[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 87 (Thursday, May 6, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24392-24394]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-11387]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-6336-7]
Notice of Availability of Funds for Source Water Protection
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is soliciting
proposals to fund projects that support local ground water and source
water protection efforts for small, rural or economically disadvantaged
communities in priority watersheds.
DATES: All project proposals must be received by the respective EPA
Regional or Headquarters office no later than June 7, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Project proposals should be sent to the appropriate address
listed below based on the location of the project:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: EPA Headquarters or Regional contacts
listed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
In keeping with the objectives of the Safe Drinking Water Act, EPA
is soliciting partners through a competitive solicitation to assist
Agency efforts to protect the drinking water sources (both ground water
and surface water sources) of small, rural or economically
disadvantaged communities in priority watersheds. Priority watersheds
are those river basins and water bodies identified by the States in
their Unified Watershed Assessments, developed under the Clean Water
Action Plan.
Proposals under this solicitation may support source water
assessment and protection activities at the community level as well as
activities related to stormwater, non-point source or wet weather
related management activities, that: assist in the integration of
ground water concerns into watershed assessment and restoration plans;
support the implementation of local wellhead protection programs; and /
or, provide technical support to communities considering new ground or
surface water protection or contaminant source management plans or
ordinances targeted at high risk watersheds. All project proposals must
address one or more of these activities to support ground water and
source water protection efforts of small communities, economically
disadvantaged communities, and/or rural areas in priority watersheds.
These projects must also serve as useful prototypes with results that
can be transferred to other community-based drinking water protection
efforts. Priority consideration will be given to proposals that
directly involve and demonstrate community level implementation actions
or activities that clearly lead to such results.
Available Funding
Regional Support
A total of $1,625,000 is available from EPA to fund one or more
projects in each EPA Region according to the Region-by-Region
allocation formula shown below. Individual project proposals may be
budgeted at no less than $10,000, and no more than any specific
Region's allocation. Each Region will determine how many projects to
fund and at what level to fund them. Those interested in applying for
funding should submit their proposal to the appropriate Regional
contacts as listed below. Collaborative submissions are also
encouraged. Project submissions must be made in accordance with the
criteria contained in this notice.
Nation-wide Support
An additional $375,000 is available from EPA Headquarters for
projects that are targeted to similar objectives but focus on
activities that are either national, multi-State or multi-Region in
scope. These proposals are to be submitted to the EPA Headquarters
contact listed below. National projects should be budgeted at no less
than $50,000 and no more than $100,000.
Funding Eligibility
State, local and Tribal governments, not-for-profit community water
systems that meet the definition of a public water supply (40 CFR
142.2), and not-for-profit organizations that have demonstrated a
field-based capacity to provide technical assistance on drinking water
and source water protection issues to small, rural or economically
disadvantaged communities are eligible to compete for these funds.
While preference may be given to projects located in priority
watersheds, projects outside of those watershed areas will be eligible
for funding consideration, especially if they have a creative approach
to implementing the objectives previously outlined.
Evaluation Criteria
In keeping with the aforementioned objectives of this solicitation,
the following other criteria will be used in the evaluation of all
proposals submitted by offerors in response to this proposal.
Well written and organized presentation. 5 points
Project objectives, deliverables/milestones, and measures
of success are viable and clearly stated. 15 points
Project clearly identifies the need for the activity and
the expected environmental and public health benefits that are readily
transferable to other communities. 30 points
Project uses the collaboration of relevant partners
(multi-organization/community focused) to achieve the project goals. 25
points
Project builds the capacity of local communities and
organizations to protect public health through drinking water
protection by identifying needed institutional arrangements and
management responsibilities to carry out project objectives. 25 points
Total: 100 points
[[Page 24393]]
Project Proposal Due Date
All project proposals must be received by the respective EPA
Regional or Headquarters office no later than 30 days from May 6, 1999.
Project proposals should be sent to the appropriate address listed
below based on the location of the project:
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EPA office Contact and address States Allocation
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Region 1............................... Mary Jo Feuerbach, U.S. CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT.... $117,813
EPA, Region I, Suite 1100,
One Congress Street (CMA),
Boston, MA 02203-0001, 617-
918-1578.
Region 2............................... Benita Best-Wong, U.S. EPA, NJ, NY, PR, VI............ 134,063
Region 2, 290 Broadway,
New York, NY 10007-1866,
212-637-3852.
