[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 106 (Friday, June 3, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-13492]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: June 3, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
[Announcement 431]
Surveillance of Hazardous Substances Emergency Events
Introduction
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
announces the availability of fiscal year (FY) 1994 funds for a
cooperative agreement program to conduct surveillance of hazardous
substances emergency events. The Public Health Service (PHS) is
committed to achieving the health promotion and disease prevention
objectives of ``Healthy People 2000,'' a PHS-led national activity to
reduce morbidity and mortality and improve the quality of life. This
announcement is related to the priority areas of Surveillance and Data
Systems and Environmental Health. (To order a copy of ``Healthy People
2000,'' see the section Where To Obtain Additional Information.)
Authority
This program is authorized in sections 104(i)(1)(E) and (15) of the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
(CERCLA) as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act
(SARA) (42 U.S.C. 9604 (i)(1)(E) and (15)).
Smoke-Free Workplace
The PHS strongly encourages all grant recipients to provide a
smoke-free workplace and promote the non-use of all tobacco products.
This is consistent with the PHS mission to protect and advance the
physical and mental health of the American people.
Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants are the official public health departments of
the States or their bona fide agents. This includes the District of
Columbia, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin
Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, the Northern Mariana
Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau,
and federally recognized Indian tribal governments.
Availability of Funds
Approximately $1,000,000 is available in FY 1994 to fund
approximately 15 awards. It is expected that the average new award will
be $70,000 ranging from $60,000 to $80,000 per award. It is expected
that the awards will begin on or about September 30, 1994, with a 12-
month budget period within a project period of up to 5 years. Funding
estimates may vary and are subject to change. Continuation awards
within the project period will be made on the basis of satisfactory
progress and the availability of funds.
Grantees currently funded under ATSDR's Program Announcement 207
can apply and, if successful, the current award would roll over into
this one (competitive renewal) for a project period of 5 years. If a
current grantee applies under this competitive renewal announcement and
is unsuccessful, it would not jeopardize the current award; ATSDR will
honor the current awards through the expiration of the project period,
subject to satisfactory progress and the availability of funds. If a
current grantee should choose not to apply for this competitive
renewal, ATSDR will honor the current award through the expiration of
the project period, subject to satisfactory progress and the
availability of funds.
Use of Funds
Funds may be expended for reasonable program purposes, such as
personnel, travel, supplies, and services. Equipment may be purchased
with cooperative agreement funds; however, justification must be
provided which should include a cost comparison of purchase versus
lease options. All purchased equipment must be compatible with ATSDR
equipment and shall be returned to ATSDR at the completion of the
project.
Purpose
The primary purpose of this cooperative agreement program is to
assist State health departments in developing a state-based
surveillance system for monitoring hazardous substances emergency
events to allow the State health department to better understand the
public health impact of hazardous substances emergencies.
The objectives of the surveillance system are to:
1. Describe the distribution of hazardous substances emergencies
within individual States;
2. Describe the type and cause of morbidity and mortality
experienced by employees, first responders, and the general public as a
result of selected hazardous substances emergencies;
3. Analyze and describe risk factors associated with the morbidity
and mortality; and
4. Develop and propose strategies to reduce subsequent morbidity
and mortality when comparable events occur in the future.
Program Requirements
All Hazardous Substances Emergency Event Surveillance (HSEES) will
be performed in accordance with the methodology provided in the HSEES
protocol. The protocol was developed to meet the objectives outlined
under Purpose. A copy of the protocol will be provided in the
application kit. For purposes of this program, the following criteria
define an emergency event:
1. An uncontrolled or illegal release or threatened release of one
or more hazardous substances (Note: The substances that are actually
released or threatened to be released include all hazardous substances
except petroleum products), and
2. The quantity of the hazardous substances which are released, or
are threatened to be released, need (or would need) to be removed,
cleaned up, or neutralized according to Federal, State, or local law;
or
3. There is only a threatened release of hazardous substances, but
this threat leads to an action (e.g., an evacuation) that can
potentially impact the health of employees, responders, or the general
public. This action makes the event eligible for inclusion into the
surveillance system, even though the hazardous substances are not
released.
A hazardous substance includes, but is not limited to, any element,
substance, compound, or mixture, including disease-causing agents,
which after release into the environment and upon exposure, ingestion,
inhalation, or assimilation into any organism, either directly from the
environment or indirectly by ingestion through the food chain, will or
may reasonably be anticipated to cause death, disease, behavioral
abnormalities, cancer, genetic mutation, physiological malfunctions
(including malfunctions in reproduction) or physical deformations, in
such organisms or their offspring; except that the term ``hazardous
substance'' does not include petroleum products, including crude oil or
any fraction thereof which is not otherwise specifically listed or
designated as a ``hazardous substance.''
