[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 110 (Tuesday, June 9, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31491-31496]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-15256]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
[Program Announcement 98064]
Notice of Availability of Funds; Program To Build Capacity To
Conduct Site-Specific Activities
A. Purpose
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
announces the availability of fiscal year (FY) 1998 funds for a
cooperative agreement program, Program to Build Capacity to Conduct
Site-Specific Activities. This program addresses the Healthy People
2000 priority areas of: Educational and Community Based Programs;
Environmental Health; and Surveillance and Data Systems. This program
will provide State health Departments the opportunity to conduct site-
specific health activities to determine the public health impact of
human exposure to hazardous substances at hazardous waste sites or
releases. ATSDR considers a site as consisting of the actual boundaries
of a release or facility along with the resident community and area
impacted by the subject release or facility. Specifically, funds will
be used to build capacity to conduct ``core'' site-specific activities
including public health assessments, health consultations, exposure
investigations, community involvement, and preventive health education.
These activities may lead to more focused public health activities
including environmental health interventions, psychological effects
interventions, and risk communication. The purpose of the program
funded under this cooperative agreement is to work toward the ultimate
goal of reducing exposures to hazardous substances and mitigating
potential adverse health effects from such exposures. This program is
directed to public health agencies which have considerable need to
continue to build capacity to address health issues related to
hazardous substance releases into the environment within their
jurisdictional boundary. The specific purpose of these activities is to
assist public health agencies to build capacity, in coordination and
cooperation with ATSDR, to conduct health related activities under the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liabilities Act
(CERCLA), and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). This
includes conducting health consultations, public health assessments,
and exposure investigations. These activities will also assist
recipients to conduct community involvement activities, and to develop,
disseminate, and evaluate site-specific preventive health education
materials and other programs related to exposure to hazardous
substances in the environment.
B. Eligible Applicants
Limited Competition
Assistance will be provided only to the health departments of
States or their bona fide agents, including the District of Columbia,
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth
of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, federally
recognized Indian tribal governments, the Federated States of
Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of
Palau. In consultation with States, assistance may be provided to
political subdivisions of States.
[[Page 31492]]
The 23 public health agencies currently funded under Program
Announcement 607 are not eligible to apply under this announcement.
Those public health agencies are: Alabama Department of Public Health;
Arizona Department of Health Services; Arkansas Department of Health;
California Department of Health Services; Connecticut Department of
Public Health; Florida Department of Health & Rehabilitative Services;
Iowa Department of Public Health; Illinois Department of Public Health;
Indiana State Department of Health; Louisiana Department of Health and
Human Services; Massachusetts Department of Public Health; Michigan
Department of Community Health; Minnesota Department of Health;
Missouri Department of Health; New York State Department of Health; New
Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services; New Jersey Department
of Health and Senior Services; Ohio Department of Health; Pennsylvania
Department of Health; South Carolina Department of Health &
Environmental Control; Texas Department of Health; Washington State
Department of Health; and Wisconsin Department of Health & Family
Services.
C. Availability of Funds
Approximately $400,000 will be available in FY 1998 to fund an
estimated six awards. The average new award is expected to be $67,000,
ranging from $40,000 to $90,000. It is expected that the awards will
begin on or about September 29, 1998, and will be made for a 12-month
budget period within a project period of up to three years. Funding
estimates may change.
Continuation awards within an approved project period will be made
on the basis of satisfactory progress as evidenced by required reports
and the availability of funds.
Use of Funds
Funds may be expended for reasonable program purposes, such as
personnel, travel, supplies and services. Funds for contractual
services may be requested. However, the awardee, as the direct and
primary recipient of ATSDR cooperative agreement funds, must perform a
substantive role in carrying out project activities and not merely
serve as a conduit for an award to another party or provide funds to an
ineligible party. Applicant must justify the need to use a contractor.
If contractors are proposed, the following must be provided: (1) name
of contractor, (2) method of selection, (3) period of performance, (4)
detailed budget, (5) justification for use of contractor, and (6)
assurance of non-conflict of interest.
Equipment may be purchased with cooperative agreement funds.
However, the equipment proposed should be appropriate and reasonable
for the activity to be conducted. The applicant, as part of the
application process, should provide: (1) a justification for the need
to acquire the equipment, (2) the description of the equipment, (3) the
intended use of the equipment, and (4) the advantages/disadvantages of
purchase versus lease of the equipment (if applicable). Requests for
equipment purchases will be reviewed and approved only under the
following conditions: (1) ATSDR retains the right to request return of
all equipment purchased (in operable condition) with cooperative
agreement funds at the conclusion of the project period, and (2)
equipment purchased must be compatible with ATSDR hardware. Computers
purchased with ATSDR funds should be IBM compatible and adhere to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and ATSDR hardware
standards.
