension 
    Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Ag Box 2220, Washington, DC 
    20250-2220, Telephone: (202) 401-6627.
    
    How To Obtain Application Materials
    
        Copies of this solicitation, the administrative provisions for the 
    Program (7 CFR part 3400), and the Application Kit, which contains 
    required forms, certifications, and instructions for preparing and 
    submitting applications for funding, may be obtained by contacting:
        Proposal Services Branch, Awards Management Division, Cooperative 
    State Research, Education, and Extension Service, U.S. Department of 
    Agriculture, Ag Box 2245, Washington, DC 20250-2245, Telephone: (202) 
    401-5048.
        Application materials may also be requested via Internet by sending 
    a message with your name, mailing address (not e-mail) and telephone 
    number to psb@reeusda.gov that states that you wish to receive a copy 
    of the application materials for the FY 1996 Special Research Grants 
    Program--Pest Management Alternatives Research. The materials will then 
    be mailed to you (not e-mailed) as quickly as possible.
    
    Proposal Format
    
        Members of review committees and the staff expect each project 
    description to be complete in itself. The administrative provisions 
    governing the Special Research Grants Program, 7 CFR part 3400, set 
    forth instructions for the preparation of grant proposals. The 
    following proposal format requirements deviate from these contained in 
    section 3400.4(c). The provisions of this solicitation shall apply.
        Proposals submitted to the Program should address the described 
    criteria. Each proposal should provide a detailed plan for the 
    research, education and technology transfer required to implement the 
    alternative solution in the field. Involvement of growers or other 
    users in the project is essential and should be clearly identified.
        Proposals should adhere to the following format: items 3-6 should 
    not exceed 12 single spaced/single-sided pages altogether, using 12 
    point (10 cpi) letter quality type with 1 inch margins. The pages 
    should be numbered.
        (1) Application for Funding (Form CSREES-661). All full proposals 
    submitted by eligible applicants should contain an Application for 
    Funding, Form CSREES-661, which must be singed by the proposed 
    principal investigator(s) and endorsed by the cognizant Authorized 
    Organizational Representative who possesses the necessary authority to 
    commit the applicant's time and other relevant resources. Investigators 
    who do not sign the full proposal cover sheet will not be listed on the 
    grant document in the event an award is made. The title of the proposal 
    must be brief (80-character maximum), yet represent the major emphasis 
    of the project. Because this title will be used to provide information 
    to those who may not be familiar with the proposed projected, highly 
    technical words or phraseology should be avoided where possible. In 
    addition, phrases such as ``investigation of'' or ``research on'' 
    should not be used.
        (2) Executive Summary. Describe the project in terms that can be 
    understood by a diverse audience of university personnel, producers, 
    various public and private groups, budget staff and the general public. 
    This should be no more than one page in length.
        (3) Problem Statement. Identify the pest management problem 
    addressed, its significance and options for solution. Define the 
    production area addressed by the proposed solution and the potential 
    applicability to other production regions.
        (4) Rationale and Significance. Provide information on the basis 
    and rationale for the proposed project. Compatibility with current 
    Integrated Pest Management and crop production practices, technologic 
    economic feasibility and potential durability should be addressed. 
    Explicit documentation is needed to qualify the project emphasizing 
    environmental issues, human safety, or resistance management concerns 
    that make present management options impractical.
        (5) Research, Education and Technology Transfer Plan. Provide a 
    detailed plan with milestones identified.
        (6) Producer Involvement. Provide information on producer or other 
    user involvement in identification of the proposed solution and 
    involvement in implementing the proposed solution.
        (7) Facilities and Equipment. All facilities and major items of 
    equipment that are available for use or assignment to the proposed 
    research project during the requested period of support should be 
    described. In addition, items of nonexpendable equipment necessary to 
    conduct and successfully conclude the proposed project should be 
    listed.
        (8) Collaborative Arrangements. If the nature of the proposed 
    project requires collaboration or subcontractual arrangements with 
    other research scientists, corporations, organizations, agencies, or 
    entities, the applicant must identify the collaborator(s) and provide a 
    full explanation of the nature of the collaboration. Evidence (i.e., 
    letters of intent) should be provided to assure peer reviewers that the 
    collaborators involved have agreed to render this service. In addition, 
    the proposal must indicate whether or not such collaborative 
    arrangement(s) has the potential for conflict(s) of interest.
        (9) Personnel Support. To assist peer reviewers in assessing the 
    competence and experience of the proposed project staff, key personnel 
    who will be involved in the proposed project must be identified 
    clearly. For each principal investigator involved, and for all senior 
    associates and other professional personnel who expect to work on the 
    project, whether or not funds are sought for their support, the 
    following should be included:
        (i) An estimate of the time commitments necessary;
        (ii) Curriculum vitae. The curriculum vitae should be limited to a 
    presentation of academic and research credentials, e.g., educational, 
    employment and professional history, and honors and awards. Unless 
    pertinent to the project, to personal status, or to the status of the 
    organization, meetings attended, seminars given, or personal data such 
    as birth date, marital status, or community activities should not be 
    included. The vitae shall be no more than two pages each in length, 
    excluding the publication lists. The Department reserves the option of 
    not forwarding for further consideration a proposal in which each vitae 
    exceeds the two-page limit; and
        (iii) Publication List(s). A chronological list of all publications 
    in referred journals during the past five years, including those in 
    press, must be provided for each professional project 
    