To achieve the purpose of this program, the recipient shall be
responsible for conducting activities under A., below, and ATSDR will
be responsible for conducting activities under B., below:
A. Recipient Activities
1. Develop a mechanism that ensures that the State health
department is notified of hazardous substances emergency events in a
timely fashion. This should include negotiating formal or informal
agreements with all State agencies that are normally notified when
hazardous substances emergencies have occurred. These State agencies
should include, but not be limited to, State police, fire departments,
environmental agencies, and various offices of emergency government.
2. Investigate the emergency event by gathering and entering the
information obtained from all sources into the HSEES tracking system.
Sources may include, but not be limited to, those agencies mentioned in
A.1., and other relevant Federal, State, local, and private agencies in
keeping with the surveillance protocol.
3. Establish and maintain appropriate procedures to ensure the
timely gathering and entering the information into a database as
prescribed by the HSEES protocol.
B. ATSDR Activities
1. Assist recipients in acquiring appropriate information for
performance of HSEES and evaluating the completeness and quality of
relevant information.
2. Provide prototype information gathering instrument.
3. Assist recipients in establishing and maintaining appropriate
and timely schedules for the HSEES surveillance process.
4. Assist recipients in selecting training that will be useful in
maintaining the surveillance system.
5. Analyze environmental and/or biological results for specific
situations in which ATSDR has concerns.
6. Evaluate the overall performance of recipient's adherence to the
surveillance protocol.
Evaluation Criteria
Applications will be reviewed and evaluated according to the
following criteria:
A. Review Criteria for States New to HSEES
1. Appropriateness and Knowledge of Surveillance System--25%
Demonstrate a need for such a surveillance system within their
State. Additionally, the applicant should demonstrate an understanding
of the needs, limitations, and experience with surveillance systems as
a means of assessing the impact of hazardous substances on public
health.
2. Proposed Methodology--25%
Applicant must demonstrate experience in, or an ability to develop,
implement, maintain, and evaluate surveillance systems in accordance
with the HSEES Protocol.
3. Capability and Coordination Efforts--20%
Demonstrate the ability to develop, maintain, or expand a formal or
an informal working relationship with agencies outside of the State
health departments that receive notifications of hazardous substances
emergencies. This is necessary to assure that State health departments
are notified of all hazardous substances emergencies.
4. Quality of Information Collection--20%
Applicant should describe experience in collaborative projects for
which the agency has had the responsibility collecting information in a
consistent format. Examples include surveillance projects, surveys, and
prospective or retrospective hypothesis-testing studies. The timely
submission of data for analysis is critical in ensuring the success of
this surveillance. Accordingly, the applicant must demonstrate
experience in, or the ability to collect, enter, and transfer data on a
timely basis.
5. Program Personnel--10%
Demonstrate that the proposed program staff is qualified and
appropriate, and the time allocated for them to accomplish program
activities is adequate. With limited funds available, the applicant
must demonstrate that an infrastructure exists within the health
department that will allow for full participation in the surveillance
system with partial ATSDR financial support. Such in-kind support can
include existing support staff, technical staff (e.g., epidemiologist,
data management staff, environmental health scientists, emergency
response personnel, computer specialists), and computer hardware.
6. Program Budget--(Not scored)
Budget must be reasonable, clearly justified, and consistent with
intended use of cooperative agreement funds.
B. Review Criteria for States with Existing HSEES
1. Appropriateness and Knowledge of Surveillance System--25%
Applicant must demonstrate experience in collecting emergency event
surveillance information within the State. This should include, but not
be limited to, an assessment of the extent of hazardous substances
emergencies and/or the morbidity and mortality associated with these
events. Additionally, the applicant should demonstrate an understanding
of the needs, limitations, and experience with surveillance systems as
a means of assessing the impact of hazardous substances on public
health.
2. Proposed Methodology--25%
Applicant must demonstrate experience in HSEES. This should include
the development, implementation, and evaluation of an HSEES system in
accordance with the surveillance Protocol.
3. Capability and Coordination Efforts--20%
Applicant must demonstrate the ability to develop, maintain, or
expand a formal or an informal working relationship with agencies
outside of the State health departments that receive notifications of
hazardous substances emergencies. This is necessary to assure that
State health departments are notified of all hazardous substances
emergencies.
4. Quality of Information Collection--20%
Applicant should describe previous experience in HSEES systems,
including collecting information for which the organization is
responsible in a consistent format. Of critical importance to the
success of the surveillance project is the timely submission of data
for analysis. The applicant must demonstrate experience in, or the
ability to collect, enter, and transfer data on a timely basis.
5. Program Personnel--10%
Demonstrate that the proposed program staff is qualified and
appropriate, and the time allocated for them to accomplish program
activities is adequate. With limited funds available, the applicant
must demonstrate that an infrastructure exists within the health
department that will allow for full participation in the surveillance
system with partial ATSDR financial support. Such in-kind support can
include existing support staff, technical staff (e.g., epidemiologist,
data management staff, environmental health scientists, emergency
response personnel), and computer hardware.