Region 3............................... Dale Long, U.S. EPA, Region DE, DC, MD, PA, VA, WV.... 146,251
3, 1650 Arch Street,
Philadelphia, PA 19103,
215-814-5779.
Region 4............................... Stallings Howell, U.S. EPA, AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, 243,749
Region 4, 61 Forsyth SC, TN.
Street, SW, Atlanta GA
30303, 404-562-9329.
Region 5............................... Thomas Poy, U.S. EPA, IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI.... 211,250
Region 5, 77 W. Jackson
Boulevard, Chicago, IL
60604-3507, 312-886-5991.
Region 6............................... Ken Williams, U.S. EPA, AR, LA, NM, OK, TX........ 215,310
Region 6, 1445 Ross
Avenue, Dallas, TX 75202-
2733, 214-665-7129.
Region 7............................... Stephanie Lindberg, U.S. IA, KS, MO, NE............ 146,250
EPA, Region 7, 726
Minnesota Avenue, Kansas
City, KS 66101, 913-551-
7423.
Region 8............................... Marcella Hutchinson, U.S. CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY.... 121,875
EPA, Region 8, 999 18th
Street, Suite 500, Denver,
CO 80202-2466, 303-312-
6753.
Region 9............................... Judy Bloom, U.S. EPA, AZ, CA, HI, NV............ 150,313
Region 9, 75 Hawthorne
Street San Francisco, CA
94105, 415-744-1829.
Region 10.............................. Jeff Kenknight, U.S. EPA, AK, ID, OR, WA............ 138,126
Region 10, 1200 Sixth
Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101,
206-553-0226.
Headquarters........................... Evyonne Harris, U.S. EPA National, Multi-State or 375,000
(4606), 401 M Street, SW, Multi-Region.
Washington, DC 20460, 202-
260-1399.
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Description of Project Proposals
Proposals should be succinct and to the point. Proposals should not
exceed 3-5 pages in total length. The 3-5 pages should include
background, a description of proposed project and the environmental
need to be addressed, financial information on the costs of the
project, a schedule of activities and milestones, supporting
documentation, and (any available) letters of support.
Proposals should clearly address the substantive evaluation
criteria, in particular, the expected health and environmental benefits
and the transferability of the project effort. Other materials,
multimedia or otherwise, will not be accepted or evaluated during the
competition. Applicants whose proposals are selected for funding will
be required to submit the ``Application for Federal Assistance'' (SF
424). The paperwork burden for this form is approved under EPA's
Information Collection request #938.06, OMB Control Number 2030-0020.
Do not submit the SF 424 with this proposal application. Projects that
receive funding will have specific conditions on reporting progress.
Project Narrative
Proposed project text should include a general overview summarizing
planned project activities in accordance with the specifications for
project descriptions. The project narrative should briefly describe how
the project proposal addresses and supports one or more of the
following program objectives:
Source water assessment and protection activities at the
local level, especially in rural areas;
Integration of ground water concerns into watershed
assessment and restoration plans;
Implementation of wellhead protection programs locally;
and/or
Providing the assistance of field technicians supporting
communities considering new ground water/source water ordinances
targeted at high-risk watersheds.
In addition, the narrative should briefly describe how the project
proposal addresses the following factors:
Ability of project to support the overall advancement of
ground water and source water protection efforts;
Innovation and transferability of project outcomes to
multiple state, Tribal, or local source water protection initiatives;
and,
Past experience, if any, that demonstrates an ability to
manage complex projects.
Project Activities
A description of planned project activities including a definition
of the project's time span, lists of deliverables and milestones.
Budget Narrative
Each proposal must include a budget summary that identifies cost
associated with each activity. Cost estimates should include the
following object class categories:
Personnel
Fringe
Travel
Supplies
Indirect Charges
Schedule of Activities
This schedule for the review and award portion of this process is
provided only as an example. Each Region may establish timelines that
vary beyond the initial submission date, 30 days from the date of this
document.
Day 30: proposals due after publication of Federal
Register notice.
Day 60: complete 30 day review of proposals by either EPA
Headquarters or Region.
Day 70: applicant notified of Agency determination on
project.
Day 85: selected applicants prepare and submit SF 424.
Day 90: applications forwarded to the respective grants
offices.
Day 120: grants processing completed/Congressional
notifications.
Day 125: awards package mailed to grantee.
[[Page 24394]]
Dated: April 30, 1999.
Elizabeth Fellows,
Acting Director, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water.
[FR Doc. 99-11387 Filed 5-5-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE: 6560-50-P