    [[Page 56101]]
    member for whom a curriculum vitae is provided. Authors should be 
    listed in the same order as they appear on each paper cited, along with 
    the title and complete reference as these items usually appear in 
    journals.
        (10) Budget. A detailed budget is required for each year of 
    requested support. In addition, a summary budget is required detailing 
    requested support for the overall project period. A copy of the form 
    which must be used for this purpose, Form CSREES-55, along with 
    instructions for completion, is included in the Application Kit and may 
    be reproduced as needed by applicants. Funds may be requested under any 
    of the categories listed, provided that the item or service for which 
    support is requested may be identified as necessary for successful 
    conduct of the proposed project, is allowable under applicable Federal 
    cost principles, and is not prohibited under any applicable Federal 
    statute.
        (11) Research Involving Special Considerations. A number of 
    situations encountered in the conduct of research require special 
    information and supporting documentation before funding can be approved 
    for the project. If any such situation is anticipated, the proposal 
    must so indicate. It is expected that a significant number of proposals 
    will involve the following:
        (i) Recombinant DNA and RNA molecules. All key personnel identified 
    in a proposal and all endorsing officials of a proposed performing 
    entity are required to comply with the guidelines established by the 
    National Institutes of Health entitled, ``Guidelines for Research 
    Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules,'' as revised. The Application Kit 
    contains a form which is suitable for such certification of compliance 
    (Form CSREES-622).
        (ii) Human subjects at risk. Responsibility for safeguarding the 
    rights and welfare of human subjects used in any proposed project 
    supported with grant funds provided by the Department rests with the 
    performing entity. Regulations have been issued by the Department under 
    7 CFR Part 1c, Protection of Human Subjects. In the event that a 
    project involving human subjects at risk is recommended for award, the 
    applicant will be required to submit a statement certifying that the 
    project plan has been reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review 
    Board at the proposing organization or institution. The Application Kit 
    contains a form which is suitable for such certification (Form CSREES-
    662).
        (iii) Experimental vertebrate animal care. The responsibility for 
    the human care and treatment of any experimental vertebrate animal, 
    which has the same meaning as ``animal'' in section 2(g) of the Animal 
    Welfare Act of 1966, as amended (7 U.S.C. 2132(g)), used in any project 
    supported with grant funds rests with the performing organization. In 
    this regard, all key personnel associated with any supported project 
    and all endorsing officials of the proposed performing entity are 
    required to comply with the applicable provisions of the Animal Welfare 
    Act of 1966, as amended (7 U.S.C. 2131 et seq.) and the regulations 
    promulgated thereunder by the Secretary of Agriculture in 9 CFR parts 
    1, 2, 3, and 4. The applicant must submit a statement certifying that 
    the proposed project is in compliance with the aforementioned 
    regulations, and that the proposed project is either under review by or 
    has been reviewed and approved by an Institutional Animal Care and Use 
    Committee. The application Kit contains a form which is suitable for 
    such certification (Form CSREES-662).
        (12) Current and Pending Support. All proposals must list any other 
    current public or private research support (including in-house support) 
    to which key personnel identified in the proposal have committed 
    portions of their time, whether or not salary support for the person(s) 
    involved is included in the budget. Analogous information must be 
    provided for any pending proposals that are being considered by, or 
    that will be submitted in the near future to, other possible sponsors, 
    including other USDA programs or agencies. Concurrent submission of 
    identical or similar proposals to other possible sponsors will not 
    prejudice proposal review or evaluation by the Administrator for this 
    purpose. However, a proposal that duplicates or overlaps substantially 
    with a proposal already reviewed and funded (or that will be funded) by 
    another organization or agency will not be funded under this program. 
    The Application Kit contains a form which is suitable for listing 
    current and pending support (Form CSREES-663).
        (13) Additions to Project Description. Each project description is 
    expected by the Administrator, the members of peer review groups, and 
    the relevant program staff to be complete while meeting the page limit 
    established in this section (Proposal Format). However, if the 
    inclusion of additional information is necessary to ensure the 
    equitable evaluation of the proposal (e.g., photographs that do not 
    reproduce well, reprints, and other pertinent materials that are deemed 
    to be unsuitable for inclusion in the text of the proposal), 14 copies 
    of the materials should be submitted. Each set of such materials must 
    be identified with the name of the submitting organization, and the 
    name(s) of the principal investigator(s). Information may not be 
    appended to a proposal to circumvent page limitations prescribed for 
    the project description. Extraneous materials will not be used during 
    the peer review process.
        (14) Organizational Management Information. Specific management 
    information relating to an applicant shall be submitted on a one-time 
    basis prior to the award of a grant for this Program if such 
    information has not been provided previously under this or another 
    program for which the sponsoring agency is repsonsible. The Department 
    will contact an applicant to request organizational management 
    information once a proposal has been recommended for funding.
    