Recipient activities may not be conducted with funds from this
cooperative agreement program at any Federal site where the State is a
party to litigation at the site.
Funding Background
Public health agencies have the principal responsibility within
their jurisdiction for the protection of public health through
regulatory authority and the delivery of public health program
services. Over the years, these agencies have developed expertise as a
direct response to problems that they are charged with resolving,
including health problems related to hazardous substances in the
environment. Historically, there has been a long series of
environmental health problems requiring the response and cooperation of
State and Federal public health agencies. Environmental contamination
can potentially threaten the health, not only of populations
immediately impacted by hazardous waste sites, but of entire
communities in cases where contaminants have significantly migrated or
been released off site and become important sources of human exposure
to hazardous substances.
Community involvement is an integral part of site activities. The
goal of community involvement at sites is to foster partnerships with
communities living near hazardous waste sites in the development,
implementation, and evaluation of all site-specific public health
activities.
Health education is integral to the overall site-specific public
health agenda. Community members have expressed concern about the
general lack of environmental health information available to them and
have expressed a need for community health education. Additionally,
State health departments and concerned residents living near hazardous
waste sites have reported a need for continuing education programs to
educate health care professionals about (1) the health effects of
hazardous substances and (2) the management of cases of exposure.
Following are definitions or descriptions of the public health
activities allowable under this cooperative agreement:
1. Public Health Assessment Activities--The evaluation of data and
information on the release of hazardous substances into the environment
in order to assess any current or future impact on public health,
develop health advisories or other health recommendations, and identify
studies or actions needed to evaluate and mitigate or prevent human
health effects.
a. Petitioned Public Health Assessment--results from a request from
a community member or other interested party who believes exposures to
hazardous substances has occurred.
b. Public Health Advisory--a communication from ATSDR that a public
health threat exists of such importance and magnitude that immediate
action should be taken. Keeping the community informed and soliciting
input is a vital part of the public health assessment process.
c. Health Consultation--a written or verbal response to a specific
question or specific request for information from or via ATSDR staff or
a request for information about health risks posed by a specific site,
chemical release, or hazardous material and may lead to specific
recommendations for public health actions.
2. Exposure Investigation--Gathering and analyzing site-specific
information to determine if human populations have been exposed. Site-
specific information may include exposure point environmental sampling,
exposure dose-reconstruction, biological testing, and evaluation of
existing health outcome data. Information from an exposure
investigation is included in public health assessments, health
consultations, and public health advisories.
3. Community Involvement--Site-specific community involvement is
designed to develop partnerships with communities living near hazardous
[[Page 31493]]
waste sites in the development, implementation, and evaluation of site-
specific activities, which may include needs assessment, site
evaluation activities, participation in community meetings, and being
available to the community to gather and address health concerns.
4. Site-Specific Health Education--Site-specific health education
encompasses a program of education activities implemented in
communities to enable them to prevent or mitigate the health impact of
exposure to hazardous substances present at waste sites and releases.
Prevention of exposure is the focus of community health education. It
is designed to address health risks and assist the community in
understanding, preventing, or mitigating the health effects of
hazardous substances exposure. Prevention of health effects from
exposure is the focus of health professions education. The core
components of each site-specific education activity are: (a) definition
of a target audience through a community needs assessment profile, (b)
development, delivery, and evaluation of an educational message; and
(c) evaluation of the impact of the public health actions undertaken in
a site-specific community (assurance).
5. Technical Project Team--The Technical Project Team (TPT) is made
up of representatives from the ATSDR Division of Health Assessment and
Consultation (DHAC), ATSDR Division of Health Studies (DHS), ATSDR
Division of Health Education and Promotion (DHEP), ATSDR Office of
Regional Operations (ORO), and State and local counterparts. The TPT is
responsible for assuring the planning, implementation, and evaluation
of all public health actions for each site assigned to the team. The
TPT meets to review data relative to the site and considers the
following questions: is there or has there been a completed exposure
pathway and, are humans at health risk?
Funding Preferences
Funding preference may be given to the State entities currently
funded under ATSDR Program Announcements 415, ``Program for State
Department and Public Health Agencies to Conduct Health Consultations
and Public Health Assessment Activities'' and ATSDR Program
Announcement 443, ``Environmental Health Education Activities for
Health Professionals and Communities Concerned with Human Exposure to
Hazardous Substances''.