6. Program Budget--(Not scored)
Budget must be reasonable, clearly justified, and consistent with
intended use of cooperative agreement funds.
C. Review of Noncompeting Continuation Applications
Continuation awards within the project period will be made on the
basis of the following criteria:
1. Satisfactory progress has been made in meeting project
objectives;
2. Objectives for the new budget period are realistic, specific,
and measurable;
3. Proposed changes in described long-term objectives, methods of
operation, need for cooperative agreement support, and/or evaluation
procedures will lead to achievement of project objectives; and
4. The budget request is clearly justified and consistent with the
intended use of cooperative agreement funds.
Funding Priorities
Applicants must demonstrate the abilities described earlier in the
Program Requirements section of this announcement. Priority will be
given for the following:
1. Geographic distribution across the entire United States.
2. Representation from both agricultural and industrial States.
3. Electronic data management/transfer capabilities, and in-kind
technical support.
Public Comments are not being solicited regarding the funding
priority because time does not permit solicitation and review prior to
the funding date.
Executive Order 12372 Review
Applications are subject to Intergovernmental Review of Federal
Programs as governed by Executive Order (E.O.) 12372. E.O. 12372 sets
up a system for State and local government review of proposed Federal
assistance applications. Applicants (other than federally recognized
Indian tribal governments) should contact their State Single Point of
Contact (SPOC) as early as possible to alert them to the prospective
applications and receive any necessary instructions on the State
process. For proposed projects serving more than one State, the
applicant is advised to contact the SPOC of each affected State. A
current list of SPOCs including their names, addresses, and telephone
numbers is included in the application kit. If SPOCs have any State
process recommendations on applications submitted to CDC, they should
forward them to Henry S. Cassell, III, Grants Management Officer,
Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 255 East Paces Ferry Road, NE.,
Atlanta, Georgia 30305, no later than 60 days after the application
deadline. The granting agency does not guarantee to ``accommodate or
explain'' for State process recommendations it receives after that
date.
Indian tribes are strongly encouraged to request tribal government
review of the proposed application. If tribal governments have any
tribal process recommendations on applications submitted to CDC, they
should forward them to Henry S. Cassell, III, Grants Management
Officer, Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 255 East Paces Ferry
Road, NE., Mail Stop E-13, Atlanta, Georgia 30305. This should be done
no later than 60 days after the application deadline date. The granting
agency does not guarantee to ``accommodate or explain'' for tribal
process recommendations it receives after that date.
Public Health System Reporting Requirements
This program is not subject to the Public Health System Reporting
Requirements.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number
The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number is 93.161.
Other Requirements
Paperwork Reduction Act
Projects that involve collection of information from 10 or more
individuals and funded by cooperative agreement will be subject to
review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork
Reduction Act. OMB clearance has been obtained for the Hazardous
Substances Emergency Events Data Collection Form OMB Number 0923-008,
expiration date June 30, 1995.
Application Submission Deadline
The original and two copies of the application (PHS Form 5161-1)
should be submitted to Henry S. Cassell, III, Grants Management
Officer, Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 255 East Paces Ferry
Road, NE., room 300, Mail Stop E-13, Atlanta, Georgia 30305, on or
before July 21, 1994. By formal agreement, the CDC Procurement and
Grants Office will act on behalf of and for ATSDR on this matter.
A. Deadline
Applications shall be considered as meeting the deadline if they
are either:
1. Received on or before the deadline date; or
2. Sent on or before the deadline date and received in time for
submission to the independent review group. (Applicants must request a
legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark or obtain a legibly dated
receipt from a commercial carrier or the U.S. Postal Service. Private
metered postmarks shall not be acceptable as proof of timely mailing.)
B. Late Applications
Applications that do not meet the criteria in A.1. or A.2. above
are considered late applications. Late applications will not be
considered in the current competition and will be returned to the
applicant.
Where to Obtain Additional Information
A complete program description, information on application
procedures, an application package, and business management assistance
may be obtained from Maggie Slay, Grants Management Specialist, Grants
Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC), 255 East Paces Ferry Road, NE., room 300,
Mail Stop E-13, Atlanta, Georgia 30305, telephone (404) 842-6797.
Programmatic assistance may be obtained from Dr. Wendy Kaye, Chief,
Epidemiology and Surveillance Branch, Division of Health Studies,
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 1600 Clifton Road,
NE., Mail Stop E-31, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, telephone (404) 639-6203.
Please refer to Announcement Number 431 when requesting information
and submitting an application.
Potential applicants may obtain a copy of ``Healthy People 2000''
(Full Report, Stock No. 017-001-00474-0) or ``Healthy People 2000''
(Summary Report, Stock No. 017-001-00473-1) through the Superintendent
of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325,
telephone (202) 783-3238.
Dated: May 27, 1994.
Claire V. Broome,
Acting Deputy Administrator, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
Registry.
[FR Doc. 94-13492 Filed 6-2-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-70-P