    Compliance With the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
    
        As outlined in 7 CFR part 3407 (the CSREES regulations implementing 
    NEPA), environmental data or documentation for any proposed project is 
    to be provided to CSREES in order to assist CSREES in carrying out its 
    responsibilities under NEPA. In some cases, however, the preparation of 
    environmental data or documentation may not be required. Certain 
    categories of actions are excluded from the requirements of NEPA. The 
    applicant shall review the following categorical exclusions and 
    determine if the proposed project may fall within one or more of the 
    exclusions.
    
    (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 funding 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 private entities; and
        (vii) Activities related to trade representation and market 
    development activities abroad.
    
    [[Page 56102]]
    
    
    (2) CSREES Categorical Exclusions (7 CFR 3407.6)
    
        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 human environment:
        (i) The following categories of research programs or projects 
    limited size and magnitude 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, 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 (e.g., preparation of an environmental 
    assessment (EA) or environmental impact statement (EIS)), pertinent 
    information regarding the possible environmental impacts of a proposed 
    project is necessary; therefore, the National Environmental Policy Act 
    Exclusions Form (Form CSREES-1234) provided in the Application Kit 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 listed above.
        Even though a project may fall within the categorical exclusions, 
    CSREES may determine that an EA or an EIS is necessary for a proposed 
    project should substantial controversy on environmental grounds exist 
    or if other extraordinary conditions or circumstances are present that 
    may cause a project to have a significant environmental effect.
    
    Proposal Submission
    
    What To Submit
    
        An original and 14 copies of a proposal must be submitted. Each 
    copy of each proposal must be stapled securely in the upper lefthand 
    corner (DO NOT BIND). All copies of the proposal must be submitted in 
    one package.
    
    Where and When To Submit
    
        Proposals must be received by 4:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on 
    December 12, 1995. Proposals sent by First Class mail must be sent to 
    the following address: Proposal Services Branch, Awards Management 
    Division, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, 
    U.S. Department of Agriculture, Ag Box 2245, Washington, D.C. 20250-
    2245, Telephone: (202) 401-5048.
        Proposals that are delivered by Express mail, a courier service, or 
    by hand must be submitted to the following address (note that the zip 
    code differs from that shown above): Proposal Services Branch, Awards 
    Management Division, Cooperative State Research, Education and 
    Extension Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 303, Aerospace 
    Center, 901 D Street SW., Washington, D.C. 20024, Telephone: (202) 401-
    4048.
    
    Supplementary Information
    
        The Special 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 No. 12372 which requires intergovernmental consultation 
    with State and local officials. Under the provisions of the Paperwork 
    Reduction Action of 1980 (44 U.S.C. 3504(h)), the collection of 
    information requirements contained in this Notice have been approved 
    under OMB Document No. 0524-0022.
    
        Done at Washington, D.C., on this 31st day of October 1995.
    Colien Hefferan,
    Acting Administrator, Cooperative State Research, Education, and 
    Extension Service.
    [FR Doc. 95-27436 Filed 11-2-95; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 3410-22-M
    
    

Document Information

Published:
11/06/1995
Department:
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
Entry Type:
Notice
Document Number:
95-27436
Pages:
56098-56102 (5 pages)
PDF File:
95-27436.pdf