D. Program Requirements
ATSDR will assist and work jointly with the recipient in conducting
the activities of this cooperative agreement program. The application
should be presented in a manner that demonstrates the applicant's
ability to address the health issues in a collaborative manner with
ATSDR.
Note: Recipient activities may not be conducted with funds from
this cooperative agreement program at any Federal site where the
State is a party to litigation at the site.
Recipient and ATSDR activities are listed below:
1. Recipient Activities
The recipient will have primary responsibilities as follows:
a. Public Health Assessments
Conduct Public Health Assessments, including petitions, National
Priority List (NPL), Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Information System (CERCLIS) or other sites
or facilities within the recipient's territorial boundary in accordance
with the methodology provided in the ATSDR Public Health Assessment
Guidance Manual, ATSDR's Review and Handling Procedures for Public
Health Assessments, and other applicable guidance. The following
activities are also considered integral in the public health assessment
process:
1. Prepare addenda to update public health assessments.
2. Prepare Site Review and Updates (SRU) to evaluate current
conditions and determine the need for further actions.
b. Health Consultations
Prepare a written or verbal response to a specific question or
specific request for information about health risks posed by a specific
site (including Site Accelerated Cleanup Model (SACM)), chemical
release, or hazardous material. Health consultations may also be
written as a follow-up to Public Health Assessments or SRUs.
Consultations may include the evaluation of environmental data,
community concerns, health outcome data, and demographic
characterizations, and the conduct of community outreach and
interaction activities and site work plans.
c. Exposure Investigations
Exposure Investigations may be conducted as part of a health
assessment or health consultation response.
d. Community Involvement
Site-specific community involvement is designed to develop
partnerships with communities living near hazardous waste sites in the
development, implementation, and evaluation of site-specific
activities, which may include needs assessment, site evaluation
activities, participation in community meetings, and to provide
opportunities within the community to address health concerns. The
recipient should:
1. Develop a site-specific community involvement plan which, at a
minimum, should include: (1) a needs assessment strategy, (2) an
implementation strategy, and (3) an evaluation strategy.
2. Implement the community involvement plan and, where warranted
based on the needs assessment, establish Community Assistance Panels.
e. Health Education
Site-specific health education encompasses a program of education
activities implemented in communities to enable them to prevent or
mitigate the health impact of exposure to hazardous substances present
at waste sites and releases. Prevention of exposure is the focus of
community health education. Prevention of health effects from exposure
is the focus of health professions education. Based on the community
needs assessment, a coordinated health education program to address the
needs identified for each target audience should be developed. The
recipient should:
1. Develop materials that are appropriate for the target audience
considering such issues as literacy level, cultural values, and
languages spoken.
2. Give priority to those sites where specific actions can be taken
to reduce or prevent exposures or where a significant public health
concern exists.
3. Materials and programs targeted to a community's health care
providers should be designed to improve the knowledge and skill of
health care professionals concerning the potential exposure to
hazardous substances at the selected sites. Examples include programs
and materials designed to enhance the ability of health care providers
to communicate risk, counsel and advise community members including
their patients, recognize and evaluate potential exposures, obtain
appropriate consultation from environmental health experts when needed
or diagnose and treat conditions that may arise from exposure to
hazardous substances.
4. Implement the planned actions such as distributing materials,
and conducting projects such as Grand
[[Page 31494]]
Rounds, short courses, seminars, poster display sessions, and public
availability sessions.
f. Site-Specific Evaluation
As part of the work plan, develop a site-specific evaluation plan
prior to conducting activities. The plan should contain a component for
each activity undertaken at the site. Conduct evaluation of activities
and projects and site-specific programs to determine if community needs
have been met as well as intended purpose of the activities. Both
process and impact/outcome measures should be included in the
evaluation plan.
g. Program Evaluation
An evaluation of effectiveness of overall capacity building effort
in addressing public health issues in communities living near hazardous
waste sites will be conducted jointly by all participants. This
evaluation will focus on outcome and impact measurements using a
standard evaluation instrument. Both process and impact/outcome
measures will be included in the evaluation.
2. Other Recipient Activities
a. Participate in Technical Project team (TPT) review and comply
with established review and handling procedures for incorporating the
results of recommendations into site evaluation activities.
b. Provide abstraction overview to ATSDR on each site for which
site evaluation activities have been conducted for inclusion in the
HAZDAT.
c. Workshops
1. Conduct and participate in local, State, and federal health and
environmental workshops and community meetings to discuss and respond
to questions concerning a particular site's impact on public health.
2. Participate in ATSDR-scheduled training classes or workshops to
increase knowledge and skills in environmental public health.
d. Respond to ATSDR's requests concerning congressional inquiries/
testimonies, program evaluation, or other information in carrying out
the purpose of the project.
3. ATSDR Activities
ATSDR will have primary responsibilities as follows:
a. Public Health Assessments
Collaborate with and assist recipient in conducting Public Health
Assessment activities on CERCLIS or other sites or facilities within
the recipient's territorial boundary, which includes:
1. Collaborate and assist in preparing addenda to update public
health assessments.
2. Collaborate and assist in preparing Site Review and Updates
(SRU) to evaluate current conditions and determine the need for further
actions.
b. Health Consultations
Collaborate and assist recipient in preparing a written or verbal
response to a specific question or specific request for information
about health risks posed by a specific site [including Site Accelerated
Cleanup Model (SACM)], chemical release, or hazardous material.
c. Exposure Investigations
Collaborate and assist in conducting Exposure Investigations.
d. Community Involvement
1. Assist in developing effective methods to conduct needs
assessments in communities living near hazardous waste sites and in
defining goals and objectives.
2. Assist in development, implementation, and evaluation of the
community involvement plan.
e. Site-Specific Health Education
1. Collaborate in developing and reviewing all educational
materials to ensure scientific accuracy. Provide existing materials as
requested. Collaborate in developing projects for specific target
audiences.
2. Collaborate with the State in the implementation of programs and
the distribution of materials.
f. Evaluation
ATSDR will lead the evaluation of each recipient's total program.
This evaluation will focus on outcome and impact measurements using a
standard evaluation instrument. In addition, ATSDR will conduct an
evaluation of effectiveness of overall capacity building effort in
addressing public health issues in communities living near hazardous
waste sites. Both process and impact/outcome measures will be included
in the evaluation.
4. Other ATSDR Activities
a. Initiate and conduct review by Technical Project Team.
b. Assist with abstraction overview for the database on each site
for which site evaluation activities have been conducted.
c. Workshops
1. Assist recipient with participation in local, State, and Federal
health and environmental workshops and community meetings to discuss
and respond to questions concerning a particular site's impact on
public health.
2. Initiate and conduct ATSDR-scheduled training classes or
workshops to increase recipients knowledge and skills in environmental
public health.
d. Assist recipient with requests concerning program evaluation, or
congressional inquiries concerning the cooperative agreement that are
received by ATSDR.
E. Application Content
Competing Applications
Use the information in the Program Requirements, Other
Requirements, and Evaluation Criteria sections to develop the
application content. Your application will be evaluated on the criteria
listed, so it is important to follow them in laying out your program
plan. The application must include a 200 word or less abstract of the
proposal. The application pages must be clearly numbered, and a
complete index to the application and its appendices must be included.
The original and each copy of the application must be submitted
unstapled and unbound.
The budget should include funds for selected cooperative agreement
staff to attend the annual training meeting in Atlanta (five days).
F. Submission and Deadline
Application
Submit the original and two copies of PHS Form 5161-1 (OMB Number
0937-0189). Forms are in the application kit. On or before August 5,
1998, submit the application to: Patrick A. Smith, Grants Management
Specialist, Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office,
Announcement 98064, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
Room 300, 255 East Paces Ferry Road, NE., Mailstop E-13, Atlanta,
Georgia 30305-2209.
If your application does not arrive in time for submission to the
independent review group, it will not be considered in the current
competition unless you can provide proof that you mailed it on or
before the deadline (i.e., receipt from U.S. Postal Service or a
commercial carrier; private metered postmarks are not acceptable).
G. Evaluation Criteria
Each application will be evaluated individually against the
following criteria by an independent review group appointed by ATSDR.
The proposed program will account for a total of 70 percent of the
score from the evaluation criteria. Applications will be reviewed
[[Page 31495]]
and evaluated according to the following criteria:
a. Proposed Program--70 Percent
Applicant's ability to address the following:
1. Ability to respond to specific public health issues that occur
as a result of actual or potential human exposure to a hazardous
substance including methods to evaluate and analyze toxicological,
community, and environmental health data; and to conduct and analyze
data from exposure investigations.
2. Description of involvement with communities response to concern
about a particular site's impact on public health. Ability to develop
and provide preventive health education in a timely fashion in response
to public health issues including appropriateness and thoroughness of
the methods used to evaluate preventive health education, and the
extent to which the evaluation plan includes measures of program
outcome (i.e., effect of participant's knowledge, attitudes, skills,
behaviors, exposure to hazardous substances).
b. Program Personnel--15 Percent
The extent to which the proposal has described or provided
biographical data on the:
1. Manner in which an integrated team will be developed to address
components of this program. A consistent team is vital to this effort.
ATSDR recommends that the team consist of, at minimum, \1/2\ to 1 FTE
health assessors and \1/2\ to 1 FTE health educators/community
involvement specialists/medical officers for core activities.
2. Appropriate qualifications, experience, leadership ability, and
percentage of time project director (or principle investigator) will
commit to the project.
3. Appropriate qualifications, experience, and description of how
staff will be utilized in relation to the activities to be performed to
accomplish the work and their percentage of time to be spent on the
project; CVs should be provided.
4. Ability of recipient to adhere to ``Third Party Agreements''
under ``Other Requirements'' of this announcement if contractors are
proposed.
c. Capability--15 Percent
Description of the applicant's capability to carry out the proposed
project and suitability of facilities and equipment available or to be
purchased for the project.
d. Program Budget--(Not Scored)
The extent to which the budget relates directly to project
activities, is clearly justified, and is consistent with intended use
of funds. The budget should include funds for scientific staff to
attend the annual training meeting in Atlanta (five days).
e. Continuation Awards
Continuation awards within the project period will be made on the
basis of an annually negotiated work plan with ATSDR staff, and 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 methods of operation, need for
financial 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.
H. Other Requirements
Technical Reporting Requirements
Provide ATSDR with original plus two copies of:
1. Annual progress reports; the progress reports must report on
progress toward addressing activities mutually agreed to by ATSDR and
the recipient at the time of the annual budget discussion, as part of
the annually negotiated work plan and should include the following for
each program, function, or activity involved: (1) a comparison of
actual accomplishments to the goals established for the period; (2) the
reasons for slippage if established goals were not met; and (3) other
pertinent information.
2. Financial status report, no more than 90 days after the end of
the budget period; and
3. Final financial and performance reports, no more than 90 days
after the end of the project period.
Send all reports to: Patrick A. Smith, Grants Management
Specialist, Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Room 300, 255 East
Paces Ferry Road, NE., Mailstop E-13, Atlanta, GA 30305-2209.
Disclosure. Recipient is required to provide proof by way of
citation to State code or regulation or other State pronouncement given
the authority of law, that medical information obtained pursuant to the
agreement, pertaining to an individual, and therefore considered
confidential, will be protected from disclosure when the consent of the
individual to release identifying information is not obtained.
The following additional requirements are applicable to this
program. For a complete description of each, see Attachment I.
AR98-7--Executive Order 12372 Review
AR98-9--Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements
AR98-10--Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements
AR98-11--Healthy People 2000
AR98-17--Peer and Technical Reviews of Final Reports of Health
Studies--ATSDR
AR98-18--Cost Recovery--ATSDR
AR98-19--Third Party Agreements--ATSDR
I. Authority and Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number
This program is authorized under Sections 104(i), (1)(E), (4), (6),
(7), (9), (14) and (15) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, as amended by the
Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) of 1986 [42 U.S.C.
9604(i)(1) (E), (4), (6), (7), (9), (14) and (15)], and Section 3019
(b) and (c) of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), as
amended (Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984) [42 U.S.C. 6939a
(b) and (c)].
The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance numbers are 93.200,
93.201, 93.203.
J. Where To Obtain Additional Information
Please refer to Announcement Number 98064 when requesting
information and submitting an application.
To receive additional written information and to request an
application kit, call 1-888-GRANTS4 (1-888-472-6874). You will be asked
to leave your name and address and will be instructed to identify the
Announcement number of interest.
If you have questions after reviewing the contents of all of the
documents, business management technical assistance may be obtained
from: Patrick A. Smith, 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, Mailstop
E13, Atlanta, Georgia 30305, Telephone (404) 842-
[[Page 31496]]
6803, INTERNET address phs3@cdc.gov.
For programmatic technical assistance contact: Sharon Conley,
Financial Acquisition Specialist, Office of Program Operations &
Management (OPOM), Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
(ATSDR), 1600 Clifton Road, NE., Mailstop E-60, Atlanta, Georgia 30333,
Telephone (404) 639-0559, INTERNET address sac7@cdc.gov.
Also, the CDC home-page on the Internet: http://www.cdc.gov is
available for copies of this Announcement and funding documents as well
as application forms.
Dated: June 3, 1998.
Georgi Jones,
Director, Office of Policy and External Affairs, Agency for Toxic
Substances and Disease Registry.
[FR Doc. 98-15256 Filed 6-8-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-70-P
